Effects Of The Fatty Acid, Lauric Acid, On Energy Intake And Gut Motor And Hormonal Function In Health And Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$744,645.00
Summary
Obesity is largely due to energy intake exceeding energy expenditure, thus, strategies that reduce energy intake will result in weight loss. We discovered recently that the fatty acid, lauric acid, markedly reduces energy intake. Our studies will determine the effects of lauric acid on energy intake and body weight reduction in obese subjects. The research is a new initiative and explores the potential of lauric acid as a novel, nutrient-based and side-effect free approach to obesity management.
I am a lipid biochemist with extensive experience in the design and conduct of randomised controlled trials. The interventions are normally food based and I am working to see healthier food choices available to consumers to help close the Agriculture - He
Transcriptional Regulation Of Gene Expression: Dietary Sialic Acid Interaction In Brain Cognitive Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$46,646.00
Summary
In 2004, 8.2% of Australian live births were preterm with poor long-term cognitive outcomes. Sialic acid (SA), a key component of both human milk oligosaccharides and neural tissues, plays a role in neuronal development. This study will examine the mechanisms of how dietary SA or active learning interacts with genes during brain development. It will benefit the neonatal care of all children, particularly those born premature and ultimately, the quality of life of many Australians.
THE ROLE OF SIALIC ACID IN INFANT NUTRITION AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$402,750.00
Summary
Sub-optimal nutrition during critical periods of brain growth has persistent effects on the human brain. Premature infants are especially vulnerable because brain growth reaches its peak at 26 weeks gestation and remains high throughout the first year of life. Those fed human milk in the first month after birth have been shown to have a significant intellectual advantage compared with infants fed standard infant formulas. While the n-3 fatty acids such as DHA are thought to be important, other c ....Sub-optimal nutrition during critical periods of brain growth has persistent effects on the human brain. Premature infants are especially vulnerable because brain growth reaches its peak at 26 weeks gestation and remains high throughout the first year of life. Those fed human milk in the first month after birth have been shown to have a significant intellectual advantage compared with infants fed standard infant formulas. While the n-3 fatty acids such as DHA are thought to be important, other components of human milk may be of greater significance for brain growth. Our interest is in a sugar compound called sialic acid. It occurs in remarkably large amounts in human milk (up to 1g-L) but is present in only small quantities in infant formulas. Sialic acid is an important structural and functional component of brain cells. It is directly involved in nerve cell transmission, memory formation and cell-to-cell communication. During peak brain growth, young infants, especially pre-term ones, are unlikely to be able to synthesise sufficient sialic acid to meet their needs. At these times, they rely on human milk and infant formulas to supply the necessary building blocks. If their diet is a poor source of sialic acid, however, there may be lasting consequences for intellectual development. This research project addresses several questions. 1. Does oral sialic acid supplementation over the first few weeks of life increase both brain sialic acid levels as well as learning behaviour? 2. Is there any dose-response relationship - is more better? 3. Does supplementation influence the expression of genes encoding key enzymes in the brain? 4. Does dietary supplementation affect the activity of the liver enzyme involved in synthesis of sialic acid? If our findings can be extrapolated to human infants, they will have implications for the etiology of all types of cognitive and behavioural defects in children, including learning difficulties and attention deficit disorder.Read moreRead less
Is A Higher Intake Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Advantageous For Weight Loss?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,219.00
Summary
A 12 month dietary trial will be conducted to investigate whether a diet that is high in polyunsaturated fat (particularly long chain omega-3 fats found in fish oil) improves weight loss and metabolism, compared to a standard low fat weight-reducing diet. Other benefits of the diet, such as improvements in blood pressure, blood lipids and glucose, will be investigated. The findings will be used to refine dietary advice for weight loss and to develop food products enriched with fish oil.
Long-term Follow-up Of Children Born Preterm Who Received High Dose DHA: The DINO Trial Follow-up.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$725,972.00
Summary
Children born prematurely are more likely to need help at school and to repeat a grade. One of the factors that may be responsible for the poor development of children who were premature may be the lack of an omega-3 fatty acid, called DHA. We have done a study in which feeds of premature infants were supplemented with DHA at a level equivalent to what a baby would recieve in the womb. We now want to see if these children have improved development at school age.
Effect Of Prenatal N-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids On Body Mass In Early Childhood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,462,626.00
Summary
In Australia more than 1 in 5 four year-olds are now classified as overweight. There is good evidence that omega-3 fats inhibit the early development of fat cells and thereby reduce the later accumulation of excess body fat. This will be the first human trial to examine whether an increased supply of low cost omega 3 fats in pregnancy can reduce fatness and the likelihood of developing type II diabetes in childhood.