Does N-3 LCPUFA Supplementation In Pregnancy Reduce Asthma And Allergies In School Age Children?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,833.00
Summary
We will determine whether supplementing the diets of pregnant women with fish oil can have long term effects on the development of the childÍs immune system and reduce the prevalence of asthma and allergies at early school age. The outcomes of our project will inform nutritional guidelines for pregnant women and, if successful, has the potential to significantly lower the costly burden of childhood asthma and allergies to families and the healthcare system.
Mechanisms Of Impaired Bronchodilator Response Associated With Fatty Acid Intake In Obese Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$694,365.00
Summary
Obese asthmatics typically have a high dietary fat intake, which reduces the efficacy of their asthma medications. We will determine which types of dietary fat affect asthma medications. We will also determine which asthma medications are affected by a high fat load. Finally, we will examine the mechanisms by which fatty acids affect the efficacy of asthma medications. This is will inform new treatment options for managing the many obese asthmatics who are not able to achieve weight loss.
Erythrocyte Membrane Fatty Acid Concentrations And Myelin Integrity In Young People At Ultra-High Risk Of Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,831.00
Summary
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play an important role in many physiological processes in all organisms. Myelination is the process by which a fatty layer, called myelin, accumulates around nerve cells enabling nerve cells to transmit information faster. PUFAs are essential for myelination, and there is evidence documenting decreased PUFA concentrations and brain white matter (myelin) pathology in people with schizophrenia. The mechanisms underlying these abnormalities are not understood.
Impaired Respiratory Tolerance In Obesity - The Link With Asthma?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$667,294.00
Summary
Australia has one of the highest obesity rates in the world, placing a major strain on health budgets. Obesity increases the risk of numerous diseases, including asthma. Asthma is prevented in healthy people by the immune system. This project will investigate whether obesity-related dietary factors and/or gut microbes impair this immune-mediated mechanism. Outcomes will increase understanding of the effects of diet and obesity on asthma development, and lead to novel asthma therapies.
Treating Hyperglycaemia In Diabetes With Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Analogues
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$602,260.00
Summary
Diabetes, characterised by elevated blood glucose, has a major impact on affected children, their families and the community. Our preliminary evidence suggests that a newly developed polyunsaturated fatty acid normalises blood glucose levels in an experimental diabetes model. This research will attempt to provide evidence that we have discovered a fat which has insulin like action and which may be taken orally once every 3-4 days to treat the elevated blood glucose.
Liver Lipotoxicity And NASH: Mechanistic Roles Of Free Cholesterol, Saturated FFA, JNK1 And TLR4
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$429,712.00
Summary
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs in overweight people, diabetes and with high blood pressure and raised cholesterol. This research is about how cholesterol in liver cells interacts with long chain fatty acids to cause injury and inflammation (steatohepatitis, NASH) in NAFLD.
How Does Dietary Cholesterol Induce Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$802,600.00
Summary
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common liver disease that can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and liver cancer. Dietary cholesterol is a major risk factor for NASH. We can demonstrate that cholesterol changes the gut bacteria. These bacteria generate toxic chemicals (bile acids) that signal to the liver and induce NASH. In this project, we use novel ways to clarify the mechanisms of liver inflammation and test novel therapeutic approaches to reverse it.
Omega 3 Fats To Reduce The Incidence Of Prematurity: The ORIP Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,705,590.00
Summary
The most significant perinatal problem in the world today is early preterm birth with its consequent threat to life and life-long health in survivors. Fish oils have been suggested to overcome this problem. Encouraging results have been obtained from small trials that need substantiation in a large well designed trial. The ORIP trial, involving approximately 5510 women, will provide a definitive answer to the question of whether maternal fish oils supplementation reduces early preterm birth.
The Effects Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids On Novel Anti-Inflammatory Metabolites And Telomere Length In Early And Later Life: Potential Implications For Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$870,091.00
Summary
Exciting new effects of omega-3 fats from fish oil have recently been discovered which actively reduce inflammation and help prolong cell life. These mechanisms are relevant to the risk of complications of obesity and cardiovascular disease. We will study the effects of fish oil given in pregnancy, infancy and later in life, with a view to using omega-3 fatty acid supplements for both early prevention and later treatment of obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Identifying Why Some People Consume Excess Dietary Fat. A Twin Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,462.00
Summary
Obesity is a significant public health problem, yet some individuals are less susceptible to the development of obesity. High fat eating patterns are commonly associated with overweight/obesity. The taste system is the gatekeeper of digestion and the sense of taste responds to fat, and that the fat taste response is associated with obesity. Using twins as subjects to disentangle the influences of 'nature and nuture', in this project we will identify the mechanisms responsible for linking fat tas ....Obesity is a significant public health problem, yet some individuals are less susceptible to the development of obesity. High fat eating patterns are commonly associated with overweight/obesity. The taste system is the gatekeeper of digestion and the sense of taste responds to fat, and that the fat taste response is associated with obesity. Using twins as subjects to disentangle the influences of 'nature and nuture', in this project we will identify the mechanisms responsible for linking fat taste response to development of obesity.Read moreRead less