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Relationships Between Diet And Gastric Motor Function In Functional Dyspepsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$220,500.00
Summary
Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a condition characterised by abdominal symptoms without a cause that is identifiable by conventional diagnostic tests. Symptoms (eg fullness, bloating) are frequently induced by eating. 20 - 40 % of the adult population in Western countries are affected by FD, and the condition, therefore, represents a considerable financial burden to the health care system. FD affects quality of life adversely. In many people with FD, stomach contractions and the 'sensitivity' of th ....Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a condition characterised by abdominal symptoms without a cause that is identifiable by conventional diagnostic tests. Symptoms (eg fullness, bloating) are frequently induced by eating. 20 - 40 % of the adult population in Western countries are affected by FD, and the condition, therefore, represents a considerable financial burden to the health care system. FD affects quality of life adversely. In many people with FD, stomach contractions and the 'sensitivity' of the stomach are abnormal. Often, people with FD avoid fatty foods in the belief that these cause or exacerbate symptoms. There is, however, little information about the potential role of dietary habits in causing symptoms, the relationship between eating and disturbances in stomach function, and the impact of dietary changes on symptoms. Our previous studies suggest an important role for nutrients, particularly fat, in FD. We will address the hypothesis that dietary factors, particularly fat intake, have substantial implications for the pathophysiology and treatment of FD. Our studies will involve physiological (stomach emptying, appetite and food intake) and epidemiological (dietary habits, dyspeptic symptoms and quality of life-related aspects) measurements. The subjects-patients with FD will receive standardised test meals of varying nutrient composition, and we will study the effects on their stomach and on symptoms. We will also test some medications in an attempt to alleviate symptoms during and after food ingestion, particularly after fatty foods. Other studies will assess the dietary habits of patients with FD in relation to symptom occurrence and investigate the possibility that dietary intervention (reduction of fat content in the diet, exclusion of offending foods) will benefit these patients. The proposed studies will provide the most comprehensive studies to date of the relationship between symptoms in patients with FD with dietary habits and stomach function.Read moreRead less
Human ageing is characterised by reduced appetite and food intake, so that average body weight decreases after 70-75 years. This physiological anorexia predisposes to pathological weight loss and malnutrition, worsening of other illnesses, and increased mortality. This project aims to identify causes of this anorexia of ageing, with a view to developing prevention and treatment strategies. We hypothesise that (1) Satiety signals are overactive in the elderly. We will determine whether older peop ....Human ageing is characterised by reduced appetite and food intake, so that average body weight decreases after 70-75 years. This physiological anorexia predisposes to pathological weight loss and malnutrition, worsening of other illnesses, and increased mortality. This project aims to identify causes of this anorexia of ageing, with a view to developing prevention and treatment strategies. We hypothesise that (1) Satiety signals are overactive in the elderly. We will determine whether older people are more sensitive to gastric distension, which reduces appetite and food intake, by measuring perceptions (fullness, hunger, etc), gastric compliance and food intake during intragastric balloon inflation. This will also be done during nutrient infusion into the small intestine, to assess the interaction between gastric and intestinal satiety factors. The contribution of age-related slowing of gastric emptying to the anorexia of ageing will be assessed and the possibility that reduced energy intake worsens the anorexia of ageing will be examined in a nutrient supplementation study. We will have shown that the release of the satiety hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) is greater in older than young adults and that CCK administration causes a greater suppression of food intake in older people, suggesting that increased CCK activity may be a cause of the anorexia of ageing. We will pursue these findings by attempting to increase appetite and food intake in the lderly by administration of a CCK antagonist (blocker). We will also measure the satiating effects of two other probable satiety hormones, amylin and glucagon like peptide 1 in older and young people. (2) The feeding drive is reduced in the elderly Opioids stimulate feeding. In animals this effect is reduced by ageing. To determine whetther this is also so in humans, the suppressive effect of the opioid antagonist naloxone on feeding will be assessed in young and older subjects.Read moreRead less
Longitudinal Growth, Nutrition And Physical Activity In Young Children With Cerebral Palsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$686,147.00
Summary
Cerebral palsy is the most common type of physical disability impacting on 1 in 500 children, with lifetime costs of $2m and up to 40% may have restricted growth and nutrition. We aim to follow a cohort of 240 young children with Cerebral Palsy from 18 mths to 5 years to monitor their growth, nutrition, habitual activity, body composition and relate this to comprehensive health outcomes and costs. Better knowledge of these factors will enable nutritional and medical care to be better focused.
A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial Of The Effects Of EPA-rich Fish Oil In Chronic Work Stress
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$139,328.00
Summary
Chronic work stress doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease and depression and accounts for almost 30% of all Workers Compensation costs paid by the Australian Government. Our preliminary studies have shown (1) an inverse correlation between fish consumption and work stress, and (2) a pilot randomised controlled double-blind study demonstrated that fish oil had twice the rate of stress reduction than placebo. This study aims to show that fish oil ameliorates stress in a larger population.
Orexins As Neuroendocrine Integrators Between Nutrition And Reproduction Control Systems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$332,036.00
Summary
Studies on humans and a range of animal species have shown that the effects of nutrition on reproduction are mediated at least partly by changes in the secretion of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) and thus gonadotrophins. A number of metabolic signals must also be involved but those tested to date (glucose, insulin, leptin) do not seem to play major roles. Two exciting new candidates are orexin-A and orexin-B, a recently discovered pair of peptides that stimulate feeding behaviour. They a ....Studies on humans and a range of animal species have shown that the effects of nutrition on reproduction are mediated at least partly by changes in the secretion of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) and thus gonadotrophins. A number of metabolic signals must also be involved but those tested to date (glucose, insulin, leptin) do not seem to play major roles. Two exciting new candidates are orexin-A and orexin-B, a recently discovered pair of peptides that stimulate feeding behaviour. They are synthesized in the brain and, in rodents, they either stimulate or inhibit gonadotrophin secretion, depending on the presence of sex steroids. In this project, we will investigate the roles of the orexins as integrators of signals about gonadal activity, nutrition and body condition, all of which affect the activity of the reproductive control centres in the brain. We will use the mature male sheep because it shows clear and repeatable reproductive responses to changes in nutrition. We will locate the orexin-producing cells and the cells that respond to the orexins, and show how orexin production is affected by diet. We will also study the ways in which the orexins affect, and are affected by, the hormone systems that control reproduction and metabolism. Finally, we will try to find out why there are two orexins by looking at how their actions differ. Ultimately, the orexin system might explain the brain processes that are behind many of the reproductive problems that are associated with metabolic disorders, such as appetite loss, excessive exercise, undernutrition, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and insulin-dependent diabetes.Read moreRead less
An Investigation Into The Mechanisms Of How Dietary Fats Influence Alzheimers Disease Risk.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,789.00
Summary
There is some evidence to suggest that diet may influence the risk for developing Alzheimer's Disease. This project will explore if dietary fats that are 'bad-for-the-heart', are also 'bad-for-the-head'. Conversely, these researchers will test whether heart-healthy-oils are brain-healthy. The researchers will investigate the mechanisms by which dietary fats influence risk and hope to be able to develop nutritional guidelines for the prevention or slowing of Alzheimer's Disease.
Improving Capacity Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Communities To Influence Food Systems For Food Security
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,620,683.00
Summary
The proposed project represents a structured collaborative, continuous improvement and capacity-building approach to improving food security in remote Indigenous communities. It aims to trial a monitoring and evaluation learning approach to assist community based organisations and services to improve the food system and services they deliver to provide an affordable and healthy food supply.
Vitamin D Deprivation In Early Life: Programming Of Vascular Function In Adulthood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,250.00
Summary
It is becoming increasing evident that appropriate nutrition in fetal-early life is important in programming the cardiovascular system of the offspring, influencing its function throughout life. Maternal deficiency in vitamin D is a recently-identified concern world-wide, including in Australian women. We have recently found that vitamin D deficiency in pregnant rats results in marked hypertension in the offspring, when only 7 weeks of age. This is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent ....It is becoming increasing evident that appropriate nutrition in fetal-early life is important in programming the cardiovascular system of the offspring, influencing its function throughout life. Maternal deficiency in vitamin D is a recently-identified concern world-wide, including in Australian women. We have recently found that vitamin D deficiency in pregnant rats results in marked hypertension in the offspring, when only 7 weeks of age. This is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilator function, increased smooth muscle tone and increased constriction to nerve stimulation. A combination of intracellular electrophysiological techniques and tension recordings will be used to investigate detailed mechanisms in arteries isolated from key vascular beds. In vivo studies will probe the role of vitamin D deficiency in the control of regional blood flow control, and its influence on the underlying regulatory mechanisms responsible for the cardiovascular dysfunction that we have observed. We will test whether the cardiovascular dysfunction in the offspring following vitamin D deficiency is reversible upon repletion, or is programmed and thus not reversible with repletion. Our early results suggest that the deleterious effects are not reversible. From this study we aim to be in a position of greater confidence from which to inform women as to the importance for their baby of ensuring adequate vitamin D repletion during pregnancy, to minimise risk of later cardiovascular disease.Read moreRead less
Exclusive Enteral Nutrition In Children With Crohns Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$364,549.00
Summary
Crohn's disease occurs at any age, even in young children. One treatment for CD involves the use of a special drink (nutritional treatment). This works well for CD in children, helping to settle symptoms and heal the bowel surface. Despite being established as a treatment for 20 years, it is not yet clear how it works. These studies aim to work out how nutritional treatments work in CD. This should expand our knowledge about CD and may lead to further ways to prevent or manage CD.
Adults who were small at birth have a higher risk of coronary heart disease and adult onset diabetes. From a public health point of view the most important issue is to identify which factors in pregnancy cause low birthweight and lead to increased risk of adult disease. Growth of a fetus depends on the supply of oxygen and nutrients and the availability of nutrients will depend on both the mother's dietary intake and the transfer of nutrients, via the placenta, to the baby It is important that w ....Adults who were small at birth have a higher risk of coronary heart disease and adult onset diabetes. From a public health point of view the most important issue is to identify which factors in pregnancy cause low birthweight and lead to increased risk of adult disease. Growth of a fetus depends on the supply of oxygen and nutrients and the availability of nutrients will depend on both the mother's dietary intake and the transfer of nutrients, via the placenta, to the baby It is important that we understand the role of maternal nutrition in fetal growth because it is potentially modifiable. Although we know that birthweight falls in times of famine little is known about whether the composition of a mother's diet in a developed society affects birthweight and later health of the offspring. We plan to study this in twin pregnancies, since maternal nutrition is more stretched and any effects should be magnified and more readily identified. It may be that maternal nutrition only matters if the placenta is not working as well as it should. Unfortunately there is no good measure of how well the placenta is working, but we will measure erythropoietin level in infants as a marker of whether they were getting enough oxygen via the placenta, and see whether there is any evidence that maternal nutrition matters more as the infant shows more signs of poor oxygen supply. In twins we can look between pairs for evidence that maternal nutritional factors affect birthweight, at twins within pairs to see whether oxygen supply or other individual factors are important and we can compare all infants as individuals to see how these different factors interact. We plan to study 200 women with twin pregnancies in Melbourne and Adelaide. Once we have identified factors influencing birthweight, we will be in a position to plan future studies to determine which are associated with increased risk markers for cardiovascular diseaseRead moreRead less