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Long-term Health Effects Of Low-carbohydrate Diets In Obese Subjects With The Metabolic Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$497,716.00
Summary
The prevalence of obesity and its associated physiological and psychological comorbidities is increasing dramatically in Australia and throughout the developed world. Governing public health bodies recommend lifestyle changes of energy restriction combined with increasing physical activity for the treatment of obesity. In response to the increasing concerns about the rising level of obesity, there has been a multitude of fad diets developed outside the medical and nutritional recommendations for ....The prevalence of obesity and its associated physiological and psychological comorbidities is increasing dramatically in Australia and throughout the developed world. Governing public health bodies recommend lifestyle changes of energy restriction combined with increasing physical activity for the treatment of obesity. In response to the increasing concerns about the rising level of obesity, there has been a multitude of fad diets developed outside the medical and nutritional recommendations for healthy eating and with this an increased popularity of dietary regimens with severe restriction of carbohydrate, such as the Dr. Atkins diet. But although adopted by millions worldwide yearly and the release of a range of low-carbohydrate products into the food market, there is minimal scientific evidence available for the long-term efficacy and safety of low-carbohydrate diets, including their impact on risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, kidney function, bone health, psychosocial function and the capacity to undertake concurrent physical activity and daily living activities. Consequently, there is a lack of evidenced-based public health recommendations and policy regarding these dietary practices. In this project we will compare the long-term nutritional adequacy and effects of a very low-carbohydrate, weight loss diet to a conventional high-carbohydrate, low fat weight loss diet on cardiovascular health, exercise tolerance, mood state, bone health, renal function, bowel health and cancer risk in obese people with risk factors for cardiovascular disease in order to develop appropriate public health guidelines to counsel obese patients.Read moreRead less
Therapeutic Regulation Of Hepatic Steatosis And Lipid Transport In The Metabolic Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,435.00
Summary
Obesity is an increasing problem in Australia. Elevated fat levels in the liver and blood are associated with obesity and increased risk for heart disease. In this project, we will demostrate new mechanisms of action of Pioglitazone (an insulin-sensitizing agent) and Omacor (fish oils) that will complement the favourable efect of weight loss in the treatment of elevated blood fats and reduction in risk of heart disease in an important groups of subject in the population.
Australian Stroke Genetics Collaborative - Genome-wide Association Study In Ischaemic Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,141,037.00
Summary
The majority of stroke is caused by atherothrombosis, the formation of blood clots in brain blood vessels. Numerous genes are linked to atherothrombosis, but many studies examined genetic influences in isolation from environmental risk factors. We will examine the relevance of genetic variations linked to atherothrombosis, in the context of environmental risk factors. By determining the contribution of genetic and environmental factors in stroke, we will develop a stroke risk assessment tool.
The proportion of the population over 65 years of age is increasing, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of disability and death in this group of people. Angina, heart failure and stroke in elderly people often result in considerable disability and in many instances in a need for changed living circumstances such as admission to nursing homes. Consequently there is an important need to understand how to prevent and manage cardiovascular diseases in elderly people. Although CVD oc ....The proportion of the population over 65 years of age is increasing, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of disability and death in this group of people. Angina, heart failure and stroke in elderly people often result in considerable disability and in many instances in a need for changed living circumstances such as admission to nursing homes. Consequently there is an important need to understand how to prevent and manage cardiovascular diseases in elderly people. Although CVD occurs much more frequently in older persons, much of the epidemiological information on CVD risk factors and risk estimation comes from studies of middle-aged populations. Recently there has been an increased focus on whether the established relationships hold or differ in the elderly. This has generated debate about the relative value and effectiveness of treating risk factors in elderly people. This study, which is based on comprehensive and long-term risk factor, mortality and morbidity data from the Busselton Health Study and Health in Men Study, will lead to a better understanding of classic and new CVD risk factors in older persons and will contribute positively to the debate about the relative value and effectiveness of attempting to modify risk factors in the elderly. Further, it will facilitate improved methods for CVD risk assessment in older people and hence assist in determining whether which preventive actions to implement in the elderly.Read moreRead less
Retinal Microvascular Signs In Angina And Coronary Artery Disease: The Australian Heart Eye Study (AHES)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,223.00
Summary
The Australian Heart Eye Study will determine whether vessel signs from the retina at the back of the eye are an independent marker of heart disease as assessed by a coronary angiogram. New imaging techniques permit a rapid assessment of these signs. This project could lead to the development of an innovative, non-invasive test that could be used to screen people for the risk of coronary heart disease, in addition to traditional risk factors like blood pressure, smoking, cholesterol and obesity.
Increasing Cardiovascular Risk Assessment In First Degree Relatives Of Patients With Premature Heart Disease: An RCT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$113,972.00
Summary
Family history is a risk factor for ischaemic heart disease (IHD), especially if the history includes early onset disease. Families share both genetic and environmental risk factors, many of which can be modified to reduce the risk of heart disease. The aim of this project is to trial an intervention to promote heart disese risk assessment among the relatives of patients with premature heart disease. This is a first step toward prevention of heart disease in these families.
Depression And Risk Of Coronary Heart Disease: A Prospective Study Of Mediating Haemostatic Risk Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,625.00
Summary
Growing evidence suggests that depression, anger and anxiety play a role in causing coronary heart disease (CHD) and complicating the outcome in existing CHD. This may occur by effects of these emotions on promoting blood clotting and the stickiness of platelets - the blood cells responsible for blood clotting. This pilot study will follow a group of people with depression but without CHD and a control group over 8 months to compare how the blood clotting profile changes as depression resolves. ....Growing evidence suggests that depression, anger and anxiety play a role in causing coronary heart disease (CHD) and complicating the outcome in existing CHD. This may occur by effects of these emotions on promoting blood clotting and the stickiness of platelets - the blood cells responsible for blood clotting. This pilot study will follow a group of people with depression but without CHD and a control group over 8 months to compare how the blood clotting profile changes as depression resolves. The potential benefits of this research are a better understanding of the links between the common illnesses of depression and CHD that might improve the prevention and treatment of heart disease.Read moreRead less
Follow Up Of The 1985 Australian Schools Health And Fitness Survey Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,309,456.00
Summary
This study provides a unique opportunity to follow up a cohort of children on which an extensive range of physical and lifestyle measures were made in 1985. This study has the capacity to find out whether childhood lifestyle and physical measures are related to the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other common health problems in adulthood.
High blood pressure affects 1 in 5 Australian adults and is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity from heart attack and stroke. The condition tends to run in families and genetic predisposition, in the face of environmental factors, leads to the elevation in blood pressure. My Lab has demonstrated the capacity of a cohort of affected hypertensive sibships we have collected to find loci for essential hypertension at a level that has achieved genome-wide statistical significance and has been ....High blood pressure affects 1 in 5 Australian adults and is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity from heart attack and stroke. The condition tends to run in families and genetic predisposition, in the face of environmental factors, leads to the elevation in blood pressure. My Lab has demonstrated the capacity of a cohort of affected hypertensive sibships we have collected to find loci for essential hypertension at a level that has achieved genome-wide statistical significance and has been published in a leading molecular genetics journal. Moreover, this previous work, which included fine-mapping after finding a suggestive locus following a scan of chromosome 1, not only demonstrated significant linkage, but also went on to compare gene markers between a different cohort of (unrelated) hypertensive subjects with 2 affected parents (and early-onset, moderate to severe hypertension) and control normotensive matched subjects with unaffected parents, to identify a likely candidate gene. This same approach will be used to complete the rest of the genome. The discovery of all of the genes for essential hypertension will be an important prelude to: (1) developing new, more effective treatments, since the gene products responsible will be able to be targetted by novel therapeutics, (2) genotyping individuals early in life in order to advise them what their risk is, and thus allow couselling about lifestyle modification, (3) more logically apply existing treatment strategies according to the volume-neural-vasoconstrctor component of the contribution to high blood pressure.Read moreRead less