Maintaining bone strength in the elderly: the role of exercise and calcium fortified foods. There are currently no effective pharmacological agents for maintaining or increasing bone density during ageing available to older men with low bone strength. We aim to measure the effect on bone density and strength of older men who eat food products enhanced with calcium and vitamin D and undertake regular exercise. The results of this research will make an important contribution to knowledge about the ....Maintaining bone strength in the elderly: the role of exercise and calcium fortified foods. There are currently no effective pharmacological agents for maintaining or increasing bone density during ageing available to older men with low bone strength. We aim to measure the effect on bone density and strength of older men who eat food products enhanced with calcium and vitamin D and undertake regular exercise. The results of this research will make an important contribution to knowledge about the influence of diet and exercise on bone health. This research is also important for the food industry to ensure that the development of innovative food products is based on strong evidence.
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Improving The Management Of Diabetes In Pregnancy In Remote Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,117,449.00
Summary
This study aims to optimise the management of diabetes in pregnancy (both gestational diabetes and pre-existing type 2 diabetes) and post-partum follow-up of these high risk women in order to reduce the risk of future chronic disease among women and their children. The proposal involves scale-up of successful initiatives that we have developed as part of the NT DIP Partnership, scale-up within the Northern Territory (NT) and to Far North Queensland (FNQ).
Obesity And Its Metabolic Associations In Relation To Bariatric Surgery And Maternal-fetal Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$140,949.00
Summary
My research will examine the effects of maternal obesity, diabetes and smoking on outcomes evidence at birth in the offspring. Bariatric surgery is the most effective means to achieve sustained weight loss in obese patients and may improve metabolic abnormalities and complications. My research will explore the benefits of bariatric surgery in obese patients with type 2 diabetes with or without the addition of a glucose-like peptite-1 (GLP-1) agonist, liraglutide.
Pregnancy And Neonatal Diabetes Outcomes In Remote Australia (PANDORA) Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,395,410.00
Summary
The PANDORA study is a longitudinal birth cohort study recruited from a clinical register of Northern Territory women with diabetes in pregnancy (DIP). We will also recruit a comparator group of mothers without DIP and babies. Follow-up of mothers and infants to 3 years post-delivery will be from medical records, questionnaires and clinical assessment. Rates of progression to type 2 diabetes will be assessed among mothers, and growth, feeding patterns and diabetes risk markers among infants.
In the last decade there has been a substantial increase in the number of overweight and obese individuals. Obesity is now a major public health issue in Australia and, along with its associated disorders of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, incurs significant health care costs. There is a widespread awareness of the problem, but it has proved difficult to bring this obesity epidemic under control, and unless we can understand the underlying causes, the trend seems set to continue. This researc ....In the last decade there has been a substantial increase in the number of overweight and obese individuals. Obesity is now a major public health issue in Australia and, along with its associated disorders of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, incurs significant health care costs. There is a widespread awareness of the problem, but it has proved difficult to bring this obesity epidemic under control, and unless we can understand the underlying causes, the trend seems set to continue. This research proposal seeks to define the mechanisms which lead to the development of obesity. Evidence from a large range of clinical and population-based studies has shown that infants who are exposed to an increased supply of nutrients before birth have an increased risk of being overweight or obese as children and adults. It is not however, fully understood why this occurs. In normal adults, factors released by fat cells play an important role in the maintenance of energy balance, and changes in the levels of these factors in the fat cell or in the circulation can lead to increased weight gain and the development of poor sensitivity of the body's tissues to the actions of hormones, such as insulin. Fat cells develop before birth, and therefore changes in nutrient supply to the fetus have the potential to alter the functional properties of fat cells for life. In this proposal, we will investigate the effect of being exposed to an increased supply of nutrients in fetal life on the properties of fat cells after birth and define how such changes explain the development of obesity in these individuals. Understanding the mechanisms which link the risk of obesity to events before birth will allow clinicians of the future to provide children who are born to overweight, glucose-intolerant or diabetic mothers with a healthy start to life.Read moreRead less
Outcomes In Early Diagnosis And Intervention For Gestational Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$162,876.00
Summary
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy with significant maternal and fetal consequences. The benefits of screening and treatment for GDM after 24 weeks’ gestation are well known, however there is little evidence for early screening and intervention for women with high risk for GDM. The primary aim of this study is to determine whether early diagnosis and intervention improves pregnancy outcomes in GDM, specifically fetal overgrowth.