Extension Of The Calcium Intake Fracture Outcome Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$272,025.00
Summary
Osteoporosis is a largely preventable disease yet 1 in 10 Australians have osteoporosis. Every year >64,000 osteoporotic fractures occur, which is one every 8.1 minutes and women are three times as likely to have the disease than men. The Bone and Calcium Research Group at the University of Western Australia, is studying how to prevent osteoporosis in elderly women. This study is called the Calcium Intake Fracture Outcome Study or CAIFOS. During 1998, 1,500 women were recruited to study wheth ....Osteoporosis is a largely preventable disease yet 1 in 10 Australians have osteoporosis. Every year >64,000 osteoporotic fractures occur, which is one every 8.1 minutes and women are three times as likely to have the disease than men. The Bone and Calcium Research Group at the University of Western Australia, is studying how to prevent osteoporosis in elderly women. This study is called the Calcium Intake Fracture Outcome Study or CAIFOS. During 1998, 1,500 women were recruited to study whether a daily calcium supplement for 5 years helps to prevent fractures compared to a diet without a supplement. To do this only half of the women were given calcium supplements and the other half were given matched placebo tablets. Each year the study participants are reviewed and asked whether or not they have broken any bones and have other measurements to monitor their bone health and overall health. The subjects are entering their last year of treatment and will finish the study during 2003. At this appointment all subjects will undergo the same series of measurements that they had at the beginning of the study to determine whether or not they have fractured any bones, improved their bone mass and overall health during the treatment stage. The main outcome of the study is to determine whether calcium is useful as a supplement to prevent osteoporotic fracture in elderly women. If this study finds that fewer women fractured in the calcium treated group compared to the non treated group, given that both groups were similar to begin with, we can say that supplementation with calcium prevents fractures. Thus, public health messages about preventing osteoporosis will be able to direct the community to take supplements to prevent a disease that creates pain and disability in later life. The advantage of this study is that it is studying other aspects of these women health, so we can determine whether the calcium is safe to use and improves people's quality of life.Read moreRead less
Development and evaulation of novel foods enriched with very long chain omega-3 fatty acids. This project is a collaborative effort between Meadow Lea Foods, Clover Corporation, and the Universities of Wollongong and Western Australia. The aims are 1) to develop a range of functional foods enriched with omega-3 from tuna oil; 2) to see whether the recommended omega-3 intake, currently nor met by most Australians, can be achieved by including these foods in the diet; 3) to evaluate sensory and he ....Development and evaulation of novel foods enriched with very long chain omega-3 fatty acids. This project is a collaborative effort between Meadow Lea Foods, Clover Corporation, and the Universities of Wollongong and Western Australia. The aims are 1) to develop a range of functional foods enriched with omega-3 from tuna oil; 2) to see whether the recommended omega-3 intake, currently nor met by most Australians, can be achieved by including these foods in the diet; 3) to evaluate sensory and health attributes and other factors that may impact on consumer acceptability hence market potential of the food range. There is little evidence of the feasibility let alone health and social benefits of utilising novel foods to meet the dietary omega-3 recommendation. We expect a) to show how consumers could benefit by using a range of such foods in their customary diet; b) to critically set this achievement within the context of current social trends in food product development. Read moreRead less
Identification of Australian-bred apple and plum varieties with enhanced health attributes. Improved prevention could save Australia $4 billion annually in health care costs, mainly in the area of cardiovascular disease. A higher flavonoid intake has been estimated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by about 20%. Apples are important sources of flavonoids in the diet. The proposed project involves collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia and the U ....Identification of Australian-bred apple and plum varieties with enhanced health attributes. Improved prevention could save Australia $4 billion annually in health care costs, mainly in the area of cardiovascular disease. A higher flavonoid intake has been estimated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by about 20%. Apples are important sources of flavonoids in the diet. The proposed project involves collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia and the University of Western Australia. The aim is to identify progeny of both the apple and plum breeding programs that have elite levels of flavonoids and to demonstrate health benefits of a high-flavonoid apple. This could lead to significant benefits to Australian horticulture and to population health.Read moreRead less
Development and nutritional evaluation of novel foods based on a unique combination of soy and dairy products. This exciting project will enable us to incorporate two competing food industries (dairy and soy) to develop innovative foods combining soy and low-fat dairy which will provide increased palatability as well as nutrition. This project is a new collaboration between So Natural Foods and the Universities of Wollongong, South Australia and Western Australia. The aims are 1) develop new f ....Development and nutritional evaluation of novel foods based on a unique combination of soy and dairy products. This exciting project will enable us to incorporate two competing food industries (dairy and soy) to develop innovative foods combining soy and low-fat dairy which will provide increased palatability as well as nutrition. This project is a new collaboration between So Natural Foods and the Universities of Wollongong, South Australia and Western Australia. The aims are 1) develop new foods combining soy and low-fat dairy; 2) test the bioavailability of the soy isoflavones (particularly equol production) from these foods; 3) determine the active component(s) in soy (soy protein and/or soy isoflavones) responsible for cholesterol reduction and other health benefits of soy; 4) evaluate consumer acceptability and market potential of the novel soy foods. We expect to demonstrate that healthier and more appealing food products can be produced by combining two currently competing foods, namely soy and dairy.Read moreRead less
Antioxidants Vitamin C And Vitamin E For The Prevention Of Pre-eclampsia - A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$696,750.00
Summary
Women who develop hypertension in pregnancy have a higher risk of complications in pregnancy and their babies are often born smaller than average and earlier. An initial trial to women at high risk of pre-eclampsia suggest that vitamin C and vitmin E supplements may decrease both reduce the risk of developing hypertension in pregnancy and the risk of the infant being born small for dates. These encouraging results need assessment in the Australian population. This study assesses the value of wom ....Women who develop hypertension in pregnancy have a higher risk of complications in pregnancy and their babies are often born smaller than average and earlier. An initial trial to women at high risk of pre-eclampsia suggest that vitamin C and vitmin E supplements may decrease both reduce the risk of developing hypertension in pregnancy and the risk of the infant being born small for dates. These encouraging results need assessment in the Australian population. This study assesses the value of women taking vitamin C and vitamin E supplements during the antenatal period to decrease the risk of developing hypertension during pregnancy and poor fetal growth. Such an easy and inexpensive therapy, if effective, would be an important advance.Read moreRead less
Assessment Of Non-communicable Diseases And Associated Risks Among Indonesian Adolescents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,224.00
Summary
Adolescents experience a significant burden of disease from preventable non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and several risk factors for later development of NCDs are potentially modifiable during adolescence. In Indonesia, limited data measuring NCD risk factors, prevalence and outcomes in adolescents contributes to a policy and practice gap. This study aims to explore the burden of NCDs experienced by Indonesian adolescents and examine opportunities for health system change.
A Cluster Randomised Trial Of Electronic Feedback, Online And Telephone Support On Multiple Health Risk Behaviours Among Technical And Further Education (TAFE) Students
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$634,076.00
Summary
This trial will examine whether electronic feedback and enrolment of TAFE students into online and telephone services reduces smoking rates and risky alcohol consumption and increases fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity levels in the long-term. Thirty-two TAFE campuses will participate. At intervention campuses, electronic feedback and online and telephone services will be offered to students for health behaviours which they do not meet Australian health guidelines.
EuropeaN Energy Balance Research To Prevent Excessive Weight Gain Among Youth: The ENERGY Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$102,209.00
Summary
The objective of the ENERGY project is to examine the influence of existing programs on health behaviours in different populations and settings in order to develop an evidence and theory-based approach for promoting physical activity and healthy eating among youth in transition from childhood to adolescence. The results of this project will be translated into practical strategies and knowledge that can be used by schools, policymakers, health professionals and the general public. The ENERGY proj ....The objective of the ENERGY project is to examine the influence of existing programs on health behaviours in different populations and settings in order to develop an evidence and theory-based approach for promoting physical activity and healthy eating among youth in transition from childhood to adolescence. The results of this project will be translated into practical strategies and knowledge that can be used by schools, policymakers, health professionals and the general public. The ENERGY project involves a multidisciplinary team of investigators from 10 European countries and Australia (Deakin University; DU). DU will participate in two of the 10 work packages (WP) in the proposal. The aim of WP3 is to identify the personal, social and physical environmental determinants in family and school of children’s physical activity and healthy eating. The aim of WP5 is to identify moderators and mediators of successful interventions to prevent obesity among children aged 10-12 years.Read moreRead less
Examining The Influence Of Neighbourhood Food And Alcohol Environments On Adolescent Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$334,414.00
Summary
The high prevalence of nutrition-related health problems in Australia underscores the growing concern about eating patterns. In order to advance our understanding of the determinants of eating behaviour it is necessary to consider the way the environment impacts on dietary intake. My planned research within this fellowship aims to generate policy relevant evidence on whether neighbourhood environments impact on food and alcohol consumption patterns as well as obesity risk as children transition ....The high prevalence of nutrition-related health problems in Australia underscores the growing concern about eating patterns. In order to advance our understanding of the determinants of eating behaviour it is necessary to consider the way the environment impacts on dietary intake. My planned research within this fellowship aims to generate policy relevant evidence on whether neighbourhood environments impact on food and alcohol consumption patterns as well as obesity risk as children transition from adolescence to adulthood.Read moreRead less