| The Adelaide presentation
by Professor Penny Kris-Etherton, held at the State Library, was preceded
by a Nutritional Physiology Research Showcase by students and researchers
from the School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia.
This featured short talks
by students explaining current research being undertaken at the School
of Health Sciences:
Kade Davison: "Obesity - A Circulatory
Disorder?"
Kade's research has explored the
feedback loop between obesity, blood vessels and exercise ie obesity impacts
negatively on blood vessel function which impairs an obese person's ability
to benefit from exercise. Therefore interventions which improve blood vessel
function, including the addition of bionutrients in the diet, should have
a positive impact on the fat-burning capacity of an obese person during
exercise.
Alison Hill: "Bioactive Nutrients
and Exercise - Healthy Combinations"
Alison discussed the effects of
Omega 3 fatty acids (ie fish oil capsules) combined with aerobic exercise.
She reported there appeared to be a synegistic effect where the supplementation
of Omega 3 fatty acids improved the results of exercise. Research in the
future would examine green tea, cocoa and grape seed extract.
Dr Alison Coates: "Omega 3 - How
Much Do We Need"
Dr Coates' project is aiming to
determine at what level Omega 3 intake benefits cardiovascular risk factors.
She is establishing a dose response relationship between Omega 3s and a
number of markers including lipids, blood pressure and vascular health.
In a follow-on project, she is assessing whether it is possible to enrich
novel food sources, such as pork, with Omega 3s and determine if the same
level of benefit can be seen from these foods.
Alicia Thorp: "Soy - Where Is
The Benefit"
Alicia's research is based on the
theory that isoflavones in soy improve vascular function, increasing cranial
blood flow. This may also assist the effectiveness of neurotransmitters
in the brain. Cognitive tests indicated improvements in memory, sustained
attention, executive mental function and planning ability. However she
found soy did not lower LDL cholesterol which seemed to contradict the
current FDA health claim re soy and heart disease.
Natalie Sinn: "Nutrients For A
Healthy Mind"
Natalie discussed the results of
a 30-week trial during which Omega 3 capsules were given to children with
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or learning and behavioural
problems. Parents of children who took capsules containing a combination
of fish oil and primrose oil reported that their children had increased
attention spans and reduced hyperactivity, restlessness and impulsivity
compared with children who took a placebo.
As a special bonus Jon Buckley
previewed his research into a new whey protein hydrolyate which enhances
recovery of "isometric muscle torque" following eccentric exercise (a type
of exercise which leads to muscle soreness and weakness). This protein
hydrolyate, which is to be marketed commercially, should be of great interest
to sportspeople, especially those competing in multi-day events.
ABOVE: Back row, Alison Hill,
Prof Peter Howe, Jon Buckley,
Kade Davison; front row, Dr Alison
Coates, Natalie Sinn,
Prof Penny Kris-Etherton and
Alicia Thorp
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