Nutritional Physiology Research Centre
Goals
Integrating diet and lifestyle changes to optimise human health:
-
evaluating health benefits of nutrients
-
evaluating benefits of physical activity
-
elucidating physiological mechanisms
-
substantiating functional food claims
The Nutritional Physiology Research Centre (NPRC) has an international reputation for human research on the roles of nutrition and physical activity in attaining and maintaining optimal cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health and in counteracting obesity and the diseases of affluence. The centre recognises the economic and social importance of addressing both diet and lifestyle in order to optimise health development and counteract risk factors for chronic disease across the lifespan.
Research Focus
Our primary interest lies in cardiovascular, metabolic, anti-inflammatory, and mental health benefits of diet and physical activity and the underlying mechanisms. Physiological effects of a range of foods (e.g. dairy, pork) and bioactive nutrients (e.g. omega-3 fats, phytoestrogens, antioxidants) and other dietary modifications are evaluated, alone or in combination with regular exercise, in human trials.
Assessments include physical and mental performance (mood, behaviour and cognition), non-invasive cardiovascular risk factors (ambulatory blood pressure, baroreflex function, cerebral blood flow, arterial elasticity, endothelial function) and circulating biomarkers (lipids, eicosanoids, cytokines) and body composition indices (total body fat, abdominal adiposity and bone density).
Stakeholders
The centre's research programmes are supported by Category One Funding (ARC, NHMRC and NHF), other Government funding and partnerships with food the industry. Research outcomes are expected to benefit food industry partners and consumers by supporting the development of healthier food products and substantiating associated health claims, and informing public health recommendations for nutrient intakes and physical activity requirements.
The Nutritional Physiology Research Centre is a member of the ATN Centre for Metabolic Fitness.
Stop Press: Volunteers needed for various studies on the impact of nutrition on health and physical performance.
See current projects for more information
Newsflash
The NPRC cultivates another tall poppy!