Post-meal vascular function and cardiovascular disease

Summary

Opportunity exists for research higher degree study on this and other projects, related to cardiovascular risk, atherosclerosis, obesity and nutrition. These potentially include clinical research projects, and/or laboratory studies.

Supervisor(s)

Dr Michael Skilton

Research Location

Camperdown - Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders

Program Type

Masters/PHD

Synopsis

Cardiovascular risk assessment based on traditional risk factors (such as cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes) does not fully explain the distribution of risk in the general population. It has been proposed that arterial endothelial function, as a measure of vascular health dependent on the global influence of risk factors, may predict the incidence of cardiovascular events independent of traditional risk factors alone.
Most studies concerning endothelial function and the influence of risk factors have been carried out in the fasting state, however humans spend most of their waking hours in the postprandial state (after the consumption of a meal). It has recently been demonstrated that postprandial triglyceride levels are strongly and independently associated with the risk of incident cardiovascular events, most apparent for triglyceride levels measured 2-4 hours postprandial. Studies using controlled meals have demonstrated that a single meal high in saturated fat acutely impairs endothelial function (Vogel et al, Am J Cardio 1997; Nicholls et al, J Am Coll Cardiol 2006), correlated with postprandial hypertriglyceridemia (Raitakari et al, J Am Coll Cardiol 2000; Skilton et al, Am J Physiol 2005).
As humans spend approximately 18 hours per day in the postprandial state, pronounced postprandial endothelial dysfunction may be an important determinant of cardiovascular disease.
We are currently undertaking a series of studies aimed at determining whether post-meal vascular function plays an important role in cardiovascular disease.

Keywords

atherosclerosis, endothelial function, Obesity, nutrition, lipids, cardiovascular

Opportunity ID

The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is: 1431

Other opportunities with Dr Michael Skilton

• The fetal environment, pregnancy, and cardiovascular risk