Diabetes, Renal and Cardiovascular Disease in Population Groups
Our research
Indigenous Australians have 15-20 years shorter life expectancy than other Australians. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are 10 times more prevalent in the 20-50 year age groups and contribute significantly to this premature mortality. A major aim of our research in this area is to better understand the reasons for these very poor health outcomes. We have a particular interest in defining risk factors which are amenable (in theory at least) to intervention, such as diet, smoking and physical activity. We conduct studies on the prevalence of diabetes and related conditions (such as obesity, kidney and heart disease) in Indigenous populations across northern and central Australia. Diets very low in fresh fruit and vegetables (and high in refined carbohydrates and fats) are associated with increased risk of obesity, diabetes and vascular disease. They are also are associated with a pro-oxidant, pro-inflammatory environment which further amplifies disease risk.
In stark contrast, Greek and Italian migrants to Australia have lower all-cause mortality than other Australians, with particularly low rates of major cancers and cardiovascular diseases - despite being more overweight and having other risk factors. The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study was designed to understand the reasons for these positive health outcomes: 40,000 people aged 40-69 years including 10,000 people born in southern Europe were recruited between1989-1993. We are examining the role of diet in protecting against vascular disease in particular. Southern European migrants consume diets rich in a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, and have olive oil as the major dietary fat, producing an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory environment which appears to protect against chronic degenerative diseases.
Our staff
- PROFESSOR KERIN O'DEA
- DR LAIMA BRAZIONIS
- DR ALLISON HODGE
- DR CATHERINE ITSIOPOULOS
- A/PROFESSOR DANNY LIEW
- A/PROFESSOR LEONARD PIERS
- DR MARNO RYAN
- DR ANDREW WILSON
Our students
- DR ANDREW BLACK (PhD)
- MS JASMINE LYONS (PhD)
- MR EUGENE TING (AMS)
Our major grants
- Health outcomes monitoring and evaluation: learning about activity, nutrition, diet and social factors - HOMELANDS
- NHMRC Program Grant, 2005-2009, $7,071,000 K O'Dea, W Hoy, K Rowley, J Best, Z Wang
- The Health 2020 Cohort Study (Health 2020). NHMRC Enabling Grant #396414, 2006-2010, $1.5m G Giles, K O'Dea, J Hopper, R Sutherland, D English, L Flicker, M Southey
Our key publications
- Shemesh T, Rowley KG, Jenkins A, Brimblecombe J, Best JD, O'Dea K. Differential association of C-reactive protein with adiposity in men and women of an Aboriginal community in north east Arnhemland in Australia. Internat J Obesity 2008
- Brimblecombe J, Mackerras D, Garnggulkpuy J, Maypilama E, Bundhala L, Dhurrkay R, Fitz J, Maple-Brown L, Shemesh T, Rowley K, O'Dea K. Leanness and type 2 diabetes in a population of Indigenous Australians. Diab Res Clin Prac 72:93-9, 2006
- Maple-Brown L, Piers LS, O'Rourke MF, Celermajer DS, O'Dea K. Central obesity is associated with reduced peripheral wave reflection in Indigenous Australian irrespective of diabetes status. J Hypertens 23:1403-7, 2005
- Hodge A, English D, O'Dea K, Giles GG. Increased diabetes incidence in Greek and Italian migrants to Australia: How much can be explained by known risk factors? Diabetes Care 27: 2330-4, 2004
- Rowley KG, Walker KZ, Cohen J, Jenkins AJ, O'Neal D, Su Q, Best JD, O'Dea K. Inflammation and vascular endothelial activation in an Aboriginal population: relationships to coronary risk factors and nutritional markers. Med J Aust. 178:495-500, 2003
Further information
Contact - enquiries @ medstv.unimelb.edu.au