What is the issue for NSW?
Almost 10% of people in NSW over the age of 16 have Type 2 diabetes. Approximately 34% of Australian adults also have high blood pressure, and 23% of the population’s hypertension (high blood pressure) is uncontrolled, putting them at a greater risk of heart disease. Identifying a metabolic signature, that includes markers from foods consumed and is associated with a reduction in blood pressure will allow more personalised nutrition interventions for hypertension management and prevention. Additionally, understanding how an individual’s genetic risk for high blood pressure influences these dietary signatures will help identify those who may respond better to specific dietary interventions. This will be important for the prevention and management of high blood pressure in at risk populations, including people with Type 2 diabetes.
What does the research aim to do and how?
This research aims to firstly identify a metabolomic signature associated with diet and blood pressure response in healthy adults and adults living in rural communities who are at an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. Secondly, this research will identify how genetic risk for high blood pressure impacts the relationship between diet, diet-derived metabolites and blood pressure; in adults with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Lastly, this research will identify how these diet-related metabolic signatures in people with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension change in response to two heart-healthy diets within a controlled feeding study.
The top three key measures/indicators being used to assess the research outcomes are:
- Diet-related metabolomic signatures from plasma and urine samples
- Systolic and diastolic blood pressure
- Genetic risk of hypertension