December 9, 2016

Associate Professor Barbara Meyer wins Nutrition Society of Australia Medal

Researcher recognised for studies on the effect of omega-3s in pregnancy and on prison populations

The work of University of Wollongong (UOW) researchers has been recognised at the annual Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA) conference in Melbourne.

Associate Professor Barbara Meyer (pictured), Director of the Lipid Research Centre at UOW’s School of Medicine, was announced as the annual NSA Medal winner, while one of Professor Meyer’s PhD students, Lauren Roach (also pictured), won the best student oral presentation award.

The NSA Medal is awarded to an Australian nutrition scientist with an outstanding track record in the field of animal or human nutrition who is currently highly active in his or her field of endeavour. No more than one NSA Medal is awarded in any one year.

Professor Meyer, who is best known for her research on the intakes and health benefits of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, said it was an honour to have her work acknowledged by her peers.

“This award has really recognised a lot of the work I have done with regard to Australian intakes of omega-3s and their relation to health,” she said. “My research on the Australian intakes of omega-3s has informed the National Health and Medical Research Council on suggested dietary targets for optimal health.”

One strand of Professor Meyer’s research, conducted in collaboration with Dr Dilys Freeman from the University of Glasgow, concerns the role of omega-3s in pregnancy.

“A lot of what I have done has been looking at omega-3s not only in normal pregnancy but also with complicated pregnancies, like pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction,” Professor Meyer said.

“We’re trying to understand why women who suffer from pre-eclampsia get fat (including omega-3s) stuck in their placenta which results in reduced levels being transported across the placenta.

“And also, our research has shown that omega-3s, particularly DHA which is a type of omega-3, is very important just when the neural tube is closing, so very early in pregnancy. The mother has to mobilise enough DHA for that to happen.”

This research suggests that DHA is just as important as folate for the closure of the neural tube at this very early stage of pregnancy, and that women who can mobilise DHA at the critical time will increase their chances of a successful pregnancy.

It’s not just pregnant women who can benefit from omega-3s - Professor Meyer has also conducted research into the effects of omega-3 supplements on aggressive behaviour in prison populations.

“The study showed that prisoners with low blood levels of omega-3s had higher levels of aggressive behaviour, and also Attention Deficit Disorder, and conversely, men with high levels of omega-3s had lower levels of aggressive behaviour,” she said.

Professor Meyer is now following up that pilot study with further research, funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership Grant that will look at the effects of omega-3 supplements on inmates at six correctional facilities across NSW and South Australia.

“Our hypothesis is that over the four months of the study their levels of aggressive behaviour will be reduced,” Professor Meyer said.

“The biological plausibility behind that hypothesis is that omega-3s are building blocks for the brain - you need to have good omega-3s for the brain.

“What we’re saying is that people who have that aggression tendency, have a short fuse, and if we put omega-3s back into the brain then we are making their aggression fuse longer, so they have more time to think before they act.

“So rather than flying off the handle and react aggressively, they think about the potential consequences before they act.”

Professor Meyer was honoured to receive the NSA Medal, but said she was surprised and delighted when her PhD student, Lauren Roach, was also recognised.

“They had 75 students there from around Australia, and out of those, roughly half had oral presentations so she did really well,” Professor Meyer said.