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CSIRO Human Nutrition

Supporting businesses
that promote health and
wellbeing

Fast facts

CSIRO Human Nutrition is involved in the substantiation of health claims for functional foods that may have benefits for:

Obesity and weight management

Diabetes

Cardiovascular disease

Exercise and physical performance

Cognition

Appetite control

Bowel health

Vascular disease

Bone health

Fertility and reproductive health

Expertise, facilities and equipment

Our researchers design and coordinate trials to establish the health potential of diets, food products, nutrients, supplements and food related pharmaceuticals. Researchers recruit broad or specific volunteer groups, manage and analyse data and undertake a wide variety of laboratory analyses.

State-of-the-art laboratory techniques include:

A comprehensive range of blood cardiovascular biomarkers measured with precision analytical equipment;

Access to DEXA (Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) for body composition testing;

Ultra-sound for flow mediated dilation as an indicator of arterial health, and measurement of carotid intimal medial thickness; and

Ambulatory blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, central compliance measures by pulse wave analysis.

Trials typically involve 10 - 120 volunteer subjects and can accommodate larger numbers if required.

We offer:

  • Advice on study design and measurements (biomarkers);
  • Coordination of studies involving volunteers;
  • Pre-launch product testing and efficacy trials;
  • Consultancy, research advice and literature reviews;
  • Phase II and III clinical trials;
  • Multicentre randomised trials;
  • Collaboration with local hospitals and research centres; and
  • Presentation of findings through client reports, scientific publications, conferences and media releases.

Another area of research activity involves measuring the effects in humans and animals of polyphenols (plant antioxidant compounds) from grapes, grape seeds and palm plants. One of the compounds tested from grape seeds is now commercially available in chocolate ice-cream and wine-flavoured chocolate.