25 July 2014
Australian researchers are collaborating on a joint study to see if fish oil supplements can improve chronic lung conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Working together, researchers from UniSA’s Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, the Repatriation General Hospital and the University of Newcastle want to assess the impact of doses of fish oil on a range of lung conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an inflammatory disease of the lungs.
PhD researcher at UniSA, Ashley Fulton says winter’s cold and wet weather can exacerbate some respiratory conditions so it is a good opportunity to carry out the research.
“We know that fish oil has been beneficial combatting other inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular disease and ulcerative colitis,” Fulton says.
“We hope that by researching the effects of fish oil in people with chronic lung disease, we might be able to offer a nutritional therapy that could be used in conjunction with current medical practices.”
Fulton and the research team are looking for volunteers who have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or chronic bronchitis to participate in the study.
Participants should be non-smokers aged between 18 and 80 years old, who are not already taking fish oil supplements.
Volunteers will be asked to visit the Repatriation General Hospital in Daw Park on two occasions throughout the study and all eligible participants will receive four months’ supply of capsules for free as part of the study.
To find out more about making a contribution to this important study, potential volunteers can telephone Ashley Fulton on (08) 8302 1317 or email Ashley.fulton@mymail.unisa.edu.au.
Media contact: Michèle Nardelli office: 08 8302 0966 mobile: 0418 823 673 email: Michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au
