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September
7,
2005 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Agri-Food Research and Development
Initiative (ARDI) announced today it is putting nearly $50,000 of
federal-provincial funding towards research into whether a specific
component of some dietary fats found naturally in dairy products and
beef can reduce the progression of kidney disease associated with
obesity and diabetes.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is
a component of dietary fat. Research at the University of Manitoba
has already shown that synthetic (laboratory produced) CLA reduces
the progression of kidney disease in rats. This research will test
whether the CLA found in butter has protective benefits, and if so,
examine precisely how those benefits are transferred.
“The prospect of controlling
disease through diet offers tremendous potential to reduce the
burden of growing health care costs,” says David Gislason, chair of the ARDI
council. “In addition, this kind of research will benefit
agricultural producers by rigorously establishing the health
benefits of farm products, in this case, butter.” This project was
one of 16 projects recently approved by the ARDI Council.
Dr. Harold Aukema of the
Department of Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba
will be overseeing this research. In the study, healthy rats and
obese rats with an early stage of kidney disease are being given
diets containing no CLA, synthetic CLA and naturally occurring CLA
in the form of dairy products. Kidneys and blood from these rats
will be examined after eight weeks of this diet to determine the
effects of CLA on kidney function. A second study will examine CLA
effects on obese rats that have developed diabetes and a more
advanced stage of kidney disease.
“Since the prevalence of obesity is increasing
at alarming rates, and since kidney disease is a major risk factor
for cardiovascular disease, the potential for the use of dairy
products in the treatment of kidney disease has tremendous
implications, not only for the treatment and prevention of kidney
disease, but also for the prevention of cardiovascular problems
associated with kidney disease,” says Dr. Aukema.
“Research and development is a priority for the
Government of Canada, and it is important that we continue to fund
projects that promote innovation within the agriculture and agri-food
industry,” said
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Andy
Mitchell.
Studies such as this one will add to the body
of evidence that would be required in order to substantiate a health
claim for beef and dairy products, the primary source of CLA in the
human diet. Dr. Aukema is one of several researchers whose work is
putting Manitoba at the top of the world stage in terms of our
understanding of the health benefits of CLA.
“This investment is part of our government’s
on-going efforts to help support the development of functional foods
so Manitoba producers can take advantage of the opportunities
associated with this large and growing market,” said Manitoba
Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk.
ARDI’s commitment of $49,562 to this project is
part of a nearly $1 million commitment in recently approved funding.
The complete list of projects approved by ARDI Council in July can
be found at www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/research/ardi/projects/julyapp.html
ARDI is a research and development funding
program of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Manitoba
Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives. It is funded through
the Agricultural Policy Framework, a federal-provincial-territorial
long-term action plan for agriculture.
The next application deadline for ARDI funding
is October 1, 2005.
For
more information, please contact:
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Dr. Harold Aukema
Associate Professor, Human Nutritional Sciences
University of Manitoba
Ph: (204) 474-8076
or leave a message at 293-4894
(cell) |
David Gislason
Chair, ARDI Council
Ph: (204) 376-5578
Cell: (204) 641-1755 |
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