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| Aya Mousa |
Ms Aya Mousa, a PhD student from the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI) at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) was nominated for two awards at the recent Australian Diabetes Society’s (ADS) scientific meeting for her study of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy.
A finalist in Young Investigator Award at the ADS meeting, Aya’s study showed that low vitamin D levels are related to increased cardiometabolic risk factors during pregnancy as well as increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including gestational diabetes and preterm birth.
Aya was also a finalist in the Clinical Science Poster Award competition for her meta-analysis of randomised trials, which showed that vitamin D supplementation improved concentrations of inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes.
“Our research suggests that vitamin D supplementation may be a beneficial adjunct therapy for reducing inflammation, particularly in conditions associated with increased chronic low-grade inflammation such as in type 2 diabetes and during pregnancy,” Aya said.
Also at the ADS meeting, Associate Professor Barbora de Courten delivered an oral presentation about her vitamin D supplementation study.
“The results of our NHMRC-funded clinical trial showed that vitamin D supplementation, despite being provided in a sufficient dose and duration to vitamin D-deficient individuals, had no effect on clinical diabetes risk factors including insulin sensitivity and secretion, and is therefore unlikely to be an effective strategy for diabetes prevention,” Associate Professor de Courten said.
Fellow PhD students Mr Estifanos Baye and Dr Negar Naderpoor also delivered oral presentations at the ADS meeting.
The Chronic Disease Prevention Team are now recruiting participants with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (diet-controlled or on metformin only) aged 18 to 70 years to participate in ongoing clinical trials at Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation in Clayton, Victoria. To find out more information or to take part in the studies, please contact Josphin Johnson at 0385722629 or email: med-carnosineir@monash.edu