Prospective Study of Dietary Zinc Intake and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Women.

Several animal and human studies have shown that zinc is associated with cellular damage and cardiac dysfunction. This study aims to investigate dietary zinc and the zinc-iron ratio, as predictors of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a large longitudinal study of mid-age Australian women (aged 50-61 years). Data was self-reported and validated food frequency questionnaires were used to assess dietary intake.

Interventions in sports settings to reduce risky alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm: a systematic review.

Background: Elevated levels of risky alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm have been reported for sportspeople and supporters compared to non-sporting populations. Limited systematic reviews have been conducted to assess the effect of interventions targeting such behaviours.

Methods: A review was undertaken to determine if interventions implemented in sports settings decreased alcohol consumption and related harms.

Dietary zinc is associated with a lower incidence of depression: findings from two Australian cohorts.

Background: Several animal and human studies have shown that zinc plays a role in reducing depression, but there have been no longitudinal studies in both men and women on this topic. The aim of this study was to investigate dietary zinc, and the zinc to iron ratio, as predictors of incident depression in two large longitudinal studies of mid-age and older Australians.

Methods: Data were self-reported, as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women׳s Health (women aged 50-61 years) and Hunter Community Study (men and women aged 55-85 years).

Is serum zinc associated with pancreatic beta cell function and insulin sensitivity in pre-diabetic and normal individuals? Findings from the Hunter Community Study.

Aim: To determine if there is a difference in serum zinc concentration between normoglycaemic, pre-diabetic and type-2 diabetic groups and if this is associated with pancreatic beta cell function and insulin sensitivity in the former 2 groups.

Method: Cross sectional study of a random sample of older community-dwelling men and women in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Beta cell function, insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance were calculated for normoglycaemic and prediabetes participants using the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-2) calculator.

Prevalence of and associations with excessive daytime sleepiness in an Australian older population.

The aim of this research is to estimate the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness in an older population and associations with sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle factors using a cross-sectional, population-based study. Participants were men (1560) and women (1759), aged 55 to 85 years, enrolled in the Hunter Community Study, a longitudinal study of aging. Measurements were self-reported questionnaires, biochemical measures, and clinical measures.

Is dietary zinc protective for type 2 diabetes? Results from the Australian longitudinal study on women's health.

Background: Animal studies have shown that zinc intake has protective effects against type 2 diabetes, but few studies have been conducted to examine this relationship in humans. The aim of this study is to investigate if dietary zinc is associated with risk of type 2 diabetes in a longitudinal study of mid-age Australian women.

Methods: Data were collected from a cohort of women aged 45-50 years at baseline, participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health.

Is serum zinc level associated with prediabetes and diabetes?: a cross-sectional study from Bangladesh.

Aims: To determine serum zinc level and other relevant biological markers in normal, prediabetic and diabetic individuals and their association with Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) parameters.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and December 2009. Any patient aged ≥ 30 years attending the medicine outpatient department of a medical university hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh and who had a blood glucose level ordered by a physician was eligible to participate.