A WESTERN Health doctor is spearheading a two-year study aimed at cutting rates of cardiovascular disease.
Western Health nephrologist Associate Professor Nigel Toussaint is working with Dr Genie Pedagogos of the Royal Melbourne Hospital to explore the effects of phosphate on cardiovascular health.
Associate Professor Toussaint said up to half of patients with chronic kidney disease died from cardiovascular disease, and controlling phosphate may help to reduce that complication.
“We need to find out more about the potential effects of phosphate on cardiovascular health,” he said.
“At the moment we have no idea whether using phosphate binders or other methods to lower phosphate makes any difference to improving clinical outcomes.”
Associate Professor Toussaint believes the results may be relevant to a much larger population group.
“If you look at the general population and measure their phosphate levels over a period of time, those with higher phosphate levels tend to run into trouble with kidney or cardiovascular problems later on.”
Some studies have suggested that high levels of certain phosphate in food may be harmful. The national project has received $1.6 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council for studies across 15 sites in Australia and New Zealand.
—Benjamin Millar
