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Karina completes omega 3 research
Within one year of starting a degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast, biomedical science student Karina Hamilton has completed some nationally-significant research.
Karina, 18, has tested whether commercially-available omega 3 fatty acid capsules in Australia contain the concentrations of the fatty acid indicated on their labels.
After months of rigorous testing of 19 different supplements that are available from pharmacies and supermarkets, the accelerated Honours student found that the manufacturers’ labels were accurate.
“This research was needed because omega 3 capsules are classed as low-risk complementary medicines,” she said. “Because of that, each product is not individually assessed.”
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) funded Karina’s research and recently flew her to its head office in Canberra to present her findings to scientists there and by video link to other scientists in New Zealand.
Karina said she had assessed a range of fish oil tablets, along with flaxseed and evening primrose oil tablets which also contain omega 3 fatty acids.
“I was in the lab for about eight weeks over summer for this research. I loved it. This is the type of research that I want to do after I graduate,” she said.
“FSANZ seemed to be impressed by my presentation which went for about 20-25 minutes, with question time at the end,” she said. “They were satisfied with the tests that I did and the methods that I used.”
Karina is from Hervey Bay. She graduated from Urangan State High School in 2007 with an OP1, and last year received a $12,000 Renouf Family Scholarship for Academic Excellence through the University of the Sunshine Coast Foundation.
As an accelerated Honours student, Karina will complete her four-year Biomedical Science program with Honours in just three years. Her workload each semester is greater than most students, but she has so far maintained top marks for all courses.
Karina’s work placement with FSANZ was the equivalent of two subjects and was supervised by Drs. Fraser Russell, Peter Brooks, and Mark Holmes.
Dr Russell said feedback from FSANZ showed that Karina had delivered an excellent presentation.
Prospective students interested in applying for the accelerated Honours program at USC can email SHEinfo@usc.edu.au.
— Terry Walsh