Publications by authors named "Anthony Villani"

: Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) often report difficulties adhering to dietary interventions due to a combination of physiological and psychological barriers. Therefore, this study explores the feasibility of a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) intervention as an effective and acceptable dietary approach for managing PCOS. : Women with PCOS and a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m, aged 18-45 years were randomized to an ad libitum MedDiet or Healthy Eating (HE) diet (control).

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Background: The time before conception is an important opportunity to improve maternal lifestyle, and hence improve fertility and health. However, the components of effective preconception lifestyle interventions are unclear.

Objective And Rationale: This review aimed to assess the association of intervention characteristics and behaviour change techniques with the effect of lifestyle interventions on fertility, obstetric, foetal, anthropometric, and metabolic outcomes in women planning a pregnancy.

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Background & Aims: The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), with and without energy restriction, has been associated with reduced risk of numerous chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Exercise is well known to improve various health outcomes in individuals with chronic diseases and emerging evidence indicates that combining diet and exercise may be superior to individual interventions. The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effects of all MedDiet interventions (regardless of exercise or energy restriction), as well as MedDiet alone (and in hypocaloric and isocaloric subgroups) on body composition outcomes [weight, waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), body fat (BF), lean mass (LM) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT)] in adults with chronic disease.

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder that often persists into adulthood, leading to various adverse outcomes. Its underlying pathology is multifactorial, involving neurotransmitter imbalances, gut microbiota alterations, and oxidative and inflammatory dysregulation. Diet, a key environmental modifier of gut ecology, is consistently poorer in individuals with ADHD, with multiple nutrients implicated in its pathophysiology.

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: A healthy diet is essential for managing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), yet optimal recommendations remain unclear, highlighting the need to explore alternative lifestyle interventions. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) supports cardiometabolic health; however, challenges with adherence within this population are unknown. This study examines the acceptability and experiences of an ad libitum MedDiet in women with PCOS, offering recommendations for implementation.

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Background: While there is a recognised role of lifestyle (diet and physical activity) in management of infertility, there is limited research exploring the perspectives of people with infertility in relation to lifestyle management. The aim of this study was to understand the barriers and enablers affecting uptake of lifestyle intervention in people with infertility who were using or seeking fertility treatment.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was performed.

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Approximately 50% of all adults with heart failure (HF) are classified as frail. Frailty is a clinical state of 'accelerated ageing' that complicates management and results in adverse health outcomes. Despite recommendations for frailty assessment in HF guidelines, its implementation into routine clinical practice has been slow.

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There is mounting evidence for the involvement of the immune system, neuroinflammation and disturbed gut microbiota, or dysbiosis, in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Gut dysbiosis is strongly implicated in many physical, autoimmune, neurological, and neuropsychiatric conditions, however knowledge of its particular pathogenic role in ADHD is sparse. As such, this narrative review examines and synthesizes the available evidence related to inflammation, dysbiosis, and neural processes in ADHD.

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Athletes seek healthy diets for their health and performance. The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) has been widely studied for its health benefits. We conducted a scoping review of the scientific literature for studies reporting on the relationship between MedDiet adherence and performance and health outcomes in athletes.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study was conducted to explore the types and frequency of herbs and spices used in cooking by Australian households, recognizing their potential health benefits.
  • The research involved a survey with 400 adult participants, mainly women aged 25-64, revealing that about two-thirds used herbs and spices 1-2 times daily, primarily during meals.
  • The findings indicated that basil, pepper, and garlic were the most commonly used, and a moderate to high adherence to the Mediterranean diet was linked to daily herb and spice consumption.
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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder amongst reproductive-aged women associated with cardiometabolic, reproductive and psychological abnormalities. Lifestyle modification, including a healthy diet, is considered first-line treatment for management of clinical symptoms. However, there is limited high-quality evidence to support one superior therapeutic dietary intervention for PCOS management that is beyond general population-based dietary guidelines.

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Objective: This study aimed to explore the preprofessional identity of undergraduate nutrition and dietetic students to guide curriculum development to better support the expectations of students and promote career readiness in a changing profession.

Design: Qualitative focus group discussions in March, 2021.

Setting: An Australian university.

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Purpose: To explore the independent associations between adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet and severity of menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal and menopausal women living in Australia.

Methods: Dietary adherence was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) was used to assess the severity of menopausal symptoms, and the 36-item short form survey instrument (SF-36) was used to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Results: A total of n = 207 participants (50.

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Diet quality may be an important modifiable risk factor for mental health disorders. However, these findings have been inconsistent, particularly in older adults. We explored the independent associations between adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and severity of symptoms related to depression, anxiety and stress in older adults from Australia.

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Lifestyle strategies are considered first-line treatment for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, complementary therapies, including nutrient supplementation, have been identified as a potential adjunct therapy. Therefore, we systematically mapped the available literature to identify the type and frequency of the use of nutraceutical and micronutrient supplementation for the management of PCOS features.

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Dementia is understood to arise from a mixed etiology, enveloping chronic inflammatory and vascular impacts on the brain, driven by a constellation of modifiable risk factors which are largely mediated by lifestyle-related behaviors. These risk factors manifest over a prolonged preclinical period and account for up to 40% of the population attributable risk for dementia, representing viable targets for early interventions aimed at abating disease onset and progression. Here we outline the protocol for a 12-week randomized control trial (RCT) of a multimodal Lifestyle Intervention Study for Dementia Risk Reduction (LEISURE), with longitudinal follow-up at 6-months and 24-months post-intervention.

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Poor cognitive function is associated with reduced functional independence, risk of institutionalization and reduced health-related quality of life. The ability to independently perform instrumental activities of daily living (iADLs) is compromised in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Emerging evidence suggests that adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), may play an important protective role against cognitive decline and dementia risk, whilst preserving functional status.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study was conducted to explore the types of dietary oils and fats used by Australian households and their association with cardiometabolic disease risk.
  • The online survey, completed by 1248 adults mostly aged 25-44 and predominantly female, revealed that 84.5% used olive oil, with 65.4% opting for extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) primarily for raw preparation and savory cooking.
  • Participants indicated health benefits as the main reason for their oil choice (49.6%), followed by sensory preference (46.7%), versatility (10.2%), and convenience (8.8%).
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Improvements in infection control, management of chronic diseases and impressive advancements in modern medicine have all contributed to increases in life expectancy [...

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Infertility is a global health concern affecting 48 million couples and 186 million individuals worldwide. Infertility creates a significant economic and social burden for couples who wish to conceive and has been associated with suboptimal lifestyle factors, including poor diet and physical inactivity. Modifying preconception nutrition to better adhere with Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) is a non-invasive and potentially effective means for improving fertility outcomes.

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Background: Students in the United States gain weight significantly during their first year of university, however limited data are available for Australian students. Methods: This 12-month observational study was conducted to monitor monthly body weight and composition, as well as quarterly eating behaviours, dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and basal metabolic rate changes amongst first-year Australian university students. Participants were first-year university students over 18 years.

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine condition in reproductive-aged women associated with metabolic, reproductive and psychological features. Lifestyle modification (diet/physical activity) is considered first-line treatment for PCOS. However, there is limited high-quality evidence to support therapeutic dietary interventions for PCOS beyond general population-based healthy eating guidelines.

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Introduction: The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is described as a plant-based dietary pattern with adherence associated with reductions in chronic disease risk and longevity. Although the nutrient profile is diverse and complex, the MedDiet is often described as a rich source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) derived from fish, seafood and nuts. However, whether MedDiet adherence results in appreciable increases in tissue levels of n-3 PUFAs is yet to be systematically investigated.

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