Gestational diabetes detection thresholds and infant growth, nutrition, and neurodevelopment at 12-18 months: a prospective cohort study within a randomized trial.

Objective: To assess the impact of gestational diabetes(GDM) detection thresholds on infant growth, nutrition, and neurodevelopment at 12-18 months.

Design: Prospective cohort study within the GEMS trial(ACTRN12615000290594), which randomized pregnant women to detection of GDM using lower or higher glycemic criteria. The main outcomes were overweight/rapid weight gain; food approach appetitive score; energy intake; cognitive z-score.

Parent-reported offering of allergen foods to infants during complementary feeding: An observational study of New Zealand infants.

The prevalence of food allergies in New Zealand infants is uncertain but is believed to be similar to Australia, exceeding 10%. Current recommendations for reducing food allergy risk are to offer all major food allergens to infants from as early as six months of age (start of complementary feeding), and before 12 months of age. However, little is known regarding parental practices around introducing major food allergens.

Household food insecurity and novel complementary feeding methods in New Zealand families.

Optimal nutrition during infancy is critical given its influence on lifelong health and wellbeing. Two novel methods of infant complementary feeding, commercial baby food pouch use and baby-led weaning (BLW), are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Household food insecurity may influence complementary feeding practices adopted by families, but no studies have investigated the use of BLW and baby food pouches in families experiencing food insecurity.

Equations to estimate human milk intake in infants aged 7 to 10 months: prediction models from a cross-sectional study.

Background: Obtaining valid estimates of nutrient intake in infants is currently limited by the difficulties of accurately measuring human milk intake. Current methods are either unsuitable for large-scale studies (i.e.

Baby Food Pouches, Baby-Led Weaning, and Iron Status in New Zealand Infants: An Observational Study.

Iron deficiency in infants can impact development, and there are concerns that the use of baby food pouches and baby-led weaning may impair iron status. First Foods New Zealand (FFNZ) was an observational study of 625 New Zealand infants aged 6.9 to 10.

The Effects of GreenShell Mussel Powder (Brand-Named PERNAULTRA) on Physical Performance and Subjective Pain, Symptoms, and Function Measures in Knee Osteoarthritis: A 6-Mo Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) can cause disability and reduce quality of life (QoL).

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether GreenShell mussel (GSM) powder (PERNAULTRA) consumption was more effective than placebo at improving physical performance and subjective measures of symptoms and function in adults with early signs of knee OA.

Methods: The Researching Osteoarthritis and GSM study was a 6-mo randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in adults aged 55-80 y, screened for signs of OA ( = 120, 65.

Baby food pouches and Baby-Led Weaning: Associations with energy intake, eating behaviour and infant weight status.

Although concern is frequently expressed regarding the potential impact of baby food pouch use and Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) on infant health, research is scarce. Data on pouch use, BLW, energy intake, eating behaviour and body mass index (BMI) were obtained for 625 infants aged 7-10 months in the First Foods New Zealand study. Frequent pouch use was defined as ≥5 times/week during the past month.

Vitamin B and One-Carbon Metabolite Profiles Show Divergent Associations with Cardiometabolic Risk Markers but not Cognitive Function in Older New Zealand Adults: A Secondary Analysis of the REACH Study.

Background: Vitamin B inadequacies and elevated homocysteine status have been associated with impaired cognitive and cardiometabolic health with aging. There is, however, a scarcity of research investigating integrated profiles of one-carbon (1C) metabolites in this context, including metabolites of interconnected folate, methionine, choline oxidation, and transsulfuration pathways.

Objectives: The study aimed to examine associations between vitamins B and 1C metabolites with cardiometabolic health and cognitive function in healthy older adults, including the interactive effects of Apolipoprotein E-ε4 status.

Associations of protein intake, sources and distribution on muscle strength in community-dwelling older adults living in Auckland, New Zealand.

Protein intake, sources and distribution impact on muscle protein synthesis and muscle mass in older adults. However, it is less clear whether dietary protein influences muscle strength. Data were obtained from the Researching Eating Activity and Cognitive Health (REACH) study, a cross-sectional study aimed at investigating dietary patterns, cognitive function and metabolic syndrome in older adults aged 65-74 years.

Hair and cord blood element levels and their relationship with air pollution, dietary intake, gestational diabetes mellitus, and infant neurodevelopment.

Background & Aims: Exposure to a range of elements, air pollution, and specific dietary components in pregnancy has variously been associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk or infant neurodevelopmental problems. We measured a range of pregnancy exposures in maternal hair and/or infant cord serum and tested their relationship to GDM and infant neurodevelopment.

Methods: A total of 843 pregnant women (GDM = 224, Non-GDM = 619) were selected from the Complex Lipids in Mothers and Babies cohort study.

Body Fat Percentage and Blood Donation are the Strongest Determinants of Iron Stores in Premenopausal Women Joining the New Zealand Army.

Introduction: Suboptimal iron status is an issue for women joining the military because of its association with impaired aerobic performance, yet no studies have investigated dietary and non-dietary determinants of iron status simultaneously in this population. The purpose of this study was to explore associations between iron stores, dietary patterns (DPs), and potential non-dietary determinants of iron status in premenopausal women at the commencement of basic military training (BMT) in the New Zealand Army.

Methods: During week 1 of BMT, demographic, body composition, lifestyle, medical history, and dietary data were measured as potential determinants of serum ferritin (SF) in 101 participants.

Evaluation of Preconception Dietary Patterns in Women Enrolled in a Multisite Study.

Background: Diet indices are widely used in nutritional research across communities but do not "capture" the full extent of diet variability across multiple countries. Empirically derived dietary patterns can provide additional information because they reflect combinations of foods potentially associated with health outcomes. Limited studies have evaluated preconception dietary patterns in heterogeneous populations.

Plasma nervonic acid levels were negatively associated with attention levels in community-living older adults in New Zealand.

The global population is aging. Preserving function and independence of our aging population is paramount. A key component to maintaining independence is the preservation of cognitive function.

Starting complementary feeding with vegetables only increases vegetable acceptance at 9 months: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Starting complementary feeding (CF) with vegetables only may improve vegetable acceptance throughout childhood.

Objectives: We aimed to test whether exposure to vegetables only during the first 4 wk of CF increases later vegetable acceptance compared with a control group receiving fruit and vegetables.

Methods: In this randomized, controlled, parallel-group study, 117 Auckland infants received either vegetables only (veg-only, n = 61) or a combination of fruit and vegetables (control, n = 56) for a duration of 4 wk, starting from the first day of CF at ∼4-6 mo of age.

An Investigation of the Relationship Between Dietary Patterns in Early Pregnancy and Maternal/Infant Health Outcomes in a Chinese Cohort.

Background: Studies assessing links between maternal diet and pregnancy outcomes have focused predominantly on individual nutrients or foods. However, nutrients are typically consumed in combinations of foods or beverages (i.e.

Relative Validity and Reproducibility of a Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire for Determining Nutrient Intake in Older Adults in New Zealand: The REACH Study.

Dietary intake is an important predictor of health and disease outcomes. This cross-sectional study evaluated the relative validity and reproducibility of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for assessing energy and nutrient intake in older adults. Dietary data were collected 2018-2019 in Auckland, New Zealand from a convenience sample of community-dwelling adults (65-74 years, = 294, 37% male) using a 109-item self-administered FFQ at baseline (FFQ1) and four weeks later to assess reproducibility.

Dietary patterns and cognitive function in older New Zealand adults: the REACH study.

Purpose: The global population is ageing. Evidence show dietary patterns may be associated with cognitive status in older adults. This cross-sectional study investigated associations between dietary patterns and cognitive function in older adults in New Zealand.

Characterizing patterns of dietary exposure using metabolomic profiles of human biospecimens: a systematic review.

Context: Establishing diet-disease associations requires reliable assessment of dietary intake. With the rapid advancement of metabolomics, its use in identifying objective biomarkers of dietary exposure has substantially increased.

Objective: The aim of our review was to systematically combine all observational studies linking dietary intake patterns with metabolomic profiles of human biospecimens.

Sugar-sweetened beverages consumption among New Zealand children aged 8-12 years: a cross sectional study of sources and associates/correlates of consumption.

Background: The benefit of reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is widely accepted, but updated and in-depth data on New Zealand (NZ) children's SSB consumption is lacking. The aims of this study were to describe beverage consumption, focusing on SSBs in primary school age children living in Auckland; to examine the association of selected socio-demographic, home, community and school factors and children's beverage knowledge/attitudes with regards to beverage consumption; to explore the relationship between SSBs consumption and adiposity in children.

Methods: A cross-sectional, Auckland-wide survey of 578 school age children (8-12 years) was conducted using questionnaires to collect data on beverage consumption, beverage knowledge/attitudes, and selected socio-demographic and home, community, school factors.

Impact of a "vegetables first" approach to complementary feeding on later intake and liking of vegetables in infants: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Vegetables as first complementary foods for infants may programme taste preferences that lead to improved vegetable intake in children. Yet few studies have investigated the impact of a "vegetables first" approach to complementary feeding, especially in New Zealand. The purpose of this randomised control trial is to investigate the effect of starting complementary feeding with vegetables only on infants' later intake and liking of vegetables, compared to those starting with fruit and vegetables.

Relative Validity and Reproducibility of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Assessing Dietary Patterns and Food Group Intake in Older New Zealand Adults: The Researching Eating, Activity, and Cognitive Health Study.

Background: Dietary pattern analysis considers the overall dietary intake and combinations of foods eaten. Valid and reproducible tools for determining dietary patterns are necessary to assess diet-disease relationships.

Objective: This study evaluated the relative validity and reproducibility of the Researching Eating, Activity, and Cognitive Health (REACH) Study food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) specifically designed to identify dietary patterns in older adults.

Body composition associations with muscle strength in older adults living in Auckland, New Zealand.

Background: Aging is associated with decreases in muscle strength and simultaneous changes in body composition, including decreases in muscle mass, muscle quality and increases in adiposity.

Methods: Adults (n = 369; 236 females) aged 65-74 years living independently were recruited from the cross-sectional Researching Eating Activity and Cognitive Health (REACH) study. Body fat percentage and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) (sum of lean mass in the arms and legs) were assessed using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (Hologic, QDR Discovery A).

Strain engraftment competition and functional augmentation in a multi-donor fecal microbiota transplantation trial for obesity.

Background: Donor selection is an important factor influencing the engraftment and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for complex conditions associated with microbial dysbiosis. However, the degree, variation, and stability of strain engraftment have not yet been assessed in the context of multiple donors.

Methods: We conducted a double-blinded randomized control trial of FMT in 87 adolescents with obesity.