Design and evaluation of the "Feel Good" feasibility study - a multi-component fruit and vegetable intervention in children measuring cognitive and mental health outcomes.

Background: Observational evidence suggests that increasing fruit and vegetable (FV) intake has the potential to improve children's cognitive function and mental well-being, but this has not yet been empirically tested in intervention research. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a multi-component FV intervention which measures mental and cognitive health outcomes in children.

Methods: The 'Feel Good Study' was a cluster-randomised controlled feasibility study conducted in four New Zealand primary schools, with equal allocation of schools to intervention and wait-list control arms.

The effect of fruits and vegetables on children's mental and cognitive health: A systematic review of intervention studies and perspective for future research.

Objectives: To synthesize evidence from fruit and vegetable intervention studies investigating mental or cognitive health outcomes (or both) in children ≤10 y. Our aim was to understand the efficacy of such interventions in improving measures of cognitive performance or mental health and to identify successful intervention elements to inform future research.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search of the Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, and CINAHL databases for articles published before August 2022 (PROSPERO registration no.

Nourishing the Infant Gut Microbiome to Support Immune Health: Protocol of SUN (Seeding Through Feeding) Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The introduction of complementary foods during the first year of life influences the diversity of the gut microbiome. How this diversity affects immune development and health is unclear.

Objective: This study evaluates the effect of consuming kūmara or kūmara with added banana powder (resistant starch) compared to a reference control at 4 months post randomization on the prevalence of respiratory tract infections and the development of the gut microbiome.

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.

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.

Adaptation of the infant gut microbiome during the complementary feeding transition.

The infant gut microbiome progresses in composition and function during the introduction of solid foods throughout the first year of life. The purpose of this study was to characterize changes in healthy infant gut microbiome composition, metagenomic functional capacity, and associated metabolites over the course of the complementary feeding period. Fecal samples were obtained at three 'snapshot' timepoints from infants participating in the 'Nourish to Flourish' pilot study: before the introduction of solid foods at approximately 4 months of age, after introducing solid foods at 9 months of age, and after continued diet diversification at 12 months of age.

Adherence to Dietary Guidelines among Women with and without Gestational Diabetes: Evidence from the Growing up in New Zealand Study.

Diet is thought to play a role in the development and management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Dietary guidelines provide practical recommendations for achieving nutrient requirements and mitigating the risk of chronic disease. The aim of this study was to describe the adherence to dietary guidelines by women with and without GDM and determine whether adherence is associated with the development of GDM.

"Nourish to Flourish": complementary feeding for a healthy infant gut microbiome-a non-randomised pilot feasibility study.

Background: The introduction of complementary foods and changes in milk feeding result in modifications to gastrointestinal function. The interplay between indigestible carbohydrates, host physiology, and microbiome, and immune system development are areas of intense research relevant to early and later-life health.

Methods: This 6-month prospective non-randomised feasibility study was conducted in Auckland, New Zealand (NZ), in January 2018.

Adherence to Clinical Practice Guideline Recommendations in Women with Gestational Diabetes and Associations with Maternal and Infant Health-A Cohort Study.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is managed by dietary advice, but limited evidence exists about the impact of adherence on health. We assessed whether adherence to the New Zealand Ministry of Health dietary recommendations is associated with maternal and infant health in women with GDM. Data from 313 women with GDM were used.

The technique 'joint and individual variance explained' highlights persistent aspects of the diet using longitudinal food frequency data.

Dietary pattern analysis is typically based on dimension reduction and summarises the diet with a small number of scores. We assess 'joint and individual variance explained' (JIVE) as a method for extracting dietary patterns from longitudinal data that highlights elements of the diet that are associated over time. The Auckland Birthweight Collaborative Study, in which participants completed an FFQ at ages 3·5 ( 549), 7 ( 591) and 11 ( 617), is used as an example.

Type of Milk Feeding and Introduction to Complementary Foods in Relation to Infant Sleep: A Systematic Review.

Inconsistent conclusions from infant sleep and feeding studies may influence parents feeding-related decisions. This study aimed to systematically review the existing literature on infant sleep and its relation to the timing of introduction to complementary foods and type of milk feeding to better understand their role(s) in infant sleep. Cohort, longitudinal, cross-sectional studies, and controlled trials were identified using online searches of five databases up to April 2020.

Changes in HMO Concentrations throughout Lactation: Influencing Factors, Health Effects and Opportunities.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are important functional biomolecules in human breast milk. Understanding the factors influencing differences in HMO composition and changes in their concentration over lactation can help to design feeding strategies that are well-adapted to infant's needs. This review summarises the total and individual concentration of HMOs from data published from 1999 to 2019.

Protein Intake, IGF-1 Concentrations, and Growth in the Second Year of Life in Children Receiving Growing Up Milk - Lite (GUMLi) or Cow's Milk (CM) Intervention.

The relationship of protein intake with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations in well-nourished children during the second year of life is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of a reduced-protein Growing Up Milk Lite (GUMLi) or unfortified cow's milk (CM) on protein intake, growth, and plasma IGF-1 at 2 y. An exploratory analysis of a sub-sample of Auckland-based children ( = 79) in the GUMLi trial (a double-blind, randomised control trial, = 160) completed in Auckland and Brisbane (2015-2017) was conducted.

Stepwise tailoring and test-retest of reproducibility of an ethnic-specific FFQ to estimate nutrient intakes for South Asians in New Zealand.

Objective: To develop and test-retest the reproducibility of an ethnic-specific FFQ to estimate nutrient intakes for South Asians (SA) in New Zealand (NZ).

Design: Using culturally appropriate methods, the NZFFQ, a validated dietary assessment tool for NZ adults, was modified to include SA food items by analysing foods consumed by SA participants of the Adult Nutrition Survey, in-person audit of ethnic food stores and a web scan of ethnic food store websites in NZ. This was further refined via three focus group discussions, and the resulting New Zealand South Asian Food Frequency Questionnaire (NZSAFFQ) was tested for reproducibility.

Factor structure of the SDQ and longitudinal associations from pre-school to pre-teen in New Zealand.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the validity of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in a cohort of New Zealand children followed from birth to the age of eleven. The study also aimed to assess the stability of the child data in relation to behavioural outcomes during this period.

Methods: Children in the Auckland Birthweight Collaborative Study were assessed at approximately 3½, 7 and 11 years of age.

Dietary recommendations for women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines.

Context: Dietary advice is the cornerstone of care for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to improve maternal and infant health.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare dietary recommendations made in clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the management of GDM, evaluate their evidence base, identify research gaps, and assess CPG quality. The PRISMA guidelines were used.

First 1000 days: New Zealand Mothers' perceptions of early life nutrition resources.

Research into associations between early life nutritional exposures and vulnerability to adult non-communicable disease (NCD) highlights the importance of maternal diet. A booklet outlining evidence-based dietary guidelines for the first 1000 days of life was first published in 2016 by early life nutrition experts for distribution to pregnant women in Australia and New Zealand. First-time New Zealand mothers' (n=9) perceptions of the booklet and its relevance for the future health of their child were explored via semi-structured focus groups and interviews.

The relationship between maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and infant appetitive feeding behaviour at 6 months.

Early dietary exposure may influence infant appetitive feeding behaviour, and therefore their later health. Maternal diabetes in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of obesity in the offspring. We, therefore, examined third-trimester dietary patterns of women with gestational diabetes, their offspring's appetitive feeding behaviour at 6 months of age, and relationships between these.

Human Milk Glucocorticoid Levels Are Associated With Infant Adiposity and Head Circumference Over the First Year of Life.

Human milk (HM) is a complex and dynamic biological fluid, which contains appreciable concentrations of the glucocorticoids, cortisol and cortisone. Experimental studies in non-human primates suggest the HM glucocorticoids' impact on infant growth and body composition. In this current study, analysis is made of the relationships between HM glucocorticoid concentrations and the infant growth and development over the first year of life.

Validation and calibration of the Eating Assessment in Toddlers FFQ (EAT FFQ) for children, used in the Growing Up Milk - Lite (GUMLi) randomised controlled trial.

The Eating Assessment in Toddlers FFQ (EAT FFQ) has been shown to have good reliability and comparative validity for ranking nutrient intakes in young children. With the addition of food items (n 4), we aimed to re-assess the validity of the EAT FFQ and estimate calibration factors in a sub-sample of children (n 97) participating in the Growing Up Milk - Lite (GUMLi) randomised control trial (2015-2017). Participants completed the ninety-nine-item GUMLi EAT FFQ and record-assisted 24-h recalls (24HR) on two occasions.

The Effect of Interactions between Folic Acid Supplementation and One Carbon Metabolism Gene Variants on Small-for-Gestational-Age Births in the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) Cohort Study.

Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) is associated with significant perinatal morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to investigate gene-nutrient interactions between maternal one-carbon single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and folic acid supplement (FAS) use, and their association with SGA. Nulliparous New Zealand women with singleton pregnancy were recruited as part of the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints prospective cohort study.

An analysis of omega-3 fatty acid status in a population of pregnant women with obesity, at higher risk of preterm birth.

An updated Cochrane Review showed that maternal supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids reduced preterm birth, offering a potential strategy for prevention. We hypothesised that pregnant women with obesity, at higher risk of preterm birth, would have low omega-3 fatty acid levels and may benefit from supplementation. Our study measured the omega-3 fatty acid levels of 142 participants from the Healthy Mums and Babies study, Counties Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand.