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BackgroundAnecdotally, vegetarian eating patterns seem to be increasing in parallel with growing concerns about environmental sustainability. While this pattern of eating is widely believed to be associated with benefits for the planet and individual health, it may increase the risk of inadequate intakes and nutrient deficiency if not planned carefully. Adolescent girls may be particularly at risk, as they have increased requirements for nutrients such as iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamin B12 during growth and development. ObjectiveThe objective of the SuNDiAL Project (Survey of Nutrition, Dietary Assessment, and Lifestyles) is to compare the dietary intakes and habits, nutrition status, motivations, attitudes, and physical activity of a sample of vegetarian and nonvegetarian adolescent girls in New Zealand. MethodsA clustered, cross-sectional, nationwide study of adolescents aged 15-18 years was conducted. Secondary schools were recruited throughout New Zealand, and pupils (n=290) were invited to participate in data collection in either the first (February to April) or third (August to October) school term of 2019 (New Zealand schools operate on a 4-term year). Sociodemographic and health information; vegetarian status; dietary habits; and attitudes, motivations, and beliefs regarding food choices were assessed via an online self-administered questionnaire. Dietary intakes were collected via two 24-hour diet recalls on nonconsecutive days and will be adjusted for within-person variation using the Multiple Source Method, to represent usual intakes. Nutrient adequacy will be assessed by the estimated average requirement cut-point method or probability approach as appropriate. Height and weight were measured, and blood and urine samples collected for micronutrient status assessment. Participants wore an accelerometer for 7 days to assess 24-hour activity patterns (time spent asleep, sedentary, or engagement in light-intensity or moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity). ResultsRecruitment and data collection were conducted in 2019. Data are currently being cleaned and analyzed, with publication of the main results anticipated at the end of 2020. ConclusionsThe SuNDiAL Project will provide a meaningful and timely description of diet, nutrition status, and motivational factors associated with vegetarianism and identify any risks this pattern of eating may pose for female adolescents. The results of this study will support the development of targeted recommendations and interventions aimed at enhancing the health, growth, and development of adolescent girls. Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619000290190; https://tinyurl.com/yaumh278 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/17310

Background: Indonesia ranks fifth in terms of the number of stunted children and there has been little change in the stunting prevalence in the last decade. In earlier observational studies conducted in 2014-2015, we identified several key underlying problems with the potential to impact stunting in Sumedang district, West Java, Indonesia. Deficits in intakes of growth-limiting micronutrients were observed, most notably calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin A, emphasizing the need for a food-based intervention to overcome these micronutrient deficits in the diets of mothers and their infants. Methods: A double-blind placebo-controlled cluster randomised trial comparing the effect of daily consumption of 75 grams of locally produced micronutrient-enriched crackers (MEC) (intervention group) compared to placebo crackers (control group) by mothers at two-time intervals: (i) from the 8-14 weeks of pregnancy to delivery (i.e., 28-34 weeks of consumption of MEC) on birth length, and (ii) from the 8-14 weeks of pregnancy to 5 months post-partum on attained linear growth and linear growth velocity of breast-fed infants. A total of 324 pregnant women from 28 clusters (villages) located in 3 sub-districts in Sumedang district, West Java, Indonesia, will be randomly assigned to either intervention (n=14 villages) or control (n=14 villages). Discussi on: This will be the first study in Indonesia to use crackers based on powdered eggshells and chicken liver, in a form which is acceptable, safe, and has a long shelf life. If daily consumption of MEC for 6 months during pregnancy can enhance birth length, or their continued daily consumption for 5 months postpartum improves both attained and incremental linear growth at 5 months of age, then scaling-up in Indonesia may be considered. Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04564222 ; 25 th September 2020.

BackgroundMaternal micronutrient deficits during preconception and pregnancy may persist during lactation and compromise human milk composition.ObjectiveWe measured micronutrient concentrations in human milk and investigated their association with maternal micronutrient intakes, status, and milk volume.MethodsInfant milk intake (measured via a deuterium dose-to-mother technique), milk micronutrient and fat concentrations, and maternal micronutrient intakes were assessed at 2 and 5 mo postpartum in 212 Indonesian lactating mother-infant pairs. Maternal hemoglobin, ferritin, transferrin receptors, retinol binding protein (RBP), zinc, selenium, and vitamin B-12 were measured at 5 mo (n = 163). Multivariate or mixed effects regression examined associations of milk micronutrient concentrations with maternal micronutrient intakes, status, and milk volume.ResultsPrevalence of anemia (15%), and iron (15% based on body iron), selenium (2.5%), and vitamin B-12 deficiency (0%) were low compared with deficiencies of zinc (60%) and vitamin A (34%). The prevalence of inadequate intakes was >50% for 7 micronutrients at 2 and 5 mo. Median milk concentrations for most micronutrients were below reference values, and nearly all declined between 2 and 5 mo postpartum and were not associated substantially with milk volume (except for β-carotene, α-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin). At 5 mo postpartum, associations between maternal micronutrient status and corresponding milk concentrations reported as mean percentage difference in human milk concentration for each unit higher maternal biomarker were significant for hemoglobin (1.9%), iron biomarkers (ranging from 0.4 to 7%), RBP (35%), selenium (70%), and vitamin B-12 (0.1%), yet for maternal intakes only a positive association with β-carotene existed.ConclusionsMost milk micronutrient concentrations declined during lactation, independent of changes in human milk production, and few were associated with maternal micronutrient intakes. The significant associations between maternal biomarkers and milk micronutrient concentrations at 5 mo warrant further study to investigate whether the declines in milk micronutrients are linked to shifts in maternal status.

BackgroundBreast milk is the sole source of nutrition for exclusively breastfed infants in the first 6 mo of life, yet few studies have measured micronutrient concentrations in breast milk in light of maternal diet and subsequent infant micronutrient intakes.ObjectivesWe evaluated the adequacy of micronutrient intakes of exclusively breastfed Indonesian infants by measuring milk volume and micronutrient concentrations and assessed maternal micronutrient intakes and their relationship with milk concentrations.MethodsMother-infant (2-5.3 mo) dyads (n = 113) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Volume of breast-milk intake via the deuterium dose-to-mother technique over 14 d and analyzed micronutrient concentrations were used to calculate micronutrient intakes of exclusively breastfed infants. Maternal 3-d weighed food records were collected to assess median (IQR) micronutrient intakes. Multivariate regression analyses examined the association of usual maternal micronutrient intakes with milk micronutrient concentrations after adjustment for confounding variables.ResultsMean ± SD intake of breast-milk volume was 787 ± 148 mL/d. Median daily infant intakes of iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium, sodium, and B-vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, B-6, and B-12) were below their respective Adequate Intakes. Inadequacies in maternal intakes (as % 40% for calcium, niacin, and vitamins A, B-6, and B-12. Significant positive associations existed between maternal usual intakes of vitamin A, niacin and riboflavin and milk retinol, nicotinamide, and free riboflavin concentrations in both unadjusted and adjusted (for infant age, milk volume, and parity) analyses (all P

Objective: Most wet commercial infant foods are now sold in squeezable 'pouches'. While multiple expert groups have expressed concern about their use, it is not known how commonly they are consumed and whether they impact energy intake or body mass index (BMI). The objectives were to describe pouch use, and determine associations with energy intake and BMI, in infants and young children. Methods: In this observational cross-sectional study of 933 young New Zealand children (6.0 months–3.9 years), pouch use was assessed by a questionnaire ('frequent' use was consuming food from a baby food pouch ≥5 times/week in the past month), usual energy intake using two 24-h recalls, and BMI z-score calculated using World Health Organization standards. Results: The sample broadly represented the wider population (27.1% high socioeconomic deprivation, 22.5% Māori). Frequent pouch use declined with age (infants 27%, toddlers 16%, preschoolers 8%). Few children were both frequent pouch users and regularly used the nozzle (infants 5%, toddlers 13%, preschoolers 8%). Preschoolers who were frequent pouch users consumed significantly less energy than non-users (−580 kJ [−1094, −67]), but infants (115 [−35, 265]) and toddlers (−206 [−789, 378]) did not appear to have a different energy intake than non-users. There were no statistically significant differences in the BMI z-score by pouch use. Conclusions: These results do not support the strong concerns expressed about their use, particularly given the lack of evidence for higher energy intake or BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objective The relationship between postprandial glycaemic responses and cognitive performance, mood and satiety are inconsistent. The objective of this study is to compare the effects of different glycaemic responses, induced by beverages with different glycaemic index (GI) (sucrose and isomaltulose), and a non-glycaemic control (sucralose), on cognition, mood and satiety. Subjects/methods In this double-blinded, randomised crossover trial, healthy adults (n = 55) received sucrose (GI 65), isomaltulose (GI 32) and sucralose (non-caloric negative control) drinks on separate occasions. The Complex Figure test, the Word Recall test, Trail Making Test Part B and the Stroop test were administered 60 min after beverages ingestion. Mood and satiety were tested along with cognitive performance. Results Comparing between isomaltulose and sucrose, there were no significant differences in the mean (95% CI) for the following: Complex Figure: immediate recall -0.6 (-1.7, 0.5), delayed recall -0.8 (-1.9, 0.3); Word recall: immediate recall 0.2 (-0.7, 1.1), delayed recall 0.5 (-0.4, 1.4); Trail Making: completing time -2.4 (-7.5, 2.7) s; Stroop: time used for correct congruent responses -9 (-31, 14) ms and correct incongruent responses -18 (-42, 6) ms. No differences among beverages were found in the mood and satiety scores with exception that participants felt more energetic 60 min after isomaltulose ingestion (p = 0.028 for difference with sucrose) and hungrier 30 min after isomaltulose ingestion (p = 0.036 for difference with sucrose; p = 0.022 for difference with sucralose). Conclusion Under these study conditions there is no convincing evidence for an effect of glycaemic response on cognitive performance, mood or satiety., Author(s): Qingyuan Deng [sup.1] , Jillian J. Haszard [sup.1] , Tamlin S. Conner [sup.2] , Charlene Rapsey [sup.3] , Mei Peng [sup.4] , Bernard J. Venn [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) [...]

Aims: To compare the effects of 4 hours of laboratory‐based regular activity breaks (RABs) and prolonged sitting (SIT) on subsequent 48‐h free‐living interstitial glucose levels in a group of healthy adults. Materials and Methods: In this randomized crossover trial, participants completed two 4‐h laboratory‐based interventions commencing at ~5:00 pm: (1) SIT and (2) SIT interrupted with 3 min of body weight resistance exercise activity breaks every 30 min (RABs). Continuous glucose monitoring was performed during the intervention and for 48‐h after, during which time participants returned to a free‐living setting. Results: Twenty‐eight adults (female n = 20, mean ± SD age 25.5 ± 5.6 years, body mass index 29.2 ± 6.9 kg/m2) provided data for this analysis. During the intervention period, RABs lowered mean interstitial glucose by 8.3% (−0.47 mmol/L/4 h, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.74 to −0.20; p = 0.001) and area under the curve (AUC) by 8.9% (−2.01 mmol/L/4 h, 95% CI −3.05 to −0.97; p < 0.001) compared to SIT. Measures of glycaemic variability were not significantly different during the intervention. There were no significant differences in mean glucose and AUC between conditions during the first nocturnal period and 24‐h post intervention. When compared to SIT, RABs increased continuous overall net action of glucose at 1 h and SD glucose by 22% (0.18 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.29; p = 0.018) and 26% (95% CI 4.9 to 42.7; p = 0.019) in the first nocturnal period and by 10% (0.09 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.01, 0.17; p = 0.025) and 15% (95% CI 6.6 to 22.4; p = 0.001) in the 24‐h post intervention period, respectively. Conclusion: Performing activity breaks in the evening results in acute reductions in interstitial glucose concentrations; however, the magnitude of these changes is not maintained overnight or into the following 48 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota harvests energy from indigestible plant polysaccharides, forming short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are absorbed from the bowel. SCFAs provide energy--presumably after easily digested food components have been absorbed from the small intestine. Infant night waking is believed by many parents to be due to hunger. Our objective was to determine whether faecal SCFAs are associated with longer uninterrupted sleep in infants. Infants (n = 57) provided faecal samples for determining SCFAs (7 months of age), and questionnaire data for determining infant sleep (7 and 8 months). Linear regression determined associations between SCFAs--faecal acetate, propionate and butyrate--and sleep. For each 1% higher propionate at 7 months of age, the longest night sleep was 6 (95% CI: 1, 10) minutes longer at both 7 and 8 months. A higher proportion of total faecal SCFA as propionate was associated with longer uninterrupted infant sleep., Author(s): Anne-Louise M. Heath [sup.1] [sup.2], Jillian J. Haszard [sup.1], Barbara C. Galland [sup.3], Blair Lawley [sup.4], Nancy J. Rehrer [sup.5], Lynley N. Drummond [sup.6], Ian M. Sims [sup.2] [sup.7], [...]

Vitamin C-rich foods can improve mood; however, the timecourse of these benefits is unknown. This study utilised intensive longitudinal smartphone surveys from a three-armed placebo-controlled trial to determine mood-related changes following supplementation with vitamin C (250 mg tablet/d), kiwifruit (2 SunGold™ kiwifruit/d) or a placebo (1 tablet/d). Secondary data were analysed from the KiwiC for Vitality trial (Trial ID: ACTRN12617001031358). Adults (n 155, 63 % female, aged 18–35 years) with low plasma vitamin C (<40 μmol/l) completed a 14-d lead-in, 28-d intervention and 14-d washout. Participants self-reported vitality (SF-36), mood (POMS total mood disturbance), flourishing (flourishing scale), sleep quality, sleep quantity and physical activity every second day using smartphone surveys. Plasma vitamin C, measured fortnightly, reached saturation after 2 weeks of vitamin C or kiwifruit supplementation. Kiwifruit supplementation improved vitality and mood within 4 days, peaking around 14–16 days, and improved flourishing from day 14. Vitamin C marginally improved mood until day 12. Incremental AUC analyses revealed significant overall effects of kiwifruit consumption on vitality and mood compared with placebo, which were stronger than effects for vitamin C tablets, but attenuated when adjusting for covariates. Sensitivity analyses of participants with low baseline vitamin C status revealed improved mood (vitamin C and kiwifruit) and flourishing (kiwifruit only). This is the first study to use intensive smartphone surveys to model the day-to-day timecourse of mood-related states following vitamin C intervention and highlights the value of using smartphone surveys to reveal the temporal changes in mood-related outcomes following nutrient supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]