Personalised nutrition (PN) has emerged as an approach to optimise individual health outcomes through more targeted and tailored dietary recommendations based on unique genetic, phenotypic, medical, lifestyle and contextual factors. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) presents an opportunity to achieve personalised nutrition advice at a scale that has population impact. This review introduces a nutrition audience to different AI applications and offers insights into the concepts of AI that might be relevant to the field of nutrition research. The current and future uses of AI in PN are discussed, as well as the potential benefits and challenges to their application. AI-driven solutions have the potential to improve health and reduce the risk of disease because they can consider more information about an individual in making recommendations. However, challenges such as data interoperability, ethical considerations, and model interpretability remain an issue limiting widespread use at this point. This review will provide a foundational understanding of the application of AI within PN and help to identify opportunities to leverage the potential of AI in transforming dietary guidance and enhancing health outcomes through innovative solutions.

Plant-based diets (PBD) have been found to be environmentally sustainable and beneficial for health. Observational research showed that higher plant-based diet quality improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult women, however this is unclear for older adults. This association may be due to anti-inflammatory properties of PBD. Older adults, prone to chronic inflammation, may therefore profit from PBD. We investigated the relation between PBD and HRQoL in older adults of both sexes and tested whether the effects are associated with circulating high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels. We used data of the population-based Lifelines Cohort Study (n = 6,635, mean age = 65.2 years) and a subsample in which hsCRP was measured (n = 2,251, mean age = 65.2 years). We applied a plant-based diet index measuring adherence to a healthful (hPDI) and an unhealthful (uPDI) plant-based diet based on food frequency questionnaires. The RAND-36 questionnaire was applied as measure of HRQoL, from which we derived physical and mental HRQoL. Older adults with the highest adherence to a hPDI had respectively 15% and 12% greater odds for high physical quality of life and mental quality of life. Meanwhile, higher adherence to uPDI was associated with respectively 16% and 13% lower odds for high physical and mental quality of life. An additive but no interactive effect of hsCRP on the association between PBD and HRQoL has been observed. Adherence to a healthful plant-based diet and circulating levels of inflammation are independently associated with physical and mental HRQoL. Mechanisms other than inflammation through which PBD could influence HRQoL may be explored in further research.

The NOVA food classification system and its categorisation of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have significantly influenced dietary guidelines worldwide, yet the assumption that all UPFs are uniformly harmful warrants critical examination. Here, a review of evidence revealed substantial heterogeneity in health outcomes across UPF subtypes, with products like sugar-sweetened beverages consistently associated with adverse outcomes while fortified cereals and certain dairy products demonstrate neutral or protective effects. The binary nature of NOVA’s classification fails to account for nutritional composition, fortification benefits, and cultural food traditions, creating inconsistencies in categorisation across different contexts. Methodological limitations in UPF research include inadequate dietary assessment tools, selective reporting of negative findings, and experimental design flaws that conflate processing with other dietary factors. Implementation challenges extend to socioeconomic accessibility, as UPFs often provide cost-effective nutrients for disadvantaged populations and environmental sustainability, where wholesale reduction could increase resource demands. Future directions should develop more nuanced classification systems that integrate processing methods with nutritional quality to better inform public health strategies rather than categorically rejecting all UPFs.

The Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023 (NNR2023) serve as the scientific foundation for national dietary guidelines and nutrient recommendations across the Nordic and Baltic countries. We reviewed how NNR2023 was adapted into national food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) in the Nordic countries and Estonia, focusing specifically on sustainability considerations and policy implications. National FBDG integrated both health and environmental aspects in all countries, except Norway, which addressed environmental aspects only in a separate report. Health impacts served as the primary principle in all countries. Additionally, national policy perspectives, such as domestic food security, were addressed in some countries, while the integration of social and economic sustainability remained very limited. In adopting NNR2023, all countries modelled how implementation would affect nutrient adequacy or health within their food environments, making minor adjustments based on these findings. Guidelines for animal source food groups showed the most variation between countries; Estonia and Denmark established the strictest recommended limits for red meat and total meat, respectively, while Norway was most liberal regarding milk products. Stakeholders participated in the consultation process. The agricultural sector and meat industry primarily maintained pro-meat discourse, which was particularly intense in Norway and Sweden. Transition towards healthy and sustainable diets demands multiple policy instruments – FBDG being just one – alongside a supportive environment and participation from all food system actors.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) provides independent advice on nutrition and related health matters to UK government organisations. In keeping with its commitment to openness and transparency, SACN follows a set ‘Framework’ to ensure a prescribed and consistent approach is taken in all its evidence evaluations. Following an update of the SACN Framework in 2020, which addressed some straightforward issues, the SACN Framework subgroup was established in 2021 to consider more complex matters that were not addressed in the 2020 update. The SACN Framework subgroup considered four main topics for update: (1) the different types of evidence evaluations produced by SACN, (2) interpretation of statistical data, (3) tools for assessment of study quality and (4) tools to assess the certainty of a body of evidence for exposure–outcome relationships. The Framework subgroup agreed clear definitions and processes for the different types of evidence evaluations produced by SACN and agreed that interpretation of P values should be informed by consideration of study size, power and methodological quality. The subgroup recommended use of the AMSTAR 2 tool for quality assessment of evidence from systematic reviews and use of the Grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation approach to assess the certainty of evidence. The updated Framework was published in January 2023. This was followed by publication of a further update in October 2024. As a ‘living’ document, the Framework will be subject to regular review by the Framework subgroup and continue to evolve in line with best practice.

Plant-based meat and dairy analogues contain less protein than their animal-based counterparts and rely on various plant protein sources, which frequently display incomplete amino acid (AA) profiles that do not reflect dietary requirements due to low quantities of one or more essential AA (EAA). There is little insight in the AA profiles of most of these plant-based analogues. We assessed the AA composition of forty plant-based meat and dairy analogues that were commercially available in The Netherlands in March 2023 and compared their EAA profile to dietary requirements and to the EAA profile of their meat and dairy counterparts. Total protein contents were lower in most analogues when compared with their animal-based counterparts (meat analogues, n 16 (80 %); lunch meats and cheese analogues, n 10 (100 %); milk and yoghurt analogues, n 9 (90 %)) and accompanied by lower EAA contents. In reference to dietary requirements, the sum of the total EAA contents was adequate in all but one of the analogues. Nevertheless, all analogues displayed deficiencies in one or more specific EAA. Methionine contents were most frequently low (n 39; 98 %), followed by lysine contents (n 11; 28 %). Essential AA compositions varied between analogues irrespective of the protein source(s) used. In conclusion, plant-based meat and dairy analogues exhibit incomplete EAA profiles, which may compromise adequate protein nutrition in plant-centred diets.

TNF-α polymorphisms may influence dyslipidaemia, but their role remains unclear. This case–control study investigated associations between TNF-α gene polymorphisms (–1031T/C, −863C/A, −857C/T, −308G/A and −238G/A) and dyslipidaemia in 595 participants (162 cases, 433 controls) from the Chaoshan region of China. Anthropometric, biochemical and genetic data were analysed using χ2 tests and logistic regression, with the false discovery rate (FDR) method applied to correct for multiple comparisons. Results revealed that only the −1031T/C and −863C/A polymorphisms were significantly associated with dyslipidaemia. Carriers of the TC + CC genotype for −1031T/C (OR = 0·48; 95 % CI: 0·30, 0·78; PFDR = 0·006) and the CA + AA genotype for −863C/A (OR = 0·41; 95 % CI: 0·24, 0·70; PFDR = 0·004) had lower odds of dyslipidaemia. Protective effects were observed for the C allele at −1031T/C (OR = 0·58, PFDR = 0·012) and the A allele at −863C/A (OR = 0·47, PFDR = 0·004). Stratified analyses showed that these associations were significant in males but not females. Functional annotation linked these TNF-α gene polymorphisms to transcription factors (e.g. HNF-1A, STAT1β) in the adipogenesis pathway. This study reveals genetic associations between TNF-α polymorphisms and dyslipidaemia, particularly in males, and provides mechanistic insights into their role in transcriptional regulation.

Passive smoking is associated with an increased risk of hypertension in children. Antioxidant nutrients are known to alleviate oxidative stress, a key factor in the development of hypertension. Riboflavin, with its antioxidant properties, may help mitigate oxidative damage caused by passive smoke exposure. This study aimed to examine whether riboflavin intake could influence the relationship between passive smoking and hypertension in children and adolescents aged 6–19 years. Data were extracted from the 2007–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Weighted logistic regression models were used to identify potential covariates, and weighted multiple logistic regression models assessed the associations between passive smoking, riboflavin intake and hypertension. The association was also investigated in diverse age, gender and race subgroups. Results were presented as OR and 95 % CI. A total of 11 445 children and adolescents with a mean age of 12·89 (0·06) years were included. After adjusting covariates, cotinine ≥ 0·05 ng/ml was associated with increased odds of hypertension (OR = 1·20, 95 % CI: 1·06, 1·36). When individuals had a riboflavin intake < 1·87 mg, passive smoking (OR = 1·98, 95 % CI: 1·25, 3·13) and active smoking (OR = 1·69, 95 % CI: 1·14, 2·51) were both related to higher odds of hypertension. When individuals had a riboflavin intake ≥ 1·87 mg, no association was observed between passive smoking (OR = 0·83, 95 % CI: 0·48, 1·44) and active smoking (OR = 1·05, 95 % CI: 0·68, 1·62) and hypertension. Riboflavin intake may modulate the association between smoking status and hypertension in children and adolescents aged 6–19 years. The moderating effect was also found in age < 13 years old, ≥ 13 years old, males and non-Hispanic Whites.

To address limited data on whole grain (WG) consumption in the UK, we investigated trends and socio-demographic patterns of WG consumption from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey from 2008/2012 to 2016/2019 and examined the relationship between WG and dietary intakes. We analysed 15 655 individuals aged ≥ 1·5 years who completed a 4-day food diary. WG consumption was quantified by estimating the WG content of individual foods using publicly available ingredient information. Survey-weighted mean WG consumption over time and by population sub-group was calculated. Survey-weighted trend tests and Wald tests were used. Total WG intake in the general population did not change from 2008/2012 to 2016/2019. WG from high-fibre cereals and bread declined by 16·2 % (11·1–9·3 g/d) and 19·4 % (12·4–10 g/d), respectively, while other cereals (e.g. rice/pasta) increased by 72·5 % (4·0–6·9 g/d), but contributed considerably less than other categories. In the most recent data (2016–2019), older adults (65+ years) had the highest energy-adjusted WG consumption, followed by children 1·5–3 years. Individuals with lower incomes, adolescents and current smokers consumed the least WG. Whole grain intake was associated with generally higher quality diets, specifically consuming more fibre, potassium, Ca, Fe, Mg, fruits/vegetables, pulses/nuts and oily fish and consuming less free sugars, total fat, saturated fat, Na and red/processed meat (Ptrend < 0·001 for all). Despite some dietary improvements in the UK, WG intake appears unchanged from 2008/2012 to 2016/2019.

The transition from breastmilk to solid foods (weaning) is a critical stage in infant development and plays a decisive role in the maturation of the complex microbial community inhabiting the human colon. Diet is a major factor shaping the colonic microbiota, which ferments nutrients reaching the colon unabsorbed by the host to produce a variety of microbial metabolites influencing host physiology(1). Therefore, making adequate dietary choices during weaning can positively modulate the colonic microbiota, ultimately contributing to health in infancy and later life(2). However, our understanding of how complementary foods impact the colonic microbiota of weaning infants is limited. To address this knowledge gap, we employed a metagenome-scale modelling approach to simulate the impact of complementary foods, either combined with breastmilk or with breastmilk and other foods, on the production of organic acids by colonic microbes of weaning infants(3). Complementary foods and combinations of foods with the greatest impact on the in silico microbial production of organic acids were identified. These foods and food combinations were further tested in vitro, individually or in combination with infant formula. Fifty-three food samples were digested using a protocol adapted from INFOGEST to mimic infant digestion and then fermented with faecal inoculum from 6 New Zealand infants (5-11 months old). After 24h of fermentation, the production of organic acids was measured by gas chromatography. Differences in organic acid production between samples were determined using the Tukey Honestly Significant Difference test to account for multiple comparisons. The microbial composition was characterised by amplicon sequencing of the V3-V4 regions of the 16S bacterial gene. Taxonomy was assigned using the DADA2 pipeline and the SILVA database (version 138.1). Bioinformatic and statistical analyses were conducted using the R packages phyloseq and ANCOM-BC2, with the Holm-Bonferroni adjustment to account for false discovery rates in differential abundance testing. Blackcurrant and raspberries increased the production of acetate and propionate (Tukey’s test, p<0.05) and the relative abundance of the genus Parabacteroides (Dunnett’s test, adjusted p<0.05) compared to other foods. Raspberries also increased the abundance of the genus Eubacterium (Dunnett’s test, adjusted p<0.05). When combined with infant formula, black beans stood out for increasing the production of butyrate (Tukey’s test, p<0.05) and the relative abundance of the genus Clostridium (Dunnett’s test, adjusted p<0.05). In conclusion, this study provides new evidence on how complementary foods, both individually or in combination with other dietary compounds, influence the colonic microbiota of weaning infants in vitro. Insights generated by this research can help design future clinical trials, ultimately enhancing our understanding of the relationship between human nutrition and colonic microbiota composition and function in post-weaning life.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most potent killer in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) with South Asians being one of the three high-risk groups. This study aimed to investigate health beliefs, knowledge, and behaviours related to diet among NZ South Asians at risk of CVD, using a mixed-methods approach. Demographics and dietary data were collected via an online Qualtrics survey and qualitative data on health beliefs and knowledge about heart-healthy foods were collected using semi-structured phone interviews. Twenty-one South Asian participants with diagnosed type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension and/or hypercholesterolemia were recruited via stakeholder engagement and advertisements through South Asian cultural and religious organisations.The majority of participants (62%) were aged 35-50 years, 10 were female, 11 were male and 67% were long-term residents of NZ. Most participants were unsure of the recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption and only 48% and 29% met these guidelines, respectively. This is worrying as NZ Health survey data show a steady decrease in fruit and vegetable consumption among South Asians over 20 years with only 27% meeting the guidelines in 2021. (1) Sixty-two percent of participants consumed milk and yoghurt ≥ 4 times a week; 63% consumed full-fat milk and 45% consumed full-fat yoghurt regularly. These findings are consistent with that found for healthy South Asians in NZ,(2) where dairy, the primary source of saturated fats in South Asian cuisine, increased post-migration. Some participants believed that full-fat dairy increases the risk of heart disease, yet they still preferred to use full-fat milk and ghee as they believed it is healthier than low-fat varieties. Most participants believed that salty foods and pickles increase the risk of heart disease with 33% consuming salted pickles “sometimes” and only 28% choosing “low or reduced salt” food varieties “regularly/always”. More than half (57%) chose reduced-fat varieties of foods deliberately to reduce their risk of CVD. Red meat and deep-fried fatty foods were the most common foods that most participants thought they should avoid; however, some were not sure. Foods that participants considered heart-healthy were green vegetables, lentils and ghee in moderation. Most meat-consuming participants were unaware of healthy cuts of meat with only 38% reporting always choosing low-fat cuts of meat. Most participants believed that they could take some measures to reduce their risk of heart disease. Nevertheless, their health beliefs were not consistent with knowledge of or behaviours concerning heart-healthy measures. Substantial knowledge gaps evident in the reported dietary behaviours need to be addressed to reduce the risk of CVD among at-risk South Asians.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major disease worldwide, causing significant mortality and morbidity. Currently, in Aotearoa, New Zealand, there is a high prevalence of T2DM, with a disproportionate impact on Māori and Pacific populations(1). Moreover, it has been predicted that the prevalence will continually increase. Research has shown that insulin resistance (IR) has been reported to play a critical role in the development of T2DM and other related cardiometabolic diseases(2). Therefore, managing IR is crucial to reducing the development of T2DM. Notably, bioactive compounds in various diets are known to modify the risk of T2DM by regulating IR. Among such dietary compounds include kawakawa (Piper excelsum), an indigenous species used by Māori in traditional medicine (Rongoā). Kawakawa is shown to contain several bioactive compounds that are shown to have insulin-sensitising effects. Research by our group has recently shown kawakawa to have potential anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects in healthy human volunteers(3,4). However, how Kawakawa exerts these effects on insulin signalling and glucose uptake remains unknown. We hypothesise that kawakawa will enhance the glucose uptake in the treated cells and will differentially regulate key genes involved in insulin signalling pathways, including GLUT2, IRS-1, PPAR-γ, and PI3K/Akt, across various tissues. To test our hypothesis, we aim to investigate the mechanistic action of kawakawa extract on insulin signalling pathways in different cell models from metabolically active organs. We will use the same kawakawa powder sample shown to improve postprandial insulin in a healthy population. Cell models representing different insulin-responsive organs: liver (HepG2), skeletal muscle (L6-GLUT4myc), pancreas (MIN6), and adipose (3T3-L1) will be used. The cells will be treated with different doses of kawakawa extract, and glucose uptake will be measured. Key signalling pathways, including GLUT2, IRS-1, PPAR-γ, and PI3K/Akt, will be monitored using western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. The findings of this study have the potential to identify key targets of kawakawa action on insulin signalling in metabolically active organs. These outcomes will inform future research with kawakawa in clinical settings in people with cardiometabolic diseases such as T2DM and can form the basis for developing a dietary intervention for individuals at risk of these diseases. Additionally, Rongoā is an acceptable intervention by Māori, integrating this knowledge with evidence-based scientific interventions would aid in creating a holistic health paradigm that resonates within Māori communities.