Evidence indicates hypervitaminosis A may be attributed to overconsumption of natural preformed vitamin A (VA) and overlapping VA intervention strategies. Hypervitaminosis A can disrupt metabolic processes; however, the extent and mechanisms of these impacts are not well understood. This study aims to assess metabolic differences related to hypervitaminosis A and VA supplementation by performing metabolomics analysis. A subsample of South African preschoolers participating in the country’s VA supplementation programme was selected. Participants were divided into two groups: adequate VA (n 15; 0·59–0·99 µmol/g total liver reserve and high VA (n 15; ≥ 1·0 µmol/g total liver reserve). Serum samples were collected at baseline and 28 d after consuming a 200 000 IU VA supplement. Lipidomics and oxylipins assays were conducted using ultraperformance LC-MS. At baseline, unsaturated lysophosphatidylcholines and unsaturated phosphatidylcholines were significantly lower in the high VA group (P < 0·05). A group-by-time interaction with VA supplementation was observed for polyunsaturated lysophosphatidylcholines and polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholines (P < 0·05). Additionally, a group effect was noted for oxylipins, and a time effect in response to VA supplementation was seen with decreased arachidonic acid and lipoxygenase- and non-enzymatically derived oxylipins (P < 0·05). Hypervitaminosis A is associated with modifications in lipids involved in cell structure and signalling, particularly unsaturated lysophosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylcholines. Further research is needed to identify the mechanisms behind these modifications, their physiological effects and their potential as biomarkers of elevated vitamin A status.

Dietary choline and betaine, suggested as neuroprotective nutrients, have not been sufficiently studied in relation to psychological disorders. This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary choline and betaine and common psychological disorders (depression, anxiety and psychological distress) among Iranian adults. Using a multistage cluster random sampling method, 533 middle-aged adults were included in this cross-sectional study. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated semi-quantitative 168-item FFQ. Depression, anxiety and psychological distress were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the General Health Questionnaire, both validated for the Iranian population. Binary logistic regression was applied to explore the associations. Mean age of participants was 42·6 (sd 11·14) years; of whom 18·9, 5·1 and 33·4 % had depression, anxiety and psychological distress, respectively. In the crude model, the highest intake of choline was negatively associated with depression (OR = 0·52; 95 % CI: 0·30, 0·91), anxiety (OR = 0·38; 95 % CI: 0·14, 0·99) and distress (OR = 0·60; 95 % CI: 0·38, 0·94) compared with the lowest intake. After considering all confounders, such associations remained significant in the case of depression (OR = 0·51; 95 % CI: 0·26, 0·98) but not for anxiety and distress. Additionally, there was no significant association between betaine intake and odds of depression, anxiety or distress in both crude and adjusted models. This study suggests a protective association between choline intake and depression, while no significant relation was found in the case of anxiety and distress. Betaine intake was not related to psychological disorders. Further prospective studies are crucial to replicate these findings.

Vegetable consumption in many countries is less than recommended and even lower in low-income households. This study explored the determinants of current vegetable food choice in households with limited food budgets to inform the implementation of a national vegetable promotion programme. Five focus groups and one individual interview were conducted with twenty-nine parents who self-identified as ‘shopping on a budget’ in an area of multiple deprivation in the southeast of England. Transcripts of audio recordings were coded in NVivo and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Four main themes which shaped the range of vegetables brought into the home were identified: (1) attributes of vegetables, (2) attributes of parents including their vegetable norms, knowledge and skills (veg-literacy), and interest and opportunity to invest time and effort in vegetables, (3) family food dynamics, and (4) influence of retailers. Overarching this was parents’ capacity to absorb the risk of wasting food, money, time, and effort on vegetables and damaging trust in the parent–child food relationship. The data suggest there is a common set of ‘core vegetables’, which are routinely bought. When money is tight, parents only buy vegetables they know their children will eat and are generally not persuaded to buy ‘off-list’ in response to price discounts or promotions. Cost is not always the main barrier to increased vegetable purchase. To avoid unintentionally widening dietary inequalities, supply-side interventions to promote vegetable consumption need to be designed alongside targeted actions that enhance the capacity of low-income households to respond.

The global nutrition community faces an urgent imperative to address inequities in food security while promoting inclusive approaches to nutrition science and practice. The Nutrition Society of Australia’s 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting on ‘Food for All: Promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Nutrition’ addressed this critical challenge through a 4-day programme of cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary research. The conference brought timely focus to key issues, including food access, cultural food practices, nutrition service accessibility, and inclusive research and education approaches. The conference featured public presentations, workshops, oral and poster sessions, symposia, and early career researcher sessions, and emphasised incorporating diverse perspectives while highlighting collaborative approaches to promoting equitable food systems. Coordinated efforts among researchers, healthcare providers, community organisations, industry partners and policymakers remain essential to advance inclusive nutrition practices and ensure equitable access to nutritious food for all populations.

This review summarises findings from studies in companion animals with chronic diseases receiving omega-3 supplementation. Investigated conditions included dermatopathies (dogs n = 7), osteoarthritis (dogs n = 7, cats n = 2), cardiovascular diseases (dogs n = 7), dyslipidaemias (dogs n = 1), gastroenteropathies (dogs n = 2), chronic kidney disease (dogs n = 2, cats n = 3), cognitive impairment (dogs n = 4, cats n = 1), and behavioural disorders (dogs n = 3). When possible, dosages were standardised to mg/kg using available data on food intake and EPA/DHA concentrations. The minimum and maximum ranges of EPA and DHA, along with their ratios, were as follows: for dermatology 0·99–43 mg/kg EPA and 0·66–30 mg/kg DHA (ratio 1·4–3·4); for osteoarthritis 48–100 mg/kg EPA and 20–32 mg/kg DHA (ratio 1·5–3·4); cardiology 27–54·2 mg/kg EPA and 18–40·6 mg/kg DHA (ratio 1·3–1·5); dyslipidaemia 58·8 mg/kg EPA and 45·4 mg/kg DHA (ratio 1·3); cognition (1/5 studies) 225 mg/kg EPA and 90 mg/kg DHA (ratio 2·5); behaviour (1/3) 31 mg/kg EPA and 45 mg/kg DHA (ratio 0·7). Nephrology and oncology studies lacked sufficient data for calculation. Gastrointestinal diseases do not appear to benefit from omega-3 supplementation, likely due to inflammation-related malabsorption, although few adverse effects were reported in dogs. Other enteropathy studies were low-quality (case reports/series). The lowest omega-6/omega-3 ratio with anti-inflammatory effect was 1:3·75, and the highest was 5·5:1. In conclusion, the reviewed EPA and DHA doses appear effective for atopic dermatitis, osteoarthritis, cardiac disease, hyperlipidaemia, and cognitive and behavioural disorders. Further research is needed to clarify efficacy in gastrointestinal and oncological conditions.

Phase Angle (PhA) has emerged as an important parameter to monitor body composition, fluid status, muscle integrity, and physical performance among athletes. However, limited information exists regarding the associations between PhA and dietary intake, especially in athletes. This study aimed to identify the dietary intake components associated with PhA in athletes. This cross-sectional observational study was carried out with 153 athletes across 17 sports. Body composition was assessed by tetrapolar multifrequency BIA, and dietary intake by 24-hour dietary recalls administered on non-consecutive days. Reported foods and supplements were categorised into different groups (i.e. cereals, vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts, meat and eggs, dairy products, oils, and sugars), with portions established based on the food’s total energy content. Fat-free mass and fat-free mass index were higher in male compared to female athletes, potentially influencing PhA (6.6º vs 5.5º; P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that protein intake was a significant predictor of PhA in athletes. This association remained significant even after adjustments for sex, age, and fat-free mass (R2 = 0.48, β = 0.27, P = 0.02). The positive correlation observed between dietary protein and PhA reinforces the need for adequate daily protein intake to enhance PhA in athletes. Further studies investigating the effect of diet-induced changes in PhA within the athletic population are necessary.

Sustainable diets should promote good health for both the planet and the individual. While there is a clear association between lower environmental impact diets and better health outcomes, intervention studies are needed to determine the range of dietary changes and to understand inter-individual differences in response. Individuals having different responses to dietary interventions are underpinned by a variety of genetic, phenotypic and behavioural factors. The aim of this review is to apply the findings from previous literature examining inter-individual variation and phenotypic response to the future of sustainable healthy diets. Despite changing diets or improving diet quality, physiological responses are varied in randomised controlled trials. To better understand response, individuals can be grouped based on shared baseline characteristics or by their shared response to an intervention. Studies grouping individuals by shared characteristics use a metabolic phenotyping or metabotyping approach which demonstrates that some phenotypes are more predisposed to respond to a particular intervention. Tailoring dietary advice to metabolic phenotype shows promise for improving health and diet quality. However, more evidence is needed to understand the complexity that will come with whole dietary change in the context of sustainable healthy diets. We envisage a future where metabolic phenotyping is an integral element for prescribing personalised nutrition advice for sustainable healthy diets.

Plant-based diets, with limited quantities of animal foods, are increasingly promoted for sustainability and health. In many countries, animal-source foods provide the majority of several micronutrients at a population level; in the UK, milk and dairy products contribute around one third of total calcium, vitamin B12 and iodine intake in adults. Recommendations for a predominantly plant-based diet may have the unintended consequence of reducing intake of micronutrients, particularly in groups with an already-low intake of these nutrients, such as women of reproductive age. Furthermore, young women are the group most likely to replace dairy products with plant-based alternatives. Milk alternatives are often fortified to match the nutrient content of cows’ milk for some micronutrients (e.g. calcium), but not of others (e.g. iodine or vitamin B2). Unfortified alternatives have an iodine concentration that is just 2 % of that of UK cows’ milk, and the rise in popularity of these products may increase iodine-deficiency risk in consumers. Low nutrient intake is of concern prior to, and during, pregnancy, when many of the micronutrients at risk (iron/calcium/iodine) are essential for foetal development. While there may be awareness of some at-risk nutrients on a plant-based diet, this may not be the case for all. At-risk nutrients should be considered in nutrition guidelines and advice given by healthcare professionals to ensure that the diets are well planned and supplemented when necessary. This review focuses on the provision of micronutrients (particularly iodine) from plant-based diets in the UK.

Food insecurity (FIS) is a critical public health issue, particularly among older adults. This study investigates the association between FIS with diet quality and anthropometric indices in the US older adults. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using NHANES data from 2017 to 2020, involving 2592 participants aged ≥ 60 years. FIS was assessed using the USDA Household Food Security Survey Module. Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2020 and adherence to Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) score. Anthropometric measures were calculated following standardised protocols. Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for demographic, socio-economic and behavioural factors examined the association between FIS and the higher quartile and tertile of anthropometric and diet quality indices, respectively. Of the participants, 27·4 % experienced FIS. FIS participants were younger and had lower education and income levels compared with FS individuals (P < 0·05). In the adjusted model, FIS was associated with lower adherence to both the Mediterranean Diet (OR: 0·48, 95 % CI: 0·31, 0·67) and HEI-2020 (OR: 0·61, 95 % CI: 0·37, 0·84), indicating poorer diet quality in older adults. In adjusted analyses, FIS was significantly associated with higher A Body Shape Index quartiles (Q3: OR: 1·44, 95 % CI: 1·06, 1·95; Q4: OR: 1·46, 95 % CI: 1·07, 2·01), the waist-to-hip ratio (Q4: OR: 1·44, 95 % CI: 1·01, 2·06) and the Conicity index (Q4: OR: 1·36, 95 % CI: 1·02, 1·81). FIS in older adults is associated with unfavourable diet quality and body composition patterns, particularly central obesity measures. Addressing FIS may mitigate health risks related to obesity and its complications.

Premenstrual symptoms are a cyclic set of symptoms that affect women’s psychological and physical well-being. Growing evidence suggests that micronutrients may contribute to the risk and severity of premenstrual symptoms such as depression. Yet the relationship between folate and premenstrual symptoms remains inconclusive. The objective of this study was to determine the association between folate intake and MTHFR genotype with premenstrual symptoms. Females (n 678) aged 20–29 years from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health Study self-reported fifteen premenstrual symptoms. Dietary intake was measured using a validated 196-item Toronto-modified Harvard food frequency questionnaire. DNA was isolated from peripheral white blood cells and genotyped for the C677T MTHFR (rs1801133) polymorphism. Using logistic regression, the odds of experiencing premenstrual symptoms were compared between total folate intake below and above the median (647 mcg/d) and between MTHFR genotypes. We found associations between MTHFR genotype and some premenstrual symptoms. Among women with low folate intake, an additive association was observed between the Tallele of MTHFR and premenstrual depression. Compared with those with the CC genotype, the OR (95 % CI) for depression was 1·66 (0·98, 2·87) for those with the CT genotype and 2·41 (1·08, 5·38) for those with the TT genotype. No associations were observed between MTHFR genotype and premenstrual depression among those with higher habitual intakes of folate. Since the MTHFR genotype is involved in the folate metabolic pathway, these findings suggest that folate or its metabolites may be related to the risk of premenstrual depression.

Several studies have indicated a potential inverse association between caffeine intake from dietary sources – assessed through dietary questionnaires – and uric acid (UA) levels. However, to date, no study has examined the relationship between urinary caffeine metabolites, which serve as a reliable biomarker of caffeine intake and UA levels. Our aim was to evaluate the association between caffeine metabolites in urine and serum UA levels. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2012, involving 1252 individuals aged 20–80 years. The study assessed caffeine and fourteen metabolites in spot urine samples, as well as serum UA levels. Hyperuricaemia was defined as UA levels exceeding 7·0 mg/dl for men and 6·0 mg/dl for women. In logistic regression analyses, theobromine (OR: 0·99, 95 % CI: 0·980, 0·999), 3-methyluric acid (OR: 0·91, 95 % CI: 0·837, 0·996), 7-methyluric acid (OR: 0·99, 95 % CI: 0·989, 0·998) and 3-methylxanthine (OR: 0·99, 95 % CI: 0·992, 0·999) were associated with decreased odds of hyperuricaemia. In linear regression analyses, paraxanthine (β = −0·004, P = 0·006), theobromine (β = −0·004, P =< 0·001), 7-methyluric acid (β = −0·003, P = 0·003), 3,7-dimethyluric acid (β = −0·029, P = 0·024), 3-methylxanthine (β = −0·001, P = 0·038) and 7-methylxanthine (β = −0·001, P = 0·001) were inversely associated with serum UA levels. In conclusion, our results indicate that several urinary caffeine metabolites are inversely associated with UA levels. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the small magnitude of the observed associations.

The aim of the study is to assess the dietary knowledge and practices of Lebanese patients with diabetes not receiving dietary counselling in a low-income setting. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 317 Lebanese adult patients, not receiving dietary counselling in North Lebanon. Patients completed a questionnaire evaluating their sociodemographic, health and clinical characteristics as well as their dietary knowledge (DK) and practices. The mean total DK score as well as the mean scores for each category were calculated for the whole sample, transformed into percentages of maximal score and classified into poor (< 50%), good (50–75%) and adequate (> 75%). Patients had a good, but not optimal total DK (51.66%). Similarly, they also had a good knowledge related to carbohydrates (52.16%) and fat (52.5%), and to food type (60.83%). On the other hand, they had a poor knowledge about food choices (35.66%) and protein (44%). Linear regression analysis revealed that a higher educational level (β = 1.96, p < 0.001), choosing whole grains (β = 1.19, p = 0.002), living with a partner (β = 1.01, p = 0.007), being recently diagnosed with diabetes (β = –1.23, p = 0.012) were positively associated with a better DK. Furthermore, patients who suffered from type I diabetes had a better DK compared to those suffering from type 2 diabetes (β = –1.31, p = 0.016). The nutritional knowledge of the patients with diabetes not receiving dietary counselling is good but not optimal. Dietitians and doctors should collaborate to provide patient-centred and individualised dietary education to patients with diabetes.

Evidence suggests that nutrition interventions produce beneficial effects for people with major depressive disorder. However, limited research is published about their feasibility and acceptability from patient’s perspective. This 8-week randomised controlled pilot study with two parallel groups aimed to assess recruitment capability, intervention acceptability and effect on diet quality and depressive symptoms. In total, fifty-one people aged 20–64 years with moderate or severe depression were randomised either into a group-based nutrition intervention (n 26) or a social support intervention (n 25). Recruitment capability was evaluated from the participant flow data, acceptability with a questionnaire based on Sekhon’s Theoretical Framework of Acceptability, diet with the Index of Diet Quality (IDQ) and depressive symptoms with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Mann–Whitney U tests and linear mixed models were used to analyse outcomes. Recruitment proved extremely challenging despite using multiple recruitment channels and collaboration with healthcare organisations. Five groups in each arm completed the intervention. Only 23 % of the participants in the nutrition and 16 % in the social support intervention attended all sessions. The nutrition intervention was considered acceptable, with higher acceptability ratings than the social support intervention (mean 4·41 v. 3·66, P < 0·001). The mean IDQ at baseline was 8·37 (sd 2·0) and CES-D 30·0 (sd 10·9, range 4–50), with no statistically significant changes post-intervention in either intervention arm. Future research should focus on co-designing the interventions and targeted recruitment strategies and considering new approaches for delivering interventions to promote participant engagement and lifestyle changes.