New South Wales (NSW) Health is committed to enhancing child health and development during the first 2000 days (conception to 5 years)(1). However, in Australia current child health behaviours indicate the need for further improvements. For example, discretionary foods (contributing high amounts of saturated fat, energy, added sodium and sugar) account for approximately 30% of total energy intakes in 2–3 years olds including the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB)(2). There remains a need to provide all parents raising children with direct and sustained support from birth to maximise health behaviours during this important life stage. Healthy Beginnings for HNEKids (HB4HNEKids) is an innovative text messaging program designed to be integrated into the usual care provided by Child and Family Health Nursing (CFHN) services. The messages were co-designed with key stakeholders to provide age-and-stage relevant preventive health information to parents/carers during the first 2000 days. HB4HNEKids has been piloted within five diverse CFHN services within the Hunter New England (HNE) local health district of NSW, reaching over 6000 families since its launch. However, the efficacy of the program on child health behaviours has not yet been explored. The aim of this study is to explore if families that received the HB4HNEKids program report reduced frequency of child discretionary food intake and a lower prevalence of SSB exposure, compared to families who did not receive the program. A cross-sectional survey of mothers 12–14 months post-partum was conducted between August 2023 and July 2024 including participants that received HB4HNEKids and a concurrent non-randomised comparison group, located in HNE. Mothers were asked to report on the frequency of child discretionary food intake per week, and whether their child had ever received SSB (including sweetened water, cordial, fruit drink, and soft-drinks). We conducted linear regression and logistic regression analyses to explore differences between the intervention and comparison participants. A total of 283 participants completed the survey, including 104 (37%) participants that had received the HB4HNEKids program. In infants aged 12–14 months, the frequency of discretionary food intake was approximately 1 serve per week and was unchanged based on if the family had received the HB4HNEKids program or not. Despite a 6-point prevalence difference in SSB exposure reported between groups (HB4HNEKids: 19.42% vs Comparison: 26.26%), this difference was not statistically significant (OR: 0.68 (95% CI: 0.37, 1.23), p = 0.2). Australian infant feeding guidelines suggest that the consumption of nutrient poor discretionary foods and sugar sweetened beverages should be avoided or limited(3). The HB4HNEKids program demonstrates some promise for improving infant feeding behaviours, however a larger effectiveness trial is required to ensure the evaluation is adequately powered.

This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of PUFA intake on the association between psoriasis and 10-year atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk. Data of this study were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database 2003–2006 and 2009–2014. The 10-year ASCVD risk score was calculated based on American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines, and the subjects were stratified into high 10-year ASCVD risk (≥ 7·5 %) and low 10-year ASCVD risk (< 7·5 %), accordingly. The weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were utilised to evaluate the effect of total PUFA and its subtypes intake on the association between psoriasis and 10-year ASCVD risk. This effect was further evaluated in the subgroup of subjects aged ≥ 60 and < 60 years old. A total of 8705 participants were included, with 41·02 % (n 3571) in the high 10-year ASCVD risk (≥ 7·5 %). We observed subjects with psoriasis (OR 1·65; 95 % CI 1·02, 2·67) and low n-3 intake (OR 1·27; 95 % CI 1·025, 1·53) were associated with high 10-year ASCVD risk; no significant association was found between n-6 and 10-year ASCVD risk. The moderating effect of n-3 intake on the association between psoriasis and 10-year ASCVD risk was observed (OR 2·56; 95 % CI 1·04, 6·26). We also found among the n-3 components, α-linolenic acid (OR 2·72; 95 % CI 1·10, 6·70) had a more significant moderating effect on the association between psoriasis and 10-year ASCVD risk, especially in the subjects aged < 60 years (OR 2·41; 95 % CI 1·36, 4·28). Adequate intake of n-3, especially α-linolenic acid, may have potential benefits on improving cardiovascular health in psoriasis patients.

Global food security challenges, driven by the need to feed an estimated 10 billion people by 2050, require sustainable agricultural practices which strengthen nutritional adequacy while minimising environmental impacts. Yet, decision-making to foster food systems which consider both human and planetary health is growing in complexity. This paper, presented at an International Atomic Energy Agency-supported symposium at the 14th European Nutrition Conference of the Federation of European Nutrition Societies, highlights the potential of stable isotope techniques in generating valuable evidence to help support the development of sustainable food systems. It focuses on three methods: the dual tracer stable isotope technique for measuring protein digestibility, the Fe isotope dilution technique for assessing Fe absorption, loss and balance and the deuterium oxide dose-to-mother technique for estimating breast milk intake. The dual tracer isotope method provides a minimally invasive assessment of protein quality from a diverse variety of crops and novel sources, supporting the transition towards environmentally conscious, protein-rich diets. The Fe isotope dilution technique can be used to address Fe requirements across different population groups and calculate Fe absorption from whole diets or after consuming crops designed to be nutritionally sufficient, thus guiding dietary guidelines and agricultural strategies. Finally, the deuterium oxide dose-to-mother technique provides precise data on breast milk intake, underscoring the role of breastfeeding in sustaining optimal infant nutrition and the conservation of resources. These methods have the ability to generate critical evidence to support policy development and food system innovations that prioritise human health and environmental preservation.

The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research recommend a plant-based diet to cancer survivors, which may reduce chronic inflammation and excess adiposity associated with worse survival. We investigated associations of plant-based dietary patterns with inflammation biomarkers and body composition in the Pathways Study, in which 3659 women with breast cancer provided validated food frequency questionnaires approximately 2 months after diagnosis. We derived three plant-based diet indices: overall plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI) and unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI). We assayed circulating inflammation biomarkers related to systemic inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP]), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, IL-13). We estimated areas (cm2) of muscle and visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT and SAT) from computed tomography scans. Using multivariable linear regression, we calculated the differences in inflammation biomarkers and body composition for each index. Per 10-point increase for each index: hsCRP was significantly lower by 6·9 % (95 % CI 1·6%, 11·8%) for PDI and 9·0 % (95 % CI 4·9%, 12·8%) for hPDI but significantly higher by 5·4 % (95 % CI 0·5%, 10·5%) for uPDI, and VAT was significantly lower by 7·8 cm2 (95 % CI 2·0 cm2, 13·6 cm2) for PDI and 8·6 cm2 (95 % CI 4·1 cm2, 13·2 cm2) for hPDI but significantly higher by 6·2 cm2 (95 % CI 1·3 cm2, 11·1 cm2) for uPDI. No significant associations were observed for other inflammation biomarkers, muscle, or SAT. A plant-based diet, especially a healthful plant-based diet, may be associated with reduced inflammation and visceral adiposity among breast cancer survivors.

This study aimed to explore combinations of the Brazilian front-of-package nutrition labelling (FoPNL) (high in added sugar, saturated fat or sodium) and/or three specific food additives with cosmetic functions (colourings, flavourings and non-sugar sweeteners) in packaged foods and beverages marketed in Brazil. This approach intends to strengthen the identification of ultra-processed food products (UPFP) by consumers through the information available on their labels. A cross-sectional study was carried out using data from the list of ingredients and the nutrition facts panel on labels of processed foods and UPFP available in Brazilian supermarkets between April and July 2017, totalling 8436 food items assessed, of which 84·0 % were UPFP. Of the total, 62·7 % of the UPFP would have the FoPNL and 65·1 %, 37·9 % and 12·9 % had flavouring, colouring and non-sugar sweeteners, respectively. Combining criteria for the FoPNL with any one of the three cosmetic additives analysed, 45·9 % of the UPFP were identified, and when considering the presence of the FoPNL, flavouring, colouring or non-sugar sweeteners, the identification increased to 89·9 %. Results showed that the current FoPNL in Brazil does not facilitate the identification of UPFP. In this sense, labels that indicate the presence of food additives with cosmetic functions (which are UPFP markers) could be a public health strategy to reduce the consumption of UPFP. Currently, food labelling regulations in Brazil are not aligned with Brazilian Dietary Guidelines recommendations.

Pregnancy and lactation change women’s body composition (BC), but few longitudinal studies have investigated postpartum BC trajectories. We aimed to investigate maternal and infant predictors of maternal body fat (BF), fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM) and BMI trajectories during lactation. Longitudinal study with 234 Brazilian mother–infant dyads followed at 1·0–3·49, 3·5–5·99 and 6·0–8·5 months postpartum. Maternal BC was estimated using bioelectrical impedance at all follow-up points. Longitudinal mixed–effects models with interaction terms with time (weeks postpartum) were employed. FFM declined significantly over weeks postpartum (β = −0·02 kg; 95 % CI –0·03, −0·01). Pre-pregnancy overweight women experienced an increase in all body components (BF: β = 4·91 %, 95 % CI 3·79, 6·04; FM: β = 6·46 kg, 95 % CI 5·26, 7·67; FFM: β = 3·72 kg, 95 % CI 2·80, 4·65) and BMI (β = 4·51 kg/m2, 95 % CI 3·91, 5·12). Multiparous women showed BMI increases (β = 0·76 kg/m2, 95 % CI 0·11, 1·41), and those who delivered by caesarean had FFM (β = 1·87 kg, 95 % CI 0·67, 3·07) and BMI (β = 1·39 kg/m2, 95 % CI 0·61, 2·18) increases. Women who birthed girls had reductions in FM (β = −1·24 kg, 95 % CI –2·41, −0·07) and FFM (β = −0·93 kg, 95 % CI –1·84, −0·01). Interactions occurred between maternal age ≥ 30 years, higher family income, multiparity and infant sex for BC and BMI trajectories. Maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, family income, mode of delivery and infant sex predict maternal BC and BMI trajectories.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with deteriorated mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Curcumin and probiotics improved MetS, mental health and HRQOL. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin-probiotic (CurPro) co-supplementation in the form of drink powder on mental health and HRQOL in adults with overweight/obesity and MetS. A four-arm, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial with factorial design was conducted for adults with overweight/obesity and MetS (n 128). Participants were randomly allocated into four groups to receive one drink powder sachet containing 1 g curcumin, 109 colony-forming unit (CFU) probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains), CurPro (1 g curcumin and 109 CFU probiotic) or placebo along with a low-calorie diet. Participants were assessed for dietary intake, physical activity, mental health and HRQOL before and after the study. After 8 weeks of intervention, 104 participants finished the study. The CurPro intervention reduced stress (P = 0·001) and anxiety (P = 0·019) and improved general health (P = 0·024) and overall HRQOL (P = 0·011) scores of participants in comparison with the Placebo group. Results were NS for depression and HRQOL subdomains such as physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning and role limitations due to emotional problems. Curcumin-probiotics co-supplementation could improve the mental health and HRQOL of adults with overweight/obesity and MetS. Further investigations in various populations or with different dosages or durations are recommended.

Pregnant women are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency due to increased nutritional requirements and limited dietary sources. Fish is the major source of vitamin D, but its availability varies by region. This study aims to assess the availability of vitamin D-rich fish and develop food-based recommendations (FBRs) for pregnant women in East Lombok, Indonesia. This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in East Lombok, Indonesia, which is part of Action Against Stunting cohort of pregnant women. Twenty-five village markets in the area were scored based on availability of vitamin D-rich fish and number of fish sellers in each market and were categorized into high availability (HD) for the highest quartile and low availability (LD) for the lowest quartile. QGIS software was used to identify each of respondents’ houses using 2.4km buffer zones to either HD or LD markets. Dietary intake data was collected from 24-hour dietary recalls and linear programming (LP) analysis using Optifood was used to identify problem nutrient and dietary inadequacy. No significant difference in vitamin D intake was found between HD and LD areas (p=0.633). While both groups’ FBRs ensure adequacy of iron, zinc, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12, calcium remain as dietary inadequacy in the LD group, suggesting that availability play a role in ensuring dietary adequacy. Future studies to develop nutrient-dense foods and improved fish availability mapping which consider non-static position of market (mobile vendor) are recommended.

With the widespread use of high-fat diets (HFD) in aquaculture, the adverse effects of HFD on farmed fish are becoming increasingly apparent. Creatine has shown potential as a green feed additive in farmed fish; however, the potential of dietary creatine to attenuate adverse effects caused by high-fat diets remains poorly understood. To address such gaps, this study was conducted to investigate the mitigating effect of dietary creatine on HFD-induced disturbance on growth performance, hepatic lipid metabolism, intestinal health and muscle quality of juvenile largemouth bass. Three diets were formulated: a control diet (10·20 % lipid), a high-fat diet (HFD, 18·31 % lipid) and HFD with 2 % creatine (HFD + creatine). Juvenile largemouth bass (3·73 (sem 0·01) g) were randomly assigned to three diets for 10 weeks. The key findings were as follows: (1) the expression of muscle growth-related genes and proteins was stimulated by dietary creatine, which contributes to ameliorate the adverse effects of HFD on growth performance; (2) dietary creatine alleviates HFD-induced adverse effects on intestinal health by improving intestinal health, which also enhances feed utilisation efficiency; (3) dietary creatine causes excessive lipid deposition, mainly via lipolysis and β-oxidation. Notably, this study also reveals a previously undisclosed effect of creatine supplementation on improving muscle quality. Together, for the first time from a comprehensive multiorgan or tissue perspective, our study provides a feasible approach for developing appropriate nutritional strategies to alleviate the adverse effects of HFD on farmed fish, based on creatine supplementation.

Psoriasis is a chronic debilitating skin disease affecting 2 % of the UK population. The aetiopathogenesis of psoriasis arises from a combination of genetic susceptibly and lifestyle patterns including stress, infections, alcohol misuse, lack of physical activity and adiposity. This unfavourable gene-lifestyle pairing triggers a series of inflammatory responses resulting in the uncontrolled proliferation of skin cells characteristic of psoriasis, which at present is an incurable disease. Concurrent with the systemic nature of the condition, psoriasis has effects beyond the skin with concomitant cardiometabolic complications, arthritis, gastrointestinal diseases and depression, emphasising the need for other strategies beyond pharmaceutical therapies to support psoriasis treatments. The role of diet in psoriasis management has not been clearly established and only two evidence-based recommendations are available for people with psoriasis. This review aims to critically appraise the research examining dietary patterns in psoriasis populations, highlight the gaps in the evidence-base, and present directions for future research.

Weaning and introduction to a solid diet result in physiological stress in piglets. This can be offset by using complex diets. The terms ‘complexity’ and ‘complex diets’ are used in practice and academia but are not precisely defined. The aim of this review was to identify the ingredients in weaner diets, their inclusion levels and how the number of ingredients or complexity of diets influences weaner performance, intestinal and systemic health, environmental sustainability and antibiotic use. Not all diets are formulated equally. Some prioritise meeting the weaner’s nutritional needs, while other diets seek to align health promotion and adaptation to the environment. As diet composition is of vital importance for young piglets, the components needed in these complex diets must be defined. Healthy, environmentally adapted pigs have excellent growth performance. We therefore recommend use of a new term, ‘gut health supporting diets’, to encompass the many concepts associated with diet complexity.

Curcumin, a natural bioactive compound, is known to exert therapeutic effects on cancer and dysplasia. However, less is known about its effects on DNA damage and repair in obesity. Therefore, this study was to examine the novel role of curcumin in regulating DNA repair signalling using a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed either a 60 % HFD or standard chow with curcumin (2·5 g/kg diet) for 8 weeks. We observed that curcumin alleviated weight gain, preserved glucose balance and enhanced liver fat accumulation and lipid profile in mice with obesity induced by an HFD. Curcumin enhanced the adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADMSC) population (Sca-1 + CD45-) and expression of phosphorylated checkpoint kinase1 (pCHK1), a DNA repair gene, in adipocytes isolated from adipose tissues of HFD-induced obesity in mice. Moreover, in human preadipocytes, treatment with 10 μM curcumin effectively reduced the mRNA levels of IL6 and CCL2 in a dose-dependent manner, while treatment with 100 μM H2O2 together with curcumin upregulated the levels of pCHK2 and total CHK2 protein and reduced level of γH2AX, a biomarker of DNA damage. In addition, curcumin inhibits preadipocyte-to-adipocyte differentiation. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that curcumin reduced the pro-inflammatory response and DNA damage in adipocytes, controlling weight gain in mice with HFD-induced obesity.

Assessing children’s diets is currently challenging and burdensome. Abbreviated FFQ have the potential to assess dietary patterns in a rapid and standardised manner. Using nationally representative UK dietary intake and biomarker data, we developed an abbreviated FFQ to calculate dietary quality scores for pre-school and primary school-aged children. UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008–2016) weekly consumption frequencies of 129 food groups from 4-d diaries were cross-sectionally analysed using principal component analysis. A 129-item score was derived, alongside a 12-item score based on foods with the six highest and six lowest coefficients. Participants included 1069 pre-schoolers and 2565 primary schoolchildren. The first principal component explained 3·4 and 3·0 % of the variation in the original diet variables for pre-school and primary school groups, respectively, and described a prudent diet pattern. Prudent diet scores were characterised by greater consumption of fruit, vegetables and tap water and lower consumption of crisps, manufactured coated chicken/turkey products, purchased chips and soft drinks for both age groups. Correlations between the 129-item and 12-item scores were 0·86 and 0·84 for pre-school and primary school-aged children, respectively. Bland–Altman mean differences between the scores were 0·00 sd; 95 % limits of agreement were −1·05 to 1·05 and −1·10 to 1·10 sd for pre-school and primary school-aged children, respectively. Correlations between dietary scores and nutritional biomarkers showed only minor attenuation for the 12-item compared with the 129-item scores, illustrating acceptable congruence between prudent diet scores. The two 12-item FFQ offer user-friendly tools to measure dietary quality among UK children.

The impact of synchronising the collection and supply of breast milk produced during the day and night on improving long-term health outcomes for preterm infants is discussed, focusing on breast milk as a valuable source of melatonin, an essential synchroniser of biological rhythms.

Although B vitamins have been shown to play beneficial roles in bone health, the effects of vitamin B1 in humans are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin B1 supplementation on middle-aged and older adults. This single-armed trial study included community-dwelling adults in Japan and used a pre- and post-test design. The participants were given 28.0 mg of vitamin B1 supplementation per day for 1 month in addition to their daily usual diet. The effect of this treatment on bone turnover markers and metabolism was evaluated at baseline and after 1 month. Forty-two participants were enrolled (mean age, 58.6 ± 10.4 years; 36 women). The vitamin B1 levels in whole blood increased significantly from baseline after vitamin B1 supplementation. The level of serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP 5b), a bone resorption marker, reduced significantly (378 ± 135 vs. 335 ± 120 mU/dL, p < 0.001), while the level of N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP), a marker specific to bone formation, did not change. Moreover, the serum phosphorus and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations did not change, whereas the corrected serum calcium concentrations increased and vitamin D concentrations decreased. The serum TRACP 5b levels decreased after vitamin B1 supplementation in the middle-aged and older adults. Further definitive trials are needed to determine the efficacy of vitamin B1 in improving bone health.

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the correlation between magnesium consumption and periodontitis in different body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) groups. 8385 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2009–2014 were included. The correlation between dietary magnesium intake and periodontitis was first tested for statistical significance by descriptive statistics and weighted binary logistic regression. Subgroup analysis and interaction tests were performed to investigate whether the association was stable in different BMI and WC groups. There was a statistical difference in magnesium intake between periodontitis and non-periodontitis populations. In model 3, participants with the highest magnesium consumption had an odds ratio of 0.72 (0.57-0.92) for periodontitis compared to those with the lowest magnesium consumption. However, in subgroup analysis, the relationship between magnesium intake and periodontitis remained significant only in the non-general obese (BMI ≤ 30 kg/m2) and non-abdominal obese populations (WC ≤ 102 cm in men and ≤ 88 cm in women). Dietary magnesium intake might decrease the periodontitis prevalence in the American population, and this beneficial periodontal health role of magnesium consumption might only be evident in non-general obese and non-abdominal obese populations.