Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915
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Item Frequent Use of Baby Food Pouches in Infants and Young Children and Associations with Energy Intake and BMI: An Observational Study.(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2024-09-19) McLean NH; Bruckner BR; Heath A-LM; Haszard JJ; Daniels L; Conlon CA; von Hurst PR; Beck KL; Te Morenga LA; Firestone R; McArthur J; Paul R; Cox AM; Jones EA; Katiforis I; Brown KJ; Casale M; Jupiterwala RM; Rowan MM; Wei A; Fangupo LJ; Healey M; Pulu V; Neha T; Taylor RW; Fernandez M-LOBJECTIVE: 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.Item 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.(Elsevier B.V., 2023-12-07) Gillies NA; Milan AM; Cameron-Smith D; Mumme KD; Conlon CA; von Hurst PR; Haskell-Ramsay CF; Jones B; Roy NC; Coad J; Wall CR; Beck KLBACKGROUND: 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. METHODS: Three hundred and thirteen healthy participants (65-74 y, 65% female) were analyzed. Vitamins B were estimated according to dietary intake (4-d food records) and biochemical status (serum folate and vitamin B12). Fasting plasma 1C metabolites were quantified by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Measures of cardiometabolic health included biochemical (lipid panel, blood glucose) and anthropometric markers. Cognitive function was assessed by the Computerized Mental Performance Assessment System (COMPASS) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Associations were analyzed using multivariate linear (COMPASS, cardiometabolic health) and Poisson (MoCA) regression modeling. RESULTS: Over 90% of participants met dietary recommendations for riboflavin and vitamins B6 and B12, but only 78% of males and 67% of females achieved adequate folate intakes. Higher serum folate and plasma betaine and glycine concentrations were associated with favorable cardiometabolic markers, whereas higher plasma choline and homocysteine concentrations were associated with greater cardiometabolic risk based on body mass index and serum lipids concentration values (P< 0.05). Vitamins B and homocysteine were not associated with cognitive performance in this cohort, though higher glycine concentrations were associated with better global cognitive performance (P = 0.017), episodic memory (P = 0.016), and spatial memory (P = 0.027) scores. Apolipoprotein E-ε4 status did not modify the relationship between vitamins B or 1C metabolites with cognitive function in linear regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin B and 1C metabolite profiles showed divergent associations with cardiometabolic risk markers and limited associations with cognitive performance in this cohort of healthy older adults.Item Relationship between vitamin D, iron, and hepcidin in premenopausal females, potentially confounded by ethnicity.(Springer Nature, 2023-08-29) Greenwood A; Von Hurst PR; Beck KL; Mazahery H; Lim K; Badenhorst CEPURPOSE: To investigate the associations between vitamin D, hepcidin, and iron status in premenopausal females of different ethnic cohorts residing in Auckland, New Zealand (NZ). METHODS: A total of 160 females aged 18-45 years participated in a cross-sectional study. Demographics, body composition, serum 25(OH)D, inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, IL-6), and iron biomarkers (serum ferritin, haemoglobin, soluble transferrin receptor, and hepcidin) were measured. Comparisons between parametric, non-parametric, and categorical variables were completed by using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Chi-squared tests, respectively. ANCOVA was used to compare serum 25(OH)D across iron parameter categories. RESULTS: Of the 160 participants, 60 were NZ European, 67 were South Asian, and 33 were from the 'other' ethnic groups. South Asians had significantly higher body fat percentage (BF%) and IL-6 concentration (38.34% and 1.66 pg·mL-1, respectively), compared to NZ Europeans (27.49% and 0.63 pg·mL-1, respectively, p < 0.001). South Asians had significantly lower 25(OH)D concentrations compared to NZ Europeans (33.59 nmol·L-1 vs 74.84 nmol·L-1, p < 0.001). In NZ Europeans, higher 25(OH)D concentration was seen in those with lower (≤ 3.5 nM) hepcidin concentration, p = 0.0046. In South Asians, higher 25(OH)D concentration was seen in those with higher (> 3.5 nM) hepcidin concentrations, p = 0.038. There were no associations between serum 25(OH)D and serum ferritin. CONCLUSION: Within South Asian women, an unexpected positive relationship between 25(OH)D and hepcidin concentration was observed which may be due to significantly higher IL-6 concentrations, BF%, and lower 25(OH)D concentrations. Future research is required to confirm these observations in this ethnic cohort.Item Hair and cord blood element levels and their relationship with air pollution, dietary intake, gestational diabetes mellitus, and infant neurodevelopment.(Elsevier B.V., 2023-08-23) Xia Y-Y; de Seymour JV; Yang X-J; Zhou L-W; Liu Y; Yang Y; Beck KL; Conlon CA; Mansell T; Novakovic B; Saffery R; Han T-L; Zhang H; Baker PNBACKGROUND & AIMS: Exposure to a range of elements, air pollution, and specific dietary components in pregnancy has variously been associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk or infant neurodevelopmental problems. We measured a range of pregnancy exposures in maternal hair and/or infant cord serum and tested their relationship to GDM and infant neurodevelopment. METHODS: A total of 843 pregnant women (GDM = 224, Non-GDM = 619) were selected from the Complex Lipids in Mothers and Babies cohort study. Forty-eight elements in hair and cord serum were quantified using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between hair element concentrations and GDM risk, while multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the relationship between hair/cord serum elements and air pollutants, diet exposures, and Bayley Scales of infant neurodevelopment at 12 months of age. RESULTS: After adjusting for maternal age, BMI, and primiparity, we observed that fourteen elements in maternal hair were associated with a significantly increased risk of GDM, particularly Ta (OR = 9.49, 95% CI: 6.71, 13.42), Re (OR = 5.21, 95% CI: 3.84, 7.07), and Se (OR = 5.37, 95% CI: 3.48, 8.28). In the adjusted linear regression model, three elements (Rb, Er, and Tm) in maternal hair and infant cord serum were negatively associated with Mental Development Index scores. For dietary exposures, elements were positively associated with noodles (Nb), sweetened beverages (Rb), poultry (Cs), oils and condiments (Ca), and other seafood (Gd). In addition, air pollutants PM2.5 (LUR) and PM10 were negatively associated with Ta and Re in maternal hair. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the potential influence of maternal element exposure on GDM risk and infant neurodevelopment. We identified links between levels of these elements in both maternal hair and infant cord serum related to air pollutants and dietary factors.Item Baby Food Pouches, Baby-Led Weaning, and Iron Status in New Zealand Infants: An Observational Study.(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2024-05-15) McLean NH; Haszard JJ; Daniels L; Taylor RW; Wheeler BJ; Conlon CA; Beck KL; von Hurst PR; Te Morenga LA; McArthur J; Paul R; Katiforis I; Brown KJ; Gash MC; Rowan MM; Casale M; Cox AM; Jones EA; Jupiterwala RM; Bruckner B; Fleming L; Heath A-LM; Chen Y; Tran PV; Felt BTIron deficiency in infants can impact development, and there are concerns that the use of baby food pouches and baby-led weaning may impair iron status. First Foods New Zealand (FFNZ) was an observational study of 625 New Zealand infants aged 6.9 to 10.1 months. Feeding methods were defined based on parental reports of infant feeding at "around 6 months of age": "frequent" baby food pouch use (five+ times per week) and "full baby-led weaning" (the infant primarily self-feeds). Iron status was assessed using a venepuncture blood sample. The estimated prevalence of suboptimal iron status was 23%, but neither feeding method significantly predicted body iron concentrations nor the odds of iron sufficiency after controlling for potential confounding factors including infant formula intake. Adjusted ORs for iron sufficiency were 1.50 (95% CI: 0.67-3.39) for frequent pouch users compared to non-pouch users and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.45-1.87) for baby-led weaning compared to traditional spoon-feeding. Contrary to concerns, there was no evidence that baby food pouch use or baby-led weaning, as currently practiced in New Zealand, were associated with poorer iron status in this age group. However, notable levels of suboptimal iron status, regardless of the feeding method, emphasise the ongoing need for paying attention to infant iron nutrition.Item Baby food pouches and Baby-Led Weaning: Associations with energy intake, eating behaviour and infant weight status.(Elsevier B.V., 2024-01-01) Cox AM; Taylor RW; Haszard JJ; Beck KL; von Hurst PR; Conlon CA; Te Morenga LA; Daniels L; McArthur J; Paul R; McLean NH; Jones EA; Katiforis I; Brown KJ; Gash M; Rowan M; Fleming EA; Jupiterwala R; Bruckner BR; Heath A-LMAlthough concern is frequently expressed regarding the potential impact of baby food pouch use and Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) on infant health, research is scarce. Data on pouch use, BLW, energy intake, eating behaviour and body mass index (BMI) were obtained for 625 infants aged 7-10 months in the First Foods New Zealand study. Frequent pouch use was defined as ≥5 times/week during the past month. Traditional spoon-feeding (TSF), "partial" BLW and "full" BLW referred to the relative proportions of spoon-feeding versus infant self-feeding, assessed at 6 months (retrospectively) and current age. Daily energy intake was determined using two 24-h dietary recalls, and caregivers reported on a variety of eating behaviours. Researchers measured infant length and weight, and BMI z-scores were calculated (World Health Organization Child Growth Standards). In total, 28% of infants consumed food from pouches frequently. Frequent pouch use was not significantly related to BMI z-score (mean difference, 0.09; 95% CI -0.09, 0.27) or energy intake (92 kJ/day; -19, 202), but was associated with greater food responsiveness (standardised mean difference, 0.3; 95% CI 0.1, 0.4), food fussiness (0.3; 0.1, 0.4) and selective/restrictive eating (0.3; 0.2, 0.5). Compared to TSF, full BLW was associated with greater daily energy intake (BLW at 6 months: mean difference 150 kJ/day; 95% CI 4, 297; BLW at current age: 180 kJ/day; 62, 299) and with a range of eating behaviours, including greater satiety responsiveness, but not BMI z-score (6 months: 0.06 (-0.18, 0.30); current age: 0.06 (-0.13, 0.26)). In conclusion, neither feeding approach was associated with weight in infants, despite BLW being associated with greater energy intake compared with TSF. However, infants who consumed pouches frequently displayed higher food fussiness and more selective eating.Item Athlete Preferences for Nutrition Education: Development of and Findings from a Quantitative Survey.(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2023-05-29) Solly H; Badenhorst CE; McCauley M; Slater GJ; Gifford JA; Erueti B; Beck KL; Nieman DCNutrition education (NE) is one of several strategies aimed at enhancing the dietary intake of athletes. This study investigated NE preferences of New Zealand and Australian athletes competing nationally and internationally. Athletes (n = 124, 22 (18, 27) years, female 54.8%) from 22 sports completed an online survey, with responses analysed using descriptive statistics. Teaching techniques considered 'extremely effective' were life examples (47.6% of athletes), hands-on activities (30.6%), and discussions with a facilitator (30.6%). Setting personal nutrition goals was important to most athletes (83.9%), along with two-way feedback with a facilitator (75.0%). General nutrition topics considered 'essential' were energy requirements (52.9%), hydration (52.9%), and nutrient deficiencies (43.3%). Performance topics considered 'essential' were recovery (58.1%), pre-exercise nutrition (51.6%), nutrition during exercise (50.0%), and energy requirements for training (49.2%). Athletes preferred a 'combination of in-person group and one-on-one sessions' (25% of athletes), 'one-on one sessions' (19.2%) and 'in-person group sessions' (18.3%), with only 13.3% interested in 'exclusively online delivery'. Sessions of 31-60 min (61.3% of athletes) held monthly (37.5%) and undertaken with athletes of the same sporting calibre (61.3%) were favoured by the participants. The preferred facilitator was a performance dietitian or nutritionist (82.1% of athletes), who had knowledge of the sport (85.5%), experience in sports nutrition (76.6%), and credibility (73.4%). This research provides novel insights into the factors that need to be considered when designing and implementing nutrition education for athletes.Item Adherence to Infant Feeding Guidelines in the First Foods New Zealand Study.(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2023-11-02) Brown KJ; Beck KL; Von Hurst P; Heath A-L; Taylor R; Haszard J; Daniels L; Te Morenga L; McArthur J; Paul R; Jones E; Katiforis I; Rowan M; Casale M; McLean N; Cox A; Fleming E; Bruckner B; Jupiterwala R; Wei A; Conlon C; Rodríguez Martínez GInfant feeding guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations to support optimal infant health, growth, and development, and exploring adherence to guidelines is a useful way of assessing diet quality. The aim of this study was to determine adherence to the recently updated Ministry of Health "Healthy Eating Guidelines for New Zealand Babies and Toddlers (0-2 years old)". Data were obtained from First Foods New Zealand, a multicentre observational study of 625 infants aged 7.0-10.0 months. Caregivers completed two 24-h diet recalls and a demographic and feeding questionnaire. Nearly all caregivers (97.9%) initiated breastfeeding, 37.8% exclusively breastfed to around six months of age, and 66.2% were currently breastfeeding (mean age 8.4 months). Most caregivers met recommendations for solid food introduction, including appropriate age (75.4%), iron-rich foods (88.3%), puréed textures (80.3%), and spoon-feeding (74.1%). Infants consumed vegetables (63.2%) and fruit (53.9%) more frequently than grain foods (49.5%), milk and milk products (38.6%), and meat and protein-rich foods (31.8%). Most caregivers avoided inappropriate beverages (93.9%) and adding salt (76.5%) and sugar (90.6%). Our findings indicated that while most infants met the recommendations for the introduction of appropriate solid foods, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding could be improved, indicating that New Zealand families may need more support.Item Plasma nervonic acid levels were negatively associated with attention levels in community-living older adults in New Zealand(Springer Nature, 2022-08) de Seymour JV; Beck KL; Conlon CA; Von Hurst PR; Mumme KD; Haskell-Ramsay CF; Jones MBThe global population is aging. Preserving function and independence of our aging population is paramount. A key component to maintaining independence is the preservation of cognitive function. Metabolomics can be used to identify biomarkers of cognition before noticeable deterioration. Our study investigated the plasma metabolome of 332 community-living New Zealanders between 65 and 74 years of age, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Six cognitive domains were assessed. Of the 123 metabolites identified using an in-house mass spectral libraries of standards, nervonic acid had a significant, inverse association with the attention domain (P-value = 1.52E− 4; FDR = 0.019), after adjusting for covariates (apolipoprotein E -ε4 genotype, sex, body fat percentage (standardised by sex), age, education, deprivation index, physical activity, metabolic syndrome, polypharmacy, smoking status, and alcohol intake) and multiple testing. Attention is defined as the ability to concentrate on selected aspects of the environment while ignoring other stimuli. This is the first study to identify nervonic acid as a potential biomarker of attention in older adults. Future research should confirm this association in a longitudinal study.Item Recent Developments in the Assessment of Nutrition Knowledge in Athletes(Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 2022-06) Tam R; Gifford JA; Beck KLPurpose of Review Adequate nutrition knowledge may influence dietary behaviour, and the performance and health of athletes. Assessment of the nutrition knowledge of athletes can inform practice and provide a quantitative way to evaluate education interventions. This article aims to review nutrition knowledge questionnaires published in the last 5 years to identify advances, possible improvements in questionnaire development and design, and challenges that remain. Recent Findings Twelve new or modified questionnaires were identified. All had undergone validity and reliability testing. Advancements included quantitative measures of content validity and Rasch analysis. Online questionnaires were common, with at least seven using this format. Advances included use of images (n=2), automated scored feedback (n=1), and use of applied questions. Summary While advancements have been made in validation and reliability testing and electronic delivery, new questionnaires would benefit from interactive and attractive features including images, provision of electronic feedback, and applied questions.