Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915

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    Dietary Fibre Intake, Adiposity, and Metabolic Disease Risk in Pacific and New Zealand European Women
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2024-10-07) Renall N; Merz B; Douwes J; Corbin M; Slater J; Tannock GW; Firestone R; Kruger R; Te Morenga L; Brownlee IA; Feraco A; Armani A
    BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To assess associations between dietary fibre intake, adiposity, and odds of metabolic syndrome in Pacific and New Zealand European women. METHODS: Pacific (n = 126) and New Zealand European (NZ European; n = 161) women (18-45 years) were recruited based on normal (18-24.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥30 kg/m2) BMIs. Body fat percentage (BF%), measured using whole body DXA, was subsequently used to stratify participants into low (<35%) or high (≥35%) BF% groups. Habitual dietary intake was calculated using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) method, involving a five-day food record and semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Fasting blood was analysed for glucose and lipid profile. Metabolic syndrome was assessed with a harmonized definition. RESULTS: NZ European women in both the low- and high-BF% groups were older, less socioeconomically deprived, and consumed more dietary fibre (low-BF%: median 23.7 g/day [25-75-percentile, 20.1, 29.9]; high-BF%: 20.9 [19.4, 24.9]) than Pacific women (18.8 [15.6, 22.1]; and 17.8 [15.0, 20.8]; both p < 0.001). The main source of fibre was discretionary fast foods for Pacific women and whole grain breads and cereals for NZ European women. A regression analysis controlling for age, socioeconomic deprivation, ethnicity, energy intake, protein, fat, and total carbohydrate intake showed an inverse association between higher fibre intake and BF% (β= -0.47, 95% CI = -0.62, -0.31, p < 0.001), and odds of metabolic syndrome (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.84, 0.98, p = 0.010) among both Pacific and NZ European women (results shown for both groups combined). CONCLUSIONS: Low dietary fibre intake was associated with increased metabolic disease risk. Pacific women had lower fibre intakes than NZ European women.
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    Chronotype Differences in Body Composition, Dietary Intake and Eating Behavior Outcomes: A Scoping Systematic Review
    (Elsevier Inc, 2022-11) van der Merwe C; Münch M; Kruger R
    The timing and nutritional composition of food intake are important zeitgebers for the biological clocks in humans. Thus, eating at an inappropriate time (e.g., during the night) may have a desynchronizing effect on the biological clocks and, in the long term, may result in adverse health outcomes (e.g., weight gain, obesity, and poor metabolic function). Being a very late or early chronotype not only determines preferred sleep and wake times but may also influence subsequent mealtimes, which may affect the circadian timing system. In recent years, an increased number of studies have examined the relation between chronotype and health outcomes, with a main focus on absolute food intake and metabolic markers and, to a lesser extent, on dietary intake distribution and eating behavior. Therefore, this review aimed to systematically determine whether chronotype indirectly affects eating behaviors, dietary intake (timing, choice, nutrients), and biomarkers leading to body composition outcomes in healthy adults. A systematic literature search on electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Cochrane library) was performed (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews number: CRD42020219754). Only studies that included healthy adults (aged >18 y), classified according to chronotype and body composition profiles, using outcomes of dietary intake, eating behavior, and/or biomarkers, were considered. Of 4404 articles, 24 met the inclusion criteria. The results revealed that late [evening type (ET)] compared with early [morning type (MT)] chronotypes were more likely to be overweight/obese with poorer metabolic health. Both MT and ET had similar energy and macronutrient intakes, consuming food during their preferred sleep–wake timing: later for ET than MT. Most of the energy and macronutrient intakes were distributed toward nighttime for ET and exacerbated by unhealthy eating behaviors and unfavorable dietary intakes. These findings from our systematic review give further insight why higher rates of overweight/obesity and unhealthier metabolic biomarkers are more likely to occur in ET.
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    Enablers and barriers to prevent weight-regain post bariatric surgery - A qualitative enquiry
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2022-12) Billing-Bullen G; Nielsen D; Wham C; Kruger R
    Background Weight-regain is commonly experienced after bariatric surgery. This qualitative enquiry aimed to explore participants' self-reported enablers and barriers to prevent future weight-regain post-surgery. Methods Eligible adults were recruited at 12-months post-bariatric-surgery at Counties Manukau, Auckland. Participants were invited to attend data collection at their 18-month group nutrition-education session, and to participate in a focus group at 21-months post-surgery. Thematic analysis was used to evaluate patient experiences. Results Participants (n = 28) were mostly female (73.2 %), New Zealand European (41.5 %), and had gastric sleeve surgery (92.3 %). Five key themes emerged from the analysis: A Life Changing Health Journey - participants experienced a decrease in obesity-related comorbidities and a subsequent decrease in medications. Weight change and food intolerances impacted quality of life. Challenge of managing a New Healthy Lifestyle - financial stress, buying healthier foods and social events were new challenges, often centred on food. Changing Eating Behavior - all participants struggled managing eating behaviors. Mindset Changes - post-surgery most participants had a positive mindset, increased confidence, and feelings of happiness. However, many struggled with mindset around weight and food. A need for On-going Support - most felt under-supported and expressed a need for longer, specific follow-up care. Conclusion Post-surgery group education sessions provided participants with increased support from both health professionals and peers on the same journey, to overcome struggles such as binge eating or identifying new coping strategies. Findings provide important insights into the challenges patients with bariatric surgery face and key learnings to develop specific supports for future care practices.
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    Evaluating a novel dietary diversity questionnaire to assess dietary diversity and adequacy of New Zealand women.
    (Elsevier Inc, 2021) Kruger R; Hepburn AJ; Beck KL; McNaughton S; Stonehouse W
    Objectives We sought to develop and evaluate the relative validity of a dietary diversity questionnaire (DDQ) that reflects food-group diversity, food variety, and micronutrient adequacy among New Zealand women. Methods A cross-sectional study included New Zealand women (Auckland based; ages 16–45 y, n = 101), completing a 7-d DDQ and 4-d weighed food record (reference method). The relative validity of the DDQ was evaluated by correlating nutritious and discretionary dietary diversity scores (DDSs; number of food groups) and food-variety scores (number of foods), calculated from both methods. The dietary mean adequacy ratio (MAR; micronutrient intakes relative to estimated average requirements) was calculated from the weighed food record and correlated to dietary diversity and food-variety scores from the DDQ to assess construct validity. Cross-tabulation was used to explore dietary diversity measures versus adequacy ratios. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Results The median (interquartile range) DDSs (maximum 25) from the DDQ—23 (21–23)—and the weighed food record—18 (17–19)—were significantly correlated (rs = 0.33, P < 0.001), as were the food-variety scores (maximum 237)—respectively, 75 (61–87) and 45 (37–52) (rs = 0.22, P < 0.03). A mean (± SD) MAR of 0.94 ± 0.04 suggested a near-adequate diet, but one-third of foods consumed were from discretionary sources. Nutritious DDS was significantly correlated with MAR for micronutrients (rs = 0.20, P ≤ 0.05). An inverse trend was observed between discretionary DDS and MAR. Conclusions The DDQ is a quick, low-burden tool for describing nutritious and discretionary dietary diversity reflecting micronutrient adequacy in high-income settings. It requires further validation across different time frames, population groups, and settings.
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    Nutrient Dense, Low-Cost Foods Can Improve the Affordability and Quality of the New Zealand Diet-A Substitution Modeling Study
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2021-07-27) Starck CS; Blumfield M; Keighley T; Marshall S; Petocz P; Inan-Eroglu E; Abbott K; Cassettari T; Ali A; Wham C; Kruger R; Kira G; Fayet-Moore F
    The high prevalence of non-communicable disease in New Zealand (NZ) is driven in part by unhealthy diet selections, with food costs contributing to an increased risk for vulnerable population groups. This study aimed to: (i) identify the nutrient density-to-cost ratio of NZ foods; (ii) model the impact of substituting foods with a lower nutrient density-to-cost ratio with those with a higher nutrient density-to-cost ratio on diet quality and affordability in representative NZ population samples for low and medium socioeconomic status (SES) households by ethnicity; and (iii) evaluate food processing level. Foods were categorized, coded for processing level and discretionary status, analyzed for nutrient density and cost, and ranked by nutrient density-to-cost ratio. The top quartile of nutrient dense, low-cost foods were 56% unprocessed (vegetables, fruit, porridge, pasta, rice, nuts/seeds), 31% ultra-processed (vegetable dishes, fortified bread, breakfast cereals unfortified <15 g sugars/100 g and fortified 15–30 g sugars/100 g), 6% processed (fruit juice), and 6% culinary processed (oils). Using substitution modeling, diet quality improved by 59% and 71% for adults and children, respectively, and affordability increased by 20–24%, depending on ethnicity and SES. The NZ diet can be made healthier and more affordable when nutritious, low-cost foods are selected. Processing levels in the healthier, modeled diet suggest that some non-discretionary ultra-processed foods may provide a valuable source of low-cost nutrition for food insecure populations.
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    The Effect of a 14-Day gymnema sylvestre Intervention to Reduce Sugar Cravings in Adults
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-12-12) Turner S; Diako C; Kruger R; Wong M; Wood W; Rutherfurd-Markwick K; Stice E; Ali A
    Gymnemic-acids (GA) block lingual sweet taste receptors, thereby reducing pleasantness and intake of sweet food. Objective: To examine whether a 14-day gymnema-based intervention can reduce sweet foods and discretionary sugar intake in free-living adults. Healthy adults (n = 58) were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (INT) or control group (CON). The intervention comprised of consuming 4 mg of Gymnema sylvestre containing 75% gymnema acids, a fibre and vitamin supplement, and an associated healthy-eating guide for 14 days; participants in the CON group followed the same protocol, replacing the GA with a placebo mint. Amount of chocolate bars eaten and sensory testing were conducted before and after the 14-day intervention (post-GA or placebo dosing on days zero and 15, respectively). Food frequency questionnaires were conducted on days zero, 15 and after a 28-day maintenance period to examine any changes in intake of sweet foods. A range of statistical procedures were used to analyse the data including Chi square, t-test and two-way analysis of variance. Post dosing, INT consumed fewer chocolates (2.65 ± 0.21 bars) at day zero than CON (3.15 ± 0.24 bars; p = 0.02); there were no differences between groups at day 15 (INT = 2.77 ± 0.22 bars; CON = 2.78 ± 0.22 bars; p = 0.81). At both visits, a small substantive effect (r < 0.3) was observed in the change in pleasantness and desire ratings, with INT showing a slight increase while CON showed a small decrease over the 14-day period. No differences were found in the intake of 9 food categories between groups at any timepoint. There were no differences in consumption of low sugar healthy foods between visits, or by group. The 14-day behavioural intervention reduced pleasantness and intake of chocolate in a laboratory setting. There was no habituation to the mint over the 14-day period. This study is the first to investigate the effect of longer-term gymnema acid consumption on sweet food consumption outside of a laboratory setting; further research is needed to assess how long the effect of the 14-day intervention persists.