Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915
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Item 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 ABACKGROUND/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.Item The fecal microbiotas of women of Pacific and New Zealand European ethnicities are characterized by distinctive enterotypes that reflect dietary intakes and fecal water content.(Taylor and Francis Groups, 2023-02-17) Renall N; Lawley B; Vatanen T; Merz B; Douwes J; Corbin M; Te Morenga L; Kruger R; Breier BH; Tannock GWObesity is a complex, multifactorial condition that is an important risk factor for noncommunicable diseases including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. While prevention and management require a healthy and energy balanced diet and adequate physical activity, the taxonomic composition and functional attributes of the colonic microbiota may have a supplementary role in the development of obesity. The taxonomic composition and metabolic capacity of the fecal microbiota of 286 women, resident in Auckland New Zealand, was determined by metagenomic analysis. Associations with BMI (obese, nonobese), body fat composition, and ethnicity (Pacific, n = 125; NZ European women [NZE], n = 161) were assessed using regression analyses. The fecal microbiotas were characterized by the presence of three distinctive enterotypes, with enterotype 1 represented in both Pacific and NZE women (39 and 61%, respectively), enterotype 2 mainly in Pacific women (84 and 16%) and enterotype 3 mainly in NZE women (13 and 87%). Enterotype 1 was characterized mainly by the relative abundances of butyrate producing species, Eubacterium rectale and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, enterotype 2 by the relative abundances of lactic acid producing species, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Lactobacillus ruminis, and enterotype 3 by the relative abundances of Subdoligranulum sp., Akkermansia muciniphila, Ruminococcus bromii, and Methanobrevibacter smithii. Enterotypes were also associated with BMI, visceral fat %, and blood cholesterol. Habitual food group intake was estimated using a 5 day nonconsecutive estimated food record and a 30 day, 220 item semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. Higher intake of 'egg' and 'dairy' products was associated with enterotype 3, whereas 'non-starchy vegetables', 'nuts and seeds' and 'plant-based fats' were positively associated with enterotype 1. In contrast, these same food groups were inversely associated with enterotype 2. Fecal water content, as a proxy for stool consistency/colonic transit time, was associated with microbiota taxonomic composition and gene pools reflective of particular bacterial biochemical pathways. The fecal microbiotas of women of Pacific and New Zealand European ethnicities are characterized by distinctive enterotypes, most likely due to differential dietary intake and fecal consistency/colonic transit time. These parameters need to be considered in future analyses of human fecal microbiotas.Item Young People's Attitudes and Motivations Toward Social Media and Mobile Apps for Weight Control: Mixed Methods Study(JMIR Publications, 2019-10-10) Nikolaou CK; Tay Z; Leu J; Rebello SA; Te Morenga L; Van Dam RM; Lean MEJBACKGROUND: Effective prevention at a young enough age is critical to halt the obesity epidemic. Mobile health (mHealth) apps would potentially reach large numbers at low-cost. While there is already a profusion of lifestyle apps, they are mostly non-evidence-based and evidently ineffective against rising obesity prevalence. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore preferences and usage of lifestyle apps among young people in 6 countries. METHODS: A mixed methods study was conducted among young people aged 13 to 24 years residing in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Singapore, and New Zealand. Participants were recruited from Web advertisements on Facebook, asking for volunteers interested in mobile apps in general, not specific to lifestyle or health, to complete a short survey comprising 18 questions on demographics, weight gain, and mobile app preferences and then to join English-language online focus groups, which were held during 2017, in password-protected Web rooms, moderated by an experienced researcher. Descriptive statistics were carried out for the survey, and thematic analysis was applied to transcripts. RESULTS: A total of 2285 young people (610 adolescents aged 13-17 years and 1675 young adults aged 18-24 years) responded and completed the survey, with 72.0% (1645) reported being concerned about weight gain for themselves or friends. Later, 807 young people (376 adolescents and 431 young adults) were selected based on age and country to participate in 12 online focus groups, with 719 young people completing. Analysis revealed 4 main themes: (1) feelings toward personal weight; (2) perception of lifestyle apps and desired content for weight gain prevention; (3) social media apps, lifestyle apps, and motivation for downloading and retaining; and (4) data safety and data usage and confidentiality. Young people are interested in evidence-based advice in programs incorporating their preferences. CONCLUSIONS: Young people are commonly, and consistently across 6 countries, concerned about weight gain and obesity and would welcome evidence-based mHealth programs, provided the views of young people themselves are incorporated in the program content.