Achieving High Protein Quality Is a Challenge in Vegan Diets: A Narrative Review.

The transition toward plant-based (PB) diets has gained attention as a plausible step toward achieving sustainable and healthy dietary goals. However, the complete elimination of all animal-sourced foods from the diet (ie, a vegan diet) may have nutritional ramifications that warrant close examination. Two such concerns are the adequacy and bioavailability of amino acids (AAs) from plant-sourced foods and the consequences for older vegan populations who have elevated AA requirements. This narrative review describes the challenges of achieving high protein quality from vegan diets. Data were synthesized from peer-reviewed research articles and reviews. Plant-sourced proteins provide poorer distribution of indispensable AAs (IAAs) and have poorer digestibility, partly due to their inherent structural components within the food matrix. The review addresses complexities of combinations of varied plant protein sources and why the inclusion of novel PB alternatives adds uncertainty to the achievement of adequate protein adequacy. Meal distribution patterns of protein and the ensuing physiological impacts deserve further research and are outlined in this review. Particular attention is given to describing the challenges of achieving sufficient protein and IAA intakes by aging populations who choose to follow a vegan diet. This review contributes to the emerging discussions of nutritional risks associated with vegan diets and adds perspective to the current dietary shifts toward PB diets.fals

Impact of a "vegetables first" approach to complementary feeding on later intake and liking of vegetables in infants: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

© The Author(s). 2021BACKGROUND: Vegetables as first complementary foods for infants may programme taste preferences that lead to improved vegetable intake in children. Yet few studies have investigated the impact of a "vegetables first" approach to complementary feeding, especially in New Zealand. The purpose of this randomised control trial is to investigate the effect of starting complementary feeding with vegetables only on infants' later intake and liking of vegetables, compared to those starting with fruit and vegetables. METHODS/DESIGN: One-hundred and twenty mother-infant pairs living in Auckland, New Zealand, will be randomised to receive either vegetables only (intervention) or fruit and vegetables (control) for 28 days, starting from the first day of complementary feeding at around 4-6 months of age. Infants will be presented with a brassica (broccoli), followed by a green leafy vegetable (spinach) and sweet fruit (pear) at 9 months of age. The primary outcome measures of intake of each food will be assessed using a weighed food diary. Secondary outcome measures of overall intake, liking and wanting of vegetables will be assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, liking tool and video coding tool, respectively, at 9, 12, and 24 months of age. Infant growth and iron status will be assessed as part of health screening and monitoring at baseline, post intervention and 9 months of age. Other biological samples to be collected include infant stool samples, vitamin D (mother and infant), iron status (mother), and mothers' diet. DISCUSSION: This randomised, controlled trial will be the first to our knowledge to investigate a "vegetables first" approach to complementary feeding on infants' liking and intake of vegetables in New Zealand. Comparison against standard practice (fruit and vegetables as first foods) should complement other trials underway, such as the Baby's First Bites and Nordic OTIS trial. Results may contribute to the evidence supporting complementary feeding guidelines in New Zealand and worldwide. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12619000737134 . Registered on 16 May 2019.fals

Starting complementary feeding with vegetables only increases vegetable acceptance at 9 months: a randomized controlled trial

(c) The Author/s 2022BACKGROUND: Starting complementary feeding (CF) with vegetables only may improve vegetable acceptance throughout childhood. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to test whether exposure to vegetables only during the first 4 wk of CF increases later vegetable acceptance compared with a control group receiving fruit and vegetables. METHODS: In this randomized, controlled, parallel-group study, 117 Auckland infants received either vegetables only (veg-only, n = 61) or a combination of fruit and vegetables (control, n = 56) for a duration of 4 wk, starting from the first day of CF at ∼4-6 mo of age. The primary outcome measure was intake of target vegetables (broccoli, spinach) provided by the study at 9 mo of age. Daily intake of vegetables (FFQs) at 9 mo was a supporting measure. Infants' iron status (serum ferritin, hemoglobin) was examined at all time points. RESULTS: The veg-only infants consumed more broccoli and spinach than controls [mean difference (95% CI): 11.83 (0.82, 22.84) g, P = 0.036 and 10.19 (0.50, 19.87) g, P = 0.039, respectively]. Intake of pear was comparable among intervention groups (P = 0.35). At 9 mo, veg-only infants consumed target vegetables at a faster rate [mean difference (95% CI): broccoli, 3.37 (1.26, 5.47), P = 0.002; spinach, 4.12 (0.80, 7.45), P = 0.016] and showed greater acceptance for target vegetables [mean difference (95% CI): broccoli, 0.38 (0.07, 0.70), P = 0.019; spinach, 032 (0.04, 0.60), P = 0.024] than controls. The rate of eating and acceptance of pear was comparable among intervention groups (P = 0.42 and P = 0.98, respectively). Also, veg-only infants consumed more vegetables than controls [86.3 (52.5, 146.3) compared with 67.5 (37.5, 101.3) g, respectively, P = 0.042]. Introducing vegetables as the first food was not associated with 9-mo iron status. CONCLUSIONS: Providing vegetables as first foods increased vegetable intake at 9 mo of age and may be an effective strategy for improving child vegetable consumption and developing preferences for vegetables in infancy

Body composition associations with muscle strength in older adults living in Auckland, New Zealand

Copyright: © 2021 Hiol et al.BACKGROUND: Aging is associated with decreases in muscle strength and simultaneous changes in body composition, including decreases in muscle mass, muscle quality and increases in adiposity. METHODS: Adults (n = 369; 236 females) aged 65-74 years living independently were recruited from the cross-sectional Researching Eating Activity and Cognitive Health (REACH) study. Body fat percentage and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) (sum of lean mass in the arms and legs) were assessed using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (Hologic, QDR Discovery A). The ASM index was calculated by ASM (kilograms) divided by height (meters) squared. Isometric grip strength was measured using a hand grip strength dynamometer (JAMAR HAND). RESULTS: Linear regression analyses revealed that muscle strength was positively associated with the ASM index (R2 = 0.431, p < 0.001). When exploring associations between muscle strength and muscle mass according to obesity classifications (obesity ≥30% males; ≥40% females), muscle mass was a significant predictor of muscle strength in non-obese participants. However, in participants with obesity, muscle mass was no longer a significant predictor of muscle strength. CONCLUSIONS: Body fat percentage should be considered when measuring associations between muscle mass and muscle strength in older adults.fals

Body Fat Percentage and Blood Donation are the Strongest Determinants of Iron Stores in Premenopausal Women Joining the New Zealand Army.

INTRODUCTION: Suboptimal iron status is an issue for women joining the military because of its association with impaired aerobic performance, yet no studies have investigated dietary and non-dietary determinants of iron status simultaneously in this population. The purpose of this study was to explore associations between iron stores, dietary patterns (DPs), and potential non-dietary determinants of iron status in premenopausal women at the commencement of basic military training (BMT) in the New Zealand Army. METHODS: During week 1 of BMT, demographic, body composition, lifestyle, medical history, and dietary data were measured as potential determinants of serum ferritin (SF) in 101 participants. Following univariate analysis, age, body fat percentage, previous blood donation, at least 6 h of exercise per week that raised the heart rate, and a vegetarian DP were analyzed using a multiple linear regression model. RESULTS: An increase in body fat percentage was associated with increased SF (P < .009), although blood donation in the past year decreased SF (P < .011) compared to those participants who did not donate blood. There was no association between SF and a vegetarian DP or hours of exercise per week. The model explained 17.5% of the variance in SF at the commencement of BMT. CONCLUSION: Body fat percentage and blood donation in the past year were the strongest determinants of iron stores in healthy premenopausal women commencing BMT. It is recommended that women joining the New Zealand Army are provided information to maintain or improve their iron status based on these findings. This includes clinical screening of iron status, advice for women considering blood donation, and dietary advice regarding total energy requirements and iron bioavailability.fals

Relationship between vitamin D, iron, and hepcidin in premenopausal females, potentially confounded by ethnicity.

PURPOSE: 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  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.fals

Measurement of the inclusive and dijet cross-sections of b-jets in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The inclusive and dijet production cross-sections have been measured for jets containing b-hadrons (b-jets) in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements use data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb^-1. The b-jets are identified using either a lifetime-based method, where secondary decay vertices of b-hadrons in jets are reconstructed using information from the tracking detectors, or a muon-based method where the presence of a muon is used to identify semileptonic decays of b-hadrons inside jets. The inclusive b-jet cross-section is measured as a function of transverse momentum in the range 20 < pT < 400 GeV and rapidity in the range |y| < 2.1. The bbbar-dijet cross-section is measured as a function of the dijet invariant mass in the range 110 < m_jj < 760 GeV, the azimuthal angle difference between the two jets and the angular variable chi in two dijet mass regions. The results are compared with next-to-leading-order QCD predictions. Good agreement is observed between the measured cross-sections and the predictions obtained using POWHEG + Pythia. MC@NLO + Herwig shows good agreement with the measured bbbar-dijet cross-section. However, it does not reproduce the measured inclusive cross-section well, particularly for central b-jets with large transverse momenta.Comment: 10 pages plus author list (21 pages total), 8 figures, 1 table, final version published in European Physical Journal

Sugar-sweetened beverages consumption among New Zealand children aged 8-12 years: a cross sectional study of sources and associates/correlates of consumption

© The Author(s) 2021BACKGROUND: The benefit of reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is widely accepted, but updated and in-depth data on New Zealand (NZ) children's SSB consumption is lacking. The aims of this study were to describe beverage consumption, focusing on SSBs in primary school age children living in Auckland; to examine the association of selected socio-demographic, home, community and school factors and children's beverage knowledge/attitudes with regards to beverage consumption; to explore the relationship between SSBs consumption and adiposity in children. METHODS: A cross-sectional, Auckland-wide survey of 578 school age children (8-12 years) was conducted using questionnaires to collect data on beverage consumption, beverage knowledge/attitudes, and selected socio-demographic and home, community, school factors. Body fat percentage (BF%) was assessed using bioelectrical impedance (BIA). RESULTS: Ninety-six percent of children consumed ≥1 serving of SSBs a week; with ≥5 servings reported by 62% of children. Of all SSBs assessed, consumption of ≥1 serving of sugar sweetened milk-based beverages (85%, mainly milk drinks made from powder) was most prevalent, followed by fruit juice (46%) and sugar-containing carbonated drinks (39%, mainly soft/fizzy drinks). Among unsweetened beverages, plain water was reported to be consumed < 2 times a day by 22% of children, and plain milk < 1 serving a day by 53%. Higher consumption of SSBs was associated with socio-economic disadvantage, non-NZ European ethnicities (Māori, Pacific, Asian, others), availability of SSBs in the home, frequent takeaway/convenience shop visits, children's incorrect perception of adequate SSBs consumption frequency, and higher BF% (females only). School health policy and encouragement of children to consume un-sweetened beverages was not associated with SSBs consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of SSBs is prevalent in NZ school age children, with higher consumption rates observed among those from socially disadvantaged areas. This high consumption is associated with higher BF% in females. Multi-contextual interventions to decrease SSBs should target children, and their families/environment, particularly those from socially disadvantaged areas.fals

Plasma nervonic acid levels were negatively associated with attention levels in community-living older adults in New Zealand

© The Author(s) 2022The 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

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Modify Cardiometabolic Response to Vitamin D Supplementation in T2DM Patients

There is conflicting evidence on the favorable effects of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic profile in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and this might be due to genetic variations in vitamin D receptors (VDRs). Thus, we studied the metabolic effects of a 12-month vitamin D supplementation in T2DM patients according to VDR polymorphisms. A total of 204 T2DM subjects received 2000 IU vitamin D3 daily for 12 months. Serum 25(OH)D and metabolic profiles were measured at baseline and after 12 months. VDR polymorphisms (Taq-I, Bsm-I, Apa-I and Fok-I) were identified using TaqMan genotyping assays. Vitamin D supplementation significantly increased HOMA β-cell function (p = 0.003) as well as significantly decreased triglycerides, total and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001). The lowest increment in 25(OH)D levels was detected in patients with Fok-I CC genotypes (p < 0.0001). With vitamin D supplementation, Taq-I GG genotype carriers showed significant improvements in triglycerides, LDL- and total cholesterol, insulin, HbA1c and HOMA-IR (p < 0.005, 0.01, < 0.001, < 0.005, 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). Similarly, Bsm-I TT genotype carriers showed significant improvements in triglycerides (p = 0.01), insulin and HOMA-IR (p-values < 0.05). In conclusion, improvements in metabolic profile due to vitamin D supplementation is influenced by VDR polymorphisms, specifically for carriers of Taq-I GG and Bsm-I TT genotypes