Accurate assessment of an individual’s diet is vital to study the effect of diet on health. Image-based methods, which use images as input, may improve the reliability of dietary assessment. We developed an iOS application that uses computer vision to identify food from images. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of energy intake (EIapp) estimates from the application by comparing them to estimated energy expenditure (EE) and to the EI estimates from a validated dietary assessment tool, the 24-h recall (EIrecall). Participants were recruited from a randomised controlled trial called He Rourou Whai Painga. Participants recorded all intake over 7 d using the application, which provided a mean daily EI; this was compared to the EI estimated by two 24-h recalls. The EI from the application and the recalls were compared to EE, estimated using indirect calorimetry and wrist-worn accelerometry. EI estimates from the application and the 24-h recalls were lower than EE, with a mean bias of -1814 kJ (95% CI -3012 to -615, p = 0.005) and -1715 kJ (95% CI -3237 to -193, p = 0.029), respectively. The mean bias between EI from the application and the 24-h recall was 783 kJ (95% CI -875 to 2441, p = 0.33). This suggests that the EI estimates from the application are comparable to the 24-h recall method, a validated and widely used tool in nutritional research.

Dietary fibre can modify colostrum and milk composition in sows. Bile acids (BA) aid in fat digestion and lipid absorption and are important signalling molecules for the digestive tract. The aim of this study was to determine BA concentration in colostrum from sows fed two different sources of dietary fibre during gestation and lactation and from the intestinal digesta of their 4-6-days-old suckling offspring. Twenty sows were fed diets enriched with either 15% high-fermentable sugar beet pulp (SBP, n = 10) or 15% low-fermentable lignocellulose (LNC, n = 10). Sow colostrum, piglet gallbladder content, ileum and colon digesta were assessed for BA using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. In colostrum, lithocholic acid and oxolithocholic acid were higher in sows fed SBP vs. LNC (p = 0.005 and p = 0.003, respectively), while 3α,7α,12α-trihydroxycholestanoic acid and glycohyodeoxycholic acid were higher in colostrum from sows fed LNC vs. SBP (p = 0.039, p = 0.002, respectively). In the piglet bile, cholic acid and taurodeoxycholic acid were higher in SBP vs. LNC group (p = 0.02, p = 0.001, respectively), while taurochenodeoxycholic acid was higher in LNC vs. SBP group (p = 0.035). In the piglet ileum digesta, lithocholic acid was higher in SBP vs. LNC (p = 0.015). In the piglet colon digesta, lithocholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid were higher in SBP vs. LNC (p = 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively). Addition of specific dietary fibres to sow diets differentially influences the BA in colostrum. Dietary fibres in sow diets can impact on the intestinal BA composition in piglets with a possible consequence on the digestive physiology and health in the offspring.

The multilevel dimensions of sustainable diets associating food systems, public health, environmental sustainability, and culture are presented in this paper. It begins by defining sustainable diets as those that are healthful, have low environmental impacts, are affordable, and culturally acceptable. The discussion includes the history of research on sustainable diets, from initial studies focused on environmental impacts to more recent, comprehensive frameworks that integrate affordability, cultural relevance, and nutritional adequacy as key dimensions of diet sustainability. In addition, the paper highlights recent innovations, such as the Planetary Health Diet of EAT–Lancet and the SHARP model, and the conflicts and optimum trade-offs between sustainability and nutrition, particularly within low- and middle-income countries. Case descriptions of Mediterranean Diet with a focus on Traditional Lebanese Diet, and African Indigenous Foods demonstrate culturally confined dietary patterns associated with sustainability objectives. These examples show that sustainable diets are not a single set of prescriptions, but a series of multiple pathways that are shaped by local food environments, ecological belts, and sociocultural heritages. The paper also describes major policy and governance activities necessary to promote sustainable diets. Finally, the paper addresses measurement challenges and advocates for better indicator options to measure sustainable food systems in all their facets and for participatory and context-specific approaches. The discussion concludes that fairer and culturally diverse inclusion strategies, system change, and political determination are imperative in achieving sustainable diets. Diets able to sustain are posited as agents capable of driving the 2030 agenda, enhancing planetary health and social integrity.

The Mediterranean Diet (Med Diet) has long been shown to be associated with lower cardiovascular mortality in epidemiological studies. However, the direct effect of the dietary pattern on cardiovascular risk factors is less clear. Furthermore, the effect of Med Diet interventions in non-Mediterranean populations on cardiovascular and metabolic risk is variable. A Cochrane Review in 2019 concluded there was low to moderate evidence of a modest benefit but noted that there were still ongoing trials. Since 2019, there have been a number of published trials that have not shown a benefit of the Med Diet over other interventions or usual care. It is possible that dietary factors such as quality or quantity of carbohydrate and energy restriction are more important factors, along with the degree of weight loss, than the Med Diet itself. There are also many other factors that influence the uptake and effectiveness of the Med Diet in populations that have a different traditional or habitual diet. This review paper examines a selection of 20 Med Diet intervention trials specifically looking at clinical outcomes of glucose metabolism: fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, development of type 2 diabetes or need for hypoglycaemic medications, with or without other cardiometabolic risk factors. These trials are a mix of randomised controlled trials, crossover studies and cohort studies of greater than 8 weeks duration with more than 25 participants. There is heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes, making comparison difficult, but there is no clear benefit of the Med Diet presented.

Nutritional status has been compromised by ongoing war and restrictions on food deliveries in the Gaza Strip. We developed a mathematical model that outputs retrospective estimates and scenario-based projections of acute malnutrition prevalence among children given caloric intake and other factors. We present here the model and its application to the crisis in Gaza. We extended an existing mechanistic model for weight change as a function of energy balance, calibrating it to represent variability in growth curves observed in pre-war Gaza. We simulated open cohorts of children exposed to time-varying caloric intake, infant exclusive breast-feeding prevalence, incidence of infectious disease and coverage of malnutrition treatment, while allowing for adult caloric sacrifice to supplement child intake in times of food scarcity. The model accurately replicates growth standards, pre-war growth patterns and expected parameter dependencies. It suggests that a considerable increase in acute malnutrition occurred in northern Gaza during early 2024. Projections for late 2024 include a serious nutritional emergency if relatively pessimistic assumptions are made about food availability. The model may hold considerable promise for informing decisions in humanitarian response but requires further validation and development.

This paper examines associations between maternal exposure to a radio programme, Bhanchhin Aama (Mother Knows Best), and the programme’s most promoted maternal and child nutrition-related practices, using the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) from 2022. We limited our sample to mothers of children less than 2 years (n = 1,933). The primary exposure variable was whether the mother listened to the Bhanchhin Aama radio programme. The five primary outcomes were: maternal dietary diversity, maternal use of modern family planning methods, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) of children less than 6 months, dietary diversity among children 6 to 24 months, and participation in growth monitoring and promotion among children 0 to 24 months. Descriptive analyses followed by logistic regression models, adjusted for potentially confounding factors and clustering, were conducted. Maternal exposure to Bhanchhin Aama was associated with nearly 70% higher odds of meeting both maternal (OR: 1.67; p: <0.001; CI: 1.26–2.21) and child minimum dietary diversity (OR: 1.70; p: 0.005; CI: 1.18–2.45), as well as 83% higher odds of a child participating in growth monitoring and promotion (OR: 1.83; p: 0.001; CI: 1.28–2.63). No associations were found for use of modern family planning methods and EBF. These findings suggests that radio programmes may be an effective tool to improve some maternal and child nutrition-related practices. Further research is needed to understand why certain behaviours are modifiable from this type of intervention versus others that are not and for which population groups this intervention would be most effective.

Food insecurity is a global issue. The objective is to summarise the literature identifying the main outcomes related to out-of-school hours interventions that provide food for low-income families with school-aged children, how they impact school-aged children and their families, and to identify gaps in knowledge. This review covered the main types and dimensions proposed in the literature. One author independently selected the studies, and an independent reviewer randomly reviewed them. Any paper meeting the inclusion criteria was considered regardless of geographical location. Papers were predominantly from the US, UK and Australia, including school-aged children from low-income families. Ninety-four articles were included relating to holiday clubs (n = 38), breakfast clubs (n = 45) and after-school clubs (n = 11). Key outcomes were healthy eating, academic, social, physical activity, nutritional education and financial outcomes. Clubs were consistent regarding the positive social and financial outcomes. There was variation in the primary aim, either to improve healthy eating or to feed children, regardless of nutritional quality. None of the studies reported children’s health outcomes. This review identified the key outcomes of interventions for low-income families outside of school hours in the literature. It highlights the consistent positive social outcomes across the three intervention types and the discrepancy in the nutritional value of the food provided. Few studies examined the attainment impact of holiday clubs, with no evidence on how they could impact term-time attendance. This highlights the need to analyse secondary data to understand further the attainment and attendance impact on children attending these interventions over time.

Recently, functional foods have been considered as an effective approach in management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This trial aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of date seed powder (DSP) on inflammation anxiety- and depression-like behaviours, sleep quality and tryptophan (TRP)–kynurenine (KYN) metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. In this trial, forty-three patients with type 2 diabetes were randomised to two groups: either 5 g/d of the DSP or placebo for 8 weeks. Depression, anxiety and stress scale, sleep quality, quality of life (QoL), levels of fasting blood glucose, endotoxin, anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory biomarkers, hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis-associated biomarkers (including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)), KYN, TRP, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks. An independent t test was used for baseline comparisons, while ANCOVA was used for post-intervention between-group comparisons. The results showed that supplementation with DSP significantly improved depression, anxiety and stress scale, sleep quality and QoL in comparison with placebo. In terms of biochemical parameters, the intervention group exhibited significantly reduced levels of endotoxin, and cortisol, KYN, KYN:TRP ratio as well as significantly elevated levels of IL-10, TRP concentrations and IL-10:IL-18 ratio compared to the placebo group. Changes in fasting sugar, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), IL-18, ACTH, BDNF concentrations and cortisol:ACTH ratio were not different between groups. Supplementing with date seed may effectively improve anxiety- and depression-like behaviours, sleep quality and QoL by modulating metabolic endotoxemia, inflammation and HPA axis activity in patients with type 2 diabetes.