Digital Commons Network^™

Recruitment And Retention Of Rural-Dwelling Young Adults Into A Digital Healthy Eating Intervention: Lessons Learned From A Randomized Controlled Trial Of The Veg4me Study, Katherine M. Livingstone, Stephanie R. Partridge, Jonathan C. Rawstorn, Kathleen M. Dullaghan, Yuxin Zhang, Stephanie L. Godrich, Sarah A. Mcnaughton, Gilly A. Hendrie, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Ralph Maddison, John C. Mathers, Laura Alston

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/objectives: The study aimed to identify the key methodological challenges and solutions related to recruitment and retention of rural-dwelling young adults into a randomized controlled trial that tests the feasibility of a digital healthy eating intervention (Veg4Me). Methods: Digital registration for a 12-week study was set up as a one-step process without researcher involvement. Participant registrations and recruitment rates were monitored daily using predetermined online preventative measures to identify fraudulent responses and to amend the digital registration process where necessary. Retention rates were monitored daily to identify any necessary amendments to the follow-up protocol. Results: During data collection, n = …

S-Methyl Cysteine Sulfoxide: Its Effects On Cardiometabolic Outcomes In High-Fat Fed C57bl/6 Mice And Relevance To Human Health, Caroline R. Hill, Balmer, Hayley Abbiss, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Joshua R. Lewis, Armaghan Shafaei, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

S-Methyl cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO) is an organosulfur compound with demonstrated hypocholesterolemic, anti-diabetic, and antioxidant benefits in rodents. However, the doses used have limited translatability for humans. We explored whether SMCSO could blunt development of diet-induced metabolic syndrome features in mice using doses that are potentially more translatable and achievable in humans. Male mice (C57BL/6; n = 54) were randomly assigned into one of five groups: [1] normal-diet; [2] high-fat-diet; or high-fat-diet with [3] 60 mg kg⁻¹, [4] 170 mg kg⁻¹, or [5] 350 mg per kg per body weight (BW) of SMCSO, respectively. Doses were administered …

Temporal Eating Patterns And Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Assessed From Mobile Food Records Of Australian Adults, Janelle D. Healy, Satvinder S. Dhaliwal, Christina M. Pollard, Amelia J. Harray, Lauren Blekkenhorst, Fengqing Zhu, Deborah A. Kerr

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objective: Temporal eating patterns and ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption have independently been associated with obesity and non-communicable diseases. Little is known about the temporal patterns of UPF consumption, as data is challenging to collect. Temporal data can be extracted from mobile food records (mFRs). The aim of this study was to identify the temporal eating patterns of those consuming UPFs using an mFR. Methods: A combined sample of 243 young (18–30 years) and 148 older (>30 years) adults completed a 4-day mFR. The time of eating was extracted from the mFR image metadata. UPFs were identified using the NOVA …

Nitrate And Nitrite Food Composition Database: An Update And Extensive Deep Dive, Liezhou Zhong, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Joshua R. Lewis, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Nicola P. Bondonno, Marc Sim, Richard J. Woodman, Catherine P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Growing evidence suggests that health outcomes of dietary nitrate and nitrite intake are food source dependent. Robust evaluations in dietary studies necessitate a comprehensive and current food composition database of nitrate/nitrite content, along with variation based on country or region of origin, calendar year, growing season, and cooking method. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to update the previous animal- and plant-based food nitrate/nitrite databases and investigate effects of cooking methods, seasonal and geographic variations, and longitudinal changes on nitrate and nitrite content to guide application of the database in observational and clinical studies. Methods: Food nitrate/nitrite composition …

Impact Of Provision Of Abdominal Aortic Calcification Results On Fruit And Vegetable Intake: 12-Week Randomized Phase 2 Controlled Trial, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Catherine P. Bondonno, Jack Dalla Via, Marc Sim, Abadi K. Gebre, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Emma L. Connolly, Nicola P. Bondonno, John T. Schousboe, Richard J. Woodman, Kun Zhu, Shelby Mullin, Pawel Szulc, Ben Jackson, James Dimmock, Markus P. Schlaich, Kay L. Cox, Douglas P. Kiel, Wai H. Lim, Mandy Stanley, Amanda Devine, Peter L. Thompson, Evan J. Williams, Joshua R. Lewis, Moira Sim, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Provision of non-invasive vascular imaging results to individuals has been shown to improve cardiovascular disease risk factor control: its impact on diet remains uncertain. In this two-arm, single-blind, parallel, 12-week randomized controlled trial, 240 participants, 57.5% females aged 60–80 y had abdominal aortic calcification and clinical assessments performed at a hospital clinic. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive (intervention n = 121) or not (control n = 119) their calcification results. Both groups received educational resources on cardiovascular disease risk control and were unblinded to the intervention. Outcome measures were performed at baseline and 12 weeks. The primary outcomes of …

Development Of A Food Composition Database For The Estimation Of Dietary S-Methyl Cysteine Sulfoxide From Vegetables, Caroline R. Hill, Emma L. Connolly, Armaghan Shafaei, Lois Balmer, Liezhou Zhong, Taulant Muka, Antonietta Hayhoe, Shikha Saha, Richard J. Woodman, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

A food composition database estimating S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO) was created following a systematic literature search. SMCSO data (705 entries) from 19 vegetables were summarised: brassicas (n = 10) and alliums (n = 9). The highest SMCSO in brassicas was reported in Brussels sprouts (median [range]: 318 [68−420] mg/100 g fresh weight (FW)) whilst the lowest was in radish (19 [4–45] mg/100 g FW). Brussels sprouts were almost twice as concentrated in SMCSO as cauliflower, followed by cabbage, kale, broccoli, kohlrabi, swede, Chinese cabbage, and turnips. The alliums highest in SMCSO were Chinese chives (271 [185−413] mg/100 g FW) followed …

S-Methyl Cysteine Sulfoxide Does Not Ameliorate Weight Gain Or Hyperlipidemia In Mice Fed A High-Fat Diet, Caroline R. Hill, Armaghan Shafaei, Vance B. Matthews, Natalie C. Ward, Kevin D. Croft, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Lois Balmer, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Scope: Higher intake of cruciferous and allium vegetables is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk. Little research has investigated the cardiometabolic effects of S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO), found abundant in these vegetables. This study hypothesizes that SMCSO will blunt development of metabolic syndrome features in mice fed high-fat feed. Methods and results: Fifty C57BL/6 male mice are randomly assigned to standard-chow, high-fat, or high-fat supplemented with low-SMCSO (43 mg kg−1 body weight [BW] day−1), medium-SMCSO (153 mg kg−1 BW day−1), or high-SMCSO (256 mg kg−1 BW day−1) for 12-weeks. High-fat with SMCSO did not prevent diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance, or hypercholesterolemia. …

Vitamin K1 Intake Is Associated With Lower Risk For All-Cause And Cardiovascular Disease Mortality In Community-Dwelling Older Australian Women, Montana Dupuy, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Liezhou Zhong, Jack Dalla Via, Kun Zhu, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Nicola P. Bondonno, Allan Linneberg, Jaime W. Bellinge, Carl Schultz, William Courtney, Richard L. Prince, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Joshua R. Lewis, Marc Sim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and aims: Assessing the relationship between vitamin K1 intakes, using region-specific food databases, with both all-cause, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality warrants further investigation to inform future preventative strategies. Consequently, we examined the aforementioned associations in the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women (PLSAW). Methods and results: 1436 community-dwelling older Australian women (mean ± SD age 75.2 ± 2.7 years) completed a validated food frequency questionnaire at baseline (1998). Vitamin K1 intake was calculated based on an Australian vitamin K food database, supplemented with published data. All-cause and CVD mortality data was obtained from linked health records. Associations were …

Higher Plant-Derived Nitrate Intake Is Associated With Lower Odds Of Frailty In A Cross-Sectional Study Of Community-Dwelling Older Women, Eleanor Hayes, Elsa Dent, Oliver M. Shannon, Lie Zhou Zhong, Trent Bozanich, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Kun Zhu, Catherine P. Bondonno, Mario Siervo, Emiel O. Hoogendijk, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Richard L. Prince, Joshua R. Lewis, Marc Sim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Dietary nitrate intake is inversely related to numerous contributors towards frailty, including cardiovascular disease and poor physical function. Whether these findings extend to frailty remain unknown. We investigated if habitual nitrate intake, derived from plants or animal-based foods, was cross-sectionally associated with frailty in women. Methods: Community-dwelling older Australian women (n = 1390, mean age 75.1 ± 2.7 years) completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Nitrate concentrations in food were obtained from international nitrate databases. We adopted the Rockwood frailty index (FI) of cumulative deficits comprising 33 variables across multiple health domains (scored 0 to 1), which …

Nitrate: The Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde Of Human Health?, Catherine P. Bondonno, Liezhou Zhong, Nicola P. Bondonno, Marc Sim, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Alex Liu, Anjana Rajendra, Pratik Pokharel, Dorit W. Erichsen, Oliver Neubauer, Kevin D. Croft, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Dietary nitrate has a controversial role in human health. For over half a century, the nitrate content of the three major dietary sources – vegetables, meat, and water – has been legislated, regulated, and monitored due to public health concerns over cancer risk. In contrast, a growing and compelling body of evidence indicates that dietary nitrate, particularly from vegetables, protects against cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases. This evidence for the protective effect of nitrate is overshadowed by the potential for nitrate to form carcinogenic N-nitrosamines. Scope and approach: The nitrate content, regulations and estimated intake from vegetables, meat …

Comparison Of Four Dietary Pattern Indices In Australian Baby Boomers: Findings From The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study, Sierra R. Mcdowell, Kevin Murray, Michael Hunter, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Nicola P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The assessment of dietary patterns comprehensively represents the totality of the diet, an important risk factor for many chronic diseases. This study aimed to characterise and compare four dietary pattern indices in middle-aged Australian adults. In 3458 participants (55 % female) from the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study (Phase Two), a validated food frequency questionnaire was used to capture dietary data between 2016 and 2022. Four dietary patterns [Australian Dietary Guideline Index 2013 (DGI-2013); the Mediterranean Diet Index (MedDiet); the Literature-based Mediterranean Diet Index (Lit-MedDiet); and the EAT-Lancet Index], were calculated and compared by measuring total and sub-component scores, and concordance …

Increased Nitrate Intake From Beetroot Juice Does Not Alter Soluble Cellular Adhesion Molecules And Circulating Inflammatory Cytokines In Individuals With Treated Hypertension: A Randomised, Controlled Trial, Kyle Raubenheimer, Alex H. Liu, Henrietta Koch, Erika Bosio, Nicola P. Bondonno, Vance Matthews, Marc Sim, Lauren Blekkenhorst, Richard J. Woodman, Kevin Murray, Kevin Croft, Oliver Neubauer, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Catherine P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Dietary nitrate, found predominantly in green leafy vegetables and other vegetables such as radish, celery, and beetroot, has been shown to beneficially modulate inflammatory processes and immune cell function in animals and healthy individuals. The impact of increased nitrate intake on soluble inflammatory mediators in individuals with hypertension is unclear. We assessed whether the daily consumption of dietary nitrate via beetroot juice for 1-week lowered levels of circulating inflammatory markers in men and women with treated hypertension. Twenty-seven male and female participants were recruited to a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial. The effects of 1-week intake of nitrate-rich beetroot juice …

Association Between Non-Tea Flavonoid Intake And Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes: The Australian Diabetes, Obesity And Lifestyle Study, Mary D. Adu, Catherine P. Bondonno, Benjamin H. Parmenter, Marc Sim, Raymond J. Davey, Kevin Murray, Simone Radavelli Bagatini, Dianna J. Magliano, Robin M. Daly, Jonathan E. Shaw, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Nicola P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Studies examining the association between flavonoid intake and measures of insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction, as markers of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) across the adult lifespan, may provide insights into how flavonoids influence T2DM risk. This study examined the cross-sectional associations between flavonoid intakes, from dietary sources other than tea, and biomarkers of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in adults aged 25 years and older participating in the Australian diabetes, obesity and lifestyle (AusDiab) study. Additionally, longitudinal associations between non-tea flavonoid intakes and incident T2DM over 12 years were explored. Eligible participants (n = 7675) had no previous history of …

Development Of A Food Composition Database For Assessing Nitrate And Nitrite Intake From Animal-Based Foods, Liezhou Zhong, Alex H. Liu, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Nicola P. Bondonno, Marc Sim, Richard J. Woodman, Kevin D. Croft, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Catherine P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Scope:

Nitrate and nitrite are approved food additives in some animal-based food products. However, nitrate and nitrite in foods are strictly regulated due to health concerns over methaemoglobinaemia and the potential formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines. In contrast, plants (like leafy vegetables) naturally accumulate nitrate ions; a growing body of research reveals beneficial metabolic effects of nitrate via its endogenous conversion to nitric oxide. To refine the association of dietary nitrate and nitrite intake with health outcomes, reliable measures of nitrate and nitrite intake from dietary food records are required. While a vegetable nitrate content database has been developed, there is …

Fruit And Vegetable Intake Is Inversely Associated With Perceived Stress Across The Adult Lifespan, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Marc Sim, Richard L. Prince, Nicola P. Bondonno, Catherine P. Bondonno, Richard Woodman, Reindolf Anokye, James Dimmock, Ben Jackson, Leesa Costello, Amanda Devine, Mandy J. Stanley, Joanne M. Dickson, Dianna J. Magliano, Jonathan E. Shaw, Robin M. Daly, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Joshua R. Lewis

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background & aims: Poor nutritional habits are linked to higher perceived stress, but the relationship between fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and stress is uncertain. The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between FV intake and perceived stress in a population-based cohort of men and women aged ≥ 25 years from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) Study. A secondary aim was to investigate the relationship between serum carotenoids, biomarkers of FV intake, and perceived stress.

Methods: In Australian men and women, dietary intake was assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire in 1999–2000 (n …

Association Between Fruit And Vegetable Intakes And Mental Health In The Australian Diabetes Obesity And Lifestyle Cohort, Joanna Rees, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Johnny Lo, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Claus T. Christophersen, Robin M. Daly, Dianna J. Magliano, Jonathan E. Shaw, Marc Sim, Catherine P. Bondonno, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Joanne M. Dickson, Joshua R. Lewis, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Increasing prevalence of mental health disorders within the Australian population is a serious public health issue. Adequate intake of fruits and vegetables (FV), dietary fibre (DF) and resistant starch (RS) is associated with better mental and physical health. Few longitudinal studies exist exploring the temporal relationship. Using a validated food frequency questionnaire, we examined baseline FV intakes of 5845 Australian adults from the AusDiab study and estimated food group-derived DF and RS using data from the literature. Perceived mental health was assessed at baseline and 5 year follow up using SF-36 mental component summary scores (MCS). We conducted baseline cross-sectional …

Development Of A Vitamin K Database For Commercially Available Food In Australia, Claire R. Palmer, Henrietta Koch, Sujata Shinde, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Joshua Lewis, Kevin D. Croft, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Marc Sim

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Vitamin K content of foods is known to vary substantially by geographical location. In Australia, no Vitamin K database of food exists, thereby creating ambiguity when trying to develop national dietary intake guidelines. This investigation aimed to develop a Vitamin K database for commonly consumed foods that are commercially available in Australian supermarkets. The Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone; PK) and K2 (menaquinone; MK4, MK7) content of 60 foods known to contain Vitamin K were assessed (e.g., vegetables fruits, oils, animal products, dairy and fermented foods). A liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS) method was developed and used to measure PK …

Glucosinolates From Cruciferous Vegetables And Their Potential Role In Chronic Disease: Investigating The Preclinical And Clinical Evidence, Emma Connolly, Marc Sim, Nikolaj Travica, Wolfgang Marx, Gemma Beasy, Gordon S. Lynch, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

An increasing body of evidence highlights the strong potential for a diet rich in fruit and vegetables to delay, and often prevent, the onset of chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic, neurological, and musculoskeletal conditions, and certain cancers. A possible protective component, glucosinolates, which are phytochemicals found almost exclusively in cruciferous vegetables, have been identified from preclinical and clinical studies. Current research suggests that glucosinolates (and isothiocyanates) act via several mechanisms, ultimately exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chemo-protective effects. This review summarizes the current knowledge surrounding cruciferous vegetables and their glucosinolates in relation to the specified health conditions. Although there is evidence that …

Vitamin K Intake And Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease In The Danish Diet Cancer And Health Study, Jamie W. Bellenge, Frederik Dalgaard, Kevin Murray, Emma Connolly, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joshua R. Lewis, Marc Sim, Kevin D. Croft, Gunnar Gislason, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Anne Tjønneland, Kim Overvad, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Carl Schultz, Nicola P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background Dietary vitamin K (K1 and K2) may reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk via several mechanisms. However, studies linking vitamin K intake with incident ASCVD are limited. We aimed to determine the relationship between dietary vitamin K intake and ASCVD hospitalizations. Methods and Results In this prospective cohort study, participants from the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study, with no prior ASCVD, completed a food‐frequency questionnaire at baseline and were followed up for hospital admissions of ASCVD; ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, or peripheral artery disease. Intakes of vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 were estimated from the food‐frequency questionnaire, …

Oat Intake And Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease And All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Faina Wehrli, Petek E. Taneri, Arjola Bano, Lia Bally, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Weston Bussler, Brandon Metzger, Beatrice Minder, Marija Glisic, Taulant Muka, Hua Kern

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) remain the top disease and mortality burdens worldwide. Oats have been shown to benefit cardiovascular health and improve insulin resistance. However, the evidence linking oat consumption with CVD, T2D and all-cause mortality remains inconclusive. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to evaluate the associations between oat consumption and risks of T2D, CVD and all-cause mortality in the general population. Five electronic databases were searched until September, 2020. Study specific relative risks (RR) were meta-analyzed using random effect models. Of 4686 relevant references, we included 9 articles, …

Associations Between Fruit Intake And Risk Of Diabetes In The Ausdiab Cohort, Nicola P. Bondonno, Raymond J. Davey, Kevin Murray, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Catherine P. Bondonno, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Marc Sim, Dianna J. Magliano, Robin M. Daly, Jonathan E. Shaw, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Context

Fruit, but not fruit juice, intake is inversely associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, questions remain about the mechanisms by which fruits may confer protection. Objective The aims of this work were to examine associations between intake of fruit types and 1) measures of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity and 2) diabetes at follow-up.

Methods

Among participants of the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, fruit and fruit juice intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Associations between fruit and fruit juice intake and 1) fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour postload plasma glucose, updated homeostasis model …

A Randomised Controlled Crossover Trial Investigating The Short-Term Effects Of Different Types Of Vegetables On Vascular And Metabolic Function In Middle-Aged And Older Adults With Mildly Elevated Blood Pressure: The Vegetables For Vascular Health (Vessel) Study Protocol, Emma Connolly, Catherine P. Bondonno, Marc Sim, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Kevin D. Croft, Mary C. Boyce, Anthony P. James, Karin Clark, Reindolf Anokye, Nicola P. Bondonno, Richard Woodman, Amanda Devine, Seng Khee Gan, Carl J. Schultz, Richard F. Mithen, Joshua Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is recommended for cardiovascular health. However, the majority of Australians do not consume the recommended number of vegetable servings each day. Furthermore, intakes of vegetables considered to have the greatest cardiovascular benefit are often very low. Results from prospective observational studies indicate that a higher consumption of cruciferous vegetables (e.g. broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk. This may be due to the presence of specific nutrients and bioactive compounds found almost exclusively, or at relatively high levels, in cruciferous vegetables. Therefore, the aim of this randomised controlled crossover trial …

Fruit And Vegetable Knowledge And Intake Within An Australian Population: The Ausdiab Study, Caroline R. Hill, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Marc Sim, Richard J. Woodman, Amanda Devine, Jonathan E. Shaw, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Robin M. Daly, Joshua R. Lewis

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Understanding the relationship between fruit and vegetable knowledge (FVK) and fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) is an important consideration for improved public health and successful targeting of health promotion messaging. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between FVK and FVI in Australian adults and to identify subgroups most at risk of poor knowledge. Using data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab), we investigated associations between FVK and FVI, as well as demographic and lifestyle factors. Baseline FVK was measured using two self-reported questions. FVI …