Dr Rachael Taylor

Background and aims: Most studies measure baseline diet quality exclusively and hence the impact of longitudinal changes in dietary intake in relation to weight change is not considered. Therefore, this study aimed to examine whether change in diet quality over nine-years was associated with weight change over the same period in mid-age Australian women. Methods and results: Healthy mid-age (45¿49 years) women from the Australian Longitudinal study on Women's Health (ALSWH) were eligible a valid total energy intake (TEI) was reported at baseline (n = 2381), determined using Goldberg cut-offs. Diet quality was measured by the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) using data derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire. Multiple linear regressions were used to evaluate relationships between change in diet quality and weight in mid-age women (n = 1999). Women in the highest tertile of ARFS change improved diet quality [mean ± SD] [7 ± 4 points], while those in the lowest [-9 ±5 points] and middle [-1±2 points] tertiles had worse diet quality at follow-up. Overall, mean weight gain was 2.3 ± 7.2 kg over nine years. Those in the highest tertile of ARFS change gained significantly less weight, compared to the lowest tertile; ß = -1.2 kg [95% CI: -2.31, -0.11; p = 0.03] after adjustment for changes in confounders and baseline weight, baseline ARFS, and total energy intake. Conclusions: Improving diet quality could be an important strategy for promoting modest weight loss and potentially contribute to preventing weight gain in mid-age women, which is important for metabolic health.

Background/objectives: We previously demonstrated that fruit and vegetable consumption, was associated with less weight gain over 6 years in young women for all body mass index (BMI) categories. This study evaluated the relationship between diet quality and 6-year weight change, in Australian women initially in the healthy weight range (=18.5 BMI <25 kg/m2) at baseline. Subjects/methods: A total of 4083 young women (27¿31 years) in the healthy weight range (=18.5 BMI <25 kg/m2) enroled in the Australian Longitudinal study on Women¿s Health (ALSWH) were analysed. Diet quality was measured by the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) and the Fruit and Vegetable Index (FAVI) using dietary data derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire. Weight change was calculated as the difference between baseline and 6-year follow-up weight (kg). Multiple linear regression models were used to analyse the association between baseline ARFS and FAVI and 6-year weight change. Results: At baseline, mean diet quality was low for both indices [ARFS (maximum 72) = 29.9 and FAVI (maximum 333) = 94.2] and women gained 3.7 kg of weight during 6 years of follow-up. Regression modelling revealed that every one point increase over 6 years in either the ARFS or FAVI score was associated with statistically significantly less weight gain over 6 years, although the amount was small (33 and 12 g, respectively). Conclusions: Higher diet quality predicts lower prospective weight gain in young women however, further research is needed over a longer follow-up period and in diverse population groups.

Background:: It is hypothesised that epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation may underlie the relationship between early-life nutrition and child cognitive outcomes. This study aimed to identify dietary patterns associated with the intake of one-carbon metabolism nutrients in children aged 2¿3 years. Methods:: A validated 120-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires at 2¿3 years of age were used to estimate the intake of one-carbon metabolism nutrients (methionine, folate, choline and vitamins B2, B6, B12) and to quantify mean number of serves consumed of the food groups specified by the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE). Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the contribution of each food group and food items to the total intake of one-carbon metabolism nutrients. Linear regression was used to test for linear trends in food group servings by nutrient intake quintiles. Results:: No child (n = 60) from the Women And Their Children¿s Health (WATCH) study consumed the recommended number of serves for all AGHE food groups. Dairy and alternatives (18¿44%), discretionary foods (6¿33%) and meat and alternatives (6¿31%) were the main sources of most one-carbon metabolism nutrients. Most child intakes of one-carbon metabolism nutrients exceeded the nutrient reference values (NRVs), except for the intake of choline, for which the mean intake was 9% below the adequate intake (AI). Conclusion:: Dairy and alternatives, discretionary foods and meat and alternatives food groups contributed significantly to the children¿s intake of one-carbon metabolism nutrients. The children generally had low intakes of meat and alternative foods, which may explain their inadequate intake of choline.