Accuracy of energy and nutrient intake estimation versus observed intake using 4 technology-assisted dietary assessment methods: a randomized crossover feeding study.

BACKGROUND: Technology-assisted 24-h dietary recalls (24HRs) have been widely adopted in population nutrition surveillance. Evaluations of 24HRs inform improvements, but direct comparisons of 24HR methods for accuracy in reference to a measure of true intake are rarely undertaken in a single study population. OBJECTIVES: To compare the accuracy of energy and nutrient intake estimation of 4 technology-assisted dietary assessment methods relative to true intake across breakfast, lunch, and dinner. METHODS: In a controlled feeding study with a crossover design, 152 participants [55% women; mean age 32 y, standard deviation (SD) 11; mean body mass index 26 kg/m2, SD 5] were randomized to 1 of 3 separate feeding days to consume breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with unobtrusive weighing of foods and beverages consumed. Participants undertook a 24HR the following day [Automated Self-Administered Dietary Assessment Tool-Australia (ASA24); Intake24-Australia; mobile Food Record-Trained Analyst (mFR-TA); or Image-Assisted Interviewer-Administered 24-hour recall (IA-24HR)]. When assigned to IA-24HR, participants referred to images captured of their meals using the mobile Food Record (mFR) app. True and estimated energy and nutrient intakes were compared, and differences among methods were assessed using linear mixed models. RESULTS: The mean difference between true and estimated energy intake as a percentage of true intake was 5.4% (95% CI: 0.6, 10.2%) using ASA24, 1.7% (95% CI: -2.9, 6.3%) using Intake24, 1.3% (95% CI: -1.1, 3.8%) using mFR-TA, and 15.0% (95% CI: 11.6, 18.3%) using IA-24HR. The variances of estimated and true energy intakes were statistically significantly different for all methods (P < 0.01) except Intake24 (P = 0.1). Differential accuracy in nutrient estimation was present among the methods. CONCLUSIONS: Under controlled conditions, Intake24, ASA24, and mFR-TA estimated average energy and nutrient intakes with reasonable validity, but intake distributions were estimated accurately by Intake24 only (energy and protein). This study may inform considerations regarding instruments of choice in future population surveillance. This trial was registered at Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry as ACTRN12621000209897.

Exploring the design and utility of an integrated web-based chatbot for young adults to support healthy eating: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of understanding of the potential utility of a chatbot integrated into a website to support healthy eating among young adults. Therefore, the aim was to interview key informants regarding potential utility and design of a chatbot to: (1) increase young adults' return rates and engagement with a purpose-built healthy eating website and, (2) improve young adults' diet quality. METHODS: Eighteen qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted across three stakeholder groups: (i) experts in dietary behaviour change in young adults (n = 6), (ii) young adult users of a healthy eating website (n = 7), and (iii) experts in chatbot design (n = 5). Interview questions were guided by a behaviour change framework and a template analysis was conducted using NVivo. RESULTS: Interviewees identified three potential roles of a chatbot for supporting healthy eating in young adults; R1: improving healthy eating knowledge and facilitating discovery, R2: reducing time barriers related to healthy eating, R3: providing support and social engagement. To support R1, the following features were suggested: F1: chatbot generated recommendations and F2: triage to website information or externally (e.g., another website) to address current user needs. For R2, suggested features included F3: nudge or behavioural prompts at critical moments and F4: assist users to navigate healthy eating websites. Finally, to support R3 interviewees recommended the following features: F5: enhance interactivity, F6: offer useful anonymous support, F7: facilitate user connection with content in meaningful ways and F8: outreach adjuncts to website (e.g., emails). Additional 'general' chatbot features included authenticity, personalisation and effective and strategic development, while the preferred chatbot style and language included tailoring (e.g., age and gender), with a positive and professional tone. Finally, the preferred chatbot message subjects included training (e.g., would you like to see a video to make this recipe?), enablement (e.g., healthy eating doesn't need to be expensive, we've created a budget meal plan, want to see?) and education or informative approaches (e.g., "Did you know bananas are high in potassium which can aid in reducing blood pressure?"). CONCLUSION: Findings can guide chatbot designers and nutrition behaviour change researchers on potential chatbot roles, features, style and language and messaging in order to support healthy eating knowledge and behaviours in young adults.

HealthyRHearts - reducing cholesterol in rural adults via telehealth-based medical nutrition therapy: protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Few randomised controlled trials specifically focus on prevention in rural populations. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) contributes to approximately one quarter of deaths in Australia. Nutrition is a key component affecting many risk factors associated with CVD, including hypercholesterolaemia. However, access to medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is limited for people living in rural areas, potentially exacerbating inequities related to health outcomes. Telehealth services present an opportunity to improve MNT access and address healthcare disparities for rural populations. The present study aims to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of a telehealth MNT CVD intervention program in lowering CVD risk over 12-months in regional and rural primary health care settings. METHODS/DESIGN: A cluster randomised controlled trial set in rural and regional general practices in NSW, Australia, and their consenting patients (n = 300 participants). Practices will be randomised to either control (usual care from their General Practitioner (GP) + low level individualised dietetic feedback) or intervention groups (usual care from their GP + low level individualised dietetic feedback + telehealth MNT intervention). Telehealth consultations will be delivered by an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD), with each intervention participant scheduled to receive five consultations over a 6-month period. System-generated generic personalised nutrition feedback reports are provided based on completion of the Australian Eating Survey - Heart version (AES-Heart), a food frequency questionnaire. Eligible participants must be assessed by their GP as at moderate (≥ 10%) to high (> 15%) risk of a CVD event within the next five years using the CVD Check calculator and reside in a regional or rural area within the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) to be eligible for inclusion. Outcome measures are assessed at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome is reduction in total serum cholesterol. Evaluation of the intervention feasibility, acceptability and cost-effective will incorporate quantitative, economic and qualitative methodologies. DISCUSSION: Research outcomes will provide knowledge on effectiveness of MNT provision in reducing serum cholesterol, and feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of delivering MNT via telehealth to address CVD risk in rural regions. Results will inform translation to health policy and practice for improving access to clinical care in rural Australia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered at anzctr.org.au under the acronym HealthyRHearts (Healthy Rural Hearts), registration number ACTRN12621001495819.

Efficacy of technology-based personalised feedback on diet quality in young Australian adults: results for the advice, ideas and motivation for my eating (Aim4Me) randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Web-based dietary interventions could support healthy eating. The Advice, Ideas and Motivation for My Eating (Aim4Me) trial investigated the impact of three levels of personalised web-based dietary feedback on diet quality in young adults. Secondary aims were to investigate participant retention, engagement and satisfaction. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Web-based intervention for young adults living in Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 18-24-year-olds recruited across Australia were randomised to Group 1 (control: brief diet quality feedback), Group 2 (comprehensive feedback on nutritional adequacy + website nutrition resources) or Group 3 (30-min dietitian consultation + Group 2 elements). Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) was the primary outcome. The ARFS subscales and percentage energy from nutrient-rich foods (secondary outcomes) were analysed at 3, 6 and 12 months using generalised linear mixed models. Engagement was measured with usage statistics and satisfaction with a process evaluation questionnaire. RESULTS: Participants (n 1005, 85 % female, mean age 21·7 ± 2·0 years) were randomised to Group 1 (n 343), Group 2 (n 325) and Group 3 (n 337). Overall, 32 (3 %), 88 (9 %) and 141 (14 %) participants were retained at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. Only fifty-two participants (15 % of Group 3) completed the dietitian consultation. No significant group-by-time interactions were observed (P > 0·05). The proportion of participants who visited the thirteen website pages ranged from 0·6 % to 75 %. Half (Group 2 = 53 %, Group 3 = 52 %) of participants who completed the process evaluation (Group 2, n 111; Group 3, n 90) were satisfied with the programme. CONCLUSION: Recruiting and retaining young adults in web-based dietary interventions are challenging. Future research should consider ways to optimise these interventions, including co-design methods.

Effectiveness and reporting of nutrition interventions in cardiac rehabilitation programmes: a systematic review.

AIMS: Dietary modification is essential for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, there are limited published evidence syntheses to guide practice in the cardiac rehabilitation (CR) setting. This systematic review's objective was to assess effectiveness and reporting of nutrition interventions to optimize dietary intake in adults attending CR. METHODS AND RESULTS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of nutrition interventions within CR were eligible for inclusion and had to have measured change in dietary intake. MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, and The Cochrane Library were searched from 2000 to June 2020, limited to publications in English. Evidence from included RCTs was synthesized descriptively. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. This review is registered on PROSPERO; CRD42020188723. Of 13 048 unique articles identified, 11 were eligible. Randomized controlled trials were conducted in 10 different countries, included 1542 participants, and evaluated 29 distinct dietary intake outcomes. Five studies reported statistically significant changes in diet across 13 outcomes. Most nutrition interventions were not reported in a manner that allowed replication in clinical practice or future research. CONCLUSION: There is a gap in research testing high-quality nutrition interventions in CR settings. Findings should be interpreted in the light of limitations, given the overall body of evidence was heterogenous across outcomes and study quality; 6 of 11 studies were conducted more than 10 years old. Future research should investigate strategies to optimize and maintain nutrition improvements for patients attending CR. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO; CRD42020188723.

Do sauces, condiments and seasonings contribute important amounts of nutrients to Australian dietary intakes?

BACKGROUND: Dietary assessment commonly focuses on particular foods/food groups as indicators of overall dietary intake. Accompaniments such as sauces are not often a focus. The present study describes daily intakes of sauces, condiments and seasonings (SCS) using the most recent Australian National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS), as well as the contribution to total energy and selected nutrient intakes. METHODS: NNPAS dietary data were collected by one 24-h recall for 12,153 individuals aged ≥ 2 years (53% female, 29% aged 31-50 years). SCS (i.e., any food items not normally consumed as a food itself, consumed as an addition to a dish after cooking/preparation to enhance flavour) were identified/coded within the dietary data and reported in terms of how they were consumed, primary composition, and contribution to total daily energy and selected macro- and micronutrient intakes. RESULTS: Most participants (85.1%) reported consuming at least one SCS on the day of the recall (median [interquartile range], 2 [1-4]). SCS were predominantly consumed within main meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) (73.9%), and were predominantly sugar/sugar products (e.g., white sugar) (35.0%), or fats and oils (e.g., butter) (25.9%). SCS contributed a median (interquartile range) of 3.8% (1.1-7.9) of total energy, 5.3% (0.0-15.5) of fat, 2.3% (0.1-6.6) of carbohydrate and 0.2% (0.01-1.2) of protein intake. SCS made the largest contribution towards vitamin E (females median 3.6%; males median 3.4%) and sodium intakes (females median 3.0%; males median 2.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Although SCS contribute a small proportion of total energy and nutrient intakes in the Australian population, the contribution is more substantial for some nutrients and population groups.

A Systematic Review Examining Contributors to Misestimation of Food and Beverage Intake Based on Short-Term Self-Report Dietary Assessment Instruments Administered to Adults.

Error in self-reported food and beverage intake affects the accuracy of dietary intake data. Systematically synthesizing available data on contributors to error within and between food groups has not been conducted but may help inform error mitigation strategies. In this review we aimed to systematically identify, quantify, and compare contributors to error in estimated intake of foods and beverages, based on short-term self-report dietary assessment instruments, such as 24-h dietary recalls and dietary records. Seven research databases were searched for studies including self-reported dietary assessment and a comparator measure of observed intake (e.g., direct observation or controlled feeding studies) in healthy adults up until December 2021. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data from included studies, recording quantitative data on omissions, intrusions, misclassifications, and/or portion misestimations. Risk of bias was assessed using the QualSyst tool. A narrative synthesis focused on patterns of error within and between food groups. Of 2328 articles identified, 29 met inclusion criteria and were included, corresponding to 2964 participants across 15 countries. Most frequently reported contributors to error were omissions and portion size misestimations of food/beverage items. Although few consistent patterns were seen in omission of consumed items, beverages were omitted less frequently (0-32% of the time), whereas vegetables (2-85%) and condiments (1-80%) were omitted more frequently than other items. Both under- and overestimation of portion size was seen for most single food/beverage items within study samples and most food groups. Studies considered and reported error in different ways, impeding the interpretation of how error contributors interact to impact overall misestimation. We recommend that future studies report 1) all error contributors for each food/beverage item evaluated (i.e., omission, intrusion, misclassification, and portion misestimation), and 2) measures of variation of the error. The protocol of this review was registered in PROSPERO as CRD42020202752 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/).

Eating Behaviors and Diet Quality: A National Survey of Australian Young Adults.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between eating behavior constructs (social eating, perceived competence, habit automaticity, self-determined motivation) and diet quality among young adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Young adults (n = 1,005; mean age, 21.7 ± 2.0 years; 85% female) enrolled in the Advice, Ideas, and Motivation for My Eating (Aim4Me) study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Four eating behavior measures collected via online surveys: Social Eating Scale, Perceived Competence in Healthy Eating Scale, Self-Report Behavioral Automaticity Index, and Regulation of Eating Behaviors scales. Diet quality was assessed using the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) and percentage energy from energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods. ANALYSIS: Multivariate linear regression investigating associations between eating behavior measures (independent variables) and ARFS and EDNP foods (dependent variables), adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle confounders. RESULTS: Greater perceived competence in healthy eating and behavioral automaticity for consuming healthy foods, limiting EDNP food intake, and higher intrinsic motivation, integrated regulation, and identified regulation of eating behaviors were associated with higher ARFS and lower percentage energy EDNP foods (P < 0.001). Greater self-reported social influence on eating behaviors was associated with higher ARFS (P = 0.01). Higher amotivation was associated with greater % energy from EDNP foods (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Perceived competence, habit automaticity, and self-determined motivation are determinants of diet quality in young adults. These findings support the development of interventions that promote healthy eating habits by focusing on eating behavior constructs and evaluating their use in improving diet quality.

Review of dietary assessment studies conducted among Khmer populations living in Cambodia.

BACKGROUND: Despite economic growth, Cambodia continues to have high rates of malnutrition, anaemia and nutrition-related deficiencies. Government policies promote nutrition strategies, although dietary intake data is limited. A detailed synthesis of existing intake data is needed to inform nutrition policy and practice change. This review aims to characterise and assess quality of dietary assessment methods and outcomes from individual-level 'whole diet' studies of Khmer people living in Cambodia. METHODS: Searches were conducted using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Included papers reported dietary intake at an individual level for 'whole diet'. Studies using secondary data or lacking dietary assessment details were excluded. Extracted data included dietary assessment features, nutrient/food group intakes and database. RESULTS: Nineteen publications (15 studies) were included, with nine carried out among children under 5 years and six among women. Eleven studies reported intake by food groups and four by nutrients, prominently energy, protein, vitamin A, iron, calcium and zinc. Inconsistent intakes, food groupings and reporting of study characteristics limited data synthesis. All but one study used 24-h recalls. Trained local fieldworkers used traditional interview-administered data collection and varied portion estimation tools. Food composition databases for analysis were not tailored to the Cambodian diet. Overall quality was rated as 'good'. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the development of a best-practice protocol for conducting dietary assessment, a Cambodia-specific food composition database and a competent trained workforce of nutrition professionals, with global support of expertise and funding for future dietary assessment studies conducted in Cambodia.

Evaluation of a Type 2 diabetes risk reduction online program for women with recent gestational diabetes: a randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the preliminary efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of the 3-month Body Balance Beyond (BBB) online program among Australian women with overweight/obesity and recent gestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Women were randomised into either: 1) High Personalisation (HP) (access to 'BBB' website, video coaching sessions, text message support); 2) Medium Personalisation (MP) (website and text message support); or 3) Low Personalisation (LP) (website only). Generalised linear mixed models were used to evaluate preliminary efficacy, weight, diet quality, physical activity levels, self-efficacy and quality of life (QoL) at baseline and 3-months. Feasibility was assessed by recruitment and retention metrics and acceptability determined via online process evaluation survey at 3-months. RESULTS: Eighty three women were randomised, with 76 completing the study. Self-efficacy scores showed significant improvements in confidence to resist eating in a variety of situations from baseline to 3-months in HP compared to MP and LP groups (P=.03). The difference in mean QoL scores favoured the HP compared to MP and LP groups (P=.03). Half of the women (HP n=17[81%], MP n=12[75%], LP n=9[56%]) lost weight at 3-months. No significant group-by-time effect were reported for other outcomes. Two-thirds of women in the HP group were satisfied with the program overall and 86% would recommend it to others, compared with 25% and 44% in the MP group, and 14% and 36% in the LP group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Video coaching sessions were associated with improvements in QoL scores and self-efficacy, however further refinement of the BBB website and text messages support could improve program acceptability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12619000162112 , registered 5 February 2019.

A Mixed-Method Study Exploring Experiences and Perceptions of Nutritionists Regarding Use of an Image-Based Dietary Assessment System in Tanzania.

Due to global advances in technology, image-based food record methods have emerged as an alternative to traditional assessment methods. The use of image-based food records in low and lower-middle income countries such as Tanzania is limited, with countries still using traditional methods. The current study aimed to determine the feasibility of using a new voice and image-based dietary assessment system (VISIDA) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This mixed-method study recruited 18 nutritionists as participants who collected image-based records of food and drinks they consumed using the VISIDA smartphone app. Participants viewed an online demonstration of the VISIDA web platform and the analysis process for intake data collected using the VISIDA app. Then, participants completed an online survey and were interviewed about the VISIDA app and web platform for food and nutrient intake analysis. The method was reported as being acceptable and was found to be easy to use, although technical challenges were experienced by some participants. Most participants indicated a willingness to use the VISIDA app again for one week or longer and were interested in using the VISIDA system in their current role. Participants acknowledged that the VISIDA web platform would simplify some aspects of their current job. Image-based food records could potentially be used in Tanzania to improve the assessment of dietary intake by nutritionists in urban areas. Participants recommended adding sound-on notifications, using the VISIDA app in both Apple and Android phones, enabling installation from the app store, and improving the quality of the fiducial markers.

Contents of nutrition care services among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic: An Exit interview.

BACKGROUND: Focused antenatal care currently implemented in Tanzania recommends that women receive nutrition care during routine clinic visits. However, little detail is documented in regard to the nutrition information provided to pregnant women during these visits. The present study aimed to investigate whether pregnant women recalled nutrition information or support provided and, if so, who provided this during routine antenatal clinic visits. The secondary aim was to determine how pregnant women intended to implement the information and what mode of delivery was preferred for receiving nutrition information. METHODS: An exploratory cross-sectional study comprising exit interviews was conducted with 50 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in three regional referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. RESULTS: All participants (n = 50) reported receiving nutrition care from healthcare workers in regard to; haemoglobin checks (79% of participants), iron and folic acid supplementation (70%), weight measurement (70%), eating advice (60%), and dietary intake assessment (38%). However, the information recalled on each category was inconsistent. For 60% of participants, nurses were reported as the source of nutrition care during pregnancy, followed by medical doctors (22%). The most preferable mode for receiving nutrition information was reported as individual face-to-face sessions with health practitioners, followed by mobile phone. All of the participants who received nutrition information indicated that they intended to implement. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses were the main source of nutrition information for pregnant women attending antenatal clinics, followed by medical doctors. However, the content of nutrition information recalled by participants was inconsistent. Healthcare facilities need to implement strategies to ensure pregnant women understand and can implement nutrition information provided by healthcare workers during routine antenatal care.

The relationship between urinary polyphenol metabolites and dietary polyphenol intakes in young adults.

Spot urinary polyphenols have potential as a biomarker of polyphenol-rich food intakes. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between spot urinary polyphenols and polyphenol intakes from polyphenol-rich food sources. Young adults (18-24 years old) were recruited into a sub-study of an online intervention aimed at improving diet quality. Participants' intake of polyphenols and polyphenol-rich foods was assessed at baseline and 3 months using repeated 24-h recalls. A spot urine sample was collected at each session, with samples analysed for polyphenol metabolites using LC-MS. To assess the strength of the relationship between urinary polyphenols and dietary polyphenols, Spearman correlations were used. Linear mixed models further evaluated the relationship between polyphenol intakes and urinary excretion. Total urinary polyphenols and hippuric acid (HA) demonstrated moderate correlation with total polyphenol intakes (rs = 0·29-0·47). HA and caffeic acid were moderately correlated with polyphenols from tea/coffee (rs = 0·26-0·46). Using linear mixed models, increases in intakes of total polyphenols or polyphenols from tea/coffee or oil resulted in a greater excretion of HA, whereas a negative relationship was observed between soya polyphenols and HA, suggesting that participants with higher intakes of soya polyphenols had a lower excretion of HA. Findings suggest that total urinary polyphenols may be a promising biomarker of total polyphenol intakes foods and drinks and that HA may be a biomarker of total polyphenol intakes and polyphenols from tea/coffee. Caffeic acid warrants further investigation as a potential biomarker of polyphenols from tea/coffee.

Accuracy and Cost-effectiveness of Technology-Assisted Dietary Assessment Comparing the Automated Self-administered Dietary Assessment Tool, Intake24, and an Image-Assisted Mobile Food Record 24-Hour Recall Relative to Observed Intake: Protocol for a Randomized Crossover Feeding Study.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of dietary intake underpins population nutrition surveillance and nutritional epidemiology and is essential to inform effective public health policies and programs. Technological advances in dietary assessment that use images and automated methods have the potential to improve accuracy, respondent burden, and cost; however, they need to be evaluated to inform large-scale use. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the accuracy, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of 3 technology-assisted 24-hour dietary recall (24HR) methods relative to observed intake across 3 meals. METHODS: Using a controlled feeding study design, 24HR data collected using 3 methods will be obtained for comparison with observed intake. A total of 150 healthy adults, aged 18 to 70 years, will be recruited and will complete web-based demographic and psychosocial questionnaires and cognitive tests. Participants will attend a university study center on 3 separate days to consume breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with unobtrusive documentation of the foods and beverages consumed and their amounts. Following each feeding day, participants will complete a 24HR process using 1 of 3 methods: the Automated Self-Administered Dietary Assessment Tool, Intake24, or the Image-Assisted mobile Food Record 24-Hour Recall. The sequence of the 3 methods will be randomized, with each participant exposed to each method approximately 1 week apart. Acceptability and the preferred 24HR method will be assessed using a questionnaire. Estimates of energy, nutrient, and food group intake and portion sizes from each 24HR method will be compared with the observed intake for each day. Linear mixed models will be used, with 24HR method and method order as fixed effects, to assess differences in the 24HR methods. Reporting bias will be assessed by examining the ratios of reported 24HR intake to observed intake. Food and beverage omission and intrusion rates will be calculated, and differences by 24HR method will be assessed using chi-square tests. Psychosocial, demographic, and cognitive factors associated with energy misestimation will be evaluated using chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression. The financial costs, time costs, and cost-effectiveness of each 24HR method will be assessed and compared using repeated measures analysis of variance tests. RESULTS: Participant recruitment commenced in March 2021 and is planned to be completed by the end of 2021. CONCLUSIONS: This protocol outlines the methodology of a study that will evaluate the accuracy, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of 3 technology-enabled dietary assessment methods. This will inform the selection of dietary assessment methods in future studies on nutrition surveillance and epidemiology. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621000209897; https://tinyurl.com/2p9fpf2s. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/32891.

Current Nutrition Practice in Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs.

PURPOSE: This study sought to determine current practice regarding nutrition care within cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs, including perceived barriers and facilitators to providing nutrition care in this setting. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in October and November 2019. Potential participants were program coordinators, identified through the Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association program directory and invited to participate via e-mail. RESULTS: Forty-nine respondents (response rate: 13%) are included in this analysis. Programs provided group (n = 42, 86%) and/or individual (n = 25, 51%) nutrition education, and most were supported by a dietitian (63%). However, the availability of dietitians and nutrition care provided at CR was variable. For example, individual education was consistently provided at 13 programs and usually by health professionals other than dietitians. Eight programs (16%) used a formal behavior change framework for nutrition care. Generally, respondents were positive about the role of nutrition; CR coordinators perceived nutrition as a valuable component of the program, and that they had good nutrition knowledge. An identified barrier was the financial resources available to support the provision of nutrition care. CONCLUSIONS: To ensure that patients receive the benefits of evidence-based nutrition care, program staff may require additional support, particularly regarding the use of evidence-based behavior change techniques. Key facilitators that may be leveraged to achieve this include the high value and priority that CR program coordinators place on nutrition care.

Can Ketogenic Diet Therapy Improve Migraine Frequency, Severity and Duration?

Migraine is the third most common condition worldwide and is responsible for a major clinical and economic burden. The current pilot trial investigated whether ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) is superior to an evidence-informed healthy "anti-headache" dietary pattern (AHD) in improving migraine frequency, severity and duration. A 12-week randomised controlled crossover trial consisting of the two dietary intervention periods was undertaken. Eligible participants were those with a history of migraines and who had regularly experienced episodes of moderate or mildly intense headache in the previous 4 weeks. Migraine frequency, duration and severity were assessed via self-report in the Migraine Buddy© app. Participants were asked to measure urinary ketones and side effects throughout the KDT. Twenty-six participants were enrolled, and 16 participants completed all sessions. Eleven participants completed a symptom checklist; all reported side-effects during KDT, with the most frequently reported side effect being fatigue (n = 11). All completers experienced migraine during AHD, with 14/16 experiencing migraine during KDT. Differences in migraine frequency, severity or duration between dietary intervention groups were not statistically significant. However, a clinically important trend toward lower migraine duration on KDT was noted. Further research in this area is warranted, with strategies to lower participant burden and promote adherence and retention.

Scoping review of nutrition intervention and dietary assessment studies in Khmer populations living in Cambodia.

BACKGROUND: This scoping review aims to describe the body of nutrition intervention and dietary assessment research undertaken with Khmer populations in Cambodia, as well as summarise the nutrition knowledge base and highlight priority areas for future research. METHODS: Five databases and the grey literature were searched, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies involving dietary assessment or nutrition interventions published after 1992 were identified using specific search terms and extracted to a customised data extraction table for categorisation and analysis. Study participants were Khmer people of any age and gender, living in rural or urban Cambodia. RESULTS: Of the 100 included studies, 58 were dietary assessment only studies, 24 were nutrition interventions only, and 18 studies involved both assessment of intake and an intervention. Sixty-eight percent of study populations were mothers and young children, of which 52 studies focused on children aged under 5 years. Nineteen interventions involved supplementation and six trialled fortification of rice or fish sauce. Anaemia was the most common nutrition condition studied (n = 17), followed by malnutrition (n = 15) and malnutrition risk factors (n = 11). General nutrition status was explored in 25 studies, and individual micronutrients that were studied included iron (n = 27), zinc (n = 6), vitamin A (n = 4) and thiamine (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: Diet-related research in Khmer populations in Cambodia has predominantly focused on dietary assessment or evaluation of interventions aimed at reducing malnutrition and resolving micronutrient deficiencies. Areas identified as emerging needs included non-communicable diseases, the ageing population and non-iron deficiency anaemia.

The Effectiveness of Randomized Controlled Trials to Improve Dietary Intake in the Context of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Management in Rural Communities: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Dietary intake is an important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, to our knowledge, there are no systematic reviews of nutrition interventions in the context of cardiovascular disease prevention and management within rural communities. This is important to investigate, given the unique geographic, social, and contextual factors associated with rurality. OBJECTIVE: Our primary objective was to systematically assess evidence on the effectiveness of randomized controlled trials to improve dietary intake in the context of cardiovascular disease prevention and management in rural communities. METHODS: Nine electronic databases were searched from inception to June 2020, including MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Emcare, PsycINFO, Scopus, Rural and Remote Health, CINAHL, and AMED. Randomized controlled trials that reported results of interventions with adult, rural populations and measured change in dietary intake compared to usual care, alternative intervention, or no intervention controls were included. Included randomized controlled trials were also assessed according to the TIDieR (Template for Intervention Description and Reporting) checklist and RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance) framework. RESULTS: Thirteen articles reporting results of randomized controlled trials were identified. Included articles reported a range of nutrition interventions and measured 18 dietary intake outcomes. Most studies (n = 10) demonstrated effectiveness in altering at least 1 dietary intake outcome, including fruit and/or vegetable (n = 9), fiber (n = 2), Dietary Risk Assessment score (n = 2), energy, dairy, carotene, vitamin C and sodium (all n = 1). However, there was wide variation in the reporting of intervention components (according to the TIDieR checklist) and impact (according to RE-AIM framework), resulting in difficulty interpreting the "real-world" implications of these results. CONCLUSIONS: Through this systematic review, we found limited evidence of improvement in dietary intakes due to nutrition interventions in the context of cardiovascular disease prevention and management in rural communities. Fruit and/or vegetable intakes were the most frequently reported dietary intake outcomes, and most likely to be improved across the included studies. Included studies were generally not well reported, which may hinder replication by clinicians and consolidation of the evidence base by other researchers. Given the substantial burden of cardiovascular disease experienced by those living in rural areas of developed countries, additional high-quality nutrition research that acknowledges the complexities of rural health is required.

Total water intake by kilogram of body weight: Analysis of the Australian 2011 to 2013 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey.

AIM: Water is critical for human survival, yet water intake equations may not reflect contemporary populations. This research aims to determine the total water intake of a representative Australian population, per kilogram of body weight (mL/kg) and stratified by age and sex. METHODS: A secondary analysis of the 2011 to 2013 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (n = 10 146) was conducted. Dietary intake from food and beverages was assessed by a 24-hour recall, with respondent's weight objectively measured. Data were descriptively analysed, with multiple linear regressions used to identify the impact of demographic and physiologic factors on total water intake (mL/kg). RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) daily total water intake per kilogram of body weight for children (2-8 years), adolescents (9-18 years) and adults (19+ years) were 77.1 (57.4-100) mL/kg, 40.4 (29.3-53.4) mL/kg and 35.5 mL/kg (26.1-47.8), respectively. Increasing height and waist circumference were associated with reduced total water intake, with a change of -1.03 mL/kg (-1.43, -0.618) [coefficient (95% confidence interval)] in children for height and -0.448 mL/kg (-0.484, -0.412) in adults for waist circumference. Similarly, seasonality decreased intake, with greatest reductions in winter [adolescents: -4.11 mL/kg (-6.83, -1.40)]. In comparison, being male, living in rural areas and having a physical occupation were associated with greater intake, by 1.73 mL/kg (0.347, 3.10), 4.74 mL/kg (3.47, 6.00) and 2.82 (trade workers: 1.08, 4.59) in adults, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Total water intake (mL/kg) decreased with age in both sexes. The results highlight possibilities to incorporate other factors into water intake equations to improve their accuracy.

Comparison of pre-diagnosis dietary intake of women with gestational diabetes mellitus to dietary recommendations.

The prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) increased from 7% to 13.1% between 2013 and 2017 in NSW, Australia. Limited detail has been reported on dietary patterns prior to GDM diagnosis. AIM: To evaluate adequacy of micronutrient intakes and contribution of nutrient-dense versus energy-dense, nutrient-poor food groups to total energy. METHOD: Dietary intake of women with GDM was assessed over the six months prior to attending the first outpatient nutrition education group using the Australian Eating Survey: food frequency questionnaire with food group serves compared to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating recommendations. Nutrient intakes compared to Estimated Average Requirements (EARs). Diet quality was evaluated using the Australian Recommended Food Score diet quality index. RESULTS: Fifty women with a mean age of 30.8±4.6 years completed the Australian Eating Survey. Mean percentage (SD) energy intake derived from nutrient-dense versus energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods was 66.6% (12.4) and 33.4% (12.4); respectively. Median intakes of iron, calcium, fibre, iodine and folate were below EARs. Median (IQR) total Australian Recommended Food Score was 31(15) from a maximum 73 points. Adherence to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating recommendations was low, with no participants meeting recommendations for serves of bread and cereals, 92% below dairy and dairy alternatives and 82% below vegetable intake recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Before being diagnosed with GDM, women derive a high percentage of total energy from energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, have low dietary variety amongst nutrient-dense foods, and sub-optimal intakes of key pregnancy micronutrients. Poor dietary patterns require attention within medical nutrition therapy for GDM in order to optimise nutrition-related health outcomes.