Microstructure, rheological and water mobility behaviour of plant-based protein isolates (pea and quinoa) and locust bean gum mixtures.

This work reports the impact of locust bean gum (LBG) in the continuous phase of plant-based proteins, i.e. quinoa protein (QPI) and pea protein isolates (PPI). Experimental measurements such as confocal microscopy, rheological analysis and water mobility via nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr) spin-spin relaxation time (T2) were carried out. The influence of LBG on the rheological properties of QPI and PPI is consistent with an exchange-based nmr interpretation of T2 for biopolymer and water. Addition of LBG increased the viscoelastic properties (storage and loss modulus) and shear viscosities of the mixtures. LBG interacted with both plant proteins, resulting in the formation of more dense protein networks and protein coacervates. A stronger interaction between the PPI and LBG was observed, resulting in higher shear viscosities with lower water mobility as compared to QPI:LBG formulations. Results indicated that the interaction between the protein and polysaccharide played a significant role in the microstructure, its rheological properties and consequently water mobility.

Chewing differences in consumers affect the digestion and colonic fermentation outcomes: in vitro studies.

It is important to understand variability in consumer chewing behavior for designing food products that deliver desired functionalities for target consumer segments. In this study, we selected 29 participants, representing the large range of chewing variation we had observed in 142 healthy young adults, and investigated the influence of chewing behavior on gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation, using in vitro models and brown rice as a model food. Chewing behavior measured by video observations and chewing outcome differed widely between participants, resulting in large differences in the digestibility of carbohydrates. Inter-individual differences in chewing behavior and chewing outcome also significantly affected in vitro patterns of microbial composition and the production of organic acid metabolites, resulting from colonic fermentation, which is increasingly recognized to be important for human health. These digestion/fermentation outcomes were largely related with the chewing time per mouthful, proportion of bolus particles bigger than 2 mm and amount of saliva added to the bolus during chewing. No significant relationships were found with other chewing trajectory and oral physiological measures. These results suggest that modification of chewing may be an effective strategy to control blood glucose levels and to shape gut microbiota and their metabolites, without altering diets, and that further in vivo studies are warranted to confirm these in vitro findings.

Influence of oral administration of kukoamine A on blood pressure in a rat hypertension model.

The benefits of lowering blood pressure (BP) are well established for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. While there are a number of pharmaceuticals available for lowering BP, there is considerable interest in using dietary modifications, lifestyle and behaviour changes as alternative strategies. Kukoamines, caffeic acid derivatives of polyamines present in solanaceous plants, have been reported to reduce BP. We investigated the effect of orally administered synthetic kukoamine A on BP in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR) laboratory animal model of hypertension. Prior to the hypertension study, we determined the safety of the synthetic kukoamine A in a single oral dose (5 or 10 mg kg-1 bodyweight) 14-day observational study in mice. No negative effects of the oral administration of kukoamine A were observed. We subsequently investigated the effect of daily oral doses of kukoamine A (0, 5, 10 mg kg-1 bodyweight) for 35 days using the SHR rat model of hypertension. The normotensive control Wistar Kyoto (WKY) strain was used to provide a baseline for normal BP in rats. We observed no effect of orally administered synthetic kukoamine A on arterial hypertension in this laboratory animal model of hypertension.

Complementary Food Ingredients Alter Infant Gut Microbiome Composition and Metabolism In Vitro.

We examined the prebiotic potential of 32 food ingredients on the developing infant microbiome using an in vitro gastroileal digestion and colonic fermentation model. There were significant changes in the concentrations of short-chain fatty-acid metabolites, confirming the potential of the tested ingredients to stimulate bacterial metabolism. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing for a subset of the ingredients revealed significant increases in the relative abundances of the lactate- and acetate-producing Bifidobacteriaceae, Enterococcaceae, and Lactobacillaceae, and lactate- and acetate-utilizing Prevotellaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Veillonellaceae. Selective changes in specific bacterial groups were observed. Infant whole-milk powder and an oat flour enhanced Bifidobacteriaceae and lactic acid bacteria. A New Zealand-origin spinach powder enhanced Prevotellaceae and Lachnospiraceae, while fruit and vegetable powders increased a mixed consortium of beneficial gut microbiota. All food ingredients demonstrated a consistent decrease in Clostridium perfringens, with this organism being increased in the carbohydrate-free water control. While further studies are required, this study demonstrates that the selected food ingredients can modulate the infant gut microbiome composition and metabolism in vitro. This approach provides an opportunity to design nutrient-rich complementary foods that fulfil infants' growth needs and support the maturation of the infant gut microbiome.

Pectin Influences the Absorption and Metabolism of Polyphenols from Blackcurrant and Green Tea in Rats.

Consumption of polyphenols and dietary fiber as part of a normal diet is beneficial to human health. In this study, we examined whether different amounts of dietary soluble fiber (pectin) affect the absorption and metabolism of polyphenols from blackcurrant and green tea in rats. After 28 days, the rats fed blackcurrant and green tea with pectin (4 or 8%) had significantly lower body weight gain and food intake compared to the rats fed a control diet. Rats fed a blackcurrant and green tea diet with 8% pectin had significantly higher fecal nitrogen output and lower protein digestibility. No polyphenols were observed in the urine, feces and plasma of rats fed the control diet. Parent catechins and flavonols were absent in urine obtained from all diet groups. Gallocatechin glucuronide was only observed in the plasma of rats fed the blackcurrant and green tea diet without pectin. Meanwhile, epicatechin and catechin gallate were present in the feces of rats fed a blackcurrant and green tea diet with and without 4% pectin. Pectin (4 or 8%) added to the blackcurrant and green tea diet increased the plasma antioxidant capacity in rats. Inclusion of pectin in the diet altered the host absorption and metabolism of polyphenols from blackcurrant and green tea.

The sugar composition of the fibre in selected plant foods modulates weaning infants' gut microbiome composition and fermentation metabolites in vitro.

Eight plant-based foods: oat flour and pureed apple, blackcurrant, carrot, gold- and green-fleshed kiwifruit, pumpkin, sweetcorn, were pre-digested and fermented with pooled inocula of weaning infants' faecal bacteria in an in vitro hindgut model. Inulin and water were included as controls. The pre-digested foods were analysed for digestion-resistant fibre-derived sugar composition and standardised to the same total fibre concentration prior to fermentation. The food-microbiome interactions were then characterised by measuring microbial acid and gas metabolites, microbial glycosidase activity and determining microbiome structure. At the physiologically relevant time of 10 h of fermentation, the xyloglucan-rich apple and blackcurrant favoured a propiogenic metabolic and microbiome profile with no measurable gas production. Glucose-rich, xyloglucan-poor pumpkin caused the greatest increases in lactate and acetate (indicative of high fermentability) commensurate with increased bifidobacteria. Glucose-rich, xyloglucan-poor oats and sweetcorn, and arabinogalactan-rich carrot also increased lactate and acetate, and were more stimulatory of clostridial families, which are indicative of increased microbial diversity and gut and immune health. Inulin favoured a probiotic-driven consortium, while water supported a proteolytic microbiome. This study shows that the fibre-derived sugar composition of complementary foods may shape infant gut microbiome structure and metabolic activity, at least in vitro.

Goat and cow milk differ in altering microbiota composition and fermentation products in rats with gut dysbiosis induced by amoxicillin.

Antibiotics are effective treatments for bacterial infections, however, their oral administration can have unintended consequences and may alter the gut microbiota composition. In this study, we examined the influence of antibiotics on the induction of gut dysbiosis and then evaluated the potential of cow and goat milk to restore the microbiota composition and metabolism in newly weaned rats. In the first study (gut dysbiosis model), rats were treated with amoxicillin, a mixture of antibiotics (ampicillin, gentamicin and metronidazole) or no antibiotics (control). Antibiotics reduced the rat body weights, food intakes and faecal outputs compared to the control group. Gut length was significantly decreased after the antibiotic intake. The bacterial populations (Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp. and total bacteria) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs; acetic, butyric and propionic) concentrations in rat caecum, colon and faeces were significantly altered by the antibiotic treatments. In the second study, we examined the effects of cow and goat milk in restoring bacterial populations and metabolism in rats with gut dysbiosis induced by amoxicillin. Goat milk significantly increased the numbers of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. and decreased the numbers of Clostridium perfringens in the caecum and colon of rats treated with amoxicillin. Whereas, rats fed cow milk had higher Lactobacillus spp. and lower C. perfringens in the gut. Caecal and colonic SCFAs (acetic, butyric and propionic) concentrations differed significantly between rats fed cow and goat milk diets. Overall, goat and cow milk varied in their effects on the immature gut following antibiotic-induced dysbiosis in a rat model.

Bioaminergic Responses in an In Vitro System Studying Human Gut Microbiota-Kiwifruit Interactions.

Whole kiwifruit ('Hayward' and 'Zesy002') were examined for their bioaminergic potential after being subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation. Controls included the prebiotic inulin and water, a carbohydrate-free vehicle. The dopamine precursor l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and the serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan were increased in the kiwifruit gastrointestinal digesta ('Hayward' > 'Zesy002') in comparison to the water digesta. Fermentation of the digesta with human fecal bacteria for 18 h modulated the concentrations of bioamine metabolites. The most notable were the significant increases in L-DOPA ('Zesy002' > 'Hayward') and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) ('Hayward' > 'Zesy002'). Kiwifruit increased Bifidobacterium spp. and Veillonellaceae (correlating with L-DOPA increase), and Lachnospira spp. (correlating with GABA). The digesta and fermenta were incubated with Caco-2 cells for 3 h followed by gene expression analysis. Effects were seen on genes related to serotonin synthesis/re-uptake/conversion to melatonin, gut tight junction, inflammation and circadian rhythm with different digesta and fermenta from the four treatments. These indicate potential effects of the substrates and the microbially generated organic acid and bioamine metabolites on intestinal functions that have physiological relevance. Further studies are required to confirm the potential bioaminergic effects of gut microbiota-kiwifruit interactions.

Influence of kiwifruit on gastric and duodenal inflammation-related gene expression in aspirin-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats.

Kiwifruit (KF) contains bioactive compounds with potential anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of KF on gastric and duodenal damage induced by soluble aspirin in healthy rats. Sixty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were allocated to eight experimental treatments (n = 8) and the experimental diets were fed for 14 days ad libitum. The experimental diets were 20% fresh pureed KF (green-fleshed and gold-fleshed) or 10% glucose solution (control diet). A positive anti-inflammatory control treatment (ranitidine) was included. At the end of the 14-day feeding period, the rats were fasted overnight, and the following morning soluble aspirin (400 mg/kg aspirin) or water (control) was administered by oral gavage. Four hours after aspirin administration, the rats were euthanized and samples taken for analysis. We observed no significant ulcer formation or increase in infiltration of the gastric mucosal inflammatory cells in the rats with the aspirin treatment. Despite this, there were significant changes in gene expression, such as in the duodenum of aspirin-treated rats fed green KF where there was increased expression of inflammation-related genes NOS2 and TNF-alpha. We also observed that gold and green KF diets had a number of contrasting effects on genes related to inflammation and gastro-protective effects.

Microbiota Composition of Breast Milk from Women of Different Ethnicity from the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of New Zealand.

Human breastmilk components, the microbiota and immune modulatory proteins have vital roles in infant gut and immune development. In a population of breastfeeding women (n = 78) of different ethnicities (Asian, Maori and Pacific Island, New Zealand European) and their infants living in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand, we examined the microbiota and immune modulatory proteins in the breast milk, and the fecal microbiota of mothers and infants. Breast milk and fecal samples were collected over a one-week period during the six to eight weeks postpartum. Breast milk microbiota differed between the ethnic groups. However, these differences had no influence on the infant's gut microbiota composition. Based on the body mass index (BMI) classifications, the mother's breast milk and fecal microbiota compositions were similar between normal, overweight and obese individuals, and their infant's fecal microbiota composition also did not differ. The relative abundance of bacteria belonging to the Bacteroidetes phylum was higher in feces of infants born through vaginal delivery. However, the bacterial abundance of this phylum in the mother's breast milk or feces was similar between women who delivered vaginally or by cesarean section. Several immune modulatory proteins including cytokines, growth factors, and immunoglobulin differed between the BMI and ethnicity groups. Transforming growth factor beta 1 and 2 (TGFß1, TGFß2) were present in higher concentrations in the milk from overweight mothers compared to those of normal weight. The TGFß1 and soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14) concentrations were significantly higher in the breast milk from Maori and Pacific Island women compared with women from Asian and NZ European ethnicities. This study explores the relationship between ethnicity, body mass index, mode of baby delivery and the microbiota of infants and their mothers and their potential impact on infant health.

The Effects on Immune Function and Digestive Health of Consuming the Skin and Flesh of Zespri® SunGold Kiwifruit (Actinidia Chinensis var. Chinensis 'Zesy002') in Healthy and IBS-Constipated Individuals.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that results in constipation (IBS-C) or diarrhoea with abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea and bloating. Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) are nutrient-dense fruit with a number of reported health benefits that include lowering glycaemic response, improving cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers, and enhancing gut comfort and laxation. This study investigated the effect of consuming three whole Zespri® SunGold kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis 'Zesy002') with or without skin on cytokine production and immune and gut health in healthy people and those with IBS-C symptoms. This study enrolled thirty-eight participants in a 16 week randomized cross-over study (19 healthy and 19 participants with IBS-C). Participants were randomized to consume either three kiwifruit without eating the skin or three kiwifruit including the skin for 4 weeks each, with a 4 week washout in between each intervention. There was a significant decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, for both the healthy and the IBS-C participants when they consumed whole kiwifruit and skin, and also for the healthy participants when they ate whole kiwifruit without the skin (p < 0.001). The kiwifruit interventions increased bowel frequency and significantly reduced the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale constipation and Birmingham IBS pain scores for both participant groups. We have demonstrated that consuming the skin of SunGold kiwifruit might have beneficial effects on gastrointestinal health that are not produced by consuming the flesh alone.

Influence of farming methods and seawater depth on Vibrio species in New Zealand Pacific oysters.

Studies conducted in seawaters around New Zealand have shown the numbers of human pathogenic Vibrio spp. are usually low, but high numbers sometimes occur during warmer summer/autumn months (January - April). In this study, Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) were grown at Kaipara Harbour and Mahurangi Harbour in New Zealand at different heights from the seafloor in different ways: fixed positons intertidally and subtidally, and as floating long lines over the 2013 and 2014 summer periods. Two geographically distinct commercial harvest areas: Coromandel Harbour (North Island) and Croisilles Harbour (South Island) in New Zealand were also compared in 2015 where oysters are grown under different methods. Detection and enumeration of Vibrio spp. was performed according to the Bacteriological Analytical Manual using the Most Probable Number approach and real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. The only significant growing method effect was observed in Mahurangi Harbour, where intertidal oysters at 1.5 m from the seafloor had higher numbers of trh + Vibrio parahaemolyticus than other intertidal samples from Kaipara Harbour and Coromandel Harbour. All other samples showed a relationship with surface seawater temperature, but not with distance from seafloor or farming method. Overall, there is no clear evidence that different oyster farming methods (floating, subtidal or intertidal at different depths) affect Vibrio spp. population sizes, which were dominated by seasonal changes and environmental parameters.

Multi-response approaches in product-focused investigations: Methodological variations across three case studies.

Consumers' product experiences are increasingly uncovered using approaches that extend beyond acceptability and sensory perception. The present research is situated in this context and adopts a multi-response approach to jointly obtain attitudinal, conceptual, emotional, situational and/or sensorial evaluations. With the aim of greater methodological understanding, three case studies were conducted with samples in three product categories (fruit- and vegetable-based beverages (n = 10), seafood (n = 6) and chocolate (n = 7)) using consumers from New Zealand (n = 196), India (living in New Zealand) (n = 138) and China (n = 167), conducted in central location (CLT) or home-use test (HUT) settings. Showcasing this multi-response approach and demonstrating its versatility in product research is the main contribution of the research. Across the three case studies different combinations of response types and scaling formats were successfully used (including CATA (check-all-that-apply) questions, yes/no questions and rating scales), and it was also found that tasted foods and written stimuli (food names) served equally well as stimuli. The degree of liking or disliking for individual samples was a useful benchmark against which to interpret the other types of responses, and situational appropriateness, obtained as item-by-use (IBU) responses always contributed unique insights. Facial emoji to obtain product-emotion associations yielded less valuable insights than a conceptualisation task. As expected, and in accordance with the rationale for adopting a multi-response approach, the combination of response types yielded greater stimuli insights than would otherwise have been gained. This held for each of the three case studies and supported future applications using a multi-response approach that extends beyond many related initiatives by including four response types in each case study.

Mating success of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), under four artificial light sources.

Larvae of the black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) are promising organisms to be used for organic waste bioconversion. Breeding BSF indoors has been suggested as a cost-effective approach for countries with long winters or low sunlight levels through the year. As the BSF mating is visually mediated, artificial illumination conditions are critical to a successful indoor breeding system. In this study, we tested four different types of artificial light sources for their effects on BSF mating success. They included: (1) a halogen lamp; (2) a combination of a white light-emitting diode (LED) lamp and a fluorescent ultra violet lamp; (3) a metal halide lamp, and (4) a specially designed light-emitting diode (BSFLED) lamp, whose design was based on the specific BSF adult visual spectral sensitivity. We determined the spectra of four artificial light sources, compared their spectral composition in relation to the BSF-visible spectrum, and compared their effects on the mating success of two different BSF colonies. BSFLED was the most energy efficient light source in spectral composition and led to the highest mating success in terms of the percentage of inseminated females and fertile clutches. Thus, BSFLED is the most suitable light source tested in our experiment for breeding BSF indoors. The colony effect and possible light flickering effect on BSF mating success were also detected. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Dynamic flavor perception of encapsulated flavors in a soft chewable matrix.

Encapsulation is commonly used to protect flavor compounds against adverse environmental and processing conditions or to provide controlled release in processed foods. Flavor compounds are released during eating and the release rate depends on food breakdown dynamics in the mouth. Two sequential studies were designed to explore the flavor perception of the same flavor in different encapsulation systems. The studies were focused on the interactions between encapsulation technology, particle size and breakdown processes in the mouth. A peppermint flavor was used as a model flavor and encapsulated with different technologies (spray drying, melt extrusion and fluidized bed drying). The encapsulated flavors and a selected combination were incorporated into a soft chewable candy, keeping the total flavor concentration the same for each sample. The chewable candy samples were presented to naïve panelists (n > 30) for the following two evaluations; (1) comparison of overall flavor perception with a 2-alternative forced choice test; and (2) dynamic evaluation of perceived flavor intensity over time during eating and after swallowing using time intensity. The results showed that the overall and dynamic flavor perceptions are greatly affected by the encapsulation technologies and particle sizes, and can be modulated by combining flavor particles produced by different encapsulation technologies depending on the application and desired flavor profile. The results also showed a large perceived flavor intensity variation between panelists, resembling variation among consumers. In an effort to better understand the relationship between the oral processing patterns and flavor perception, we used the JBMB® typing tool which gives four "Mouth Behavior" groups ("Chewers", "Crunchers", "Smooshers" and "Suckers") and explored to determine whether they would account for the variation. Compared with "Chewers" and "Crunchers", "Smooshers" tended to have a slower increase of flavor intensity during eating and a more gradual drop after swallowing. However, this needs to be confirmed with larger numbers of consumers (including suckers who were excluded in this study because they were not sufficient in numbers) and samples with a longer chew time.

The influence of claims of appetite control benefits in those trying to lose or maintain weight: The role of claim believability and attitudes to functional foods.

Functional foods which enhance satiety and hence offer appetite control can support weight loss efforts, but consumers' perceptions of such products are not fully understood. Urban-dwelling Australian consumers (n = 1629) trying to lose or to maintain weight rated written product concepts offering appetite control benefits for purchase intent and believability. In general, all product concepts were rated moderately for purchase intent, although products that were more likely to be commonly consumed, and that were a solid format received significantly higher ratings. Believability of product concept statements was found to vary significantly depending on product category. Compared to consumers trying to maintain their weight, consumers actively trying to lose weight tended to rate product concepts higher for purchase intent, despite similar scores for believability of concept. Age, gender and a sceptical attitude towards functional foods did not tend to strongly influence purchase intent and believability of product concepts offering appetite control. Actively trying to lose or maintain weight also had little influence over the degree to which consumers believed the product concept would deliver the benefits it was claiming. The association between a positive attitude towards functional foods and both purchase intent and believability was significant across all product concept categories, although the impact on purchase intent was largely mediated through believability. In assessing information provided about the active ingredients and functionality of the products, consumers rated as the two most important attributes that the products were clinically tested and that the active ingredient was derived from fruits and vegetables. In a broader perspective, careful communication of the clinical efficacy and effective consumption of appetite control products to assist with weight loss seems warranted.

Composition and safety evaluation of tea from New Zealand kawakawa (Piper excelsum).

Kawakawa (Piper excelsum) has food, medicinal and cultural importance to the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand, and is being incorporated into a range of commercial food and therapeutic products, including tea. In this study, the chemical compositions of kawakawa fresh leaves, dried leaves for tea, and hot brewed tea, were analysed and compared. The key metabolites were diayangambin, elemicin, myristicin, unidentified lignans and amides. The safety of brewed tea and tea leaves were evaluated in 8 week old Sprague Dawley rats in a 14 day acute study followed by a 28 day subacute study. In the 14 day study, the rats received the equivalent of 1, 2, 3 or 4 cups of kawakawa tea, and the rats in the 28 day study received daily doses that were equivalent to 4 cups per day. There were no adverse effects observed in the rats, and body weights and food intakes were not significantly different between the control and the kawakawa treated animals. There were small differences in organ weights, biochemical and haematology parameters observed in the rats given the kawakawa tea. In conclusion, the consumption of kawakawa tea could be considered safe within the conditions used in this study.

Factors Responsible for Changes in Leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Species Composition on Orchards and Vineyards 1974-2015, in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.

Leafrollers are polyphagous pests whose larvae damage fruit and cause market access problems for fruit crops exported from New Zealand. Leafroller larvae and pupae were collected mainly from four fruit crops, but also from hedges, ornamental trees, and understory weeds in orchards and vineyards of Hawke's Bay, a major fruit production region. Samples were collected from 1974 to 1977 and 1993 to 2015. This timespan was divided into periods that broadly coincided with broad-spectrum insecticide management, the transition to selective insecticides, and the full implementation of integrated fruit production (IFP) programs in apples, grapes, and stone fruit. Eight tortricid species were identified, but the accidentally introduced Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and two native species, Ctenopseustis obliquana (Walker) and Planotortrix octo Dugdale, comprised 95% of the samples. The proportions of these three species varied according to interactions between four factors: pest management regime, collection period, property location, and host plant. In the 1970s under broad-spectrum insecticide programs, the native species dominated on all hosts. By the mid-late 1990s when IFP was introduced, all the main leafroller species were in decline. However, E. postvittana declined to a lesser extent than the two native species, and consequently, it became relatively more prominent. This change in species composition was delayed in two districts where localized cases of organophosphate insecticide resistance occurred in C. obliquana and P. octo. From 2000 onwards, E. postvittana was the dominant species in all districts and on all hosts, albeit with a much-reduced pest status, except on hedges and ornamental trees where C. obliquana prevailed.

Human Milk Composition and Dietary Intakes of Breastfeeding Women of Different Ethnicity from the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of New Zealand.

Human milk is nutrient rich, complex in its composition, and is key to a baby's health through its role in nutrition, gastrointestinal tract and immune development. Seventy-eight mothers (19⁻42 years of age) of Asian, Maori, Pacific Island, or of European ethnicity living in Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand (NZ) completed the study. The women provided three breast milk samples over a one-week period (6⁻8 weeks postpartum), completed a three-day food diary and provided information regarding their pregnancy and lactation experiences. The breast milk samples were analyzed for protein, fat, fatty acid profile, ash, selected minerals (calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc), and carbohydrates. Breast milk nutrient profiles showed no significant differences between the mothers of different ethnicities in their macronutrient (protein, fat, carbohydrate, and moisture) content. The breast milk of Asian mothers contained significantly higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and linoleic acids. Arachidonic acid was significantly lower in the breast milk of Maori and Pacific Island women. Dietary intakes of protein, total energy, saturated and polyunsaturated fat, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iodine, vitamin A equivalents, and folate differed between the ethnic groups, as well as the number of serves of dairy foods, chicken, and legumes. No strong correlations between dietary nutrients and breast milk components were found.