Nutrition plays a pivotal role in health and disease prevention and management and through its interactions with social and personal factors, influences an individual's growth, development and life chances, as well as long-term health and longevity. These factors include amongst others, genetic inheritance, ethnicity, socio-cultural context, sex and gender. Although different interpretations exist, in general sex refers to the genetic, biological and physiological attributes that distinguish females, males and intersex whereas gender refers to socio-cultural and politically constructed roles and behaviours associated with a feminine, masculine or non-binary identity, which vary from society to society. Sex has implications for key biological processes involving food and nutrients as well as life-stage differences in nutritional requirements. Sex and gender may have implications in how individuals engage in different dietary behaviours and respond to nutrition interventions. The Irish Section Nutrition Society 2023 Conference sought to enhance understanding of the role of sex and gender in nutrition research; explore the influence of sex and gender on risk of non-communicable diseases and examine sex- and gender-specific considerations across the life course. This short editorial provides an overview and highlights of the conference.

Undernutrition in early life remains a significant public health challenge affecting millions of infants and young children globally. Children who are wasted, stunted or underweight are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Undernutrition at critical periods also impacts on aspects of neurodevelopment, with longer-term consequences to educational performance and mental health outcomes. Despite consistent evidence highlighting an increased risk of neonatal and infant mortality among boys, a common assumption held across many disciplines is that girls are more vulnerable with respect to early-life exposures. In relation to undernutrition, however, recent evidence indicates the reverse, and in contexts of food insecurity, boys are at increased risk of undernutrition in early life compared to girls, with sex-specific risks for neurodevelopmental deficits. These effects appear independent of social factors that may favour boys, such as gender disparities in infant feeding practices and health-seeking behaviours. The observed vulnerability among boys may therefore be underpinned by biological processes such as differential energy requirements during periods of rapid growth. As boys have greater needs for growth and maintenance, then, in times of nutritional hardship, these needs may not be met resulting in risk of undernutrition and subsequent health consequences. In view of this emerging evidence, a greater understanding of the mechanisms behind this vulnerability among boys is needed and policy considerations to protect boys should be considered. This review will explore sex differences in risk of undernutrition and consider these in the context of existing programmes and policies.

The night-time economy contributed £93.7bn to the total UK economy in 2023(1) and relies on extensive employment of night workers. There is strong evidence to support the association between shift work, predominately involving night shifts, and adverse cardiometabolic health(2). However, there are limited evidence based dietary guidelines available for night workers or nutritional practitioners(3). Simulated shift work studies have significantly contributed to understanding how eating at night impacts physiology however, real world research is needed among shift workers. Engaging end users in research design is key to inform acceptable and feasible interventions.

The aim of the Eating on The Night Shift study (King’s College London Ethics:LRM-22/23-35745) is to understand how UK night workers view working at night in relation to nutritional health and wellbeing and the barriers and enablers to participating in nutritional research studies.

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken with a convenience sample (n=18) of UK night workers between June and September 2023. Interviews were held virtually and covered experiences of working night shifts, perceptions about night work and health, and perceptions of, and barriers and facilitators of engagement with, nutritional research. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded using an inductive thematic analysis approach to identify overarching themes and sub-themes(4).

Of the final sample 13 were female (72%), 39% worked a rotating shift pattern, 50% had worked night shifts for between one to three years and 39% were employed in the healthcare sector. Four overarching themes were identified 1) The consequences of night work on health and wellbeing: this theme included concerns about the impact on physical and psychological wellbeing and on cognitive function during night shifts, 2) Eating at night means a less healthy diet: this theme highlighted the concerns about less healthy diets at night and how night work impacts meal planning and eating patterns, 3) Working at night has wider knock-on effects: sub themes were related to the negative impact on physical activity, sleep and social networks and 4) Nutritional research is perceived as important but there are barriers – barriers discussed were related to workload and the ability to change eating patterns, identified enablers were clear study instructions and financial compensation.

The results suggest that night workers are aware of the negative long-term consequences working nights has on their health. Furthermore, efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle are impeded by the nature of night work and its disruptions to the circadian rhythm. Although night workers support research to understand how diet during night work can impact long-term health, several barriers to taking part in research need to be considered in the design of research studies. This will ensure that studies are acceptable and feasible to the night shift population.

The analysis of food using a perspective centred on nutrients seems inadequate for understanding the dietary transition and its impact on the growth of obesity and chronic diseases. Industrial food processing is now proposed as the key to explain the relationship between food and health. The NOVA food classification considers the degree and the purpose of food processing, which includes physical, biological and chemical processes used after foods are separated from nature, and before being consumed or prepared as dishes and meals. NOVA has four food groups: (1) unprocessed and minimally processed foods; (2) processed culinary ingredients; (3) processed foods and (4) ultra-processed foods, which are formulations made mostly or entirely from substances derived from group 1 foods and additives, with little if any intact group 1 food. Many investigations linking high ultra-processed food consumption with deterioration of diets and adverse health outcomes are reinforced by prospective studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. There are various plausible explanations of why diets high in ultra-processed foods are harmful. Their production and consumption continue to rise worldwide. Efficient and effective public policies and actions that reduce production and consumption of ultra-processed products are needed, to protect human health now and in future.

This abstract was presented as the Nutrition in the Treatment, Management and Prevention of Disease Theme Highlight.

Chronic constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal condition affecting approximately 10% of the global population(1) and is associated with substantial healthcare costs and quality of life impairments in the UK(2). While the aetiology of chronic constipation is not fully understood, lower dietary fibre intake is associated with greater risk of constipation(3) and consumption of fruits, vegetables, and wholegrains is recommended within clinical guidelines. Although not diagnostic for constipation, low stool weight is a common feature and is associated with greater risk of colorectal cancer(4); yet few studies have ever measured stool weight in constipation. This study investigated associations between frequency of plant food intake and stool weight in people with constipation.

Baseline data from a dietary intervention trial were analysed, which included participants meeting Rome IV criteria for constipation. Self-reported data on habitual consumption of nine plant food categories were collected using a validated tool. Participants performed 7-day total stool collection, which was weighed on the same weighing scales at the research centre. Associations between intake frequency for each plant food category and daily stool weight (total stool weight divided by 7 days) were analysed using independent-samples t-tests (SPSS, version 28, p<0.05 considered significant).

Ninety-nine people with Rome IV constipation (89% female; mean [ ±SD] age 32.4 [ ± 12.4] y; BMI 23.0 [ ±3.2] kg/m2) provided 7-day total stool collections. Mean ( ± SD) stool weight was 72.5±47.2 g/day (minimum 2.1 g/day; maximum 280.6 g/day). Stool weight was significantly higher among those consuming fruit once or more per day (86.2±48.2 g/day), compared with those consuming fruit less than once per day (62.4±44.1 g/day; p = 0.012). Stool weight was also higher among those consuming vegetables once or more per day (98.6±59.1 g/day) compared with those eating vegetables less than once per day (62.2±37.2 g/day; p<0.001). Differences for green salad (79.6±52.1 g/day; 63.3±38.5 g/day; p = 0.088) and high-fibre breads (84.1±46.6 g/day; 65.1±46.6 g/day; p = 0.05) were borderline significant, when comparing those consuming these more than once per week, compared with once or less per week (respectively). No significant differences were found for frequency of consuming fruit juices, potatoes, vegetable soups/stews, high-fibre cereals, or beans and lentils.

This is the most comprehensive analysis to date of measured stool weight in constipation, and its association with plant food intake. Despite presence of constipation, participants with higher intakes of fruit and vegetables had a greater daily stool weight; an important feature associated with lower colorectal cancer risk(4). However, intakes were not sufficient to manage their constipation symptoms. Intervention studies investigating potential benefits from increasing fruit and vegetable intakes in people with constipation are required and are currently underway.

By 2050 the number of adults living with obesity in the UK will rise with approximately one in four in the adult population. This rising trend is not equitable, with higher prevalence in socially disadvantaged groups. There is an apparent paradox of not being able to provide food for the family to eat, a feature of food insecurity and living with obesity. With the current cost-of-living crisis, there is a challenge to afford both food and fuel bills. Environmentally sustainable and healthy diets are proposed to improve public health and reduce the impact of the food system on the environment, while also improving diet quality. However, healthier foods tend to be nearly three times more expensive than unhealthy foods, and this provides a challenge for citizens on low incomes. In this review, we explore some of the evidence for solutions in the retail food environment to support the UK food system to be safe, nutritious, environmentally friendly and fair for all. We highlight the value of co-production in research, to give value and power to the lived experience to address these inequalities. Our multidisciplinary research approach within the FIO Food research grant will generate new insights into modifiable and potentially impactful changes to the UK food system, specifically for the retail food sector. We believe that the co-creation, design and delivery of research with those living with obesity and food insecurity will help to transform the UK food system for health and the environment in this vulnerable group.

The FAO states that the term food sovereignty focuses on food for the people by placing people’s need for food at the centre of policies and insists that food is more than just a commodity. Food Sovereignty also promotes knowledge and skills by building on traditional knowledge; using research to support and pass on this knowledge to future generations; and rejecting technologies that undermine local food systems. It is essentially a movement that “recognizes that control over the food system needs to remain in the hands of producers, and is clearly focused primarily on small-scale agriculture of a non-industrial nature, preferably organic”(1). In Māori terms, Kai Sovereignty is drawn first from the relationship of foods to our needs; it is expressed through whakapapa, and has an overarching contribution to food security. Traditional foods abound in Aotearoa. The relationships are longstanding, expressive and contribute to our wellbeing in various ways(2). But the true cultural value of traditional foods is diminishing as new foods, lifestyles and experiences succeed them. Kai sovereignty therefore is at risk of being relegated to historical discourse. The FAO acknowledgement of the intergenerational role of traditional knowledge to support food sovereignty aligns well to the Māori experience. This knowledge covers a myriad of food relationships including foraging, producing, harvesting, processing, cooking and manaakitanga. We are in a renaissance period that seeks to rediscover our relationship with the pātaka, the food store. So much knowledge has been lost, but much also remains. How we draw that together in a way that acknowledges the whakapapa or historical relationship alongside the present and future. The right to achieving kai sovereignty is yet to be properly understood within our communities. The first steps lie in the knowledge space; sharing and acknowledgement of our food traditions before they are lost or misinterpreted.

The fungal cell wall facilitates an immune response and may be involved in intestinal immune training (1,2). It is also fermentable by the gut microbiome, thus, consumption of fungi changes gut microbial ecology (3). Yet, the specific effects of consuming fungal foods on the gut mycobiota (i.e., gut fungi) have not been well studied. An interesting case study is mycoprotein, a fungal based protein produced from Fusarium Venenatum (4). We have previously reported that mycoprotein consumption attenuates faecal water genotoxicity, a surrogate marker of colorectal cancer risk, as well as modulates faecal metabolite excretion and gut bacterial composition (5). Here, we aimed to evaluate the impact of consuming a diet high in mycoprotein on gut mycobial ecology, and to explore relationships between mycobial composition and faecal genotoxicity.

Here we leverage stool samples from Mycomeat: a randomised crossover-controlled trial, recruiting 20 healthy male adults to adhere to 2-week diets comprising 240 g/day of mycoprotein based foods or red and processed meat, separated by a 4-week washout. Internal transcriber spacer (ITS) sequencing was performed to characterise the mycobiota. Alpha diversity before and after study phases was compared using Wilcoxon tests. Beta diversity was compared by permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) based on Bay-Curtis dissimilarities. Differences in mycobial taxa within and between study phases were compared using Wilcoxon tests. Changes in mycobiota composition was then regressed against faecal excretion of metabolites using mixed- effects models to understand the impact of myco-ecology on the wider colonic environment. Finally, given the abundance of mycobial genotoxins in nature, we regressed mycobial taxa against faecal water genotoxicity.

There were significant shifts in the abundance of several taxa following both diets. Notably, mycoprotein consumption was associated with an increase in the abundance of Malasseziales sp. (P = 0.02) and a reduction in Candida Albicans (P = 0.01). Meat consumption was associated with an increase in Phaeoacremonium Tuscanum (P = 0.01) and Rhodotorula Mucilaginosa (P = 0.008), and reduction in Penicillium Commune (P = 0.02). In addition, Aspergillus Caesiellus was associated with lower faecal genotoxicity (P = 0.04), whereas Penicillium Commune (P = 0.04) and Penicillium Olsonii (P = 0.03) were both associated with higher genotoxicity. Regressing mycobial taxa against faecal metabolites revealed a number of significant associations, including between Penicillium Commune and austdiol, a putative mycotoxin (P < 0.001) as well as 1-methyladenine, a methylated DNA base with cytotoxic properties (P = 0.001).

The gut mycobiota is malleable through a fungi rich diet alongside changes within the wider microbiome. Members of the gut mycobiota predicted faecal genotoxicity and faecal excretion of toxins in this model, and there may be value in further exploring the gut mycobiota and the contribution of mycotoxins in gut health and colorectal cancer risk.

Pacific Island communities are disproportionally impacted by the effects of climate change, and as teina (younger sibling) to our Pacific tuakana (older sibling), it is our responsibility to ensure these communities have resilience through co-developed solutions to these real-world problems. We focus on marine and freshwater ecosystems, understand their intrinsic links to Pacific communities, while, in partnership with science, empower and enable local knowledge to steer the waka. With more than 20 years’ experience of supporting Pacific communities, we deliver our positive impact through knowledge exchange, capability and capacity development, and problem solving. We strive to learn and grow our own capability, while brokering knowledge between Aotearoa, the Pacific, and our world leading research partners. Our aim is that Pacific Island communities gain a deeper scientific understanding of their aquatic systems, have the tools to rejuvenate and conserve these ecosystems, are empowered to transform their food systems towards more healthy, sustainable, and resilient pathways, and can adapt to the impacts of climate change. We take a systems approach that incorporates adaptive solutions, which are community-led, thereby ensuring a long-lasting positive impact into the future. Our Kete is filled with world-leading expertise from different organizations, which ensures a greater collective impact where it is needed most. This presentation will cover the seven themes within our Pacific Impact area, with a particular focus on food safety and security in relation to ciguatera poisoning (the number one cause of non-bacterial seafood illness affecting Pacific Island communities) (1,2), analytical laboratory development, and transforming food systems.

Increasing the sampling resolution when examining plasma hormone and metabolite profiles will more accurately describe diurnal/circadian rhythms and expose previously undiscovered ultradian rhythms that underpin metabolic physiology(1). In human research studies this must be tempered by the practical, ethical and safety concerns of repeated cannulation/blood draws. Here we examine the correlation between hormone and metabolite profiles present in interstitial fluid microdialysate(2), and plasma to help solve this dilemma.

Hormonal markers of circadian phase (melatonin, cortisol) and metabolites will show similar profiles in plasma and interstitial fluid.

Compare time-series hormone and metabolite profiles collected in interstitial fluid using a novel ambulatory microdialysis collection device (U-RHYTHM) with simultaneously drawn plasma samples.

All study protocols were reviewed by Health Sciences Faculty Research Ethics Committee, University of Bristol. Fasted healthy male volunteers aged 18-35 (n=3) were fed a standardised breakfast (08:00), lunch (13:00), dinner (19:00) and snack (22:00) (2225kCal [83g protein, 273g carbohydrate, 83g fat, 27g fibre]). Participants remained on the study bed, lights off/sleep occurred between 23:00-07:00 (<4 lux).

A 20kDa cutoff 30 mm linear microdialysis membrane was placed in periumbilical subcutaneous tissue, perpendicular to the midline. The membrane was perfused at 1µl/min and the microdialysate collected every 20 minutes for 25 hours into discrete samples using a portable fraction collector (URHYTHM) worn around the waist. Time-matched blood samples were obtained from an antecubital fossa canula.

All samples were stored at -80°C prior to analysis. Hormones and metabolites were measured via targeted UPLC-MS/MS metabolomics, for the metabolites the AbsoluteIDQ® p180 kit (Biocrates Life Sciences AG)) was used with 10µL of plasma(3) and 15µL of microdialysate.

Simultaneous time-courses of n = 24 metabolites were detected in plasma and interstitial microdialysate: alanine, arginine, asparagine, citrulline, glutamine, glutamate, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, ornithine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, trans-4-Hydroxyproline, taurine, carnitine and acetylcarnitine.

Spearman rank cross correlation identified the time shift that was required to reach highest correlation between the plasma and microdialysate profiles. Excluding taurine, microdialysate profiles were delayed by 32.3 minutes (range 0-130) and 12.9 minutes (range 0-50) for participant 1 and 2, respectively (p <0.05), only 3/20 metabolite profiles were correlated for participant 3. Trans4-hydroxyproline had the strongest correlation (rs 0.890, 0.814 and 0.808), with only participant 3 displaying a time shift (50 minutes). Taurine had the weakest correlation in all 3 participants. (rs 0.096, 0.182, 0.325).

These data demonstrate that our novel approach can be used to comprehensively detect hormone and metabolite profiles in interstitial fluid. Thus, the U-RHYTHM would serve as a useful tool, not only to increase sampling resolution in controlled laboratory studies but would prove particularly useful for examining circadian/ultradian profiles for chronobiology and nutrition studies in free-living individuals.

The Olympic Games have grown to be the largest, gender-equal sporting event in the world, and the International Olympic Committee is committed to gender equality in sports encouraging and supporting the promotion of women in sports at all levels and in all structures with a view to implementing the principle of equality of men and women (IOC, 2023). Women competed for the first time at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, and the number of women competing has grown exponentially over the last 100 years, so an estimated 5494 female athletes (48 %) competed in the Summer Olympic Games 2021 in Tokyo. Supporting women (alongside men) in achieving optimum performance is crucial, and understanding that there are sex and gender gaps in sports nutrition research is important. One reason for this gap is the historical bias in sports and exercise science research towards male participants. This has led to a poor understanding of the unique physiological and nutritional needs of female athletes. In summary, a balanced approach is crucial to address the nutritional needs of both male and female athletes. Researchers should continue exploring this important area to optimise performance and health for all athletes. The aim of this review is to summarise current sports nutrition literature and highlight research that seeks to understand and address where the gaps are with respect to several key areas in sports nutrition recommendations that can impact advice and practice with both males and females.

Atopic diseases, including asthma and eczema, represent a substantial public health problem in children and adolescents globally; asthma is the commonest chronic disorder of childhood(1). Research suggests that the origins of childhood asthma lie in utero, and several components of the maternal diet during pregnancy have been investigated in relation to atopic outcomes in children. Epidemiological evidence suggests that a higher intake of sugar during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of childhood asthma and atopy(2,3). However, randomised trial evidence supporting such a link is lacking.

Aims

1. 1. To examine whether a low glycaemic index (GI) dietary intervention during pregnancy decreases the risk of asthma and eczema in childhood.

2. 2. To assess observationally whether maternal intake of sugar during pregnancy is positively associated with asthma and eczema in childhood.

This is a secondary analysis of children from the ROLO trial. Healthy women were randomised to receive an intervention of low GI dietary advice or routine antenatal care from early pregnancy. All women completed a 3-day food diary in each trimester of pregnancy. Estimates of maternal intake of sugar in each trimester were averaged to provide mean intakes during pregnancy. Mothers reported current doctor-diagnosed eczema in their children at 2-years of age (n=271), and current doctor-diagnosed asthma and eczema in their children at 5 (n=357) and 9-11 years (n=391) of age. Multivariable logistic regression models were used a) to test the effect of the intervention on child outcomes overall, and stratified by maternal education level (with, versus without, a complete tertiary level education), and b), in observational analyses, to analyse the relation between sugar and carbohydrate intake in pregnancy and child outcomes.

There was weak evidence overall for a reduction in asthma at 5-years of age in children whose mothers received the low GI dietary intervention during pregnancy compared to usual care [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.43 (95% CI 0.18, 1.03); P=0.06]. However, in stratified analyses the intervention was associated with a marked reduction in risk of asthma at 5-years of age in children born to mothers with lower educational attainment [adjusted OR 0.16 (0.03, 0.85); P=0.032]. Intake of sugar during pregnancy was positively associated with the development of asthma at any time point in childhood [adjusted OR per quartile of mean sugar intake 1.40 (0.99, 1.97), P-trend=0.048] and at 5-years of age [adjusted OR per quartile 1.55 (1.00, 2.40), P-trend=0.046]. No associations with eczema outcomes were found.

This novel study provides stronger evidence that higher sugar intake during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of asthma among offspring. An intervention to reduce sugar intake in pregnancy may have potential as a primary prevention strategy, particularly amongst children born to mothers with lower educational attainment.

This review presents evidence related to the postprandial responses after consumption of dairy products focusing on the effect of the dairy matrix and lipid response, which was also presented as part of a speech at the Nutrition Society Winter Conference, January 2023. The key findings are that the dairy product(s) that differentiate from others in the postprandial TAG response are products with a semi-solid structure. There were no differences in lipid responses between cheese and butter. The main factors viscosity, fat globule size and milk fat globule membrane do not seem to explain the effect of the dairy matrix in the acute postprandial response. In summary, it is very difficult to investigate the effects of the dairy matrix per see and with the few studies conducted to date, no clear cause and effect can be established. Future research should focus on the semi-solid dairy matrix, and studies investigating specifically the yoghurt matrix are warranted.

This abstract was presented as the Food Systems Theme Highlight.

The rate of climate change has significantly increased over the last decade, with 2023 reported as the warmest year on record(1). Human activities contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) and environmental degradation(1) with food production and consumption contributing up to 37% of global emissions(2). Recognising the power of food service, and food choices, is crucial in addressing these environmental challenges(3). Data on the impact that reformulation has on reducing environmental impact is required to ensure evidence based strategy development and data based decision making. The LIFE Programme Climate Smart Chef (CSC) project aims to engage chefs to promote low-emission, nutritious diets aligned with EU Climate Policy and the Farm to Fork (F2F) Strategy. It targets improved public health, reduced environmental impact, and food waste(4). Under this project, a digital environmental impact tool ‘Foodprint’ was developed by Nutritics. This study aims to analyse the nutritional content and environmental impact of original and reformulated recipes entered by chefs who completed training between July and October 2023.

Chefs were required to enter their recipes, undertake training on sustainable menu design and subsequently reformulate their recipes using Foodprint as a post training exercise. 200 recipes were created by the chefs (100 original; 100 reformulated). Nutritics software was used for the analysis, with the LIFE Su-Eatable LIFE database on carbon and water selected for use in the Foodprint tool. The impact of reformulation on nutrition, carbon and water was analysed using SPSS V29.

For the environmental analysis, reformulating the recipes had significant reductions in carbon emissions (P =0.002), (Average −51.18%; Range −6.66 −0.96 kg C02eq), water footprint (P =0.278), (Average -46.63%; Range −17839L to 4035L). For the nutrition analysis, reductions were also observed for sugar (P=0.001), (Average −9.42%; Range −16.40g to +24g), salt (P = 0.233), (Average −12.57%; Range −5.42g to +1.80g), and saturated fat (P =0.043) (Average −39.77%; Range -34.90g to +12.20g).

Reformulation resulted in decreased environmental impact, and improved nutrition. This study gives a quantitative indication of how reformulating menus can reduce carbon, while improving the nutrient profile of food offerings. This research contributes valuable insights into the use of software to reformulate menus, the complex impact of recipe reformulation, and its potential to positively impact both health and environmental sustainability. This research indicates the potential of menu reformulation in advancing sustainability goals and promoting healthier food choices. Future analysis should analyse cost, additional environmental impacts, serving size, and demographic analysis to provide more in-depth analysis.

For some 20 years, science funding bodies have been asking for the integration of sex- and gender-related factors into the content of research and innovation. The rationale for those requirements has been the accumulated evidence that sex and gender are important determinants of health and disease. The European Commission (EC) has been the first, since 2002, to seriously ask for the integration of sex and gender into research and innovation in the context of their multi-annual framework programmes. When introduced, this condition was not immediately applauded by the research community, who perhaps lacked training in methods for the integration of sex- and gender-related factors. The EC Expert Group on Gendered Innovations sought to fill this gap. This review describes the work of this international collaborative project which has resulted in the development of general and field-specific methods for sex and gender analysis and 38 case studies for various research domains (science, health and medicine, environment, engineering) to illustrate how, by applying methods of sex and gender analysis, new knowledge could be created. Since 2010, science funding bodies in Canada, the USA and several EU member states have followed the example of the EC issuing similar conditions. Although the effects of nutritional patterns on a range of (physiological and health) outcomes may differ for men and women, sex and gender analyses are rarely conducted in nutrition research. In this review, we provide examples of how gender is connected to dietary intake, and how advancing gender analysis may inform gender-sensitive policies and dietary recommendations.

Reducing meat consumption is essential to curb further climate change and limit the catastrophic environmental degradation resulting from the current global food system. However, consumers in industrialised countries are hesitant to reduce their meat intake, often because they find plant-based foods less appealing. Despite the climate emergency, eating meat is still perceived as the norm, and recommended in most national dietary guidelines. To support the transition to more sustainable diets by providing insights for increasing the appeal of plant-based foods to mainstream consumers, this review presents recent research findings on how people think and communicate about meat-based and plant-based foods. The key findings we review include: (1) while vegans think about plant-based foods in terms of enjoyable eating experiences, omnivores think about plant-based foods in terms of health, vegan identity and other abstract information that does not motivate consumption in the moment. (2) Packages of ready-meals and social media posts on Instagram present plant-based foods with fewer references to enjoyable eating experiences than meat-based foods. (3) Presenting plant-based foods with language that references enjoyable eating experiences increases their appeal, especially for habitual meat eaters. This language includes words about sensory features of the food (e.g., crunchy, creamy), eating context (e.g. pub; with family) and immediate positive consequences of eating (e.g. comforting, delicious). In contrast, the term ‘vegan’ is strongly associated with negative stereotypes. Hence, rather than referring to being vegan, meat-free or healthy, the language used for plant-based foods should refer to sensory appeal, attractive eating situations and enjoyment.

CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide, and is commonly associated with modifiable risk factors. Most studies to date examining link between food intake and risk of CVD, have focused on modulation of plasma cholesterol concentrations (total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C). However, recent studies suggest LDL particle size is a more sensitive risk marker for CVD with smaller, dense LDL particles reported as more atherogenic than larger, more buoyant LDL. Although dietary guidelines recommend SFA intake of < 10 % of total energy, this does not consider food source, with recent evidence suggesting differing, sometimes beneficial, lipid responses following consumption of SFA from dairy compared to other food sources. This may be from differences in the physical food matrices, the nutrient content of the foods, and/or how these components interact with each other, described as a ‘dairy matrix effect’. Dietary fat not only raises LDL-C, but also HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), associated with reduced CVD risk. HDL particles are complex emulsions of lipids, proteins and microRNAs that exhibit atheroprotective properties. In addition, HDL particles exhibit a very heterogeneous proteomic composition, dependent on a person’s disease state – with a more pro-inflammatory proteome evident in patients with established CVD. This review will discuss the evidence to date on the importance of the food matrix in modulating response to dietary SFA and impact on CVD risk factors. A focus on potential biomarker properties of lipoprotein particles beyond cholesterol and current use of such biomarkers in human nutrition research will be considered.

This abstract was awarded the Student Competition prize.

Time-limited eating is a dietary intervention whereby calorie intake is limited to a specific window of time during the day(1). The usual eating windows (EW) of adults, and how this can be manipulated for dietary interventions, is well documented(2). However, there is a paucity of data on the usual EW of children and adolescents, which may be a useful intervention for reducing obesity.

The primary objective was to systematically review existing literature on the usual EW of children and adolescents. Secondary objectives were to identify average clock times of first and last food/drink intakes and also variations in EW and clock times by age, nationality or weight status subgroups, if available data allowed.

Two databases (Medline and Embase) were searched for eligible papers published between February 2013 and February 2023. Included papers were forward searched using the citation network on Web of Science. 6347 papers were identified, and after deduplication 4569 papers were screened by two independent reviewers. Methodological quality was assessed using a Joanna Briggs Institute checklist(3).

Ten studies were included, with both observational and experimental designs. These studies had a total population of 4,589 participants, with individual study sample sizes ranging from 22 to 2195. Ages of participants ranged from 6 – 20 years, with six studies involving adolescents alone (≥10 years), and four involving children and adolescents. There were four studies from the USA, two from Germany and one each from Brazil, India, The Netherlands and pan-European.

Narrative synthesis showed large variations in average eating windows from 9.7 to 16.4 hours. Only four studies included clock times of intake, with large variations in both first and last intake times. Five studies were included in a random-effects meta-analysis, in which heterogeneity was considerable (I2 = 95.8%), and pooled duration of usual daily eating was 11.3 hours (95% confidence interval (CI) 10.95, 11.73). Sources of heterogeneity included differences in study design and populations, variation in dietary assessments methods and definition of eating windows. Narrative synthesis of an adolescent sub-group showed eating windows increased as children got older. Four studies were included in a random-effects sub-group meta-analysis, with a pooled EW of 11.2 hours (95% CI 10.27, 12.05; I2 = 96.6%) in adolescents. Insufficient data prevented further subgroup analysis.

In conclusion large variations in eating windows exist across different study populations, with limited data available on first and last intake times; however, the pooled data suggest it may be possible to design time-limited eating interventions in paediatric populations aimed at reducing eating windows. Further high-quality research, of eating windows and associations with health outcomes, is needed.

Food insecurity – when individuals or households have difficulty accessing sufficient, safe, culturally appropriate and nutritious food due to lack of money or other resources – is a global public health concern. Levels of food insecurity have increased across the UK in recent years, due in part to a decade of austerity, widespread loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic and the more recent cost-of-living crisis, leading to rising use of food banks. The stress of living with uncertain access to food and going periods without food is damaging to physical and mental health. Food insecurity is linked to both obesity and malnutrition, as often the most readily available foods are processed, high in fats, sugars and salt, but low in essential nutrients for health. While recognising that many of the drivers of food insecurity, and health inequalities more broadly (i.e. the social determinants of health) lie outside the health service, it is increasingly acknowledged that the National Health Service – and primary care in particular – has a key role to play in mitigating health inequalities. This review considers the potential role of healthcare in mitigating food insecurity, with a focus on primary care settings. Recent initiatives in Scotland, such as community links workers and general practitioner practice-attached financial advice workers, have shown promise as part of a more community-oriented approach to primary care, which can mitigate the effects of food insecurity. However, a more ‘upstream’ response is required, including ‘cash first’ interventions as part of broader national strategies to end the need for food banks.

The purpose of the present article is to describe the current state of sex and gender data collection in nutrition science research, discuss the effects of flawed data collection practices, highlight considerations for transgender and gender non-conforming populations and propose a sex- and gender-informed approach to human subjects research. Sex and gender are separate constructs that are often conflated in nutrition research and practice. Current nutrition surveillance programmes in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland do not accurately capture sex and gender data, which undermines the accuracy of the analyses and excludes gender minorities. Transgender and gender non-conforming populations have distinct clinical and psychosocial nutrition considerations that require further research to inform nutrition policy and practice, such as anthropometric and biochemical changes with hormone therapy, eating disorders, food insecurity and nutrition as a source of empowerment or expression of gender identity. Researchers can apply a sex- and gender-informed approach to human subjects research by treating sex and gender as separate, relevant demographic data, appreciating gender as a fluid construct, and approaching data collection on gender minorities with sensitivity to privacy and confidentiality.