Mental health conditions are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, with affected individuals often experiencing poorer physical health and increased risk of comorbidities. Nutrition is increasingly recognised as a modifiable factor influencing mental health outcomes, and digital technologies offer opportunities to support dietary behaviour change in this population, though their potential remains underexplored. This systematic review synthesises evidence on digital interventions aimed at improving nutrition-related outcomes among adults with mental health conditions. A comprehensive search of PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Health Premium was conducted for studies published between January 2000 and August 2026. Two reviewers extracted data on study characteristics, participant demographics, mental health diagnoses, intervention type, digital technology, and nutrition-related outcomes. Outcomes included qualitative and quantitative measures of nutrition-related outcomes, feasibility, and acceptability. Twenty-six unique studies were included and categorised as: (i) lifestyle interventions with a digital component; (ii) fully digital lifestyle interventions; or (iii) digital nutrition-specific interventions. Findings were synthesised narratively due to heterogeneity. Across categories, digital interventions demonstrated mixed effects on dietary intake, diet quality, and weight management, with some improvements observed, although effects were not consistently significant. Interventions were generally feasible and acceptable, although recruitment, retention, and engagement varied. Challenges included technology access, adherence, and contextual barriers. The findings suggest that digital approaches are promising for supporting dietary behaviour change in adults with mental health conditions. Future research should prioritise high-quality, theory-driven, and co-designed digital nutrition interventions that address barriers to digital access and literacy and leverage digital tools to support sustainable nutritional change.

Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration CRD42025622881

Different types of bariatric surgeries, such as malabsorptive and restrictive procedures, can impact nutrient absorption and metabolism. One of the concerns for reproductive-aged women and pregnancy-capable individuals undergoing bariatric surgery is the increased risk of nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This review aimed to collate and synthesise available literature on nutritional status during pregnancy and breastfeeding post-bariatric surgery. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews framework was used. It included peer-reviewed primary research studies published in English that reported the nutritional status of women with histories of bariatric surgery during pregnancy and breastfeeding. There were no time restrictions for including studies. A narrative synthesis was performed to summarise and interpret the findings. Anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies were frequently reported during pregnancy after bariatric surgery. Malabsorptive procedures were associated with greater micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy, while the surgery-to-conception interval showed no consistent association. Macronutrient intake during pregnancy was characterised by high fat intake, low carbohydrate and fibre intake, and adequate protein intake. There was limited evidence of altered breast milk macronutrient composition following bariatric surgery. Limited qualitative studies showed that women wanted more nutritional information and support during pregnancy and breastfeeding following bariatric surgery. These findings highlight the need for individualised nutritional care, regular biochemical monitoring, and multidisciplinary management for women and pregnancy-capable individuals during pregnancy and breastfeeding following bariatric surgery, particularly after malabsorptive procedures. Further research is required to address gaps in evidence regarding mothers’ experiences and breast milk composition after bariatric surgery.

This study evaluated the effects of partially replacing soybean meal with Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TMM) at dietary inclusion levels of 0%, 2%, 5%, and 8% in finisher diets fed to 180 broiler chickens (22–42 days). Growth performance was monitored during the finisher phase, and breast meat from the same birds was analyzed for sensory and physicochemical quality. Sensory evaluation was performed by a consumer panel of 92 participants. No significant differences were observed in body weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio, confirming the nutritional feasibility of TMM inclusion up to 8%. Sensory evaluation showed that appearance and aroma were unaffected, while juiciness, flavor, tenderness, and texture decreased at inclusion levels ≥5%, indicating a threshold effect. Despite this reduction, all sensory scores remained within acceptable ranges for consumer preference. Physicochemical parameters, including acidity, water activity, thawing loss, and cooking loss, were not significantly influenced by dietary treatment. Minor variations in pH were detected but remained within the physiological range reported for broiler breast meat and did not compromise overall meat quality. Overall, TMM can replace soybean meal at inclusion levels up to 8% in finisher broiler diets without adversely affecting growth performance or physicochemical meat quality. However, because sensory attributes declined at inclusion levels ≥5%, dietary inclusion of TMM below 5% is recommended when maintaining sensory quality is a primary objective. Beyond its nutritional benefits, the partial replacement of soybean meal with TMM may contribute to diversifying protein sources for poultry nutrition and reducing reliance on conventional soybean-derived ingredients, thereby contributing to the development of more sustainable poultry production systems.

Maternal obesity, resulting from high caloric intake during pregnancy, can impair pancreatic development in the offspring and lead to an increased risk of diabetes. We hypothesized that maternal obesity during pregnancy results in reduced expression of proteins associated with pancreatic β cell function and increased expression of proteins associated with apoptosis. C57BL/6J (N = 6) female mice were fed either a control (CON; n = 3) or a high-fat (HFD; n = 3) diet for fourteen weeks prior to pregnancy, diets were continued throughout gestation and lactation. Offspring were weaned at four weeks and then maintained on a control diet. At eight weeks of age, the offspring were euthanized (N = 20; 4–6/treatment/sex) and pancreas tissue samples were collected. Protein was isolated and analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 2,329 proteins were identified across both male and female mice in the comparison between the control and HFD groups, with 165 differentially expressed (DE) proteins (CON vs HFD males: 145; CON vs HFD females: 20; P ≤ 0.05). In male offspring, 131 DE proteins were down regulated, and 14 were upregulated, while in females 13 were upregulated and seven were down regulated. Four DE proteins (Mgat2, Lama2, Isyna1, Got2) were common to both sexes. However, only Lama2 exhibited a similar pattern of expression, with both HFD males and females having greater expression than CON. Alternatively, HFD males exhibited reduced expression of Mgat2, Got2, and Isyna1 when compared with CON. HFD females exhibited increased gene expression for the DEPs.

Human milk and direct breastfeeding are recommended for all infants, but rates are low in CHD with limited data on institutional lactation support. We aimed to describe lactation-supportive practices within US paediatric cardiac ICUs and to determine associations between these practices and human milk/breastfeeding outcomes. This retrospective cohort study and site survey included centres from Collaborative Research from the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society. Linear regression assessed associations between the total number of lactation-supportive practices and sites’ human milk and breastfeeding percentages, during the neonatal period and at discharge. Potentially strong clinical practices were identified through a phased analysis. Survey respondents represented 34 sites, with detailed data for 832 patients from 24 sites. Implementation of 22 lactation-supportive practices varied (median: 10; range: 2–20); smaller sites reported fewer practices (p = 0.006). Common practices included in-room breast pumps (100%), feeding protocols (91%), and staff training (79%), while skin-to-skin protocols (41%) and automatic lactation orders (44%) were underutilised. While total practices did not correlate with outcomes, sites with high versus low implementation of “strongest” practices demonstrated generally better lactation outcomes, especially at discharge: 11.7% higher human milk volume (95% CI: 0.1%–23.3%); 8.2% higher breastfeeding rate (95% CI: −0.3%–16.6%). These strongest practices involved institutional formalisation of lactation support. Lactation-supportive practices varied among sites. Findings suggest formalisation of practices including a developmental care protocol, comprehensive parent education/support, and protocols recommending human milk/breastfeeding may improve lactation outcomes in critical CHD.

Food security is a Human Right, but not everyone in Australia has the same opportunity to live a healthy life, free from hunger. The impacts of food insecurity are pervasive, influencing education, wellbeing, economic opportunities, nutrition and overall health. Its drivers are equally as diverse, many of which are beyond the remit of the health sector. As such, collective, cross-sector action is critical. Through the example of Gather + Grow (Queensland’s strategic response to food insecurity in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities), this review paper aimed to describe the success factors, learnings and strategic framework that has built momentum around food security action in Queensland. Specifically, a three-phase action planning cycle, priority areas for action, system enablers, governance and guiding principles for implementation are outlined and discussed. Together, they demonstrate how a systems response to a complex public health challenge, like food insecurity, is possible and invite other states and territories to leverage the learnings and activities of Gather + Grow.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in Zimbabwe, but the grain yields achieved are often only one tenth of their estimated potential. Low grain protein content and low biomass yields further constrain food quality and livestock feed availability on smallholder farms. To assess whether integrating legumes into maize-based cropping systems could improve yields, yield stability, and biomass, calorie and protein production, we tested six cropping systems in rainfed conditions under conservation agriculture in central Zimbabwe in two identical field experiments on soils with contrasting textures. The cropping systems included maize monoculture, maize rotated with pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) or cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), maize-pigeon pea intercropping, and double-row strip crops of maize with pigeon pea or cowpea. Each system was tested with and without fertilizer (basal application 12 kg ha−1 N, 14 kg ha−1 P, 8 kg ha−1 K, plus two topdressings, each 26 kg N ha−1). Mean grain yields were highest in rotations (maize = 2855 kg ha−1, pigeon pea = 752 kg ha−1, cowpea = 567 kg ha−1). Rotations also had a high maize yield stability, comparable with the monoculture. However, total biomass, calories, and protein per hectare were highest in maize-pigeon pea strip cropping (5945 kg ha−1, 9.14million kcal ha−1, and 308 kg ha−1, respectively). Across all cropping systems, fertilizer enhanced system productivity, increasing maize yields by 88% on average. Overall, maize-pigeon pea strip cropping produced the most food and feed per unit land area, in both fertilized and unfertilized conditions.

Ion homeostasis is the process by which plants maintain the right balance of mineral and non-mineral ions inside their cells. This regulation helps plants survive challenges such as drought, salty soils and changing nutrient levels while supporting healthy growth and development. The enormous advances in our understanding of plant membrane transport at a molecular level now provide a mechanistic basis for understanding plant nutrition at cellular and whole plant levels. And in combination with quantitative mathematical analysis, fundamentally new insights into homeostatic processes are obtained.

Tryptophan (TRP) is an essential amino acid that needs to be ingested into the human body with food. Once ingested in the human body, it is metabolised by gut microbiota into indole metabolites. These indole metabolites can bind to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR). AhR is expressed in many immune cells. The innate and adaptive immune system is modulated by the binding of the indole metabolites to this receptor, and anti-inflammatory signal cascades are activated. PXR is enriched in the enterohepatic system and is essential in handling xenobiotics. Our analysis of results showed that the amino acid TRP and its indole metabolites are ligands, which can modulate mucosal barrier integrity and regulate disease states. The TRP indole metabolites were shown to be a possibility for the supported treatment of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, ischaemic diseases, and neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis. This review shows that the gut microbiome can be altered by supplementation in the nutrition of these bacterial metabolites. As shown in the examples in this review, inclusive experimental models and the supplementation of TRP and its metabolites could be an alternative approach for treating patients. This review highlights the nutritional aspects of tryptophan and its biochemistry. Furthermore, it sheds light on nutrition and the role of TRP malnutrition.

Population dietary behaviours have considerable impact on major global challenges including diet-related non-communicable diseases, climate change, and food insecurity. Aligning diets with national recommendations, such as the UK Eatwell Guide, have the potential to deliver substantial co-benefits for health and environmental sustainability. To accelerate progress, scalable and timely methods for monitoring dietary patterns are required. Routinely generated smart data, such as supermarket transaction records and loyalty card purchases, represent a novel resource for population-level dietary assessment. These datasets provide objective, high-resolution, and near real-time information on food purchasing behaviours. However, deriving meaningful nutrition insights from such data necessitates advanced computational infrastructure, data science and AI capability, and specialist nutrition interpretation. Importantly, these data enable evaluation of natural experiments in real-world food environments. The use of commercial sales data introduces unique governance and data-security challenges. Commercial sensitivity requires robust secure-data environments, transparent processes, and strong collaborative partnerships between industry and academia. Effective data sharing is contingent on champions within both sectors, as such collaboration is not yet routine. When appropriately governed, consumer purchase data can complement traditional dietary assessment methods and support transformation of the wider food system. This review paper presents academic and industry insights on the use of these novel data sources, highlighting methodological challenges associated with nutrition, health and sustainability metrics. It concludes with recommendations to guide future research employing consumer purchasing data to strengthen evidence generation across the food and population and planetary health landscape.

Mental health conditions such as stress and anxiety are increasingly targeted by nutritional strategies that modulate neurobiological and inflammatory pathways(1,2). Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) is a complex structure of polar lipids, gangliosides, and glycoproteins that has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and gut-modulatory effects in preclinical and human studies(3). However, its effects on adult psychological outcomes have not been systematically synthesised. We conducted a systematic literature search through to September 2025 across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, ACS Publications, Academic Search Index, BMJ Journals, and BNP Media. The search strategy combined relevant keywords and MeSH terms, with manual reference checks to ensure comprehensiveness. Of the 35 articles initially identified, 12 underwent full-text review after screening for duplicates and relevance. Three3 randomised controlled trials (RCTs, n = 438) met the inclusion criteria: adult participants (≥20 years), bovine MFGM supplementation, a placebo or control group, and outcomes measuring stress, anxiety, or depression. Exclusion criteria included non-RCT designs, special populations, mixed or acute interventions, and studies lacking appropriate controls. The review was conducted and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed, calculating standardised mean differences (Hedge’s g) for stress, anxiety, and depression outcomes. Heterogeneity was evaluated with I2 and publication bias was explored with funnel plots and Egger’s test. Two trials contributed two dose arms each, yielding five comparisons for synthesis. MFGM supplementation produced small but statistically significant reductions in stress (SMD = −0.20; 95% CI −0.41 to −0.00; p = 0.0495; I2 = 0%) and anxiety (SMD = −0.22; 95% CI −0.44 to −0.01; p = 0.044; I2 = 0%). Effects on depression were non-significant though directionally favourable (SMD = −0.15; 95% CI −0.37 to 0.07; p = 0.18; I2 = 0%). Risk-of-bias assessments were conducted using Cochrane criteria and indicated low concerns across trials. Funnel plots and Egger’s tests did not indicate clear publication bias, but interpretation is limited by the small number of studies. These findings suggest that bovine MFGM supplementation may confer modest benefits for stress and anxiety in adults, while evidence for depression is inconclusive. Taken together, the results indicate that MFGM could be part of a nutritional strategy to support overall mental well-being.

In 2020, over 13.4 million babies globally (>10% of all live births) were born preterm(1). Nutrition during the neonatal period plays a crucial role in supporting optimal growth, brain development, and reducing the risk of metabolic diseases later in life(2). Current guidelines on nutrition for preterm infants contain inconsistent recommendations(3), most of which are based on very low certainty of evidence. Challenges in formulating recommendations for nutrition in preterm infants partly arise from inconsistent reporting of outcomes in nutrition intervention studies(4). We aimed to develop a standardised reporting framework for measures of nutrition intake and growth outcomes in preterm nutrition studies. Measures of nutrition intake and growth outcomes were identified in a scoping review, curated, and presented in two real-time Delphi surveys to participants from three stakeholder groups with experience in preterm infants, nutrition, and growth: healthcare consumer; healthcare professional, and researcher. The first survey was to identify measures deemed critical for reporting in a minimum reporting set; the second on how to report these measures. Questions were rated for their importance on a 9-point Likert scale. Items were considered for inclusion when ≥80% of all participants scored the item as 7–9 (critical for inclusion) and <15% scored as 1–3, or when ≥80% of healthcare consumers scored the item as 7–9. The standardised reporting framework was finalised during three online consensus meetings, where stakeholders were given the opportunity to discuss and then vote on the importance of each item. Items receiving ≥80% “critical for inclusion” votes from all attendees or from consumers were included. We recruited 313 participants from 32 countries for survey 1, and 121 participants from 26 countries for survey 2. The proportions of stakeholder groups in both surveys were similar: 12% consumers; 73-77% healthcare professionals, and 11-15% researchers. Eight measures are included in the final standardised reporting framework:(1) the type of milk the baby receives;(2) the type of supplement to milk that a baby receives;(3) the nutrition that the baby actually receives;(4) the time period over which the measurement of the nutrition that the baby actually receives was made; (5) baby’s weight; (6) baby’s length/height; (7) baby’s head circumference; and (8) the time point at which, or the time interval over which, the measurement of size or growth was made. These eight measures are accompanied by 22 recommended measurement methodologies. This standardised reporting framework should be used in the development of future study protocols, evidence syntheses, and nutrition guidelines for preterm infants. Widespread adoption of this framework in preterm nutrition studies would improve the design of studies, the comparability of research findings, thereby facilitating reliable evidence synthesis, and potentially could support the development of evidence-based clinical guidelines and practice.

The quality and quantity of nutrition are well-established factors influencing health. However, research on circadian rhythms has revealed that the timing of nutrition is also crucial, as highlighted by the concept of time-restricted feeding (TRF). In laboratory animals, TRF involves limiting daily energy intake to a consistent window of 8–12 h. This approach has been shown to mitigate, and in some cases reverse, the negative metabolic impacts of an obesogenic diet. Specifically, under such diets, TRF has been found to reduce body weight and adiposity; enhance liver, heart and gut health; improve glucose tolerance and blood pressure; decrease the severity of neurodegenerative diseases; and preserve muscle mass and function. When animals are fed a balanced diet, TRF does not lead to significant weight loss but modestly extends lifespan. Moreover, when combined with calorie restriction, TRF can significantly increase median lifespan. Thus, TRF can work synergistically with optimal nutrition quality and quantity to enhance health. The underlying mechanisms of TRF are being uncovered through studies in mice and fruit flies. These studies systematically examine mRNA, proteins and metabolites during the fed and fasted states of TRF, shedding light on the genes and pathways modulated by TRF in major metabolic organs, including the liver, heart, muscle, adipose tissue and gut. The aim of this review is to present the experiments that established TRF as a time-based nutritional intervention for health improvement and to summarise key molecular, physiological and metabolic findings from animal studies.

Sarcopenia, the age-related decline in muscle mass and strength is a growing challenge for older adults. This study investigates whether meeting the WHO physical activity guidelines (150–300 min/week of moderate or 75 min/week of vigorous exercise) with higher protein intake, based on the RDA, is associated with appendicular lean soft tissue index (ALSTI) and handgrip strength (HGS) in adults living in the United States aged 40–59 years. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2020 included 2540 adults aged ≥40 years. Physical activity (moderate/vigorous) was self-reported, while higher protein intake was assessed via two 24-hour recalls (>0.8 g/kg/bodyweight). Linear regressions, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, race, education, comorbidities, and energy-adjusted protein intake were used to assess associations with ALSTI and HGS. In fully adjusted models, vigorous activity with higher protein intake (47.1 ± 5.6 years) was associated with ALSTI only after adjustments for age, sex, BMI, race, education (β = 0.37, SE 0.17, p = 0.047; mean baseline: 8.56 ± 1.67 kg/m2). No associations were found in the fully adjusted model for ALSTI (p = 0.31), and across all models for HGS (mean baseline: 43.6 ± 10.1 kg). Moderate activity with higher protein intake was not associated with HGS or ALSTI across adjusted models. Meeting vigorous or moderate-intensity activity guidelines with higher than the RDA protein intake was not associated with ALSTI or HGS in middle-aged US adults.