Despite increasing efforts to promote and support breastfeeding, the United States continues to have some of the lowest exclusive and sustained breastfeeding rates globally. Foreign-born immigrants and refugees specifically have been reported to have high initiation but low exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates. This scoping review aims to explore what is known about strategies to support breastfeeding among foreign-born mothers in the United States using the Arksey & O'Malley framework for scoping reviews and PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews). Six databases were searched using a comprehensive search strategy and 2,103 articles were identified, of which 31 met eligibility criteria and discussed 33 specific breastfeeding interventions. The articles describe a range of interventions including breastfeeding promotion and education (n=30), hands-on breastfeeding support (n=9), material support -like giving breastfeeding supplies and food- (n=16), social support (n=18), and social marketing campaigns (n=1) to promote community support for breastfeeding. Common strategies for implementing these interventions include individual counseling (n=21), group breastfeeding education (n=17), informational materials (n=12) and family support promotion (n=11). 87.2% of the immigrant mothers targeted by these breastfeeding support interventions were Hispanic; 4.5% and 7.0% were mothers of African and Asian descent respectively. This study reveals limited data and key gaps in efforts to preserve the culture of breastfeeding and promote EBF among multicultural immigrant and refugee families, particularly non-Hispanic groups. Addressing these gaps will improve optimal infant feeding practices among foreign-born mothers in the U.S and consequently maternal and infant health outcomes.

Digital technologies provide a convenient and scalable approach to dietary assessment and personalised feedback, facilitating behaviour change. This is essential for reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases at a population level. However, the evaluation of the acceptability and feasibility of dietary feedback delivered via online platforms has not been thoroughly investigated. By utilising the term 'system architecture' to describe the essential components of the digital approach to capturing dietary feedback, this systematic review outlines the platform, dietary assessment methodology, reference values for assessing dietary intake, and elements of personalised dietary feedback. When reported, the acceptability and feasibility of personalised feedback were captured. OVID Medline, OVID Embase, Scopus via Elsevier, and Cinahl Plus via EBSCO identified 5,839 studies. Search terms included dietary assessment, feedback, and digital technologies. In total, 28 studies involving 301,271 participants were included. Food frequency questionnaires were the most commonly used dietary assessment method, accessed via web-based platforms. Dietary intake was commonly assessed using a diet quality index, and feedback was provided on food groups, often combined with a diet quality score or macronutrient analysis. While participant acceptance of personalised dietary feedback was generally high, the overall completion rates for acceptability questionnaires were low, and feasibility was seldom reported. Methods used to measure acceptability and feasibility varied, preventing comparisons across studies. Study quality was high; however, future research would benefit from the involvement of stakeholders and end-users in designing feedback messages.

Modifiable health behaviours, including suboptimal dietary patterns, contribute to the global burden of disease. Messaging to raise awareness about health and nutrition behaviours is an important first step toward behaviour change and promotion of healthy dietary patterns. The aim of this rapid review was to systematically identify best practice recommendations and evidence for the development and characteristics of persuasive health and nutrition messages for awareness raising among adults. Academic reviews and grey literature reports published in English after 2010 that focused on the development or characteristics of general health or nutrition-specific messaging for awareness raising were eligible. MEDLINE Complete, CINHAL, Global Health, Embase and websites of public health organisations were searched between April and July 2024. Data was synthesised narratively. From 12507 records, 31 were included (27 reviews and 4 reports). There was consistent support for an audience-centred approach to messaging, including audience segmentation, message tailoring and testing with target audiences. It was recommended that messages be disseminated through multiple channels, including mass and social media to facilitate repeat exposure. Message characteristics, including use of narratives, simple language, keeping messages short, conveying the general gist rather than detailed information and utilising imagery, were considered best practice for persuasive messaging. Nutrition messages that are audience-centred, tailored, thoroughly tested and incorporate elements such as narratives, imagery and simple language are likely to be accepted and persuasive among adults. Findings can be used to inform effective nutrition messaging for awareness raising in research and nutrition promotion settings.

Collagen supplementation (CS) has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach with potential benefits for managing metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related risk factors. This narrative review integrates human evidence with preclinical mechanistic insights into the metabolic actions of collagen. Anti-obesity effects are attributed to increased satiety, gastric distension, GLP-1 secretion and enhanced fatty acid oxidation mediated by PPAR-α activation and AMPK signalling. In type 2 diabetes, collagen improves glucose homeostasis by enhancing insulin sensitivity, upregulating GLUT-4 and inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), thereby prolonging incretin activity (GLP-1 and GIP) and supporting β-cell function. The antihypertensive effect of collagen peptides (CP) is primarily linked to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, which reduces angiotensin II levels while promoting bradykinin-mediated vasodilation and nitric oxide release. In addition, CP has shown potential in improving lipid profiles by modulating PPAR-γ and AMPK, increasing HDL-C and reducing LDL-C and triacylglycerols. Emerging evidence also supports a role for collagen in restoring gut microbiota balance, increasing short-chain fatty acid production and reducing pro-inflammatory and oxidative pathways, contributing to systemic metabolic regulation. Overall, these findings suggest CS exerts multi-targeted benefits on MetS components through modulation of endocrine, inflammatory and metabolic pathways. Nevertheless, larger, long-term clinical trials are warranted to determine optimal dosing regimens, evaluate long-term efficacy, and further elucidate microbiota-mediated effects.

The increasing focus on longevity and cellular health has brought into the spotlight two key compounds, urolithin A (UroA) and spermidine, for their promising roles in autophagy and mitophagy. Urolithin A, a natural metabolite derived from ellagitannins, stimulates mitophagy through pathways such as PTEN induced kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (PRKN), leading to improved mitochondrial health and enhanced muscle function. However, spermidine, a polyamine found in various food sources, induces autophagy by regulating key signaling pathways such as 5′ AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin 1, thus mitigating age-related cellular decline and promoting cardiovascular and cognitive health. While both UroA and spermidine target cellular maintenance, they affect overlapping as well as distinct signalling pathways. Thus, they do not have completely identical effects, although they overlap in many ways, and offer varying benefits in terms of metabolic function, oxidative stress reduction and longevity. This review article aims to describe the mechanisms of action of UroA and spermidine not only on the maintenance of cellular health, which is mediated by the induction and maintenance of autophagy and mitophagy, but also on their potential clinical relevance. The analysis presented here suggests that although both compounds are safe and offer substantial health benefits and are involved in both autophagy and mitophagy, the role of UroA in mitophagy places it as a targeted intervention for mitochondrial health, whereas the broader influence of spermidine on autophagy and metabolic regulation may provide more comprehensive anti-ageing effects.

Cognitive decline is a hallmark of brain ageing. Leucocyte telomere length (LTL) has emerged as a candidate biomarker related to brain ageing and neurodegeneration; however, reported associations with cognition and brain structure vary across cohorts. Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), notably docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that may, in some contexts, relate to slower telomere attrition. Here, we synthesise evidence on n-3 PUFA, telomere biology and cognitive outcomes, integrating clinical, epidemiologic and experimental data. We emphasise biological plausibility (oxidative stress/inflammation, membrane remodelling, mitochondrial function and expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) through PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NRF2 and epigenetic modifications) while acknowledging heterogeneous human findings and methodological considerations (assay variability, life-course timing, cognitive domains and biomarker stratification). We outline priorities for future studies to clarify causal pathways and inform dietary strategies that support healthy cognitive ageing.

Coffee is a widely consumed beverage, which has been extensively studied for its potential effects on health. We aimed to map genetic evidence for the effect of habitual coffee consumption on health. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and two preprint repositories from inception to 30 September 2022, and included fifty-nine studies, spanning 160 disease or biomarker associations. We evaluated the articles for certainty of evidence using a modified GRADE tool and robustness of the associations by comparing Mendelian randomisation (MR) sensitivity analyses. Coffee consumption was associated with smaller grey matter brain volume in one study, and there was probable evidence for an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and younger age of onset of Huntington’s disease. MR studies provided probable evidence for an association with increased risk of oesophageal and digestive cancers, but protective effects for hepatocellular carcinomas and ovarian cancer. We found probable evidence for increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, menopausal disorders, glaucoma, higher total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and ApoB, and lowered risk of migraines, kidney disease and gallstone disease. Future studies should aim to understand underlying mechanisms of disease, expand knowledge in non-European cohorts and develop quality assessment tools for systematic reviews of MR studies.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD42021295323.

This systematic review examined the associations of dietary factors such as nutrients, food intake, dietary patterns and dietary biomarkers with structural and functional brain MRI biomarkers, focusing on macrostructural, microstructural, lesion and perfusion measures, and functional activity/connectivity. Articles published in English were systematically searched in PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo up to 19 July 2024. A total of thirty-eight prospective cohort studies (twenty-three cross-sectional and fifteen longitudinal analyses) and thirteen intervention studies were included. Cross-sectional analyses revealed heterogenous associations: baked fish correlated with larger hippocampal volumes (β = 0·21), while oily fish, dairy products and tofu adversely related to ventricle grade. Pro-inflammatory dietary patterns were positively associated with silent infarct risk (DII Q4 v. Q1, OR = 1·77), whereas anti-inflammatory patterns tended to favour brain preservation. Longitudinal studies demonstrated more consistent protective associations: green tea consumption (+100 mL/d) reduced hippocampal atrophy by 0·024%/year, prudent dietary patterns preserved +203 mm3 left hippocampal volume over 4 years and higher plasma carotenoids decreased medial temporal lobe loss by 0·02 cm3/year. However, null findings were common across multiple dietary factors. Interventions showed limited structural benefits (effective in only two of six studies), while polyphenol-rich supplements more consistently improved cerebral perfusion and functional connectivity. Longitudinal and intervention studies demonstrated more consistent patterns than cross-sectional analyses; however, current evidence remains limited for clinical translation. Findings from cross-sectional analyses, despite being from prospective cohorts, require careful interpretation. Further replication across diverse populations and standardised long-term studies are needed before translating these associations into clinical practice.

The long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3PUFA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) are beneficial for health. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of worldwide dietary recommendations for LC n-3PUFA across life-stages for general healthy populations from technical and scientific documents (TSD) that underpin food based dietary guidelines (FBDG) or TSD from expert groups. Using the Food and Agriculture Organization global online repository of FBDG and structured Google searches, forty-two TSD were identified for inclusion. Seventy-one percent of TSD included quantitative dietary intake recommendations which varied widely across life-stages with gaps for some groups, 62% included health messages related to LC n-3PUFA consumption, 33% discussed supplementation and 29% gave guidance on high intakes. The most frequently recommended intakes for adults were 250 mg/day EPA + DHA and 250 mg/day EPA + DHA plus an additional 100-200 mg/day DHA in pregnancy. This overview is useful for nutrition science, medical, industry and consumer communities since it identifies the recommendations available and the gaps of interest to national or international groups wishing to set dietary intake recommendations for LC n-3PUFA. Low dietary intake of LC n-3PUFA from seafood is a risk factor for suboptimal health. Intake recommendations can be challenging to achieve. Most countries for which data are available show that LC n-3PUFA intakes fail to meet recommended targets, highlighting the need for accessible, innovative, sustainable alternative EPA + DHA sources e.g. bio-enriched foods and supplements to support higher population intakes, LC n-3PUFA status and health benefits.

Malnutrition results from inadequate nutrient intake, assimilation or utilisation, negatively impacting clinical outcomes and quality of life. It likely compromises gut barrier integrity, increasing intestinal permeability (IP), which impairs nutrient absorption or utilisation and increases the risk of infections and inflammation. This systematic review aims to examine the current evidence on the association between malnutrition and IP, identifying existing research gaps. A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science up to June 2024. According to PECOS strategy, ‘P’ = malnourished individuals or at risk of malnutrition, assessed for intestinal permeability; ‘E’ = malnutrition or risk of malnutrition; ‘C’ = well-nourished individuals; ‘O’ = increased intestinal permeability; and ‘S’ = all study types. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist was followed, and Study Quality Assessment Tools (NIH) were used for methodological quality analysis. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria, with a moderate/high risk of bias. Malnourished individuals exhibited increased IP across various conditions (e.g. anorexia nervosa, cancer and liver cirrhosis) or setting (hospital and community). A wide heterogeneity was observed in malnutrition assessment tools, which consider different parameters such as body mass index, body weight loss and food intake. Similarly, diverse biomarkers/methods for assessing IP, including direct and indirect approaches, were used. Despite methodological heterogeneity, findings show an association between malnutrition and increased IP. Standardised research, including comprehensive biomarker panels, is needed to improve comparability, facilitating the development of targeted interventions for preventing malnutrition and managing its complications.