Decreased frequency of sugar sweetened beverages intake among young children following the implementation of the health promotion levy in South Africa.

Objective: This study assessed the association between baseline sociodemographic variables, body composition and 4-year changes in the intake of food groups, including sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) among children, after implementation of the health promotion levy.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: 10 schools in North West Province, South Africa.

Daily Complementary Feeding With Eggs Improves Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 in Infants.

This secondary analysis of the Eggcel-growth study investigated the effect of daily egg intake for 6 months in infants aged 6-9 months on environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) biomarkers and the association of EED markers with growth faltering. A randomised controlled trial was conducted in Jouberton, South Africa, among 500 infants randomly assigned equally to either an intervention group receiving a daily chicken egg or a control group. Both groups were followed up for 6 months.

Are socio-economic inequalities related to cardiovascular disease risk? A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.

Purpose: The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between socio-economic inequalities and fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events.

Methods: A systematic review of recently published cohort studies and a meta-analysis of relative risk (RR) of low compared with high socio-economic status (SES) in relation to cardiovascular incidence and mortality was conducted. Supplementary evaluations were conducted considering different proxies of SES in relation to different types of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Ultra-processed foods and health: are we correctly interpreting the available evidence?

Several studies have linked adverse health effects to the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) according to the NOVA classification. However, whether the consumption of UPF is the actual causal factor for such health outcomes is still unknown. Indeed, different groups of UPF examined in the same epidemiologic study often show markedly different associations with the occurrence of the health endpoints.

Iron Absorption from an Iron-Fortified Follow-Up Formula with and without the Addition of a Synbiotic or a Human-Identical Milk Oligosaccharide: A Randomized Crossover Stable Isotope Study in Young Thai Children.

Background: Previous studies showed that pre- and probiotics may enhance iron absorption. Probiotics combined with prebiotics (synbiotics), including human-identical milk oligosaccharides (HiMOs), are commonly added to infant and follow-up formula (FUF). Whether these additions enhance iron absorption from iron-fortified commercial milk formula is uncertain.

Fish consumption, cognitive impairment and dementia: an updated dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Cognitive impairment is projected to affect a preponderant proportion of the aging population. Lifelong dietary habits have been hypothesized to play a role in preventing cognitive decline. Among the most studied dietary components, fish consumptionhas been extensively studied for its potential effects on the human brain.

Reliability and minimal detectable change of the Yoni task for the theory of mind assessment.

Introduction: The Theory of Mind (ToM) assessment is becoming essential to evaluate the response to a social cognition intervention and to monitor the progression of social abilities impairment in atypical conditions. In the Italian setting, the Yoni task has been recently validated in its short version (the Yoni-48 task) to evaluate ToM in the clinical setting. The present study aimed to verify the test-retest reliability and the Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) of the Yoni-48 task.

Determinants of mortality status and population attributable risk fractions of the North West Province, South African site of the international PURE study.

Background: Mortality data and comparative risk assessments from sub-Saharan Africa are limited. There is an urgent need for high quality population health surveys to be conducted, to improve the national health surveillance system. Our aim was to perform a comparative risk assesment and report on the mortality status and cause of death data of participants from a South African site of the international Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study.

Partial Egg Consumption Modifies the Diagnostic Performance of Allergy Tests to Predict Outcome of Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Food Challenges to Egg.

Background: Many children are consuming some egg when they are diagnosed with egg allergy. We hypothesized that egg consumption could modify the diagnostic performance of allergy tests.

Objective: To stratify diagnostic performance of tests according to egg consumption status.

Effects of egg as an early complementary food on growth of 6- to 9-month-old infants: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effect of daily egg consumption for six months on linear growth (primary outcome), weight-for-age, weight-for-length, mid-upper arm circumference-for-age, head circumference-for-age Z-scores, gross motor milestones development, anaemia and iron status (secondary outcomes) in a low socioeconomic community.

Participants: Infants aged 6 to 9 months living in the peri-urban Jouberton area, in the Matlosana Municipality, South Africa.

Design: A randomised controlled trial with a parallel design was implemented.

Fish Intake in Relation to Fatal and Non-Fatal Cardiovascular Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies.

Epidemiological studies have shown that eating fish significantly reduces cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality. However, more focused meta-analyses based on the most recent results from prospective cohort studies are needed. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to update the association between fish intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk using recent prospective studies.

Anthropometric nutritional status of children (0-18 years) in South Africa 1997-2022: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature on the anthropometric nutritional status of South African infants and children, 0-18 years old and to report on trends of changes in nutritional status over the period 1997-2022.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting: Review of the available literature on the anthropometric nutritional status of South African infants and children, 0-18 years old, over the period 1997-2022.

Basophil activation test as predictor of severity and threshold of allergic reactions to egg.

Background: Identifying patients at risk of severe allergic reactions and/or low threshold of reactivity is very important, particularly for staple foods like egg.

Methods: One hundred and fifty children underwent double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) to baked egg (BE), skin prick testing and blood collection for serology and basophil activation test (BAT). Patients who passed BE DBPCFC underwent loosely cooked egg (LCE) DBPCFC.

Associations of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status and intake with paediatric major depressive disorder in Swiss adolescents: A case-control study.

Background: Observational studies suggest a link between n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake, n-3 PUFA status, and depression in adults, but studies in adolescents are scarce. This study aimed to determine associations of n-3 PUFA status and intake with paediatric major depressive disorder (pMDD) in Swiss adolescents.

Methods: We conducted a matched case-control study in 95 adolescents diagnosed with pMDD and 95 healthy controls aged 13 to <18 years.

Diagnostic utility of allergy tests to predict baked egg and lightly cooked egg allergies compared to double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges.

Background: Double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFC) are the gold-standard to diagnose food allergy. However, they can cause allergic reactions of unpredictable severity. We assessed accuracy of current and new diagnostic tests compared to DBPCFC to baked egg (BE) and to lightly cooked egg (LCE).

Sedentariness and overweight in relation to mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. A mediation analysis based on the World Health Organization-Global Health Observatory data repository.

Background: Globally, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have been continuously reported to be the number one leading cause of reduced life expectancy and poor life quality and have thus become a major public health concern.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the complex mediation analysis between physical inactivity and overweight in relation to mortality.

Methods: The study is based on public data collected by the Global Health Observatory of the World Health Organization.

Association between maternal postpartum depressive symptoms, socioeconomic factors, and birth outcomes with infant growth in South Africa.

This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal postpartum depressive symptoms, household demographic, socioeconomic, and infant characteristics with infant physical growth, and how these factors correlate to determine latent factors. This study was based on the baseline data of a 6-month randomised controlled trial aimed at providing an egg a day to infants aged 6 to 9-months from a low socioeconomic community in South Africa. Information collected on household demographic, socioeconomic, and infant characteristics was by face-to-face structured interviews, and trained assessors took anthropometric measurements.

Higher n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status during early pregnancy is associated with lower risk for depression at 12 months postpartum: The NuPED study.

Perinatal depression can negatively affect the health of the mother and her offspring. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may play a role in the aetiology of depression. Therefore, we investigated the association of n-3 PUFA status during early pregnancy with perinatal depression among women living in urban Johannesburg, South Africa.

Potential of Egg as Complementary Food to Improve Nutrient Intake and Dietary Diversity.

The original aim was to determine the effect of egg consumption on infant growth in a low socioeconomic community in South Africa in a randomized controlled trial. Enrolment was, however, prematurely stopped due to COVID-19 lockdown regulations. The resultant small sample (egg group n = 70; control group n = 85) was followed up to assess the feasibility of egg consumption for eight months in terms of dietary intake, egg usage and perceived effects of lockdown on child feeding.