Effects of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

Purpose Of Review: Supplementation of nicotinamide mononucleotides (NMN) has been claimed to improve metabolic function. We reviewed human randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of NMN to evaluate its effect on markers of glucose and lipid metabolism.

Recent Findings: Eight RCTs on NMN (dosage ranged 250-2000 mg/d for a duration of 14 days to 12 weeks) involving a total of 342 middle-age/older adults (49% females, mainly non-diabetic) reporting at least one outcome on glucose control or lipid profile published in 2021-2023 were reviewed.

The Effects of Ketogenic Diets and Ketone Supplements on the Aerobic Performance of Endurance Runners: A Systematic Review.

Context: Ketogenic diets and ketone supplements have gained popularity among endurance runners given their purported effects: potentially delaying the onset of fatigue by enabling the increased utilization of the body's fat reserve or external ketone bodies during prolonged running.

Objective: This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effects of ketogenic diets (>60% fat and <10% carbohydrates/<50 g carbohydrates per day) or ketone supplements (ketone esters or ketone salts, medium-chain triglycerides or 1,3-butadiol) on the aerobic performance of endurance runners.

Data Sources: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Pro Quest, and Science Direct for publications up to October 2023.

An economic evaluation on sub-optimal breastfeeding in Hong Kong: Infant health outcomes and costs.

Aim: This study estimated the healthcare cost savings for the government due to the prevention of gastroenteritis (GE) infections and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in the first year of life, attributed to an increase in the exclusive breastfeeding rate at 4 months in Hong Kong.

Methods: The model used the best available data inputs, with uncertainty considered using probabilistic sensitivity analysis. We additionally assessed the impact of neonatal jaundice (NNJ) on the economic benefits of increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates.

Normative values of motor performance and their relationship with BMI status in Hong Kong preschoolers.

This study aimed to establish sex- and age-specific reference values for motor performance (MP) in Hong Kong preschoolers aged 3-5 years old and examine the relationship between MP and BMI status. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 5579 preschoolers in Hong Kong. Three MP tests were administered, and height and weight information were collected.

Online ethnography of breastfeeding discussions in social networking sites for Hong Kong mothers.

With the growth of social networking, parents are increasingly sharing their experiences and opinions or seeking help with childcare through online platforms. This study explored breastfeeding-related topics that Hong Kong mothers raise on social networking sites and how other mothers respond; and how these sites could be a facilitator or barrier to breastfeeding. An online ethnographic approach was used to collect breastfeeding-related discussions (posts and responses) among mothers from three sources: two closed moderated Facebook groups with more than 1000 members, and one open unmoderated forum (Baby Kingdom) (26 December 2021-26 May 2022).

Iron status and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A Mendelian randomization study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the association of genetically determined iron status with the risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods: We applied single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated at genome-wide significance with iron status proxied by serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, and transferrin saturation from the Genetics of Iron status Consortium (N = 48 793), in a genome-wide association study of 1664 NAFLD cases and 400 055 controls from the United Kingdom Biobank. A SNP associated with multiple markers of iron status was only applied to one marker with the strongest association in the main analysis.

Breastfeeding challenges and opportunities during COVID-19 in Hong Kong.

Barriers to sustain breastfeeding could be time and place specific. Here, we summarise new and old challenges to breastfeeding during COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, some of which were obtained from qualitative in-depth interviews with health-care professionals. We document how unnecessary massive mother-baby separations in hospitals and doubts in COVID-19 vaccine safety seriously harm breastfeeding.

World variation in head circumference for children from birth to 5 years and a comparison with the WHO standards.

Objective: A recent review reported that the WHO 2006 growth standards reflect a smaller head circumference at 24 months than seen in 18 countries. Whether this happens in early infancy and to what extent populations differ is not clear. This scooping review aimed to estimate the rates of children in different populations identified as macrocephalic or microcephalic by WHO standards.

Fitness of INTERGROWTH-21st birth weight standards for Chinese-ethnicity babies.

Objective: To determine the fitness of the INTERGROWTH-21st birth weight standards (INTERGROWTH21) for ethnic Chinese babies compared with a local reference (FOK2003).

Design: Population-based analysis of territory-wide birth data.

Setting: All public hospitals in Hong Kong.

The impact of antenatal massage practice on intrapartum massage application and their associations with the use of analgesics during labour : Sub-analysis of a randomised control trial.

Background: Massage during labour is one form of intrapartum non-pharmacological pain relief but it is not known whether the frequency of practicing these massage techniques among couples during the antenatal period could enhance the effectiveness of intrapartum massage. This study was to evaluate the association between compliance of antenatal massage practice with intrapartum application and their impact on the use of analgesics during labour.

Methods: This was a sub-analysis of a childbirth massage programme which was carried out in two public hospitals with total births of around 8000 per year.

Association between genetic variations in GSH-related and MT genes and low-dose methylmercury exposure in children and women of childbearing age: a pilot study.

Background: Genetic variations in glutathione (GSH)-related and metallothionein (MT) genes, which are involved in producing enzymes in the methylmercury (MeHg) metabolism pathway, have been proposed as one of the reasons for the individual variability in MeHg toxicokinetics.

Objective: To investigate the impact of genetic variations in MT and GSH-related genes on the association of fish consumption with body burden of MeHg, as measured by hair Hg concentrations among young children and women of childbearing age.

Methods: A total of 179 unrelated children and 165 mothers with either high or low fish consumption were recruited from the community.

Association of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Frequency with Adiposity: Evidence from the "Children of 1997" Birth Cohort.

Background: Observationally, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is associated with adiposity in Western children but could be confounded. We examined the association of SSB frequency with adiposity in the non-Western setting of Hong Kong.

Methods: We examined the associations of SSB consumption frequency at 11 and 13 years assessed by using a food frequency questionnaire with subsequent body mass index (BMI) z-score and overweight/obesity up to 18 years using generalized estimating equations, and with waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage at 16-19 years using linear regression in a population-representative Chinese birth cohort "Children of 1997" ( = 3628).

Childhood OSA is an independent determinant of blood pressure in adulthood: longitudinal follow-up study.

Background: Current literature supports cross-sectional association between childhood obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and elevated blood pressure (BP). However, long-term cardiovascular outcomes in children with OSA remain unexplored.

Objective: To evaluate the associations of childhood OSA with BP parameters in a prospective 10 year follow-up study.

The effect of liver enzymes on body composition: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Higher alanine transaminase (ALT), indicating poor liver function, is positively associated with diabetes but inversely associated with body mass index (BMI) in Mendelian randomization (MR) studies, suggesting liver function affects muscle mass. To clarify, we assessed the associations of liver enzymes with muscle and fat mass observationally with two-sample MR as a validation.

Methods: In the population-representative "Children of 1997" birth cohort (n = 3,455), we used multivariable linear regression to assess the adjusted associations of ALT and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at ~17.

Birth weight and prematurity with lung function at ~17.5 years: "Children of 1997" birth cohort.

We aimed to determine if prematurity and lower birth weight are associated with poorer lung function in a non-western developed setting with less marked confounding by socioeconomic position. Using multivariable linear regression in Hong Kong's "Children of 1997" birth cohort, adjusted associations of prematurity and birth weight with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF) at ~17.5 years were assessed.

The effect of liver enzymes on adiposity: a Mendelian randomization study.

Poorer liver function is positively associated with diabetes in Mendelian randomization (MR) studies. Observationally, adiposity is associated with poorer liver function. To clarify the etiology, we assessed the association of liver enzymes with adiposity observationally and using two-sample MR for validation.

Associations of growth from birth to puberty with glycemic indicators at ~17.5 years: Evidence from Hong Kong's "Children of 1997" birth cohort.

Background: From an evolutionary biology perspective, where growth and reproduction trade-off against longevity, we assessed the associations of growth from birth to puberty by phase with later glycemic indicators and any differences by sex.

Methods: In the population-representative Hong Kong Chinese "Children of 1997" birth cohort (n = 8327), the relation of initial size (weight-for-age z score (WAZ) at birth, length/height-for-age z score (LAZ) at 3 months or body-mass-index-for-age z score (BAZ) at 3 months based on the World Health Organization growth standards/references) and growth at different phases (WAZ gains from 0 to 2 and 2 to 8 years, LAZ or BAZ gains from 3 months to 3 years, 3 to 8 years and 8 to 14 years) with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at ~17.5 years, was assessed using adjusted partial least squares regression.

The association of early-life exposure to air pollution with lung function at ~17.5 years in the "Children of 1997" Hong Kong Chinese Birth Cohort.

Background: Early-life air pollution exposure is associated with lung function in children and adolescents. However, whether the association of prenatal and early postnatal exposure to air pollution with lung function continues into adulthood remains unclear.

Objective: To investigate the associations of early exposure to air pollution with lung function at ~17.

Associations of growth from birth to puberty with blood pressure and lipid profile at ~17.5 years: evidence from Hong Kong's "Children of 1997" birth cohort.

The role of early growth in later health is controversial. We examined the associations of growth at different phases from birth to puberty with blood pressure and lipid profile at ~17.5 years.

Sleep duration and risk of diabetes: Observational and Mendelian randomization studies.

Inadequate sleep could contribute to type 2 diabetes, but observational studies are inconsistent and open to biases, particularly from confounding. We used Mendelian randomization (MR) to obtain an unconfounded estimate of the effect of sleep duration on diabetes, fasting glucose (FG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and an observation study to assess differences by sex. Using MR, we assessed the effects of genetically instrumented sleep on diabetes, based on 68 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), applied to the DIAbetes Genetics Replication and meta-analysis case (n = 26,676)-control (n = 132,532) study and on FG and HbA1c, based on 55 SNPs, applied to the Meta-Analyses of Glucose and Insulin-related traits Consortium (MAGIC) study of FG (n = 122,743) and HbA1c (n = 123,665).

Birth weight, gestational age and late adolescent liver function using twin status as instrumental variable in a Hong Kong Chinese birth cohort: "Children of 1997".

Birth weight (BW) is inversely associated with diabetes and liver function in Mendelian Randomization studies. Observationally, lower BW is usually also associated with poorer liver function. However, these studies could be confounded by socioeconomic position.

The association of breastfeeding with insulin resistance at 17 years: Prospective observations from Hong Kong's "Children of 1997" birth cohort.

Breastfeeding has many benefits for mother and infant. Whether breastfeeding also protects against type 2 diabetes is unclear. To clarify the role of breastfeeding in type 2 diabetes, we assessed the association of breastfeeding with insulin resistance in late adolescence in a birth cohort from a non-Western setting where breastfeeding was not associated with higher socio-economic position.

Prenatal dioxin exposure and neurocognitive development in Hong Kong 11-year-old children.

Background And Objectives: In utero exposure to dioxins and related compounds have been associated with adverse neurocognitive development in infants. It is unclear whether neurodevelopmental deficits persist to childhood. We assessed the association of prenatal dioxin exposure with neurocognitive function in 11-year-old children, and to test whether the association is modified by duration of breastfeeding.

Impact of fetal and childhood mercury exposure on immune status in children.

Background: Mercury exposure have been shown to affect immune status in animals as reflected by cytokine expression. It is unclear whether low levels of exposure during fetal and/or childhood periods could impact on immune status in humans.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that fetal and childhood mercury exposure is associated with childhood cytokine profiles and to investigate whether childhood selenium levels interact with any of the associations found.