Skip to content
The Kids Research Institute Australia logo
Donate

Discover . Prevent . Cure .

Search

Research

Variation in Neonatal Nutrition Practice and Implications: A Survey of Australia and New Zealand Neonatal Units

Significant global variation exists in neonatal nutrition practice, including in assigned milk composition values, donor milk usage, fortification regimens, probiotic choice and in methods used to calculate and report nutrition and growth outcomes, making it difficult to synthesize data to inform evidence-based, standardized nutritional care that has potential to improve neonatal outcomes

Research

Mitochondrial mistranslation modulated by metabolic stress causes cardiovascular disease and reduced lifespan

Changes in the rate and fidelity of mitochondrial protein synthesis impact the metabolic and physiological roles of mitochondria. Here we explored how environmental stress in the form of a high-fat diet modulates mitochondrial translation and affects lifespan in mutant mice with error-prone or hyper-accurate mitochondrial ribosomes. Intriguingly, although both mutations are metabolically beneficial in reducing body weight, decreasing circulating insulin and increasing glucose tolerance during a high-fat diet, they manifest divergent (either deleterious or beneficial) outcomes in a tissue-specific manner.

Research

Prebiotic Supplementation During Pregnancy Modifies the Gut Microbiota and Increases Metabolites in Amniotic Fluid, Driving a Tolerogenic Environment In Utero

The gut microbiota is influenced by environmental factors such as food. Maternal diet during pregnancy modifies the gut microbiota composition and function, leading to the production of specific compounds that are transferred to the fetus and enhance the ontogeny and maturation of the immune system. Prebiotics are fermented by gut bacteria, leading to the release of short-chain fatty acids that can specifically interact with the immune system, inducing a switch toward tolerogenic populations and therefore conferring health benefits.

Research

Effects of diurnal exercise timing on appetite, energy intake and body composition: A parallel randomized trial

To determine the effect of diurnal exercise timing on appetite, energy intake and body composition in individuals with overweight or obesity.

Research

Modelling the effects of beverage substitution during adolescence on later obesity outcomes in early adulthood: Results from the raine study

Sugar-sweetened beverage intake during adolescence was associated with higher body mass index, waist circumference, and being overweight in early adulthood

Research

A massive hit that targets kids quite a bit: Where and how Australian school children see energy drinks

Energy drinks (EDs) are not recommended for children due to their high caffeine content and adverse health risks. Their popularity among children may be due to children's exposure to ED marketing. This study aimed to identify where children have seen ED marketing and whether they believe ED marketing targets them.

Research

Endocrine and metabolic consequences due to restrictive carbohydrate diets in children with type 1 diabetes: An illustrative case series

We describe a series of 6 cases where adoption of a low carbohydrate diet in children impacted growth and cardiovascular risk factors with potential long-term sequelae.

Research

What is known about consumer nutrition environments in Australia? A scoping review of the literature

This study aimed to summarize the attributes that have been examined in existing peer-reviewed studies of Australian consumer nutrition environments

Research

Breastfeeding and motor development: A longitudinal cohort study

Early life feeding practices have an influence on motor development outcomes into late childhood and adolescence independent of sociodemographic factors

Research

A prospective investigation of dietary patterns and internalizing and externalizing mental health problems in adolescents

Our findings only lend partial support to a link between diet and mental health, specific to females consuming a Western diet and to externalizing behaviours