Human Nutrition
Human Nutrition has been taught at Otago for almost a hundred years. In terms of academic staff and students the Department of Human Nutrition is the largest University Department involved in this discipline in Australasia and one of the best known in the Southern Hemisphere. During the past sixteen years it has been responsible for all Dietetic training in New Zealand. Our graduates are to be found in interesting positions in a number of countries throughout the world as well as in leading roles in Australia and New Zealand. Our research programmes extend beyond the shores of New Zealand with staff members involved in research as far afield as Thailand, Ethiopia, Zambia, Mongolia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Netherlands.
The Department has enjoyed international recognition of outstanding leadership and excellence in nutrition research for well over half a century. Our courses continue to receive an exceptionally high rating from past and present students and we aim to ensure that all students continue to receive the quality education for which Otago is famous.
Recent Deposits
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Weight loss intentions and methods in New Zealand adolescents
Background: Weight control behaviours, particularly weight loss, are prevalent amongst adolescents of all body sizes. Methods of weight control encompass a broad range of actions, from exercising and eating more healthy ... -
Effect of grain particle size of wholegrain foods on the postprandial glycaemic response
Wholegrain foods vary in the extent of their grain processing, but most use re- constituted wholegrain flour. Grain particle size can affect starch digestibility and therefore the glycaemic response. This thesis primarily ... -
Dietary folate intake, sources and adequacy of New Zealand adolescent males
Background: Folate is a B vitamin that plays a vital role in the synthesis and methylation of DNA and, thus, is essential for optimal growth and development. The recommended folate intake for adolescent males is difficult ... -
The fluoride intake from diet, water and toothpaste of New Zealand adolescents
Background: Fluoride plays an essential role in the prevention of dental caries, the most common chronic disease for New Zealanders of all ages. Despite public controversy, community water fluoridation (CWF) is considered ... -
Vitamin B12 Intakes and Contributing Food Groups of Adolescent Males in New Zealand
Background: Vitamin B12 is an essential co-factor in the one-carbon pathway, with inadequate intake eventually leading to impaired B12 function characterized by megaloblastic anaemia and neurological dysfunction. Adolescent ... -
Dietary intake, adequacy and food sources of zinc in New Zealand adolescent males and females
Background: Zinc is an essential trace mineral and plays a role in immune function, wound healing, and normal growth and development. Evidence suggests that the risk of inadequate zinc intakes during adolescence – a period ... -
Food Sources of Energy by Socioeconomic Status in New Zealand Adolescents
The food environment and a person’s socioeconomic status are known to influence a person’s access to food and food choices. Socioeconomic status has been found to impact food sources of energy amongst adults and children; ... -
Total, added and free sugar intakes of New Zealand female and male adolescents
Background: Due to associations between added sugar intake and non-communicable diseases, health authorities recommend that people restrict their added sugar intake. The World Health Organization also regard dietary sugar ... -
Dietary Fibre intakes and the main food sources of fibre in New Zealand adolescents
Background: The mean fibre intakes for 15-18-year old females from the last national nutrition survey (2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey) was 16.0 grams/day, well below the Adequate Intake (AI) for this age group ... -
Device measured physical activity and sleep in a sample of adolescent females in New Zealand
Abstract Background: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sleep duration are two crucial and important components in maintaining overall health. Although there are clear guidelines on both MVPA and sleep ... -
Associations between energy intake and physical activity in a sample of adolescent females in New Zealand
Background: Physical activity and energy intake are the two most variable components of energy balance and their association with obesity has been studied separately throughout literature. Despite their important role in ... -
Fluoride intakes of 15-18 year-old adolescent males living in New Zealand
Background: Fluoride has an important role in the prevention of tooth decay. Given the naturally low concentrations of fluoride in New Zealand’s water supplies, the Ministry of Health recommend fluoridating water supplies ... -
Magnesium Intakes and the Main Dietary Sources of New Zealand Adolescent Males
Background: Magnesium is an essential mineral to the human body. During adolescence, rapid rates of growth are accompanied with an increase in nutritional demand for magnesium. Despite its abundance, intakes among adolescent ... -
Rationalising meat consumption: the perception of meat as natural, necessary, normal or nice in non-vegetarian adolescent males and females in New Zealand
Background: the consumption of meat has attracted considerable attention in recent years, in regard to negative health outcomes, environmental impact and animal welfare. Research suggests that adults justify their meat ... -
Dietary folate intake and adequacy of male and female adolescents in New Zealand
Background: Folate is a B vitamin involved in the synthesis and methylation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, liver, yeast extracts and whole grains are rich sources of natural folate. ... -
Intakes and food sources of dietary protein among New Zealand adolescents
Background: Adolescence is a nutritionally vulnerable period, characterised by rapid growth and development as an individual transitions from childhood to adulthood. Protein is necessary to support these rapid changes and ... -
Nut consumption among female and male adolescents in New Zealand
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in New Zealand (NZ), with those of Māori and Pacific ethnicity disproportionately affected. Healthy dietary habits in adolescence have been shown to track ... -
Dietary intakes and major food sources of vitamin B12 among New Zealand adolescent males and females
Background: Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and thus, is an essential time for ensuring adequate intake of all nutrients. Vitamin B12 in particular, is an essential nutrient for DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation ... -
Added sugar intakes and food sources in New Zealand adolescent boys aged 15-18 years
Background: High added sugar intake is often associated with increased body weight and oral health problems. Despite media attention over the past few years, added sugar intake in adolescents was last assessed using the ... -
Fibre Intakes and the Main Food Sources of Fibre in Adolescent Males
Background: Based on the 2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey, the mean dietary fibre intake in adolescent males aged between 15 and 18 years was at 21.9 grams (g) per day, which was well below the adequate intake ...