Consumption of anthocyanins (ACNs), due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, has been proposed for the prevention and treatment of several different diseases and conditions. ACNs are recognized as one of the leading nutraceuticals for prolonging health benefits through the attenuation of oxidative stress, and inflammatory or age-related diseases. Increased consumption of ACNs has the potential to attenuate the damage ensuing from oxidative stress, inflammation, enhance cardiometabolic health, and delay symptoms in predisposed neuropathology. A myriad of evidence supports ACN consumption as complementary or standalone treatment strategies for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), neurodegenerative diseases, as well as, more recently, for the modulation of gut bacteria and bone metabolism. While these findings indicate the beneficial effects of ACN consumption, their food sources differ vastly in ACN composition and thus potentially in their physiological effects. Consumption of foods high in ACNs can be recommended for their potential beneficial health effects due to their relatively easy and accessible addition to the everyday diet.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rising worldwide, remaining the major cause of death in developed countries. Polyphenols have been shown to have cardioprotective properties; however, their impact on iron bioavailability and potential impact on other aspects of health is unclear. A systematic review was undertaken to evaluate the current status of the relationship between habitual polyphenol consumption, iron status, and circulating biomarkers of CVD. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2009 guidelines, searches were performed across 5 electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL) to identify randomized controlled trials which investigated the effects of polyphenol consumption on inflammatory markers, serum lipid profile, and iron absorption and bioavailability. In total, 1174 records were identified, with only 7 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The selected studies involved 133 participants and used a variety of foods and supplements, including olive oil and cherries, rich in polyphenols including hydroxytyrosol, quercetin, and resveratrol, as well as catechin enriched drinks. The duration of the studies ranged from between 56 and 145 days, with total polyphenolic content of the food items and supplements ranging from 45 to 1015 mg (per 100 g). Polyphenols did not appear to interfere with iron status, and most studies reported improvements in inflammatory markers and lipid profile. While these results are promising, the limited number of studies and considerable heterogeneity across the interventions support the need for more extensive trials assessing the relationship between polyphenol intake, iron bioavailability, and CVD risk.

Nutritional and ergogenic aid supplementation is prevalent within athletic or general fitness populations, and is only continuing to gain momentum. Taken in isolation or as a combination, amino acid (AA) supplementation has the potential to increase endurance performance among other benefits. L-Arginine (L-Arg) and L-Citrulline (L-Cit) are two AAs proposed to increase endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, with potential additional physiological benefits, and therefore may contribute to enhanced performance outcomes such as increased power output, or time to exhaustion. However, the appropriate dose for promoting physiological and performance benefits of these AAs, and their potential synergistic effects remains to be determined. Therefore, the aim of this review was to evaluate the varied concentrations used in the current literature, assess the effects of L-Arg and L-Cit in combination on physiological responses and endurance performance, and consider if there is a fundamental basis for providing these supplements in the form of a beverage. A total of six studies were considered eligible for the review which utilized a range of 3–8 g of the AA constituents. The findings support the notion that supplementing with a combination of L-Arg and L-Cit may increase NO production, enhance vasodilation, and therefore increase performance capacity in athletes. A beverage as a carrier for the two AAs is worth considering; however, there remains limited research assessing these outcomes across a consistent range of concentrations in order to see their full potential.

Background Hypertension is a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases and premature death. Despite widespread use of antihypertensive medication, it remains a concern, therefore determining factors that contribute to such a high burden of disease is critically important. This study examined anthropometric and physical measurements, as well as blood and saliva biomarkers, as predictors for hypertension using datasets from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study. Methods A total of 2924 participants (aged 74.84 ± 6.45 years) were included. Binary logistic regression was performed to ascertain the effects of sex, age, telomere length, C-reactive protein (CRP), BMI, and additional markers on the odds of developing hypertension. Results Males had 2.3 times the odds (OR = 2.313 CI 95% (1.391, 3.845); p = 0.001) of being hypertensive if they were obese, females had 1.7 times the odds (OR = 1.788 CI 95% (1.260,2.536); p = 0.001) if overweight, and 2.4 times (OR = 2.479 CI 95% (1.693, 3.630); p < 0.001) if obese. Age in females was an independent predictor where every one-year increase in age was tied to a 5.1% increase in being hypertensive (OR = 1.051 CI 95% (1.027, 1.075); p <0.001) and, CRP (>3mg/L) had 1.4 times the odds (OR = 1.447 CI 95% (1.079, 1.942); p = 0.014). Conclusions This study provides verification for BMI as a predictor for hypertension and proposes age and CRP as predictors for females. Specific sex differences and life stage should be considered when evaluating hypertension risk to improve clinical outcomes and promote healthy aging.

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The 44th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia was held virtually from 3 to 4 December 2020. The theme of the meeting was Nutrition: Adapting to a New World. Abstracts were submitted from 27 countries. In total, 305 registrants attended the conference and 128 papers were presented consisting of 6 plenary, 54 oral and 68 poster presentations. This issue presents the proceedings of this meeting in the form of abstracts for papers presented at the conference.

The proportion of adults living with hypertension increases significantly with advancing age. It is therefore important to consider how health and vitality can be maintained by the aging population until end of life. A primary risk factor for the progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is hypertension, so exploring the factors and processes central to this burden of disease is essential for healthy aging. A loss of skeletal muscle quantity and quality is characteristic in normal aging, with a reduction of vasodilatory capacity caused by endothelial dysfunction, and subsequent increase in peripheral resistance and risk for hypertension. Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species (RONS) encompass the reactive derivatives of NO and superoxide, which are continuously generated in contracting skeletal muscle and are essential mediators for cellular metabolism. They act together as intra and intercellular messengers, gene expression regulators, and induce programmed cell death. In excessive amounts RONS can inflict damage to endothelial and skeletal muscle cells, alter signaling pathways or prematurely promote stress responses and potentially speed up the aging process. The age-related increase in RONS by skeletal muscle and endothelial mitochondria leads to impaired production of NO, resulting in vascular changes and endothelial dysfunction. Changes in vascular morphology is an early occurrence in the etiology of CVDs and, while this is also a normal characteristic of aging, whether it is a cause or a consequence of aging in hypertension remains unclear. This review serves to focus on the roles and mechanisms of biological processes central to hypertension and CVD, with a specific focus on the effects of aging muscle and RONS production, as well as the influence of established and more novel interventions to mediate the increasing risk for hypertension and CVD and improve health outcomes as we age.

Objectives There are a growing number of people aged over 55 years living in retirement communities in Australia. These communities typically consist of accommodation, services and community facilities which cater to older people and the desire to maintain independence. The Nutrition and Healthy Ageing Trajectories in Retirement Living (NutriHAT-RL) study aims to investigate the nutrition and lifestyle-based behaviours which contribute to healthy ageing and the maintenance of social and physical functioning among older people living in retirement communities. Methods This study will recruit a total of 2,770 people aged 55 years or over living in retirement communities in the Australian Capital Territory and southern New South Wales regions of Australia for a four-year prospective longitudinal study commencing in March 2021. A range of measures, including nutritional intake, health and lifestyle behaviours, cognitive and psychological function, and physical health, will be completed on three occasions over a total of four years. Participants will complete a face-to-face comprehensive, validated food frequency questionnaire at each time point. Risk of malnutrition and nutritional behaviour (emotional appetite and intuitive eating) will also be evaluated. Multiple mental, social, and physical health domains will be assessed at each time point. This will include cognitive and mental health (depression, anxiety, and loneliness) screening, social and occupational functioning questionnaires, self-reported and observed physical function assessments, and sleep quality. Bitter taste endophenotype, salivary C-reactive protein, telomere length, and blood biomarkers associated with healthy ageing will also be evaluated. Results Ethics approval has been obtained through the University of Canberra Human Ethics Research Committee (UCHREC-2306). To reduce risk of COVID-19 transmissions, a risk mitigation plan has been developed. Conclusions The NutriHAT-RL study will be the first Australian longitudinal study with a focus on nutrition and healthy ageing in people living in retirement communities. Findings from this study will contribute to understanding of nutrition and healthy ageing in this growing population and will inform policy and practice related to nutrition and ageing in place. Funding Sources N/A.