Anine Christine Medin

• Osorio, Natalie Garzon; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Love, Penelope & Abel, Marianne Hope [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2026). A Formative Evaluation of Parental Perceptions Related to Acceptability, Appropriateness, Feasibility, and Reported Use of an e-Learning Resource Targeting Diet in the First 1000 Days: Survey Study. JMIR Formative Research. 10, p. 1–13. doi: 10.2196/84277. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background In October 2022, the Nutrition Now (NN) e-learning resource was implemented within Maternal and Child Healthcare centers and Early Childhood Education and Care centers of a southern Norwegian municipality. The e-learning resource targets expectant parents, parents of children aged 0‐2 years, and Early Childhood Education and Care staff, aiming to promote healthy dietary behaviors during the first 1000 days of life. Objective This study aimed to explore parental perceptions related to the acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, and reported use of the NN e-learning resource among parents. Methods From October 2022 to May 2023, expecting parents and parents of children aged 0‐2 years were recruited from 2 Norwegian municipalities, one intervention group receiving access to the NN e-learning resource, and one control. Participants in the intervention group received a web-based follow-up questionnaire 7 months after gaining access to the NN e-learning resource. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the 179 participants in the NN study intervention group, 48 completed the web-based follow-up questionnaire administered 7 months after enrollment. Parents rated the e-learning resource positively on items assessing whether they liked and appreciated the resource, perceived it as an appropriate source of information, and found it doable and easy to use. Most respondents reported visiting the resource (38/48, 79%), although only 21% (10/48) reported frequent visits. Less than half of the participants answering the web-based follow-up questionnaire reported having watched the theme films (20/48, 42%), the recipe films (17/48, 35%), or making food using recipes provided in the e-learning resource (20/48, 42%). Conclusions Parents rated the NN e-learning resource positively but reported limited use. These findings point to the need for strategies that enhance engagement with self-guided digital interventions among expectant parents and parents of young children. Future efforts should focus on identifying how to maximize potential adoption of the e-learning resource and evaluate its impact to promote healthy dietary behaviors during the first 1000 days of life.

• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Medin, Anine Christine; Valen, Erlend Nuland; Salvesen, Lorentz; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord (2026). Lessons learned from digital dietary interventions targeting the preconception population. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. ISSN 0029-6651. doi: 10.1017/S0029665126102286. Full text in Research Archive
• Valen, Erlend Nuland; Wills, Andrew Keith; Medin, Anine Christine; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Engeset, Dagrun & Salvesen, Lorentz [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Effect of a digital dietary intervention on diet quality in young adults in Norway – The PREPARED randomised controlled trial. BMC Nutrition. 12. doi: 10.1186/s40795-026-01278-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Nutritional status and lifestyle during the preconception phase, the months and years before conception, may have substantial impact on the health of the next generation. Diet quality during these years has been a neglected in previous dietary assessments. Methods The PREPARED study is a digital intervention with a randomised controlled trial design with the aim to assess its effectiveness on diet quality and micronutrient adequacy. Individuals with a Norwegian identification number without biological children aged 20–35 were recruited using social media platforms. Data was collected digitally using a dietary screener which was recoded into a diet quality score (DQS) and a 24-hour recall recoded into binary variables to compare adherence to the average requirement defined by the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. The intervention group received access to a digital resource where all components were created using the Determinants of Nutrition and Eating framework (DONE), with new weekly content across 6 months. Results From the total sample of 1374, the follow-up sample consisted of 186 participants (13.5%) (Control: 99, Intervention: 87) on DQS, and 150 (10.9%) on micronutrient adequacy. The mean difference between intervention and control in total diet quality score was + 1.0 (IQR − 3.0, 4.9) (adjusted p = 0.63). The results showed no improvement in diet quality or change in proportion of participants reaching average requirements between the intervention and control group. Conclusions We found no evidence towards having a healthier diet in any of the groups at the end of the trial, and there were no differences in proportions reaching average requirement for selected micronutrients. The substantial loss to follow-up might have had a significant impact on the results. Improving or developing strategies for recruitment and keeping retention rates is an important area for future intervention studies.

• Cabre, Hannah E; Marlatt, Kara L; Fernández-Verdejo, Rodrigo; Beyl, Robbie; Redman, Leanne M & Ainslie, Philip N [Show all 74 contributors for this article] (2026). Sex Differences in Measures of Energy Expenditure and Body Composition in Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults. Current Developments in Nutrition (CDN). 10(1). doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2025.107614. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) is vital for energy balance and cardiometabolic health, yet its trajectory across the lifespan, particularly in females, remains poorly understood. Objectives We sought to examine the effects of aging and sex on body composition and TDEE. Methods In a cross-sectional analysis of data from research centers across 9 European Countries and the United States from the International Atomic Energy Agency database, TDEE and body composition measures of 2326 participants (1560W/766M; 50.7 ± 12 .6 y) were stratified across age groups: young (30–39 y; YOUNG), middle-aged (40–54 y; MID), and old (55–70 y; OLD). Doubly labeled water was used to estimate TDEE and fat-free mass (FFM). Fat mass (FM) was calculated as the difference between body mass and FFM, and %fat was ratio between FM and body mass as a percentage. Linear models were used for analysis. Results Females demonstrated greater FM and lower FFM with each age group, compared with males (P < 0.001). In females, OLD had lower absolute TDEE than YOUNG (−217 kcal/d, P < 0.001) and MID (−208 kcal/d, P < 0.001). Male absolute TDEE was lowered across all age groups (OLD compared with YOUNG: −334 kcal/d; OLD compared with MID: −210 kcal/d; MID compared with YOUNG: −124 kcal/d; P < 0.001). Adjusted TDEE was similar within age groups between females and males. Conclusions These results suggest that age influences changes in body composition and energy expenditure similarly between males and females. The most significant change in TDEE occurs as individuals transition from middle age to older adulthood. Females generally have a higher percentage of %fat and FM, along with lower FFM, compared with males across all age groups. These findings are important for understanding how aging affects metabolism and body composition, which could inform sex-specific health strategies and interventions.

• Medin, Anine C.; Polspoel, Maaike E. M.; Vejrup, Kristine; Strömmer, Sofia T.; Barker, Mary Elizabeth & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2025). “I bought it, but I still don’t know what it is”: international students dealing with a new food culture in Norway − A qualitative study. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. ISSN 1748-2623. 20(1). doi: 10.1080/17482631.2025.2595849. Full text in Research Archive
• McGrosky, Amanda; Luke, Amy; Arab, Leonore; Bedu-Addo, Kweku; Bonomi, Alberto G. & Bovet, Pascal [Show all 98 contributors for this article] (2025). Energy expenditure and obesity across the economic spectrum. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). ISSN 0027-8424. 122(29). doi: 10.1073/pnas.2420902122. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Global economic development has been associated with an increased prevalence of obesity and related health problems. Increased caloric intake and reduced energy expenditure are both cited as development-related contributors to the obesity crisis, but their relative importance remains unresolved. Here, we examine energy expenditure and two measures of obesity (body fat percentage and body mass index, BMI) for 4,213 adults from 34 populations across six continents and a wide range of lifestyles and economies, including hunter-gatherer, pastoralist, farming, and industrialized populations. Economic development was positively associated with greater body mass, BMI, and body fat, but also with greater total, basal, and activity energy expenditure. Body size–adjusted total and basal energy expenditures both decreased approximately 6 to 11% with increasing economic development, but were highly variable among populations and did not correspond closely with lifestyle. Body size–adjusted total energy expenditure was negatively, but weakly, associated with measures of obesity, accounting for roughly one-tenth of the elevated body fat percentage and BMI associated with economic development. In contrast, estimated energy intake was greater in economically developed populations, and in populations with available data (n = 25), the percentage of ultraprocessed food in the diet was associated with body fat percentage, suggesting that dietary intake plays a far greater role than reduced energy expenditure in obesity related to economic development.

• Medin, Anine Christine; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2025). Samfunnsrettet ernæringsarbeid. Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring (NTFE). ISSN 1503-5034. 23(3), p. 181–190. doi: 10.18261/ntfe.23.3.7. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Samfunnsernæring har som mål å fremme og opprettholde ernæringsrelatert helse og livskvalitet i befolkningsgrupper gjennom målrettet innsats og kunnskapsbaserte valg i samfunnet. Dette fagfeltet er en sentral del av både folkehelse og ernæringsvitenskap. Konsensus omkring fagfeltets definisjoner kom først på 1990-tallet, selv om fagfeltet ikke er nytt. Samfunnsernæring er både en vitenskap og praksis. Samfunnsrettet ernæringsarbeid er den praktisk anvendte delen av feltet samfunnsernæring. Det retter seg mot hele befolkningen eller befolkningsgrupper, på arenaer der mennesker lever sine liv. Samfunnsrettet ernæringsarbeid er komplekst og omfatter både akademisk og analytisk arbeid og arbeid ute i lokalsamfunnet. Å kartlegge, endre og evaluere påvirkningsfaktorer som påvirker befolkningens matvalg, kosthold og spisevaner, og dermed også deres helse og livskvalitet, er sentralt i arbeidet. Samfunnsrettet ernæringsarbeid foregår globalt og nasjonalt. I offentlig sektor i Norge er både stat, fylkene og kommuner involvert i arbeidet med føringer i folkehelseloven. Frivillige organisasjoner og privat sektor driver også med samfunnsrettet ernæringsarbeid. Sentrale kjennetegn er at arbeidet rettes mot grupper, helsefremming og forebygging, samt utjevning av sosial ulikhet i helse og kosthold. Iverksetting av tiltak er en viktig del av samfunnsrettet ernæringsarbeid. Eksempelvis kan dette være forbud mot markedsføring av usunn mat rettet mot barn, tiltak som påvirker matmiljøet og tilgjengelighet av frukt og grønnsaker, som gratis skolefruktordning, eller pedagogiske tiltak som fremmer et sunt kosthold. Det er behov for fagpersoner med solid kompetanse innen både folkehelse og ernæring for å styrke det samfunnsrettet ernæringsarbeidet i Norge.

• Bajunaid, Rania; Niu, Chaoqun; Hambly, Catherine; Liu, Zongfang; Yamada, Yosuke & Aleman-Mateo, Heliodoro [Show all 98 contributors for this article] (2025). Predictive equation derived from 6,497 doubly labelled water measurements enables the detection of erroneous self-reported energy intake. Nature Food. 6, p. 58–71. doi: 10.1038/s43016-024-01089-5. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Nutritional epidemiology aims to link dietary exposures to chronic disease, but the instruments for evaluating dietary intake are inaccurate. One way to identify unreliable data and the sources of errors is to compare estimated intakes with the total energy expenditure (TEE). In this study, we used the International Atomic Energy Agency Doubly Labeled Water Database to derive a predictive equation for TEE using 6,497 measures of TEE in individuals aged 4 to 96 years. The resultant regression equation predicts expected TEE from easily acquired variables, such as body weight, age and sex, with 95% predictive limits that can be used to screen for misreporting by participants in dietary studies. We applied the equation to two large datasets (National Diet and Nutrition Survey and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) and found that the level of misreporting was 27.4%. The macronutrient composition from dietary reports in these studies was systematically biased as the level of misreporting increased, leading to potentially spurious associations between diet components and body mass index.

• Lian, Henrik; Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Medin, Anine Christine; Osorio, Natalie Garzon & Helle, Christine [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2025). Implementation strategies: lessons learned during an e-learning intervention to improve dietary behaviors and feeding practices in early childhood education and care. BMC Nutrition. 11(1). doi: 10.1186/s40795-024-00990-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) centers play an important role in fostering healthy dietary habits. The Nutrition Now project focusing on improving dietary habits during the first 1000 days of life. Central to the project is the implementation of an e-learning resource aimed at promoting feeding practices among staff and healthy dietary behaviours for children aged 0–3 years in ECEC. Implementing new interventions often presents challenges. This study explores ECEC staff views and experiences with selected strategies for implementing an e-learning resource in ECEC centers in a municipality in Southern Norway. Methods The study is a part of the Nutrition Now study, a hybrid type 1 non-randomized controlled trial. The implementation process followed the Dynamic Integrated Evaluation Model (DIEM). Implementation strategies were selected from the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) project and included identify and prepare champions, conduct educational meetings, distribute educational materials, create a learning collaborative, and remind clinicians. ECEC teachers from participating ECEC centers in the intervention municipality were recruited as champions. Brief (5–7 min minutes), semi-structured phone interviews, covering key points, were conducted with the champions 8 times, evenly distributed over six months. The interviews were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results In total, 29 of the invited ECEC centers (53%) participated, and 260 brief interviews (88%) were conducted with champions (n=37). An evaluation of the feedback from the champions suggests that the five selected implementation strategies were acceptable. Five main themes were developed by qualitative analysis: 1) Being a champion resembles what I already do. 2) Educational meetings are fine but take time. I prefer when peers share experiences. 3) Newsletters were helpful and reminded me, but I do not always have enough time to read. 4) Evaluations have increased my awareness, and we do them informally and formally. 5) The regular phone calls reminded me I could receive support and express my opinion Conclusion This study’s findings suggest that several implementation strategies are acceptable for stakeholders in an ECEC e-learning healthy eating intervention. However, time constraints among champions may hinder deep engagement. These results provide valuable insights into how the selected implementation strategies may function in practice and how they are perceived and experienced by the ECECs staff. Trial registration Trial registration on June 6, 2022: ISRCTN10694967.

• Mulkerrins, Isabelle; Medin, Anine Christine; Groufh-Jacobsen, Synne; Margerison, Claire & Larsson, Christel (2025). Micronutrient intake and nutritional status in 16-to-24-year-olds adhering to vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pescatarian or omnivorous diets in Sweden. European Journal of Nutrition. ISSN 1436-6207. 64. doi: 10.1007/s00394-025-03738-2. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Purpose The nutritional adequacy of plant-based diets for youth is of public health relevance but is insufficiently studied. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the micronutrient intake and nutritional status in youth adhering to vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pescatarian or omnivorous diets in Sweden. Methods Healthy 16-to-24-year-olds (n = 60 vegans, n = 59 lacto-ovo-vegetarians, n = 55 pescatarians, n = 61 omnivores) completed a 255-item web-based questionnaire, conducted four non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls, provided capillary blood samples and one spot urine sample. Usual micronutrient intakes were estimated by the Multiple Source Method. At the group level, risk of inadequate intake was defined as > 50% with intakes below average requirements. Samples were analysed for haemoglobin (HB), serum transferrin receptor (sTfR), homocysteine (tHcy), methylmalonic acid (MMA), 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-D3), and urinary iodine concentration (UIC).

• Mulkerrins, Isabelle; Medin, Anine Christine; Groufh-Jacobsen, Synne; Margerison, Claire & Larsson, Christel (2025). Dietary intake among youth adhering to vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pescatarian or omnivorous diets in Sweden. Frontiers in Nutrition. 12. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1528252. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objective: To assess the intakes of food groups, energy, and macronutrients among youth in Sweden who adhere to vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pescatarian or omnivorous diets. Further, to evaluate youth’s adherence to the food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG). Design: In this cross-sectional study, dietary intake data was obtained through repeated non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls (24HDR) and a dietary screener assessing consumption frequency of food groups. Usual daily intakes were estimated using the Multiple Source Method (MSM), and for usual intakes of food groups the 24HDR intake data was combined with consumption frequency. Setting: Gothenburg, Sweden, December 2022–January 2024. Participants: In total 235 youth (78% female, mean age 22 ± 2 years), consisting of 60 vegans, 59 lacto-ovo-vegetarians, 55 pescatarians, and 61 omnivores. Results: For usual intakes (median value), both g/d and g/MJ, all plant-based dietary groups had higher intakes of legumes and plant-based meat analogs compared to omnivores (for all, p < 0.001), and vegans and lacto-ovo-vegetarians had higher intakes of plant-based dairy substitutes (vs. pescatarians and omnivores, p < 0.001). Moreover, vegans had higher intakes of refined grain products (vs. pescatarians, p = 0.012), nuts/seeds (vs. pescatarians and omnivores, p = 0.002), and vegetable oil (vs. omnivores, p = 0.014). Omnivores had higher intakes of fried/premade potato dishes (vs. lacto-ovo-vegetarians and vegans, p < 0.001), and lower intakes of plain potatoes (vs. lacto-ovo-vegetarians and pescatarians, p < 0.001). Overall intakes of ‘sweets and snack foods’ did not differ between dietary groups. Omnivores had higher usual intakes of energy compared to lacto-ovo-vegetarians and pescatarians (10 vs. 9 MJ/d, p = 0.016). Most macronutrient recommendations were met across groups, except for carbohydrates (below for omnivores), fiber (below for omnivores and pescatarians), and saturated fatty acids (exceeded by all except vegans). For the FBDG for whole grains, omnivores (23%) had a higher adherence vs. vegans (2%) and lacto-ovo-vegetarians (3%), p < 0.001. No difference was found between dietary groups for adherence to the FBDG’s for fruits, berries, and vegetables (10%), nuts (24%), and vegetable oil (4%). Conclusion: Swedish youth, regardless of dietary practice, need to increase intakes of fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains, and limit consumption of discretionary foods to better align with food and nutrition recommendations.

• Groufh-Jacobsen, Synne; Larsson, Christel; Mulkerrins, Isabelle; Aune, Dagfinn & Medin, Anine Christine (2025). Food groups, macronutrient intake and objective measures of total carotenoids and fatty acids in 16-to-24-year-olds following different plant-based diets compared to an omnivorous diet. PLOS ONE. 20(1). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311118. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Knowledge about the diet quality among youth who follow different types of plant-based diets is essential to understand whether support is required to ensure a well-planned diet that meets their nutritional needs. This study aimed to investigate how food groups, macronutrient intake, and objective blood measures varied between Norwegian youth following different plant-based diets compared to omnivorous diet. Methods Cross-sectional design, with healthy 16-to-24-year-olds (n = 165) recruited from the Agder area in Norway, following a vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pescatarian, flexitarian or omnivore diet. Participants completed an electronic questionnaire, a dietary screener, 24-hour dietary recalls and provided dried blood samples for analysis of carotenoids and fatty acids. Results Vegans reported the highest mean intake (g/d, g/MJ) of vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds and substitutes to dairy and meat (compared to all, p<0.001), fruit and berries (compared to omnivores, p = 0.004 and pescatarians, p = 0.007), and vegetable oil (compared to omnivores, p<0.001, pescatarians, p = 0.003 and flexitarians, p = 0.004) and vegetable products (compared to omnivores, p = 0.007). No difference was found between groups in mean intake (g/d, g/MJ) of any of the confectionary foods or sweet pastries, beverages (sugar-sweetened, non-sugary, alcoholic), or salted snacks, neither in g/MJ of convenience foods. The energy percentage (E%) of protein, carbohydrates and total fat were within the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023 across groups. However, all groups, except vegans, exceeded the E% for saturated fatty acids. All groups exceeded recommendations for added and free sugar. Furthermore, all groups consumed <25g/d of dietary fibre, except vegans and pescatarians. For omega-3, lacto-ovo-vegetarians had intakes below recommendations. Blood marker of total carotenoids did not differ between groups, neither did the reported mean intake (g/MJ) of carotenoid-rich foods. Vegans showed the lowest blood level of palmitic acid compared to all (p<0.001), but highest level of linoleic acid (compared to flexitarians, p = 0.022, and omnivores, p<0.001). The lowest blood levels of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were found in vegans and lacto-ovo-vegetarians. Conclusions Our findings suggest that all groups had risk of dietary shortcomings. However, vegans consumed the most favorable diet. All groups should increase their consumption of vegetables, fruits and berries, and reduce their total sugar intake.

• Medin, Anine Christine; Gulowsen, Stine Rambekk; Groufh-Jacobsen, Synne; Berget, Ingunn; Grini, Ida Synnøve Bårvåg & Varela, Paula (2025). Definitions of ultra-processed foods beyond NOVA: a systematic review and evaluation. Food & Nutrition Research (FNR). ISSN 1654-6628. 69, p. 1–15. doi: 10.29219/fnr.v69.12217. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are associated with negative health outcomes, but current classification systems, including the dominant NOVA system, are typically not suitable for identifying which factors of these foods may be harmful. New ways of defining UPFs are needed to better understand how food processing affects health. Objective: To identify classification systems that include a category for ultra-processed or highly processed foods with a focus on comparing their definitions and provide a current evaluation of available alternatives to NOVA. Design: A systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, with the search strategy developed in collaboration with a university librarian. The literature search was completed on 18 December 2023, using databases Medline, Embase (via Ovid), and Web of Science. No human participants were included. Results: We identified six systems – NOVA, European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), University of North Carolina (UNC), UnProcessed Pantry Project (UP3), and Siga – that categorize highly processed food or UPFs. These systems differ in structure and detail, with NOVA, EPIC, and Siga providing specific examples of processing techniques. Regarding additives, NOVA, Siga, and UP3 include them explicitly, with Siga offering the most detailed categorization based on additives and ingredients. Siga also includes quantitative measures for nutritional quality, including cut-offs for sugar, fat, and salt, while IFPRI and UP3 address nutritional quality non-quantitatively. Discussion: When comparing NOVA’s UPF category with the highly processed food or UPF categories used in the other five identified systems, we found that none specifies processing techniques clearly. Both NOVA and Siga define additives unique to their UPF categories. Siga stands out by addressing the diverse risks associated with additives and offering quantitative nutritional quality criteria, thus addressing some of the criticisms of how UPFs are commonly defined. Conclusions: Siga represents a valuable, but not final, step forward in classifying UPFs and could serve as a reference in developing a new operational definition for UPFs.

• Medin, Anine Christine; Andersen, Lene Frost; Fadnes, Lars Thore; Lillegaard, Inger Therese Laugsand; Madsen, Lise & Mangschou, Bente [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2024). Beregning og vurdering av i hvilken grad høringsutkast til nye kostråd vil dekke behov og anbefalinger for næringsstoffer. VKM Report. 2024(6), p. 1–79. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Vitenskapskomiteen for mat og miljø (VKM) har vurdert om Helsedirektoratets høringsutkast til nye kostråd fra 22. mars dekker næringsstoffanbefalingene for voksne, inkludert gravide og ammende.' Oppdraget er gitt av Helsedirektoratet, som en del av arbeidet med å revidere kostrådene, og VKMs beregninger og vurderinger er basert på høringsutkastet. VKMs rapport med resultatene fra oppdraget publiseres samtidig som kostrådene. VKMs rapport og konklusjonerne som presenteres gjelder høringsutkast til kostråd, slik de forelå 22. mars 2024. Basert på VKMs arbeid, har Helsedirektoratet valgt å justere enkelte av kostrådene, slik at kritiske næringsstoffer vil dekkes bedre i de endelige kostrådene som ble publiseres 15. august, parallelt med publisering av VKMs rapport. Hovedkonklusjon fra VKMs rapport: VKM konkluderer at et kosthold i tråd med høringsutkastet til nye kostråd sannsynligvis kan være tilstrekkelig for å dekke næringsstoffanbefalingene for de fleste vitaminer og mineraler for de fleste voksne, med noen unntak. Vurderingen omfatter to scenarioer – lavt og høyt – basert på utkast til kostrådene. Disse to scenarioene representerer henholdsvis de laveste og høyeste mengdene av matvaregruppene som omfattes av utkastet til kostrådene; lavt kostrådsscenario og høyt kostrådsscenario. VKM har kun beregnet næringsinnholdet for maten fra mengdene i utkast til kostråd, ikke for det totale kostholdet. –Vi har vurdert om næringsinnholdet dekkes hvis man følger de foreslåtte kostrådene, slik de forelå i mars. Vi konkluderer med at å følge disse sannsynligvis kan være tilstrekkelig for å dekke næringsstoffanbefalingene for de fleste vitaminer og mineraler for de fleste voksne, hvis man spiser et kosthold basert på de høyeste mengdene av matvaregruppene i kostrådsutkastet, sier faglig leder Anine Medin, som har ledet VKMs arbeid. VKMs resultater viser at innholdet av de fleste beregnede vitaminer og mineraler synes å være tilstrekkelig for kvinner og menn i alle aldere ved et kosthold i tråd med høyt kostrådsscenario. Innholdet av vitamin D, kalsium (kun unge voksne), jern (kun kvinner i fertil alder), sink (kun menn) og selen vil imidlertid sannsynligvis kunne være for lavt for en mindre andel kvinner og menn ved et kosthold som tilsvarer høyt scenario. Beregningene viser at i et kosthold i tråd med lavt kostrådsscenario, ligger innholdet av flere næringsstoffer lavere enn i høyt scenario. Innholdet av riboflavin, kalsium, jern (kun kvinner i fertil alder), sink, jod og selen vil sannsynligvis kunne være for lavt for en betydelig andel kvinner og menn ved et kosthold som tilsvarer lavt scenario. Videre vil innholdet av vitamin D, vitamin B6, folat, kalium, og jern (kun menn) kunne være for lavt for en mindre andel kvinner og menn. Gravide og ammende står i en særstilling, fordi de har høyere behov for næringsstoffer enn den øvrige befolkningen. Slik er beregningene og vurderingene gjort VKM har laget to kostrådsscenarioer basert på mengder av ulike matvaregrupper, som er gitt i høringsutkastet eller som tilleggsinformasjon fra Helsedirektoratet underveis i arbeidet med rapporten. Eksempelvis inneholder det lave scenarioet 500 gram frukt og grønnsaker, mens det høye scenarioet inneholder 800 gram. Det lave scenarioet inneholder ikke egg, ost eller rødt kjøtt, mens høyt scenario inneholder ett egg om dagen, to osteskiver om dagen og 350 gram rødt kjøtt i uken. Begge scenarioene inneholder eksempelvis også 90 gram fullkorn per dag. Valget av matvarer fra matvaregruppene som er inkludert i scenarioene er basert på ordlyden i kostrådene, samt innsikt fra nasjonale kostholdsundersøkelser. For å vurdere sannsynligheten til om disse scenariene inneholder tilstrekkelig med næringsstoffer, har VKM vurdert dem opp mot næringsstoffanbefalingene.

• Medin, Anine Christine; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Helle, Christine; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Wills, Andrew Keith & Osorio, Natalie Garzon [Show all 22 contributors for this article] (2024). Scaling up evidence-based digital early life nutrition interventions in a county setting: an implementation trial – protocol for Phase 2 of the Nutrition Now project. Frontiers in Public Health. 11. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1326787. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Few effective health interventions transition from smaller efficacy or effectiveness studies to real-world implementation at scale, representing a gap between evidence and practice. Recognising this, we have developed Nutrition Now – a tailored digital resource building on four efficacious dietary interventions, aiming to improve nutrition in the important first 1,000 days of life. Nutrition Now targets and guides expectant parents and parents of 0–2 year olds, serves as a reliable source of evidence-based information for midwives and public health nurses at maternal and child healthcare (MCH) centres, and offers pedagogical tools for early childhood education and care (ECEC) staff. The aim of this study is to implement Nutrition Now at scale and evaluate the impact of different sets of multifaceted implementation strategies on implementation outcomes. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with three study arms will be used, providing either low, medium or high implementation support, when rolled out in 50 municipalities in 2 counties in Norway. Nutrition Now will be implemented in MCH and ECEC settings and made available to expectant parents and parents of 0–2 year olds through social media and MCH. The implementation support builds on strategies described in the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) implementation framework and is informed by dialogues with stakeholders. Impact of the different degree of implementation support will be assessed by examining reach, adoption, fidelity, and sustainability using usage data generated from the Nutrition Now resource, publicly available municipal data and qualitative interviews with MCH and ECEC staff. Discussion: Nutrition Now Phase 2 will break new ground by scaling up successively delivered and complementary dietary interventions in the first 1,000 days of life in a real-life context. The project also seeks to identify what level of implementation support is most effective when implementing digital, scalable, evidence-based early-life nutrition interventions in community settings. The project will inform implementation research and provide knowledge about effective implementation strategies to be used in a national scale-up of Nutrition Now. Trial registration: The study is registered prospectively (submitted 14/06/2022, registration date: 19/06/2022) in the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry (ISRCTN): reg. Number: ISRCTN10694967, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10694967.

• Groufh-Jacobsen, Synne; Larsson, Christel; Margerison, Claire; Mulkerrins, Isabelle; Aune, Dagfinn & Medin, Anine Christine (2024). Micronutrient intake and status in young vegans, lacto-ovo-vegetarians, pescatarians, flexitarians, and omnivores. European Journal of Nutrition. ISSN 1436-6207. 63, p. 1–17. doi: 10.1007/s00394-024-03453-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Purpose: Whether youth who follow plant-based diets in Nordic countries meet their dietary needs for micronutrients remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate micronutrient intake and status in Norwegian youth following vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pescatarian, flexitarian and omnivore diets. Methods: Cross-sectional design, with healthy 16-to-24-year-olds (n = 165). Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire and four 24-hour dietary recalls. Dried blood spots (DBS) and spot-urine samples were collected for analysis of methyl malonic acid (MMA) (n = 65), haemoglobin (Hb) (n = 164) and urinary iodine concentration (UIC) (n = 163). Results: Vegans reported highest habitual supplement usage of multivitamin (58%), B12 (90%) and macroalgae consumption (32%), while flexitarians reported highest habitual usage of omega-3 supplements (56%). For daily supplement usage, vegans reported highest use of multivitamins (42%), B12 (79%), iodine (37%) and iron (63%). Increased risk of inadequate intake (energy-adjusted) were found for vitamin D (60% within lacto-ovo-vegetarians), selenium (70% within lacto-ovo-vegetarians, 65% within omnivores), and iodine (63% within vegans). Median MMA levels suggest low risk of insufficient B12 status across all groups (MMA 0.04‒0.37µmol/l) and 2% had MMA levels indicating possible B12 deficiency and 8% had elevated levels. Median Hb levels indicated low risk of anemia across all groups (≥ 12.0 females, ≥ 13.0 g/dl males), though 7% had Hb values indicating risk of mild anemia and 4% risk of moderate anemia. The median UIC indicates mild iodine deficiency in all groups (UIC < 100 µg/l), except vegans, who were moderately iodine deficient (UIC < 50 µg/l). Conclusions: Our study indicated that the participating youth had low risk of inadequate intake of most micronutrients, partly due to high supplement usage. However, for iodine, vitamin D, and selenium higher risk of inadequate intake was found. UIC corroborated the low iodine intake among vegans. Thus, we suggest iodine status of youth in Norway should be monitored, especially among young fertile women who omits dietary iodine sources, until a mandatory iodine fortification program is implemented. Furthermore, we suggest that food education on how to secure sufficient nutrients from food in general should be provided to the Norwegian youth population, especially how to secure adequate intake of vitamin D, selenium and iodine.

• Osorio, Natalie Garzon; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Helle, Christine; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Øverby, Nina Cecilie & Helland, Sissel Heidi [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2024). Implementing an early-life nutrition intervention through primary healthcare: staff perspectives. BMC Health Services Research. 24(1). doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11582-z. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Nutrition interventions targeting early childhood can be cost-effective and may provide lifelong, intergenerational benefits. From October 2022 to April 2023 the Nutrition Now (NN) e-learning resource was implemented within Early Childhood Education and Care centres and the Maternal and Child Healthcare Centre (MCHC) in a southern Norwegian municipality. As part of the NN project, the present study aims to explore the MCHC staff’s experiences with implementing the NN resource, to gain insights into measures important to scale up digital early-life nutrition interventions. Methods: Three group interviews were conducted among public health nurses and midwives alongside one individual interview with the department leader of a MCHC in May 2023. An inductive thematic analysis, as described by Braun and Clarke, was conducted to generate the key themes and subthemes regarding the implementation process of NN within the MCHC. Results: Three main themes were generated: [1] Important resource but not always utilized; [2] Parents are interested but had issues with access; and [3] Staff and stakeholder buy-in and commitment needed from the start. Overall, the staff viewed the NN resource as a potential tool for promoting diet-related topics and believed it could support the guidance they were already providing parents. However, few staff members fully familiarized themselves with the resource. While staff perceived parents as positive when informed about NN, they believed issues such as access challenges, competing platforms, and time constraints reduced parental engagement. Lastly, staff suggested improvements for NN’s implementation, including enhanced training, better planning, assigning champions, and lowering the threshold for access. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the real-world implementation of digital evidence-based health behaviour interventions is feasible but would be enhanced by employing strategies focusing on engagement and utilization.

• Salvesen, Lorentz; Wills, Andrew Keith; Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Engeset, Dagrun & Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Relative validity of a non-quantitative 33-item dietary screener with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire among young adults. Journal of Nutritional Science (JNS). 12, p. 1–13. doi: 10.1017/jns.2023.57. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The objective of the study was to assess the concordance and ranking ability of a non-quantitative 33-item dietary screener developed to assess the diet of young adults in Norway, ‘MyFoodMonth 1.1’, compared to a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Data were collected in a cross-sectional dietary survey evaluating the diets of students at the University of Agder, in southern Norway. The students were asked to complete both a dietary screener and an FFQ. Data collection was carried out from September to December 2020. Participants were first-year university students aged ≥18 years familiar with Scandinavian language. Almost half of the eligible sample (n 344) was excluded due to not completing the FFQ, compared to 1⋅7 % not completing the dietary screener, resulting in 172 (66 % female) participants with a median age of 21 years. For most items of the dietary screener (n 27/33, 82 %), all aspects of diet quality and components of the Diet Quality Score showed moderate-to-strong concordance with the FFQ evaluated using Kendall's tau-b analyses (t > 0⋅31), supported by visual inspection of box and whisker plots and descriptive ranking ability in a cross-tabulation. There was little evidence to suggest that concordance was dependent on sex. The concordance and ranking ability of ‘MyFoodMonth 1.1’ is considered satisfactory compared to a semi-quantitative FFQ. This rapid dietary assessment instrument presents a valuable addition to traditional instruments and a possible solution to recruit hard-to-reach parts of the population.

• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Medin, Anine Christine; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Ostojic, Sergej (2023). Nutrition in a lifecourse perspective: From molecular aspects to public health approaches. Maternal & Child Nutrition. ISSN 1740-8695. 20(S2). doi: 10.1111/mcn.13582. Full text in Research Archive
• Ostojic, Sergej; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Individual nutrients and serum klotho levels in adults aged 40–79 years. Food Science & Nutrition. 11(6), p. 3279–3286. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.3310. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Several dietary factors (including adherence to the Mediterranean diet or higher nut intake) seem to positively affect circulating antiaging Klotho protein levels; yet, a description of possible relationships between individual nutrients and Klotho activity has not been evaluated. We analyzed the association of dietary intake of individual macro- and micronutrients and nonnutritive food components with circulating Klotho levels in a sample of 40- to 79-year-old US adults. Data from the 2015–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Nutrient/food component intakes were calculated in relation to total energy intake using the nutrient density method, and available pristine serum samples were analyzed for serum Klotho concentrations. The final study sample consisted of 2637 participants (mean age 59.0 ± 10.7 years; 52% women). Higher Klotho concentrations were found with higher intake of carbohydrates (p < .001), total sugars (p < .001), dietary fibers (p < .001), vitamin D (p = .05), total folates (p = .015), and copper (p = .018). The results of the regression analysis with a crude model showed significant associations among five nutrients/food components (carbohydrates, alcohol, total sugars, dietary fibers, and niacin) and soluble Klotho levels across the sample. After adjusting the models for age and gender, the nutrient/food component–Klotho association remained significant for carbohydrates, total sugars, and alcohol (p < .05). Dietary exposure to individual nutrients and nonnutritive food components appears to be associated with Klotho activity; however, additional research is needed to investigate the relationship between cause and effect in diet composition–Klotho interplay.

• Valen, Erlend Larsen; Grasaas, Erik; Engeset, Dagrun; Salvesen, Lorentz; Skeie, Guri & Øverby, Nina Cecilie [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2023). Myfood24 på norsk: et selvadministrert digitalt 24-timers kostintervju. Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring (NTFE). ISSN 1503-5034. 21(2), p. 13–22. doi: 10.18261/ntfe.21.2.3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Innen ernæringsepidemiologien er vi i stor grad avhengige av å estimere inntak av mat og næringsstoffer basert på selvrapportering, til tross for at denne tilnærmingen er beheftet med målefeil. Graden av målefeil har betydning for analyser og tolkning av resultater, så metodene vi bruker bør være så valide som mulig. Å utvikle brukervennlige kostholdsmetoder som reduserer belastning for deltaker kan være et viktig bidrag til mer nøyaktig rapportering, samtidig som tids- og ressursbruken begrenses. Det digitale kostholdsverktøyet myfood24, opprinnelig utviklet ved Universitetet i Leeds, kan enten brukes som et selvadministrert 24-timers kostintervju, eller matdagbok. Verktøyet har de siste årene blitt oversatt og kulturelt tilpasset til flere land, både i og utenfor Europa, og har blitt validert i en rekke ulike aldersgrupper. I 2019 startet arbeidet med å lage en norsk versjon av myfood24. Det er allerede gjennomført en valideringsstudie av bilder av porsjonsstørrelser som inngår i den norske versjonen, og det planlegges å validere verktøyet ytterligere. Hensikten med denne artikkelen er å beskrive utviklingsarbeidet som er gjort. Målet er at norske myfood24 også skal kunne brukes av andre norske forskere, og med denne artikkelen ønsker vi å gjøre informasjon om verktøyet tilgjengelig.

• Groufh-Jacobsen, Synne & Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Food literacy competencies in youth – a mini-review. Frontiers in Public Health. 11. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1185410. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Introduction: Young people’s transition into adulthood is an opportunity in the life course to establish adequate eating behaviors, hence exploring food literacy competencies in this period of life is especially important. Food literacy has recently gained increased attention in adults, adolescents, and younger children, but less is published about youth. This paper aims to summarize what tools have been used to measure food literacy and the sub-competence nutrition literacy in youth aged 16–24 years in the previous 5 years. Methods: A mini-literature review was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE via Ovid, in September 2022. Study eligible criteria; had to be an original article, using a tool to quantitatively assess food literacy and/or nutrition literacy, including participants between 16–24 years, full text available in English, published between 2017–2022. Results: A total of 958 articles were identified, of which 385 duplicates were removed. Thus, 573 articles were screened by title/abstract. Finally, nine articles were eligible for data extraction of which four proposed a tool to measure food literacy and five proposed a tool to measure nutrition literacy. Discussion and conclusion: Although four studies claimed to measure food literacy, none of these used tools comprehensive enough to measure all aspects of food literacy, and only one was validated in young people. This study shows that only few tools exist for the measurement of food literacy in youth, and those available are scant. Further work is needed to develop a food literacy tool for youth.

• Speakman, John R.; Jong, Jasper M A de; Sinha, Srishti; Westerterp, Klaas R.; Yamada, Yosuke & Sagayama, Hiroyuki [Show all 80 contributors for this article] (2023). Total daily energy expenditure has declined over the past three decades due to declining basal expenditure, not reduced activity expenditure. Nature Metabolism. 5(4), p. 579–588. doi: 10.1038/s42255-023-00782-2. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Obesity is caused by a prolonged positive energy balance1,2. Whether reduced energy expenditure stemming from reduced activity levels contributes is debated3,4. Here we show that in both sexes, total energy expenditure (TEE) adjusted for body composition and age declined since the late 1980s, while adjusted activity energy expenditure increased over time. We use the International Atomic Energy Agency Doubly Labelled Water database on energy expenditure of adults in the United States and Europe (n = 4,799) to explore patterns in total (TEE: n = 4,799), basal (BEE: n = 1,432) and physical activity energy expenditure (n = 1,432) over time. In males, adjusted BEE decreased significantly, but in females this did not reach significance. A larger dataset of basal metabolic rate (equivalent to BEE) measurements of 9,912 adults across 163 studies spanning 100 years replicates the decline in BEE in both sexes. We conclude that increasing obesity in the United States/Europe has probably not been fuelled by reduced physical activity leading to lowered TEE. We identify here a decline in adjusted BEE as a previously unrecognized factor.

• Bodin, Johanna Eva; Aakre, Inger; Alexander, Jan; Mangschou, Bente; Parr, Christine Louise & Andersen, Lene Frost [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2023). Risk assessment of hyaluronic acid in food supplements. VKM Report. 13, p. 1–70. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a high-molecular-mass polysaccharide, that is endogenously produced and present in connective tissue, synovial fluid, intraoccular fluid, and skin. The basic unit of the HA polymer consists of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has requested VKM to evaluate the risk of adverse effects related to daily intake of food supplements with 150 mg, 120 mg, 64 mg, and 48 mg HA. Exposure from other sources of HA (food, cosmetics, and different medical applications) is not estimated.

• Groufh-Jacobsen, Synne; Larsson, Christel; Daele, Wim Van; Margerison, Claire; Mulkerrins, Isabelle & Aasland, Lale Marie [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2023). Food literacy and diet quality in young vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians, pescatarians, flexitarians and omnivores. Public Health Nutrition (PHN). ISSN 1368-9800. p. 1–11. doi: 10.1017/S1368980023002124. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objective: To investigate whether food literacy competencies and diet quality vary between 16-to-24-year-olds vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians, pescatarians, flexitarians and omnivores and to assess whether food literacy is associated with diet quality. Design: Cross-sectional study. Food literacy (general nutrition knowledge, critical nutrition literacy and food skills) and diet quality were measured using an electronic questionnaire. Setting: Southern Norway, September 2021 – March 2022. Participants: Healthy 16–24-year-olds (n 165). Results: Overall, the mean general nutrition knowledge score was moderate (48·0 out of 67·0); the lowest mean score was found in omnivores and the highest in flexitarians (45·6 v. 51·5) (P = 0·034). The mean score of critical nutrition literacy was also moderate (3·7 out of 5·0); vegans showed higher scores compared to other dietary practices (P = 0·018). No difference was observed in food skills between the different dietary practices. The overall median diet quality score was 46·0 out of 80·0, lowest in omnivores and highest in vegans (42·0 v. 56·0) (P =< 0·001). In multivariate regression analyses, general nutrition knowledge, food skills and vegan dietary practice were significantly associated with higher diet quality. Conclusions: We found moderate levels of food literacy across all dietary practices. The food literacy competencies, general nutrition knowledge and food skills were associated with higher diet quality in our sample. Omnivores showed both the lowest general nutrition knowledge level and lowest diet quality scores. In contrast, both flexitarians and vegans scored highest on general nutrition knowledge and diet quality scores, despite being one of the less restrictive and one of the strictest plant-based dietary practices, respectively.

• Salvesen, Lorentz; Valen, Erlend Larsen; Wills, Andrew Keith; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Engeset, Dagrun [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). Developmental origins of health and disease knowledge is associated with diet quality in preconception young adult men and women. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. ISSN 2040-1744. 15(5). doi: 10.1017/S2040174423000314. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) approach supports that nutritional exposures in early life affect an individual’s later health and risk of disease. Dietary exposure during the preconception period may also influence individual, and inter- and transgenerational health and disease risk, in both men and women. This study aimed to describe knowledge of the DOHaD approach (DOHaDKNOWLEDGE) and diet quality in preconception young adults in Norway, to assess associations between DOHaDKNOWLEDGE and a Diet Quality Score (DQS), and to assess gender differences in those above. Data from 1362 preconception young adults was obtained from the PREPARED study baseline dataset. The sample had 88% women participants, a mean age of 27 years, 36% had overweight or obesity, and 77% had higher level of education. DOHaDKNOWLEDGE was assessed by the participants’ agreement to five statements using a Likert scale. Diet quality was assessed using aspects of diet quality and a DQS derived from a dietary screener. We found moderate level of both DOHaDKNOWLEDGE (12/20 points) and diet quality (DQS: 60/100 points), indicating potential for improvements. Specifically, the greatest potential for diet quality improvements were observed for sugary foods, red and processed meats, legumes, and unsalted nuts and seeds. Gender differences were observed for both DOHaDKNOWLEDGE and diet quality. DOHaDKNOWLEDGE was positively associated with DQS, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, with little evidence of an interaction effect by gender. This study indicates that knowledge of the DOHaD approach is positively associated with diet quality in preconception young men and women. Future studies should consider incorporating pregnancy intentions, relationship status, and health literacy.

• Svendsen, Camilla; Amlund, Heidi; Carlsen, Monica Hauger; Eriksen, Gunnar Sundstøl; Husøy, Trine & Lillegaard, Inger Therese Laugsand [Show all 27 contributors for this article] (2022). Food and chemical substances relevant for monitoring - Scientific Opinion of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment. VKM Report. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  At request from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA), VKM has identified food groups and food items consumed by the Norwegian population that are relevant for monitoring regarding content of one or more undesirable chemical substances (Figure 1). Undesirable chemical substances were defined as chemical substances in food that may constitute a potential health risk. VKM has created a knowledge base (an Excel file) as a tool for planning and prioritising monitoring of foods and undesirable chemical substances. The substance groups included in the knowledge base are flavourings, food additives, metals and metalloids, natural toxins, persistent organic pollutants, process-induced contaminants, substances in food contact materials, substances in food supplements, and trace elements. More than 40 different substances were included. Food items that are known contributors to exposure to an undesirable chemical substance were identified from quantitative and qualitative data, mainly from EFSA opinions and VKM risk assessments. Four national dietary surveys were used for identification of food items and food groups habitually eaten by the Norwegian population. The habitual diet was used to identify potential unknown sources of the substances. The information on known and unknown sources was compiled in a knowledge base comprised of 456 “undesirable chemical substance/food item” pairs that were identified to be relevant for monitoring. For each “undesirable chemical substance/food item” pair, the following information are included in the knowledge base: - Food category - Contribution to total exposure, including degree of contribution - Origin of occurrence data, and availability of Norwegian occurrence data - Remarks regarding sampling - Sources of the undesirable chemical substances in food - Risk (a combined score for hazard and exposure) Sampling of food is a complex area. Careful planning of the sampling strategy is needed and several parameters should be taken into consideration, depending on the properties of the chemical substance and the food item. Generic guidelines on sampling strategy, including sample number and frequency, have been provided in the report. Key words: VKM, health risk, monitoring, Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment, Norwegian Food Safety Authority, undesirable chemical substance.

• Yamada, Yosuke; Zhang, Xueying; Henderson, Mary E T; Sagayama, Hiroyuki; Pontzer, Herman & Watanabe, Daiki [Show all 92 contributors for this article] (2022). Variation in human water turnover associated with environmental and lifestyle factors. Science. ISSN 0036-8075. 378(6622), p. 909–915. doi: 10.1126/science.abm8668. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Water is essential for survival, but one in three individuals worldwide (2.2 billion people) lacks access to safe drinking water. Water intake requirements largely reflect water turnover (WT), the water used by the body each day. We investigated the determinants of human WT in 5604 people from the ages of 8 days to 96 years from 23 countries using isotope-tracking (2H) methods. Age, body size, and composition were significantly associated with WT, as were physical activity, athletic status, pregnancy, socioeconomic status, and environmental characteristics (latitude, altitude, air temperature, and humidity). People who lived in countries with a low human development index (HDI) had higher WT than people in high-HDI countries. On the basis of this extensive dataset, we provide equations to predict human WT in relation to anthropometric, economic, and environmental factors.

• Halsey, Lewis G.; Careau, Vincent; Pontzer, Herman; Ainslie, Philip N.; Andersen, Lene Frost & Anderson, Liam J. [Show all 83 contributors for this article] (2022). Variability in energy expenditure is much greater in males than females. Journal of Human Evolution. ISSN 0047-2484. 171. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2022.103229. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In mammals, trait variation is often reported to be greater among males than females. However, to date, mainly only morphological traits have been studied. Energy expenditure represents the metabolic costs of multiple physical, physiological, and behavioral traits. Energy expenditure could exhibit particularly high greater male variation through a cumulative effect if those traits mostly exhibit greater male variation, or a lack of greater male variation if many of them do not. Sex differences in energy expenditure variation have been little explored. We analyzed a large database on energy expenditure in adult humans (1494 males and 3108 females) to investigate whether humans have evolved sex differences in the degree of interindividual variation in energy expenditure. We found that, even when statistically comparing males and females of the same age, height, and body composition, there is much more variation in total, activity, and basal energy expenditure among males. However, with aging, variation in total energy expenditure decreases, and because this happens more rapidly in males, the magnitude of greater male variation, though still large, is attenuated in older age groups. Considerably greater male variation in both total and activity energy expenditure could be explained by greater male variation in levels of daily activity. The considerably greater male variation in basal energy expenditure is remarkable and may be explained, at least in part, by greater male variation in the size of energy-demanding organs. If energy expenditure is a trait that is of indirect interest to females when choosing a sexual partner, this would suggest that energy expenditure is under sexual selection. However, we present a novel energetics model demonstrating that it is also possible that females have been under stabilizing selection pressure for an intermediate basal energy expenditure to maximize energy available for reproduction.

• Hopstock, Laila Arnesdatter; Medin, Anine Christine; Skeie, Guri; Henriksen, André & Lundblad, Marie Wasmuth (2022). Evaluation of a Web-Based Dietary Assessment Tool (myfood24) in Norwegian Women and Men Aged 60-74 Years: Usability Study. JMIR Formative Research. 6(3). doi: 10.2196/35092. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: A healthy diet throughout the life course improves health and reduces the risk of disease. There is a need for new knowledge of the relation between diet and health, but existing methods to collect information on food and nutrient intake have their limitations. Evaluations of new tools to assess dietary intake are needed, especially in old people, where the introduction of new technology might impose challenges. Objective: We aimed to examine the usability of a new web-based dietary assessment tool in older adult women and men. Methods: A total of 60 women and men (participation 83%, 57% women) aged 60-74 years recruited by convenience and snowball sampling completed a 24-hour web-based dietary recall using the newly developed Norwegian version of Measure Your Food On One Day (myfood24). Total energy and nutrient intakes were calculated in myfood24, primarily on the basis of the Norwegian Food Composition Table. No guidance or support was provided to complete the recall. Usability was assessed using the system usability scale (SUS), where an SUS score of ≥68 was considered satisfactory. We examined the responses to single SUS items and the mean (SD) SUS score in groups stratified by sex, age, educational level, and device used to complete the recall (smartphone, tablet device, or computer). Results: The mean total energy intake was 5815 (SD 3093) kJ. A total of 14% of participants had an energy intake of <2100 kJ (ie, 500 kilocalories) and none had an intake of >16,800 kJ (ie, 4000 kilocalories). Mean energy proportions from carbohydrates, fat, protein, alcohol, and fiber was within the national recommendations. The mean SUS score was 55.5 (SD 18.6), and 27% of participants had SUS scores above the satisfactory product cut-off. Higher SUS scores were associated with younger age and lower education, but not with the type of device used. Conclusions: We found the overall usability of a new web-based dietary assessment tool to be less than satisfactory in accordance with standard usability criteria in a sample of 60-74–year-old Norwegians. The observed total energy intakes suggest that several of the participants underreported their intake during the completion of the dietary recall. Implementing web-based dietary assessment tools in older adults is feasible, but guidance and support might be needed to ensure valid completion.

• Rimbach, Rebecca; Yamada, Yosuke; Sagayama, Hiroyuki; Ainslie, Philip N.; Andersen, Lene Frost & Anderson, Liam J. [Show all 82 contributors for this article] (2022). Total energy expenditure is repeatable in adults but not associated with short-term changes in body composition. Nature Communications. 13(1). doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27246-z. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Low total energy expenditure (TEE, MJ/d) has been a hypothesized risk factor for weight gain, but repeatability of TEE, a critical variable in longitudinal studies of energy balance, is understudied. We examine repeated doubly labeled water (DLW) measurements of TEE in 348 adults and 47 children from the IAEA DLW Database (mean ± SD time interval: 1.9 ± 2.9 y) to assess repeatability of TEE, and to examine if TEE adjusted for age, sex, fat-free mass, and fat mass is associated with changes in weight or body composition. Here, we report that repeatability of TEE is high for adults, but not children. Bivariate Bayesian mixed models show no among or within-individual correlation between body composition (fat mass or percentage) and unadjusted TEE in adults. For adults aged 20–60 y (N = 267; time interval: 7.4 ± 12.2 weeks), increases in adjusted TEE are associated with weight gain but not with changes in body composition; results are similar for subjects with intervals >4 weeks (N = 53; 29.1 ± 12.8 weeks). This suggests low TEE is not a risk factor for, and high TEE is not protective against, weight or body fat gain over the time intervals tested.

• Careau, Vincent; Halsey, Lewis G.; Pontzer, Herman; Ainslie, Philip N.; Andersen, Lene F. & Anderson, Liam J. [Show all 84 contributors for this article] (2021). Energy compensation and adiposity in humans. Current Biology. ISSN 0960-9822. 31(20). doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.08.016. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Understanding the impacts of activity on energy balance is crucial. Increasing levels of activity may bring diminishing returns in energy expenditure because of compensatory responses in non-activity energy expenditures.1, 2, 3 This suggestion has profound implications for both the evolution of metabolism and human health. It implies that a long-term increase in activity does not directly translate into an increase in total energy expenditure (TEE) because other components of TEE may decrease in response—energy compensation. We used the largest dataset compiled on adult TEE and basal energy expenditure (BEE) (n = 1,754) of people living normal lives to find that energy compensation by a typical human averages 28% due to reduced BEE; this suggests that only 72% of the extra calories we burn from additional activity translates into extra calories burned that day. Moreover, the degree of energy compensation varied considerably between people of different body compositions. This association between compensation and adiposity could be due to among-individual differences in compensation: people who compensate more may be more likely to accumulate body fat. Alternatively, the process might occur within individuals: as we get fatter, our body might compensate more strongly for the calories burned during activity, making losing fat progressively more difficult. Determining the causality of the relationship between energy compensation and adiposity will be key to improving public health strategies regarding obesity.

• Pontzer, Herman; Yamada, Yosuke; Sagayama, Hiroyuki; Ainslie, Philip N.; Andersen, Lene Frost & Anderson, Liam J. [Show all 82 contributors for this article] (2021). Daily energy expenditure through the human life course. Science. ISSN 0036-8075. 373(6556), p. 808–812. doi: 10.1126/science.abe5017. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Total daily energy expenditure (“total expenditure”) reflects daily energy needs and is a critical variable in human health and physiology, but its trajectory over the life course is poorly studied. We analyzed a large, diverse database of total expenditure measured by the doubly labeled water method for males and females aged 8 days to 95 years. Total expenditure increased with fat-free mass in a power-law manner, with four distinct life stages. Fat-free mass–adjusted expenditure accelerates rapidly in neonates to ~50% above adult values at ~1 year; declines slowly to adult levels by ~20 years; remains stable in adulthood (20 to 60 years), even during pregnancy; then declines in older adults. These changes shed light on human development and aging and should help shape nutrition and health strategies across the life span.

• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Medin, Anine Christine; Valen, Erlend Larsen; Salvesen, Lorentz; Wills, Andrew Keith & Engeset, Dagrun [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Effectiveness of a digital dietary intervention program targeting young adults before parenthood: protocol for the PREPARED randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 11(12). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055116. Full text in Research Archive
• Speakman, John R.; Yamada, Yosuke; Sagayama, Hiroyuki; Berman, Elena S.F.; Ainslie, Philip N. & Andersen, Lene Frost [Show all 87 contributors for this article] (2021). A standard calculation methodology for human doubly labeled water studies. Cell Reports Medicine. 2(2). doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100203. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The doubly labeled water (DLW) method measures total energy expenditure (TEE) in free-living subjects. Several equations are used to convert isotopic data into TEE. Using the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) DLW database (5,756 measurements of adults and children), we show considerable variability is introduced by different equations. The estimated rCO2 is sensitive to the dilution space ratio (DSR) of the two isotopes. Based on performance in validation studies, we propose a new equation based on a new estimate of the mean DSR. The DSR is lower at low body masses (<10 kg). Using data for 1,021 babies and infants, we show that the DSR varies non-linearly with body mass between 0 and 10 kg. Using this relationship to predict DSR from weight provides an equation for rCO2 over this size range that agrees well with indirect calorimetry (average difference 0.64%; SD = 12.2%). We propose adoption of these equations in future studies. Highlights • 5,756 doubly labeled water (DLW) measures highlight variation from calculation equation • We derive here new equations for calculating CO2 production when using DLW • These equations outperform previous equations in validation studies • We recommend these equations should be adopted in future studies using DLW in humans

• Salvesen, Lorentz; Engeset, Dagrun; Øverby, Nina Cecilie & Medin, Anine Christine (2021). Development and evaluation of image-series for portion size estimation in dietary assessment among adults. Journal of Nutritional Science (JNS). 10. doi: 10.1017/jns.2020.58. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Portion size images are advantageous in dietary assessment. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate new culturally specific image-series for portion size estimation to be used in a new Norwegian version of a British web-based dietary assessment tool (myfood24). Twenty-three image-series of different foods, each containing seven portion size images, were created and validated in a group of adults (n 41, 58 % female) aged 19–44 (median 23), out of which 63 % had higher (tertiary) education. The participants compared 46 portions of pre-weighed foods to the portion size images (1886 comparisons in total). Portion size estimations were either classified as correct, adjacent or misclassified. The weight discrepancy in percentage between the chosen and the correct portion size image was also calculated. Mann–Whitney U tests were used to explore if portion size estimation accuracy differed across sample characteristics, or if it depended on how the foods were presented. For thirty-eight of the forty-six presented food items, the participants selected the correct or adjacent portion size image 98 % on average. The remaining eight food items were on average misclassified by 27 % of the participants. Overall, a mean weight discrepancy of 2⋅5 % was observed between the chosen and the correct portion size images. Females estimated portion size more accurately than males (P = 0⋅019). No other significant differences in estimation accuracy were observed. In conclusion, the new image-series performed satisfactorily, except for the image-series depicting bread, caviar spread and marzipan cake, which will be altered. The present study demonstrates the importance of validating portion size estimation tools.

• Røed, Margrethe; Medin, Anine Christine; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Lippevelde, Wendy Van & Campbell, Karen [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Effect of a Parent-Focused eHealth Intervention on Children's Fruit, Vegetable, and Discretionary Food Intake (Food4toddlers) : Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR). ISSN 1439-4456. 23(2). doi: 10.2196/18311. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: In Western countries, children’s diets are often low in fruits and vegetables and high in discretionary foods. Diet in early life tends to track through childhood and youth and even into adulthood. Interventions should, therefore, be delivered in periods when habitual traits are established, as in toddlerhood when children adapt to their family’s diet. Objective: In this study, we assessed the effect of the Food4toddlers eHealth intervention, which aimed to enhance toddlers’ diets by shaping their food and eating environment. Methods: The Food4toddlers randomized controlled trial was conducted in Norway in 2017-2018. Parent-child dyads were recruited through social media. In total, 298 parents completed an online questionnaire at baseline (mean child age 10.9 months, SD 1.2). Postintervention questionnaires were completed immediately after the intervention (ie, follow-up 1; mean child age 17.8 months, SD 1.3) and 6 months after the intervention (ie, follow-up 2; mean child age 24.2 months, SD 1.9). The intervention was guided by social cognitive theory, which targets the linked relationship between the person, the behavior, and the environment. The intervention group (148/298, 49.7%) got access to the Food4toddlers website for 6 months from baseline. The website included information on diet and on how to create a healthy food and eating environment as well as activities, recipes, and collaboration opportunities. To assess intervention effects on child diet from baseline to follow-up 1 and from baseline to follow-up 2, we used generalized estimating equations and a time × group interaction term. Between-group differences in changes over time for frequency and variety of fruits and vegetables and frequency of discretionary foods were assessed. Results: At follow-up 1, a significant time × group interaction was observed for the frequency of vegetable intake (P=.02). The difference between groups in the change from baseline to follow-up 1 was 0.46 vegetable items per day (95% CI 0.06-0.86) in favor of the intervention group. No other significant between-group differences in dietary changes from baseline to follow-up 1 or follow-up 2 were observed. However, there is a clear time trend showing that the intake of discretionary foods increases by time from less than 1 item per week at baseline to more than 4 items per week at 2 years of age (P<.001), regardless of group. Conclusions: A positive intervention effect was observed for the frequency of vegetable intake at follow-up 1 but not at follow-up 2. No other between-group effects on diet were observed. eHealth interventions of longer duration, including reminders after the main content of the intervention has been delivered, may be needed to obtain long-terms effects, along with tailoring in a digital or a personal form.

• Westerterp, Klaas R.; Yamada, Yosuke; Sagayama, Hiroyuki; Ainslie, Philip N.; Andersen, Lene F. & Anderson, Liam J. [Show all 82 contributors for this article] (2021). Physical activity and fat-free mass during growth and in later life. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. ISSN 0002-9165. 114(5), p. 1583–1589. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab260. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Physical activity may be a way to increase and maintain fat-free mass (FFM) in later life, similar to the prevention of fractures by increasing peak bone mass. Objectives: A study is presented of the association between FFM and physical activity in relation to age. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, FFM was analyzed in relation to physical activity in a large participant group as compiled in the International Atomic Energy Agency Doubly Labeled Water database. The database included 2000 participants, age 3–96 y, with measurements of total energy expenditure (TEE) and resting energy expenditure (REE) to allow calculation of physical activity level (PAL = TEE/REE), and calculation of FFM from isotope dilution. Results: PAL was a main determinant of body composition at all ages. Models with age, fat mass (FM), and PAL explained 76% and 85% of the variation in FFM in females and males < 18 y old, and 32% and 47% of the variation in FFM in females and males ≥ 18 y old, respectively. In participants < 18 y old, mean FM-adjusted FFM was 1.7 kg (95% CI: 0.1, 3.2 kg) and 3.4 kg (95% CI: 1.0, 5.6 kg) higher in a very active participant with PAL = 2.0 than in a sedentary participant with PAL = 1.5, for females and males, respectively. At age 18 y, height and FM–adjusted FFM was 3.6 kg (95% CI: 2.8, 4.4 kg) and 4.4 kg (95% CI: 3.2, 5.7 kg) higher, and at age 80 y 0.7 kg (95% CI: −0.2, 1.7 kg) and 1.0 kg (95% CI: −0.1, 2.1 kg) higher, in a participant with PAL = 2.0 than in a participant with PAL = 1.5, for females and males, respectively. Conclusions: If these associations are causal, they suggest physical activity is a major determinant of body composition as reflected in peak FFM, and that a physically active lifestyle can only partly protect against loss of FFM in aging adults.

• Kristiansen, Anne Lene; Medin, Anine Christine; Bjelland, Mona; Himberg-Sundet, Anne; Lien, Nanna & Holst, René [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Long-term effects of a cluster randomized controlled kindergarten-based intervention trial on vegetable intake among Norwegian 3-5-year-olds: the BRA-study. BMC Research Notes. 13. doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-4892-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  OBJECTIVE: To report on long-term effects of a cluster randomized controlled kindergarten-based intervention trial, which aimed to increase vegetable intake among Norwegian preschool children (3-5 years at baseline). The effects of the intervention at follow-up 1 (immediately post-intervention) have previously been published. This paper presents the effects of the intervention from baseline to follow-up 2 (12 months post-intervention). RESULTS: Parental consents were obtained for 633 out of 1631 eligible children (response rate 38.8%). The effects of the intervention from baseline to follow-up 2 were assessed by mixed-model analyses taking the clustering effect of kindergartens into account. Children's vegetable intake was reported by the parents at baseline (spring 2015), at follow-up 1 (spring 2016) and at follow-up 2 (spring 2017). No significant long-term effects in child vegetable intake were found. A mean difference of - 0.1 times per day (95% CI - 0.5, 0.2) (P = 0.44) was found for the daily frequency of vegetable intake. A mean difference of - 0.2 different kinds of vegetables eaten over a month (95% CI - 1.0, 0.7) (P = 0.70) was found and for daily amount of vegetables a mean difference of - 15.0 g vegetables (95% CI - 38.0, 8.0) (P = 0.19) was found. Trial registration International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials ISRCTN51962956 (http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN51962956). Registered 21 June 2016 (retrospectively registered).

• Medin, Anine Christine; Carlsen, Monica Hauger & Andersen, Lene Frost (2020). Iodine intake among children and adolescents in Norway: Estimates from the national dietary survey Ungkost 3 (2015-2016). Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. ISSN 0946-672X. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2019.126427. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract BACKGROUND: Iodine is crucial for normal growth and neurodevelopment. Before 1950, goitre caused by iodine deficiency was widespread in Norway, but decreased significantly after mandatory fortification of animal fodder. Recent dietary changes in milk consumption and fish intake may again have increased the risk of inadequate intakes in some population groups in Norway. The situation for children and adolescents is unclear, and data from nationally representative studies are highly needed. We aimed to describe the iodine intake in Norwegian children and adolescents and estimate the proportion of individuals with an increased risk of suboptimal, adequate and excessive usual iodine intake. In addition, we aimed to investigate whether individuals' characteristics were associated with iodine intake, and to identify the major iodine contributing foods in the diet of this population. METHODS: Data from 1722 individuals (4-, 9- and 13-year-olds) from a national dietary survey in Norway from 2015-2016 was used. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted. Usual iodine intakes were estimated, stratified by age group and sex and compared to dietary reference intake cut-offs. Linear regression models were used to assess the association between iodine intake and participants' characteristics. The contribution of iodine from different foods was described for all and across different participant groups. RESULTS: We estimated that the proportion of participants with an increased risk of a suboptimal usual intake of iodine varied from 3-36%. A significant increased risk was observed for older children and girls compared to younger children and boys. Excessive usual intakes were not observed in any age group. Iodine intake was associated with sex, maternal educational level and area of residence. A lower intake was observed for girls and those with a mother with a low educational level. Moreover, those living in the western part and Mid-Norway had statistically significantly higher intakes compared to those living in the capital city and surroundings. Milk, milk products, cheese, fish and shellfish were the main contributors to iodine intake. Supplements contributed with very little of the total iodine intake. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that the estimated risk of suboptimal usual iodine intakes among children and adolescents in Norway varies according to age, sex, maternal educational level and area of residence. Those with a limited intake of the main dietary contributors to iodine intake may be at risk, and adolescent girls seem to be especially vulnerable.

• Chatterjee, Ayan; Gerdes, Martin; Prinz, Andreas; Martinez, Santiago & Medin, Anine Christine (2020). Reference Design Model for a Smart e-Coach Recommendation System for Lifestyle Support Based on ICT Technologies. In Sendra, Sandra; Murata, Yoshitoshi; Civit-Masot, Javier & Rajh, Arian (Ed.), eTELEMED 2020, The Twelfth International Conference on eHealth, Telemedicine, and Social Medicine. International Academy, Research and Industry Association (IARIA). ISSN 9781612087634. p. 52–58. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.33574.47689. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  As acknowledged by the World Health Organization (WHO), the demographic development shows that by 2030, 8 out of the 10 foremost causes of death will be connected to risk conditions of lifestyle diseases, regardless of gender. Chronic illness associated with modifiable lifestyle factors will be accountable for the highest death worldwide. Health behavior change should be given priority to avoid serious reparations. An Electronic Coach (e-Coach) system can empower people to achieve a healthy lifestyle with early risk predictions and appropriate tailored lifestyle recommendations. Research in eHealth has the potential to provide methods in order to improve personal healthcare with Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). An Electronic Health (e-Health) virtual coaching recommendation system can monitor people and convey the appropriate recommendations in context with enough time to prevent, ameliorate the living with non-communicable or lifestyle diseases. This paper addresses the potential of selected emerging information and communication technologies to make e-Health systems smarter, more collaborative and more efficient. As a result of the analysis, a reference design is discussed here to develop and validate the performance of a smart e-Coach system utilizing ICT, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide individual lifestyle recommendations aiming at a healthier lifestyle to prevent obesity and overweight. The healthcare sector is still looking for collaborative, user-friendly, optimized, cost-effective, reliable systems for health e-Coaching with contextual, tailored lifestyle recommendations and our current research is focused on its implementation and validation, considering obesity and overweight as a case study.

• Røed, Margrethe; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Lippevelde, Wendy Van; Medin, Anine Christine & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2020). Process Evaluation of an eHealth Intervention (Food4toddlers) to Improve Toddlers' Diet: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Human Factors. 7(3). doi: 10.2196/18171. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine; Myhre, Jannicke Borch; Diep, Lien My & Andersen, Lene Frost (2019). Diet quality on days without breakfast or lunch - Identifying targets to improve adolescents' diet. Appetite. ISSN 0195-6663. 135, p. 123–130. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.01.001. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Dietary intake in adolescents does often not align with the recommended dietary guidelines. Excess intakes of added sugar and saturated fat, and insufficient vegetable intake are among the identified challenges, which can affect future health negatively. Identifying targets to improve dietary practices is therefore essential. The current study aimed to examine the prevalence of meal skipping and if meal skipping days had a different diet quality than other days, using data from a recent Norwegian dietary survey in adolescents (n = 689, age 12-14 years). Their dietary intake was recorded for four days, using a web-based record system. Differences between days with, and without, breakfast or lunch were explored using mixed effect models, adjusting for correlated data and covariates, including weekday-weekend effect. In total, 8% and 11% were days without breakfast and lunch, respectively. Days with breakfast or lunch were associated with higher intake of fibre, and higher odds of consuming fruits and berries, juice and smoothie, than days without breakfast or lunch. Weekdays with lunch were also associated with lower intakes of added sugar and total fat (in % of energy), and discretionary foods, compared to weekdays without lunch. Skipping breakfast and lunch was associated with reduced diet quality in adolescents. Targeting these meals, and in particular school lunch, is a potential way forward to improve adolescents' dietary intake.

• Medin, Anine Christine; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Astrup, Helene; Ekelund, Ulf & Andersen, Lene Frost (2017). Validation of energy intake from a web-based food recall for children and adolescents. PLOS ONE. 12(6). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178921. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The purpose of this study was to validate estimated energy intake from a web-based food recall, designed for children and adolescents. We directly compared energy intake to estimates of total energy expenditure, calculated from accelerometer outputs, combined with data on weight and sex or resting energy expenditure prediction equations. Children (8–9 years) and adolescents (12–14 years) were recruited through schools in Norway in 2013 (N = 253). Results showed that more than one third (36–37%) were identified as under-reporters of energy. In contrast, only 2–4% were defined as over-reporters of energy. The mean energy intake was under-reported with -1.83 MJ/day for the entire study sample. Increased underestimation was observed for overweight and obese participants, the oldest age group (12–14 years), boys, those with parents/legal guardians with low educational level and those living in non-traditional families. In conclusion, energy intake from the web-based food recall is significantly underestimated compared with total energy expenditure, and should be used with caution in young people.

• Medin, Anine Christine; Carlsen, Monica Hauger; Hambly, Catherine; Speakman, John R.; Strohmaier, Susanne & Andersen, Lene Frost (2017). The validity of a web-based FFQ assessed by doubly labelled water and multiple 24-h recalls. British Journal of Nutrition. ISSN 0007-1145. 118(12), p. 1106–1117. doi: 10.1017/S0007114517003178. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The aim of this study was to validate the estimated habitual dietary intake from a newly developed web-based FFQ (WebFFQ), for use in an adult population in Norway. In total, ninety-two individuals were recruited. Total energy expenditure (TEE) measured by doubly labelled water was used as the reference method for energy intake (EI) in a subsample of twenty-nine women, and multiple 24-h recalls (24HR) were used as the reference method for the relative validation of macronutrients and food groups in the entire sample. Absolute differences, ratios, crude and deattenuated correlations, cross-classifications, Bland–Altman plot and plots between misreporting of EI (EI–TEE) and the relative misreporting of food groups (WebFFQ–24HR) were used to assess the validity. Results showed that EI on group level was not significantly different from TEE measured by doubly labelled water (0·7 MJ/d), but ranking abilities were poor (r −0·18). The relative validation showed an overestimation for the majority of the variables using absolute intakes, especially for the food groups ‘vegetables’ and ‘fish and shellfish’, but an improved agreement between the test and reference tool was observed for energy adjusted intakes. Deattenuated correlation coefficients were between 0·22 and 0·89, and low levels of grossly misclassified individuals (0–3 %) were observed for the majority of the energy adjusted variables for macronutrients and food groups. In conclusion, energy estimates from the WebFFQ should be used with caution, but the estimated absolute intakes on group level and ranking abilities seem acceptable for macronutrients and most food groups. © The Authors 2017

• Medin, Anine Christine; Carlsen, Monica Hauger & Andersen, Lene Frost (2016). Associations between reported intakes of carotenoid-rich foods and concentrations of carotenoids in plasma: a validation study of a web-based food recall for children and adolescents. Public Health Nutrition (PHN). ISSN 1368-9800. 19(18), p. 3265–3275. doi: 10.1017/S1368980016001622. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  To validate estimated intakes of carotenoid-rich foods from a web-based food recall (WebFR) using carotenoids in blood as an objective reference method. Cross-sectional validation study using carotenoids in plasma to evaluate estimated intakes of selected carotenoid-rich foods. Participants recorded their food intake in the WebFR and plasma concentrations of β-carotene, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin were measured. Schools and homes of families in a suburb of the capital of Norway. A total of 261 participants in the age groups 8–9 and 12–14 years. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients ranged from 0·30 to 0·44, and cross-classification showed that 71·6–76·6 % of the participants were correctly classified, when comparing the reported intakes of carotenoid-rich foods and concentrations of the corresponding carotenoids in plasma, not including lutein and zeaxanthin. Correlations were acceptable and cross-classification analyses demonstrated that the WebFR was able to rank participants according to their reported intake of foods rich in α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene. The WebFR is a promising tool for dietary assessment among children and adolescents. © The Authors 2016

• Medin, Anine Christine; Astrup, Helene; Kåsin, Britt Marlene & Andersen, Lene Frost (2015). Evaluation of a Web-Based Food Record for Children Using Direct Unobtrusive Lunch Observations: A Validation Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR). ISSN 1439-4456. 17(12). doi: 10.2196/jmir.5031. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: High-quality, Web-based dietary assessment tools for children are needed to reduce cost and improve user-friendliness when studying children’s dietary practices. Objective: To evaluate the first Web-based dietary assessment tool for children in Norway, the Web-based Food Record (WebFR), by comparing children’s true school lunch intake with recordings in the WebFR, using direct unobtrusive observation as the reference method. Methods: A total of 117 children, 8-9 years, from Bærum, Norway, were recruited from September to December 2013. Children completed 4 days of recordings in the WebFR, with parental assistance, and were observed during school lunch in the same period by 3 observers. Interobserver reliability assessments were satisfactory. Match, omission, and intrusion rates were calculated to assess the quality of the recordings in the WebFR for different food categories, and for all foods combined. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate whether body mass index (BMI), parental educational level, parental ethnicity or family structure were associated with having a “low match rate” (≤70%). Results: Bread and milk were recorded with less bias than spreads, fruits, and vegetables. Mean (SD) for match, omission, and intrusion rates for all foods combined were 73% (27%), 27% (27%), and 19% (26%), respectively. Match rates were statistically significantly associated with parental educational level (low education 52% [32%] versus high 77% [24%], P=.008) and parental ethnicity (non-Norwegian 57% [28%] versus others 75% [26%], P=.04). Only parental ethnicity remained statistically significant in the logistic regression model, showing an adjusted odds ratio of 6.9 and a 95% confidence interval between 1.3 and 36.4. Conclusions: Compared with other similar studies, our results indicate that the WebFR is in line with, or better than most of other similar tools, yet enhancements could further improve the WebFR.

• Halvorsen, Tori Flaatten; Medin, Anine Christine & Kårstad, Mari Helene (2005). Uten mat og drikke duger utenlandske studenter ikke. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. Full text in Research Archive

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• Medin, Anine (2026). Bård Hoksrud: Slik gikk han ned 55 kilo. [Journal]. Dagbladet. doi: https:/www.dagbladet.no/tema/oppskriften-bard-hoksrud-ned-55-kilo/85259608. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine (2026). Smakebiter fra VKMs vurderinger - Næringsstoffer i utkast til nasjonale kostråd. doi: https:/vkm.no/andresider/invitasjontiloppstartsmotet.4.405537c619ed441d4822b6df.html. Full text in Research Archive
• Andersen, Lene Frost; Lillegaard, Inger Therese L.; Mangschou, Bente; Medin, Anine; Aakre, Inger & Dalen, Knut Tomas [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2026). Vurdering av inntaket av vitaminer og mineraler i Norge sammenlignet med inntaksdata fra EFSA. VKM Bulletin. 2026(1), p. 1–65. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Vitenskapskomiteen for mat og miljø (VKM) har undersøkt hvordan nordmenns inntak av vitaminer og mineraler skiller seg fra resten av Europa. Vi konkluderer med at det er viktig å ta høyde for norske data når man fastsetter nye maksimumsgrenser.

• Medin, Anine Christine (2026). Selger blodtester og helsekost for «ubalanserte» barn: – Det er jo helt sprøtt | DN. [Journal]. Dagens Næringsliv. doi: https:/www.dn.no/helse/markedsforing/zinzino/mattilsynet/selger-blodtester-og-helsekost-for-ubalanserte-barn-det-er-jo-helt-sprott/2-1-1975196. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Børsnoterte Zinzino får kritikk for villedende markedsføring av blodtester og kosttilskudd til barn. Medisinske eksperter og Mattilsynet advarer mot villedende påstander som kan skape unødig frykt og bidra til å sykeliggjøre friske barn.

• Medin, Anine Christine (2026). Unge og bærekraftig kosthold i Norge. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2025). Plant-based diets and young people: Learnings from the VeggiSkills study. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2025). Improving diets through early-life nutrition interventions and youth co-creation: examples from Norway. Full text in Research Archive
• Kattel, Kanchan; Medin, Anine Christine; Daele, Wim Van & Morseth, Marianne Sandsmark (2025). Compiling a food composition database to support dietary studies in Bhutan using the INDDEX24 application [Poster presentation, P3.134]. doi: https:/openknowledge.fao.org/items/1b642b95-8f85-48d2-80ad-235734fb6e5a. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2025). Matnyttig – hva skal til for at implementering lykkes? Full text in Research Archive
• Bere, Elling Tufte; Nilsen, Vegard; Løkra, Sissel; Poppe, Line Marie; Medin, Anine Christine & Strand, Elin (2025). Hvordan etablere et samfunn som gjør det enkelt å spise sunt? Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Skole og barnehager har en rolle for å utjevne forskjeller. Hvem har mest innflytelse på barn og unges kosthold? Er det mer kostbart å spise sunt? Hvilke grep kan barnehager og skoler bidra til sunnere mat?

• Medin, Anine Christine; Worren, Tone; Nordli, Ramani Konstanse Cornels; Borøchstein, Kira; Vevik-Myraker, Martine & Ephrem, Mekdelawit [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2025). Mat, makt og unge stemmer - kan unge medforskere gjøre lokale matsystemer mer bærekraftige? Full text in Research Archive
• Andersen, Lene Frost; Lillegaard, Inger Therese Laugsand; Mangschou, Bente; Medin, Anine Christine; Aakre, Inger & Dalen, Knut Tomas [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2025). New update of a fortification model. VKM Bulletin. VKM Bulletin 2025: 13(Bulletin 2025: 13), p. 1–34. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  VKM has calculated the intakes of vitamins and minerals and compared them with the tolerable upper intake levels (UL) in a model for assessing the fortification of food and drink. Fortification means adding vitamins and minerals. The intake calculations cover all age groups. The model has been updated with data from a new dietary survey for adults, and with new tolerable upper intake levels from EFSA for several of the vitamins and minerals. Some of the data entered into the model has been taken from Danish dietary surveys, as there is no Norwegian data available. For most nutrients, it is the amount that can be added for 1- and 2-year-olds that regulates the fortification. The model was established in 2006, and has been updated in 2009, 2013 and 2021. The model does not include the risk of low intake of nutrients. The work has been commissioned by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, which will use the results from the model as part of the basis for assessing applications for food fortification.

• Bajunaid, Rania; Niu, Chaoqun; Hambly, Catherine; Liu, Zongfang; Yamada, Yosuke & Aleman-Mateo, Heliodoro [Show all 98 contributors for this article] (2025). Correction to: Predictive equation derived from 6,497 doubly labelled water measurements enables the detection of erroneous self-reported energy intake (Nature Food, (2025), 6, 1, (58-71), 10.1038/s43016-024-01089-5). Nature Food. doi: 10.1038/s43016-025-01175-2. Full text in Research Archive
• Schultz, Gry Irene Granli; Parr, Christine Louise; Trosvik, Pål; Yazdankhah, Siamak Pour; Andersen, Lene Frost & Dalen, Knut Tomas [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2025). Health risk assessment of Bifidobacterium breve M-16V in infant formula. VKM Bulletin. 2025(VKM Bulletin 2025: 09), p. 1–115. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  VKM has not identified any short-term negative health effects from consuming infant formula with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V. However, there is uncertainty and limited research on possible long-term effects. There is also little research conducted independently of the manufacturers. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has asked VKM to assess whether there may be health risks associated with giving infants (up to 12 months) infant formula supplemented with a specific probiotic bacterium (Bifidobacterium breve M-16V). "Probiotics" generally refers to health products containing live microorganisms, usually bacteria. Currently, some infant formulas outside Norway are supplemented with freeze-dried probiotic bacteria. The bacterium Bifidobacterium breve M-16V (B. breve M-16V) in given concentrations is considered safe in the USA and EU for use in food, but this status is regularly reviewed in the EU and may change if negative health effects are discovered. In infants, the intestinal microbiota (composition of microorganisms) and immune system are not fully developed, and it is uncertain whether the addition of high doses of probiotic bacteria during infancy may have unintended long-term effects. Background for the risk assessment A company has applied to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to market two specific infant formulas in Norway: one peptide-based and another amino acid-based. The products are intended for infants having allergies and are regulated as foods for special medical purposes. Both products are supplemented with the probiotic bacterium B. breve M-16V. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has asked VKM to assess whether there may be health risks associated with giving infants these products specifically, and infant formula supplemented with B. breve M-16V in general. VKM’s methodology A multidisciplinary project group appointed by VKM has reviewed documentation from the company. The group has also conducted a systematic literature review of health effects reported in studies where infants received infant formula supplemented with B. breve M-16V and calculated the possible intake of infant formula and B. breve M-16V among Norwegian infants. VKM has only assessed the risk of negative health effects based on the assignment and according to guidelines for probiotics in food, not as a medicinal product. The assessment has been approved by a multidisciplinary approval group, also appointed by VKM. Findings VKM has not found any unwanted properties of B. breve M-16V based on reported laboratory studies and animal experiments. VKM has also not found negative health effects in 13 clinical studies involving a total of 1580 children, of whom 836 received infant formula supplemented with B. breve M-16V (test) and the rest received infant formula without B. breve M-16V (control). The studies lasted from 6 weeks to 12 months (median 16 weeks). VKM found no consistent differences between test and control groups in reported side effects, children's growth, or symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract, skin, or respiratory system as long as the studies were ongoing (short-term). VKM has found only two studies of long-term effects in children one year (development of asthma symptoms) or 3-5 years (neurocognitive outcomes) after they received infant formula with B. breve M-16V. This is too little to draw conclusions about long-term effects.

• Steffensen, Inger-Lise Karin; Bodin, Johanna Eva; Dalen, Knut Tomas; Mangschou, Bente; Aakre, Inger & Andersen, Lene Frost [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2024). Risk assessment of quercetin dihydrate and rutin in food supplements – “Other substances”. VKM Bulletin. 2024(9), p. 1–149. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Det er trygt å bruke flavonoidene quercetin eller rutin i bestemte i kosttilskudd, ifølge Vitenskapskomiteen for mat og miljø (VKM). Det er hovedbudskapet i en risikovurdering utført på oppdrag fra Mattilsynet. I rapporten ble det konkludert at det er trygt å bruke quercetin eller rutin i kosttilskudd i daglige doser på 5 mg rutin for barn fra fireårsalderen, daglige doser på 25 mg rutin for voksne og 500 mg quercetin dihydrat for voksne i hvert fall opp til tre måneder. VKM har vurdert risiko for helseskadelige effekter ved daglig inntak av kosttilskudd med 25 mg rutin eller 500 mg quercetin dihydrat for voksne fra 18 år og eldre, og 5 mg rutin for barn fra fireårsalderen. Quercetin og rutin er flavonoider. Disse finnes naturlig i planter og inngår i kosten, særlig i frukt, grønnsaker og te. Mange flavonoider fra mat og drikke tas i liten grad opp i kroppen. Risikovurderingen er basert på informasjon fra en systematisk kunnskapsoppsummering av 23 randomiserte kontrollerte studier (studier hvor man undersøker effekten av en behandling ved å fordele deltagere tilfeldig i behandlings- og kontrollgruppe(r). Disse studiene omfattet voksne mennesker. I tillegg er det brukt kunnskap om hvordan stoffene håndteres i kroppen og noen dyrestudier i vurderingen. Studiene hadde undersøkt, men funnet få, og lite alvorlige, skadelige helseeffekter. Den lengste studien varte i 10 måneder. Konklusjonen for barna er basert på studiene av voksne og én studie spesifikk av barn. På grunn av mangel på tilstrekkelige data om gravide kvinner og fostre, og mangel på data om ammende kvinner og deres spedbarn, samt om barn generelt, er det ikke kjent om disse gruppene potensielt kan være mer sårbare for disse stoffene enn voksne. Studiene i mennesker undersøkte hovedsakelig positive effekter av quercetin og rutin for en rekke ulike tilstander og sykdommer. Mulige helseskadelige effekter ble dokumentert og undersøkt i varierende grad, og svært få og lite alvorlige skadelige effekter ble observert. Resultatene understøttes også av dyrestudiene. Ettersom de fleste studiene med quercetin og rutin ikke undersøkte bruk av stoffene i mer enn tre måneder, er lengre tids inntak mer usikkert, selv om noen få studier heller ikke fant skadelige effekter etter bruk i seks til ti måneder, sier Inger-Lise Steffensen, faglig leder av arbeidet. VKM har ikke beregnet bidrag fra andre kilder til rutin eller quercetin som mat, og har heller ikke vurdert bruk av stoffene til behandling av ulike tilstander og sykdommer. Noe data kan tyde på at personer med kronisk nyresykdom eller østrogen-avhengig kreft kanskje kan være sårbare for skadelige effekter av quercetin. Studier i mennesker og dyr har vist at quercetin kan påvirke opptaket av ulike medikamenter i kroppen, og kan påvirke enzymer som omdanner medikamenter. Om quercetin og rutin Quercetin og rutin inngår i gruppen “andre stoffer”. Dette er stoffer med ernæringsmessig eller fysiologisk effekt, og som ikke er vitaminer eller mineraler. Risikovurderingen er godkjent av VKMs faggruppe for ernæring, dietetiske produkter, ny mat og allergi.

• Varela, Paula; Grini, Ida Synnøve Bårvåg; Medin, Anine Christine; Pedersen, Mads Erling; Skipnes, Dagbjørn & Berget, Ingunn (2024). Mixed emotions. The meaning the processing of foods has in consumers’ everyday life. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine & Larsson, Christel (2024). Sustainable diets among Scandinavia’s youth - Consequences on young people´s dietary intake and nutritional status when adhering to plant-based diets of differing strictness. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2024). Beregning av næringsstoffer i utkast til kostråd. Full text in Research Archive
• Osorio, Natalie Garzon; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Øverby, Nina Cecilie & Medin, Anine Christine (2024). Determinanter for implementering av Matnyttig blant helsestasjonsansatte. Full text in Research Archive
• Osorio, Natalie Garzon; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Øverby, Nina Cecilie & Medin, Anine Christine (2024). Facilitators & barriers in implementing early life nutrition interventions in Norwegian primary care: a qualitative assessment using the CFIR. Full text in Research Archive
• Varela, Paula; Grini, Ida Synnøve Bårvåg; Medin, Anine Christine; Pedersen, Mads Erling; Skipnes, Dagbjørn & Berget, Ingunn (2024). Mixed emotions. The meaning the processing of foods has in consumers’ everyday life. Full text in Research Archive
• Mulkerrins, Isabelle; Medin, Anine Christine; Groufh-Jacobsen, Synne; Margerison, Claire & Larsson, Christel (2024). Micronutrient adequacy among youth adhering to vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pescatarian and omnivorous diets in Sweden. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2024). Beregning av næringsstoffer i utkast til kostråd. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2024). Beregning av næringsstoffer i utkast til kostråd. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2024). Sunn mat VS sunnvasking av mat - Life Hacks med Forbrukerrådet. [Internet]. Apple Podcasts. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  et vi egentlig hva vi spiser, eller blir vi lurt av sunnvaskede produkter? Undersøkelser som Forbrukerrådet har gjort viser at de aller fleste ønsker å spise sunt. Universitetet i Agder har publisert en undersøkelse som viser at spesielt unge kan for lite om sunt kosthold. Hva kan vi gjøre for å opplyse om hvor man finner de beste kostholdsrådene? I studio hører du Anine Medin, førsteamanuensis i ernæring ved Universitetet i Agder, Aysha Grönberg, klinisk ernæringsfysiolog og seniorrådgiver i Forbrukerrådet, og programleder Helen Mehammer.

• Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Matnyttig. Full text in Research Archive
• Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Rutter, Harry; Medin, Anine Christine; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2023). Implementering av Matnyttig – en digital kostholdsressurs de første 1000 dagene. Full text in Research Archive
• Osorio, Natalie Garzon; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Medin, Anine Christine & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2023). The selection and operationalization of implementation strategies in the Nutrition Now project. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Ultraprosessert mat: Hva er det? Og hvorfor vil noen ha råd mot det, andre ikke? [Journal]. Aftenposten. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2023). A hybrid 3 study evaluating the scale-up of evidence-based early-life nutrition interventions in a community setting - the Nutrition Now project protocol for phase 2. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2023). Matnyttig - tidlig innsats - de første 1000 dagene. Full text in Research Archive
• Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Matnyttig - tidlig innsats, de første 1000 dagene. Full text in Research Archive
• Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Matnyttig, tidlig innsats - de første 1000 dagene. Full text in Research Archive
• Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Matnyttig - tidlig innsats med fokus på de første 1000 dagene. Full text in Research Archive
• Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Matnyttig - kosthold de første 1000 dagene. Full text in Research Archive
• Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Matnyttig - digital ressurs med fokus på de første 1000 dagene. Full text in Research Archive
• Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Matnyttig - digital ressurs - de første 1000 dagene. Full text in Research Archive
• Groufh-Jacobsen, Synne; Larsson, Christel; Margerison, Claire; Mulkerrins, Isabelle; Aune, Dagfinn & Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Dietary intake and status of B12, iron and iodine in young vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians, pescatarians, flexitarians and omnivores. Full text in Research Archive
• Mulkerrins, Isabelle; Medin, Anine Christine; Groufh-Jacobsen, Synne; Margerison, Claire & Larsson, Christel (2023). Agreement between web-based self-administered and interviewer-administered 24-hour recall in Swedish youth. Full text in Research Archive
• Grini, Ida Synnøve Bårvåg; Medin, Anine Christine & Aune, Dagfinn (2023). Ultraprosessert mat burde være et kostråd: NEI. Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring (NTFE). ISSN 1503-5034. 21(3), p. 26–30. doi: 10.18261/ntfe.21.3.7. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Nøkkelpunkter • Det er utfordrende å klassifisere mat som er ultraprosessert korrekt med NOVA-klassifiseringen. • NOVA-klassifiseringen er unyansert – ikke all ultraprosessert mat (UPF) er usunn. • Det er metodologiske utfordringer ved studier som ser på inntak av UPF og helseutfall. • Vi vet per i dag ikke nok om de ulike årsakssammenhengene som observeres mellom UPF og uhelse. • Veien videre krever mer forskning og et mindre heterogent klassifiseringssystem enn NOVA.

• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Helland, Sissel Heidi; Helle, Christine; Wills, Andrew Keith & Lamu, Admassu Nadew [Show all 23 contributors for this article] (2023). Evaluating the effectiveness and implementation of evidence-based early-life nutrition interventions in a community setting a hybrid type 1 non-randomized trial – the Nutrition Now project protocol. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 13. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1071489. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Disappointingly few efficacious health interventions are successfully scaled up and implemented in real world settings. This represents an evidence-to-practice gap, with loss of opportunity to improve practice. Aiming to improve nutrition in the first 1000 days of life, we have combined four efficacious dietary interventions into a single adapted digital resource (Nutrition Now) for implementation in a Norwegian community setting. Nutrition Now targets pregnant women and parents of 0–2-year-olds with messages focusing on healthy dietary behaviours. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) staff are provided with pedagogical tools addressing healthy food exposure and child food acceptance. Objectives: a) evaluate the effectiveness of provision of the Nutrition Now resource on child diet and diet-related outcomes, with special attention to the influence of socio-economic position, b) gather information on the effectiveness of the implementation process to inform forthcoming scale-up and c) perform trial- and model-based economic evaluations. This is a hybrid type 1 implementation study, focusing on evaluation of effectiveness. A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-tests, where one municipality gets access to the resource (n~800), while a matched non-equivalent control municipality (n~800) does not, will be used. Effectiveness will be assessed by examining e.g., diet outcomes, developmental outcomes, and feeding practices. The resource will be implemented in ECEC settings and made available to pregnant women and parents through the Norwegian system of maternal and child health (MCH) care. The implementation process includes iterative adjustments and implementation strategies from the implementation framework Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) informed by dialogues with stakeholders. Implementation outcomes (e.g., acceptability and adoption) will be assessed through questionnaires and interviews with parents, ECEC and MCH staff, with particular attention to ethnic diverse groups. Both within-trial and modelling-based economic evaluation will be performed. Nutrition Now will bridge the existing evidence-to-practice gap through rigorous scientific effectiveness evaluation of municipal scale up and inform subsequent county scale up. The study is the first to implement efficacious nutrition interventions in early life with potential for health improvement using technology to maximise the reach and impact of both parental and MCH dietary guidance and ECEC practice.

• Medin, Anine Christine & Wills, Andrew Keith (2022). Closing the gap between research and practice - moving from efficacy trials to effectiveness and scale-up. Full text in Research Archive
• Rutter, Harry; Medin, Anine Christine; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Helland, Sissel Heidi & Helle, Christine (2022). What are the factors that influence children’s diet? A mapping session for local stakeholders in Arendal. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2021). 50-åringar har same forbrenninga som 20-åringar. [Internet]. forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Helle, Christine; Medin, Anine Christine; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord & Vik, Frøydis Nordgård (2021). Tidlig innsats som virker! Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2021). Kosthold og korona. [Radio]. NRK Sørlandssendinga. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine; Valen, Erlend Nuland & Salvesen, Lorentz (2021). Photographs of foods - Experiences from adapting a British web-based dietary assessment tool (myfood24) for Norway. Full text in Research Archive
• Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Medin, Anine Christine & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2020). Kommunal investering i sunne matomgivelser – hvor begynne? Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2019). Mye energidrikk. [TV]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2019). Salget av energidrikk øker. [Radio]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2019). Vi drikker energidrikk som aldri før. [Internet]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine & Brunvoll, Sonja Hjellegjerde (2019). Feilkilder i ernæringsepidemiologi – kommentar til Lysne og Olsen. Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring (NTFE). ISSN 1503-5034. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  https://www.ntfe.no/i/2019/1/tfe-2019-01b-1812

• Engeset, Dagrun; Bjørkkjær, Tormod; Helland, Sissel Heidi & Medin, Anine Christine (2019). Flere må ta kosthold på alvor. p. 24–25. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Helland, Sissel Heidi & Vik, Frøydis Nordgård (2019). Tar samfunnet kosthold på alvor? Skolemat, barnehagemåltid og sukkeravgift. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine & Andersen, Lene Frost (2016). Evaluation of the utility of children’s and adolescents’ self-reported physical activity level using accelerometers as the reference. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine & Andersen, Lene Frost (2015). Misreporting of energy intake in a new web-based food record for children and adolescents. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine (2014). Participation rate among children and adolescents in Norwegian dietary assessment studies – our experiences. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine & Mats, Granheim, (2025). Ultraprosessert mat: En sammenligning av NOVA og Siga. Universitetet i Agder. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Ultraprosesserte matvarer (UPF) har i økende grad blitt knyttet til ulike helseutfall og anses som en potensiell utfordring for folkehelsen. I NOVA-klassifiseringen utgjør UPF en samlet gruppe, men det er begrenset kunnskap om eventuelle forskjeller innad i denne kategorien. Formålet med studien var å undersøke om det foreligger forskjeller i energi- og næringsinnhold blant matvarer klassifisert som UPF etter to ulike klassifiseringssystemer: NOVA og Siga. Studien er en pilot tverrsnittstudie med en åpen og prospektiv kostregistrerings matdagbok over 24-timer og rekrutterte totalt 24 deltakere hvor 17 deltakere fullførte protokoll. Deltakerne ble rekruttert gjennom et bekvemmelighetsutvalg. Studien gjennomføres ved Universitetet i Agder. Deltakernes kostdata ble kartlagt og ble videre analysert gjennom ulike ikke-parametriske tester grunnet skjevfordelte data. Krysstabell med påfølgende kji-kvadrat viste signifikant sammenheng mellom klassifiseringssystemene. Kruskal-Wallis tester viste signifikante forskjeller innad i UPF gruppen i energiprosent av sukkerarter. En tilleggsanalyse begrenset til de fire største matvaregruppene for UPF viste Kruskal-Wallis tester signifikante forskjeller i karbohydrater per 100g og protein per 100g, og i energi(kJ), fett, protein og NaCl basert på konsumert mengde. Resultatene kan tyde på at det finnes ernæringsmessige forskjeller innad i UPF, noe som kan ha betydning for videre forskning.

• Forskningsrådet, NFR; Medin, Anine Christine & Andersen, Lene Frost (2019). Hva spiser elevene på skolen? Rapport fra Forskningskampanjen 2018. Forskningsrådet, NFR. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  I Forskningskampanjen inviterer vi skoleelever fra hele landet til å undersøke noe i sitt nærmiljø. I september 2018 fikk over 10 000 i oppdrag å forske på den norske skolematen.

• Medin, Anine Christine (2018). Web-based dietary assessment in Norway: New methods and their validity. Universitetet i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive

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