MRC Epidemiology Unit
The latest news from the MRC Epidemiology Unit
Welcome to the summer 2024 issue of epigram, the quarterly newsletter from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge.
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In this issue: What studying data from the the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey tells us about the diet of adolescents in the UK, the largest genetic study of age of puberty to date, a new tool to help researchers and policy makers understand how interventions place demands on individual agency, and more.
The evolving diets of young people
What we eat and drink during childhood, adolescence and young adulthood has a profound impact on our future health, and can set patterns of behaviour that persist for decades. It is also a time of changing influences and constraints, when family, friends and wider society have a profound impact.
In two new publications our researchers analysed data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (UK NDNS) to understand these influences better, and to evalute the impact of policies designed to make our diets healthier. The UK NDNS, which is carried out jointly by the MRC Epidemiology Unit and and the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), is the only source of nationally representative data on the diet and nutritional status of the UK population.
Sugar intake fell in children and adults after announcement of UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy
An analysis of 11 years of data from the UK NDNS has found that daily free sugar intake fell by around 5 g in children and by around 11 g in adults following the announcement of the UK’s Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) in 2016. This fall was additional to pre-existing downward trends in the intake of dietary free sugar in adults and children.
The SDIL was introduced in a bid to persuade manufacturers to reformulate their products, and the analysis by Dr Nina Rogers and colleagues found that decreased sugar from soft drinks alone made up over half the total decline in free sugar consumption they observed. Read more.
This paper was widely reported, including articles in the Guardian, Times, Independent and Telegraph, and Dr Rogers was interviewed by outlets including LBC and the BBC World Service.
Ultra-processed food makes up almost two-thirds of calorie intake of UK adolescents
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are food items that are manufactured from industrial substances and contain additives such as preservatives, sweeteners, colourings, flavourings, and emulsifiers. UPFs vary greatly, but tend to indicate poor dietary quality, and have been suggested as one of the key drivers of the global rise in diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
A new analysis of data from nearly 3,000 adolescents in the UK NDNS finds that they consume around two-thirds of their daily calories from UPFs, though there was a slight fall from 68% to 63% between 2008/09 and 2018/2019
The research, led by scientists from the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol, found that UPF consumption was highest among adolescents from deprived backgrounds, those of white ethnicity, and younger adolescents.
Senior author Dr Esther van Sluijs commented:
Ultra-processed foods offer convenient and often cheaper solutions to time- and income-poor families, but unfortunately many of these foods also offer poor nutritional value. This could be contributing to the inequalities in health we see emerging across childhood and adolescence.”
This paper was discussed in reports by BBC News, Daily Mail, Guardian, Telegraph and several other UK national news outlets, and lead author Dr Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde was interviewed on several BBC radio channels.
Science at scale
Largest ever genetic study of age of puberty in girls shows bidirectional links with weight gain
A study of the DNA of 800,000 women from Europe, North America, China, Japan and South Korea identified more than 1,000 genetic variants that can influence the age at which girls have their first period.
Just over half of these variants appear to act directly by influencing reproductive hormone levels, while the others act indirectly by accelerating weight gain in childhood, a known risk factor for early puberty. Early puberty is itself associated with subsequent weight gain, and linked with increased risk of a number of diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, later in life.
About 600 of the gene variants were observed for the first time, and researchers used this knowledge to generate a genetic score that predicted whether a girl was likely to hit puberty very early or very late.
The MRC Epidemiology Unit-led research team also analysed rare genetic variants that are carried by very few people, but which can have large effects on puberty. Lead investigator Dr Katherine Kentistou commented:
This is the first time we’ve ever been able to analyse rare genetic variants at this scale. We have identified six genes which all profoundly affect the timing of puberty. While these genes were discovered in girls, they often have the same impact on the timing of puberty in boys. The new mechanisms we describe could form the basis of interventions for individuals at risk of early puberty and obesity.”
Dr Kentistou was interviewed by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, and their findings were reported in the Independent, Daily Mail, BBC News online and other outlets.
Give us the tools…
Our researchers are involved in producing guidance, tools and datasets to support research, policy and engagement across sectors.
New Depth Tool helps researchers and policy makers understand how interventions place demands on individual agency
The differing demands that population health interventions place on individual agency (agentic demand), such as time, finance and mental capacity may explain differences in intervention effectiveness and equity. Until now there has been no consistent approach for classifying interventions according to their agentic demands.
The Demands for Population Health Interventions (Depth) Tool begins to address this.
Spotlight on our scientists
Prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowship for Professor Nita Forouhi
Professor Nita Forouhi, who leads our Nutritional Epidemiology programme, was elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowship.
Nita is one of 58 exceptional biomedical and health scientists to be elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences this year, in recognition for their remarkable contributions to advancing biomedical and health sciences, ground-breaking research discoveries and translating developments into benefits for patients and wider society.
Professor Forouhi’s work focuses on the link between diet, nutrition and the risk of diabetes, obesity and related disorders. Read more.
Five ways to prevent type 2 diabetes with Professor Nick Wareham
Unit Director, Professor Nick Wareham was interviewed by the BreathNow YouTube channel, where he discussed key aspects of type 2 diabetes prevention and diagnosis, as well as the practical impact of the latest research. Watch on YouTube.
Social impact award for building inclusive communities
PhD student Mine Koprulu was awarded a University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellors Social Impact Award for contributions to projects ranging from building more inclusive communities to promoting gender equity.
BBC Science Focus examines the project to find your menopausal age
Dr Stasa Stankovic, a recent PhD student with our Unit, discussed her genomics research into the prediction of early menopause with Noa Leach for BBC Science Focus.
Opportunities at the Unit
Clinical Research Study Assistant (Fixed Term)
The Unit is looking for an experienced Phlebotomist to join our Field Team as a Clinical Research Study Assistant. The post holder will play an important role in supporting the Unit’s research into obesity, diabetes and related metabolic disorders. Working as part of a multi-disciplinary Field Team they will carry out clinical, anthropometric and body composition measurements on participants taking part in the Fenland 3 study, as well as processing laboratory samples. A key aspect of the role is the collection of venous blood samples, so previous experience in this skill is essential. Training will be given in all other measurement and laboratory techniques.
- Closing date 21 July 2024
- Full details
Principal Software Developer (Part Time, Fixed Term)
The MRC Epidemiology Unit is seeking to appoint a Principal Software Developer with extensive experience working with Intake24. This position is based in the Unit’s Digital Tools Team.
The principal software developer’s primary focus is to maintain and further develop the innovative open-source, web-based research tool, Intake24, used to collect and process information about what people eat and drink. We provide Intake24 for major research initiatives including the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme, and support new adaptation for use in different populations and settings (e.g., South Asia). The successful candidate will join team of intake24 developers, work closely work with the Dietary Assessment Platform researchers, and across different project teams to create, support and maintain tools that collect, store and process data.
- Closing date 28 July 2024
- Full details
Our latest publications
The MRC Epidemiology Unit is committed to Open Access and to making our research more accessible, equitable, transparent and reproducible.
We aim for all MRC Epidemiology Unit-led papers to be fully available through Open Access as we continue to break down any barriers to knowledge.
You can find all publications from the MRC Epidemiology Unit on our Publications Database: https://publications.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/
You can search by journal, year, study, programme, Unit author, and keywords in the title and abstract.
Since the last issue of epigram, our researchers have published the following papers:
- A predictive model for medium-term weight loss response in people with type 2 diabetes engaging in behavioural weight management interventions Al-Abdullah L et al. Diabetes Obes Metab
- Associations of Systematic Inflammatory Markers with Diet Quality, Blood Pressure, and Obesity in the AIRWAVE Health Monitoring Study Aljuraiban GS et al. J Inflamm Res
- Prediabetes, participation in the English National Health Service Diabetes Prevention Programme, and associations with COVID-19-related mortality: A whole population study Barron E et al. Diabetes Res Clin Pract
- Exploring the changing association between parental and adolescent fruit and vegetable intakes, from age 10 to 30 years Braune T et al. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act
- Proteomic prediction of diverse incident diseases: a machine learning-guided biomarker discovery study using data from a prospective cohort study Carrasco-Zanini J et al. Lancet Digit Health
- The Sleep and Activity Database for the Early Years (SADEY) study: Design and Methods Cliff DP et al. J Act Seden Sleep Behav
- Developing inclusive public involvement and engagement activities with secondary school students and educational professionals: a protocol Cross L et al. Res Involv Engagem
- State of the Art of Lifecourse Cohort Establishment Dai S et al. China CDC Wkly
- The effectiveness of pharmacological and lifestyle interventions to reduce the risk of diabetes and hyperglycaemia following gestational diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis Dennison RA et al. Diabet Med
- Identifying proteomic risk factors for overall, aggressive, and early onset prostate cancer using Mendelian Randomisation and tumour spatial transcriptomics Desai TA et al. EBioMedicine
- Differences in income, farm size and nutritional status between female and male farmers in a region of Haiti Duvivier P et al. Front Sustain
- Lessons from an online workshop to advance strategic de-implementation of universal BMI surveillance Egan N et al. Soc Sci Human Open
- Protocol for a seamless phase 2A-phase 2B randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of benfotiamine in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease (BenfoTeam) Feldman HH et al. PLoS One
- Screen time, social media use, and weight-related bullying victimization: Findings from an international sample of adolescents Ganson KT et al. PLoS One
- Dual glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucagon receptor agonism reduces energy intake in type 2 diabetes with obesity Golubic R et al. Diabetes Obes Metab
- Perception and Reality: the Mismatch between Absolute and Relative Physical Activity Intensity during Pregnancy and Postpartum in United States Women Hesketh KR et al. Prev Med
- Assessment of erythrocyte transketolase, whole blood thiamine diphosphate and human milk thiamine concentrations to identify infants and young children responding favorably to therapeutic thiamine administration: findings from the Lao Thiamine Study, a prospective cohort study Hess SY et al. Curr Develop Nutr
- Association between arterial health and cognition in adolescents: The PANIC study Jalanko P et al. Physiol Rep
- Genome-wide analysis in over 1 million individuals of European ancestry yields improved polygenic risk scores for blood pressure traits Keaton JM et al. Nat Genet
- Public acceptability of proposals to manage new takeaway food outlets near schools: cross-sectional analysis of the 2021 International Food Policy Study Keeble M et al. Cities Health
- Understanding the genetic complexity of puberty timing across the allele frequency spectrum Kentistou K et al. Nat Genet
- The impact of excess body weight on employment outcomes: A systematic review of the evidence Kesaite V et al. Econ Hum Biol
- Exploring Residential Relocation– Differences between Newcomers and Settled Residents in Health, Travel Behaviour and Neighbourhood Perceptions Kienast-von Einem C et al. Health Place
- Effect of 20 mph speed limits on traffic injuries in Edinburgh, UK: a natural experiment and modelling study Kokka KK et al. J Epidemiol Community Health
- Assessing Performance of Contemporary Plant-Based Diets against the UK Dietary Guidelines: Findings from the Feeding the Future (FEED) Study Lawson I et al. Nutrients
- Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and height loss in adults: a longitudinal analysis in the EPIC-Norfolk study Lee JY et al. J Nutr
- Loss of GPR75 protects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and body fat accumulation Leeson-Payne A et al. Cell Metab
- Global seroprevalence and prevalence of infection of influenza in dogs (Canis familiaris): A systematic review and meta-analysis Leung C et al. Rev Med Virol
- Loss of transient receptor potential channel 5 causes obesity and postpartum depression Li Y et al. Cell
- Genetic drivers and cellular selection of female mosaic X chromosome loss Liu A et al. Nature
- The impact of the UK Soft Drink Industry Levy on the soft drink marketplace, 2017 – 2020: an interrupted time series analysis with comparator series Luick M et al. PLoS One
- Randomised controlled trial of population screening for atrial fibrillation in people aged 70 years and over to reduce stroke: protocol for the SAFER trial Mant J et al. BMJ Open
- Public transport use and mortality among older adults in England: A cohort study Patterson R et al. Prev Med
- Consolidated guidance for behavioral intervention pilot and feasibility studies Pfledderer CD et al. Pilot Feasibility Stud
- Complex patterns of multimorbidity associated with severe COVID-19 and long COVID Pietzner M et al. Commun Med (Lond)
- Point-of-choice kilocalorie labelling practices in large, out-of-home food businesses: A pre vs post observational study of labelling practices following implementation of kilocalorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021 Polden M et al. BMJ Open
- Changes in the number and outcome of takeaway food outlet planning applications in response to adoption of management zones around schools in England: a time series analysis Rahilly J et al. Health Place
- The UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy and childhood hospital admissions for asthma in England Rogers NT et al. Nat Commun
- Estimated changes in free sugar consumption one year after the UK soft drinks industry levy came into force: controlled interrupted time series analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2011-2019) Rogers NT et al. J Epidemiol Community Health
- Identifying therapeutic targets for cancer among 2074 circulating proteins and risk of nine cancers Smith-Byrne K et al. Nat Commun
- Diet and physical activity interventions to improve cardiovascular disease risk factors in liver transplant recipients: Systematic review and meta-analysis Spillman LN et al. Transplant Rev (Orlando)
- Medical history predicts phenome-wide disease onset and enables the rapid response to emerging health threats Steinfeldt J et al. Nat Commun
- A systematic evaluation of seven different scores representing the EAT-Lancet reference diet and mortality, stroke, and greenhouse gas emissions in three cohorts Stubbendorff A et al. Lancet Public Health
- The impact of social media interventions on eating behaviours and diet in adolescents and young adults: a mixed methods systematic review protocol Tang H et al. BMJ Open
- Early outcomes of referrals to the English National Health Service Digital Weight Management Programme Taylor K et al. Obesity
- Multisectoral interventions for urban health in Africa: a mixed-methods systematic review Thondoo M et al. Glob Health Action
- Replacement of saturated fatty acids from meat by dairy sources in relation to incident cardiovascular disease: The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Norfolk study Vogtschmidt YD et al. Am J Clin Nutr
- Resilience of mental health services amidst Ebola disease outbreaks in Africa Wirsiy FS et al. Front Public Health
- Relationship between HLA genetic variations, COVID-19 vaccine antibody response, and risk of breakthrough outcomes Xie J et al. Nat Commun
- Metabolome-wide Mendelian randomization for age at menarche and age at natural menopause Yazdanpanah M et al. Genome Med
- Protein-truncating variants in BSN are associated with severe adult-onset obesity, type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease Zhao Y et al. Nat Genet
About epigram
epigram is the newsletter for everyone interested in work happening at the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge.
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