MSc, PhD(Otago)
Tel: +64 3 479 5839
Room: Science II 7c6
Email rachel.brown@otago.ac.nz
Rachel Brown is the Deputy Head of Department and postgraduate co-ordinator for the Department of Human Nutrition. She is a graduate of the University of Otago with a BSc, MSc and PhD (1999). Rachel’s research interests lie in the areas of nuts and health, energy metabolism, sports nutrition, and lipid metabolism. Recently she has been involved in research investigating the effects of nut consumption on plasma lipids and lipoproteins, inflammation and endothelial function. This research also investigated whether public health advice regarding nut consumption for the reduction in cardiovascular disease risk is sustainable and achievable. She is also currently involved in a research project investigating potential differences in individuals who report difficulties in losing weight (conservers) compared to individuals who report difficulties in gaining weight (expenders).
Rachel is a member of the Agencies for Action Scientific committee where she has co-authored several reports including “Does the family environment contribute to food habits or behaviours and physical activity in children?”; “Does sedentary behaviour contribute to chronic disease or chronic disease risk in adults?”; and “Are nutrition and physical activity primary prevention interventions in the primary care setting effective at reducing biochemical and physical risk factors?”
Rachel coordinates the following papers:
HUNT451: Nutritional Assessment
HUNT452: Nutrition and Human Health
She also teaches in the following papers:
HUNT221: Obesity
HUNT232: High fat diets
HUNT233: Obesity
HEAL192: Obesity
DENT262: Dietary assessment, obesity, heart disease
Current postgraduate students
PhD
Rebecca Cooke. Characteristics of obesity resistance and susceptibility.
Melyssa Roy. The SWIFT trial: Support strategies for whole food diets, intermittent fasting and training.
Michelle Jospe. The SWIFT study – Effect of support strategies on weight, body composition, and eating and dieting behaviour at one year.
Master of Science
Janet Yong. Barriers and facilitators to nut consumption.
Luke Scullion. The HABIT study: Effects of healthy changes to bread on blood lipids and lipoproteins.
Master of Dietetics
Heidi Taylor. The effects of soaking whole and ground almonds on consumer acceptance.
Shivani Kumari. The effects of soaking on phytic acid and food safety of whole and ground nuts.
Recent graduates
PhD
Siew Ling Tey. Energy Density, energy balance and nuts.
Master of Science
Asika Devi. Is nut-enriched bread an acceptable and effective vechicle to reduce cardiometabolic risk factors?
Jo Slater. Low energy availability in New Zealand athletes (LEANZ).
Master of Dietetics
Alexandra Tully. Nutritional adequacy of three popular diets.
Melanie Park. A cost analysis of three popular diets.
Chloe Hindle. Energy Availability and Macronutrient Content of Elite Rugby Players' Diets.
Claire Gibson. Disordered eating and body image in elite male Rugby Union players during pre-season training.
Katherine Pearson. Nutrient displacement with nut consumption.
Esther Kim. The dietary assessment software requirements of New Zealand Dietitians.
Publications
Gibson, C., Hindle, C., McLay-Cooke, R., Slater, J., Brown, R., Smith, B., … Black, K. (2019). Body image amongst elite rugby union players. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 33(8), 2217-2222. doi: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000002312
Houghton, L. A., Brown, R. C., Beaumont, S., Jennings, S., Bailey, K. B., Haszard, J. J., … Daniels, L., & Gibson, R. S. (2019). Micronutrient status differs among Maasai and Kamba preschoolers participating in a supplementary feeding program in Southern Kenya. Maternal & Child Nutrition. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/mcn.12805
Brown, R., Mackay, S., & Eyles, H. (2019). Nutrition Society of New Zealand Annual Conference held in Auckland, New Zealand, 28-30th November 2018 [Meeting Report]. Proceedings, 8(1), 1. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019008001
Brown, R. C., Gray, A. R., Yong, L. C., Chisholm, A., Leong, S. L., & Tey, S. L. (2019). What motivates and deters nut consumption among the general public in New Zealand. Proceedings, 8(1), 9. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019008009
Brown, R. C., Gray, A. R., Yong, L. C., Chisholm, A., Leong, S. L., & Tey, S. L. (2018). Current nut recommendation practices differ between health professionals in New Zealand. Public Health Nutrition, 21(6), 1065-1074. doi: 10.1017/S1368980017003469
Chapter in Book - Research
Tey, S. L., Chisholm, A. W.-A. H., & Brown, R. C. (2016). Nut consumption and metabolic syndrome. In I. Dichi & A. Name Colado Simão (Eds.), Nutritional intervention in metabolic syndrome. (pp. 289-312). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b19099-23
Journal - Research Article
Gibson, C., Hindle, C., McLay-Cooke, R., Slater, J., Brown, R., Smith, B., … Black, K. (2019). Body image amongst elite rugby union players. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 33(8), 2217-2222. doi: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000002312
Houghton, L. A., Brown, R. C., Beaumont, S., Jennings, S., Bailey, K. B., Haszard, J. J., … Daniels, L., & Gibson, R. S. (2019). Micronutrient status differs among Maasai and Kamba preschoolers participating in a supplementary feeding program in Southern Kenya. Maternal & Child Nutrition. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/mcn.12805
Brown, R. C., Gray, A. R., Yong, L. C., Chisholm, A., Leong, S. L., & Tey, S. L. (2018). Current nut recommendation practices differ between health professionals in New Zealand. Public Health Nutrition, 21(6), 1065-1074. doi: 10.1017/S1368980017003469
Black, K., Slater, J., Brown, R. C., & Cooke, R. (2018). Low energy availability, plasma lipids, and hormonal profiles of recreational athletes. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 32(10), 2816-2824. doi: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000002540
Roy, M., Williams, S. M., Brown, R. C., Meredith-Jones, K. A., Osborne, H., Jospe, M., & Taylor, R. W. (2018). HIIT in the real world: Outcomes from a 12-month intervention in overweight adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1249/mss.0000000000001642
Stamm, R. A., March, K. M., Karakochuk, C. D., Gray, A. R., Brown, R. C., Green, T. J., & Houghton, L. A. (2018). Lactating Canadian women consuming 100μg folic acid daily have high circulating serum folic acid above a threshold concentration of serum total folate. Journal of Nutrition, 148(7), 1103-1108. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxy070
Tan, S.-Y., Tey, S. L., & Brown, R. (2018). Can nuts mitigate malnutrition in older adults? A conceptual framework [Review]. Nutrients, 10(10), 1448. doi: 10.3390/nu10101448
Taylor, H., Webster, K., Gray, A. R., Tey, S. L., Chisholm, A., Bailey, K., Kumari, S., & Brown, R. C. (2018). The effects of 'activating' almonds on consumer acceptance and gastrointestinal tolerance. European Journal of Nutrition, 57(8), 2771-2783. doi: 10.1007/s00394-017-1543-7
Brown, R. C., Gray, A. R., Yong, L. C., Chisholm, A., Leong, S. L., & Tey, S. L. (2018). A comparison of perceptions of nuts between the general public, dietitians, general practitioners, and nurses. PeerJ, 6, e5500. doi: 10.7717/peerj.5500
Brown, R. C., Yong, L. C., Gray, A. R., Tey, S. L., Chisholm, A., & Leong, S. L. (2017). Perceptions and knowledge of nuts amongst health professionals in New Zealand. Nutrients, 9, 22. doi: 10.3390/nu9030220
Tey, S. L., Robinson, T., Gray, A. R., Chisholm, A. W., & Brown, R. C. (2017). Do dry roasting, lightly salting nuts affect their cardioprotective properties and acceptability? European Journal of Nutrition, 56(3), 1025-1036. doi: 10.1007/s00394-015-1150-4
Jospe, M. R., Roy, M., Brown, R. C., Williams, S. M., Osborne, H. R., Meredith-Jones, K. A., McArthur, J. R., Fleming, E. A., & Taylor, R. W. (2017). The effect of different types of monitoring strategies on weight loss: A randomized controlled trial. Obesity, 25(9), 1490-1498. doi: 10.1002/oby.21898
Brown, R. C., Gray, A. R., Tey, S. L., Chisholm, A., Burley, V., Greenwood, D. C., & Cade, J. (2017). Associations between nut consumption and health vary between omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans. Nutrients, 9(11), 1219. doi: 10.3390/nu9111219
Jospe, M. R., Taylor, R. W., Athens, J., Roy, M., & Brown, R. C. (2017). Adherence to hunger training over 6 months and the effect on weight and eating behaviour: Secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial. Nutrients, 9(11), 1260. doi: 10.3390/nu9111260
McLay-Cooke, R. T., Gray, A. R., Jones, L. M., Taylor, R. W., Skidmore, P. M. L., & Brown, R. C. (2017). Prediction equations overestimate the energy requirements more for obesity-susceptible individuals. Nutrients, 9(9), 1012. doi: 10.3390/nu9091012
Yong, L. C., Gray, A. R., Chisholm, A., Leong, S. L., Tey, S. L., & Brown, R. C. (2017). Barriers to and facilitators and perceptions of nut consumption among the general population in New Zealand. Public Health Nutrition, 20(17), 3166-3182. doi: 10.1017/S1368980017002464
Slater, J., Brown, R., McLay-Cooke, R., & Black, K. (2017). Low energy availability in exercising women: Historical perspectives and future directions. Sports Medicine, 47(2), 207-220. doi: 10.1007/s40279-016-0583-0
Pearson, K. R., Tey, S. L., Gray, A. R., Chisholm, A., & Brown, R. C. (2017). Energy compensation and nutrient displacement following regular consumption of hazelnuts and other energy-dense snack foods in non-obese individuals. European Journal of Nutrition, 56(3), 1255-1267. doi: 10.1007/s00394-016-1176-2
Bradbury, K. E., Williams, S. M., Mann, J. I., Oey, I., Aitchison, C., Parnell, W., Fleming, L., Brown, R. C., & Skeaff, C. M. (2016). Serum and erythrocyte folate status of New Zealand women of childbearing age following a countrywide voluntary programme by the baking industry to fortify bread with folic acid. Public Health Nutrition, 19(16), 2897-2905. doi: 10.1017/S136898001600121X
Eyres, L., Eyres, M. F., Chisholm, A., & Brown, R. C. (2016). Coconut oil consumption and cardiovascular risk factors in humans. Nutrition Reviews, 74(4), 267-280. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuw002
Brown, R. C., Tey, S. L., Gray, A. R., Chisholm, A., Smith, C., Fleming, E., & Parnell, W. (2016). Nut consumption is associated with better nutrient intakes: Results from the 2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey. British Journal of Nutrition, 115(1), 105-112. doi: 10.1017/S0007114515004122
Slater, J., McLay-Cooke, R., Brown, R., & Black, K. (2016). Female recreational exercisers at risk of low energy availability. International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism, 26(5), 421-427. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2015-0245
Devi, A., Chisholm, A., Gray, A., Tey, S. L., Williamson-Poutama, D., Cameron, S. L., & Brown, R. C. (2016). Nut-enriched bread is an effective and acceptable vehicle to improve regular nut consumption. European Journal of Nutrition, 55, 2281-2293. doi: 10.1007/s00394-015-1038-3
McLean, A., Brown, R. C., & Black, K. E. (2016). The fluid and electrolyte balance of New Zealand European and Maori/Pacific Island athletes: An observational study. European Journal of Sport Science, 16(3), 336-343. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2015.1017539
Miller, J. C., Smith, C., Williams, S. M., Mann, J. I., Brown, R. C., Parnell, W. R., & Skeaff, C. M. (2016). Trends in serum total cholesterol and dietary fat intakes in New Zealand between 1989 and 2009. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 40(3), 263-269. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12504
Brown, R., Sam, C. H. Y., Green, T., & Wood, S. (2015). Effect of GutsyGum™, a novel gum, on subjective ratings of gastro esophageal reflux following a refluxogenic meal. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 12(2), 138-145. doi: 10.3109/19390211.2014.950783
Brown, R. C., McLay-Cooke, R., Gray, A. R., & Tey, S. L. (2015). Oral fatty acid sensitivity among obesity resistant and obesity susceptible individuals. Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics, 1(1), 7. Retrieved from http://clinical-nutrition.imedpub.com/archive.php
Jospe, M. R., Brown, R. C., Roy, M., & Taylor, R. W. (2015). Adherence to hunger training using blood glucose monitoring: A feasibility study. Nutrition & Metabolism, 12, 22. doi: 10.1186/s12986-015-0017-2
Brown, R. C., Tey, S. L., Gray, A. R., Chisholm, A., Smith, C., Fleming, E., & Parnell, W. (2015). Association of nut consumption with cardiometabolic risk factors in the 2008/2009 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey. Nutrients, 7(9), 7523-7542. doi: 10.3390/nu7095351
Tey, S. L., Robinson, T., Davis, H., Gray, A. R., Chisholm, A. W., & Brown, R. C. (2015). The effect of regular hazelnut consumption on cardiovascular risk factors and acceptance in Māori and European. Journal of Nutrients, 2(2), 39-53.
Black, K. E., Skidmore, P., & Brown, R. C. (2014). Fluid balance of cyclists during a 387-km race. European Journal of Sport Science, 14(Suppl. 1), S421-S428. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2012.711860
Brown, R. C., Tey, S. L., Gray, A. R., Chisholm, A., Smith, C., Fleming, E., Blakey, C., & Parnell, W. (2014). Patterns and predictors of nut consumption: Results from the 2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey. British Journal of Nutrition, 112(12), 2028-2040. doi: 10.1017/s0007114514003158
Haywood, B. A., Black, K. E., Baker, D., McGarvey, J., Healey, P., & Brown, R. C. (2014). Probiotic supplementation reduces the duration and incidence of infections but not severity in elite rugby union players. Journal of Science & Medicine in Sport, 17(4), 356-360. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2013.08.004
Bradbury, K. E., Williams, S. M., Mann, J. I., Brown, R. C., Parnell, W., & Skeaff, C. M. (2014). Estimation of serum and erythrocyte folate concentrations in the New Zealand adult population within a background of voluntary folic acid fortification. Journal of Nutrition, 144(1), 68-74. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.182105
Cosgrove, S. D., Love, T. D., Brown, R. C., Baker, D. F., Howe, A. S., & Black, K. E. (2014). Fluid and electrolyte balance during two different preseason training sessions in elite rugby union players. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 28(2), 520-527. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182986d43
Brown, R. C., McLay-Cooke, R. T., Richardson, S. L., Williams, S. M., Grattan, D. R., & Chisholm, A. W.-A. H. (2014). Appetite response among those susceptible or resistant to obesity. International Journal of Endocrinology, 2014, 512013. doi: 10.1155/2014/512013
Black, K. E., Huxford, J., Perry, T., & Brown, R. C. (2013). Fluid and sodium balance of elite wheelchair rugby players. International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism, 23, 110-118.
Tey, S. L., Gray, A. R., Chisholm, A. W., Delahunty, C. M., & Brown, R. C. (2013). The dose of hazelnuts influences acceptance and diet quality but not inflammatory markers and body composition in overweight and obese individuals. Journal of Nutrition, 143(8), 1254-1262. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.174714
Smith, C., Parnell, W. R., Brown, R. C., & Gray, A. R. (2013). Providing additional money to food-insecure households and its effect on food expenditure: A randomized controlled trial. Public Health Nutrition, 16(8), 1507-1515. doi: 10.1017/s1368980012003680
Richmond, K., Williams, S., Mann, J., Brown, R., & Chisholm, A. (2013). Markers of cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes are improved by the daily consumption of almonds or sunflower kernels: A feeding study. ISRN Nutrition, 2013, 626414. doi: 10.5402/2013/626414
Smith, C., Parnell, W. R., Brown, R. C., & Gray, A. R. (2013). Balancing the diet and the budget: Food purchasing practices of food-insecure families in New Zealand. Nutrition & Dietetics, 70(4), 278-285. doi: 10.1111/1747-0080.12043
Black, K. E., Skidmore, P. M. L., & Brown, R. C. (2012). Energy intakes of ultraendurance cyclists during competition: An observational study. International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism, 22(1), 19-23.
Black, K. E., Skidmore, P., & Brown, R. C. (2012). Case study: Nutritional strategies of a cyclist with celiac disease during an ultraendurance race. International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism, 22(4), 304-310.
Tey, S. L., Brown, R. C., Gray, A. R., Chisholm, A. W., & Delahunty, C. M. (2012). Long-term consumption of high energy-dense snack foods on sensory-specific satiety and intake. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 95, 1038-1047. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.030882
Hunter, D. C., Brown, R., Green, T., Thomson, C., Skeaff, M., Williams, S., … Skinner, M. A. (2012). Changes in markers of inflammation, antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress in smokers following consumption of milk, and milk supplemented with fruit and vegetable extracts and vitamin C. International Journal of Food Sciences & Nutrition, 63(1), 90-102. doi: 10.3109/09637486.2011.601286
Tey, S. L., Brown, R., Gray, A., Chisholm, A., & Delahunty, C. (2011). Nuts improve diet quality compared to other energy-dense snacks while maintaining body weight. Journal of Nutrition & Metabolism, 2011, 357350. doi: 10.1155/2011/357350
Dodd, H., Williams, S., Brown, R., & Venn, B. (2011). Calculating meal glycemic index by using measured and published food values compared with directly measured meal glycemic index. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 94, 992-996. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.012138
Tey, S. L., Brown, R., Chisholm, A., Gray, A., Williams, S., & Delahunty, C. (2011). Current guidelines for nut consumption are achievable and sustainable: A hazelnut intervention. British Journal of Nutrition, 105(10), 1503-1511. doi: 10.1017/S0007114510005283
Tey, S. L., Brown, R. C., Chisholm, A. W., Delahunty, C. M., Gray, A. R., & Williams, S. M. (2011). Effects of different forms of hazelnuts on blood lipids and α-tocopherol concentrations in mildly hypercholesterolemic individuals. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 65, 117-124. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2010.200
