Research Profile

Biography

Áine Hennessy, BSc, PhD 
Dr Áine Hennessy is a Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences at the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences. She is a Science Foundation Ireland-funded Investigator at the Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT; http://www.infantcentre.ie/) and a member of the Cork Centre for Vitamin D and Nutrition Research at UCC.

Dr Hennessy is a graduate of the BSc (Hons) Nutritional Sciences programme at UCC. In 2013, she completed a PhD in Nutrition in the area of micronutrients and the role of fortified foods in the diets of young children and adults at the Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance unit at UCC. She also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education from UCC.

Her research focusses on nutritional exposures and health behaviours during pregnancy and in early life and associations with health outcomes in complex maternal pregnancy and infant birth cohort datasets. Dr Hennessy also has extensive expertise in nutritional surveillance, with a focus on micronutrients, risk-benefit analysis of food regulation and dietary assessment method development (including web-based and automated technologies). 

Since 2017, Dr Hennessy has attracted over €630k in research funding and in 2019 she was awarded a prestigious Science Foundation Ireland Starting Investigator Research Grant (SIRG) to support her research on functional indicators of iodine status during pregnancy using an outcome-driven, personalised nutrition approach. This award, the first to a recipient in Food and Nutrition research, aims to address the three key research gaps in iodine nutrition research: the absence of a biomarker of individual iodine status, unreliable estimates of intake, and a paucity of data on which neurodevelopmental domains are most affected by mild-moderate iodine deficiency in utero using data from maternal-infant cohort studies.

Research Interests

Maternal and child nutrition - evaluating the impact of nutritional exposures and health behaviours during pregnancy and early life on health outcomes.
Dietary patterns and eating behaviours - identifying and quantifying the impact of dietary patterns on diet quality and health outcomes.
Dietary assessment - development, refinement and validation of novel dietary assessment methods.



Research Grants

 ProjectFunding
Body
Start DateEnd DateAward
Functional indicators of iodine status in pregnancy - an outcome-driven, personalised nutrition approachScience Foundation Ireland01-MAR-1928-FEB-23€550,685.00
BASELINE-DIETDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (DAFF)01-JAN-1731-DEC-17€69,759.00
HEA COVID-19 Research FundHigher Education Authority (HEA)01-OCT-2331-JAN-24€6,167.00

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(2021)'Iron, iodine and vitamin D deficiencies during pregnancy – epidemiology, risk factors and developmental impacts'
Kiely, ME; McCarthy, EK; Hennessy, A (2021) 'Iron, iodine and vitamin D deficiencies during pregnancy – epidemiology, risk factors and developmental impacts'. The Proceedings of The Nutrition Society, 80 :290-302 [DOI] [Details]
(2018)'Estimation of the maternal vitamin D intake that maintains circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D in late gestation at a concentration sufficient to keep umbilical cord sera >= 25-30 nmol/L: a dose-response, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial in pregnant women at northern latitude'
O'Callaghan, KM;Hennessy, A;Hull, GLJ;Healy, K;Ritz, C;Kenny, LC;Cashman, KD;Kiely, ME (2018) 'Estimation of the maternal vitamin D intake that maintains circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D in late gestation at a concentration sufficient to keep umbilical cord sera >= 25-30 nmol/L: a dose-response, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial in pregnant women at northern latitude'. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 108 :77-91 [DOI] [Details]
(2018)'Interactions between Vitamin D Status, Calcium Intake and Parathyroid Hormone Concentrations in Healthy White-Skinned Pregnant Women at Northern Latitude'
Hemmingway, A;O'Callaghan, KM;Hennessy, A;Hull, GLJ;Cashman, KD;Kiely, ME (2018) 'Interactions between Vitamin D Status, Calcium Intake and Parathyroid Hormone Concentrations in Healthy White-Skinned Pregnant Women at Northern Latitude'. Nutrients, 10 [DOI] [Details]
(2018)'Antenatal vitamin D exposure and childhood eczema, food allergy, asthma and allergic rhinitis at 2 and 5 years of age in the atopic disease-specific Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort Study'
Hennessy, A;Hourihane, JO;Malvisi, L;Irvine, AD;Kenny, LC;Murray, DM;Kiely, ME (2018) 'Antenatal vitamin D exposure and childhood eczema, food allergy, asthma and allergic rhinitis at 2 and 5 years of age in the atopic disease-specific Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort Study'. Allergy, 73 :2182-2191 [DOI] [Details]
(2018)'Central haemodynamics in normal pregnancy: a prospective longitudinal study'
O'Callaghan, KM;Hennessy, A;Malvisi, L;Kiely, M (2018) 'Central haemodynamics in normal pregnancy: a prospective longitudinal study'. Journal of Hypertension, 36 :2102-2108 [DOI] [Details]
(2018)'Interactions between vitamin D status, calcium intake and parathyroid hormone concentrations in healthy pregnant women'
Hemmingway, A;O'Callaghan, KM;Hennessy, A;Kiely, ME (2018) 'Interactions between vitamin D status, calcium intake and parathyroid hormone concentrations in healthy pregnant women'. The Proceedings of The Nutrition Society, 77 :64-64 [DOI] [Details]
(2017)'Variation in iodine food composition data has a major impact on estimates of iodine intake in young children'
Hennessy Á;Ní Chaoimh C;McCarthy EK;Kingston C;Irvine AD;Hourihane JO;Kenny LC;Murray DM;Kiely M; (2017) 'Variation in iodine food composition data has a major impact on estimates of iodine intake in young children'. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, [DOI] [Details]
(2015)'Impact of voluntary food fortification practices in Ireland: trends in nutrient intakes in Irish adults between 1997-9 and 2008-10'
Hennessy, A;Hannon, EM;Walton, J;Flynn, A (2015) 'Impact of voluntary food fortification practices in Ireland: trends in nutrient intakes in Irish adults between 1997-9 and 2008-10'. British Journal of Nutrition, 113 :310-320 [DOI] [Details]
(2017)'Development and evaluation of a concise food list for use in a web-based 24-h dietary recall tool'
Evans K;Hennessy Á;Walton J;Timon C;Gibney E;Flynn A; (2017) 'Development and evaluation of a concise food list for use in a web-based 24-h dietary recall tool'. Journal of Nutritional Science, 6 [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Phylloquinone Intakes and Food Sources and Vitamin K Status in a Nationally Representative Sample of Irish Adults'
Hayes A, Hennessy Á, Walton J, McNulty BA, Lucey AJ, Kiely M, Flynn A, Cashman KD (2016) 'Phylloquinone Intakes and Food Sources and Vitamin K Status in a Nationally Representative Sample of Irish Adults'. Journal of Nutrition, [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Estimating safe maximum levels of vitamins and minerals in fortified foods and food supplements'
Flynn, Albert; Kehoe, Laura; Hennessy, Áine; Walton, Janette (2016) 'Estimating safe maximum levels of vitamins and minerals in fortified foods and food supplements'. European Journal of Nutrition, [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2016)'Estimation of the dietary requirement for vitamin D in white children aged 4-8 y: a randomized, controlled, dose-response trial'
Mortensen, C;Damsgaard, CT;Hauger, H;Ritz, C;Lanham-New, SA;Smith, TJ;Hennessy, A;Dowling, K;Cashman, KD;Kiely, M;Molgaard, C (2016) 'Estimation of the dietary requirement for vitamin D in white children aged 4-8 y: a randomized, controlled, dose-response trial'. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 104 :1310-1317 [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Estimation of the dietary requirement for vitamin D in adolescents aged 14-18 y: a dose-response, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial'
Smith, TJ;Tripkovic, L;Damsgaard, CT;Molgaard, C;Ritz, C;Wilson-Barnes, SL;Dowling, KG;Hennessy, A;Cashman, KD;Kiely, M;Lanham-New, SA;Hart, KH (2016) 'Estimation of the dietary requirement for vitamin D in adolescents aged 14-18 y: a dose-response, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial'. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 104 :1301-1309 [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Development, validation and implementation of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire to assess habitual vitamin D intake'
Kiely M;Collins A;Lucey AJ;Andersen R;Cashman KD;Hennessy Á; (2016) 'Development, validation and implementation of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire to assess habitual vitamin D intake'. Human Nutrition and Dietetics, [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'The role of fortified foods and nutritional supplements in increasing vitamin D intake in Irish preschool children'
Hennessy Á;Browne F;Kiely M;Walton J;Flynn A; (2016) 'The role of fortified foods and nutritional supplements in increasing vitamin D intake in Irish preschool children'. European Journal of Nutrition, [DOI] [Details]
(2015)'Impact of voluntary food fortification practices in Ireland: trends in nutrient intakes in Irish adults between 1997-9 and 2008-10'
Hennessy, Áine; Hannon, Evelyn M.; Walton, Janette; Flynn, Albert (2015) 'Impact of voluntary food fortification practices in Ireland: trends in nutrient intakes in Irish adults between 1997-9 and 2008-10'. British Journal of Nutrition, 113 :310-320 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]

Conference Publications

 YearPublication
(2021)Nutrition Society Winter Conference 2021: Obesity and the Brain
Áine Hennessy, Anne-Marie Phelan, Deirdre M. Murray & Mairead E. Kiely (2021) Postpartum depression in Irish mothers and associations with infant feeding practices Nutrition Society Winter Conference 2021: Obesity and the Brain [Details]
(2021)The Nutrition Society Winter Conference 2021: Obesity and the brain
Lisa Kelliher, Áine Hennessy, Fergus McCarthy & Mairead Kiely (2021) Periconceptional and antenatal nutritional supplement use in Irish women: data from the IMPROvED Study The Nutrition Society Winter Conference 2021: Obesity and the brain [Details]
(2017)What governs what we eat?
Á. Hennessy, C. ní Chaoimh, E.K. McCarthy, E. Ryan, C. Shanahan, M. Kiely (2017) Dietary patterns of 24-month old children and associated nutrient intakes and body weight status What governs what we eat?   [DOI] [Details]
(2016)Nutrition Society (Irish Section)
Hennessy, A;Chaoimh, CN;McCarthy, EK;Kingston, C;Kiely, M (2016) The impact of variation in iodine food composition data on the estimates of iodine intake in Irish 2 year olds Nutrition Society (Irish Section) , pp.245-245 [DOI] [Details]
(2017)Nutrition Society (Irish Section)
Hennessy, A;Chaoimh, CN;McCarthy, EK;Ryan, E;Shanahan, C;Kiely, M (2017) Dietary patterns of 24-month old children and associated nutrient intakes and body weight status Nutrition Society (Irish Section) , pp.75-75 [DOI] [Details]
(2016)New technology in nutrition research and practice
Hennessy, Á, ní Chaoimh, C., McCarthy, E., Kingston, C., & Kiely, M. (2016) The impact of variation in iodine food composition data on the estimates of iodine intake in Irish 2 year olds New technology in nutrition research and practice [DOI] [Details]
(2015)The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2015
Hennessy, Á & Kiely, M. (2015) Validation of a food frequency questionnaire to assess habitual dietary vitamin D intake using the method of triads The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2015 [Details]
(2015)The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2015
Hennessy, Á., Walton, J., Hayes, A., Lucey, A.J., McNulty, B., Kiely, M., Cashman, K.D. & Flynn, A. (2015) Vitamin K1 intakes and adequacy in 18-64-year-old Irish adults over a recent decade The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2015 [Details]
(2015)The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2015
O’ Callaghan, K., Hennessy, Á., Kenny, L.C. & Kiely, M. (2015) Antenatal folic acid and vitamin D supplement use: data from the SCOPE Ireland pregnancy cohort study The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2015 [Details]
(2015)The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2015
Hayes, A., Hennessy, Á., Walton, J., McNulty, B., Kiely, M., Flynn, A., Cashman, K.D. & Lucey, A.J. (2015) Associations between vitamin K status and skeletal and cardio-metabolic health indices in 18-64-year-old Irish adults The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2015 [Details]
(2014)The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2014
Hennessy Á, Walton J, Joyce J, O’Connor C & Flynn A (2014) The impact of voluntary fortification practices on adequacy of micronutrient intake in older adults in Ireland The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2014 [Details]
(2014)The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2014
Hennessy Á, Walton J, McNulty B, Nugent A, Gibney M & Flynn A (2014) Micronutrient intakes and adequacy of intake in older adults in Ireland The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2014 [Details]
(2013)PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY
Hennessy, A;Walton, J;Flynn, A (2013) The impact of voluntary food fortification on micronutrient intakes and status in European countries: a review PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY , pp.433-440 [DOI] [Details]
(2013)The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2013
Áine Hennessy, Janette Walton, Albert Flynn (2013) Fortified food consumption: impact on micronutrient adequacy and compliance with dietary recommendations in Irish children 1-4y The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2013 Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland, [Details]
(2013)2013 International Congress of Nutrition, Granada, Spain
Hennessy, A,Walton, J,Flynn, A (2013) The contribution of fortified foods to micronutrient intakes in Irish pre-school children aged 1 to 4 years 2013 International Congress of Nutrition, Granada, Spain Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, , pp.624-624 [Details]
(2012)The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2012
Hennessy, Á., Walton, J., McNulty, B., Nugent, A., Gibney, M. & Flynn, A. (2012) Vitamin intakes in Irish pre-school children aged 1–4 years The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2012 Queens University Belfast, [Details]
(2011)The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2011
Hennessy, A., Walsh, E., Walton, J. & Flynn, A. (2011) The contribution of fortified foods to micronutrient intake in Irish adults aged 18–64 years The Nutrition Society Irish Section Summer Meeting 2011 [Details]

Published Reports

 YearPublication
(2012)National Pre-School Nutrition Survey - Summary Report (2012) Summary report on food and nutrient intakes and physical measurements.
IUNA (contributing author) (2012) National Pre-School Nutrition Survey - Summary Report (2012) Summary report on food and nutrient intakes and physical measurements. IUNA, Cork. [Details]
(2011)National Adult Nutrition Survey - Summary Report (2011) Summary report on food and nutrient intakes, physical measurements, physical activity patterns and food choice motives.
IUNA (contributing author) (2011) National Adult Nutrition Survey - Summary Report (2011) Summary report on food and nutrient intakes, physical measurements, physical activity patterns and food choice motives. IUNA, Cork. [Details]

Abstract

 YearPublication
(2020)Examination of protein intakes at 2-years and weight status and body composition at 5-years in the Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort.
Hennessy, A;ni Chaoimh, C;McCarthy, E;Murray, D;Kiely, M (2020) Examination of protein intakes at 2-years and weight status and body composition at 5-years in the Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort. CAMBRIDGE: Abstract [DOI] [Details]
(2017)ESTIMATION OF THE DIETARY REQUIREMENT FOR VITAMIN D IN PREGNANCY: A DOSE-RESPONSE, DOUBLE-BLIND, RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL.
O'Callaghan, K;Hennessy, A;Dowling, KG;Hull, G;Kenny, LC;Cashman, KD;Kiely, ME (2017) ESTIMATION OF THE DIETARY REQUIREMENT FOR VITAMIN D IN PREGNANCY: A DOSE-RESPONSE, DOUBLE-BLIND, RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL. BASEL: Abstract [Details]
(2016)Habitual Calcium and Vitamin D Intakes in Pregnant Irish Women; Preliminary Data from the DMAT Randomised Controlled Trial.
Callaghan, KO;Hennessy, A;Kenny, LC;Kiely, M (2016) Habitual Calcium and Vitamin D Intakes in Pregnant Irish Women; Preliminary Data from the DMAT Randomised Controlled Trial. CAMBRIDGE: Abstract [Details]
(2016)EFFECT OF VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENTATION ON 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D AND PARATHYROID HORMONE CONCENTRATIONS IN ADOLESCENTS AGED 14-18 YEARS: A DOSE-RESPONSE RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL.
Smith, T;Tripkovic, L;Damsgaard, CT;Molgaard, C;Wilson-Barnes, S;Hennessy, A;Dowling, K;Cashman, K;Kiely, M;Lanham-New, S;Hart, K (2016) EFFECT OF VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENTATION ON 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D AND PARATHYROID HORMONE CONCENTRATIONS IN ADOLESCENTS AGED 14-18 YEARS: A DOSE-RESPONSE RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL. LONDON: Abstract [Details]
(2015)Associations between vitamin K status and skeletal and cardio-metabolic health indices in 18-64-year-old Irish adults.
Hayes, A;Hennessy, A;Walton, J;McNulty, B;Kiely, M;Flynn, A;Cashman, KD;Lucey, AJ (2015) Associations between vitamin K status and skeletal and cardio-metabolic health indices in 18-64-year-old Irish adults. CAMBRIDGE: Abstract [DOI] [Details]
(2015)Antenatal folic acid and vitamin D supplement use: data from the SCOPE Ireland pregnancy cohort study.
Callaghan, KO;Hennessy, A;Kenny, LC;Kiely, M (2015) Antenatal folic acid and vitamin D supplement use: data from the SCOPE Ireland pregnancy cohort study. CAMBRIDGE: Abstract [DOI] [Details]
(2015)Validation of a food frequency questionnaire to assess habitual dietary vitamin D intake using the method of triads.
Hennessy, A;Kiely, M (2015) Validation of a food frequency questionnaire to assess habitual dietary vitamin D intake using the method of triads. CAMBRIDGE: Abstract [DOI] [Details]
(2015)Development of a short food list for use in a web-based dietary assessment tool.
Evans, K;Hennessy, A;Timon, C;Walton, J;Gibney, E;Flynn, A (2015) Development of a short food list for use in a web-based dietary assessment tool. BASEL: Abstract [Details]
(2015)Vitamin K-1 intakes and adequacy in 18-64-year-old Irish adults over a recent decade.
Hennessy, A;Walton, J;Hayes, A;Lucey, A;McNulty, B;Kiely, M;Cashman, KD;Flynn, A (2015) Vitamin K-1 intakes and adequacy in 18-64-year-old Irish adults over a recent decade. CAMBRIDGE: Abstract [DOI] [Details]
(2014)Micronutrient intakes and adequacy of intake in older adults in Ireland.
Hennessy, A;Walton, J;McNulty, B;Nugent, A;Gibney, M;Flynn, A (2014) Micronutrient intakes and adequacy of intake in older adults in Ireland. CAMBRIDGE: Abstract [DOI] [Details]
(2013)Fortified food consumption: impact on micronutrient adequacy and compliance with dietary recommendations in Irish children 1-4 years.
Hennessy, A;Walton, J;Flynn, A (2013) Fortified food consumption: impact on micronutrient adequacy and compliance with dietary recommendations in Irish children 1-4 years. CAMBRIDGE: Abstract [DOI] [Details]
(2013)THE CONTRIBUTION OF FORTIFIED FOODS TO MICRONUTRIENT INTAKES IN IRISH PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN AGED 1 TO 4 YEARS.
Hennessy, A;Walton, J;Flynn, A (2013) THE CONTRIBUTION OF FORTIFIED FOODS TO MICRONUTRIENT INTAKES IN IRISH PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN AGED 1 TO 4 YEARS. BASEL: Abstract [Details]
(2012)Vitamin intakes in Irish pre-school children aged 1-4 years.
Hennessy, A;Walton, J;McNulty, B;Nugent, A;Gibney, M;Flynn, A (2012) Vitamin intakes in Irish pre-school children aged 1-4 years. CAMBRIDGE: Abstract [DOI] [Details]
(2011)The contribution of fortified foods to micronutrient intake in Irish adults aged 18-64 years.
Hennessy, A;Walsh, E;Walton, J;Flynn, A (2011) The contribution of fortified foods to micronutrient intake in Irish adults aged 18-64 years. CAMBRIDGE: Abstract [DOI] [Details]

Research Report

 YearPublication
(2013)Report on fortified food consumption in the Irish population based on data from National Food Consumption Surveys (1997-2011).
Walton, J., Hennessy, Á. & Flynn, A (2013) Report on fortified food consumption in the Irish population based on data from National Food Consumption Surveys (1997-2011). Research Report [Details]

Professional Activities

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
University College Cork Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences01-NOV-21 /
University College Cork Senior Postdoctoral Researcher (SFI SIRG Awardee)01-MAR-19 / 31-OCT-21
Atlantia Food Clinical Trials Senior Project Manager01-SEP-18 / 28-FEB-19
University College Cork Postdoctoral Researcher01-AUG-14 / 31-AUG-18
University College Cork Research Assistant05-JUL-10 / 31-JUL-14

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
2021University College Cork Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher EducationTeaching and Learning in Higher Education
2013University College Cork PhD in NutritionNutrition
2010University College Cork BSc(Hons) in Nutritional SciencesNutritional Sciences

Journal Activities

 JournalRoleTo / From
European Journal Of Clinical Nutrition Referee25-NOV-13 -
Nutrients Referee01-DEC-17 -
European Journal Of Nutrition Referee01-DEC-17 -
British Journal Of Nutrition Referee01-DEC-15 - 31-DEC-17
Public Health Nutrition Referee01-DEC-15 -
Nutrition Journal Referee01-DEC-17 - 02-DEC-17
Journal Of Human Nutrition And Dietetics Referee30-NOV-17 -
International Journal Of Food Science And Nutrition Referee01-DEC-17 -

Teaching Activities

Modules Taught

 Term (ID))TitleLinkSubject
2022Determinants of Food Choice and Eating Behaviour NT3009Determinants of Food Choice and Eating Behaviour

Contact details


  • Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences
  • a.hennessy@ucc.ie
  • School of Food and Nutritional Sciences
    Food Science Building
    University College Cork
  • +353214902880

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