Rate My Professor Christine Barthow

Christine Barthow is a Senior Research Fellow and Registered Nurse (RCompNs, MA(appl), PhD) in the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Wellington, where she is affiliated with the Wellington Asthma Research Group. Her research career spans clinical studies in allergic diseases and metabolic health, with a focus on prevention and treatment strategies. Initially, her work emphasized oncology and palliative care through qualitative research approaches. Over the past several years, Barthow has contributed to quantitative studies on the prevention and treatment of eczema, hay fever, and asthma. She currently serves as a co-investigator in the Maternal Probiotic Study, a randomized controlled trial investigating probiotics to prevent allergic diseases in infants while also addressing gestational diabetes and bacterial vaginal infections in pregnant women. Her expertise extends to primary health care research, including profiling cardio-metabolic health in Māori and Pacific populations with obesity, pre-diabetes management, and ketogenic diets for type 2 diabetes.

Barthow has an extensive publication record in peer-reviewed journals, reflecting her impact on public health nutrition and chronic disease prevention. Notable publications include 'Enablers and challenges of dietary interventions and change for Pacific peoples living in Aotearoa, New Zealand: A scoping review' (Nutrition Reviews, 2025, co-authored with Amataiti et al.); 'Enablers and barriers to dietary change for Māori with nutrition-related conditions in Aotearoa New Zealand: A scoping review' (Public Health Nutrition, 2024, co-authored with McKerchar et al.); 'A randomised controlled trial of a probiotic and a prebiotic examining metabolic and mental health outcomes in adults with pre-diabetes' (BMJ Open, 2022); 'Very low carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis focusing on long-term glycaemic outcomes' (Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2022); and 'They're sicker than we think: an exploratory study profiling the cardio-metabolic health of Māori and Pacific people with obesity in primary care' (Journal of Primary Health Care, 2022). She has also presented findings at conferences such as the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes Annual Scientific Meeting and the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine. Barthow's research underscores targeted interventions for high-needs populations, promoting health equity in Aotearoa New Zealand.