Search Results (663)

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare micronutrient intake and inadequacy estimates using household consumption and expenditure survey (HCES) and quantitative 24-h recall (24HR) data among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Kasungu district, Malawi. Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis utilizing HCES dietary data from a subsample of households in rural areas of Kasungu district, which were sourced from the 2019/20 Malawi Fifth Integrated Household Survey (n = 183); and 24HR data were obtained from WRA in a community-based Addressing Hidden Hunger with Agronomy (AHHA) trial in the same district (n = 177). Micronutrient intakes and inadequacy were estimated under two alternative scenarios of large-scale food fortification (LSFF). We standardized apparent nutrient intakes from the HCES data using the adult female equivalent metric. Results: Estimated prevalence of micronutrient inadequacy fell within 20 percentage points between HCES and 24HR for iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), vitamins B2 and B9 under both no fortification and fortification scenarios. There were some discrepancies for the remaining B vitamins, being consistently large for vitamin B3. Conclusions: In the absence of 24HR data, HCES data can be used to make inferences about some micronutrient intakes and inadequacies among rural WRA in Malawi and to inform decisions regarding LSFF, including vehicle selection and coverage. However, additional efforts are needed to improve HCES for dietary nutrient surveillance given existing limitations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Recent studies linked a diet rich in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) with depression and diabetes. Although common risk factors, such as aging, are defined for both diseases, how UPFs are associated with the bidirectional relationship between them is not known. This study aimed to investigate whether UPF intake modifies the association between depression and diabetes within the Brazilian adult population. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis utilized data from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey, involving over 87,000 adults (aged 18–92 years). Participants provided self-reported data on diabetes and depression diagnoses, dietary habits (assessed by qualitative FFQ), as well as demographic, and socioeconomic variables. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations, employing two classification methods—UPF1 and UPF2—based on different thresholds of weekly consumption, for high/low UPF intake. Analyses were stratified by age groups to identify variations in associations. Results: There was a significant association between depression and diabetes, especially among participants with high UPF consumption. Models adjusted by demographic characteristics, as well as meat and vegetable consumptions, demonstrated elevated odds ratios (ORs) for diabetes among individuals with depression consuming high levels of UPF, compared to those with a low UPF intake (OR: 1.258; 95% CI: 1.064–1.489 for UPF1 and OR: 1.251; 95% CI: 1.059–1.478 for UPF2). Stratified analysis by age further amplified these findings, with younger individuals showing notably stronger associations (non-old adult group OR: 1.596; 95% CI: 1.127–2.260 for UPF1, and OR: 6.726; 95% CI: 2.625–17.233 for UPF2). Conclusions: These findings suggest that high UPF intake may influence the relationship between depression and diabetes, especially in younger adults. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to establish causality, investigate underlying biological mechanisms, and examine whether improving overall nutrient intake through dietary interventions can reduce the co-occurrence of depression and diabetes. Full article

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) represents a public health problem globally, with the highest prevalence reported among older adults. While an interplay of various determinants including genetic, epigenetic, environmental factors and unhealthy lifestyle, particularly diet, has been established to contribute to T2D development, emerging evidence supports the role of interactions between nutrients or dietary patterns and genes in the pathogenesis of this metabolic disorder. The amount, and especially the type of carbohydrates, in particular, have been correlated with the risk of non-communicable chronic disease and mortality. This narrative review aims to discuss the updated data on the complex and not fully elucidated relationship between carbohydrate–gene interactions and incidence of T2D, identifying the most susceptible genes able to modulate the dual association between carbohydrate intake and risk of developing T2D. The identification of genetic polymorphisms in response to this macronutrient represents a potentially powerful target to estimate individual risk and prevent the development of T2D in the context of personalized medicine. The postulation around novel foods potentially tailored to minimize the risks of developing T2D will pave the way for a new era into food research in relation to the safeguarding of well-being status in patients affected by, or at risk for, T2D. Full article

Background/Objectives: Despite the health benefits of fiber intake, most Americans do not meet the dietary recommendations for this nutrient. With barley, buckwheat and quinoa containing several nutrients, including fiber, the integration of these foods into the American diet could improve diet quality and health. The purpose of this study is to examine the consumption patterns of barley, buckwheat and quinoa and its association with diet and metabolic health markers. Methods: We used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2018 data. Adults who had consumed barley, buckwheat and quinoa, as determined by food codes representing these foods, in at least one of the two 24 h recalls were categorized as consumers. Due to the very low prevalence of buckwheat consumption, the associations of consumption with diet and health markers were examined only for barley and quinoa. Results: The prevalence of barley, buckwheat and quinoa consumption among US adults were 0.36%, 0.04% and 1.07%, respectively. Compared with non-consumers, barley and quinoa consumers had significantly greater diet quality and higher intakes of potassium and fiber. While barley consumption was associated with a lower body mass index, waist circumference and glycohemoglobin, quinoa consumption was associated with a lower body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides and total cholesterol. Conclusions: In this study, we found an overall low prevalence of the consumption of barley, buckwheat and quinoa among US adults. The consumers of barley and quinoa had better dietary intake compared with non-consumers. Although better metabolic health in consumers may be explained by their overall healthier dietary patterns, understanding the barriers and facilitators to the intake of these foods could inform efforts to improve diet quality and health. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aims to investigate the relationship between sleep duration, physical activity, and nutritional intake of calories and vitamins to determine the interconnections among sleep, physical activity, and dietary habits. Methods: Overall, 5491 participants (male = 2347, female = 3144) aged ≥ 18 years were recruited from the first survey of the 2023 9th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). All participants were assessed for sleep duration, physical activity levels, and intake of vitamin D, carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Results: In both sexes, participants with ≥8 h of sleep per day had significantly higher levels of moderate-intensity physical activity (male: p = 0.026, female: p = 0.011), moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (male: p = 0.003, female: p = 0.004), vitamin D (male: p = 0.029, female: p = 0.008), protein (male: p < 0.001, female: p = 0.011), and fat (male: p = 0.007, female: p = 0.015) than those with < 8 h of sleep. In the unadjusted model, participants who did not meet the recommended protein intake were less likely to achieve sufficient levels of physical activity (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.39–1.82) and adequate sleep duration (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.10–1.16). Conclusions: Sleep duration, physical activity, and nutrient intake (particularly vitamin D and protein) appear to be interrelated. Therefore, increasing daily physical activity and ensuring adequate intake of protein and vitamin D is recommended to maintain healthy sleep duration. Full article

Background: Individuals with food allergies typically need to avoid specific allergens, leading to distinct dietary choices. Their food product intake may therefore vary from that of the general population, potentially leading to differences in their intake of nutrients and other food compounds. Methods: We compared food compound and nutrient group intakes between the general Dutch adult population (n = 415) and food allergic Dutch adult patients with either milk and/or egg allergies (n = 16), peanut and/or tree nut allergies (n = 35) or a combination of milk/egg and peanut/tree nut allergies (n = 22). We translated 24-hour dietary recall data into food compound intake values. We used a mixed effects ANOVA model and considered compound intakes statistically significantly different at FDR-corrected p < 0.05. Additionally, compounds with uncorrected p < 0.01 were explored for potential relevance. Results: A total of 489 compounds or nutrient groups were included in the statistical analysis. Milk/egg and mixed allergic patients had significantly lower intakes of beta-lactose, butyric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, myristoleic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, and remainder saturated fatty acids (p < 0.05, FDR corrected), with mean intake factors of 1.6–3.2 and 1.3–2.9 lower, respectively, than the general population. In addition, 36 other compounds showed intake differences with a p < 0.01 without FDR correction. There were no statistically significant differences between the peanut/tree nut allergy group and the general population. Conclusions: Our study shows significantly lower intakes of 10 mainly dairy-derived compounds by the milk/egg and mixed-allergic patients, presenting the potential for long-term health consequences and the need for supplementation a relevant consideration, warranting further research. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) designed for use in epidemiological studies among populations in Fujian, China. Methods: From September to December 2023, adults aged 18 years and above residing in Fujian Province, southeastern China, were recruited via online survey promotion. Participants completed the FFQ twice with a one-month interval and also completed a 3-day 24 h dietary recall (3d-24HDR), covering two weekdays and one weekend day, during the same period. The reliability of the FFQ was assessed by comparing the average intake of food groups and nutrients between the two FFQs, using Spearman correlation coefficients, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and weighted Kappa coefficients based on tertile classification. Validity was evaluated by comparing the average intake values from the FFQs and the 3d-24HDR using similar methods, including Spearman correlation, weighted Kappa statistics, and Bland–Altman analysis. Results: A total of 152 participants completed two FFQs (for reliability assessment), and 142 participants completed the 3d-24HDR (for validity assessment). Spearman correlation coefficients for food group intake between the two FFQs ranged from 0.60 to 0.80, with ICCs ranging from 0.53 to 0.91. For energy and nutrient intake, Spearman coefficients ranged from 0.66 to 0.96, and ICCs ranged from 0.57 to 0.97. After tertile classification, less than 15% of participants were misclassified into distant categories. The weighted Kappa coefficients for food groups and nutrients ranged from 0.37 to 0.71 and 0.43 to 0.88, respectively. In comparison with the 3d-24HDR, Spearman correlations for food groups and nutrients ranged from 0.41 to 0.72 and 0.40 to 0.70, respectively. The proportion of participants classified into the same or adjacent tertile was 78.8–95.1%. Weighted Kappa coefficients and Bland–Altman plots indicated acceptable agreement between the FFQ and 3d-24HDR for most nutrients. Conclusions: The FFQ used in this study demonstrated good reliability and moderate-to-good validity. It is suitable for use in dietary assessment in gastric cancer epidemiological studies in Fujian, China. Full article

Background: Exploring emerging dietary patterns, such as plant-based diets (PBD), often requires considerable effort to rebuild new systems or adapt existing food classification frameworks, presenting a substantial challenge for dietary research. Current systems were not originally designed for this purpose and vary in standardization and interoperability, complicating cross-study comparisons. This study aimed to adopt the harmonized, food description-incorporated, food classification system (HFDFC system) to develop a plant-based diet food classification system (PBDFC system), and to evaluate dietary intake and nutritional status among adults in Taiwan. Methods: A repeated cross-sectional design was applied using 24 h dietary recall data from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (2013–2016 and 2017–2020), accessed via the national food consumption database. Adults aged 20–70 years were included. Data were processed through the HFDFC system to generate the PBDFC system. For each participant, the Plant-Based Diet Index (PDI), Body Mass Index (BMI), and Nutrient-Rich Food Index (NRF) were calculated and analyzed by age group. Results: Adults aged 46–70 had significantly higher O-PDI and H-PDI scores, lower Lh-PDI scores (all p < 0.0001), and higher NRF values. Despite higher average BMI, those in the highest H-PDI tertile had significantly lower BMI (p < 0.02). Conclusions: The HFDFC-based PBDFC system offers a flexible, scalable framework for plant-based diet classification and supports future cross-national research. Full article

This study investigates the nutritional and chemical profile of cricket (Acheta domesticus) flour, evaluating its potential as a sustainable and highly nutritious food source. Cricket flour, with a protein content of approximately 60%, offers a significantly higher nutritional value compared to many traditional food sources. It is particularly rich in essential amino acids, making it a valuable and sustainable protein alternative. Additionally, the flour is rich in minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc. The administration of 100 g of cricket flour would exceed the recommended daily intake for adults for most nutrients, making its incorporation into more traditional foods such as bread and pasta at low percentages feasible, easily compensating for any imbalances and increasing their nutritional values. We found that an addition of a mere 10% of cricket flour to produce an experimental pasta fulfilled half of the recommended daily intake values for protein, lipids, and minerals. Chemical analyses of the pure cricket flour revealed only trace amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and linear alkanes, with concentrations well below safety thresholds established for other food categories, indicating that cricket flour is safe for human consumption. The study’s findings confirm that cricket flour is a promising sustainable protein source, and its integration into classic foods could safely contribute to alleviating iron and copper deficiencies as well as malnutrition. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a major complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and recent research highlights that amino acid composition—rather than total protein intake alone—may influence DKD risk. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between dietary protein intake, specific amino acid profiles, and the risk of DKD among adults with T2DM. Methods: A total of 378 T2DM patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Dietary intake was assessed via a 24 h recall and a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Nutrient analysis was based on the Taiwanese Food Composition Database. Participants were categorized into three protein intake groups: Group 1 (≤0.8 g/kg), Group 2 (0.9–1.2 g/kg), and Group 3 (≥1.3 g/kg). Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the associations of crude protein, branched-chain amino acids to aromatic amino acids (BCAA/AAA) ratio, and ketogenic amino acid intake with DKD risk. Adjustments were made for age, sex, diabetes duration, and blood pressure. Results: While crude protein intake showed no significant association with DKD risk, higher intake of ketogenic amino acids (e.g., leucine and lysine) was consistently and significantly associated with reduced DKD risk (adjusted HR range = 0.698–0.716, p < 0.01). Our findings highlight the protective potential of ketogenic amino acids such as leucine and lysine, which were significantly associated with lower DKD risk. The BCAA/AAA ratio also showed a downward trend in DKD risk, though not statistically significant. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that moderate protein intake (0.9–1.2 g/kg) corresponded to the most favorable DKD-free survival. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that, beyond total protein quantity, the intake of ketogenic amino acids may play a protective role in DKD prevention. Moderate protein consumption combined with higher leucine and lysine intake appears beneficial. These results support incorporating amino acid profiling in dietary strategies for DKD risk reduction. Further longitudinal and interventional studies are recommended to validate these associations. Full article

Background/Objectives: The EAT-Lancet Commission proposed a healthy and sustainable ‘planetary health diet’ (PHD) based on the nutritional needs of adults, but recommended for all population groups over the age of two years. This study investigated the extent to which UK adolescent diets meet these recommendations, and the association between meeting recommendations and nutritional intake. Methods: Dietary intake data collected from students aged 11–15 years between 2019 and 2022 as part of the Food provision, cUlture and Environment in secondary schooLs (FUEL) study was used. Specifically, 24 h intakes of food groups and key nutrients were summarised for each participant, and micronutrient intake was expressed as a percentage of the reference nutrient intake (RNI). The proportion of participants meeting each PHD recommendation was calculated. A PHD index score was developed to measure the overall adherence to recommendations. Multilevel linear regression models were fitted to explore the association between the PHD score and intake of each nutrient. Results: No participants fully met the recommendations. The mean PHD score was 14.2 (3.3) out of 39. Adherence was low for the emphasised foods, and lowest for nuts (1.3%) and unsaturated oils (0.2%). Higher PHD index scores were associated with lower intakes of all micronutrients, with the largest association for vitamin B12 [regression coefficient: −12.9% (95% CI: −16.3, −9.4) of RNI] and the smallest for vitamin D [regression coefficient: −0.4 (95% CI: −0.7, −0.2) of RNI]. Conclusions: Substantial dietary changes are needed for this population group to meet the PHD guidelines. Further research should focus on why these recommendations may lead to the inadequate intake of some nutrients in this age group. We propose that the PHD guidance needs to be reviewed and potentially adapted for this specific population, with consideration of the typical dietary behaviours of this age group. Full article

Objective: Eggs are a valuable source of nutrients and bioactive compounds that may influence the gastrointestinal tract by modulating the microbiome, promoting the production of gastrointestinal-related metabolites, and mediating inflammation. Limited human studies have explored the effects of whole egg intake on indices of gastrointestinal health. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesise research investigating the impact of whole egg consumption on markers of gastrointestinal health. Methods: Five databases were searched from inception until July 2024. Studies were included if they examined the link between whole egg consumption and gastrointestinal markers, including symptoms, gut microbiome composition, inflammation, colonic fermentation, and egg-derived metabolites such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in healthy adults. Two reviewers independently conducted title and abstract and full-text screening, with conflicts resolved by a third reviewer. Similarly, two authors conducted data extraction, which was verified by a third. A risk of bias assessment was conducted using validated tools. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to summarise the effect of egg consumption on TMAO, choline, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Results: Twenty-two studies were included in a narrative synthesis and ten in the meta-analyses. Nine were randomised controlled trials (RCTs), three were non-randomised intervention trials, eight were cross-sectional, and two were prospective cohort studies. Meta-analyses indicated that egg consumption did not impact plasma TMAO (n = 6, p = 0.22) or CRP (n = 3, p = 0.45) concentrations but did increase plasma choline (n = 5, p < 0.001) in the short term (≤4 weeks). Four studies found correlations between habitual egg consumption and specific gut bacteria, although results varied as egg consumption was both positively and negatively associated with butyrate-producing genera. Conclusions: This review found conflicting results regarding egg consumption and most gastrointestinal outcomes, highlighting that future studies are needed to explore links between habitual egg intake and plasma TMAO, microbial diversity, and inflammation (PROSPERO registration: 408532). Full article

Background: There is limited knowledge about nutritional intake and energy needs during the post-intensive care unit (ICU) period and their relationship with clinical outcomes and physical recovery. Aims and Methods: Thus, this observational multicenter study (Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Santa Maria”, Terni and “Madonna del Soccorso” General hospital, San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy) aimed, firstly, to measure energy expenditure via indirect calorimetry (IC) (Q-NRG+^® Metabolic Monitor, Cosmed, Rome, Italy), derived respiratory quotient (R/Q1) and, malnutrition risk via Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) test and body composition through bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA-Akern, Pontassieve, Italy); secondly, to assess their effect on energy needs, body composition and physical rehabilitation steps in critically ill adults after ICU discharge. The provision of nutrients (PIS test) was also recorded. Oral nutritional supplementation was used to reach the optimal nutritional intake. All patients followed a standardized rehabilitation program. Results: A total of 43 patients were enrolled from January 2024 until February 2025 at the beginning of their post-ICU period. The mean age was 65.7 ± 1.0 years, the mean BMI was 20.73 ± 0.8 kg/m² at the recovery ward, and 60.4% (n = 26) were male. The mean admission period was 19.5 ± 1.7 days. The resting energy expenditure (mREE) was 1591 ± 71.2 at the admission and 1.856 ± 62.7 kcal/kg/d at the discharge (p < 0.05). The median phase angle value was 4.33 ± 0.15 at the admission and 5.05 ± 0.17° at the discharge (p < 0.05); R/Q1 at the admission was 0.7 ± 0.1 and 1.086± 0.11 at the discharge (p < 0.05). Improved energy expenditure significantly correlated with R/Q1 and phase angle (r = 0.81 and r = 0.72, respectively). Interestingly, there was no significant correlation between improved metabolism and improved PIS test scores (r = 0.18). Improved metabolism and nutritional status showed a tendency to correlate with shorter post-ICU courses and earlier physical recovery, without reaching statistical significance. Conclusions: Measurement of energy expenditure and caloric intake, along with the assessment of body composition is feasible and provides an objective tool to guide and possibly enhance the functional recovery in patients during the post-ICU period. Full article

Information about the trace elements content of goose carcass parts with or without skin can be important for consumers when making dietary choices. This study aimed to (1) determine the effects of popular heat processing techniques on the content of chromium (Cr), iodine (I), manganese (Mn), and bromine (Br) in goose breast muscle, and (2) estimate the extent to which 100 g of goose meat—both with and without skin—cover the Nutrient Reference Values (NRV) for Cr, I, Mn, and the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for Br in adults. The heat processing techniques used in the study were water bath cooking (WBC), Oven Convection Roasting (OCR), grilling (G), and pan frying (PF). Grilled goose breast without skin had the highest Br retention (97.4%) and TDI (2.41%). Cooked goose breast (WBC) with skin exhibited the highest retention of Cr (73.8%) and I (73.6%). The highest Mn content was found in meat without skin after OCR processing and grilled meat with skin (0.170 and 0.191 mg/100 g, respectively). The iodine content in the meat decreased (from 0.020 raw to 0.003 mg/100 g after PF) with each heat treatment. The results of our study may provide helpful information for consumers when making dietary choices and using heat treatment techniques. Goose breast muscles, depending on heat treatment and the presence of skin, provide trace elements in the range of 2.21% of NRV (Nutrient Reference Value) for Br without skin to 740.7% of NRV for Cr with skin and may be a valuable component of a varied diet (apart from iodine). The Br content in the meat decreases after WBC treatment (1.29 without skin or 1.43 with skin mg/100 g). For this reason, it seems to be the most beneficial for the consumer’s health because it minimizes the risk of exceeding the TDI value. Total hazard quotients (THQ) in meat (regardless of the treatment and skin presence) for Cr, Mn, and Br contents were <1, indicating a low risk to Polish consumer health. Full article

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dietary habits of older Korean adults according to their level of plant protein intake. Methods: To conduct this study, the daily plant protein intake of 4254 older adults aged 65 years and older who participated in the dietary survey (24-h recall method) of the 2016~2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was divided into quintiles. And the association among plant protein quintiles and general characteristics, health-related behaviors, dietary habits, nutrient intakes, and Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) was examined. Results: For the energy contribution of protein, more than 90% of all groups from Q1 through Q5 were in the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR, 7–20%) for protein. In the case of food security, the proportion tended to increase by about 11 percentage points from Q1 (43.4%) to Q5 (54.4%) according to plant protein quintiles, and while food insecurity was above 50% from Q1 to Q3, the percentage tended to decrease as the plant protein quintile increased from Q4 (48.3%) to Q5 (45.3%). Overall, the low plant protein intake group, especially the Q1 to Q3 group, was found to have an inadequate intake of nutrients, including total protein, compared to the recommended intake. In addition, among the components of the KHEI score, the score for the item “consumption of multigrain rice” was found to be very low. Conclusions: Based on these findings, dietary education or guidelines are needed to increase individual awareness, as well as the development of dietary content at government level to support this. Full article