European Journal of Nutrition最新文献

Background: In the UK, more than half of the food supply is composed of ultra-processed foods (UPF). However, the association between UPF intake and osteoporosis risk remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate this association and explore potential mediating biomarkers.

Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled 141,577 eligible participants from the UK Biobank. UPF intake was defined based on the NOVA classification, and dietary data were obtained via 24-h recall. Osteoporosis incidence was identified through linkage with primary care records. To assess the relationship between UPF consumption and osteoporosis risk, Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were applied. Mediation analyses examined the potential mediating roles of inflammatory and bone-related biomarkers. We also assessed the interaction between UPF intake and osteoporosis-related polygenic risk scores (PRS).

Results: During a median follow-up period of 13.3 years, 3562 individuals developed osteoporosis. The highest tertile of UPF intake was associated with a fully adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.09 (95% CI 1.01-1.19) versus the reference group. Each standard deviation increase in UPF intake was associated with a 5% higher risk of osteoporosis. Mediation analysis indicated that inflammatory markers accounted for 2.76-3.30% of this association. No significant interaction was detected between UPF and genetic factors. Sensitivity analyses yielded results consistent with the main findings.

Conclusion: Higher intake of UPF is associated with an elevated risk of osteoporosis, with inflammation playing a partially mediating role. Reducing UPF consumption may help mitigate osteoporosis risk.

Purpose: Plate-clearing behavior (PCB), a maladaptive behavior in a food environment characterized by large, energy-dense portions of food, may contribute to weight gain over time. If a portion size is selected that causes overeating, a trade-off exists between food waste and weight gain due to PCB. However, patterns between PCBs and pre-meal portion planning to prevent overeating (PPP-O) remain overlooked. This study aimed to identify these patterns in various meal situations and describe the demographic, anthropometric, psychological, and lifestyle-related characteristics of those following each pattern.

Methods: Overall, 1,707 Japanese participants responded to a web-based anonymous questionnaire in February 2023. Cluster analysis was performed to identify patterns in PPP-O and PCB. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used on clusters of participant characteristic variables.

Results: The median age of the participants was 40 (25th and 75th percentile: 30, 50) years (female =  865, 50.7%). Four clusters with independent predictors were identified: low PPP-O and high PCB, moderate PPP-O and high PCB, moderate PPP-O and low PCB, and high PPP-O and low PCB. Low BMI and a higher positive attitude toward food waste were independent predictors in high PPP-O and low PCB, while high BMI was an independent predictor in moderate PPP-O and high PCBs and low attitude toward food waste were independent predictors in moderate PPP-O and low PCB. Psychological factors were described as independent predictors of several clusters.

Conclusion: The results support the possibility of a trade-off between food waste and weight gain if PPP-O is not implemented.

Purpose: The Paleolithic Diet Fraction (PDF) estimates the proportion of absolute dietary intake derived from food groups included in the Paleolithic diet. In the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (MDCS), higher PDF and lower systemic low-grade chronic inflammation (SLGCI) have been associated with lower cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality. We examined associations between PDF and SLGCI in the MDCS.

Methods: The study population (n = 23,250; 63% women; ages 44-74 years) excluded participants with prior coronary events, diabetes, stroke, high-grade inflammation, or missing baseline covariate data. PDF was calculated from baseline dietary data collected via food frequency questionnaires, seven-day food records, and interviews. Biomarkers of SLGCI included total leukocyte count (TLC) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) measured at baseline, and C-reactive protein (CRP) measured ~ 4 months later in a subpopulation (n = 4196).

Results: PDF was significantly and inversely associated with all three biomarkers of SLGCI in both simple and fully adjusted models (adjusted for age, sex, physical activity level, BMI, smoking status, education level, living alone, born in Sweden, season of dietary data collection, and dietary method version): TLC (B = -0.008), NLR (B = -0.003), and lnCRP (B =  -0.005), respectively (p < 0.001). Inflammatory biomarkers were weakly but significantly correlated: TLC with NLR (r_s = 0.263), TLC with CRP (r_s = 0.262), and NLR with CRP (r_s = 0.062) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: PDF was inversely associated with SLGCI biomarkers, suggesting that SLGCI may mediate its relationship with cardiometabolic outcomes. Given the cross-sectional design and CRP measurement lag, these findings should be interpreted with caution.

Purpose: Legumes are promoted as climate-friendly and healthy protein sources. This study evaluated the association between replacing red and processed meat, poultry, or fish with equal amounts of legumes and the risk of gallbladder disease.

Methods: Participants from the UK Biobank Cohort who completed two or more 24 h dietary assessments and had complete information on covariates were included. Information on age, sex, and socioeconomic and lifestyle factors were collected at recruitment, while information on dietary intake was collected using multiple 24 h dietary assessments. Information on incident gallbladder disease (defined as cholelithiasis, cholecystectomy, or cholecystitis) was collected from health registries based on ICD10-diagnosis or operation codes. The rate of developing gallbladder diseases when replacing red and processed meat, poultry, or fish with legumes was estimated using multivariable-adjusted Cox Proportional Hazards regression analyses adjusted for potential confounders.

Results: Over a median follow-up time of 10.5 (interquartile range: 10.4-10.9) years, 121,593 eligible participants provided 1,246,913 person-years of follow-up during which 3772 individuals developed gallbladder disease. Replacing 80 g/week of red and processed meat with legumes was associated with a lower rate of gallbladder disease (HR: 0.97, 95% CI 0.95; 0.98, p < 0.001). No association was found when replacing poultry or fish with legumes. Adjusting for BMI did not change the magnitude or direction of associations.

Conclusions: Replacing red and processed meat with legumes was associated with lower rates of gallbladder disease. Further research in populations with higher legume intake is warranted to confirm these findings.

Purpose: A ketogenic diet (KD), high in fat and low in carbohydrates, induces ketosis characterized by elevated circulating ketone bodies. While both KD and ketone bodies have demonstrated therapeutic potential in various pathophysiological conditions, their effect on inflammatory bowel diseases remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a KD and ketone ester (KE), an ingestible form of ketone bodies, on intestinal inflammation.

Methods: Acute dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)- and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced murine colitis models were used to evaluate and compare the effects of KD feeding and KE supplementation on intestinal inflammation, the mucus barrier and gut microbiota composition.

Results: KD feeding did not significantly affect colitis activity, whereas KE supplementation alleviated colitis in both models investigated. KE-induced mitigation of colitis was associated with increased mucin2 expression, indicating enhanced colonic mucus barrier integrity. KE supplementation also improved goblet cell function and differentiation, as evidenced by increased goblet cell numbers and the upregulation of goblet cell differentiation markers. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that KE supplementation resulted in higher abundances of mucus-degrading Akkermansia, a genus believed to play a key role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis.

Conclusion: The present study suggests that KE represent an effective anti-inflammatory dietary supplement in the context of acute colitis, potentially by modulating mucin2 expression, goblet cell differentiation, and the abundance of Akkermansia. Although promising, these findings remain preliminary, and further investigations are needed to explore the therapeutic potential of KE as a dietary supplement in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Interest in plant-based protein in the UK is increasing due to health, environmental, and ethical considerations. Recent studies have explored how different protein sources impact satiety and related gut hormone responses, with evidence suggesting varied responses between animal-based and plant-based proteins. Skewed protein intake patterns, especially at breakfast, present an opportunity for improving dietary protein distribution in populations who may require increased protein intake but often face appetite reductions. This study determined the acute effect of consuming a plant-based, high protein drink containing 30 g of protein (HPDp); an animal-based, high protein breakfast containing 30 g of protein (HPBa); and a low-protein (10 g), high-carbohydrate breakfast (HCLPB) on satiety hormone responses, subjective appetite and subsequent energy intake in older and younger populations when consumed at breakfast. Eighteen heathy adults completed this within-subject, counterbalanced, cross-over study, (12 under 35 years of age and six over 65 years of age). Measurements for appetite were obtained at baseline, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210 and 240 min, and plasma, GLP-1 and PYY at baseline, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 min post breakfast consumption. No difference in appetitive responses was found between the HPDp and the energy- and protein-matched HPBa, with both eliciting greater GLP-1 and PYY (both p < 0.004) responses compared with a high carbohydrate, low protein meal. Subjective appetite was also suppressed to a greater extent with HPDp compared with HCLPB (p = 0.001). No differences were observed in ad libitum energy intake.

Purpose: With the growing demand for sustainable and high-quality protein sources, evaluating their digestibility and amino acid availability is essential for human nutrition. The objective of this study was to assess the digestibility and Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score (DIAAS) of two novel protein sources, barley protein concentrate (BPC) and corn protein concentrate (CPC), using a minipig model as a proxy for human digestion METHODS: A T-cannulated minipig model (n = 6) was employed in a crossover design to measure standardized ileal amino acids (AA) digestibility and calculate DIAAS values, following Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines. Each protein source was tested alongside a protein-free diet to estimate basal endogenous AA losses.

Results: BPC exhibited a stable AA profile with an overall digestibility of 92.5%, while CPC had a digestibility of 88.9%. Lysine was identified as the most limiting AA in both proteins. The DIAAS values for BPC were 31, 38, and 45 for infants, children, and adults, respectively; for CPC, the values were 45, 54, and 64.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of BPC and CPC as valuable protein sources for human consumption.

Objective: Dietary intake plays a pivotal role in sustaining optimal melatonin levels, while the relationship between dietary patterns and circulating melatonin levels remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the associations between dietary patterns, nutrient intake, and serum melatonin levels in the Chinese population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 6,521 Chinese adults. Three dietary patterns were identified through principal component analysis. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the associations between dietary patterns and serum melatonin levels. The covariance analysis and partial least squares regression was used to evaluate the association between micronutrient intake and serum melatonin concentrations.

Results: The Dietary pattern 2 (DP2), characterized by high intake of fatty foods and red meat with the lowest Dietary Variety Score (DVS), and DP3 featuring high consumption of red meat, fruits, and vegetables but low intake of white meat and aquatic products with low DVS, were significantly associated with lower serum melatonin levels (DP2: β = - 0.12, P-trend < 0.001; DP3: β = - 0.13, P-trend < 0.001). Insufficient nutrient and quality intake of dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin B2, calcium, and magnesium was found in DP2, whereas DP3 showed inadequate intake of protein, cholesterol, vitamin B2, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, and iron.

Conclusion: Specific dietary patterns, low dietary diversity and nutrient deficiencies are associated to reduced melatonin levels. These findings reveal distinct mechanisms linking overall dietary patterns to serum melatonin concentrations, underscoring the importance of appropriate dietary patterns and nutrients intake in sustaining optimal circulating melatonin homeostasis in humans.

Purpose: Healthy and sustainable diets promote individual health and well-being while minimizing environmental impact. Although the concept of sustainable diets has gained increasing attention, the extent to which nutritional adequacy aligns with overall dietary sustainability remains unclear, particularly in the Portuguese context, where dietary patterns reflect both Mediterranean and Western influences. The study aims to assess the association between sustainable and healthy diet adherence and nutritional adequacy among Portuguese adults.

Methods: Data was gathered using a self-administered questionnaire between October and December 2022 from 347 adults. The Sustainable and Healthy Eating Diet index was used to assess adherence to a sustainable and healthy diet. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to record dietary consumption. Nutrient inadequacy was defined as an intake below the dietary reference values set by the European Food Safety Authority for 18 selected nutrients.

Results: The prevalence of inadequacy for dietary fibre, vitamins A, E, C, folate and potassium was higher in participants with low adherence to a sustainable and healthy diet. After adjusting for confounders, participants with higher adherence to a sustainable and healthy diet were less likely to have inadequate intake of dietary fibre (OR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06,0.32), vitamin A (OR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.54), vitamin E (OR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.29), B6 (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.81), folate (OR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.31), vitamin C (OR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.43), selenium (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.99), and potassium (OR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.51). Participants with higher adherence to a sustainable and healthy diet were also less likely to have six or more inadequacies in nutrient intake (OR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.23).

Conclusion: Individuals who more closely follow a sustainable and healthy diet tend to achieve better nutritional adequacy.