Journal of Nutrition最新文献

Background: Anemia is a global health concern, though the importance of changes in hemoglobin (Hb) and cognitive outcomes in childhood remains unclear.

Objective: We examined the association between child Hb trajectories and anemia with cognitive development and academic achievement at 10-11y.

Methods: We used prospective data from Vietnamese children (n=831) born to women who participated in a micronutrient supplementation trial (PRECONCEPT). Hb was measured at 3mo, 6mo, 1y, 2y and 10-11y. Multivariable linear regression models assessed the association between Hb trajectories and anemia with cognitive development (full-scale intelligence quotient- FSIQ), and academic achievement (mathematics and reading) at 10-11y, adjusting for maternal (intervention, education, age, mental health), child (age, sex), and household (home environment, socioeconomic status) characteristics.

Results: Three child Hb trajectories were identified (low-6.4%, middle-52.2% and high-41.4%). Compared to the middle and high trajectory groups, children in the low trajectory had the lowest Hb levels at 3 months (Hb: 9.7g/dL) and through age 10-11y (11.2g/dl). Children in the low-Hb trajectory had lower FSIQ (89.8 vs 93.2), math (12.1 vs 13.5) and reading (17.8 vs 19.0) scores compared to the high-Hb trajectory. These differences were attenuated in adjusted models. Children in the low and middle Hb trajectories had non-significantly lower FSIQ (-0.93; 95% CI: [-4.57, 2.71] and (-1.13 [-2.92, 0.66]), reading scores (-0.01 [-1.36,1.34]) and -0.46 [-1.13,0.21]) and math scores (-0.57 [-1.15,0.01] and -0.65 [-1.82, 0.51]). Anemia status at 10-11y was negatively associated with FSIQ (-3.82 [-6.68, -0.76]) and math scores (-1.04 [-2.03, -0.05]) in adjusted models.

Conclusion: Child Hb trajectories across the first 10 years of life were largely established early in life and had weak associations with cognition and academic achievement at 10-11y. Anemia among 10-year-old children was associated with lower IQ and math scores, which underscores the importance of continued investment in nutrition programs among school-age children.

Clinical trial registration: PRECONCEPT study (NCT: 01665378).

Background: Epidemiologic studies of the health impact of alcohol consumption have mostly been based on self-reported measures of intake. Objective markers may provide better measures of alcohol intake and its biologic effects, potentially elucidating mechanisms of disease. However, there are currently no validated biomarkers to assess low to moderate drinking.

Objective: Apply semi-targeted metabolomics to identify biomarkers of low to moderate alcohol consumption using plasma samples collected in the Postmenopausal Women's Alcohol Study (WAS), a randomized controlled crossover feeding study.

Methods: In the WAS, postmenopausal women (n=51) were randomly assigned to consume 0, 15, or 30 g of alcohol per day (equivalent to 0, 1, or 2 drinks per day) for 8 weeks each as part of a controlled diet, with washout periods between treatments. Metabolites were measured in baseline, washout, and post-treatment fasting plasma samples. Linear mixed effects models were used to identify metabolites significantly altered by alcohol intake.

Results: A total of 1,422 metabolites were measured, of which 150 were previously reported to be correlated with alcohol in observational studies. Alcohol intake significantly altered plasma levels of 46 metabolites, including xenobiotics directly related to alcohol, ethyl glucuronide and ethyl alpha-glucopyranoside; alpha-hydroxyisovalerate; 2-aminobutyrate; androgenic steroids, and multiple phosphatidylcholines. Top-ranking metabolites displayed clear dose-response relationships with alcohol dose - most notably, ethyl alpha-glucopyranoside, which showed a strong positive relationship (461% and 900% change for 15 and 30 g of alcohol per day, respectively, compared with no alcohol). We replicated associations for 14 alcohol-related metabolites identified in previous studies and discovered a number of new potential biomarkers.

Conclusions: In a tightly controlled feeding study, consumption of one or two alcoholic drinks per day changed plasma levels of 46 metabolites, suggesting their utility as biomarkers of low to moderate alcohol consumption, with opportunities to conduct etiologic research in cohorts with metabolomics data.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is frequently accompanied by emotional symptoms such as irritability and anxiety, which significantly impact quality of life. Dietary supplements have been proposed as potential interventions, but their efficacy for emotion-related symptoms in children and adolescents with ASD remains unclear.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various dietary supplements in improving emotion-related symptoms in children and adolescents with ASD, and to explore differences across supplement types.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase were searched from inception to May 15, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating dietary supplements for emotion-related symptoms in children and adolescents with ASD were included. Primary outcomes were irritability, anxiety, and overall emotional symptoms. Data were pooled using random-effects models to calculate standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Subgroup analyses were conducted by supplement type and emotion category. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2.0.

Results: 21 RCTs (22 studies) comprising 866 participants were included. Dietary supplements significantly improved irritability (SMD=-0.36, 95%CI:-0.68∼-0.05, P=0.02) and overall emotional symptoms (SMD=-0.44, 95%CI:-0.81∼-0.08, P=0.02) compared to control groups, with small to moderate effect sizes. No significant improvement was observed for anxiety (SMD=-0.15, 95%CI:-0.45∼0.14, P=0.32). Subgroup analyses by supplement type showed that vitamin supplements had had some benefits for irritability (SMD=-0.44, 95%CI:-0.79∼-0.10, P=0.01). Other supplement types showed non-significant effects. Moderate to high heterogeneity was observed across analyses (I²=64.42%-68.41%). Sensitivity analyses excluding high-risk bias studies confirmed robustness of findings.

Conclusions: Dietary supplements may improve irritability and overall emotional symptoms in children and adolescents with ASD. However, evidence strength is limited by study heterogeneity, risk of bias, and small sample sizes. High-quality, large-scale RCTs are needed to confirm these findings and establish optimal intervention protocols.

Urinary α-carboxyethyl hydroxychromanol (α-CEHC), the terminal catabolic product of α-tocopherol, has been proposed as a non-invasive biomarker of vitamin E intake. Existing human studies vary substantially in design, population characteristics, analytical methods, and reporting practices, limiting the comparability of findings across the literature. The objective of this scoping review is to systematically map all human evidence evaluating urinary α-CEHC in relation to vitamin E intake, catabolism, or health status. The protocol for this scoping review was registered in Open Science Framework on 26 October 2025 (https://osf.io/a7gkv). Following Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA-ScR reporting standards, we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and CINAHL. The initial literature search yielded 586 records. Two reviewers independently screened all records, extracted data using piloted forms, and organized findings into thematic domains reflecting biomarker responsiveness, methodological variability, and clinical contexts. A total of 34 studies were included, representing a wide range of vitamin E interventions, urine-collection approaches, and analytical methods. Study heterogeneity was substantial. The increases in urinary α-CEHC excretion in response to supplemental vitamin E dose reported in 10 intervention studies were highly correlated (R² = 0.7819, P <0.0001). Overall, urinary α-CEHC appears to be a promising integrated measure of vitamin E catabolism; however, methodological inconsistencies across studies limit the ability to compare results in individuals on routine diets. Standardized urine-collection protocols, conjugate-handling procedures, normalization strategies, and analytical techniques will be necessary before α-CEHC can be validated for clinical application. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The protocol for this study was registered in Open Science Framework on 26 October 2025 (https://osf.io/a7gkv) as a scoping review.

Methionine is an essential amino acid that plays a vital role in animal growth and development, lipid metabolism, intestinal health, and one-carbon metabolism as a primary methyl donor. Emerging evidence indicates that maternal methionine status exerts long-term effects on offspring growth, metabolism, and health through developmental programming, largely mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. These mechanisms primarily involve alterations in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and related epigenetic regulatory networks that modulate gene expression during critical periods of embryonic and postnatal development. This review highlights recent advances in the physiological functions of methionine and the epigenetic mechanisms underlying maternal methionine-mediated regulation of offspring development, with particular emphasis on findings from animal models. We highlight how variations in maternal methionine status influence offspring phenotypes by reshaping epigenetic landscapes associated with growth, metabolic homeostasis, and tissue development. By integrating current evidence from nutritional, molecular, and epigenetic perspectives, this review aims to provide a comprehensive theoretical framework for optimizing maternal-offspring methionine nutrition strategies and to offer insights for improving offspring health and productivity in both animals and humans.

Background: Adolescents need nutrient-dense foods for growth, and eggs are a nutritious option to help meet nutrient needs OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between egg consumption categories and nutrient intake, nutrient adequacy and nutrient exposure scores among U.S. adolescents METHODS: Adolescents in the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (14-17y; n=3,691) with ≥1 24-hour dietary recall and supplement data were included. Egg consumption was categorized as non-egg consumer, consumer of eggs as ingredients, or consumer of a primarily egg dish. Usual nutrient intakes, nutrient adequacy, and nutrient exposure scores for intakes from all sources (i.e., Total Nutrient Index (TNI); scored 0-100; foods + supplements) and foods alone (i.e., Food Nutrient Index (FNI); 0-100) were estimated using the National Cancer Institute method. Pairwise t-tests compared the nutrient markers across the three egg consumption groups.

Results: U.S. adolescents failed to meet various nutrient adequacy markers, highlighting a high risk of inadequacy for calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin E, and a low percentage above the Adequate Intake for choline. Primarily egg dish consumers exhibited higher mean usual intakes for lutein+zeaxanthin, choline, vitamin A, selenium, vitamin D, riboflavin, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and protein than non-egg consumers; and for lutein+zeaxanthin, choline, selenium, and DHA than those consuming eggs as ingredients (P<0.001). Consuming eggs as ingredients showed higher iron and vitamin E intakes compared with not consuming eggs. Consumers of eggs, either primarily dishes or as ingredients had higher TNI scores (P<0.001) for total (76 and 71 vs. 65), magnesium (69 and 66 vs. 60) and potassium (83 and 80 vs. 73) and FNI scores for potassium (82 and 80 vs. 73) than non-egg consumers, respectively.

Conclusions: U.S. adolescents consuming eggs, as primarily dishes or ingredients, had better compliance in meeting nutrient markers compared with non-egg consumers, highlighting associations between egg consumption and nutrient intake.

This perspective provides policymakers, advocates and researchers with a description of proposed and enacted policies that assist consumers in identifying products with NSSs and/or reduce NSS exposure. Consumption of non-sugar sweeteners (NSSs) is associated with multiple chronic diseases. NSS exposure is increasing as food and beverage manufacturers replace added sugars with NSSs. We conducted a narrative review to identify public policies addressing NSSs, focusing on the United States (U.S.) while also considering the international context. A policy scan identified relevant polices through: 1) review of a U.S. sweetened beverage policy database, 2) systematic searches of five online U.S. policy databases and PubMed, 3) review of a World Health Organization food policy database, 4) survey of NSS policy experts, and 5) review of policies known to the research team. Searches were conducted between November 2024 and February 2025. We describe a selected subset of identified policies in more detail as illustrative examples based on adequacy of NSS definition, impact, feasibility, equity, and comprehensiveness (extent of products included). We identified 416 proposed or enacted policies and classified them into nine groups: bans and restrictions on NSS use (n=26), excise taxes (n=106), sales taxes (n=67), food package labels and disclosures (n=47), healthy retail (n=2), procurement and nutrition standards (n=71), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit restrictions (n=54), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children nutrition standards (n=7), restaurant healthy default beverages (n=34), and marketing restrictions (n=2). Innovative policy options included banning NSSs in products sold to minors, prohibiting misleading sweetener labeling, closing U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval loopholes permitting use of NSSs that may lack adequate and transparent safety data, and restricting NSS advertising on public transportation. We conclude that many options for reducing potential harms from NSSs are available. Public policies with the greatest potential impact are bans or restrictions on use, excise taxes, and front-of-package warnings and disclosures.

Background: Prediabetes is increasingly recognized as a stage of heightened risk not only for diabetes but also for early cognitive decline, driven by insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and low-grade inflammation.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of daily almond supplementation on cognitive performance and biochemical markers in middle-aged Asian Indians with prediabetes, who are at high risk for metabolic and cognitive decline.

Research design and methods: This 24-week, open-label, parallel-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary care centre in New Delhi. Sixty adults aged 40-60 years with prediabetes were randomized to an almond group (n=29; almonds providing 20% of daily energy with diet and exercise) or a control group (n=31; isocaloric diet and exercise without almonds). Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and 24 weeks using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), covering executive function, memory, attention, processing speed, and working memory. Anthropometry, glycemia, plasma α-tocopherol, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were also measured.

Results: At 24 weeks, the almond group showed significant improvements in executive function (OTS; β = -2.5, 95 % CI: -4.4 -0.6, p = 0.011), and in processing speed (RTI; β= 73.8, 95 % CI: 25.7-122.0, p = 0.003; β = 39.3, 95 % CI: 9.4-69.6, p= 0.011) compared with controls. There were also significant reductions in weight, BMI, waist circumference, fasting and postprandial glucose, HbA1c, and TBARS, along with increased plasma α-tocopherol (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Six months of almond supplementation improved executive function, processing speed, and overall cognition, reduced oxidative stress (TBARS), improved plasma α-tocopherol and glycemic control in Asian Indians with prediabetes. These findings suggest that almonds may provide dual cognitive and metabolic benefits in this high-risk population. However, the moderate sample size and 24-week duration warrant confirmation in larger and longer-term trials.

Statement of significance: This randomized controlled trial demonstrates that daily almond supplementation improves executive function, processing speed, and global cognition in Asian Indians with prediabetes, linking cognitive gains with parallel improvements in glycemic control and antioxidant status.

Crohn's disease (CD) management requires sustainable dietary strategies. The Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED) combines partial enteral nutrition with exclusion of pro-inflammatory foods as an alternative to exclusive enteral nutrition. This scoping review synthesizes evidence on CDED's study characteristics, protocols, efficacy, and controversies. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we systematically searched seven databases from inception to 31 July 2025. Original studies involving CD patients receiving CDED were included. Data extraction covered study design, intervention protocols, and outcomes (clinical remission, inflammatory markers, nutrition, microbiota, adherence). From 1,001 records, 22 studies were analyzed. CDED protocols included two-phase (strict/maintenance) and three-phase (adding flexible maintenance) approaches. Clinical remission rates reached 70-94% in pediatric and 45-83% in adult patients. Inflammatory markers (CRP, fecal calprotectin) and nutritional indices (BMI, albumin) improved significantly. Gut microbiota beneficially shifted. Short-term adherence was high (≥85%) but declined long-term. Endoscopic remission (SES-CD ≤2) was achieved in 50-54% of patients. Limitations included a small sample size, regional evidence imbalances, and a lack of data on special populations, long-term outcomes, and underlying mechanisms. CDED effectively induces and maintains remission in CD, with efficacy comparable to exclusive enteral nutrition but better tolerability. Key future directions include optimizing study protocols, reaching broader patient groups, boosting long-term adherence, and combining therapies for more tailored management.