Nutrition Bulletin最新文献

Conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases represent significant global public health challenges, driven by their increasing prevalence and profound effects on morbidity and mortality. Dyslipidemia, defined by abnormal lipid concentrations, performs a pivotal role in the onset of cardiovascular diseases, especially atherosclerosis. Dietary strategies and other nonpharmacological interventions are crucial for the management of dyslipidemia. Açaí (Euterpe oleracea), a fruit native to the Amazon, is recognised for its antioxidant properties and potential impact on lipid metabolism. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of açaí consumption on lipid profile markers. A systematic search was performed across several databases, including MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus. We included non-randomised, randomised, no blind, blind and control trials involving adult participants who received açaí in any form. The outcome measures included triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-c and HDL-c. The screening of studies and data extraction were independently conducted by four reviewers. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and meta-analyses were completed where applicable. Out of 188 identified studies, 8 met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of 411 participants displayed no significant effect of açaí on LDL-c (MD = 6.06 mg/dL 95% CI: -0.03, 12.48, p = 0.06), HDL-c (MD = 0.30 mg/dL 95% CI: -1.54, 2.13, p = 0.75), total cholesterol (MD = 2.94 mg/dL 95% CI: -6.44, 12.31, p = 0.54) and triglycerides (MD = 2.05 mg/dL 95% CI: 1.79, 2.28, p = 0.59). Additionally, açaí consumption was related to a significant reduction in total lipids (MD = -9.80 g, 95% CI: -13.94 to -5.66, p < 0.001). GRADE evaluation pointed to low/very low certainty of evidence. Açaí consumption may lessen total lipid levels, but no significant effect was noted for cholesterol parameters and triglycerides. Further trials with more demanding research methodologies are required to clarify the effects of açaí on lipid profiles. Trial Registration: CRD42024549531.

Little is known regarding the intrastudent barriers to accessing and utilising the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To examine college students' knowledge of allowable items and perception of what items should be allowed for purchase with (SNAP) benefits, particularly by food security status and enrolment in SNAP in the past 12 months, a cross-sectional, online survey was conducted among 844 college students from nine higher education institutions in a single Midwestern state. Many students were unaware that certain food items were already covered by SNAP, leading them to express a desire for these items to be included. Additionally, there were misconceptions about the eligibility of nonfood items for purchase using SNAP benefits. Beyond traditional food items, students highly desired the inclusion of necessities such as toiletries and cooking equipment. Improved outreach and educational campaigns could be developed to clarify the eligible items and scope of the programme, enabling students to make informed decisions about their SNAP benefit usage.

This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional profile and packaging recycling status of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) sold in chain markets across Türkiye. In this regard, the nutritional quality and recyclability status of the packages of UPFs, as defined by NOVA, sold in five major supermarket chains across Türkiye were examined. The energy and nutrient content displayed on UPF labels were analysed, and their nutritional profiles considered using the Nutri-Score algorithm. The study also documented the frequency of recycling symbols on the packaging. Of the 1365 UPFs examined across 13 categories, 61.6% were identified as having an unhealthy nutritional profile (Nutri-Score Grades D and E), whereas only 16% were classified as healthy (Grades A and B). Categories predominantly containing unhealthy products included milk and dairy, sauces and dressings, frozen and dehydrated meals, processed meats, along with various snacks and desserts like salty and sweet snacks, candies, chocolates and ice cream. Notably, candies, chocolates, and salty and sweet snacks were identified as the most energy-dense UPF categories. In terms of packaging, 84.4% of UPFs used at least one recycling symbol, 55.3% of these used plastic material and 38.2% used the Green Dot symbol. The results of the study may guide UPF nutrient profile reformulations and contribute to epidemiological studies analysing the relationship between UPF consumption and public health. Furthermore, these results highlight the necessity for more defined national regulations on the recycling of food packaging within the context of food system sustainability.

Lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity are involved in the development and maintenance of depression, but the mechanism by which these factors influence mental health remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether gastrointestinal health helps explain some of the relationship between these lifestyle factors and depression. The study used a cross-sectional design to compare dietary intake, physical activity and gastrointestinal health in three groups, healthy (n = 235), lifetime depression (n = 161) and current depression (n = 86). Dietary intake was measured by the Fruit And Vegetable VAriety index, N-3 PUFA Food Frequency Questionnaire and Prebiotic and Probiotic Food Frequency Questionnaire. Analysis of variance, Pearson correlations and Hayes PROCESS macro mediation analysis were used to compare the groups and examine the relationships. Physical activity and gastrointestinal health differed significantly between the groups with no differences in overall fruit and vegetable, omega-3 and probiotic food intake. Bootstrapped correlations showed that higher fruit and vegetable and omega-3 intake were associated with lower gastrointestinal symptom and depression scores, but effects were weak. Furthermore, higher occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms was moderately associated with higher depression scores. Results from a series of exploratory mediation analyses suggested that gastrointestinal symptoms mediated the relationship between lifestyle factors and depression status. These data indicate that the effects of lifestyle factors on depression might partly work through the gastrointestinal system. The findings of this study help further understand the mechanisms between dietary intake and physical activity, and depression and can inform future longitudinal and experimental studies.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is thought to play an important role in the development of childhood obesity worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the main food groups contributing to UPF consumption and their association with weight status. Following exclusion of children with implausible intakes and misreporters, the final sample included 443 of 484 eligible (children and adolescents aged 2-18 years old) (91.5%), from the Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey (HNNHS). UPF items reported in 24-h recalls were identified according to the NOVA4 system and the proportion of their contribution to the daily energy intake was calculated. Main UPF food contributors were derived for the total population and by weight status. The association between weight status and UPF intake for the main contributors was examined using generalised linear models. The average percentage of total daily energy provided by UPFs was 39.8%. Four major food groups were found to contribute > 10% of total UPF intake: ready-to-eat/heat dishes (36.2%), sweet grain products (21.4%), savoury snacks (15.4%) and sweets (12.9%). These provided 86% of the total UPF intake, with no significant differences between children's weight status. There was also no significant association between the total percentage of energy as UPF and obesity. The relatively high contribution of UPFs, however, to children's daily energy intake in Greece emphasises the need for public food awareness campaigns for health promotion. Evaluation of the contribution of different food groups and not only of total UPF intake is also important.

This paper uses an optimisation model to quantify the necessary food consumption adjustments for Chinese diets to fulfil the requirements in the health-based Chinese Dietary Guidelines (CDG) or WHO dietary guidelines. We further aim to determine whether adopting these guidelines could lead to lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) while maintaining diet affordability. Modelling outcomes under the CDG and WHO scenarios differ significantly from nutritional, GHGE and diet affordability perspectives: relative to observed eating patterns, diets following the WHO guidelines are equally emissions intensive, while diets consistent with the CDG recommendations are less sustainable. Further optimisations imposing significant reductions in GHGE indicate important environmental and nutritional co-benefits can be achieved through the WHO guidelines, while maintaining diet affordability. In the WHO scenario, the maximum diet-related GHGE reduction policymakers could aim for is 30%, since above this threshold, recommended diets would deviate considerably from observed patterns. The CDG model with a 20% emissions reduction does not converge for 64% of the initial data set, casting doubt on the affordability and compatibility of the CDG with China's decarbonisation goal. We recommend that future versions of the CDG be reformulated to closer align with WHO advice and explicitly include environmental considerations.

Expected satiety is a key element in predicting meal portion size and food consumption; however, how this can be affected by different breakfast portion sizes is unknown. The study examined the impact of different breakfast portions on satiety, portion size, and energy intake and comprised an online survey and an experimental intervention. Sixteen adults (9 women, BMI: 24.9 ± 4.3 kg/m²) rated images of three portion sizes (small, standard, large) of the same breakfast using an ordinal scale. Subsequently, they were asked to self-prepare and consume ad libitum the three breakfast portions in a randomised order on different days and to complete a food diary. Satiety and portion size perception were re-measured upon consumption of each breakfast. For both the visual image and breakfast consumption, the small breakfast portion was rated as the smallest and least filling, while the large portion was rated as the largest and most filling (p < 0.05). When consuming the small breakfast, participants reported being hungrier and less full between breakfast and lunch (p < 0.05) and had a higher energy intake from lunch onward, due to more snacking (p < 0.05). However, the total daily energy intake was not different among the three breakfast portion sizes. Individuals seemed accustomed to predicting satiety and portion size from images. The consumption of the small breakfast was judged as not filling enough and was accompanied by a higher energy intake via energy-dense snacks. Based on these preliminary findings, breakfast size reduction may lead to unhealthy compensatory energy intake by snacking on energy-dense foods.

Sweeteners and sweetness enhancers (S&SEs) are ingredients used in foods and beverages to reduce sugar while providing the sweetness of sugar with little to no calories. Although S&SEs have global regulatory approval and acceptance, questions remain regarding their overall safety and efficacy. Information on the effects of S&SEs in regard to health and efficacy can be found in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that exist in peer-reviewed literature. With the large number of RCT publications on various S&SEs, a need exists to organise and collect each of the published studies in a useful database. Currently, a database containing human clinical information on S&SEs does not exist and so The SWEET project has created a publicly available and comprehensive Health Impact Database that includes available human clinical information on sweeteners. This paper describes the process and development of a database that collects comprehensive information on published human clinical studies evaluating S&SEs between the years January 2000 and September 2024. Ovid Medline was used to search for RCT publications from the year 2000 to 2024. The search produced 1538 publications, of which 257 complied with the predetermined eligibility criteria. There was a large variability in the number of studies that fit the inclusion criteria. For example, some S&SEs had numerous studies (i.e., sucralose, n = 63 eligible publications) and some S&SEs had no publications that fit the criteria (aspartame-acesulfame K salt and neohesperidine DC). The Health Impact Database is located at https://sweetproject.eu/HIdatabase and is contained in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets which are organised by health impact criteria. This database will be a useful tool for researchers as it provides comprehensive information on human clinical studies on S&SEs that can be leveraged as a general resource and for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Hyperhomocysteinaemia has been associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but the complex interplay between genetic determinants and modifiable lifestyle factors in modulating homocysteine (HC) levels remains incompletely understood. We aimed to investigate the aetiology of hyperhomocysteinaemia by examining the interactions between genetic predisposition, dietary patterns and other lifestyle factors and their potential associations with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and CVD risk. Cross-sectional analysis from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, a hospital-based cohort conducted by the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2012 to 2016. Korean adults (n = 62 743, aged 40-79 years) were categorised into Low-HC (n = 53 450) and High-HC (n = 9293) groups based on a 15 μM serum homocysteine cutoff. Demographic, anthropometric and biochemical data were analysed. Genome-wide association and gene-environment interaction models explored genetic variants influencing hyperhomocysteinaemia and their interplay with lifestyle factors, including nutrient intake. Multivariable logistic regression assessed associations between hyperhomocysteinaemia and metabolic/CVD risks, adjusting for covariates. Genetic variant-environment interaction analyses identified genetic determinants and their interactions with diet/lifestyle. The High-HC group exhibited an elevated MetS risk. Hyperhomocysteinaemia was correlated with liver damage, inflammation and CVD risks. Low vitamin B12 intake (< 5.4 μg/day) showed a stronger association with hyperhomocysteinaemia than low folate intake (< 350 μg/day), with combined deficiencies exacerbating hyperhomocysteinaemia. An inverse relationship was observed between hyperhomocysteinaemia and healthy eating indices like Asian balanced and plant-based diets. Variants in MTHFR, NOX4, PLOD1, MIIP, PAX6 and CBS genes, involved in methionine/cysteine metabolism, exhibited differential expression in skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissues. High polygenic risk scores interacted with poor diet quality, excess energy intake, a high glycemic index, smoking and heavy alcohol consumption to contribute to hyperhomocysteinaemia. In conclusion, these findings elucidate the complex interplay between genetics, diet and lifestyle in modulating homocysteine levels, providing insights for personalised nutrition strategies to mitigate CVD risk.

Applied sports nutrition is fundamental to athlete health, performance and training adaptation; hence, culinary skills are paramount to meet physiological demands. With the decline in domestic cooking, culinary nutrition has emerged as a priority for research and education. However, limited information exists regarding culinary research in athletes. The aim of this scoping review was to collate, map and overview the current body of literature regarding culinary nutrition in athletes while also identifying existing knowledge gaps. The PRISMA-ScR guidelines were used. Five electronic databases were searched in March 2023. Data extraction was conducted using a custom form. A critical appraisal was undertaken, data were charted in narrative and numerical format, and thematic analysis was conducted mapping relationships between studies and identifying knowledge gaps. Seven primary research studies were included, two qualitative and five quantitative study designs, with only one randomised controlled trial. Four studies were conducted in North America and four studies included athletes from multiple sports. Delivery, content and duration of interventions varied, with limited detail provided in most studies. All intervention studies included a practical culinary element. The use of validated measurement tools was limited. One study received a positive rating in the critical appraisal. Culinary nutrition research in athletes is grossly limited and warrants further investigation. Specifically, a focus on methodological issues is required to improve the quality of evidence, with the inclusion of well-designed studies, use of validated measurement tools, implementation of clear theoretical frameworks and clear intervention descriptions to assist in strengthening the culinary nutrition research field.