British Journal of Nutrition最新文献

This study has investigated the relationship between the gut microbiota compotision and the growth performance in pigs from birth to the finishing stage, focusing on nutrient metabolism. Of 59 crossbred pigs [(Landrace × Large Yorkshire) × Duroc] from seven sows, individuals with high and low daily gain (DG) were assigned to high DG (HDG, n = 11) and low DG (LDG, n = 8) groups. Fecal samples collected at weaning (21 days), growing (95-106 days) and finishing (136-152 days) stages were analyzed for amino acids, short-chain fatty acids, and microbial composition using 16S rRNA sequencing. Although birth and weaning weights were similar in both groups, the HDG group had significantly higher weights in the growing and finishing stages (P < 0.01). The microbial composition of the LDG group revealed a higher abundance of f_Lachnospiraceae;__ at weaning (P < 0.05), whereas the HDG group contained higher abundance of g_Streptococcus and g_Prevotella 7 at the finishing stage (P < 0.05). Functional analysis revealed increased amino acid metabolism in the HDG group at the finishing stage (P < 0.05). During the growing stage, total free fecal amino acid content was low in the HDG group (P < 0.05); at weaning, levels of isobutyric and isovaleric acids, key amino acid fermentation products (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), were higher. These findings indicate growth stage-specific differences in the gut microbiota and metabolic profiles between groups with different growth performance, suggesting microbial and metabolic characteristics may influence growth performance.

The effect of the Japanese diet on cancer incidence remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the Japanese diet and the risk of all-cause and site-specific cancer. We analysed 14-year follow-up data from the Osaki Cohort study of 25 570 Japanese men and women aged 40–79 years. The Japanese diet was evaluated using a thirty-nine-item FFQ at baseline. Based on a previous study, we used eight food items to calculate the Japanese Diet Index score: rice, miso soup, seaweed, pickles, green and yellow vegetables, seafood, green tea and beef and pork. The participants were divided into quartiles based on their Japanese Diet Index scores. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratios and 95 % CI of cancer incidence. During the mean 10·4 years of follow-up, we identified 3161 incident cases of all-cause cancer. Multivariable analysis showed that the Japanese Diet Index score was not associated with cancer incidence. In comparison with Q1 (the lowest), the multivariable hazard ratios and 95 % CI were 1·01 (0·92, 1·12) for Q2, 0·94 (0·85, 1·04) for Q3 and 1·06 (0·95, 1·18) for Q4 (the highest). Furthermore, separate analyses of nine common cancer sites demonstrated no association with the Japanese Diet Index score. The results were consistent even after a sensitivity analysis using multiple imputation. This prospective study showed that the Japanese diet was not associated with cancer incidence. The results suggest that the Japanese diet could contribute to a person’s overall health and well-being without increasing cancer risk.

Body composition (BC) offers essential insights into the physical condition and performance capacity of athletes. Several factors can influence athletes' BC, such as nutrition, which can improve lean mass (LM) and body fat percentage (%BF). This longitudinal observational study aimed to investigate the factors influencing BC in professional female football players, including hormones, dietary habits and physical activity, as these are relevant to their sport performance and health. Data related to dietary habits, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements, serum hormones, menstruation and global position system metrics were collected in November 2023 and late March 2024 from thirty-eight female football players from the Real Sociedad team. Of the thirty-eight players enrolled, thirty-five completed all assessments and were included in the final analyses. Spearman correlations and linear regression analyses were performed. Statistically significant models were executed for %BF and LM (adjusted R² = 0·55 and 0·47, respectively). For %BF, total testosterone had a positive influence, while high-speed running per minute, follicle-stimulating hormone, distance covered per minute, prolactin and fat intake influenced negatively. In the LM model, positive associations were total testosterone, progesterone, age, adrenocorticotropic hormone and carbohydrate intake, while insulin, distance covered per minute and sex hormone binding globulin had negative associations. These results emphasise the complexity of the factors influencing BC in female football players. Personalising and periodising carbohydrate intake and monitoring training loads are crucial to prevent adverse effects such as higher %BF and muscle catabolism. Establishing healthy nutritional practices is essential for long-term health and performance.

Ultra-processed foods (UPF), defined using frameworks such as NOVA, are increasingly linked to adverse health outcomes, driving interest in ways to identify and monitor their consumption. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers potential, yet its application in classifying UPF remains underexamined. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review mapping how AI has been used, focusing on techniques, input data, classification frameworks, accuracy and application. Studies were eligible if peer-reviewed, published in English (2015-2025), and they applied AI approaches to assess or classify UPF using recognised or study-specific frameworks. A systematic search in May 2025 across PubMed, Scopus, Medline and CINAHL identified 954 unique records with eight ultimately meeting the inclusion criteria; one additional study was added in October following an updated search after peer review. Records were independently screened and extracted by two reviewers. Extracted data covered AI methods, input types, frameworks, outputs, validation and context. Studies used diverse techniques, including random forest classifiers, large language models and rule-based systems, applied across various contexts. Four studies explored practical settings: two assessed consumption or purchasing behaviours, and two developed substitution tools for healthier options. All relied on NOVA or modified versions to categorise processing. Several studies reported predictive accuracy, with F1 scores from 0·86 to 0·98, while another showed alignment between clusters and NOVA categories. Findings highlight the potential of AI tools to improve dietary monitoring and the need for further development of real-time methods and validation to support public health.

There is substantial international variation in recommended vitamin C intake levels. In the United States, the recommendation is 90 mg/day for men and 75 mg/day for women, while in the United Kingdom (UK), the current recommendation - established in 1991 - is only 40 mg/day for adults. This UK level was based on the 1953 Sheffield study, which found that 10 mg/day prevents scurvy, with 40 mg/day chosen as the recommended level for yielding somewhat higher plasma levels. In this commentary, we argue that the UK recommendation overlooked key evidence available at the time. Specifically, at least six controlled trials published before 1991 reported benefits from vitamin C supplementation in participants whose baseline vitamin C intake was already 40 mg/day or higher. One randomized controlled trial, published in 1993, found benefits from vitamin C supplementation even at a baseline intake of about 500 mg/day; however, this trial involved ultramarathon runners, and the findings should not be broadly generalised. Nonetheless, such results challenge the assumption that 40 mg/day is universally adequate to maintain full health. We also highlight that the UK recommendations were narrowly focused on preventing dermatological symptoms of scurvy, despite strong evidence - even at the time - that vitamin C deficiency can also cause cardiac dysfunction and greater morbidity due to respiratory infections. We conclude that the current UK vitamin C recommendation should be re-evaluated in light of controlled trial evidence and broader clinical outcomes.

Obesity and depression are highly prevalent diseases that are strongly correlated. At the same time, there is a growing gap in care, and treatment options should be improved and extended. Positive effects of a Mediterranean diet on mental health have already been shown in various studies. In addition to the physiological effects of nutrients, the way food is eaten, such as mindful eating, seems to play a role. The present study investigates the effect of a Mediterranean diet and mindful eating on depression severity in people with clinically diagnosed major depressive disorder and obesity. Participants will be randomised to one of the four intervention groups (Mediterranean diet, mindful eating, their combination and a befriending control group). The factorial design allows investigating individual effects as well as potential synergistic effects of the interventions. The study consists of a 12-week intervention period, where five individual appointments will take place, followed by a 12-week follow-up. The primary outcome is depression severity. Secondary outcomes are remission of depression, assessor-rated depression severity, quality of life, self-efficacy, BMI, waist:hip ratio and body composition; adherence to the Mediterranean diet and mindful eating will also be assessed. Alongside mediator and moderator analysis, a microbiome analysis, a qualitative evaluation and an economic analysis will be conducted. The study investigates an important health issue in a vulnerable target group. It allows to draw valuable conclusions regarding the effectiveness of different interventions and therefore contributes to improving available care options for people suffering from depression and obesity.

Previous studies have shown that low-fat diet (LFD) is associated with various health benefits, and that lipid and fatty acid metabolism is linked to telomere shortening. However, no epidemiological studies have examined the association between LFD and telomere length (TL). Dietary information was collected using 24-h recalls among 6981 adults from a nationwide cross-sectional study. Diet quality was assessed using overall LFD, healthful LFD (hLFD) and unhealthful LFD (uLFD). TL was measured using quantitative PCR. Linear regression was employed to evaluate the association between LFD and log-transformed TL, and ordinal logistic regression was performed to assess the association of LFD with ordinal quintiles of TL in descending order. In both fully adjusted linear and ordinal regression models, higher overall LFD (Tertile 3 v. Tertile 1: percentage change = 2·48 %, 95 % CI: 0·60 %, 4·40 %, P_trend = 0·003; OR = 0·79, 95 % CI: 0·68, 0·93; P_trend = 0·001) and hLFD (Tertile 3 v. Tertile 1: percentage change = 2·71 %, 95 % CI: 0·87 %, 4·58 %; P_trend = 0·002; OR = 0·84, 95 % CI: 0·72, 0·97; P_trend = 0·003) scores were significantly associated with longer TL. The positive association between hLFD and TL was observed in other racial/ethnic groups, but not in non-Hispanic whites (P_interaction < 0·005). There was no significant association between uLFD and TL in all the models. Our results suggest that LFD rich in high-quality carbohydrates, unsaturated fat and plant protein is associated with longer TL and underscore the need to consider the quality and dietary sources of the macronutrients.

The evaluation of usual food intake is of central importance in nutritional epidemiology studies. Some authors propose the usual dietary recall (UDR) as a viable method for assessing usual food intake; however, its characteristics remain poorly understood. The objective of this study is to review the literature on the application and performance characteristics of the UDR as a dietary assessment method. Electronic search strategies were conducted using the Excerpta Medica Database, Publisher Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) Periodicals Portal, and Google Scholar. Studies published in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were included, with no restrictions on publication date. Eligible studies included those utilising the UDR in experimental or observational designs, as well as literature reviews. A total of 116 studies were included in the review. The most common application method (n 34; 29·3 %) involved reporting foods typically consumed over a 24-h period. However, most studies (n 66; 56·9 %) did not specify the method for applying the UDR. Key limitations identified included under or overestimation (n 9; 7·8 %), memory bias (n 7; 6·0 %) and the lack of instrument validation (n 5; 4·3 %). Findings show that the UDR lacks a standardised application method, and its validity remains unconfirmed. Future research should establish a standardised protocol and assess its psychometric properties to reduce errors and biases, ensuring accurate dietary assessments in nutritional epidemiology.

There is a gap in the understanding of meal patterns offered to students targeted by the National School Feeding Programme (PNAE). This study aimed to identify and analyse the menu patterns planned in schools participating in the PNAE. This observational cross-sectional study was carried out from a database consisting of 557 weekly menus from primary schools across Brazilian municipalities. We used factor analysis (FA) with principal components analysis (PCA) to identify menu patterns. Nutritional quality assessment of the menus was based on the Revised School Feeding Menu Quality Index (IQCAE-R). Differences in nutritional quality and associations with sociodemographic factors were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Wilcoxon post hoc testing with Bonferroni correction. Two menu patterns were identified: (1) 'Traditional', predominantly composed of cereals and pasta, roots and tubers, legumes, vegetables, and meats and eggs; and (2) 'Snack', with a higher occurrence of bread, cakes, and biscuits, milk and dairy products, chocolate powder, and coffee and tea. The 'Traditional' pattern, consisting of food items commonly found in Brazilian food culture, and the 'Snack' pattern, characterised by the presence of sweets and highly processed foods, showed significant relationships with sociodemographic variables and nutritional quality of menus. Stimulating schools to provide meals that resemble the 'Traditional' pattern may contribute to the adoption of healthier dietary patterns, thus benefiting and strengthening health promotion through PNAE.

Diet can affect health directly or by altering the gut microbiota; thus, there are strong interrelationships between the gut immune system, gut microbiota and diet. This study examined the effects of ingesting AIN-93M purified diet (PD) on gut immune function and gut microbiota in DO11·10 mice, in which T cell-dependent and T cell-independent (TI) IgA can be analysed separately. Ingestion of the PD for 2 weeks reduced both T cell-dependent and TI secretory IgA in the faeces compared with non-PD, whereas the diet did not affect T cell-dependent and TI serum IgA. Ingestion of the PD had no effect on systemic immune system splenocyte responses. Ingestion of the PD reduced intestinal tissue expression levels of B-cell activating factor and A proliferation-inducing ligand, cytokines involved in TI-IgA production and polymeric Ig receptor, which transports IgA into the intestinal lumen. Co-abundance group (CAG) analysis of the intestinal microbiota was conducted based on correlations between changes in the abundance of bacterial genera, and the correlations between CAG and IgA were determined. The Allobaculum-dominated CAG expanded following ingestion of the PD, accompanied by an inverse correlation with the decrease in faecal IgA, whereas the Lactobacillus-dominated CAG shrank relative to the Allobaculum-dominated CAG. These results suggest that TI-IgA suppresses the expansion of some intestinal bacteria and that ingestion of the PD induces dysbiosis via impaired IgA secretion into the intestinal lumen.