Assessment Of Food Intake Research Articles

The association between dietary patterns and cardiovascular disease risk factors in Iranian adults: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDietary patterns are important factors associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We examined the association between dietary patterns derived from factor analysis and CVD risk factors.MethodsIn the present cross-sectional study, a total of 3,687 adults (aged 40 to 70 years) with one or more types of CVDs were enrolled as participants. A validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire was utilized to assess food intakes, and then dietary patterns were extracted by factor analysis. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profile, anthropometric indices, and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis was employed to ascertain the odds ratio (OR) of CVD risk factors associated with posteriori dietary patterns. In this study, healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns were identified.ResultsAdherence to a healthy dietary pattern was associated with a decrease in systolic BP (SBP) (OR = 0.78; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62–0.99) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (OR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.06–1.64). Additionally, greater adherence to the unhealthy dietary pattern was positively associated with SBP (OR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.13–1.80) and diastolic BP (DBP) (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.01–1.76).ConclusionsWe concluded that greater adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with an increase in SBP and DBP. On the other hand, greater adherence to a healthy dietary pattern could be effective in reducing SBP. Further investigation is recommended to validate these findings.

Impact DASH System on Patients' Dietary Pattern after Recovery from Myocardial Infarction

Background: One of the top three causes of death and morbidity is cardiovascular disease Myocardial infarction is a clinical illness defined by quickly growing severe myocardial ischemia. It is the most frequent health problem in the world and the main cause of mortality. Objectives: The study aims to assess the dietary pattern of food intake frequency for patients with post- myocardial infarction. Patients & Methods: The quasi-experimental design has been carried out to determine the impact of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension system on patients with post-myocardial infarction, in the Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital's cardiac outpatient clinic for the period from 17th April 2023 to 3rd May, 2024. Nonprobability (purposive) sample of (60) patients were selected who recovering from myocardial infarction at AL Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital. The study instrument comprised of (3) parts: part I: demographic details of the patient, which included seven items. Part II: Data on clinical characteristics, consisting of (3) items and Part III: Evaluation of diet frequency consisting of (8) items. Results: The study results showed that most of the food groups were (less than the Recommended Daily Servings) in pre-test, then became (Equal to the Recommended Daily Servings) in post-test in the study group. While most of the food groups were (Less than the Recommended Daily Servings) in pre-test and post-test in the control group. Also, there were statistically significant differences between the study and control groups in the post-test measurements regarding the evaluation of the dietary pattern of food intake frequency at (p. value <0.05). Conclusions: The DASH system was effective in improving the dietary pattern of patients after recovery from myocardial infarction. And in assessing food intake frequency and the dietary pattern at p. value <0.05). There were statistically significant differences between the study and the control group on the post-test measures.

Food intake in an Australian Aboriginal rural community facing food and water security challenges: A cross-sectional survey.

Researchers were invited by Aboriginal leaders to collaborate on this study which aimed to assess food intake in the Walgett Aboriginal community to inform long-term community-led efforts to improve food and water security and nutrition. Aboriginal adults living in or near Walgett, a remote community in north-west NSW, Australia, completed an adapted Menzies Remote Short-item Dietary Assessment Tool, which was administered verbally and face-to-face in early 2022. Aboriginal people were involved in the survey design, training and collection, and analysis of data. Descriptive statistics were tabulated, overall and by gender, age, and location. Differences by sex, age group (18-44 years versus ≥45 years), and location (Walgett town or other) were determined using a chi-square test. A total of 242 participants completed the survey; 55% were female. Three-quarters of participants reported meeting the recommendations for discretionary foods (73%); however, more than half (56%) exceeded the recommended maximum serves of sugar-sweetened beverages. The proportion of participants meeting core food group guidelines was 72% for meat, 36% for fruit, 20% for bread and cereals, 6% for dairy, and 3% for vegetables. Overall, none of the participants met the recommended serves of all food groups outlined in the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Findings show that Walgett Aboriginal community members surveyed were consuming a healthier diet than national data reported for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. However, none of the participants were meeting all of the national dietary guidelines, placing them at increased risk of diet-related chronic disease. Local Aboriginal community-led efforts to improve food and water security should include specific strategies to improve nutrition.

Validation of the minimum dietary diversity for women as a predictor of micronutrient adequacy among lactating women in Ethiopia.

The Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) indicator is used as a proxy indicator for assessing micronutrient adequacy among women of the reproductive age group. Variations were observed in studies, and there was also a lack of evidence regarding the performance of this proxy indicator in Ethiopia, a country with diverse dietary consumption practices. This study aimed to validate the performance of the MDD-W in predicting micronutrient intake adequacy among lactating women in Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 457 lactating women in Northwest Ethiopia from February 2 to 18, 2023. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 457 study participants. A single multiphasic interactive 24-h dietary recall was used to collect dietary intake data. Ten food groups were used to compute the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women, and the Mean Adequacy Ratio was used to assess nutrient intake adequacy. Spearman's rank correlation test, Cohen's kappa statistics, and ROC curve analysis were conducted. The optimal cutoff points for Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women were determined by selecting the points that maximized the Youden index. MDD-W had poor positive correlation (ρ = 0.19, p < 0.001) and poor predictive ability (AUC = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.67) (p < 0.001) with the Mean Adequacy Ratio in determining micronutrient intake adequacy. The sensitivity and specificity of the MDD-W in the ≥5 food groups standard cutoff were 25.2 and 82.3%, respectively. The optimal cutoff point for MDD-W to predict micronutrient intake adequacy was ≥3 food groups. Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women had a poor correlation and poor predictive ability in predicting micronutrient intake adequacy. The variations noted in studies and differences from the Food and Agriculture Organization recommendations regarding the cutoff and level of performance of MDD-W in defining micronutrient adequacy warrant further investigation.

Is Nutrient Quality of the Locally-Existing, EAT-Lancet-like Plant-Based Diet Better or Worse than the Average Diet in Taiwan? An Example of Local Translation.

The EAT-Lancet commission advocated a planetary health diet in 2019. Some have raised concerns about its nutrient adequacy. This study used data from recent Nutrition and Health Surveys in Taiwan-from 2017 to 2020 (n = 6538)-to assess food intake and nutrient adequacy among three red meat consumption levels (low/medium/high). The low red meat group, whose diet was similar to the EAT-Lancet reference, showed significantly higher/better levels of vitamins C and E, calcium, magnesium, sodium, dietary fiber, and the polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids ratio. However, protein, B vitamins, phosphorus for females, and zinc were slightly compromised, but they were still near or above 100% of the Daily Reference Intakes (DRIs), except for zinc (74~75%). The intake levels of vitamin D, calcium, and dietary fiber in all three groups at times did not reach 70% of the DRIs, but this was more pronounced in the high red meat group compared to the low red meat group. Replacing ultra-processed foods (UPFs) with whole/healthy foods improved levels of zinc, calcium, and dietary fiber, but not vitamin D. Finally, a proposed local planetary health dietary construct was provided, suggesting maintaining the original distribution of the food groups recommended by the Taiwan Food Guide while specifying amounts of protein sources in line with the EAT-Lancet principles. The proposed diet, according to our estimation and comparison with Taiwanese DRIs, was nearly perfect in its nutrient composition.

Adequacy of usual intake of Japanese college athletes in various sports clubs.

While many studies have been published on nutrient intake assessment for performance improvement and deficiency prevention in single-sport athletes, few studies have addressed nutrient intakes in athletes from a various sports. The aim of this study was to determine whether Japanese college athletes meet the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) and sports nutrition recommendations (SNRs). Dietary intake was assessed in 1049 Japanese college athletes from a variety of sports using a validated brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire. The prevalence of inadequate intakes was estimated by comparing the DRIs and SNRs. For protein, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins B-6, vitamins B-12, folate, magnesium, zinc, and copper, <10% of females and males consumed diets that fell below the estimated average requirement (EAR) in the DRIs. A large proportion of female and male college athletes demonstrated intakes that were below the EAR for vitamin A (7.8% and 19.0%, respectively), thiamin (10.4% and 23.9%, respectively), calcium (20.4% and 29.7%, respectively), and iron (24.2% and 2.5%, respectively). Regarding DG for chronic disease prevention in the DRIs, over half of both female and male athletes exceeded the DG for saturated fat acid and sodium, and fell below the DG for dietary fiber. Few of both female and male had intakes below the SNRs for protein and carbohydrates. The results of the present study reveal the nutrient intake status of Japanese college athletes by comparing the DRIs and SNRs. Most meet the SNRs for optimal performance, but not the DRIs for health.

Promoting mealtime support for people with dementia: a pilot study of feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an educational intervention for direct care workers

ABSTRACT This mixed-methods single-arm repeated measures pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an educational intervention designed to address mealtime challenges experienced by people with dementia and direct care workers. Feasibility was evaluated based on the screening, eligibility, consent, retention, and completion rates, as well as intervention adherence. Acceptability was assessed through a satisfaction questionnaire. As secondary outcomes, the study measured burnout, job satisfaction, feeding skills, and knowledge about dementia and mealtime support needs among direct care workers. For residents with dementia, the evaluation included assessments of food intake, time spent on a meal, and mealtime support needs. All feasibility rates were excellent, with the majority reaching 100%, except for the screening rate which was 89%. 81.3% of the direct care workers expressed high levels of satisfaction with the intervention. Qualitative analysis showed that participants appreciated the intervention, emphasizing its relevance and positive impact on their daily work. The results showed a significant decrease (p = .016, W = 0.265) in the burnout personal accomplishment subscale, an increase in job satisfaction (p = .001, W = 0.862) and in the knowledge test (p = .002, W = 2.571). The other outcomes were not statistically significant, despite having moderate and large effect sizes. The results suggested that the educational intervention is likely to be feasible and acceptable for direct care workers. Further research with a more robust study design and larger sample size is recommended to validate these findings and determine the extent of its benefits.

Diet and Nutritional Status of Women of Reproductive Age (15-49 Years) in Indigenous Communities of Attappady, Kerala, India.

The dietary patterns and quality of diets of women of reproductive age (WRA) significantly affect their health and that of their children. The suboptimal diet among women can lead to issues such as intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight, premature birth, and malnutrition. To examine the dietary patterns and nutrient intake of WRA in the indigenous communities of the Attappady tribal block in Kerala, we conducted a cross-sectional study in 20 randomly selected villages in 2022. The study involved 24 h dietary recall surveys, anthropometric measurements, and estimation of hemoglobin concentration to assess nutrient intake and nutritional status. A total of 446 women aged 15-49 from 423 households participated, with 92 households included in the diet survey. The findings indicated that the diet was primarily based on cereals and root-based starchy staples, with low consumption of dairy products, fruits, and vegetables. The estimated intakes of major nutrients, except for protein, were lower than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). Nearly 50% of the WRA were malnourished. About 32% of non-pregnant and non-lactating (NPNL) women and 40% of lactating mothers suffered from chronic energy deficiency (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2). Conversely, 13.4% of NPNL women and 15% of lactating mothers were overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). A total of 12.5% of adolescent girls aged 15-19 were thin (BAZ < -2 SD), and 10.5% were overweight or obese (BAZ > +1 SD). Since the co-existence of micronutrient deficiencies and undernutrition is rooted in the socio-cultural aspects of indigenous tribes, a culturally sensitive nutrition intervention model would be appropriate for the better health and wellbeing of women in the community.

Brain Perception of Different Oils on Appetite Regulation: An Anorectic Gene Expression Pattern in the Hypothalamus Dependent on the Vagus Nerve.

(1) Background: We examined the effect of the acute administration of olive oil (EVOO), linseed oil (GLO), soybean oil (SO), and palm oil (PO) on gastric motility and appetite in rats. (2) Methods: We assessed food intake, gastric retention (GR), and gene expression in all groups. (3) Results: Both EVOO and GLO were found to enhance the rate of stomach retention, leading to a decrease in hunger. On the other hand, the reduction in food intake caused by SO was accompanied by delayed effects on stomach retention. PO caused an alteration in the mRNA expression of NPY, POMC, and CART. Although PO increased stomach retention after 180 min, it did not affect food intake. It was subsequently verified that the absence of an autonomic reaction did not nullify the influence of EVOO in reducing food consumption. Moreover, in the absence of parasympathetic responses, animals that received PO exhibited a significant decrease in food consumption, probably mediated by lower NPY expression. (4) Conclusions: This study discovered that different oils induce various effects on parameters related to food consumption. Specifically, EVOO reduces food consumption primarily through its impact on the gastrointestinal tract, making it a recommended adjunct for weight loss. Conversely, the intake of PO limits food consumption in the absence of an autonomic reaction, but it is not advised due to its contribution to the development of cardiometabolic disorders.

Association between iron intake with diet and diabetes and impaired fasting glucose among PURE Poland study participants

Abstract Introduction Different studies results show that higher iron intake and increased iron stores in the body are significantly associated with a higher risk of diabetes mellitus (DM), a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Iron metabolism in the body is associated with the production of free oxygen radicals, which, combined with the stressful effect of glycation end products in pre-diabetes, increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular events. The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between iron intake with diet and diabetes and impaired fasting glucose among PURE Poland study participants. Methods Study group consisted of 1889 individuals (1185 women and 704 men, aged 35-70 years, from urban and rural area), who were participants of the Polish arm of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee. The data were collected between 2007-2009, in the first stage of the PURE Poland study. Diabetes was diagnosed when fasting glucose level was ≥ 126 mg/dl or there was a declaration about DM occurrence in the medical interview. Diagnosis of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was made when fasting glucose level was between 100-125 mg/dl with no statement about DM in the interview. Analysis were conducted for DM+IFG in three models: 1. crude data, 2. adjusted for energy intake, 3. adjusted for energy intake, age, body mass index and smoking. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess food intake. FFQ was developed and validated for this population within the PURE study. Iron intake with diet was calculated based on the data from FFQ. For further analysis the study group was divided into tertiles based on the daily iron intake with diet, separately for men and women. Results The prevalence of DM+IFG in each tertile (T) of iron intake with diet was: 27.6% (T1), 37.0% (T2) and 38.7% (T3) among women, and 30.3% (T1), 40.9% (T2) and 37.9% (T3) among men. Taking into account crude data the OR (95% CI) for DM+IFG among women was 1.54 (1.14-2.08) in T2 and 1.66 (1.23-2.24) in T3 when comparing with T1. In model 2 the OR (95% CI) for DM+IFG among women was 1.63 (1.16-2.28) in T2 and 1.88 (1.21-2.94) in T3 when comparing with T1. In model 3 in the group of women the OR (95% CI) for DM+IFG was 1.52 (1.07-2.16) and 1.62 (1.02-2.56) when comparing T2 vs T1 and T3 vs T1, respectively. In the group of men in model 1 the OR (95% CI) for DM+IFG prevalence was 1.59 (1.08-2.32) in T2 vs T1 and 1.40 (0.95-2.05, p&amp;gt;0.05) in T3 vs T1. In the group of men in model 2 and 3 the results were not statistically significant, both in T2 vs T1 and T3 vs T1. Taking into account the whole study group the risk of DM+IFG was significantly higher in T2 vs T1 (model 1, 2 and 3) and in T3 vs T1 (model 1 and 2). Conclusions Higher iron intake with diet was associated with a higher risk of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in the study group, especially among women.

Geographic and dietary differences of urinary uranium levels in the Strong Heart Family Study.

American Indian (AI) communities are affected by uranium exposure from abandoned mines and naturally contaminated drinking water. Few studies have evaluated geographical differences across AI communities and the role of dietary exposures. We evaluated differences in urinary uranium levels by diet and geographical area among AI participants from the Northern Plains, the Southern Plains, and the Southwest enrolled in the Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS). We used food frequency questionnaires to determine dietary sources related to urinary uranium levels for 1,682 SHFS participants in 2001-2003. We calculated adjusted geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of urinary uranium for an interquartile range (IQR) increase in self-reported food group consumption accounting for family clustering and adjusting for sociodemographic variables and other food groups. We determined the percentage of variability in urinary uranium explained by diet. Median (IQR) urinary uranium levels were 0.027 (0.012, 0.057) μg/g creatinine. Urinary uranium levels were higher in Arizona (median 0.039 μg/g) and North Dakota and South Dakota (median 0.038 μg/g) and lower in Oklahoma (median 0.019 μg/g). The adjusted percent increase (95% confidence interval) of urinary uranium levels per IQR increase in reported food intake was 20% (5%, 36%) for organ meat, 11% (1%, 23%) for cereals, and 14% (1%, 29%) for alcoholic drinks. In analyses stratified by study center, the association with organ meat was specific to North Dakota and South Dakota participants. An IQR increase in consumption of fries and chips was inversely associated with urinary uranium levels -11% (-19%, -3%). Overall, we estimated that self-reported dietary exposures explained 1.71% of variability in urine uranium levels. Our paper provides a novel assessment of self-reported food intake and urinary uranium levels in a cohort of American Indian participants. We identify foods (organ meat, cereals, and alcohol) positively associated with urinary uranium levels, find that organ meat consumption is only associated with urine uranium in North Dakota and South Dakota, and estimate that diet explains relatively little variation in total urinary uranium concentrations. Our findings contribute meaningful data toward a more comprehensive estimation of uranium exposure among Native American communities and support the need for high-quality assessments of water and dust uranium exposures in SHFS communities.

Reliance on self-reports and estimated food composition data in nutrition research introduces significant bias that can only be addressed with biomarkers

The chemical composition of foods is complex, variable, and dependent on many factors. This has a major impact on nutrition research as it foundationally affects our ability to adequately assess the actual intake of nutrients and other compounds. In spite of this, accurate data on nutrient intake are key for investigating the associations and causal relationships between intake, health, and disease risk at the service of developing evidence-based dietary guidance that enables improvements in population health. Here, we exemplify the importance of this challenge by investigating the impact of food content variability on nutrition research using three bioactives as model: flavan-3-ols, (–)-epicatechin, and nitrate. Our results show that common approaches aimed at addressing the high compositional variability of even the same foods impede the accurate assessment of nutrient intake generally. This suggests that the results of many nutrition studies using food composition data are potentially unreliable and carry greater limitations than commonly appreciated, consequently resulting in dietary recommendations with significant limitations and unreliable impact on public health. Thus, current challenges related to nutrient intake assessments need to be addressed and mitigated by the development of improved dietary assessment methods involving the use of nutritional biomarkers.

Reliance on self-reports and estimated food composition data in nutrition research introduces significant bias that can only be addressed with biomarkers.

The chemical composition of foods is complex, variable, and dependent on many factors. This has a major impact on nutrition research as it foundationally affects our ability to adequately assess the actual intake of nutrients and other compounds. In spite of this, accurate data on nutrient intake are key for investigating the associations and causal relationships between intake, health, and disease risk at the service of developing evidence-based dietary guidance that enables improvements in population health. Here, we exemplify the importance of this challenge by investigating the impact of food content variability on nutrition research using three bioactives as model: flavan-3-ols, (-)-epicatechin, and nitrate. Our results show that common approaches aimed at addressing the high compositional variability of even the same foods impede the accurate assessment of nutrient intake generally. This suggests that the results of many nutrition studies using food composition data are potentially unreliable and carry greater limitations than commonly appreciated, consequently resulting in dietary recommendations with significant limitations and unreliable impact on public health. Thus, current challenges related to nutrient intake assessments need to be addressed and mitigated by the development of improved dietary assessment methods involving the use of nutritional biomarkers.

Dietary Survey of Japanese Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on a Low-Carbohydrate Diet: An Observational Study.

The nutrient intake of persons with diabetes placed on a low-carbohydrate diet remains unclear. This study aimed to assess nutrient intake in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with a low-carbohydrate diet. The brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire was used to collect the dietary information of 335 outpatients at Kitasato Institute Hospital, while their clinical characteristics were collected from their electronic medical records. The median age, HbA1c level, and body mass index of the participants were 68 (60-74) years, 49 (45-55) mmol/mol [6.7 (6.3-7.2)%], and 24.0 (21.8-26.7) kg/m2, respectively; median energy intake was 1457 (1153-1786) kcal/day; and protein-energy, fat-energy, and available carbohydrate-energy ratios were 18.6 (15.7-21.4)%E, 36.8 (31.6-43.2)%E, and 34.6 (26.0-42.4)%E, respectively. As the available carbohydrate-energy ratio decreased, the fat-energy ratio increased significantly. The total dietary fibre and salt intake were 7.1 (5.6-8.4) g/1000 kcal and 6.5 (5.6-7.5) g/1000 kcal, respectively. Japanese individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus placed on a low-carbohydrate diet had a fat-to-energy ratio exceeding 30%, while the fat-energy ratio increased as the carbohydrate-energy ratio decreased.

Adherence to Healthy Eating Index-2015 and severity of disease in hospitalised military patients with COVID-19: a cross sectional study

IntroductionProper nutrition can play an important role in preventing and improving disease progression in patients with COVID-19. The Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) is one of the most common measures used...

Investigating the role of the built environment, socio-economic status, and lifestyle factors in the prevalence of chronic diseases in Mashhad: PLS-SEM model.

Chronic diseases remain a significant contributor to both mortality and disability in our modern world. Physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet are recognized as significant behavioral risk factors for chronic diseases, which can be influenced by the built environment and socio-economic status (SES). This study aims to investigate the relationship between the built environment, SES, and lifestyle factors with chronic diseases. The current study was conducted in Mashhad's Persian cohort, which included employees from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS). In the study, 5,357 participants from the cohort were included. To assess the state of the built environment in Mashhad, a Geographic Information System (GIS) map was created for the city and participants in the Persian Mashhad study. Food intake and physical exercise were used to assess lifestyle. A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess food intake. To assess food intake, the diet quality index was computed. To assess the link between variables, the structural model was created in accordance with the study's objectives, and partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized. The chronic diseases were positively associated with male sex (p < 0.001), married (p < 0.001), and higher age (p < 0.001). The chronic diseases were negatively associated with larger family size (p < 0.05), higher SES (p < 0.001), and higher diet quality index (DQI) (p < 0.001). No significant relationship was found between chronic disease and physical activity. Food intake and socioeconomic status have a direct impact on the prevalence of chronic diseases. It seems that in order to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases, increasing economic access, reducing the class gap and increasing literacy and awareness should be emphasized, and in the next step, emphasis should be placed on the built environment.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and relationship with sodium and potassium excretion: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) had been associated with higher risk of non-communicable diseases (NCD) and NCD-promoting nutrient profile such as high sodium content and low potassium content. The objective of the study was to evaluate the level of food processing according to the NOVA classification and its relationship with sodium and potassium intake estimated by 24-hour urinary excretion. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Data collection included 107 workers from a public university (51.4% female; mean age 47 years) participating in an iMC Salt clinical trial). A 24-hour urinary collection was used to estimate sodium and potassium intake, validated by the creatinine coefficient. The corresponding 24-hour dietary recall was used to assess food intake and foods were categorized using the NOVA classification according to the degree and purpose of processing, into four groups. Nutri-score was also used to categorize UPF and provide more information about the nutritional quality of products. Results: The largest energy contribution came from the group of unprocessed or minimally processed foods (51.6%), followed by UPF (24%), processed foods (21.8%) and processed culinary ingredients (2.6%). Individuals with the lowest caloric contribution of the consumption of UPF had higher average values of potassium (K) intake (1438 vs 1136 mg/1000kcal; p=0.007), as individuals with the highest weight contribution of the consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed foods (1434 vs 1109 mg/1000kcal; p=0.010). For sodium (Na) intake no significant results were found between individuals with the lowest and the highest consumption of each NOVA group. Conclusions: Higher consumption of fresh or minimally processed foods and lower UPF intake were associated with higher K intake values. On the other hand, higher UPF intake was not associated with higher Na intake values. Funding: This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia by Grant POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029269) and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through NORTE 2020 (Northern Regional Operational Program 2014/2020) - NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-072687.

Nutrient intake and stunting in children aged 2-5 years in a slum area of Jakarta

Background Stunting is one of the problems that occurs in children who live in slum areas. Inadequate nutrient intake has been associated with stunting in children. Objective To assess nutrient intake and analyze the differences between stunted and non-stunted children aged 2-5 years. Methods This comparative cross-sectional study compared nutrient intake and stunting among children 2-5 years in slum areas in Kebon Bawang Village North Jakarta. Subjects’ nutrient intake was assessed using the Semiquantitative-Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQ-FFQ). To analyze differences in subject characteristics and nutrient intake in the stunted and non-stunted groups, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney test, and independent T-test were used. Results From a total of 42 respondents, the characteristics of subjects were not significantly different between the stunted and non-stunted groups, in age (P=0.120), gender (P=0.126), maternal occupation (P=0.729), or maternal education (P=0.127). The stunted group had significantly lower intake of energy (P=0.003), carbohydrates (P=0.024), protein (P=0.005), and fat (P=0.001) than that of the non-stunted group. However, the majority of subjects had protein adequacy above the sufficiency level in both groups (P=0.638), while significantly more subjects in the stunted group had insufficient carbohydrate adequacy than in the non-stunted group (P=0.032). Conclusion Overall, nutrient intake in the stunted group is lower than that of the non-stunted group. Protein adequacy is above sufficient for most subjects in both groups, while the significantly more stunted subjects have insufficient carbohydrate adequacy. In carrying out interventions, it is necessary to consider fulfilling a balance of nutrients, especially macronutrients.

Potentials and limitations of a food group-based algorithm to assess dietary nutrient intake of women in rural areas in Tanzania

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of nutrient intake assessment with the food group-based algorithm “Calculator of Inadequate Micronutrient Intake” (CIMI) in comparison to the established nutrition software NutriSurvey. Using Food Frequency Questionnaires and 24-h dietary recalls of 1010 women from two rural districts in Tanzania, 23 relevant typical Tanzanian food groups were identified and subsequently the dietary protocols assessed via CIMI algorithm were compared by bivariate correlations and Bland-Altman analysis with the results of the NutriSurvey software (reference) and were set in relation to blood biomarkers of 666 participants. CIMI and NutriSurvey calculations regarding macro- and micronutrient intakes were similar. The Bland-Altman analyses and correlation coefficients of energy (0.931), protein (0.898), iron (0.775) and zinc (0.838) confirm the agreement of both calculations. The food group based CIMI algorithm is a practical tool to identify the inadequacy of macro- and micronutrient intake at population level.

Impact of Plant Protein Intakes on Nutrient Adequacy in the US.

There is an increasing interest in plant-based diets and higher levels of plant proteins due to rising concerns around health and environmental sustainability issues. We determined the effects of increasing quartiles of plant protein in the diet on nutrient adequacy using a large nationally representative observational dataset. Twenty-four-hour dietary-recall data from NHANES 2013-2018 from 19,493 participants aged 9+ years were used to assess nutrient intakes. Nutritional adequacy was assessed by estimating the percentage of the population with intakes below the EAR or above the AI. A quartile trend was assessed using regression and the significance was set at Pquartile trend < 0.05. With increasing quartiles of plant protein, the adequacy decreased for calcium, potassium, and vitamin D and increased for copper and magnesium for adolescents. Among the adults aged 19-50 years, the adequacy decreased for protein, choline, selenium, vitamin B12, and zinc and increased for copper, folate, iron, magnesium, thiamin, and vitamin C with increasing quartiles of plant protein. The adequacy for calcium, vitamin A, and zinc decreased and it increased for copper, folate, magnesium, thiamin, and vitamin C with increasing quartiles of plant protein among adults aged 51+ years. The results indicate that diets of mixed protein sources (from both animals and plants) are the most nutritionally adequate.