Current Diet Research Articles

Effect of personal, food manufacturer, and pet health statements made by a veterinarian during a pet wellness appointment on a dog or cat owner's decision to consider changing their pet's diet.

To investigate the effect of statements made by veterinarians during a pet wellness appointment on a pet owner's decision to consider changing their pet's diet. Pet owners who presented their dogs and cats for wellness examinations from December 2018 to February 2019 to a veterinary medical teaching hospital or an affiliated low-cost community clinic. Pet owners completed part 1 of the survey, which included questions on various pet characteristics (eg, signalment and current diet) and pet owner's degree of satisfaction with their pet's diet, after a veterinary medical student obtained the pet's medical history and examined the pet. At the conclusion of the wellness appointment, owners completed part 2, which included pet owner demographics (eg, gender and highest educational level) and statements regarding personal, food manufacturer, and pet health that could be made by a veterinarian regarding a pet's diet to which owners were asked to react. 84 dog and 36 cat owners completed the survey. Statements based on pet health and personal (veterinarian) preferences were the most and least effective, respectively, on owners to consider changing their pet's diet. Pet owner gender and pet species did not alter the findings. Most (93%) pet owners were at least somewhat willing to change their pet's diet on the basis of a veterinarian's recommendation. When a pet's diet is discussed in the context of a pet's health, a primary care veterinarian consulting with a pet owner during a wellness appointment may be most persuasive to the owner for changing their pet's diet.

High fat / high cholesterol diet does not provoke atherosclerosis in the ω3-and ω6-polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis–inactivated Δ6-fatty acid desaturase–deficient mouse

ObjectiveAn increased ω6/ω3-polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in the current Western diet is regarded as a critical epigenetic nutritional factor in the pathogenesis of several human lifestyle diseases, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, the central nervous system and the female and male reproductive systems. The impact of nutrient ω3-and ω6-PUFAs in the pathogenesis of dyslipoproteinemia and atherosclerosis has been a topic of intense efforts for several decades. Cellular homeostasis of the ω3-and ω6- PUFA pool is maintained by the synthesis of ω3-and ω6-PUFAs from essential fatty acids (EFA) (linoleic and α-linolenic acid) and their dietary supply.In this study, we used the auxotrophic Δ6-fatty acid desaturase- (FADS2) deficient mouse (fads2−/−), an unbiased model congenial for stringent feeding experiments, to investigate the molecular basis of the proposed protective role of dietary ω3-and ω6-PUFAs (Western diet) in the pathogenesis of multifactorial dyslipoproteinemia and atherosclerosis. We focused on the metabolic axis—liver endoplasmic reticulum (ER), serum lipoprotein system (Lp) and aorta vessel wall. Furthermore, we addressed the impact of the inactivated fads2-locus with inactivated PUFA synthesis on the development and progression of extended atherosclerosis in two different mouse mutants with disrupted cholesterol homeostasis, using the apoe−/− and ldlr−/− mutants and the fads2−/− x apoe−/− and fads2−/− x ldlr−/− double mutants. MethodsCohorts of +/+ and fads2−/− mice underwent two long-term dietary regimens: a) a PUFA-free standard chow diet containing only EFAs, essential for viability, and b) a high fat/high cholesterol (HFHC) diet, a mimicry of the human atherogenic “Western” diet. c) To study the molecular impact of PUFA synthesis deficiency on the development and progression of atherosclerosis in the hypercholesterolemic apoe−/− and ldlr−/− mouse models fed PUFA-free regular and sustained HFHC diets, we generated the fads2−/− x apoe−/− and the fads2−/− x ldlr−/− double knockout mutants. We assessed essential molecular, biochemical and cell biological links between the diet-induced modified lipidomes of the membrane systems of the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi complex, the site of lipid synthesis, the PL monolayer and neutral lipid core of LD and serum-Lp profiles and cellular reactions in the aortic wall. Resultsω3-and ω6-PUFA synthesis deficiency in the fads2−/− mouse causes a) hypocholesterolemia and hypotriglyceridemia, b) dyslipoproteinemia with a shift of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-enriched Lp-pattern and c) altered liver lipid droplet structures. d) Long-term HFHC diet does not trigger atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aortic arc, the thoracic and abdominal aorta of PUFA-deficient fads2−/− mice. Inactivation of the fads2−/− locus, abolishing systemic PUFA synthesis in the fads2−/− x apoe−/− and fads2−/− x ldlr−/− double knockout mouse lines. ConclusionsDeficiency of ω3-and ω6-PUFA in the fads2−/− mutant perturbs liver lipid metabolism, causes hypocholesterolemia and hypotriglyceridemia and renders the fads2−/− mutant resistant to sustained atherogenic HFHC diet. Neither PUFA-free regular nor long-term HFHC-diet impacts the apoe- and LDL-receptor deficiency–provoked hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic plaque formation, size and distribution in the aorta. Our study strongly suggests that the absence of PUFAs as highly vulnerable chemical targets of autoxidation attenuates inflammatory responses and the formation of atherosclerotic lesions.The cumulative data and insight into the molecular basis of the pleiotropic functions of PUFAs challenge a differentiated view of PUFAs as culprits or benefactors during a lifespan, pivotal for legitimate dietary recommendations.

The carbon footprint of meat and dairy proteins: A practical perspective to guide low carbon footprint dietary choices

Meat and dairy products in the food industry represent a significant portion of anthropogenic green house gas emissions. To meet the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommendations to limit global warming, these emissions should be reduced. Meat and dairy products are also responsible for the majority of our daily, vital, protein intake. Yet, meat and dairy products contain very different amounts of proteins, making it difficult in general to rationalize which protein source has the lowest carbon footprint. Here we present a practical and pedagogical review, comparing the carbon footprint of a variety of meat and dairy products with respect to their protein content. We investigate the carbon footprint of different dietary choices for several countries, by keeping the total number of meat and dairy proteins constant. Interestingly, we find that dairy-only diets are in general only a little less carbon intensive than current diets. However, 50% carbon footprint reduction may be obtained, throughout the world, with a “low CO2”-tailored diet including only small poultry, eggs and yogurt. Such a dietary pattern suggests easy to follow consumer guidelines for reduced carbon footprint. We report further on a number of consumer-oriented questions (local or imported? organic or not? cow or goat milk? hard or soft cheese?). Our methodology may be applied to broader questions, such as the carbon footprint of proteins in general (including fish and plant proteins). We hope our work will drive more studies focusing on consumer-oriented questions.

Connecting political ecology of health and disease with ‘structural stigmatization’: Declining use of forest foods and medicines in Kédougou, Senegal

Recent political ecology (PE) frameworks have evolved to identify power disparities that have consequences for human health and disease development. These power disparities can lead to unequal access to health information, natural resources (e.g. farmland, clean water), micronutrients, healthcare, and other elements necessary to maintain healthy bodies and reduce risk of disease. While many PE and political ecology of health and disease (PEHD) frameworks examine access in terms of limitations, few examples highlight effects from increased access to resources. This article uses a PEHD lens to examine how diets and health in rural Kédougou, Senegal are influenced by increased access to globalized foodstuffs and stigmatization of local foods and medicines. A better understanding of dietary decision-making is critical in understudied regions such as Senegal because West Africa has a rapidly expanding population and is projected to be among regions of the world that are most burdened with non-communicable diseases (NCD). We used qualitative methods to: 1) describe current and historic diets in Kédougou; 2) identify perceived changes about diet, health, and access to resources; and 3) understand what might be influencing these changes. Our article shows that increased access and limited access are interconnected because increased, regular access to globalized foods and medicines could factor into reduced access to local foods and medicines. We found that social context strongly influenced use of local forest foods and medicines, even leading to a gradual stigmatization of using these resources.

The Role of Fortified and Enriched Refined Grains in the US Dietary Pattern: A NHANES 2009-2016 Modeling Analysis to Examine Nutrient Adequacy.

Background: While dietary recommendations call for greater whole-grain intake and reduced refined grain consumption, there are limited peer-reviewed studies examining the influence of fortified/enriched refined grains on nutrient adequacy.Methods: A modeling analysis using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2016 estimated usual daily intake of shortfall nutrients for Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) in the current dietary pattern and when specific percentages of fortified/enriched refined grain foods (bread, ready-to-eat cereals, and all-grained foods) were removed from the diet (19–50-year-old adults, N = 11,169; 51–99-year-old adults, N = 9,641).Results: While American adults are currently falling short of nutrient recommendations, eliminating 25, 50, and 100% of all grains consumed in the US dietary pattern resulted in a greater percentage of adults not meeting recommendations for several shortfall nutrients, including dietary fiber, folate DFE, iron, and magnesium. Removal of all grains led to a reduced energy intake by ~10% in both age groups examined. Currently, ~3.8% of 19–50-year-old adults meet the adequate intake (AI) for dietary fiber. Removal of 25, 50, and 100% of grains from the diet resulted in 2.6 ± 0.3, 1.8 ± 0.2, and 0.7 ± 0.1% of adults exceeded the AI for dietary fiber, respectively. Similarly, 11.0 and 13.8% of younger and older adults, respectively, fall short of folate, DFE recommendations with the current diet. Following the removal of 100% of grains from the diet, 43.4 ± 1.1 and 56.2 ± 1.0%, respectively, were below the estimated average requirement (EAR) for folate DFE. For iron, current dietary pattern consumption shows 8.4% and 0.8% of younger and older adults, respectively, are not meeting iron recommendations, however, removal of 100% of grains from the diet results in nearly 10 and 22% falling short of the EAR. Currently, about 51 and 54% of younger and older adults are below the EAR for magnesium; however, with the removal of 100% of grains, 68 and 73%, respectively, fall below the EAR.Conclusion: Removal of specific refined grains led to an increased percentage of Americans not meeting recommendations for several shortfall nutrients, including dietary fiber, folate, iron, and magnesium.

Achieving dietary micronutrient adequacy in a finite world

Achieving dietary micronutrient adequacy in a finite world

Maternal dietary allergen restriction while breast-feeding: Pediatric resident knowledge and practices.

An adequate understanding of the relationship between breast-feeding practices and infant food allergy is essential for clinicians. Although there is evidence of an education gap in general breast-feeding concepts, little is known about the pediatric trainee knowledge and practice with regard to breast-feeding, maternal diet, and potential allergy outcomes. To assess pediatric residents' knowledge, describe practices, and evaluate a module designed to provide evidence-based education about breast-feeding, food allergy, and food avoidance to inform future resources on the topic of breast-feeding and allergic outcomes. Pediatric residents completed a survey to assess the knowledge and comfort with regard to maternal dietary restriction, breast-feeding, and infant food allergy. Residents then viewed an online educational module about evidence-based breast-feeding and infant food allergy guidelines, and, after 1 month, completed the online questionnaire again. Among respondents (N = 68), only 8% and 5%, felt knowledgeable and comfortable with current maternal diet during breast-feeding and infant food allergy recommendations, respectively. Eighty-seven percent had not received formal training on the topic, and a large percentage relied on mentor teaching (49%) or anecdotal evidence (19%) as opposed to available guidelines (32%) for guidance. Most respondents (61-93%) correctly answered questions with regard to guidelines on primary and secondary food allergy prevention in relation to maternal diet. The upper-level residents answered more questions correctly about allergic proctocolitis compared with the interns (p < 0.05); no differences were noted for other topics. The majority (63%) did not believe that a mother's nutritional status could be adversely affected by dietary allergen restriction. A review of the pre- and posttest scores showed the educational module had little impact on knowledge. Pediatric residents reported low comfort and perceived that they had little knowledge about maternal diet and infant food allergy, yet their actual performance suggested the opposite. Those who completed the educational module did not demonstrate knowledge improvement, which highlighted the need for the development of robust educational resources.

Kualitas diet dan kontrol glikemik pada orang dewasa dengan diabetes melitus tipe dua

Diet quality and glycemic control in adults with type two diabetes mellitusBackground: As assessed by Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), diet quality is correlated with glycemic control through its effect on glucose-insulin homeostasis. Studies are evaluating the diet quality index in Indonesia, especially its relation to glycemic control in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), are lacking. Objective: To analyze the association between diet quality and glycemic control T2DM in adults. Methods: This research was a cross-sectional study using data from "Cohort study of non-communicable disease risk factors" in 2016 by the Indonesia Ministry of Health. Hundred and five (105) subjects diagnosed with T2DM, aged 25-65, were recruited in this study. A 24-hour dietary recall was collected, and a diet quality index referred to the USA adapted AHEI-2010 was assessed. The portion of food components was modified based on the Indonesian Dietary Guidelines. Glycemic control was evaluated according to fasting blood glucose (FBG) and 2-hours-post-75-g glucose load (2h-PG). Spearman correlation test was applied in this analysis. Results: A mean age of subjects was 51 years, and 77.1% out of 105 subjects were women. Mean value of FBG 123.5 and 2h-PG 228.9 mg/dL. The total score of AHEI was 53.8. There was not a significant correlation between the total score of AHEI with FBG (r= -0.079) and 2h-PG (r= -0.069) (p&gt;0.05). However, there was a significant association between the fruits score and 2h-PG (r= -0.224) (p&lt;0.05). Most of the subjects consumed fruits containing low-moderate fructose, such as bananas, oranges, papayas. Conclusions: In T2DM, there was no significant association between the total score of current diet quality and poor glycemic control, except for the fruits component.

Maternal stress during pregnancy and children’s diet: Evidence from a population of low socioeconomic status

ObjectivesThis study examined the relationship between maternal exposure to stress during pregnancy and children’s food preferences and diet in a population of low socioeconomic status. MethodsIndices of exposure to stress were constructed based on retrospective self-reported experience of stressful events during pregnancy (e.g., death of close family member, relationship difficulties, legal issues, health issues, financial issues, or other potentially stressful event[s]). Data were collected for >200 mothers of a low socioeconomic status with a child age 2 to 12 y. Data on mothers’ body mass index, current exposure to stress, current diet, and diet during pregnancy were collected at the same time, as well as data on children’s food preferences and current diet as reported by the mothers. Indices of the healthiness of food preferences and diet were constructed and used as outcome variables. ResultsMaternal exposure to stress during pregnancy significantly predicts children’s food and taste preferences, as well as their diet, in regression models controlling for maternal diet, current maternal stress, and demographic characteristics of both the child and mother. Higher average stress during pregnancy is linked with significantly less healthy food preferences and diet, as well as with weaker preferences for sour and bitter foods. This relationship is observed across different age groups. ConclusionsMaternal exposure to stress during pregnancy could have long-term detrimental effects on dietary outcomes and thereby on health conditions related to diet. Prenatal care and preconception counseling could be critical to develop preventive strategies to improve public health.

Health-related quality of life, fatigue and health behaviours in Australian adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

Current knowledge of the long-term health behaviours and well-being of adolescent and yong adult (AYA) cancer survivors is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the health behaviours of AYA cancer survivors compared to Australian normative data and describe their health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and levels of fatigue. A cross-sectional online survey of participants aged 15-25years at diagnosis and 2-7years post treatment completion was conducted at a comprehensive cancer centre. Validated questionnaires assessed health behaviours and functioning including current physical activity (PA) levels, diet quality, fatigue (FACIT-F) and HR-QoL (AQoL-6D, Short Form 36v2 [SF-36v2]) were compared to Australian normative data. Ninety individuals completed the survey (26% response rate) with a mean age of 25.4years and median time post treatment of 61months (24-85months). Compared to normative data, a higher proportion of AYA cancer survivors was consuming the recommended daily serves of fruit and vegetables (16.7% vs. 3.9%, p<.0001), had a lower presence of overweight or obesity (46.7% vs. 57.7%, p=.04) and lower percentage of current smokers (2.2% vs. 16.7%, p<.0001). However, AYA cancer survivors reported increased fatigue (t[df=596]=-4.1, p<.0001) and reduced HR-QoL compared to normative data (t[df=533]=9.2, p<.0001) along with a higher proportion suffering from one or more chronic health conditions (65% vs. 40%, p<.0001). AYA cancer survivors from a single Australian institution, who were on average 5years post treatment, exhibited better health behaviours compared to Australian normative data, but still below recommended guidelines. However, they continue to experience issues with fatigue and reduced HR-QoL, especially in those not meeting the PA guidelines.

Diet quality and perceived effects of dietary changes in Dutch endometriosis patients: an observational study

Research questionWhat is the current diet of women with endometriosis, in terms of adherence to dietary guidelines and use of diets, and what are the perceived effects of dietary modifications? DesignIn this online explorative observational study, the Dutch Healthy Diet 2015 index (DHD-15) and quality of life (QoL) with the Endometriosis Health Profile-30 questionnaire (EHP-30) were used to assess diet quality. ResultsThe questionnaires were completed by 157 participants. Many participants made one or more dietary adaptations for their endometriosis, in the form of a specific diet (46.5%), with the use of dietary supplements (56.1%), with other dietary adjustments (64.3%), or all. Endometriosis patients had a significantly lower DHD-15 score, indicating a lower diet quality than a healthy reference group (P = 0.004). In the endometriosis group, diet users had a significantly higher total DHD-15 score than non-diet users (P < 0.0001). Diet quality was not correlated with QoL (Pearson's r = –0.010, P = 0.904). Many specific dietary adjustments (71.3%), however, were reported to reduce endometriosis pain-related symptoms. The removal of gluten, dairy or soy, as well as the addition of vegetables, showed the greatest perceived reductions of symptoms in participants. ConclusionsAlthough no specific dietary adjustment was found to increase QoL, endometriosis patients do feel that dietary adjustments have a beneficial effect on their symptoms. Therefore, more research is needed to gain evidence about the specific effects of nutrients on endometriosis symptoms.

Simplified Guide to MR Elastography in Early Detection of Hepatic Fibrosis with Case Reports: The New Norm in Assessing Liver Health.

The current unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyle have led to increase in the prevalence of diabetes and metabolic syndrome globally. Fatty liver is a common occurrence in metabolic syndrome. The liver health is often ignored due to delayed warning signs. Fatty changes of the liver is one of the common findings in ultrasonography. Ultrasound does not detect fibrosis except when cirrhosis is developed. Early stages of fibrosis are asymptomatic with no significant laboratory or preliminary imaging findings. With fibrosis, the elasticity of the liver is reduced and becomes stiffer. Over the years, many techniques have developed to assess the stiffness of the liver, starting from palpation, ultrasonography, and recently developed magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). In this article, we have tried to simplify the concepts of MRE to detect fibrosis and present few case reports. The basic steps involved in generating elastograms and interpretation with some insight on how to incorporate it into the clinical workflow are discussed. MRE is superior to various other available techniques and even offers certain advantages over biopsy. MRE is FDA approved for liver fibrosis since 2009, yet it is hardly used in the Indian setting. MRE is a safe and noninvasive technique to evaluate a large volume of the liver and can be a new norm for the evaluation of fatty liver. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based elastography techniques hold an exciting future in providing mechanical properties of tissues in various organs like spleen, brain, kidney, and heart.

Affordability of current, and healthy, more equitable, sustainable diets by area of socioeconomic disadvantage and remoteness in Queensland: insights into food choice

BackgroundPoor diet is the leading preventable risk factor contributing to the burden of disease globally and in Australia, and is inequitably distributed. As the price of healthy foods is a perceived barrier to improved diets, evidence on the cost and affordability of current (unhealthy) and recommended (healthy, more equitable and sustainable) diets is required to support policy action.MethodsThis study applied the Healthy Diets ASAP (Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing) methods protocol to measure the cost, cost differential and affordability of current and recommended diets for a reference household in Queensland, Australia. Food prices were collected in 18 randomly selected locations stratified by area of socioeconomic disadvantage and remoteness. Diet affordability was calculated for three income categories.ResultsSurprisingly, recommended diets would cost 20% less than the current diet in Queensland as a whole. Households spent around 60% of their food budget on discretionary choices (that is, those not required for health that are high in saturated fat, added sugar, salt and/or alcohol). Queensland families would need to spend around 23% of their income on recommended diets. However, recommended diets would not be affordable in low socioeconomic or very remote areas, costing 30 and 35% of median household income respectively. The government supplements due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic would improve affordability of recommended diets by 29%.ConclusionsStudy findings highlight that while price is one factor affecting consumer food choice, other drivers such as taste, convenience, advertising and availability are important. Nevertheless, the study found that recommended diets would be unaffordable in very remote areas, and that low-income families are likely experiencing food stress, irrespective of where they live in Queensland. Policy actions, such as increasing to 20% the current 10% tax differential between basic healthy, and unhealthy foods in Australia, and supplementing incomes of vulnerable households, especially in remote areas, are recommended to help improve diet equity and sustainability, and health and wellbeing for all.

An unintended consequence of Covid-19: Healthy nutrition

The Covid-19 pandemic involving mass quarantines and stay at home orders in many nations has affected consumer behaviour including food intake. Despite the seriousness of the situation, spending more time at home may have had some unintended consequences for consumers. The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of the current adverse circumstances on nutrition, within the framework of changes in attitude toward healthy eating, health consciousness, fear, and social influence of family, peers, and social media interactions. For this purpose, 732 participants, the majority of whom were female, aged between 26 and 55 years with university degrees, were surveyed online. Data were analyzed using a structural equation modeling approach. Based on results, family influence and social media influence were found to have positive effects on fear of Covid-19 and greater health consciousness. The effect of peer influence was only observed for health consciousness, not fear of Covid-19. Health consciousness and Covid-19 fears positively affected attitude and health consciousness, and attitude was positively related to healthy nutrition, indicating these individuals' beliefs about the healthiness of their current daily diets. Future research and practices may consider the effect of Covid-19 on humans' nutritional attitudes and behaviours based on our study so that health-related issues in the pandemic can be further examined and explained through nutritional consequences by researchers and practitioners in the future.

Cost and greenhouse gas emissions of current, healthy, flexitarian and vegan diets in Aotearoa (New Zealand)

ObjectiveTo compare the costs and climate impact (greenhouse gas emissions) associated with current and healthy diets and two healthy and environmentally friendly dietary patterns: flexitarian and vegan.DesignModelling studySettingAotearoa (New Zealand).Main...

Effects of Indigenous Diet Iron Content and Location on Hemoglobin Levels of Ghanaians

ObjectivesIron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia, the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide. Multiple studies have demonstrated strong links between diet and anemia, but few have explored the impact of specific food groups on hemoglobin (Hb) levels. We analyzed the correlation between Ghanian diet and Hb to explore reduction of anemia prevalence through dietary interventions that align with current local consumption practices. MethodsDemographics, food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), and blood samples were obtained from 140 volunteers (ages 18–65) in five locations across Ghana. Hb was measured and estimated iron consumption was calculated. Anemia prevalence was estimated based on the World Health Organization guidelines. FFQ items were grouped by food type, and a regression equation was formed for Hb based on the estimated amount of calories consumed from each food group. Results47% of total participants were anemic based on Hb levels; 64% of women and 28% of men. This aligned with previous studies which estimate anemia prevalence in Ghana to be around 40%. The area with the highest average Hb was Mole (13.9 g/dL, SD = ±1.9), with the lowest mean in Larabanga (11.9 g/dL ± 1.9). Post-hoc analysis revealed that location was significant with a p-value of 0.01. The regression model revealed a 62.7% adjusted correlation between food groups and Hb levels. Animal foods (β = 0.016, t = 5.08, p < 0.01) and plant protein (β = 0.013, t = 2.86, p < 0.01) were the most influential food groups on Hb levels. ConclusionsIt is of vital importance to emphasize the benefits of consuming animal foods and plant proteins within the Ghanian population. The ease of access to plant proteins, and prevalence within the current diet, makes it likely that this food group will be most influential and have the greatest impact in reduction of anemia in the Ghanaian population if consumption is increased. Funding SourcesWeber State University Research, Scholarship, and Professional Growth Committee.

Nutrient Profiles of Dishes Eaten by High Salt Consumers and Adequate Salt Consumers in the 2013–2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey, Japan

Abstract Objectives Dish based nutrient profile analyses are essential in setting goals to achieve a balanced diet. The Japanese enjoy longevity, but their current diet is still high in salt, which was 10.1g/day among adults in the 2019 National Health and Nutrition Survey. In 2013, the Japanese government's “Health Meal” proposed the salt content of 3g/650 kcal per meal. However, studies are scarce regarding the nutrient profiles of the dishes eaten by the general population, especially who exceed the current standard. In order to examine the current achievement status and related nutritional problems among a nationally representative sample, we conducted the secondary analyses of the 2013–2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey data. Methods Dietary data from 35,915 participants in the 2013–2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey aged 18–74 years who ate three meals on the survey day, were applied for analyses. We extracted 554,257 dishes from each meal, and categorized them according to the definition of “staple dish” (grain dish), “main dish”(meat, fish, eggs, or beans), and “side dish”(vegetables, seaweeds, potatoes, or mushrooms) shown in the 2005 “Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top”. Participants were grouped as “high salt” consumers if their intake were 3g/650kcal or higher, and “adequate” consumers if they consumed less. The nutrient profile of each dish category was compared between the two groups by using the Wilcoxon's signed rank test. Results 22 300 participants were identified as “high salt” and 13 615 as “adequate”. The mean age of the “high salt” group (53.2 years) was higher than the “adequate” group (50.5 years), but their mean energy intake was similar (1901 and 2081 kcal/day, respectively). The mean salt intake in the “high salt” group was 11.8 g/day and the “adequate” group was 7.7 g/day. Among the dishes, 59 936 were categorized as “staple dish”, 47 081 as “main dish”, 45 828 as “side dish”, 30 151 as “combined dish”, and 371 261 as “miscellaneous”. Except for “staple dish”, dishes consumed by the “high salt” group were significantly low in energy and fat but high in salt, compared to the “adequate”. Conclusions Older participants were more likely to consume dishes high in salt, but low in fat. Examples of balanced dishes low in both salt and fat could be proposed for further diet modification. Funding Sources Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare research grant.

The Development of Baby Feed: A Web Application for Health Professionals and Parents to Improve Infant Diets

ObjectivesTo develop the web application “Baby Feed” that can: 1) Quickly and easily evaluate infant diets using a validated Infant Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) developed by our group. 2) Provide automatic results online to clinicians on nutrients and foods/beverages consumed above or below the recommended levels. 3) Provide current diet recommendations by infant’s age for clinicians to discuss with parents during routine Well-Child Visits. 4) Provide parents online access to the infant diet recommendations and a short tracking question component, with the goal of improving the infant’s diet. This could translate into healthy weight gain during infancy and prevent early childhood obesity. MethodsIn collaboration with the computer science department, our group previously converted the 55-item Infant FFQ and nutrient/food database from paper format to web portals in Baby Feed. The web portals were built in MongoDB and deployed on Microsoft Azure. Next, a secure login system with usernames and passwords was created that directs users to their assigned portal: administrative, parental, or clinician. Tabs were created in the portals that show FFQ results, diet recommendations, and tracking history. The short tracking questions were created for parents to select whether their infant had consumed more, equal, or less than the recommended amounts of the 10 food groups during the past week. ResultsBaby Feed was developed where: (1) Parents can complete the Infant FFQ online. (2) Clinicians can view the automatic results, which are available in nutrients and foods/beverages color-coded to highlight those consumed above or below the recommended levels. (3) Diet recommendations are presented online in a friendly and graphic way that are easy to follow in tablespoons, cups, and ounces per day. (4) The short tracking questions can help parents at home make goals and stayed engaged in between Well-Child Visits. This use of technology can allow parents at their convenience to access knowledge in Baby Feed and develop skills in infant feeding. ConclusionsThe development of Baby Feed was successful, and the web application is ready to be pilot tested. Baby Feed could be used by health professionals and parents during routine Well-Child Visits as a tool to improve the diet quality in infants and prevent early childhood obesity. Funding SourcesCaplan Foundation for Early Childhood

Devising a Diet Scoring Algorithm Sensitive to the Entire Range of Dietary Intakes

ObjectivesMost, if not all, current diet scoring algorithms are not sensitive to the entire range of reported dietary intakes. That is, differences in intake do not always result in different scores. In some cases, the scoring function is binary: either a dietary intake met some criterion or it did not. Other scoring functions, such as the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), provide continuous scoring over a range of dietary intakes but become insensitive to changes at some high or low intakes. For example, according to estimates from the 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, about 8% of U.S. adults had diets that received the minimum score (0) for sodium. Information theory suggests there may be latent correlation or explanatory value in preserving the entire intake range in the scores. Therefore, the objective of this work was to devise a diet scoring algorithm sensitive to the entire range of dietary intakes. MethodsDesirable properties of a new scoring function were identified to be: (1) sensitive to differences in the entire range of dietary intakes (does not lose any information); (2) mathematically friendly with a continuous first derivative and unique inverse everywhere, thereby permitting statistical operations in both its domain and range; (3) plausibly related to biological processes; (4) not as dependent upon the accuracy and precision of the dietary standards employed; (5) simple to express and calculate; and (6) to otherwise mimic the scoring system of the Healthy Eating Index. ResultsThe proposed scoring function for all adequacy components, where greater intake is awarded higher scores, is 1-exp(-2x), where x is the normalized intake with 1.0 representing the desirable intake standard. The proposed scoring function for moderation components, where greater intake is awarded lower scores, uses a “most sensitive intake” parameter y and a scoring slope parameter k, set using professional judgment while considering standards and the range of intakes. For example, the moderation function for saturated fats uses y = 2, k = 2, and is expressed as 1–0.5 * exp(-k(y-x)) for x < y and 0.5 * exp(-k(x-y)) for x ≥ y. ConclusionsThe proposed scoring functions possess the six desired properties. They may serve to better track health-related outcomes over a greater range of intakes, and they will certainly be more statistically friendly. Funding SourcesNone.

Is it possible to cut down fishmeal and soybean meal use in aquafeed limiting the negative effects on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillet quality and consumer acceptance?

Poultry by-products (PBM) and Hermetia illucens prepupae meal (HM) are promising alternative protein sources for aquafeeds, being palatable, nutritious, and/or cost-effective, in addition to fostering circular economy. Their inclusion in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) feeds, although not detrimental for growth and wellbeing, leads to a decreased fatty acid (FA) quality, specifically, a decreased polyunsaturated FA content.The present study assessed the effect of five different diets on rainbow trout's biometric, marketable, and physical traits, oxidative status, fillet nutritional quality (of fresh and of 60-day stored fillets) and consumers' liking. The diets tested were: i) a positive-control diet, based on fishmeal (CF); ii) a plant protein-based diet (CV) resembling current commercial diets, used as additional control; 60% of the vegetable proteins were substituted with either iii) PBM (P60), iv) HM (H60) or v) both PBM and HM (H10P50).The principal component analysis considering all parameters showed two neat clusters, one grouping CF samples, the other grouping the rest of the samples. Specifically, hepatosomatic index and colour were significantly altered by the different administered diets. The most evident differences between dietary treatments were found in the FA profile, with CF fish showing a distinct FA profile in comparison to the other groups. Although the highest eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid contents were found in CF group, the total polyunsaturated FA content was not significantly different between the dietary treatments, as linoleic and linolenic acids were the lowest in the CF fillets (p < 0.001). Storage seemed to exacerbate the differences found immediately after slaughter. As a consequence of the FA profile, conjugated dienes were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the CF group compared to all the others. MDA-eq. content, although unaffected by diet at day 0, was higher (p < 0.01) after 60 days of storage in the CF group compared to H60, P60, and H10P50 fillets. Consumer likings were favourable and not statistically different between the dietary groups. Only 20% of the consumers criticised the gustative attributes of P60 and H10P50, while almost 25% of them criticised CF, CV, and H60.In summary, the P60, H60 and H10P50 diets were not less than the commercial-like CV diet. Combining PBM and HM showed positive results and needs further studies. Improving the n-3/n-6 ratio remains a priority to be addressed when formulating aquafeeds with innovative ingredients.