Adult Diet Research Articles

Modified Atkins Diet in Adolescents and Adults with Drug Resistant Epilepsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Epilepsy is one of the common neurological diseases which affects 65-70 million people worldwide. Modified Atkins diet (MAD) as a therapy is used as one of the treatments to reduce the seizures occurrence in epileptic patients. The purpose of this purpose is to review all evidence regarding the efficacy of the MAD from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in adolescents and adults with drug resistant epilepsy (DRE). The total of three databases were searched (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) till 31 January 2023. Only RCTs with MAD as a one of the treatment arms were included in meta-analysis. The proportion of reduction of seizures in patients with epilepsy and relative risk to identify the relationship between MAD (as risk) to decrease the epileptic seizure was used as outcomes. The Jadad score with three domains was used to estimate the quality of RCTs included for meta-analysis. Only three RCTs were included following the stringent inclusion criteria in current meta-analysis. The pooled proportion from 142 patients going through MAD therapy shows the reduction in epileptic seizure ≥50%, by the random effect model was 0.23 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.10 to 0.37). Our meta-analysis underlines a significant efficacy of MAD compared to the control group in seizure reduction ≥50%, The pooled relative risk was 6.47 (95% CI, 1.60 to 26.14; p-value <0.05). MAD therapy was efficacious and had better compliance for seizure reduction in subjects with DRE.

Factors Influencing Adherence to Treatment in Adult Patients with Hypertension

Introduction Adherence to treatment including medication and lifestyle modification is crucial for improving health outcomes in patients with hypertension. However, there is limited research investigating the factors influencing adherence to medication and lifestyle modification, particularly among adult patients diagnosed with hypertension. Objective To investigate adherence to treatment and the predictive power of work status, comorbidity, complexity of medication regimens, perceived severity and risk of hypertension complications, and quality of care affecting adherence to treatment in adult patients with hypertension. Design Cross-sectional correlational predictive research using the multidimensional adherence model as the conceptual framework. Methodology The sample included 156 adult patients with essential hypertension aged 18 to 59 years old who had received antihypertensive medication and lifestyle modification treatment for at least six months at a super-tertiary hospital’s hypertension clinic. Data were collected between April and July 2023. The research instruments consisted of a general profile questionnaire, a treatment adherence questionnaire for patients with hypertension, a perceived severity and risk of hypertension complications questionnaire, a patient assessment of chronic illness care, the Charlson Comorbidity Index, a medication regimen complexity index, and an illness record form. These instruments were examined for content validity by experts and tested for reliability prior to use in data collection. The reliability ranged from .77-1.00. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. Results The sample had an average age of 46.50 years (SD = 9.65); 63.46% were female. The average score for adherence to treatment was 87.97 (SD = 9.02), with the highest score for average medication adherence of 34.37 (SD = 2.52) and the lowest score for average exercise adherence of 4.33 (SD = 1.89). Additionally, 14.74% were overweight, and 71.80% were obese. The majority were employed (83.33%), without any comorbidities (62.82%), and had a low level of medication regimen complexity (68.59%). Furthermore, they demonstrated a high level of perceived severity and risk of hypertension complications (96.15%) and reported a high level of quality of care (61.54%). In the Multiple linear regression, 30.9% of the variance in adherence to treatment was explained (Adjusted R2 = .309 F(5,150) = 14.858, p &lt; .001). Work status (β = -.262, p &lt; .001), comorbidity (β = -.184, p = .020), perceived severity and risk of hypertension complications (β = .466, p &lt; .001), and quality of care (β = .165, p = .017) together were significant predictors of adherence to treatment in adult patients with hypertension. Recommendation To promote adherence to treatment in adult patients with hypertension, nurses should develop strategy to improve quality of care within hypertension clinics and enhance the perceived severity and risk of hypertension complications as well as enhance lifestyle modifications particularly regarding diet and exercise for overweight and obese adults with hypertension.

Brain responses to intermittent fasting and the healthy living diet in older adults

Diet may promote brain health in metabolically impaired older individuals. In an 8-week randomized clinical trial involving 40 cognitively intact older adults with insulin resistance, we examined the effects of 5:2 intermittent fasting and the healthy living diet on brain health. Although intermittent fasting induced greater weight loss, the two diets had comparable effects in improving insulin signaling biomarkers in neuron-derived extracellular vesicles, decreasing the brain-age-gap estimate (reflecting the pace of biological aging of the brain) on magnetic resonance imaging, reducing brain glucose on magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and improving blood biomarkers of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, with minimal changes in cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. Intermittent fasting and healthy living improved executive function and memory, with intermittent fasting benefiting more certain cognitive measures. In exploratory analyses, sex, body mass index, and apolipoprotein E and SLC16A7 genotypes modulated diet effects. The study provides a blueprint for assessing brain effects of dietary interventions and motivates further research on intermittent fasting and continuous diets for brain health optimization. For further information, please see ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT02460783.

Multiple methods of diet assessment reveal differences in Atlantic puffin diet between ages, breeding stages, and years

IntroductionAtlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica, hereafter “puffin”) reproductive success in the Gulf of Maine (GoM) has declined following a recent oceanographic regime shift that has led to rapid warming and increasingly frequent marine heatwaves. Concurrent changes in both the regional forage fish community and puffin chick diets and provisioning rates suggest that inadequate prey resources may be driving this decline. Traditional, noninvasive methods of diet assessment, however, are unable to determine seabird diet at many age classes and breeding stages.MethodsTo determine what prey GoM puffins were feeding on during two years of marine heatwave conditions, we assessed puffin diet using two complementary methods: traditional, observational methods that utilize bill-load photography and emerging methods employing fecal DNA metabarcoding. We then examined the effect of methodology, age, breeding stage, and year on puffin diet composition. ResultsWe identified a strong correlation between the composition of chick diet as estimated through traditional and emerging methods, supporting the interpretation of DNA relative read abundance as a quantitative metric of diet composition. Both methods identified the same dominant prey groups yet metabarcoding identified a greater number of species and offered higher taxonomic resolution. Additionally, metabarcoding revealed adult puffin diet during the incubation period for the first time. Although puffin adults and chicks fed on many of the same prey types, adults consumed a greater variety of taxa and consumed more low quality prey types than they provisioned chicks.DiscussionFor both age classes, diet varied both between and within years, likely reflecting changes in the local forage fish community in response to environmental variability. Puffins exploited unusual abundances of typically-uncommon prey during these two years of marine heatwave conditions, yet low puffin productivity suggests the observed dietary plasticity was not fully able to compensate for apparent prey shortages. Continued refinement of molecular methods and the interpretation of the data they provide will enable better assessments of how seabirds of diverse ages and breeding stages are adapting to changing prey communities.

Effect of developmental and adult diet composition on reproductive aging in Drosophila melanogaster

Diet significantly affects reproductive outcomes across species, yet the precise effects of macronutrient compositions beyond caloric intake on reproductive aging are understudied. Existing literature presents conflicting views on the fertility impacts of nutrient-rich versus nutrient-poor developmental diets, underscoring a notable research gap. This study addresses these gaps by examining effects of isocaloric diets with varied protein-to-carbohydrate ratios during both developmental and adult stages on reproductive aging of a large, outbred Drosophila melanogaster population (n = ∼2100). Our results clearly demonstrate an age-dependent dietary impact on reproductive output, initially dominated by the developmental diet, then by a combination of developmental and adult diets in early to mid-life, and ultimately by the adult diet in later life. Importantly, we found that the effects of developmental and adult diets on reproductive output are independent, with no significant interaction. Further investigations into the mechanisms revealed that the effect of developmental diet on fecundity is regulated via ovarioles formation and vitellogenesis; while, the effect of adult diet on fecundity is mostly regulated only via vitellogenesis. These insights resolve disputes in the literature about dietary impacts on fertility and offer valuable perspectives for optimizing fertility strategies in improving public health and conservation efforts in this changing world.

Influence of larval and adult diets on the maturation of male and female reproductive organs of the avian vampire fly, Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae)

AbstractThe invasive avian vampire fly, Philornis downsi, Dodge and Aitken (Diptera: Muscidae) is a threat to the long‐term conservation of Darwin's finches and other landbirds in the Galapagos Islands. Adult flies feed on fermented fruit, but their larvae are obligate parasites that feed on, and often cause the mortality of, the developing nestlings. Various techniques for the control of this parasite are currently under study, but the inability to rear flies in captivity has slowed progress. To help understand the reproductive behaviour of P. downsi, in this study, we measured the reproductive organs of male and female flies to determine the age flies mature physiologically, as well as the influence of the larval and adult diets on this process. Both females and males reared from larvae that had developed in the wild on live birds reached physiological maturity at 6 days; in the males, this was associated with increased pigmentation of the testes and the presence of free sperm, and in the females, mature eggs. Females reared in the laboratory on an artificial diet produced mature eggs at 6 days. However, the ovaries of laboratory‐reared females were statistically smaller than those of wild females, suggesting that egg production was affected by larval diet. Physiological maturity was delayed in laboratory‐reared males, taking twice as long. The testes of these males had more unpigmented areas and deformities indicating that the artificial larval diet was insufficient. Enrichment of the adult diet could help compensate for this. The addition of methoprene (M) to the diet was found to have a positive effect on the sexual development of the flies. In females, a diet of sugar + yeast hydrolysate (YH) in a 3:1 ratio combined with M favoured the development of larger ovaries and the production of mature eggs at an earlier age (3 days). In the case of males, a diet with YH increased testis size and M accelerated the growth of testis length even when males were fed only with sugar and without YH. Additional studies are recommended for improving the diets for mass‐rearing this highly harmful fly.

Dietary intakes and nutritional status in adults with Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of inherited conditions causing progressive muscle weakness and wasting, for which no widely implementable treatment currently exists, although resistance training (Bostock et al., 2019, Frontiers in Neurology, 10) and corticosteroid treatment (Angelini, 2007, Muscle &amp; Nerve, 36, 424-435), have been shown to improve health-related quality of life (HQoL). Compared to physical activity, dietary manipulation may be more modifiable to improve dystrophic populations HQoL as disease outcomes often restrict physical capabilities. Data exploring the relationship between diet, disease and HQoL outcomes in adults with MD is insufficient. This study evaluated the habitual dietary intake of a sex-inclusive dystrophic population, to identify possible links between dietary intake, HQoL, and physical function. Participants included 5 women (age 65 ± 14 yrs, BMI 23.2 ± 2.7 kg/m2) and 10 men (age 55 ± 19 yrs, 31.6 ± 7.9 kg/m2) with different MDs (varied distribution and severity of muscle weakness). Participants' dietary intake data was collected using 3-day food records: analysed using Nutritics. Dominant hand maximal grip strength was measured using a hand-held dynamometer; upper extremity function and pain were assessed using the upper extremity functional index-15 and visual analogue scale, respectively. QoL was assessed through three tools: SF-36V2, Barthel Index and EQ5D, previously used in dystrophic populations. We observed that 50% of men and 20% of women did not meet the recommended daily intake (RDI) for protein (0.8 g·kg−1), however women (1.13 ± 0.26 g·kg−1) had increased protein intake compared to men (0.82 ± 0.27 g·kg−1, p &lt; 0.05). Of all participants 40% had a daily fat intake exceeding the RDI, with women having significantly higher relative average fat intakes (women = 1.03 ± 0.36 g·kg−1, men = 0.68 ± 0.29 g·kg−1, p &lt; 0.05). RDI for calcium was met by 46% participants (1000 mg) whilst all failed to meet the vitamin D RDI (10 μg). Positive correlations between age and protein intake as a percentage of RDI (r2 = 0.82), protein (r2 = 0.82), carbohydrate intake (r2 = 0.55) relative to body mass, vitamin D intake (r2 = 0.54), and total caloric intake (r2 = 0.59, all p&lt; 0.05) were observed. No other significant associations between dietary habits, physical function or HQoL outcomes were apparent. Despite these findings being observed in a small population it is apparent that many adults with muscular dystrophy may fail to meet RDI for protein, vitamin D, and calcium. This places this population at risk for nutritional deficiencies, incurring negative impacts on the musculoskeletal system. Further study of nutritional status in a larger population sample is needed to confirm these findings.

Association Between the Postprandial Response to an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test and Anthropometric Changes After an 8-Week Low-Calorie Formula Diet - Results From the Lifestyle Intervention (LION) Study.

Interindividual variations in postprandial metabolism and weight loss outcomes have been reported. The literature suggests links between postprandial metabolism and weight regulation. Therefore, the study aims to evaluate if postprandial glucose metabolism after a glucose load predicts anthropometric outcomes of a weight loss intervention. Anthropometric data from adults with obesity (18-65 years, body mass index [BMI] 30.0-39.9kgm-2) are collected pre- and post an 8-week formula-based weight loss intervention. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is performed at baseline, from which postprandial parameters are derived from glucose and insulin concentrations. Linear regression models explored associations between these parameters and anthropometric changes (∆) postintervention. A random forest model is applied to identify predictive parameters for anthropometric outcomes after intervention. Postprandial parameters after an OGTT of 158 participants (63.3% women, age 45 ± 12, BMI 34.9 ± 2.9kgm-2) reveal nonsignificant associations with changes in anthropometric parameters after weight loss (p>0.05). Baseline fat-free mass (FFM) and sex are primary predictors for ∆ FFM [kg]. Postprandial glucose metabolism after a glucose load does not predict anthropometric outcomes after short-term weight loss via a formula-based low-calorie diet in adults with obesity.

Examining the Role of Aguas Frescas in Assessment of Sugary-Drink Intake among Mexican and Mexican American Adults

BackgroundAguas frescas are Mexican drinks that are typically made with water, sugar, and fruit. Aguas frescas may be a significant component of sugary-drink intake among Mexican and Mexican-American (MA) adults. However, it is unclear whether survey respondents report aguas frescas consumption when it is not specifically queried in standardized beverage frequency instruments. ObjectivesThis study examined the prevalence of aguas frescas consumption, the sociodemographic correlates of aguas frescas intake, and how specifically querying aguas frescas intake affects sugary-drink estimates among Mexican and MA adults. MethodsCross-sectional, online surveys were conducted in 2021 with 5377 Mexican and 3073 MA adults as part of the International Food Policy Study. Past 7-d consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), sugary drinks, and aguas frescas were assessed along with relevant covariates. Weighted analyses included logistic and linear regression, including models with correlation structure. ResultsAn estimated 61.7% of Mexican and 28.7% of MA adults consumed aguas frescas. In Mexico, consumption was associated with females, low education, perceiving oneself as having about the right weight, being good to excellent health, and consuming an unhealthy amount of sugary drinks. For MAs, intake was associated with being younger, speaking Spanish, and perceiving oneself as being underweight or about the right weight. Among Mexican adults who consumed aguas frescas but did not report them unless specifically queried, the volume of SSB intake was 67.9% higher for females and 64.3% higher for males when aguas frescas were included. Among MAs, SSB intake was 56.9% higher for females and 44.1% higher for males. Most participants (79.9%–85.2%) remained in the same sugary-drink tertiles when including compared with excluding aguas frescas. ConclusionsAguas frescas should be queried during beverage intake assessments, as they contribute a nontrivial amount of added sugars to the diets of many Mexican and MA adults.

Feeding dogs a high-fat diet induces metabolic changes similar to natural aging, including dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, and peripheral insulin resistance.

The goal of this study was to characterize changes induced by a high-fat diet in body composition, insulin levels and sensitivity, blood lipids, and other key biomarkers also associated with the metabolic dysfunction that occurs with natural aging. 24 male Beagle dogs, 3 to 7 years of age, of mixed castration status. Dogs were randomly assigned to continue twice daily feeding of the commercial adult maintenance diet (n = 12, including 2 intact) that they were previously fed or to a high-fat diet (12, including 2 intact) for 17 weeks between December 1, 2021, and April 28, 2022. Assessments included body composition (weight, body condition score, and adipose mass determined by deuterium enrichment), clinical chemistries, plasma fatty acid quantification, oral glucose tolerance test, and histology of subcutaneous and visceral adipose biopsy samples. The high-fat diet led to increased body weight, body condition score, fat mass and adipocyte size, hyperinsulinemia and peripheral insulin resistance, and elevations in serum lipids, including cholesterol, triglycerides, and several species of free fatty acids. Leptin levels increased in dogs fed a high-fat diet but not in control dogs. There were no significant changes in routine clinical chemistry values in either group. Feeding a high-fat diet for 17 weeks led to potentially deleterious changes in metabolism similar to those seen in natural aging in dogs, including hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. A high-fat diet model may provide insights into the similar metabolic dysfunction that occurs during natural aging.

The blood pressure control effect of the sodium-restricted dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet: a systematic review.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is highly effective in controlling blood pressure (BP). Although Na restriction is not a primary focus within the DASH diet, it is recommended that it be added to control BP. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the characteristics and BP-lowering effects of Na-restricted DASH diet interventions. We searched thirteen databases, namely, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, KoreaMed, KISS, KMbase, RISS, CINAHL, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, Grey Literature Report, OpenGrey and PQDT Global, for articles published through May 2023. The randomised controlled trials assessing the BP-lowering effect of the Na-restricted DASH diet in adults aged 18 years and older were included. The study protocol was registered in the PROSPERO registry (CRD42023409996). The risk of bias in the included studies was also assessed. Nine articles were included in this review. Interventions were categorised into three types: feeding, provision and education, and the study results were compared by intervention type. BP was significantly reduced in two of the three feeding studies, one of the three provisional studies and none of the educational studies. In eight studies, effect sizes varied among both systolic BP (-7·7 to -2·4) and diastolic BP (-8·3 to 0·1). Six studies showed an overall high risk of bias. In conclusion, Na-restricted DASH may have beneficial effects on BP control. Additionally, compared with control interventions, feeding interventions appeared to have a greater BP-lowering effect. Further high-quality studies are needed to improve the quality of the evidence.

Behavioural determinants of healthy and environmentally friendly diets in French university students

Although encouraging the shift toward sustainable diets in young adults is a major challenge to preserve population and planet health, the precursors of sustainable diets in this population remain unknown. This study aimed to identify the behavioural determinants of healthier and more environmentally friendly diets among university students. A sample of 582 French university students reported their food consumption using an online 125-item food frequency questionnaire. The nutritional quality (adherence to French recommendations, sPNNS-GS2) and the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) of students' diets were calculated for an isocaloric diet. Behavioural determinants were measured based on a literature review and classified into the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) framework. Linear models, adjusted for socioeconomic characteristics, were run to identify the most prominent behavioural predictors of nutritional quality and GHGE of students’ diets. Higher cooking skills (β = 0.38, p = 0.01) and health motives (β = 0.91, p < 0.001) were associated with higher nutritional quality. Greater environmental knowledge was linked to lower GHGE (β = −0.07, p = 0.002), while health and weight control motives were associated with higher GHGE (β = 0.26, p = 0.02 and β = 0.39, p < 0.001). Enhancing cooking skills and environmental knowledge could enable healthy and environmentally friendly diets, but health-based motives can act as a lever and as a barrier.

Survival, Growth, and Food Resources of Juvenile Sea Cucumbers Holothuria forskali (Echinodermata, Holothuroidea) in Co-Culture with Shellfish in Brittany (France)

We conducted experiments with various growing conditions, both at sea and indoors, to explore the growth potential of Holothuria (Panningothuria) forskali Delle Chiaje, 1823 juveniles. Sea trials involved co-culture with European abalones (EA) or placement underneath European flat oysters (EO) or Pacific oysters (PO), using juveniles of 6–8 g initial weight. In sea-based conditions around summer (Apr–Sep), sea cucumbers grew best in EO at 0.94% d−1, followed by EA (0.88% d−1), both being in deep water (8–12 m), while sea cucumbers in the foreshore of a mega-tidal environment (PO) had the lowest growth (0.24% d−1). The indoor trial (IM) was performed with smaller individuals (≈0.3 g) and yielded a remarkable growth of 2.76% d−1 during summer (May–Sep). All experiments resulted in high survival rates, exceeding 80%. Additionally, we analysed fatty acid, amino acid, and stable isotope compositions of sea cucumbers’ body walls, along with the pigment composition of their stomach contents. These analyses provided evidence that juveniles had distinct diets in each rearing condition, all differing from the diet of adults found in the wild. Our results also demonstrate that sea cucumbers do not compete for food resources in the shellfish production, which is crucial for their integration into multi-trophic aquaculture systems. However, whether sea cucumbers may have benefitted from the organic matter from shellfish faeces and pseudofaeces and/or grew on the biofilm growing on the cage walls remains to be elucidated.

Influence of ultra-processed food in the diet of South Indian young adults: an explanatory mixed method study.

To determine the contribution of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to overall macronutrient intake and their association with anthropometric measurements, and to explore the perceptions regarding UPF consumption among young adults in Puducherry, India. This study included 630 participants from three colleges selected using multistage cluster sampling. Following the demonstration of portion estimation, dietary data from previous day were collected using a Google Form-based tool. The participant's anthropometric measures were taken. Food items were classified into NOVA groups and intake analysis was performed using DietSoft software. The participants with low and high consumption were identified and focus group discussions were conducted in each group using criterion sampling. Of all the participants, 178 (28.3%) were overweight or obese. UPF contributed 9.3% of total energy intake and 2.8% protein, 9.9% fat, and 9.9% carbohydrates. The most consumed UPFs were biscuits, wafers (25%), and potato chips(16.2%). No significant association was found between anthropometric measures and UPF consumption. Qualitative findings revealed four major themes, further explained using the socio-ecological framework. UPF consumption in the region was lower than that reported in other global and Indian studies. While our study did not find a significant association between UPF consumption and anthropometric measures, there is a concerning shift from traditional diets to increased UPF reliance, driven by convenience and commercial factors. Addressing this is crucial for healthier choices and combating non-communicable diseases during this pivotal life stage.

What Do We Know about the Diets of Pacific Islander Adults in Papua New Guinea? A Scoping Review.

While a large proportion of the population in Papua New Guinea (PNG) maintain a subsistence lifestyle, exposure to modernisation and industrialisation since European contact has influenced a transition towards Western diets. This review aimed to scope and summarise the published research on dietary intake among Pacific Islander adults in PNG. Four electronic databases and grey literature were searched. Two reviewers completed the screening and data extraction. Fourteen studies were included from the Highlands (n = 7), Southern (n = 5), Momase (n = 1) and both the Highlands/Southern region (n = 1). No studies were from the Islands region. The majority of the studies were published prior to the year 2000 (n = 9). Geographical region and degree of urbanisation had an impact on dietary intake. Urban areas reported higher intakes of energy, protein and fat compared to rural areas. In the Southern region, a variety of foods, including sago, taro, kaukau, cooked banana, coconut and cassava contributed to energy intake, while kaukau was the main energy and protein source in the Highlands. The main foods contributing to protein in the Southern region were fresh fish, land animals and purchased animals. This review highlights an evidence gap regarding dietary intake research. Within the context of international initiatives, there is an urgent call for research aimed at understanding the social and cultural contextualisation of dietary behaviours in PNG.

A blended face-to-face and eHealth lifestyle intervention on physical activity, diet, and health outcomes in Hong Kong community-dwelling older adults: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Aging individuals are vulnerable to various Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). Different behaviors are closely related to a decreased risk of suffering from NCDs: sufficient Physical Activity (PA) (e.g., at least 150 mins Moderate-to-vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) per week) and a healthy daily diet (e.g., at least five portions of Fruit and Vegetable Intake (FVI), 5-6 taels (189.0-226.8 g) Meat, Fish, Egg and Alternatives (MFEA)). Traditional face-to-face interventions were effective in behavior change. However, it was revealed to be resource-intensive and limited transfer due to poor self-regulation skills outside of face-to-face sessions. Thus, eHealth could be a supplement for older adults outside traditional face-to-face settings. The blended approach combining these two interventions might optimize the intervention effects on lifestyle behavior initiation and maintenance, but little research can be found among Hong Kong older adults. Therefore, the study aims to test a blended intervention to promote PA, diet, and health outcomes among Hong Kong community-dwelling older adults. This study will adopt a 10-week three-arm randomized controlled trial. The blended group will receive weekly (1) two 60-min face-to-face sessions with one for PA and one for diet, and (2) two web-based sessions with one for PA and one for diet. The face-to-face group will receive the same intervention content as the face-to-face sessions in the blended group. The control condition will receive a biweekly telephone call. The outcomes will include MVPA (minutes/week), FVI (portions/day), MFEA consumption (taels/day), social-cognitive factors (self-efficacy, planning, social support, action control), physical health outcomes (clinical indicators, senior physical fitness), mental health outcomes (depression, loneliness) and health-related quality of life. Data collection will be implemented at the pre-test, post-test, and 3-month follow-up test. This is the first study evaluating a blended intervention promoting multiple health behaviors among Hong Kong community-dwelling older adults. If the effect of the blended intervention is superior to the traditional face-to-face group and the control group, it will enrich lifestyle intervention approaches and can be applied to older adults, helping them obtain health benefits. Furthermore, a better understanding of mechanisms will also have implications for theory-building. https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN32329348, ISRCTN32329348.

Sodium Loading Does Not Induce Oxidative Stress-Mediated Reductions in Vascular Function in Young Adults

Short-term, high sodium diets decrease dilation responses in conduit arteries and the microvasculature when compared to low sodium diets (e.g., 7000 vs. 500 mg/day). Supraphysiological antioxidant treatment mitigates these effects supporting a role for oxidative stress in sodium-induced vascular impairments. It is unclear whether these effects are present when high sodium conditions are compared to the sodium level of a typical American diet (~3400 mg/day). Therefore, we tested the hypotheses that sodium added to the habitual diet of young adults would reduce flow mediated dilation (FMD) and post-ischemic reactive hyperemia (RH) and that an acute infusion of the antioxidant ascorbic acid (AA) would attenuate the vascular consequences of excess sodium. Methods: Young adults (6M / 8F; age: 26 ± 4 y; BMI: 23.6 ± 2.5 kg/m2) were studied following 10 days of sodium loading (SL) via table salt-filled capsules (3900 mg sodium/day) and 10 days of placebo capsules in addition to their normal diet, in random order. Total sodium intake was estimated via 24-hour urinary sodium content on day 10. On day 11, brachial artery diameter and blood velocity were continuously measured via duplex ultrasound at baseline and after 5 min of forearm ischemia. FMD, the post-ischemic change in brachial artery diameter relative to baseline diameter, provided an index of conduit artery endothelial function. The total RH in the 2 min following ischemia was measured for an index of microvascular function. Within each condition, testing was performed before (pre-AA) and after (post-AA) a 20 min intravenous infusion of 0.06 g of AA/kg lean body mass. Results: Urinary sodium content was increased by SL compared to the placebo (285 ± 94 vs. 160 ± 75 mmol/24 h, p&lt;0.001) indicating approximate sodium intakes of 6600 and 3700 mg/day, respectively. Mean arterial pressure did not differ across conditions pre-AA (SL: 77 ± 7; placebo: 75 ± 5 mmHg, P=0.40) or post-AA (SL: 79 ± 8; placebo: 76 ± 5 mmHg, P=0.17). Brachial artery FMD was not different across time or condition (SL pre-AA: 8.7 ± 3.6, post-AA: 8.8 ± 4.2% vs. placebo pre-AA: 8.8 ± 3.2, post-AA: 8.1 ± 3.5%, time x condition interaction P=0.48). RH was similar following SL and placebo (condition effect: P=0.38) but was reduced in both conditions post AA (SL: Δ-45 ± 44 ml, P=0.01; placebo: Δ-72 ± 59ml, p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Contrary to our hypothesis, 10 days of sodium loading did not decrease FMD or post- ischemic RH in young adults compared to their habitual diet. Likewise, acute antioxidant treatment did not augment FMD in either condition and paradoxically decreased total RH independent of sodium intake. These data suggest that a short-term increase in dietary sodium intake in healthy young adults does not elicit oxidative stress-induced reductions in vascular function. NIH 5R01HL104106 and 5P20GM113125; AHA 20POST35080171. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

The efficacy of licorice root extract on meat amino acid, fatty acid, vitamin, and mineral composition and productivity of quail.

Poultry meat is an excellent animal protein source accessible to many low-income families in developing countries. It is also part of a balanced diet and contains valuable nutrients necessary for maintaining human health. The poultry sector implements improved processes to increase the quality and nutritional value of poultry meat. This study aimed to determine the influence of licorice root extract on the amino acid, fatty acid, vitamin, mineral composition, nutritional value, and productivity of quail meat. Two groups were formed from Japanese quails: A control group and one experimental group, each consisting of 50 individuals. Quails from both the experimental and control groups received the same complete diet. Quails in the experimental group had licorice root extract added to their water at a dosage of 10 g/L, starting from the age of 3 days to 42 days of growth. At 42 days of age, 30 birds from each group were slaughtered to examine their meat productivity and chemical composition. The quail carcasses were analyzed for the following parameters: Live weight, carcass weight, nutritional value, mineral substances, vitamin content, fatty acid composition, amino acid composition, and amino acid score. This study demonstrated that quails in the experimental group receiving water with licorice extract exhibited higher indicators than those in the control group. Calcium (21.05%), magnesium (20.83%), and phosphorus (23.53%) were the most elevated mineral substances in the meat of the experimental birds. Vitamins E (22.22%) and C (20.0%) showed the greatest increase in vitamin content. The fatty acid composition parameters 17:0 margaric acid (8.16%), 18:3 linolenic acid (6.25%), and 20:4 arachidonic acid (4.49%) showed the highest increase. There was a clear increase in the amino acids valine (4.61%), lysine (4.32%), threonine (5.99%), tryptophan (4.87%), phenylalanine (5.87%), and cysteine (14.17%). The application of licorice root extract also positively impacted the amino acid score of quail meat, except for leucine, which remained within the range compared with the control group. Quails in the experimental group weighed 7.96% more live weight before slaughter than the controls. Moreover, the carcass weight was in favor of the experimental group (8.59%). The use of licorice root extract positively influences the quality and biological value of quail meat. Data on amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, trace elements, and other important components of quail meat will significantly expand our understanding of the biological value of licorice root extract. These findings can be used in the formulation of balanced diets for children and adults and highlight the importance of this issue.

National Dietary Survey on the adult population

Abstract The national food consumption survey on the adult population in Poland was conducted from August 2019 to February 2020 and was funded by EFSA under the EU Menu project. It aimed at collecting food consumption data of a representative sample of adolescents, adults and elderly living in Poland and followed the EFSA EU Menu methodology. Altogether 4,249 subjects aged 10 to ≥75 years old were invited to participate in the study out of which participants were 2,432 individuals with a response rate of 57%. Two additional ad hoc groups of 300 vegetarians aged 18‐50 years old and 150 pregnant women were also recruited. After verifying the collected data, EFSA accepted the data from 2385 subjects (1196 men, 1189 women) in the main group, 246 subjects (118 men, 128 women) in the group of vegetarians and 145 subjects in the group of pregnant women. Data on food consumption was collected by means of two non‐consecutive days through a web‐based 24‐hour dietary recall method. In addition, a food propensity questionnaire was used. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, waist, and hip circumferences were made to assess the nutritional status of the participants. The level of physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Before the main study the pilot study was conducted for verifying the feasibility of the study organization. The collected data will be used to update the Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database which is regulated and administered by the EFSA. The results will allow the evaluation of diet and nutritional status of adolescents and adults in Poland, including the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity.

Smallmouth Bass and Walleye predation on stocked age‐0 Walleye in Lake Oahe, South Dakota

AbstractObjectiveWalleye Sander vitreus are important sport fish that are commonly stocked to supplement populations. Increases in Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu abundance have prompted concerns regarding potential predation by these and other piscivores on stocked Walleye. Our objectives were to assess the timing and duration of predation on stocked Walleye, the frequency of occurrence and percent composition of Walleye in predator diets, and the percentage of stocked Walleye consumed.MethodsWe collected Smallmouth Bass, adult Walleye, Largemouth Bass M. nigricans, and Northern Pike Esox lucius diets in May (prestocking) and June–September (poststocking) 2019 and 2021 from three bays in Lake Oahe, South Dakota. We stocked two bays with Walleye (30–32 mm; 255–1649 Walleye/ha), whereas one bay was unstocked and served as a reference. We estimated Smallmouth Bass population abundance using Schnabel capture–recapture models, and we used bioenergetics to estimate the percentage of stocked age‐0 Walleye consumed.ResultWe found age‐0 Walleye in up to 11.4% of Smallmouth Bass diets and 14.6% of adult Walleye diets during the poststocking period. A single Largemouth Bass consumed one Walleye at 3 days poststocking (DPS), whereas we did not identify Walleye in Northern Pike diets. Daily mean percent composition by weight (±95% confidence interval) of age‐0 Walleye in diets peaked at 43.2 ± 35.1% at 3 DPS for Smallmouth Bass and 49.8 ± 97.7% at 14 DPS for adult Walleye. Following the peaks, age‐0 Walleye percent composition by weight rapidly declined and was generally 0% after 25 DPS. Smallmouth Bass abundance was 0.4–5.6 fish/ha, whereas recaptures of other predator species were insufficient for reliable population estimates. We estimated that Smallmouth Bass consumed 29,930 age‐0 Walleye in 2019 and 12,535 age‐0 Walleye in 2021 (up to 14.7 ± 4.7% of stocked fish), potentially representing an important source of stocking mortality.ConclusionOur research provides insights into the effects of poststocking predation on age‐0 Walleye by Smallmouth Bass and, to a lesser extent, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Managers should consider predation on stocked fingerling Walleye from resident predators and should contemplate alternative stocking locations or timing to reduce potential predation.