Major Food Categories Research Articles

The Association of Diet with Respiratory Symptoms and Asthma in Schoolchildren in Taipei, Taiwan

This study aimed to evaluate the association of diet with respiratory symptoms and asthma in schoolchildren in Taipei, Taiwan. An in-class interview survey elicited experiences of asthma and respiratory symptoms and consumption frequencies of the major food categories in 2290 fifth graders. Respiratory symptoms surveyed included persistent cough, chest tightness, wheezing with cold, wheezing without cold, dyspnea-associated wheezing, and exercise-induced cough or wheezing. Results showed that the consumption of sweetened beverages had the strongest association with respiratory symptoms and was positively associated with six of the seven respiratory symptoms (all p < 0.05). The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) ranged from 1.05 (95% confidence interval (CI = 1.01–1.09) for exercise-induced cough to 1.09 (95% CI = 1.03–1.16) for wheezing without cold. Egg consumption was associated with 5 of the 7 respiratory symptoms. Consumptions of seafood, soy products, and fruits were each negatively associated with one of the seven respiratory symptoms (all p < 0.05). Consumption of seafood was negatively associated with physician-diagnosed asthma and consumptions of sweetened beverages and eggs were positively associated with suspected asthma (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the study suggests that diet is associated with the respiratory symptoms in schoolchildren in Taipei. Consumptions of sweetened beverages and eggs are associated with increased risk of respiratory symptoms and asthma whereas consumptions of soy products and fruits are associated with reduced risk of respiratory symptoms.

Food patterns and lifestyle factors that correlate to growth status of 5th grade schoolchildren in Taipei, Taiwan

This study investigated the impact of food patterns, TV-watching time, and physical activity (PA) on growth status of 5th grade schoolchildren (SC) in Taipei, Taiwan. A questionnaire elicited data on height, weight, intake frequencies of major food categories and fast-food, TV-watching time, and frequency of PA from 2290 SC. Results showed that girls were taller but lighter than boys (P<0.01). TV-watching for ≥3 h/d was positively associated with BMI and weight of SC (P<0.01). PA was not significantly associated with height, weight or BMI. Among the major food categories, frequent intake of dairy was associated with lower BMI; frequent intake of fruits was associated with greater height while frequent intake of dessert was associated with lower BMI, height, and weight (all P<0.05). Among the fast-food items, frequent intake of fried-chicken was negatively associated with BMI and weight while frequent consumption of ice cream was positively associated with height (all P<0.05). Boys consumed meat, fish, seafood, eggs, soy products, sweetened beverages, and fast-food more often than did girls, while the opposite was true for consumption of vegetables and fruits. Only 30% SC consumed dairy daily; 62% of SC consumed vegetables daily; 53% of SC consumed fruit daily. Around 18% of SC consumed fast-food >1 time/wk. These results suggest that a high proportion of the SC need to improve their eating habit and that TV-watching time and consumptions of dairy, dessert and fried chicken are the major impacting factors on SC’s growth status. Funding provided by University of Michigan.

Food patterns that correlate to health and nutrition status in elderly Taiwanese

The objective of this study was to assess food intake patterns and their correlates in men and women in Taiwan 53 years of age or older. The study analyzed data generated in a cross-sectional population-based survey conducted in 1999. An in-home questionnaire interview elicited respondents' sociodemographic status, physical activity, and the consumption frequency of major food categories. Results showed that fish was the most frequently consumed protein-rich food, followed by meat and poultry. More than 50% of older adults consumed milk less than twice per week, whereas more than 40% consumed soy food more than 3 times per week. More than 90% of elderly Taiwanese consumed vegetables everyday or almost everyday, but only 60% consumed fruits everyday or almost everyday. Elderly Taiwanese men consumed meat, fish, seafood, eggs, and tea more often than did elderly women, whereas the opposite was true for dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Advanced aging was associated with a decline in the consumption frequency of most major food categories, a decrease in appetite status and an increase in digestive problems. Higher education and frequent daily physical exercise were associated with an increase in the consumption frequency of most food categories. Results suggest that age, sex, education, and physical activity impact food intake patterns and that risk of malnutrition does exist in some elderly in Taiwan.

Acrylamide: Update on Selected Research Activities Conducted by the European Food and Drink Industry

This paper reviews the progress made by the European food and drink industry (CIAA) on acrylamide with regard to analytical methods, mechanisms of formation, and mitigation research in the major food categories. It is an update on the first CIAA review paper, "A Review of Acrylamide: An Industry Perspective on Research, Analysis, Formation and Control." Initial difficulties with the establishment of reliable analytical methods, in most cases, have now been overcome, but challenges remain in terms of the need to develop simple and rapid test methods and certified reference materials. Many trials have been conducted under laboratory and experimental conditions in a variety of foods, and a number of possible measures have been identified to relatively lower the amounts of acrylamide in food. Promising applications were studied in reconstituted potato models by addition of amino acids or use of asparaginase. In bakery wares, predictive models have been established to determine the role of ammonium carbonate and invert sugar in acrylamide formation. Studies in several commercial foods showed that acrylamide is not stable over time in roasted and ground coffee. Some progress in relatively lowering acrylamide in certain food categories has been achieved, but at this stage can only be considered marginal. Any options that are chosen to reduce acrylamide in commercial products must be technologically feasible and must not adversely affect the quality and safety of the final product.

Acrylamide: An Update on Current Knowledge in Analysis, Levels in Food, Mechanisms of Formation, and Potential Strategies of Control

This review summarizes the research to date on acrylamide levels in food, analytical methods, main sources of dietary exposure, mechanisms of formation, and mitigation research in the major food categories. Significant progress in the research has been made over the past 18 months, as reflected by the numerous publications and national and international workshops on the subject. This rapid pace of developments is mainly attributable to the coordinated and collaborative efforts of all of those concerned: the food industry, academia, private/enforcement laboratories, and national authorities. Most of the information gaps identified since the findings in early 2002 on the occurrence of acrylamide in foods and exposure assessments have been addressed, and public databases have been established by several authorities. Today, the performance of analytical methods, particularly for "difficult" food matrices, is adequate, and any modifications made over the past 12 to 18 months in analytical procedures did not significantly impact the initial exposure calculations. Several avenues into mitigation have been explored in the different food categories, with much emphasis being placed on potato-based products, and empirical trials (mostly pilot studies) have provided better knowledge of the key parameters that influence acrylamide formation. However, despite these intensive efforts, only marginal reductions have been achieved by the food industry, and any further progress will entail long-term studies at the primary production level. Any measures devised to reduce exposure to acrylamide in commercial foods must be carefully assessed in terms of food safety and quality. A hitherto poorly addressed concern is the formation of acrylamide in foods prepared by consumers in the home, and more guidance on this by national authorities is warranted.

Food resource partitioning in a fish community of the central Amazon floodplain

Diets of most of fish species inhabiting a floodplain lake in central Amazonia were studied over a two years and half period. Based on the percentage of relative occurrence of 11 major food categories a classification of species in 11 feeding guilds is proposed. Many species were found to be specialized feeders. Fish, detritus and insects were the most important food resources supporting the fish community in both seasons, but the proportions of fruits, invertebrates and fish were reduced during the low water season. At the community level mean diet overlap between species was low, suggesting efficient resource partitioning within the community. However mean overlap between unspecialized feeders was high. Based on the 23 most abundant species belonging to the different feeding guilds, there was no difference in mean overlap between seasons. Whereas individual species exhibited diet changes between high water and low water seasons, there was no general pattern of seasonal change within feeding guilds.

Fiber intake and food selection of the elderly in Taiwan

Objectives We assessed fiber intakes and determined the major food categories that contribute to dietary fiber intakes in the Taiwanese elderly. We also examined the association between fiber intake and health status. Methods Macronutrients, dietary, and crude fiber intakes of 173 elderly men (76.4 ± 0.4 y) and 140 women (76.6 ± 0.4 y) were assessed with 24-h recall. Health status was assessed by the checklist questionnaire. Food was categorized as grain, vegetable, fruit, soy, other legumes, snack, seaweed, nuts, and mushroom groups. Results The mean dietary and crude fiber intakes by our older population were 8.79 ± 0.24 g/d and 3.30 ± 0.08 g/d, respectively. Significant associations were found between low fiber intakes and swallowing ability in the elderly population. Vegetables, fruits, and grains contributed most (>85%) to dietary fiber intakes for men and women. However, women consumed a greater proportion of fiber from vegetables and a lesser proportion from grain and snacks than did men. Conclusions Elderly subjects had remarkably low dietary fiber intakes (g and g/Mcal). Swallowing and chewing ability determined the amount of fiber consumed. Vegetable contributed more than half of dietary fiber intake. The selection of food groups exerted sex-dependent pattern in grains, vegetables, and snacks.

Diet of wild boar Sus scrofa in Western Europe, with particular reference to consumption of agricultural crops

ABSTRACT 1. The diet of wild boar Sus scrofa in Western Europe is reviewed, paying particular attention to the consumption of agricultural crops and the implications of this from the point of view of crop damage. Data were taken mainly from 11 studies that provide quantitative information about the consumption of different food types, but we also list all the foods reported as being eaten by wild boar in a total of 21 studies. 2. Vegetable foods occurred more frequently in the diet than animal foods, and also constituted the bulk of the food ingested. Overall, there were four major vegetable food categories: mast, roots, green plant matter and agricultural crops. Depending on the study area, wild boar always consumed at least one energy‐rich plant food such as acorns, beechnuts, chestnuts, pine seeds, olives, cereal grains or other crops. The number and types of agricultural crops consumed varied between study areas but crops represent an important component of wild boar diet throughout its Western European range. Among animal foods, insects, earthworms, birds and mammals were eaten most consistently but the diet also included amphibians, reptiles, gastropods and myriapods. 3. Seasonal, interannual and regional differences in the diet, together with its striking overall breadth, indicate that wild boar are opportunistic omnivores whose diet, in any particular instance, is largely determined by the relative availability of different food types. Dependence on energy‐rich plant material as a major component of the diet, coupled with large body size and a propensity to trample crops as well as consume them, means that wild boar cause significant agricultural damage.

Complex correlation structure in consumption rates of major food groups: implications for the assessment of radiation exposure.

An extensive dataset on individual food consumption was analysed in order to study all pairwise correlations between the consumption rates of 11 major food groups. Additionally, the project aimed to examine and quantify the accuracy of a recently proposed estimator of total food consumption to be used for the estimation of radiation exposure by food. Such an inquiry seems justified, because the proposed estimator implicitly presumes an essentially positive correlation structure in food consumption rates. Statistical analysis using representative data gathered in Germany in a nation-wide food consumption survey. Germany. Individuals aged between 4 and 94 years namely 10,901 males and 12,308 females. The consumption rates of 11 major food categories showed several significantly positive, but also a number of significantly negative, correlations. Negative associations between cereal and potato products persisted consistently over all age groups, independent of sex. Other significantly negative correlations were limited to certain age groups. Reflecting these negative correlations, a subsequent analysis of relative ranks of consumption revealed that no person in the sample had the highest consumption rates in all food groups simultaneously. Based on representative samples, overestimations of 34 to 53% were obtained if--as recently suggested in the context of radiation exposure prediction--the 95th percentiles of total food consumption were determined as sums of the corresponding percentiles of the food groups. The complex correlation structure of food group consumption rates, as identified in this study, bears important implications for various health-related issues. Ignoring them could lead to overly conservative estimations of radiation exposure due to food ingestion or to confounding effects in epidemiological studies on nutritional risk factors of diseases. The results also indicate that a distinction into different dietary patterns might be useful in characterising different consumption habits.

Investigation into the diet of the central rock-rat (Zyzomys pedunculatus)

The diet of the rare central rock-rat, Zyzomys pedunculatus, was assessed by microscopic analysis of 18 faecal pellet samples collected from four different sites in the west MacDonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory. Samples were collected from the four sites in summer (n = 13), one site in winter (n = 3), and two sites in spring (n = 2). Four major food categories were observed in the samples: seed, leaf, stem and insect. Seed was by far the most dominant food in the overall diet of Z. pedunculatus, making up 72% of identifiable particles, leaf was secondary (21%), while stem and insects contributed only 3% and 4% respectively. Although the sample size was small, no major seasonal shift between seed and invertebrate dominance was evident. Seed dominated the diet in both summer and winter, though winter seed consumption was lower (78% v. 58%). The level of seed consumption in the two spring samples was highly divergent (38% v. 93%), stressing the need for more samples to be collected from dry periods. Lowered rates of seed consumption during winter and in one of the spring samples were accompanied by increases in leaf consumption. Insect consumption remained low across all sampled seasons, suggesting that this species is not an omnivore. Rather, the dominance of seed in the diet suggests that Z. pedunculatus is primarily a granivore, a finding that has implications for the conservation status and management of this little-known species.

Food intake and Dietary Overlap in Native Lemur catta and Propithecus verreauxi and Introduced Eulemur fulvus at Berenty, Southern Madagascar

The introduction of Eulemur fulvus in 1975 into the Berenty Reserve and their recent attainment of population densities comparable to those of Lemur catta led us to analyze food partitioning among the 3 large prosimian species in the gallery forest. We assessed the diets of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus) and sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi) from food intake measurements during 3 successive short-term studies. All species exhibited marked seasonal changes in their major food categories. Dietary overlap was very high between ring-tailed lemurs and brown lemurs during 2 of 3 seasons, including the middle of the dry season. During the latter period, Eulemur appeared to compensate for a low quality diet by increasing the amount of food eaten. In contrast, Lemur fed on lower amounts of food and seemed more efficient at coping with fibrous plant materials. There is low dietary overlap of Lemur catta and Eulemur fulvus versus Propithecus, which exhibit by far the highest dietary diversity of the 3 species. We discuss sustainable coexistence among them, based on respective dietary adaptations and potential for dietary flexibility.

Profitability and Media Advertising in Greek Food Manufacturing Industries

The effect of advertising intensity in four media(television, radio, newspapers and magazines) on profitability is examined in this paper. Aprofitability model is tested using a unique 1993–1996panel data set of 350 Greek food manufacturing firms.Fixed effects results for the full model show thatonly television advertising increases profitabilitysignificantly. The results for eight major foodcategories estimated separately show importantdifferences between consumer and producer groups;television advertising effects on profitability arepositive and significant only in the consumerindustries where television advertising intensity ishigh. These findings show that television is the onlymedia where persuasive advertising exists in Greekfood manufacturing firms.

Feeding behavior of Geoffroy's marmoset (Callithrix geoffroyi) in an Atlantic forest fragment of South-eastern Brazil.

We report on the diet and feeding behaviour of a group of Geoffroy's marmosets (Callithrix geoffroyi) in an Atlantic forest fragment in south-eastern Brazil, studied during the period February 1993 to Januaray 1994. Major food categories were gums (68.6%) fruits (15%), and small animal prey (invertebrates 14.6% and vertebrates 0.8%). Dietary changes were observed between the wet and dry seasons, although they were not statistically significant. Insects and gums were consumed throughout the year but fruits were more prevalent in the diet in the wet season. Plant species exploited for their gums includedInga stipularis, followed byAcacia paniculata, Paulinia carpopodia, andBauhinia angulosa. Chemical analysis of the gum of the four species most used all presented high values for carbohydrates and crude proteins. Fruits of an unidentified species of Myrtaceae (sp. 2) were consumed the most. Animal prey consisted mainly of insects, arachnids, snails, and in three cases, lizards and frogs, with orthopterans being the most prevalent insect prey. This study demonstrates thatC. geoffroyi efficiently exploits resources typically available in secondary and disturbed forest habitat. The main threat to the species is forest destruction, degradation, and fragmentation, but the management of small forest fragments may be an effective corservation strategy.

Taste Changes in the Demand for Food by Demographic Groups in the United States: A Nonparametric Empirical Analysis

AbstractThis study uses nonparametric techniques to analyze the stability of demand for nineteen major food categories among various demographic groups in the United States. Households are divided into population groups by income, the head's age, and the spouse's education level. The data used are from the 1980–90 “Diary” portion of the Bureau of Labor Statistics's annual Consumer Expenditure Survey. The programming model developed by Sakong and Hayes, with the modifications suggested by Chalfant and Zhang, is used to test for and measure taste changes. Substantial differences in preference trends between population groups are found for many of the food commodities.

Diet of ballan wrasse, Labrus bergylta, and some comparisons with the diet of corkwing wrasse, Crenilabrus melops

The gut contents of 99 ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta: Teleostei; Labridae) sampled between April and July in Galway Bay, Ireland and 95 ballan wrasse sampled between April and June in Dinard, Brittany, France were examined. Decapods and bivalves were the major prey categories in both areas, algae and gastropods were also frequently eaten but in much smaller amounts. The volume of the major food categories did not vary significantly with fish length. However, fish longer than 20 cm did consume greater volumes of bivalves than smaller fish. An increase in dietary diversity during the breeding season was observed. Ballan and corkwing (Crenilabrus melops) exploited many of the same food categories but with different emphases. Bivalves, which were major prey of corkwing, were also very important to the ballan captured simultaneously at the same site.

The diet of corkwing wrasse, Crenilabrus melops, in Galway Bay, Ireland, and in Dinard, France

This investigation of the diet of 801 corkwing wrasse (Crenilabrus melops: Teleostei; Labridae) from Galway Bay and a sample of 51 corkwings from Dinard has shown that this species is primarily a carnivorous feeder, taking a varied diet with molluscs and crustaceans predominating. A gradual, size-related dietary shift was apparent, crustacean food being favoured by the younger, smaller fish and molluscan food by older, larger fish. A decrease in niche breadth indicated an increase in dietary specialization with increasing length. Little seasonal variation was observed in the consumption of the major food categories. Feeding intensity, however, was influenced by the sea-water temperature. Non-feeding fish were recorded only between November and March in Galway Bay, and approximately two-thirds of the population examined in February had empty guts. Feeding intensity of males was significantly lower than that of females during the breeding season.

Diet of the red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus) in French Guiana

We report the feeding behavior and food preferences of a troop of red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) over two annual cycles in primary tropical rain forest in French Guiana. The monkeys used 195 plant species from 47 families as food. Major food categories were young leaves (54%), mature fruits (21.5%), and flowers (12.6%). Other food categories included old leaves, immature fruits, termitarium soil, bark, and moss. The monkeys were less selective than other howler groups, since 19 plant species contributed ≥1% to their diet and accounted for only 35.7% of their total diet. The Sapotaceae was the most frequently eaten plant family and represented >10% of the total diet.

Midwater food web in the vicinity of a marginal ice zone in the western Weddell Sea

The structure of the food web in the vicinity of a marginal ice zone was investigated in the western Weddell Sea during austral autumn 1986. The diets of 40 species of zooplankton and micronekton occurring in the epipelagic zone were examined and compared using non-hierarchical clustering procedures. Over half the species were in three clusters of predominantly small-particle (phytoplankton; protozoans) grazers. These included biomass dominants Calanoides acutus, Calanus propinquus, Metridia gerlachei and Salpa thompsoni. Six clusters contained omnivores that had diets consisting of small particles as well as a substantial fraction of metazoan food. Among these was Euphausia superba. Seven groups were carnivorous, including species of copepods (1), chaetognaths (3), and fishes (5). Copepods were the most frequent food of carnivores; however krill also were important in the diets of three fish species.Among small-particle grazers, phytoplankton occurred more frequently in guts of individuals from open water; carnivory was more in evidence in samples collected under the pack ice. Regional comparisons of material taken on this and several previous cruises indicate that, in most of the dominant species, diets remain relatively consistent with respect to major food categories. Seasonal impact on feeding dynamics appears to be great: the guts of grazing species were generally much more full (visual evidence) during summer bloom conditions than during the autumn. The following trophic sequence is suggested for grazing zooplankton species in ice-covered regions of the Antarctic: (1) Active small-particle grazing during the summer bloom period; (2) reduced ingestion rates in autumn as primary production declines and the system becomes more oligotrophic, with some species augmenting grazing with carnivory; (3) descent of zooplankton biomass species into the mesopelagic zone in late autumn-early winter with feeding largely terminated. The sequence applies to the dominant zooplankton biomass species. Feeding dynamics and vertical distribution of several of the important larger sized grazing species, such as Euphausia superba and Salpa thompsoni, remain largely unknown

Food resource sharing and partitioning among some fishes of the Pongolo River floodplain

The diets of 12 fish species which coexist in the Pongolo floodplain lakes were determined from an analysis of the contents of 3 691 stomachs collected over period of 12 months. Although almost a species were found to feed on variety of foods, with consequent dietary overlaps, quantitative analysis of the results showed that distinct preferences for specific food types considerably ameliorated the effects of such overlaps. Partitioning within the major food categories, differences in relative population sizes, spatial and temporal differences in feeding and shifts in diet following inputs of seasonally occurring foods, all tended further to reduce effective competition between species. The results are discussed in the broader context of colonization of the Pongolo system by tropical fish community in circumstances where the principles of island biogeography may be expected to apply. Die diete van 12 visspesies wat in die vloedpleinmere van die Pongolorivier saamleef is deur ontleding van 3 691 maaginhoude, wat oor 'n tydperk van 12 maande ingesamel is, vasgestel. Hoewel byna al die spesies 'n verskeidenheid voedselsoorte vreet, met gevolglike oorvleuelings van hulle diete, dui kwantitatiewe ontleding op besliste voorkeure vir spesifieke voedselsoorte, wat die gevolge van die oorvleuelings tot 'n groat mate versag. Verdeling binne die vernaamste voedselsoorte, verskille in relatiewe populasiegroottes, verskille in tye en plek van voeding, en verskuiwing in dieet na seisoenale insette, dra almal by tot 'n verdere vermindering in effektiewe kompetisie tussen spesies. Die resultate word bespreek in die breer verband van die kolonisasie van die Pongolo-sisteem deur 'n tropiese visgemeenskap onder omstandighede waar dit verwag kan word dat die beginsels van eilandbiogeografie stellig van toepassing is. • To whom all correspondence should be addressed •• Present address: do Hewlett-Packard S.A. (Pty) Ltd., Linton Arcade, Cape Road, Port Elizabeth, 6000 The Pongolo River floodplain (Figure 1), located between latitude 27°15'S and the confluence of the Pongolo and Usutu Rivers, comprises some 13 000 ha of low-lying land adjacent to the Pongolo River. It includes numerous shallow depressions, the floodplain lakes, which are filled with water during floods. These lakes occupy an area estimated at 2 600 ha at their maximum retention level. The larger, deeper lakes retain water from one flood season to the next except under extreme drought conditions, thus providing permanent refuge for diverse aquatic flora and fauna. The likelihood of detrimental downstream effects resulting from the impending impoundment of the Pongolo River by the 10zini Dam, then under construction, prompted the initiation, in 1974, of programme of wide-ranging studies aimed at establishing the extent to which the floodplain ecosystem depended on the natural flooding regime of the Pongolo River, particularly where this affected the floodplain resources important in the existing local socio-economic structure.

Diet and breast cancer: a case-control study in Greece.

A case-control study of the role of diet in the etiology of breast cancer was conducted in Athens, Greece. There are reasons to believe that the diet of the Greek population is characterized by greater heterogeneity than that in most countries where such studies have been undertaken. The case series consisted of 120 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer admitted to either of two teaching hospitals over a 12-month period. The controls were 120 patients admitted to a teaching hospital for trauma and orthopedic conditions during the same period. Dietary histories concerning the frequency of consumption of 120 foods and drinks were obtained by interview. Cases reported significantly less frequent consumption of vegetables as a group and, within that group, specifically of cucumber, lettuce and raw carrot. After adjustment for potential external confounding variables and for confounding between food categories, the odds ratio for persons in the highest quintile of vegetable consumers, relative to those in the lowest quintile, was 0.09 with 95% confidence limits 0.03-0.30. That is to say, the lowest quintile of vegetable consumers had about 10 times the breast cancer risk of the highest quintile. For a score based on consumption of only the 3 specified salad items the odds ratio over the extreme quartiles was 0.12 (0.05-0.32). There was no association with consumption of fats and oils, alcohol or coffee, and no significant association with any other major food category (including alcohol and coffee) after adjustment for confounding variables.