Interest In Nutrition Research Articles

Career Motivations and Aspirations of Dietetic Students: Applying the Social Cognitive Career Theory

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the career motivations and aspirations of dietetic students using the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT). The objectives were to identify and quantify 1) the factors that motivate current students to choose dietetics as a career, 2) the future career aspirations of dietetic students, and 3) the way in which dietetic students make career decisions. Methods: This descriptive study utilized the validated Career Aspirations and Motivations of Dietetics Students (CAMDS) survey. Program directors of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)-accredited programs shared the CAMDS survey with their students electronically. A resulting convenience sample of n=328 students were enrolled in a didactic program in dietetics, dietetic internship, coordinated program in dietetics, or future education model graduate program. Data was captured regarding demographics, path towards a career in dietetics, motivations and influences to practice as a dietetics professional, and future career aspirations. Descriptive statistics were used to convey study findings. Data were both nominal and ordinal. Results: The majority of participants were female, white, and born after 1980. Motivating factors to pursue dietetics included cooking with family during childhood; a personal interest in nutrition; the influence of a parent or legal guardian; social media; and the opportunity to help others. The preferred employment sectors were clinical dietetics, community dietetics, and private practice. Conclusions: Attention to the career motivations and aspirations of dietetic students is requisite to supporting the growing demand for credentialed dietetics practitioners. The vast majority of current dietetic students are classified as millennials or generation Z; these students have career motivations and aspirations that are distinct from previous generations of dietetic students.

Vegetarian diets during pregnancy: effects on the mother's health. A systematic review.

While interest in vegetarian nutrition has been steadily increasing, some aspects have not yet been consistently investigated. One topic requiring evidence-based confirmation is the adoption of a vegetarian diet during pregnancy and lactation. Maternal diet is not only correlated with the fetus's and infant's health, but appears relevant for that of the mother as well. Not only is an adequate delivery of nutrients to the fetus and infant mandatory, but the increased physiological needs of the maternal body require an adequate supply of nutrients and can represent harmful stress events that may lead to well-defined pathological conditions. In this review, we aim to systematically investigate state-of-the-art of vegetarian diets during pregnancy and lactation, focusing on maternal nutritional status and pregnancy outcomes. Data are scarce, often inconsistent and not homogeneous for many of the topics we considered, mainly because only a few studies have been performed in developed countries, whereas other studies have derived from developing countries, where vegetarianism can be a proxy indicator of malnutrition. For this reason, we did not find sufficient data to provide evidence-based information and recommendations. To date, the available literature does not clearly support a negative impact on the mother's health and pregnancy outcomes, but, analogously with the findings in the vegetarian adult population, an improvement in the quality of studies might facilitate finding more information on the possible positive impact of well-planned vegetarian diets during pregnancy and lactation. More epidemiological and interventional studies are warranted, in order to address the question as to whether vegetarian nutrition represents an advantage for the mother or poses nutritional issues that need further attention.

Mycochemical Contents and Biological Activities of Three Wild Mushrooms from Tunisia.

The objective of the current study was to compare the mycochemical composition and biological activities of two extracts (aqueous extracts and ground materials prepared with the QUENCHER approach) of three wild Basidiomy-cetes, Agaricus vaporarius, Lactarius deliciosus, and Lycoperdon pyriforme, collected from a region located in the north of Tunisia. Mycochemical analysis in terms of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, flavanols, proanthocyanidins, and tannin contents were determined. In addition, the antioxidant activities of the mushrooms were evaluated using three assays (2,2-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, and metal chelating assay). Their antimicrobial activities were assessed against seven bacterial species. The obtained data revealed the presence of significant differences between secondary metabolites and the biological activities of the different tested extracts. Extracts of Basidiomy-cetes prepared with the QUENCHER approach had higher total phenolic content and antimicrobial activity against the evaluated strains. Antioxidant activity showed that the water extract had the greatest activity. The water extracts were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography, and the results showed that these three wild macromycetes contain a wide variety of antioxidant compounds in addition to many other bioactive compounds of nutritional and therapeutic interest.

Quantification, dietary intake adequacy, and food sources of nutrients involved in the methionine-methylation cycle (choline, betaine, folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12) in pregnant women in Spain

Objective: a quantification of dietary intakes of the micronutrients involved in the methylation-methionine cycle (choline, betaine, folate, vitamins B6 and B12) in a representative sample of pregnant women in Spain; assessment of intake adequacy to available official recommendations; and analysis of their main food sources. Material and methods: the median intake of each micronutrient was established using food consumption data reported in the National Dietary Survey of adults, the elderly, and pregnant women (ENALIA-2) (n = 133). For folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 intake, nutritional composition data from the Spanish Food Composition Tables were used, whereas for choline and betaine, which are not included in European food composition databases, the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was considered. Intake adequacy was estimated in accordance with the recommendations of the main Spanish, European, and US guidelines. Results: mean daily intakes observed were 271.1 mg/day of choline; 142.5 mg/day of betaine; 182.8 μg/day of folate; 1.4 mg/day of vitamin B6; and 4.5 μg/day of vitamin B12. Intake adequacy levels were insufficient for choline (< 60.2 %) and folate (< 30.5 %); close to adequacy for vitamin B6 (> 71.6 %); and fully adequate only in the case of vitamin B12 (> 101.1 %). It is not possible to draw any conclusions regarding betaine intake in the absence of established recommendations. Main food sources included foods of animal origin for choline and vitamin B12 (71.8 % and 97.4 %, respectively); cereals and derivatives for betaine (85.3 %); vegetables (27.5 %) together with cereals and derivatives (18.6 %) for folate; and meats and derivatives (26.6 %) followed by vegetables (17.9 %) for vitamin B6. Conclusions: these findings are clearly indicative of the need to improve the intake and nutritional status of these components, which are of great nutritional interest for the health of pregnant women and, consequently, of their offspring. Consequent to the degree of adequacy observed, it seems necessary and urgent to employ not only dietary improvement strategies and the use of fortified foods, but also nutritional supplements with an individualized approach.

Very low ileal nitrogen and amino acid digestibility of zein compared to whey protein isolate in healthy volunteers

Whey protein and zein are of nutritional interest due to their high leucine content, but little data are available on their amino acid (AA) ileal digestibility. This study aimed to determine ileal digestibility of whey protein isolate (WPI) and zein in healthy volunteers by use of the naso-ileal intubation method, which allows continuous collection of postprandial ileal digesta. Twenty-two healthy volunteers were intubated with a naso-ileal sampling device positioned at the terminal ileum level. They received a single meal of protein-free biscuits and a drink containing zein (n=8), WPI (n=7), or no protein (protein free, n=7). Ileal effluents and plasma samples were collected over a 9-h postprandial period. Total nitrogen and AA contents were quantified in effluents. True ileal digestibility was calculated after correction for endogenous losses evaluated in the protein-free group. True ileal nitrogen digestibility of zein was markedly lower than WPI (60.2±4.5% and 91.2±2.6%, respectively, P=0.0003). True ileal digestibility of AAs ranged from 87.4±2.7% for threonine to 98.4±1.0% for methionine in the WPI group, and from 59.3±5.6% for methionine to 69.0±5.8% for arginine in the zein group. The digestible indispensable AA (IAA) score was 1.03 (histidine) for WPI and close to 0 for zein, owing to its negligible lysine content. Plasma IAA concentration significantly increased after WPI intake (P=0.0319), whereas no effect of zein on aminoacidemia was observed, including plasma leucine, despite its high leucine content. Our findings provide data on ileal digestibility of WPI and zein AAs in healthy humans and, in contrast to WPI, zein is poorly digestible. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03279211.

Fish protein: nutrition and innovation

Introduction: initial references of products made with surimi date back in Japan to the 12th century. The technological process was developed in 1972. It is essential to use fresh fish to preserve the nutritional and technological quality of its myofibrillar protein. The highest quality species for elaborating surimi is Alaska pollock, belonging to the cod family. The best part of the fish regarding quality are its fillets or loins. Objectives: to evaluate the protein quality of surimi and its omega-3 fatty acid content, and to review the scientific evidence for the role of surimi in relation to health. Results: the amino acid score pattern of surimi is above 100 for the 9 essential amino acids, showing good assimilation and digestibility, even higher than that of homologous products such as meat, fish, and eggs. Surimi contributes considerably to the intake of omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA). Different studies link surimi consumption with positive effects on body composition: increase in skeletal muscle and reduction in white adipose tissue, as well as a tendency to improved muscle motor function. EPA and DHA have a function on both cardiovascular and cognitive parameters. Conclusions: one of the main reasons to consume surimi is its excellent protein quality, highlighting its easy assimilation and digestibility. Likewise, surimi's natural content in omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA is of great nutritional interest. These components are related to functional effects on body composition, metabolic syndrome parameters, and cognitive level.

Chlorophyll fluorescence and its relationship with physiological stress in Chenopodium quinoa Willd.

Photosynthetic activity is a fundamental process in the physiology of plants, and its regulation plays an important role in determining the effect of abiotic factors. Quinoa is a plant species of agronomic and nutritional interest that has been recognized for its adaptability to extreme environmental conditions, however, climate change may result in unfavorable conditions capable of affecting the natural development of this species, which is of great interest culture and research in South America. To evaluate the response of quinoa to stress, techniques could be used that quantify the loss of light energy through its dissipation in the form of heat. However, the measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence is the most widely used and accessible technique for field research, which allows to recognize the relationships between the plant and agroclimatic factors. This review summarizes the physiological effects of heat, radiation, salinity, and nutrient and water availability, as well as their possible interactions on quinoa.

Validated MAGIC and GWAS population mapping reveals the link between vitamin E content and natural variation in chorismate metabolism in tomato

Tocochromanols constitute the different forms of vitamin E (VTE), essential components of the human diet, and display a high membrane protectant activity. By combining interval mapping and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we unveiled the genetic determinants of tocochromanol accumulation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits. To enhance the nutritional value of this highly consumed vegetable, we dissected the natural intraspecific variability of tocochromanols in tomato fruits and genetically engineered their biosynthetic pathway. These analyses allowed the identification of a total of 25 quantitative trait loci interspersed across the genome pinpointing the chorismate-tyrosine pathway as a regulatory hub controlling the supply of the aromatic head group for tocochromanol biosynthesis. To validate the link between the chorismate-tyrosine pathway and VTE, we engineered tomato plants to bypass the pathway at the arogenate branch point. Transgenic tomatoes showed moderate increments in tocopherols (up to approximately 20%) and a massive accumulation of tocotrienols (up to approximately 3400%). Gene expression analyses of these plants reveal a trade-off between VTE and natural variation in chorismate metabolism explained by transcriptional reprogramming of specific structural genes of the pathway. By restoring the accumulation of alpha-tocotrienols (α-t3) in fruits, the plants produced here are of high pharmacological and nutritional interest.

A revision of Agaricus section Arvenses with nine new species from China

ABSTRACT Agaricus sect. Arvenses includes numerous species that are potential candidates for cultivation, and some have high nutritional and medicinal interests. Between 2012 and 2017, 147 specimens of A. sect. Arvenses were collected in China. For this study, nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), nuc 28S rDNA (28S), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) sequences were used to assess species boundaries of these samples from China. Combined with morphological examination, we recognize 22 species of A. sect. Arvenses from China, of which 12 are known species, one is new record for China, and nine are proposed as new.

Nutrient Intake Patterns Predict Homeostatic Dysregulation in an Older Quebec Population

The geometric framework for nutrition has largely been applied to macronutrients in experimental settings. Here, we utilize the framework to examine both macro and micronutrient intake patterns in observational human data. We used nutritional intake patterns (3x 24h recall per visit) of 1754 older Quebecers from the NuAge cohort to predict multi-system homeostatic dysregulation scores calculated from 30 biomarkers. Intermediate intake of both macro- and micronutrients was generally associated with lower dysregulation scores (i.e., better health). Furthermore, there were often nutrient-nutrient interactions, such that the optimal level of one nutrient depends on the intake level of others. However, higher protein intake was generally associated with better health, and results varied substantially across different dysregulation systems. Accordingly, even though nutrition does have important effects on health trajectories during aging, it will be challenging to arrive at population-level recommendations to fine-tune nutrient intake patterns to optimize health beyond “everything in moderation.” Part of a symposium sponsored by the Nutrition Interest Group.

Diet Composition, Adherence to Calorie Restriction, and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk Modification

Calorie restriction (CR) is a promising strategy to attenuate age-related disease risk. Higher protein diets enhance satiety but may also impair metabolic health and accelerate aging. The effect of higher protein intake on adherence to CR and cardiometabolic markers of healthspan remains unknown. We used the Geometric Framework for Nutrition to examine the association between diet composition and 1) CR adherence; and 2) cardiometabolic risk factors during a 2-year intervention. The CR group consumed higher percentage energy from protein and lower fat at 12 months compared to baseline (logit % protein=0.1; 95% CI=0.05, 0.15; logit % fat= -0.12; CI=-0.29, -0.18). Higher protein intake over the 2-year intervention was associated with higher adherence to CR. No effect of diet composition on cardiometabolic risk factors was observed. These findings suggest that dietary protein plays a critical role in adherence to CR with no adverse effects on cardiometabolic markers of healthspan. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Nutrition Interest Group.

The Geometric Framework for Nutrition: New Insights Into How What We Eat Affects How We Age

The geometric framework for nutrition (GFN) is an approach to understanding the effect of nutrition considering multiple nutrients simultaneously. Originally developed in experimental studies of insects to model how nutritional needs evolve depending on ecological context, and since extended to many taxa including non-human primates in the wild, the technique is increasingly applied to understand human health and aging. Here, we invite four varied talks showcasing the flexibility and potential of this approach from the basic biology of aging to observational human studies and clinical trials. D. Raubenheimer will give an overview of the method, its history, and its applications in aging and human health. D. Wahl will present results showing how GFN can help develop diets that recapitulate caloric restriction and its effects on brain aging. S. Das will show how GFN can be used to improve the feasibility of caloric restriction in humans without compromising its effects. Finally, A. Cohen will present results showing how GFN can be deployed in an epidemiological context and used to characterize complex interactions among large numbers of nutrients in determining health. Together, these results show that a simplistic conception of nutrition as calories is far from sufficient to understand its effects on health and aging. Evolution has shaped the nutritional needs of each species for its environment, with appropriate levels of flexibility. GFN provides an approach to capture the relevant nuance, with the results presented at this symposium but scratching the surface. Nutrition Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

Comparing the Effects of Low-Protein and High-Carbohydrate Diets and Caloric Restriction on Brain Aging in Mice

The Geometric Framework for Nutrition (GFN) has revealed that ad-libitum low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diets improve cardiometabolic health and extend lifespan in rodents, but it is not known whether these diets are also beneficial for brain health. Here, we utilized previous results from GFN studies and compared hippocampus biology and memory in mice subjected to 20% calorie restriction (CR) or provided ad-libitum access to several LPHC diets. RNA expression in the hippocampus of 15-month-old mice were similar between mice fed CR and LPHC diets. Nutrient-sensing proteins, including SIRT1, MTOR, and PGC1-alpha, were also influenced by diet; however, the effects varied by sex. CR and LPHC diets were associated with increased dendritic spines in dentate gyrus neurons. Mice fed CR and LPHC diets had modest improvements in the Barnes maze spatial recognition memory paradigm and novel object recognition test. LPHC diets recapitulate some of the benefits of CR on brain aging. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Nutrition Interest Group.

Nutritional Ecology, Nutritional Geometry, and Aging Research

Substantial advances have been made in understanding both evolutionary and mechanistic aspects of biological ageing, but the two areas remain poorly integrated. I suggest that a greater emphasis on ecology can help to integrate evolutionary and mechanistic research on ageing, by providing insight into the interface between biological mechanisms and the environments in which they evolved. Among the most salient aspects of the environment relevant to ageing is nutrition. And yet in the bulk of ageing research nutrition is coarsely represented as dietary restriction or caloric restriction, without consideration for which components of the diet or which energetic substrates are driving the observed effects. I show how a method developed in nutritional ecology, called the nutritional geometry framework, can help to understand the nutritional interactions of animals with their environments, by explicitly distinguishing the roles of calories, individual nutrients and nutrient balance. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Nutrition Interest Group.

Older Adults' Engagement in Technology-Mediated Self-Monitoring of Diet: A Mixed-Method Study.

PurposeThis feasibility study explored older adults’ use of a nutrition app called Appetitus (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/appetitt/id1001936854?ign‐mpt=uo%3D2; https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.nr.appetitt&hl=e) and addressed their engagement in technology‐mediated self‐monitoring of diet. Undernutrition is a significant challenge among older adults and is associated with poorer health experiences. Digital health for self‐monitoring of diet has the potential to increase awareness of personal nutrition, and the scarcity of research reporting older adults’ ability and willingness to engage in technology‐mediated dietary self‐monitoring warranted this study.Design and MethodsAn explorative mixed‐methods design combining descriptive analysis of log data with qualitative analysis of interviews with Appetitus users was implemented.FindingsTwenty‐five older adults self‐monitored their diet using Appetitus over an 8‐week trial period. Eighty percent of the participants used the app regularly in the trial period. The most engaged users recorded their food consumption daily for 8 weeks. Personal interest in nutrition and commitment to the project facilitated regular use of Appetitus. Poor health and the perception that using a nutrition app lacked personal relevance contributed to irregular self‐monitoring. For inexperienced technology users, participation in this project became a springboard to using tablet technology and the Internet beyond the Appetitus app.ConclusionsThe majority of the participants regularly used Appetitus for self‐monitoring of diet; they found the tablet technology and Appetitus app easy to use.Clinical RelevanceOlder adults are able and willing to use self‐monitoring tools. Nutrition apps can empower older adults to make better informed decisions about their diet. Patients’ self‐monitoring can provide valuable and detailed health‐related information to healthcare professionals and mediate patient‐centered care practices.

Effects of dietary chromium-yeast level on growth performance, blood metabolites, meat traits and muscle fatty acids profile, and microminerals content in liver and bone of lambs

To assess the effect of dietary supplement levels of chromium-yeast (Cr-yeast) on growth performance, blood glucose and triglycerides, fatty acid (FA) profile in intramuscular fat, carcase and meat traits, iron, copper, chromium and zinc concentrations in liver and bone, 24 Rambouillet male lambs (29.2 ± 0.17 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to four diets with 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg Cr/kg DM. The growth performance trial lasted 49 d. Supplemental Cr-yeast did not affect growth performance and carcase characteristics (p > .05), but reduced (p < .05) perirenal and intramuscular fat, as well as 3 h post-feeding blood glucose and triglycerides concentration. In liver, Fe and Cu concentration decreased (p < .05), while Cr concentrations in liver increased with increasing Cr-yeast dietary levels. In bone, Fe decreased (p < .05) as Cr-yeast dietary levels increasing, and Cr-yeast supplementation increased Cr concentrations (p < .05). As Cr-yeast dietary level increased, palmitic (C16:0) and stearic (C18:0) SFA decreased linearly (p < .05), while palmitoleic (C16:1n-7), vaccenic (C18:1n-7), linoleic (C18:2n-6) and arachidic (C20:4) unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) increased linearly (p < .01). In conclusion, Cr-yeast did not affect growth performance and carcase quality, but decreased the perirenal and intramuscular fat, blood glucose and triglyceride content, and Fe and Cu concentrations in liver as increased Cr-yeast levels in the diet. Because supplemental Cr-yeast improved index of atherogenicity and unsaturated to saturated FA ratio in muscle of lambs, it could be of human nutritional interest. HIGHLIGHTS Cr-yeast supplementation reduced blood glucose and triglyceride concentration. In liver, Fe and Cu content decreased while Cr increased with increasing Cr-yeast dietary levels. Cr-yeast modified the FA profile of human nutritional interest and improved the unsaturated to saturated FA ratio in intramuscular fat.

Using a 3D food printer as a teaching tool: Focus groups with dietitians, teachers, and nutrition students

AbstractThree‐dimensional (3D) food printing is a new technology that can be used to produce personalized and customized food products. However, very little research has been completed on how 3D food printers could be used as educational tools. As such, the objective of this study was to evaluate how teachers (n = 6), dietitians (n = 6), and nutrition students (n = 11) envision the use of 3D food printers when disseminating information about food and nutrition. Focus groups were conducted with teachers, dietitians, and nutrition students. Initially, the participants were introduced to the concept of 3D food printing and then they were asked how they could use a 3D food printer in their teachings. The participants did not feel that a 3D food printer would enhance their teaching and instead felt it could confuse or frighten people. Also, all of the participants were worried about learning how to 3D print foods. The participants did state that people would be interested in watching a 3D food printer. Furthermore, the teachers and nutrition students indicated they thought a demonstration of a 3D food printer would lead to more interest in food and nutrition. Additionally, they thought a 3D food printer could be used to create visually appealing foods. Overall, until 3D food printers are found in residential and commercial kitchens, the participants did not think it would enhance their teachings; however, they did indicate that 3D food printing demonstrations could lead to students being interested in the food and nutrition fields.

A Comparative Study of Organic and Conventional Management on the Rhizosphere Microbiome, Growth and Grain Quality Traits of Tritordeum

Tritordeum is a novel hexaploid cereal derived from the cross between a wild Chilean barley species (Hordeum chilense Roem. et Schultz) and durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum Desf.) that is potentially of great interest for human nutrition. In this study, a commercial and an experimental Tritordeum cultivar were analyzed in comparison with a reference durum wheat under conventional and organic management. We demonstrate that Tritordeum is better adapted to organic farming through an increase in the below-ground rhizosphere community of the Bacteroidetes phylum, which includes many bacteria species known to exert beneficial effects on plants, particularly for root growth. Despite a considerably lower grain yield, Tritordeum had better quality traits than durum wheat, particularly under organic farming vs. conventional management, with respect to total protein contents, high molecular weight glutenin subunits, antioxidant free phenols and nutrients (i.e., calcium, potassium, sulphur, iron, and zinc), depending on the cultivar. We conclude that Tritordeum is a promising cereal in light of its quality traits and adaptability to sustainable crop management practices, such as organic farming, although further improvement in yield potential should be pursued by breeding and by optimising the cultivation method.

Characterization and comparison of lipid and PUFA production by native thraustochytrid strains using complex carbon sources

The thraustochytrid are marine heterotrophic protists that are widely distributed in the marine world. They are characterized by producing and accumulating great amount of lipids in their cells, especially long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), highlighting the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6, n-3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5, n-3) and arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4, n-6), as well as pigments of interest for human health and animal nutrition, such as carotenoids. Therefore, the objective of this study was to isolate and characterize three natives isolated of thraustochytrids and assess the potential of the by-products of the manufacture of beer (RB) and protein extraction of Lupine flour (RL) as complex carbon sources to produce biomass, lipid and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Three native strains of thraustochytrid (AS5-B2, IQ81 y VAL-B1), isolated from Chilean coastal waters were morphologically and genetically identified as thraustochytrid. For the determination of biomass production cultures were quantified by gravimetry and the fatty acids quantification and identification were carried out by gas chromatography (GC-FID). Our results show that the culture with any sources of complex carbon used, increased significantly the production of both biomass and total lipids in the strains IQ81 and VAL-B1, compared to glucose as pure carbon source. On the other hand, strain AS5-B2 showed a decrease in the total production of lipids in RB compared to the pure carbon source. For the production of fatty acids, the strains IQ81 and VAL-B1 showed a significant increase in DHA when growing in RB. In conclusion strains IQ81 and VAL-B1 can be used to biotransform industrial waste, such as RB and RL, into a more valuable product such as DHA, EPA, ARA and lipids.

Sustainable Management of Secondary Raw Materials from the Marine Food-Chain: A Case-Study Perspective

The feasibility of exploiting secondary raw materials from marine food-chains as a source of molecules of nutritional interest, to create high-value food products and to meet nutritional challenges, is described in this report. A reduction in food waste is urgent as many sectors of the food industry damage the environment by depleting resources and by generating waste that must be treated. The project herein described, deals with the recovery of natural molecules, omega-3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA) and of α-tocopherol, from fish processing by-products. This would promote the sustainable development of new food products for human nutrition, as well as nutraceuticals. The growing awareness of increasing omega-3 fatty acids intake, has focused attention on the importance of fish as a natural source of these molecules in the diet. Therefore, a study on the concentration of these bioactive compounds in such matrices, as well as new green methodologies for their recovery, are necessary. This would represent an example of a circular economy process applied to the seafood value chain. Fish processing by-products, so far considered as waste, can hopefully be reutilized as active ingredients into food products of high added-value, thus maximizing the sustainability of fish production.