Omnivorous Research Articles

A First Step Towards Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Welfare by Considering Dietary Regimes (Part I).

The insect farming sector is expanding, but knowledge of insect welfare is still limited. This article aims to optimize the dietary regime for "black soldier fly" (Hermetia illucens L., BSF) larvae by applying a holistic view of welfare. Four diets were tested: control (CONTR, commercial laying hen feed), vegetable (VEG), omnivorous (OMN), and carnivorous (MEAT) diet, conducting experiments at a large (2000 larvae) and small scale (100 larvae). Rearing parameters were calculated including the growth rate, substrate reduction, efficiency of conversion of digested food, waste reduction index, and survival rate. Chemical analyses were conducted on BSF larvae and the residual frass. While the MEAT diet appears to be non-well-performing for the larvae, the VEG diet performed comparably to the control diet. Interestingly, the OMN diet demonstrated improved efficiency when evaluating the growth process at both scales. The chemical composition of larvae and frass highlighted the nutritional adequacy of the OMN diet, with the BSF larvae showing adequate protein and lipid content without nutrient catabolism or signs of discomfort. Applying the five freedoms of Brambell's report as a welfare standard for animal rearing and evaluating performance as an indirect indicator of welfare, the OMN diet appears to promote larval welfare in rearing practices.

The Relevance of Plant-Based Diets and Micronutrient Supplementation for Body Composition: Data from the VeggieNutri Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the anthropometry and body composition of vegetarian and omnivorous adults living in Portugal, while exploring nutritional and health parameters underlying observed differences. Methods: 425 omnivorous (OMNI), lacto-ovo-vegetarian (LOV), or vegan (VEG) healthy adults were recruited. Anthropometry was measured, and bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed. Participants answered food frequency, sociodemographic, and lifestyle questionnaires. Serum iron, ferritin, and CRP were quantified by spectrophotometry, and serum B12 vitamin and homocysteine were quantified by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Results: Total protein intake significantly decreased with increasing strictness of vegetarian habits (median (P25; P75) in g/day: 98.6 (79.5; 123.1), 90.4 (65.9; 121.0), and 87.6 (59.8; 118.5) for OMNI, LOV and VEG, respectively; p = 0.020), and carbohydrate intake was the highest in LOV (median (P25; P75) in g/day: 231.5 (178.4; 287.9), 283.9 (227.3; 342.6), and 263.0 (222.0; 348.3) for OMNI, LOV and VEG, respectively; p = 0.001). VEG were the main users of B12 vitamin (93% in VEG vs. 17% in OMNI and 59% in LOV, p = 0.001), and LOV were the main users of iron supplements (29% in LOV vs. 14% in OMNI and 13% in VEG, p = 0.042), respectively. Blood levels of B12 vitamin correlated negatively with blood homocysteine (rs = −0.386, p < 0.001) and positively with % muscle mass (rs = 0.136, p = 0.005). Participants using iron supplements presented higher C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.014) and they had lower % MM (p = 0.003). Finally, when compared to being OMNI, being LOV independently associated with: (a) having +4.8% (p = 0.002) of fat mass, which could be due to higher carbohydrate intake, and (b) having −2.2% (p = 0.043) of muscle mass. Our data suggest that the association between diet and muscle mass could be attenuated in VEG due to B12 supplementation and/or aggravated in LOV due to iron supplementation-associated inflammation.

Vegetarianism and Cardiovascular Health

The impact of dietary choices on cardiovascular health has garnered significant attention, and vegetarianism has emerged as a dietary pattern of particular interest in this research field. A recent body of research suggests that adopting a vegetarian diet may potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, however, this relationship still needs to be clarified. The present study aimed to identify the differences in 10-year cardiovascular risk (CVR) and its associated factors between Vegetarians (VG) and Omnivores (OM). This cross-sectional design analysis involved 110 participants (both sexes, mean age of 49 yo) including 55 OM and 55 VG. Metabolic markers were measured from capillary blood sampling (LINX DUO, Menarini), and 10-year CVR was calculated through SCORE2. No statistically significant differences between the two dietary patterns analyzed were found for 10-year CVR. However, a slight tendency towards a higher CVR in OM was observed (OM: 3.16% versus VG: 2.60%; t = 0.970; p = 0.334). The OM population also showed statistically higher values of total cholesterol (OM: 199.00 mg/dL versus VG: 172.00 mg/dL), c-LDL (OM: 117.87 mg/dL versus VG: 99.85 mg/dL), and non-HDL cholesterol (OM: 138.00 mg/dL versus VG: 116.00 mg/dL), compared to VG. These factors are all related to the increased risk of developing cardiovascular events (both fatal and non-fatal) at 10 years. The consumption of sweets, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), and fast food proved to be a risk factor for a high-risk SCORE2 for cardiovascular events at 10 years in 1.6%, 2.6%, and 2.1%, respectively. On the other hand, the consumption of vegetables (1%) and fruit (0.3%), as well as high adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) in OM (41%) and a high quality diet in VG (13.9%) proved to be protective factors against a high-risk SCORE2 for cardiovascular events at 10 years. In conclusion, this study revealed intriguing insights into the complex relationship between dietary patterns, metabolic markers, and 10-year CVR. These results suggest that 10-year CVR is influenced by the quality of the diet (as no differences were observed for lifestyle variables such as smoking status and physical activity), and not by the dietary pattern alone. It is important to note that the intake of sweets, SSB, fast food, and an unhealthy diet appear to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases rather than the dietary pattern followed (Mediterranean or Vegetarian). These findings underscore the significance of individual dietary components in shaping long-term cardiovascular health and emphasize the need for further research to refine dietary recommendations and enhance cardiovascular outcomes. This research was funded by national funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (Portugal), under the [UIDB/04567/2020] and [UIDP/ 04567/2020] projects, and by COFAC/ILIND—Cooperativa De Formação e Animação Cultural CRL/Instituto Lusófono de Investigação e Desenvolvimento (grant COFAC/ILIND/CBIOS/2/2021). R.M. is funded by the FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (Portugal) Scientific Employment Stimulus contract [reference number CEEC/04567/CBIOS/2020]. C.F-P. is funded by the FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (Portugal) Scientific Employment Stimulus contract [reference number CEEC/CBIOS/NUT/2018]. 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.

Occurrence, bioaccumulation and trophic dynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in two tropical freshwater lakes

We have investigated the occurrence, distribution, and biomagnification of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in two tropical lakes (Asejire and Eleyele) of Southwestern Nigeria, with contrasting urban intensities. Over an 8-month period, we sampled sediment and fish species (Clarias gariepinus: CIG; Oreochromis niloticus: ON; Coptodon guineensis: CG; Sarotherodon melanotheron: SM) across trophic levels, and analyzed various PFAS congeners, in addition to a select group of toxicological responses. While herbivores (SM) and benthic omnivores (CIG) at Asejire exhibited elevated levels of PFBS and PFOS, the pelagic omnivores (ON) showed a dominance of PFOS, PFDA, PFHxDA and EtFOSE in the muscle. At the Eleyele urban lake, PFAS patterns was dominated by PFBS, EtFOSE, PFPeS, PFOcDA and PFOS in the herbivores (SM, CG), EtFOSE, PFOS and PFBS in the pelagic omnivore (ON) and benthic omnivore (ClG). The estimated biomagnification factor (BMF) analysis for both lakes indicated trophic level increase of PFOS, PFUnA and PFDA at the suburban lake, while PFOS and EtFOSE biomagnified at the urban lake. We detected the occurrence of diSAMPAP and 9CL-PF3ONS, novel compounds not commonly reported, in PFAS studies at both lakes. The studied toxicological responses varied across trophic groups in both lakes with probable modulations by environmental conditions, trophic structure, and relative PFAS exposures in the lakes. The present study documents, for the first time in Nigeria, or any other African country, the role of urbanization on contaminant load into the environment and their implications for contaminant dynamics within the ecosystem and for aquatic food safety.

Analysis of female Olympic runner’s performance based on diets

This study presents the impact of omnivorous (OMN) and vegan (VG) diets on female Olympic runners’ performance. It seeks to ascertain which diet would yield superior outcomes. Three VG runners and three OMNI runners will be evaluated as part of the study to compare their athletic abilities. This paper proposes that VG female Olympic runners will outperform those following the OMNI diet. This study will be conducted in six steps: (1) the basic insight of how each diet affects a runner’s performance, (2) analysis and calculations of VG runner’s performance development prior to the appropriate Olympic games, (3) analysis and calculations of OMNI development on each runner with equivalent years before the corresponding Olympic games, (4) comparison between the OMNI and VG runners of the 1-year development, (5) comparison between the OMNI and VG runners of the 3-year development, and (6) comparison between the OMNI and VG runners of the 6-year development. The study reveals a complex relationship between dietary choices (VG and OMN) and runners' performance, with the OMNI group showing superior results in two instances.

Nutritional status of flexitarians compared to vegans and omnivores - a cross-sectional pilot study

BackgroundIn the Western world, there has been a notable rise in the popularity of plant-based, meat-reduced flexitarian diets. Nevertheless, there is insufficient data on the nutritional status of individuals following this dietary pattern. The aim of this study was to investigate the intake and endogenous status of various nutrients in a healthy German adult study population consisting of flexitarians (FXs), vegans (Vs) and omnivores (OMNs).MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, dietary intake of 94 non-smoking adults (32 FXs, 33 Vs, 29 OMNs) between 25 and 45 years of age was assessed using 3-day dietary records. In addition, blood samples were collected to determine different endogenous nutrient status markers.Results32%, 82% and 24% of the FXs, Vs, and OMNs respectively reported using dietary supplements. In the FXs, intake of total energy as well as macronutrients and most micronutrients were within the reference range. FXs had higher intakes of fiber, retinol-equ., ascorbic acid, folate-equ., tocopherol-equ., calcium, and magnesium compared to OMNs. However, cobalamin intake in FXs (2.12 µg/d) was below the reference (4 µg/d). Based on 4cB12, 13% of FXs showed a cobalamin undersupply [< -0.5 to -2.5] compared to 10% of OMNs, and 9% of Vs. The median 25(OH)D serum concentrations in FXs, Vs and OMNs were 46.6, 55.6, and 59.6 nmol/L. The prevalence of an insufficient/deficient vitamin-D status [< 49.9 nmol 25(OH)D/L] was highest in FXs (53%), followed by Vs (34%) and OMNs (27%). In FXs and Vs, the supplement takers had better cobalamin and vitamin-D status than non-supplement takers. Anemia and depleted iron stores were found only occasionally in all groups. In women, the prevalence of pre-latent iron deficiency and iron deficiency was highest in FXs (67%) compared to Vs (61%) and OMNs (54%).ConclusionOur findings indicated that all three diets delivered sufficient amounts of most macro- and micronutrients. However, deficiencies in cobalamin, vitamin-D, and iron status were common across all diets. Further studies are needed to investigate the nutrient supply status and health consequences of meat-reduced plant-based diets. The study was registered in the German Clinical Trial Register (number: DRKS 00019887, data: 08.01.2020).

Dietary pattern, body composition, metabolic markers, and skin physiology

Dietary patterns have been linked to differences in cardiovascular physiology, metabolic markers, and ahealthy skin condition.. However, published evidence on these issues is still insufficient and often controversial. This study aimed to identify differences in total body composition, biochemical markers, and skin physiology among omnivorous (OM) and vegetarian (VG) individuals. Participants (n=176, both sexes, mean age 31yo) included 115 OM and 61 VG. Body composition was assessed by absorptiometry (DXA Lunar-GE Healthcare®) and metabolic markers measured from capillary blood sampling (LINX DUO, Menarini). Skin physiology, regarded as an indicator of health, was assessed by transepidermal water loss (TEWL, Tewameter® CK electronics), hydration (Moisturemeter® DTec), and biomechanics (Cutometer® CK electronics) in five anatomical sites (forehead, cheek, neck, hand, and leg). No significant differences were observed between groups for any body composition variables although VG participants showed higher levels of Visceral (VAT) and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue (SAT). The OM group presented significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol, and VAT was positively correlated (p&lt;0.05) with all the biomarkers evaluated. Meanwhile, in the VG group (a) higher levels of fat mass were statistically correlated with higher levels of Hemoglobin A1c, LDL-cholesterol, and Non-HDL-cholesterol; (b) VAT was positively correlated with triglycerides/HDL ratio, Non-HDL-cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure; and (c) SAT was negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol, and positively correlated with LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol. Prospective (10 year) cardiovascular risk calculations were considerably higher in OM participants compared to VG (2.17 vs. 1.06 points). Noteworthy, the VG participants were more active physically than the OM, and reported diets of lower energetic density, protein, saturated fat, and cholesterol, with higher contents of fiber and complex carbohydrates and sugars. VG participants have shown a higher TEWL, hydration, elasticity, and skin carotenoid content. Correlation analysis regarding VAT, SAT, and skin parameters showed a significant positive correlation between TEWL, hydration, and skin elasticity, and a negative correlation with skin retraction (after creep). These results suggest that some composition features, cardiovascular risk, and skin physiology differ between VG and OM individuals and might be related to their dietary patterns. This research is funded by Fundação Ciência Tecnologia (FCT) by grant UIDB/04567/2020. C.F.-P. and R.M. are supported by the Science Employment Stimulus program from FCT. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 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 Effect of a Planetary Health Diet on the Human Gut Microbiome: A Descriptive Analysis.

In 2019, researchers from the EAT-Lancet Commission developed the 'Planetary Health (PH) diet'. Specifically, they provided recommendations pertaining to healthy diets derived from sustainable food systems. Thus far, it has not been analysed how such a diet affects the human intestinal microbiome, which is important for health and disease development. Here, we present longitudinal genome-wide metagenomic sequencing and mass spectrometry data on the gut microbiome of healthy volunteers adhering to the PH diet, as opposed to vegetarian or vegan (VV) and omnivorous (OV) diets. We obtained basic epidemiological information from 41 healthy volunteers and collected stool samples at inclusion and after 2, 4, and 12 weeks. Individuals opting to follow the PH diet received detailed instructions and recipes, whereas individuals in the control groups followed their habitual dietary pattern. Whole-genome DNA was extracted from stool specimens and subjected to shotgun metagenomic sequencing (~3 GB per patient). Conventional bacterial stool cultures were performed in parallel and bacterial species were identified with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. We analysed samples from 16 PH, 16 OV, and 9 VV diet patterns. The α-diversity remained relatively stable for all dietary groups. In the PH group, we observed a constant increase from 3.79% at inclusion to 4.9% after 12 weeks in relative abundance of Bifidobacterium adolescentis. Differential PH abundance analysis highlighted a non-significant increase in possible probiotics such as Paraprevotella xylaniphila and Bacteroides clarus. The highest abundance of these bacteria was observed in the VV group. Dietary modifications are associated with rapid alterations to the human gut microbiome, and the PH diet led to a slight increase in probiotic-associated bacteria at ≥4 weeks. Additional research is required to confirm these findings.

Dietary Habits and Lifestyle, Including Cardiovascular Risk among Vegetarians and Omnivores during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Polish Population.

Background: This study assessed how two food groups—omnivores (OMN) and vegetarians (VEGE)—differ in lifestyle changes, including dietary habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials: A total of 861 persons participated in the survey and were divided into two groups: persons following a mixed diet (n = 489) and vegetarians, including vegans (n = 372). The mean age shows no significant differences. Methods: An online survey was conducted on the Polish population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected using social media; the survey was intended for adults and included separate sheets for different diets (OMN vs. VEGE). Results: The results in both groups were similar regarding the burden of premature diseases. Most respondents (~90%) did not indicate cardiovascular disease abnormalities. In the OMN group, overweight and obesity occurred more often, and the OMN group also showed a higher percentage of people reporting weight gain (OMN 42.7% vs. VEGE 35.9%). The results disclosed the VEGE group significantly more frequently chose products, i.e., vegetables (p = 0.029), legumes (p < 0.001), and dairy products or their plant substitutes (p = 0.002), compared to the OMN group. Conclusions: The VEGE group revealed the most regularities in dietary habits during the pandemic.

Changes in fatty acid levels after consumption of a novel docosahexaenoic supplement from algae: a crossover randomized controlled trial in omnivorous, lacto-ovo vegetarians and vegans

PurposeTo determine serum fatty acids of lacto-ovo vegetarian (LOV), vegan (VEG) and omnivorous (OMN) adults, and to analyse the effects of consuming a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplement of vegetable origin on fatty acid profile.MethodsA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design was conducted in healthy adults. Volunteers (n = 116) were randomly assigned to a DHA-supplement (dose 250 mg/day), made from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp., or a placebo during 5-week periods separated by a 5-week washout interim period. Compliance and dietary intake were estimated and serum fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography. Results were analysed by mixed linear models.ResultsPercentage of linoleic acid (C18:2n6) in serum was the highest among the fatty acids in the three diet groups, followed by oleic (C18:1n9) and palmitic (C16:0) acids. Linoleic (C18:2n6) and alpha-linolenic (C18:3n3) acids were higher in VEG compared to OMN (p < 0.001), while in LOV, their levels were intermediate between the other groups. Women presented higher DHA (C22:6n3) than men (p < 0.001). The DHA-supplement increased serum DHA compared to placebo in the three diet groups (p < 0.001), and a higher increase was observed in VEG followed by LOV (p < 0.001). The ratio serum n-6/n-3 improved by the supplementation but remained higher in LOV and VEG than in OMN. In contrast, the DHA-supplement decreased docosapentaenoic (C22:5n3) and docosatetraenoic (C22:4n6) acids in all diet groups (p < 0.001) and increased the eicosapentaenoic to alpha-linolenic fatty acids ratio (p = 0.016).ConclusionThe DHA-supplement at dose of 250 mg/day was effective in increasing serum DHA either in omnivorous, lacto-ovo vegetarian and vegan adults.Clinical trial registrationRegistered at Clinicaltrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov), NCT04278482.

Arterial Stiffness and Endothelial Function are Comparable in Young Healthy Vegetarians and Omnivores

Vegetarians (VEG) are reported to have lower body weight, blood pressure (BP), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk compared with omnivores (OMN), yet the mechanisms remain unclear. A vegetarian diet may protect the vascular endothelium, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and CVD. This cross-sectional study compared vascular function between OMN and VEG. We hypothesized that VEG would have greater vascular function compared with OMN. Fifty-eight normotensive young healthy adults participated (40 women [W]/18 men [M]; 28 OMN [15W/13M] and 30 VEG [25W/5M]; 26 ± 7 years; BP: 112 ± 11/67 ± 8 mm Hg). Arterial stiffness, assessed by carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (OMN: 5.6 ± 0.8 m/s, VEG: 5.3 ± 0.8 m/s; P = .17) and wave reflection assessed by aortic augmentation index (OMN: 6.9 ± 12.3%, VEG: 8.8 ± 13.5%; P = .57) were not different between groups. However, central pulse pressure (OMN: 32 ± 5; VEG: 29 ± 5 mm Hg; P = .048) and forward wave reflection were greater in omnivores (OMN: 26 ± 3; VEG: 24 ± 3 mm Hg; P = .048). Endothelial-dependent dilation measured by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation was not different between groups (OMN: 6.0 ± 2.9%, VEG: 6.9 ± 3.3%; P = .29). Percent change in femoral blood flow from baseline during passive leg movement, another assessment of nitric oxide-mediated endothelial dilation, was similar between groups (OMN: 203 ± 88 mL/min, VEG: 253 ± 192 mL/min; P = .50). These data suggest that in healthy young adults, normotensive VEG do not have significantly improved vascular function compared with OMN; however, they have a lower central pulse pressure and forward wave amplitude which may lower the risk of future CVD.

Cross-Sectional Study of the Prevalence of Cobalamin Deficiency and Vitamin B12 Supplementation Habits among Vegetarian and Vegan Children in the Czech Republic.

Vegetarian (VG) and vegan (VN) diets in childhood are of growing interest due to their perceived health and environmental benefits. Concerns remain due to the possible disruption of healthy growth and development of children because of the scarcity of evidence-based studies. Among the nutrients of special concern is vitamin B12. Therefore, the Czech Vegan Children Study (CAROTS) decided to examine the relationship between B12 metabolism parameters and B12 intake through diet and supplementation. We analyzed laboratory parameters within n = 79 VG, n = 69 VN, and n = 52 omnivores (OM) children (0–18 years old). There were no significant differences in levels of holotranscobalamin (aB12), folate, homocysteine (hcys), or mean corpuscular volume. However, there was a significant difference in levels of cyanocobalamin (B12) (p = 0.018), even though we identified only n = 1 VG and n = 2 VN children as B12 deficient. On the other hand, we identified n = 35 VG, n = 28 VN, and n = 9 OM children with vitamin B12 hypervitaminosis (p = 0.004). This finding was related to a high prevalence of over-supplementation in the group (mean dose for VG 178.19 ± 238.5 µg per day; VN 278.35 ± 394.63 µg per day). Additionally, we found a significant (p < 0.05) difference between B12, aB12, and hcys levels of supplemented vs. non-supplemented VG/VN children. This can show that the intake of vitamin B12 via diet in the VG group might not be sufficient. Secondly, we analyzed a relation between supplement use in pregnancy and breastfeeding and its impact on vitamin B12 levels of children aged 0–3 years. Out of n = 46 mothers, only n = 3 (e.g., 6.5%) were not supplemented at all. We have not identified any clinical manifestation of B12 deficiency and only n = 1 child with low serum cobalamin, a child who did not receive vitamin B12 supplementation and whose mother took only low doses of vitamin B12 (25/µg/day).To conclude, we did not observe any life-threatening or severe consequences of laboratory-stated vitamin B12 deficiency; thus, our group was well supplemented. On the other hand, we have identified many subjects with vitamin B12 hypervitaminosis of unknown impact on their health. Further research and new guidelines for B12 supplementation among VG and VN children are needed.

Intake of micronutrients and fatty acids of vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous children (1\u20133\xa0years) in Germany (VeChi Diet Study)

PurposeThere is an ongoing debate whether vegetarian (VG) and especially vegan (VN) diets are nutritionally adequate in early childhood. Hence, the Vegetarian and Vegan Children Study (VeChi Diet Study) aimed to assess the food and nutrient intake of VG and VN infants.MethodsThe study examined the diets of 1–3-year-old VG, VN, and omnivorous (OM) children (n = 430). Dietary intake was assessed via a 3-day weighed dietary record and compared between groups using ANCOVA. Lifestyle data were collected using a questionnaire. Here, the results of micronutrient and fatty acid intakes are presented.ResultsMost nutrient intakes (with and without supplements) differed significantly between VN children and the two other groups, with a more favourable overall micronutrient intake in VN, followed by VG children, [e.g., the highest intake of vitamin E (8.3 mg/d vs. VG 7.4 mg/d and OM 5.1 mg/d), vitamin B1 (569 µg/d vs. VG 513 µg/d and OM 481 µg/d), folate (143 µg/d vs. VG 116 µg/d and OM 108 µg/d), magnesium (241 mg/d vs. VG 188 mg/d and OM 164 mg/d), and iron (8.9 mg/d vs. VG 7.3 mg/d and OM 6.0 mg/d)] as well as fat quality [highest intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (8.7 E% vs. VG 6.9 E% and OM 4.5 E%) and lowest intake of saturated fatty acids (9.1 E% vs. VG 11.9 E% and OM 14.0 E%)]. In contrast, OM children had the highest intake of vitamin B2 (639 µg/d vs. VG 461 µg/d and VN 429 µg/d), calcium (445 mg/d vs. VG 399 mg/d and VN 320 mg/d), iodine (47 µg/d vs. VG 33 µg/d and VN 31 µg/d), and DHA (35.4 mg/d vs. VG 16.6 mg/d and VN 18.4 mg/d). Without supplementation, OM children had the highest average vitamin B12 intake (1.5 µg/d vs. VG 0.6 µg/d and VN 0.2 µg/d), whereas VN children had the highest average vitamin B12 intake with supplementation (73.8 µg/d vs. VG 1.3 µg/d and OM 1.7 µg/d). Without supplementation, none of the groups’ median intakes met the harmonised Average Requirement (h-AR) for vitamin D and iodine. Moreover, VG and VN children did not achieve h-ARs for vitamin B2, vitamin B12, and iron—if a low absorption of iron is anticipated; VN children also did not do so for calcium.ConclusionIn early childhood, VN and VG diets can provide most micronutrients in desirable amounts and a preferable fat quality compared to an OM diet. Special focus should be paid to (potentially) critical nutrients, particularly vitamin D, iodine, and DHA for all children regardless of diet, as well as vitamin B2, vitamin B12, calcium, and iron for VG and VN children.Trail registrationThis study was registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00010982) on (September 2, 2016).

Better Adequacy of Food Intake According to Dietary Recommendations of National Cholesterol Education Program in Vegetarian Compared to Omnivorous Men

Background The lower frequency of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors observed in vegetarians compared to omnivores may be due to more appropriate nutrient intake according to recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Objective To compare the dietary adequacy according to the recommendations of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) in apparently healthy vegetarian (VEG) and omnivorous (OMN) men. Methods This was a cross-sectional study, conducted with apparently healthy men (44 omnivorous and 44 vegetarians, ≥ 35 years), who were [...]

Vegetarian Diets and Cardiovascular Risk in Women

Introduction: Vegetarian diets have favorable effects on cardiovascular risk, provided that they do not contain ultra-processed foods (UPF). Objective: To compare the metabolic profile, cardiovascular risk, body composition, and food consumption in vegan (VEG), lacto-ovo vegetarian (LOV), and omnivorous (OMNI) women. To verify the association between UPF consumption and cardiovascular risk. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 119 VEG (n = 43), LOV (n = 38), and OMNI (n = 38) women. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters and the Framingham risk score [...]

Skeletal muscle properties and vascular function do not differ between healthy, young vegan and omnivorous men

ABSTRACT A vegan diet is associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but protein deficiencies may be detrimental to skeletal muscle structure and function. The aim of this study was to compare the vascular and skeletal muscle properties between young, healthy, recreationally active habitual vegan (VEG) and omnivorous (OMN) men. Sixteen OMN and nine VEG underwent ultrasound scans to determine brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle thickness and fascicle pennation angle. Knee extension maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) force was assessed on an isokinetic dynamometer, and O2max on a cycle ergometer and online gas analysis system. A three-day food diary determined habitual dietary behaviour. Bayesian analyses of independent groups provided “moderate” to “very strong” evidence for lower consumption of absolute (63±21 g/d vs. 98 ± 30 g/d; Bayes Factor (BF01) = 0.140) and relative (0.86 ± 0.29 g/kg/d vs.1.36 ± 0.52 g/kg/d; BF01 = 0.259) protein, absolute saturated fat (15.2 ± 7.9 g vs. 30.3 ± 11.8 g; BF01 = 0.089) and cholesterol (5.0 ± 6.0 mg vs. 337.9 ± 232.6 mg; BF01 = 0.019) in VEG compared to OMN, respectively. Further, there was “anecdotal” evidence to support no differences in FMD (3.37 ± 3.31% vs. 4.58 ± 5.82%; BF01 = 2.591), cIMT (0.51 ± 0.07 mm vs. 0.49 ± 0.04 mm; BF01 = 2.510), VL thickness (26.1 ± 3.7 mm vs. 27.8 ± 6.4 mm; BF01 = 2.726), fascicle pennation angle (16.6 ± 4.7° vs. 17.7 ± 3.7°; BF01 = 2.844), MVIC (627 ± 182 N vs. 551 ± 102 N; BF01 = 1.656) or O2max (40.8 ± 9.8 ml/kg/min vs. 35.8 ± 5.2 ml/kg/min; BF01 = 1.218) between VEG and OMN, respectively. Despite marked differences in habitual nutrient intake, healthy, young vegan and omnivorous men did not differ regarding vascular and skeletal muscle structure and function, or cardiovascular fitness.

Macronutrient intake, carbohydrate metabolism and cholesterol in Polish male amateur athletes on a vegan diet

AbstractVegan diets are gaining in popularity with physically active individuals. Many long‐distance runners follow a vegan diet at least periodically. This cross‐sectional study of Polish, male, vegan (VEG) (n = 44) and omnivore (OMN) (n = 54) athletes, aged 20–39 years and matched for body mass index (BMI) and training duration, compared their energy and macronutrient intakes, carbohydrate metabolism and cholesterol concentrations. The participants self‐recorded their diets for 4 days. Serum concentrations of cholesterol, glucose, C‐peptide and insulin were measured. The VEG group consumed less protein (12.0% of daily dietary energy ± 1.9% vs. 18.1% ± 3.3%; p &lt; 0.01), less fat (25.6% ± 9.8% vs. 31.7% ± 6.6%; p &lt; 0.01) and more carbohydrate (61.7% ± 11.1% vs. 49.0% ± 7.9%; p &lt; 0.01) than the OMN group. Protein intakes relative to body mass were also lower in the VEG group than the OMN group (1.11 g/kg ± 0.30 vs. 1.44 g/kg ± 0.41; p &lt; 0.01) and below the range recommended for endurance athletes (1.2–2.0 g/kg). The VEG group consumed more unsaturated fatty acids and less saturated fatty acids and had a higher n‐6/n‐3 fatty acid ratio (6.5% ± 2.3% vs. 5.0% ± 2.1%; p &lt; 0.01). The VEG group consumed 0 mg EPA+DHA versus 156 mg in the OMN group (p &lt; 0.01), the current guideline being 250 mg. The VEG group had significantly better insulin sensitivity (HOMA‐IR) and lower C‐peptide and total blood cholesterol levels. In conclusion, the vegan diet provided a healthy balance of macronutrients, and vegan athletes had better insulin sensitivity and lower cholesterol than omnivore athletes, but protein, EPA and DHA may be inadequate and increased intake or supplementation of these nutrients could be considered by vegan athletes.

Influence of Human Eating Habits on Antimicrobial Resistance Phenomenon: Aspects of Clinical Resistome of Gut Microbiota in Omnivores, Ovolactovegetarians, and Strict Vegetarians.

The use of xenobiotics in food production and how food intake is carried out in different cultures, along with different eating habits (omnivorism (ON), ovolactovegetarianism (VT), and strict vegetarianism (VG)) seem to have implications for antimicrobial resistance, especially in the human gut microbiota. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate aspects of the clinical resistome of the human gut microbiota among healthy individuals with different eating habits. Volunteers were divided into 3 groups: n = 19 omnivores (ON), n = 20 ovolactovegetarians (VT), and n = 19 strict vegetarians (VG), and nutritional and anthropometric parameters were measured. Metagenomic DNA from fecal samples was used as a template for PCR screening of 37 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) representative of commonly used agents in human medicine. The correlation between eating habits and ARG was evaluated. There were no significant differences in mean caloric intake. Mean protein intake was significantly higher in ON, and fiber and carbohydrate consumption was higher in VG. From the screened ARG, 22 were detected. No clear relationship between diets and the occurrence of ARG was observed. Resistance genes against tetracyclines, β-lactams, and the MLS group (macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramins) were the most frequent, followed by resistance genes against sulfonamides and aminoglycosides. Vegetables and minimally processed foods seem to be the main source of ARG for the human gut microbiota. Although eating habits vary among individuals, the open environment and the widespread ARG from different human activities draw attention to the complexity of the antimicrobial resistance phenomenon which should be addressed by a One Health approach.

Number morphology in Panará

Abstract In this paper I present a description of number in Panará, with singular, dual and plural, and discuss the mass-count properties of Panará nouns. I also describe an until now unattested instance of omnivorous dual in Panará, where one dual morpheme can map to one or more arguments.

Evolution of digestive enzyme genes associated with dietary diversity of crabs.

Crabs feed on a wide range of items and display diverse feeding strategies. The primary objective of this study was to investigate 10 digestive enzyme genes in representative crabs to provide insights into the genetic basis of feeding habits among crab functional groups. Crabs were classified into three groups based on their feeding habits: herbivores (HV), omnivores (OV), and carnivores (CV). To test whether crabs' feeding adaptations matched adaptive evolution of digestive enzyme genes, we examined the 10 digestive enzyme genes of 12 crab species based on hepatopancreas transcriptome data. Each of the digestive enzyme genes was compared to orthologous sequences using both nucleotide- (i.e., PAML and Datamonkey) and protein-level (i.e., TreeSAAP) approaches. Positive selection genes were detected in HV crabs (AMYA, APN, and MGAM) and CV crabs (APN, CPB, PNLIP, RISC, TRY, and XPD). Additionally, a series of positive selection sites were localized in important functional regions of these digestive enzyme genes. This is the first study to characterize the molecular basis of crabs' digestive enzyme genes based on functional feeding group. Our data suggest that HV crabs have evolved an enhanced digestion capacity for carbohydrates, and CV crabs have acquired digestion capacity for proteins and lipids.