Dietary Intake Patterns Research Articles

Dietary intakes among people with vs without food addiction: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Individuals with food addiction (FA) may experience addictive behaviours like those observed in other substances of abuse, which may affect their dietary intake habits. In fact, previous studies have reported associations between FA and dietary patterns, but this evidence has not been quantitatively summarised before. Therefore, this study aimed to explore differences in dietary intakes among adults with vs without food addiction. A systematic-review and meta-analysis was conducted. Interventional or observational studies evaluating dietary intakes associated with FA that used the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) were explored. PubMed, WoS and SCOPUS databases were searched up to September 2021, and selected articles were confirmed manually. Potentially eligible studies were checked independently by two researchers. YFAS and dietary habits were obtained from the studies selected by the search protocol. Standardized mean differences were retrieved and random effects meta-analyses were used for those studies reporting quantitative data. From 162 potentially appropriate studies, 16 studies were finally included, all of which used cross-sectional designs. FA was generally related to higher intakes of total fat, proteins, sugar, and processed/energy-dense foods. The meta-analysis revealed that this association was only statistically significant in overweighted/obese individuals (P<0.001 in all cases), while in those studies that included the general population (all weight categories), this association was not evident (p=0.18). Being addicted to food was not associated with a higher energy intake in the general population. However, among those with overweight or obesity, FA was associated with higher energy and nutrient consumption. This provides evidence on the influence of addictive behaviours on dietary intake patterns of people with excess body weight and reinforces the concept of food addiction and its influence in the development of obesity. PROSPERO registration number CRD42020212866.

The association between Mediterranean diet adherence and allostatic load in older adults

Allostatic load (AL) is a multisystemic index of biological wear and tear which is associated with poor health outcomes. In recent years, researchers have examined the association between dietary pattern intake and AL; however, no studies to date have examined the relationship between AL and consumption of a Mediterranean diet. Blood and urine samples were collected from 201 community-dwelling older adults who completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). A Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) was calculated based on previous recommendations and a sex-based AL index was calculated using a count-based approach for 16 biomarkers associated with neuroendocrine, immune, cardiovascular, or metabolic function. It was hypothesized that a higher MDS would be associated with lower AL, and that this association would be particularly robust for the immune and metabolic subcomponents of the AL index. In support of the primary study hypotheses, generalized linear models revealed a significant inverse relationship between MDS and AL (ß = −0.03, P = 0.037). However, subcomponents of the AL model were not significantly associated with MDS. Exploratory sub-group analyses by sex suggested that the association between AL and MDS was more robust in male than in female participants. The current findings are interpreted with caution given the study design and sample characteristics. Nonetheless, these findings contribute to the literature supporting the Mediterranean diet as an important lifestyle behavior that may minimize AL, and therefore support healthy aging.

Dietary intake pattern among elderly people in the urban Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Introduction: The number of elderly people is increasing in Bangladesh due to the aggravating life expectancy. It is a matter of concern to ensure the health and nutritiona l status of elderly people. Dietary intake patterns and behavior are essential factors to ensure the health and nutritional status of elderly people. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the dietary intake pattern among elderly people. Objective: A descriptive type of cross-sectional study was conducted in urban Cox’s Bazar in Bangladeh among 175 respondents aged between 60 to 72 years. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for collecting socio-demographic and dietary intake-related information from the respondents. 24-hour recall and 7 days recall methods were used to collect dietary information. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: More than three-fourths (76%) of the respondents were aged between 60 to 65 years. About three-fourths (72.6%) of the respondents used to take meals 3 times in 24 hours. Most of the respondents (59.4%) were taking rice 2-3 times a day. A total of 73.7%, 52.6% &amp; 42.1% of the respondents regularly consumed food containing carbohydrates, protein, and fat regularly. Overall, it was found that only 21.1% of the respondents were practicing a healthy diet whereas the rest (78.9%) weren’t. Conclusion: It was found that the majority of the respondents are consuming an unhealthy diet whereas most of the respondents weren’t which is indicating the lack of nutritional knowledge among the elderly people. Thus, the dissemination of nutritional education can be recommended to encourage healthy eating among elderly people.

Impact of Replacing Meat With Walnuts: Results of an NHANES Modeling Study

ObjectivesTo assess the impact of replacing meat with walnuts in a dose escalation manner in the usual US dietary intake pattern. MethodsFood modeling was implemented in the nationally representative 2015–2018 National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) in a population of 5,807 adults, 19 years and older of no-nut consumers. Walnuts replaced meat in a dose escalating manner (i.e., 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 oz equivalents per day) in the usual dietary intake in this modeling study. Diet quality was estimated using the population ratio method of the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015). The usual intake of nutrients was estimated using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) method. Significant differences were determined using non-overlapping 95% CIs. ResultsReplacing meat at any dose level with walnuts significantly improved the mean intake of fiber, magnesium, omega 3 while reducing the cholesterol intake. Further, vitamin B12 intake was significantly reduced while no significant decline in iron intake was observed. Diet quality in the modeled diets (after replacing meat with walnuts) was significantly higher compared to diet quality in the usual diet. Better diet quality scores were mainly driven by strong improvements in the HEI components “Seafood and Plant Protein” and “Fatty Acid Ratio.” ConclusionsThe partial replacement of meat with walnuts improved overall diet quality and increased the intake of magnesium, fiber, and omega 3 but adversely affected vitamin B12. Funding SourcesThis study was funded by the California Walnut Commission.

Ultraprocessed Food Consumption, Diet Patterns, and Perception of Diet Quality and Body Weight in the US

ObjectivesUltraprocessed foods (UPF) have recently been examined as a risk factor for diet-related disease in adults. Studies have demonstrated changes in trends in consumption patterns of UPF over the past several decades, but few studies have evaluated the association between UPF and perception of diet along with measured dietary intake. The objective of this study was to examine the association between UPF consumption, dietary intake patterns, and self-perceived diet quality in a nationally representative sample of US children and adults. MethodsData from the 2017–2018 NHANES was used for this study. Dietary intake information was collected using 24-hour recall; recalled foods were classified using the NOVA classification system and NOVA Category 4 (ultraprocessed) were identified. All data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 survey procedures to account for the unequal sampling probability and complex survey design of the. ResultsConsumption of ultraprocessed foods is associated with poor diet in US children and adults. In adults, higher consumption of ultraprocessed foods was is associated with higher dietary energy density (p = 0.0001), lower vegetable consumption (p = 0.002), greater intake of added sugars (p < 0.0001), and lower intake of plant-based protein foods (p < 0.0001). In children, consumption of ultraprocessed foods was associated with higher dietary energy density (p < 0.0001), lower consumption of vegetables (p < 0.0001) even when including fewer servings of white potatoes (p = 0.04). Interestingly, perception of diet quality was also strongly associated with ultraprocessed food consumption. Individuals who self-reported a ‘poor’ diet consumed 84% of daily calories from ultraprocessed foods, compared to individuals who self-reported an ‘excellent’ diet reporting 52% of daily calories from ultraprocessed foods, p < 0.0001. Adults who perceived themselves to be overweight also reported higher consumption of processed foods than adults who perceived themselves to be about the right weight (60% vs. 56%, p = 0.004). There was no association with processed food consumption and parent perception of child weight. ConclusionsUltraprocessed food consumption is associated with lower diet quality in US children and adults. Additionally, UPF consumption is associated with perception of diet quality and body weight. Funding SourcesNone.

Patterns of Food Security and Dietary Intake Among Children Across the U.S. Child Tax Credit Expansion

ObjectivesFamilies with lower economic resources are at higher risk for experiencing food insecurity and suboptimal diet quality. During COVID-19, the novel expansion to the U.S. Child Tax Credit (CTC) provided families from lower income backgrounds with unconditional cash assistance ($250–300 per child, each month) from July to December 2021. This additional income has potential to improve food security and diet quality, if spent towards food resources. This study aimed to examine patterns of food insecurity and children’s dietary intake before and during monthly CTC payments. MethodsParents (N = 621) with a child ages 2–10 years who qualified for the full CTC benefit were enrolled. Three online surveys were completed baseline (T0: June 2021) and at two timepoints during (T1: September 2021; T2: December 2021) the CTC expansion. The validated 18-item USDA Food Security Module, NCI Dietary Screening Questionnaire, and Beverage Intake Questionnaire were administered at each timepoint. Repeated measures analysis of variance models will examine changes in dietary intake before and during the CTC expansion. ResultsTo date, data from T0 and T1 have been analyzed. Late-breaking data that include T2 results will be presented at Nutrition 2022. At T1, after receiving 3 monthly payments, 45.9% of parents reported spending CTC funds on foods/beverages. This was the most commonly reported use of CTC funds, particularly for families with very low food security (63.0%). From T0 to T1, families with very low food security decreased (T0: 12.7% vs. T1: 5.6%), while food security increased (T0: 57.4% vs. T1: 66.4%). Children’s consumption of added sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sweetened fruit juice decreased over time (qs < .05). No changes were observed in other dietary components (qs > .05). ConclusionsInitial patterns indicate promise that CTC monthly payments are associated with reduced household food insecurity and lower sugar-sweetened beverage intake among children. This line of research can inform legislative decisions regarding the maintenance of this policy mandate, by enhancing understanding of the CTC expansion’s impact on children’s food security and nutritional intake. Funding SourcesChild Health Research Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University and NIH (2T32CA093423) for ELA effort.

Reliability and Validity of Assigning Ultra-Processed Food Categories to 24-Hour Dietary Recall Data Collected Using the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDS-R)

ObjectivesUltra-processed foods (UPFs) are markers of diet quality and high UPF consumption is associated with chronic disease risk. Methods to accurately categorize the degree of food processing are missing from dietary analysis programs. This study evaluated the reliability and validity of assigning the NOVA classification for UPFs to individual foods collected via 24-hour diet recalls.MethodsA secondary analysis of 24-hour dietary recalls was conducted from a randomized controlled trial designed to prevent childhood obesity among low-income and minority children. Nutrition Data System for Research (NDS-R) software was used to collect 2 to 3 dietary recalls from caregivers of 610 children 3–5 years old annually over 4 years. Trained and certified coder pairs independently categorized foods into one of four NOVA classifications (minimally processed, processed culinary ingredients, processed, and ultra-processed). The study team adjudicated any coding discrepancies. Inter-rater reliability was assessed by percent concordance between coder pairs and by Cohen's kappa coefficient. Construct validity was evaluated by comparing macronutrient estimates across NOVA classifications.ResultsIn 5,546 valid days of 24-hour diet recalls from 610 children, there were 3,100 unique foods in the dataset, one of which was not possible to categorize. NOVA classifications for the 3,099 remaining foods were unprocessed/minimally processed (18%); processed culinary ingredients (0.4%); processed (15%); and ultra-processed (67%). Coder concordance was 88.3% with a kappa coefficient of 0.75 (P < .0001). Descriptive comparisons of macronutrient content were consistent with expectations. On average, over the 5,546 daily recalls, UPFs made up 62% (SD 19) of the day's calories, but a higher percentage of the day's added sugar (94%; SD 16) and a lower percentage of the day's protein (47%; SD 24). Minimally processed foods made up 30% (SD 17) of the day's calories, but a lower percentage of the day's added sugar (1%; SD 8) and a higher percentage of the day's protein (43%; SD 24).ConclusionsThis method of applying the NOVA classification to 24-hour dietary recalls using NDS-R software had high inter-rater reliability and good construct validity for identifying individual dietary intake patterns of UPFs.Funding SourcesNIH, AHRQ.

Dietary intake and meal patterns among young adults with high caries activity: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDental caries is a multifactorial disease that is highly dependent on diet, where a lower consumption and intake frequency of sugar would be favorable. The aims were (i) to examine dietary intake and meal patterns, more specifically sugar intake and foods high in sugar, among young adults with high caries activity, and (ii) to investigate the association between dietary and meal patterns consumption, and level of caries activity.MethodsThis study presents baseline data from an ongoing randomized controlled trial. A total of 50 young adults (aged 23.0 ± 3.0 years) with ≥ 2 decayed tooth surfaces were included. Dietary intake was captured with a 59-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a three-day food diary. Adherence to dietary guidelines was analyzed by comparing the dietary intake to the Nordic Nutritional Recommendations (NNR) 2012 and by using the Healthy Dietary Adherence score (HDAS). Participants were categorized into two groups: (i) the Caries group with 2–4 decayed surfaces, and (ii) the High caries group with ≥ 5 decayed surfaces.ResultsThe High caries group reported a statistically significantly higher snack and total meal intake compared to the Caries group, as well as a sugar intake exceeding the Nordic nutritional recommendations. The majority of the participants reported a high intake frequency (> 2.5/day) of sweet foods and drinks and less than one intake of fruit and vegetables, respectively, per day. Similar results were found when analyzing adherence by using the HDAS, where the lowest adherence according to dietary guidelines was shown for the food groups of sugar, whole meal products, and fruit and vegetables.ConclusionThe results indicated a high intake of sugar and low intake of fruit, vegetables, and fiber in high caries-active individuals.

Association of Dietary Protein Intake and Grip Strength Among Adults Aged 19+ Years: NHANES 2011-2014 Analysis.

BackgroundResearch on the role of protein in the diet has evolved beyond a focus on quantity to include the impact of its quality and distribution across meal times in an effort to optimize dietary protein recommendations.ObjectiveTo determine the association of dietary protein amount, type, and intake pattern with grip strength in adults.DesignData from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014 for adults 19 + years (N = 9,214) were used with exclusions for pregnant and lactating women. Intakes of dietary total protein (TP), animal protein (AP, including dairy), plant protein (PP), and leucine (Leu) were determined using day 1 24 h dietary recall data after adjusting for the complex sample design of NHANES. Regression analyses were used to assess the association of dietary protein and leucine intake quartiles, and whether consuming > 20 g of dietary protein at one or more meals was related to grip strength with adjustment for age, gender, and ethnicity.ResultsMean intake of TP among adults aged 19 + years was 83.6 ± 0.5 g/day, and 2/3rd of this was from animal sources (including dairy). Grip strength increased (p < 0.05) with increasing quartiles of TP, AP, PP, and leucine among all adults 19 + years (β = 1.340.19, 1.27 ± 0.19, 0.76 ± 0.20, and 1.33 ± 0.23, respectively), 19–50 years (β = 1.14 ± 0.27, 1.06 ± 0.25, 0.77 ± 0.30, and 1.18 ± 0.27, respectively), and 51 + years (β = 0.95 ± 0.26, 1.08 ± 0.27, and 1.05 ± 0.27, respectively, for TP, AP, and Leu); however, the increase was more pronounced for AP than PP. Grip strength also increased (p < 0.05) with increasing the number of meal occasions containing > 20 g of dietary protein (β = 1.50 ± 0.20, 1.41 ± 0.25, and 0.91 ± 0.37 for 19+, 19–50, and 51 + years, respectively), and significant increases were detected for two meals compared to zero meals.ConclusionDietary protein quantity, quality, and distribution should be considered collectively when looking to optimize protein intake to support muscle strength and function.

Patterns Of Food Security And Dietary Intake During The First Half Of The Child Tax Credit Expansion.

Temporary expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) during the COVID-19 pandemic provided additional monthly income for US families, with no restrictions on use, from July through December2021. This study examined food security and children's dietary intake after three months of expanded CTC payments. Parents completed online surveys before and after three months of CTC payments. Among parents participating in the expansion, food and beverage purchases were the most common use of expanded CTC funds (45.9percent), particularly in households with very low food security (63.0percent). From before to midway through the CTC expansion, very low food security decreased from 12.7percent to 5.6percent, and simultaneously, food security increased from 57.4percent to 66.4percent. The CTC expansion was also associated with decreases in children's consumption of added sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sweetened fruit beverages. No changes were observed in children's intake of other dietary components. Our findings suggest that the expanded CTC payments may have helped lessen food insecurity and supported reductions in children's intake of added sugar in participating households.

Diet-microbiome interactions in cancer treatment: Opportunities and challenges for precision nutrition in cancer

Dietary patterns contribute to cancer risk. Separately, microbial factors influence the development of several cancers. However, the interaction of diet and the microbiome and their joint contribution to cancer treatment response needs more research. The microbiome significantly impacts drug metabolism, immune activation, and response to immunotherapy. One of the critical factors affecting the microbiome structure and function is diet. Data demonstrate that the diet and microbiome composition affects the immune response. Moreover, malnutrition is a significant confounder to cancer therapy response. There is little understanding of the interaction of malnutrition with the microbiome in the context of cancer. This review aims to address the current knowledge of dietary intake patterns and malnutrition among cancer patients and the impact on treatment outcomes. Second, this review will provide evidence linking the microbiome to cancer treatment response and provide evidence of the potentially strong effect that diet could have on this interaction. This review will formulate critical questions that will need further research to understand the diet-microbiome relationship in cancer treatment response and directions for future research to guide us to precision nutrition therapy to improve cancer outcomes.

Dietary fatty acid patterns and risk of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BackgroundTo characterize and examine the associations between dietary fatty acid intake patterns and the risk of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).MethodsA total of 422 patients and 423 controls were recruited. Dietary fatty acids were entered into a factor analysis. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline were used to evaluate the risk of ESCC specific for different dietary fatty acid patterns (FAPs). A forest plot was applied to show the association between FAPs and ESCC risk after stratification by lifestyle exposure factors (tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, pickled food, fried food, hot food, hard food).ResultsThe factor analysis generated four major fatty acid patterns: a medium- and long-chain SFA (MLC-SFA) pattern; an even-chain unsaturated fatty acid (EC-UFA) pattern, a saturated fatty acid (SFA) pattern and an n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LC-PUFA) pattern. In the multivariate-adjusted model, the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of ESCC were 2.07 (1.31, 3.26) and 0.53 (0.34, 0.81) for the highest versus the lowest tertiles of the EC-UFA pattern and n-3 LC-PUFA pattern, respectively. The MLC-SFA and SFA patterns were not associated with ESCC. An association between FAPs and ESCC risk after stratification by lifestyle exposure factors was also observed.ConclusionsOur study indicates that the EC-UFA pattern and n-3 LC-PUFA pattern intake are associated with ESCC, providing a potential dietary intervention for ESCC prevention.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Systems and Determinants of Resilience in Indigenous Communities of Jharkhand State, India: A Serial Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has globally jeopardized food security, with heightened threats for the most vulnerable including smallholder farmers as well as rural, indigenous populations. A serial cross-sectional study was conducted to document effect of COVID-19 pandemic on food environment, agricultural practices, diets and food security, along with potential determinants of food systems resilience, among vulnerable smallholder farmer households in indigenous communities of Santhal, Munda, and Sauria Paharia of Jharkhand state, India. Telephonic household surveys were conducted in two phases i.e., lockdown and unlock phase to assess the impact of the pandemic on their food systems and agricultural practices. Market surveys were conducted during the unlock phase, to understand the impact on local informal markets. Secondary data on state and district level food production and Government food security programs were also reviewed. For data analysis purpose, a conceptual framework was developed which delineated possible pathways of impact of COVID-19 pandemic on food environment, food security and food consumption patterns along with factors that may offer resilience. Our findings revealed adverse effects on food production and access among all three communities, due to restrictions in movement of farm labor and supplies, along with disruptions in food supply chains and other food-related logistics and services associated with the pandemic and mitigation measures. The pandemic significantly impacted the livelihoods and incomes among all three indigenous communities during both lockdown and unlock phases, which were attributed to a reduction in sale of agricultural produce, distress selling at lower prices and reduced opportunity for daily wage laboring. A significant proportion of respondents also experienced changes in dietary intake patterns. Key determinants of resilience were identified; these included accessibility to agricultural inputs like indigenous seeds, labor available at household level due to back migration and access to diverse food environments, specifically the wild food environment. There is a need for programs and interventions to conserve and revitalize the bio-cultural resources available within these vulnerable indigenous communities and build resilient food systems that depend on shorter food supply chains and utilize indigenous knowledge systems and associated resources, thereby supporting healthy, equitable and sustainable food systems for all.

Nutritional Status, Dietary Intake and Dietary Diversity of Landfill Waste Pickers.

The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe the nutritional status, dietary intake and dietary diversity of waste pickers in South Africa, a socioeconomically vulnerable group who makes a significant contribution to planetary health through salvaging recyclable material from dumpsites. Participants were weighed and measured to calculate body mass index (BMI). Dietary intake was recorded using a standardised multipass 24 h recall. Individual dietary diversity scores were derived from the dietary recall data. Data were collected from nine purposefully selected landfill sites located in six rural towns and three cities in four of the nine provinces in South Africa, providing nutritional status information on 386 participants and dietary intake on 358 participants after data cleaning and coding. The mean BMI of the study sample was 23.22 kg/m2. Underweight was more prevalent among males (22.52%) whilst 56.1% of the females were overweight or obese. The average individual dietary diversity score was 2.46, with 50% scoring 2 or less. Dietary intake patterns were characterised as monotonous, starch-based and lacking vegetables and fruits. The nutritional status, dietary intake and dietary diversity of waste pickers reflect their precarious economic status, highlighting the need for health, social and economic policies to improve access and affordability of nutritious food.

Incorporating the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Vegetable Recommendations into the Diet Alters Dietary Intake Patterns of Other Foods and Improves Diet Quality in Adults with Overweight and Obesity

BackgroundUnderstanding how vegetables are incorporated into the diet, especially in the types and amounts recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and how this alters dietary intake patterns is vital for developing targeted behavior change interventions. ObjectiveTo determine how a provision of vegetables was incorporated into the diet of adults with overweight and obesity; whether or not the provided vegetables displaced other foods; and what, if any, effect this had on diet quality and body weight and composition. DesignThis study investigated secondary outcomes from the Motivating Value of Vegetables Study, a community-based, randomized, parallel, nonblinded controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to a provided vegetable intervention or attention control group using a one to one allocation ratio. Participants/settingMen and women with self-reported low vegetable consumption, aged 18 to 65 years, with a body mass index ≥25 were recruited from Grand Forks, ND, between October 2015 and September 2017. Only participants randomized to the provided vegetable intervention group (n = 51; attrition = 8%) were included in this secondary analysis. InterventionDietary Guidelines for Americans recommended types and amounts of vegetables were provided weekly for 8 weeks. Main outcome measuresHow the provided vegetables were incorporated into the diet was measured using daily self-report and 24-hour dietary recalls. Diet quality was assessed via the Healthy Eating Index 2015. Body weight and composition were measured before and after the intervention. Statistical analyses performedData were assessed using generalized linear mixed models where phase (pre, post) was the within-subject factor and subject was the random effect. ResultsParticipants self-reported using 29% of the provided vegetables as substitutes for other foods. With the increase in vegetable consumption, there were decreases in total grains (mean difference ± standard deviation; –0.97 ± 3.23 oz-equivalents; P = 0.02), protein foods (–1.24 ± 3.86 oz-equivalents; P = 0.01), saturated fats (–6.44 ± 19.63 g; P = 0.02), and added sugars (–2.44 ± 6.78 tsp-equivalents; P = 0.02) consumed. Total Healthy Eating Index 2015 scores increased (+4.48 ± 9.63; P = 0.001) and dietary energy density decreased (–0.44 ± 0.52 kcal/g; P < 0.0001). There was no change in total energy intake or body weight and composition. ConclusionsIncreasing vegetable consumption to meet Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations alters dietary intake patterns, improving diet quality and energy density. These findings highlight the importance of characterizing how individuals incorporate Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations into their diet.

Patterns of Dietary Intake and Levels of Physical Activities of Female Patients with Osteoporosis: A Retrospective study

Patterns of Dietary Intake and Levels of Physical Activities of Female Patients with Osteoporosis: A Retrospective study

Longer Nap Duration During Ramadan Observance Positively Impacts 5-m Shuttle Run Test Performance Performed in the Afternoon.

It is well-documented that changes in the rhythm of life during Ramadan affect sleep schedules (i.e., interruption of night sleep patterns) and are likely to have negative effects on physical and cognitive performances. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of different naps opportunities’ durations during Ramadan on performance of short-duration repetitive maximal exercise and perception of effort. Fifteen physically active men (age: 21 ± 3 years, height: 177 ± 6 cm, body-mass: 73 ± 10 kg) performed a 6 × 30-s shuttle run test after a 25-min nap (N25), a 45-min nap (N45), and in a no-nap condition (NN) during three experimental periods: ∼2 weeks before Ramadan (BR), the last ten days of Ramadan (ER), and ∼3 weeks after Ramadan (AR). During the shuttle run test performed in the late afternoon, the greatest distance (GD), the total distance (TD) and a fatigue index (FI) were assessed. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was determined after each 30-s effort. Dietary intake and sleep quality were assessed in each of the three periods. Compared to BR, GD and TD were lower in the ER testing period (p = 0.005; d = 0.54) but returned to BR levels in the AR period. During ER, carbohydrate intake was lower (p = 0.04; d = 0.2), and sleep duration and sleep quality were reduced (d = 0.27 and 0.54, respectively), although other aspects of dietary intake and sleep pattern were not affected. Compared to NN, GD and TD were higher after N25 (d = 0.57 and 0.34, respectively) and N45 (d = 0.93 and 0.88 respectively). RPE was lower in N45 (p = 0.035, d = 0.84). N45 resulted in higher TD (p = 0.021, d = 0.13) and lower RPE (p = 0.004; d = 0.57) compared to N25 during ER. Taking a daytime nap benefits subsequent performance in a shuttle run test, whether sleep the previous night was normal (as in BR) or compromised (as in ER). The benefits of napping were greater after a 45-min nap opportunity than after a 25-min nap opportunity.

Intergeneration transfer of diet patterns? Parental self-report of diet and their report of their young adult children with ASD.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects two percent of American children and often results in neophobia, hypersensitivity to foods, and firmly set food preferences, leading to higher proportions of individuals suffering from diet-related chronic diseases. Our objective was to conduct an explorative pilot study to examine parents’ perception of food intake for themselves and their young adult children with ASD. We employed comparative analysis to discover potential pathways to improve diet quality and lower the risk for chronic disease in individuals with ASD. Data from an online survey in n = 493 parent-child dyads on parentally reported intake patterns, food group, and food consumption was analyzed using kappa statistics to determine the level of agreement between reported parental and child intake patterns, body weight status and activity level. Average age was 48 years for parents and 22 years for their children, respectively. Parent-child agreement for obesity was high. We found very strong agreement between the reported diet variety (kappa = 0.82) and changing daily intake (kappa = 0.63) and strong agreement for some vegetable intake patterns (kappa = 0.61 for orange, white, and starchy vegetables) but not in meat intake (no agreement). Results of this study indicate evidence for perceived intergenerational transfer of dietary intake patterns, which may offer effective approaches to change parental diet, to subsequently improve diet quality in young adults with ASD and prevent diet-related chronic diseases in individuals with ASD.

A systematic review of temporal body weight and dietary intake patterns in adults: implications on future public health nutrition interventions to promote healthy weight.

The global prevalence of overweight remains high; effective strategies that consider patterns of body weight changes to identify periods when adults are susceptible to weight gain are warranted. This systematic review aimed to investigate body weight patterns, and how they were associated with dietary intake and/or dietary behaviours (Prospero CRD42020161977). Systematic literature search was conducted in the Medline, Embase, and CINAHL databases until November 2020. Observational studies in adults (18years and over) that reported at least two measurements of weight and dietary intake in a year were included. Risk of bias was conducted using the Evidence Analysis Library by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics tool. This review included 16 unique studies after title, abstract, and full-text screening, and findings were narratively synthesised. Of the six studies conducted in the farming populations, five were conducted in countries with two seasons (dry vs. rainy seasons) and all studies observed higher body weight during the dry season (up to 3.1kg difference between seasons). The remaining study was conducted in a sub-tropical country and did not observe temporal weight patterns. Higher dietary intake was also reported during the dry season in the tropical countries. In non-farming populations (n = 10), temporal patterns were also seen, where higher body weight and adiposity was observed during colder seasons (autumn and winter). However, the opposite was found in a study conducted in Iran, where higher weight was seen in summer. Concurrent with higher body weight, higher energy, fat, carbohydrate and soda consumption, and lower fiber and vegetable intake were observed. Temporal weight and dietary patterns exist, and they were country- and context-specific; these patterns were also related to factors such as activity levels, seasons and occupation. Future interventions should consider temporal patterns in the design and delivery of timely and tailored dietary interventions to promote optimal body weight. PROSPERO Registration: CRD42020161977.

Characterizing patterns of dietary exposure using metabolomic profiles of human biospecimens: a systematic review.

Establishing diet-disease associations requires reliable assessment of dietary intake. With the rapid advancement of metabolomics,its use in identifying objective biomarkers of dietary exposure has substantially increased. The aim of our review was to systematically combine all observational studies linking dietary intake patterns with metabolomic profiles of human biospecimens. Five databases were searched - MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL - to March 2020. Of the 14328 studies initially screened, 35 observational studies that met the specified inclusion criteria were included. All reviewed studies indicated that metabolomic measures were significantly correlated with dietary patterns, demonstrating the potential for using objective metabolomic measures to characterize individuals' dietary intake. However, similar dietary patterns did not always result in similar metabolomic profiles across different study populations. Metabolomic profiles reflect a multitude of factors, including diet, genetic, phenotypic, and environmental influences, thereby providing a more comprehensive picture of the impact of diet on metabolism and health outcomes. Further exploration of dietary patterns and metabolomic profiles across different population groups is warranted.