Plant-source Foods Research Articles

The Analysis of Eating Habits of Hyperuricemia Sufferers in Padang City

Hyperuricemia is a condition when uric acid levels in the blood are higher than normal. It can lead to several diseases, like gout. The data from the Health Office of Padang City in 2013-2015 show that gout is included in the category of 10 most diseases in Padang City. The typical foods of West Sumatera contain high-protein. This may correlate with the increase in the number of hyperuricemia sufferers in Padang City, West Sumatera. The aim of this study is to know the eating habits of hyperuricemia sufferers in Padang City. This research method was explorative-descriptive using a survey conducted on respondents of hyperuricemia sufferers. The respondents surveyed were thirty-seven people, randomly assigned to the patients of health facilities in Padang City. The results indicated that hyperuricemia sufferers are under and above 40 years old. Animal source foods stated by respondents that can increase uric acid were tunjang, cancang, and beef liver. Meanwhile, plant source foods stated by respondents that can increase uric acid were legumes (melinjo/emping, tauco, dan gado-gado/lotek/pical), leafy greens (cassava leaf, spinach, and kale) and fruits (durian, jack fruit, and banana). Ginger, red ginger, and garlic are believed by the respondents to reduce gout.

Global, Regional, and National Animal and Plant Source Food Intake Among Adolescents Ages 11–19 Years in 2015: An analysis from the Global Dietary Database

Abstract Objectives Global nutrition research and dietary recommendations have focused on infants/young children or adults with limited attention on the crucial ages of adolescents. Diet quality during adolescence is critical to support physical and mental development and promote healthy dietary behaviors in adulthood. Our objective was to estimate consumption of plant source foods (PSF) and animal source foods (ASF) among adolescents age 11–19 years globally. Methods The Global Dietary Database 2015 (GDD) includes national and subnational individual-level dietary intake survey data representing 1144 survey-years from 185 countries (97% of the world's population). A Bayesian hierarchical model combines stratum-specific dietary intakes from these surveys with survey-specific characteristics and time-varying country-level covariates (GDP, United Nations FAO Food Balance Sheets) to estimate mean dietary intake and uncertainty, jointly stratified by country, sex, age (15 groups), urban/rural residence, and education level for the years 1990–2015 adjusted to 2000 kcal/day. Serving sizes were based on using NHANES and USDA conversions. PSF includes fruits, vegetables, beans & legumes, nuts & seeds, and grains and ASF includes processed & unprocessed meats, seafood, eggs, cheese, yogurt, and milk (poultry not yet available). Results In 2015, global mean intake of PSF among adolescents was 4.7 servings/d and ASF was 1.8 servings/d. Worldwide, most PSF intake came from non-starchy vegetables (28.9%) followed by refined grains (27.4%); and least from other starchy vegetables (2.1%). Unprocessed red meats represented the largest proportion of ASF intake globally (18.3%) followed by cheese (18.0%); with least from yogurt (2.7%). Adolescents in Asia consumed the most PSF (5.8 servings/d) with 41.4% from refined grains. Adolescents in high income countries consumed the most ASF (2.9 servings/d) with most from milk (29.1%) and cheese (20.5%). Additional subgroups and time trend findings will be presented. Conclusions These novel findings provide the most comprehensive estimates of PSF and ASF intake among adolescents globally. The results can help inform adolescent-specific dietary priorities and policy strategies to improve human and planetary health. Funding Sources Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Interplay between Diets, Health, and Climate Change

The world is facing a triple burden of undernourishment, obesity, and environmental impacts from agriculture while nourishing its population. This burden makes sustainable nourishment of the growing population a global challenge. Addressing this challenge requires an understanding of the interplay between diets, health, and associated environmental impacts (e.g., climate change). For this, we identify 11 typical diets that represent dietary habits worldwide for the last five decades. Plant-source foods provide most of all three macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) in developing countries. In contrast, animal-source foods provide a majority of protein and fat in developed ones. The identified diets deviate from the recommended healthy diet with either too much (e.g., red meat) or too little (e.g., fruits and vegetables) food and nutrition supply. The total calorie supplies are lower than required for two diets. Sugar consumption is higher than recommended for five diets. Three and five diets consist of larger-than-recommended carbohydrate and fat shares, respectively. Four diets with a large share of animal-source foods exceed the recommended value of red meat. Only two diets consist of at least 400 gm/cap/day of fruits and vegetables while accounting for food waste. Prevalence of undernourishment and underweight dominates in the diets with lower calories. In comparison, a higher prevalence of obesity is observed for diets with higher calories with high shares of sugar, fat, and animal-source foods. However, embodied emissions in the diets do not show a clear relation with calorie supplies and compositions. Two high-calorie diets embody more than 1.5 t CO 2 eq/cap/yr, and two low-calorie diets embody around 1 t CO 2 eq/cap/yr. Our analysis highlights that sustainable and healthy diets can serve the purposes of both nourishing the population and, at the same time, reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture.

Zinc Deficiency and Inadequate Zinc Intake among Postpartum Women in Coastal Area of Makassar, Indonesia.

Zinc deficiency was common among women, which mainly determined by adequacy of zinc intake, type of zinc compound in the diet, and presence of inhibitors of zinc absorption. This study aimed to assess the zinc status and zinc intake among postpartum women. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three community health centres located in coastal area of Makassar, Indonesia. Eighty-seven women participated in the study. A short Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency for zinc sources was used to collect dietary data. Venous bloods were drawn from all woman and serum zinc concentrations were measured using QuantiChromTM Zinc Assay Kit (DIZN-250). Pearson correlation tests were undertaken to investigate relationship between zinc intake, phytate intake, and serum zinc concentration. All women were zinc-deficient (<66 mcg/dL) and 21.8% respondents had inadequate zinc intake. The average zinc intake was 15.9 mg/d with rice and legumes were the main contributors to zinc intake (54.10% and 11.33%, respectively). The average phytate intake was 6.5 gram/d, also with rice and legumes as the main contributors (63.30% and 14.97%, respectively). No significant association was observed between zinc intake and serum zinc concentration as well as between phytate intake and serum zinc concentration (r=0.063; p=0.053 and r=0.150; p=0.165, respectively). Postpartum women in coastal area of Makassar were zinc deficient and had low intake of zinc. The main dietary zinc sources were mainly plant source foods which have low bioavailability and high phytate content.

Heats of combustion of the main carbohydrates contained in plant-source foods.

In a previous review, the experiments of American chemist W.O. Atwater were critically examined, with the findings demonstrating certain weaknesses that could compromise the validity of the values currently used for metabolizable energy. An examination of published works on the heat of combustion of carbohydrates reveals 2 types of weaknesses: the inaccuracy and imprecision of the calorimetric data used, and the averaging procedure employed to estimate such representative values. The present review focuses on the first type of weakness, namely the inaccuracy and imprecision of the calorimetric data used in previous studies. An exhaustive bibliographic search yielded almost 100 heat of combustion values for some of the 6 main carbohydrates contained in plant-source foods (glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, starch, and cellulose). These heats of combustion were subjected to rigorous statistical analysis to propose the following for each carbohydrate: (1) an interval (termed a bibliographic interval) that very likely includes the actual heat of combustion value and (2) a "representative value" (calculated to produce the minimum level of inaccuracy). In addition, an estimation of the maximum level of inaccuracy that could be expected when using such a representative value is reported.

Composition of polyamines and amino acids in plant-source foods for human consumption.

Dietary polyamines and amino acids (AAs)are crucial for human growth, development, reproduction, and health. However, the scientific literature shows large variations in polyamine and AA concentrations among major staple foods of plant origin, and there is a scarcity of information regarding their complete composition of AAs. To provide a much-needed database, we quantified polyamines, agmatine, and AAs in select plant-source foods. On the dry matter basis, total polyamines were most abundant in corn grains, followed by soybeans, sweet potatoes, pistachio nuts, potatoes, peanuts, wheat flour and white rice in descending order. Glutamine was the most abundant AA in pistachio nuts, wheat flour and white rice, arginine in peanuts, leucine in corn grains, glutamate in soybeans, and asparagine in potatoes and sweet potatoes. Glutamine was the second most abundant AA in corn grains, peanuts, potatoes, and soybeans, arginine in pistachio nuts, proline in wheat flour, and glutamate in sweet potatoes andwhite rice. Free AAs represented ≤ 3.1% of total AAs in corn grains, peanuts, pistachio nuts, soybeans, wheat flour and white rice, but 34.4% and 28.5% in potatoes and sweet potatoes, respectively. Asparagine accounted for 32.3%, 17.5%, and 19.4%of total free AAs in potatoes, sweet potatoes,and white rice, respectively. The content of histidine, glycine, lysine, tryptophan, methionine, cysteine, and threonine was relatively low in corn grains, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and white rice. All of the analyzed plant-source foods lacked taurine, creatine, carnosine and anserine(antioxidants that are abundant in meats and also present in milk), and contained little 4-hydroxyproline. Proper proportions of plant- and animal-source products are likely most desirable for optimizing human nutrition and health.

Global, Regional and National Consumption of Plant-Source Foods in 2015: Systematic Analysis of Country-Specific Nutrition Surveys Worldwide (OR21-01-19)

ObjectivesEstimating plant-source food (PSF) intake is crucial for evaluating associated health and environmental impacts; yet, worldwide consumption remains largely uncharacterized. Our aim was to quantify global distributions of daily intakes of fruits, vegetables (non-starchy, potatoes, other starchy), legumes, grains (refined, whole), and nuts/seeds by country (n = 188), super-region (n = 6), key population characteristics (all ages, sex, education, urban/rural location), and time (1990, 2015). MethodsThe primary data sources of PSF intake in the Global Dietary Database were from national and subnational surveys identified by systematic searches of electronic databases and communications with data owners from 1980 through 2015, including 1137 survey-years representing 185 countries (97.5% of the world’s population). To address missingness and estimate national and stratum-specific intake distributions worldwide, we used a Bayesian hierarchical imputation model. The model combined stratum-specific individual-level intakes with time-varying country- and survey-level covariates, and accounted for differences in intakes vs per capita availability from FAO food disappearance data. ResultsIn 2015, global fruit intake was 114 g/d (1.1 servings (100 g)/d), with highest intakes reported in Latin America (146 g/d) and lowest in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region (97 g/d) (Figure). Non-starchy vegetable global intake was 203 g/d (2 servings (100 g)/d); highest intakes were seen in Asia (269 g/d) and lowest in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) (135 g/d) and High-Income (136 g/d) regions. Global legume intake was 17 g/d (0.2 servings (100 g)/d), highest in Latin America (52 g/d) and lowest in FSU (3 g/d). For refined grains global average was 215 g/d (4.3 servings (50 g)/d), varying from 254 g/d in MENA to 117 g/d in Sub-Saharan Africa. Intakes were generally similar by sex and urban/rural location, and higher at older ages and higher education levels. Findings for potatoes, other starchy vegetables, whole grains and nuts/seeds, and over time, will be presented at the meeting. ConclusionsSuch global data, showing substantial variation in PSF consumption by nation and population worldwide, inform and highlight the need for country-specific priority setting and nutrition policies. Funding SourcesGates Foundation. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs▪

Ingestion of Non-digestible Carbohydrates From Plant-Source Foods and Decreased Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Review on the Biological Effects and the Mechanisms of Action.

The hypothesis that links the increase in the intake of plant-source foods to a decrease in colorectal cancer (CRC) risk has almost 50 years. Nowadays, systematic reviews and meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies confirmed the association between dietary patterns and CRC risk, in which the non-digestible carbohydrates (NDC) from plant-source foods are known to play beneficial effects. However, the mechanisms behind the physicochemical properties and biological effects induced by NDC on the decrease of CRC development and progression remain not fully understood. NDC from plant-source foods consist mainly of complex carbohydrates from plant cell wall including pectin and hemicellulose, which vary among foods in structure and in composition, therefore in both physicochemical properties and biological effects. In the present review, we highlighted the mechanisms and described the recent findings showing how these complex NDC from plant-source foods are related to a decrease in CRC risk through induction of both physicochemical effects in the gastrointestinal tract, fermentation-related effects, and direct effects resulting from the interaction between NDC and cellular components including toll-like receptors and galectin-3. Studies support that the definition of the structure-function relationship—especially regarding the fermentation-related effects of NDC, as well as the direct effects of these complex carbohydrates in cells—is crucial for understanding the possible NDC anticancer effects. The dietary recommendations for the intake of NDC are usually quantitative, describing a defined amount of intake per day. However, as NDC from plant-source foods can exert effects that vary widely according to the NDC structure, the dietary recommendations for the intake of NDC plant-source foods are expected to change from a quantitative to a qualitative perspective in the next few years, as occurred for lipid recommendations. Thus, further studies are necessary to define whether specific and well-characterized NDC from plant-source foods induce beneficial effects related to a decrease in CRC risk, thereby improving nutritional recommendations of healthy individuals and CRC patients.

Nutrition transition in Zambia: Changing food supply, food prices, household consumption, diet and nutrition outcomes

The nutrition transition literature has generally drawn on epidemiologic and demographic changes to make its argument, because in many cases broader data are not available on the drivers of nutrition change. Going further, this paper draws on wider food systems literature, and includes food price and expenditure data, to join the dots from macroeconomic and food system change to food sources, production, and price; to household-level expenditures; to changing diets and nutrition and health outcomes, illustrated through the case of Zambia. Many of the economic and demographic drivers of the nutrition transition are present in Zambia, including rising GDP, high urbanization and increasing supermarket penetration. Food supply data show a reduction in calories available per capita over several decades, and low levels of nutrient-rich plant and animal source foods which make up a diverse, nutritious diet. National food price data show that while the cost of food has reduced overall, nutrient-rich foods are more expensive relative to staple foods over time. Expenditure on staple foods has reduced in the past two decades while spending on fruits and vegetables, animal source foods, fats and sugars, and processed foods has increased, with these change greater in rural areas in recent years, but already more advanced in urban areas. Finally, while undernutrition is reducing slowly from very high levels and hunger persists, overweight and obesity and non-communicable chronic diseases are increasing; and data are strikingly lacking on modern Zambian diets. The Zambia case study is placed within regional and global trends to illustrate nutrition transition changes that are now happening in rapidly changing lower-middle income countries. Policy responses include promoting the availability of diverse nutrient-dense foods, and concurrent attention to preventing under- and over-nutrition in surveillance and policy. This paper also sheds light on the gaps in information that would greatly improve our understanding of the food system drivers of the nutrition transition, and hence our ability to create relevant policy.

Plant-Based Diets for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: All Plant Foods Are Not Created Equal.

Plant-based diets have been widely promoted for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction. This review discusses the various definitions of plant-based diets and summarizes their associations with CVD risk, specifically distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy plant-based diets. Despite wide variation in definition, most studies suggest that plant-based diets are generally beneficial for cardiovascular health. Many previous studies have defined plant-based diets by the complete exclusion of meat or animal products, while others have accounted for plant-based diets including moderate amounts of animal-source foods. Only a few studies have considered the healthfulness of the specific plant foods included in these dietary patterns. In these studies, plant-based diets containing higher amounts of healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, oils, tea, and coffee are associated with lower CVD risk. However, plant-based diets including higher amounts of less healthy plant foods, such as refined grains, potatoes/fries, and foods and beverages high in added sugar, are linked to increased risk. A wide spectrum of plant-based diets can be nutritionally adequate and confer cardiovascular benefits, as long as they are planned appropriately and include high-quality foods. Contrary to popular belief, plant-based diets do not have to be vegan or vegetarian. For most people, complete elimination of meat or animal products is unrealistic and not necessary for cardiovascular health. Quality of the specific components of plant-based diets is also important to consider, as not all plant-source foods have beneficial cardiovascular effects. Healthy plant-based diets can be customized to fit individual and cultural preferences and, with large-scale adoption, could concurrently mitigate threats to both human and environmental health.

400 Importance of animal-source foods for meeting global nutritional, educational and economic needs.

Stunting (low height for age), an important indicator of undernutrition, predisposes children to lifelong challenges including reduced physical development, increased susceptibility to chronic diseases, lower intelligence quotient and school test scores, and reduced economic or productive capacity. Consequently, stunting reduces gross domestic product globally by about 7%, and by 9 to 10% in Africa and South Asia, according to World Bank researchers. Undernutrition is one of the leading causes of stunting, yet some of the most deficient micronutrients globally – vitamin A, iron, iodine, zinc, and folic acid – are readily available in animal-source foods (ASF). In fact, ASF are the best sources of bioavailable high-quality nutrient-rich food for children aged 6 to 23 months according to the World Health Organization. This is largely because ASF supply more high quality protein and bioavailable vitamin A, vitamin D3, iron, iodine, zinc, calcium and folic acid, than plant-source foods. In addition, ASF are the only natural source of vitamin B12,whichis deficient in pregnant women in several developing countries, potentially contributing to poorer cognitive function of their offspring. The importance of dietary ASF is evident from a recent study that showed that consumption of one egg a day by 6 to 9 month-old Ecuadorian infants reduced stunting by 47%, which is much greater than reductions due to other interventions. In addition, meat and milk supplementation increased test scores of Kenyan school children by 45 and 28%, respectively in another study. This paper will review the evidence for using ASF to reduce stunting, highlight the association between the low ASF consumption and relatively high stunting rates in several low-income countries, and discuss strategies to increase ASF consumption and thereby improve nutritional, educational and economic development.

The potential of future foods for sustainable and healthy diets

Altering diets is increasingly acknowledged as an important solution to feed the world’s growing population within the planetary boundaries. In our search for a planet-friendly diet, the main focus has been on eating more plant-source foods, and eating no or less animal-source foods, while the potential of future foods, such as insects, seaweed or cultured meat has been underexplored. Here we show that compared to current animal-source foods, future foods have major environmental benefits while safeguarding the intake of essential micronutrients. The complete array of essential nutrients in the mixture of future foods makes them good-quality alternatives for current animal-source foods compared to plant-source foods. Moreover, future foods are land-efficient alternatives for animal-source foods, and if produced with renewable energy, they also offer greenhouse gas benefits. Further research on nutrient bioavailability and digestibility, food safety, production costs and consumer acceptance will determine their role as main food sources in future diets.

UV-B mediates isoflavone accumulation and oxidative-antioxidant system responses in germinating soybean

This study investigated the relationships among UV-B radiation dose, isoflavone monomers and the oxidative-antioxidant system in germinating soybean. Results showed that the isoflavone monomers content showed a good fit to the quadratic model with UV-B radiation dose, except for aglycones. UV-B decreased phenylalanine content and up-regulated the key enzymes activities in isoflavone biosynthesis. H2O2, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, T22 and M22 were increased, while T23 and M23 decreased. Microscopic analysis showed excess UV-B radiation resulted in the reduced cell volume, irregular cell shape, and increased cell space. The antioxidant enzymes activities were enhanced by UV-B. These results demonstrated that UV-B could trigger the formation of H2O2, resulting in the oxidative stress. Thus, the antioxidant system, including the enzymatic (enhanced the antioxidant enzymes activities) and nonenzymatic (accumulated isoflavones) were activated to minimize oxidative damage. This study provides theoretical basis for enhancing isoflavone monomer accumulation in plant-source foods by UV-B.

Dietary vitamin a intake among Chinese adults: findings from CNTCS2015

BackgroundVitamin A plays an important role in human functions, which mainly come from foods. This study aims to examine dietary vitamin A intake and major food sources of Chinese adults.MethodsWe analyzed the cross-sectional data from 12,246 adult aged 18 to 64 years old in 2015 China Nutritional Transition Cohort Study. Three consecutive 24-h dietary recalls combined with household weighing method were used to assess dietary vitamin A intake.ResultsThe average dietary vitamin A intakes were 480.9 μg retinol equivalents (RE) or 307.2 μg retinol activity equivalents (RAE). The carotenes and retinol intake of subjects were 2084.7 μg/day and 133.5 μg/day, respectively. Approximately 87% of adults consumed less vitamin A than the Chinese Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), and only 6% of adults consumed more than Chinese Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI). Chinese adults derived vitamin A mainly from plant source foods, which is supplied as carotenes (67.4% RE or 56.4% RAE). Dark- and light- vegetables and fruits were major contributors of carotenes (accounted for 84.2%). The most import food sources of retinol were egg, meats and meat products, poultry, fish and milk, representing 94.7% of retinol intake. The major four contributors of total vitamin A (as both RE and RAE) were dark vegetables, egg, light vegetables, and meats and meat products. In conclusion, dietary vitamin A remains a problem for Chinese adults.ConclusionsPublic health actions are needed to increase vitamin A intake in China.

Meat Eating by Wild Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii): Effects of Prey Age on Carcass Consumption Sequence

Despite the fact that many primates consume vertebrate prey, surprisingly little is known about the nutritional benefits of eating meat for members of this diverse order. Although chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) primarily eat plant source foods, especially fruit, they consume vertebrate prey with excitement, attesting to its nutritional value. Meat is a concentrated source of macro- and micronutrients; however, a carcass is not a uniform package. For example, the mammalian brain has considerably higher fat content than lean muscle tissue. The brain both has great caloric value and contains high concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are critical for normal brain function. It thus represents a large, nutrient-dense source of energy and essential nutrients that should be highly valued. We filmed consumption of 29 arboreal monkeys by chimpanzees at Gombe National Park, Tanzania, and recorded the order in which general regions of the body were consumed. Overall, the head was significantly more likely to be targeted first than either the torso (including viscera) or appendages. This result was driven by subadult prey, 91% of which were eaten head-first, probably because their skulls were relatively easy for chimpanzees to break with a single bite. Possessors of adult prey (with robust skulls) often first selected the viscera, probably to harvest the fat-rich liver, thus maximizing immediate return in the face of the threat of harassment or theft. This has important implications for our understanding of the nutritional benefits of meat eating among primates, and highlights the need for future studies that measure the nutritional content of specific tissues and examine which are preferentially consumed or shared.

Dietary diversity and nutritional adequacy of under-fives in a fishing community in the central region of Ghana

BackgroundThe irreversible effect of malnutrition on children as a result of micronutrient deficiency is of great public health concern. Micronutrient malnutrition is caused by the chronic lack of vitamins and minerals in diets. Dietary assessment is one of the ways in assessing micronutrient malnutrition. This assessment provides information about the quality of food consumed in terms of nutrient adequacy of children under five years in Ekumfi Narkwa, a fishing community along the Central regional coastline using the dietary diversity assessment method.MethodsA cross-sectional study involving 250 caregiver-child pairs was conducted. A pre-tested dietary diversity questionnaire was used to collect information on dietary consumption over 7 day period. The caregiver was asked whether the child had eaten foods from the seven (7) main food groups over the past seven days and the number of days they had consumed foods from each of the food groups. The individual dietary diversity score (IDDS) and minimum dietary diversity of the children in the community were calculated independently.ResultsThe main food group consumed daily was from flesh foods group 79.8% (namely; meat and fish consumption). Daily fish consumption was 78% (195 of 250), accounting for the high consumption of flesh foods. One-tenth of the children (27 of 250) consumed vitamin A rich foods daily. Almost half (118 of 250) of the children met the minimum dietary requirements with the average dietary diversity score of 2.28 ± 1.33.ConclusionThe dietary diversity of children under five in Ekumfi Narkwa is low. Though the consumption of flesh foods was very high, that of fruits and vegetables especially Vitamin A rich plant source foods was poor. Health workers need to educate parents on the importance of ensuring their wards consume food from all the various food groups including fruits and vegetables which provide essential vitamins and minerals.

The Importance of Animal Source Foods for Nutrient Sufficiency in the Developing World: The Zambia Scenario.

There have been successful interventions fortifying staple foods to mobilize micronutrients as well as agricultural efforts to raise yields of staple foods to increase food availability. Zambia serves as an interesting case study because since 1961 there has been a notable decline in the availability of animal source foods (ASFs) and pulses and a significant increase in the supply of cassava and vegetable oils. The shift in food availability was partly attributed to the agricultural success in high-yielding and drought-resistant varieties that made cassava and oil crops more affordable and readily available. In this research, we explore another policy strategy that involves ASF as a mechanism to help remedy micronutrient inadequacies in a population. A scenario modeling analysis compares the changes in the nutrient profile of the Zambian diet through adding either staple plant source foods (PSFs) or ASFs. The scenarios under study involve the addition of (1) 18 fl oz of whole cow's milk; (2) 60 g of beef, 30 g of chicken, and 5 g of beef liver; (3) milk plus meat; or (4) 83 g of maize flour, 123 g of cassava, and other staple PSF, that is, isocaloric to the "milk + meat" group. The findings alert program planners and policy makers to the value of increasing the availability, accessibility, and utilization of ASF to simultaneously address multiple nutrient deficiencies, as well as the nutrition challenges that remain when expanding the availability of plant-based staples.

Low Carbohydrate-Diet Scores and Long-term Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Women With a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) may improve short-term glycemic control in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but the long-term effect on progression from GDM to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is unknown. We aimed to examine the long-term risk of T2DM in association with a low-carbohydrate dietary pattern among women with a history of GDM. Overall, 4,502 women with a history of GDM from the Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII) cohort, as part of the Diabetes & Women's Health (DWH) study, were followed up from 1991 to 2011. Overall, animal, or vegetable LCD scores, which represent adherence to different low-carbohydrate dietary patterns, were calculated using diet intake information assessed every 4 years since 1991 by validated food-frequency questionnaires. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. We documented 722 incident cases of T2DM during 68,897 person-years of observation. The multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of T2DM, comparing the highest with lowest quintiles, were 1.36 (1.04-1.78) for overall LCD score (P = 0.003 for trend), 1.40 (1.06-1.84) for animal LCD score (P = 0.004 for trend), and 1.19 (0.91-1.55) for vegetable LCD score (P = 0.50 for trend). Among women with a history of GDM, a low-carbohydrate dietary pattern, particularly with high protein and fat intake mainly from animal-source foods, is associated with higher T2DM risk, whereas a low-carbohydrate dietary pattern with high protein and fat intake from plant-source foods is not significantly associated with risk of T2DM.

Production and supply of high-quality food protein for human consumption: sustainability, challenges, and innovations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that 843 million people worldwide are hungry and a greater number suffer from nutrient deficiencies. Approximately one billion people have inadequate protein intake. The challenge of preventing hunger and malnutrition will become even greater as the global population grows from the current 7.2 billion people to 9.6 billion by 2050. With increases in income, population, and demand for more nutrient-dense foods, global meat production is projected to increase by 206 million tons per year during the next 35 years. These changes in population and dietary practices have led to a tremendous rise in the demand for food protein, especially animal-source protein. Consuming the required amounts of protein is fundamental to human growth and health. Protein needs can be met through intakes of animal and plant-source foods. Increased consumption of food proteins is associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions and overutilization of water. Consequently, concerns exist regarding impacts of agricultural production, processing and distribution of food protein on the environment, ecosystem, and sustainability. To address these challenging issues, the New York Academy of Sciences organized the conference "Frontiers in Agricultural Sustainability: Studying the Protein Supply Chain to Improve Dietary Quality" to explore sustainable innovations in food science and programming aimed at producing the required quality and quantity of protein through improved supply chains worldwide. This report provides an extensive discussion of these issues and summaries of the presentations from the conference.

Women's nutrient intakes and food-related knowledge in rural Kandal province, Cambodia.

In Cambodia, both anaemia and vitamin A deficiency are serious health problems. Despite this, few comprehensive nutritional surveys have been completed to date. This study evaluates the adequacy of iron and vitamin A intakes, as well as women's nutritional knowledge in rural Kandal province. Twenty-four hour recalls, pile sort activities, socioeconomic surveys, focus groups, and market surveys were carried out with 67 women from 5 villages in rural Kandal Province. Ninety seven percent of women did not meet their daily-recommended intake of iron, while 70% did not meet their daily-recommended intake of vitamin A. Although many women consume vitamin A-rich and iron rich-foods daily, they do not consume large enough quantities of these foods. Results suggest that both the cost of foods as well as the extent of health knowledge is linked to nutritional practice. Most animal-source iron and vitamin A-rich foods are considered expensive; however, small fish, and several plant-source vitamin A-rich foods are inexpensive and easy to access. Despite health education, food restrictions lead some healthy foods to be considered to be harmful to women. Ultimately, this study demonstrates the importance of developing comprehensive nutritional interventions in Cambodia. Health programming must provide women with not only suggestions to include low-cost nutrient-rich foods, but also advise them about the quantities that are likely to have an impact on nutritional status. Programs should take a community-based, inter-sectoral approach that simultaneously combines culturally informed health education with initiatives that combat poverty and increase access to nutrient rich foods.