Frequency Of Vegetable Intake Research Articles

Association Between Lifestyle Behaviors and Obesity Among Stroke Survivors.

The aim was to investigate factors influencing obesity among stroke survivors based on demographics and lifestyle behaviors. Stroke survivors are more likely to experience stroke recurrence within a few years. As obesity is a traditional risk factor for stroke, obesity should be managed in stroke survivors to prevent stroke recurrence. A cross-sectional secondary data analysis analyzed data from the 2017 United States Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Demographics, frequency of vegetable and fruit intake, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and sleep were examined. Among 1032 stroke survivors, 57.8% were obese. Advanced age, female sex, veteran status, at least once-daily fruit intake, current smoking, and lack of physical activity were associated with obesity. Stroke survivors should be encouraged to pursue healthy behaviors to manage obesity. Appropriate transitional care, including diet education and tailored exercise, can be an effective strategy.

Lifestyle habits and examination findings before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: From health checkups in a rural area in Japan.

Aim: Few health checkup studies have reported lifestyle habits and examination results before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We compared lifestyle habits and examination results surveyed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Five hundred and ten and 396 participants attended the health checkup in 2019 and 2022, respectively. The median age of females was 65 in 2019 and 2022, and that of males was 68 in 2019 and 69 in 2022. We investigated dietary and exercise habits, alcohol consumption, sleeping situation, and examination results, including body mass index (BMI), smell function, and blood examination results before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural area in Japan. Results: An ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that the intake frequency of vegetables and marine products was significantly less in 2022 than in 2019 after adjusting age and sex; green leafy vegetables (p = .016), fish (p = .002), and other marine products, including squid, shrimp, crabs, and octopus (p = .008). Alcohol consumption amount increased significantly in 2022 than in 2019 in men who drank beer (p = .007) and chuhai (p = .040). Albumin, hematocrit, cholesterols, and uric acid decreased, but serum calcium increased significantly in 2022 than in 2019 after adjusting age and sex. BMI and hemoglobin A1c were not significantly different between 2019 and 2022. A decrease in subjective smell feeling and smell test results was associated with decreased intake frequency of vegetables. Conclusion: Both dietary habits and blood examination results changed significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural area in Japan.

Lifestyle factors and subjective well‑being among older adults in China: A national community-based cohort study

There has been limited research on the relationship between health habits and subjective well-being (SWB) among Chinese oldest older adults. This study aims to explore lifestyle factors associated with SWB in this population. We analyzed data from three waves (2008–2014) of the CLHLS, including 28,683 older adults. Lifestyle factors analyzed included fruit and vegetable intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical exercise, and social participation. Results suggested that high frequency of fruit and vegetable intake, current and past physical exercise, and high levels of social participation were associated with increased SWB. SWB was lower in older adults who never smoked compared to persistent smokers and in those who never drank alcohol or ceased drinking compared to persistent drinkers. We encourage older adults to enhance SWB through increased fruit and vegetable intake, physical exercise, and social participation. However, quitting smoking and drinking may not necessarily improve SWB, particularly in the context of China.

The Impact of Caregiver Pressure to Eat on Food Neophobia in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study.

(1) Background: With autistic children's high pervasiveness of eating problems and inappropriate feeding behaviors by their caregivers, this study wanted to inspect the connection between caregivers' pressure to eat and food neophobia in these children. (2) Methods: Cross-sectional overview of 160 guardians of kids aged 2 to 7 years. After one-on-one questioning by the researcher, the collected information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the children with autism, caregiver feeding behavior, and new food neophobia (FN) scores was entered into the Questionnaire Star system. (3) Results: The mean FN score was 25.56 ± 6.46. The caregiver's pressure to eat positively related to children's FN (β = 0.164 95% CI, 0.078, 2.163). In these children, we found a negative correlation between FN score and the frequency of vegetable intake (p ≤ 0.001), fruit intake (p ≤ 0.05), aquatic product intake (p ≤ 0.05), and dietary diversity score (p ≤ 0.01), and positively correlated with the frequency of snack intake (p ≤ 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Caregiver pressure to eat was positively associated with high levels of FN in Chinese kids with ASD, which in turn negatively impacted dietary quality. To improve eating habits, caregivers should reconsider their feeding strategies and avoid using forceful methods to ease food neophobia in these children.

Intakes from healthy and unhealthy food groups and obesity among 5- to 9-year-old South African children

The global pandemic of paediatric overweight and obesity, along with undernutrition among children in low-income countries pose challenges for future health. Unhealthy dietary intake among children is of great concern(1). The aim of this study was to determine the association between intakes from healthy and unhealthy food groups and adiposity among 5- to 9-year-old South African children (n = 920). Conventional dietary intake assessment methods are burdensome; therefore, a short unquantified food frequency questionnaire was developed based on the WHO Global school-based student health survey, which focused on healthy and unhealthy food groups. The new questionnaire includes four healthy food groups (fruits, vegetables, milk, meats) and six unhealthy food groups (hot sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), cold SSBs, cookies, candies, salty snacks, fast foods) with five different responses of frequency of intake per week. The food groups reflect foods generally eaten by South African school children. The questionnaire was completed by the parents. Weight and height were measured and WHO BMI z-score (BAZ) was calculated(2). Descriptive statistics were reported using median and interquartile range. Frequency of intakes from food groups were compared across tertiles of BAZ using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The correlation between frequency of intakes from different food groups, and between the food groups and BAZ was calculated. The children reported similar daily intakes from the milk (35.3%), cold SSBs (33%) and hot SSBs groups (27%). Fruit (14%) and vegetables (9.6%) were consumed daily by a small percentage of children, while animal source protein foods (meat, fish, poultry, eggs) were consumed daily by 39% of children. The most frequent daily consumed snacks were salty snacks, e.g. crisps (13.2%), candy (11.1%) and cookies (5.3%), while fast foods were consumed once per week by the largest proportion of children (60.7%). Based on the WHO BMI z-scores, 15.2% of children were overweight, 4.4% were obese and 3.8% were underweight. Children in the highest two tertile groups of BAZ had a higher median weekly frequency of SSB intake (5, IQR 1,7), compared to those in the lowest BAZ tertile (3, IQR 1,7). No other differences were found between frequency of food group intake across BAZ tertiles. There was a weak positive correlation between BAZ and the frequency of SSB intake (r = 0.08, = 0.015), as well as between frequency of milk intake and frequency of SSB intake (r = 0.13, P<0.001), but a weak negative correlation between the frequency of vegetable intake and frequency of SSB intake (r = −0.08, P = 0.01). In conclusion, low fruit and vegetable intakes, combined with regular SSB intakes are evident in this group of children. The frequency of SSB intake was positively associated with adiposity, and SSB intake apparently replaced vegetable intake, but not milk intake among the children.

Associations Between Food Insecurity and Diet Quality Among Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Trainees in the Health Sciences at a Private University in Boston: A Cross-Sectional Study

BackgroundFood insecurity is a pivotal determinant of health outcomes. Little evidence exists on the association between food insecurity and health behaviors and outcomes, including diet quality, among graduate students or postdoctoral trainees. ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the association between food insecurity and diet quality among graduate students and postdoctoral trainees at 3 health-focused graduate schools (public health, medical, and dental medicine) within Harvard University. MethodsBetween April and June 2023, 1287 graduate students and 458 postdoctoral trainees at the health-focused schools within Harvard University completed a web-based survey. The primary exposure was food security status, assessed using the United States Household Food Security Survey Module. The primary outcome was diet quality, measured using the 30-d Prime Diet Quality Score screener (ranges from 0 to 126, with higher scores indicating healthier diets). The associations between food insecurity and diet quality were examined using multivariable regression models, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. ResultsAmong graduate students, compared with those with high food security, diet quality was significantly lower among those experiencing marginal food security [β: −4.7; 95% confidence interval (CI): −6.5, −2.9], low food security (β: −5.4; 95% CI: −7.6, −3.3), and very low food security (β: −4.4; 95% CI: −7.4, −1.4). Poor diet quality included lower intake frequencies of vegetables, fruits, beans/peas/soy products, nuts/seeds, poultry, fish, low-fat dairy, and liquid oils, and higher intake frequencies of refined grains/baked products, sugar-sweetened beverages, and fried foods. Among postdoctoral trainees, compared with those with high food security, diet quality was significantly lower among those experiencing low food security (β: −5.1; 95% CI: −8.8, −1.4), and very low food security (β: −5.2; 95% CI: −10.2, −0.2). Poor diet quality included lower intake frequencies of dark green leafy vegetables, other fruits, and whole grains. ConclusionsGraduate students and postdoctoral trainees who experienced degrees of food insecurity reported lower diet quality. These observations underscore the need for policies and interventions to simultaneously reduce food insecurity and improve diet quality.

Exposure characteristics and health risk assessment of 97 typical chemical pollutants in human serum

Rapid industrial and agricultural developments in China have led to the wide use and discharge of chemical products and pesticides, resulting in extensive residues in environmental media. These residues can enter the human body through various pathways, leading to high exposure risks and health hazards. Because the human body is exposed to a variety of chemical pollutants, accurately quantifying the exposure levels of these pollutants in the human body and evaluating their health risks are of great importance. In this study, the serum concentrations of 97 typical chemical pollutants of 60 adults in central China were simultaneously determined using solid-phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-GC-MS/MS). In this method, 200 μL of a serum sample was mixed with 10 μL of an isotope-labeled internal standard solution. The sample was vortexed and refrigerated overnight at 4 ℃. Each sample was then deproteinized by the addition of 200 μL of 15% formic acid aqueous solution and vortexed. The serum sample was loaded into a preconditioned Oasis® PRiME HLB SPE cartridge and rinsed with 3 mL of methanol-water (6∶1, v/v). The SPE cartridge was subsequently vacuumed. The analytes were eluted with 3 mL of dichloromethane followed by 3 mL of n-hexane. The eluent was concentrated to near dryness under a gentle nitrogen stream and reconstituted with 100 μL of acetone. The samples were determined by GC-MS/MS and separated on a DB-5MS capillary column (30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm) with temperature programming. The column temperature was maintained at 70 ℃ for 2 min, increased at a rate of 25 ℃/min to 150 ℃, increased at a rate of 3 ℃/min to 200 ℃, and then held for 2 min. Finally, the column temperature was increased at a rate of 8 ℃/min to 300 ℃ and maintained at this temperature for 8 min. The samples were detected in multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode and quantitatively analyzed using the internal standard method. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the effects of demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and diet on the concentrations of the chemical pollutants in the serum samples, and known biomonitoring equivalents (BEs) and human biomonitoring (HBM) values were combined to compute hazard quotients (HQs) and hazard indices (HIs) and evaluate the health risks of single and cumulative exposures to the chemical pollutants. The results showed that the main pollutants detected in human serum were organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The detection rates of eight pollutants, including hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (100%), pentachlorophenol (PCP) (100%), p,p'-dichlorodiphenylene (p,p'-DDE) (100%), PCB-138 (100%), PCB-153 (98.3%), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) (91.7%), fluorene (Flu) (85.0%), and anthracene (Ant) (75.0%), were greater than 70%. The serum levels of β-HCH were higher in females than in males, and age was positively correlated with exposure to p,p'-DDE, PCB-138, PCB-153, and β-HCH. Increased exposure levels to p,p'-DDE and β-HCH may be associated with a high frequency of meat intake, whereas increased exposure level to PCP may be associated with a high frequency of vegetable intake. The serum HQ of PCP was greater than 1 in 6.7% of the samples, and no risk was observed for HCB and p,p'-DDE exposure in the study population. Approximately 28.3% of the study subjects had HI values greater than 1. Overall, the general adult population in this region is widely exposed to a wide range of chemical pollutants, and gender, age, and diet are likely to be the main factors influencing the concentration of chemical pollutants. The health risk of single and compound exposures to chemical pollutants should not be ignored.

Epidemiological characteristics of preserved vegetable intake in adults in 10 areas of China

Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of intakes of different types of preserved vegetables in participants from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB). Methods: The CKB project conducted baseline survey, the first resurvey, and the second resurvey during 2004-2008, 2008, and 2013-2014, respectively. According to the average intake levels of salted and sour pickled vegetables in the second resurvey, the 10 survey areas were classified as the area where people mainly consumed salted vegetables, the area where people mainly consumed sour pickled vegetables, and the area where people rarely consumed preserved vegetables. For the first two areas, logistic regression model was used to describe the temporal trends and population distribution of preserved vegetable intake and analyze the distribution of other dietary factors. Results: The area where people mainly consumed salted vegetables included Qingdao, Harbin, Suzhou, and Zhejiang (baseline participant number: 204 036), while the area where people mainly consumed sour pickled vegetables included Gansu and Sichuan (baseline participant number: 105 573). In the area where people mainly consumed salted vegetables, the average intake frequencies of preserved vegetables was 3.1, 3.3, and 1.8 days/week in the baseline survey, the first resurvey, and the second resurvey, respectively, showing a declining trend (P<0.001). Similarly, the average intake frequencies of preserved vegetables were 2.8, 2.7, and 1.6 days/week in the baseline survey, the first resurvey and the second resurvey in the area where people mainly consumed sour pickled vegetables (P<0.001). At baseline survey, the married and those had lower education level tended to have more preserved vegetable intakes in both areas (P<0.001). In the area where people mainly consumed salted vegetables, the elderly had higher frequency of preserved vegetable intake (P<0.001), which was converse in the area where people mainly consumed sour pickled vegetables. In the participants with higher frequency of preserved vegetable intake, more people consumed spicy food daily and preferred salty food (P<0.05). Conclusions: The area and population specific differences in the type and frequency of preserved vegetable intake were observed in adults in the CKB project in China. Besides, the average level of preserved vegetable intake showed a declining trend. Preserved vegetable intake might be associated with other dietary habits.

Environmental-, Climate-, and Health-Related Dietary Motivations Are Associated With Higher Diet Quality in a National Sample of US Adults With Lower Incomes

BackgroundPlant-based diets can have co-benefits for human and planetary health. Associations between environmental, climate, and health concerns and dietary intake in US adults are understudied, particularly in underserved populations. ObjectiveThe study objectives were to assess how dietary choices motivated by the environment, climate, and health vary by sociodemographic characteristics and how they relate to diet quality and intake frequency of different food groups in US adults with lower incomes. DesignThe study design was cross-sectional. Participants/settingA web-based survey was fielded in December 2022 to 1,798 US adults with lower incomes (<250% of federal poverty guidelines). Main outcome measuresEnvironmental-, climate-, and health-related dietary motivations and diet quality and dietary food group intake frequency were assessed. Statistical analysesDifferences in mean dietary outcomes and dietary motivation ratings by sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated using analysis of variance and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Associations between dietary motivations and diet quality scores and dietary intake frequency were examined using generalized linear models adjusted for sociodemographic covariates. ResultsYounger adults, women, nonbinary people, racial and ethnic minoritized groups, and adults experiencing food insecurity reported higher environmental and climate dietary motivations; older adults, higher-income adults, and food-secure adults reported higher health motivations. Agreeing with environmental- (β = 2.28, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.47), climate- (β = 2.15, 95% CI 0.90 to 3.40), and health-related (β = 5.27, 95% CI 3.98 to 6.56) dietary motivations was associated with higher diet quality scores compared with those with neutral rankings. Similarly, agreement with environmental-, climate-, and health-related dietary motivations was associated with higher intake frequency of fish, fruits and vegetables, and plant proteins, but not with red and processed meat intake frequency. Of several climate-mitigation behaviors presented, participants perceived meat reduction as least effective (P < .001). ConclusionsEnvironment, climate, and health were positive motivators of several healthy dietary choices in US adults with lower incomes. Such motivators did not translate to lower intake frequency of red and processed meat.

Postpartum Lifestyle Behaviors among Women with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Data from the HUNT Study.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Clinical guidelines for postpartum follow-up after HDP often recommend lifestyle counseling to reduce this risk. However, knowledge about lifestyle behaviors and perceptions among women with a history of HDP is limited. We linked data from the fourth survey of the population-based Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4) with data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. The associations between HDP and postpartum lifestyle behaviors and perceptions were examined using multivariable logistic regression. In a secondary analysis, HUNT4 participants with a recent history of pre-eclampsia were compared with women with a recent history of pre-eclampsia participating in a postpartum pilot intervention study. Lifestyle behaviors and perceptions were self-reported and included diet (intake frequency of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and sugar-sweetened beverages), alcohol intake, physical activity, sleep, smoking, lifestyle satisfaction, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Among 7551 parous HUNT4 participants, 610 had a history of HDP. We found no differences in lifestyle behaviors between women with and without a history of HDP. However, women with HDP had higher odds of being unsatisfied with their lifestyle. Women with pre-eclampsia participating in a postpartum lifestyle intervention study tended to have a healthier lifestyle at baseline than women participating in HUNT4. Future studies should explore how lifestyle intervention programs could be adapted to the needs of women who have experienced HDP or other pregnancy complications that are associated with an increased risk of CVD.

Determinants of Consumption of Vegetables among the Spanish Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

An analytical cross-sectional study was accomplished based on data from the European Health Survey in Spain (2020). A total of 20,745 (52.1% women) subjects with a median age of 54 years old were included. Only 2.8% of them ate vegetables at least three times a day. The adjusted generalized linear model showed that being a woman increased the odds of consuming vegetables at least three times a day by 1.666 times (p < 0.001). Not cohabiting as a couple decreased the odds by 0.783 (p < 0.001). Having studied at a university increased the odds by 1.812 times (p < 0.001) and possessing a certificate of higher education by 1.408 (p = 0.030). Being overweight decreased the odds by 0.924 (p = 0.006). For every additional year of age, the odds of consuming vegetables at least three times a day increased by 1.3% (p < 0.001). The vast majority of the general Spanish population did not consume an optimal amount of vegetables. Women, people with higher levels of education, and older individuals reported having a more frequent intake of vegetables. Not cohabiting as a couple and being overweight were related to a less frequent intake of vegetables.

Influence of advertisements on consumption of organic vegetables

ABSTRACT There is little information on the impact of advertising on organic vegetable consumption. A survey was conducted among 135 households. Information were collected on demographic characteristics of the consumers, frequency of vegetable consumption, attitude toward organic vegetable consumption, consumers’ sources of information and types of information sought on organic vegetable. Organic vegetable consumers sought information on hygiene (61.5%), environment where vegetable was grown (71.9%), type of fertilizer used (53.3%), nutritional value (71.9%), pesticide free (58.5%), safety or health consciousness (65.2%), and price of the produce (64.4%) from the internet (75.6%), social media (74.8%), and mobile marketing (66.7%) before making consumption decision. The majority of respondents (55.6%) consumed vegetables once weekly. Age (β= −1.54; p<0.05), and primary occupation (β=−0.85; p<0.05) discouraged organic vegetable consumption while gender (β = 0.72; p<0.05), and advertising messages contents (β = 0.18, p<0.05) promote consumption of organic vegetables. Advertising messages contributed to consumer awareness and consumption of organic vegetables. However, additional effort is required for increased consumption and frequency of consumption. Marketing strategies should target a broad population of potential consumers to increase the frequency of organic vegetable intake among potential consumers.

Parenting practices are associated with adolescent food choices during independent eating occasions.

Frequency of independent eating occasions (iEOs) has been linked to intake of unhealthy foods and overweight/obesity among adolescents. Parenting practices involving modeling healthy food intake and making healthy foods available have been associated with healthy food intake among adolescents, however, little is known about these associations during iEOs. To determine whether parenting practices involving structure (monitoring, availability, modeling, and expectations), lack of structure (indulgence), and autonomy support reported by adolescents or parents were associated with adolescent iEO intake of junk foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), sugary foods, and fruit and vegetables. Cross-sectional study measuring parenting practices and adolescent iEO food choices via an online survey and adapted food frequency questionnaire. Parent/adolescent dyads (n = 622) completed surveys (November-December 2021) using a national Qualtrics panel database. Adolescents were 11-14 years and had iEOs at least weekly. Primary measures included parent- and adolescent-reported frequency of food parenting practices and adolescent-reported iEO intake of junk foods, sugary foods, SSBs, and fruits and vegetables. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine associations between parenting practices and iEO intake of foods/beverages, adjusting for adolescent's age, sex, race and ethnicity, iEO frequency, parent's education and marital status, and household food security status. Bonferroni multiple comparison corrections were conducted. More than half of parents were female (66%) and 35-64 years (58%). Adolescents/parents identified as White/Caucasian (44%/42%), Black/African American (28%/27%), Asian (21%/23%), and Hispanic ethnicity (42%/42%). Positive associations were observed among adolescent-reported and parent-reported autonomy support, monitoring, indulgence and expectations parenting practices and adolescent-reported daily iEO intake frequencies of junk foods, sugary foods, and fruits and vegetables (p < 0.001). Structural and autonomy support parenting practices were positively associated with both healthy and unhealthy iEO food intake by adolescents. Interventions to improve adolescent iEO intake could promote positive practices associated with healthy food consumption.

Campus Food Pantry Use May Improve Daily Frequency of Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among California University Students Experiencing Food Insecurity

BackgroundUniversity students are at increased risk for both food insecurity and suboptimal fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake. Campus food pantries (CFP) have been a common intervention in response to student food insecurity, but there have been few evaluations of the effectiveness of this strategy on improving students’ dietary intake. ObjectiveTo examine differences in the frequency of F/V intake by food security status, and whether the number of monthly CFP visits was associated with frequency of F/V intake among university students who were CFP clients. DesignCross-sectional ParticipantsThe study population included 1,188 university students across the 10-campus University of California system who had accessed their CFP or Basic Needs Center. Main measuresUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 6-item short food security module, monthly CFP visits, and self-reported frequency of F/V intake (daily). Statistical analyses performedT-tests were performed to compare differences in mean daily frequency of F/V intake by food security status. Generalized linear models were used to examine associations between monthly CFP visits and mean daily frequency of F/V intake. Using a post hoc Wald test, an interaction term (monthly CFP visits × food security status) was included to the models to determine whether food security status modified associations. ResultsStudents experiencing food insecurity consumed total F/V 0.48 fewer times per day compared with students who were food secure (2.64 ± 2.11 vs 3.12 ± 2.01; P < .001). Among students experiencing food insecurity, each monthly CFP visit was associated with higher daily frequencies of intake for total F/V (β = 0.06), whole fruit (β = 0.03), 100% fruit juice (β = 0.01), and leafy greens (β = 0.01); however, no associations were found among the food-secure group. ConclusionsFindings suggest that CFPs may be supporting students in need of nutritional assistance increase their daily frequency of F/V intake. Future studies are needed to validate these findings to inform investment in campus food pantries and support university students in need of nutritional assistance.

Burgers, Fast Foods, and Increased Associated Risk for Atopic Dermatitis: A Cross-Sectional Study of Dietary Habits among Young Chinese Adults in Singapore/Malaysia

Background: We see increasing evidence that dietary and nutrients factors play a pivotal role in allergic diseases and recent global findings suggest that dietary habits influence the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). Frequent consumption of fast food diets is associated with AD development. Despite the rising prevalence of AD in Asia, efforts in investigating the role of dietary habits and AD in adults are still lacking. Methods: We evaluated the association between the dietary intake of 16 food types and AD manifestations using our Singapore/Malaysia Cross-sectional Genetics Epidemiology Study (SMCGES) population. Dietary habits profiles of 11,494 young Chinese adults (1,550 AD cases/2,978 non-atopic controls/6,386 atopic controls) were assessed by an investigator-administered questionnaire. AD cases were further evaluated for their chronicity (550 chronic) and severity (628 moderate-to-severe). Additionally, we derived a novel food index, Quality of Diet based on Glycaemic Index Score (QDGIS), to examine the association between dietary intake of glycaemic index (GI) and various AD phenotypes. Results: The majority of AD subjects are distributed in the good (37.1%) and moderate (36.2%) QDGIS classes. From the multivariable analyses for age and gender, a moderate QDGIS class was significantly associated with a lower odds of AD (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.844; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.719–0.991; p < 0.05) and moderate-to-severe AD (AOR: 0.839; 95% CI: 0.714–0.985; p < 0.05). A good QDGIS class was only significantly associated with a lower odds of chronic AD (AOR: 0.769; 95% CI: 0.606–0.976; p < 0.05). Among high GI foods, frequent consumption of burgers/fast food was strongly associated with an increased risk of chronic and moderate-to-severe AD. Among low GI foods, increased intake frequencies of fruits, vegetables, and pulses decreased the odds of AD. Finally, we identified significant associations between frequent seafood, margarine, butter, and pasta consumption with an increased odds of AD despite them having little GI values. Conclusion: While genetic components are well-established in their risks associated with increased AD prevalence, there is still a lack of a focus epidemiology study associating dietary influence with AD. Based on the first allergic epidemiology study conducted here in Singapore and Malaysia, it laid the groundwork to guide potential dietary interventions from changing personal dietary habits.

Impact of environmental characteristics on children's gut microbiota – A pilot study in assessing the role of indoor microbiome and metabolites

BackgroundA diverse and balanced human gut microbiota is crucial for maintaining normal human physiological functions. However, the impact of indoor microbiome and metabolites on gut microbiota is not well understood. MethodsA self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on more than 40 personal and environmental characteristics and dietary habits from 56 children in Shanghai, China. Shotgun metagenomics and untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were used to characterize the indoor microbiome and metabolomic/chemical exposure in children's living rooms. PacBio full-length 16 S rRNA sequencing was used to characterize children's gut microbiota. Associations between environmental characteristics and gut microbiota diversity/composition were assessed using PERMANOVA and regression. ResultsIn total, 6247 and 318 indoor and gut microbial species and 1442 indoor metabolites were characterized. Age of children (R2 = 0.033, p = 0.008), age start kindergarten (R2 = 0.029, p = 0.03), living adjacent to heavy traffic (R2 = 0.031, p = 0.01) and drinking soft drinks (R2 = 0.028, p = 0.04) significantly impacted overall gut microbial composition, consistent with previous studies. Having pets/plants and frequent vegetable intake were positively associated with gut microbiota diversity and the Gut Microbiome Health Index (GMHI), while frequent juice and fries intake decreased gut microbiota diversity (p < 0.05). The abundance of indoor Clostridia and Bacilli was positively associated with gut microbial diversity and GMHI (p < 0.01). Total indoor indole derivatives and 6 indole metabolites (L-tryptophan, indole, 3-methylindole, indole-3-acetate, 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan and indolelactic acid, p < 0.05) were positively associated with the abundance of total protective gut bacteria, suggesting a potential role in promoting gut health. Neural network analysis revealed that these indole derivatives were derived from indoor microorganisms. ConclusionsThe study is the first to report associations between indoor microbiome/metabolites and gut microbiota, highlighting the potential role of indoor microbiome in shaping human gut microbiota.

Frequency of Convenience Cooking Product Use Is Associated with Cooking Confidence, Creativity, and Markers of Vegetable Intake

Low levels of cooking skills, confidence and home cooking are related to poorer dietary outcomes and are a common barrier to adequate vegetable consumption. Convenience cooking products may play a role in lowering the levels of confidence and creativity required to prepare home-cooked meals. It has previously been reported that those who use convenience cooking products have lower levels of cooking confidence and creativity and lower vegetable intakes compared to those who do not use these products. However, the relationship between these outcomes and the frequency of use of convenience cooking products has not been assessed. Therefore, a balanced demographic panel of Australian adults (n = 1034) was surveyed on the frequency of convenience cooking product use, vegetable intake and variety, and opinions and habits regarding vegetable intake. Those who used the products more regularly had higher cooking confidence and creativity, and higher vegetable variety scores, compared to less regular users (p < 0.05). However, the frequency of use of convenience cooking products was not associated with higher vegetable intake and did not influence views around the ease of eating vegetables. Therefore, these products may be a tool for assisting those with lower levels of cooking skills in accessing a higher variety of vegetables, but vegetable quantity in these products may need to be revised to assist consumers in better meeting intake recommendations.

Vegetable and Fruit Intake Frequency and Mortality in Patients With and Without Chronic Kidney Disease: A Hospital-Based Cohort Study

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) are generally discouraged from consuming high amounts of vegetables and fruits given the potential risk of hyperkalemia. In the general population, however, lower vegetable and fruit intake is associated with higher mortality. This Japanese hospital-based prospective cohort study including non-CKD and CKD participants examined whether the frequency of vegetable and fruit intake is associated with mortality, and whether the presence of CKD modifies this association. Participants were 2,006 patients who visited the outpatient department of a general hospital between June 2008 and December 2016 (55% men; mean age, 69years). Among these participants, 902 (45%) and 131 (7%) were non-dialysis-dependent patients with CKD and hemodialysis patients, respectively. The frequency of vegetable and fruit intake was determined by a self-report questionnaire using an ordinal scale, "never or rarely," "sometimes," and "every day." Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis was conducted, adjusting for potential confounders. Vegetable and fruit intake frequency decreased with worsening CKD stage (P for trend < .001). Baseline serum potassium levels stratified by CKD stage were similar across the three vegetable and fruit intake frequency groups. During a median follow-up of 5.7years, 561 participants died (47.1/1,000 person-years). Adjusted hazard ratios relative to the "every day" group were 1.25 (95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.52) and 1.60 (95% confidence interval, 1.23-2.08) for the "sometimes" and "never or rarely" groups, respectively, after adjusting for demographic factors, comorbidities, and CKD status. When stratified by CKD status, a similar, albeit non-significant, dose-dependent relationship was observed between vegetable and fruit intake frequency and all-cause mortality irrespective of CKD status, with no effect modification by CKD status (Pinteraction=.69). A lower frequency of vegetable and fruit intake is significantly associated with a higher risk of death regardless of CKD status.

Health Behavior and Social-Emotional Health Status of School-Aged Children According to their Experience with Atopic Dermatitis Diagnosis: Based on the 12th (2019) Panel Study on Korean Children

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is common in children and is increasing worldwide. This study aimed to identify differences in children's health behavior and social-emotional health status based on AD diagnosis at late school age. For this purpose, we conducted a descriptive survey using the 12th Panel Study on Korean Children data obtained in 2019. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Rao-Scott χ2 test, and a t-test using a complex sample analysis. A total of 1412 11-year-old Korean children participated in the study, of whom an estimated 8.2% were diagnosed with AD. In the children diagnosed with AD, the transition from exclusive breastfeeding to mixed feeding was later than that in children without AD (F = 5.71, p = 0.024), and the prevalence of AD in their parents was higher (F = 6.97, p = 0.014). Regarding health behaviors, the children diagnosed with AD had a higher intake frequency of protein (F = 5.41, p = 0.028) and vegetables (F = 6.09, p = 0.020). Regarding social-emotional health, subjective health status (F = 3.94, p = 0.026) and friend relationships (F = 2.95, p = 0.007) were lower in the children diagnosed with AD. These results, as preliminary data for interventions for school-aged children with AD, suggest that the difficulties of children's peer relationships should be considered and dealt with in further interventions.

Aspectos psicossociais relacionados ao consumo de frutas e hortaliças em adolescentes

This study aimed at assessing the association between psychosocial aspects and fruit and vegetable consumption in adolescents. Cross-sectional study developed with 327 adolescents from a public school in Brazil. A questionnaire developed for adolescents was applied to assess the influence of self-efficacy, family, peers, and body image on the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Specific questions assessed the intake frequency of fruits and vegetables, and the mean consumption was estimated using two 24-hour recalls. Scores related to psychosocial aspects were described as mean and median and the weight status was classified based on the body mass index. The average daily consumption of fruits and vegetables was 36.2 g and 45.4 g, respectively. Self-efficacy and the influence of peers were associated with an increase in the amount and frequency of fruits and vegetables consumption. Adolescents with higher scores of self-efficacy had greater average consumption of fruits and vegetables when compared to those with lower scores. The same was observed for the influence of peers. Self-efficacy and the influence of peers were the factors that most influenced the consumption of fruits and vegetables in adolescents.