Occurrence of heavy metals coupled with elevated levels of essential elements in chocolates: Health risk assessment.

The presence of contaminants in cacao-derived products, especially in chocolates, has raised concerns regarding food safety and human health. The study assessed the concentration variation of 16 elements in 155 chocolate samples from the US market by cacao content and country of geographic origin. The study further examined the potential health risks posed by toxic metals and determined the contribution of essential elements to the Daily Recommended Intake (DRI), estimated based on an ounce (∼28.4 g) of daily chocolate consumption. Dark chocolates with ≥50 % cacao exhibited consecutively increasing mean levels from 1.2 to 391 µg/kg for U, Tl, Th, As, Pb, Se, Cd, and Co. Similarly, Ni, Sr, Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe, Ca, and Mg had mean concentrations from 4.0 to 1890 mg/kg. Dark chocolates sourced from Central and South America exhibited the highest mean levels of Cd, and South America samples also contained elevated Pb, whereas those from West Africa and Asia had low Cd and Pb, respectively. Cacao contents showed increasingly strong association with Cd, Co, Mn, Sr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Mg (r = 0.60-0.84), and moderately with Se, Fe, As, and Tl (r = 0.35-0.49), indicating these elements are primarily derived from cacao beans. Weak association of cacao contents with Pb, Th, and U levels (r < 0.25), indicates post-harvest contaminations. Hazard Quotient (HQ) > 1 was found only for Cd in 4 dark chocolates, and Hazard Index (HI) > 1 for cumulative risk of Cd, Pb, Ni, As, and U was found in 33 dark chocolates, indicating potential non-carcinogenic risks for 15 kg children but none for 70 kg adults. Dark chocolate also substantially contributed to 47-95 % of the DRI of Cu for children and 50 % for adults. Dark chocolates also provided notable Fe, Mn, Mg, and Zn contributions to the DRI. These essential elements are recognized to reduce the bioavailability of toxic metals such as Cd, Pb, or Ni, thereby potentially lowering associated health risks. This study informs consumers, food industries, and regulatory agencies to target cacao origins or chocolate brands with lower toxic metal contents for food safety and minimizing adverse health effects.

An Affordable and Sustainable Thrifty-Like Meal Plan, FoodRx, That Meets the Recommended Dietary Allowances.

There is considerable controversy as to whether a healthy diet is affordable given recent inflation. In order to determine whether a healthy, climate-friendly sustainable diet can be obtained within the allotments of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), we created and purchased 26 weeks of meal plans designed to meet the EAT-Lancet sustainability guidelines and > 90% of the RDAs for 23 macro/micronutrients for households with at least 2 adults and 1-3 children. We compared the food quantities and cost of a healthy sustainable diet purchased in Los Angeles, 2023, to the Thrifty Food Plan, 2021. We compared the volume of food and cost of basic groceries to those recommended in the Thrifty Food Plan, 2021. The costs of the sustainable diet fell within the 2023 SNAP allotments as long as the average calories required per person did not exceed 2000. The volume of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds were considerably higher for the sustainable diet compared to the Thrifty Food Plan. Given that calorie needs are the determinants of food quantity and costs, the USDA may consider offering supplemental coverage for individuals with higher calorie needs to make healthy eating affordable.

Adequacy of the "pocket formulas" for measuring total energy expenditure in healthy women compared with the new DRI equation: A doubly labeled water study.

OBJECTIVES: "Pocket formulas" are practical alternatives for calculating an individual's total energy expenditure (TEE). Typically, more sophisticated predictive equations are used, such as the new equations proposed in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI). Nevertheless, these new equations necessitate estimating physical activity levels (PALs). The aim of this study was to compare the use of pocket formulas (kcal/kg of body weight) with the new predictive equations for energy expenditure proposed by the DRI (2023) in healthy women and with the doubly labeled water (DLW) method to predict TEE. METHODS: The TEEs of healthy adult women were measured by DLW and calculated using the pocket formulas (× 20, × 25, × 30, and × 35 kcal/kg of body weight) and the new DRI equation. PALs by triaxial accelerometers were also collected. RESULTS: The study included 55 women. For the entire sample, the × 30 pocket formula had the lowest bias (-6%; limits of agreement [LOAs]: -39.8; 27.5; root mean square error: 373.4) and the highest precision (42%). The pocket formulas showed reasonable agreement in the different body mass index categories compared with the results found by the 2023 DRI proposal. For individuals with normal weight, the agreement was × 35 kcal/kg: bias (%) = -4.8; LoA = -41.5; 31.8, with overweight, it was × 30 kcal/kg: bias (%) = -2.2; LoA = -25.1; 20.6, and with obesity, it was × 30 kcal/kg: bias (%) = 4.2; LoA = -21.1; 29.4. CONCLUSION: Pocket formulas provide a reasonable agreement with TEE in healthy, sedentary, or low-active adult women, which may be a more simplistic strategy when there is no PAL data for calculating the DRI equations.

Prevalence and determinants of complementary feeding indicators in the first year of life in the Southwest of Bahia State / Prevalência e determinantes de indicadores da alimentação complementar no primeiro ano de vida no Sudoeste baiano

Abstract Objectives: to estimate the prevalence of complementary feeding indicators and investigate its determinants. Methods: cross-sectional study with 12-month-old children from Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. The indicators minimum diet diversity, minimum meal frequency and minimally acceptable diet were constructed and adapted to the current recommendations of the food guide for Brazilian children under two years of age. Poisson regression analysis was used, with hierarchical entry of variables in the multivariate model. Results: the prevalence of minimum diet diversity was 38.8%, minimum meal frequency 47.9% and minimally acceptable diet 18.5%. Family income greater than one minimum wage was associated with minimal diet diversity (PR= 1.49; CI95%= 1.39-2.26); receiving guidance on complementary feeding was associated with a minimum meal frequency (PR= 1.37; CI95%= 1.05-1.78); and children who received exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months had significantly higher prevalences of all indicators compared to those who did not. Conclusions: low prevalence of complementary feeding indicators was observed. The variables family income, receiving guidance on complementary feeding and offering exclusive breastfeeding for six months were associated with the highest prevalence of the studied indicators.

Resumo Objetivos: estimar as prevalências de indicadores da alimentação complementar e investigar seus determinantes. Métodos: estudo transversal com crianças aos 12 meses de idade do município de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. Os indicadores diversidade mínima da dieta, frequência mínima de refeição e dieta minimamente aceitável foram construídos e adaptados às atuais recomendações do Guia alimentar para crianças brasileiras menores de dois anos. Utilizou-se análise de regressão de Poisson, com entrada hierarquizada das variáveis no modelo multivariado. Resultados: a prevalência de diversidade mínima da dieta foi de 38,8%, de frequência mínima de refeição 47,9% e de dieta minimamente aceitável 18,5%. A renda familiar maior que um saláriomínimo foi associada a diversidade mínima da dieta (RP= 1,49; IC95%= 1,39-2,26); o recebimento de orientações sobre alimentação complementar associou-se a frequência mínima de refeição (RP=1,37; IC95%= 1,05-1,78); e as crianças que receberam aleitamento materno exclusivo até 6 meses apresentaram prevalências significativamente maiores de todos os indicadores comparadas às que não receberam. Conclusões: foram observadas baixas prevalências dos indicadores da alimentação complementar. As variáveis renda familiar, recebimento de orientações sobre alimentação complementar e a oferta de aleitamento materno exclusivo por seis meses foram associadas as maiores prevalências dos indicadores estudados.

Methanol in unrecorded fruit spirits. Does it pose a health risk to consumers in the European Union? A probabilistic toxicological approach.

Methanol is present at high concentrations in unrecorded fruit spirits, placing consumers of these beverages at risk of exposure at high levels. When assessing any health risk it is necessary to consider blood methanol levels (BMLs), reference dose (RfD), and maximum tolerable blood methanol level (MTBML). The aim of our study was to estimate daily methanol intake and related BMLs attributable to drinking unrecorded fruit spirits in the European population using a probabilistic Monte Carlo simulation. Data on the concentration of methanol in unrecorded fruit spirits in European Union member states were collected and the health risk posed by consumption of unrecorded fruit spirits was estimated. We found that drinking unrecorded fruit spirits containing methanol at a concentration higher than 8598.1 mg/litre of pure alcohol (p.a.) or 6382.1 mg/litre of p.a. and also at least 10 g ethanol can result in a methanol intake above the RfD by men and women, respectively. We confirmed that consumption of unrecorded fruit spirits containing methanol does not result in BMLs higher than the MTBML. Further studies are required to assess whether there is any health risk from chronic exposure to methanol above the RfD from unrecorded fruit spirits.

Avaliação do consumo alimentar de pacientes em hemodiálise: comparação com recomendações do Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative / Assessment of food consumption in hemodialysis patients: comparison with recommendations from the Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative

Introdução: A análise da ingestão alimentar de pacientes com doença renal crônica (DRC) em tratamento dialítico é eficaz para fornecer informações a fim de auxiliar no diagnóstico nutricional e nortear as condutas dietéticas necessárias. Objetivo: Analisar a adequação do consumo alimentar de acordo com as recomendações publicadas pelo Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative (KDOQI) para macro e micronutrientes, além de avaliar a capacidade antioxidante total da dieta (CATd), de portadores de DRC. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo transversal, com 60 voluntários portadores de DRC em tratamento hemodialítico de um Hospital Universitário de Juiz de Fora ­ MG. A caracterização da amostra foi feita no período de junho de 2019 a fevereiro de 2020, através da aplicação de um Questionário Quantitativo de Frequência Alimentar (QQFA) e de coleta de dados pessoais, clínicos e comorbidades. As análises estatísticas foram conduzidas utilizando-se o software SPSS, versão 20.0. As variáveis numéricas foram apresentadas na forma de média (± desvio-padrão), mediana, mínimo e máximo, enquanto as categóricas em frequência absoluta e relativa. Resultados: Observou-se que 43% e 55% dos pacientes apresentaram um consumo calórico e proteico acima do preconizado pela KDOQI, respectivamente. Para os micronutrientes, foi observado que 77% dos pacientes apresentaram consumo de cálcio abaixo do recomendado e de fósforo 65% maior do que a recomendação atual. Percebeu-se que 67% e 40% dos pacientes apresentaram adequado consumo de sódio e potássio. O perfil lipídico da dieta dos pacientes, demonstrou uma desproporção da razão ômega 6/ômega 3, além de um CATd de 4,05 mmol/dia. Conclusão: Através do presente estudo podemos concluir que o consumo alimentar dos pacientes em hemodiálise avaliados apresenta algumas inadequações em relação às recomendações propostas pela literatura.

Introduction: The analysis of food intake in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing dialysis is effective to provide information to assist in nutritional diagnosis and guide the necessary dietary behaviors. Objective: To analyze the adequacy of food consumption according to the recommendations published by the Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative (KDOQI) for macro and micronutrients, in addition to evaluating the total antioxidant capacity of the diet (CATd) of patients with CKD. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study with 60 volunteers with CKD undergoing hemodialysis treatment at a University Hospital in Juiz de Fora ­ MG. The characterization of the sample was carried out from June 2019 to February 2020, through the application of a Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (QQFA) and the collection of personal, clinical and comorbid data. Statistical analyzes were conducted using SPSS software, version 20.0. Numerical variables were presented as mean (± standard deviation), median, minimum and maximum, while categorical variables in absolute and relative frequency. Results: It was observed that 43% and 55% of the patients had a caloric and protein consumption above that recommended by the KDOQI, respectively. For micronutrients, it was observed that 77% of the patients had calcium intake below the recommended level and phosphorus consumption 65% higher than the current recommendation. It was noticed that 67% and 40% of the patients had adequate consumption of sodium and potassium. The lipid profile of the patients' diet showed a disproportion of the omega 6/omega 3 ratio, in addition to a CATd of 4.05 mmol/day. Conclusion: Through the present study we can conclude that the food consumption of the evaluated hemodialysis patients presents some inadequacies in relation to the recommendations proposed by the literature

Diet Quality Assessment and the Relationship between Diet Quality and Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and globally. Dietary risk factors contribute to over half of all CVD deaths and CVD-related disability. The aim of this narrative review is to describe methods used to assess diet quality and the current state of evidence on the relationship between diet quality and risk of CVD. The findings of the review will be discussed in the context of current population intake patterns and dietary recommendations. Several methods are used to calculate diet quality: (1) a priori indices based on dietary recommendations; (2) a priori indices based on foods or dietary patterns associated with risk of chronic disease; (3) exploratory data-driven methods. Substantial evidence from prospective cohort studies shows that higher diet quality, regardless of the a priori index used, is associated with a 14-29% lower risk of CVD and 0.5-2.2 years greater CVD-free survival time. Limited evidence is available from randomized controlled trials, although evidence shows healthy dietary patterns improve risk factors for CVD and lower CVD risk. Current dietary guidance for general health and CVD prevention and management focuses on following a healthy dietary pattern throughout the lifespan. High diet quality is a unifying component of all dietary recommendations and should be the focus of national food policies and health promotion.

Dietary sugar intake among preschool-aged children: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Excessive intake of sugar in young children is a public health concern. Our study objectives were to examine intakes of total, free and added sugar among preschool-aged children and to investigate their associations with body weight, body mass index Z-scores, percent fat mass and waist circumference. METHODS: The cross-sectional cohort study included preschool-aged children between 1.5 and 5 years of age, enrolled in pilot studies of the Guelph Family Health Study, Guelph, Ontario, from 2014 to 2016. Daily intake of total sugar was determined using a food processor software; daily intakes of free and added sugar, and food sources were determined through manual inspection of 3-day food records. Anthropometric measures were completed by trained research staff. We used linear regression models with generalized estimating equations to estimate associations between sugar intakes and anthropometric measures. RESULTS: We included 109 children (55 girls and 54 boys) in 77 families. Mean daily intakes were 86 (standard deviation [SD] 26) g for total sugar, 31 (SD 15) g for free sugar and 26 (SD 13) g for added sugar. Of participants, 80% (n = 87) had intakes of free sugar greater than 5% of their daily energy intake. The most frequent food sources of free and added sugar were bakery products. A weak inverse association between free sugar intake (kcal/1000 kcal) and waist circumference (cm) (ß = -0.02, 95% confidence interval -0.04 to -0.0009) was found, but no significant associations were noted between sugar intake and other anthropometric measures. INTERPRETATION: Most of the preschool-aged children in this study had free sugar intakes greater than current recommendations; overall, their total, free and added sugar intakes were not associated with the anthropometric measures. This study can be used to inform policy development for sugar intake in young children and apprise early intervention programs.

"More Than Buying Extra Fruits and Veggies, Please Hide the Fats and Sugars": Children's Diet Latent Profiles and Family-Related Factors.

Promoting children's healthy diets is a key public health priority. Family can play a relevant role in children's eating patterns. The goals of the current research were to identify different latent diet profiles in children based on their food consumption and to assess the relationship between profiles and family-related factors. A total of 678 school-aged children from the fifth and sixth grades participated. The study design was cross-sectional and questionnaire based. Research assessed healthy (fruit and vegetables) and unhealthy (fast food, sugar-sweetened beverages, and candies) food consumption and family-related factors. A latent profile analysis and multivariate data analysis were developed. Four diet profiles were identified: Combined Diet, Mainly Healthy Diet, Mainly Unhealthy Diet, and Very Unhealthy Diet. Nearly half of the children (45.22%) showed a Combined Diet profile, meaning that they reported eating nearly the same amount of healthy and unhealthy types of foods. Associations between the diet profiles, family income, and food availability were found. For example, the Mainly Healthy Diet profile was statistically associated with a higher family income and less access to unhealthy foods. The present study reinforces the idea that profiling diets can allow for a tailored healthy eating intervention model according to the specific needs of each diet profile.

A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Impact of Tailored Feedback on the Purchase of Healthier Foods from Primary School Online Canteens.

Few online food ordering systems provide tailored dietary feedback to consumers, despite suggested benefits. The study aim was to determine the effect of providing tailored feedback on the healthiness of students' lunch orders from a school canteen online ordering system. A cluster randomized controlled trial with ten government primary schools in New South Wales, Australia was conducted. Consenting schools that used an online canteen provider ('Flexischools') were randomized to either: a graph and prompt showing the proportion of 'everyday' foods selected or a standard online ordering system. Students with an online lunch order during baseline data collection were included (n = 2200 students; n = 7604 orders). Primary outcomes were the proportion of foods classified as 'everyday' or 'caution'. Secondary outcomes included: mean energy, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium content. There was no difference over time between groups on the proportion of 'everyday' (OR 0.99; p = 0.88) or 'caution' items purchased (OR 1.17; p = 0.45). There was a significant difference between groups for average energy content (mean difference 51 kJ; p-0.02), with both groups decreasing. There was no difference in the saturated fat, sugar, or sodium content. Tailored feedback did not impact the proportion of 'everyday' or 'caution' foods or the nutritional quality of online canteen orders. Future research should explore whether additional strategies and specific feedback formats can promote healthy purchasing decisions.

Fish Acquisition and Consumption in the African Great Lakes Region through a Food Environment Lens: A Scoping Review.

Effective actions for the fishery and aquaculture sectors to contribute toward improving nutrition rely on an understanding of the factors influencing fish intake, particularly amongst vulnerable populations. This scoping review synthesises evidence from 33 studies in the African Great Lakes Region to examine the influence of food environments on fish acquisition and consumption. We identified only two studies that explicitly applied a food environment framework and none that linked policy conditions with the contribution of fish to diets. Economic access to fish was represented in the largest number of included studies (21 studies), followed by preferences, acceptability and desirability of fish (17 studies) and availability and physical access (14 studies). Positive perceptions of taste and low cost, relative to other animal-source foods, were drivers of fish purchases in many settings; however, limited physical and economic access were frequently identified as preventing optimal intake. In lakeside communities, fish were increasingly directed toward external markets which reduced the availability and affordability of fish for local households. Few studies considered intra-household variations in fish access according to age, gender or physiological status, which represents an important knowledge gap. There is also scope for future research on seasonal influences on fish access and the design and rigorous evaluation of programmes and policies that address one or more constraints of availability, cost, convenience and preferences.

Sugars, Salt, Saturated Fat and Fibre Purchased through Packaged Food and Soft Drinks in Europe 2015-2018: Are We Making Progress?

The availability, purchase and consumption of foods high in fat, sugars and salt and low in fibre are linked to the high health and economic burden of noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, in Europe. Therefore, assessing the quality of the food offer is key as feedback to decision makers, as well as to identify good practices and areas of the food supply still requiring urgent action. We combined detailed market share and sales data with nutrition composition data to evaluate the nutritional quality of 14 packaged food and soft drinks categories sold across 22 European countries over the 2015-2018 period. Our analysis shows great variability of the nutritional composition within and among packaged food and soft drinks categories across European countries. Our estimates of the market-share weighted mean, a measure that integrates possible changes in nutrient content with the amount of a product sold to consumers, as well as daily per capita nutrient sale estimates, suggest a small but statistically significant progress in certain food categories only. Overall, the amounts of sugars, saturated fat, salt and fibre being sold to European citizens through these products is not improving to an extent to meet public health objectives.

Assessment of the Methods Used to Develop Vitamin D and Calcium Recommendations-A Systematic Review of Bone Health Guidelines.

BACKGROUND: There are numerous guidelines developed for bone health. Yet, it is unclear whether the differences in guideline development methods explain the variability in the recommendations for vitamin D and calcium intake. The objective of this systematic review was to collate and compare recommendations for vitamin D and calcium across bone health guidelines, assess the methods used to form the recommendations, and explore which methodological factors were associated with these guideline recommendations. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and other databases indexing guidelines to identify records in English between 2009 and 2019. Guidelines or policy statements on bone health or osteoporosis prevention for generally healthy adults aged ≥40 years were eligible for inclusion. Two reviewers independently extracted recommendations on daily vitamin D and calcium intake, supplement use, serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level, and sunlight exposure; assessed guideline development methods against 25 recommended criteria in the World Health Organization (WHO) handbook for guideline development; and, identified types identified types of evidence underpinning the recommendations. RESULTS: we included 47 eligible guidelines from 733 records: 74% of the guidelines provided vitamin D (200~600-4000 IU/day) and 70% provided calcium (600-1200 mg/day) recommendations, 96% and 88% recommended vitamin D and calcium supplements, respectively, and 70% recommended a specific 25(OH)D concentration. On average, each guideline met 10 (95% CI: 9-12) of the total of 25 methodological criteria for guideline development recommended by the WHO Handbook. There was uncertainty in the association between the methodological criteria and the proportion of guidelines that provided recommendations on daily vitamin D or calcium. Various types of evidence, including previous bone guidelines, nutrient reference reports, systematic reviews, observational studies, and perspectives/editorials were used to underpin the recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: There is considerable variability in vitamin D and calcium recommendations and in guideline development methods in bone health guidelines. Effort is required to strengthen the methodological rigor of guideline development and utilize the best available evidence to underpin nutrition recommendations in evidence-based guidelines on bone health.

Cost and Affordability of Healthy, Equitable and Sustainable Diets in Low Socioeconomic Groups in Australia.

Few Australians consume a healthy, equitable and more sustainable diet consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADGs). Low socioeconomic groups (SEGs) suffer particularly poor diet-related health problems. However, granular information on dietary intakes and affordability of recommended diets was lacking for low SEGs. The Healthy Diets Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing protocol was modified for low SEGs to align with relevant dietary intakes reported in the National Nutrition Survey 2011-2012(which included less healthy and more discretionary options than the broader population), household structures, food purchasing habits, and incomes. Cost and affordability of habitual and recommended diets of low SEGs were calculated using prices of 'standard brands' and 'cheapest options'. With 'standard brands', recommended diets cost less than habitual diets, but were unaffordable for low SEGs. With 'cheapest options', both diets were more affordable, but recommended diets cost more than habitual diets for some low SEGs, potentially contributing to perceptions that healthy food is unaffordable. The study confirms the need for an equity lens to better target dietary guidelines for low SEGs. It also highlights urgent policy action is needed to help improve affordability of recommended diets.

Assessment of the contribution of industrially processed foods to salt and iodine intake in Thailand.

Iodization of food grade salt has been mandated in Thailand since 1994. Currently, processed food consumption is increasing, triggered by higher income, urbanization, and lifestyle changes, which affects the source of salt and potentially iodized salt among the population. However, adequate information about the use of iodized salt in processed foods in Thailand is still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to assess iodine intake through salt-containing processed foods and condiments which were identified using national survey data. Potential iodine intake from iodized salt in food products was modelled using consumption data and product salt content from food labelling and laboratory analysis. Fish sauce, soy sauce and seasoning sauces (salty condiments) have alternative regulation allowing for direct iodization of the final product, therefore modelling was conducted including and excluding these products. Daily salt intake from household salt and food industry salt (including salty condiments) was estimated to be 2.4 g for children 0-5 years of age, 4.6 g for children 6-12 years of age, and 11.5 g for adults. The use of iodized salt in processed foods (excluding salty condiments) met approximately 100% of the estimated average requirement (EAR) for iodine for non-pregnant adults and for children 6 to 12 years of age, and 50% of the EAR for iodine for children aged 0 to 5 years of age. In all cases, iodine intake from processed food consumption was greater than from estimated household iodized salt consumption. Findings suggest that iodized salt from processed foods is an important source of iodine intake, especially in adults. The use of iodized salt by the food industry should be enforced along with population monitoring to ensure sustainability of optimal iodine intake. Currently, the addition of iodine into fish sauce, soy sauce and seasoning sauces has an important role in achieving and sustaining optimal iodine intake.

Levels and health risk assessment of heavy metals in dried fish consumed in Bangladesh.

As a cheap source of high-quality protein, healthy fats and essential nutrients, dried fish is a common item in the daily diet of the Bangladesh populace. In this study, ten types of widely consumed dried fish (H. neherius, T. lepturu, P.chinensis, P. affinis, A. mola, P. microdon, I. megaloptera, C. dussumieri, L. calcarifer, and G. chapra) were analyzed for Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Hg, Pb, Ni and As by using an Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. The concentration of the studied metals was found in the order Fe > Zn > Hg > Cu > Se > Cr > Mn > Co > Rb > Pb, while As and Ni were below the limit of detection. All fish species showed moderate to high pollution, where the species H. Neherius and P. Chinensis are the most and least polluted ones, respectively. The probable source of contamination is the leaching from the drying pans into the fish samples, atmospheric deposition, anthropogenic contamination, etc. of the water body where these fish were harvested. The calculated hazard index for the general population was below the maximum limiting value (i.e., < 1) except for Hg to children. The carcinogenic risk showed values lower than the acceptable limit for cancer risks (10-6 to 10-4). Periodic monitoring of trace metals in the aquatic organisms along with fish is recommended to avoid any unexpected health hazards caused by the toxic heavy metals via fish consumption.

Beyond Nutrient Deficiency-Opportunities to Improve Nutritional Status and Promote Health Modernizing DRIs and Supplementation Recommendations.

The US Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provide dietary recommendations to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease. Despite 40 years of DGA, the prevalence of under-consumed nutrients continues in the US and globally, although dietary supplement use can help to fill shortfalls. Nutrient recommendations are based on Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) to meet the nutrient requirements for nearly all (97 to 98 percent) healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group and many need to be updated using current evidence. There is an opportunity to modernize vitamin and mineral intake recommendations based on biomarker or surrogate endpoint levels needed to 'prevent deficiency' with DRIs based on ranges of biomarker or surrogate endpoints levels that support normal cell/organ/tissue function in healthy individuals, and to establish DRIs for bioactive compounds. We recommend vitamin K and Mg DRIs be updated and DRIs be established for lutein and eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA + DHA). With increasing interest in personalized (or precision) nutrition, we propose greater research investment in validating biomarkers and metabolic health measures and the development and use of inexpensive diagnostic devices. Data generated from such approaches will help elucidate optimal nutrient status, provide objective evaluations of an individual's nutritional status, and serve to provide personalized nutrition guidance.