Food intake and inflammation in European children: the IDEFICS study.

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study assesses the relationship between consumption frequencies of food items and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in European children. METHODS: Out of the baseline sample (N = 16.228) of the IDEFICS study, 6.403 children (1.315 boys aged 2 to <6, 1.908 boys aged 6 to <10, 1.204 girls aged 2 to <6 and 1.976 girls aged 6 to <10 years) had hs-CRP measured and the Children's Eating Habits Questionnaire filled, including a food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression adjusted for body mass index z-score, education of the mother, breast-feeding and self-reported hours of physical activity in a sport club per week was conducted. RESULTS: Mean frequency intake of raw vegetable was lower in boys (p = 0.022 in young and p = 0.020 in old) and older girls (p = 0.026) with high hs-CRP concentration, while in younger girls (p = 0.008) the same occurred with the cooked vegetables. The probability of having higher hs-CRP concentration was significantly associated with having low consumption frequency of vegetables (p = 0.004 in older boys, raw vegetables; and p = 0.0032 in younger girls, cooked vegetables). Also, honey/jam intake decreased the probability of having higher concentration of hs-CRP, whereas soft drinks with sugar, mayonnaise and cereals milled increased this probability. CONCLUSIONS: Out of all food items associated with hs-CRP, frequency intake of vegetables presented more associations across all the analysis. Findings suggest that a high-frequency intake of vegetables is inversely related to an inflammatory status in children. More studies are needed to assess the association between diet and inflammation.

Ready-to-eat cereals improve nutrient, milk and fruit intake at breakfast in European adolescents.

PURPOSE: Breakfast consumption has been recommended as part of a healthy diet. Recently, ready-to-eat cereals (RTEC) became more popular as a breakfast item. Our aim was to analyse the dietary characteristics of an RTEC breakfast in European adolescents and to compare them with other breakfast options. METHODS: From the European multi-centre HELENA study, two 24-h dietary recalls of 3137 adolescents were available. Food items (RTEC or bread, milk/yoghurt, fruit) and macro- and micronutrient intakes at breakfast were calculated. Cross-sectional regression analyses were adjusted for gender, age, socio-economic status and city. RESULTS: Compared to bread breakfasts (39 %) and all other breakfasts (41.5 %), RTEC breakfast (19.5 %) was associated with improved nutrient intake (less fat and less sucrose; more fibre, protein and some micronutrients like vitamin B, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus) at the breakfast occasion. Exceptions were more simple sugars in RTEC breakfast consumers: more lactose and galactose due to increased milk consumption, but also higher glucose and fructose than bread consumers. RTEC consumers had a significantly higher frequency (92.5 vs. 50.4 and 60.2 %) and quantity of milk/yoghurt intake and a slightly higher frequency of fruit intake (13.4 vs. 10.9 and 8.0 %) at breakfast. CONCLUSIONS: Among European adolescents, RTEC consumers showed a more favourable nutrient intake than consumers of bread or other breakfasts, except for simple sugars. Therefore, RTEC may be regarded as a good breakfast option as part of a varied and balanced diet. Nevertheless, more research is warranted concerning the role of different RTEC types in nutrient intake, especially for simple sugars.

European adolescent ready-to-eat-cereal (RTEC) consumers have a healthier dietary intake and body composition compared with non-RTEC consumers.

PURPOSE: This study aims to analyse the association of European adolescents' ready-to-eat-cereal (RTEC) consumption frequency with their dietary intake by applying the concept of diet quality index and nutritional status. METHODS: From the multi-centre European HELENA study, relevant data were available in 1,215 adolescents (12.5-17.5 years). RTEC consumption was identified from a food frequency questionnaire. A diet quality index, daily nutrient intakes and daily milk/yoghurt and fruit intake were calculated from two 24-h dietary recalls. BMI, waist and hip circumference and body fat were measured for body composition. Cross-sectional regression analyses were adjusted for sex, age, socio-economic status, city and breakfast skipping. Differences in sub-regions within Europe were explored. RESULTS: RTEC consumers showed a more favourable daily micronutrient intake (vitamin B2, B5, B7, D, calcium, phosphorus and potassium), a better diet quality index, more frequent fruit (57 vs. 51%) and milk/yoghurt consumption (81.2 vs. 56%) and less breakfast skipping (25.1 vs. 36.7%). No differences in energy and macronutrient intake were observed. Daily RTEC consumers were 57% less likely to be overweight than RTEC non-consumers but did not differ in glucose and lipid status (N = 387). CONCLUSION: This is the first comprehensive pan-European survey elucidating socio-demographic determinants of European adolescents' RTEC consumption and indicating better dietary habits in RTEC consumers. The improved dietary profile was reflected in a more beneficial body composition. Our results have also shown the advantage of using an all-integrating diet quality index by capturing the diet complexity.

EURRECA-Principles and future for deriving micronutrient recommendations.

The EURopean micronutrient RECommendations Aligned (EURRECA) Network of Excellence (NoE) explored an approach for setting micronutrient recommendations, which would address the variation in recommendations across Europe. Therefore, a framework for deriving and using micronutrient Dietary Reference Values (DRVs) has been developed. This framework comprises four stages (defining the problem-monitoring and evaluating-deriving dietary reference values-using dietary reference values in policy making). The aim of the present paper is to use this framework to identify specific research gaps and needs related to (1) knowledge available on specific micronutrients (folate, iodine, iron, selenium, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and zinc) and (2) the methodology presented in the framework. Furthermore, the paper describes the different outputs that support the process like protocols, guidelines, systematic review databases, and peer-reviewed publications, as well as the principal routes of dissemination of these outputs to ensure their optimal uptake in policy, practice, and research collaborations. The importance of ensuring transparency in risk assessment and risk management, systematic searching the literature, and taking into account policy options is highlighted. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition for the following free supplemental files: Additional tables.].

The physiologic effects of caloric restriction are reflected in the in vivo adipocyte-enriched proteome of overweight/obese subjects.

We have applied our recently designed proteomics apparoach to search for protein changes in the in vivo adipocyte-enriched proteome from 8 overweight/obese subjects who underwent an intervention of 5 weeks of a very low calorie diet followed by 3 weeks of a normal diet. On average, persons lost 9.5 kg body weight largely contributed by the loss of fat mass (7.1 kg). Various parameters of adiposity and lipid metabolism changed significantly. Proteomics analysis revealed 6 significantly changed proteins. Analysis indicates that fructose-bisphosphate aldolase C and tubulin beta 5 are potential biomarkers for the present intervention. Further, identified proteins indicate a reduced intracellular scaffolding of GLUT4 (ALDOC, TUBB5, ANXA2), an increased uptake of fatty acids (FABP4), an improved inflammatory profile of the adipose tissue (ApoA1, AOP1) and a change in fat droplet organization (vimentin). Correlation analysis between changes in protein spot intensities and parameters of adiposity or lipid metabolism points to a link between aldo-ketoreductase 1C2 and parameters of adiposity, between FABP4 and parameters of lipid metabolism, and between proteins for beta-oxidation (HADH, ACADS, ACAT1) and FFA levels. Altogether, our findings underscore the potential value of in vivo proteomics for human intervention studies.

Glucagon and insulin responses after ingestion of different amounts of intact and hydrolysed proteins.

Ingestion of dietary protein is known to induce both insulin and glucagon secretion. These responses may be affected by the dose and the form (intact or hydrolysed) in which protein is ingested. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of different amounts of intact protein and protein hydrolysate of a vegetable (soya) and animal (whey) protein on insulin and glucagon responses and to study the effect of increasing protein loads for both intact protein and protein hydrolysate in man. The study employed a repeated-measures design with Latin-square randomisation and single-blind trials. Twelve healthy non-obese males ingested three doses (0.3, 0.4 and 0.6 g/kg body weight) of intact soya protein (SPI) and soya protein hydrolysate (SPH). Another group of twelve healthy male subjects ingested three doses (0.3, 0.4 and 0.6 g/kg body weight) of intact whey protein (WPI) and whey protein hydrolysate (WPH). Blood was sampled before (t = 0) and 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after protein ingestion for insulin, glucagon and glucose determination. SPI induced a higher total area under the curve for insulin and glucagon than SPH while no difference between WPI and WPH was found. Insulin and glucagon responses increased with increasing protein load for SPI, SPH, WPI and WPH, but the effect was more pronounced for glucagon. A higher dose of protein or its hydrolysate will result in a lower insulin:glucagon ratio, an important parameter for the control of postprandial substrate metabolism. In conclusion, insulin and glucagon responses were protein and hydrolysate specific.

The thermogenic and metabolic effects of protein hydrolysate with or without a carbohydrate load in healthy male subjects.

High-protein diets are beneficial in weight maintenance because of their satiating and thermogenic effects. These effects may be partly mediated by the hormonal effects of proteins. This study investigated the effect of soy protein hydrolysate (SPH) with and without a carbohydrate pre- and afterload on energy metabolism and hormonal secretion in 8 healthy nonobese subjects. In an additional trial, pea protein hydrolysate was compared to SPH, both with a carbohydrate afterload. The study had a single-blind crossover design. In all cases, 0.4 g protein and/or carbohydrate per kilogram of body weight was tested. Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) was measured by ventilated hood measurements, and postprandial blood samples were drawn over 3 hours. Soy protein hydrolysate consumption induced a higher DIT than a carbohydrate (CHO) load. Both conditions induced similar insulin responses. Soy protein hydrolysate induced a glucagon, but no glucose, response; whereas CHO induced a glucose, but no glucagon, response. Soy protein hydrolysate with a CHO pre- or afterload induced similar DIT and insulin responses. No glucose response was found when SPH preceded the CHO load. Total glucagon responses were similar with CHO as pre- and afterload, but time courses were different. Pea protein hydrolysate with a CHO afterload induced both higher insulin and glucagon responses (area under the curve) than SPH with CHO afterload, but DIT was similar in both conditions. In conclusion, this study shows that the larger DIT after protein than after CHO may be related to the glucagon response that is induced by protein but not by CHO; that the protein-induced DIT and glucagon response are not influenced by a CHO pre- or afterload; and that protein ingestion can fully prevent the plasma glucose increase associated with CHO when CHOs are ingested after proteins.

Lack of interleukin-1 receptor I (IL-1RI) protects mice from high-fat diet-induced adipose tissue inflammation coincident with improved glucose homeostasis.

OBJECTIVE: High-fat diet (HFD)-induced adipose tissue inflammation is a critical feature of diet-induced insulin resistance (IR); however, the contribution of interleukin-1 receptor I (IL-1RI)-mediated signals to this phenotype has not been defined. We hypothesized that lack of IL-1RI may ameliorate HFD-induced IR by attenuating adipose tissue inflammation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Glucose homeostasis was monitored in chow- and HFD-fed wild-type (WT) and IL-1RI(-/-) mice by glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance tests. Macrophage recruitment and cytokine signature of adipose tissue macrophages was evaluated. Insulin sensitivity and cytokine secretion from adipose explants was quantified. Cytokine secretion and adipocyte insulin sensitivity was measured in cocultures of WT or IL-1RI(-/-) macrophages with 3T3L1 adipocytes. Synergistic effects of IL-1ß with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α on inflammation was monitored in WT and IL-1RI(-/-) bone-marrow macrophages and adipose explants. RESULTS: Lean and obese IL-1RI(-/-) animals exhibited enhanced glucose homeostasis by glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test. M1/M2 macrophage number in adipose tissue was comparable between genotypes; however, TNF-α and IL-6 secretion was lower from IL-1RI(-/-) adipose tissue macrophages. IL-1RI(-/-) adipose exhibited enhanced insulin sensitivity, elevated pAKT, lower cytokine secretion, and attenuated induction of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and suppressor of cytokine signaling molecule 3 after HFD. Coculture of WT, but not IL-1RI(-/-) macrophages, with 3T3L1 adipocytes enhanced IL-6 and TNF-α secretion, reduced adiponectin secretion, and impaired adipocyte insulin sensitivity. TNF-α and IL-1ß potently synergized to enhance inflammation in WT macrophages and adipose, an effect lost in the absence of IL-1RI. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of IL-1RI protects against HFD-induced IR coincident with reduced local adipose tissue inflammation, despite equivalent immune cell recruitment.

Differential valine metabolism in adipose tissue of low and high fat-oxidizing obese subjects.

Differences in fat metabolism are of importance in relation to energy balance. Low fat-oxidizers (LFO) are thought to be more prone for developing obesity. We studied whether LFO have different fasting adipose tissue (AT) protein profiles than high fat-oxidizers (HFO). Six LFO and six HFO subjects were selected from an obese group (n = 99, body mass index>30 kg/m(2) ) taking part in a multi-center study (Nutrient-Gene interaction in human obesity) based on the postprandial fat oxidation capacity after a high fat load. AT protein profiles were studied by 2-DE. Differential proteins were clustered with MAPPfinder according to their function. Protein profiles of purified blood cells and adipocytes served to confine the comparison to adipocyte-specific proteins in AT profiles of LFO and HFO subjects. LFO had increased mitochondrial ROS scavengers possibly related to long-chain unsaturated fatty acid-induced increases in mitochondrial ROS-production. Carbohydrate oxidation seemed to be reduced since expression of several proteins from the glycolysis pathway was lower in LFO. Up-regulation of the valine catabolism at the level of methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase appeared to be (part of) the compensatory mechanism. In conclusion, the fasting AT protein profile of LFO and HFO differ at the level of ROS scavenging, the glycolysis pathway and valine metabolism.