Perception and food consumption frequency due to the Covid-19 pandemic among University students in Trujillo City, Perú / Percepción y frecuencia del consumo de alimentos debido a la pandemia del COVID-19 entre estudiantes universitarios de la ciudad de Trujillo, Perú

Introduction: The confinement due to COVID-19 significantly affected people's food consumption, especially university students who had to adapt to virtual education. Objective: To determine the perception and food consumption frequency due to the COVID-19 pandemic among Peruvian students from a private university in Trujillo City, Peru. Materials and method: The research design was non-experimental, descriptive, and cross- sectional. The non-probabilistic sample consisted of 169 students and the instrument used was a virtual survey (Cronbach's alpha = 0.846). Results: It is shown that there is a higher frequency of young people (n = 116) and adolescents (n = 45) who participated in the study, and that the average age was 22.15 ± 3.77 years. Likewise, the Frequency of Consumption dimension, it showed a higher frequency in the "Sometimes" scale, where it is related to whether it exceeded the number of meals per day (34.9%), eating out of control (38.5%), desires to eat unhealthy food (32.0%) and whether it influenced eating (30.8%). Similarly, it was shown that the majority of respondents consumed fruits (68.6%) and vegetables (58.0%) and considered water consumption essential (98.3%). On the other hand, there was a higher frequency regarding the consumption of ultra-processed foods (n = 95, 56.2%). Conclusion: The population of a private university made up mostly of young people and adolescents perceives that there was a change in their diet during the COVID-19 pandemic(AU)

Introducción: El confinamiento por COVID-19 afectó notablemente el consumo de alimentos de las personas, sobre todo de los universitarios quienes tuvieron que adaptarse a una educación virtual. Objetivo: Determinar la percepción y la frecuencia del consumo de alimentos a causa de la pandemia por COVID-19 en estudiantes de una universidad privada de la ciudad de Trujillo (Perú). Materiales y métodos: El diseño de la investigación fue no experimental de tipo descriptivo, y de corte transversal. La muestra no probabilística estuvo conformada por 169 estudiantes y el instrumento utilizado fue una encuesta virtual (Alfa de Cronbach = 0,846). Resultados: Se muestra que hay una mayor frecuencia de jóvenes (n = 116) y adolescentes (n = 45) que participaron en el estudio, y que la edad promedio fue de 22,15 ± 3,77 años. Así mismo, en la dimensión Frecuencia de Consumo, tuvo una mayor frecuencia en la escala "A veces", donde se relaciona a si excedió el número de comidas al día (34,9%), comer fuera de control (38,5%), deseos de comer comida poco saludable (32,0%) y si influenció en la alimentación (30,8%). De la misma manera, se mostró que la mayoría de encuestados consumió frutas (68,6%) y verduras (58,0) y consideró imprescindible el consumo de agua (98,3%), por otro lado, hubo una mayor frecuencia respecto al consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados (n = 95, 56,2%). Conclusiones: La población de una universidad privada conformada mayoritariamente por jóvenes y adolescentes percibe que si hubo un cambio en su alimentación durante la pandemia del COVID-19(AU)

Associations of blood pressure change with change in foods' intake among adults with mild to moderate hypertension / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To explore the association between the intake and changes in various types of food and the changes in blood pressure in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Methods: Mild to moderate hypertension participants with complete baseline and outcome data were included from DECIDE-Diet study, a multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Dietary records and blood pressure measurements at both 7-day run-in (baseline) and 28-day intervention phases were collected for enrolled participants. Blood pressure change was defined as the difference between blood pressure at the end of trial and the baseline blood pressure. Baseline intake of food was the average daily intake during the run-in period, and the intake increment was defined as the difference between the average intake during the trial period and the average intake during the run-in period. After adjusting for age, sex, study center, intervention groups, baseline body mass index (kg/m2), antihypertension medication use, and baseline total calorie intake, a linear regression model was used to analyze the associations of the before-after-intervention change in blood pressure with baseline intake and intake increment of foods. Results: A total of 258 patients with mild to moderate hypertension were included, including 133 males, aged (56.5±9.9) years. (1) After adjusting for confounding factors, there was no significant association between baseline intake of food and baseline blood pressure (all P>0.05). The blood pressure change was negatively associated with baseline intakes of tubers, vegetables, and vegetable oils but positively with baseline intake of meats; and was negatively associated with intake increment of whole grains and fish (all P<0.05). (2) The multiple linear regression analysis showed that baseline intake of vegetables (β=-0.021, P=0.004), vegetable oils (β=-0.260, P=0.002), and increment in intake of fish (β=-0.128, P=0.026) were all significantly associated with changes in systolic blood pressure; baseline intake of vegetables (β=-0.017, P=0.002), vegetable oils (β=-0.182, P=0.001), dairy products (β=0.021, P=0.022), and increment in intake of fish (β=-0.092, P=0.010) were all significantly associated with changes in diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: Increasing the intake of whole grains, vegetables, vegetable oils, and fish and decreasing the intake of meat may be beneficial for blood pressure control in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.

Associations of blood pressure change with change in foods' intake among adults with mild to moderate hypertension / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To explore the association between the intake and changes in various types of food and the changes in blood pressure in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Methods: Mild to moderate hypertension participants with complete baseline and outcome data were included from DECIDE-Diet study, a multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Dietary records and blood pressure measurements at both 7-day run-in (baseline) and 28-day intervention phases were collected for enrolled participants. Blood pressure change was defined as the difference between blood pressure at the end of trial and the baseline blood pressure. Baseline intake of food was the average daily intake during the run-in period, and the intake increment was defined as the difference between the average intake during the trial period and the average intake during the run-in period. After adjusting for age, sex, study center, intervention groups, baseline body mass index (kg/m2), antihypertension medication use, and baseline total calorie intake, a linear regression model was used to analyze the associations of the before-after-intervention change in blood pressure with baseline intake and intake increment of foods. Results: A total of 258 patients with mild to moderate hypertension were included, including 133 males, aged (56.5±9.9) years. (1) After adjusting for confounding factors, there was no significant association between baseline intake of food and baseline blood pressure (all P>0.05). The blood pressure change was negatively associated with baseline intakes of tubers, vegetables, and vegetable oils but positively with baseline intake of meats; and was negatively associated with intake increment of whole grains and fish (all P<0.05). (2) The multiple linear regression analysis showed that baseline intake of vegetables (β=-0.021, P=0.004), vegetable oils (β=-0.260, P=0.002), and increment in intake of fish (β=-0.128, P=0.026) were all significantly associated with changes in systolic blood pressure; baseline intake of vegetables (β=-0.017, P=0.002), vegetable oils (β=-0.182, P=0.001), dairy products (β=0.021, P=0.022), and increment in intake of fish (β=-0.092, P=0.010) were all significantly associated with changes in diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: Increasing the intake of whole grains, vegetables, vegetable oils, and fish and decreasing the intake of meat may be beneficial for blood pressure control in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.

Knowledge and consumption of fruits and vegetables of selected public and private senior high school students in Imus City, Cavite

Background@#The 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey results showed that the contribution of fruits and vegetables (FV) in the one-day food intake of adolescents only accounted for 2.6% and 5.9%, respectively. Numerous literatures also stated that insufficient intake of FV is associated with the development of most non-communicable diseases. @*Objectives@#This study was undertaken to compare the knowledge and consumption of FV between selected respondents from public and private SHS in Imus City.@*Methods@#The study used a descriptive research design, and convenience sampling was done to gather respondents. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and the level of knowledge on FV was classified into low, fair, and good. In the evaluation of FV amount consumption, the Daily Nutrition Guide Pyramid for Teens was used. The data were reported in mean, mode, and percentages.@*Results@#More public SHS (49%) obtained a good level of knowledge on nutrient contents of FV, and consumed fruits (61%) more than the recommended daily serving. While more private SHS (96%) had a good level of knowledge of its health benefits but consumed vegetables (67%) less than the recommended daily serving. Their most consumed vegetables were dahon ng sili and garlic. The most consumed fruits were Indian mango and pear. Squash (47%) was the most liked vegetable by both groups. The majority of public SHS identified banana (37%) as their most liked fruit while it was mango (22%) for the majority of private SHS. Public SHS respondents were also recorded to have a lower average estimated family expenditure on FV.@*Conclusion@#The study concluded that both public and private SHS do not consume adequate amounts of FV despite their good level of knowledge of its nutrients and health benefits.

Genome-wide association analysis of agronomic traits related to eggplant fruits: a review / 生物工程学报

Eggplant is an important horticultural crop and one of the most widely grown vegetables in the Solanaceae family. Eggplant fruit-related agronomic traits are complex quantitative traits with low efficiency and long cycle time for traditional breeding selection. With the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing technology and bioinformatics tools, genome-wide association study (GWAS) has shown great application potential in analyzing the genetic rules of complex agronomic traits related to eggplant fruits. This paper first reviews the progress of genome-wide association analysis in eggplant fruit shape, fruit color and other fruit-related agronomic traits. Subsequently, aiming at the problem of missing heritability, which is common in the genetic studies of eggplant quantitative traits, this paper puts forward the development strategies of eggplant GWAS in the future based on the hot spots of application of four GWAS strategies in the research of agronomics traits related to eggplant fruits. Lastly, the application of GWAS strategy in the field of eggplant molecular breeding is expected to provide a theoretical basis and reference for the future use of GWAS to analyze the genetic basis of various eggplant fruit-related traits and to select fruit materials that meet consumer needs.

Association between Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Arterial Stiffness: The China-PAR Project / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#This study aimed to investigate the association between fruit and vegetable intake and arterial stiffness.@*METHODS@#We conducted a cohort-based study comprising 6,628 participants with arterial stiffness information in the Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China (China-PAR) project. A semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire was used to assess baseline (2007-2008) and recent (2018-2021) fruit and vegetable intake. We assessed changes in fruit and vegetable intake from 2007-2008 to 2018-2021 in 6,481 participants. Arterial stiffness was measured using the arterial velocity-pulse index (AVI) and arterial pressure-volume index (API). Elevated AVI and API values were defined according to diverse age reference ranges.@*RESULTS@#Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models revealed that every 100 g/d increment in fruit and vegetable intake was associated with a 0.11 decrease in AVI ( B= -0.11; 95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.20, -0.02) on average, rather than API ( B = 0.02; 95% CI: -0.09, 0.13). The risk of elevated AVI (odds ratio [ OR] = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.97) is 18% lower in individuals with high intake (≥ 500 g/d) than in those with low intake (< 500 g/d). Furthermore, maintaining a high intake in the past median of 11.5 years of follow-up was associated with an even lower risk of elevated AVI compared with a low intake at both baseline and follow-up ( OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.83).@*CONCLUSION@#Fruit and vegetable intake was negatively associated with arterial stiffness, emphasizing recommendations for adherence to fruit and vegetable intake for the prevention of arterial stiffness.

Relationship between nutrient-related dietary pattern and mild cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly people in 15 provinces of China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To explore the relationship between nutrient-related dietary pattern and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in middle-aged and elderly people. Methods: A total of 6 444 middle-aged and elderly people aged ≥55 years were selected in 2018 China Health and Nutrition Survey. MCI was evaluated by Mini-Mental State Examination, and the intakes of various foods were obtained by consecutive 3-day 24-hour dietary survey and weighing method. The intakes of various nutrients and total dietary energy were calculated based on the food composition table. Demographic and social information, lifestyle and health status of the respondents were obtained through questionnaire survey and physical measurements. In this study, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, iron, copper and selenium were selected as dependent variables. Nutrient-related dietary patterns were extracted by reduced rank regression method, and the relationship between dietary patterns and MCI was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Six dietary patterns were extracted in this study, and dietary pattern 1 with the highest explanatory degree was selected for subsequent analysis. Dietary pattern 1 was characterized by higher intakes of legume products, vegetables, fruits, nuts, pork, aquatic products and plant oil. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of MCI was lower in Q4 dietary score group than in Q1 dietary score group (OR=0.69, 95%CI: 0.49-0.98) in the 55-64 age group. In people with sleep duration of 8 hours per day, the risk of MCI was reduced in Q2, Q3 and Q4 dietary score groups compared with the Q1 dietary score group, with OR values of 0.68 (95%CI: 0.51-0.92), 0.67 (95%CI: 0.49-0.92) and 0.65 (95%CI: 0.45-0.92), respectively. Interaction analysis showed that the risk for MCI increased in those aged 65-74 years and ≥75 years compared with those aged 55-64 years in Q1 dietary score group. However, the risk for MCI decreased in both age groups as dietary pattern scores increased. Compared with those with sleep duration less or more than 8 hours per day in Q1 dietary score group, those with sleep duration of 8 hours per day in Q2 and Q3 dietary score groups had a reduced risk for MCI. Conclusion: Dietary patterns with higher intakes of legume products, vegetables, fruits, nuts, pork, aquatic products, and plant oil are negatively associated with MCI in people aged 55-64 years and those who slept 8 hours per day, and may reduce the risk of MCI with aging.

Special issue: molecular nutrition and chronic diseases / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food"-the ancient adage proposed by Greek philosopher Hippocrates of Kos thousands of years ago already acknowledged the importance of the beneficial and health-promoting effects of food nutrients on the body (Mafra et al., 2021). Recent epidemiological and large-scale community studies have also reported that unhealthy diets or eating habits may contribute heavily to the burden of chronic, non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, arthritis, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Jayedi et al., 2020; Gao et al., 2022). Emerging evidence highlights that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can prevent various chronic diseases (Chen et al., 2022). Food bioactive compounds including vitamins, phytochemicals, and dietary fibers are responsible for these nutraceutical benefits (Boeing et al., 2012). Recently, phytochemicals such as polyphenols, phytosterols, and carotenoids have gained increasing attention due to their potential health benefits to alleviate chronic diseases (van Breda and de Kok, 2018). Understanding the role of phytochemicals in health promotion and preventing chronic diseases can inform dietary recommendations and the development of functional foods. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the health benefits of phytochemicals derived from commonly consumed foods for the prevention and management of chronic diseases.

Association between socioeconomic factors and fruit and vegetable consumption in Brazilians aged ≥ 50 years: ELSI-Brazil data / Associação entre consumo de frutas, legumes e verduras e fatores socioeconômicos em brasileiros com 50 anos ou mais: dados do ELSI-Brasil

OBJECTIVE: Daily fruit and vegetable consumption is a critical factor in health, especially aging. This study aimed to evaluate the association between socioeconomic factors and daily fruit and vegetable consumption in men and women aged ≥ 50 years. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used 2015-2016 data from the Brazilian longitudinal study of aging (ELSI-Brazil), which included 8665 individuals aged ≥ 50 years. Daily fruit and vegetable consumption was the dependent variable, and income, education, sex, age, and race were the independent variables. Associations between fruit and vegetable consumption and the independent variables were determined using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Individuals who had completed higher education (OR 2.40; 95% CI 2.07-2.78), whose income was > 3 times the minimum wage (OR 2.42; 95% CI 2.18-2.68), and those aged > 80 years (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.27-1.63) were more likely to consume fruits and vegetables. However, men (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.58-0.67), Blacks (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.65-0.84), and people of mixed race (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.63-0.73), were less likely to consume fruits and vegetables. CONCLUSIONS: The results show inequality in fruit and vegetable consumption among people aged ≥ 50 years, which was lower among men, people of Black or mixed race, people with low income and education, and those with younger age. Interventions are needed to promote fruit and vegetable consumption, and thus healthy aging, among these groups

OBJETIVO: O consumo diário de frutas, legumes e verduras (FLV) é um fator primordial à saúde, especialmente no envelhecimento. Este estudo teve o objetivo de avaliar a associação entre fatores socioeconômicos e o consumo diário de FLV em pessoas com idade de ≥ 50 anos, de ambos os sexos. METODOLOGIA: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, com dados do ELSI-Brasil 2015 - 2016, realizado com 8.665 indivíduos com idade acima de 50 anos. O consumo diário de FLV foi a variável dependente e renda, escolaridade, sexo, idade e cor de pele foram as variáveis independentes. A regressão de Poisson foi usada para verificar a associação entre o consumo de FVL e as variáveis independentes. RESULTADOS: Indivíduos que possuíam ensino superior (odds ratio ­ OR 2,40; intervalo de confiança ­ IC95% 2,07 - 2,78), que recebiam mais que três salários-mínimos (OR 2,42; IC95% 2,18 - 2,68) e com idade superior a 80 anos (OR 1,44; IC95% 1,27 - 1,63) tinham maior probabilidade de consumir FLV. Por outro lado, homens (OR 0,63; IC95% 0,58 - 0,67) de cor de pele parda (OR 0,68; IC95% 0,63 - 0,73) e preta (OR 0,74; IC95% 0,65 - 0,84) tiveram menor chance de consumo de FVL. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados revelam desigualdades no consumo de FLV entre pessoas com idade acima de 50 anos, com maior magnitude entre os com baixa renda, baixa escolaridade, menor idade, sexo masculino e cor de pele parda e preta, demonstrando, assim, a necessidade de estratégias de intervenção para aumentar o consumo desses alimentos, buscando a promoção do envelhecimento saudável

Influencia de ácidos grasos en parámetros sanguíneos y adipogénesis. Estudio experimental en pollos eclosionados / Influence of fatty acids on blood parameters and formation of adipocytes at early age

Introducción: La alimentación en la primera infancia influencia la instauración del tejido adiposo y el desarrollo de diversas patologías en la edad adulta. Objetivo: Evaluar la influencia del consumo de tres fuentes de ácidos grasos sobre parámetros sanguíneos y tejido adiposo en pollos recién eclosionados. Materiales y métodos: Se utilizaron 76 pollitos Cobb 500 distribuidos aleatoriamente en cuatro tratamientos, que fueron alimentados durante siete días con una de las cuatro dietas (T1: 97% Dieta basal (DB); T2: DB +3% de manteca vegetal parcialmente hidrogenada; T3: DB +3% de aceite de quinua y T4: DB +3% de aceite de pescado). Al finalizar, se evaluó en sangre glucosa, colesterol, triglicéridos y tamaño de adipocitos del tejido adiposo subcutáneo y visceral. Se aplicó ANOVA considerando 0,05 de significancia y en el caso de variables no distribuidas normalmente, se aplicó el test no paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis mediante el programa R-Studio. Resultados: Se obtuvieron diferencias significativas con disminución de los niveles de glucosa y colesterol en animales suplementados con elevada proporción de aceites insaturados (T3 y T4) en comparación a T2. Los tratamientos T3 y T4 promovieron una formación hiperplásica de adipocitos, diferenciándose significativamente de T2, que promovió la hipertrofia en dichas células, esta respuesta fue similar en ambos depósitos subcutáneos. Conclusiones: El consumo de aceite de quinua y aceite de pescado promueve la formación de tejido adiposo saludable, y reducen los niveles de glucosa y colesterol. Contrariamente el consumo de manteca vegetal propicia la hipertrofia de adipocitos de gran tamaño e incrementa los parámetros bioquímicos evaluados(AU)

Introduction: Feeding in early childhood influences the establishment of adipose tissue, and therefore also in the development of various pathologies in adulthood. Objective: To evaluate the influence of the consumption of three sources of fatty acids on blood parameters and adipose tissue at an early age. Materials and methods: 76 Cobb 500 chicks randomly distributed in four treatments were used, who were fed for seven days with one of the four diets (T1: Basal diet; T2: DB +1.0% vegetable shortening partially hydrogenated; T3: DB +1.0% quinoa oil and DB +1.0% fish oil) until the seventh day of life. At the end, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and adipocyte size of the subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue were evaluated. A completely randomized design with ANOVA considering 0.05 significance was applied and in the case of non-normally distributed variables, the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test was applied using the R-Studio program. Results: Significant differences were obtained with a decrease in glucose and cholesterol levels in animals supplemented with unsaturated oils (T3 and T4) compared to T2. Regarding the size of adipocytes, treatments T3 and T4 promoted a hyperplastic formation of adipocytes, differing significantly from T2, which promoted hypertrophy in these cells, this response was similar in both subcutaneous deposits. Conclusions: The consumption of quinoa oil and fish oil promote the formation of healthy adipose tissue, in addition to reducing glucose and cholesterol levels. In contrast, the consumption of vegetable shortening favors the hypertrophy of large adipocytes and increases the biochemical parameters evaluated(AU)

Contaminação parasitária em hortaliças comercializadas no município de Jataí-GO / Parasitic contamination in vegetables commercialized in the city of Jataí-GO

Introdução: a prevalência de doenças parasitárias transmitidas por alimentos tem apresentado um aumento significativo em nível mundial, destacando principalmente as hortaliças, consumidas in natura, em razão da sociedade moderna que procura hábitos de vida mais saudáveis. Objetivo:avaliar a contaminação de hortaliças comercializadas no município de Jataí, GO, por enteroparasitos. Metodologia: foi realizada uma pesquisa experimental para detecção de estruturas parasitárias em hortaliças de cultivo tradicional e hidropônico, obtidas de nove estabelecimentos: três supermercados, três hortas e três feiras livres. Foram obtidas 54 amostras de alface (Lactuca sativa), 54 de rúcula (Chicarium sp.) e 18 de agrião (Nasturtiumofficinale). As amostras foram lavadas com água destilada e solução Tween 80 e submetidas as técnicas de sedimentação espontânea e por centrifugação. Foi realizado um mapeamento da área de estudo para identificação da localização dos estabelecimentos. Resultados: a positividade para estruturas parasitárias foi de 94,4% (119/126). A alface apresentou maior prevalência de parasitos 96,2% (52/54). Foi observada diferença estatística significativa ao comparar o emprego das duas técnicas (p < 0,05). Ashortaliças submetidas a técnica de sedimentação espontânea apresentaram maior positividade 115/126 (91,3%). Não foi observada diferença estatística significante quanto ao tipo de cultivo, porém, houve forte associação em relação ao local de cultivo e contaminação das hortaliças (OR: 3,625). Verificou-se maior percentual de positividade nos estabelecimentos localizados próximos aos rios. Conclusão: a positividade de enteroparasitos detectada nas hortaliças foi alta, ressaltando a necessidade de implementar medidas que visam a conscientização da população, em relação às práticas de higienização das hortaliças antes do consumo.

Introduction: the prevalence of parasitic diseases transmitted by food has shown a significant increase worldwide, especially vegetables, consumed in natura, due to modern society that seeks healthier lifestyles. Objective: to evaluate the contamination of vegetables commercialized in the city of Jataí, GO, by enteroparasites. Methodology: an experimental research was carried out to detect parasitic structures in vegetables of traditional and hydroponic cultivation, obtained from nine establishments: three supermarkets, three vegetable gardens and three street markets. Fifty four samples of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), 54 of arugula (Chicarium sp.) and 18 of watercress (Nasturtium officinale) were obtained. The samples were washed with distilled water and Tween 80 solution and submitted to spontaneous sedimentation and centrifugation techniques. A mapping of the study area was carried out to identify the location of the establishments. Results: positivity for parasitic structures was 94.4% (119/126). Lettuce had a higher prevalence of parasites 96.2% (52/54). A statistically significant difference was observed when comparing the use of the two techniques (p < 0.05). Vegetables submitted to the spontaneous sedimentation technique showed higher positivity 115/126 (91.3%). There was no statistically significant difference regarding the type of cultivation, however, there was a strong association in relation to the place of cultivation and contamination of vegetables (OR: 3.625). There was a higher percentage of positivity in establishments located near the rivers. Conclusion: the positivity of intestinal parasites detected in vegetables was high, highlighting the need to implement measures aimed at raising awareness of the population regarding the practices of cleaning vegetables before consumption.

Avaliação do microambiente alimentar em estabelecimentos fornecedores de alimentos em um município do trairí do Rio Grande do Norte / Evaluation of the food microenvironment in establishments supplying foods in acity of Trairi ofRio Grande do Norte / Evaluación del microambiente alimentario en provedores de alimentos en unmunicipio de Trairi doRio Grande do Norte

Introdução:As pessoas passaram a consumir alimentos prontos e ultraprocessados cada vez mais e diminuíram o consumo de alimentos naturais. Consequentemente, têm aumentado o desenvolvimento de obesidade e outras doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. Esse processo de transição nutricional e epidemiológico tem sido influenciado pelo ambiente alimentar. Objetivo:avaliar o microambiente alimentar em mercados e restaurantes do município de Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte. Metodologia:Trata-se deuma pesquisa transversal e descritiva, de abordagem quantitativa, realizada em 60 estabelecimentos comerciais fornecedores de alimentos naturais, industrializados e refeições prontas. Foram aplicados questionários, de acordo com a classificação do tipo deestabelecimento para verificação da disponibilidade, variedade, preço e qualidade de alimentos naturais e ultraprocessados. Resultados:A maior parte dos estabelecimentos participantes eram mercados locais ou de bairros, localizados no centro da cidade, evidenciando as desigualdades territoriais.Foi visto que a disponibilidade de frutas e hortaliças era inferior aos ultraprocessados. Os alimentos apresentaram qualidade satisfatória e os menores preços de frutas foram encontrados nos supermercados e mercadinhos, enquanto os das hortaliças na feira livre. Conclusões:ficou evidente a necessidade de políticas públicas de incentivo a descentralização do comércio de alimentos e o incentivo à venda de alimentos mais saudáveis e acessíveis física e financeiramente (AU).

Introduction:People have started to consume more and more ready-to-eat foods and have reduced their consumption of fruit and vegetables. Consequently, the prevalence of overweight and chronic non-communicable diseases have increased over the years. This dietary and epidemiological transition process has been influenced by the food environment in which they are inserted. Objective:to evaluate the food microenvironment in markets and restaurants in the city of Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte.Methodology:This is a cross-sectional and descriptive research, with a quantitative approach, carried out in 60 commercial establishments supplying natural and processed foods and ready-to-eat meals. Questionnaires were applied, according to the classification of the type of establishment, to check the availability, variety, price and quality of natural and ultra-processed foods.Results:Most of the participating establishments were local or neighborhood markets,located in the downtown, highlighting territorial inequalities. It was noted that the availability of fruits and vegetables is lower than the ultra-processed foods. All foods showed satisfactory quality, and the lowest prices for fruits were found in supermarkets and grocery stores, while vegetables were found in the street market. Conclusions:the need for public policies to encourage the decentralization of the food trade and the incentive to sell healthier and more affordable foodsphysically and financially became evident (AU).

Introducción: Las personas pasaron a consumir alimentos listos y ultraprocessados cada vez más y disminuyeron el consumo de alimentos naturales. Consecuentemente, las prevalencias de sobrepeso y enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles han aumentado con los años. Este proceso de transición alimentaria y epidemiológica ha sido influenciado por el entorno alimentario en el que se encuentran. Objetivo: evaluar el microambiente alimentario en mercados y restaurantes del municipio de Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte.Metodología: Se trata de una investigación transversal y descriptiva, de abordaje cuantitativo, realizada en 60 establecimientos comerciales proveedores de alimentos naturales, industrializados y comidas preparadas. Se aplicaron cuestionarios de acuerdo con la clasificación del tipo de establecimiento para verificar la disponibilidad, variedad, precio y calidad de los alimentos naturales y ultraprocesados. Resultados: La mayor parte de los establecimientos participantes eran mercados locales o de barrios, localizada en el centro de la ciudad, destacando las desigualdades territoriales. Se ha visto que la disponibilidad de frutas y hortalizas es inferior a los ultraprocesados. Los alimentos presentaron calidad satisfactoria y los menores precios de frutas fueron encontrados en los supermercados y mercadillos, mientras que las hortalizas en la feria libre.Conclusiones: quedó evidente la necesidad de políticas públicas de incentivo a la descentralización del comercio de alimentos y el incentivo a la venta de alimentos más saludablesy asequibles física y financieramente (AU).

Association between eating behaviors and positive self-perception of health in Brazilian Adults

Healthy eating habits are related to a lower prevalence of chronic diseases. Objective: Verify the relationship between eating behaviors and self-perceived health (SPH) in young, middle-aged, and older adults. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 52166 Brazilian adults aged 18 years and over. The dependent variable was positive SPH, whereas the independent variable was the eating behavior (exchanging lunch for snacks; exchanging dinner for snacks; intake of beans, ultra-processed food the previous day, fruits, vegetables, and processed juices/soft drinks). Poisson regression with robust adjustment for variance was used in the data analysis. Results: The relationship between eating behaviors and SPH was similar between genders. However, a more evident relationship was observed among young adults, regarding the age group. The consumption of fruits and vegetables was most clearly associated with SPH among the investigated behaviors. Furthermore, the higher the number of positive eating behaviors, the higher the prevalence of positive SPH in both genders and all age groups. Conclusion: The findings of this study reinforce the importance of healthy eating behaviors for health and indicate a more direct relationship between these and positive SPH in young adults and as a habit of regularly consuming fruits and vegetables(AU)

Los hábitos alimentarios positivos se relacionan con una menor prevalencia de enfermedades crónicas. Objetivo: Verificar la relación entre las conductas alimentarias y la salud auto percibida (SA) en adultos jóvenes, de mediana edad y ancianos. Materiales y métodos: Se trata de un estudio transversal con 52166 adultos de 18 años o más en Brasil. La variable dependiente fue la SA positiva, mientras que la variable independiente fue la conducta alimentaria (cambio de almuerzo por refrigerio; cambio de cena por un refrigerio, consumo de frijoles, comida ultra procesada, fruta, verdura y zumos/refrescos artificiales el día anterior a la entrevista). En el análisis de datos, se utilizó la regresión de Poisson con ajuste robusto para la varianza. Resultados: La relación entre las conductas alimentarias y la SA fue similar entre los géneros, pero en relación al grupo de edad, se observó una relación más evidente en adultos jóvenes. De los comportamientos investigados, el consumo de frutas y verduras fueron los que se asociaron más claramente con la SA. Cuanto mayor es el número de conductas alimentarias positivas, mayor es la prevalencia de SA positiva, en ambos sexos y en todos los grupos de edad. Conclusión: Los hallazgos de este estudio refuerzan la importancia de un comportamiento alimentario saludable para la mejorar y mantener la salud e indican que, aparentemente, existe una relación más explícita entre éste y la SA positiva en adultos jóvenes, al igual que con el hábito de consumir frutas y verduras con frecuencia(AU)

Com as mãos na terra: estratégias de promoção em nutrição agroecológica / Hands on earth: promotion strategies in agroecological nutrition

Introdução: É notório que a alimentação e a nutrição adequada constituem requisitos indispensáveis para a promoção e a proteção da saúde. Objetivo: Contribuir para a melhoria do acesso a alimentos saudáveis de famílias em um Bairro da periferia urbana do Município de Sobral através de hortas comunitárias, orgânicas e sustentáveis como estratégia de promover Educação Alimentar e Nutricional. Métodos e Materiais: Estudo descritivo com características de intervenção comunitária sob a abordagem qualitativa. A amostra inclui 15 pessoas de famílias beneficiárias do Programa Bolsa Família, acompanhadas pelo Centro de Saúde da Família. Foram realizados quatro encontros educativos sobre alimentação saudável com enfoque na inclusão de frutas, legumes e verduras. Além, do manejo de hortas para o cultivo do próprio alimento. Resultados: Os encontros tiveram duração de 8 horas ao dia, totalizando 24 horas. O momento foi oportuno para treinamento ofertado por um técnico em olericultura orgânica pela entidade parceira, que transmitiu os conhecimentos de maneira prática, em que os participantes aprenderam a preparar a terra, a semear, plantar, regar, colher. No decorrer do treinamento a nutricionista pesquisadora, transmitiu informações nutricionais. Os encontros aconteceram em dias seguidos, nos turnos manhã e tarde. Conclusão: Diante do que foi vivenciado, a pesquisa se mostrou útil para melhoria do grau de conhecimento das participantes, promoveu reflexão crítica sobre a segurança alimentar e nutricional. Ressaltou a importância de se cultivar o próprio alimento para torná-lo acessível.

This study aims at contributing to the improvement of access to healthy food for families in a neighborhood of the urban outskirts of the Municipality of Sobral through community organic and sustainable vegetable gardens as a strategy to promote Food and Nutrition Education. It is a descriptive study with characteristics of community intervention using a qualitative approach. The sample includes 15 people from families benefited from the Family Grant Program (Bolsa Família), accompanied by the Family Health Center. Four educational meetings were held on healthy eating with a focus on the inclusion of fruits and vegetables. In addition, the participants were also taught how to manage vegetable gardens for the cultivation of the food itself. The meetings lasted 8 hours a day, totaling 24 hours. The moment was ideal to provide training offered by an organic olericulture technician provided by the partner entity, who shared the knowledge in a practical way, where the participants could learn how to prepare the earth, to sow, to plant, to water, and to harvest. During the training, the nutritionist researcher also shared nutritional information. The encounters took place on consecutive days, during the morning and afternoon shifts. In view of what was experienced, the research proved to be useful for improving the participants' knowledge on the topic, promoting a critical reflection on food and nutritional security. It also emphasized the importance of cultivating the food itself to make it accessible.

Contribution of the carbonized rice husk added to the substrate in the production of vegetable seedlings

The carbonized rice husk (CRH) is an agro-industrial residue with great potential for use in mixtures with other substrates for the production of vegetable seedlings. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of CRH to the commercial substrate for the production of greenhouse seedlings. The evaluated vegetables were lettuce, broccoli and mustard, cultivated in polystyrene foam (Styrofoam®) trays. Five treatments were evaluated: 100% of the commercial substrate (CS); 25% of CRH + 75% of CS; 50% of CRH + 50% of CS; 75% CRH + 25% CS; and 100% CRH, in a completely randomized design with twelve replicates. The substrates were evaluated for their physical and chemical characteristics. The morphometric evaluations were: number of leaves per plant, plant height, shoot fresh matter yield, root length, and shoot and root dry matter yield. The data were submitted to regression analysis, and the homogeneity of the variance between the experiments was confirmed by the Cochran test. With the addition of CRH to the substrate, there was an increase in total porosity and P content and a reduction in density, water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, electrical conductivity, and N, K, S, Ca and Mg contents. The carbonized rice husk added to the commercial substrate is a viable alternative for the production of lettuce, broccoli and mustard seedlings. The quality of the vegetable seedlings was higher when there was a 25% CRH + 75% CS mixture.

Parasitological analysis of vegetables sold in supermarkets and free markets in the city of Taguatinga, Federal District, Brazil

Parasitosis are the most common diseases in the world, they are responsible for relevant negative consequences in the individuals´ health. The consumption of vegetables in Brazil and in the world is common due to their high nutritional value and they are recommended to be included in the population´s diet. Contaminations in vegetables are most often caused by irrigation water which is contaminated by feces, other forms of contamination are through organic manure containing fecal waste and the contact of vegetables with animals where they are grown. This research evaluated the contamination in vegetables with the purpose of warning the community about hygiene and the correct approach of food handling in order to prevent parasitic infections, contributing to people´s health. Samples were collected from supermarkets and farmers´ markets, where we obtained a total of 30 samples that were analyzed using Hoffman, centrifugation and slide reading´s techniques. In all samples, parasites were found. In six samples non-pathogenic amoebas were found, however this finding means that there was contamination from human or animal feces. And, in the other 24 samples, parasitic structures that cause damage to health were found. This work showed a high level of contamination of the vegetables that are consumed daily by the population and the diseases caused by food which are a concern for the public health. Contaminated vegetables are dangerous considering the transport of parasites that may generate human infections, therefore the importance to create public policies in order to avoid parasitic infections.

Preliminary assessment of weed population in vegetable and fruit farms of Taif, Saudi Arabia / Avaliação preliminar da população de plantas daninhas em fazendas de hortaliças e frutas de Taif, Arábia Saudita

A significant level of yield losses in the vegetable and fruit farms are attributed to the weed populations of the area. This study was conducted for eighteen months during 2019-2020 to assess the presence of various weed families, related species, and their densities in the vegetable (CROP A) and fruit (CROP B) farms of Taif, Saudi Arabia. During the study, fourteen and ten weed families were noted in the vegetable and fruit farms of the studied area, respectively. Poaceae family weeds (729) were significantly higher in numbers followed by the families Asteraceae (414), Chenopodiaceae (338), and Gisekiaceae (153). In the vegetable farms, two weed species of the family Poaceae including Setaria viridis (437) and Eleusine indica ssp (277) were present in the higher numbers followed by Chenopodium murale (166) of the Chenopodiaceae family. In the fruit farms, the weed species Cynodon dactylon of the family Poaceae represented the highest weed density (172) followed by Gisekia pharnaceoides L. species (153) of family Gisekiaceae and Portulaca oleracea (59) belonging to the family Portulacaceae. The vegetable and fruit farms of the Taif region face severe weed pressure that affects the cultivated crops. This study depicts a comprehensive picture of weed diversity and density in the vegetable and fruit farms of the area. The results of this study will be beneficial in developing effective weed management practices for better crop production.

Um nível significativo de perdas de rendimento nas fazendas de hortaliças e frutas é atribuído às populações de ervas daninhas da área. Este estudo foi conduzido por dezoito meses durante 2019-2020 para avaliar a presença de várias famílias de ervas daninhas, espécies relacionadas e suas densidades nas fazendas de vegetais (CROP A) e frutas (CROP B) de Taif, Arábia Saudita. Durante o estudo, catorze e dez famílias de plantas daninhas foram observadas nas fazendas de hortaliças e frutas da área estudada, respectivamente. As plantas daninhas da família Poaceae (729) foram significativamente maiores em número, seguidas pelas famílias Asteraceae (414), Chenopodiaceae (338) e Gisekiaceae (153). Nas hortas, duas espécies de plantas daninhas da família Poaceae, incluindo Setaria viridis (437) e Eleusine indica ssp (277), estavam presentes em maior número, seguidas por Chenopodium murale (166) da família Chenopodiaceae. Nas fruticulturas, a espécie de plantas daninhas Cynodon dactylon da família Poaceae representou a maior densidade de plantas daninhas (172) seguida das espécies Gisekia pharnaceoides L. (153) da família Gisekiaceae e Portulaca oleracea (59) pertencentes à família Portulacaceae. As fazendas de hortaliças e frutas da região de Taif enfrentam uma forte pressão de ervas daninhas que afeta as culturas cultivadas. Este estudo apresenta um quadro abrangente da diversidade e densidade de plantas daninhas nas fazendas de hortaliças e frutas da região. Os resultados deste estudo serão benéficos no desenvolvimento de práticas eficazes de manejo de plantas daninhas para uma melhor produção das culturas.

A follow-up study on the introduction of vegetables and fruits during infants aged 4-8 months in Beijing and Chenzhou City of Hunan Province / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the introduction of vegetables and fruits in 4-8 months old infants, and to describe the maternal and infants' characteristics associated with the introduction of vegetables and fruits.@*METHODS@#Mother-infant dyads (n=228) were recruited from 12 to 16 weeks postpartum and formally entered the study at 4 months of age. Data collected via face to face interview at 4-8 months postpartum, including the timing and types of added vegetables and fruits, as well as a variety of maternal and infant characteristics (n=204). Rank sum test and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the maternal and infant characteristics related to the introduction of vegetables and fruits.@*RESULTS@#The time of introducing vegetables was concentrated at the age of 7 months, and the time of adding fruits was mainly at 6 months. Fruits were added earlier than vegetables (P < 0.001), and the variety of the added fruits was higher than that of vegetables (P=0.045). 48% (n=98) of infants had no more than three types of fruits and vegetables at 8 months. Only 9.8% (n=20) had added more than 10 kinds of fruits and vegetables at 8 months. Green leafy vegetables were the most commonly added vegetable, and apple was the most popular fruit. Compared with women who were 35 years of age or younger, women beyond 35 years old introduced vegetables to their babies 0.6 months later. 4-month-old exclusively breastfed infants had vegetables 0.4 months later than mixed-fed infants. Women with a bachelor's degree or above added 2-3 more types of fruits and vegetables to their babies than those with junior high school education and below.@*CONCLUSION@#The adding time of fruits was earlier than that of vegetable. Apples and green leafy vegetables are commonly added. Women with lower educational backgrounds add fewer types of fruits and vegetables to their babies. Mothers who choose exclusive breastfeeding and those over 35 years of age at childbirth add vegetables to their babies later than others. They should be targeted for health promotion programs that aim to improve the intake of fruits and vegetables among infants.

Parasitic contamination of fresh vegetables sold in open markets: a public health threat / Contaminação parasítica de vegetais frescos vendidos em mercados abertos: uma ameaça para a saúde pública

Vegetables eating raw are a leading source of transmission of infective forms of pathogenic internal parasites among human beings. This research was conducted from April to October, 2017 to assess the parasitic contamination of vegetables sold at main vegetable markets in districts Lower Dir and Peshawar, Pakistan. Eight hundred specimens of different vegetables were purchased and soaked in physiological saline solution, shaken with a mechanical shaker for 20 minutes and processed by sedimentation concentration method. Results revealed that only 19.7% (n=158/800) of the vegetables were found to be contaminated with single or multiple parasite species. Ascaris lumbricoides (the large round worm) 12.3% (n=99/800) was the most commonly detected pathogen and Taenia saginata (the beef tapeworm) 1.62% (n=13/800) was the least frequently detected one. Interestingly, significant p value (p>0.05 at 95%CI) between the number of examined and contaminated for all the variables studied including education status of the vendors, markets location, type of vegetables, means of display, washed before display, washing source of water and market type. The findings of this study evidenced that consumption of raw vegetables possesses great risk of getting parasitic infections in Lower Dir and Peshawar districts, Pakistan. Instructing the sellers and the public about parasitic disease transfer and their hygiene can reduce the infection rate of parasites of human origin.

Os vegetais crus são a principal fonte de transmissão de formas infecciosas de parasitas internos patogênicos entre os seres humanos. Esta pesquisa foi realizada de abril a outubro de 2017 para avaliar a contaminação parasitária de vegetais vendidos nos principais mercados de vegetais nos distritos de Lower Dir e Peshawar, Paquistão. Oitocentos exemplares de diferentes vegetais foram adquiridos e embebidos em solução salina fisiológica, agitados em agitador mecânico por 20 minutos e processados pelo método de concentração por sedimentação. Os resultados revelaram que apenas 19,7% (n = 158/800) das hortaliças estavam contaminadas com uma ou várias espécies de parasitas. Ascaris lumbricoides (o verme redondo grande) 12,3% (n = 99/800) foi o patógeno mais comumente detectado e Taenia saginata (a tênia da carne) 1,62% (n = 13/800) foi o menos freqüentemente detectado. Curiosamente, valor de p significativo (p> 0,05 em IC de 95%) entre o número de examinados e contaminados para todas as variáveis estudadas incluindo escolaridade dos vendedores, localização dos mercados, tipo de vegetais, meios de exposição, lavado antes da exposição, fonte de lavagem de água e tipo de mercado. Os resultados deste estudo evidenciaram que o consumo de vegetais crus possui grande risco de contrair infecções parasitárias nos distritos de Lower Dir e Peshawar, no Paquistão. Instruir os vendedores e o público sobre a transferência de doenças parasitárias e sua higiene pode reduzir a taxa de infecção de parasitas de origem humana.