Using live videography observation and Bayesian isotope mixing model to identify food composition and dietary contribution to inorganic mercury and methylmercury intake by songbird nestlings.

Mercury (Hg) exposure is increasing in terrestrial birds; however, studies on its sources are scarce. In the present study, we elucidated the food composition of green-backed tit nestlings from three urban forest parks (CPL, AHL, and LCG) using live videography observation (LVO). Furthermore, the daily dietary intakes of inorganic Hg (IHg) (MDIIHg) and methylmercury (MeHg) (MDIMeHg) were determined using the Bayesian isotope mixing model (BIMM) to uncover the nestlings' specific dietary Hg contribution. Both LVO and BIMM indicated that Lepidoptera (primarily caterpillar) constituted the primary food source for the nestlings in the three forests, accounting for approximately 60% of their diet in all three forest parks. The estimated MDI of Hg revealed that lepidopterans and spiders primarily contributed to IHg exposure, with a co-contribution ratio of 71.8%-97.7%. Unexpectedly, dietary MeHg was mostly derived from spiders; the highest contribution ratio of 93.6% was recorded at CPL, followed by another peak ratio of 92.9% at LCG. However, the dietary exposure was primarily IHg, accounting for 69.8% (AHL), 62.0% (LCG), and 61.3% (CPL) of the nestlings. Our study findings highlight the importance of dietary IHg transfer in evaluating the effects of Hg in nestlings. LVO, coupled with BIMM, is an effective tool for determining the food compositions of songbird nestlings and estimating the contribution of specific diets.

Nutrition and Osteoporosis Prevention.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Osteoporosis affects 50% of women and 20% of men after the age of 50. Fractures are associated with significant morbidity, increased mortality and altered quality of life. Lifestyle measures for fragility fracture prevention include good nutrition including adequate protein and calcium intakes, vitamin D sufficiency, and regular weight bearing physical exercise. RECENT FINDINGS: Dietary protein is one of the most important nutritional considerations as it affects bone mineral density, trabecular and cortical microstructure, and bone strength. When calcium intake is sufficient, higher dietary protein intake is associated with lower risk of fracture. Dairy products are a valuable source of calcium and high quality protein. Dairy product consumption, particularly fermented dairy products, are associated with a lower risk of hip fracture and vegan diets are associated with increased fracture risk. Other dietary factors associated with reduced fracture risk include at least 5 servings per day of fruits and vegetables, regular tea drinking, adherence to a Mediterranean diet and other dietary patterns which provide fibers, polyphenols and fermented dairy products. Such dietary patterns may confer health benefits through their effect on gut microbiota composition and/or function. A balanced diet including minerals, protein, fruits and vegetables is an important element in the prevention of osteoporosis and of fragility fracture.

Harmonising dietary datasets for global surveillance: methods and findings from the Global Dietary Database.

OBJECTIVE: The Global Dietary Database (GDD) expanded its previous methods to harmonise and publicly disseminate individual-level dietary data from nutrition surveys worldwide. DESIGN: Analysis of cross-sectional data. SETTING: Global. PARTICIPANTS: General population. METHODS: Comprehensive methods to streamline the harmonisation of primary, individual-level 24-h recall and food record data worldwide were developed. To standardise the varying food descriptions, FoodEx2 was used, a highly detailed food classification and description system developed and adapted for international use by European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Standardised processes were developed to: identify eligible surveys; contact data owners; screen surveys for inclusion; harmonise data structure, variable definition and unit and food characterisation; perform data checks and publicly disseminate the harmonised datasets. The GDD joined forces with FAO and EFSA, given the shared goal of harmonising individual-level dietary data worldwide. RESULTS: Of 1500 dietary surveys identified, 600 met the eligibility criteria, and 156 were prioritised and contacted; fifty-five surveys were included for harmonisation and, ultimately, fifty two were harmonised. The included surveys were primarily nationally representative (59 %); included high- (39 %), upper-middle (21 %), lower-middle (27 %) and low- (13 %) income countries; usually collected multiple recalls/ records (64 %) and largely captured both sexes, all ages and both rural and urban areas. Surveys from low- and lower-middle v. high- and upper-middle income countries reported fewer nutrients (median 17 v. 30) and rarely included nutrients relevant to diet-related chronic diseases, such as n-3 fatty acids and Na. CONCLUSIONS: Diverse 24-h recalls/records can be harmonised to provide highly granular, standardised data, supporting nutrition programming, research and capacity development worldwide.

Digital Food Frequency Questionnaire Assessing Adherence to the Norwegian Food-Based Dietary Guidelines and Other National Lifestyle Recommendations: Instrument Validation Study.

BACKGROUND: Valid assessment tools are needed when investigating adherence to national dietary and lifestyle guidelines. OBJECTIVE: The relative validity of the new digital food frequency questionnaire, the DIGIKOST-FFQ, against 7-day weighed food records and activity sensors was investigated. METHODS: In total, 77 participants were included in the validation study and completed the DIGIKOST-FFQ and the weighed food record, and of these, 56 (73%) also used the activity sensors. The DIGIKOST-FFQ estimates the intake of foods according to the Norwegian food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) in addition to lifestyle factors. RESULTS: At the group level, the DIGIKOST-FFQ showed good validity in estimating intakes according to the Norwegian FBDG. The median differences were small and well below portion sizes for all foods except "water" (median difference 230 g/day). The DIGIKOST-FFQ was able to rank individual intakes for all foods (r=0.2-0.7). However, ranking estimates of vegetable intakes should be interpreted with caution. Between 69% and 88% of the participants were classified into the same or adjacent quartile for foods and between 71% and 82% for different activity intensities. The Bland-Altman plots showed acceptable agreements between DIGIKOST-FFQ and the reference methods. The absolute amount of time in "moderate to vigorous intensity" was underestimated with the DIGIKOST-FFQ. However, estimated time in "moderate to vigorous intensity," "vigorous intensity," and "sedentary time" showed acceptable correlations and good agreement between the methods. The DIGIKOST-FFQ was able to identify adherence to the Norwegian FBDG and physical activity recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: The DIGIKOST-FFQ gave valid estimates of dietary intakes and was able to identify individuals with different degrees of adherence to the Norwegian FBDG and physical activity recommendations. Moderate physical activity was underreported, water was overreported, and vegetables showed poor correlation, which are important to consider when interpreting the data. Good agreement was observed between the methods in estimating dietary intakes and time in "moderate to vigorous physical activity," "sedentary time," and "sleep."

Is Chewing Performance Related to Dietary Intake in Children with Cerebral Palsy?

To examine the relationship between chewing performance and dietary intakes in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Forty children with CP aged between 2 and 6 years were included. The Karaduman Chewing Performance Scale (KCPS) and the Mastication Observation and Evaluation (T-MOE) instruments were used to evaluate chewing performance. Daily dietary intakes were measured from a 24-h food record with digital photographs including the amount and textures of all foods consumed during the meal. Chewing function was impaired in 70% of children. There was a negative low-to-moderate correlation between KCPS scores and daily protein intake (r = -0.32, p = 0.04), but not with energy and other macronutrients. The percentage of daily dietary intakes from 'liquid-blenderized' foods were positively correlated with KCPS, and negatively correlated with T-MOE scores (p < 0.001). There was a significant negative association between the percentage of daily dietary intakes from 'easy to chew & regular solid' foods and KCPS scores, and a significant positive association was found with T-MOE scores. In conclusion, the amount of daily protein intake decreased, and daily intake ratios of energy and macronutrients from liquid-blenderized foods increased as chewing performance decreased in children with CP. Timely diagnosis and treatment of chewing dysfunction can serve as a useful treatment option to ensure adequate dietary intake in children with CP, and also to decrease the burden of their parents and improve their quality of life.

Parental Cooking Confidence is Associated with Children's Intake of Fish and Seafood.

Purpose: Fish and seafood consumption by North American children is low. This is concerning, given the critical role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), found in fish and seafood, in early development. This study aimed to determine whether parental factors related to fish and seafood consumption are associated with frequency of fish and seafood consumption in Canadian children.Methods: A subgroup of parents (n = 28) participating in the Guelph Family Health Study Pilot reported their perceptions and history of fish and seafood consumption, confidence in preparing fish and seafood dishes, and the frequency of intake for their children (n = 40).Results: This study found that 20% of children consumed one serving of saltwater fish, freshwater fish, or shellfish weekly and 63% consumed at least one type of fish or seafood monthly. Parental cooking confidence preparing fish and seafood was positively associated with at least monthly fish and seafood intake in children.Conclusions: These findings suggest that some children may have low intakes of fish and seafood due to a lack of parental cooking confidence when preparing fish and seafood dishes. Therefore, future research and interventions focused on addressing this barrier may aid in improving fish and seafood intake.

An Egg Intervention Improves Dietary Intakes but Does Not Fill Intake Gaps for Multiple Micronutrients among Infants in Rural Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Eggs are nutrient-rich. Strengthening evidence of the impact of egg consumption on dietary quality can inform complementary feeding guidance. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the effect of an egg intervention on dietary intakes among infants aged 6-12 mo in rural Bangladesh. METHODS: We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial allocating clusters (n = 566) to enteric pathogen control or placebo treatment, with daily provision of a protein-rich meal, isocaloric meal, egg, or control. Nutrition education was provided to all arms. Our focus here is on the egg and control arms. Infants were enrolled at 3 mo. From 6 mo, we visited households weekly to distribute eggs and measure compliance. A semistructured feeding questionnaire assessed 24-h intake at 6, 9, and 12 mo. Assessments were repeated in ∼10% of subjects 2-29 d later. Using NCI SAS macros, we estimated usual intake distributions for energy, protein, fat, and 18 micronutrients and the proportion meeting intake recommendations. We compared the outcomes between the arms using clustered bootstrapping. RESULTS: Data were available from 757 infants (137 clusters) and 943 infants (141 clusters) in the egg and control arms, respectively. In the egg arm compared with the control arm, the mean usual intakes were higher for energy (610 compared with 602 kcal/d, 9 mo; 669 compared with 658 kcal/d, 12 mo), crude protein (2.2 compared with 1.7 g/(kg·d), 9 mo; 2.4 compared with 1.9 g/(kg·d), 12 mo), available protein (2.0 compared with 1.6 g/(kg·d), 9 mo; 2.1 compared with 1.8 g/(kg·d), 12 mo), and for 13 and 14 micronutrients at 9 and 12 mo, respectively. The proportion meeting intake recommendations for most micronutrients was higher in the egg arm but remained <50% for 15 and 13 micronutrients at 9 and 12 mo, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Daily egg consumption improved dietary intakes among Bangladeshi infants, but was insufficient to meet multiple micronutrient intake recommendations, demonstrating the need to be coupled with other strategies.

Sleep deprivation in development of obesity, effects on appetite regulation, energy metabolism, and dietary choices.

Sleep deprivation, which is a decrease in duration and quality of sleep, is a common problem in today's life. Epidemiological and interventional investigations have suggested a link between sleep deprivation and overweight/obesity. Sleep deprivation affects homeostatic and non-homoeostatic regulation of appetite, with the food reward system playing a dominant role. Factors such as sex and weight status affect this regulation; men and individuals with excess weight seem to be more sensitive to reward-driven and hedonistic regulation of food intake. Sleep deprivation may also affect weight through affecting physical activity and energy expenditure. In addition, sleep deprivation influences food selection and eating behaviours, which are mainly managed by the food reward system. Sleep-deprived individuals mostly crave for palatable energy-dense foods and have low desire for fruit and vegetables. Consumption of meals may not change but energy intake from snacks increases. The individuals have more desire for snacks with high sugar and saturated fat content. The relationship between sleep and the diet is mutual, implying that diet and eating behaviours also affect sleep duration and quality. Consuming healthy diets containing fruit and vegetables and food sources of protein and unsaturated fats and low quantities of saturated fat and sugar may be used as a diet strategy to improve sleep. Since the effects of sleep deficiency differ between animals and humans, only evidence from human subject studies has been included, controversies are discussed and the need for future investigations is highlighted.

Public understanding of sustainable diets and changes towards sustainability: A qualitative study in a UK population sample.

Dietary consumption contributes significantly to the environmental impacts of daily life. Changes to consumption are required, but limited work investigates the reasoning underlying relevant dietary choices. This study aimed to explore public understanding of sustainable diets and any willingness or attempts to make changes towards sustainability in a sample of the UK population. A qualitative approach was used. Twenty-one participants (10 males; predominantly young adults; with a range of living circumstances and cooking responsibilities) were interviewed. Interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Four themes were identified that related to understanding sustainable diets: 'Consistent with the definition by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)', 'Multiple benefits', 'Unsure' and 'Competing Interests'. Four themes related to making changes: 'Willing, but unsure', 'Small easy changes', 'Enablers' and 'Barriers'. An additional theme 'COVID-19 pandemic' reflected the period when the work was done (February-May 2021). Within these themes, participants were able to define sustainable eating in a manner that was consistent with and incorporated aspects of the definition by the FAO, could identify sustainable actions that they were undertaking or could undertake, and considered these to be beneficial, but there was a lot of uncertainty, and alternative or competing definitions and actions were also given. Participants were also willing to make changes to make their diet more sustainable, and preferences were expressed for small easy changes of high impact, but there was again considerable uncertainty as to what changes to make. Caution due to the small and select sample is required, but suggestions from this work include increasing awareness and knowledge of the environmental impacts of dietary choices, focusing on small easy changes of likely impact and personal benefit, and increasing availability and accessibility to sustainable diets.

Dietary intakes of individuals with temporomandibular disorders: A comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: There are some studies regarding the potential effects of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) on food intake and eating habits, however the comparison of nutritional intakes and status of individuals with and without TMD have not been adequately reported. Thus, the study aimed to assess the dietary intakes of individuals with TMD, and investigate if there is a difference in nutritional intakes between healthy individuals with and without TMD. METHODS: Individuals were grouped as 'study group (with TMD)' versus 'control group (no TMD)' according to Fonseca Anamnestic Index. The Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) was used to assess oral health-related quality of life. Chewing function was evaluated with the Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids (TOMASS). A 24-h dietary recall method was used to measure daily dietary intakes of the participants, and daily energy, macro- and micronutrient intakes were calculated. In addition, all drinks and foods in dietary records were classified under a specific modification level as 'Liquid-blenderized', 'Minced-moist & soft' and 'Easy-to chew & regular solid foods'. RESULTS: The participants in the study group (30 participants) had higher OHIP-14 score (p < .01) than control group (30 participants). According to TOMASS, number of bites (p = .003) and total time (p = .007) were both higher in the study group than control group. There was no difference in the number of chewing cycles (p = .100) and number of swallowing (p = .764) between groups. No difference was detected between groups in terms of energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat intake. There was no significant difference between groups in mean percentage of energy and macronutrient intakes from modified and regular food textures (p > .05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that there was no difference between individuals with and without TMD in terms of dietary intakes. The study results suggest that nutritional status of individuals with TMD is similar with healthy individuals without TMD.

[Situation and trends in dietary minerals intakes of adults aged 18-35 years in 15 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) of China in 1989-2018].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current situation and long term trends in minerals intakes from 1989 to 2018 in adults aged 18 to 35 years in 15 provinces(autonomous regions, municipalities) of China. METHODS: Based on the data of China Health and Nutrition Survey from 1989 to 2018. Adults aged 18 to 35 were selected as study subjects. According to the dietary survey result of 3-day 24-hour dietary review method and weighing accounting method, the mineral intake was calculated and analyzed. Nonparametric statistical method was used to analyze the trend of dietary minerals intake with years. Comparing the dietary minerals intake with the dietary reference intakes, the trend of the proportion of people at risk of insufficient dietary minerals intake was analyzed by Cochran-Armitage trend test. According to the different demographic characteristics in 2018, the minerals intake status and the proportion of people with insufficient dietary minerals intake were analyzed. RESULTS: In 2018, the median intakes of dietary minerals of adults were 302.96 mg/d of calcium, 887.91 mg/d of phosphorus, 1451.69 mg/d of potassium, 3760.09 mg/d of sodium, 238.50 mg/d of magnesium, 19.40 mg/d of iron, 9.91 mg/d of zinc, 43.54 µg/d of selenium, 1.41 mg/d of copper and 4.59 mg/d of manganese, respectively, with significant gender differences(P<0.05). The intakes of dietary calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, selenium and copper in urban areas were significantly higher than those in rural areas(Z values were 3.00, 2.04 and 3.10, respectively, P<0.05). The dietary intakes of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, selenium and copper showed significant differences among regions, education levels and income levels. From 1989 to 2018, the dietary mineral intake of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese of adults aged 18-35 in 15 provinces(autonomous regions and municipalities) of China showed a downward trend, only selenium intake showed an upward trend, and the intake of men was higher than that of women. The proportion of people at risk of inadequate intake of dietary phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper showed an increasing trend year by year. In each survey year, the proportion of people at risk of insufficient calcium intake was more than 90%. CONCLUSION: From 1989 to 2018, there was a risk of insufficient intake of minerals in adults aged 18-35 in 15 provinces(autonomous regions, municipalities) in China, and the problem of inadequate calcium intake was serious.

Dietary Mediators of the Genetic Susceptibility to Obesity-Results from the Quebec Family Study.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies showed that eating behaviors such as disinhibition, emotional and external eating, and snacking mediate genetic susceptibility to obesity. It remains unknown if diet quality and intake of specific food groups also mediate the genetic susceptibility to obesity. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess if diet quality and intakes of specific food groups mediate the association between a polygenic risk score (PRS) for BMI and BMI and waist circumference (WC). We hypothesized that poor diet quality, high intakes of energy-dense food groups, and low intakes of nutrient-dense food groups mediate the genetic susceptibility to obesity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 750 participants (56.3% women, aged 41.5 ± 14.9 y, BMI 27.8 ± 7.5 kg/m2) from the Quebec Family Study. A PRSBMI based on >500,000 genetic variants was calculated using LDpred2. Dietary intakes were assessed with a 3-d food record from which a diet quality score (i.e. Nutrient Rich Food Index 6.3) and food groups were derived. Mediation analyses were conducted using a regression-based and bootstrapping approach. RESULTS: The PRSBMI explained 25.7% and 19.8% of the variance in BMI and WC, respectively. The association between PRSBMI and BMI was partly mediated by poor diet quality (ß = 0.33 ± 0.12; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.60), high intakes of fat and high-fat foods (ß = 0.46 ± 0.16; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.79) and sugar-sweetened beverages (ß = 0.25 ± 0.14; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.60), and low intakes of vegetables (ß = 0.15 ± 0.08; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.32), fruits (ß = 0.37 ± 0.12; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.64), and dairy products (ß = 0.17 ± 0.09; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.37). The same trends were observed for WC. CONCLUSIONS: The genetic susceptibility to obesity was partly mediated by poor diet quality and intakes of specific food groups. These results suggest that improvement in diet quality may reduce obesity risk among individuals with high genetic susceptibility and emphasize the need to intervene on diet quality among these individuals.

Vitamin B-12 Intake from Dairy but Not Meat Is Associated with Decreased Risk of Low Vitamin B-12 Status and Deficiency in Older Adults from Quebec, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin B-12 deficiency can result in irreversible neurologic damages. It is most prevalent among older adults (∼5%-15%), mainly due to impaired absorption. Vitamin B-12 bioavailability varies between food sources, so their importance in preventing deficiency may also vary. OBJECTIVES: Using the NuAge Database and Biobank, we examined the associations between vitamin B-12 intake (total and by specific food groups) and low vitamin B-12 status and deficiency in older adults. METHODS: NuAge-the Quebec Longitudinal Study on Nutrition and Successful Aging-included 1753 adults aged 67-84 y who were followed 4 y. Analytic samples comprised 1230-1463 individuals. Dietary vitamin B-12 intake was assessed annually using three 24-h dietary recalls. Vitamin B-12 status was assessed annually as low serum vitamin B-12 (<221 pmol/L), elevated urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA)/creatinine ratio (>2 µmol/mmol), and a combination of both (deficiency). Vitamin B-12 supplement users were excluded. Multilevel logistic regressions, adjusted for relevant confounders, were used. RESULTS: Across all study years, 21.8%-32.5% of participants had low serum vitamin B-12, 12.5%-17.0% had elevated urine MMA/creatinine, and 10.1%-12.7% had deficiency. Median (IQR) total vitamin B-12 intake was 3.19 µg/d (2.31-4.37). Main sources were "dairy" and "meat, poultry, and organ meats." The ORs (95% CIs) in the fifth quintile compared with the first of total vitamin B-12 intake were as follows: for low serum vitamin B-12, 0.52 (0.37, 0.75; P-trend < 0.0001); for elevated urine MMA/creatinine, 0.63 (0.37, 1.08; P-trend = 0.091); and for vitamin B-12 deficiency, 0.38 (0.18, 0.79; P-trend = 0.006). Similarly, ORs (95% CIs) in the fourth quartile compared with the first of dairy-derived vitamin B-12 intake were 0.46 (0.32, 0.66; P-trend < 0.0001), 0.51 (0.30, 0.87; P-trend = 0.006), and 0.35 (0.17, 0.73; P-trend = 0.003), respectively. No associations were observed with vitamin B-12 from "meat, poultry, and organ meats." CONCLUSIONS: Higher dietary vitamin B-12 intake, especially from dairy, was associated with decreased risk of low vitamin B-12 status and deficiency in older adults. Food groups might contribute differently at reducing risk of deficiency in older populations.

Towards refining World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research cancer prevention recommendations for red and processed meat intake: insights from Alberta's Tomorrow Project cohort.

Current cancer prevention recommendations advise limiting red meat intake to <500 g/week and avoiding consumption of processed meat, but do not differentiate the source of processed meat. We examined the associations of processed meat derived from red v. non-red meats with cancer risk in a prospective cohort of 26 218 adults who reported dietary intake using the Canadian Diet History Questionnaire. Incidence of cancer was obtained through data linkage with Alberta Cancer Registry with median follow-up of 13·3 (interquartile range (IQR) 5·1) years. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were adjusted for covariates and stratified by age and sex. The median consumption (g/week) of red meat, processed meat from red meat and processed meat from non-red meat was 267·9 (IQR 269·9), 53·6 (IQR 83·3) and 11·9 (IQR 31·8), respectively. High intakes (4th Quartile) of processed meat from red meat were associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer adjusted hazard ratio (AHR): 1·68 (95 % CI 1·09, 2·57) and colorectal cancers AHR: 1·90 (95 % CI 1·12, 3·22), respectively, in women. No statistically significant associations were observed for intakes of red meat or processed meat from non-red meat. Results suggest that the carcinogenic effect associated with processed meat intake may be limited to processed meat derived from red meats. The findings provide preliminary evidence towards refining cancer prevention recommendations for red and processed meat intake.

Temporal patterns of sleep and eating among children during school closure in Japan due to COVID-19 pandemic: associations with lifestyle behaviours and dietary intake.

OBJECTIVE: To identify temporal patterns of sleep and eating among school-age children during school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine their associations with lifestyle behaviours and dietary intake. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, questionnaires were used to assess sleep and eating times, lifestyle behaviours and dietary intake during school closure. Latent class analysis was performed to identify temporal patterns of sleep and eating based on self-reported clock times for wake-up, going to bed and eating meals. Lifestyle behaviours and dietary intake were compared between latent classes. SETTING: Forty-eight primary and secondary schools in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Totally, 6220 children (aged 8-15 years). RESULTS: Four patterns, labelled 'Very early (20 % of children)', 'Early (24 %)', 'Late (30 %)' and 'Very late (26 %),' were identified and ordered according to the circadian timing. Latter patterns were characterised by later timings of sleep and eating, especially in clock times for wake-up, breakfast and lunch compared with earlier patterns. Children with latter patterns had a less physically active lifestyle, longer screen time (≥4 h/d), shorter study time (<2 h/d) and more frequent skipping of breakfast and lunch than those with earlier patterns. In addition, children with latter patterns had lower intakes of several vitamins, vegetables, fruits, fish and shellfish and dairy products and higher intakes of sugar and confectionaries and sweetened beverages. CONCLUSION: More than half of the participants had later wake-up, breakfast and lunch during school closure, which was associated with more unfavourable lifestyles and dietary intakes.

Nutritional requirements for the elderly in India: A status paper.

Advances in the medical field and healthcare sector during the last few decades have resulted in increased longevity. Increased lifespans have in turn led to a rapid global rise of the elderly population. However, ensuring the health and quality of life, especially in the context of chronic age-related ailments, among the growing geriatric population is a challenge. Ageing is associated with several changes in body composition including a decline in the lean body mass usually accompanied by an increase in body fat content which have a bearing on the nutrient requirements for the elderly. The nutrient requirements currently recommended for Indian adults are primarily computed using a factorial approach, that considers the cumulative loss of nutrients and is adjusted for optimal body weights and bioavailability. It is logical that physiological and metabolic changes associated with ageing influence several of these factors: body weight, lean mass, energy expenditure, nutrient retention and bioavailability and thus alter nutrient requirements compared to the adult population. Acknowledging these age-related changes, some international organizations have suggested nutrient requirements specific to the elderly. Given the contextual differences in physiology, caution needs to be exercised in adopting these guidelines for the Indian elderly. In addition, in the Indian context, there is sparse information on the diet and nutrient intakes vis-à -vis nutritional status and physiology of the elderly. This status paper highlights some of the pertinent issues related to nutritional requirements for the elderly that advocate a need for deriving nutritional requirements for the elderly in India.

Towards healthier and more sustainable diets in the Australian context: comparison of current diets with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing focus on moving populations towards healthier and more environmentally sustainable dietary patterns. The Australian Dietary Guidelines provide dietary patterns that promote health and wellbeing. It is unclear how these guidelines align with the more recently published global recommendations of the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Reference Diet, and how Australian diets compare to both sets of recommendations. METHODS: Data from one 24-h recall collected for the 2011-13 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey were analysed for 5,920 adults aged 19-50 years. Subgroups of this population were identified by diet quality and lower or higher consumption of foods often considered to be environmentally intensive (higher animal meat and dairy foods) or associated with healthiness (higher vegetables and lower discretionary choices). Food group and nutrient composition of Australian diets were compared to diets modelled on the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Planetary Health Reference Diet. The environmental impacts of diets were estimated using an index of combined metrics. RESULTS: Compared with the Planetary Health Reference Diet, the Australian Dietary Guidelines contained more servings of the vegetable, dairy and alternatives, fruit, and discretionary choices. The amount of meat and alternatives was higher in the Planetary Health Reference Diet than Australian Dietary Guidelines due to the inclusion of more plant-based meat alternatives. The average Australian diet contained two to almost four times the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Planetary Health Reference Diet maximum recommended intake of discretionary choices, and provided inadequate amounts of the vegetables, cereals, unsaturated fats and meats and alternatives food groups, primarily due to lower intakes of plant-based alternatives. The average Australian diet also contained less dairy and alternatives than the Australian Dietary Guidelines. In the average Australian diet, red meat and poultry contributed 73% to the total servings of meat and alternatives compared to 33% and 10% for the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Planetary Health Reference Diet respectively. The modelled Australian Dietary Guidelines diet met the relevant nutrient reference value for all 22 nutrients examined, whereas the Planetary Health Reference Diet contained an inadequate amount of calcium. The environmental impact scores of the Planetary Health Reference Diet and Australian Dietary Guidelines were 31% and 46% lower than the average Australian diet. CONCLUSIONS: Significant changes are required for Australians' dietary intake to align more closely with national and global dietary recommendations for health and environmental sustainability.

Protocol: The effects of nutrient- vs food- vs food-substitution-based dietary recommendations for reducing free sugar intakes, on free sugar intakes, dietary profiles and sweet taste outcomes: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Dietary guidelines are intended to inform and aid the general public, with the aim of improving healthy diets and reducing health risk. The effectiveness of these guidelines, however, is rarely investigated. AIM: This work investigates the effects of three different types of dietary recommendations for reducing free sugars, on free sugar intakes over 12 weeks. Secondary aims will also investigate how these different recommendations affect secondary outcomes, outcomes in subsets of the trial population, and identify barriers and facilitators to dietary change. METHODS: Using a randomised controlled parallel-group trial with three intervention and one control arms, 240 individuals consuming >5% total energy intake from free sugars will be randomized to receive: nutrient-based, nutrient- and food-based, nutrient-, food- and food-substitution-based recommendations or no recommendations, with outcomes assessed for the following 12 weeks. Our primary outcomes are free sugar intakes and adherence to the recommendations. Secondary outcomes are daily energy intake, dietary composition, anthropometry, sweet food perceptions and preferences, sweet food choice, attitudes towards sweet foods, eating behaviour and food choice, knowledge and lifestyle variables, quality of life, adverse events, and barriers and facilitators towards intervention adherence. RESULTS: Data will contribute to three distinct analyses: 1) Analyses to investigate the effects of the three different dietary recommendations versus control; 2) Analyses of the effects of the dietary recommendations in different population subgroups, and 3) Investigation of the barriers and facilitators to success. CONCLUSION: This work offers new perspectives on the effects of different dietary recommendations to enact behaviour change.

Nutrition knowledge, food choices and diet quality of genotyped and non-genotyped individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Severe obesity (body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2) and non-communicable diseases, both influenced by diet, have been associated with COVID-19. Genotype-based personalised nutrition advice may improve nutrition knowledge and enhance behaviour change towards better diet quality compared with conventional recommendations. Aim: To investigate the nutrition knowledge, food choices and diet quality in genotyped and non-genotyped individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: One hundred and twenty-three healthy UK adults were recruited using convenience sampling through social networks. The online questionnaire consisted of the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire, the Food Choices Questionnaire, and the EPIC-Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). FFQ was used to calculate participant diet quality with the Diet Quality Index-International and socio-demographic and anthropometric data. Results: Median general nutrition knowledge, diet variety and diet balance scores were higher in genotyped compared with non-genotyped individuals (71.0 ± 11.0 vs. 61.0 ± 15.0, p = <.001, 18.00 ± 5.00 vs. 15.00 ± 5.00, p = .007 and 2.00 ± 4.00 vs. 0.00 ± 2.00, p = .025, respectively). Pooled sample multiple regression showed that health motive positively influenced while familiarity motive negatively influenced diet quality index scores (ß = .428, t = 4.822, p = <.001 and ß = -.356, t = -4.021, p = .001, respectively). Conclusions: Nutrition knowledge and diet quality indices of balance and variety were higher among genotyped compared with non-genotyped individuals; overall diet quality was similar between groups. This may be due to pandemic-specific factors, such as altered motives of food choice and availability.

Dietary intakes in pregnant women with previous bariatric surgery.

PURPOSE: To (1) assess dietary intakes of pregnant women with previous bariatric surgery in comparison with Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs); (2) compare their dietary intakes as well as their diet quality with a control group of pregnant women with no history of bariatric surgery. METHODS: Twenty-eight (28) pregnant women with previous surgery (sleeve gastrectomy, n = 7 and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, n = 21) were matched for pre-pregnancy body mass index with 28 pregnant women with no history of bariatric surgery. In at least one trimester, participants completed a minimum of 2 Web-based 24-h dietary recalls from which energy, macro- and micronutrient intakes as well as the Canadian Healthy Eating Index (C-HEI) were derived. RESULTS: No differences were observed for energy intake between groups. All women had protein intakes within the recommended range, but most women with previous surgery had carbohydrate (67%) and dietary fiber intakes (98%) below recommendations. In both groups, mean total fat, saturated fatty acids, free sugars and sodium intakes were above recommendations, as opposed to mean vitamin D, folic acid and iron dietary intakes below recommendations for most women. Compared with the control group, pregnant women with previous bariatric surgery had lower overall C-HEI scores. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that pregnant women with previous bariatric surgery would benefit from a nutritional follow-up throughout their pregnancy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.