Does an antihypertensive diet cost more? Analysis from the Chinese Heart-Healthy diet trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the Chinese heart-healthy diet (Sichuan cuisine version) (CHH diet-SC) was more expensive than the conventional Sichuan diet and explore the food groups and nutrients that mainly affected the cost of CHH diet-SC. DESIGN: Cost analysis of 4-week intervention diets in the Sichuan center representing southwestern China in the CHH diet study. SETTING: A multicentre, parallel-group, single-blind, randomised feeding trial evaluating the efficacy of lowering blood pressure with the cuisine-based CHH diet. PARTICIPANTS: Totally, fifty-three participants with hypertension aged 25-75 years in the Sichuan center were randomised into the control group (n 26) or the CHH diet-SC group (n 27). RESULTS: The CHH diet-SC was more expensive than the control diet (¥27·87 ± 2·41 v. ¥25·18 ± 2·79 equals $3·90 ± 0·34 v. $3·52 ± 0·39, P < 0·001), and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for a 1-mm Hg systolic blood pressure reduction was ¥9·12 ($1·28). Intakes and the cost of seafood, dairy products, fruits, soybeans and nuts, whole grains and mixed beans were higher for the CHH diet-SC than for the control diet (P < 0·001). Intakes of vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin C, Mg and phosphorus were positively correlated with the cost (P < 0·05). CONCLUSIONS: The CHH diet-SC costs more than the conventional Sichuan diet, partly due to the high cost of specific food groups. Positive correlations between the intakes of vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin C, Mg, phosphorus and the dietary cost could be a direction to adjust the composition within the food groups to reduce the cost of the CHH diet-SC.

Effectiveness of education intervention, with regards to physical activity level and a healthy diet, among Middle Eastern adolescents in Malaysia: A study protocol for a randomized control trial, based on a health belief model.

BACKGROUND: Among the most urgent public health challenges, of the twenty-first century, is obesity. This can be attributed to its relationship with several non-communicable diseases (NCDs), as well as premature mortality. Being overweight or obese is a major concern not only in high-income countries, but also in low-income and middle-income countries, particularly in urban areas. Several studies have highlighted the prevalence of obesity, among Middle Eastern-descent adolescents, studying in Arabic secondary schools, located in Malaysia. Intervention studies, directed at Middle Eastern adolescents in Malaysia, are limited. This paper, describes the protocol, for an integrated health education intervention process. Titled 'Healthy lifestyle', it is a primary prevention process, aimed at curbing obesity and disordered eating, among Middle Eastern secondary school adolescents, aged 13-14 years old, residing in Malaysia. METHODS AND ANTICIPATED RESULTS: A cluster randomized controlled study will be conducted, involving 250 Middle Eastern adolescents, in Arabic schools in Malaysia. The participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. While the intervention group participates in six weeks of fortnightly six sessions (45 minutes per session), the control group will carry on with their regular curriculums, and normal physical activity routines. The variables which will be evaluated include anthropometric measurements, knowledge, attitude, daily routines, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, food assessment, eating attitudes test-26, and a structured questionnaire based on the HBM. Data will be collected from the intervention and control groups at baseline, post-intervention, and two months following the intervention. Data analysis will be performed by way of the SPSS Statistics software version 26. The generalized estimating equation (GEE) will be used, to test the effect of the intervention program, with regards to the selected variables (outcomes), between and within-group at baseline, as well as six weeks and two months following intervention, after adjusting for clustering. Outcomes will be assessed at each time point, along with a derived average over all three-time points; thus, ensuring that both the cumulative and overall effects are determined. CONCLUSIONS: This trial will provide useful information for improving the knowledge, attitude, and practices of Middle Eastern adolescents, with regards to body weight status, physical activity level, nutrition status (BMI and dietary intake), and disordered eating. This will go a long way, towards ensuring their adherence to appropriate physical activities, and a healthy diet, to keep non-communicable diseases at bay. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at NCT: NCT05694143.

Perceptions of medicinal herbal products during the COVID-19 pandemic period among Saudi patients: a cross-sectional study.

A wide variety of health benefits have been demonstrated by medicinal plants, including potent antiviral properties. Additionally, many herbal remedies are known to reduce inflammation and boost immunity, making them an effective preventive measure against viral infections. The study aims to evaluate the perception of medicinal herbs and healthy foods during the pandemic period among Saudi patients. Furthermore, the study seeks to understand how people view medicinal herbs and healthy foods as a means of mitigating the effects of the pandemic and how that perception varies across different demographics. It will also assess the availability of these options in the country and how they have been utilized by the population. A cross-sectional online study was conducted among COVID-19-infected Saudi population at the University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The perception of the use of medicinal herbs and the effect of healthy foods on the treatment or reduction of symptoms of COVID-19 was evaluated. The efficacy of 23 herbal products was evaluated. A total of 909 participants with COVID-19 infection were surveyed; 86.14% were women, 93.73% were between the ages of 18-60, 51.05% were unemployed, 57.43% had a bachelor's degree, and 90.64% were non-smokers. Study participants used medicinal herbs, slime drinks, and medicinal herb tea to reduce coronavirus infection risk by 67.11, 43.56, and 7.18%, respectively. Gender, education, consuming healthy food, and drinking medicinal herbs displayed significant variation among the studied participants (p < 0.001). The study revealed a prevalence of ginger (62.9%), lemon (51.1%), mint (46.8%), honey (45.7%), and anise (43.0%) as commonly used medicinal herb products. To conclude, the survey found a link between gender, education, consuming healthy foods, and drinking medicinal herbs to reduce infection symptoms among Saudi Arabians. Accordingly, lifestyle choices can have a positive impact on health, even in the face of a challenging environment.

The molecular mechanism of obesity: The science behind natural exercise yoga and healthy diets in the treatment of obesity.

The review centers on the scientific evidence underlying obesity, providing a detailed examination of the role of perilipin in this condition. It explores potential causes of obesity and delves into therapeutic approaches involving exercise, yoga, and herbal treatments. The paper discusses natural sources that can contribute to combating obesity and underscores the importance of exercise in a scientific context for overcoming obesity. Additionally, it includes information on herbal ingredients that aid in reducing obesity. The review also examines the impact of exercise type and intensity at various time intervals on muscle development. It elucidates triglyceride hydrolysis through different enzymes and the deposition of fatty acids in adipose tissue. The mechanisms by which alpha/beta hydrolase domain-containing protein 5 (ABHD5) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) target and activate their functions are detailed. The inflammatory response in obesity is explored, encompassing inflammatory markers, lipid storage diseases, and their classification with molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, the hormonal regulation of lipolysis is elaborated upon in the review.

Impact of an Educational Intervention for Healthy Eating in Older Adults: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

The elderly population in Ecuador is increasing rapidly, with an increasing incidence of diet-related diseases. The elderly living in the community seek alternative and complementary methods to improve their diet and quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the impact of an educational intervention on knowledge related to healthy eating among older adults. This intervention is rooted in the principles of meaningful learning and incorporates culturally adapted materials. A quasi-experimental study design was employed using a pre-test-post-test control group. Study participants were a total of 109 elderly (intervention: n = 51, control: n = 58) people in Cuenca, Ecuador. The educational intervention based on Ausubel's theory of significant learning and Vygotsky's sociocultural theory was programmed to be carried out for one session per week, over 24 weeks, with a duration of 120 min per session. The measures were the general characteristics of the study participants and knowledge about necessary amounts, food sources and the consequences of deficits or excesses in the consumption of macro- and micronutrients. Data were collected from August 2018 to February 2019. Statistically significant differences were observed between the intervention group (IG) and the control group (CG) in terms of knowledge about healthy eating for older adults following the educational intervention. The outcomes of this study strongly suggest the efficacy of the program in improving knowledge related to healthy eating among older adults. Healthcare providers should prioritize food education based on meaningful learning, utilizing culturally adapted materials for the elderly individuals residing within the community.

Feasibility of a Community Healthy Eating and Cooking Intervention Featuring Traditional African Caribbean Foods from Participant and Staff Perspectives.

Culturally appropriate healthy eating resources are intended to help people from different ethnic backgrounds consume diets reflecting government dietary recommendations, yet evidence on use in the target groups is lacking. This study evaluated the feasibility of a new brief culturally appropriate community intervention that aimed to introduce food-based healthy eating and recipe resources featuring African Caribbean foods, which were recently co-developed with people from these ethnic backgrounds. Working with a community organization in the UK, a single-arm study was used to collect verbal data from participants and staff on the acceptability of intervention whilst knowledge, skills and behaviours related to healthy eating were evaluated using pre-, post- and follow-up questionnaires. A total of 30 participants were recruited, and 22 completed all three questionnaires; who were mostly female aged 55 years+ (n = 17) and of African Caribbean ethnicity (45%, n = 10), with 32% (n = 7) reporting no educational attainment. At post-intervention and follow-up, most participants reported high satisfaction (n = 21, 95%) with the intervention sessions and high levels of confidence in using the resources at home within budget. The number of participants who were familiar with the healthy eating guidance featuring Caribbean foods increased from pre- (36%, n = 8) to post-intervention/follow-up (n = 22, 100%) (p < 0.05). Findings suggest the intervention is feasible in a community setting and could help increase awareness and use of culturally appropriate healthy eating guidance amongst a diverse group.

Perceptions on Healthy Eating Impact the Home Food Environment: A Qualitative Exploration of Perceptions of Indigenous Food Gatekeepers in Urban Fiji.

The home food environment (HFE) can have important direct and indirect impacts on dietary practices. Nutrient transitions in the HFE of Pacific Island countries (PICs) are key contributors of the high rates of adult and childhood overweight and obesity in the region. Pacifica mothers are important sociocultural agents who play critical roles in their HFE through setting eating-appropriateness standards and mitigating the impacts of food availability and accessibility on the HFE. This study used an interpretative phenomenological approach to explore how urban indigenous Fijian mothers perceive healthy eating and how these perceptions impacted the food decisions they made for their families. Mothers in this study held complex, multifaceted perceptions on healthy eating and these perceptions had both positive and negative impacts on the family food choices they made, the strategies they adopted for healthy eating and their perceived motivators for healthy eating. The findings of this study underscore the need for a deeper understanding and analysis of uptake of public health messaging related to healthy and unhealthy eating and the importance of targeted promotion of healthful nutrition in this community. Promoting consumption of traditional and locally grown foods can enhance nutrition and food security and combat nutrition transition in the region.

Social supermarkets, nutritional implications and healthy eating: exploration of members and their views.

BACKGROUND: The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the need for food support but simultaneously enabled substantial innovation in food support provision, including the evolution of social supermarkets (SSM). These allow consumers to choose from a range of low-cost products, minimise stigma and reduce food waste. Data from members of two Sussex SSM were gathered for their perspectives and experiences, as well as potential nutritional implications of the SSM. METHODS: Questionnaires administered face-to-face during site visits and optional telephone interviews were used. Data were collected during three site visits; 111 participants completed questionnaires, and an additional 25 detailed interviews with members of the SSM were completed. All data were gathered between December 2021 and May 2022. RESULTS: Overall, the SSMs were valued by their members. Social, economic and nutritional benefits were identified. SSM increased consumer choice and reduced stigma. Most members visited regularly, using SSM to supplement other food purchases. They valued the opportunity to choose their own foods and opportunities to socialise, in addition to the range of food and household items offered. The majority agreed that healthy eating was important but time and cost were barriers especially for younger members. SSM introduced members to novel foods and dishes, potentially diversifying dietary intakes. Challenges included restrictions on the amounts of food available, depending on the timing of visits. This was a greater challenge for those more reliant on SSM for household needs. CONCLUSIONS: SSM represent an innovative and less stigmatising model of food support. Greater variety of food offered suggests their potential to diversify and improve dietary intakes. Challenges include ensuring stability of food supply and reducing stigma further.

When ethics also matter: Influence of taste, health, and ethical attributes on food decisions traced with a novel mouse-tracking paradigm.

Understanding which food attributes influence food decisions is a matter of public health and a lever for interventions promoting healthy diets. Research shows that food decisions are strongly influenced by taste, with health having a weaker and later influence in the food decision process. Yet, the influence of other food attributes and specifically ethical attributes in food decision processes-as traceable in mouse-tracking data-has not been investigated. Furthermore, past research tracing food decision processes with classical mouse-tracking tools has artificially reduced the occurrence of neutral food items, particularly on the taste attribute. This represents an important limitation as neutral items on taste are particularly likely to be influenced by higher-order level attributes, such as health, but also ethics. Extending previous research, two preregistered studies (Study 1, N = 77; Study 2, N = 92) aimed at filling these gaps using a novel one-dimensional mouse-tracking paradigm. Results showed that taste, health, and ethics all influenced food decisions and interacted over time during decision processes. Taste still had the strongest influence, hence replicating previous findings with the present novel mouse-tracking paradigm. Of importance, ethics and health also influenced decisions-and sometimes had an early significant effect-especially for food items rated as neutral on taste. Beyond these effects and taking full advantage of the use of mixed effects models for all analyses, graphical representations of the influence of taste, health, and ethical attributes for all individual food items were provided. Results are discussed considering previous findings and suggested levers for interventions.

Health Promotion Values Underlying Healthy Eating Strategies in The Netherlands.

Healthy eating strategies are a large focus of research, practice, and policy in the Netherlands to improve the diets of socioeconomically disadvantaged populations (SDPs) and reduce health inequalities. However, the fundamental values of the health professionals that develop, implement, and evaluate healthy eating strategies are not explicit. Understanding and challenging these values may be an important step in aligning and improving efforts to support healthy diets in SDPs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to critically examine the values influencing strategies to promote healthy eating in SDPs in the Netherlands. In-depth interviews guided by a critical health promotion model were conducted with a diverse group of health professionals (n = 29) between October 2020 and January 2021 and analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. Results indicated that health professionals' values overlapped in many ways, including their shared values concerning beneficence, responsibility, and collaboration. However, value conflicts were also uncovered surrounding assumptions about SDPs and ethical change processes. The co-existence of conventional and holistic health promotion values also reflected an enduring emphasis on individual-level healthy eating strategies. It is concluded that ongoing attention to the values of health professionals is needed to advance healthy eating strategies and reduce diet-related health inequalities.

Feeding Practices and Dietary Diversity in the First Year of Life: PreventADALL, a Scandinavian Randomized Controlled Trial and Birth Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Breastmik is considered the optimal source of nutrition in early infancy. However, recommendations and practices for when and how complementary food should be introduced in the first year of life vary worldwide. Early introduction of allergenic foods may prevent food allergies, but if early food introduction influences infant feeding practices is less known. OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess infant feeding practices in the first year of life and to determine if early interventional food introduction influences breastfeeding and dietary diversity. METHODS: Dietary intake was assessed in infants from the population-based clinical trial Preventing Atopic Dermatitis and ALLergies (PreventADALL) in children study. A total of 2397 infants were cluster-randomized at birth into 4 different groups: 1) control, 2) skin intervention, 3) introduction to 4 allergenic foods between 3 and 4 mo of age: peanut, cow milk, wheat, and egg, as small tastings until 6 mo, and 4) combined skin and food interventions. Dietary data were available from at least one of the 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-mo questionnaires in 2059 infants. In the present analysis, groups 1 and 2 constitute the No Food Intervention group, whereas groups 3 and 4 constitute the Food Intervention group. We used the log-rank test and Cox regression to assess the impact of food intervention on age of breastfeeding cessation. Mixed effects logistic regression was used to compare dietary diversity, defined as the number of food categories consumed, between intervention groups. RESULTS: At 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo, 95%, 88%, 67%, and 51% were breastfed, respectively, and breastfeeding duration was not affected by the food intervention. In the No Food Intervention group, mean age of complementary food introduction was 18.3 wk (confidence interval [CI]: 18.1, 18.5). In the Food Intervention group, the dietary diversity score was 1.39 units (CI: 1.16, 1.62) higher at 9 mo (P < 0.001) and 0.7 units (CI: 0.5, 0.9) higher at 12 mo (P < 0.001) compared to the No Food Intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Early food intervention did not affect breastfeeding rates and increased dietary diversity at 9 and 12 mo.

Observed Improvement in Cognition During a Personalized Lifestyle Intervention in People with Cognitive Decline.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic condition marked by progressive objective cognitive impairment (OCI). No monotherapy has substantially altered disease progression, suggesting the disease is multifactorial and may require a multimodal therapeutic approach. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine if cognitive function in a sample with OCI would change in response to a multimodal, individualized care plan based on potential contributors to cognitive decline (e.g., nutritional status, infection, etc.). METHODS: Participants (n = 34) were recruited from the San Diego, CA area. The multimodal intervention included lifestyle changes (i.e., movement, diet, and stress management), nutraceutical support, and medications. It was delivered pragmatically over four clinical visits, and outcome measures were gathered at four study visits, occurring at baseline, one, three, and six months (primary endpoint). Study participants received weekly phone calls for nutrition support throughout study participation. Outcome measures included the Cambridge Brain Sciences (CBS) battery, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). RESULTS: At 6 months, mean MoCA scores improved from 19.6±3.1 to 21.7±6.2 (p = 0.013). Significant improvement was observed in mean scores of the CBS memory domain [25.2 (SD 23.3) to 35.8 (SD 26.9); p < 0.01] and CBS overall composite cognition score [24.5 (SD 16.1) to 29.7 (SD 20.5); p = 0.02]. All CBS domains improved. CONCLUSION: Multiple measures of cognitive function improved after six months of intervention. Our results support the feasibility and impact of a multimodal, individualized treatment approach to OCI, warranting further research.

Evaluation of community-based health promotion interventions in children and adolescents in high-income countries: a scoping review on strategies and methods used.

BACKGROUND: In recent decades, community-based interventions have been increasingly adopted in the field of health promotion and prevention. While their evaluation is relevant for health researchers, stakeholders and practitioners, conducting these evaluations is also challenging and there are no existing standards yet. The objective of this review is to scope peer-reviewed scientific publications on evaluation approaches used for community-based health promotion interventions. A special focus lies on children and adolescents' prevention. METHODS: A scoping review of the scientific literature was conducted by searching three bibliographic databases (Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO). The search strategy encompassed search terms based on the PCC (Population, Concept, Context) scheme. Out of 6,402 identified hits, 44 articles were included in this review. RESULTS: Out of the 44 articles eligible for this scoping review, the majority reported on studies conducted in the USA (n = 28), the UK (n = 6), Canada (n = 4) and Australia (n = 2). One study each was reported from Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Scotland, respectively. The included studies described interventions that mostly focused on obesity prevention, healthy nutrition promotion or well-being of children and adolescents. Nineteen articles included more than one evaluation design (e.g., process or outcome evaluation). Therefore, in total we identified 65 study designs within the scope of this review. Outcome evaluations often included randomized controlled trials (RCTs; 34.2%) or specific forms of RCTs (cluster RCTs; 9.8%) or quasi-experimental designs (26.8%). Process evaluation was mainly used in cohort (54.2%) and cross-sectional studies (33.3%). Only few articles used established evaluation frameworks or research concepts as a basis for the evaluation. CONCLUSION: Few studies presented comprehensive evaluation study protocols or approaches with different study designs in one paper. Therefore, holistic evaluation approaches were difficult to retrieve from the classical publication formats. However, these publications would be helpful to further guide public health evaluators, contribute to methodological discussions and to inform stakeholders in research and practice to make decisions based on evaluation results.

Sustainable nutrition and the case of vegetable oils to match present and future dietary needs.

Sustainable nutrition represents a formidable challenge for providing people with healthy, nutritious and affordable food, while reducing waste and impacts on the environment. Acknowledging the complexity and multi-dimensional nature of the food system, this article addresses the main issues related to sustainability in nutrition, existing scientific data and advances in research and related methodologies. Vegetable oils are epitomized as a case study in order to figure out the challenges inherent to sustainable nutrition. Vegetable oils crucially provide people with an affordable source of energy and are essential ingredients of a healthy diet, but entail varying social and environmental costs and benefits. Accordingly, the productive and socioeconomic context encompassing vegetable oils requires interdisciplinary research based on appropriate analyses of big data in populations undergoing emerging behavioral and environmental pressures. Since oils represent a major and growing source of energy at a global level, their role in sustainable nutrition should be considered beyond pure nutritional facts, at the light of soil preservation, local resources and human needs in terms of health, employment and socio-economic development.

Interrogating Components of 2 Diet Quality Indices in Pregnancy using a Supervised Statistical Mixtures Approach.

BACKGROUND: The Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 and Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)-2010 evaluate diet holistically in pregnancy. However, it remains unclear how individual index components interact to contribute to health. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate associations of HEI-2015 and AHEI-2010 components with gestational length using traditional and novel statistical methods in a prospective cohort. METHODS: Pregnant women completed a 3-mo food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at median 13 wk gestation to calculate the HEI-2015 or AHEI-2010. Covariate-adjusted linear regression models evaluated associations of HEI-2015 and AHEI-2010 total scores and individual components (one at a time and simultaneously adjusted) with gestational length. Covariate-adjusted weighted quantile sum regression models evaluated 1) associations of HEI-2015 or AHEI-2010 components as mixtures with gestational length and 2) contributions of components to these associations. RESULTS: Each 10-point increase in HEI-2015 and AHEI-2010 total score was associated with 0.11 (95% CI: -0.05, 0.27) and 0.14 (95% CI: 0.00, 0.28) wk longer gestation, respectively. In individual or simultaneously adjusted HEI-2015 models, higher intakes of seafood/plant proteins, total protein foods, greens/beans, and saturated fats but lower intakes of added sugars and refined grains were associated with longer gestational length. For the AHEI-2010, higher intake of nuts/legumes and lower intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs)/fruit juice were associated with longer gestational length. Jointly, 10% increases in HEI-2015 or AHEI-2010 mixtures were associated with 0.17 (95% CI: 0.001, 0.34) and 0.18 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.30) wk longer gestational length, respectively. Seafood/plant protein, total protein foods, dairy, greens/beans, and added sugars were the largest contributors to the HEI-2015 mixture. Nuts/legumes, SSBs/fruit juice, sodium, and DHA/EPA were the largest contributors to the AHEI-2010 mixture. Associations were less precise but consistent in women with spontaneous labors. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to traditional methods, associations of diet index mixtures with gestational length were more robust and identified unique contributors. Additional studies could consider interrogating these statistical approaches using other dietary indices and health outcomes.

A qualitative study exploring perceptions of people living with HIV using antiretroviral therapy on self-management of healthy nutrition and the related healthcare service in Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, undernutrition is a quite common health problem among people living with HIV. Unlike in developed countries, nutritional counseling for people living with HIV has not received much attention. This study aimed to explore the perception of people living with HIV on their dietary practice and the existing health care service in Ethiopia. A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted in two hospitals in southern Ethiopia from March to June 2018. A pre-tested interview guide was prepared in English and translated into the Amharic language. The data were collected using key informant interviews, focus group discussions and observations in the ART clinics by six trained nurses. The data were analyzed thematically. Almost all focus group discussion participants mentioned that a healthy diet for ART patients is very important. The majority of the participants mentioned that they were not satisfied with the counseling service given at the ART clinics. Lack of training for health care professionals on nutritional counseling was also reported as a challenge by the nurses themselves. Nutritional counseling given by health care professionals at the ART clinic was poor. Emphasis should be given to the training of healthcare professionals working in ART clinics on nutritional counseling.

Development of a Multibiomarker Panel of Healthy Eating Index in United States Adults: A Machine Learning Approach.

BACKGROUND: Dietary and nutritional biomarkers are objective dietary assessment tools that will enable a more accurate and precise determination of diet-disease relations. However, the lack of established biomarker panels for dietary patterns is concerning, as dietary patterns continue to be the focus of dietary guidelines. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to develop and validate a panel of objective biomarkers that reflects the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) by applying machine learning approaches to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. METHODS: Cross-sectional population-based data (eligible criteria: age ≥20 y, not pregnant, no reported supplement use of dedicated vitamin A, D, E, or fish oils; n = 3481) from the 2003 to 2004 cycle of the NHANES were used to develop 2 multibiomarker panels of the HEI, 1 with (primary panel) and 1 without (secondary panel) plasma FAs. Up to 46 blood-based dietary and nutritional biomarkers (24 FAs, 11 carotenoids, and 11 vitamins) were included for variable selection using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, and education. The explanatory impact of selected biomarker panels was assessed by comparing the regression models with and without the selected biomarkers. In addition, 5 comparative machine learning models were constructed to validate the biomarker selection. RESULTS: The primary multibiomarker panel (8 FAs, 5 carotenoids, and 5 vitamins) significantly improved the explained variability of the HEI (adjusted R2 increased from 0.056 to 0.245). The secondary multibiomarker panel (8 vitamins and 10 carotenoids) had lesser predictive capabilities (adjusted R2 increased from 0.048 to 0.189). CONCLUSIONS: Two multibiomarker panels were developed and validated to reflect a healthy dietary pattern consistent with the HEI. Future research should seek to test these multibiomarker panels in randomly assigned trials and identify whether they have broad application in healthy dietary pattern assessment.

Estimated micronutrient shortfalls of the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet.

Unhealthy diets are a major contributor to the global burden of disease, and food systems cause substantial environmental destruction. To lay out how to achieve healthy diets for all, within planetary boundaries, the landmark EAT-Lancet Commission proposed the planetary health diet, which includes a range of possible intakes by food group and substantially restricts the intake of highly processed foods and animal source foods globally. However, concerns have been raised about the extent to which the diet provides adequate essential micronutrients, particularly those generally found in higher quantities and in more bioavailable forms in animal source foods. To address these concerns, we matched each food group point estimate within the respective range with globally representative food composition data. We then compared the resulting dietary nutrient intakes with globally harmonised recommended nutrient intakes for adults and women of reproductive age for six micronutrients that are globally scarce. To fill the dietary gaps that were estimated for vitamin B12, calcium, iron, and zinc, we suggest modifications to the original planetary health diet to achieve micronutrient adequacy (without fortification or supplementation) for adults, which included increasing the proportion of animal source foods and reducing foods high in phytate.

Plant ingredients in Thai food: a well-rounded diet for natural bioactive associated with medicinal properties.

Background: Seeking cures for chronic inflammation-associated diseases and infectious diseases caused by critical human pathogens is challenging and time-consuming. Even as the research community searches for novel bioactive agents, consuming a healthy diet with functional ability might be an effective way to delay and prevent the progression of severe health conditions. Many plant ingredients in Thai food are considered medicinal, and these vegetables, herbs, and spices collectively possess multiple biological and pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antipyretic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Methodology: In this review, the selected edible plants are unspecific to Thai food, but our unique blend of recipes and preparation techniques make traditional Thai food healthy and functional. We searched three electronic databases: PUBMED, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, using the specific keywords "Plant name" followed by "Anti-inflammatory" or "Antibacterial" or "Antiviral" and focusing on articles published between 2017 and 2021. Results: Our selection of 69 edible and medicinal plant species (33 families) is the most comprehensive compilation of Thai food sources demonstrating biological activities to date. Focusing on articles published between 2017 and 2021, we identified a total of 245 scientific articles that have reported main compounds, traditional uses, and pharmacological and biological activities from plant parts of the selected species. Conclusions: Evidence indicates that the selected plants contain bioactive compounds responsible for anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, suggesting these plants as potential sources for bioactive agents and suitable for consumption for health benefits.