Dietary Intake, Nutritional Adequacy and Food Sources of Total Fat and Fatty Acids, and Relationships with Personal and Family Factors in Spanish Children Aged One to <10 Years: Results of the EsNuPI Study.

We aimed to determine the usual intake of total fat, fatty acids (FAs), and their main food sources in a representative cohort of the Spanish pediatric population aged 1 to <10 years (n = 707) who consumed all types of milk and an age-matched cohort who consumed adapted milk over the last year (including follow-on formula, toddler's milk, growing-up milk, and fortified and enriched milks) (n = 741) who were participants in the EsNuPI study (in English, Nutritional Study in the Spanish Pediatric Population). Dietary intake, measured through two 24 h dietary recalls, was compared to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN-FAO) recommendations. Both cohorts showed a high intake of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), according to FAO recommendations, as there are no numerical recommendations for SFAs at EFSA. Also, low intake of essential fatty acids (EFAs; linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA)) and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) of the n-3 series, mainly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were observed according to EFSA and FAO recommendations. The three main sources of total fat and different FAs were milk and dairy products, oils and fats, and meat and meat products. The consumption of adapted milk was one of the main factors associated with better adherence to the nutritional recommendations of total fat, SFAs, EFAs, PUFAs; and resulted as the main factor associated with better adherence to n-3 fatty acids intake recommendations. Knowledge of the dietary intake and food sources of total fat and FAs in children could help in designing and promoting effective and practical age-targeted guidelines to promote the consumption of EFA- and n-3 PUFA-rich foods in this stage of life.

Factors Predicting the Response to a Vitamin D-Fortified Milk in Healthy Postmenopausal Women.

BACKGROUND: Milk products fortified with vitamin D may constitute an alternative to pharmacological supplements for reaching the optimal levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. Our aim was to analyze the response of serum 25(OH)D and its predictive factors in postmenopausal healthy women after a dietary intervention with a milk fortified with vitamin D and calcium. METHODS: We designed a prospective study including 305 healthy postmenopausal women who consumed a fortified milk with calcium (900 mg/500 mL) and vitamin D3 (600 IU/500 mL) daily for 24 months. RESULTS: The 25(OH)D concentrations at 24 months were correlated to weight, to body mass index, to the percentage of fat, triglycerides and to baseline 25(OH)D levels. We found significant differences in the levels of 25(OH)D at 24 months according to baseline 25(OH)D levels (p < 0.001) and body mass index (p = 0.019) expressed at quartiles. Multivariate analysis showed an association between levels of 25(OH)D after the intervention and at baseline 25(OH)D (Beta = 0.47, p < 0.001) and percentage of body fat (Beta = -0.227, p = 0.049), regardless of the body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: In healthy postmenopausal women, the improvement in 25(OH)D after an intervention with a fortified milk for 24 months depends mainly on the baseline levels of serum 25(OH)D and on the percentage of body fat.

Effects of Daily Intake of Calcium and Vitamin D-Enriched Milk in Healthy Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Nutritional Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the daily intake of calcium and vitamin D-enriched milk (with or without fructooligosaccharides [FOS]) on vitamin D, bone metabolism, and cardiovascular risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-year randomized controlled study, including 500 healthy postmenopausal women, assigned to 500 mL/day of skimmed milk to one of three groups: Low-dose (L): (120 mg/100 mL calcium, vitamin D3 30 UI/100 mL), group A: calcium and vitamin D (180 mg/100 mL and 120 UI/100 mL), and group B: calcium and vitamin D (180 mg/100 mL and 120 UI/100 mL) and FOS (5 g/L). We evaluated serum 25(OH)D, bone mineral density (BMD) by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry, and biochemical data of glucose and lipid metabolism. RESULTS: After 24 months, vitamin D concentrations did not change in the control group, but increased in group A and group B, p < 0.001. We observed an increase in femoral neck BMD and an improvement in fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B 100. CONCLUSIONS: Daily intake of milk enriched with calcium and vitamin D in postmenopausal healthy women induces a significant improvement in vitamin D status, a significant increase in BMD at femoral neck, and also favorable effects on glucose and lipid profile.

Omega-3 LCPUFA supplement: a nutritional strategy to prevent maternal and neonatal oxidative stress.

There is controversy about fish-oil supplementation and oxidative damage. This ambiguity should be explored to elucidate its role as modulator of oxidative stress, especially during gestation and postnatal life. This is the objective of this study. One hundred ten pregnant women were divided in two groups: control group CT (400 mL/day of the control dairy drink); supplemented group FO (400 mL/day of the fish oil-enriched dairy drink (±400-mg EPA-DHA/day)). Different biomarkers of oxidative damage were determined in the mother's at enrolment, at delivery and at 2.5 and 4 months postpartum and newborns at delivery and at 2.5 months postpartum. Omega-3 LC-PUFA supplementation during pregnancy and lactation decreased plasma hydroperoxides especially in newborn at delivery (P = 0.001) and 2.5 months (P = 0.006), increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in mothers at delivery (P = 0.024 (SOD)) and after 2.5 months (P = 0.040 (CAT)) and in newborns at 2.5 months (P = 0.035 (SOD); P = 0.021 (CAT)). Also, supplementation increased α-tocoferol in mothers at 2.5 months (P = 0.030) and in umbilical cord artery (P = 0.039). Higher levels of CoQ10 were found in mothers at delivery (P = 0.039) as well as in umbilical cord vein (P = 0.024) and artery (P = 0.036). Our supplementation prevents the oxidative stress in the mother and neonate during the first months of postnatal life, being a potential preventive nutritional strategy to prevent functional alterations associated with oxidative stress that have an important repercussion for the neonate development in the early postnatal life.

Effects of Maternal Ω-3 Supplementation on Fatty Acids and on Visual and Cognitive Development.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether a dairy drink enriched with ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) could have an impact on the lipid profile of the mother and the newborn, and also whether this intervention could affect the newborns' visual and cognitive development. METHODS: A total of 110 pregnant women were randomly assigned to one of the following intervention groups: control group (n = 54), taking 400 mL/day of the control dairy drink, and supplemented group (fish oil [FO]) (n = 56), taking 400 mL/day of the fish oil-enriched dairy drink (including ∼400 mg eicosapentaenoic acid-docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]/day). During the study, the mothers' diets were supervised by a nutritionist to encourage compliance with present recommendations of FA intake. Blood fatty acid profiles were determined in the mother's (at enrollment, at delivery, and at 2.5 and 4 months) and newborn (at delivery and at 2.5 months) placenta and breast milk (colostrum and at 1, 2, and 4 months). Pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs) (at 2.5 and 7.5 months) and Bayley test (at 12 months) were recorded. RESULTS: DHA percentage was higher in plasma, erythrocyte membranes, and breast milk samples from the FO group. The ratio of nervonic acid was also higher in plasma and erythrocyte lipids of the mother and newborn's blood samples from the FO group. No differences were observed in the Bayley test. No differences were observed in VEPs between both groups. We observed a shorter latency, however, in the lower visual angle (7.5') in the boys of the supplemented group. CONCLUSIONS: Omega-3 LC-PUFA dietary supplement during pregnancy and lactation influenced the mother and newborn's fatty acid profile and nervonic acid content but did not show effects on visual and cognitive/psychomotor development.

Human milk probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 reduces the incidence of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract infections in infants.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of a follow-on formula containing Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 (L. fermentum) on the incidence of infections in infants between the ages of 6 and 12 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized double-blinded controlled study including infants at the age of 6 months was conducted. Infants were assigned randomly to either follow-on formula supplemented with L. fermentum plus galactooligosaccharide (experimental group, EG), or the same formula supplemented with only galactooligosaccharide (control group, CG). The main outcome was the incidence of infections for the 6-month duration of the study. RESULTS: The EG showed a significant 46% reduction in the incidence rate (IR) of gastrointestinal infections (EG: 0.196 ±â€Š0.51, CG: 0.363 ±â€Š0.53, IR ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.307-0.950, P = 0.032), 27% reduction in the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (EG: 0.969 ±â€Š0.96, CG: 1.330 ±â€Š1.23, IR ratio 0.729, 95% CI 0.46-1.38, P = 0.026), and 30% reduction in the total number of infections (EG: 1.464 ±â€Š1.15, CG: 2.077 ±â€Š1.59, IR ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.46-1.38, P = 0.003), at the end of the study period compared with CG. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of a follow-on formula with L. fermentum CECT5716 may be useful for the prevention of community-acquired gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections.

Safety and tolerance of the human milk probiotic strain Lactobacillus salivarius CECT5713 in 6-month-old children.

OBJECTIVE: Intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the prevention of certain diseases during the pediatric years. Thus, there is an increasing interest in the addition of probiotics to infant formulas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of a follow-on formula with Lactobacillus salivarius CECT5713 in 6-mo-old children. METHODS: The antibiotic susceptibility of L. salivarius CECT5713 was analyzed by a dilution method. A double-blinded, randomized, placebo controlled study was performed. Children (n = 80) were distributed in two groups and consumed the formula supplemented or not with probiotics (2 × 10(6) colony-forming units [cfu]/g) during 6 mo. Fecal samples were collected at enrollment, at 3 mo, and at the end of trial. Clinical and anthropometric evaluations were performed. Depending on the variable, one-way or two-way repeated measures analysis of variance were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The antibiotic susceptibility profile of the strain resulted as safe. No adverse effects associated with the consumption of the probiotic formula were reported. In addition, clinical parameters did not differ between groups. Consumption of the probiotic supplemented formula led to an increase in the fecal lactobacilli content (7.6 ± 0.2 versus 7.9 ± 0.1 log cfu/g, P < 0.05). Lactobacillus salivarius CECT5713 was detected in the feces of volunteers from the probiotic group. Probiotic consumption induced a significant increase in the fecal concentration of butyric acid at 6 mo. CONCLUSION: Thus, a follow-on formula with L. salivarius CECT5713 is safe and well tolerated in 6-mo-old infants.

Beneficial effects of probiotic bacteria isolated from breast milk.

Breast milk is the best food for the neonate because it provides a unique combination of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals and vitamins that ensures the correct growth and development of the infant. In addition, it also contains bioactive compounds responsible for a wide range of beneficial effects such as the promotion of immune system maturation and the protection against infections. Among these bioactive agents, probiotic bacteria have been recently isolated from human milk. The present work reviews the beneficial effects of these bacteria both in animal models and in clinical trials. The promotion of immune system maturation and defence against infections as well as the anti-inflammatory properties are among the main healthy effects of these bacteria. The isolation of probiotic bacteria with beneficial effects for the host provides scientific support for the supplementation of infant formula with these bacteria, in order to advance the pursuit of the main goal of formula: to mimic breast milk and its functional effects as closely as possible.

Oral intake of Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 enhances the effects of influenza vaccination.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the coadjuvant capability of oral consumption of the breast-milk-isolated strain Lactobacillus fermentum (CECT5716) for an anti-influenza vaccine. METHODS: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled human clinical trial including 50 volunteers (31 male and 19 female) was performed to address the immunologic effects of an intramuscular anti-influenza vaccine in adults (33.0 +/- 7.7 y old). Fifty percent of volunteers received an oral daily dose of methylcellulose (placebo) or probiotic bacteria (1 x 10(10) colony-forming units/d) 2 wk before vaccination and 2 wk after vaccination. RESULTS: Two weeks after vaccination there was an increase in the proportion of natural killer cells in the probiotic group but not in the placebo group. The vaccination induced an increase in T-helper type 1 cytokine concentrations and in T-helper and T-cytotoxic proportions in both groups; however, the probiotic group showed a significant higher induction in some of these parameters. Regarding the humoral effects, induction of antibody response in the placebo group could not be detected. In the case of the probiotic group, a significant increase in antigen specific immunoglobulin A was detected. Although an increase in total immunoglobulin M was observed, changes in anti-influenza antigen specific immunoglobulin M were not observed. The incidence of an influenza-like illness during 5 mo after vaccination (October to February) was lower in the group consuming the probiotic bacteria. CONCLUSION: Oral administration of the strain L. fermentum CECT5716 potentates the immunologic response of an anti-influenza vaccine and may provide enhanced systemic protection from infection by increasing the T-helper type 1 response and virus-neutralizing antibodies.

Dietary fish oil n-3 fatty acids increase regulatory cytokine production and exert anti-inflammatory effects in two murine models of inflammation.

The higher incidence of inflammatory diseases in Western countries might be related, in part, to a high consumption of saturated fatty acids and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and an insufficient intake of n-3 fatty acids. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of dietary n-3 fatty acids on innate and specific immune response and their anti-inflammatory action in models of contact and atopic dermatitis. Balb/C mice were fed for 3 wk either n-6 or n-3 PUFA-fortified diets. After inducing a contact or an atopic dermatitis, immunological parameters were analyzed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of these n-3 PUFA. n-3 PUFA reduced innate and specific immune responses through inhibition of TH1 and TH2 responses, increase of immunomodulatory cytokines such as IL-10, and regulation of gene expression. The inhibition of both kinds of responses was confirmed by the anti-inflammatory effect observed in contact and atopic dermatitis. Reduction in weight, edema, thickness, leukocyte infiltration, and enhancement of antioxidant defenses in the inflamed ears of mice from both models along with the prevention of delayed-type hypersensitivity induced in atopic dermatitis proved n-3 PUFA efficacy. Our data suggest that dietary fish oil-derived n-3 fatty acids have immunomodulatory effects and could be useful in inflammatory disorders.

Increased immune response in mice consuming rice bran oil.

BACKGROUND: Polyunsaturated fatty acids play a key role in a number of biological functions. Rice bran oil (RBO) is rich in linoleic acid, an essential n-6 fatty acid. n-6 fatty acids are said to have proinflammatory effects as a result of an increase in n-6 fatty acid-derived eicosanoids. RBO is also rich in gamma-oryzanol, a compound from the unsaponifiable fraction, with antioxidant properties. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work is to examine the effect of RBO-and/or gamma-oryzanol-enriched diets on the regulation of the immune response. METHODS: 4 week-old Balb/C mice were fed diets enriched with either RBO or high oleic-sunflower oil (HOSO), for one month. Serum samples, bone marrow-derived macrophages and lymphocytes from the spleen were collected. RESULTS: Compared to HOSO, our results show that RBO modulates the immune system by enhancing B-lymphocyte proliferation (6842 +/- 2959 vs 10073 +/- 4186 cpm; HOSO vs RBO; n = 10 per group) and TH1-type cytokines such as IL-2 (55.85 +/- 18.2 vs 101.7 +/- 21.6 pg/ml) or TNF-alpha (49.12 +/- 18.6 vs 184.9 +/- 46.2 pg/ml; HOSO vs RBO) in a significant way (n = 10 per group). Moreover, the reduction found in the TH2 cytokine IL-4 (7.59 +/- 2.3 vs 4.48 +/- 1.6 pg/ml) and IgE (56.9 +/- 39.2 vs 42.4 +/- 35.2 ng/ ml; HOSO vs RBO, n = 10 per group) levels suggests RBO may have antiallergenic properties. To elucidate the role of gamma-oryzanol, a similar study was also carried out including diets enriched with refined RBO or HOSO containing gamma-oryzanol (2 %). Our results suggest that although gamma-oryzanol may modulate the immune system, it is not responsible for the overall immunostimulation effect seen for RBO. CONCLUSIONS: RBO-enriched diets could be useful in situations where a potentiation of the immune response was required. The fatty acids composition, more than the unsaponifiable fraction, might be responsible for this effect.