Nutritional Description of Organic and Conventional Food Products in Spain: The BADALI Project.

Organic food and drink is undoubtedly a growing market. Consumers perceive organic food as healthy, and nutrition claims (NCs) and fortification may add to this perception. Whether this is true is still a matter of controversy, particularly for organic food products. We present here the first comprehensive study of large samples of six specific organic food types, analysing the nutritional quality (nutrient composition and "healthiness") as well as the use of NCs and fortification. In parallel, a comparison with conventional food is also carried out. For this purpose, the Food Database of products in the Spanish market, BADALI, was used. Four cereal-based and two dairy-substitute food types were analysed. Our results show that as many as 81% of organic foods are considered "less healthy" by the Pan American Health Organization Nutrient Profile Model (PAHO-NPM). Organic foods present a slightly improved nutrient profile compared to conventional foods. However, many of the differences, though statistically significant, are nutritionally irrelevant. Organic foods use NCs very frequently, more than conventional foods, with very little micronutrient fortification. The main conclusion of this work is that consumers' perception that organic food products are healthy is unfounded from a nutritional point of view.

A review of recent compound-specific isotope analysis studies applied to food authentication.

Compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) of food products is a relatively new and novel technique used to authenticate food and detect adulteration. This paper provides a review of recent on-line and off-line CSIA applications of plant and animal origin foods, essential oils and plant extracts. Different food discrimination techniques, applications, scope, and recent studies are discussed. CSIA δ13C values are widely used to verify geographical origin, organic production, and adulteration. The δ15N values of individual amino acids and nitrate fertilizers have proven effective to authenticate organic foods, while δ2H and δ18O values are useful to link food products with local precipitation for geographical origin verification. Most CSIA techniques focus on fatty acids, amino acids, monosaccharides, disaccharides, organic acids, and volatile compounds enabling more selective and detailed origin and authentication information than bulk isotope analyses.. In conclusion, CSIA has a stronger analytical advantage for the authentication of food compared to bulk stable isotope analysis, especially for honey, beverages, essential oils, and processed foods.

Influence of homeopathy on the quality of quail eggs stored for different periods of time

The purpose of this trial was to assess the influence of homeopathy products on the diet of quails based on egg quality when submitted to different storage periods. Methodology: Two hundred, 45 day old Japanese quails and 80% of production were used, in a completely randomized design comprised of a 4x3 factorial, and 4 diets (basal feed, inert vehicle and 2 homeopathic products: Fertsigo® (Sulphur10 CH, Sepia 15CH ) and Ovosigo® (Belladonna 12CH,Silicea 12 CH, Natrum mur. 30CH, Calcarea phos. 30CH, Sulphur 12CH) and 3 storage periods (0 days, 7 days and 14 days) with ten repetitions of three eggs per treatment. The weight, percentages of yoke, albumen and shell, albumen height and yolk color, specific gravity, Haugh unit, yolk index and shell thickness were evaluated. The data were submitted to variance analysis to verify whether there was a interaction effect between homeopathy factors and storage time, and when absent, the isolated effects. Results: An interaction between the homeopathic products and time was found for the parameters of albumen height and yolk, Haugh unit and yolk index, which reduced over time. For egg weight, yolk, albumen and shell, a significant effect (p<0.05) was found only in the case of homeopathy for the percentages of albumen and shell. For egg and albumen weights, yolk and albumen percentages, specific gravity and colorimetry there was an effect for time, however these parameters reduced over the storage time in days. The addition of the homeopathic based products Ovosigo® and FertSigo® are indicated for the diets of Japanese quail during the laying phase since it resulted in better weights for the egg and its components. Conclusion: The different homeopathic products did not have an influence on conserving the quality of the Japanese quail eggs during the periods evaluated.

Natural abundance analysis of the role played by 15 N as indicator for the certification of organic-system deriving food.

BACKGROUND: The natural abundance of stable isotope 15 N (δ15 N) in production systems has emerged as an alternative to distinguish organic products from conventional ones. This study evaluated the use of δ15 N values recorded for nitrogen fertilizers, soil and plant tissue in order to set the differences between organic and conventional agricultural production systems applied to rice, potatoes, apple and banana crops. RESULTS: Values of δ15 N recorded for N sources ranged from +5.58‰ to +18.27‰ and from -3.55‰ to +3.19‰ in organic and synthetic fertilizers, respectively. Values recorded for δ15 N in food from organic rice, potatoes and banana farms were higher than values recorded for δ15 N in conventional farms; the same was observed for values recorded for δ15 N in leaves from the four crops. CONCLUSION: Results have allowed for differentiation between production systems due to values of δ15 N recorded in leaves of all crops and food, for rice, potatoes and banana trees. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Consumer Acceptance and Market Potential of Iodine-Biofortified Fruit and Vegetables in Germany.

Biofortification of food crops with iodine is a novel approach to preventing iodine deficiency in humans. The present study analyses the consumer target groups and the market potential of iodine-biofortified fruit and vegetables in Germany. For this purpose, an online survey of 1016 German fruit and vegetable consumers was conducted to investigate the acceptance of different product categories as well as relevant criteria for the market launch. The results show that iodine-biofortified fruit and vegetables are particularly attractive to consumers who purchase at farmers' markets, organic food shops, and farm stores. Out of this group, 39% of consumers rate such iodine-rich foods as very appealing. They attach importance to food that naturally contains iodine and prefer produce from integrated domestic cultivation. With their focus on sustainability and naturalness, this group of consumers clearly differs from typical users of dietary supplements, who are primarily concerned with health benefits. However, overall about 85% of respondents would prefer biofortified fruits and vegetables to supplements to improve their iodine supply. The greatest market potential for iodine-biofortified fruit and vegetables is to be expected in supermarkets, as this is the preferred food shopping location for most consumers. A total of 28% of those who buy here rate the biofortified foods presented as very appealing. Nevertheless, a successful market launch requires that the benefits of the new products are communicated according to the potential consumer group needs.

Packaged Foods Labeled as Organic Have a More Healthful Profile Than Their Conventional Counterparts, According to Analysis of Products Sold in the U.S. in 2019-2020.

The organic food market's recent rapid global growth reflects the public's interest in buying certified organic foods, including packaged products. Our analysis shows that packaged foods containing fewer ingredients associated with negative public health outcomes are more likely to be labeled organic. Previous studies comparing organic and conventional foods focused primarily on nutrient composition. We expanded this research by additionally examining ingredient characteristics, including processing and functional use. Our dataset included nutrition and ingredient data for 8240 organic and 72,205 conventional food products sold in the U.S. from 2019 to 2020. Compared to conventional foods, organic foods in this dataset had lower total sugar, added sugar, saturated fat and sodium content. Using a mixed effects logistic regression, we found that likelihood of classification as organic increased as sodium content, added sugar content and the number of ultra-processed ingredients and cosmetic additives on the product label decreased. Products containing no trans-fat ingredients were more likely to be labeled organic. A product was more likely to be classified "organic" the more potassium it contained. These features of organic foods sold in the U.S. are significant because lower dietary ingestion of ultra-processed foods, added sugar, sodium and trans-fats is associated with improved public health outcomes.

Feed Composition Differences Resulting from Organic and Conventional Farming Practices Affect Physiological Parameters in Wistar Rats-Results from a Factorial, Two-Generation Dietary Intervention Trial.

Recent human cohort studies reported positive associations between organic food consumption and a lower incidence of obesity, cancer, and several other diseases. However, there are very few animal and human dietary intervention studies that provide supporting evidence or a mechanistic understanding of these associations. Here we report results from a two-generation, dietary intervention study with male Wistar rats to identify the effects of feeds made from organic and conventional crops on growth, hormonal, and immune system parameters that are known to affect the risk of a number of chronic, non-communicable diseases in animals and humans. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used to separate the effects of contrasting crop protection methods (use or non-use of synthetic chemical pesticides) and fertilizers (mineral nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizers vs. manure use) applied in conventional and organic crop production. Conventional, pesticide-based crop protection resulted in significantly lower fiber, polyphenol, flavonoid, and lutein, but higher lipid, aldicarb, and diquat concentrations in animal feeds. Conventional, mineral NPK-based fertilization resulted in significantly lower polyphenol, but higher cadmium and protein concentrations in feeds. Feed composition differences resulting from the use of pesticides and/or mineral NPK-fertilizer had a significant effect on feed intake, weight gain, plasma hormone, and immunoglobulin concentrations, and lymphocyte proliferation in both generations of rats and in the second generation also on the body weight at weaning. Results suggest that relatively small changes in dietary intakes of (a) protein, lipids, and fiber, (b) toxic and/or endocrine-disrupting pesticides and metals, and (c) polyphenols and other antioxidants (resulting from pesticide and/or mineral NPK-fertilizer use) had complex and often interactive effects on endocrine, immune systems and growth parameters in rats. However, the physiological responses to contrasting feed composition/intake profiles differed substantially between the first and second generations of rats. This may indicate epigenetic programming and/or the generation of "adaptive" phenotypes and should be investigated further.

Understanding the Whole Food Advantage.

No Abstract Available.

Fatty Acid Content of Retail Cow's Milk in the Northeastern United States-What's in It for the Consumer?

The fatty acid (FA) composition and content of whole milk (3.25% fat) from organic, omega-3 (n-3) FA fortified, and conventional retail brands available in the northeastern U.S. were assessed monthly via gas chromatography. Among the retail labels, organic milk stood out as it contained a distinct and more healthful FA profile, consistently comprising a higher content of unique bioactive FAs (short-chain FAs, odd- and branched-chain FAs, vaccenic acid, and conjugated linoleic acids) per serving, particularly during the warm season. The total content of saturated FAs did not differ by retail label. While organic and n-3 fortified milk contained a similar content of total n-3 FAs, the proportion of individual n-3 FAs differed significantly (organic milk: 18:3 n-3; n-3 fortified milk: 20:6 n-3) as a result of the production system and process, respectively. Overall, per serving, the FA profile of organic milk may provide added nutritional and health benefits.

Effect of a Shading Mesh on the Metabolic, Nutritional, and Defense Profiles of Harvested Greenhouse-Grown Organic Tomato Fruits and Leaves Revealed by NMR Metabolomics.

Controlling the temperature inside a greenhouse during the summer is a problem of increasing importance in the Mediterranean countries, especially in the Spanish southeast. The metabolic profile of greenhouse tomatoes and leaves grown under conventional conditions and within the presence of a shade mesh (∼50% reduction of sunlight radiation) has been monitored. Tomatoes were weekly harvested from May to July 2017 and analyzed by NMR spectroscopy coupled to multivariate data analysis techniques, together with oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays (for antioxidant activity). Fatty acids and carotenoids profiles were unraveled by GC-FID and HPLC-DAD, respectively. To verify whether it would be possible to take advantage of different light growing conditions to potentiate a plant's defense system, leaves of the corresponding plants were collected and their methanolic extracts were analyzed by NMR toward deciphering new biomarkers, which were used to assess their antibacterial and antibiofilm activities. The presence of a shading mesh resulted in a reduction in tomato production and in smaller fruits with lower contents of sugars (glucose and fructose) and carotenoids (lycopene and ß-carotene) and higher contents of organic acids, amino acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and oleic acids) and of phenylpropanoids and flavonoids (which contributed to an increased antioxidant activity). Methanolic extracts of leaves of nonshaded plants showed a higher antibiofilm activity than that from shaded plants. This activity was well-correlated with an increase of phenolic compounds, together with some specific amino acids and organic acids from tomato leaves.

Selenium and cadmium in bioaccessible fraction of organic weaning food: Risk assessment and influence of dietary components.

BACKGROUND: The tendency of some sectors of the population to consume organic food has also come to include baby food. Nevertheless, it is necessary to develop studies to support the true nutritional and toxicological value of these products, making special emphasis in several trace elements. To our knowledge, no studies have been conducted on this type of organic food. METHODS: Weaning foods with different formulations categorized as organic were analyzed to determine Se and Cd contents as well as its bioaccesibility. The analyses were conducted by electro thermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (ET - AAS) after the treatment of the samples with acid mineralization. Besides, macronutrient analyses (protein, fat and dietary fiber) were also developed. Finally, a novelty statistic approach such as @Risk was used to evaluate contributions to DRI or PTWI of Se and Cd derived for consumption of these weaning foods. RESULTS: Se content ranged between 2.44-15.4 µg Kg 1. Samples with meat ingredients showed the highest Se contents, while weaning foods consisting of fruits or vegetables presented the lowest concentrations. Se bioccessible concentration ranged between 1.90-4.35 µg Kg-1 with a greater uniformity amongst analyzed samples. Regarding Cd, concentrations of this heavy metal ranged between 1.23 and 3.64 µg Kg-1. Furthermore, Cd bioaccessibility of organic weaning foods ranged between 0.17 and 1.38 µg Kg-1. The solubility of all samples studied was around 20% from the initial Cd concentration. A negative statistical correlation between fat content - Cd bioaccesible (p < 0.05; r = - 0.756) and Cd content - Se bioaccesible (p < 0.05; r = - 0.777) were also found. CONCLUSIONS: Cd concentrations are considerably lower than those reported in weaning formulas which were not categorized as organic. On the other hand, the analysed organic jars did not represent a significant source of Se. The probabilistic assessment developed, showed that contributions to DRI of Se for infants 1-3 years old by consumption of these weaning foods, are excessively low (15% at best).

Transcriptional profiling of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis exposed to ethanolic extract of organic cranberry pomace.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica serovars continue to be an important food safety issue worldwide. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait) fruits possess antimicrobial properties due to their various acids and phenolic compounds; however, the underlying mechanism of actions is poorly understood. We evaluated the effects of cranberry extracts on the growth rate of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium, Enteritidis and Heidelberg and on the transcriptomic profile of Salmonella Enteritidis to gain insight into phenotypic and transcriptional changes induced by cranberry extracts on this pathogen. An ethanolic extract from cranberry pomaces (KCOH) and two of its sub-fractions, anthocyanins (CRFa20) and non-anthocyanin polyphenols (CRFp85), were used. The minimum inhibitory (MICs) and bactericidal (MBCs) concentrations of these fractions against tested pathogens were obtained using the broth micro-dilution method according to the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute's guidelines. Transcriptional profiles of S. Enteritidis grown in cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth supplemented with or without 2 or 4 mg/ml of KCOH were compared by RNASeq to reveal gene modulations serving as markers for biological activity. The MIC and MBC values of KCOH were 8 and 16 mg/mL, respectively, against all tested S. enterica isolates. The MIC value was 4 mg/mL for both CRFa20 and CRFp85 sub-fractions, and a reduced MBC value was obtained for CRFp85 (4 mg/ml). Treatment of S. Enteritidis with KCOH revealed a concentration-dependent transcriptional signature. Compared to the control, 2 mg/ml of KCOH exposure resulted in 89 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 53 and 36 were downregulated and upregulated, respectively. The upregulated genes included those involved in citrate metabolism, enterobactin synthesis and transport, and virulence. Exposure to 4 mg/ml KCOH led to the modulated expression of 376 genes, of which 233 were downregulated and 143 upregulated, which is 4.2 times more DEGs than from exposure to 2 mg/ml KCOH. The downregulated genes were related to flagellar motility, Salmonella Pathogenicity Island-1 (SPI-1), cell wall/membrane biogenesis, and transcription. Moreover, genes involved in energy production and conversion, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, and coenzyme transport and metabolism were upregulated during exposure to 4 mg/ml KCOH. Overall, 57 genes were differentially expressed (48 downregulated and 9 upregulated) in response to both concentrations. Both concentrations of KCOH downregulated expression of hilA, which is a major SPI-1 transcriptional regulator. This study provides information on the response of Salmonella exposed to cranberry extracts, which could be used in the control of this important foodborne pathogen.

Effects of Organic and Conventional Growing Systems on the Phenolic Profile of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil.

Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is largely appreciated for its proven nutritional properties. Additionally, organic foods are perceived as healthier by consumers. In this context, the aim of the present study was to compare the phenolic profiles of EVOO from olives of the Hojiblanca variety, cultivated under organic and conventional systems. The quantification and identification of individual polyphenols was carried out by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in tandem mode (LC-MS/MS). Significantly higher levels (p < 0.05) of phenolic compounds were found in organic EVOOs. The methodology used was able to detect previously unreported differences in bioactive components between organic and conventional EVOOs.

Determinação da composição centesimal e capacidade antioxidante de manjericão (Ocimum basilicum L. ) obtido em cultivo orgânico no Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Determination of centesimal composition and antioxidant capacity of basil (Ocimum basilicum L. ) obtained in organic cultivation in the State of Rio de Janeiro

O manjericão (Ocimum basilicum L.) é uma erva com ampla aplicação na culinária e relevante valor nutricional. Neste contexto, este trabalho determinou a composição centesimal e a capacidade antioxidante de folhas de manjericão orgânico. Foi determinada a seguinte composição centesimal em base seca: proteínas 43,57 ± 0,35 g/100g, lipídios 17,58 ± 1,05 g/100g, carboidratos 17,14 ± 0,51 g/100g e cinzas 21,70 ± 0,08 g/100g. A capacidade antioxidante foi determinada pela quantificação dos fenólicos totais (18,10±0,17 mg AGE/g) e do percentual de desativação do radical DPPH (89,16%). Teores de clorofila e carotenoides totais também foram quantificados. Os resultados apontam o potencial nutricional do manjericão analisado, onde a presença de compostos bioativos pode caracterizar a atividade antioxidante observada.

Psicologia ambiental e recursos em sustentabilidade: revisão integrativa / Environmental psychology and sustainability resources: integrative review / Psicología ambiental y recursos de sostenibilidad: revisión integradora

O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar, por meio de revisão integrativa de artigos empíricos, a produção científica relacionando a Psicologia Ambiental (variáveis de comportamento/cognição) e sustentabilidade, considerando diferentes recursos. Para efeitos deste estudo, foram analisados os artigos que abordam um recurso único. A busca foi realizada nos periódicos Environment and Behavior, Journal of Environmental Psychology e Psyecology, reconhecidos pela relevância internacional em produção científica no campo da Psicologia Ambiental. Foram selecionados 24 artigos, publicados entre os anos de 2012 e 2016, a partir dos critérios de inclusão pré-estabelecidos. Os anos com maior número de publicação foram 2014 (n = 8) e 2015 (n = 8). A maioria dos artigos se refere a estudos realizados na Europa, apenas um trata de pesquisa no Brasil. Os recursos abordados nos estudos abrangeram transporte, produtos, água, energia elétrica, sacola plástica e pastagem natural. Os resultados revisados demonstram que há uma diversidade de conceitos na mediação entre comportamentos/cognições e diferentes recursos, indicando a relevância destas abordagens para a promoção de sustentabilidade. Sugere-se caminhos para pesquisa e intervenção nas relações sustentáveis entre pessoas e recursos disponíveis em seus meios.(AU)

The objective of this study was to examine, through an integrative review of empirical articles, the scientific production on the relation between Environmental Psychology (behavior/cognition variables) and sustainability considering different resources. For that purpose, this analysis considered articles approaching a unique resource. Search was conducted in three journals with international relevance in the scientific production of Environmental Psychology: Environment and Behavior, Journal of Environmental Psychology and Psyecology. Following pre-established inclusion criteria, results included 24 articles published from 2012 and 2016. Years with higher number of publications were 2014 (n = 8) and 2015 (n = 8). The articles found refer mostly to studies conducted in Europe; only one article is a research from Brazil. Resources included transportation, products, water, energy, plastic bag, and natural grassland. Results indicate that there is a diversity of concepts mediating behaviors/cognitions and different resources, which reveals the relevance of these approaches to the promotion of sustainability. Research and intervention paths are suggested to sustainable relations between people and resources available in their surroundings.(AU)

El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar, por medio de una revisión integradora de artículos empíricos, la producción científica que relaciona la Psicología Ambiental (variables de comportamiento/cognición) y la sostenibilidad, considerando diferentes recursos. Para los propósitos de este estudio, se analizaron artículos que abordan un solo recurso. La búsqueda fue realizada en los periódicos Environment and Behavior, Journal of Environmental Psychology y Psyecology, reconocidos por la relevancia internacional en producción científica en el campo de la Psicología Ambiental. Se seleccionaron 24 artículos, publicados entre los años 2012 y 2016, basados en criterios de inclusión preestablecidos. Los años con el mayor número de publicaciones fueron 2014 (n = 8) y 2015 (n = 8). La mayoría de los artículos se refiere a estudios realizados en Europa, sólo uno trata de investigación en Brasil. Los recursos abordados en los estudios incluyeron transporte, productos, agua, energía eléctrica, bolsas de plástico y pastoreo natural. Los resultados revisados demuestran que hay una diversidad de conceptos en la mediación entre comportamientos/cogniciones y diferentes recursos, indicando la relevancia de estos enfoques para la promoción de la sostenibilidad. Se sugieren caminos para la investigación e intervención en las relaciones sostenibles entre personas y recursos disponibles en sus medios.(AU)

Dietary interventions for induction and maintenance of remission in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprised of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is characterized by chronic mucosal inflammation, frequent hospitalizations, adverse health economics, and compromised quality of life. Diet has been hypothesised to influence IBD activity. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dietary interventions on IBD outcomes. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane IBD Group Specialized Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Clinicaltrials.gov and the WHO ICTRP from inception to 31 January 2019. We also scanned reference lists of included studies, relevant reviews and guidelines. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the effects of dietary manipulations to other diets in participants with IBD. Studies that exclusively focused on enteral nutrition, oral nutrient supplementation, medical foods, probiotics, and parenteral nutrition were excluded. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently performed study selection, extracted data and assessed bias using the risk of bias tool. We conducted meta-analyses where possible using a random-effects model and calculated the risk ratio (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for dichotomous outcomes. We assessed the certainty of evidence using GRADE. MAIN RESULTS: The review included 18 RCTs with 1878 participants. The studies assessed different dietary interventions for active CD (six studies), inactive CD (seven studies), active UC (one study) and inactive UC (four studies). Dietary interventions involved either the consumption of low amounts or complete exclusion of one or more food groups known to trigger IBD symptoms. There was limited scope for data pooling as the interventions and control diets were diverse. The studies were mostly inadequately powered. Fourteen studies were rated as high risk of bias. The other studies were rated as unclear risk of bias.The effect of high fiber, low refined carbohydrates, low microparticle diet, low calcium diet, symptoms-guided diet and highly restricted organic diet on clinical remission in active CD is uncertain. At 4 weeks, remission was induced in: 100% (4/4) of participants in the low refined carbohydrates diet group compared to 0% (0/3) of participants in the control group (RR 7.20, 95% CI 0.53 to 97.83; 7 participants; 1 study; very low certainty evidence). At 16 weeks, 44% (23/52) of participants in the low microparticle diet achieved clinical remission compared to 25% (13/51) of control-group participants (RR 3.13, 95% CI 0.22 to 43.84; 103 participants; 2 studies; I² = 73%; very low certainty evidence). Fifty per cent (16/32) of participants in the symptoms-guided diet group achieved clinical remission compared to 0% (0/19) of control group participants (RR 20.00, 95% CI 1.27 to 315.40; 51 participants ; 1 study; very low certainty evidence) (follow-up unclear). At 24 weeks, 50% (4/8) of participants in the highly restricted organic diet achieved clinical remission compared to 50% (5/10) of participants in the control group (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.39 to 2.53; 18 participants; 1 study; very low certainty evidence). At 16 weeks, 37% (16/43) participants following a low calcium diet achieved clinical remission compared to 30% (12/40) in the control group (RR 1.24, 95% CI 0.67 to 2.29; 83 participants; 1 study; very low certainty evidence).The effect of low refined carbohydrate diets, symptoms-guided diets and low red processed meat diets on relapse in inactive CD is uncertain. At 12 to 24 months, 67% (176/264) of participants in low refined carbohydrate diet relapsed compared to 64% (193/303) in the control group (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.25; 567 participants; 3 studies; I² = 35%; low certainty evidence). At 6 to 24 months, 48% (24/50) of participants in the symptoms-guided diet group relapsed compared to 83% (40/48) participants in the control diet (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.28 to 1.01; 98 participants ; 2 studies; I² = 54%; low certainty evidence). At 48 weeks, 66% (63/96) of participants in the low red and processed meat diet group relapsed compared to 63% (75/118) of the control group (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.26; 214 participants; 1 study; low certainty evidence). At 12 months, 0% (0/16) of participants on an exclusion diet comprised of low disaccharides / grains / saturated fats / red and processed meat experienced clinical relapse compared to 26% (10/38) of participants on a control group (RR 0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 1.76; 54 participants; 1 study; very low certainty evidence).The effect of a symptoms-guided diet on clinical remission in active UC is uncertain. At six weeks, 36% (4/11) of symptoms-guided diet participants achieved remission compared to 0% (0/10) of usual diet participants (RR 8.25, 95% CI 0.50 to 136.33; 21 participants; 1 study; very low certainty evidence).The effect of the Alberta-based anti-inflammatory diet, the Carrageenan-free diet or milk-free diet on relapse rates in inactive UC is uncertain. At 6 months, 36% (5/14) of participants in the Alberta-based anti-inflammatory diet group relapsed compared to 29% (4/14) of participants in the control group (RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.42 to 3.70; 28 participants; 1 study; very low certainty evidence). Thirty per cent (3/10) of participants following the carrageenan-free diet for 12 months relapsed compared to 60% (3/5) of the participants in the control group (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.15 to 1.64; 15 participants; 1 study; very low certainty evidence). At 12 months, 59% (23/39) of milk free diet participants relapsed compared to 68% (26/38) of control diet participants (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.15; 77 participants; 2 studies; I² = 0%; low certainty evidence).None of the included studies reported on diet-related adverse events. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The effects of dietary interventions on CD and UC are uncertain. Thus no firm conclusions regarding the benefits and harms of dietary interventions in CD and UC can be drawn. There is need for consensus on the composition of dietary interventions in IBD and more RCTs are required to evaluate these interventions. Currently, there are at least five ongoing studies (estimated enrollment of 498 participants). This review will be updated when the results of these studies are available.

Evolution of reference materials for the determination of organic nutrients in food and dietary supplements-a critical review.

For over 40 years, food-matrix certified reference materials (CRMs) have been available for determination of trace element content, and a wide variety of materials are available from most producers of CRMs. However, the availability of food-matrix CRMs for organic nutrients has been more limited. The European Commission (EC) Bureau Communautaire de Référence (BCR) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) introduced food-matrix CRMs with values assigned for vitamins and other organic nutrients such as fatty acids and carotenoids in the 1990s. The number of organic nutrients for which values were assigned has increased significantly in the past decade, and the approach and analytical methods used for assignment of the certified values have also evolved. Recently, dietary supplement-matrix CRMs such as multivitamin tablets with values assigned for vitamins and carotenoids, and fish and plant oils with values assigned for fatty acids have appeared. The development, evolution, and improvement of food- and dietary supplement-matrix CRMs for determination of vitamins, carotenoids, and fatty acids are described, with emphasis on CRMs made available in the past 10 years. Recent food and dietary supplement CRMs for the determination of organic nutrients include infant formula, multivitamin tablets, milk and egg powders, breakfast cereal, meat homogenate, blueberries, soy flour, fish and plant oils, dry cat food, and protein drink powder. Many of these food- and supplement-matrix CRMs have values assigned for over 80 organic and inorganic nutrients, toxic elements, proximates, and contaminants. The review provides a critical assessment of the challenges and evolving improvements in the production and the analytical methods used for value assignment of these CRMs. The current status and future needs for additional food- and dietary supplement-matrix CRMs for organic nutrients are also discussed. Graphical abstract Food Composition Triangle with currently-available food-matrix certified reference materials (CRMs) for the determination of organic nutrients positioned according to fat, protein, and carbohydrate composition.

Assessing bioactivity-exposure profiles of fruit and vegetable extracts in the BioMAP profiling system.

The ToxCast program has generated in vitro screening data on over a thousand chemicals to assess potential disruption of important biological processes and assist in hazard identification and chemical testing prioritization. Few results have been reported for complex mixtures. To extend these ToxCast efforts to mixtures, we tested extracts from 30 organically grown fruits and vegetables in concentration-response in the BioMAP® assays. BioMAP systems use human primary cells primed with endogenous pathway activators to identify phenotypic perturbations related to proliferation, inflammation, immunomodulation, and tissue remodeling. Clustering of bioactivity profiles revealed separation of these produce extracts and ToxCast chemicals. Produce extracts elicited 87 assay endpoint responses per item compared to 20 per item for ToxCast chemicals. On a molar basis, the produce extracts were 10 to 50-fold less potent and when constrained to the maximum testing concentration of the ToxCast chemicals, the produce extracts did not show activity in as many assay endpoints. Using intake adjusted measures of dose, the bioactivity potential was higher for produce extracts than for agrichemicals, as expected based on the comparatively small amounts of agrichemical residues present on conventionally grown produce. The evaluation of BioMAP readouts and the dose responses for produce extracts showed qualitative and quantitative differences from results with single chemicals, highlighting challenges in the interpretation of bioactivity data and dose-response from complex mixtures.