PATTERNS OF FIBER INTAKE AMONG BRAZILIAN ADULTS: PERCEPTIONS FROM AN ONLINE NATIONWIDE SURVEY.

BACKGROUND: Adequate fiber intake is associated with digestive health and reduced risk of several noncommunicable diseases and is recognized as essential for human health (World Health Organization, 2003). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily fiber consumption of ≥25 g, but previous studies observed a fiber intake in Brazil lower than recommended. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe fiber intake among adults in Brazil and also respondents' knowledge and perceptions about their fiber intake. METHODS: National online survey with community-dwelling Brazilian individuals. The survey was conducted during September 2018, using an online platform with closed-ended questions. A representative sample of Brazilian internet users stratified by sex, age, socioeconomic status and geographic region was adopted. Sample size was calculated using a 2% error margin and 95% confidence interval (n=2,000). Data was descriptively analyzed using measures of frequency, central tendency and dispersion. RESULTS: Sample included 2,000 individuals who were well-balanced in terms of sex (51.2% female), with mean age of 35.9 years (most represented age group was 35-54 years, 39.6%) and from all country geographic regions (49.4% from Southeast). A total of 69.7% of them consider their usual diet as healthy and 78.4% reported consuming fibers regularly. Fibers from natural sources are consumed at least once a day by 69.5% of the sample, while daily fiber supplements were reported by 29.9%. Absence of regular fiber intake was reported by 21.7% of respondents and the most common reason was "lack of knowledge about fiber sources" (39.3%). When informed about the food sources of each type of fiber (soluble and insoluble) and asked about the regular intake, only 2.5% answered that they do not consume any of them regularly (as opposed to 21.7% before receiving information about specific fiber sources). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that fiber intake in Brazil is probably insufficient with a high proportion of individuals reporting irregular or absent ingestion of fiber sources in their daily lives. Lack of knowledge about fiber sources and fiber types seems to play a role in this inadequate intake, highlighting the need for nutritional education to achieve healthy dietary patterns in the country.

O padrão de consumo de fibras entre adultos brasileiros: percepções de um inquérito nacional online / Patterns of fiber intake among brazilian adults: perceptions from an online nationwide survey

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Adequate fiber intake is associated with digestive health and reduced risk of several noncommunicable diseases and is recognized as essential for human health (World Health Organization, 2003). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily fiber consumption of ≥25 g, but previous studies observed a fiber intake in Brazil lower than recommended. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe fiber intake among adults in Brazil and also respondents' knowledge and perceptions about their fiber intake. METHODS: National online survey with community-dwelling Brazilian individuals. The survey was conducted during September 2018, using an online platform with closed-ended questions. A representative sample of Brazilian internet users stratified by sex, age, socioeconomic status and geographic region was adopted. Sample size was calculated using a 2% error margin and 95% confidence interval (n=2,000). Data was descriptively analyzed using measures of frequency, central tendency and dispersion. RESULTS: Sample included 2,000 individuals who were well-balanced in terms of sex (51.2% female), with mean age of 35.9 years (most represented age group was 35-54 years, 39.6%) and from all country geographic regions (49.4% from Southeast). A total of 69.7% of them consider their usual diet as healthy and 78.4% reported consuming fibers regularly. Fibers from natural sources are consumed at least once a day by 69.5% of the sample, while daily fiber supplements were reported by 29.9%. Absence of regular fiber intake was reported by 21.7% of respondents and the most common reason was "lack of knowledge about fiber sources" (39.3%). When informed about the food sources of each type of fiber (soluble and insoluble) and asked about the regular intake, only 2.5% answered that they do not consume any of them regularly (as opposed to 21.7% before receiving information about specific fiber sources). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that fiber intake in Brazil is probably insufficient with a high proportion of individuals reporting irregular or absent ingestion of fiber sources in their daily lives. Lack of knowledge about fiber sources and fiber types seems to play a role in this inadequate intake, highlighting the need for nutritional education to achieve healthy dietary patterns in the country.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: A adequada ingestão de fibras está diretamente associada à saúde digestiva e é reconhecida como essencial à saúde humana (World Health Organization, 2003). A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) recomenda consumo diário de fibras de ≥25 g, mas estudos prévios observaram uma ingesta de fibras no Brasil abaixo do recomendado. OBJETIVO: Descrever a ingestão, o conhecimento e as percepções sobre o consumo de fibras entre adultos brasileiros. MÉTODOS: Inquérito nacional online com indivíduos brasileiros na comunidade. O inquérito foi conduzido em setembro de 2018, usando uma plataforma online com questões fechadas. Uma amostra representativa dos usuários de internet no Brasil estratificada por sexo, idade, status socioeconômico e região geográfica foi utilizada. O tamanho da amostra foi calculado usando uma margem de erro de 2,0% em um intervalo de confiança de 95% (n=2.000). Os dados foram analisados descritivamente usando medidas de frequência, tendência central e dispersão. RESULTADOS: A amostra incluiu 2.000 indivíduos equilibrados em termos de sexo (51,2% mulheres), com idade média de 35,9 anos (faixa etária mais representada foi 35-54 anos, 39,6%) e de todas as regiões geográficas do país (49,4% do Sudeste). Dos respondentes, 69,7% consideram sua dieta usual como saudável e 78,4% relataram consumir fibras regularmente. Fibras de fontes naturais são consumidas pelo menos uma vez ao dia por 69,5% da amostra, enquanto que suplementos de fibras, por 29,9%. O não consumo regular de fibras foi relatado por 21,7% dos respondentes e a causa mais comum para tal foi "falta de conhecimento sobre fontes de fibras" (39,3%). Quando informados sobre fontes de fibra de cada tipo (solúvel e insolúvel) e interrogados sobre a ingestão regular, apenas 2,5% responderam não consumir nenhuma delas regularmente (por oposição a 21,7% antes de receberem informação sobre fontes específicas de fibras). CONCLUSÃO: Nossos achados indicam que a ingestão de fibras no Brasil é provavelmente insuficiente com uma alta proporção de indivíduos relatando consumo ausente ou irregular de fontes de fibras no cotidiano. Falta de conhecimento sobre fontes e tipos de fibras parece desempenhar um papel relevante nesta ingestão inadequada, reforçando a necessidade de educação nutricional para alcançar padrões alimentares saudáveis no país.

Dietary advice to cardiovascular patients. A brief update for physicians.

It is important, in our opinion, to provide physicians with a brief update of scientifically-sound evidence in preventive nutrition, to be employed in their everyday practice, since the latest scientific and clinical advances in this area are generally not well known. Here, we review the most recent evidence in support of an optimal cardio-protective diet, and we identify the need to focus mainly on protective food which should be part of such diet, rather than on nutrients with negative effects to be limited (salt, saturated fats, simple sugars). We conclude that, to favor patient compliance, it is also necessary to underscore indications on the topics for which there is convincing and coherent literature, leaving other less-explored aspects to individual preferences.

Lower intake of magnesium and dietary fiber increases the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Taiwanese.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Several studies have indicated an inverse association between the incidence of diabetes mellitus and magnesium and dietary fiber intake. Few studies have examined both of these associations together, not to mention in Asian populations with prospective study design. We therefore aimed to study how dietary magnesium and fiber intake levels affect diabetes incidence separately or in combination, in a prospective study in Taiwan. METHODS: The study subjects were recruited for a longitudinal study, CardioVascular Disease risk FACtor Two-township Study cycle 2 from November 1990. Data from complete baseline information on dietary and biochemical profile and at least one additional follow-up visit were gathered on a total of 1604 healthy subjects aged 30 years and over. Cox proportional hazard model was used to study the association between diabetes incidence and dietary magnesium and fiber intake level estimated from a food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 141 diabetes mellitus events were identified and confirmed during the 4.6 years of follow-up (7365.1 person-years). A significantly higher diabetes risk was observed for people in the lowest quintile of total dietary fiber intake (hazard ratio = 2.04; 95% CI = 1.17-3.53) and magnesium intake (hazard ratio = 2.61; 95% CI = 1.42-4.79) compared with the highest quintile after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. Similar inverse associations for total dietary fiber were also shown for vegetable fiber and fruit fiber. CONCLUSION: Lower magnesium, lower total dietary fiber intake, or lower intake of both was associated with higher risk of diabetes in the Taiwanese population. Clinical trials are required to confirm the protective effects of the adequate intake of fiber, magnesium, and/or their combination.

Caracterización nutricional y de la cinética de degradación ruminal dealgunos de los recursos forrajeros con potencial para la suplementaciónde rumiantes en el trópico alto de Colombia / Nutritional characterization and ruminal degradation kinetics of someforages with potential for ruminants supplementation in the highland tropics of Colombia / Caracterização nutricional e cinética de degradação ruminal de algunsdos recursos forrageiros com potencial para o suplementação de gadona nas regiões tropicais de altitude da Colômbia

El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar la calidad nutricional de nueve recursos forrajeros: Consuelda(Symphytum peregrinum), Morera (Morus alba), San Joaquín (Malvaviscus penduliflorus), Nacedero (Trichantheragigantea), Botón de oro (Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl. Gray), Ramio (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud, Arboloco (Montanoa quadrangularis Bipontinus Schultz), Chachafruto (Erythrina edulis Triana ex Michelle) y Aliso (Alnus acuminata Kunth), con potencial para su inclusión en los programas de suplementación estratégica en el trópico de altura en Colombia. Los forrajes que mostraron los mayores niveles de Proteína Cruda (PC) fueron Confrey (28,42), Chachafruto (26,52%), Arboloco (26,35%) y lo que mostraron los más bajos fueron San Joaquín (15,92%) y Aliso(16,88%). Los contenidos más bajos de Fibra en Detergente Neutro (FDN) los presentaron Morera (33,55%) y Aliso(35,79%), mientras que los más altas se observaron para Chachafruto (49,64%) y Ramio (48,54%). Los contenidosde nutrientes de los forrajes evaluados pueden incluirse en planes de suplementación ya que mejoran la densidad energética de la dieta y podrían incrementar el consumo de materia seca.

The aim of this study was to characterize the nutritional quality of nine forage resources: Comfrey (Symphytum peregrinum), White Mulberry (Morus alba), Sleeping Hibiscus (Malvaviscus penduliflorus), Nacedero (Trichantheragigantea), tree marigold (Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl.) Gray, Ramie (Boehmeria nivea L.) Gaud, Arboloco (Montanoaquadrangularis Bipontinus Schultz), Chachafruto (Erythrina edulis Triana ex Michelle) and Andean Alder (Alnusacuminata Kunth), with potential for inclusion in strategic supplementation programs in the highland tropics ofColombia. The forages that showed the highest levels of PC were Comfrey (28,42%), Chachafruto (26,52%), Arboloco(26,35%) and those that showed the lowest were the Sleeping Hibiscus (15,92%) and Andean Alder (16,88%). The lowest NDF contents were presented by White Mulberry (33,55%) and Andean Alder (35,79%) while the highest wereobserved for Chachafruto (49,64%) and Ramie (48,54%). The nutrient content of forages evaluated can be included insupplementation programs, due to they can enhance the energy density of the diet and may increase dry matter intake.

O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar a qualidade nutricional de nove recursos forrageiros: Confrei (Symphytumperegrinum), amoreira (Morus alba), San Joaquín (Malvaviscus penduliflorus), Nacedero (Trichanthera gigantea),Botón de oro (Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl. Gray), rami (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud), Arboloco (Montanoaquadrangularis Bipontinus Schultz), chachafruto (Erythrina edulis Triana ex Michelle) e Amieiros (Alnus acuminataKunth), com potencial para sua inclusão em programas de suplementação estratégica nas regiões tropicais de altitudeda Colômbia. As forrageiras que apresentaram os maiores níveis de PC foram Confrei (28,42%), Chachafruto(26,52%), Arboloco (26,35%) e as que mostraram os menores níveis foram a San Joaquín (15,92%) e Amieiros(16,88%). Os menores teores de FDN estavam na Amoreira (33,55%) e Amieiros (35,79%), enquanto os mais altosforam observados para Chachafruto (49,64%) e Rami (48,54%). Os conteúdos de nutrientes das forrageiras avaliadasforam incluídos nos planos de suplementação já que aumentam a densidade energética da dieta e podem aumentar aingestão de matéria seca.

Children's acceptance, nutritional, and instrumental evaluations of whole grain and soluble fiber enriched foods.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 report recommends 3 or more daily ounce-equivalents of whole grains (WG), and the FDA suggests consumption of 25 g of total dietary fiber (TDF) and 6 g of soluble fiber (SF) for a 2000-calorie diet. Efforts to increase the consumption of WG and SF among elementary school-aged children are needed. The objectives of this study were to examine the consumption of WG- and SF-enriched burritos and cookies among elementary school-aged children and to perform a quality evaluation of all products. Children in grades K to 6 from a local elementary school consumed control (CTR) products made with refined flour along with the test products (TRT) over a 13-wk period. TRT burritos and cookies contained 51% and 100% WG, respectively. CTR and TRT products were served on 3 and 4 different Fridays, respectively. Children's consumption was determined via plate waste. Quality parameters such as texture, color, water activity, weight, and product dimensions were also measured. No significant differences in consumption between CTR and TRT burritos and cookies were found (36% and 90%, respectively). Texture (area) was higher for CTR burritos compared with TRT burritos (1.31 and 0.66 kg-s, respectively). CTR burritos were lighter than TRT burritos with L* values of 80.04 and 64.61, respectively. CTR cookies required a higher breaking force (3.14 compared with 0.58 kg), were lighter than TRT cookies (63.18 compared with 50.27), and had lower water activity (0.5 compared with 0.71).

Effects of cellulose supplementation on fecal consistency and fecal weight.

We investigated the effects of cellulose supplementation on fecal consistency and fecal weight. About 26 women were classified into two groups-normal defecation and constipation groups. All subjects ate the following meals during the experiment: ordinary meals (first week), experimental meals (second week), and experimental meals mixed with 4 g (third week) and 8 g (fourth week) cellulose. The experimental meal contained 16.7 g fiber. Fecal weights, fecal water content, fecal consistency, and defecation frequency were measured during the experimental period. As a result, in the normal defecation group, the mean fecal weight was 222.9 g day(-1) in the first week, and thereafter decreased. Although 20/24 g of fiber intake in the third/fourth week increased the fecal weight to over 150 g, the fecal consistency was still lower than the optimal consistency of around 300 g cm(-2). However, these changes were not observed in the constipated group.

Dietary determinants of one-carbon metabolism and the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: NCI-SEER case-control study, 1998-2000.

The role of dietary one-carbon determinants remains largely unexplored for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). In a population-based case-control study of non-African-American adult (aged 20-74 years) women and men from four US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results study centers (Detroit, Michigan; Iowa; Los Angeles, California; and Seattle, Washington; 1998-2000), the authors examined folate; vitamins B2, B6, and B12; methionine; and a one-carbon antagonist, alcohol, in 425 incident NHL cases and 359 controls who completed a detailed food frequency questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated by using unconditional logistic regression. Higher intake of one-carbon determinants from food was associated with a lower risk of NHL, but that for only vitamin B6 (highest vs. lowest quartile: odds ratio = 0.57, 95% confidence interval: 0.34, 0.95; p trend = 0.01) and methionine (odds ratio = 0.49, 95% confidence interval: 0.31, 0.76; p trend = 0.002) reached statistical significance. Folate from food was inversely associated with diffuse subtype (odds ratio = 0.47, 95% confidence interval: 0.23, 0.94; p trend = 0.03). The authors found no association between total (food plus supplement) vitamins and NHL. Nonusers of alcohol had an elevated NHL risk compared with users, and alcohol did not modify other nutrient-NHL associations. Findings suggest that one-carbon nutrients, particularly vitamin B6 and methionine, may be protective against NHL.

Valoración nutricional de los menús de la guardería de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia / Nursery Menu assessment from Politechnical University of Valencia

Introducción: la alimentación del niño de 1 a 3 años debe tener como objetivo satisfacer las necesidades nutricionales y potenciar un adecuado crecimiento y desarrollo. El menú del comedor escolar debe aportar entre un 30 y un 35 por ciento de las necesidades energéticas diarias, y debe ajustarse a las necesidades de micronutrientes esenciales. Objetivos: en el presente trabajo de investigación se evaluó el aporte de calorías y nutrientes de los menús ofrecidos por la guardería de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, con el fin de corregir deficiencias (por exceso o defecto), y obtener una oferta más saludable y equilibrada. Resultados: los resultados obtenidos ponen de manifiesto que los menús ofrecidos en la guardería presentan aportes inadecuados de energía, proteínas, y grasas. Asimismo, se han detectado déficits de algunos micronutrientes esenciales, como el hierro, ácido fólico, zinc y vitamina B12, nutrientes de gran relevancia en la nutrición de los escolares. Conclusiones y recomendaciones: se considera esencial el rol de los padres en la optimización de la calidad de la alimentación de los niños, y en la importancia del desayuno, como aporte energético elemental en la etapa de crecimiento y desarrollo (AU)