Trends in Sugar From Packaged Foods and Beverages Purchased by US Households Between 2002 and 2020.

BACKGROUND: Excess sugar consumption is a public health concern in the United States. How sugar purchases have changed over time, whether there are disparities across subpopulations, and the contribution of various food groups are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To assess trends in sugar from packaged foods and beverages purchased by US households between 2002 and 2020. DESIGN: This is an open cohort study. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: We obtained data from the NielsenIQ U.S. Homescan Consumer Panel, which collects data on household purchases of all consumer packaged goods in 52 metropolitan and 24 non-metropolitan markets across the United States. We assessed data on food and beverage purchases for 1,163,447 household-years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes are the total sugar in grams purchased per capita per day and percentage of calories from sugar, by sociodemographic group. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: We used linear regression to estimate trends in total grams of sugar per capita per day, percentage of calories from sugar, and percentage of total sugar purchases by food or beverage group. We estimated means for select years and tested for significance compared with 2002 and with the previous timepoint and calculated the overall P-value for the linear trend using time series regression. RESULTS: Total sugar purchases decreased over the study period, both in absolute terms (-37.2 g/capita/day; 95% confidence interval [CI], -38.7, -35.6) and as a percentage of total calories purchased (-5.3 percentage points; 95% CI, -5.5, -5.2). Sugar purchases declined for all sociodemographic groups, but disparities have persisted or widened, particularly among individuals who are non-Hispanic Black, low-income, and with lower educational attainment. Beverages' contributions to sugar purchases decreased 8.1 percentage points (95% CI, -8.4, -7.8). CONCLUSION: In the United States, purchases of sugar declined, but disparities by socioeconomic status and race or ethnicity persisted or widened. Policies to further reduce sugar consumption and the burden of diet-related disparities are needed.

Residence in Hispanic/Latino Immigrant Neighborhoods, Away-From-Home Food Consumption, and Diet Quality: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

BACKGROUND: Hispanics/Latinos are disproportionately burdened by nutrition-related diseases but immigrants appear healthier than their US-born counterparts. Neighborhoods characterized by high Hispanic/Latino immigrant segregation may provide environments to support healthier diets. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether or not Hispanic/Latino immigrant segregation is associated with frequency of away-from-home food consumption and diet quality in a large, diverse sample of Hispanic/Latino adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional baseline data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos were analyzed (2008-2011). Residential addresses were geocoded and linked to census tract-level 2008-2012 American Community Survey data. Hispanic/Latino immigrant segregation was characterized using the local Getis-Ord Gi∗ statistic, a spatial clustering measure that quantifies the extent to which demographically similar neighborhoods group together. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Participants were 15,661 adults in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, a population-based study of Hispanic/Latinos aged 18 to 74 years from 4 US regions (Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; and San Diego, CA). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Away-from-home food consumption was assessed using a modified dietary behavior questionnaire. Diet quality was assessed using the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (range = 0 to 110) from two 24-hour recalls. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Multilevel linear and logistic regression with multilevel weights were used to estimate associations between Hispanic/Latino immigrant segregation (low, medium, or high) with Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 score, and away-from-home food consumption (≥3 vs <3 times/week) in separate models, respectively. The mediating role of neighborhood poverty and whether or not associations differed by nativity were also assessed. RESULTS: Higher levels of segregation were associated with higher adjusted mean Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 scores; estimates were further magnified after accounting for neighborhood poverty (low segregation: reference category; medium segregation: ß = 2.43, 95% CI 1.10 to 3.77; and high segregation: ß = 1.63, 95% CI .43 to 2.82). Associations were strongest among the foreign-born compared with the US-born. There was no association between segregation and away-from-home food consumption. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the potential role of Hispanic/Latino immigrant neighborhoods in supporting healthy diets among residents, especially immigrants.

Effects of pictorial warnings on parents' purchases and perceptions of sugar-sweetened beverage categories.

BACKGROUND: Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption remains high among US children. Warning labels on SSBs hold promise for reducing consumption, but their impact may differ by SSB category. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of pictorial warnings on parents' beverage purchases and perceptions across SSB categories. METHODS: Parents of children ages 2-12 (n = 326) visited a convenience store laboratory in North Carolina. Participants were randomly assigned to see SSBs carrying either pictorial warning labels or control labels. Parents purchased a beverage for their child and completed a survey. RESULTS: Responses from parents in the control arm suggest underlying perceptions of flavoured milk (2.8 on scale ranging from 1 to 5), flavoured water (2.6), and fruit-flavoured drinks (2.5) as the most healthful SSB categories. Compared to the control, pictorial warnings led to the largest reductions in purchases of fruit drinks (-61%), soda (-36%) and flavoured milk (-32%). Warnings also lowered the perceived healthfulness of flavoured water (d = -0.34), flavoured milk (d = -0.28), sports drinks (d = -0.25), and a reduction in intentions to give one's child sports drinks (d = -0.30), flavoured water (d = -0.24) and sweet tea (d = -0.22, all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Warning labels may have heterogeneous effects across SSB categories. Future research should assess the psychological mechanisms underlying these heterogeneous effects.

Efeitos da suplementação de resveratrol sobre fatores de risco cardiovascular / Effects of resveratrol supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors

O resveratrol, ou 3,5,4-triidroxiestilbeno, é um polifenol encontrado principalmente em uvas, vinho tinto, amendoins, chocolate amargo e algumas frutas silvestres. Diversos estudos investigaram sua ação sobre doenças cardiovasculares, câncer, doenças neurodegenerativas, diabetes, hiperglicemia, bem como seus possíveis efeitos sobre a longevidade. No entanto, os resultados ainda são inconclusivos, principalmente no que se refere à dose necessária, que dificilmente é atingida só com a alimentação. Portanto, foi feita uma revisão da literatura recente quanto à suplementação de resveratrol em seres humanos e seus efeitos sobre os fatores de risco para desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares. Foram incluídos 15 estudos que avaliaram a função endotelial, o perfil glicêmico, o perfil inflamatório, lipoproteínas, bem como a segurança do consumo por idosos. A suplementação de resveratrol mostrou-se segura em idosos e benéfica principalmente para a função endotelial em diferentes populações, tendo efeito positivo também sobre o perfil glicêmico de pacientes com resistência à insulina e inflamação. Além disso, verificou-se redução significativa da produção intestinal e hepática das lipoproteínas Apo B-48 e Apo B-100. Devido a todos esses aspectos, a suplementação com resveratrol pode exercer papel protetor contra o desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares

Resveratrol, or 3,4,5-trihydroxystilbene, is a polyphenol found mainly in grapes, red wine, peanuts, dark chocolate and some berries. Several studies have investigated the impact of resveratrol on cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and hyperglycemia, as well as its potential effects on longevity. However, the results are still inconclusive, especially regarding the necessary dosage, which is unlikely to be achieved through diet alone. Therefore, we have reviewed the recent literature on resveratrol supplementation in humans and its effects on risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. We included fifteen studies that evaluated the endothelial function, glycemic profile, inflammatory profile, lipoproteins, and the safety of its consumption by the elderly. Resveratrol supplementation was proven to be safe for use in the elderly and mainly benefits endothelial function in different populations, also having a positive effect on the glycemic profile of patients with insulin resistance and inflammation. A significant reduction in the intestinal and hepatic production of lipoproteins Apo B-48 and Apo B-100 was also observed. Due to all these aspects, supplementation with resveratrol could play a protective role in the development of cardiovascular diseases

What is the Validity of Questionnaires Assessing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Children when Compared with Blood Biomarkers? A Meta-Analysis.

Fruit and vegetable consumption has been associated with improved health outcomes in children. As an extensive number of questionnaires are currently used to assess fruit and vegetable consumption, we performed a systematic review of the criterion validity of questionnaires used to estimate fruit and vegetable consumption in children, considering blood biomarkers as the reference method. Five electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science) were searched from database inception to 23 July 2018. The search strategy used the following sets of descriptors: children; fruits and vegetables; dietary questionnaires; blood biomarkers; and validation coefficient. The search terms were adapted for use with other databases in combination with database-specific filters. Potentially eligible articles were selected independently by two reviewers, separately, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two articles meeting the inclusion criteria were included. The main reason for study exclusion was the sample age range, which included adolescents. The pooled correlation coefficient was 0.32 (95% confidence interval: 0.24⁻0.40).This review provided insights into assessment methods of fruit and vegetable consumption in children. Although further studies are required, questionnaires for assessing fruit and vegetable consumption have fair criterion validity in children.