An Investigation of TAS2R38 Haplotypes, Dietary Intake, and Risk Factors for Chronic Disease in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

BACKGROUND: Variation in common taste receptor type 2 member 38 (TAS2R38) haplotypes is associated with bitter-taste sensitivity, but associations with dietary intake and risk factors for chronic disease are inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether common TAS2R38 haplotypes are associated with dietary intake and risk factors for chronic disease using cross-sectional data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (n = 26,090). Outcomes were assessed among the full sample and stratified by sex. METHODS: Taster status was determined from TAS2R38 haplotypes, and the respondents were classified as supertasters, tasters, and nontasters. Primary outcome variables were the consumption frequencies of vegetables, sweet-tasting foods, alcoholic beverages, and visceral adiposity index (VAI). Secondary outcome variables were the individual VAI components. Multivariable regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were used to assess associations between the taster status and outcome variables. RESULTS: Among the sample, 5655, 12,821, and 7614 respondents were classified as supertasters, tasters, and nontasters, respectively. Vegetable consumption was significantly higher among nontasters than among supertasters (1.23 ± 0.26 and 1.20 ± 0.22, respectively, P = 0.02). Among males, the consumption of sweet-tasting foods (0.40 ± 8.80 and 0.38 ± 7.55, P = 0.02) and green salad (0.35 ± 0.31 and 0.33 ± 0.27, P = 0.02) was also higher for nontasters than supertasters. Nontasters were more likely to be regular alcohol consumers compared with supertasters among the full sample (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.12 [1.03, 1.22]; P = 0.01) and among females (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.27; P = 0.04). No significant associations were observed between TAS2R38 haplotypes and VAI, although high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly lower among supertasters than nontasters (1.45 ± 0.59 and 1.47 ± 0.63, respectively; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Among middle- to older-aged adults, minor associations are observed between TAS2R38 haplotypes, dietary intake, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Genetic predisposition to bitter-taste sensitivity is linked to diet; however, further research is needed to understand the relevance for chronic disease risk.

A More Supportive Social Environment May Protect Against Nutritional Risk: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Using Data From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional risk has been linked to individual social factors, but the relationship with the overall social environment has not been assessed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate associations between different support profiles of the social environment and nutritional risk using cross-sectional data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (n = 20,206). Subgroup analyses were performed among middle-aged (range, 45-64 y; n = 12,726) and older-aged (≥65 y, n = 7480) adults. Consumption of major food groups [whole grains, proteins, dairy products, and fruits and vegetables (FV)] by social environment profile was a secondary outcome. METHODS: Latent structure analysis (LSA) classified participants into social environment profiles according to data on network size, social participation, social support, social cohesion, and social isolation. Nutritional risk and food group consumption were assessed with the SCREEN-II-AB and Short Dietary questionnaires, respectively. ANCOVA was conducted to compare SCREEN-II-AB mean scores by social environment profile, adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Models were repeated to compare mean food group consumption (times/day) by social environment profile. RESULTS: LSA identified 3 social environment profiles classified as low, medium, and high support (17%, 40%, and 42% of the sample, respectively). Adjusted mean SCREEN-II-AB scores significantly increased with increasing social environment support, with the low support score indicating high nutritional risk status [low, medium, high support, respectively: 37.1 (99% CI: 36.9, 37.4), 39.3 (39.2, 39.5), 40.3 (40.2, 40.5), all comparisons P < 0.0001]. Results were consistent among age subgroups. The low support social environment profile had lower consumption of protein [low, medium, high support, respectively (mean ± SD): 2.17 ± 0.09, 2.21 ± 0.07, 2.23 ± 0.08, P = 0.004], dairy (2.32 ± 0.23, 2.40 ± 0.20, 2.38 ± 0.21, P = 0.009), and FV (3.65 ± 0.23, 3.94 ± 0.20, 4.08 ± 0.21, P < 0.0001), with some variation among age subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The low support social environment profile had the poorest nutritional outcomes. Therefore, a more supportive social environment may protect against nutritional risk among middle- and older-aged adults.

Measuring food-related inhibition with go/no-go tasks: Critical considerations for experimental design.

The use of go/no-go tasks to assess inhibitory control over food stimuli is becoming increasingly popular. However, the wide variability in the design of these tasks makes it difficult to fully leverage their results. The goal of this commentary was to provide researchers with crucial aspects to consider when designing food-related go/no-go experiments. We examined 76 studies that used food-themed go/no-go tasks and extracted characteristics related to participant population, methodology, and analysis. Based on our observations of common issues that can influence study conclusions, we stress the importance for researchers to design an appropriate control condition and match stimuli between experimental conditions in terms of emotional and physical properties. We also emphasize that stimuli should be tailored to the participants under study, whether at the individual or group level. To ensure that the task truly measures inhibitory abilities, researchers should promote the establishment of a prepotent response pattern by presenting more go than no-go trials and by using short trials. Researchers should also pre-specify the criteria used to identify potentially invalid data. While go/no-go tasks represent valuable tools for studying food cognition, researchers should choose task parameters carefully and justify their methodological and analytical decisions in order to ensure the validity of results and promote best practices in food-related inhibition research.

Food Values, Food Purchasing, and Eating-Related Outcomes Among a Sample of Quebec Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: This investigation evaluated food values, food purchasing, and other food and eating-related outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, Canada. The role of stress in eating outcomes was also examined.Methods: An online household survey was conducted among Quebec adults aged ≥18 years (n = 658). Changes in outcomes during, as compared to before, the pandemic were evaluated using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of free text responses. Eating outcomes by daily stress level (low, some, high) were assessed using Cochran-Armitage test for trend.Results: Most respondents reported increased importance and purchasing of local food products (77% and 68%, respectively) and 60% reported increased grocery spending (mean ± standard deviation: 28% ± 23%). Respondents with a higher daily stress level had a higher frequency of reporting eating more than usual compared to before the pandemic (low stress 21%, some stress 34%, high stress 39%, p-trend <0.0001). Free text responses described more time spent at home as a reason for eating more than usual.Conclusions: To support healthy eating during and post-pandemic, dietitians should consider patients' mental/emotional well-being and time spent at home. Moreover, support of local food products may provide opportunities to promote healthy eating, sustainability, and post-pandemic resiliency of food systems.

Common variants in the CD36 gene are associated with dietary fat intake, high-fat food consumption and serum triglycerides in a cohort of Quebec adults.

BACKGROUND: The CD36 gene is a candidate for sensory detection of fatty acids and has been associated with individual differences in fat preferences and consumption. Excess adiposity may compromise sensory detection, but few studies have examined whether associations between CD36 variants and fat consumption differ between underweight/normal weight (UW/NW) and overweight/obese (OW/OB) individuals. METHODS: Diet (assessed by food frequency questionnaire), genetic (nine variants), body mass index (BMI), lifestyle and biomarker data were obtained from the CARTaGENE biobank (n = 12,065), a Quebec cohort of middle-aged adults. Primary outcome variables included intakes (%kcal/day) of total, saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids. Secondary outcome variables included consumption (servings/day) of four food categories with high-fat content (added fats and oils, high-fat foods, desserts and MUFA- and PUFA-rich foods) and biomarkers of chronic disease. Multivariable regression models stratified by BMI category were used to assess associations between CD36 variants and outcome variables. RESULTS: Among UW/NW, rs1049654 and rs10499859 were associated with higher intakes of total fat, MUFA and PUFA (all P < 0.05), while rs1527483 and rs3211956 were associated with higher SFA (P = 0.0278) and lower PUFA (P = 0.0466) intake, respectively. Rs1527483 and rs3211956 were also associated with higher consumption of high-fat foods and desserts (all P < 0.05). Among OW, rs1054516 and rs3173798 were associated with higher SFA intake (both P < 0.05), and rs1054516 was also associated with higher serum triglycerides (P = 0.0065). CONCLUSIONS: CD36 variants are associated with habitual fat consumption, which may play a role in subsequent associations with chronic-disease biomarkers. Associations differ by BMI status and dietary fat type.

ABO Genotype Does Not Modify the Association between the "Blood-Type" Diet and Biomarkers of Cardiometabolic Disease in Overweight Adults.

Background: Although 7 million copies of Eat Right 4 Your Type have been sold in >60 languages, there has been a lack of evidence supporting the "blood-type" diet hypothesis. Objective: The present study aimed to examine the validity of this diet in overweight adults. Methods: A total of 973 adults [mean ± SEM age: 44.6 ± 0.4 y; mean ± SEM body mass index (BMI; kg/m2): 32.5 ± 0.2; 758 women, 215 men] were participants of the Toronto Healthy Diet Study. A 1-mo, 196-item food-frequency questionnaire was used to determine dietary intakes before and after a 6-mo dietary intervention. Diet scores were calculated to determine relative adherence to each of the 4 blood-type diets as a secondary analysis. ABO blood group was determined by genotyping rs8176719 and rs8176746. ANCOVA was used to compare cardiometabolic risk factors across tertiles of diet scores. Results: At baseline, individuals with a higher adherence score to the type A diet had lower diastolic blood pressure (tertile 3 compared with tertile 1: 70.9 ± 1.1 compared with 73.3 ± 1.1 mm Hg; P < 0.01). Lower waist circumference was observed in individuals with higher adherence to the type B (tertile 3 compared with tertile 1: 100.8 ± 1.8 compared with 105.4 ± 1.7 cm; P < 0.01) and type AB (tertile 3 compared with tertile 1: 101.2 ± 1.8 compared with 104.8 ± 1.7 cm; P < 0.01) diets. After a 6-mo dietary intervention, individuals with increased adherence to the type A and type B diets had greater reductions in BMI and waist circumference, respectively (P < 0.01). Individuals with an increase in type O diet adherence showed decreases in both BMI and waist circumference (P < 0.01). However, matching the diets with the corresponding ABO genotype of each individual did not change the effect size of any of these associations either at baseline or at 6 mo. Conclusions: ABO genotype does not modify any association between blood-type diets and biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease in overweight adults, suggesting that the theory behind this diet is not valid This study was based on the data of a trial that was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00516620.

Maternal Choline Status, but Not Fetal Genotype, Influences Cord Plasma Choline Metabolite Concentrations.

BACKGROUND: Choline deficiency during pregnancy can lead to adverse birth outcomes, including impaired neurodevelopment and birth defects. Genetic variants of choline and one-carbon metabolism may also influence birth outcomes by altering plasma choline concentrations. The effects of maternal ad libitum choline intake during pregnancy and fetal genetic variants on maternal and cord concentrations of choline and its metabolites are unknown. OBJECTIVES: This prospective study sought to assess the effect of 1) maternal dietary choline intake on maternal and cord plasma concentrations of choline and its metabolites, and 2) fetal genetic polymorphisms on cord plasma concentrations. METHODS: The dietary choline intake of 368 pregnant Canadian women was assessed in early (0-16 wk) and late (23-37 wk) pregnancy with the use of a food frequency questionnaire. Plasma concentrations of free choline and its metabolites were measured in maternal samples at recruitment and delivery, and in the cord blood. Ten fetal genetic variants in choline and one-carbon metabolism were assessed for their association with cord plasma concentrations of free choline and its metabolites. RESULTS: Mean maternal plasma free choline, dimethylglycine, and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) concentrations increased during pregnancy by 49%, 17%, and 13%, respectively (P < 0.005), whereas betaine concentrations decreased by 21% (P < 0.005). Cord plasma concentrations of free choline, betaine, dimethylglycine, and TMAO were 3.2, 2.0, 1.3, and 0.88 times corresponding maternal concentrations at delivery, respectively (all P < 0.005). Maternal plasma concentrations of betaine, dimethylglycine, and TMAO (r(2) = 0.19-0.51; P < 0.0001) at delivery were moderately strong, whereas maternal concentrations of free choline were not significant (r(2) = 0.12; P = 0.06), predictors of cord plasma concentrations of these metabolites. Neither maternal dietary intake nor fetal genetic variants predicted maternal or cord plasma concentrations of choline and its metabolites. CONCLUSION: These data collectively indicate that maternal choline status, but not fetal genotype, influences cord plasma concentrations of choline metabolites. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02244684.

TAS2R38 haplotypes, COVID-19 infection, and symptomatology: a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

The TAS2R38 gene is well known for its function in bitter taste sensitivity, but evidence also suggests a role in innate immunity. TAS2R38 may be relevant in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but research findings are inconsistent. The objective of this study was to explore whether common TAS2R38 haplotypes are associated with COVID-19 infection and symptomatology in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Data from the CLSA COVID-19 Questionnaire and Seroprevalence sub-studies were utilized with CLSA genetic data for common TAS2R38 haplotypes related to bitter taste sensitivity. Haplotypes were categorized into three diplotype groups: [P]AV homozygotes, [P]AV/[A]VI heterozygotes, and [A]VI homozygotes. No significant differences were observed between diplotypes and COVID-19 infection frequency. Among self-reported COVID-19 cases (n = 76), and in uncorrected exploratory analyses, heterozygotes were less likely to report experiencing sinus pain compared to [P]AV homozygotes. Among seroprevalence-confirmed cases (n = 177), [A]VI homozygotes were less likely to report experiencing a sore/scratchy throat compared to [P]AV homozygotes. However, both observations were non-significant upon correction for multiple testing. In this study, TAS2R38 haplotypes were not significantly associated with COVID-19 infection or symptomatology. Nevertheless, in light of some exploratory patterns and conflicting evidence, additional research is warranted to evaluate links between TAS2R38 and innate immunity.

Plant-based dietary patterns and genetic susceptibility to obesity in the CARTaGENE cohort.

OBJECTIVE: The study's objective was to examine whether adherence to three plant-based dietary indices (PDIs) mediated or moderated genetic susceptibility to obesity. METHODS: Baseline participants were 7037 adults (57% women, aged 55.6 ± 7.7 years) from the CARTaGENE cohort of Quebec adults. Two polygenic risk scores for BMI (PRS-BMI), 92 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and 2 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and three plant-based scores were calculated (overall, healthy, and unhealthy). Follow-up participants were 2258 adults with data on obesity outcomes, measured 6 years later. General linear models were used to examine the relationships between PRSs and PDI scores on obesity outcomes. Causal mediation analyses were conducted to assess mediation and interaction models. RESULTS: The overall- and healthy-PDIs and PRSs were significantly associated with obesity outcomes. Adherence to PDIs did not mediate or moderate genetic susceptibility to obesity. Associations between PRSs and obesity outcomes were partly mediated by meat intake cross-sectionally and whole grains intake among males both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Higher meat intake had a positive association with obesity outcomes, whereas higher whole grains intake had an inverse association. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that components of a plant-based diet and a shift away from animal products, specifically meat, might be beneficial for nutrition interventions, particularly among individuals with higher genetic risk of obesity.

Does Insulin Delivery Technology Change Our Relationship with Foods? A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems reduce burden and improve glycemic management for people with type 1 diabetes (PwT1D) by automatically adjusting insulin as a response to measured glucose levels. There is a lack of evidence on AID and nutrition variables such as dietary intake, eating behaviors, and disordered eating. Objectives: This scoping review aims to provide a summary of the literature regarding AID and nutrition variables and to identify gaps that require further investigation. Methods: Two researchers conducted a blinded search of Medline (OVID) and PubMed for studies, including AID use (compared to non-AID use) and nutrition variables. Studies from January 2000 to July 2023 were included, as were PwT1D of all ages. Results: A total of 3132 articles were screened for appropriateness. After exclusions, 7 studies were included (2017-2023): 4 qualitative, 1 crossover, 1 randomized controlled, and 1 observational. Studies included adolescents (n = 1), adults (n = 3) or both (n = 2), and all ages (n = 1). In quantitative studies, AID was associated with lower eating distress (-0.43 ± 0.12, P = 0.004) and higher quality of life (3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.8-5.4, P = 0.01), but not grams of carbohydrates at meals (1.0; 95% CI: -0.7 to 3.0; P = 0.24) and snacks (0.004; 95% CI: -0.8 to 0.8; P = 0.99) compared to non-AID use. In qualitative studies, AID increased the frequency and portions of food intake and led to less dietary control from parents. AID users reported eating foods higher in energy density. PwT1D were less worried about achieving accurate carbohydrate counting (CC) when using AID. Conclusions: AID use appears to influence eating behaviors, dietary patterns, and CC, although evidence was limited. AID may reduce food management burden due to the perception that AID can correct for CC inaccuracy. Significance: Further research needs to determine if AID allows for simplification of CC and improves eating behaviors while maintaining glycemic stability.

Genetic variation in putative salt taste receptors and salt taste perception in humans.

The objective of this study was to determine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SCNN1A (3), SCNN1B (12), SCNN1G (6), and TRPV1 (10) genes affect salt taste perception. Participants were men (n = 28) and women (n = 67) from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health study aged 21-31 years. Taste thresholds were determined using a 3-alternative forced-choice staircase model with solutions ranging from 9×10(-6) to 0.5 mol/L. Suprathreshold taste sensitivity to 0.01-1.0 mol/L salt solutions was assessed using general labeled magnitude scales. None of the SNPs in the SCNN1A and SCNN1G genes were significantly associated with either outcome. In the SCNN1B gene, 2 SNPs in intronic regions of the gene modified suprathreshold taste sensitivity (mean iAUC ± SE). Those homozygous for the A allele of the rs239345 (A>T) polymorphism and the T allele of the rs3785368 (C>T) polymorphism perceived salt solutions less intensely than carriers of the T or C alleles, respectively (rs239345: 70.82±12.16 vs. 96.95±3.75, P = 0.02; rs3785368: 57.43±19.85 vs. 95.57±3.66, P = 0.03) In the TRPV1 gene, the rs8065080 (C>T, Val585Ile) polymorphism modified suprathreshold taste sensitivity where carriers of the T allele were significantly more sensitive to salt solutions than the CC genotype (98.3±3.8 vs. 74.1±8.3, P = 0.008). Our findings show that variation in the TRPV1 and the SCNN1B genes may modify salt taste perception in humans.

The Effects of Food Advertisements on Food Intake and Neural Activity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Recent Experimental Studies.

Food advertisements are ubiquitous in our daily environment. However, the relationships between exposure to food advertising and outcomes related to ingestive behavior require further investigation. The objective was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of behavioral and neural responses to food advertising in experimental studies. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for articles published from January 2014 to November 2021 using a search strategy following PRISMA guidelines. Experimental studies conducted with human participants were included. A random-effects inverse-variance meta-analysis was performed on standardized mean differences (SMD) of food intake (behavioral outcome) between the food advertisement and nonfood advertisement conditions of each study. Subgroup analyses were performed by age, BMI group, study design, and advertising media type. A seed-based d mapping meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies was performed to evaluate neural activity between experimental conditions. Nineteen articles were eligible for inclusion, 13 for food intake (n = 1303) and 6 for neural activity (n = 303). The pooled analysis of food intake revealed small, but statistically significant, effects of increased intake after viewing food advertising compared with the control condition among adults and children (adult SMD: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.28; P = 0.01; I2 = 0; 95% CI: 0, 95.0%; Children SMD: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.37; P < 0.0001; I2 = 60.4%; 95% CI: 25.6%, 79.0%). The neuroimaging studies involved children only, and the pooled analysis corrected for multiple comparisons identified one significant cluster, the middle occipital gyrus, with increased activity after food advertising exposure compared with the control condition (peak coordinates: 30, -86, 12; z-value: 6.301, size: 226 voxels; P < 0.001). These findings suggest that acute exposure to food advertising increases food intake among children and adults and that the middle occipital gyrus is an implicated brain region among children. (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022311357).

Reproducibility and validity of the Toronto-modified Harvard food frequency questionnaire in a multi-ethnic sample of young adults.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To assess the reproducibility and validity of a Toronto-modified Harvard food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) among a multi-ethnic sample of young adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 150 participants recruited from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health Study cohort who had existing dietary intakes assessed by FFQ (FFQ1) and reassessment one year later (FFQ2). Of these, 100 participants also completed a three-day food record to evaluate the validity of the FFQ for 38 nutrients (energy, 14 macronutrients, 22 micronutrients, and 1 bioactive). Analyses were also stratified between the two major ethnic groups (Caucasian and East Asian). RESULTS: Among the full sample, mean intakes of most nutrients (27/38) did not differ significantly between estimates derived from FFQ2 compared to the three-day food record. Energy, sex, and ethnicity adjusted deattenuated Pearson correlation coefficients ranged from 0.20 to 0.92 (mean r = 0.52 ± 0.15), and 34/38 validity coefficients were r ≥ 0.32. Gross misclassification of intakes between FFQ2 and the three-day food record was low (<6%), but energy, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and sodium were underestimated by FFQ2. Mean intakes between FFQ1 and FFQ2 did not differ significantly for any nutrient. Between the two major ethnic groups, mean validity coefficients were similar, but varied for individual nutrients with saturated fat, PUFA, and omega 3 being among the most discrepant. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to a three-day food record, the Toronto-modified Harvard FFQ is a reproducible and valid tool to estimate dietary intake among a multi-ethnic sample of young adults. However, incorporation of protocols to improve the assessment of culturally diverse diets should be considered.

Enzymatic activity and genetic variation in SCD1 modulate the relationship between fatty acids and inflammation.

Fatty acids (FA) represent a diverse class of molecules known to regulate inflammatory pathways. Therefore enzymes that regulate FA metabolism are attractive candidates to better understand the relationship between FA and inflammation. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is rate limiting for the conversion of saturated FA (SFA) to monounsaturated FA (MUFA). Evidence suggests that SCD1 activity may be positively associated with inflammation. Moreover, genetic variation in SCD1 may alter enzyme activity; however, it is unknown whether this affects inflammatory status. The goal of this study was to examine the relationships between plasma FA, SCD1 activity, and SCD1 polymorphisms with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in young adults. SFA, MUFA, and CRP were measured in fasted plasma samples from European (n=279, 198 female and 81 male) and Asian (n=249, 179 female and 70 male) subjects, 20-29 years old. Circulating levels of palmitic (16:0), palmitoleic (16:1), stearic (18:0), and oleic acids (18:1) were measured by gas chromatography and SCD1 activity was estimated by the ratio of product to precursor (16:1/16:0; 18:1/18:0). Positive associations were identified between CRP levels and 16:0 (p<2.0×10(-4)), 16:1 (p<0.05), and the SCD1 index (18:1/18:0; p<6.0×10(-3)) in European and Asian females, while 18:0 was inversely associated with CRP (p<2.0×10(-4)) in both groups. Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SCD1 were genotyped in all subjects. One SNP (rs2060792) was associated (p<0.05) with 16:0 and 18:0 levels in females of European descent. This same SNP was also associated with CRP levels in both groups of females (p<0.05). Overall, SCD1 activity and genetic variation have an important role in modulating the relationship between FA and inflammation in young adults.

The Endocannabinoid System and Eating Behaviours: a Review of the Current State of the Evidence.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: The endocannabinoid system (ENS) has emerged as an important factor in food intake and may have implications for nutrition research. The objective of the current report is to summarise the available evidence on the ENS and eating behaviour from both animal and human studies. RECENT FINDINGS: The literature reviewed demonstrates a clear link between the ENS and eating behaviours. Overall, studies indicate that 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) via cannabinoid receptor-1 (CNR1) binding may stimulate hunger and food intake while oleylethanolamide (OEA) may inhibit hunger. Mechanisms of these associations are not yet well understood, although the evidence suggests that there may be interactions with other physiological systems to consider. Most studies have been conducted in animal models, with few human studies available. Additional research is warranted among human populations into the ENS and eating behaviour. Evaluation of relationships between variation in ENS genes and dietary outcomes is an important area for investigation.

Adherence to a caloric budget and body weight change vary by season, gender, and BMI: An observational study of daily users of a mobile health app.

Objective: Self-monitoring, one of the most important behaviors for successful weight loss, can be facilitated through mobile health applications (mHealth apps). Therefore, it is of interest to determine whether consistent users of these apps succeed in achieving their weight goals. This study used data from an mHealth app that enabled tracking of caloric intake, body weight, and physical activity and provided a caloric budget depending on weight goal. The primary objective was to evaluate adherence to caloric budget and body weight change among the most consistent (i.e., daily) trackers of caloric intake over a calendar year (n = 9372, 50% male). Methods: Gender-stratified linear mixed models were conducted to examine the effects of quarter of year (Q1-Q4 as season proxies) and body mass index (BMI) group (normal weight, overweight, obesity) on adherence to a caloric budget (kcal/day). Change in body weight was analyzed using a subset of users (n = 5808) who entered their weight in the app at least once per week, once per month, or once in Q1 and Q4. Physical activity entries were evaluated in exploratory analyses. Results: Only users with obesity met their caloric budget in Q1. Deviation from budget increased for all groups from Q1 to Q2 (mean change[±standard error of the mean]: +23.7[±1.8] and +39.7[±2.2] kcal/day for female and male users, p < 0.001), was stable between Q2 and Q3, and fluctuated thereafter depending on gender and BMI, with greater deviation among males with overweight. Users with obesity with weight entries at least once per month lost the most weight (-6.1[±0.3] and -4.5[±0.3] kg for females and males, p < 0.001). Physical activity was highest in the summer months. Conclusions: Among consistent calorie trackers, adherence to a caloric budget and body weight vary by season, gender, and BMI. Self-monitoring of body weight in addition to calorie tracking may lead to improved weight loss outcomes.

Polymorphisms in FADS1 and FADS2 alter desaturase activity in young Caucasian and Asian adults.

Recent evidence indicates that genetic variation in fatty acid desaturases 1 and 2 (FADS1 and FADS2) is associated with changes in plasma fatty acid profiles; however, the association with altered desaturase activity has not been examined in different ethnic populations. The present study examined whether genetic variation in the FADS gene cluster regulates desaturase activity in two populations of young Canadian adults (Caucasian and Asian) and whether altered desaturase activity was reflected in both n-3 and n-6 fatty acid profiles. FADS1 and FADS2 were genotyped in a random subset of participants (Caucasian, n=78; Asian, n=69) from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health study using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and plasma fatty acids were measured by gas chromatography. Desaturase activities were estimated using the following fatty acid ratios: γ-linoleic acid to linoleic acid (GLA:LA), arachidonic acid to linoleic acid (AA:LA), arachidonic acid to dihomo-γ-linoleic acid (AA:DGLA), and eicosapentaneoic acid to α-linolenic acid (EPA:ALA). Nineteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were examined, and several SNPs (9 in Caucasians and 8 in Asians) were associated with various desaturase activities. The most significant association detected was between the FADS1 rs174547 SNP and AA:LA in both Caucasians (p=4.0 × 10(-8)) and Asians (p=5.0 × 10(-5)). Although the minor allele for this SNP differed between Caucasians (T) and Asians (C), carriers of the C allele had a lower desaturase activity than carriers of the T allele in both groups. To determine whether rs174547 was a dominant SNP in the FADS gene cluster, we constructed an additional model which included this SNP as a covariate. Only one SNP (rs498793 in FADS2) remained associated with the EPA:ALA ratio (p=1.1 × 10(-5)) in Asians. This study shows that genetic variation in the FADS gene cluster (in particular rs174547) can alter desaturase activity in subjects of Caucasians and Asian descent.

Multiscale Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease: CLSA Analysis of Genetic and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a complex disease resulting from multiscale risk factors including genetics, age, and psychosocial factors (PSFs) such as depression and social isolation. However, previous research has lacked in operationalizing multiscale risk factors to determine individual and interactive associations over the life course. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate individual and interactive associations of multiscale risk factors for CVD outcomes including genetics and PSFs at middle and older-aged stages of the life course. Methods: Baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA; n = 9,892 with genome-wide genotyping data) was used for this investigation. A 39 single nucleotide polymorphism polygenic risk score (PRS) for CVD was constructed. PSFs consisted of: (1) Depressive symptoms categorized into: "none" (Group 1, reference), "current" (Group 2), "clinical depression with no current symptoms" (Group 3), and "potential, recurrent depression" (Group 4); and (2) Social isolation index as a binary variable comprised of marital status, living arrangements, retirement status, contacts, and social participation. Heart-related disorders (HRD: myocardial infarction, angina and heart disease) was the primary outcome of interest and peripheral/vascular-related disorders (PVRD: stroke, peripheral vascular disease and hypertension) was the secondary outcome. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for socio-demographic factors were conducted stratified by age group (middle-aged: 45-69 years, older-aged: ≥70 years). Results: PRS was associated with HRD among middle- and older-aged participants [OR (95% confidence interval)] [1.06 (1.03-1.08), 1.06 (1.03-1.08), respectively]. Most depressive symptoms groups compared to the reference associated with HRD and PVRD, but only Group 4 associated with PVRD among older-aged [1.69 (1.08-2.64)]. Social isolation was associated with only PVRD among middle-aged [1.84 (1.04-3.26)]; however, socially isolated CLSA participants were underrepresented in the genotyped cohort (1.2%). No significant PRS*PSFs interactions were observed. Conclusions: Genetics and PSFs are independently associated with CVD. Varying observations across age groups underscores the need to advance research on multiscale risk factors operating both at a given point in time and over the life course. Future cohort studies may benefit from use of mobile assessment units to enable better reach to socially isolated participants for collection of biospecimens.

Longitudinal Patterns of Food Procurement Over the Course of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From a Canadian Online Household Survey.

Introduction: Consumer food procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic has been understudied. This investigation aimed to longitudinally evaluate food procurement patterns, concern of virus exposure in grocery retailers, and food access challenges over the pandemic among a sample of households in Quebec, Canada. Methods: Online surveys were collected at three time points of the pandemic: first wave in spring 2020 (lockdown period), summer 2020 (deconfinement period), and second wave in winter 2021 (curfew period). Respondents were the household's primary grocery shopper (n = 491). Non-parametric tests and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to compare responses over time and to evaluate characteristics of respondents who regularly used no-contact grocery methods (store pick-up or home delivery). Results: Frequency of in-store grocery shopping was lowest during the lockdown (once per week or less), and significantly increased over time to resemble pre-pandemic frequency. Concern of virus exposure in grocery retailers and disinfection/discarding of food packaging was highest during the lockdown, but significantly decreased over time. At all time points, use of public transit, walking or cycling for grocery shopping was associated with regular use of no-contact grocery methods (curfew odds ratio (OR): 3.13 (95% confidence interval 1.60, 6.14). Age (60 years+) was associated with regular use during the lockdown [OR: 2.27 (1.13, 4.59)]. Conclusion: Among our sample, frequency of in-store grocery shopping was lowest and concern of virus exposure in stores was highest during the lockdown period. No-contact grocery use was associated with transportation mode and potentially with personal risk perception (age).