High Fructose Causes More Prominent Liver Steatohepatitis with Leaky Gut Similar to High Glucose Administration in Mice and Attenuation by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dfa1.

High-sugar diet-induced prediabetes and obesity are a global current problem that can be the result of glucose or fructose. However, a head-to-head comparison between both sugars on health impact is still lacking, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dfa1 has never been tested, and has recently been isolated from healthy volunteers. The mice were administered with the high glucose or fructose preparation in standard mouse chaw with or without L. plantarum dfa1 gavage, on alternate days, and in vitro experiments were performed using enterocyte cell lines (Caco2) and hepatocytes (HepG2). After 12 weeks of experiments, both glucose and fructose induced a similar severity of obesity (weight gain, lipid profiles, and fat deposition at several sites) and prediabetes condition (fasting glucose, insulin, oral glucose tolerance test, and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA score)). However, fructose administration induced more severe liver damage (serum alanine transaminase, liver weight, histology score, fat components, and oxidative stress) than the glucose group, while glucose caused more prominent intestinal permeability damage (FITC-dextran assay) and serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) compared to the fructose group. Interestingly, all of these parameters were attenuated by L. plantarum dfa1 administration. Because there was a subtle change in the analysis of the fecal microbiome of mice with glucose or fructose administration compared to control mice, the probiotics altered only some microbiome parameters (Chao1 and Lactobacilli abundance). For in vitro experiments, glucose induced more damage to high-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 µg/mL) to enterocytes (Caco2 cell) than fructose, as indicated by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), supernatant cytokines (TNF-α and IL-8), and glycolysis capacity (by extracellular flux analysis). Meanwhile, both glucose and fructose similarly facilitated LPS injury in hepatocytes (HepG2 cell) as evaluated by supernatant cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) and extracellular flux analysis. In conclusion, glucose possibly induced a more severe intestinal injury (perhaps due to LPS-glucose synergy) and fructose caused a more prominent liver injury (possibly due to liver fructose metabolism), despite a similar effect on obesity and prediabetes. Prevention of obesity and prediabetes with probiotics was encouraged.

The Consumption of Dairy and Its Association with Nutritional Status in the South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS).

Despite a major decrease in undernutrition worldwide over the last 25 years, underweight and stunting in children still persist as public health issues especially in Africa and Asia. Adequate nutrition is one of the key factors for healthy growth and development of children. In this study, the associations between dairy consumption and nutritional status in the South East Asian Nutrition Survey (SEANUTS) were investigated. National representative data of 12,376 children in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam aged between 1 and 12 years were pooled, representing nearly 88 million children in this age category. It was found that the prevalence of stunting and underweight was lower in children who consumed dairy on a daily basis (10.0% and 12.0%, respectively) compared to children who did not use dairy (21.4% and 18.0%, respectively) (p < 0.05). The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and vitamin D insufficiency was lower in the group of dairy users (3.9% and 39.4%, respectively) compared to non-dairy consumers (7.5% and 53.8%, respectively) (p < 0.05). This study suggests that dairy as part of a daily diet plays an important role in growth and supports a healthy vitamin A and vitamin D status.

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH VITAMIN D STATUS AMONG THAI CHILDREN AGED 3-13 YEARS.

The impact of vitamin D status on bone health and other health conditions is receiving increasingly attention. We aimed to determine the association between environmental factors and vitamin D intake by examining serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in Thai children. We conducted a cross sectional study among 477 Thai children from 4 regions in Thailand. Vitamin D intake was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire completed by the older children or by the parents for younger children. Dietary vitamin D intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. A serum 25(OH)D level was examined for each subject using a chemiluminescence immunoassay. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess the association between studied factors and the serum 25(OH)D level. The final model showed a significant association between sunlight exposure and the serum 25(OH)D level (ß = 0.65, p < 0.01), but not between dietary vitamin D intake and the serum 25(OH)D level (p = 0.01, p = 0.77), suggesting sunlight exposure is more important for the vitamin D status than dietary vitamin D intake.

The Effect of Breakfast Type on Total Daily Energy Intake and Body Mass Index Among Thai School Children.

The study investigated the association between breakfast types consumed, daily energy intake, and body mass index for age Z-score (BAZ). Cross-sectional data from 1258 children aged 7 to 12.9 years were analyzed for breakfast type, nutrient intakes, BAZ, and proportion of overweight or obesity. Analysis of covariance was used to compare energy and nutrient intakes, BAZ, and proportion of overweight/obese children between breakfast groups. Only 19% of children had adequate energy intake from breakfast. Those consuming snacks had a significantly lower BAZ (Z = -0.73), with 5% of them being overweight/obese. Those consuming beverages and desserts had the lowest total daily energy intake (1314 kcal) and lowest protein intake (8.4 g). The results suggest that breakfast type is associated with daily energy intake and BAZ. Most breakfasts are not adequate. School-based nutrition education programs involving families, teachers, and health professionals can contribute to improve this situation.

ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND ADIPOSITY IN THAI SCHOOL CHILDREN: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING APPROACH.

This study used structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine associations between environmental factors and indicators of adiposity. We analyzed data from a cross-sectional Southeast Asian Nutritional Survey of 1,161 Thai children aged 7.0-12.9 years who were recruited by multi-stage sampling. Standardized questionnaires provided data on socio-economic, health status, and physical activity, while a 24-hour dietary recall provided dietary intake data. SEM analysis show that socio-economic, health status, physical activity, and nutrient intake were not associated directly with adiposity, but their relationship with adiposity was via the environment. This analysis confirms many relationships between possible causal factors and adiposity, and it enables insight into the complex mechanisms leading to higher body fat. As such, it could serve as a working model to combat the increasing prevalence of obesity (excess body fat) affecting many countries.

BREAKFAST CONSUMPTION BEHAVIORS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN BANGKOK METROPOLITAN REGION.

Family factors influence children's eating behavior. However, there is little research on family correlates of children's breakfast behavior. This study investigated the breakfast consumption behaviors of school-aged children by surveying their parents. One thousand twelve parents of Grade 1-6 students in Bangkok Metropolitan region completed the questionnaire comprising the following topics: general information about parents, general information about school children, parents' knowledge of breakfast consumption, and breakfast consumption behavior in school children. The results indicated that parents did play a role in breakfast preparation. The earlier parents woke up, the higher the chance of children to have breakfast. Most parents (83%) had good knowledge about breakfast goodness. Just over three-quarters (79%) of students had a breakfast daily; with only 1% that never had breakfast daily. Frequency of breakfast consumption tended to decreases, as children growing up. The key barrier of breakfast consumption were lack of time, woke up late, and had no breakfast prepared at home. Without breakfast, the parents reported that their children expressed hunger, moodiness, and the inability to concentrate in class.