Exploring the Role and Functionality of Ingredients in Plant-Based Meat Analogue Burgers: A Comprehensive Review.

The development of plant-based meat analogues has become a significant challenge for the food industry in recent years due to the increasing demand for sustainable and healthier proteins in the context of a global protein transition. Plant-based meat analogues imitate the visual, textural, and chemical properties of traditional meat products and are required to closely resemble meat to appeal to consumers. In addition, consumers demand natural, clean-label, and nutritional, and healthy products. To address these challenges, the food industry must develop highly healthy, nutritious, and E-number-free meat analogue products. Understanding the functionality of each ingredient and its role in the food matrix is crucial to being a key player in the innovation of the meat analogue market. This review provides updated information on the primary ingredients utilized for the development of plant-based burger meat alternatives and their functionality. The key components of meat analogue burgers are outlined, including plant proteins, binding agents, fats and oils, flavorings, colorings, preservatives, fortificants, and clean-label considerations.

Sarcopenia and associated factors according to the EWGSOP2 criteria in older people living in nursing homes: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In 2018, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) updated the original definition of sarcopenia, establishing new criteria to be used globally. Early diagnosis of sarcopenia in nursing home residents and the identification of contributing factors would target interventions to reduce the incidence of malnutrition, social isolation, functional decline, hospitalization and mortality. AIM: Verify the prevalence and the degree of severity of sarcopenia according to the new EWSGOP2 criteria and to analyse its associated factors in residents living in nursing homes in Central Catalonia (Spain). DESIGN: A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in 4 nursing homes. SARC-F test was applied as the initial screening, muscle strength was measured by a dynamometer, skeletal muscle mass by bioimpedance analysis and physical performance by Gait Speed. Four categories were used: total probable sarcopenia, probable sarcopenia, confirmed sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia. RESULTS: Among the total sample of 104 nursing home residents (mean age 84.6, ± 7.8; median 86, IQR 110), 84.6% were women and 85 (81.7%) (95% confidence interval [CI] 73.0-88.0) had total probable sarcopenia, 63 (60.5%) had probable sarcopenia, 19 (18.3%) had confirmed sarcopenia and 7 (6.7%) had severe sarcopenia. In the bivariate analysis, obesity was negatively associated and total time in sedentary behavior positively associated with all sarcopenia categories. In addition, malnutrition and urinary continence were positively associated with total and probable sarcopenia. Urinary incontinence was a positive associated factor of total and probable sarcopenia. In the multivariate analysis, obesity represented a negative associated factor: OR = 0.13 (0.03 - 0.57), p = 0.007 and OR = 0.14 (0.03 - 0.60), p = 0.008 with total and probable sarcopenia, respectively, adjusted by urinary incontinence status. For confirmed sarcopenia, obesity also represented a negative associated factor OR = 0.06 (0.01 - 0.99), p = 0.049 and the total time in sedentary behavior a positive associated factor OR = 1.10 (1.00- 1.20), p = 0.040. CONCLUSIONS: According the EWGSOP2 criteria, high prevalence of sarcopenia was found in institutionalized older people, ranging from 6.7 to 81.7% depending on the category. Malnutrition, urinary incontinence and total time in sedentary behavior were associated with sarcopenia, whilst obesity represented a protective factor in this population.

Urinary Incontinence and Its Association with Physical and Psycho-Cognitive Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Older People Living in Nursing Homes.

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common geriatric syndrome affecting bladder health and is especially prevalent in nursing homes (NHs). The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of UI and its associated factors in five Spanish NHs. UI (measured with Minimum Data Set 3.0), sociodemographic, and health-related variables were collected. Chi-square (or Fisher's) or Student's t-test (or Mann Whitney U) for bivariate analysis were used, with Prevalence Ratio (PR) as an association measure. The prevalence of UI was 66.1% (CI:95%, 53.6-77.2) in incontinent (n = 45, mean age 84.04, SD = 7.7) and continent (n = 23, mean age 83.00, SD = 7.7) groups. UI was significantly associated with frailty (PR = 1.84; 95%CI 0.96-3.53), faecal incontinence (PR = 1.65; 95%CI 1.02-2.65), anxiety (PR = 1.64; 95%CI 1.01-2.66), physical performance (PR = 1.77; 95%CI 1.00-3.11), and cognitive state (PR = 1.95; 95%CI 1.05-3.60). Statistically significant differences were found between incontinent and continent NH residents for limitations in activities of daily living (ADL), mobility, quality of life, sedentary behaviour, and handgrip strength. It can be concluded that two out of three of the residents experienced UI, and significant associated factors were mainly physical (sedentary behaviour, frailty, physical performance, ADL limitations, mobility, faecal incontinence, and handgrip strength) followed by psycho-cognitive factors (cognition, anxiety, and quality of life).

Urinary incontinence and sedentary behaviour in nursing home residents in Osona, Catalonia: protocol for the OsoNaH project, a multicentre observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have shown that physical activity (PA) levels and sedentary behaviour (SB) are independent risk factors for many health-related issues. However, there is scarce evidence supporting the relationship between SB and urinary incontinence (UI) in community-dwelling older adults, and no information on any possible association in institutionalised older adults. Stage I of this project has the main objective of determining the prevalence of UI and its associated factors in nursing home (NH) residents, as well as analysing the association between UI (and its types) and SB. Stage II aims to investigate the incidence and predictive factors of functional and continence decline, falls, hospitalisations, mortality and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among NH residents. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Stage I is an observational, multicentre, cross-sectional study with mixed methodology that aims to explore the current status of several health-related outcomes in NH residents of Osona (Barcelona, Spain). The prevalence ratio will be used as an association measure and multivariate analysis will be undertaken using Poisson regression with robust variance. Stage II is a 2-year longitudinal study that aims to analyse functional and continence decline, incidence of falls, hospitalisations, mortality and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these outcomes. A survival analysis using the actuarial method for functional decline and continence, evaluated every 6 months, and the Kaplan-Meier method for falls, hospitalisations and deaths, and Cox regression for multivariate analysis will be undertaken. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study received the following approvals: University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia Ethics and Research Committee (92/2019 and 109/2020), Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Osona Foundation for Health Research and Education (FORES) (code 2020118/PR249). Study results will be disseminated at conferences, meetings and through peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04297904.

Risk of Eating Disorders in Patients With Celiac Disease.

OBJECTIVES: Several cases of eating disorders (EDs) have been reported in patients with celiac disease (CD), suggesting that ED could be a comorbidity associated with CD. Few epidemiological studies have, however, assessed this potential association. We aimed to evaluate the risk of EDs in individuals diagnosed with CD in comparison to healthy controls. METHODS: A total of 98 cases and 98 controls matched for sex, age, and body mass index between 10 and 23 years old were studied. A questionnaire was completed on medical history and sociodemographic as well as anthropometric characteristics. Various ED screening self-reported tests were administered. RESULTS: A total of 61.2% of the study population were girls with a mean age of 15.3 ±â€Š3.7 years old. Patients with CD scored nonsignificantly higher on all the ED screening tests than control participants. No differences were observed between study groups in terms of the frequency of individuals who exceeded the clinical cutoff identifying those at risk of ED. Patients with CD above 13 years old were associated with a 2.15-point increase in the Eating Attitude Test score compared with controls [ß-coefficient = 2.15 SE 1.04; P = 0.04] after adjusting for various confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Although being a patient with CD was associated with a significantly higher Eating Attitude Test score in individuals older than 13 years old, no clear differences were observed between individuals with CD and controls in terms of risk of ED when other screening tests were used. More studies with larger samples and prospective designs are warranted to confirm these findings.

Patients With Celiac Disease Reported Higher Consumption of Added Sugar and Total Fat Than Healthy Individuals.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the dietary pattern between subjects with celiac disease (CD) (cases) and subjects without (healthy controls) CD. METHODS: A case-control design study was conducted. A total of 98 subjects with CD (age 10-23 years) were matched by age, sex, and body mass index with 98 nonceliac participants. A nonconsecutive 3-day food record was completed to assess energy, nutrient, and food intake and evaluate the participant's adherence to recommendations. Differences in energy, nutrients, food consumption, and compliance with general recommendations between cases and control groups were assessed by Student t test. Pearson chi-squared test was used to compare categorical variables. Sociodemographic, personal, and family history data were collected. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the cases with CD reported a significantly higher consumption of added sugar (P < 0.001) and total fat (P < 0.017). Mean fiber consumption was below the nutritional recommendations in both groups. Participants with CD consumed significantly lower amounts of foods rich in starch (P < 0.001) and higher amounts of foods rich in protein such as meat, fish, and eggs (P = 0.007). Subjects with CD showed a significantly lower percentage of adherence to recommendations for folic acid (53.2 vs 70.5; P < 0.001), calcium (49.0 vs 56.3; P = 0.025), iron (57.4 vs 78.0; P < 0.001), and magnesium (50.0 vs 63.9; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The subjects with CD showed a more unbalanced diet than controls in terms of added sugars, total fat, and micronutrient consumption.

Consensus document on the prevention of methylmercury exposure in Spain: Study group for the prevention of Me-Hg exposure in Spain (GEPREM-Hg).

The beneficial effects of fish consumption in both children and adults are well known. However, the intake of methylmercury, mainly from contaminated fish and shellfish, can have adverse health effects. The study group on the prevention of exposure to methylmercury (GEPREM-Hg), made up of representatives from different Spanish scientific societies, has prepared a consensus document in a question and answer format, containing the group's main conclusions, recommendations and proposals. The objective of the document is to provide broader knowledge of factors associated with methylmercury exposure, its possible effects on health amongst the Spanish population, methods of analysis, interpretation of the results and economic costs, and to then set recommendations for fish and shellfish consumption. The group sees the merit of all initiatives aimed at reducing or prohibiting the use of mercury as well as the need to be aware of the results of contaminant analyses performed on fish and shellfish marketed in Spain. In addition, the group believes that biomonitoring systems should be set up in order to follow the evolution of methylmercury exposure in children and adults and perform studies designed to learn more about the possible health effects of concentrations found in the Spanish population, taking into account the lifestyle, eating patterns and the Mediterranean diet.

Documento de consenso sobre la prevención de la exposición al metilmercurio en España / Consensus document on the prevention of exposure to methylmercury in Spain

Los efectos beneficiosos del consumo de pescado tanto en niños como en adultos han sido bien reconocidos. Sin embargo, la ingesta de metilmercurio principalmente a través del pescado y marisco contaminado puede producir efectos adversos en la salud. El grupo de estudio para la prevención de la exposición al metilmercurio (GEPREM-Hg), constituido por representantes de diferentes sociedades científicas españolas, ha elaborado un documento de consenso donde se recogen en forma de preguntas y respuestas las principales conclusiones, recomendaciones y propuestas planteadas en el grupo. El objetivo del documento es profundizar en el conocimiento de los factores asociados a la exposición almetilmercurio, los posibles efectos sobre la salud en la población española, los métodos de análisis, la interpretación de los resultados, el coste económico y establecer finalmente recomendaciones de consumo de pescados y mariscos. El grupo considera acertadas todas las iniciativas encaminadas a reducir o prohibir el uso del mercurio y la necesidad de conocer los resultados de los análisis de contaminantes que se realizan en los pescados y mariscos que se comercializan en España. Además, opina que se deberían establecer sistemas de biomonitorización para conocer la evolución de la exposicional metilmercurio en niños y adultos y realizar estudios diseñados para conocer los posibles efectos sobre la salud de las concentraciones halladas en la población española, teniendo en cuenta el estilo de vida, los patrones de consumo alimentarios y la dieta mediterránea (AU)

The beneficial effects of fish consumption in both children and adults are well known. However, the intake of methyl mercury, mainly from contaminated fish and shellfish, can have adverse health effects. The study group on the prevention of exposure to methyl mercury (GEPREM-Hg), made up of representatives from different Spanish scientific societies, has prepared a consensus document in a question and answer format, containing the group's main conclusions, recommendations and proposals. The objective of the document is to provide broader knowledge of factors associated with methyl mercury exposure, its possible effects on health among the Spanish population, methods of analysis, interpretation of the results and economic costs, and to then set recommendations for fish and shellfish consumption. The group sees the merit of all initiatives aimed at reducing or prohibiting the use of mercury as well as the need to be aware of the results of contaminant analyses performed on fish and shellfish marketed in Spain. In addition, the group believes that biomonitoring systems should be set up in order to follow the evolution of methyl mercury exposure in children and adults and perform studies designed to learn more about the possible health effects of concentrations found in the Spanish population, taking into account the lifestyle, eating patterns and the Mediterranean diet (AU)

[The effects of methylmercury on health in children and adults; national and international studies]. / Efectos sobre la salud del metilmercurio en niños y adultos; estudios nacionales e internacionales.

The benefit of fish consumption in children and adults is well-known. However, it has been pointed out that excessive methylmercury intake due to consumption of contaminated fish leads to neurological toxicity in children, affecting cognitive function, memory, visual-motor function and language. After the intoxications in Minamata and Iraq, wide-ranging epidemiological studies were carried out in New Zealand, the Faroe Islands and the Seychelles and international recommendations were established for fish consumption in pregnant women and small children. In Spain, the Childhood and Environmental project (INMA, its Spanish acronym) has studied the effects of diet and the environment on fetal and childhood development in different geographic areas of Spain. National and international sudies have demonstrated that mercury concentrations are mainly dependent on fish consumption, although there are variations among countries which can be explained not only by the levels of fish consumption, but also by the type or species of fish that is consumed, as well as other factors. Although the best documented adverse effects of methylmercury are the effects on nervous sytem development in fetuses and newborns, an increasing number of studies indicate that cognitive function, reproduction and, especially, cardiovascular risk in the adult population can also be affected. However, more studies are necessary in order to confirm this and establish the existance of a causal relationship.

Los efectos beneficiosos del consumo de pescado tanto en niños como en adultos han sido bien reconocidos. Sin embargo, se ha referido que la ingesta excesiva de metilmercurio procedente del pescado contaminado produce toxicidad neurológica en los niños afectando a la función cognitiva, la memoria, la función visual-motora y al lenguaje. Después de las intoxicaciones de Minamata e Iraq, se realizaron grandes estudios epidemiológicos en Nueva Zelanda, las islas Féroe y las islas Seychelles y se establecieron recomendaciones internacionales sobre el consumo de pescado y marisco en las mujeres embarazadas y niños pequeños. En España, el proyecto Infancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) ha estudiado los efectos del medio ambiente y de la dieta sobre el desarrollo fetal e infantil en diversas zonas geográficas de España. Los estudios realizados nacionales e internacionales muestran que la concentración de mercurio depende principalmente del consumo de pescado, aunque existe una variabilidad entre los países que podría explicarse no solo por la cantidad de pescado consumida, sino también por el tipo o especies de pescados que se consumen, así como por otro tipo de factores. Aunque los efectos perjudiciales del metilmercurio mejor documentados son los que se producen sobre el desarrollo del sistema nervioso en el feto y en el recién nacido, cada vez hay más estudios que indican que también puede afectar a la función cognitiva, reproducción y especialmente al riesgo cardiovascular en la población adulta. Sin embargo, son necesarios más estudios para confirmarlo y establecer la existencia de una relación causal.

[Consensus document on the prevention of exposure to methylmercury in Spain]. / Documento de consenso sobre la prevención de la exposición al metilmercurio en España.

The beneficial effects of fish consumption in both children and adults are well known. However, the intake of methylmercury, mainly from contaminated fish and shellfish, can have adverse health effects. The study group on the prevention of exposure to methylmercury (GEPREM-Hg), made up of representatives from different Spanish scientific societies, has prepared a consensus document in a question and answer format, containing the group's main conclusions, recommendations and proposals. The objective of the document is to provide broader knowledge of factors associated with methylmercury exposure, its possible effects on health among the Spanish population, methods of analysis, interpretation of the results and economic costs, and to then set recommendations for fish and shellfish consumption. The group sees the merit of all initiatives aimed at reducing or prohibiting the use of mercury as well as the need to be aware of the results of contaminant analyses performed on fish and shellfish marketed in Spain. In addition, the group believes that biomonitoring systems should be set up in order to follow the evolution of methylmercury exposure in children and adults and perform studies designed to learn more about the possible health effects of concentrations found in the Spanish population, ta king into account the lifestyle, eating patterns and the Mediterranean diet.

Los efectos beneficiosos del consumo de pescado tanto en niños como en adultos han sido bien reconocidos. Sin embargo, la ingesta de metilmercurio principalmente a través del pescado y marisco contaminado puede producir efectos adversos en la salud. El grupo de estudio para la prevención de la exposición al metilmercurio (GEPREM-Hg), constituido por representantes de diferentes sociedades científicas españolas, ha elaborado un documento de consenso donde se recogen en forma de preguntas y respuestas las principales conclusiones, recomendaciones y propuestas planteadas en el grupo. El objetivo del documento es profundizar en el conocimiento de los factores asociados a la exposición al metilmercurio, los posibles efectos sobre la salud en la población española, los métodos de análisis, la interpretación de los resultados, el coste económico y establecer finalmente recomendaciones de consumo de pescados y mariscos. El grupo considera acertadas todas las iniciativas encaminadas a reducir o prohibir el uso del mercurio y la necesidad de conocer los resultados de los análisis de contaminantes que se realizan en los pescados y mariscos que se comercializan en España. Además, opina que se deberían establecer sistemas de biomonitorización para conocer la evolución de la exposición al metilmercurio en niños y adultos y realizar estudios diseñados para conocer los posibles efectos sobre la salud de las concentraciones halladas en la población española, teniendo en cuenta el estilo de vida, los patrones de consumo alimentarios y la dieta mediterránea.

Dark chocolate acceptability: influence of cocoa origin and processing conditions.

BACKGROUND: Chocolate properties can vary depending on cocoa origin, composition and manufacturing procedure, which affect consumer acceptability. The aim of this work was to study the effect of two cocoa origins (Ghana and Ecuador) and two processing conditions (roasting time and conching time) on dark chocolate acceptability. RESULTS: Overall acceptability and acceptability for different attributes (colour, flavour, odour and texture) were evaluated by 95 consumers. Differences in acceptability among dark chocolates were mainly related to differences in flavour acceptability. The use of a long roasting time lowered chocolate acceptability in Ghanaian samples while it had no effect on acceptability of Ecuadorian chocolates. This response was observed for most consumers (two subgroups with different frequency consumption of dark chocolate). However, for a third group of consumers identified as distinguishers, the most acceptable dark chocolate samples were those produced with specific combinations of roasting time and conching time for each of the cocoa geographical origin considered. CONCLUSION: To produce dark chocolates from a single origin it is important to know the target market preferences and to select the appropriate roasting and conching conditions.