Examining Generalizability across Different Surveys: Comparing Nutrient-Based Food Patterns and Their Cross-Sectional Associations with Cardiometabolic Health in the United States Hispanic/Latino Adults.

Background: Ethnicity, cultural background, and geographic location differ significantly within the United States Hispanic/Latino population. These variations can greatly define diet and its relationship with cardiometabolic disease, thus influencing generalizability of results. Objectives: We aimed to examine nutrient-based food patterns (NBFPs) of Hispanic/Latino adults and their association with cardiometabolic risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity, diabetes) across 2 United States population-based studies with differing sampling strategies. Methods: Data were collected from Mexican or other Hispanic adult participants from 2007-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (n = 3605) and 2007-2011 Hispanic Community Health Survey/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL, n = 14,416). NBFPs were derived using factor analysis on nutrient intake data estimated from 24-h dietary recalls and interpreted using common foods in which these nutrients are prominent. Cross-sectional associations between NBFPs (quintiles) and cardiometabolic risk factors, defined by clinical measures and self-report, were estimated using survey-weighted multivariable-adjusted logistic models, accounting for multiple testing. Results: Five NBFPs were identified in both studies: 1) meats, 2) grains/legumes, 3) fruits/vegetables, 4) dairy, and 5) fats/oils. Associations with cardiometabolic risk factors differed by NBFP and study. In HCHS/SOL, the odds of diabetes were lower for persons in the highest quintile of meats NBFP (odds ratio [OR]: 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.58, 0.92) and odds were higher for those in the lowest quintile of fruits/vegetables (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.55, 0.93) compared to those in the third (moderate intake) quintile. Those in the fourth quintile of dairy NBFP had higher odds of hypertension than those in the third quintile (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.70). In NHANES, the odds of hypertension were higher for those in the fourth quintile of dairy (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.10, 3.24) than those in the third quintile. Conclusions: Diet-disease relationships among Hispanic/Latino adults vary according to 2 population-based studies. These differences have research and practical implications when generalizing inferences on heterogeneous underrepresented populations.

From Streets to Tables: Bottom-Up Co-creation Case Studies for Healthier Food Environments in Vietnam and Nigeria.

Current food systems fail to provide equity, sustainability, and positive health outcomes, thus underscoring the critical need for their transformation. Intervening in food environments holds substantial promise for contributing to this much-needed transformation. Despite scholars and practitioners often recognizing the necessity for bottom-up approaches, there is a dearth of empirical investigations evaluating the potential of these approaches to contribute to food system transformations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Our study aimed to address this research gap, providing a unique perspective in this regard. Drawing on evidence from two co-creation case studies conducted with small-scale informal fruit and vegetable vendors and poor consumers in Vietnam and Nigeria from January 2020 to December 2021, we explored the relevance of bottom-up community-engaged co-creation processes in intervening within LMICs' food retail environments. Employing a mixed-methods approach that includes quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, participatory workshops, and focus group discussions, we demonstrated that bottom-up co-creation processes involving marginalized socioeconomic groups can generate retail-level innovations that are tailored to informal retail contexts, whereas remaining aligned with established top-down theories and literature pertaining to food environments and healthy diets. We provided empirical evidence highlighting how both vendors and consumers respond positively to the co-created innovations. Expanding upon our results, we offered methodological insights applicable to interventions targeted at food environments in LMICs, and considerations for future research or development initiatives in this domain. Our findings revealed the capacity of vulnerable stakeholders to actively engage in public health initiatives and contribute to developing innovative solutions that are context-specific and conducive to the adoption of healthier dietary practices. These results confirm the potential of bottom-up, co-creation, real-world interventions within informal settings to contribute toward fostering inclusive transformation of food systems.

Disaggregation of Dairy in Composite Foods in the United Kingdom.

Dairy, especially cheese, is associated with high levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Accurate estimates of dairy consumption are therefore important for monitoring dietary transition targets. Previous studies found that disaggregating the meat out of composite foods significantly impacts estimates of meat consumption. Our objective was to determine whether disaggregating the dairy out of composite foods impacts estimates of dairy consumption in Scotland. Approximately 32% of foods in the UK Nutrient Databank contain some dairy. In the 2021 Scottish Health Survey, mean daily intakes of dairy with and without disaggregation of composite foods were 238.6 and 218.4 g, respectively. This translates into an 8% underestimation of dairy consumption when not accounting for dairy in composite foods. In particular, milk was underestimated by 7% and cheese and butter by 50%, whereas yogurt was overestimated by 15% and cream by 79%. Failing to disaggregate dairy from composite foods may underestimate dairy consumption.

Green hospitals: Mitigating water footprint and greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable menu planning in Turkish state university hospitals.

Considering the importance of sustainable nutrition, it is important that hospitals' meal menus are planned to ensure the lowest possible environmental footprint. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the environmental effects of hospital menus and the changes that may occur when these menus are planned according to the Turkey Dietary Guidelines and Mediterranean diet recommendations. In this context, first, the yearly environmental footprints of the standard meal menus of the state university hospitals in Turkey (n = 42), including water footprint (WF) and greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) values, were determined. Second, changes in the environmental footprint as a result of arranging the standard meal menus of state university hospitals according to the Turkey Dietary Guidelines and Mediterranean nutritional models were evaluated. It was determined that the average WF and GHGE values of hospital menus were 137,280 ± 18537.2 L/month and 140.0 ± 18.4 kg CO2-eq/month, respectively. Adjusting state university hospitals' standard meal menus according to Turkey Dietary Guidelines and Mediterranean nutritional models reduced WF by 24.8% to 103206.7 L/month and 37.8% to 85420.5 L/month, and GHGEs by 31.7% to 95.5 kg CO2-eq/month and 49% to 71.3 kg CO2-eq/month, respectively. In addition, it was determined that hospital meal menus planned according to the Turkey Dietary Guidelines and the Mediterranean nutritional model contained lower saturated fat and cholesterol and higher dietary fiber. In conclusion, planning hospital menus according to the Turkey Dietary Guidelines and Mediterranean nutritional recommendations can reduce the environmental footprint of hospital food services.

Dog and owner demographics impact dietary choices in Dog Aging Project cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographic factors of owners and their dogs associated with owner feeding choices and the regularity with which those diets were fed to a US-based population of dogs. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis examined 40,367 initial survey responses from US dog owners participating in the Dog Aging Project. The surveys were collected from January 2, 2020, to December 31, 2022, and included primary and secondary diet component types and dog and owner demographic variables. Each demographic variable was compared across diet type choices with a χ2 test of independence. RESULTS: Most owners (82%) fed a commercially prepared extruded dry diet (kibble) as the primary diet component. Most owners (89%) reported that they fed their dogs a consistent diet over time. Owner demographic factors (income, education level) were less correlated with difference in diet choices than dog demographic factors (size, neuter status, purebred status, activity level), but owner age did correlate with choice: younger owners tended to feed kibble more compared to older owners. Home-cooked diets were most often consumed by small (< 30-lb) dogs, purebred dogs in poorer health status, and dogs with owners aged 45 years or older. Raw diets were more commonly fed to purebred, intact, and highly active dogs. Ten percent of service dogs were reportedly fed a raw diet of some sort. CONCLUSIONS: Demographic variables are associated with statistically significant differences in diet types selected. Nutrition studies examining health outcomes associated with the feeding of different diet types should account for these factors during design or analysis in order to avoid bias. An epidemiological tool, the directed acyclic graph, is presented. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This information will help clinicians in their discussions with clients about pet nutrition.

Different Protein Sources of Larval Diet on the Rearing of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae): Biological and Nutritional Analyses.

Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) is considered an important pest in Neotropical countries. The laboratory rearing of this species should reproduce conditions in nature; thus, special attention is required to the nutritional quality of diets for larval development. Protein components (wheat germ) are costly and account for most production costs in lab insect rearing. In this sense, this work aimed to identify ingredients to replace wheat germ, without compromising diet quality for the lab rearing of A. fraterculus. We tested diets composed of whole rice flour, corn flour, and a mixture of whole wheat flour + soybean flour as substitutes for wheat germ as well as a raw wheat germ diet, considered the control. The protein sources used in the larval diet influenced the biological performance of both the larval and adult stages of A. fraterculus during six generations. The diet containing corn flour and wheat germ showed similar results in the different developmental parameters. The diet with rice flour also provided adequate biological development for A. fraterculus throughout its life cycle and was nutritionally similar to the control. As it is local product, rice flour can replace wheat germ (costly imported product) in artificial diets for A. fraterculus, reducing production costs by roughly 30% without compromising the biological and nutritional parameters of the insects. Faced with this, the rice flour can be considered suitable for the mass rearing of A. fraterculus in the laboratory.

Gut-muscle communication links FGF19 levels to the loss of lean muscle mass following rapid weight loss.

OBJECTIVE: Optimal weight loss involves decreasing adipose tissue while preserving lean muscle mass. Identifying molecular mediators that preserve lean muscle mass is therefore a clinically important goal. We have shown that circulating, postprandial FGF19 levels are lower in patients with obesity and decrease further with comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and MASLD. Preclinical studies have shown that FGF15 (mouse ortholog of human FGF19) is necessary to protect against lean muscle mass loss following metabolic surgery-induced weight loss in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. We evaluated if non-surgical weight loss interventions also lead to increased systemic levels of FGF19 and whether FGF19 levels are predictive of lean muscle mass following rapid weight loss in human subjects with obesity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Weight loss was induced in 176 subjects with obesity via a very low-energy diet, VLED (800 kcal/d) in the form of total liquid meal replacement for 3-4 months. We measured plasma FGF19 levels at baseline and following VLED-induced weight loss. Multiple linear regression was performed to assess if FGF19 levels were predictive of lean mass at baseline (obesity) and following VLED. RESULTS: Postprandial levels of FGF19 increased significantly following VLED-weight loss. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that baseline (obesity) FGF19 levels, but not post VLED FGF19 levels, significantly predicted the percent of lean muscle mass after VLED-induced weight loss, while controlling for age, sex, and the baseline percent lean mass. CONCLUSION: These data identify gut-muscle communication and FGF19 as a potentially important mediator of the preservation of lean muscle mass during rapid weight loss.

Vegetation structure and climate shape mountain arthropod distributions across trophic levels.

Arthropods play a vital role in ecosystems; yet, their distributions remain poorly understood, particularly in mountainous regions. This study delves into the modelling of the distribution of 31 foliar arthropod genera in the French Alps, using a comprehensive approach encompassing multi-trophic sampling, community DNA metabarcoding and random forest models. The results underscore the significant importance of vegetation structure, such as herbaceous vegetation density, and forest density and heterogeneity, along with climate, in shaping the distributions of most arthropods. These responses to environmental gradients are consistent across trophic groups, with the exception of nectarivores, whose distributions are more sensitive to landscape structure and water availability. By leveraging community DNA metabarcoding, this study sheds light on the understudied drivers of arthropod distributions, emphasizing the importance of modelling across diverse trophic groups to anticipate arthropod responses to global change.

Estimating the cost and affordability of healthy diets: How much do methods matter?

Recently developed cost and affordability of healthy diet (CoAHD) metrics have quickly become mainstream food security indicators. However, published research on the sensitivity of estimation methods is limited. This paper focuses on two important innovations in CoAHD measurement at the global level. First, we develop a demographic scaling factor to adjust healthy diet costs for cross-country differences in age structures, since younger populations generally require fewer calories than older populations. Second, we improve the way in which household expenditure available for purchasing food ("food budgets") are derived. In addition, we explore sensitivity of global CoAHD estimates to potential problems with the representativeness and food product coverage of global food price data and vary assumptions for activity levels that shape energy expenditure requirements. We apply these explorations to the EAT-Lancet reference diet in 137 countries using price data from 2017. Relative to the conventional methods, we find that demographic scaling and improved food budget derivation substantially reduces the estimated population who cannot afford a healthy diet, from 3.02 to 2.13 billion. Adjustments for low product coverage can lead to modest reductions for specific regions and food groups, while higher physical activity assumptions increase the share of people who cannot afford a healthy diet, though perhaps implausibly so. Methods clearly matter in CoAHD estimation, and more accurate and timelier CoAHD estimates have substantial scope to improve policy analysis, design and targeting.

Long-term saturated fat-enriched diets impair hippocampal learning and memory processes in a sex-dependent manner.

Consumption of saturated fat-enriched diets during adolescence has been closely associated with the reduction of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and the impairment of cognitive function. Nevertheless, the effect of long-term intake of these foods has not yet been studied. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of a treatment, lasting for 40 weeks, with a diet enriched in saturated fat (SOLF) on i) spatial learning and memory, ii) hippocampal synaptic transmission and plasticity, and iii) hippocampal gene expression levels in aged male and female mice. Our findings reveal that SOLF has a detrimental impact on spatial memory and synaptic plasticity mechanisms, such as long-term potentiation (LTP), and downregulates Gria1 expression specifically in males. In females, SOLF downregulates the gene expression of Gria1/2/3 and Grin1/2A/2B glutamate receptor subunits as well as some proinflammatory interleukins. These findings highlight the importance of considering sex-specific factors when assessing the long-term effects of high-fat diets on cognition and brain plasticity.

High concentrate diets altered the structure and function of rumen microbiome in goats.

This study used metatranscriptomics to investigate the effects of concentrate diet level on rumen microbiome composition and function in goats. A total of 12 healthy 120-day-old Da'er goats were randomly allotted into two treatments: L group (low dietary concentrate level group, concentrate: forage ratio was 25: 75) and H group (high dietary concentrate level group, concentrate: forage ratio was 80: 20). The study included a 10-day pre-feeding period and a 60-day growth experiment. The results showed that compared with the L group, the average daily gain and the slaughter rate in the H group were increased, while the F/G was decreased; the concentration of lactate and ammonia nitrogen, and the proportion of butyrate and valerate in the rumen of the H group were increased, while the proportion of acetate, and the ratio of acetate to propionate were decreased (p < 0.05). Among rumen bacteria, compared with the L group, the H group significantly decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Fibrobacteria at the phylum level, decreased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Fibrobacter, and Sarcina and increased the relative abundance of Clostridium at the genus level, and decreased the relative abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes, Sarcina sp. DSM 11001, Oscillibacter sp. KLE 1728, and Ruminococcus flavefaciens and increased the relative abundance of Clostridium sp. ND2 and Firmicutes bacteria CAG: 103 at the species level (p < 0.05). Among rumen fungi, the relative abundance of Basidiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Mortierella, Mortierella elongata, and Gonapodyna prolifera was lower in the H group than that in the L group (p < 0.05). Functional annotation results showed that the abundance of Glycoside hydrolases genes in rumen microbiome was significantly decreased in the H group compared to the L group (p < 0.05). The result of KEGG DEGs enrichment analysis showed that the gene expression of cellulose 1,4-ß-cellobiosidase, acetyl-CoA hydrolase, lactate dehydrogenase, succinate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase, D-malate dehydrogenase and related genes in methane production pathways of rumen microbiome was decreased in the H group. In summary, feeding high concentrate diets improved the production performance of goats, altered the structure and composition of rumen microbiome and changed the function of rumen microbiome.

Can micronutrient requirements be met by diets from sustainable sources: outcomes of dietary modelling studies using diet optimization.

BACKGROUND: Consumption of diets from sustainable sources is required for planetary health, however, large sections of the population, including females of reproductive age and children, will be at risk of not meeting their micronutrient (MN) requirements in a complete transition to plant-based foods. Constrained diet optimization methods use mathematical programming to construct diets that meet predefined parameters and may contribute towards modelling dietary solutions that meet nutritional and planetary targets. OBJECTIVE: Review the evidence from diet optimization studies proposing solutions to ensure MN availability in the context of a transition to diets from sustainable sources. APPROACH: Narrative review focusing on literature published over the last five years. RESULTS: Dietary modelling using diet optimization can design a range of omnivorous and plant-based diets that meet individual MN requirements, have reduced environmental impacts, and minimize deviation from culturally acceptable dietary practices. Using data from large-scale dietary surveys, diet optimization can support development of food-based dietary guidelines; identify limiting MNs in a particular context or a conflict between constraints e.g. nutrition and environment; explore food-based strategies to increase nutrient supply, such as fortification; and support trial design. Methods used and outcomes reported are sources of variability. Individual-level dietary data and MN requirements for population sub-groups such as females of reproductive age and children are important requirements. Although maintaining iron and zinc intakes are regularly reported to present challenges in diets from sustainable sources, few studies have considered bioavailability, which reduces with increased dietary phytate. These and other data gaps including acceptability and affordability must be addressed to improve the applicability of modelling outcomes in population recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary modelling using diet optimization can be useful in the design of more sustainable diets that meet MN requirements, however, translation of outcomes into dietary intervention studies is required to test real-world application and adoption into dietary guidelines.

A widespread shift towards plant-based diets could increase the risk of inadequate intakes of micronutrients typically sourced in foods of animal origin, particularly among females of reproductive age and children.Modelling of dietary intake data collected among individuals using techniques such as diet optimization could be helpful in guiding recommendations and intervention strategies; translation into intervention studies is required.Representative data in different population groups and settings, with methods incorporated to address data gaps on bioavailability of micronutrients, food fortification, and affordability, will improve the applicability of modelling outcomes.

Development of the Diet Quality Questionnaire for Measurement of Dietary Diversity and Other Diet Quality Indicators.

Background: To monitor trends toward healthy and sustainable diets, there is a need for feasible survey tools, with cross-cultural validity, low-cost, and low-expertise requirements. Objectives: The objective of this research was to develop a method to gather data suitable for monitoring diet quality in the general population (women and men of all ages) that is feasible within multitopic surveys, low burden for both enumerators and respondents, valid at population level, and that captures the information necessary for understanding diet quality at global and local levels. Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify constructs of diet quality with existing consensus, indicators with existing global demand, and methods that may be feasible and valid. Results were presented to a technical advisory group for debate, resulting in consensus on a set of constructs to be measured, desired indicators, viable data collection platforms, and an approach for testing and piloting. Results: Food group-based indicators and 24-h recall period were selected as the most feasible and valid approach for population-level monitoring. A 29-item Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ) was developed, where each yes/no question asks about the consumption of a distinct food group on the previous day or night. The food groups were selected for the purpose of deriving indicators to capture the constructs for which there was consensus: nutrient adequacy, and protection against noncommunicable diseases, including both positive and negative risk factors. Conclusions: The DQQ is low cost and feasible to administer in existing large-scale surveys, overcoming barriers to diet data collection that have precluded the routine monitoring of diet quality in the past. This novel approach has now been used across >85 countries in the Gallup World Poll and other surveys, generating the first nationally representative available datasets on Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women and complementary diet quality indicators.

Association of plant-based diet indexes with the metabolomic profile.

Plant-based diets have gained attention for their potential benefits on both human health and environmental sustainability. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of plant-based dietary patterns with the endogenous metabolites of healthy individuals and identify metabolites that may act as mediators of the associations between dietary intake and modifiable disease risk factors. Adherence to plant-based dietary patterns was assessed for 170 healthy adults using plant-based diet indexes (PDI). Individuals with higher healthful PDI had lower BMI and fasting glucose and higher HDL-C, while those with higher unhealthful PDI had higher BMI, triacylglycerol and fasting glucose and lower HDL-C. Unhealthful PDI was associated with higher levels of several amino acids and biogenic amines previously associated with cardiometabolic diseases and an opposite pattern was observed for healthful PDI. Furthermore, healthful PDI was associated with higher levels of glycerophosphocholines containing very long-chain fatty acids. Glutamate, isoleucine, proline, tyrosine, α-aminoadipate and kynurenine had a statistically significant mediation effect on the associations between PDI scores and LDL-C, HDL-C and fasting glucose. These findings contribute to the growing evidence supporting the role of plant-based diets in promoting metabolic health and shed light on the potential mechanisms explaining their beneficial health effects.

Impact of Substituting Meats with Plant-Based Analogues on Health-Related Markers: A Systematic Review of Human Intervention Studies.

The growing drive towards more sustainable dietary patterns has led to an increased demand for and availability of plant-based meat analogues (PBMAs). This systematic review aims to summarize the currently available evidence from human intervention studies investigating the impact of substituting animal meat (AM) with PBMAs in adults. A total of 19 studies were included. Overall, an increase in satiety following PBMA intake was reported, albeit to different extents and not always accompanied by changes in leptin and ghrelin. PBMAs generally resulted in lower protein bioavailability and a smaller increase in plasma essential amino acids in comparison to AM. However, muscle protein synthesis and physical performance were not affected. Finally, conflicting results have been reported for other outcomes, such as pancreatic and gastrointestinal hormones, oxidative stress and inflammation, vascular function, and microbiota composition. In conclusion, we documented that the impact of substituting AM with PBMA products has been scarcely investigated. In addition, the heterogeneity found in terms of study design, population, outcomes, and findings suggests the need for additional high-quality intervention trials, particularly long-term ones, to better clarify the advantages and potential critical issues of such substitutions within sustainable healthy diets.

Vegetarian Diets During Pregnancy: with supplementation, ovo-vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian adaptations of USDA Food Patterns can be nutritionally adequate.

BACKGROUND: The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) includes a lacto-ovo vegetarian pattern (the Healthy Vegetarian Dietary Pattern; HVDP) as one recommended dietary patterns during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: To adapt the HVDP for vegan, ovo-vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, and pescatarian diets during pregnancy. DESIGN: Using food pattern modeling, four adaptations of the HVDP were developed at energy levels that may be appropriate during pregnancy (1800, 2000, 2200, 2400, and 2600 kcal/day). Models were run both with and without the addition of a composite prenatal supplement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome measures were macro- and micronutrient adequacy without exceeding recommendations for saturated fat and added sugar. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PERFORMED: The 2020-2025 DGA Food Pattern Modeling Report was used to define food groups and nutrients in the HVDP. The HVDP was revised to remove dairy and/or eggs or to add seafood. RESULTS: Across all examined energy levels (1800, 2000, 2200, 2400, and 2600 kcal per day), modeled dietary patterns provided sufficient macronutrients. Without prenatal supplements, each dietary pattern met most, but not all, micronutrient recommendations. Micronutrients that were below recommendations in patterns without supplements included vitamin D, iron, vitamin E, sodium, and choline. With the addition of an "composite" prenatal supplement to these patterns, the nutrients below 100% of recommendations were vitamin D, choline, and sodium. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results show that a HVDP and similar diets without meat, eggs, dairy, and/or seafood can provide most nutrients needed during pregnancy, albeit with some micronutrient challenges similar to those diets that include meat and other animal products.

Assessing pet owners' willingness to embrace insects in pet food.

Alternative diets for pets have gained attention in recent years due to concerns about sustainability and environmental impact. One emerging option is the inclusion of edible insects in pet food. This study aimed to survey dog (DO) and cat (CO) owners regarding their willingness to feed insect-based pet food (IBPF) to their pets and to identify potential motivating factors. A total of 435 valid responses were evaluated, with 66% being DO and 58% CO. Of those, 24% owned both dogs and cats. About half of DO (52%) and 62% of CO were positive about IBPF. CO had a higher acceptance of IBPF than DO (p < 0.05). Moreover, both DO and CO showed a significant increase in acceptance if IBPF has been proven to provide sustainable and nutritional benefits (p < 0.01). CO adhering to a specific diet themselves showed a significantly higher acceptance of IBPF (p < 0.05), however it was independent of the type of diet. Additionally, 32% of DO and 34% of CO reported prior experience with eating edible insects themselves, and a positive entomophagy experience increased DO's (p = 0.108) and CO's (p < 0.01) acceptance of IBPF. Furthermore, the interest in entomophagy resulted in increased acceptance of IBPF by both DO and CO who had not yet tried insects (p < 0.01). In conclusion, pet owners demonstrated a favourable perception of IBPF and showed a willingness to incorporate these products into their pets' diets. CO displayed a more positive perception compared to DO, suggesting a beneficial focus on the feline niche. To enhance overall acceptance, emphasizing sustainability and conducting further research to establish the nutritional benefits of IBPF are crucial. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for pet food manufacturers and marketers to develop strategies and products aligned with the preferences and needs of pet owners.

Temporal and individual variation in the feeding habits of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus).

Foraging plays a vital role in the survival of wildlife, and shifts in food availability can impact species fitness and survival. Ursids are known to consume a wide variety of foods and are known to be opportunistic omnivores. Consequently, seasonal shifts in diet, which correspond to temporal and spatial shifts in the availability of food resources, have long captivated researchers studying the foraging behavior of Ursidae. Nevertheless, comprehensive dietary studies encompassing both the population and individual levels remain scarce. In this study, we investigated the dietary patterns of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) at both the population and individual levels, using data collected through GPS collars and field surveys of individual bear scat samples in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, from 2016 to 2020. From early April to late June, bears mainly foraged on green vegetation. During this period, male and large-bodied female bears showed a strong preference for green vegetation. Small-bodied female bears also ate mostly green vegetation but tended to consume more fruit than other bears towards the end of this period. From June to October, bears' diets included a substantial amount of fruit, with notable peaks in fruit consumption in late June and early September. During the summer months, female bears often incorporated social insects into their diet compared to the population-level trend. In mid-September, the consumption of seeds from the Fagaceae family surged, becoming the primary dietary component during this period. This trend was consistently observed across the population. These findings underscore the importance conducting in-depth dietary analyses that take into account individual characteristics such as sex, age, and body weight.

Disinfection Byproducts of Haloacetaldehydes Disrupt Hepatic Lipid Metabolism and Induce Lipotoxicity in High-Fat Culture Conditions.

Unhealthy lifestyles, obesity, and environmental pollutants are strongly correlated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Haloacetaldehyde-associated disinfection byproducts (HAL-DBPs) at various multiples of concentrations found in finished drinking water together with high-fat (HF) were examined to gauge their mixed effects on hepatic lipid metabolism. Using new alternative methods (NAMs), studying effects in human cells in vitro for risk assessment, we investigated the combined effects of HF and HAL-DBPs on hepatic lipid metabolism and lipotoxicity in immortalized LO-2 human hepatocytes. Coexposure of HAL-DBPs at various multiples of environmental exposure levels with HF increased the levels of triglycerides, interfered with de novo lipogenesis, enhanced fatty acid oxidation, and inhibited the secretion of very low-density lipoproteins. Lipid accumulation caused by the coexposure of HAL-DBPs and HF also resulted in more severe lipotoxicity in these cells. Our results using an in vitro NAM-based method provide novel insights into metabolic reprogramming in hepatocytes due to coexposure of HF and HAL-DBPs and strongly suggest that the risk of NAFLD in sensitive populations due to HAL-DBPs and poor lifestyle deserves further investigation both with laboratory and epidemiological tools. We also discuss how results from our studies could be used in health risk assessments for HAL-DBPs.

Effects of a cafeteria-based sustainable diet intervention on the adherence to the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet and greenhouse gas emissions of consumers: a quasi-experimental study at a large German hospital.

BACKGROUND: Sustainable diets contribute to improving human health and reducing food-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE). Here, we established the effects of a facility-based sustainable diet intervention on the adherence to the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet and GHGE of consumers. METHODS: In this quasi-experiment, vegan menus and educational material on sustainable diets were provided in the largest cafeteria of a German hospital for 3 months. Regular customers (> 1/week) in this cafeteria (intervention group) and in all other hospital cafeterias (control group) completed a questionnaire about their sociodemographic and dietary characteristics before and after the intervention period. We calculated difference-in-differences (DID), their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and p-values for the adherence to the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI; 0-42 score points) and food-related GHGE. The protocol was registered at the German Clinical Trial Register (reference: DRKS00032620). FINDINGS: In this study population (N = 190; age range: 18-79 years; women: 67%; highest level of formal education: 63%), the mean baseline PHDI (25·1 ± 4·8 vs. 24·7 ± 5·8 points) and the mean baseline GHGE (3·3 ± 0·8 vs. 3·3 ± 0·7 kg CO2-eq./d) were similar between the intervention (n = 92) and the control group (n = 98). The PHDI increase was 0·6 points (95% CI: -0·4, + 1·6) higher in the intervention group than in the control group. This trend was stronger among frequent consumers of the vegan menu than among rare and never consumers. No between-group difference was seen for GHGE changes (DID: 0·0; 95% CI: -0·2, + 0·1 kg CO2-eq./d). INTERPRETATION: Pending verification in a longer-term project and a larger sample, this quasi-experiment in a big hospital in Germany suggests that offering vegan menus and information material in the cafeteria enhances the adherence to healthy and environmentally friendly diets among regular customers. These findings argue for making sustainable food choices the default option and for improving nutrition literacy. FUNDING: Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), Else-Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS), Robert-Bosch Foundation (RBS).