The Perceived Impact of COVID-19 on Comfort Food Consumption over Time: The Mediational Role of Emotional Distress.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on populations at an economic, health, and on an interpersonal level, it is still unclear how it has affected health-risk behaviors, such as comfort food consumption over time. This study longitudinally examines the effect of the perceived impact of COVID-19 on comfort food consumption and whether this effect is mediated by emotional distress. A convenience sample of 1048 students and university staff (academic and non-academic) from two universities completed monthly online surveys during the COVID-19 pandemic across six waves (W; W1 to W6). Participants reported their perceived impact of COVID-19 (economic, interpersonal, and health), comfort food consumption, and emotional distress (DASS-21). Using structural equation models, we found an indirect longitudinal effect of the perceived impact of COVID-19 (W1) on comfort food consumption (W3 to W6) through increased emotional distress (W2). The perceived negative impact of COVID-19 on comfort food consumption was fully mediated by the emotional distress during the first waves (W3 and W4), ending in a partial mediation in the last waves (W5 and W6). These findings contribute to disentangling the mechanisms by which the perceived impact of COVID-19 affects comfort food consumption over time, and highlight the role of emotional distress. Future interventions should address comfort food consumption by focusing on handling emotional distress during a crisis.

Effects of Dry Figs on Primary Dysmenorrhea Symptoms, perceived Stress Levels and the Quality of Life.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of eating dried figs on the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea, perceived stress levels, and quality of life during all menstrual cycles. METHODS: This randomized, placebo-controlled study was performed with 99 midwifery students. Each student was randomly assigned to the placebo (n = 32), cinnamon (n = 34), or dried fig (n = 33) groups. Data were gathered through the Total Dysmenorrhea Score, a descriptive information form, the Visual Analogue Scale, a pain duration assessment form, the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the short version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-TR. RESULTS: During the 3 menstrual cycles in which the intervention was implemented, the dried-fig group had significantly lower scores for pain severity and duration, menstrual distress, and perceived stress than did those of the cinnamon and placebo groups. In addition, during these 3 cycles, the dried-fig group had significantly higher quality-of-life scores than the cinnamon and placebo groups. CONCLUSION: The results showed that eating dried figs during menstruation decreased pain severity and duration, menstrual symptoms, and perceived stress and increased quality of life.

Bem-estar e qualidade de ovos de codornas alimentadas com extratos de camomila e passiflora / Welfare and quality of quail eggs fed with extracts of chamomile and passionflower

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different combinations of passionflower (Passiflora alata) and chamomile (Matricaria chamomile) on performance, egg quality, behavior and stress of quails during the rearing and laying phases. A total of 196 birds was distributed in randomized blocks, divided into four treatments (conventional feed: 125 mg of Matricaria chamomile + 375 mg of Passiflora alata/kg of feed; 250 mg of M. chamomile + 250 mg of P. alata/kg of feed; 375 mg of M. chamomile + 125 mg P. alata/kg of feed), with seven replications and seven birds per cage. The rearing period began at 28 days of age and lasted 14 days. At this stage were evaluated daily feed intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion, viability, time in tonic immobility (TIT), intensity of injury and heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (H:L). The laying period started when quails reached 42 days of age, in which feed intake, feed conversion, egg production and quality, viability, TIT, intensity of injury and H:L ratio. In the rearing period, the inclusion of the phytotherapics in the diets did not alter the performance, H:L ratio and the intensity of injury (P≥0,05), but the TIT decreased when adding 250 mg of each phytotherapic (P<0,05). In the laying period, the different combinations of chamomile and passionflower did not affect the performance and external quality of fresh eggs (P≥0,05). However, when 250 mg of each phytotherapic was added to the diets, there was a reduction in TIT, H:L ratio and intensity of injury in the head and body of the quails (P<0,05), indicating that the birds were less stressed. As for the internal quality of fresh eggs, there was an improvement in the Haugh unit and the percentages of yolk and albumen when adding 250 mg of each phytotherapic (P<0,05). We concluded that the inclusion of chamomile and passionflower in the diets does not alter the performance of the quails during the rearing and laying periods, does not influence the external...(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes combinações de passiflora (Passiflora alata) e de camomila (Matricaria camomila) sobre o desempenho, qualidade de ovos, comportamento e estresse de codornas durante as fases de recria e de postura. Foram utilizadas 196 aves, distribuídas em blocos ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos (ração convencional; 125 mg de Matricaria chamomila + 375 mg de Passiflora alata/kg de ração; 250 mg de M. chamomila + 250 mg de P. alata/kg de ração; 375 mg de M. chamomila + 125 mg P. alata/kg de ração), com sete repetições e sete aves por parcela. A fase de recria iniciou-se aos 28 dias de idade das aves, durando 14 dias. Nesta fase foram avaliados consumo diário de ração, ganho diário de peso, conversão alimentar, viabilidade de criação, o tempo em imobilidade tônica (TIT), a intensidade de ferimentos e a relação entre heterófilos e linfócitos (H:L). A fase de postura teve início quando as aves atingiram 42 dias de idade, em que foram avaliados consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, produção e qualidade de ovos, viabilidade, TIT, intensidade de ferimentos e relação H:L. Na fase de recria a inclusão dos fitoterápicos às rações não alterou o desempenho, a relação H:L e as intensidades de lesões (P≥0,05), mas diminuiu o TIT quando da adição de 250 mg de cada fitoterápico (P<0,05). Na fase de postura as diferentes combinações de camomila e passiflora não afetaram o desempenho e a qualidade externa de ovos frescos (P≥0,05). No entanto, quando se adicionou 250 mg de cada extrato nas rações houve redução no TIT, na relação H:L e na intensidade de lesões na cabeça e corpo das aves (P<0,05), indicando que as aves estavam menos estressadas. Quanto à qualidade interna de ovos frescos, verificou-se melhora na unidade Haugh e nas porcentagens de gema e de albúmen quando da inclusão de 250 mg de cada fitoterápico (P<0,05). Conclui-se que a adição de camomila e de passiflora nas rações não altera o desempenho produtivo das aves nas...(AU)

Bem-estar e qualidade de ovos de codornas alimentadas com extratos de camomila e passiflora / Welfare and quality of quail eggs fed with extracts of chamomile and passionflower

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different combinations of passionflower (Passiflora alata) and chamomile (Matricaria chamomile) on performance, egg quality, behavior and stress of quails during the rearing and laying phases. A total of 196 birds was distributed in randomized blocks, divided into four treatments (conventional feed: 125 mg of Matricaria chamomile + 375 mg of Passiflora alata/kg of feed; 250 mg of M. chamomile + 250 mg of P. alata/kg of feed; 375 mg of M. chamomile + 125 mg P. alata/kg of feed), with seven replications and seven birds per cage. The rearing period began at 28 days of age and lasted 14 days. At this stage were evaluated daily feed intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion, viability, time in tonic immobility (TIT), intensity of injury and heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (H:L). The laying period started when quails reached 42 days of age, in which feed intake, feed conversion, egg production and quality, viability, TIT, intensity of injury and H:L ratio. In the rearing period, the inclusion of the phytotherapics in the diets did not alter the performance, H:L ratio and the intensity of injury (P≥0,05), but the TIT decreased when adding 250 mg of each phytotherapic (P<0,05). In the laying period, the different combinations of chamomile and passionflower did not affect the performance and external quality of fresh eggs (P≥0,05). However, when 250 mg of each phytotherapic was added to the diets, there was a reduction in TIT, H:L ratio and intensity of injury in the head and body of the quails (P<0,05), indicating that the birds were less stressed. As for the internal quality of fresh eggs, there was an improvement in the Haugh unit and the percentages of yolk and albumen when adding 250 mg of each phytotherapic (P<0,05). We concluded that the inclusion of chamomile and passionflower in the diets does not alter the performance of the quails during the rearing and laying periods, does not influence the external...

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes combinações de passiflora (Passiflora alata) e de camomila (Matricaria camomila) sobre o desempenho, qualidade de ovos, comportamento e estresse de codornas durante as fases de recria e de postura. Foram utilizadas 196 aves, distribuídas em blocos ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos (ração convencional; 125 mg de Matricaria chamomila + 375 mg de Passiflora alata/kg de ração; 250 mg de M. chamomila + 250 mg de P. alata/kg de ração; 375 mg de M. chamomila + 125 mg P. alata/kg de ração), com sete repetições e sete aves por parcela. A fase de recria iniciou-se aos 28 dias de idade das aves, durando 14 dias. Nesta fase foram avaliados consumo diário de ração, ganho diário de peso, conversão alimentar, viabilidade de criação, o tempo em imobilidade tônica (TIT), a intensidade de ferimentos e a relação entre heterófilos e linfócitos (H:L). A fase de postura teve início quando as aves atingiram 42 dias de idade, em que foram avaliados consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, produção e qualidade de ovos, viabilidade, TIT, intensidade de ferimentos e relação H:L. Na fase de recria a inclusão dos fitoterápicos às rações não alterou o desempenho, a relação H:L e as intensidades de lesões (P≥0,05), mas diminuiu o TIT quando da adição de 250 mg de cada fitoterápico (P<0,05). Na fase de postura as diferentes combinações de camomila e passiflora não afetaram o desempenho e a qualidade externa de ovos frescos (P≥0,05). No entanto, quando se adicionou 250 mg de cada extrato nas rações houve redução no TIT, na relação H:L e na intensidade de lesões na cabeça e corpo das aves (P<0,05), indicando que as aves estavam menos estressadas. Quanto à qualidade interna de ovos frescos, verificou-se melhora na unidade Haugh e nas porcentagens de gema e de albúmen quando da inclusão de 250 mg de cada fitoterápico (P<0,05). Conclui-se que a adição de camomila e de passiflora nas rações não altera o desempenho produtivo das aves nas...

Vulnerability to dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency after exposure to early stress in rats.

The exposure to adverse events early in life may affect brain development. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) deficiency has been linked to the development of mood and anxiety disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the interaction between variations in the early environment (handling or maternal separation) and the chronic exposure to a nutritional n-3 PUFA deficiency on locomotor activity, sucrose preference, forced swimming test and on serum and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Rats were randomized into Non-handled (NH), Neonatal Handled (H) and Maternal Separated (MS) groups. Pups were removed from their dams (incubator at 32°C on postnatal days (PND) 1-10) during 10 min/day (H) or 3h/day (MS). On PND 35, males were subdivided into diets adequate or deficient in n-3 PUFA for 15 weeks. H and MS gained weight differently, and animals receiving the n-3 PUFA deficient diet gained less weight. MS displayed a higher food consumption and higher consumption of sucrose solution during the second hour of exposure to the sucrose preference test. No differences were observed in the swimming test. H group had increased locomotion and showed a higher response to amfepramone. No significant effect was observed on serum BDNF levels. BDNF protein levels were decreased in animals receiving the n-3 PUFA deficient diet. We observed that early life environment and a mild n-3 PUFA deficiency are able to affect several behavioral aspects (food and sucrose consumption and locomotor response), and lead to a differential hippocampal BDNF metabolism in adult life.

Isolation stress exposure and consumption of palatable diet during the prepubertal period leads to cellular changes in the hippocampus.

Social isolation is one of the most potent stressors in the prepubertal period and may influence disease susceptibility or resilience in adulthood. The glucocorticoid response and, consequently, the adaptive response to stress involve important changes in mitochondrial functions and apoptotic signaling. Previous studies have shown that consumption of a palatable diet reduces some stress effects. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether isolation stress in early life can lead to cellular alterations in the hippocampus. For this, we evaluated oxidative stress parameters, DNA breakage index, mitochondrial mass and potential, respiratory chain enzyme activities, apoptosis, and necrosis in the hippocampus of juvenile male rats submitted or not to isolation stress during the pre-puberty period. We also verified whether consumption of a palatable diet during this period can modify stress effects. Results show that stress led to an oxidative imbalance, DNA breaks, increased the mitochondrial potential and early apoptosis, and decreased the number of live and necrotic cells. In addition, the palatable diet increased glutathione peroxidase activity, high mitochondrial potential and complex I-III activity in the hippocampus of juvenile rats. The administration of a palatable diet during the isolation period prevented the stress effects that caused the reduction in live cells and increased apoptosis. In conclusion, the stress experienced during the pre-pubertal period induced a hippocampal oxidative imbalance, DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased apoptosis, while consumption of a palatable diet attenuated some of these effects of exposure, such as the reduction in live cells and increased apoptosis, besides favoring an increase in antioxidant enzymes activities.

Effect of fish oil and coconut fat supplementation on depressive-type behavior and corticosterone levels of prenatally stressed male rats.

Prenatal stress (PNS) during critical periods of brain development has been associated with numerous behavioral and/or mood disorders in later life. These outcomes may result from changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, which, in turn, can be modulated by environmental factors, such as nutritional status. In this study, the adult male offspring of dams exposed to restraint stress during the last semester of pregnancy and fed different diets were evaluated for depressive-like behavior in the forced swimming test and for the corticosterone response to the test. Female Wistar rats were allocated to one of three groups: regular diet, diet supplemented with coconut fat or with fish oil, offered during pregnancy and lactation. When pregnancy was confirmed, they were distributed into control or stress groups. Stress consisted of restraint and bright light for 45 min, three times per day, in the last week of pregnancy. The body weight of the adult offspring submitted to PNS was lower than that of controls. In the forced swimming test, time of immobility was reduced and swimming was increased in PNS rats fed fish oil and plasma corticosterone levels immediately after the forced swimming test were lower in PNS rats fed regular diet than their control counterparts; this response was reduced in control rats whose mothers were fed fish oil and coconut fat. The present results indicate that coconut fat and fish oil influenced behavioral and hormonal responses to the forced swimming test in both control and PNS adult male rats.