Impact of High Pressure Processing on the Safety and Quality of Food Products: A Review.

High pressure processing (HPP) has become a practical food processing technique that meets the preferences of consumers seeking lightly processed, convenient, and fresh-tasting food options. This paper reviewed the latest research on the impact HPP on the safety and quality of food products. The use of HPP has been showing favorable growth in the food industry primarily due to its potential to not only enhance the nutritional content and sensory attributes of food products but also to substantially extend their shelf-life and bolster safety standards. HPP is the most used among non-thermal food processing technologies. While its direct application to milk for consumption falls short of delivering consistent quality, it proves effective as a pretreatment step and in products using milk as a primary ingredient. In the context of meat production, HPP reduces microbial loads and extends shelf-life, yet concerns persist regarding its impact on product quality. The absence of in-depth studies regarding the attributes of carrots that support pathogen regeneration emphasizes the need for comprehensive research in this area, which could have far-reaching implications for similar fruit and vegetable products. This review underscores the need for a balanced assessment of HPP's effects on food safety and quality, offering insights that can guide the food industry in adopting this technology while ensuring consumer satisfaction and safety.

Antifungal Activities of L-Methionine and L-Arginine Treatment In Vitro and In Vivo against Botrytis cinerea.

Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is a common postharvest fungal disease in fruit and vegetables. The prevention and treatment of postharvest gray mold has been one of the hot research issues addressed by researchers. This study aimed to investigate the effect of L-methionine and L-arginine on Botrytis cinerea in vitro and on cherry tomato fruit. The results of the in vitro experiment showed that L-methionine and L-arginine had significant inhibitory effects on the mycelial growth and spore germination of Botrytis cinerea, and the inhibitory effects were enhanced with increasing L-methionine or L-arginine concentration. In addition, L-methionine and L-arginine treatment increased the leakage of Botrytis cinerea electrolytes, proteins and nucleic acids. The experiment involving propidium iodide staining and malondialdehyde content assay also confirmed that L-methionine and L-arginine treatment could lead to cell membrane rupture and lipid peroxidation. The results of scanning electron microscopy further verified that the morphology of hyphae was damaged, deformed, dented and wrinkled after treatment with L-methionine or L-arginine. Fruit inoculation experiments displayed that L-methionine and L-arginine treatments significantly inhibited the occurrence and development of gray mold in postharvest cherry tomato. Therefore, treatment with L-methionine or L-arginine might be an effective means to control postharvest gray mold in fruit and vegetables.

Mediators and moderators of the effects of a school-based intervention on adolescents' fruit and vegetable consumption: the HEIA study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether targeted determinants mediated the effects of the HEalth In Adolescents (HEIA) intervention on fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and explore if these mediating effects were moderated by sex, parental education or weight status. DESIGN: Cluster-randomised controlled trial. SETTING: The HEIA study (2007-2009) was a Norwegian 20-month multi-component school-based intervention to promote healthy weight development. FV consumption and targeted determinants were self-reported at baseline, mid-way (8 months) and post-intervention (20 months). PARTICIPANTS: Adolescents (11-13-year-old) in twenty-five control schools (n 746) and twelve intervention schools (n 375). RESULTS: At post-intervention, more adolescents in the intervention group compared with the control group had knowledge of the FV recommendations (OR: 1·4, 95 % CI 1·1, 1·9) and reported a decreased availability of vegetables at home (ß: -0·1, 95 % CI -0·2, 0·0). Availability/accessibility of FV at home, availability of vegetables at dinner, taste preferences for different types of FV and knowledge of the FV recommendations were positively associated with the consumption of FV. However, none of the post-intervention determinants significantly mediated the intervention effects on FV consumption. Although no moderating influences by sex, parental education or weights status were observed on the mediating effects, exploratory analyses revealed significant moderations in the b-paths. CONCLUSIONS: Since none of the targeted determinants could explain the increase in FV consumption, it remains unclear why the intervention was effective. Reporting on a wide range of mediators and moderators in school-based interventions is needed to reveal the pathways through which intervention effects are achieved.

Does fruit and vegetable consumption impact mental health? Systematic review and meta-analyses of published controlled intervention studies.

Associations between fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and mental health are suggested, largely from observational studies. This systematic review aimed to identify and summarise all published controlled intervention studies investigating the effects of FV consumption on mental health in adults. Four academic databases (Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science) were searched on 16 September 2022, over all years, for studies that used an intervention design; included FV consumption; included an appropriate non-FV-consumption control; used a validated measure of mental health and were conducted in healthy adults or adults with solely a depressive or anxiety-related condition. Study details were tabulated and combined using meta-analyses. Risk of bias was assessed using the domains of the Cochrane Collaboration. Six studies, enrolling 691 healthy adults and reporting on one or more mental health outcomes, were found. Meta-analyses found small and imprecise effects of FV consumption for: psychological well-being (4 studies, 289 participants) standardised mean difference (SMD) = 0·07 (95 % CI -0·17, 0·30), P = 0·58, I2 = 0 %; depressive symptomology (3 studies, 271 participants) SMD = -0·15 (95 % CI -0·40, 0·10), P = 0·23, I2 = 47 % and anxiety-related symptomology (4 studies, 298 participants) SMD = -0·15 (95 % CI -0·39, 0·08), P = 0·20, I2 = 71 %. Some benefit for psychological well-being was found in change-from-baseline data: SMD = 0·28 (95 % CI 0·05, 0·52), P = 0·02, I2 = 0 %. Risk of bias was high in many studies. Limitations include the consideration only of published studies and stem from the studies found. Given the few, limited studies available and the small size of effects, stronger evidence is needed before recommending FV consumption for mental health.

Environmental impact and nutritional quality of adult diet in France based on fruit and vegetable intakes.

PURPOSE: To describe the nutritional quality and environmental impact of self-selected diets of adults in France in relation to their fruit and vegetable (FV) intakes. METHODS: Estimates of food and nutrient intakes were taken from the national INCA3 Survey on food intakes carried out in France in 2014-2015. The population (n = 2121 adults) was split into five quintiles of FV intakes, in g/d (Q1 representing the lowest intake, and Q5 the highest). The nutritional quality of diets was assessed through 4 indicators: mean adequacy ratio (MAR), solid energy density, mean excess ratio (MER) and Programme National Nutrition Santé guideline score 2 (PNNS-GS2). The environmental impacts were measured with environmental footprint (EF) scores and 4 additional indicators: climate change, ozone depletion, fine particulate matter and water use. Indicators were compared between quintiles. Analysis was conducted on diets adjusted to 2000 kcal. RESULTS: MAR and PNNS-GS2 increased with increased FV quintiles, while solid energy density decreased. Fibre, potassium, vitamin B9 and vitamin C densities increased with increasing FV intakes. Climate change, ozone depletion and fine particulate matter impacts of diets decreased with increasing quintiles of FV consumption. Conversely, water use impact increased. CONCLUSION: Higher intake of FV is associated with higher nutritional quality of diets and lower environmental impact, except for water use. Given the benefits of fruit and vegetables for human health and the environment, their negative impact on water use could be improved by working on the agricultural upstream, rather than by changing individuals' food choices and reducing their consumption.

Geographical and sociodemographic disparities in fruit and vegetables consumption among adults in Burkina Faso: baseline results from the 2013 WHO STEPS survey.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on sociodemographic determinants and spatial variations in the fruit and/or vegetable (FV) consumption was reported. This study aimed to explore geographical and sociodemographic disparities in the level of FV consumption among adults in Burkina Faso, using the national baseline data. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional secondary study of primary data obtained by the 2013 (September to October) World Health Organization Stepwise Approach to Surveillance survey conducted in Burkina Faso. The participants were 4402 women and men aged 25-64 years and living in all 13 Burkinabè Regions. Descriptive and analytical analyses were performed using Student's t test, ANOVA, the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and logistic regressions. RESULTS: The prevalence of a typical daily consumption of at least three servings was 4.1% (95% CI: 3.6-4.8) for fruits and 6.6% (95% CI: 5.9-7.3) for vegetables. The national prevalence of adequate FV intake was 5.1% (95% CI: 4.4-5.8), and for two Regions ("Centre-Ouest" and "Nord") the pooled prevalence was 22.4%, while in the other eleven Regions its was significantly lower, 2.4% (p = 0.0001). Using quartiles derived from the national level of consumption, each of these two Regions had a higher proportion (about 50%) of their participants in the fourth quartile (the higher level). The associated sociodemographic factors with the adequate intake were being rural residents (aOR = 1.7, p = 0.011) and women (aOR = 1.3; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Except for the Regions of "Centre-Ouest" and "Nord" of Burkina Faso, the prevalence of adequate consumption of FV was very low in its other eleven Regions. Measures to increase consumption in urban people are urgent while women should be the key actor in the family-based approaches implementation and the nutrition education promoting FV consumption.

Application of methyl jasmonate to control chilling tolerance of postharvest fruit and vegetables: a meta-analysis and eliciting metabolism review.

Chilling injury is one of the most significant limitations for low temperature storage of postharvest fruits and vegetables, causing quality deterioration and economic loss. Increasing studies indicated that methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is critical in regulating the postharvest fruit and vegetables chilling tolerance. Based on a meta-analysis, the review analyzed the action of exogenous MeJA application on the chilling index in postharvest fruit and vegetables and summarized MeJA's mechanisms for controlling postharvest chilling injury. The meta-analysis found that MeJA treatment remarkably inhibited postharvest fruit and vegetable chilling injury. Moreover, we concluded the following function mechanism of MeJA on postharvest fruit and vegetable chilling tolerance: (1) Enhancing membrane integrity and energy supply, (2) Increasing antioxidant activity, (3) Enhancing arginine pathway, (4) Enhancing sugar metabolism, (5) Regulating phenolic metabolism, (6) Activating CBF pathway, (7) Regulating HSP accumulation and expression, and (8) Crosstalk with phytohormone. Finally, we summarized the regulatory mechanisms of MeJA on postharvest fruit and vegetable biological processes at the transcriptional and post-translational levels.

Inequalities in Childhood Nutrition, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Obesity in Italy.

Unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and high body mass index (BMI) are preventable risk factors for non-communicable diseases throughout a person's lifespan. The higher prevalence of these risk factors in children from lower socio-economic groups has been generally observed. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of parents' socio-economic conditions on children's consumption of fruit, vegetables and sugar-sweetened drinks, and inactivity, sedentary behaviour, overweight and obesity. This study used data from the sixth cross-sectional survey of the surveillance "OKkio alla Salute" (Italian COSI), involving 2467 schools and 53,275 children in 2019. All the information was collected through four questionnaires addressed to parents, children, teachers and head teachers. The weights and heights of the children were measured with standard techniques and equipment to classify overweight/obesity according to the WOF-IOTF cut-offs. The results showed a high percentage of children who do not adhere to health recommendations and a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. In particular, "less healthy" behaviours and higher BMI were more frequent in children from families with a lower socio-economic status and those residing in Southern Italy. These findings highlight the need for effective interventions that address the differences in these health-related behaviours.

Quality Standards and Contractual Terms Affecting Food Losses: The Perspective of Producer Organisations in Germany and Italy.

With the aim of disclosing the antecedents and dynamics of food loss generation in the upstream stages of the fruit and vegetable sector, this paper presents the results of a series of semi-structured interviews with 10 Producers' Organisations (POs) in Germany and Italy. The content of the interviews is analysed by applying a qualitative content analysis approach, thus disclosing the most relevant issues affecting food loss generation at the interface between POs and buyers (industry and retailers). Several similarities emerge as we compare the answers provided by Italian and German POs, especially concerning the role of retailers' cosmetic specification on products in the generation of losses. Instead, the structure of contracts regulating commercial transactions between POs, industry, and retailers show noticeable differences, apparently resulting in a greater capacity to plan the demand of products from the beginning of the season in the Italian context. Despite these differences, this study confirms the key role of POs in increasing farmers' bargaining power against the buyers, both in Germany and Italy. Further research is needed to compare circumstances in other European countries and to analyse why the similarities and differences identified occur.

Total carotene plasma concentrations are inversely associated with atherosclerotic plaque burden: A post-hoc analysis of the DIABIMCAP cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Atherosclerosis is the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the first cause of death worldwide. Chronic low-grade inflammation and a sustained oxidative milieu are causatively related to atherosclerosis onset and progression, and therefore, dietary patterns rich in bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities might likely contribute to revert or slowing the progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to analyse the association between fruit and vegetables intake, quantitatively measured through carotene plasma concentrations, and atherosclerotic burden, as a surrogate biomarker of CVD, in free-living subjects from the DIABIMCAP cohort study. METHODS: The 204 participants of the DIABIMCAP Study cohort (Carotid Atherosclerosis in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic Individuals, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01898572), were included in this cross-sectional study. Total, α-, and ß-carotenes were quantified by HPLC-MS/MS. Lipoprotein analysis in serum was performed by 2D- 1H NMR- DOSY, and atherosclerosis and intima media thickness (IMT) were measured through standardized bilateral carotid artery ultrasound imaging. RESULTS: Subjects with atherosclerosis (n = 134) had lower levels of large HDL particles than subjects without atherosclerosis. Positive associations were found between α-carotene and both large and medium HDL particles, and inverse associations were found between ß- and total carotene, and VLDL and its medium/small particles. Subjects with atherosclerosis presented significantly lower plasma concentrations of total carotene compared with subjects without atherosclerosis. Plasma concentrations of carotene decreased as the number of atherosclerotic plaques increased, although after multivariate adjustment, the inverse association between ß- and total carotene with plaque burden remained significant only in women. CONCLUSIONS: A diet rich in fruit and vegetables results in higher plasmatic carotene concentrations, which are associated with a lesser atherosclerotic plaque burden.

Role of fruit and vegetables in sustaining healthy cognitive function: evidence and issues.

Modifiable lifestyle factors, such as improved nutrition, are crucial in maintaining cognitive health in older age. Fruit and vegetables represent healthy and sustainable sources of nutrients with the potential to prevent age-related cognitive decline. The aim of this review is to synthesise the available evidence, from epidemiological and randomised controlled trials (RCT), regarding the role of fruit and vegetables in sustaining healthy cognitive function. Epidemiological studies of combined fruit and vegetable intake suggest that increased consumption may sustain cognition in later life. The evidence appears to be stronger for an association between vegetables and cognition, particularly for green leafy and cruciferous vegetables. Specific benefits shown for berries, citrus fruits, avocado and nuts suggest fruit is worthy of further investigation in relation to cognition. Data from RCT indicate benefits to differing aspects of cognition following citrus and berry fruits, cocoa and peanuts, but the data are limited and there are a lack of studies exploring effects of vegetables. There is growing evidence for an association between fruit and vegetable intake and cognitive function, but this is not always consistent and the data from RCT are limited. Issues in previous research are highlighted, such as strict exclusion criteria, absence of baseline nutritional status data and lack of consideration of individual differences, which may explain the weaker findings from RCT. Inclusion of those most at risk for cognitive decline is recommended in future nutrition and cognition research.

Working With Rural Producers to Expand EBT in Farmers' Markets: A Case Study in Hardeman County, Tennessee.

Rural residents tend to eat less fruits and vegetables, placing them at higher risk of chronic diseases compared with urban residents. Farmers' markets can provide increased access to fresh produce for rural communities. Encouraging markets to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) can expand access to healthy foods to low-income residents. Rural markets are less likely to accept SNAP compared with urban markets. Rural producers have identified lack of knowledge and limited support about the application process as barriers for accepting SNAP. This case study details how our Extension program helped a rural producer through the SNAP application process. We started with a workshop to inform rural producers about the benefits of accepting SNAP. After the workshop, we provided hands-on support and assistance to help one producer navigate the EBT application process as well as how to implement and advertise SNAP at the market. Implications for practitioners about tips to help producers overcome challenges and barriers for EBT acceptance are discussed.

Consumer Intention to Utilize an E-Commerce Platform for Imperfect Vegetables Based on Health-Consciousness.

Thailand has a problem with fruit and vegetable waste because consumers have a negative attitude towards fruit and vegetables with imperfect shapes; however, those imperfections have no impact on nutritional quality. Young adults are most aware of the problem of food waste. Here, we study factors influencing consumer' intention to adopt an e-commerce platform that commercializes imperfect vegetables (ugly veggies). In all, 390 respondents from four provinces of Thailand were enrolled in the study. Cluster analysis, structural equation modeling, and multigroup moderation analysis approaches were used. The main conceptual framework was adapted from the unified theory of acceptance and the use of technology. Respondents were classified into low, moderate, and high health-conscious segments. We found that performance expectancy positively influences the behavioral intention of highly health-conscious consumers. For consumers in the moderate health-consciousness segment, effort expectancy and social influence positively affect behavioral intention. None of the hypothesized factors influence the low health-consciousness segment's behavioral intention. This paper expands the understanding of consumer' attitudes toward accepting an imperfect vegetable e-commerce platform. Additionally, the research can guide platform development and marketing efforts.

Factors That Influence Children's Exits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children: A Systematic Review.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods and nutritional education to low-income women and children up to the age of five. Despite evidence that WIC improves diet and nutrition and the nationwide availability of this program, many participants exit WIC before they are no longer eligible for benefits. To date no study has systematically reviewed factors that influence participants' exits from WIC. The study systematically reviewed the relevant literature to identify factors related to discontinuing participation in WIC before children reach the age of five and 1503 citations were reviewed, 19 articles were read for full text review and eight studies met inclusion criteria. Participants' higher socioeconomic status, attitudes and behaviors around breastfeeding, having shorter prenatal participation in WIC, administrative barriers, confusion regarding program eligibility, feelings of stigma and embarrassment at the store checkout lines, personal and family challenges, dissatisfaction with insufficient fruit and vegetables benefits and living in suburban areas or in the Southern US were salient factors that influenced WIC exits. These findings will be of interest to policymakers and stakeholders as they consider ways to increase participation and retention through program modernization and innovations.

Synthesis of MoO3- x nanosheets and its application in ascorbic acid detection of fruit and vegetables.

A new method combining ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry and MoO3- x nanosheets was developed for the rapid and accurate determination of ascorbic acid (AA) content in fruit and vegetables in this study. MoO3- x nanosheets were prepared by the liquid exfoliation method using AA as the reducing agent, and the content of AA can be determined by a UV spectrophotometer. Experimental conditions for the MoO3- x nanosheet method, including grinding time, ethanol concentration, sonication time, and water bath temperature were also optimized. The morphology of MoO3- x nanosheets was characterized by atomic force microscope. The results showed that the average thickness of MoO3- x nanosheets was 2.1-5.8 nm. The MoO3- x nanosheets method had a good linearity in the AA concentration range of 0.01-0.05 mg/ml (R2  = 0.9996). The limit of detection was 0.031 µg/ml, and the limit of quantitation was 0.095 µg/ml. The spiked recoveries were in the range of 88.79%-116.76%. The MoO3- x nanosheets method was validated for the determination of AA content in five different fruit and vegetables samples with relative standard deviations less than 2%.

Bioaccessibility of Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn in Fruit and Vegetables by the In Vitro UBM and Statistical Evaluation of the Results.

The total, gastric, and gastro-intestinal Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn concentrations in eight fruit and vegetable samples were investigated. The unified bioaccessibility method (UBM) developed by BARGE (Bioaccessibility Research Group of Europe) was performed for in vitro bioaccessibility experiments. Total and bioaccessible concentrations of Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn were determined by ICP-OES and ICP-MS, respectively. The accuracy of the methods was verified using BGS 102 for the BARGE UBM and SRM 1573a for total analysis. The mean BF (%) order for Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn was Mn (101) > Zn (88) > Fe (60) > Cu (30) in gastric phase and Mn (78) > Zn (69) > Fe (46) > Cu (29) in gastro-intestinal phase. The results show that Mn and Zn in all the samples have the greatest bioaccessible values, while the values for Cu are much lower. The relationships among total, gastric, and gastro-intestinal element concentrations were investigated using statistical analysis such as correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis (CA). Total and bioaccessible Cu, Mn, and Zn concentrations were significantly correlated with each other.

"Something Fun to Look Forward to": Lessons From Implementing the Prescription for Health Farmers' Market Initiative in Rural Upper Michigan.

Fruit and vegetable (FV) prescription programs are an increasingly popular community-based approach to addressing food insecurity and improving nutrition by connecting local health care and food systems. The Prescription for Health farmers' market FV prescription program was piloted in a rural, low-access low-income Michigan community in 2017. The program enrolled 33 adult participants with chronic disease and provided weekly farmers' market FV vouchers, educational nutrition handouts, and seasonal healthy recipes over 10 weeks. Weight, blood pressure, and the following self-rated variables were assessed pre- and post program: dietary habits, food literacy, physical health, and mental health. While most metrics remained generally unchanged, one of the strongest findings from our data included significant improvement in quality of life. Increased social interaction as a result of the attending the farmers' market was a prominent theme from informal open-ended participant feedback. Given the ongoing public health crisis of loneliness and social isolation, this finding led us to consider the farmers' market as an avenue for creating opportunities for meaningful social connection among participants and farmers. To this end, we discuss health outcomes of the Prescription for Health pilot program, reflect on unique aspects of implementing this program in a rural area, and explore future opportunities for farmers' market prescription programs as an innovative form of nature-based social prescribing.

Implementation of four strategies in Dutch day-care centres to stimulate young children's fruit and vegetable consumption.

The day-care setting is an ideal place to encourage children's fruit and vegetable (=F&V) eating. Whereas many studies have focused on the effectiveness to increase F&V consumption, little is known about how to successfully implement effective strategies in daily practice. This study aimed to investigate how day-care professionals evaluated the implementation of a self-chosen strategy to support children's F&V eating. Thirteen day-care locations chose one out of five promising strategies and implemented this strategy for 10-12 weeks. Before (N = 98) and after the study (N = 49), day-care professionals completed a questionnaire to assess their implementation experiences, the impact on children's F&V eating as well as their future intention to use the strategy (on a 5-point scale). Parents (N = 152) completed a short questionnaire at the end of the study to capture their experiences and potential transfer effects to the home situation. Results showed that acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility and sustainability of the strategies were generally satisfactory (scores ≥3.5 on a 5-point scale), but the strategy of cooking scored less favourable on appropriateness and sustained implementation. Children's willingness to taste F&V varieties (3.4 ± 0.7 vs. 2.8 ± 0.8; p < 0.001) and eating pleasure for vegetables (3.4 ± 0.6 vs. 3.1 ± 0.8; p = 0.01) increased, whereas children's F&V consumption did not change (p > 0.14). Parents valued the day-cares' efforts to encourage children's F&V consumption and a small group (∼20%) experienced positive effects at home. This study shows that implementing a self-chosen F&V strategy at the day-care is acceptable, appropriate and feasible for day-care professionals and has potential to positively impact children's F&V eating behaviour. Future research should investigate the effects of long-term implementation on children's eating behaviour and examine how structural implementation can be further supported.

Associations of central obesity and habitual food consumption with saliva microbiota and its enzymatic profiles - a pilot study in Finnish children.

Background: Variation in diversity and composition of saliva microbiota has been linked to weight status, but findings have been inconsistent. Focusing on clinically relevant conditions such as central obesity and using advanced sequencing techniques might fill in the gaps of knowledge. Aims: We investigated saliva microbiota with shallow metagenome sequencing in children with (n = 14) and without (n = 36) central obesity. Additionally, we examined the role of habitual food consumption on microbial enzymatic repertoire. Methods: Data comprised 50 children (50% male) with a mean age of 14.2 (SD 0.3) years, selected from the Finnish Health in Teens (Fin-HIT) cohort. Dietary scores for consumption frequency of sweet treats (STI), dairy products (DCI) and plants (PCI) were derived based on a self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Central obesity was defined based on waist-height ratio using the cut-off 0.5. Saliva samples were subjected to whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing, and taxonomic and functional profiling was achieved with METAnnotatorX2 bioinformatics platform. Results: Groups had an average 20 (95% CI 14-27) cm difference in waist circumference. We identified the lack of Pseudomonas guguagenesis and Prevotella scopos, oulorum and oris as putative biomarkers associated with central obesity and observed a total of 16 enzymatic reactions differing between the groups. DCI was associated with the highest number of enzyme profiles (122), followed by STI (60) and DCI (25) (Pearson correlation p < 0.05). Intriguingly, STI showed a high positive/negative correlation ratio (5.09), while DCI and PCI showed low ratios (0.54 and 0.33, respectively). Thus, the main driver of enzymatic reactions was STI, and the related pathways involved nitrate metabolism induced by Haemophilus parainfluenzae and Veilonella dispar among others. Conclusion: Clinically relevant differences in central obesity were only modestly reflected in the composition of saliva microbiota. Habitual consumption of sweet treats was a strong determinant of enzymatic reactions of saliva microbiota in children with and without central obesity. The clinical relevance of these findings warrants further studies.

Effects of the DAGIS randomized controlled trial on home environment and children's food consumption according to the degree of implementation.

BACKGROUND: Combining process evaluation data with effectiveness data and examining the possible mediators of intervention effects elicits valuable knowledge about how and for whom these interventions are effective. The aim of this study was to examine whether the parental degree of implementation (DOI) of a home-involving preschool intervention affected children's food consumption via home mediators. METHODS: The five-month Increased Health and Wellbeing in Preschools (DAGIS) intervention involved 476 participating children aged 3-6 years and was conducted in 2017-2018. Parents reported children's food consumption (g/day) outside childcare hours, the availability of foods at home, role modelling of food consumption, and the norms related to food consumption. In addition, parents reported the extent to which they had implemented the intervention program at home. Mediation analyses were conducted to examine the effect of low and high DOI compared to control group on the change in children's consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV), sugary everyday foods, sugary treats, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) via food availability in the home, parental role modelling and parental norms. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, there was a direct effect of a high DOI on diminishing consumption of SSB (B -27.71, 95% CI -49.05, -4.80). No indirect effects were detected. In the high DOI group, a change in parental norm was associated with increased FV consumption showing an indirect effect (B 4.31, 95% CI 0.23, 10.59). In the low DOI group, there was an indirect effect via decreased food availability leading to decreased sugary everyday food consumption (B -2.17, 95% CI -5.09,  -0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Combining process evaluation and effectiveness data revealed a decrease in children's SSB consumption only in the high DOI group, as well as indirect effects on children's consumption of FV and sugary everyday foods. In order to gain more intervention effects, further studies are required in order to examine parental facilitators and barriers to the implementation of interventions and how to impact effectively the determinants of the targeted behavior. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN57165350 (8 January, 2015).