Associated factors to the consumption of ultra-processed foods and its relation with dietary sources in Portugal.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are common worldwide and associated with poorer health outcomes. This work aimed to explore the UPF consumption associated factors and its main dietary sources, by sex, in Portugal. Participants from the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (IAN-AF) 2015-2016, aged 3-84 years, were included (n 5005). Dietary intake was assessed through two 1-day food diaries/24 h recalls. UPFs were identified using the NOVA classification. Associations were evaluated through linear regression models. Median UPF consumption was 257 g/d (10⋅6 % of total quantity; 23⋅8 % of total energy). Adolescents were those with higher consumption (490 g/d). Compared to adults, younger ages were positively associated with UPF consumption (e.g. adolescents (-females: 192, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 135, 249; -males: 327, 95 % CI: 277, 377)). A lower educational level was associated with lower UPF consumption (-females: -63; 95 % CI: -91, -34; -males: -68; 95 % CI: -124, -12). Also, a lower UPF consumption was observed in married males/couples compared to singles (: -48, 95 % CI: -96, -1). Furthermore, female current/former smokers were associated with a higher UPF consumption v. never smokers (: 79, 95 % CI: 41, 118; : 42, 95 % CI: 8, 75, respectively). Main UPF sources were yoghurts, soft drinks and cold meats/sausages differing strongly by sex, age and education level. Yoghurts containing additives were the main contributors to the UPF consumption in children and adult females from all education (~20 %). Soft drinks were leaders in adolescents (females: 26⋅0 %; males: 31⋅6 %) and young male adults (24⋅4 %). Cold meats/sausages stood out among low-educated males (20⋅5 %). Males, younger age groups, higher education, children with less-educated parents, married/couple males and smoking females were positively associated with UPF consumption.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and non-communicable disease-related nutrient profile in Portuguese adults and elderly (2015-2016): the UPPER project.

This study aims to investigate the dietary share of ultra-processed foods and its association with the non-communicable disease (NCD)-related nutrient profile of adult and elderly populations in Portugal. Cross-sectional data from the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (2015-2016) of the Portuguese population were analysed. Dietary intake was assessed by two non-consecutive 24-h recalls, and food items were classified according to the NOVA system. We estimated the percentage of dietary energy provided by each of the NOVA food groups and assessed the NCD-related nutrient profile of the overall diet across quintiles of ultra-processed food consumption. Weighted t tests, besides crude and adjusted linear and Poisson regressions, were performed. Ultra-processed foods contributed to around 24 and 16 % of daily energy intake for adults and elderly, respectively. In both groups, as the consumption of ultra-processed foods increased, the dietary content of free sugars, total fats and saturated fats increased, while the dietary content of protein decreased. In adults, total energy intake, dietary energy density and content of carbohydrates also increased as the consumption of ultra-processed foods increased, while the dietary content of fibre, Na and K decreased. The prevalence of those exceeding the upper limits recommended for free sugars and saturated fats increased by 544 and 153 % in adults and 619 and 60 % in elderly, when comparing the lowest with the highest quintile of ultra-processed food consumption. Such a scenario demands for effective strategies addressing food processing in the Portuguese population to improve their diet quality and prevention against diet-related NCD.

Impact of ultra-processed food consumption on metabolic health.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Ultra-processed foods (UPF) have been associated with poor diet quality and adverse health outcomes. Our aim in this review is to summarize recent research assessing the impact of UPF consumption, classified according to the NOVA system, on outcomes related to metabolic health. RECENT FINDINGS: Thirty recent studies with different design, quality and target population have investigated the impact of UPF consumption on parameters related to metabolic health, which were organized into: metabolic syndrome; body weight change and obesity indicators; blood pressure and hypertension; glucose profile, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes; other metabolic risks and cardiovascular diseases and mortality. Most of the studies demonstrated adverse associations between high UPF consumption and metabolic health, mainly those with robust design and involving adults. SUMMARY: Most of the latest findings have revealed an adverse impact of high UPF consumption on metabolic health, including cardiovascular diseases and mortality. Scientific evidence is accumulating towards the necessity of curbing UPF consumption worldwide at different life stages. Nevertheless, other studies are needed to confirm the causality between UPF consumption and metabolic health in diverse scenarios and to better elucidate all likely mechanisms involved in this relationship.

Secular trend of childhood nutritional status in Calabria (Italy) and the United States: the spread of obesity.

The number of children who are overweight has been increasing worldwide, including in Mediterranean countries. Based on this, we hypothesized that the weights of Italian children from Calabria have also increased across the years, approaching even the levels of their North American counterparts. This cross-sectional study, which was conducted at 3 time points (1992, 2004, and 2013/2014) with Calabrian children between the ages of 9 and 10 years, aimed to (1) examine a 20-year trend of growth and weight in Calabrian children and (2) compare these trends to those of children from the United States within a similar period. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for comparing Calabrian and American children at similar time points. Height and weight were measured, and body mass index was calculated. Nutritional status was defined by International Obesity Task Force cutoffs. Across 20 years, a positive trend was observed in the height and weight of Calabrian children. Trends of preobesity and obesity increased significantly in Calabria from 10.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.1-15.3) to 30.5% (95% CI 26.4-34.8) and from 2.1% (95% CI 0.7-4.8) to 13.8% (95% CI 10.9-17.2), respectively. Although a cessation was observed between 2004 and 2013/2014, from 2003 to 2004, childhood overweight rates in Calabria were as high as those seen in the United States. There was no significant difference between boys from Calabria and the United States in 2013/2014. Over time, odds to become overweight were significant for most of the children from both populations but higher for those from Calabria. Therefore, inducting a reform in the political, environmental, and societal systems may protect children from becoming overweight by increasing quality of diet and physical activity.

Body composition and bone mineral density in Huntington's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding the body composition (BC) of patients with Huntington's disease (HD) could help to delay disease progression and improve treatment efficacy. The aim of this study was to assess BC parameters, including bone mineral density (BMD), and to find new biomarkers that can be early indicators for weight loss in patients with HD. METHODS: Twenty-one age- and sex-matched patients with HD and 29 healthy controls (CT) were enrolled. For each patient, body weight (BW), height, and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated. BC and BMD were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Subsamples were created according to sex and percent fat mass (FM) (obese and nonobese). All analyses were carried out using SPSS version 23. RESULTS: In all comparisons, BMD and T-score were lower in the HD group, but were not correlated with lean body mass (LBM) or FM. In the HD group, LBM and truncal fat were mostly reduced, except in women with HD whose BC appeared to be less affected by the disease than men. Furthermore, LBM (r = 0.80) and truncal fat (r = 0.68) were better correlated with BW than BMI (r = 0.56). CONCLUSION: Complete BC assessment can be crucial for preventive interventions and prognosis definition in patients with HD. New biomarkers such as BMD, LBM, and truncal fat can be early indicators of weight loss in patients with HD.

Development and cross-validation of predictive equation for estimating total body lean in children.

AIM: To develop and cross-validate a predictive equation for estimating lean body mass (LBM) in children, based on bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometric parameters, and to compare our equation with other predictive methods. METHODS: We evaluated body composition of 155 children (age 5-14 years) by BIA and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Children were divided in two groups: developing set and cross-validation set. Statistical analysis as multiple regression and Bland-Altman methods were performed. RESULTS: From developing set (105 children) a predictive LBM (kg) equation was created. From the cross-validated set (35 children), our equation was seen to agree with LBM (kg) by DXA. On the contrary, LBM predicted by Schaefer's equation and BIA did not agree with the criterion measure. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-validated equation can be useful in epidemiological studies and also in clinical practice, permitting a better definition and follow up of children's body composition.

Evidences of a New Psychobiotic Formulation on Body Composition and Anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Gut microbiota is implied in obesity, because of its ability to harvest energy from diet, and in the regulation of behavior. Given the link between gut microbiota, body composition, obesity, and anxiety, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a new psychobiotic formulation. METHODS: Eligible patients were randomly divided into three groups: psychobiotics oral suspension group (POSG); dietary treatment group (DTG); combined treatment group (CTG). All subjects underwent body composition and psychological profile evaluation. RESULTS: Significant changes in body composition parameters in each group were relieved after all treatments. Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A) highlighted a significant reduction of the total score for all study population after treatments in POSG (p = 0.01) and CTG (p = 0.04). A reduction of HAM-A total score in anxious subjects in POSG or CTG and a significant reduction of positive subjects for HAM-A in POSG (p = 0.03) and in CDG (p = 0.01) were shown. DISCUSSION: Three-week intake of selected POS represents a good approach to solve problems related to obesity and behavior disorders. However, new clinical trials need to be performed on a larger population and for a longer period of treatment before definitive conclusions can be made. This trial is registered with NCT01890070.

Antioxidant Effects of a Hydroxytyrosol-Based Pharmaceutical Formulation on Body Composition, Metabolic State, and Gene Expression: A Randomized Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial.

Hydroxytyrosol (HT) plays a significant role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) protection, and its metabolites are able to protect from the endothelial dysfunction commonly present in atherosclerosis. This randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial determined the effect in healthy volunteers of two gastroresistant capsules containing 15 mg/day of HT, for a 3-week period (HTT). Evaluation of nutritional status, serum metabolites, oxidative stress biomarkers, and gene expression of 9 genes related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and CVDs was performed. Oxidation biomarkers like thiol group (p = 0.001), total antioxidant status (TAS) (p = 0.001), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) (2-ΔΔCt = 3.7), and plasma concentration of HT (2.83 µg·mL-1) were significantly increased, while nitrite (p = 0.001), nitrate (p = 0.001), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p = 0.02) were drastically reduced after HTT. A significant reduction of body fat mass percentage (p = 0.01), suprailiac skinfold (p = 0.01), and weight (p = 0.04; Δ% = -0.46%) was observed after HTT. This study shows that regular intake of 15 mg/day of HT changed body composition parameters and modulated the antioxidant profile and the expression of inflammation and oxidative stress-related genes. However, it is advisable to personalize HT doses in order to exert its health benefits in CVD prevention and protection of LDL-C particles from oxidative damage. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01890070.

Polyphenol-Rich Foods Alleviate Pain and Ameliorate Quality of Life in Fibromyalgic Women.

Objectives: The present study aimed to describe the antioxidant dietary intake of patients with fibromyalgia and explore the association of the results with glutathione status, pain, quality of life, and socioeconomic status. METHODS: 38 fibromyalgic female patients and 35 female controls (mean age = 48.6 ± 8.1 and 47.6 ± 10.0 years, respectively) were evaluated. The number of tender points, pain threshold, quality of life, physical activity, socioeconomic status, nutritional status, intake of antioxidant micronutrients and foods with high total antioxidant capacity, and total salivary glutathione were evaluated. RESULTS: The number of tender points, pain threshold, and quality of life were worse in the fibromyalgia group. The consumption of vegetable juices was more common among women with fibromyalgia and consumption of red wine and beer were more common among healthy women. The adjusted mean intakes of antioxidant vitamins as well as selenium were higher for the control group (p ≤ 0.01). There was no difference for salivary levels of glutathione between the groups and no correlation for intake of antioxidant micronutrients and pain or quality of life among fibromyalgic women. However, intake of foods rich in polyphenols was associated with lower numbers of tender points (coffee, r = - 0.346; pear, r = - 0.331) and better quality of life (red fruits, r = - 0.342; dark chocolate, r = - 0.404) in the fibromyalgic group. In these women, associations between glutathione levels and food intake, pain or quality of life were not found. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that antioxidant protection from bioactive compounds present in fruit and vegetables could have an adjuvant role in fibromyalgia treatment.