Applicability of machine learning techniques in food intake assessment: A systematic review.

The evaluation of food intake is important in scientific research and clinical practice to understand the relationship between diet and health conditions of an individual or a population. Large volumes of data are generated daily in the health sector. In this sense, Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools have been increasingly used, for example, the application of Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to extract useful information, find patterns, and predict diseases. This systematic review aimed to identify studies that used ML algorithms to assess food intake in different populations. A literature search was conducted using five electronic databases, and 36 studies met all criteria and were included. According to the results, there has been a growing interest in the use of ML algorithms in the area of nutrition in recent years. Also, supervised learning algorithms were the most used, and the most widely used method of nutritional assessment was the food frequency questionnaire. We observed a trend in using the data analysis programs, such as R and WEKA. The use of ML in nutrition is recent and challenging. Therefore, it is encouraged that more studies are carried out relating these themes for the development of food reeducation programs and public policies.

Relationship between food consumption and improvements in circulating melatonin in humans: an integrative review.

Melatonin is an important hormone in the regulation of circadian rhythms and has great antioxidant power. Recent studies have demonstrated the benefits of its supplementation in the metabolic profile. Food sources have also been studied for complementary therapies. However, information on the bioavailability of food sources of melatonin is still scarce. Thus, the objective of this review is to gather in the literature studies that evaluate the relationship between food consumption and improvements in circulating melatonin in humans. In total, 178 studies were found, of which 11 were included in this review. The results show increases in the excretion of the melatonin metabolite (6­sulfatoxymelatonin) or circulating melatonin for foods such as cherries, grapes, bananas, pineapples, dark green vegetables, Japanese vegetables and beer. Significant increases in melatonin were observed even after ingesting cultivars with low concentrations of this hormone. It was possible to assume that other nutrients that precede their synthesis (serotonin and tryptophan) could also have led to this increase. Although consumption of the foods found is beneficial in increasing circulating melatonin, further confirmatory studies are needed.

Online Food Frequency Questionnaire From the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME Project, Brazil): Construction, Validity, and Reproducibility.

Background: The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) is usually used in epidemiological studies to assess food consumption. However, the FFQ must have good accuracy, requiring its validation and reproducibility for the target population. Thus, this study aimed to describe the construction of the online Food Frequency Questionnaire (oFFQ) used at the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME project, Brazil) and evaluate its validity and reproducibility. Methods: The oFFQ was answered two times in 1 year (March/August 2018-March/April 2019; n = 108 participants-reproducibility), and four 24-h dietary recalls (24hRs) were applied in two seasons of the southern hemisphere [two 24hRs in autumn (March/June 2018) and two 24hRs in winter (August/September 2018); n = 146 participants-validity]. To assess the validity and reproducibility, the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were estimated. Results: The oFFQ had 144 food items separated into eight groups (dairy products; meat and fish; cereals and legumes; fruits; vegetables; fats and oils; drinks; other foods). In assessing the validity, ICCs for energy and macronutrients were considered moderate, ranging from 0.41 (energy) to 0.59 (protein), while the ICCs for micronutrients were considered low to moderate, ranging from 0.25 (fibers) to 0.65 (vitamin B6). Regarding reproducibility assessment, ICCs for energy and all the assessed items were considered moderate to excellent, ranging from 0.60 (vegetables) to 0.91 (vitamin E and retinol). Conclusions: The self-reported oFFQ had satisfactory validity and reproducibility. So, it can be used to analyze the association between food consumption and chronic diseases in the participants of the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME project-Brazil).

Melatonin intake and potential chronobiological effects on human health.

Melatonin is an indolamine with a recognized chronobiotic role. In turn, the supplementation of melatonin through capsules has been shown to be efficient in the modulation of inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, as well as in the control of hypertension and metabolic syndrome. However, the science of nutrition is interested in the study of the food sources of this hormone and its possible therapeutic effects. Thus, this review aimed to identify and present scientific papers that quantified melatonin in foods and evaluated its application in intervention studies. In total, 278 studies were found, of which 17 were included in this review. The results show that meats, fish, eggs, cereals, tubers, oilseeds, mushrooms, fruits, vegetables, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and dairy products had some items analyzed for their melatonin concentrations. The concentrations reported presented considerable amplitude among different foods and even within the same species, possibly due to differences in cultivation and different hormonal dosing techniques. Also, different concentrations of melatonin can be presented for the same food when submitted to processes such as cooking, roasting or fermentation. The intervention studies presented positive results regarding the consumption of foods rich in melatonin and clinical-metabolic indicators. However, in order to guide nutritional behavior, it is necessary to consult a composition table that makes melatonin concentrations available and considers the processes involved in the preparation of the food. With this table, it will be possible to analyze the real effect of habitual consumption of melatonin from food on health.

Association between nutritional status, C-reactive protein, adiponectin and HOMA-AD in Brazilian children.

INTRODUCTION: In children, the presence of obesity is a major risk factor for the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases on the adulthood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of anthropometry, body composition, clinical variables and biochemical profile with C-reactive protein and adiponectin levels, and insulin resistance in children in the municipality of Nova Era, Brazil. METHODS: Nested case-control study following a crosssectional study. We evaluated 178 children, 57 of them classified as obese and 121 as normal-weight from a population of 1024 schoolchildren 6 to 10 years old: Blood samples were collected after 12-hour fast to obtain serum and plasma. We collected anthropometric and body composition measures, systolic and diastolic blood pressure data. Sexual maturation was assessed according to the stage of sexual development. We performed Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's correlation, Spearman's test and multiple linear regression analysis. Independent variables with p < 0.05 were included in the multiple regression model. Residual analysis was performed to assess model validity. RESULTS: Among obese children, C-reactive protein levels were associated with triacylglycerol levels and body fat percentage estimated by skinfold thickness (R2 adjusted = 27.6%, p < 0.001). Adiponectin was associated with HOMA-IR, HOMAAD and body fat percentage estimated by skinfold thickness (R2 adjusted = 75.5%, p < 0.001). HOMA-AD index was associated with HOMA-IR, adiponectin, systolic blood pressure and weight (R2 adjusted = 90.7%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Significant associations were found between body composition, anthropometry, clinical variables, biochemical profile and adiponectin and C-reactive protein levels and insulin resistance in obese and normal-weight children.

INTRODUCCIÓN: En niños, la obesidad es um factor de riesgo para enfermedades cardiovasculares en la edad adulta. OBJETIVOS: Asociaciar la antropometría, composición corporal, variables clínicas y bioquímicas con la proteína C reactiva (PCR), adiponectina y resistencia a la insulina en niños de Nova Era, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Estudio de casos y controles anidado en un transversal. Se evaluaron 178 niños, 57 obesos y 121 eutróficos en una población de 1.024 escolares de 6 a 10 años. Las muestras de sangre se recogieron después de 12 horas de ayuno. Recogimos las medidas antropométricas, de composición corporal y presión arterial. La madurez sexual fue evaluada de acuerdo con el desarrollo sexual. Se realizo las pruebas t de Student y U de Mann- Whitney, las correlaciones de Pearson y Spearman y el análisis de regresión lineal múltiple. Se incluyeron en el modelo de regresión, las variables independientes con p < 0,05. Se realizo el análisis residual para evaluar la validez del modelo. RESULTADOS: Entre los niños obesos, los niveles de PCR se asociaron con los triglicéridos y el porcentaje de grasa corporal (%GC) estimada por los pliegues cutáneos (R2 ajustado = 27,6%, p < 0,001). La adiponectina se asoció con HOMA-IR, HOMA-AD y % GC estimada por los pliegues cutáneos (R2 ajustado = 75,5%, p < 0,001). El HOMA-AD se asoció con HOMA-IR, adiponectina, presión arterial sistólica y peso (R2 ajustado = 90,7%, p < 0,001). CONCLUSIONES: Se encontraron asociaciones entre la composición corporal, antropometría, variables clínicas, perfil bioquímico, adiponectina, PCR y la resistencia a la insulina en niños obesos y eutróficos.