Compliance with Nutritional Recommendations and Gut Microbiota Profile in Galician Overweight/Obese and Normal-Weight Individuals.

Different research studies have identified specific groups or certain dietary compounds as the onset and progression of obesity and suggested that gut microbiota is a mediator between these compounds and the inflammation associated with pathology. In this study, the objective was to evaluate the dietary intake of 108 overweight (OW), obese (OB), and normal-weight (NW) individuals and to analyze their gut microbiota profile to determine changes and associations with Body Mass Index (BMI) and diet. When individuals were compared by BMI, significant differences in fiber and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) intake were observed, showing higher adequacy for the NW group. The analysis of gut microbiota showed statistical differences for 18 ASVs; Anaerostipes and Faecalibacterium decreased in the OW/OB group, whereas the genus Oscillospira increased; the genus was also found in the LEFSe analysis as a biomarker for OW/OB. Roseburia faecis was found in a significantly higher proportion of NW individuals and identified as a biomarker for the NW group. Correlation analysis showed that adequation to nutritional recommendation for fiber indicated a higher abundance of Prevotella copri, linearly correlated with F. prausnitzii, Bacteroides caccae, and R. faecis. The same correlation was found for the adequation for MUFAs, with these bacteria being more abundant when the intake was adjusted to or below the recommendations.

Potential prebiotic effect of two Atlantic whole brown seaweeds, Saccharina japonica and Undaria pinnatifida, using in vitro simulation of distal colonic fermentation.

Two brown seaweeds (Saccharina japonica and Undaria pinnatifida) were characterized in terms of their nutritional and mineral composition, as well as their potential to modify the human gut microbiota. Nutritional analysis of these seaweeds showed that they comply with the criteria set out in European legislation to be labeled "low fat," "low sugar," and "high fiber." Mineral content analysis showed that 100 g of seaweed provided more than 100% of the daily Ca requirements, as well as 33-42% of Fe, 10-17% of Cu, and 14-17% of Zn requirements. An in vitro human digest simulator system was used to analyze the effect of each seaweed on the human colonic microbiota. The gut microbiota was characterized by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and short-chain fatty-acid analysis. Seaweed digestion and fermentation showed beneficial effects, such as a decrease in the phylum Firmicutes and an increase in the phyla Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. At the species level, seaweed fermentation increased the proportion of beneficial bacteria such as Parabacteroides distasonis and Bifidobacterium. Regarding of metabolic pathways, no significant differences were found between the two seaweeds, but there were significant differences concerning to the baseline. An increase in short-chain fatty-acid content was observed for both seaweeds with respect to the negative control, especially for acetic acid. Given of the obtained results, S. japonica and U. pinnatifida intake are promising and could open new opportunities for research and application in the fields of nutrition and human health.

Evaluation of the potential prebiotic effect of Himanthalia elongata, an Atlantic brown seaweed, in an in vitro model of the human distal colon.

Until now, although different studies have shown the potential prebiotic effect of seaweed carbohydrates, no studies with the whole seaweeds have been carried out. In addition, the prebiotic effect throughput sequencing remains poorly investigated since most of the published works used qPCR or FISH to estimate bacterial changes. In this work, an in vitro model of the human distal colon was used to determine, for the first time, the potential prebiotic effect of a brown whole seaweed Himanthalia elongata. The whole seaweed was characterized in basis of its nutritional and mineral composition and submitted to the entire gastrointestinal digestion. The prebiotic effect was evaluated by the microbial modulation through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, qPCR and short-chain fatty acid analysis. The obtained results indicated that the colonic fraction of H. elongata was used selectively by the Bacteroides genus, more specifically by the specie Bacteoides ovatus, whereas inulin was used mainly by the Parabacteroides genus, being Parabacteroides distasonis the most abundant identified specie. Selective use of inulin by P. distasonis is, therefore, reported by the first time. qPCR analysis shown no significative differences in Bifidobacterium population and a decrease in Lactobacillus along the fermentation assays with both substrates. Regarding to the short-fatty acid production, maximal concentration, 56.11 ± 20.48 mM, was achieved for H. elongata, at 24 h of fermentation whereas for inulin total acid production was 93.66 ± 21.82 mM at 48 h of assay. The metabolic pathways associated with bacterial genera were not significantly different between the two tested substrates. Although more studies are necessary to elucidate the prebiotic character of H. elongata, the results presented in this work are promissory and could open new opportunities of research and application in the area of Nutrition and Food Chemistry.

Development and Validation of Multi-Residue Method for Drugs Analysis in Human Feces by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

The use of veterinary drugs in animal production is a common practice to secure animal and human health. However, residues of administrated drugs could be present in animal food products. Levels of drugs in food of animal origin are regulated within the European Union. In recent years, residues have been detected not only in food, but also in the environmental elements such as water or soil, meaning that humans are involuntarily exposed to these substances. This article presents a multiclass method for the analysis of various therapeutic groups of pharmaceuticals in human feces. Pharmaceuticals are extracted from feces with an acid extraction solvent, and after filtration the extract was analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. A limit of detection of 10 ng/g was achieved for 9 pharmaceuticals, with linearity over 0.99 and repeatability and reproducibility lower than 20%. The method was satisfactorily applied in 25 feces samples of individuals that had declared not to be under medical treatment for the last two months. Results indicate the presence of six different compounds at concentration between 10 and 456 ng/g. This preliminary study showed the involuntary exposure of human gut microbiota to active substances such as pharmaceuticals.

Hábitos alimentarios en la población gallega durante el confinamiento por la COVID-19 / Food habits in the Galician population during confinement by COVID-19

INTRODUCCIÓN: en plena crisis por la COVID-19, el consumo alimentario ha pasado a llevarse a cabo en su totalidad en el hogar y las visitas a los centros de distribución de alimentos se han visto reducidas. Asimismo, otros hábitos, como la práctica de ejercicio físico o las horas de sueño, se han visto también modificadas. OBJETIVOS: el objetivo de este trabajo ha sido evaluar los cambios producidos en los hábitos alimentarios y en el estilo de vida de la población gallega durante el período de confinamiento por la COVID-19. MÉTODOS: se elaboró una encuesta en Microsoft Forms para adultos residentes en Galicia y se distribuyó, de manera aleatoria, a través de un servicio de mensajería instantánea para móviles a través de Internet. RESULTADOS: el número de participantes fue de 1350 personas, mayores de edad, siendo el promedio de edad de 63,2 ± 8,1 años y estando la muestra compuesta por un 30 % de hombres y un 70 % de mujeres. Los datos muestran una tendencia hacia el consumo de alimentos saludables, como frutas y verduras, y un descenso de otros menos saludables, como son los alimentos procesados. Un 46 % de la población indicó estar comiendo más que antes del confinamiento, aumentando el picoteo entre horas (54 %) y la ansiedad por la comida, debido a situaciones de estrés o nervios, en un 40 % de los encuestados. Esto se ha traducido en un incremento del peso corporal, indicado por un 44 % de la muestra, siendo la media de kilos ganada de 2,8 ± 1,5. CONCLUSIONES: durante el confinamiento, los hábitos alimentarios y el estilo de vida de la población gallega se han visto modificados. El incremento de peso experimentado en una población que ya partía de un elevado porcentaje de sobrepeso y obesidad al inicio del confinamiento podría tener un impacto negativo en el desarrollo de patologías crónicas no transmisibles

INTRODUCTION: during the COVID-19 crisis food habits have changed among the population as food consumption is now carried out totally at home, and visits to groceries or food centers have decreased considerably. Likewise, other habits, such as physical activity or sleeping hours have also been modified. OBJECTIVES: the objective of this work was to evaluate the changes occurred in eating and lifestyle habits among the adult Galician population during the confinement period ordered in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: a survey was conducted using Microsoft Forms, and spread among the population using an instant messaging service for mobiles through the internet. RESULTS: a total of 1350 Galician adults completed the questionnaire; mean of age was 63.2 ± 8.1 years, 30 % were men, and 70 % were women. The obtained data show a trend towards consumption of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, and a decrease in less healthy ones such as processed foods. In total, 46 % of the population reported they were eating more than before the confinement, with an increase in snacking between meals (54 %) and in anxiety about food due to situations of stress or nervousness bieng reported by 40 % of respondents. This has resulted in an increase in body weight, reported by 44 % of participants, with the average gain being 2.8 ± 1.5 kg. CONCLUSIONS: during confinement, the eating and lifestyle habits of the Galician population have been modified. The weight gain observed in a population that already had a high level of overweight and obesity at confinement onset aggravates the present situation and may have a negative impact on the development of chronic, non-communicable diseases

[Food habits in the Galician population during confinement byCOVID-19]. / Hábitos alimentarios en la poblacion gallega durante el confinamiento por la COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: during the COVID-19 crisis food habits have changed among the population as food consumption is now carried out totally at home, and visits to groceries or food centers have decreased considerably. Likewise, other habits, such as physical activity or sleeping hours have also been modified. Objectives: the objective of this work was to evaluate the changes occurred in eating and lifestyle habits among the adult Galician population during the confinement period ordered in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: a survey was conducted using Microsoft Forms, and spread among the population using an instant messaging service for mobiles through the internet. Results: a total of 1350 Galician adults completed the questionnaire; mean of age was 63.2 ± 8.1 years, 30 % were men, and 70 % were women. The obtained data show a trend towards consumption of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, and a decrease in less healthy ones such as processed foods. In total, 46 % of the population reported they were eating more than before the confinement, with an increase in snacking between meals (54 %) and in anxiety about food due to situations of stress or nervousness bieng reported by 40 % of respondents. This has resulted in an increase in body weight, reported by 44 % of participants, with the average gain being 2.8 ± 1.5 kg. Conclusions: during confinement, the eating and lifestyle habits of the Galician population have been modified. The weight gain observed in a population that already had a high level of overweight and obesity at confinement onset aggravates the present situation and may have a negative impact on the development of chronic, non-communicable.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: en plena crisis por la COVID-19, el consumo alimentario ha pasado a llevarse a cabo en su totalidad en el hogar y las visitas a los centros de distribución de alimentos se han visto reducidas. Asimismo, otros hábitos, como la práctica de ejercicio físico o las horas de sueño, se han visto también modificadas. Objetivos: el objetivo de este trabajo ha sido evaluar los cambios producidos en los hábitos alimentarios y en el estilo de vida de la población gallega durante el período de confinamiento por la COVID-19. Métodos: se elaboró una encuesta en Microsoft Forms para adultos residentes en Galicia y se distribuyó, de manera aleatoria, a través de un servicio de mensajería instantánea para móviles a través de Internet. Resultados: el número de participantes fue de 1350 personas, mayores de edad, siendo el promedio de edad de 63,2 ± 8,1 años y estando la muestra compuesta por un 30 % de hombres y un 70 % de mujeres. Los datos muestran una tendencia hacia el consumo de alimentos saludables, como frutas y verduras, y un descenso de otros menos saludables, como son los alimentos procesados. Un 46 % de la población indicó estar comiendo más que antes del confinamiento, aumentando el picoteo entre horas (54 %) y la ansiedad por la comida, debido a situaciones de estrés o nervios, en un 40 % de los encuestados. Esto se ha traducido en un incremento del peso corporal, indicado por un 44 % de la muestra, siendo la media de kilos ganada de 2,8 ± 1,5. Conclusiones: durante el confinamiento, los hábitos alimentarios y el estilo de vida de la población gallega se han visto modificados. El incremento de peso experimentado en una población que ya partía de un elevado porcentaje de sobrepeso y obesidad al inicio del confinamiento podría tener un impacto negativo en el desarrollo de patologías crónicas no transmisibles.