Evidence of eared doves consumption and the potential toxic exposure during the Regional Development period in Quito-Ecuador.

Throughout history, food has played a fundamental role in the development of societies. An understanding of the diets of different cultures and their impact on health can provide valuable insights into their lifestyle. The identification of the animal remains found within two vessels is reported and, in addition, an assessment of whether the diet and soil composition of the period may be associated with toxic elements was carried out. The animal bones retrieved from the settlement, which dated from 25 to 203 cal AD, were identified as belonging to Zenaida cf. auriculata, commonly known as eared dove. Ancient starch was discovered in the sediments inside the vessels. These sediments, along with the pre-Hispanic soil collected in the study zone, showed moderate pollution, suggesting potential environmental contamination. For the first time, evidence that eared doves were part of the diet of the ancient inhabitants of Quito is presented, as shown by the occurrence of their bones within food processing utensils. Furthermore, the study highlights the possibility of environmental contamination due to volcanic eruptions that occurred during the Regional Development period from 500 BC to AD 500. These results can contribute to a better understanding of the living conditions of the early inhabitants of Quito and similar regions.

Stable Isotopes Analysis of Black Lion Tamarins Reveals Increasing Arthropod Consumption When Fruit Productivity Decreases in Forest Fragments.

Given the cryptic and elusive nature of prey consumption, quantifying its contribution to the diet of free-ranging primates using behavioral methods is challenging. In this context, the use of carbon and nitrogen-stable isotopes represents a promising alternative approach. Here, we used stable isotope analysis to estimate the proportion of arthropods and fruits in the diet of black lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysopygus), an endangered primate endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. To do so, we ran stable isotope mixing models using isotopic data from hair samples of black lion tamarins living in six forest fragments showing different levels of habitat quality. Furthermore, we ran linear mixed models to assess the influence of habitat quality-fruit productivity (estimated by tree total basal area) and arthropod biomass - and individual characteristics (sex and body mass) on tamarins' δ15N values (a proxy for trophic position). Our results revealed that arthropods contributed more to black lion tamarins' diet than reported in previous behavioral studies, suggesting that behavioral observations may considerably underestimate the importance of arthropodivory in the diet of arboreal primates. The degree of arthropodivory and frugivory was similar within groups, in line with the strong group cohesion and synchronization of feeding behaviors of this species and supporting the role of site-specific habitat characteristics on dietary choice. Arthropod consumption was higher in areas with lower fruit productivity and did not increase when arthropod biomass increased, suggesting that fruits represent a limiting but preferred resource for this species. These results demonstrate the dietary plasticity of black lion tamarins in areas of lower forest quality, where they manage to compensate low fruit productivity by shifting to a diet richer in arthropods. Considering that this species occurs within a highly fragmented landscape, preserving and protecting small forest patches remains crucial for the conservation of this species.

Simultaneity of health-related behaviors and food insecurity among pregnant women.

The researchers aimed through this cross-sectional study to explore the co-occurrence of health-related behaviors and their association with food insecurity in pregnant women. The investigated behaviors include smoking, alcohol consumption, non-regular consumption of fruit, and physical inactivity among 605 participants. Our findings reveal that women experiencing food insecurity exhibit a higher prevalence of simultaneous engagement in specific health behaviors. Specifically, the co-occurrence of alcohol consumption and non-regular fruit consumption is elevated, as is the co-occurrence of smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption, regular fruit consumption, and physical inactivity. The implications of these findings underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing both food insecurity and clustered health behaviors during pregnancy.

Urinary health indicators in folivorous-frugivorous primates with and without food supplementation.

Food supplementation by humans in peri-urban and urban landscapes can lead to excessive intake of energy and certain macronutrients, and affect animal health. In this study, we evaluated the influence of food supplementation on urinary health indicators in brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba) by comparing supplemented and non-supplemented free-ranging peri-urban groups. We also evaluated the effect of sex, day shift, and season of sampling. Between August 2021 and August 2022, we non-invasively collected 61 samples (43 from females and 18 from males) from adult individuals (N = 10) in three supplemented groups and 56 samples (25 from females and 31 from males) from adults (N = 7) in three non-supplemented groups. The supplements, mostly raw foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, and tubers) and bread, represented 18% of the total fresh mass ingested by the supplemented groups. We assessed pH, density, and the presence of eight urine components (glucose, bilirubin, ketones, protein, urobilinogen, nitrite, blood, and leukocytes) using reagent urine strips. Season of sampling predicted urine density (mean = 1.022), while both season and day shift predicted pH (mean = 6.5). The occurrence of supplementation was a weak predictor of these parameters. Finally, we detected leukocytes in 21% of the 117 samples. We did not identify any visible signs of disease in any individual throughout the study and found no clinical changes in urine under the conditions studied. We urge validation of the results with urine strips to facilitate monitoring of the health of howler monkeys living in anthropogenic landscapes in the presence or absence of dietary supplementation.

Effects of altrenogest supplementation in late lactation on reproductive performance of primiparous sows.

Genetic selection for hyperprolific sows resulted in higher proportion of low birthweight piglets and greater birthweight variation within the litter, increasing preweaning mortality. There is evidence that altrenogest supplementation improves post-weaning reproductive performance through higher ovulation rates, and increased embryo survival. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of altrenogest supplementation during the last week of lactation in primiparous sows on subsequent reproductive performance. Ninety-six primiparous females were randomly assigned to two treatments: ALT-sows supplemented orally with 20 mg of altrenogest (n = 46) during the last six days of lactation up to 24 h before weaning; and CON- non-supplemented sows (n = 50). Ten sows from each experimental group were randomly selected to evaluate plasma progesterone concentrations on days 1 and 3 of treatment, at weaning and at 48, 72 and 96 h after estrus onset. Farrowings were monitored and piglets' individual birthweight, total number of piglets born, born alive, stillborn and mummified were recorded. Stillborn piglets were necropsied to assess organ weight. A subgroup of five females per treatment was euthanized on the day of estrus onset for morphological analysis of the reproductive tract. ALT females showed higher progesterone levels 72h after estrus onset (P < 0.05). Moreover, piglets' birthweight, total number of piglets born, liveborn, stillborn, and mummified were similar between experimental groups. Data collected from stillborn necropsies showed that birthweight was the main factor affecting organ weights (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that piglets weighing 600-800g presented higher brain:liver weight ratio, a determinant factor of intrauterine growth restriction, which was predominant in males (P < 0.05), and ALT females showed fewer piglets within that birthweight range (P < 0.05). Interestingly, ALT sows showed higher number, but smaller endometrial glands (P < 0.05). Taken together, short-term altrenogest supplementation in the last week of lactation increased progesterone levels after estrus onset, improving uterine vascularization and endometrial glands hyperplasia in the pre-implantation period, which benefit embryo development, leading to a decrease in the proportion of low birthweight piglets.

l-Arginine supplementation for pregnant and lactating sows may improve the performance of piglets: A systematic review.

The objective was to conduct a systematic review to clarify the effects of l-arginine supplementation in pregnant and lactating sows on plasma hormone levels, milk production and composition, the body condition of sows and piglet performance. In April 2023, an online search and a systematic search were performed in the following databases: Embase, Scopus, SciELO, Web of Science, PubMed and Science Direct. The combinations of keywords used were sow and arginine and lactation; sow and arginine and lactating; sow and arginine and gestation; sow and arginine and gestating; sow and arginine and pregnancy; sow and arginine and reproduction; piglet and arginine; and sow and arginine and mammary gland. In total, 21 scientific articles with original data were selected according to preestablished criteria. Among the 21 articles, seven (33%) reported measurements of some plasma hormones, and among these, six reported an increase in the levels of at least one hormone, namely, estradiol, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), insulin, follicle stimulating hormone, growth hormone or prolactin, with l-arginine supplementation. The parameters of milk were evaluated in 11 studies (52%), one reported an increase in protein content, and one reported an increase in IGF-1 content in milk with supplementation of this amino acid. Of the 14 studies that evaluated the performance parameters of piglets, only four reported improvements in some parameters of piglets from sows that received supplementation. Dietary supplementation of arginine for sows in the final third of gestation and/or lactation may alter the plasma levels of some hormones, which may reflect in greater development of the mammary gland tissue and, consequently, promote benefits on the performance of piglets. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the real impact of this amino acid supplementation on the physiology of the sows, in general, and the performance of suckling piglets.

Serum Biochemical Profile, Intestinal and Liver Histomorphometry of Captive Broad-Snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris) Fed With a Diet Enriched With Soybean (Glycine max).

The impact of plant-based diets on crocodilians is unclear. Serum profiles and histomorphometry provide valuable insights into their nutritional and physiological status. This study aims to elucidate the impact of three levels of soybean meal substitution combined chicken by-product minced on the growth and health of broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris). The research assesses the effects of diets supplemented with soybean meal on the blood biochemical profile, intestinal histomorphometry, and hepatic parameters of C. latirostris, providing essential information for understanding on the implications of dietary changes in this species. Forty-eight 6-month-old broad-snouted caimans were assigned to three dietary groups (0%, 25%, 40% soybean meal). Over a period of 90 days, data on growth, food consumption, serum biochemical analysis, intestinal and hepatic morphometry were recorded. The results showed that diets containing higher levels of soybean meal did not significantly affect growth, feed intake or serum profiles of total protein, albumin and cholesterol. However, changes in intestinal morphology were observed, with longer and wider villi in the animals feed with diets with soybean meal, indicating a gradual adaptation to new feeding diets. The presence of soybean meal reduced serum glucose and triglyceride profiles and hepatic lipid accumulation without affecting macronutrient digestion and absorption, considered beneficial for the caiman's health. This study provides valuable insights into the inclusion of soybean meal in the diet of Caiman latirostris and its effects on the intestines, liver, and physiology. It also highlights the importance of considering nutritional management as a key tool in improving the well-being and health of crocodilians in captivity.

Effects of higher dietary acid load: a narrative review with special emphasis in children.

Metabolic effects of high diet acid load (DAL) have been studied for years in adults, although only recently in children. Contemporary diets, especially those of Western societies, owe their acidogenic effect to high animal-origin protein content and low contribution of base-forming elements, such as fruits and vegetables. This imbalance, where dietary acid precursors exceed the body's buffering capacity, results in an acid-retaining state known by terms such as "eubicarbonatemic metabolic acidosis," "low-grade metabolic acidosis," "subclinical acidosis," or "acid stress". Its consequences have been linked to chronic systemic inflammation, contributing to various noncommunicable diseases traditionally considered more common in adulthood, but now have been recognized to originate at much earlier ages. In children, effects of high DAL are not limited to growth impairment caused by alterations of bone and muscle metabolism, but also represent a risk factor for conditions such as obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, urolithiasis, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The possibility that high DAL may be a cause of chronic acid-retaining states in children with growth impairment should alert pediatricians and pediatric nephrologists, since its causes have been attributed traditionally to inborn errors of metabolism and renal pathologies such as CKD and renal tubular acidosis. The interplay between DAL, overall diet quality, and its cascading effects on children's health necessitates comprehensive nutritional assessments and interventions. This narrative review explores the clinical relevance of diet-induced acid retention in children and highlights the potential for prevention through dietary modifications, particularly by increasing fruit and vegetable intake alongside appropriate protein consumption.

Enriched Diet With Orange Essential Oil Citrus sinensis for Tambaqui Colossoma macropomum Promotes Growth Performance and Resistance Against Aeromonas hydrophila.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck essential oil on the growth, immune system, and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Colossoma macropomum fingerlings. The experiment was conducted with five treatments (control diet, Tween80 diet, and diets supplemented with 200, 400, and 800 mg L-1 of C. sinensis essential oil) with four replicates. At the end of the experimental period, growth parameters were measured, and blood samples were collected for thrombogram, leukogram, and phagocytic activity analysis. A bacterial challenge with A. hydrophila was conducted for 96 h. C. macropomum fingerlings that were fed with 400 and 800 mg L-1 of C. sinensis essential oil had the highest growth parameters, with final weights of 533.18 ± 2.03 mg and 531.91 ± 2.67 mg, respectively, and an increase in the number of thrombocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils, as well as higher phagocytosis rates compared to the control group. Regarding the challenge, fish in the 400 and 800 mg L-1 treatments also exhibited the lowest cumulative mortality rate (26.66% ± 3.33%). Therefore, supplementation with C. sinensis essential oil promotes growth, improves health, and enhances resistance to A. hydrophila in C. macropomum fingerlings.

From Local Farms to Supermarket Foods: The Story of the Homogenization of the Argentine Diet Told by the Isotope Ratios of Modern Teeth.

OBJECTIVES: Nutritional changes over the last century, driven by globalization, hypermarketization, and malnutrition, are global in scale. Large countries in the Global South might be resilient to dietary homogenization due to their natural diversity of regions and ecosystems, which might have prevented the adoption of supermarket diets. Argentina has a wide array of ecosystems and historically different subsistence diets dependent on regional characteristics. We analyzed the spatiotemporal variation of stable isotope values in Argentina using modern teeth to test for regional dietary patterns and its consistence over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected teeth from voluntary donors born between 1940 and 2010, from 72 locations across Argentina. A total of 119 teeth were analyzed for the markers δ 13Cdentine, δ 13Cenamel, δ 15N, and δ 34S. A reconstruction of isotopic niches was performed to estimate dietary patterns across different regions and time periods. RESULTS: This study is the first to analyze changes in modern dietary patterns in Argentina using isotopic data measured in contemporary teeth. We showed latitudinal, longitudinal, and temporal differences in isotopic values, reflecting the variation in available resources within the country. Changes in the diet were observed over time, including declining δ 15N values, a reduction in δ 34S range, and a trend toward homogenization of δ 13Cenamel values. Conversely, δ 13Cdentine values remained constant over time, maintaining latitudinal patterns and regional differences across regions. DISCUSSION: This study increases our understanding of modern population dietary patterns both spatially and over the last 70 years. Our findings suggest that the Argentine population has shifted toward a supermarket diet in recent years.

Association Between Avocado Consumption and Diabetes in Mexican Adults: Results From the 2012, 2016, and 2018 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Surveys.

BACKGROUND: Avocado contains numerous vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that can contribute to reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. However, limited studies have examined the association between avocados and diabetes risk. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association between avocado consumption and diabetes by sex in Mexican adults. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Participants included a subsample of adults (aged 20 years and older) from the 2012, 2016, and 2018 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey. Avocado consumption was assessed using a 7-day, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and participants were classified as avocado consumers (consuming any amount of avocado) or nonconsumers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were considered to have diabetes if they answered "yes" to "Has a doctor ever told that you have diabetes or high blood sugar?" STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: This analysis assessed the association between avocado intake and diabetes using multivariate logistic models by sex and adjusted for relevant covariates. RESULTS: Of 28 239 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012, 2016, and 2018 participants, 25 640 met the criteria (ie, have diabetes outcome and plausible energy and avocado intakes) for this study. More than half of the participants were women, and approximately 45% were avocado consumers, with an average (SE) avocado consumption of 34.7 (0.9) among men and 29.8 (0.8) g/day among women. Avocado consumers had lower odds of diabetes in both unadjusted (odds ratio [OR] 0.762, 95% CI 0.639 to 0.907) and adjusted (OR 0.792, 95% CI 0.632 to 0.993) models among women but not men (OR 1.192, 95% CI: 0.907 to 1.566 and OR 0.914, 95% CI 0.675 to 1.239 for unadjusted and adjusted models, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Avocado consumption was associated with a lower risk of diabetes, which remained significant even when adjusted for relevant covariates. However, this finding was observed in only women, not men, underscoring the importance of personalized nutrition in diabetes care and prevention.

The presence of experienced individuals enhance the behavior and survival of reintroduced woolly monkeys in Colombia.

Primate populations are under threat due to human activities, like illegal trafficking, requiring conservation efforts such as reintroduction programs. However, these initiatives often encounter challenges, such as aspects of individual behavior related to movement and foraging. The presence of experienced conspecifics has been suggested to improve the success of these programs. This study focuses on woolly monkeys and examines how the presence of experienced conspecifics influences the performance of reintroduced individuals. Focal animal sampling was used to collect data on proximity, diet composition, home range, and use of vertical strata of three groups of reintroduced woolly monkeys. Data was analyzed for the first 2 and 6 months after release of individuals. The results reveal that the involvement of experienced conspecifics speeds up the process of adaptation, particularly in terms of diet diversity and spatial utilization; however, differences in individual responses were also prevalent. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating individuals with prior wild experience into reintroduction groups for improving the likelihood of success. Additionally, the study underscores the role of social learning in captive management practices, aiding in post-release behavioral adaptation and survival. This research offers valuable insights for primate conservation, emphasizing the significance of considering the presence of experienced individuals and possible social learning processes in the planning and execution of effective reintroduction efforts.

Association Between the Nutritional Quality of Food Purchases and Household Food at Home Expenditures in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Poor-quality diets are a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases. Few studies in Mexico have tested whether higher expenditures are needed to purchase high-quality food. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess how dietary quality of food purchases was associated with household food at home expenditures. DESIGN: This study was a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the National Household Income and Expenditure Survey (EncuestaNacional de Ingresos y Gastos de los Hogares [ENIGH] 2018). PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: The study included 74 469 households with information on food and beverage purchases in Mexico in 2018. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quarterly household food at home expenditures by adult equivalent (AE) for all food groups that were scored with the Global Dietary Quality Score (GDQS) for food purchases expressed in dollars/quarterly/AE. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Adjusted generalized linear models were used to evaluate the association between GDQS for food purchases (expressed in tertiles: low, mid, and high) and quarterly food expenditures. The analyses were performed at the national level by place of residence and income quintile. RESULTS: At the national level, the difference in food expenditures between the high- and the low-GDQS groups was +$13.85/AE. By place of residence, the difference between the high- and the low-GDQS groups was +$17.31/AE in urban and +$5.12/AE in rural areas. For income quintile 1 (lowest), there was a statistical difference of -$4.79/AE and +$43.25 for quintile 5 (highest). CONCLUSIONS: Quality of food purchases can be associated with higher or lower expenditures depending on the specific food purchased. High GDQS is associated with lower expenditures among the lowest-income households as they purchase less expensive options compared with high-income households.

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors according to Life's Essential 8 in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis including 1 526 173 participants from 42 countries.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular health is a crucial aspect of overall health. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the Life's Essential 8 domains. METHODS: PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were systematically searched until 24 February 2023. Studies had to meet the following criteria: (1) observational studies, (2) studies reporting proportion of selected risk factors, (3) studies involving children or adolescents, (4) studies that collected data during the COVID-19 pandemic and (5) studies with representative samples. The outcomes included were diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep health, obesity, dyslipidaemia, diabetes and elevated blood pressure. RESULTS: Sixty-two studies with 1 526 173 participants from 42 countries were included. Of these, 41 studies were used in the meta-analyses. The overall pooled prevalence of risk factors in the behavioural domain was as follows: poor quality diet 26.69% (95% CI 0.00%-85.64%), inadequate physical activity 70.81% (95% CI 64.41%-76.83%), nicotine exposure 9.24% (95% CI 5.53%-13.77%) and sleep disorders 33.49% (95% CI 25.24%-42.28%). The overall pooled prevalence of risk factors in the health domain was as follows: obesity 16.21% (95% CI 12.71%-20.04%), dyslipidaemia 1.87% (95% CI 1.73%-2.01%), diabetes 1.17% (95% CI 0.83%-1.58%) and elevated blood pressure 11.87% (95% CI 0.26%-36.50%). CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the need for prevention strategies to maintain better cardiovascular health from an early age, particularly by increasing physical activity levels, sleep time and promoting the consumption of more fruits and vegetables.

Relationship between blood DNA methylation, diet quality indices and metabolic health: Data from Obekit study.

Epigenetic mechanisms, which can be modulated by dietary factors, have been proposed as a possible factor in understanding interindividual differences in disease susceptibility. We aimed to determine the relationships between DNA methylation (DNAm), diet quality, and metabolic health in Spanish individuals. This is a transversal study encompassing 337 male and female participants in the Obekit study. Diet quality was assessed using a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and seven previously established scores: overall, healthy and unhealthy Plant-Based Diet Index (PDI, hPDI and uPDI, respectively), dietary diversity score (DDS), unprocessed/minimally processed foods (MPF) and ultra-processed foods (UPF) consumption and Mediterranean diet (MD) score. DNAm was analyzed in white blood cells using the Infinium MethylationEPIC v1.0 BeadChip kit. After filtering by a variance >0.36, we have worked with 5,261 CpG sites. We found four false discovery rate (FDR)-significant correlations between nutrients and CpGs sites: cg00167275 (GLUD1) correlated with alcohol, cg05218090 with folic acid, cg16682935 (PAPSS2) with selenium, and cg09821790 (SLC7A6) with fish food. One differentially methylated region (DMR) located at zinc finger protein gene 57 (ZFP57) was closely related to obesity and specific nutrients, food groups, and diet quality indices. The regression models of diet quality based on DNAm demonstrated that the most predictive values were when UPF and hPDI were considered. Also, UPF and hPDI were the best indices for predicting the main cardiometabolic risk factors. Our finding suggests that specific nutrients and diet quality indices may influence the degree of DNAm and putatively, the metabolic health in Spanish individuals.

Water fluxes and nutrient absorption along the midgut of three hemipterans, Mahanarva fimbriolata, Dysdercus peruvianus, and Rhodnius prolixus.

Hemiptera Order comprises insect species adapted to different diets regarding water and nutrient content and availability, thus suggesting different combinations of proteins to ensure their absorption. To find out whether hemipterans use the same or distinct set of proteins and whether these differences are related to the phylogeny or the diet, RNAseq analyses were conducted in gut sections of three hemipterans, M. fimbriolata, D. peruvianus, and R. prolixus, with remarkable distinct diet. Since only a few of the selected proteins were functionally characterized, the coded putative proteins were manually curated by bioinformatics to infer their physiological function. The results suggest a relationship between gene expression patterns and water and nutrient dietary content and availability. In contrast, putative gene expansions and deletions are related to phylogeny, corresponding to evolutionary adaptations of ancestral forms to feed on xylem, cotton seeds, and blood, resulting in more resemblances between D. peruvianus and R. prolixus than M. fimbriolata. M. fimbriolata absorbs water through aquaporins Drip and Prip in the filtration chamber by passive diffusion, with a higher contribution of water-selective Drip. D. peruvianus water absorption involves Drip and Prip, but Prip contribution appears to be higher, and they probably cooperate with water-ion cotransporters in the posterior midgut. R. prolixus absorbs water in the anterior midgut involving a sodium transporter and a putative water-urea Prip. Sugars, amino acids, and lipids might be absorbed along the midgut in the three species, with a higher contribution of the posterior midgut for amino acid and lipid absorption in M. fimbriolata and D. peruvianus and the middle midgut in R. prolixus.

Maternal schooling and child's age interaction and its association with ultra-processed food consumption in Brazilian children <5 years of age: Results from the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019).

BACKGROUND: The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has increased worldwide, including among children. Maternal schooling has been associated with children's UPF consumption. The present study examined the interaction between maternal schooling and child age in the association with UPF consumption in Brazilian children <5 years. METHODS: The Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019) is a household-based population survey of 14,558 children <5 years residing in 123 Brazilian municipalities. A structured questionnaire was used to quantify the consumption of nine groups of UPF, according to the NOVA classification, on the day before the interview. The mean, standard deviation and 95% CI for UPF consumption are presented. A multiple Poisson regression model was used, including an interaction between maternal schooling and child age, to estimate the predicted consumption of UPF. RESULTS: The prevalence of consumption of at least one UPF group was 81% in Brazilian children <5 years, with the most consumed UPFs being sweet or savoury biscuits/cookies (51.0%), sweetened beverages (37.5%), baby cereals (29.4%) and yogurt (28.1%). Children 6-11 months of age had a lower mean consumption of UPF when maternal schooling was >12 years (0.73 [95% CI: 0.48-0.98]) compared to those whose mothers had ≤7 years (1.55 [95% CI: 1.18-1.92]) and 8-11 years of schooling (1.40 [95% CI: 1.19-1.61]). The interaction model between maternal schooling and child age (p < 0.001) indicated that children of mothers with higher schooling had significantly lower consumption of UPF up to 8 months of age. However, no significant differences in consumption were observed thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: The child age modifies the association of maternal schooling on UPF consumption, that is, UPF consumption was lower for children up to 8 months when their mothers had higher schooling, whereas no significant results were found for older infants.

Diet and predation risk affect tissue and excretion nutrients of Trinidadian guppies: a field survey.

Consumers vary in their excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus, altering nutrient cycles and ecosystem function. Traditional mass balance models that focus on dietary and tissue nutrients have poorly explained such variation in excretion. Here, we contrast diet and tissue nutrient models for nutrient excretion with predation risk, an often overlooked factor, using the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata) as our model system. We surveyed guppies at 12 sites spread across two streams with parallel gradients in food quality and predation risk. At each site, we assessed guppy diet, tissue nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) content, and N and P excretion. Predation risk best explained guppy excretion, especially P: guppies excreted less in sites with a dominant predator, while traditional models for excretion rate based on diet quality and tissue nutrients failed to explain it. Guppy tissue N (but not P) most closely correlated with guppy diet quality, showing evidence for flexible homeostasis. Our work extends previous laboratory studies' results to natural streams and shows that predation risk alters feeding behavior and physiology, driving substantial variation in guppy nutrient, particularly P, excretion rates. We suggest that predation risk is an important factor determining nutrient excretion variation, warranting further attention. Our results also show that tissue nutrients and excretion nutrients are decoupled.

Heterogeneity in the consumption of fresh and ultra-processed foods by the Brazilian population ≥10 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the heterogeneity in the consumption of fresh or minimally processed foods (FMPF) and ultra-processed foods (UPF) in the Brazilian population ≥10 years of age. METHODS: Cross-sectional study that used data from the food consumption and resident module from the 2017-2018 edition of the Family Budget Survey. Variables relating to sex, region of residence, household status and per capita family income in minimum wages were used. The outcomes were dietary participation in percentage of FMPF and UPF. Heterogeneity was assessed using random effects produced by linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: Thirty-two random effects were obtained for the consumption of FMPF and 34 for UPF. Living in the urban area of the South and Southeast regions, as well as having a higher income were driving factors in the consumption of UPF and reducing the consumption of FMPF. Living in a rural area and having low income were mainly reducing factors in the consumption of UPF and driving factors in the consumption of FMPF. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of UPF and FMPF was determined by the set of factors that represented easy access to these foods, whether geographic or economic such as income.

Starch to protein ratio and food moisture content influence water balance and urine supersaturation in cats.

Two starch to protein ratios (high starch [HS], 25% starch and 36% protein; high protein [HP], 15% starch and 53% protein on DM basis) and two moisture contents (5%, dry kibbles; 80%, wet food) were compared in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement totaling 4 diets. Each diet was evaluated in 9 cats, with 8 d of total collection of urine and feces. Results were subjected to an analysis of variance of the effects of starch to protein ratio, moisture content and their interactions (P<0.05). Urine density was lower and volume was higher in cats fed wet foods (P<0.01). Calcium (Ca) urine concentration was higher for dry and HP diets (P<0.05). The oxalate urine concentration was 60% higher for cats fed both HS formulations (dry and wet; P<0.05). The relative supersaturation (RSS) of urine for calcium oxalate was higher for dry foods and HS formulations (P<0.01), and for struvite, it was lower for both wet foods, and among the dry diets, it was lower for the HS than for the HP formulation (P<0.01). Foods with a high protein-to-starch ratio reduced urine oxalate and RSS for calcium oxalate in wet and dry diets, and wet foods reduced RSS for calcium oxalate and struvite.