The sulphur amino acids methionine (Met) and cysteine (Cys) and their derivative taurine (Tau) are metabolically active molecules with interlinked roles in nutritional requirements. Deficiencies in these nutrients are linked to poor growth and health; however, the impacts of these deficiencies on organ structure and function are largely unknown. This study examined the effects of dietary Met, Cys and Tau fed at different levels on yellowtail kingfish (YTK) liver histology and surface colour, plasma biochemistry and posterior intestine histology. Samples were collected from two dose–response feeding trials that quantified (1) the Tau requirement and sparing effect of Met by feeding YTK diets containing one of seven levels of Tau at one of two levels of Met and (2) the Met requirement and sparing effect of Cys by feeding YTK diets containing one of five levels of Met at one of two levels of Cys. YTK fed inadequate levels of dietary Met, Cys and Tau exhibited thicker bile ducts, less red livers, more intestinal acidic goblet cell mucus and supranuclear vacuoles and less posterior intestinal absorptive surface area. Further, thicker bile ducts correlated with less red livers (a*, R), whereas increased hepatic fat correlated with a liver yellowing (b*). Our results indicate a shift towards histological properties and functions indicative of improved intrahepatic biliary condition, posterior intestinal nutrient absorption and homoeostasis of YTK fed adequate amounts of Met, Cys and Tau. These findings may assist in formulating aquafeed for optimised gastrointestinal and liver functions and maintaining good health in YTK.

The aim of this study was to explore the status of thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb) in three areas with differing water iodine concentrations; and to discuss the relationships between these two thyroid antibodies and thyroid diseases in the three areas. We investigated 2503 adults from three areas. Urinary iodine concentrations, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), TPOAb, TGAb and thyroid volume (TV) were measured, and thyroid ultrasonography was performed. The positivity rates of TGAb(+), TPOAb(+) and TGAb(+) and TPOAb(+) or TGAb(+) were significantly higher in iodine fortification (IF) areas than iodine adequate (IA) areas (all P < 0·05). In IF and iodine excess areas, the positivity rates of TPOAb(+), TGAb(+) and TPOAb(+) or TGAb(+) significantly increased with age (all P for trend < 0·05). The levels of TSH, TV and the prevalence of overt hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism and goitre were significantly elevated in the thyroid antibody-positive groups in the three areas, but the FT3 was diminished (all P < 0·010). Positivity for TPOAb and TGAb was associated with an increased risk of subclinical hypothyroidism in the three areas. In areas with different median water iodine, positivity for both TPOAb and TGAb was associated with elevated TSH values. Notably, with the increased levels of TPOAb, the frequency of abnormally elevated TSH increased dramatically in the three areas.

The relationship between vitamin B12 and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains controversial. To comprehensively evaluate the relationship between vitamin B12 and GDM, and to provide more information on GDM prevention, this study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis of vitamin B12 and GDM. As of September 22, 2021, 304 articles were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases, of which 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results presented there was no association between maternal vitamin B12 concentration during the first trimester with GDM, however, low vitamin B12 concentration in the second or third trimester of pregnancy was related to an increased risk of GDM. Compared with the non-GDM group, the vitamin B12 concentration in the GDM group was remarkably decreased (MD: –10·79; 95%CI: –21·37, –0·21), and vitamin B12 deficiency increased the risk for GDM (OR: 1·59; 95%CI: 1·10, 2·29). These effects were more significant among Asians. In addition, an increased ratio of high folate to low vitamin B12 in serum also increased the risk of GDM (OR: 1·87; 95% CI: 1·46, 2·41). These results suggest that more vitamin B12 may need to be provided during pregnancy.

Compromised nutritional status is associated with a poor prognosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. However, the impact of nutritional support in this group of patients is controversial. The present study systematically reviewed the effect of energy and or protein supplements or food fortification on anthropometry and muscle strength of COPD patients. We searched MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Scopus for all published randomised clinical trials without language restriction up to May 2021. Three reviewers performed study selection and data extraction independently. We judged the risk of bias by RoB 2 and the certainty of evidence by the GRADE approach. We included thirty-two randomised controlled trials and compiled thirty-one of them (1414 participants) in the random-effects model meta-analyses. Interventions were energy and/or protein oral nutritional supplements or food fortification added to the diet for at least one week. Pooled analysis revealed that nutritional interventions increased body weight (muscle circumference (MD) = 1·44 kg, 95 % CI 0·81, 2·08, I2 = 73 %), lean body mass (standardised mean difference (SMD) = 0·37; 95 % CI 0·15, 0·59, I2 = 46 %), midarm muscle circumference (MD = 0·29 mm2, 95 % CI 0·02, 0·57, I2 = 0 %), triceps skinfold (MD = 1·09 mm, 95 % CI 0·01, 2·16, I2 = 0 %) and handgrip strength (SMD = 0·39, 95 % CI 0·07, 0·71, I2 = 62 %) compared with control diets. Certainty of evidence ranged from very low to low, and most studies were judged with some concerns or at high risk of bias. This meta-analysis revealed, with limited evidence, that increased protein and/or energy intake positively impacts anthropometric measures and handgrip strength of COPD patients.

The transfer of one-carbon units between molecules in metabolic pathways is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis, but little is known about whether the circulating concentrations of metabolites involved in the one-carbon metabolism are affected by the prandial status. Epidemiological studies do not always consistently use fasting or non-fasting blood samples or may lack information on the prandial status of the study participants. Therefore, the main aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a light breakfast on serum concentrations of selected metabolites and B-vitamins related to the one-carbon metabolism; i.e. the methionine-homocysteine cycle, the folate cycle, the choline oxidation pathway and the transsulfuration pathway. Sixty-three healthy adults (thirty-six women) with BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 were included in the study. Blood was collected in the fasting state and 60 and 120 min after intake of a standardised breakfast consisting of white bread, margarine, white cheese, strawberry jam and orange juice (2218 kJ). The meal contained low amounts of choline, betaine, serine and vitamins B2, B3, B6, B9 and B12. Serum concentrations of total homocysteine, total cysteine, flavin mononucleotide, nicotinamide and pyridoxal 5’-phosphate were significantly decreased, and concentrations of choline, betaine, dimethylglycine, sarcosine, cystathionine and folate were significantly increased following breakfast intake (P < 0·05). Our findings demonstrate that the intake of a light breakfast with low nutrient content affected serum concentrations of several metabolites and B-vitamins related to the one-carbon metabolism.

This study aimed to describe diet quality of pregnant women and explore the association between maternal diet and the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA). A total of 3856 participants from a birth cohort in Beijing, China, were recruited between June 2018 and February 2019. Maternal diet in the first and second trimesters was assessed by the Chinese diet balance index for pregnancy (DBI-P), using data collected by the inconsecutive 2-d 24-h dietary recalls. Logistic regressions were performed to explore the independent effects of DBI-P components on LBW and SGA. The prevalence of LBW and SGA was 3·8% and 6·0%, respectively. Dietary intakes of the participants were imbalanced. The proportions of participants having insufficient intake of vegetables (87·3% and 86·6%), dairy product (95·9% and 96·7%) and aquatic foods (80·5% and 85·3%) were high in both trimesters. The insufficiency of fruit intake was more severe in the second (85·2%) than that in the first trimester (22·5%) (P < 0·05). After adjusting for potential confounders, the intake of fruits and dairy in the second trimester was negatively associated with the risk of LBW (OR = 0·850, 95% CI: 0·723, 0·999) and SGA (OR = 0·885, 95% CI: 0·787, 0.996), respectively. Sufficient consumption of fruits and dairy products in pregnancy may be suggested in order to prevent LBW and SGA.

This study summarised the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and dental caries in children and adolescents through a systematic review and meta-analysis. The search of PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science and Scopus databases using the ‘PECOS’ strategy retrieved 1462 eligible articles. Only studies with humans aged ≤ 19 years; that assessed groups of any UPF or specific UPF items; that measured dental caries as the decayed, filled and missing surfaces or teeth indexes, based on the WHO criteria; cross-sectional, case–control, cohort and all types of interventions that examined the adjusted association between UPF consumption and dental caries were included. All studies received qualitative evaluation. Meta-analysis using random-effects models combined multivariable-adjusted OR for case–control and cross-sectional studies and risk ratio (RR) for longitudinal studies of the highest v. lowest category of UPF consumption. Forty-two studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and twenty-seven in the meta-analysis. The pooled RR was 1·71 (95 % CI 1·31, 2·24), and the pooled OR was 1·55 (95 % CI 1·37, 1·75). The highest OR was found among participants who had dental caries prevalence >70 % (OR = 3·67, 95 % CI 2·16, 6·23). Better evidence quality was found among cohort studies that evaluated children <6 years old. The findings suggest that higher UPF consumption is associated with greater dental caries in children and adolescents. Public health efforts to reduce UPF consumption are needed to improve the oral health of children and adolescents.

Depression is a chronic and complex condition experienced by over 300 million people worldwide. While research on the impact of nutrition on chronic physical illness is well documented, there is growing interest in the role of dietary patterns for those experiencing symptoms of depression. This study aims to examine the association of diet quality (Dietary Questionnaire for Epidemiological Studies version 2) and depressive symptoms (Centre for Epidemiological Studies for Depression short form) of young Australian women over 6 years at two time points, 2003 (n 9081, Mean age = 27·6) and 2009 (n 8199, Mean age = 33·7) using secondary data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. A linear mixed-effects model found a small and significant inverse association of diet quality on depressive symptoms (β = −0·03, 95 % CI (−0·04, −0·02)) after adjusting for covarying factors such as BMI, social functioning, alcohol and smoking status. These findings suggest that the continuation of a healthy dietary pattern may be protective of depressive symptoms. Caution should be applied in interpreting these findings due to the small effect sizes. More longitudinal studies are needed to assess temporal relationships between dietary quality and depression.

Low intake or tissue concentrations of the n-6 PUFA, especially to the major n-6 PUFA linoleic acid (LA), and low exercise cardiac power (ECP) are both associated with CVD risk. However, associations of the n-6 PUFA with ECP are unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore cross-sectional associations of the serum total n-6 PUFA, LA, arachidonic acid (AA), γ-linolenic acid (GLA) and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) concentrations with ECP and its components. In total, 1685 men aged 42–60 years from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study and free of CVD were included. ANCOVA was used to examine the mean values of ECP (maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)/maximal systolic blood pressure (SBP)) and its components in quartiles of the serum total and individual n-6 PUFA concentrations. After multivariable adjustments, higher serum total n-6 PUFA concentration was associated with higher ECP and VO2max (for ECP, the extreme-quartile difference was 0·77 ml/mmHg (95 % CI 0·38, 1·16, P for trend across quartiles < 0·001) and for VO2max 157 ml/min (95 % CI 85, 230, P for trend < 0·001), but not with maximal SBP. Similar associations were observed with serum LA concentration. Higher serum AA concentration was associated with higher ECP but not with VO2max or maximal SBP. The minor serum n-6 PUFA GLA and DGLA were associated with higher maximal SBP during exercise test and DGLA also with higher VO2max but neither with ECP. In conclusion, especially LA concentration was associated with higher ECP. This may provide one mechanism for the cardioprotective properties of, especially, LA.

This study was conducted to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Sustainable and Healthy Eating (SHE) Behaviors Scale. The original scale included eight factors and thirty-four items related to the SHE behaviors of adults. The research was carried out in three stages with a total of 586 participants aged 19 to 50 years. The Cronbach alpha coefficient was used to evaluate internal consistency reliability and the test–retest method was applied. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to determine the factor structure. The model obtained with EFA was evaluated with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The Cronbachαcoefficient of the scale was found to be excellent at 0·912, and the intra-class correlation coefficient was found to be good at 0·832 using the test–retest method. Considering the suitability of the data for factor analysis, the Kaiser–Meier–Olkin coefficient was 0·859, and the significance level of the Bartlett test of sphericity was less than 0·05 (χ2=3·803,25; P < 0·05). As a result of EFA, the items of the scale were found to be distributed in seven factor dimensions. The factor loadings of the items were between 0·516 and 0·890, and the factors explained 67 % of the variance. Considering the fit indices obtained as a result of the analysis of this model with CFA, it was seen that the model had an acceptable fit (χ2/sd = 2·593, comparative fit index = 0·915, Tucker–Lewis index=0·902, standardised root mean square error = 0·0754 and root mean square error of approximation = 0·067). In conclusion, the Turkish version of the SHE Behaviors Scale has credible reliability and construct validity to assess the sustainable and healthy eating behaviours of the Turkish adult population.

Dietary and lifestyle evolutionary discordance is hypothesised to play a role in the aetiology of CVD, including CHD and stroke. We aimed to investigate associations of a previously reported, total (dietary plus lifestyle) evolutionary-concordance (EC) pattern score with incident CVD, CHD and stroke. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression to investigate associations of the EC score with CVD, CHD and stroke incidence among USA Black and White men and women ≥45 years old in the prospective REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study (2003–2017). The EC score comprised seven equally weighted components: a previously reported dietary EC score (using Block 98 FFQ data) and six lifestyle characteristics (alcohol intake, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, waist circumference, smoking history and social network size). A higher score indicates a more evolutionary-concordant dietary/lifestyle pattern. Of the 15 467 participants in the analytic cohort without a CVD diagnosis at baseline, 1563 were diagnosed with CVD (967 with CHD and 596 with stroke) during follow-up (median 11·0 years). Among participants in the highest relative to the lowest EC score quintile, the multivariable-adjusted hazards ratios and their 95 % CI for CVD, CHD and stroke were, respectively, 0·73 (0·62, 0·86; P trend < 0·001), 0·72 (0·59, 0·89; P trend < 0·001) and 0·76 (0·59, 0·98; P trend = 0·01). The results were similar by sex and race. Our findings support that a more evolutionary-concordant diet and lifestyle pattern may be associated with lower risk of CVD, CHD and stroke.

We examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of dietary factors with caries experience in a population sample of 487 children aged 6–9 years at baseline examinations of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study. Altogether, 406 of these children attended 2-year follow-up examinations. Food consumption and eating frequency were assessed using 4-day food records, diet quality using the Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) and eating behaviour using the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Caries experience was examined clinically. The cross-sectional associations of dietary factors with caries experience at baseline were analysed using linear regression and the longitudinal associations of dietary factors with a change in caries experience over follow-up using generalised mixed-effects regression adjusted for other risk factors. A higher consumption of high-fibre grain products (standardised regression coefficient β = −0·16, P = 0·003) and milk (β = −0·11, P = 0·025) and higher BSDS (β = −0·15, P = 0·007) were associated with lower caries experience, whereas a higher consumption of potatoes (β = 0·11, P = 0·048) and emotional overeating (β = 0·12, P = 0·025) were associated with higher caries experience. Higher snacking frequency (fixed coefficient β = 0·07, P = 0·033), desire to drink (β = 0·10, P = 0·046), slowness in eating (β = 0·12, P = 0·027) and food fussiness (β = 0·12, P = 0·018) were associated with higher caries experience, whereas enjoyment of food (β = −0·12, P = 0·034) and higher BSDS (β = −0·02, P = 0·051) were associated with lower caries experience.

The association between alcohol intake and the risk of glioma has been widely studied, but these results have yielded conflicting findings. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and updated meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the association between alcohol intake and the risk of glioma. A systematic literature search of relevant articles published in PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI and Wan fang databases up to December 2021 was conducted. Pooled estimated of relative risk (RR) and 95 % CI were calculated using fixed-effects models. A total of eight articles with three case–control studies involving 2706 glioma cases and 2 189 927 participants were included in this meta-analysis. A reduced risk of glioma was shown for the low–moderate alcohol drinking v. non-drinking (RR = 0·87; 95 % CI (0·78, 0·97); P = 0·014). In addition, there was no evidence of an increased risk of glioma in the heavy alcohol drinking compared with non-drinking (RR = 0·89; 95 % CI (0·67, 1·18); P = 0·404). The findings suggest an inverse association between low–moderate alcohol drinking and the risk of glioma, in the absence, however, of a dose–response relationship. More prospective studies are needed to provide further insight into the association between alcohol drinking and glioma risk.

The present study evaluated the association of food addiction (FA), the change of the BMI/age z-score and the consumption of ultra-processed foods in overweight students undergoing a 16-month, multicomponent intervention in the school environment. FA was investigated using the Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children, and the dietary assessment was estimated using the semi-quantitative FFQ in overweight 9–11-year-old students (BMI/age z-score ≥ 1) of both sexes at their baseline and after the intervention (n 120). Among the schoolchildren, 33·4 % had FA in at least one of the two assessments. The analysis of mixed-effects models to assess the effect of the intervention and the change of the BMI/age z-score between evaluations showed that the occurrence of FA influenced the maintenance of weight (time#FA, β = 0·30, 95 % CI 0·05, 0·54, P = 0·016). Weight loss was observed only in individuals who did not present FA (BMI/age z-score = −0·3). When evaluating the effect of the intervention and the dietary variables, we verified a reduction in the consumption of sugary milk-based drinks −71·13 kJ (–17 kcal), P = 0·04 only in non-FA students at the end of the study. FA has been identified as an underlying factor with therapeutic relevance, and an enhanced understanding of FA can open new paths for the prevention and management of obesity.

Accumulative evidence indicates that meal timing is associated with cardiometabolic risks by deteriorating circadian rhythms. However, evidence is unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relation between nightly fasting duration, meal timing and frequency and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Iranian adults. Eight hundred fifty adults were recruited in this study. Dietary data were collected by 24-h dietary recalls. Time-related eating patterns were determined as nightly fasting duration, occasions of eating, time and energy proportion of first and last meal and meal frequency on a day. The MetS was recognised on the basis of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. A binary logistic regression was applied to examine the relation between meal timing and MetS. A significant inverse relation between habitual nightly fasting duration with MetS (OR = 0·74, 95 % CI 0·55, 0·99, P = 0·04) and ‘increased TAG’ (OR = 0·73, 95 % CI 0·55, 0·98, P = 0·03) was found after confounder adjustment. Also, habitual first and last meal energy had no significant connection with MetS. However, the odds of ‘increased fasting blood glucose’ were lower in subjects who consumed ≥25% of habitual energy intake in the last meal (OR = 0·60, 95 % CI 0·42, 0·85, P = 0·005). Having longer nightly fasting duration may be useful for decreasing the risk of both MetS and ‘elevated TAG’. These findings introduce a new insight that time-related eating patterns, instead of nightly fasting duration alone, might be related to cardiometabolic risks in Iranian adults.

This secondary analysis examined the influence of changes in physical activity (PA), sedentary time and energy expenditure (EE) during dietary energy restriction on the rate of weight loss (WL) and 1-year follow-up weight change in women with overweight/obesity. Measurements of body weight and composition (air displacement plethysmography), RMR (indirect calorimetry), total daily EE (TDEE) and activity EE (AEE), minutes of PA and sedentary time (PA monitor) were taken at baseline, after 2 weeks, after ≥5 % WL or 12 weeks of continuous (25 % daily energy deficit) or intermittent (75 % daily energy deficit alternated with ad libitum day) energy restriction, and at 1-year post-WL. The rate of WL was calculated as total %WL/number of dieting weeks. Data from both groups were combined for analyses. Thirty-seven participants (aged 35 (sd 10) years; BMI = 29·1 (sd 2·3) kg/m2) completed the intervention (WL = –5·9 (sd 1·6) %) and 18 returned at 1-year post-WL (weight change=+4·5 (sd 5·2) %). Changes in sedentary time at 2 weeks were associated with the rate of WL during energy restriction (r = –0·38; P = 0·03). Changes in total (r = 0·54; P < 0·01), light (r = 0·43; P = 0·01) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (r = 0·55; P < 0·01), sedentary time (r = –0·52; P < 0·01), steps per d (r = 0·39; P = 0·02), TDEE (r = 0·46; P < 0·01) and AEE (r = 0·51; P < 0·01) during energy restriction were associated with the rate of WL. Changes in total (r = –0·50; P = 0·04) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (r = –0·61; P = 0·01) between post-WL and follow-up were associated with 1-year weight change (r = –0·51; P = 0·04). These findings highlight that PA and sedentary time could act as modifiable behavioural targets to promote better weight outcomes during dietary energy restriction and/or weight maintenance.

Infants become increasingly exposed to sweet-tasting foods in their first year of life. However, it is still unclear whether repeated exposure to sweet taste is linked to infants’ sweetness liking during this period. Making use of data from the OPALINE cohort, this study aimed to examine the link between sweetness exposure and sweetness liking during two important periods in early infant feeding: at the start of complementary feeding (3–6 months) and the transition to the family table (10–12 months). Infants’ sweetness exposure was assessed using 7-d food records which were completed by mothers every month (n 312), reporting daily consumption rates of formula/breast milk or complementary food and the type of formula milk and/or complementary foods for each feeding occasion. Infants’ sweetness liking was studied in the laboratory at 3, 6 and 12 months of age by assessing their response to a lactose–water solution and the amount drunk of this solution compared with plain water. Linear regressions and structural equation model assessed associations between exposure to and liking for sweetness at 6 and 12 months. Neither at 6 (n 182) nor at 12 months (n 197) was sweetness exposure associated with sweetness liking. While sweetness liking at 3 months was unrelated to liking at 6 months, the latter predicted sweetness liking at 12 months. These findings demonstrate no association between sweetness exposure at 3 to 12 months and liking at 6 and 12 months despite a sharp increase in sweetness exposure in that period. However, sweetness liking at 6 and 12 months was positively associated.