Few weight loss studies have assessed diet quality. In those that have, improvements have been minimal and recommended calculation methods have not been used. This secondary analysis of a parallel group randomized trial assessed whether self-monitoring with feedback (SM+FB) versus self-monitoring alone (SM) improved diet quality. Adults with overweight/obesity (Randomized: SM n=251, SM+FB n=251; Analyzed SM n=170, SM+FB n=186) self-monitored diet, physical activity, and weight via Fitbit and a digital scale. Real-time, personalized feedback, delivered via a study-specific app up to 3 times daily, was based on reported energy, fat, and added sugar intake. Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) scores were calculated from 24-hour recalls. Higher scores represent better diet quality. Data were collected from August 2018 to March 2021 and analyzed in spring 2022. The sample was mostly female (78.9%) and white (85.4%). At baseline, HEI-2015 total scores and bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals were similar by treatment group (SM+FB: 63.11 [60.41, 65.24]; SM: 61.02 [58.72, 62.81]) with similar minimal improvement observed at 6 months (SM+FB: 65.42 [63.30, 67.20]; SM: 63.19 [61.22, 64.97]) and 12 months (SM+FB: 63.94 [61.40, 66.29]; SM: 63.56 [60.81, 65.42]). Among those who lost ≥5% of baseline weight, HEI-2015 scores improved (baseline: 62.00 [58.94, 64.12]; 6 months: 68.02 [65.41, 71.23]; 12 months: 65.93 [63.40, 68.61]). There was no effect of the intervention on weight loss or association with diet quality change. However, clinically meaningful weight loss was related to diet quality improvement. Feedback may need to incorporate more targeted nutritional content to improve diet quality. This study is registered at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03367936

We previously reported that the addition of a specified mulberry fruit extract (MFE) to rice consistently reduces post-prandial glycemic (PPG) and insulinemic (PPI) responses. This research tested whether this effect generalizes to a broad range of rice types, reflecting the wide variation in rice characteristics known to influence glycemic responses. In a randomized, balanced, partial factorial crossover design, Sona Masoori (SM), Bora Saul (BS), Gobindobogh (Gb), and Banskati (Bn) rices were tested with and without 0.37 g MFE. Healthy, normal weight Indian adults (N = 120) each consumed 4 of the 8 possible boiled rice meals, all containing ∼50 g available carbohydrate. The primary outcome was the effect of MFE on PPG, expressed as the percentage change in the positive, incremental area under the curve over 2 hours. The mean effect of MFE on PPG for all rice types combined was -11.4% (p<0.003). The reduction in PPG was in a qualitatively similar range for all rice types (-9.8 to -15.1%), and this was statistically significant for Bn. MFE also reduced the corresponding PPI response to all rice types combined by a mean of 10.1% (p<0.001; range -6.1 to -13.4%), and the reduction in PPI was statistically significant for SM, Gb and BS. In conclusion, addition of 0.37 g MFE modestly reduced PPG and PPI responses to rices in general, and the effects were statistically significant for specific rice types.

Individuals with celiac disease (CeD) often experience gastrointestinal symptoms despite adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD). While we recently showed that a diet low in fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) successfully provided symptom relief in GFD-treated CeD patients, there have been concerns that the low FODMAP diet (LFD) could adversely affect the gut microbiota. Our main objective was therefore to investigate whether the LFD affects the faecal microbiota and related variables of gut health. In a randomized controlled trial GFD-treated CeD adults, having persistent gastrointestinal symptoms, were randomized to either consume a combined LFD and GFD (n = 39) for four weeks or continue with GFD (controls, n = 36). Compared to the control group, the LFD group displayed greater changes in the overall faecal microbiota profile (16S rRNA gene sequencing) from baseline to follow-up (within-subject β-diversity, P < 0.001), characterized by lower and higher follow-up abundances (%) of genus Anaerostipes (Pgroup < 0.001) and class Erysipelotrichia (P group = 0.02), respectively. Compared to the control group, the LFD led to lower follow-up concentrations of faecal propionic and valeric acid (GC-FID) in participants with high concentrations at baseline (P interaction ≤ 0.009). No differences were found in faecal bacterial α-diversity (P group ≥ 0.20) or in faecal neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (ELISA), a biomarker of gut integrity and inflammation (P group = 0.74), between the groups at follow-up. The modest effects of the LFD on the gut microbiota and related variables in the CeD patients of the present study are encouraging given the beneficial effects of the LFD strategy to treat functional GI symptoms. (Registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03678935).

Diarrhoea is common in enterally-fed patients and can impact their nutritional and overall outcomes. This meta-analysis evaluates the potential benefits of fibre-supplemented (FS) feeds on incidence of diarrhoea and stool frequency in non-critically ill tube-fed adults. Databases including PubMed, Embase and CINAHL with full text were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with adults on exclusive tube feeding, published until August 2022. The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool was used for quality assessment. Studies with published results on incidence of diarrhoea and stool frequency were analysed using RevMan 5. Thirteen RCTs with 847 non-critically ill patients between 20 and 90 years old without diarrhoea at the onset of enteral feeding were included. Study duration ranged from 3 to 35 days. Nine papers investigated the incidence of diarrhoea where intervention group was given FS and control was given non-fibre supplemented (NFS) enteral feeds. Those receiving FS feeds were significantly less likely to experience diarrhoea as compared to those using NFS feeds (OR 0.44; 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.95; p=0.04; I2=71%). Combined analysis from five out of 13 RCTs showed no differences in stool frequency in those receiving NFS feeds (SMD 0.32; 95% CI: -0.53 to 1.16; p=0.47; I2 = 90%). Results should be interpreted with caution due to considerable heterogeneity between study population, assessment tool for diarrhoea, potential conflict of interest, and short duration of studies. This meta-analysis shows that FS feeds can reduce the incidence of diarrhoea in non-critically ill adults, however, the effects of stool frequency remain debatable.

Selenium (Se) deficiency causes impaired growth of fish skeletal muscle due to the retarded hypertrophy of muscle fibers. However, the inner mechanisms remain unclear. According to our previous researches, we infer this phenomenon is associated with Se deficiency-induced high concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which could suppress the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) pathway-mediated protein synthesis by inhibiting protein kinase B (Akt), an upstream protein of TORC1. To test this hypothesis, juvenile zebrafish (45 days post fertilization) were fed a basal Se-adequate diet or a basal Se-deficient diet, or them supplemented with an antioxidant (DL-α-tocopherol acetate, designed as VE) or a TOR activator (MHY1485) for 30 days. Zebrafish fed Se-deficient diets exhibited a clear Se-deficient status in skeletal muscle, which was not influenced by dietary VE and MHY1485. Se deficiency significantly elevated ROS concentrations, inhibited Akt activity and TORC1 pathway, suppressed protein synthesis in skeletal muscle, and impaired hypertrophy of skeletal muscle fibers. However, these negative effects of Se deficiency were partly (except that on ROS concentration) alleviated by dietary MHY1485 and completely alleviated by dietary VE. These data strongly support our speculation that Se deficiency-induced high concentration of ROS exerts a clear inhibiting effect on TORC1 pathway-mediated protein synthesis by regulating Akt activity, thereby restricting the hypertrophy of skeletal muscle fibers in fish. Our findings provide a mechanistic explanation for Se deficiency-caused retardation of fish skeletal muscle growth, contributing to a better understanding of the nutritional necessity and regulatory mechanisms of Se in fish muscle physiology.

Optimal nutrition during pregnancy is vital for both maternal and child health. Our objective was to explore if prenatal diet is associated with children’s height and body fat. Nutrient intake was assessed through a food-frequency questionnaire from 808 pregnant women and summarized to a nutrition index, “My Nutrition Index” (MNI). The association with children’s height and body fat (bioimpedance) was assessed with linear regression models. Secondary analysis was performed with BMI, trunk fat and skinfolds. Overall, higher MNI score was associated with greater height (β=0.47; (95% CI: 0.00, 0.94), among both sexes. Among boys, higher MNI was associated with 0.15 higher BMI z-scores, 0.12 body fat z-scores, 0.11 trunk fat z-scores, and larger triceps, and triceps + subscapular skinfolds (β=0.05 and β=0.06; on the log2 scale) (p-value<0.05). Among girls, the opposite associations were found with 0.12 lower trunk fat z-scores, and smaller subscapular and suprailiac skinfolds (β= -0.07 and β= -0.10; on the log2 scale) (p-value<0.05). For skinfold measures this would represent a ±1.0 millimeters difference. Unexpectedly, a prenatal diet in line with recommended nutrient intake was associated with higher measures of body fat for boys and opposite to girls at a pre-pubertal stage of development.

The findings of studies investigating the relationship between coffee consumption and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have been inconsistent, and few researchers considered the type of coffee. We examined the association between coffee consumption and high CRP levels, using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2016–2018, with 9,337 adults aged 19–64 years. A 24-hour diet recall was used to assess diet, including the amount and type of coffee consumed. We classified coffee into black coffee and coffee with sugar and/or cream (nondrinkers, or ≤1, 2–3, >3 cups/day), and used multivariable logistic regression models with high CRP levels (≥2.2 mg/L). After the adjustment for potential confounders, 2–3 cups/day of coffee consumption were inversely associated with high CRP levels, compared with no consumption (odds ratio[OR]=0.83, 95% CI: 0.69–0.99). By type of coffee, the inverse association was stronger in subjects consuming black coffee (OR=0.61, 95% CI: 0.45–0.84), while the inverse association was much weaker in those consuming coffee with sugar and/or cream (OR=0.92, 95% CI: 0.74–1.14). By gender, the inverse association of 2–3 cups of black coffee was found both in men (OR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.41–1.03) and women (OR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.36–0.83). More than 3 cups/day of heavy coffee consumption were not significantly associated with high CRP levels. Our findings indicate that moderate black coffee consumption of 2–3 cups/day is inversely associated with high CRP levels in Korean adults. Further prospective studies are warranted to provide definitive evidence.