Timing of food intake is an emerging aspect of nutrition; however, there is a lack of research accurately assessing food timing in the context of the circadian system. The study aimed to investigate the relation between food timing relative to clock time and endogenous circadian timing with adiposity and further explore sex differences in these associations among 151 young adults aged 18–25 years. Participants wore wrist actigraphy and documented sleep and food schedules in real time for 7 consecutive days. Circadian timing was determined by dim-light melatonin onset (DLMO). The duration between last eating occasion and DLMO (last EO-DLMO) was used to calculate the circadian timing of food intake. Adiposity was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Of the 151 participants, 133 were included in the statistical analysis finally. The results demonstrated that associations of adiposity with food timing relative to circadian timing rather than clock time among young adults living in real-world settings. Sex-stratified analyses revealed that associations between last EO-DLMO and adiposity were significant in females but not males. For females, each hour increase in last EO-DLMO was associated with higher BMI by 0·51 kg/m2 (P = 0·01), higher percent body fat by 1·05 % (P = 0·007), higher fat mass by 0·99 kg (P = 0·01) and higher visceral fat area by 4·75 cm2 (P = 0·02), whereas non-significant associations were present among males. The findings highlight the importance of considering the timing of food intake relative to endogenous circadian timing instead of only as clock time.

Dietary Mn intake may have a beneficial effect in reducing cancer risk; however, its association with thyroid cancer (TC) risk remains inadequately understood. Additionally, Mn was associated with inflammation markers. Thus, we examined whether dietary Mn intake emerges a protective role against TC and whether this preventative effect has an interaction with IL1 receptor type 1 (IL1R1) rs3917225. The prospective study was designed at National Cancer Center in Korea between October 2007 and December 2020 including 17 754 participants. We identified TC cases by following participants until December 2020. Mn intake was collected using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQFFQ). Genotyping was performed to determine IL1R1 rs3917225. The hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated with a Cox proportional hazards model. We ascertained 108 incident TC cases throughout follow-up duration. Dietary Mn intake was found to be inversely associated with TC risk (HR (95 % CI)=0·64 (0·44, 0·95)). However, IL1R1 rs3917225 seemed to modify this association; the protective effect was limited to G-allele carriers (HR = 0·30 (0·11, 0·86), P interaction=0·028). A higher dietary Mn was suggested to be a protective factor against TC. Additionally, we drew a potential biological interaction between Mn intake and IL1R1 rs3917225 with a greater effect among individuals with a minor allele. This implies that when considering the cancer-preventive role of Mn, it is important to account for the influence of inflammatory gene participation.

Oxidative stress may be involved in the progression of hypothyroidism in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). Vitamin C is a well-known powerful antioxidant. To our knowledge, whether vitamin C intake relates to hypothyroidism in patients with HT remains unclear. In this cross-sectional study based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2012, we aimed to explore the relationship between total vitamin C intake and hypothyroidism in patients with HT, using multivariate logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline analyses. Our results showed a significant negative linear association between total vitamin C intake (log10-transformed data) and hypothyroidism in HT. Compared with those with the lowest quartile of total vitamin C intake (log10-transformed), participants with the highest quartile were at lower odds of having hypothyroidism (adjusted OR 0·40, 95 % CI: 0·18, 0·88, Ptrend = 0·027). This association was consistent in subgroups stratified by sex (Pfor interaction = 0·084) and age (≥ 60 years and < 60 years, Pfor interaction = 0·330). This study revealed that total vitamin C intake was inversely associated with hypothyroidism among individuals with HT, indicating that higher vitamin C intakes (4·57–1258·9 mg/d) may be associated with a lower likelihood of hypothyroidism among HT participants.

The Mediterranean-Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet is a dietary pattern designed to prevent cognitive decline. Dietary adherence is assessed with the MIND diet scoring system, which is currently based on the American diet and serving sizes. It is known that serving sizes and consumed food products differ between countries. Existing literature lacks reporting on food products included within the MIND diet and weight or volume equivalents corresponding to MIND diet servings, impeding accurate comparisons across studies. This study sought to overcome these limitations by evaluating MIND food products consumed in the Dutch context and developing a scoring system based on consumed quantities in weight or volume amounts rather than in standard serving amounts. The third objective was to modify an existing Dutch brief FFQ (Eetscore-FFQ) to evaluate adherence to the MIND diet. We translated nine of the fifteen MIND food groups directly to grams and volumes using the United States Department of Agriculture measurement conversion table. For the remaining food groups, we employed indirect translation to align them as closely as possible to the original MIND diet. These translated quantities in weight and volumes amounts were subsequently rounded to the nearest Dutch household measures, resulting in the culturally adapted MIND-NL diet scoring. The development of the MIND-NL-Eetscore-FFQ, comprising seventy-two food items (forty-one questions), is described. Our adaption approach is reproducible and can be used to customize the MIND diet scoring system to other cultures.

No study has validated questionnaires for assessing easily calculable diet quality scores in Japan. The Brief-type self-administered Diet History Questionnaire (BDHQ) is widely used to assess dietary intake in Japan, while the Meal-based Diet History Questionnaire (MDHQ) assesses dietary intake for each meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks) and overall dietary intake. This study examined the relative validity of the BDHQ and MDHQ for assessing three diet quality scores in Japanese adults. A total of 111 women and 111 men aged 30–76 years completed the web MDHQ and BDHQ, followed by 4-non-consective-day weighed dietary records. The diet quality scores examined included the Diet Quality Score for Japanese (DQSJ), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score and Alternate Mediterranean Diet (AMED) score. The means of the three scores for overall diet from the BDHQ were not significantly different from those from the dietary records in both sexes, whereas those from the MDHQ were higher than those from the dietary records, except for the DASH and AMED in women. Pearson’s correlation coefficients between both questionnaires and dietary records were 0·57–0·63 for DQSJ, 0·49–0·57 for DASH and 0·31–0·49 for AMED across both sexes and both questionnaires. For each meal, Pearson’s correlation coefficients between the MDHQ and dietary records ranged from 0·01 (DASH for snacks in women) to 0·55 (DQSJ for breakfast in men), with a median of 0·35. This study showed that the ability of the BDHQ and MDHQ to rank individuals was good for DQSJ and DASH and acceptable for AMED.

Beyond obesity, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) has emerged as an important predictor of chronic disease, but the role of diet quality patterns (DQP) in VAT development is not well defined. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of how various DQP are associated with VAT via literature searches in PubMed and EMBASE. We included observational investigations in disease-free adults/adolescents that related DQP to VAT assessed by imaging methods. The studies were evaluated separately for a priori and a posteriori DQP and according to design differences. Study quality was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions tool. Of the 1807 screened articles, thirty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of a priori indices, for example, the Healthy Eating Index, showed significant inverse associations with VAT, while only a small proportion of a posteriori patterns were related to VAT. Results did not differ substantially by the method of exposure and outcome assessment or between studies with (n 20) or without (n 15) body-size adjustment, but significant findings were more common in younger v. older individuals, USA v. other populations and investigations with moderate v. serious risk of bias. The heterogeneity of the existing literature limited the ability to quantify the magnitude of the associations across studies. These findings suggest that a high-quality diet, as assessed by a priori DQP, is generally inversely associated with VAT, but results for a posteriori DQP are less consistent. As associations persisted after adjusting for body size, diet quality may beneficially influence VAT beyond its association with obesity.

The prevalence of poor linear growth among African children with perinatally acquired HIV remains high. There is concern that poor linear growth may to lead to later total and central fat deposition and associated non-communicable disease risks. We investigated associations between height-for-age Z score (HAZ) and total and regional fat and lean mass measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, expressed as internal population Z scores, among 839 Zimbabwean and Zambian perinatally HIV-infected male and female adolescents aged 11–19 years. Stunting (HAZ < –2) was present in 37 % of males and 23 % of females. HAZ was strongly positively associated with total, trunk, arm and leg fat mass and lean mass Z scores, in analyses controlling for pubertal stage, socio-economic status and HIV viral load. Associations of linear growth with lean mass were stronger than those with fat outcomes; associations with total and regional fat were similar, indicating no preferential central fat deposition. There was no evidence that age of starting antiretroviral therapy was associated with HAZ or body composition. Non-suppressed HIV viral load was associated with lower lean but not fat mass. The results do not support the hypothesis that poor linear growth or stunting are risk factors for later total or central fat deposition. Rather, increased linear growth primarily benefits lean mass but also promotes fat mass, both consistent with larger body size. Nutritional and/or HIV infection control programmes need to address the high prevalence of stunting among perinatally HIV-infected children in order to mitigate constraints on the accretion of lean and fat mass.

n-6 PUFA, especially linoleic acid (LA) but also arachidonic acid (AA), have been inversely associated with CHD. However, mechanisms underlying these associations are not fully known. We investigated the associations of the serum concentrations of total n-6 PUFA, LA, AA, γ-linolenic acid (GLA) and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), with the odds of myocardial ischaemia during exercise, a predictor of future cardiac events. A total of 1871 men without a history of CHD from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD) aged 42–60 years were included. All participants performed a maximal symptom-limited exercise stress test, using an electrically braked bicycle ergometer. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was used to assess the OR for exercise-induced myocardial ischaemia in quartiles of the serum n-6 PUFA concentrations. After multivariable adjustment, men in the highest v. the lowest serum AA concentration had 50 % lower odds for exercise-induced myocardial ischaemia (OR 0·50, 95 % CI 0·34, 0·76; P-trend across quartiles < 0·001). For the other PUFA, the OR (95 % CI) were 1·00 (0·69, 1·46; P-trend = 0·89) for LA, 1·07 (0·75, 1·53; P-trend = 0·40) for GLA and 0·74 (0·51, 1·07; P-trend = 0·16) for DGLA. Among the n-6 PUFA, higher serum concentration of AA was associated with lower odds for myocardial ischaemia during an exercise test in middle-aged and older men. This may provide one mechanism for the previously observed possible cardioprotective properties of AA. Our findings also suggest that n-6 PUFA should not be considered as one homogenous group.

Dietary n-3 PUFA may have potential benefits in preventing peptic ulcer disease (PUD). However, data from observational epidemiological studies are limited. Thus, we conducted a Mendelian randomisation analysis to reveal the causal impact of n-3 PUFA on PUD. Genetic variants strongly associated with plasma levels of total or individual n-3 PUFA including plant-derived α-linolenic acid and marine-derived EPA, DPA and DHA were enrolled as instrumental variables. Effect size estimates of the n-3 PUFA-associated genetic variants with PUD were evaluated using data from the UK biobank. Per one sd increase in the level of total n-3 PUFA in plasma was significantly associated with a lower risk of PUD (OR = 0·91; 95 % CI 0·85, 0·99; P = 0·020). The OR were 0·81 (95 % CI 0·67, 0·97) for EPA, 0·72 (95 % CI 0·58, 0·91) for DPA and 0·87 (95 % CI 0·80, 0·94) for DHA. Genetically predicted α-linolenic acid levels in plasma had no significant association with the risk of PUD (OR = 5·41; 95 % CI 0·70, 41·7). Genetically predicted plasma levels of n-3 PUFA were inversely associated with the risk of PUD, especially marine-based n-3 PUFA. Such findings may have offered an effective and feasible strategy for the primary prevention of PUD.

The influence of the SNP rs174575 (C/G) within the fatty acid desaturase 2 gene on the levels of long-chain PUFA was determined through statistical meta-analysis. Six databases were searched to retrieve the relevant literature. Original data were analysed using Stata 17·0, encompassing summary statistics, tests for heterogeneity, assessment of publication bias, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis. A total of ten studies were identified and grouped into twelve trials. Our results showed that individuals who carried the minor G allele of rs174575 had significantly higher dihomo-γ-linolenic acid levels (P = 0·005) and lower arachidonic acid levels (P = 0·033) than individuals who were homozygous for the major allele. The subgroup analysis revealed that the G-allele carriers of rs174575 were significantly positively correlated with linoleic acid (P = 0·002) and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (P < 0·001) and negatively correlated with arachidonic acid (P = 0·004) in the European populations group. This particular SNP showed a potential association with higher concentrations of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (P = 0·050) and lower concentrations of arachidonic acid (P = 0·030) within the breast milk group. This meta-analysis has been registered in the PROSPERO database (ID: CRD42023470562).

The long-term impact of eating duration on the risk of all-cause mortality remains unclear, with limited exploration of how different levels of energy intake and physical activity might influence this impact. To investigate, 24 484 American adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 1999–2018 were included. Eating duration was assessed via 24-h dietary recall, and all-cause mortality data were sourced from the National Death Index. The relationship between eating duration and all-cause mortality was analysed using Cox proportional hazards regression models, restricted cubic splines and stratification analysis with complex weighted designs. The median (IQR) of eating duration for participants was 12·5 (11·0, 14·0) h. In this study, 2896 death events were observed, and the median follow-up time (IQR) was 125 (77, 177) months. After multivariable adjustment, compared with Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 had reduced risks of all-cause mortality by 17, 15 and 13 %, respectively. Furthermore, each additional hour of eating duration was correlated with a 2 % decrease in the risk of all-cause mortality. Additionally, a non-linear dose–response relationship was observed between eating duration and the risk of all-cause mortality, showing a U-shaped relationship from 8·9 h to 15·3 h (P for non-linearity < 0·05). Interestingly, the non-linear dose–response relationship was observed exclusively among individuals with high energy intake or a lightly active physical activity level. These findings suggest potential health benefits from adjusting eating duration, though further prospective studies are needed for validation.

Bariatric surgery has significantly increased globally as an effective treatment for severe obesity. Nutritional deficits are common among candidates for bariatric surgery, and follow-up of nutritional status is critically needed for post-surgery healthcare management. This observational prospective study was conducted at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh. Samples were collected pre- and post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), with the visit intervals divided into four visits: pre-surgery (0M), 3 months (3M), 6 months (6M) and 12 months (12M). Food intake and eating patterns significantly changed during the first year (P < 0·001). The mean energy intake at 3M post-surgery was 738·3 kcal, significantly lower than the pre-surgery energy intake of 2059 kcal. Then, it increased gradually at 6M and 12M to reach 1069 kcal (P < 0·00). The intake of Fe, vitamin B12 and vitamin D was below the dietary reference intake recommendations, as indicated by the 24-hour dietary recall. The prevalence of 25 (OH) vitamin D deficiency improved significantly from pre- to post-surgery (P < 0·001). Vitamin B12 deficiency was less reported pre-LSG and improved steadily towards a sufficient post-surgery status. However, 35·7 % of participants were deficient in Fe status, with 28·6% being female at higher levels than males. While protein supplementation decreased significantly over the 12M follow-up, the use of vitamin supplements dramatically increased at 3 and 6M before declining at 12M. Fe and vitamin B12 were the most popular supplements after vitamin D. This study confirms the necessity for individualised dietary plans and close monitoring of candidates’ nutritional status before and after bariatric surgery.

We have previously demonstrated that calcium plus vitamin D supplementation during adolescent pregnancy reduces the magnitude of transient postpartum bone mass loss. In the present post hoc analysis, we further investigated the effect of calcium plus vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy in hip geometry throughout one year postpartum in Brazilian adolescents with low daily calcium intake (∼600 mg/d). Pregnant adolescents (14–19 years) were randomly assigned to receive calcium (600 mg/d) plus vitamin D3 (200 μg/d) or a placebo from 26 weeks of gestation until parturition. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry images were obtained at 5 (n 30 and 26 for calcium plus vitamin D and placebo, respectively), 20 (n 26 and 21) and 56 (n 18 and 12) weeks postpartum, and hip geometry parameters were analysed by Advanced Hip Assessment software. The effects of the intervention, time point and their interaction were assessed using repeated-measures mixed-effects models. No significant intervention effects or intervention × time interactions were observed on hip geometry parameters (P > 0·05). Time effects were observed in cross-sectional area, cross-sectional moment of inertia and section modulus parameters with decreases from the 5th to the 20th week postpartum followed by recovery from the 20th to the 56th week (P < 0·05). Our findings indicate that the postpartum period is associated with transient changes in the hip geometry of lactating adolescent mothers, regardless of the low calcium intake and the supplementation offered during pregnancy, suggesting that a physiological adaptation of these adolescents to low calcium intake is at play.

The increasing demand for food and especially proteins leads to the search for alternative protein sources. Meat co-products, which are available but little used in human food, provide a potential solution to this challenge. The present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional quality of two beef protein ingredients (greasy greaves recovered proteins (GGRP) and water recovered proteins (WRP)), both co-products of the fat rendering process. Their true ileal digestibility (TID), digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS) and kinetics of plasma amino acids (AA) were measured in ten growing pigs, each fed the two co-products and a protein-free diet. Titanium dioxide was used as an indigestible marker. Digesta samples were collected for 9 h after meal ingestion, and blood samples were collected at ten time points during the same period. Total nitrogen (N) and AA contents were determined. Data were statistically analysed using linear mixed models. The TID of total N was not different between WRP and GGRP (81–84 %, P > 0·05). The first-limiting AA was Trp for both ingredients, with a DIAAS much higher for GGRP than for WRP (74 and 10 % for adults, respectively; P < 0·001). Postprandial plasma AA concentration peaked earlier for WRP (3 h) than for GGRP (5 h). Plasma concentrations of total and essential AA were higher (P < 0·001) with GGRP diet than WRP diet. Overall, GGRP has a nutritional quality suitable to meet the needs of adults for AA, while WRP needs to be supplemented with other protein sources to fulfil the dietary requirements.

A well-functioning immune system requires balanced immune responses. In vitro studies have shown that plant stanols contribute to restoring the T-helper (Th)1/Th2 ratio when it is imbalanced. However, effects of plant stanols on healthy immune responses are unknown. Therefore, we studied effects of recommended (2·5 g/d) or high (9·0 g/d) plant stanol intakes on the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in immunologically healthy subjects. In two RCTs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, cultured, and stimulated with 5 µg/ml Phytohemagglutinin-M to study ex vivo cytokine production. In the first study, twenty participants consumed margarines (2·5 g/d plant stanols) or control for three weeks. In the second study, nineteen participants consumed margarines and yogurts (9·0 g/d plant stanols) or control for four weeks. T-cell cytokine concentrations were measured in culture medium and in study 2 a standardized Th1/Th2 index was calculated. Serum lipids and non-cholesterol sterols were also measured. Compliance was confirmed by significant increases in serum total cholesterol (TC)-standardized sitostanol and campestanol levels in both studies. Changes in ex vivo cytokine production and Th1/Th2 index did not differ between intervention and control groups. In the first study, no statistically significant changes were observed in lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. In the second study, LDL cholesterol significantly decreased compared to control (–0·77 (–1·11, –0·42) mmol/l; P < 0·001). Recommended (2·5 g/d) or high (9·0 g/d) intakes of plant stanols did not alter PBMC ex vivo cytokine production in immunologically healthy subjects. This suggests that plant stanols might only affect immune function when Th1/Th2 immune responses are imbalanced.

Growing evidence indicates a link between diet and depression risk. We aimed to examine the association between an inflammatory diet index and depression utilising extensive data from UK biobank cohort. The energy-adjusted dietary inflammation index (E-DII) was calculated to quantify the potential of daily diet, with twenty-seven food parameters utilised. The E-DII scores were classified into two categories (low v. high) based on median value. To mitigate bias and ensure comparability of participant characteristics, propensity score matching was employed. To ascertain the robustness of these associations, sensitivity analyses were conducted. Subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate the consistency of these associations within different subpopulations. Totally, 152 853 participants entered the primary analyses with a mean age of 56·11 (sd 7·98) years. Employing both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models, adjustments were made for varying degrees of confounding factors (socio-demographics, lifestyle factors, common chronic medical conditions including type 2 diabetes and hypertension). Results consistently revealed a noteworthy positive correlation between E-DII and depression. In the context of propensity score matching, participants displaying higher E-DII scores exhibited an increased likelihood of experiencing incident depression (OR = 1·12, 95 % CI: 1·05, 1·19; P = 0·000316). Subgroup analysis results demonstrated variations in these associations across diverse subpopulations. The E-value for the point-estimate OR calculated from the propensity score matching dataset was 1·48. Excluding individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or hypertension, the findings consistently aligned with the positive association in the primary analysis. These findings suggested that consumption of a diet with higher pro-inflammatory potential might associated with an increase of future depression risk.

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. However, the association between tea and risk of pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between tea consumption and risk of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and to explore their mediating effects. The two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis showed an inverse causal relationship between tea intake and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (OR: 0·111 (0·02, 0·85), P < 0·04). To examine the mediating effects, we explored the potential mechanisms by which tea intake reduces the risk of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Based on the oral bioavailability and drug-like properties in Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database, we selected the main active ingredients of tea. We screened out the fifteen representative targeted genes by Pharmmapper database, and the gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that these targeted genes were related to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. The two-step MR analysis of results showed that only VEGF-D played a mediating role, with a mediation ratio of 0·230 (0·066, 0·394). In conclusion, the findings suggest that VEGF-D mediates the effect of tea intake on the risk of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.