A high-carbohydrate diet could achieve a protein-sparing effect, but it may cause negative impacts on the growth condition of fish due to their poor utilisation ability of carbohydrate. How to reduce the adverse effects caused by a high-carbohydrate diet is important for the development of aquaculture. In the present study, we aimed to identify whether inulin could attenuate the metabolic syndrome caused by a high-carbohydrate diet in fish. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (1·19 (sd 0·01) g) were supplied with 35 % carbohydrate (CON), 45 % carbohydrate (HC) and 45 % carbohydrate + 5 g/kg inulin (HCI) diets for 10 weeks. The results showed that addition of inulin improved the survival rate when fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila, indicating that inulin had an immunostimulatory effect. Compared with the HC group, the HCI group had lower lipid accumulation in liver and the gene expression analyses indicated that addition of inulin down-regulated genes related to lipogenesis and up-regulated genes relevant to β-oxidation significantly (P < 0·05). Higher liver glycogen and glucose tolerance were found in the HCI group compared with the HC group (P < 0·05). These results indicated that inulin could alleviate the metabolic syndrome induced by a high-carbohydrate diet. Furthermore, addition of inulin to a high-carbohydrate diet changed the intestinal bacterial composition and significantly increased the concentration of acetic acid and propionic acid in fish gut which have the potential to increase pathogen resistance and regulate metabolic characteristics in fish. Collectively, our results demonstrated a possible causal role for the gut microbiome in metabolic improvements induced by inulin in fish.

The present study aimed to evaluate the inflammatory response, oxidative status and fatty acid deposition in reproductive tissues of cats supplemented with the dried microalgae Schizochytrium spp. (Thraustochytriaceae) as a DHA source. Thirty-seven cats (males, n 21; females, n 16; 11·5 (sd 0·5) months of age) were divided by sex into five groups. Treatment diets contained algae biomass at 4·0, 8·0, 12·0 or 16·0 g/kg replacing poultry fat (n-6 source). Cats were fed the respective diet for 62 d and neutered on day 58. Blood samples were collected at the beginning of the experiment (day 1), before neutering (day 58) and 4 d after surgery (day 62) for analysis of inflammation and oxidative markers. Acute-phase protein levels were altered (P < 0·01) in the postoperative period, without any treatment effect (P > 0·05). PGE2 concentrations after surgery were reduced linearly (R2 0·8706; P = 0·002) with microalgal inclusion. Blood platelet count was reduced (P = 0·001) after the surgery regardless treatment, but it was higher in the DHA group compared with control (P < 0·001). The DHA deposition (testicles, R2 0·846; ovaries, R2 0·869) and the n-6:n-3 ratio (testicles, R2 0·859; ovaries, R2 0·955) in gonads had a pattern which fitted a quadratic model. DHA from Schizochytrium spp. modifies PGE2 response after the surgery in cats. The physiological roles of the DHA in the reproduction of cats were not investigated, but its gonadal deposition after supplementation was observed.

Lipid metabolism and inflammation contribute to CVD development. This study investigated whether the consumption of cranberries (CR; Vaccinium macrocarpon) can alter HDL metabolism and prevent inflammation in mice expressing human apo A-I transgene (hApoAITg), which have similar HDL profiles to those of humans. Male hApoAITg mice were fed a modified American Institute of Nutrition-93M high-fat/high-cholesterol diet (16 % fat, 0·25 % cholesterol, w/w; n 15) or the high-fat/high-cholesterol diet containing CR (5 % dried CR powder, w/w, n 16) for 8 weeks. There were no significant differences in body weight between the groups. Serum total cholesterol, non-HDL-cholesterol and TAG concentrations were significantly lower in the control than CR group with no significant differences in serum HDL-cholesterol and apoA-I. Mice fed CR showed significantly lower serum lecithin–cholesterol acyltransferase activity than the control. Liver weight and steatosis were not significantly different between the groups, but hepatic expression of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism was significantly lower in the CR group. In the epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), the CR group showed higher weights with decreased expression of genes for lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. The mRNA abundance of F4/80, a macrophage marker and the numbers of crown-like structures were less in the CR group. In the soleus muscle, the CR group also demonstrated higher expression of genes for fatty acid β-oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis than those of the control. In conclusion, although CR consumption elicited minor effects on HDL metabolism, it prevented obesity-induced inflammation in eWAT with concomitant alterations in soleus muscle energy metabolism.

Deep-fried vegetable oils are reused multiple times to save costs, and their chronic consumption may cause organ dysfunction. In this study, we assessed the modulatory effects of lipid-solubles from ginger and turmeric that may migrate to oils during heating, on the cardio-hepatic antioxidant defence response and blood pressure in rats. Male Wistar rats were fed with: (1) control (native rapeseed (N-CNO) or native sunflower (N-SFO)) oil, (2) heated (heated rapeseed (H-CNO) or heated sunflower (H-SFO)) oil and (3) heated oil with ginger or turmeric (heated rapeseed oil with ginger (H-CNO + GI) or heated rapeseed oil with turmeric (H-CNO + TU), heated sunflower oil with ginger (H-SFO + GI) or heated sunflower oil with turmeric (H-SFO + TU)) for 120 d. Oxidative stress (OS) markers, antioxidant enzymes, nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS-2), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF-2), markers of hepatic and cardiac function and blood pressure were assessed. Feeding heated oils (H-CNO or H-SFO) (1) increased OS markers, NOS-2 and ICAM-1 expression; (2) decreased antioxidant enzyme activity and NRF-2 level; (3) increased marker enzymes of hepatic and cardiac function and (4) increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly (P < 0·05), when compared with respective native oils (N-CNO or N-SFO). However, feeding oils heated with ginger or turmeric positively countered the changes induced by heated oils. Consumption of repeatedly heated oil causes cardio-hepatic dysfunction by inducing OS through NRF-2 down-regulation. Lipid-solubles from ginger and turmeric that may migrate to oil during heating prevent the oxidative stress and blood pressure triggered by heated oils in rats.

The therapeutic value of specific fibres is partly dependent on their fermentation characteristics. Some fibres are rapidly degraded with the generation of gases that induce symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), while more slowly or non-fermentable fibres may be more suitable. More work is needed to profile a comprehensive range of fibres to determine suitability for IBS. Using a rapid in vitro fermentation model, gas production and metabolite profiles of a range of established and novel fibres were compared. Fibre substrates (n 15) were added to faecal slurries from three healthy donors for 4 h with gas production measured using real-time headspace sampling. Concentrations of SCFA and ammonia were analysed using GC and enzymatic assay, respectively. Gas production followed three patterns: rapid (≥60 ml/g over 4 h) for fructans, carrot fibre and maize-derived xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS); mild (30–60 ml/g) for partially hydrolysed guar gum, almond shell-derived XOS and one type of high-amylose resistant starch 2 (RS2) and minimal (no differences with blank controls) for methylcellulose, another high-amylose RS2, acetylated or butyrylated RS2, RS4, acacia gum and sugarcane bagasse. Gas production correlated positively with total SCFA (r 0·80, P < 0·001) and negatively with ammonia concentrations (r –0·68, P < 0·001). Proportions of specific SCFA varied: fermentation of carrot fibre, XOS and acetylated RS2 favoured acetate, while fructans favoured butyrate. Gas production and metabolite profiles differed between fibre types and within fibre classes over a physiologically relevant 4-h time course. Several fibres resisted rapid fermentation and may be candidates for clinical trials in IBS patients.

Human milk fatty acid composition varies during lactation and is influenced by maternal diet, maternal lifestyle-related factors and genetic background. This is one of the first studies to investigate a period effect, that is, the impact of lifestyle-related changes on human milk fatty acid composition, in two different cohorts. Lactating women were recruited from the general population a decade apart in Ulm, Germany, using similar methodology. Human milk samples collected 6 weeks postpartum were analysed (Ulm Birth Cohort Study (UBCS (2000)), n 567; Ulm SPATZ Health Study (SPATZ (2012)), n 458). Centred log ratio transformation was applied to fatty acid data. Principal component analysis was used to determine study-dependent fatty acid profiles. A general linear model was used to determine the study (or period) effect on fatty acid profiles adjusting for duration of gestation, age, education, delivery mode, smoking and pre-pregnancy BMI. Two principal components were retained (PC1 and PC2). PC1 was associated with UBCS, while PC2 was associated with SPATZ. PC1 comprised high SFA, and low MUFA, n-6 and n-3 long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA). The inverse was true for PC2. Although human milk remains a source of essential fatty acids, infants could be at risk of inadequate n-3 and n-6 LCPUFA intake through human milk. The differences in the human milk fatty acid profiles also reflect changes in maternal dietary habits in the more recent cohort, which may comprise lower intakes of dietary trans-fatty acids and SFA and higher intakes of vegetable oils.

Hidden hunger is widespread in India. Individual dietary diversity score (IDDS) is a measure of the nutrient adequacy of the diet. The FAO has set guidelines for the measurement of dietary diversity: the IDDS and the minimum dietary diversity score for women (MDD-W) to assess nutritional deficiency, but validation against nutritional biomarkers is required. Using available data among rural youth (17 years) from the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study, the validity of DDS was assessed to measure deficiencies of vitamin B12, folate and Hb. Of the 355 boys and 305 girls, 19 % were classified as underweight, 57 % as vitamin B12 deficient (<150 pmol/l) and 22 % as anaemic (<120/130 g/l). Cereals, legumes and ‘other-vegetables’ were the most frequently consumed foods. More boys than girls consumed milk, flesh, eggs and micronutrient-dense foods. Median IDDS of 4 (interquartile range (IQR) 3–4) and MDD-W of 6 (IQR 5–7) were low. Youth with vitamin B12 deficiency had a higher likelihood of an IDDS ≤ 4 (1·89; 95 % CI 1·24, 2·87) or an MDD-W ≤ 5 (1·40; 95 % CI 1·02, 1·94). Youth with anaemia were more likely to have an IDDS ≤ 4 (1·76; 95 % CI 1·01, 3·14) adjusted for socio-economic scores, BMI, energy intake and sex. Folate deficiency was low (3 %) and was not associated with either score. Youth with lowest plasma vitamin B12 and Hb infrequently or never consumed dairy products/non-vegetarian foods. These rural Indian youth were underweight, had low DDS and consumed foods low in good-quality proteins and micronutrients. Associations of DDS with circulating micronutrients indicate that DDS is a valid measure to predict vitamin B12 deficiency and anaemia.

A glyceride mixture of monoglyceride, diglyceride and TAG increases solubilisation and enhances emulsification of n-3 fatty acid (FA)-containing lipids in the stomach. This allows for better access of digestive enzymes, pivotal for the release of bioactive n-3 FA. The objective was to compare the effect of a glyceride formulation and an ethyl ester formulation of EPA + DHA on concentrations of EPA and DHA in plasma following single dosing. We conducted a double-blind crossover trial in which twenty healthy adults aged 50–70 years consumed a single dose (2·8 g EPA + DHA) of each EPA + DHA formulation without a meal in random order separated by a 2-week washout period. EPA and DHA were measured in plasma total lipid over the following 12 h. EPA and DHA in plasma total lipid increased over 12 h with both formulations. A 10-fold greater Δ concentration of EPA, 3-fold greater Δ concentration of DHA and 5-fold greater Δ concentration of EPA + DHA were seen with the glyceride-EPA + DHA. The time at which the maximal concentrations of n-3 FA occurred was 4 h earlier for EPA, 1 h earlier for DHA and 2 h earlier for EPA + DHA when consuming glyceride-EPA + DHA. A mixture of monoglyceride, diglyceride and TAG results in greater and faster incorporation of EPA and DHA into blood plasma lipid in the absence of a fatty meal. This may provide benefit to individuals on a low-fat diet or with digestive impairments and could result in greater efficacy in clinical trials using n-3 FA.

Functional changes in the brain during ageing can alter learning and memory, gait and balance – in some cases leading to early cognitive decline, disability or injurious falls among older adults. Dietary interventions with strawberry (SB) have been associated with improvements in neuronal, psychomotor and cognitive functions in rodent models of ageing. We hypothesised that dietary supplementation with SB would improve mobility and cognition among older adults. In this study, twenty-two men and fifteen women, between the ages of 60 and 75 years, were recruited into a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which they consumed either freeze-dried SB (24 g/d, equivalent to two cups of fresh SB) or a SB placebo for 90 d. Participants completed a battery of balance, gait and cognitive tests at baseline and again at 45 and 90 d of intervention. Significant supplement group by study visit interactions were observed on tests of learning and memory. Participants in the SB group showed significantly shorter latencies in a virtual spatial navigation task (P = 0·020, ηp2 = 0·106) and increased word recognition in the California Verbal Learning test (P = 0·014, ηp2 = 0·159) across study visits relative to controls. However, no improvement in gait or balance was observed. These findings show that the addition of SB to the diets of healthy, older adults can improve some aspects of cognition, but not gait or balance, although more studies with a larger sample size and longer follow-up are needed to confirm this finding.

Errors inherent in self-reported measures of energy intake (EI) are substantial and well documented, but correlates of misreporting remain unclear. Therefore, potential predictors of misreporting were examined. In Study One, fifty-nine individuals (BMI = 26·1 (sd 3·8) kg/m2, age = 42·7 (sd 13·6) years, females = 29) completed a 14-d stay in a residential feeding behaviour suite where eating behaviour was continuously monitored. In Study Two, 182 individuals (BMI = 25·7 (sd 3·9) kg/m2, age = 42·4 (sd 12·2) years, females = 96) completed two consecutive days in a residential feeding suite and five consecutive days at home. Misreporting was directly quantified by comparing covertly measured laboratory weighed intakes (LWI) with self-reported EI (weighed dietary record (WDR), 24-h recall, 7-d diet history, FFQ). Personal (age, sex and %body fat) and psychological traits (personality, social desirability, body image, intelligence quotient and eating behaviour) were used as predictors of misreporting. In Study One, those with lower psychoticism (P = 0·009), openness to experience (P = 0·006) and higher agreeableness (P = 0·038) reduced EI on days participants knew EI was being measured to a greater extent than on covert days. Isolated associations existed between personality traits (psychoticism and openness to experience), eating behaviour (emotional eating) and differences between the LWI and self-reported EI, but these were inconsistent between dietary assessment techniques and typically became non-significant after accounting for multiplicity of comparisons. In Study Two, sex was associated with differences between LWI and the WDR (P = 0·009), 24-h recall (P = 0·002) and diet history (P = 0·050) in the laboratory, but not home environment. Personal and psychological correlates of misreporting identified displayed no clear pattern across studies or dietary assessment techniques and had little utility in predicting misreporting.

Breakfast is considered as the most important meal of the day. The habit of skipping this meal in adolescence tends to remain until adulthood and has been associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. The present study estimated the prevalence of skipping breakfast and its association with cardiometabolic risk factors. This is a cross-sectional study with data from the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), with a nationally representative sample of 36 956 Brazilian adolescents, aged 12–17 years, enrolled in public and private schools. The outcomes were excess body weight (BMI), central obesity (waist circumference and waist:height ratio), lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and TAG) and glycidic profile (fasting glycaemia, fasting insulin and glycated Hb). The association between skipping breakfast and each outcome was estimated using multiple Poisson regression models (prevalence ratio (PR) and 95 % CI). Prevalence of skipping breakfast was 68·7 % and, after adjustments, it was associated with excess body weight (PR = 1·30; 95 % CI 1·18, 1·43), central obesity both by waist circumference (PR = 1·27; 95 % CI 1·00, 1·61) and by waist:height ratio (PR = 1·32; 95 % CI 1·13, 1·54) and high fasting glucose levels (PR = 1·54; 95 % CI 1·09, 2·18), fasting insulin (PR = 1·64; 95 % CI 1·21, 2·22), glycated Hb (PR = 1·16; 95 % CI 1·03, 1·31) and total cholesterol (PR = 1·14; 95 % CI 1·02, 1·27). Skipping breakfast was associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescence. In this context, the school environment is an ideal space to promote healthy eating habits, favouring the implementation of food and nutrition education activities to make adolescents aware of the importance of consuming breakfast daily.

The aim of the study was to assess the inflammatory potential of the Brazilian population’s diet and its association with demographic, socio-economic and anthropometric characteristics. A cross-sectional study was performed with 34 003 individuals aged 10 years and older, evaluated by the National Diet and Nutrition Survey from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (POF 2008–2009). The Energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII™) was determined using thirty-four dietary parameters calculated through non-consecutive 2-d dietary records. Positive scores indicate a pro-inflammatory diet, while negative scores indicate an anti-inflammatory diet. A bivariate and multivariate linear regression analysis based on a hierarchical theoretical model was performed to verify the factors associated with the E-DII. The mean of the E-DII was 1·04 (range of −4·77 to +5·98). The highest values of the pro-inflammatory E-DII were found among adolescents (1·42; P < 0·001) and individuals with higher income (1·10; P < 0·001) and level of education (1·18; P < 0·001). In the final model, the E-DII was associated with higher income quartiles and was higher in the Northeast and South regions, in white people, individuals with ≥9 years of education and adults and adolescents age group. The Brazilian population consumes a diet with high inflammatory potential, especially adolescents, white people and those with higher income and level of education. Thus, the index presented uneven distribution among the population, emphasising groups with higher dietary inflammatory potential. The socio-economic risk profile of a diet with higher inflammatory potential in medium-income countries is different from what is observed in high-income nations.

Children’s vegetable consumption is generally below national recommendations in the UK. This study examined predictors of vegetable intake by children aged 1·5–18 years using counts and portion sizes derived from 4-d UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey food diaries. Data from 6548 children were examined using linear and logit multilevel models. Specifically, we examined whether demographic variables predicted vegetable consumption, whether environmental context influenced portion sizes of vegetables consumed and which food groups predicted the presence (or absence) of vegetables at an eating occasion (EO). Larger average daily intake of vegetables (g) was predicted by age, ethnicity, equivalised income, variety of vegetables eaten and average energy intake per d (R2 0·549). At a single EO, vegetables were consumed in larger portion sizes at home, with family members and at evening mealtimes (Conditional R2 0·308). Within EO, certain configurations of food groups such as carbohydrates and protein predicted higher odds of vegetables being present (OR 12·85, 95 % CI 9·42, 17·54), whereas foods high in fats, sugars and salt predicted a lower likelihood of vegetable presence (OR 0·03, 95 % CI 0·02, 0·04). Vegetables were rarely eaten alone without other food groups. These findings demonstrate that only one portion of vegetables was eaten per d (median) and this was consumed at a single EO, therefore falling below recommendations. Future research should investigate ways to encourage vegetable intake at times when vegetables are not regularly eaten, such as for breakfast and as snacks, whilst considering which other, potentially competing, foods are presented alongside vegetables.

Diet quality indices are a practical, cost-effective method to evaluate dietary patterns, yet few have investigated diet quality in athletes. This study describes the relative validity and reliability of the recently developed Athlete Diet Index (ADI). Participants completed the electronic ADI on two occasions, 2 weeks apart, followed by a 4-d estimated food record (4-dFR). Relative validity was evaluated by directly comparing mean scores of the two administrations (mAdm) against scores derived from 4-dFR using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and Bland–Altman (B–A) plots. Construct validity was investigated by comparing mAdm scores and 4-dFR-derived nutrient intakes using Spearman’s coefficient and independent t test. Test–retest reliability was assessed using paired t test, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and B–A plots. Sixty-eight elite athletes (18·8 (sd 4·2) years) from an Australian sporting institute completed the ADI on both occasions. Mean score was 84·1 (sd 15·2; range 42·5–114·0). The ADI had good reliability (ICC = 0·80, 95 % CI 0·69, 0·87; P < 0·001), and B–A plots (mean 1·9; level of agreement −17·8, 21·7) showed no indication of systematic bias (y = 4·57–0·03 × x) (95 % CI −0·2, 0·1; P = 0·70). Relative validity was evaluated in fifty athletes who completed all study phases. Comparison of mAdm scores with 4-dFR-derived scores was moderate (rs 0·69; P < 0·001) with no systematic bias between methods of measurement (y = 6·90–0·04 × x) (95 % CI −0·3, 0·2; P = 0·73). Higher scores were associated with higher absolute nutrient intake consistent with a healthy dietary pattern. The ADI is a reliable tool with moderate validity, demonstrating its potential for application to investigate the diet quality of athletes.