The weight, urine colour and thirst (WUT) Venn diagram is a practical hydration assessment tool; however, it has only been investigated during first-morning. This study investigated accuracy of the WUT Venn diagram at morning and afternoon timepoints compared with blood and urine markers. Twelve men (21 ± 2 years; 81·0 ± 15·9 kg) and twelve women (22 ± 3 years; 68·8 ± 15·2 kg) completed the study. Body mass, urine colour, urine specific gravity (USG), urine osmolality (UOSM), thirst and plasma osmolality (POSM) were collected at first-morning and afternoon for 3 consecutive days in free-living (FL) and euhydrated states. Number of markers indicating dehydration levels were categorised into either 3, 2, 1 or 0 WUT markers. Receiver operating characteristics analysis calculated the sensitivity and specificity of 1, 2 or 3 hydration markers in detecting dehydration or euhydration. Specificity values across morning and afternoon exhibited high diagnostic accuracy for USG (0·890–1·000), UOSM (0·869–1·000) and POSM (0·787–0·990) when 2 and 3 WUT markers were met. Sensitivity values across both timepoints exhibited high diagnostic accuracy for USG (0·826–0·941) and UOSM (0·826–0·941), but not POSM in the afternoon (0·324) when 0 and 1 WUT markers were met. The WUT Venn diagram is accurate in detecting dehydration for WUT2 and WUT3 based off USG, UOSM and POSM during first-morning and afternoon. Applied medical, sport and occupational practitioners can use this tool in field settings for hydration assessment not only at various timepoints throughout the day but also in FL individuals.

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.

Whole-body tissue protein turnover is regulated, in part, by the postprandial rise in plasma amino acid concentrations, although minimal data exist on the amino acid response following non-animal-derived protein consumption. We hypothesised that the ingestion of novel plant- and algae-derived dietary protein sources would elicit divergent plasma amino acid responses when compared with vegan- and animal-derived control proteins. Twelve healthy young (male (m)/female (f): 6/6; age: 22 ± 1 years) and 10 healthy older (m/f: 5/5; age: 69 ± 2 years) adults participated in a randomised, double-blind, cross-over trial. During each visit, volunteers consumed 30 g of protein from milk, mycoprotein, pea, lupin, spirulina or chlorella. Repeated arterialised venous blood samples were collected at baseline and over a 5-h postprandial period to assess circulating amino acid, glucose and insulin concentrations. Protein ingestion increased plasma total and essential amino acid concentrations (P < 0·001), to differing degrees between sources (P < 0·001), and the increase was further modulated by age (P < 0·001). Postprandial maximal plasma total and essential amino acid concentrations were highest for pea (2828 ± 106 and 1480 ± 51 µmol·l−1) and spirulina (2809 ± 99 and 1455 ± 49 µmol·l−1) and lowest for chlorella (2053 ± 83 and 983 ± 35 µmol·l−1) (P < 0·001), but were not affected by age (P > 0·05). Postprandial total and essential amino acid availabilities were highest for pea, spirulina and mycoprotein and lowest for chlorella (all P < 0·05), but no effect of age was observed (P > 0·05). The ingestion of a variety of novel non-animal-derived dietary protein sources elicits divergent plasma amino acid responses, which are further modulated by age.

Carbonated soft-drink consumption is detrimental to multiple facets of adolescent health. However, little is known about temporal trends in carbonated soft-drink consumption among adolescents, particularly in non-Western countries. Therefore, we aimed to examine this trend in representative samples of school-going adolescents from eighteen countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Cross-sectional data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey 2009–2017 were analysed. Carbonated soft-drink consumption referred to drinking carbonated soft-drinks at least once per day in the past 30 d. The prevalence of carbonated soft-drink consumption was calculated for each survey, and crude linear trends were assessed by linear regression models. Data on 74 055 students aged 12–15 years were analysed (mean age 13·9 (sd 1·0) years; 49·2 % boys). The overall mean prevalence of carbonated soft-drink consumption was 42·1 %. Of the eighteen countries included in the study, significant decreasing, increasing and stable trends of carbonated soft-drink consumption were observed in seven, two and nine countries, respectively. The most drastic decrease was observed in Kuwait between 2011 (74·4 %) and 2015 (51·7 %). Even in countries with significant decreasing trends, the decrease was rather modest, while some countries with stable trends had very high prevalence across time (e.g. Suriname 80·5 % in 2009 and 79·4 % in 2016). The prevalence of carbonated soft-drink consumption was high in all countries included in the present analysis, despite decreasing trends being observed in some. Public health initiatives to reduce the consumption of carbonated soft-drink consumption among adolescents are urgently required.

The study aimed to assess the associations between newborn thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration, a marker of iodine nutrition in early life, and childhood neurodevelopment and growth using data collected from two pregnancy studies, one in a borderline iodine-deficient setting (DHA to Optimize Mother Infant Outcome (DOMInO) Study) and one in an iodine-sufficient setting (Pregnancy Iodine and Neurodevelopment in Kids (PINK) Study). TSH data were obtained from routine newborn screening. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 18 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition (Bayley-III). Weight, height and head circumference were measured at 18 months. In total, 1467 children were included in the analysis. Comparing the highest with the lowest TSH quartile, the mean differences (MD) in the Bayley-III scores ranged from −2·0 (95 % CI −4·7, 0·7) to −2·2 (95 % CI −5·8, 1·3) points in DOMInO and 1·0 (95 % CI −1·6, 3·6) to 2·0 (95 % CI −0·4, 4·4) points in PINK in the cognitive, language and motor scales; the MD in the anthropometric z scores ranged from −0·01 (95 % CI −0·5, 0·5) to −0·5 (95 % CI −0·9, −0·1) in both studies. A 1 mIU/l increase in TSH was associated with −0·3 (95 % CI −0·9, 0·2) point and 0·2 (95 % CI −0·3, 0·7) point changes in the mean cognitive score in the DOMInO and PINK, respectively. A null association between TSH and growth was also observed in both studies. Longitudinal studies that utilise newborn TSH data and examine neurodevelopmental outcomes at later ages are warranted, as neurodevelopmental assessments in older children are more predictive of later achievement.

Added sugar intake has been associated with several health issues, but few studies have examined its association with overall diet quality. We aimed at examining the association between added sugar intake and overall diet quality in Finnish adults. Associations between added sugar intake and sociodemographic factors, lifestyle factors, and BMI were also explored. Our data comprised 5094 adults residing in Finland who participated in the National FinHealth 2017 Study. Dietary intake was assessed by a validated FFQ. Food consumption and nutrient intakes were calculated using the Finnish national food composition database. Added sugar intake was estimated based on food categorisation and identifying naturally occurring sugar sources. Overall diet quality was assessed by the modified Baltic Sea Diet Score. The average added sugar intake was 7·6 E % in women and 8·3 E % in men in this study population. Added sugar intake was inversely associated with education (P = 0·03 women; P = 0·001 men), physical activity (P < 0·0001), and BMI in men (P = 0·003), and directly with smoking (P = 0·002 women; P < 0·0001 men). Added sugar intake was inversely associated with overall diet quality in both sexes (P < 0·0001). No interactions were found except for men’s physical activity subgroups, the inverse association being stronger among active men than moderately active or inactive men (Pfor interaction = 0·005). Our findings suggest that high added sugar intake is associated with several unhealthy dietary and lifestyle habits, including poor-quality diets, smoking and leisure-time inactivity in Finnish adults. Efforts to improve diet quality should consider added sugar intake equally in the whole population.

Prior meta-analytic investigations over a decade ago rather inconclusively indicated that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation could improve anthropometric and body composition indices in the general adult population. More recent investigations have emerged, and an up-to-date systematic review and meta-analysis on this topic must be improved. Therefore, this investigation provides a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT) on the impact of CLA supplementation on anthropometric and body composition (body mass (BM), BMI, waist circumference (WC), fat mass (FM), body fat percentage (BFP) and fat-free mass (FFM)) markers in adults. Online databases search, including PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library and Web of Science up to March 2022, were utilised to retrieve RCT examining the effect of CLA supplementation on anthropometric and body composition markers in adults. Meta-analysis was carried out using a random-effects model. The I2 index was used as an index of statistical heterogeneity of RCT. Among the initial 8351 studies identified from electronic databases search, seventy RCT with ninety-six effect sizes involving 4159 participants were included for data analyses. The results of random-effects modelling demonstrated that CLA supplementation significantly reduced BM (weighted mean difference (WMD): −0·35, 95 % CI (−0·54, −0·15), P < 0·001), BMI (WMD: −0·15, 95 % CI (−0·24, −0·06), P = 0·001), WC (WMD: −0·62, 95% CI (−1·04, −0·20), P = 0·004), FM (WMD: −0·44, 95 % CI (−0·66, −0·23), P < 0·001), BFP (WMD: −0·77 %, 95 % CI (−1·09, −0·45), P < 0·001) and increased FFM (WMD: 0·27, 95 % CI (0·09, 0·45), P = 0·003). The high-quality subgroup showed that CLA supplementation fails to change FM and BFP. However, according to high-quality studies, CLA intake resulted in small but significant increases in FFM and decreases in BM and BMI. This meta-analysis study suggests that CLA supplementation may result in a small but significant improvement in anthropometric and body composition markers in an adult population. However, data from high-quality studies failed to show CLA’s body fat-lowering properties. Moreover, it should be noted that the weight-loss properties of CLA were small and may not reach clinical importance.

This study investigated sex differences in Fe status, and associations between Fe status and endurance and musculoskeletal outcomes, in military training. In total, 2277 British Army trainees (581 women) participated. Fe markers and endurance performance (2·4 km run) were measured at the start (week 1) and end (week 13) of training. Whole-body areal body mineral density (aBMD) and markers of bone metabolism were measured at week 1. Injuries during training were recorded. Training decreased Hb in men and women (mean change (–0·1 (95 % CI –0·2, –0·0) and –0·7 (95 % CI –0·9, –0·6) g/dl, both P < 0·001) but more so in women (P < 0·001). Ferritin decreased in men and women (–27 (95 % CI –28, –23) and –5 (95 % CI –8, –1) µg/l, both P ≤ 0·001) but more so in men (P < 0·001). Soluble transferrin receptor increased in men and women (2·9 (95 % CI 2·3, 3·6) and 3·8 (95 % CI 2·7, 4·9) nmol/l, both P < 0·001), with no difference between sexes (P = 0·872). Erythrocyte distribution width increased in men (0·3 (95 % CI 0·2, 0·4)%, P < 0·001) but not in women (0·1 (95 % CI –0·1, 0·2)%, P = 0·956). Mean corpuscular volume decreased in men (–1·5 (95 % CI –1·8, –1·1) fL, P < 0·001) but not in women (0·4 (95 % CI –0·4, 1·3) fL, P = 0·087). Lower ferritin was associated with slower 2·4 km run time (P = 0·018), sustaining a lower limb overuse injury (P = 0·048), lower aBMD (P = 0·021) and higher beta C-telopeptide cross-links of type 1 collagen and procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (both P < 0·001) controlling for sex. Improving Fe stores before training may protect Hb in women and improve endurance and protect against injury.

The aim of this study was to assess the validity of the predictive INTERSALT equation using spot urine samples to estimate 24-h urinary Na (24-hUNa) excretion and daily Na intake among the French adult population. Among 193 French adults (‘validation sample’), we assessed the validity by comparing predicted 24-hUNa excretion from spot urine and measured 24-hUNa excretion from 24-h urine collections. Spearman correlation coefficients and Bland–Altman plots were used and we calculated calibration coefficients. In a nationally representative sample of 1720 French adults (‘application sample’), the calibrated predictive equation was then applied to the spot urine Na values to estimate 24-hUNa excretion and daily Na intake. In that sample, predicted Na intake was compared with that estimated from 24-h dietary recalls. Results were adjusted and corrected using calibration coefficients. In the validation sample, the measured 24-hUNa excretion was on average 14 % higher than the predicted 24-hUNa (+13 % for men and +16 % for women). Correlation between measured and predicted 24-hUNa excretion was moderate (Spearman r 0·42), and the Bland–Altman plots showed underestimation at lower excretion level and overestimation at higher level. In the application study, estimated daily salt intake was 8·0 g/d using dietary recalls, 8·1 g/d using predicted INTERSALT equation and 9·3 g/d after applying calibration coefficients calculated in the validation study. Despite overall underestimation of 24-hUNa excretion by spot urinary Na, the use of predictive INTERSALT equation remains an acceptable alternative in monitoring global Na intake/excreted in the French population but its use is not advised at the individual level.

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is associated with a complex pattern of various clinical conditions. We investigated how risk factors cluster in children with SAM, the relationship between clusters of risk factors and mortality as well as length of stay in children with SAM. A prospective observational study design was used. Data were extracted from medical records of 601 infants and children aged 0–59 months admitted and treated for SAM in three Ghanaian referral hospital between June 2013 and June 2018. Among the 601 medical records extracted, ninety-nine died. Three clusters of medical features clearly emerged from data analyses. Firstly, an association was defined by eye signs, pallor, diarrhoea and vomiting with gastrointestinal infections and malaria. In this cluster, pallor and eye signs were related to 2- to 5-fold increased mortality risk. Secondly, HIV, oedema, fast pulse, respiratory infections and tuberculosis; among those features, HIV increased child mortality risk by 2-fold. Thirdly, shock, convulsions, dermatitis, cold hands and feet, weak pulse, urinary tract infections and irritability were clustered. Among those features, cold hands and feet, dermatitis, convulsions and shock increased child mortality risk in a range of 2- to 9-fold. Medical conditions and clinical signs in children diagnosed with SAM associate in patterns and are related to clinical outcomes.

Bipiperidyl mustard produced increased adiposity in the rat without excessive weight gain or hyperphagia.

The results suggest a metabolic aetiology for the obesity as opposed to a disorder of food intake regulation.

1. 1. The effects of protein-energy malnutrition on brain free amino acids of acidic and neutral groups were investigated in experimental rats.

2. 2. Severe energy restriction did not modify the free amino acid composition of the brain while protein deficiency affected certain amino acids of the brain in opposite directions. Significant decreases in the levels of aspartic acid, threonine and tyrosine were observed in the protein-deficient rats.

3. 3. These changes in brain amino acids appear to be specific to protein deficiency and not affected by energy deficiency.

1. The mean retention time of stained food residues was longer in sheep maintained on a chopped straw ration than in sheep maintained on a chopped lucerne ration.

2. Infection of sheep with 1500 infective Oesophagostomum columbianum juveniles was associated with increased mean retention times.

3. The extent to which the mean retention times were increased was associated with the diet and mode of infection of the sheep.

4. It was noted that an increase in mean retention time following infection was associated with a general decrease in food intake per kg live eight0.75.

5. The results are discussed in relation to the pathogenesis and survival of O.columbianum infections in sheep.

The impact of egg consumption, a major source of dietary cholesterol, on the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) is controversial. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a CVD which shares common risk factors and mechanistic pathways with ASCVD. However, there is no data on the relationship between egg or cholesterol intake and VTE risk. Therefore, we evaluated the prospective associations of egg and cholesterol intakes with VTE risk and whether the apoE4 phenotype, which influences cholesterol metabolism, could modify the associations. Data involving 1852 men aged 42–61 years at baseline without a history of VTE or CHD in the population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study were analysed. Dietary intakes were assessed with 4-d food records. Incident VTE events were identified by record linkage to hospital discharge registries. Hazard ratios (95 % CI) for incident VTE were estimated using Cox regression. During a median follow-up of 28·8 years, 132 VTE events occurred. Comparing the top (> 38 g/d) v. bottom (< 20 g/d) tertiles of egg consumption, the hazard ratio (95 % CI) for VTE was 0·99 (0·64, 1·53) in analysis adjusted for several established risk factors and other dietary factors. There was also no evidence of an association between cholesterol intake and VTE risk. Imputed results were consistent with the observed results. The apoE4 phenotype did not modify the associations. In middle-aged and older Finnish men, egg or cholesterol intakes were not associated with future VTE risk. Other large-scale prospective studies are needed to confirm or refute these findings.

This study evaluated how different forms of selenium (Se) supplementation into rainbow trout broodstock diets modified the one-carbon metabolism of the progeny after the beginning of exogenous feeding and followed by hypoxia challenge. The progeny of three groups of rainbow trout broodstock fed either a control diet (Se level: 0·3 µg/g) or a diet supplemented with inorganic sodium selenite (Se level: 0·6 µg/g) or organic hydroxy-selenomethionine (Se level: 0·6 µg/g) was cross-fed with diets of similar Se composition for 11 weeks. Offspring were sampled either before or after being subjected to an acute hypoxic stress (1·7 mg/l dissolved oxygen) for 30 min. In normoxic fry, parental Se supplementation allowed higher glutathione levels compared with fry originating from parents fed the control diet. Parental hydroxy-selenomethionine treatment also increased cysteine and cysteinyl–glycine concentrations in fry. Dietary Se supplementation decreased glutamate–cysteine ligase (cgl) mRNA levels. Hydroxy-selenomethionine feeding also lowered the levels of some essential free amino acids in muscle tissue. Supplementation of organic Se to parents and fry reduced betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (bhmt) expression in fry. The hypoxic stress decreased whole-body homocysteine, cysteine, cysteinyl-glycine and glutathione levels. Together with the higher mRNA levels of cystathionine beta-synthase (cbs), a transsulphuration enzyme, this suggests that under hypoxia, glutathione synthesis through transsulphuration might have been impaired by depletion of a glutathione precursor. In stressed fry, S-adenosylmethionine levels were significantly decreased, but S-adenosylhomocysteine remained stable. Decreased bhmt and adenosylmethionine decarboxylase 1a (amd1a) mRNA levels in stressed fry suggest a nutritional programming by parental Se also on methionine metabolism of rainbow trout.

I deficiency is a worldwide public health problem. Median urinary I concentration in school-aged children has been used globally as a proxy for all populations. This study aims to determine whether median urinary I concentration of school-aged children is an appropriate indicator of I nutritional status in different adult populations. This is a secondary data analysis of two national I Deficiency Disorder surveys (2011, 2014) and two regional surveys (in coastal areas, 2009, and in high-risk areas, 2009–2014). Population groups included in these surveys were school-aged children (8–10 years), pregnant women, lactating women, women of childbearing age and adults (men and women, 18–45 years). All participants were self-reported healthy without history of thyroid diseases or were not using thyroid medicines. The median urinary I concentration of school-aged children was matched with that of the other population at the county level. The matched populations had similar iodised salt supply, food and water I, food composition and I content in salt. Weak or moderate correlation of median urinary I concentrations was observed between school-aged children and pregnant women and between children and lactating women. However, the agreement was stronger between children and women of childbearing age and between children and adult men and women. The results could be affected by cut-off values, data aggregation level and sample size. Using median urinary I concentration of school-aged children tends to overestimate that of pregnant women and lactating women. Median urinary I concentration of school-aged children can be used for assessing I nutrition in the adult population.