Analysis of the National Adult Nutrition Survey (Ireland) and the Food4Me Nutrition Survey Databases to Explore the Development of Food Labelling Portion Sizes for the European Union

The present study set out to explore the option of developing food portion size for nutritional labelling purposes using two European Union (EU) dietary surveys. The surveys were selected as they differed in (a) methodologies (food diary versus food frequency questionnaire), (b) populations (Irish National Adult Nutrition Survey (NANS) versus a seven-country survey based on the pan EU study Food4Me), (c) food quantification (multiple options versus solely photographic album) and (d) duration (4 consecutive days versus recent month). Using data from these studies, portion size was determined for 15 test foods, where portion size was defined as the median intake of a target food when consumed. The median values of the portion sizes derived from both the NANS and Food4Me surveys were correlated (r = 0.823; p < 0.00) and the mean of the two survey data sets were compared to US values from the Recognized as Customarily Consumed (RACC) database. There was very strong agreement across all food categories between the averaged EU and the US portion size (r = 0.947; p < 0.00). It is concluded that notwithstanding the variety of approaches used for dietary survey data in the EU, the present data supports using a standardized approach to food portion size quantification for food labelling in the EU

Influence of Vitamin D Status and Supplementation on Metabolomic Profiles of Older Adults

Metabolomics can identify metabolite patterns associated with different nutrition phenotypes and determine changes in metabolism in response to nutrition interventions. Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with increased metabolic disease risk; however, the role of vitamin D in metabolic health is not fully understood. This randomised, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) examined the influence of vitamin D status and the effect of vitamin D supplementation on metabolomic profiles in older adults. Healthy adults aged 50+ were randomly assigned to consume 20 µg vitamin D3 or a placebo daily for 4 weeks. Serum samples were collected at baseline and post-intervention for 25(OH)D and metabolomics analysis via liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Pearson’s correlation examined relationships between 25(OH)D and metabolite concentrations. GLM ANCOVA compared metabolite concentrations between vitamin D-insufficient (50 nmol/L) participants. The repeated-measures general linear model of covariance (RM GLM ANCOVA) examined changes in metabolites over time. Out of 132 metabolites, 2 short chain fatty acid concentrations were higher in the insufficient participants compared to sufficient participants, and 11 glycerophospholipid concentrations were lower in insufficient participants compared to sufficient participants at baseline. Three acylcarnitine concentrations decreased with vitamin D supplementation in vitamin D-insufficient participants. Our findings suggest that vitamin D status influences lipid metabolism in healthy older adults and supports the use of metabolomics in vitamin D research

Advanced analytical strategies for measuring free bioactive milk sugars: from composition and concentrations to human metabolic response

Our daily food intake provides the nutrients to maintain health. However, in addition to the nutritional values, food can promote health and be beneficial in preventing diseases. Human milk is a unique food source that contains essential nutrients in the right balance and other bioactive factors that make it the ideal food for all healthy term infants. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) play an important role in health, at several levels: acting as prebiotics promoting the growth of beneficial bacterial strains, preventing the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine, and modulating the immune response against bacterial infections. However, despite their biological relevance and the advances made in the analytical field, very few studies have been carried out to better understand HMOs bioactivity mechanisms or to examine human metabolic response to dietary supplementation. This review describes the state-of-the-art of glycomics strategies, recent analytical methods, and future trends for the identification and discovery of bioactive sugars, the known mechanisms of action, and discusses findings of some recent human intervention trials

Influence of Vitamin D Status and Supplementation on Metabolomic Profiles of Older Adults

Metabolomics can identify metabolite patterns associated with different nutrition phenotypes and determine changes in metabolism in response to nutrition interventions. Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with increased metabolic disease risk; however, the role of vitamin D in metabolic health is not fully understood. This randomised, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) examined the influence of vitamin D status and the effect of vitamin D supplementation on metabolomic profiles in older adults. Healthy adults aged 50+ were randomly assigned to consume 20 &micro;g vitamin D3 or a placebo daily for 4 weeks. Serum samples were collected at baseline and post-intervention for 25(OH)D and metabolomics analysis via liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Pearson&rsquo;s correlation examined relationships between 25(OH)D and metabolite concentrations. GLM ANCOVA compared metabolite concentrations between vitamin D-insufficient (&lt;50 nmol/L) and -sufficient (&gt;50 nmol/L) participants. The repeated-measures general linear model of covariance (RM GLM ANCOVA) examined changes in metabolites over time. Out of 132 metabolites, 2 short chain fatty acid concentrations were higher in the insufficient participants compared to sufficient participants, and 11 glycerophospholipid concentrations were lower in insufficient participants compared to sufficient participants at baseline. Three acylcarnitine concentrations decreased with vitamin D supplementation in vitamin D-insufficient participants. Our findings suggest that vitamin D status influences lipid metabolism in healthy older adults and supports the use of metabolomics in vitamin D research

Generic Meal Patterns Identified by Latent Class Analysis: Insights from NANS (National Adult Nutrition Survey)

Nutritional data reduction methods are widely applied in nutrition epidemiology in order to classify individuals into meaningful groups with similar dietary patterns. To date, none of the existing studies have applied latent class analysis to examine dietary patterns which include meal types consumed throughout a day. We investigated main meal patterns followed on weekend and weekdays, and evaluated their associations with cardio-metabolic biomarkers. The analyses were performed within the NANS (National Adult Nutrition Survey) a cross-sectional national food consumption survey of 1500 nationally representative Irish adults. A total number of seven dietary patterns were identified using latent class analysis. The typical meal pattern followed by the majority of the population was characterized by consumption of cereal or toast for breakfast, skipping or consuming a sandwich for light meal, and meat or fish with potatoes, pasta or vegetables for the main meal. Eating patterns differed on weekends, and those participants who consumed meat and eggs for breakfast instead of breakfast cereal and skipped light meal were more likely to have an unhealthier dietary pattern, a higher diastolic blood pressure, and increased serum ferritin. The application of data reduction techniques to simplify the multifaceted nature of dietary data is a useful approach to derive patterns, which might shed further light on the typical dietary patterns followed by populations

Analysis of the National Adult Nutrition Survey (Ireland) and the Food4Me Nutrition Survey Databases to Explore the Development of Food Labelling Portion Sizes for the European Union

The present study set out to explore the option of developing food portion size for nutritional labelling purposes using two European Union (EU) dietary surveys. The surveys were selected as they differed in (a) methodologies (food diary versus food frequency questionnaire), (b) populations (Irish National Adult Nutrition Survey (NANS) versus a seven-country survey based on the pan EU study Food4Me), (c) food quantification (multiple options versus solely photographic album) and (d) duration (4 consecutive days versus recent month). Using data from these studies, portion size was determined for 15 test foods, where portion size was defined as the median intake of a target food when consumed. The median values of the portion sizes derived from both the NANS and Food4Me surveys were correlated (r = 0.823; p < 0.00) and the mean of the two survey data sets were compared to US values from the Recognized as Customarily Consumed (RACC) database. There was very strong agreement across all food categories between the averaged EU and the US portion size (r = 0.947; p < 0.00). It is concluded that notwithstanding the variety of approaches used for dietary survey data in the EU, the present data supports using a standardized approach to food portion size quantification for food labelling in the EU

Developing and testing personalised nutrition feedback for more sustainable healthy diets: the MyPlanetDiet randomised controlled trial protocol

Purpose: Agriculture and food production contribute to climate change. There is mounting pressure to transition to diets with less environmental impact while maintaining nutritional adequacy. MyPlanetDiet aimed to reduce diet-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) in a safe, nutritionally adequate, and acceptable manner. This paper describes the trial protocol, development, and testing of personalised nutrition feedback in the MyPlanetDiet randomised controlled trial (RCT). Methods: MyPlanetDiet was a 12-week RCT that provided standardised personalised nutrition feedback to participants based on new sustainable healthy eating guidelines (intervention) or existing healthy eating guidelines (control) using decision trees and corresponding feedback messages. To test the personalised nutrition feedback, we modelled a sample of 20 of the MyPlanetDiet participants baseline diets. Diets were modelled to adhere to control and intervention decision trees and feedback messages. Modelled nutrient intakes and environmental metrics were compared using repeated measure one-way analysis of covariance. Results: Intervention diets had significantly lower (p &lt; 0.001) diet-related GHGE per 2500 kilocalories (kcal) (4.7 kg CO2-eq) relative to control (6.6 kg CO2-eq) and baseline (7.1 kg CO2-eq). Modelled control and intervention diets had higher mean daily intakes of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fibre, and protein) and micronutrients (calcium, iron, zinc, and iodine). Modelled control and intervention diets had lower percent energy from fat and saturated fat relative to baseline. Conclusions: Adherence to the MyPlanetDiet personalised nutrition feedback would be expected to lead to better nutrient intakes and reduced diet-related GHGE. The MyPlanetDiet RCT will test the effectiveness and safety of personalised feedback for a more sustainable diet.</p