Intake of contaminants, heavy metals and nutrients with potential toxicity via total diet in four geographical areas of Spain

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Ingesta y fuentes de calcio en una muestra representativa de escolares españoles Food sources and average intake of calcium in a representative sample of Spanish schoolchildren

Introducción: La adecuación de la ingesta de calcio de la población infantil española ha sido objeto de debate y controversia, pues algunos estudios señalan que puede ser inadecuada en un porcentaje variable de escolares, mientras que algunos documentos insisten en el peligro de una ingesta excesiva en un amplio porcentaje de la población escolar. Objetivos: Valorar la ingesta de calcio y las fuentes alimentarias de este nutriente en una muestra representativa de niños españoles, analizando también la adecuación del aporte a la cobertura de las ingestas recomendadas. Métodos: Se estudiaron 903 escolares (de 7 a 11 años) de diez provincias españolas: Tarragona, Cáceres, Burgos, Guadalajara, Valencia, Salamanca, Córdoba, Vizcaya, Lugo y Madrid, que constituyen una muestra representativa de la población española de dicha edad. La ingesta de energía y nutrientes se determinó utilizando un registro del consumo de alimentos durante 3 días, incluyendo un domingo. El aporte de calcio se comparó con las Ingestas Recomendadas (IR) marcadas para dicho mineral. Los parámetros antropométricos estudiados fueron el peso y la talla, lo que permitió calcular el índice de masa corporal (IMC). Resultados: En el colectivo estudiado (55,3% de niñas y 44,7% de niños), un 30,7% presentó exceso de peso (sobrepeso-23,3% y obesidad-7,4%). La ingesta de calcio de los niños estudiados (859,9 ± 249,2 mg/día) supuso un 79,5% de lo recomendado, observándose la existencia de un 76,7% de niños con ingestas menores de las recomendadas y un 40,1 con ingestas Introduction: There is controversy about the adequacy of calcium intake to that recommended in Spanish schoolchildren. Some studies indicate that the intake is inadequate in a variable percentage of children, while others insist on the danger of an excessive intake in a huge percentage of this population. Aim: To assess calcium intake and food sources of this nutrient in a representative sample of Spanish children and to judge the adequacy of its contribution to the coverage of recommended intakes. Methods: 903 schoolchildren (7 to 11 years) from 10 Spanish provinces (Tarragona, Caceres, Burgos, Guadalajara, Valencia, Salamanca, Cordoba, Vizcaya, Lugo and Madrid) were studied. They constituted a representative sample of the Spanish schoolchildren population. The energy and nutrient intake was determined using a "Food record questionnaire" for 3 days, including a Sunday. Calcium intake was compared with the recommended intakes (RI) for the mineral. Weight and height were recorded and body mass index (BMI) calculated. Results: In the studied group (55.3% girls and 44.7% of children), 30.7% had an excess body weight (23.3% overweight and 7.4% obesity). Calcium intake was 859.9 ± 249.2 mg / day (79.5% of the recommendations). 76.7% of children had intakes below 100% of those recommended and 40.1% below of 67% of RI. The ratios calcium/phosphorus (0.74 ± 0.21) and calcium/protein (10.1 ± 2.8) and the index of nutritional quality for calcium (0.78 ± 0.29) were lower than recommended in 91.6%, 99.8% and 81.1% of children, respectively. Dietary calcium came from dairy products (64.7%), dietetic products and infant formulae (7.6%), cereals (7.3%), vegetables (3.5%), fruits (3.4%), pre-cooked meals (3.3%), meats (2.8%), fishes (2.8%) and pulses (2.2%), with no differences by gender. Conclusion: Calcium intake was lower than recommended in 76.7% of the children and 40.1% had insufficient intake (< 67% of RI). Having in mind that the main calcium source was dairy products (64.7%), increase consumption of this food group is recommended, especially in the 37.1% of children who did not reach the 2 recommended servings per day

Ca-Alginate-Carob Galactomannans Beads to Preserve Viability During Digestive Hostility Transit and Cholesterol Uptake Ability of Probiotic Bacteria

International audienceThe assurance of the bacteria survival is the key of the protective technique aiming to alleviate the bacteria resistance under digestive hostilities. Among the methods of protection, microencapsulation of cells in various biomaterials has given convincing results. We tried to exploit for the first time the emulsifying properties of carob galactomannans reinforced herein by the sodium alginate gel in the microencapsulation of beneficial bacteria. On the other hand, we explored the benefits of this protective technique upon the expression of the bacterial ability to uptake cholesterol, in complement to our previously published results. The present study aimed to develop a new mixed gel containing calcium alginate and galactomannans extracted from the Algerian carob seeds endospermes, for the microencapsulation of the human strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus LbRE-LSAS; compared with the probiotic strain of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb12. Influence of microencapsulation was tested under simulated digestive environment to verify if both bacteria preserve their viability and their cholesterol assimilation ability. High viable loads of encapsulated LbRE-LSAS and Bb12 were registered (6.97 and 8.66 of 10 Log CFU g −1 , respectively). Conversely, the free cell levels strongly (P < 0.05) decreased during exposure to the digestive simulated conditions. According to our results, the new formed gel permits to improve 1.8-fold on average the cholesterol assimilation ability of probiotic bacteria. We underlined the possible use of carob galactomannans-Ca-alginate beads as alternative healthy solution in protecting beneficial bacteria under gastro-intestinal conditions, and by the way, lowering the serum cholesterol level in the host

Changes of physical activity and ultra-processed food consumption in adolescents from different countries during covid-19 pandemic: An observational study

Aim: to describe physical activity and ultra-processed foods consumption, their changes and sociodemographic predictors among adolescents from countries in Europe (Italy and Spain) and Latin America (Brazil, Chile, and Colombia) during the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic period. Methods: Cross-sectional study via web survey. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and weekly ultra-processed food consumption data were used. To compare the frequencies of physical activity status with sociodemographic variables, a multinomial logistic and a multiple logistic regression for habitual ultra-processed foods was performed. In final models, p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Sample of 726 adolescents, mostly females (59.6%) aged 16\u201319 years old (54.3%). Adolescents from Latin America presented odds ratio (OR) 2.98 (CI 95% 1.80\u20134.94) of being inactive and those whose mothers had higher level of education were less active during lockdown [OR 0.40 (CI 95% 0.20\u20130.84)]. The habitual ultra-processed consumption was also high during this period in all countries, and more prevalent in Latin America. Conclusion: A higher prevalence of inactivity was observed in this population, but reductions of physical activity and habitual ultra-processed consumption during the pandemic were more pronounced in Latin America. Our findings reinforce the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle, i.e., exercise and diet, during periods of social isolation

Non-extractable Procyanidins and Lignin are Important Factors in the Bile Acid Binding and Radical Scavenging Properties of Cell Wall Material in some Fruits

The cell wall components and the food functions of alcohol-insoluble solids (AIS) of Chinese quince, quince, hawthorn, apple, pear and blueberry fruits were analyzed. Chinese quince contained characteristically high contents of cellulose, lignin, and non-extractable procyanidins (NEPCs). On the other hand, the quince AIS contained the highest proportion of NEPCs, the highest mean degree of polymerization (mDP), the strongest radical scavenging activity, and strong bile acid binding activity. In fruit AIS, the lignin and NEPC contents both showed positive correlations with the bile acid binding and radical scavenging activities. The value for mDP x NEPC content was a good index for the radical scavenging activity. The results suggest that highly polymerized NEPCs and lignin are important factors of cell wall components of fruits to having a high functionality, and Chinese quince and quince are interesting fruits from this view point