Emergence of seaweed and seaweed-containing foods in the UK: focus on labeling, iodine content, toxicity and nutrition

Seaweed (edible algae) is not a staple food in the Western diet, despite occasional use as a traditional ingredient in coastal areas. High nutritional value, combined with the expansion of the health-food industry, has led to a resurgence of seaweed in the British diet. While seaweed could be useful in tackling dietary iodine insufficiency, consumption of some species and sources of seaweed has also been associated with risks, such as toxicity from high iodine levels, or accumulation of arsenic, heavy metals and contaminants. The current retail level of seaweed and edible algae in the UK market, either as whole foods or ingredients, was evaluated with particular focus on labelling and iodine content. Seaweed-containing products (n = 224) were identified. Only 22 products (10%) stated information regarding iodine content and another 40 (18%) provided information sufficient to estimate the iodine content. For these products, the median iodine content was 110 μg/g (IQR 21–503) and 585 μg per estimated serving (IQR 105–2520). While calculations for iodine exposure per serving relied on assumptions, 26 products could potentially lead to an iodine intake above the (European) tolerable adult upper level of 600 μg/day. In the context of the data presented, there is scope to improve product labelling (species, source, processing, content)

Low thiamine status in adults following low-carbohydrate / ketogenic diets: a cross-sectional comparative study of micronutrient intake and status

Background: Low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) are popular for weight loss but lack evidence about micronutrient sufficiency in real-life use. This study assessed the intake and biochemical status of selected micronutrients in people voluntarily following LCDs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted (2018-20) among 98 adults recruited as self-reporting either LCD (n = 49) or diets not restricting carbohydrates (controls; n = 49). Diets were assessed using the 130-item EPIC-Norfolk food-frequency questionnaire. Red-blood-cell thiamine diphosphate (TDP) was measured for thiamine status using HPLC. Plasma magnesium, zinc, copper, and selenium were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Between-group biomarker comparisons were conducted using ANCOVA and adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and diabetes status. Results: LCD-followers (26% male, median age 36 years, median BMI 24.2 kg/m2) reported adhering to LCDs for a median duration of 9 months (IQR 4–36). The most followed LCD type was ‘their own variations of LCD’ (30%), followed by ketogenic (23%), ‘palaeolithic’ (15%), and Atkins diets (8%). Among controls, 41% were male (median age 27 years, median BMI 23 kg/m2). Median macronutrient intakes for LCD vs control groups were carbohydrate 16%Energy (E) vs. 50%E; protein 25%E vs. 19%E; and fat 55%E vs 34%E (saturated fat 18%E vs. 11%E). Two-thirds of LCD followers (32/49) and half of the controls (24/49) reported some use of dietary supplements (p = 0.19). Among LCD-followers, assessing from food data only, 21 (43%) failed to meet the reference nutrient intake (RNI) for thiamine (vs.14% controls, p = 0.002). When thiamine from supplementation (single- or multivitamin) was included, there appeared to be no difference in thiamine intake between groups. Still, red-blood-cell TDP was lower in LCD-followers than controls (407 ± 91 vs. 633 ± 234 ng/gHb, p < 0.001). Three LCD-followers were thiamine-deficient (RBC thiamine < 275 ng/gHb) vs. one control. There were no significant differences in dietary intakes or plasma concentrations of magnesium, zinc, copper, and selenium between groups. Conclusions: Following LCDs is associated with lower thiamine intake and TDP status than diets without carbohydrate restriction, incompletely corrected by supplement use. These data, coupled with a lack of RCT evidence on body weight control, do not support recommending LCDs for weight management without appropriate guidance and diet supplementation

Nutritional status and thyroid gland volume in humans: a systematic review [registered protocol]

No abstract available

Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for the management of age- and disease- related declines in skeletal muscle mass, strength and physical function

Purpose of review: This review uses the hierarchy of evidence as a framework to critically evaluate the effect of long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCn-3 PUFA) ingestion alone, or as an adjunctive intervention to resistance training, on muscle health-related outcomes in healthy and clinical older adult populations.Recent findings: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials consistently report small, but clinically-relevant, effects of LCn-3 PUFA ingestion on strength outcomes, whereas mixed findings have been reported regarding changes in muscle mass and physical function. Cohort studies indicate an association between higher dietary LCn-3 PUFA intake and reduced likelihood of a sarcopenia diagnosis. Acute metabolic studies provide limited evidence for an effect of LCn-3 PUFA ingestion alone, or in combination with resistance training, on free-living integrated rates of MPS, static markers of muscle protein breakdown, or satellite cell activation in healthy older adults.Summary: Recent data supports the efficacy of LCn-3 PUFA ingestion to facilitate small, but clinically relevant, improvements in muscle strength in healthy and clinical older adult populations. The mechanism(s) that underpin the action of LCn-3 PUFA in promoting strength outcomes remain unknown, but likely relate to neuromuscular function

Brexit Observatory: Listening to the voices of those affected by the Brexit vote, in the research, innovation and tertiary education sectors

The Young Academy of Scotland, in collaboration with the Royal Society of Edinburgh, launched a call for case studies on 12 May 2017, with the objective of capturing the impact, whether positiveor negative, perceived or factual, of the Brexit vote on people involved in research, innovation or further/higher education. By providing a platform where evidence can be submitted in confidence and directly by the affected individuals, we want to make these voices heard, in order to inform policy and raise awareness of such impact. Up until 20 September 2017, we received 35 submissions, all of which were considered in defining the main trends emerging from the survey. Around two-thirds of the respondents were happy fortheir anonymised responses to be made publicly available and they are presented in this report