A 4-Week Diet Low or High in Advanced Glycation Endproducts Has Limited Impact on Gut Microbial Composition in Abdominally Obese Individuals : The deAGEing Trial

Dietary advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), abundantly present in Westernized diets, are linked to negative health outcomes, but their impact on the gut microbiota has not yet been well investigated in humans. We investigated the effects of a 4-week isocaloric and macronutrient-matched diet low or high in AGEs on the gut microbial composition of 70 abdominally obese individuals in a double-blind parallel-design randomized controlled trial (NCT03866343). Additionally, we investigated the cross-sectional associations between the habitual intake of dietary dicarbonyls, reactive precursors to AGEs, and the gut microbial composition, as assessed by 16S rRNA amplicon-based sequencing. Despite a marked percentage difference in AGE intake, we observed no differences in microbial richness and the general community structure. Only the Anaerostipes spp. had a relative abundance >0.5% and showed differential abundance (0.5 versus 1.11%; p = 0.028, after low- or high-AGE diet, respectively). While the habitual intake of dicarbonyls was not associated with microbial richness or a general community structure, the intake of 3-deoxyglucosone was especially associated with an abundance of several genera. Thus, a 4-week diet low or high in AGEs has a limited impact on the gut microbial composition of abdominally obese humans, paralleling its previously observed limited biological consequences. The effects of dietary dicarbonyls on the gut microbiota composition deserve further investigation.Peer reviewe

A systematic review of methods to assess intake of saturated fat (SF) among healthy European adults and children: a DEDIPAC (Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity) study

Abstract Background Dietary fat is an essential macronutrient. However, saturated fact has been associated with negative health outcomes including cardiovascular disease. Shifting consumption from saturated fat to unsaturated fats and limiting the level of saturated fat in the diet has been recommended. Currently, there is no standard method to measure saturated fat intake in etiologic studies. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a reliable picture of saturated fat intake in Europe. To inform the development of the DEDIPAC (DEterminants of DIet and Physical Activity) toolbox of methods, we aimed to identify the assessment methods and specific instruments which have been used to assess saturated fat intake among children or adults in pan-European studies. Methods Three electronic databases were searched for English language studies of any design which assessed intake of saturated fat. Reference lists were hand-searched. Studies were included if they were conducted in two or more European countries, and involved healthy, free-living children and adults. Results The review identified 20 pan-European studies which assessed saturated fat intake. Food Frequency Questionnaires (n = 8) and diet records (n = 7) were most common, followed by 24-h recalls (n = 5). Methods differed in portion size estimation and the composition data which was used to calculate nutrient intake. Of the instruments used in more than two European countries, five Food Frequency Questionnaires had been specifically tested for validity to assess saturated fat intake; four among adults (Food4me, PURE, IMMIDIET, Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE)) and one among children (used by Piqueras et al.). Conclusions A standardised approach to portion size estimation and a common source of food composition data are required to measure saturated fat intake across Europe effectively. Only five instruments had been used in more than two European countries and specifically tested for validity to assess saturated fat intake. These instruments may be most appropriate to evaluate intake of saturated fat in future pan-European studies. However, only two instruments had been tested for validity in more than one European country. Future work is needed to assess the validity of the identified instruments across European countries

Validation of a food-frequency questionnaire for Flemish and Italian-native subjects in Belgium : the IMMIDIET study

Objective: To validate an integrated food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed to assess habitual food intake of Flemish and Italian-native subjects in Belgium as part of the European Collaborative Dietary Habit Profile in European Communities With Different Risk of Myocardial Infarction: the Impact of Migration as a Model of Gene/Environment Interaction (IMMIDIET Project). Methods: The semiquantitative FFQ contained 322 items on food and food preparation. FFQs filled by a sample (n = 70) of the Flemish-Flemish and Flemish-Italian IMMIDIET subpopulations were randomly selected. Five 24-h recalls, administered over a period of 1 y by the same sample, served for validation. Energy and macronutrients were calculated using the Dutch NEVO and the Belgian NUBEL food composition tables. Intakes of energy and macronutrients estimated by the FFQ and repeated 24-h recall, respectively, were compared by means of correlation coefficients, classification into quartiles, and Bland-Altman plotting. Results: The FFQ overestimated intake of energy and most macronutrients by 40-70%. This overestimation largely disappeared when values were expressed as energy percentage. Correlations ranked from 0.40 to 0.60 for energy and most macronutrients (median 0.53); correlations were lower (null to 0.41) for fat and higher (up to 0.90) for alcohol. Classification in quartiles of intake showed good agreement: 83% were classified in the same or adjacent quartile of energy, and 66-90% for macronutrients. Correlations and classification of macronutrient intake into quartiles remained similar when macronutrients were expressed as energy percentage. Stratification according to ethnic subgroup, age, body mass index, or social status showed no differences. Conclusion: The IMMIDIET FFQ is a valuable tool for studies of the role of energy and macronutrients in disease etiology or outcome, but less suitable for estimating absolute intake levels. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Invasion risks posed by the aquarium trade and live fish markets on the Laurentian Great Lakes

International trade is an important mechanism for global non-indigenous species introductions, which have had profound impacts on the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems including the Laurentian Great Lakes. The best-documented vector by which non-indigenous species have entered the Great Lakes is ballast water discharged by transoceanic ships. A variety of potential alternative vectors exist, including the intentional release of aquarium or food organisms. To assess whether these vectors pose a significant invasion risk for the Great Lakes, we surveyed fish sold live in markets and fish, mollusks and macrophytes sold in pet and aquarium stores within the Great Lakes watershed. We evaluated invasion risk using information on species\u27 thermal tolerance, history of invasion elsewhere, and potential propagule loads as indicated by frequency of occurrence in shops. Our research suggests that both the aquarium industry and live fish markets represent potential sources of future invaders to the Great Lakes, including several aquarium fishes and macrophytes, as well as Asian carp species sold in fish markets. Currently, few regulatory mechanisms exist to control these potential vectors. © Springer 2005

The Maastricht FFQ: Development and validation of a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire for the Maastricht study.

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for The Maastricht Study, a population-based prospective cohort study in Maastricht, The Netherlands. Item selection for the FFQ was based on explained variation and contribution to intake of energy and 24 nutrients. For validation, the FFQ was completed by 135 participants (25-70 y of age) of the Nutrition Questionnaires plus study. Per person, on average 2.8 (range 1-5) telephone-based 24-h dietary recalls (24HRs), two 24-h urinary samples, and one blood sample were available. Validity of 54 nutrients and 22 food groups was assessed by ranking agreement, correlation coefficients, attenuation factors, and ultimately deattenuated correlation coefficients (validity coefficients). Median correlation coefficients for energy and macronutrients, micronutrients, and food groups were 0.45, 0.36, and 0.38, respectively. Median deattenuated correlation coefficients were 0.53 for energy and macronutrients, 0.45 for micronutrients, and 0.64 for food groups, being >0.50 for 18 of 22 macronutrients, 16 of 30 micronutrients and >0.50 for 17 of 22 food groups. The FFQ underestimated protein and potassium intake compared with 24-h urinary nitrogen and potassium excretion by -18% and -2%, respectively. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.50 and 0.55 for (fatty) fish intake and plasma eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, and from 0.26 to 0.42 between fruit and vegetable intake and plasma carotenoids. Overall, the validity of the 253-item Maastricht FFQ was satisfactory. The comprehensiveness of this FFQ make it well suited for use in The Maastricht Study and similar populations

A national FFQ for the Netherlands (the FFQ-NL 1.0): validation of a comprehensive FFQ for adults

A standardised, national, 160-item FFQ, the FFQ-NL 1.0, was recently developed for Dutch epidemiological studies. The objective was to validate the FFQ-NL 1.0 against multiple 24-h recalls (24hR) and recovery and concentration biomarkers. The FFQ-NL 1.0 was filled out by 383 participants (25-69 years) from the Nutrition Questionnaires plus study. For each participant, one to two urinary and blood samples and one to five (mean 27) telephone-based 24hR were available. Group-level bias, correlation coefficients, attenuation factors, de-attenuated correlation coefficients and ranking agreement were assessed. Compared with the 24hR, the FFQ-NL 1.0 estimated the intake of energy and macronutrients well. However, it underestimated intakes of SFA and trans-fatty acids and alcohol and overestimated intakes of most vitamins by >5 %. The median correlation coefficient was 039 for energy and macronutrients, 030 for micronutrients and 030 for food groups. The FFQ underestimated protein intake by an average of 16 % and K by 5 %, relative to their urinary recovery biomarkers. Attenuation factors were 044 and 046 for protein and K, respectively. Correlation coefficients were 043-047 between (fatty) fish intake and plasma EPA and DHA and 024-043 between fruit and vegetable intakes and plasma carotenoids. In conclusion, the overall validity of the newly developed FFQ-NL 1.0 was acceptable to good. The FFQ-NL 1.0 is well suited for future use within Dutch cohort studies among adults

High redshift radio galaxies from the Molonglo Catalogue. II

Restricted Access.We report further results from the ongoing study of radio galaxies from the Molonglo Reference Catalogue are reported. The sources were selected to have 408 MHz flux densities greater than 0.95 Jy and low frequency spectral indices steeper than -0.9. VLA 6-cm maps, optical identifications and redshifts for 18 sources are presented. Most of these sources are identified with faint galaxies, many of which have extended optical structures with morphologies characteristic of high redshift (z greater than 1) radio galaxies. Long slit spectroscopic observations have yielded redshifts for all of the galaxies, three of which have z greater than 2. Spectrophotometry of 1 Jy and the 3CR samples are used to distinguish between an L (emission line) versus L (radio) correlation as opposed to an L (emission line) versus redshift correlation. The results strongly support an intrinsic L (emission line) versus L (radio) correlation. The structures of the sources in this and other 1 Jy samples are substantially different fro the 3C sources, the 1 Jy galaxies having stronger cores and jets

The Maastricht FFQ:Development and validation of a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire for the Maastricht study

Objective: To develop and validate a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for The Maastricht Study, a population-based prospective cohort study in Maastricht, The Netherlands. Research Methods & Procedures: Item selection for the FFQ was based on explained variation and contribution to intake of energy and 24 nutrients. For validation, the FFQ was filled out by 135 participants (25-70 years) of the Nutrition Questionnaires plus study. Per person, on average 2.8 (range 1 to 5) telephone-based 24h dietary recalls (24hRs), two 24h urinary samples and one blood sample were available. Validity of 54 nutrients and 22 food groups was assessed by ranking agreement, correlation coefficients, attenuation factors, and ultimately de-attenuated correlation coefficients (validity coefficients). Results: Median correlation coefficients for energy and macronutrients, micronutrients and food groups were 0.45, 0.36 and 0.38, respectively. Median de-attenuated correlation coefficients were 0.53 for energy and macronutrients, 0.45 for micronutrients and 0.64 for food groups, being >0.50 for 18 out of 22 macronutrients and 16 out of 30 micronutrients, and >0.50 for 17 out of 22 food groups. The FFQ underestimated protein and potassium intake compared to 24h urinary nitrogen and potassium excretion by -18% and -2%, respectively. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.50 and 0.55 for (fatty) fish intake and plasma EPA and DHA, and from 0.26-0.42 between fruit and vegetable intake and plasma carotenoids. Conclusion: Overall, the validity of the 253-item Maastricht-FFQ is good. The comprehensiveness of this FFQ make it well-suited for use in The Maastricht Study and similar populations