Intake estimation of total and individual flavan-3-ols, proanthocyanidins and theaflavins, their food sources and determinants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study

Epidemiological studies suggest health-protective effects of flavan-3-ols and their derived compounds on chronic diseases. The present study aimed to estimate dietary flavan-3-ol, proanthocyanidin (PA) and theaflavin intakes, their food sources and potential determinants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) calibration cohort. Dietary data were collected using a standardised 24 h dietary recall software administered to 36 037 subjects aged 35-74 years. Dietary data were linked with a flavanoid food composition database compiled from the latest US Department of Agriculture and Phenol-Explorer databases and expanded to include recipes, estimations and retention factors. Total flavan-3-ol intake was the highest in UK Health-conscious men (453·6 mg/d) and women of UK General population (377·6 mg/d), while the intake was the lowest in Greece (men: 160·5 mg/d; women: 124·8 mg/d). Monomer intake was the highest in UK General population (men: 213·5 mg/d; women: 178·6 mg/d) and the lowest in Greece (men: 26·6 mg/d in men; women: 20·7 mg/d). Theaflavin intake was the highest in UK General population (men: 29·3 mg/d; women: 25·3 mg/d) and close to zero in Greece and Spain. PA intake was the highest in Asturias (men: 455·2 mg/d) and San Sebastian (women: 253 mg/d), while being the lowest in Greece (men: 134·6 mg/d; women: 101·0 mg/d). Except for the UK, non-citrus fruits (apples/pears) were the highest contributors to the total flavan-3-ol intake. Tea was the main contributor of total flavan-3-ols in the UK. Flavan-3-ol, PA and theaflavin intakes were significantly different among all assessed groups. This study showed heterogeneity in flavan-3-ol, PA and theaflavin intake throughout the EPIC countries

Estimation of the intake of anthocyanidins and their food sources in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC) study

Anthocyanidins are bioactive flavonoids with potential health-promoting effects. These may vary among single anthocyanidins considering differences in their bioavailability and some of the mechanisms involved. The aim of the present study was to estimate the dietary intake of anthocyanidins, their food sources and the lifestyle factors (sex, age, BMI, smoking status, educational level and physisical activity) involved among twenty-seven centres in ten European countries participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Anthocyanidin intake and their food sources for 36 037 subjects, aged between 35 and 74 years, in twenty-seven redefined centres were obtained using standardised 24 h dietary recall software (EPIC-SOFT). An ad hoc food composition database on anthocyanidins (cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin, pelargonidin, peonidin, petunidin) was compiled using data from the US Department of Agriculture and Phenol-Explorer databases and was expanded by adding recipes, estimated values and cooking factors. For men, the total anthocyanidin mean intake ranged from 19·83 (se 1·53) mg/d (Bilthoven, The Netherlands) to 64·88 (se 1·86) mg/d (Turin, Italy), whereas for women the range was 18·73 (se 2·80) mg/d (Granada, Spain) to 44·08 (se 2·45) mg/d (Turin, Italy). A clear south to north gradient intake was observed. Cyanidins and malvidins were the main anthocynidin contributors depending on the region and sex. Anthocyanidin intake was higher in non-obese older females, non-smokers, and increased with educational level and physical activity. The major food sources were fruits, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and some vegetables. The present study shows differences in both total and individual anthocyanidin intakes and various lifestyle factors throughout Europe, with some geographical variability in their food sources

Multicentre Italian study of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents, preliminary data as at 10 April 2020

Data on features of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in children and adolescents are scarce. We report preliminary results of an Italian multicentre study comprising 168 laboratory-confirmed paediatric cases (median: 2.3 years, range: 1 day-17.7 years, 55.9% males), of which 67.9% were hospitalised and 19.6% had comorbidities. Fever was the most common symptom, gastrointestinal manifestations were frequent; two children required intensive care, five had seizures, 49 received experimental treatments and all recovered

Strumenti per l'epidemiologia nutrizionale dell'era della globalizzazione

I database nutrizionali (DN) sono ancora strumenti indispensabili per valutare l'adeguatezza della dieta ed individuare i fattori di rischio alimentare. In un'epoca in cui i prodotti di nuova concezione (alimenti fortificati e funzionali, etc) e la globalizzazione hanno fortemente diversificato l\u2019offerta alimentare, i DN non sempre sono in grado di rappresentare i consumi. Inoltre, i DN spesso non contengono informazioni complete sui componenti alimentari che appaiono pi\uf9 legati all\u2019eziologia delle malattie (composti bioattivi, etc). OBIETTIVI: presentare caratteristiche e finalit\ue0 del network NUTRIRETElab (www.nutriretelab.it) e la nuova edizione della Banca Dati di Composizione degli Alimenti per Studi Epidemiologici in Italia (BDA- V1.2015; www.bda-ieo.it). METODI. Nell\u2019ambito del progetto di ricerca QUALIFU-SIAGRO coordinato dal CREA (ex-INRAN) \ue8 stato sviluppato un network per la condivisione di dati di composizione degli alimenti tra ricercatori, laboratori ed industrie alimentari italiane. Un sito web ed un database MS-Access permettono la raccolta e documentazione dei dati. Parallelamente, il processo di compilazione e gestione della BDA, certificato da EuroFIR (European Food Information Resource Network www.eurofir.org), ha consentito di procedere all\u2019aggiornamento della versione 2008 della BDA attraverso dati di composizione italiani (CREA) e stranieri (applicazione eSearch di EuroFIR). RISULTATI. Ad oggi (31/07/2015), sul sito NUTRIRETElab sono presenti informazioni su 133 set di recenti pubblicazioni (articoli scientifici, report di laboratorio, dichiarazioni nutrizionali, etc.), consultabili online sotto forma di schede. Nel database in MS-Access sono stati inseriti 911 alimenti, di cui 775 completi di dati di composizione (in totale 201 componenti alimentari). La BDA-V1.2015 contiene 977 voci; di queste, 339 (35%) sono alimenti edizione 1998, 501 (51%) alimenti edizione 2008 e 137 (14%) alimenti edizione 2015. Quest\u2019ultimo aggiornamento ha riguardato il gruppo \u201cFrutta fresca e conservata\u201d, che ora presenta 43 nuovi alimenti. I componenti alimentari sono 37, 85 e 86 rispettivamente per gli alimenti delle edizioni 1998, 2008 e 2015: in particolare, la novit\ue0 assoluta \ue8 la presenza del dato di composizione relativo alla vitamina K per 137 alimenti e il contenuto di energia calcolato senza o con l\u2019apporto della fibra alimentare, in linea con la normativa europea (Reg UE 1169/2011), per tutti i 977 alimenti. CONCLUSIONI. La complessit\ue0 dell\u2019offerta alimentare influisce sulle capacit\ue0 di stimare adeguatamente l\u2019assunzione di alimenti e componenti alimentari e complica il gi\ue0 difficile processo di acquisizione di dati di composizione necessari per l\u2019aggiornamento dei database nutrizionali. Tale processo \ue8 destinato sempre pi\uf9 a passare attraverso l\u2019acquisizione di dati di composizione utilizzando Reti dedicate, in grado di fornire ai compilatori di database nutrizionali dati di composizione rappresentativi e ben documentati

Carbonate buildups and associated facies in the Monte Facito Formation (southern Apennines)

ln this paper the buildups and the associated facies belonging to the Upper part of the Monte Facito Formation are described. They show a first stage of colonization by encrusting organisms; the growth of the carbonate complex was locally interrupted by terrigenous deposition. The drowning of the buildups was caused by an increase of subsidence with the deposition of Ammonitico Rosso facies and then of radiolarite marls. The upper part of the Mt. Facito Formation is referred to the Ladinian on the basis of foraminifers, brachiopods, calcareous sponges, dasycladacean algae, palynomorphs and ammonites

Reworked foraminifera in the Triassic Monte Facito Formation Auctt., Lagonegro Basin (southern Apennines, Italy)

Two Upper Permian fusulina subzones are reworked in the lower part of the Triassic Monte Facito Formation, Lagonegro Basin, southern Apennines: the Neoschwagerina craticulifera subzone of Middle Murghabian age and the younger Neoschwagerina margaritae subzone of Upper Murghabian age. Above the margaritae subzone, large fusulinas are absent and, in our interpretation, replaced by smaller foraminifera of Upper Permian age (Djulfian s.I.). We have also retained the hypothesis, that at the end of the Permian (Dorashamian) there existed, for a time, conditions of emergence. The discovery of Meandrospira pusilla, in the turbiditic lower part of the Monte Facito Formation, shows that also Lower Triassic microfaunas have been reworked. The occurrence of Lower Triassic palynomorphs in the shaley beds of the same turbiditic sequence seems to confirm this age determination. The Permian foraminifera encountered in the lower part of the Monte Facito Formation have been compared with other Permian microfaunas of the western Tethys (Valley of the Sosio, Sicily; Djebel Tebaga, southern Tunisia; the Julian and Carnian Alps; the Dinarides)