Conflictos de Interés en la Investigación en Nutrición: ¿Mucho ruido o muchas nueces? = Conflicts of Interest in Nutrition Research: Empty Pots Make the Most Noise

Resumen: En los últimos años ha crecido el interés y la preocupación sobre el potencial de los conflictos de interés que pueden afectar la credibilidad de resultados científicos. Los eventuales conflictos de intereses deben manejarse de un modo riguroso declarando las fuentes de financiación de la investigación nutricional; separando a la fuente financiadora privada de la planificación, análisis y divulgación de la investigación; evaluando la calidad de la investigación; salvaguardando el honor y la credibilidad de los investigadores; incentivando la búsqueda de recursos privados para la investigación nutricional, de forma transparente; reconociendo la insuficiencia de la financiación pública y siendo muy escrupuloso con los conflictos de intereses identificados que han dado lugar a sesgos o fraude de forma probada, entre otras medidas.  Una cuestión de ética, responsabilidad y buenas prácticas. Palabras clave: Conflicto de intereses; Financiación de la investigación; Asociaciones entre el Sector Público y el Privado, Ética Abstract: In recent years increasing interest and concern has focused on the potential conflicts of interest that can affect the credibility of scientific results. Possible conflicts of interest should be managed in a rigorous way by declaring the sources of funding for nutrition research; separating the private funding sources from the process of planning, analysis and dissemination of research; evaluating the quality of research; safeguarding the honor and credibility of researchers; encouraging the transparent search for private resources for nutritional research; recognizing the lack of public funding and facing severely against the identified conflicts of interest that have led to proven bias or fraud, among other measures. A matter of ethics, responsibility and good practice. Key words: Conflicts of interest; Research funding; Public-Private Sector Partnerships; Ethics doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.20318/recs.2016.313

How dietary intake methodology is adapted for use in European immigrant population groups - a review

Immigrants comprise a noteworthy segment of the European Population whose numbers are increasing. Research on the dietary habits of immigrants is critical for correctly providing diet counselling and implementing effective interventions. The aim of the present study was to identify the presently used methods and adaptations required for measuring dietary intake in European immigrant groups. A comprehensive review strategy included a structured MEDLINE search, related references and key expert Consultations. The review targeted adults from non-European union (European union-15 countries) ethnic groups having the largest populations in Europe. As Studies evaluating nutrient intake were scarce, papers evaluating intake at the level of foods were included. Forty-six papers were selected. Although Eastern Europe, Turkey, Africa (North, Sub-Saharan and Afro-Caribbean), Asia and Latin America represented the most numerous immigrant groups, papers on dietary intake were not available for all populations. Interview-administered FFQ and repeated 24 hour recalls were the most frequently applied instruments. Inclusion of ethnic foods and quantification of specific portion sizes of traditional foods and dishes in assessment tools as well as food composition databases were commonly identified problems. For FFQ, food list elaboration required particular consideration to reflect key ethnic foods and relative contribution to nutrient intake. Extra efforts were observed to overcome Cultural barriers to Study participation. Evaluation-dietary intake of immigrant populations requires special attention to various methodological aspects (sampling, recruiting, instruments used, method of administration, food composition database, acculturation, etc.) so as to adequately address the range of socio-cultural factors inherent in these nutritionally at risk target groups

The relationship between zinc intake and serum/plasma zinc concentration in adults: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis by the EURRECA Network

Dietary zinc recommendations vary widely across Europe due to the heterogeneity of pproaches used by expert panels. Under the EURRECA consortium a protocol was designed to systematically review and undertake meta-analyses of research data to create a database that includes “best practice” guidelines which can be used as a resource by future panels when setting micronutrient recommendations. As part of this process, the objective of the present study was to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of previously published data describing the relationship between zinc intake and status in adults. Searches were performed of literature published up to February 2010 using MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Data extracted included population characteristics, dose of zinc, duration of study, dietary intake of zinc, and mean concentration of zinc in plasma or serum at the end of the intervention period. An intake-status regression coefficient was estimated for each individual study, and pooled meta-analysis undertaken. The overall pooled for zinc supplementation on serum/plasma zinc concentrations from RCTs and observational studies was 0.08 (95% CI 0.05, 0.11; p<0.0001; I2 84.5%). An overall of 0.08 means that for every doubling in zinc intake, the difference in zinc serum or plasma concentration is (20.08 = 1.06), which is 6%. Whether the dose-response relationship, as provided in this paper, could be used as either qualitative or quantitative evidence to substantiate the daily zinc intake dose necessary to achieve normal or optimal levels of biomarkers for zinc status, remains a matter of discussion

Beverage Consumption Habits and Association with Total Water and Energy Intakes in the Spanish Population: Findings of the ANIBES Study

Background: Inadequate hydration is a public health issue that imposes a significant economic burden. In Spain, data of total water intake (TWI) are scarce. There is a clear need for a national study that quantifies water and beverage intakes and explores associations between the types of beverages and energy intakes. Methods: The Anthropometry, Intake and Energy Balance Study ANIBES is a national survey of diet and nutrition conducted among a representative sample of 2285 healthy participants aged 9–75 years in Spain. Food and beverage intakes were assessed in a food diary over three days. Day and time of beverage consumption were also recorded. Results: On average, TWI was 1.7 L (SE 21.2) for men and 1.6 L (SE 18.9) for women. More than 75% of participants had inadequate TWI, according to European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommendations. Mean total energy intake (EI) was 1810 kcal/day (SE 11.1), of which 12% was provided by beverages. Water was the most consumed beverage, followed by milk. The contribution of alcoholic drinks to the EI was near 3%. For caloric soft drinks, a relatively low contribution to the EI was obtained, only 2%. Of eight different types of beverages, the variety score was positively correlated with TWI (r = 0.39) and EI (r = 0.23), suggesting that beverage variety is an indicator of higher consumption of food and drinks. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that well-conducted surveys such as the ANIBES study have the potential to yield rich contextual value data that can emphasize the need to undertake appropriate health and nutrition policies to increase the total water intake at the population level promoting a healthy Mediterranean hydration pattern.The ANIBES study was supported by Coca-Cola Iberia through an agreement with the Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN) who assisted with the technical advice. The current analysis included in this paper was financially supported by a Grant from the European Hydration Institute to the Canarian Foundation Science and Technology Park of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Prevalence and deteminants of obesity in Spanish children and young people

Ponencia: 6th Congress of the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition, Ibiza (Spain), Sep. 22-25, 2004Prevalence estimates of obesity in a national random sample of Spanish children and young people are presented in this paper, defined by age- and sex-specific BMI national reference standards for the 85th percentile (overweight) and 97th percentile (obesity), as well as by Cole et al. criteria. A random sample of 3534 people, aged 2–24 years, was interviewed between 1998 and 2000. The study protocol included personal data, data on education and socioeconomic status (SES) for the family, dietary assessment, anthropometric measurements and physical activity. The prevalence of obesity was 13·9 % (95 % CI 12·7, 15·1) considering Spanish reference standards as cut-offs. Obesity was significantly higher in boys (15·6 %) than in girls (12 %). The highest values were observed between 6 and 13 years of age. Using Cole's cut-offs, the estimated prevalence of obesity was 6·3 % (95 % CI 5·4, 7·5) with a similar pattern to that previously described by sex. Regarding sociodemographic factors, sex, age group, region, size of locality of residence, mother's level of education and family SES level were significant predictors for obesity in children and adolescents under 14 years. Among young people, the main sociodemographic predictors for obesity were geographical region and family SES level. Odds ratio for obesity was 1·27 for those with a more frequent consumption of buns, cakes and snacks, and 1·71 for those with more frequent consumption of sugared drinks. Adequate consumption of fruit and vegetables, usually having breakfast and regular sports practice had a protective effect. The available data show that obesity in Spain is a public health issue given its magnitude and increasing trends. Among Spanish children and young people, those at prepubertal age, particularly boys, can be identified as a group at higher risk for overweight and obesity, particularly children from lower SES families

How to find information on national food and nutrient consumption surveys across Europe: systematic literature review and questionnaires to selected country experts are both good strategies

The present research was conducted within the framework of the EURopean micronutrient RECommendations Aligned project. in order to identify the best practice in assessing nutrient intakes, a search strategy for collecting data from national food consumption surveys/studies in Europe was developed. Systematic literature searches were carried out on twenty-eight European and the four European Free Trade Association Countries. A questionnaire was also sent to two to five experts in each country. Systematic reviews using PubMed yielded 12 703 abstracts that were reduced to 200 studies using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Similarly, a search of ministry web sites yielded 3033 hits. and subsequently reduced to nine Surveys. Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom were the countries with most data and Slovenia and Liechtenstein were those with the least. Seventy-eight expert questionnaires were obtained from all Countries except for Liechtenstein. Luxembourg and Slovakia. Detailed results and references are given. A systematic search and questionnaires are equally good at identifying national surveys across countries. Literature searching provides globally accessible and objective information albeit limited, whereas the questionnaire provides information that, depending upon responders, can be more complete. A combination of both strategies is recommended