Journal of Nutrition

While there is growing global momentum behind food systems strategies to improve planetary and human health-including nutrition-there is limited evidence of what types of food systems interventions work. Evaluating these types of interventions is challenging due to their complex and dynamic nature and lack of fit with standard evaluation methods. In this paper, we draw on a portfolio of six evaluations of food systems interventions in Africa and South Asia that were intended to improve nutrition. We identify key methodological challenges and formulate recommendations to improve the quality of such studies...

BACKGROUND: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) controls the biophysical organization of plasma membrane sphingolipid/cholesterol-enriched lipid rafts to exert anti-inflammatory effects, particularly in lymphocytes. However, the impact of DHA on the spatial arrangement of alveolar macrophage lipid rafts and inflammation is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to determine how DHA controls lipid raft organization and function of alveolar macrophages. As proof-of-concept, we also investigated DHA's anti-inflammatory effects on select pulmonary inflammatory markers with a murine influenza model...

BACKGROUND: Anemia prevalence estimates reported in population surveys can vary based on the blood-specimen source (capillary or venous) and analytical device (haematology auto-analyzers or portable hemoglobinometers) used for hemoglobin (Hb) determination. METHODS: This multi-site (Cambodia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Lebanon, Nigeria, Tanzania) study assessed Hb measurements in paired venous and capillary blood-specimen from apparently healthy women (15-49 years) and children (12-59 months) using three HemoCue® Hb models (201+, 301, 801)...

BACKGROUND: In Canada, nutrition policy, as outlined in the Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants recommendations, includes a daily vitamin D supplement of 10 μg (400 IU) for breastfed infants and young children to support adequate vitamin D status. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to report on adherence to vitamin D supplementation recommendations for breastfed infants (≤12 months); and for children breastfed >12 mo. METHODS: Canadian Community Health Survey (paired-cycles 2015/2016 and 2017/2018) maternal experiences data for infants born 2012-2018 who received any breastmilk formed the sample (n = 7079)...

BACKGROUND: Creatine plays a significant role in energy metabolism and positively impacts anaerobic energy capacity, muscle mass, and physical performance. Endogenous creatine synthesis requires guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and methionine. GAA can be an alternative to creatine supplements and has been tested as a beneficial feed additive in the animal industry. When pigs are fed GAA with excess methionine, creatine is synthesized without feedback regulation. In contrast, when dietary methionine is limiting, creatine synthesis is limited, yet GAA does not accumulate in plasma, urine, or liver...

There is an increasing body of evidence supporting a link between low intakes of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) and numerous diseases and health conditions. However, few people are achieving the levels of fish/seafood or eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid intake recommended in national and international guidelines. Knowledge of a person's omega-3 LCPUFA status will benefit the interpretation of research results and could be expected to lead to an increased effort to increase intake...

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, particularly for young children and women of reproductive age. While oral iron supplements are routinely recommended and generally considered safe, iron supplementation has been shown to alter the fecal microbiota in low-income countries. Little is known about the effect of iron supplementation on the fecal microbiota in high-income settings. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of oral iron supplementation versus placebo on the gut microbiome in non-pregnant women of reproductive age in a high-income country...

UNLABELLED: The brain is concentrated in omega-3 fatty acids (ω3 FAs) and these FAs must come from the plasma pool. The two main ω3 FAs, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), must be non esterified (NEFA) or esterified in phospholipid (PL) to reach the brain. We hypothesized that the plasma levels of these ω3 FAs can be modulated by sex, body mass index (BMI), age, and the presence of the apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele (APOE4) in response to the supplementation...

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have reported that total (poly)phenol intake is associated with a reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but mainly from high-income countries, where (poly)phenol intake may differ from low- and middle-income countries. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the association between the intake of total, all classes and subclasses of (poly)phenols and the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a Mexican cohort...

BACKGROUND: Although low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets have been shown to have short-term metabolic benefits, the associations of these dietary patterns, particularly different food sources and macronutrient quality, with mortality in people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: To examine the associations of different types of lower-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) and lower-fat diets (LFDs) with mortality among individuals with CVD. METHODS: This study included 3971 adults with CVD from the NHANES 1999-2014...

BACKGROUND: Estrogen withdrawal during menopause is associated with an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile. Prunes (dried plums) represent an emerging functional food and have been previously demonstrated to improve bone health. However, our understanding of the effects of daily prune intake on cardiometabolic risk factors in postmenopausal women is limited. OBJECTIVE: We conducted an ancillary investigation of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), The Prune Study, to evaluate the effect of 12-month prune supplementation on cardiometabolic health markers in postmenopausal women...

BACKGROUND: Low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet (LCHF) models have been widely explored as alternatives for treating obesity and promoting weight loss. Their effect is attributed to the change in energy substrate that stimulates ketogenic pathways that can metabolically overload the liver. However, little has been studied about the impact of lipid sources prioritized in the LCHF diet. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the impact of different fat sources in the LCHF diet on markers of liver injury, oxidative stress, and epigenetics in obesity...

BACKGROUND: Substantial evidence has demonstrated that maternal high-fat consumption during gestation and lactation plays as a risk factor for neurodevelopmental alterations and subsequent neurological disorders. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the regulatory mechanisms of maternal fat consumption on brain development and function in offspring at different ages. METHODS: Mouse dams were fed either a control diet (LF) or a high-fat diet (HF) for 3 weeks before mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation...

BACKGROUND: While the adverse health effects of phthalates have been reported, very few studies have assessed the associations between biomarkers of phthalate exposure and serum folate concentrations in children. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the association between urinary phthalate metabolites, as biomarkers of exposure to phthalates, and total serum folate concentrations in children using national data from the U.S. METHODS: We conducted cross-sectional analyses of 2,100 individuals aged 6-18 years enrolled in the NHANES, 2011 to 2016...

BACKGROUND: Elevated plasma growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and poor diet quality may be associated with increased frailty incidence, though their interactive associations have not been assessed in urban middle-aged adults. OBJECTIVE: We aimed at examining GDF15 and its interactive association with diet quality in relation to frailty incidence among a sample of middle-aged urban adults. METHODS: A longitudinal study of participants in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) examined the relationship between GDF15 and diet quality trajectories in relation to incident frailty (2004-2017)...

BACKGROUND: Digestibility is a primary factor in determining the quality of dietary protein. Microbial protease supplementation may be a strategy for improving protein digestion and subsequent postprandial plasma amino acid availability. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of co-ingesting a microbial protease mixture with pea protein on postprandial plasma amino acid concentrations. DESIGN: A mixture of 3 microbial protease preparations (P3) was tested for proteolytic efficacy in an in vitro static simulation of gastrointestinal digestion...

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BACKGROUND: Sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) is considered to be a crucial regulator for lipid synthesis in vertebrates. However, whether SREBP1 could regulate hepatic gluconeogenesis under high fat diet (HFD) condition is still unknown, and the underlying mechanism is also unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study determined gluconeogenesis-related gene and protein expressions in response to HFD in large yellow croaker, and explored the role and mechanism of SREBP1 in regulating the related transcription and signaling...

BACKGROUND: In many low-income countries, iron deficiency (ID) and its anemia (IDA) pose significant health challenges, particularly among women and girls. Finding sustainable and effective solutions to address this issue is critical. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of incorporating iron-fortified lentils (IFLs) into the diets of rural Bangladeshi adolescent girls on their body iron (Fe) status. METHODS: A community-based, double-blind, cluster-randomized controlled trial involved n=1195 girls aged 10-17 years...

BACKGROUND: Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) plays a pivotal role in mitigating inflammation and enhancing intestinal health. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether AKG could protect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury by alleviating disorders in mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes, dysfunctional mitochondrial dynamics, and endoplasmic reticulum stress in a piglet model. METHODS: Twenty-four piglets were subjected to a 2 × 2 factorial design, with dietary factors (basal diet or 1% AKG diet) and LPS treatment (LPS or saline)...