Evidence-Based Challenges to the Continued Recommendation and Use of Peroxidatively-Susceptible Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Rich Culinary Oils for High-Temperature Frying Practises: Experimental Revelations Focused on Toxic Aldehydic Lipid Oxidation Products

In this manuscript, a series of research reports focused on dietary lipid oxidation products (LOPs), their toxicities and adverse health effects are critically reviewed in order to present a challenge to the mindset supporting, or strongly supporting, the notion that polyunsaturated fatty acid-laden frying oils are “safe” to use for high-temperature frying practises. The generation, physiological fates, and toxicities of less commonly known or documented LOPs, such as epoxy-fatty acids, are also considered. Primarily, an introduction to the sequential autocatalytic peroxidative degradation of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) occurring during frying episodes is described, as are the potential adverse health effects posed by the dietary consumption of aldehydic and other LOP toxins formed. In continuance, statistics on the dietary consumption of fried foods by humans are reviewed, with a special consideration of French fries. Subsequently, estimates of human dietary aldehyde intake are critically explored, which unfortunately are limited to acrolein and other lower homologues such as acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. However, a full update on estimates of quantities derived from fried food sources is provided here. Further items reviewed include the biochemical reactivities, metabolism and volatilities of aldehydic LOPs (the latter of which is of critical importance regarding the adverse health effects mediated by the inhalation of cooking/frying oil fumes); their toxicological actions, including sections focussed on governmental health authority tolerable daily intakes, delivery methods and routes employed for assessing such effects in animal model systems, along with problems encountered with the Cramer classification of such toxins. The mutagenicities, genotoxicities, and carcinogenic potential of aldehydes are then reviewed in some detail, and following this the physiological concentrations of aldehydes and their likely dietary sources are considered. Finally, conclusions from this study are drawn, with special reference to requirements for (1) the establishment of tolerable daily intake (TDI) values for a much wider range of aldehydic LOPs, and (2) the performance of future nutritional and epidemiological trials to explore associations between their dietary intake and the incidence and severity of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs).

Between Halal and Haram: The Challenges and Adaptation of Halal Dietary Consumption Indonesian Muslim Immigrants in Japan

<p>This study examines the challenges and adaptation strategies of Halal food consumption by Indonesian Muslim immigrants in Japan. Since April 2019, Japan’s government decided to accept foreign workers under Specified Skills Visa Program to address the labor shortages in the country. This new policy will encourage more Muslim immigrants from Indonesia to search for higher income in Japan. The growing population of Muslim immigrants in Japan and inbound tourists from Islamic countries has triggered the development of Halal food products in Japan. The research uses a qualitative approach supplemented with semi-structured interviews of Indonesian Muslim Immigrants from various locations in Japan. This study has found that the Indonesian Muslim immigrants face three challenges to maintain their Halal dietary consumption. The different culture of social life has put social pressure on Muslim immigrants to follow the Japanese drinking and hangout habits. The difficulties of accessibility and a lack of variety of Halal food products make it a less appealing choice for busy-scheduled people. There is no legal body that has the authority to give Halal certification. Theory of deviance typology is used to analyze the adaptation strategy formed as the result of these challenges. There are four types of adaptation strategy formed by Indonesia Muslim immigrants: Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, and Retreatism.</p><p class="abstrak"><em>Penelitian ini mengkaji tentang tantangan dan strategi adaptasi konsumsi makanan halal oleh imigran Muslim Indonesia di Jepang. Sejak April 2019, pemerintah Jepang memutuskan untuk menerima pekerja asing di bawah Program Visa Keterampilan Khusus untuk mengatasi kekurangan tenaga kerja di Jepang. Kebijakan baru ini akan mendorong lebih banyak imigran Muslim dari Indonesia untuk mencari penghasilan yang lebih tinggi di Jepang. Meningkatnya populasi imigran Muslim di Jepang dan masuknya turis dari negara-negara Islam telah memicu berkembangnya produk makanan Halal di Jepang. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif yang dilengkapi dengan wawancara semi terstruktur terhadap Imigran Muslim Indonesia dari berbagai lokasi di Jepang. Studi ini menemukan bahwa para imigran Muslim Indonesia memiliki tiga tantangan untuk mempertahankan konsumsi makanan halal mereka. Budaya kehidupan sosial yang berbeda telah memberikan tekanan sosial bagi imigran Muslim untuk mengikuti kebiasaan minum alkohol dan cara pergaulan orang Jepang. Kesulitan aksesibilitas dan kurangnya variasi produk makanan halal menjadikannya pilihan yang kurang menarik bagi orang-orang dengan jadwal sibuk. Tidak ada satu pun badan hukum yang berwenang memberikan sertifikasi halal. Teori tipologi penyimpangan digunakan untuk menganalisis strategi adaptasi yang terbentuk akibat tantangan tersebut. Ada empat jenis strategi adaptasi yang dibentuk oleh Imigran Muslim Indonesia: Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, and Retreatism.</em></p>

Assessment of the Methodology That Is Used to Determine the Nutritional Sustainability of the Mediterranean Diet—A Scoping Review

Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is often used as an example of a sustainable diet that promotes a sustainable food system. MedDiet presents low environmental impacts, is characterized by high sociocultural food values, allows for positive local economic returns, and presents major health and nutrition benefits. Previous studies have not systematically examined the methodological assessment of MedDiet nutritional sustainability. In our study, we review the methodological assessment of nutritional sustainability, filling a crucial gap in the literature that can inform the state of the art regarding the cross-disciplinary assessment of MedDiet nutritional sustainability. Through a systematic search on PubMed and Scopus, we identified 28 studies, published between 2013 and 2021, that dealt with the MedDiet nutritional sustainability. Studies that assessed the sustainability of MedDiet based on dietary consumption data, studies that explored the MedDiet sustainability resorting to dietary scenarios, and studies with a mixed approach (dietary consumption and dietary scenarios) and proposals of methodological approaches to assess the MedDiet nutritional sustainability were summarized. We identified 24 studies exploring the dimensions of nutritional sustainability of the MedDiet, and 4 proposing the methodological approaches to assess the MedDiet nutritional sustainability or the sustainability of MedDiet typical agro-foods. From the 24 studies exploring the sustainability of MedDiet, none fully addressed the complexity of the four dimensions of nutritional sustainability (environmental, economic, socio-cultural, and health-nutrition). One of the methodological proposals to assess the MedDiet nutritional sustainability contemplated on the four dimensions of nutritional sustainability, as well as one of the methodological proposals to assess the sustainability of typical agro-foods of MedDiet. Environmental sustainability was the most well-studied dimension, while no study focuses on the socio-cultural dimension of sustainability. Our study reviewed for the first time the assessment of nutritional sustainability of MedDiet. To the best of our knowledge, no research has been made assessing MedDiet in all the dimensions of the complex concept, that is nutritional sustainability. Integrating health and nutrition, environmental, economic, and socio-cultural considerations across scales and contexts can offer a more complete understanding of the opportunities and barriers to achieving nutritional sustainability not only in MedDiet but also in other dietary patterns and food products.

Losing sleep by staying up late leads adolescents to consume more carbohydrates and a higher glycemic load

This study examined how short sleep impacts dietary consumption in adolescents by testing whether experimentally shortening sleep influences the amount, macronutrient content, food types, and timing of food consumed. Ninety-three adolescents completed a within-subjects crossover paradigm comparing five nights of short sleep (6.5-hour sleep opportunity) to five nights of Healthy Sleep (9.5-hour sleep opportunity). Within each condition, adolescents completed three multiple-pass dietary recalls that recorded the types, amount, and timing of food intake. The following outcomes were averaged across days of dietary recall within condition: kilocalories, grams of carbohydrates, fat, protein, and added sugars, glycemic load of foods, and servings of specific types of foods (low-calorie drinks, sweetened drinks, fruits/vegetables, meats/proteins, processed snacks, “fast food” entrees, grains, and sweets/desserts). Timing of consumption of kilocalorie and macronutrient outcomes were also examined across four noncumulative time bins: 06:00–10:59, 11:00–15:59, 16:00–20:59, and 21:00–01:00. Adolescents slept 2 h and 20 min longer in Healthy Sleep than in Short Sleep (p &lt; .0001). While in Short Sleep, adolescents ate more grams of carbohydrates (p = .031) and added sugars (p = .047), foods higher in glycemic load (p = .013), and servings of sweet drinks (p = .023) and ate fewer servings of fruits/vegetables (p = .006) compared to Healthy Sleep. Differences in consumption of kilocalories, fat, and carbohydrates emerged after 9:00 pm (ps = .012, .043, .006, respectively). These experimental findings suggest that adolescents who have insufficient sleep exhibit dietary patterns that may increase the risk for negative weight and cardiometabolic outcomes. Future health promotion efforts should include promoting optimal sleep to increase healthy dietary habits.

NAD precursors cycle between host tissues and the gut microbiome

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is an essential redox cofactor in both mammals and microbes. Here we use isotope tracing to investigate the precursors supporting NAD synthesis in the gut microbiome. We find that preferred dietary NAD precursors are absorbed in the proximal part of the gastrointestinal tract and not available to microbes in the distal gut. Instead, circulating host nicotinamide enters the gut lumen and supports gut microbiome NAD synthesis. In addition, the microbiome converts nicotinamide, originating from the host circulation, into nicotinic acid. Host tissues uptake and utilize this microbiome-derived nicotinic acid for NAD synthesis, maintaining circulating nicotinic acid levels even in the absence of dietary consumption. Moreover, the main route from oral nicotinamide riboside, a widely used nutraceutical, to host NAD is via conversion into nicotinic acid by the gut microbiome. Thus, NAD precursors cycle between the host and gut microbiome to maintain NAD homeostasis.

Associations between Maternal Dietary Patterns and Infant Birth Weight in the NISAMI Cohort: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

The mother’s diet during pregnancy is associated with maternal and child health. However, there are few studies with moderation analysis on maternal dietary patterns and infant birth weight. We aim to analyse the association between dietary patterns during pregnancy and birth weight. A prospective cohort study was performed with pregnant women registered with the prenatal service (Bahia, Brazil). A food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate dietary intake. Birth weight was measured by a prenatal service team. Statistical analyses were performed using factor analysis with a principal component extraction technique and structural equation modelling. The mean age of the pregnant women was 27 years old (SD: 5.5) and the mean birth weight was 3341.18 g. It was observed that alcohol consumption (p = 0.05) and weight-gain during pregnancy (p = 0.05) were associated with birth weight. Four patterns of dietary consumption were identified for each trimester of the pregnancy evaluated. Adherence to the “Meat, Eggs, Fried Snacks and Processed foods” dietary pattern (pattern 1) and the “Sugars and Sweets” dietary pattern (pattern 4) in the third trimester directly reduced birth weight, by 98.42 g (Confidence interval (CI) 95%: 24.26, 172.59) and 92.03 g (CI 95%: 39.88, 165.30), respectively. It was also observed that insufficient dietary consumption in the third trimester increases maternal complications during pregnancy, indirectly reducing birth weight by 145 g (CI 95%: −21.39, −211.45). Inadequate dietary intake in the third trimester appears to have negative results on birth weight, directly and indirectly, but more studies are needed to clarify these causal paths, especially investigations of the influence of the maternal dietary pattern on the infant gut microbiota and the impacts on perinatal outcomes.

Evaluation of Colocasia esculenta Schott in anti-cancerous properties with proximity extension assays

Background: Colocasia esculenta Schott (called as Xiangshayu in Chinese) is an excellent local cultivar of the genus polymorpha in Jiangsu Province, China. Objective: In the present study, we have performed a comparative study before and after dietary consumption with Colocasia esculenta Schott to evaluate its anti-cancerous properties. Design: Forty-two healthy volunteers were recruited, and dietary consumption with 200 g of tap water cooked Colocasia esculenta Schott daily was conducted for 1 month. Plasma samples from the subjects before and after dietary consumption with Colocasia esculenta Schott were analyzed with proximity extension assays for the alteration of 92 proteins in relation with cancers, while blood samples were examined for physiological parameters with an automatic biochemical analyzer. Bioinformatic analyses were conducted using MalaCards and GEPIA. Results: After taking dietary consumption with Colocasia esculenta Schott, circulating CYR61, ANXA1, and VIM protein levels in the subjects was found to be most significantly downregulated, while for ITGB5, EPHA2, and CEACAM1, it was upregulated. Alternation of these proteins was predicted to be associated with the development of tumors such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma and breast and prostate cancers. Conclusion: The present study provides evidence that Colocasia esculenta Schott, as a healthy food, has anti-cancerous properties. Further investigation of phytochemistry in Colocasia esculenta Schott has been taken into our consideration.

Effectiveness of a theory-informed documentary to reduce meat and animal-product consumption: Three randomized controlled experiments

Background: Several exigent societal issues could be mitigated by shifting global consumption of meat and animal products toward predominantly plant-based diets. Methods: We conducted 3 randomized controlled experiments (n=217 to 574) to test the effects of a professionally produced and disseminated, theory-informed documentary that presents health, environmental, and animal welfare motivations for reducing consumption of meat and animal products. In Study 1, we primarily assessed participants' reported 1-week consumption of meats and animal products, as reported 12 days after random assignment to view the documentary or a control video. In Study 2, in a similar sample, we assessed effects on participants' immediate intentions to change their consumption of these foods, comparable to most past studies. In Study 3, we used the design from Study 1 but in a new sample anticipated to be more responsive to the messages; we also enhanced the intervention with activities designed to increase engagement with the documentary and to prompt concrete goal setting. In Studies 1 and 3, we introduced methodological innovations to minimize social desirability bias, a widespread limitation of past research. Results: The documentary did not decrease meat and animal product compared to the control video when potential social desirability bias was minimized (Study 1: -0.33 oz/week; 95% CI: [-6.12, 5.46]; p=0.91; Study 3: -2.46 oz/week; 95% CI: [-8.78, 3.85]; p=0.43). The documentary also did not affect reported meat and animal-product consumption among participants whose demographics suggested they might be more receptive to the intervention (Study 3). However, the documentary did substantially increase the percentage of participants who immediately intended to reduce consumption, consistent with past studies (Study 2) and prompted a majority of viewers to pledge to reduce or eliminate their consumption of at least one meat or animal product (Study 3).Conclusions: These findings suggest that past studies of similar interventions may have overestimated effects due to methodological biases. Novel intervention strategies may be needed to meaningfully shift dietary consumption away from meat and animal products.Trial registration: Study 1: https://osf.io/m3d2y/; Study 2: https://osf.io/etpvf/; Study 3: https://osf.io/n52yd/.

An Updated Overview of Almond Allergens

Tree nuts are considered an important food in healthy diets. However, for part of the world’s population, they are one of the most common sources of food allergens causing acute allergic reactions that can become life-threatening. They are part of the Big Eight food groups which are responsible for more than 90% of food allergy cases in the United States, and within this group, almond allergies are persistent and normally severe and life-threatening. Almond is generally consumed raw, toasted or as an integral part of other foods. Its dietary consumption is generally associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. Several almond proteins have been recognized as allergens. Six of them, namely Pru du 3, Pru du 4, Pru du 5, Pru du 6, Pru du 8 and Pru du 10, have been included in the WHO-IUIS list of allergens. Nevertheless, further studies are needed in relation to the accurate characterization of the already known almond allergens or putative ones and in relation to the IgE-binding properties of these allergens to avoid misidentifications. In this context, this work aims to critically review the almond allergy problematic and, specifically, to perform an extensive overview regarding known and novel putative almond allergens.

Association of Dietary Carrot Intake With Bladder Cancer Risk in a Prospective Cohort of 99,650 Individuals With 12.5 Years of Follow-Up

Previous studies have provided limited evidence for the effect of carrot intake on bladder cancer incidence. This study aimed to evaluate the association between carrot consumption and bladder cancer risk in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer (PLCO) Screening cohort. PLCO enrolled 154,897 participants between November 1993 and July 2001 from 10 clinical screening centers throughout the United States. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox regression model adjusting for confounders. A meta-analysis was also performed based on all available prospective studies with DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model to calculate summary relative risk (RR) and 95% CI. After a median of 12.5 years of follow-up, 762 incident bladder cancer cases occurred. We found no statistically significant association between dietary carrot intake and bladder cancer risk. The multivariate-adjusted HR of bladder cancer for participants in the highest category of total carrot intake compared with those in the lowest category was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.76–1.22; P for trend = 0.436). Corresponding adjusted HR was 0.98 (95% CI 0.90–1.06) per 1 SD increment of carrot intake. A meta-analysis based on two previous cohort studies and our study also found no significant association between carrot intake and bladder cancer risk (Summary HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.95–1.10) without obvious heterogeneity between studies (P = 0.859, I2 = 0.0%). In summary, analysis of the PLCO cohort did not provide evidence that dietary consumption of carrot was associated with the risk of bladder cancer.