Unhealthy Snacking Behaviors and Nutrients to Limit From Snacks Among U.S. Infants and Toddlers

Objectives The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends avoiding foods with added sugars and limiting foods higher in sodium before 2 years of age. This study examined the contributions of sweet and salty snacks in infant and toddler diets. Methods This cross-sectional analysis of dietary intake used three 24-hour dietary recalls collected from mothers of 141 infants and toddlers ages 9 to <16 months. Dietary recalls were collected over the phone by trained researchers using a validated multiple pass method. Snacks high in nutrients to limit were categorized as sweet (e.g., cakes, cookies) and salty (e.g., chips, crackers) using What We Eat in America food categories. The average number of snacks per day, total energy from snacks, and nutrients to limit from snacks were evaluated for 71 infants (9 to <12 months) and 70 toddlers (12 to < 16 months). Results Mothers were on average 32.6 ± 4.4 years old, identified as white (78.0%), and were college graduates (87.1%). Most infants/toddlers were breastfed ≥6 months (68.1%) and were introduced to solid foods after 4 months (96.5%). More than one-third (40.1%) of infants consumed at least one snack high in nutrients to limit on any given day. These snacks accounted for 5% of total energy (24 ± 49 kcals), 56.2% of total added sugars, 11.7% of total sodium, and 2.8% of total fat in infant dietary intakes. Similarly, more than two-thirds (74.3%) of toddlers consumed at least one snack high in nutrients to limit on any given day. These snacks accounted for 6.3% of total energy (60 ± 74 kcals), 75.0% of total added sugars, 8.4% of total sodium, and 5.3% of total fat in toddler dietary intakes. Conclusions Infants and toddlers consume snacks that contribute discretionary calories and added sugars. Given the new guidelines to avoid foods and beverages with added sugars before 2 years, future studies should examine factors that influence snack intake during this early development period. Funding Sources National Institute on Child Health and Human Development, Grant/Award Number: R01HD087082-01.

Purchases of Meats and Fish in Great Britain During the COVID-19 Lockdown Period

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the purchases of meat and fish in Great Britain during the lockdown period using time series constructed from a unique scanner panel dataset available since 2013 and which is based on information about 30 thousand households. The time series available for the analysis represent the purchases (expenditure and quantities) of all consumers and by income groups were used to compute price and quantity indices all the meats together and for each meat (i.e., beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and other meats) and fish. The changes in expenditure were decomposed into changes in prices, quantities purchased and changes in quality purchased (trading up/down in quality) i.e., whether cheaper meat or fish were purchased. A further extension of the analysis was produced by considering the evolution of calories, saturated fats and sodium per purchased quantity for meat and fish during the period of study. The results indicate that although the shares of quantities remained relatively constant, the calories, saturated fats and sodium from the purchased quantities showed an increasing trend, indicating that most of the incomes groups were lowering the nutritional quality of their meat and fish purchases. This is clearly shown by the fact “other meats” represents on average 39 percent of the calories contributed by meat and fish, 49 per cent of the saturated fats and about 68 of the total sodium in meat and fish during the lockdown period. This result highlights the need to emphasize healthy messages related to the purchases of meat.

Abstract P083: Sodium Content Of Menu And Commissary Provisions In Rural Jail Exceed Heart-healthy Dietary Recommendations

Introduction: Incarcerated populations experience nearly two times the risk of Hypertension (HT) and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) relative to the general population. Incarcerated individuals lack the autonomy to make dietary changes to attenuate these risks. Dietary intake of sodium is considered the most critical and modifiable nutritional determinant to developing HT and CVD. The American Heart Association recommends the cardioprotective Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet which restricts sodium intake to 1500 mg per day, 800 mg less than the recommended Dietary Reference Intake (DRI). Nutrition in jail is obtained through menu provisions and purchasable packaged food and beverage items from the commissary, yet previous research indicating the high sodium content in jail meals has failed to include commissary items in total sodium intake. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that estimated daily sodium in a 7 day cycle menu and commissary items at a county jail exceed DRI and DASH diet recommendations. Methods: A 7 day cycle menu and commissary food list were obtained from a southwest rural county jail, which included 3 daily meals. Commissary items included 4 purchasable, pre-bundled food snack packs. NutriCalc Dietary Analysis software was used to determine sodium content for each meal, and commissary snack pack. Total sodium from the 7 day menu was divided by the number of days (7) to determine a daily average. For snack pack analyses, sodium of each of the 4 snack packs was added to the 7 day menu provisions and divided by 7, individually. All estimates were compared to DRI and DASH recommendations. Results: The sodium content from the menu and commissary significantly exceeded both DRI and DASH recommendations. The daily average sodium from menu provisions was 167% (3847/2300) of the DRI and 256% (3847/1500) of the DASH diet recommendations. Lunch provisions contributed the largest proportion (45%, 12051/26931) of total weekly sodium. When sodium from commissary snack packs was included with the 7 day cycle menu, daily average sodium content ranged from 173 to 292% [(3971/2300) to ( 6712/2300)] of DRI and 265 to 447% [(3970/1500) to (6712/1500)] of DASH diet recommendations. Conclusions: Small changes to one meal within the cycle menu and the inclusion of fresh or frozen produce could reduce sodium content to align with DRI and DASH recommendations. Commissary items make up a substantial portion of dietary sodium intake within jails. The addition of reduced sodium options to commissary snack packs may help limit sodium intake without restricting what little autonomy incarcerated individuals have over their diet. These alterations may help alleviate HT and CVD burden for incarcerated populations.

Assessment of Acidic Biochar on the Growth, Physiology and Nutrients Uptake of Maize (Zea mays L.) Seedlings under Salinity Stress

The application of an acidic biochar can improve plant growth and soil properties in saline conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of acidic biochar on plant growth and nutrients contents in saline soil. Seven treatments were arranged in a complete randomized design, including control (CK), 0, 30, and 45 g biochar added to a soil having 1% and 1.5% salts; these treatments were termed as B0S1, B30S1, B45S1 and B0S1.5, B30S1.5, B45S1.5 respectively. Experimental results showed that the plant height, leaves plant−1, leaf area, and shoot fresh and dry biomass, and root fresh and dry biomass were increased for the B45S1.5, respectively. Similarly, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), and total sodium (Na) concentration in maize shoot were observed for B30S1, B0S1.5, CK, and B0S1.5, respectively. The highest concentrations of TN, TP, TK, and Na in root were obtained with the treatments B0S1, B0S1, B45S1, and B0S1, respectively. Soil pH, and EC decreased and nutrients concentration improved by the addition of acidic biochar. We conclude that the use of acidic biochar can be a potential source for the improvement of maize plant growth as well as mitigate the adverse effect of salt stress.

Prospective Observational Study of Weight-based Assessment of Sodium Supplements on Ultramarathon Performance (WASSUP)

Background Sodium supplements are ubiquitous in endurance running, but their impact on performance has been subjected to much debate. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of sodium supplementation as a weight-based predictor of race performance in ultramarathon runners. Methods Prospective observational study during an 80 km (50 mi) stage of a 6-stage 250 km (155 mi) ultramarathon in Chile, Patagonia, Namibia, and Mongolia. Finish line hydration status as measured by weight change, point-of-care serum sodium, and questionnaire provided sodium ingestion categories at 33rd percentile and 66th percentile both for weight-adjusted rate and total sodium consumption, then analyzed for significant relationships to race performance, dysnatremia, and hydration. Results Two hundred sixty-six participants were enrolled, with 217 (82%) with complete sodium supplement rate data, 174 (80%) with finish line sodium, and 161 (74%) with both pre-race weights and total sodium ingestion allowing weight-based analysis. Sodium intake ranged from 131–533 mg/h/kg (2–7.2 gm), with no statistically significant impact on pace, race time, or quintile rank. These outcomes did not change when sodium intake was analyzed as a continuous variable or by sub-group analysis of the 109 (68%) normonatremic runners. When controlled for weight-adjusted sodium intake, performance was poorly correlated with hydration (r = − 0.152, 95% CI − 0.348–0.057). Dehydrated runners outperformed those overhydrated, with 11% of top 25th percentile finishers dehydrated (versus 2.8% overhydrated), with 3.6 min/km faster pace and time 4.6 h faster finishing time. Conclusions No association was found between sodium supplement intake and ultramarathon performance. Dehydrated runners were found to have the best performance. This reinforces the message to avoid overhydration.

The Role of the Persistent Sodium Current in Epilepsy

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are foundational to excitable cell function: Their coordinated passage of sodium ions into the cell is critical for the generation and propagation of action potentials throughout the nervous system. The classical paradigm of action potential physiology states that sodium passes through the membrane only transiently (1-2 milliseconds), before the channels inactivate and cease to conduct sodium ions. However, in reality, a small fraction of the total sodium current (1%-2%) remains at steady state despite prolonged depolarization. While this persistent sodium current (INaP) contributes to normal physiological functioning of neurons, accumulating evidence indicates a particularly pathogenic role for an elevated INaP in epilepsy (reviewed previously 1 ). Due to significant advances over the past decade of epilepsy research concerning the importance of INaP in sodium channelopathies, this review seeks to summarize recent evidence and highlight promising novel anti-seizure medication strategies through preferentially targeting INaP.

Abstract P239: Diet Modifies Cardiometabolic Effects Of DOCA-salt In C57BL/6J Mice

The deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt model of hypertension is widely used to investigate the neurohormonal regulation of blood pressure. We investigated the modulatory effect of three common “chow” diets upon cardiometabolic consequences of DOCA-salt treatment in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice (6 wks of age) were randomly assigned to 5L0D (LabDiet 67138, 4.0 g Na/kg), a Soy-free extruded diet (Envigo 2920, 1.5 g Na/kg), or an NIH-31 modified open formula diet (Teklad 7913, 3.1 g Na/kg) and provided with autoclaved deionized water for 3 weeks (n=16/diet). At 9 weeks of age (ie, before DOCA-salt), intake behaviors and energy flux were assessed using metabolic caging and bomb calorimetry. Before DOCA-salt, body mass, digestive efficiency, energy efficiency, total sodium intake, urine volumes, and apparent sodium & potassium retentions (ie, ingested-urine loss) were significantly modified by diet (p<0.05), but calories absorbed per day was not. Mice (n=8/diet) were then implanted with a DOCA pellet (50mg, sc) and provided 0.15 M NaCl as an additional drink option, or underwent sham surgery (n=8/diet). At 12 weeks of age (ie, after DOCA-salt), intake behaviors and energy flux were again assessed before tissue harvest. After DOCA-salt, body mass, energy efficiency, total sodium intake, urine volume, apparent sodium retention, and renal renin mRNA were significantly affected by a diet x DOCA-salt interaction (p<0.05). In contrast, digestive efficiency and apparent potassium retention were modified by diet (p<0.05), and calories absorbed per day, plasma sodium, and plasma potassium were affected by main effects of diet (p<0.05) and DOCA-salt (p<0.05), but these endpoints were not modified by a diet x DOCA-salt interaction. Combined with analyses of tissue masses, expression of various renal electrolyte transporters, blood chemistries, and urinalyses, these many endpoints highlight a multitude of cardiometabolic outcomes of the DOCA-salt model that are sensitive to environmental contexts such as diet. Ongoing work is investigating the modulatory effect of diet upon increases in total body sodium retention and blood pressure induced by DOCA-salt treatment, and roles for varied sodium vs protein contents of the diets in these effects.

Dietary Sodium Intake and Sodium Density in the United States: Estimates From NHANES 2005–2006 and 2015–2016

BACKGROUND In the United States, current guidelines recommend a total sodium intake &lt;2,300 mg/day, a guideline which does not consider kilocalorie intake. However, kilocalorie intake varies substantially by age and sex. We hypothesized that compared with sodium density, total sodium intake overestimates adherence to sodium recommendations, especially in adults consuming fewer kilocalories. METHODS In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we estimated the prevalence of adherence to sodium intake recommendations (&lt;2,300 mg/day) and corresponding sodium density intake (&lt;1.1 mg/kcal = 2,300 mg at 2,100 kcal) by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and kilocalorie level. Adherence estimates were compared between the 2005–2006 (n = 5,060) and 2015–2016 (n = 5,266) survey periods. RESULTS In 2005–2006, 23.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.5, 24.9) of the US population consumed &lt;2,300 mg of sodium/day, but only 8.5% (CI: 7.6, 9.4) consumed &lt;1.1 mg/kcal in sodium density. In 2015–2016, these figures were 20.9% (CI: 18.8, 23.2) and 5.1% (CI: 4.4, 6.0), respectively. In 2015–2016, compared with 2005–2006, adherence by sodium density decreased more substantially (odds ratio = 0.59; CI: 0.48, 0.72; P &lt; 0.001) than adherence by total sodium consumption (odds ratio = 0.85; CI: 0.73, 0.98; P = 0.03). The difference in adherence between total sodium and sodium density goals was greater among those with lower kilocalorie intake, namely, older adults, women, and Hispanic adults. CONCLUSIONS Adherence estimated by sodium density is substantially less than adherence estimated by total sodium intake, especially among persons with lower kilocalorie intake. Further efforts to achieve population-wide reduction in sodium density intake are urgently needed.

Abstract P353: Dietary Sodium Intake and Sodium Density in The United States: Estimates From Nhanes 2005-2006 and 2015-2016

Introduction: Current guidelines for sodium reduction focus on total daily sodium consumption (<2300 mg/d) for an intake of 2100 kcal. However, calorie consumption varies substantially. Here, we quantify mean sodium intake, calorie intake, and sodium density across demographic groups in the US and over time. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that, compared to sodium density, total sodium may overestimate adherence to sodium recommendations, especially in older adults. Methods: In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), weighted mean sodium and energy intake was estimated in US adults as the average of two 24-hour dietary recalls. Sodium density was calculated as the mg of sodium per 1,000 kcal consumed. The prevalence of adherence to sodium intake (<2300 mg/d) and sodium density (<1.1 mg/kcal) limits was quantified by age group, self-reported sex, self-reported race/ethnicity, Calorie level (<2100 kcal, ≥2100 kcal), and self-reported high blood pressure. Adherence prevalence estimates were compared between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016 survey periods by logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Methods: In 2015-2016, 24.8% of the US population (mean age 38 yr, 51% female, 12% black) adhered to the recommended <2300 mg/d sodium intake, but only 5.6% achieved the recommended 1.1 mg/kcal sodium density (Table). In 2005-2006, these figures were 26.5% and 8.9%, respectively. While there was no change in adherence by total sodium consumption (P = 0.11), adherence by sodium density was significantly lower in 2015-2016 than 2005-2006 (P < 0.001). The difference in adherence between total sodium and sodium density goals was greater among older adults (≥70 years), women, Hispanic adults, and adults consuming <2100 kcal per day. Conclusions: In 2015-2016, <6% of US adults consumed sodium densities at recommended levels. The prevalence of those achieving these goals is lower compared to 10 years prior. Further efforts to regulate population sodium intake are urgently needed.