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Study Question: Is ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption associated with semen quality parameters?, Summary Answer: Higher UPF consumption was inversely associated with total sperm count, sperm concentration, and total motility in men of reproductive age., What Is Known Already: The consumption of UPF, which has been rising during the last decades, has been demonstrated to be positively associated with several chronic diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. However, the scientific evidence on its potential impact on semen quality remains notably limited., Study Design Size Duration: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from 200 healthy men (mean age 28.4 ± 5.5 years) enrolled in the Led-Fertyl (Lifestyle and Environmental Determinants of Seminogram and Other Male Fertility-Related Parameters) study between February 2021 and April 2023., Participants/materials Setting Methods: UPF consumption (% of energy from UPF) was estimated according to the NOVA classification system using a validated 143-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Total sperm count, sperm concentration, sperm vitality, total motility, progressive motility, and normal sperm forms were set as the main outcomes. Microscopic parameters were analyzed using a phase-contrast microscope and a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system. Semen samples were collected and tested according to World Health Organization 2010 standards. Multivariable linear regression models were fitted to estimate the associations between UPF tertile and semen quality parameters., Main Results and the Role of Chance: Sperm concentration ( β : -1.42 × 10 6 spz./ml; 95% CI: -2.72 to -0.12) and motility ( β : -7.83%; 95% CI: -15.16 to -0.51) were lower in participants in the highest tertile of UPF compared to the lowest. A similar association was observed for sperm count when UPF was analyzed per 10% increment of energy from UPF consumption ( β : -1.50 × 10 6 spz.; 95% CI: -2.83 to -0.17). Theoretically replacing 10% of energy from UPF consumption with 10% of energy from unprocessed or minimally processed food consumption was associated with a higher total sperm count, sperm concentration, total motility, progressive motility, and normal sperm forms., Limitations Reasons for Caution: Cross-sectional studies do not permit the drawing of causal inferences. Measurement errors and reporting bias cannot be entirely ruled out., Wider Implications of the Findings: This work suggests that consumption of UPF may have an impact on certain semen quality parameters. Furthermore, opting for unprocessed or minimally processed foods instead of UPFs could potentially benefit semen quality. If these results are replicated in future epidemiological studies with different long-term designs, these novel findings could provide valuable insights for updating or even designing preventive and interventional programs to address infertility among men of reproductive age., Study Funding/competing Interests: This study was supported by the Spanish government's official funding agency for biomedical research, ISCIII, through the Fondo de Investigación para la Salud (FIS), the European Union ERDF/ESF, 'A way to make Europe'/'Investing in your future' [PI21/01447], and the Diputació de Tarragona (2021/11-No.Exp. 8004330008-2021-0022642). J.S.-S. gratefully acknowledges the financial support of ICREA under the ICREA Academia program. C.V.-H. received a predoctoral grant from the Generalitat de Catalunya (2022 FI_B100108). M.Á.M. was supported by the Sara Borrell postdoctoral fellowship (CD21/00045-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)). M.F.d.l.P. was supported by a predoctoral grant from the Rovira i Virgili University and Diputació de Tarragona (2020-PMF-PIPF-8). All authors have no conflict of interest to declare., Trial Registration Number: N/A., Competing Interests: All authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.)

This article reviews the current landscape regarding food fortification in the United States; the content is based on a workshop sponsored by the North American Branch of the International Life Sciences Institute. Fortification of the food supply with vitamins and minerals is a public health strategy to enhance nutrient intakes of the population without increasing caloric intake. Many individuals in the United States would not achieve recommended micronutrient intakes without fortification of the food supply. The achievement and maintenance of a desirable level of nutritional quality in the nation's food supply is, thus, an important public health objective. While the addition of nutrients to foods can help maintain and improve the overall nutritional quality of diets, indiscriminate fortification of foods could result in overfortification or underfortification in the food supply and nutrient imbalances in the diets of individuals. Any changes in food fortification policy for micronutrients must be considered within the context of the impact they will have on all segments of the population and of food technology and safety applications and their limitations. This article discusses and evaluates the value of fortification, the success of current fortification efforts, and the future role of fortification in preventing or reversing nutrient inadequacies., (© 2014 International Life Sciences Institute.)

Cobalamin deficiency can lead to several adverse health consequences: folate trapping in the methylation cycle and subsequent impaired DNA biosynthesis; pernicious anemia hematologically, similar to that caused by folate deficiency; elevated blood homocysteine (tHcy) (risk factor for cardiovascular disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes); and neural tube defects (NTDs). Population-wide folate status is expected to improve where folic acid fortification policies for reducing NTD occurrence are established. However, there is concern that cobalamin deficiency and its characteristic neuropathy could be masked when hematological abnormalities in risk groups such as the elderly and vegetarians are reversed through folic acid supplementation. Folate-cobalamin interactions and their impact on health are reviewed here.

Background: Increased homocysteine has been associated with pregnancy complications., Methods: We investigated prospectively the effect of maternal homocysteine on normal pregnancy outcome. The study included 93 women and their offspring; 39 of the women took folic acid during the second and/or third trimesters of pregnancy. We measured homocysteine at preconception; at weeks 8, 20, and 32 of pregnancy; during labor; and in the fetal cord; we also recorded birth weight., Results: Geometric mean (SE) maternal total homocysteine (tHcy) increased between 32 weeks of pregnancy and labor [7.98 (1.05) micromol/L in unsupplemented women and 6.26 (1.07) micromol/L in supplemented women; P <0.0001 for both]. Fetal tHcy was lower than maternal tHcy [6.39 (1.06) micromol/L in unsupplemented pregnancies (P <0.0001), and 5.18 (1.06) micromol/L in supplemented pregnancies (P <0.05)]. Maternal tHcy was correlated from preconception throughout pregnancy (8 weeks, r = 0.708; 20 weeks, r = 0.637; 32 weeks, r = 0.537; labor, r = 0.502; P <0.0001 for all time points) and with fetal tHcy [preconception, r = 0.255 (P <0.05); 8 weeks, r = 0.321 (P <0.01); 20 weeks, r = 0.469; 32 weeks, r = 0.550; labor, r = 0.624 (P <0.0001)]. Mothers in the highest tHcy tertile at 8 weeks of pregnancy were three times [odds ratio, 3.26 (95% confidence interval, 1.05-10.13); P <0.05] and at labor were four times [3.65 (1.15-11.56); P <0.05] more likely to give birth to a neonate in the lowest birth weight tertile. Neonates of mothers in the highest tHcy tertile at labor weighed, on average, 227.98 g less than those of mothers in the low and medium tertiles (P = 0.014)., Conclusions: Supplemented mothers had lower tHcy at labor than unsupplemented mothers, as did their neonates. Maternal and fetal tHcy was significantly correlated throughout the study. Neonates of mothers in the highest tertile of homocysteine weighed less.

Objectives: This study measured the response of deoxypyridinoline, a biomarker of bone resorption, during 11 weeks of Marine recruit training., Methods: Urine samples were obtained from 155 female and 58 male Marine recruits from the first morning void every 3 days during training. Training miles of weight-bearing exercise were recorded daily, and injury data were obtained from the medical clinic staff., Results: Deoxypyridinoline was significantly (p < 0.001) increased at week 2 and weeks 9 through 11 for women and at weeks 10 and 11 for men. The increase in bone resorption corresponded to an increase in miles of weight-bearing exercise performed throughout training. The incidence of stress fracture and reaction was 3.9% and 14.8%, respectively, for women and 1.7% and 3.4%, respectively, for men., Conclusions: Significant bone resorption took place at the end of Marine recruit training due to accumulation of weight-bearing exercise throughout training and the increase in marching toward the end.

Background: Paraoxonase may protect lipoproteins and cell membranes from peroxidation, and alterations in the activity of this enzyme have been associated with some chronic diseases. Serum paraoxonase appears to be mainly under genetic control, but some studies suggest that environmental factors may also modulate its activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether diet and lifestyle affect serum paraoxonase activity., Methods: We studied a population-based sample of 388 individuals (194 women and 194 men; age range, 18-75 years) and assessed their daily dietary intake using a 3-day estimated food record. The variables studied included serum paraoxonase activity, paraoxonase polymorphisms at positions 55 and 192, age, gender, smoking status, physical exercise, body mass index, energy consumption, nutrient intake (total lipids, saturated fatty acids, beta-carotenes, vitamins C and E), and serum lipid concentrations., Results: Multiple linear regression analysis showed that only genetic polymorphisms, serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol concentrations, and cigarette smoking were significant predictors of serum paraoxonase activity. HDL-cholesterol concentrations were also related to body mass index, daily energy consumption, and saturated fatty acid intake., Conclusions: The between-individual variability of serum paraoxonase activity is regulated mainly by genetic determinants. Although HDL-cholesterol and tobacco smoking may contribute to the modulation of this enzyme, the other nutritional and lifestyle factors do not seem to play a significant role.