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OBJECTIVE:: To compare the intakes of dietary fibre (DF) and dietary indigestible fraction (DIF) in the Spanish diet and also to show the limitations of DF values for nutritional and epidemiological studies. DESIGN:: This includes the following: (i) estimation of plant foods consumption in Spanish diet from national food consumption data obtained from annual surveys (6000 households, 700 hotels and restaurants and 200 institutions); (ii) determination of DIF content in plant foods using analytical methods that mimic physiological conditions; (iii) estimation of daily intakes of DIF and DF in the Spanish diet. RESULTS:: DIF intake in the Spanish population was estimated at 41.5?g/person/day. DF intake (18.3?g/person/day) was considerably lower than the amount of carbohydrate necessary to maintain the daily bacterial cell turnover in large intestine (‘carbohydrate gap’). The differences between DIF and DF values are a consequence of conceptual and methodological aspects. DIF, as the part of foods reaching the colon, comprises not only DF but also other indigestible compounds such as a fraction of resistant starch, protein, polyphenols and other associated compounds. Analytical conditions are closer to actual physiological conditions in the determination of DIF than in DF analysis. CONCLUSIONS:: DF intake underestimates a major part of the dietary substrates that enter the colon. DIF intake more closely matches the amount of substrates needed to maintain a typical human colonic microflora. DIF may be a good alternative to DF for nutritional and epidemiological studies.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004) 58, 1078-1082. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601937 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A massive "infodemic" developed in parallel with the global COVID-19 pandemic and contributed to public misinformation at a time when access to quality information was crucial. This research aimed to analyze the science and health-related hoaxes that were spread during the pandemic with the objectives of (1) identifying the characteristics of the form and content of such false information, and the platforms used to spread them, and (2) formulating a typology that can be used to classify the different types of hoaxes according to their connection with scientific information. The study was conducted by analyzing the content of hoaxes which were debunked by the three main fact-checking organizations in Spain in the three months following WHO's announcement of the pandemic (N = 533). The results indicated that science and health content played a prominent role in shaping the spread of these hoaxes during the pandemic. The most common hoaxes on science and health involved information on scientific research or health management, used text, were based on deception, used real sources, were international in scope, and were spread through social networks. Based on the analysis, we proposed a system for classifying science and health-related hoaxes, and identified four types according to their connection to scientific knowledge: "hasty" science, decontextualized science, badly interpreted science, and falsehood without a scientific basis. The rampant propagation and widespread availability of disinformation point to the need to foster media and scientific caution and literacy among the public and increase awareness of the importance of timing and substantiation of scientific research. The results can be useful in improving media literacy to face disinformation, and the typology we formulate can help develop future systems for automated detection of health and science-related hoaxes., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The intake of antioxidants in the diet is a useful parameter to estimate the potential of diet to prevent chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress and ageing. The objective was to estimate the intake of nutrient and non-nutrient antioxidants associated with the dietary fiber matrix in a healthy and functionally independent population aged over 80, estimating the intake of antioxidant nutrients and including soluble low molecular weight and macromolecular polyphenols in the non-nutrient antioxidant group. Specific nutrients related to oxidative stress (copper, zinc, selenium, manganese, vitamins A, C and E) were ingested in optimal quantities according to reference values. Total intake of non-nutrient antioxidants was 2196 mg/person/day, and macromolecular polyphenols were found to be the main dietary antioxidants, contributing 71% to the total intake of phenolic compounds. The intake, metabolism and physiological effects of all nutrient and non-nutrient dietary antioxidants must therefore be taken into account when evaluating their health benefits.

Purpose: Early recognition of risk factors associated with overweight/obesity is an important step towards preventing long-term health consequences. The aim of the current study was to examine the associations of the adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with adiposity in preschool children from the north of Spain., Methods: The adherence to the MDP (KIDMED), CRF (20-m shuttle run test), total (BMI) and central (waist circumference) adiposity and socio-demographic factors were assessed in 619 children (48.6% girls) who were on average 4.7 years old., Results: Higher MDP index (P < 0.05) and CRF levels (P < 0.01) were significantly related to lower waist circumference. CRF was inversely associated with BMI (P ≤ 0.001), yet no significant association was observed between MDP and BMI. Children not having high CRF levels and high MDP (i.e., non-upper sex-specific tertile of CRF or MDP, respectively) had the highest waist circumference., Conclusions: Our findings support that higher adherence to the MDP and higher CRF are associated with lower waist circumference in preschool children, pointing them as relevant modifiable factors to be targeted by educational strategies aiming to prevent central obesity and later obesity-related comorbidities.

Social networks have been used to teach and engage people about the importance of science. The integration of social networks in the daily routines of faculties and scientists is strongly recommended to increase their personal brand, improve their skills, enhance their visibility, share and communicate science to society, promote scientific culture, and even as a tool for teaching and learning. Here we review the use of Twitter in science and comment on our previous experience of using this social network as a platform for a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) in Spain and Latin America. We propose to extend this strategy to a pan-European Microbiology MOOC in the near future., (© FEMS 2017. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: To check whether secular changes exist in growth pattern of caucasic children from the North of Spain up to 2 years of age compared with 25-30 years ago population growth curves., Material and Methods: Longitudinal study of a representative cohort of caucasic infants born a term in Aragon (n=1.099). Standard deviation scores (z-scores) for weight, length and body mass index (BMI) have been calculated by two available 25-30 years ago population growth curves (Sobradillo et al. and Ferrández et al.)., Results: At all ages, weight, length and BMI mean z-scores significantly vary depending on the growth standard curve used (p≤0.001). At birth, weight z-score is -0.36 (95%CI:-0.42;-0.30) according to Sobradillo et al. and -0.26 (95%CI:-0.29;0.33) according to Ferrández et al. These differences decreased progressively becoming minimum at 2 years (mean weight z-score -0.08 and -0.05; respectively). At this age, length mean z-score is +0.54 (95%CI:0.48;0.61) according to Sobradillo et al. and +0.19 (95%CI:0.12;0.25) according to Ferrández et al. Mean BMI z-scores of our sample showed lower values than selected standards., Conclusions: Current birth weight of caucasic infants from Northern Spain is lower than in the previous generation. At 2 years of age there is a trend of increasing length, with a similar weight, resulting in lower BMI values., (Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2013. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

Results of some anthropometric variables related to body composition of school children, in Madrid, aged 6 to 14, are reported. Measures were taken by a well-trained staff with accurate instruments and following international proceedings. Data directly obtained were: arm circumference and skinfolds thickness: bicipital, tricipital and subscapular. Results deduced from the former ones, show the composition of an hypothetic mid-arm section and they are: total surface, fat surface, % fat, fat free surface and % fat free substance. These values obtained from a population with an adequate feeding under control, are a data contribution for future studies on collectivities with similar characteristics.

The purpose of this work was to determine the possibility of establishing the most accurate nutritional diagnosis based on anthropometric information in school boys and girls (6 to 14 years), from Madrid (Spain). To carry out this work two well-trained anthropometrists obtained data of total and kneeling height, cephalic and thoracic circumference, and weight from an aleatory sample of 333 boys and girls who study at a national school in Madrid. The collected data presented and analyzed, served as a basis to calculate the fitting equations of each anthropometric variable according to age and sex, as well as some relation among them. Their use simplifies the obtention of the biometric reference values, and allows precise interpolations for concrete ages. All of these algorithms have been translated into BASIC sentences to facilitate its incorporation into any microprocessor. A first diagnostic pattern of the past and present nutritional history of children according to their age and sex, total and kneeling height and weight of each one of them is also presented. The BASIC program, necessary to incorporate it into computers, is included as well.