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Haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute phase protein that has recently been linked to components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to evaluate Hp as marker of MetS, and to assess its association with long-term outcome in renal transplant recipients (RTR). We measured plasma Hp in a prospective cohort of 699 stable RTR and 149 healthy controls. Median plasma Hp concentration in RTR was 1.4 [interquartile range (IQR), 1.0-1.8] g/L, which was higher compared to 1.1 [0.9-1.4] g/L in controls (P < 0.001). Hp was independently associated with the MetS (β = 0.10) (P = 0.005). During follow-up of 5.4 [4.8-6.1] years, 150 (21%) recipients died, of whom 60 (9%) due to cardiovascular causes, and 83 (12%) RTR developed graft failure. High (≥2.0 g/L) and low (≤0.9 g/L) plasma Hp were associated with increased risk of mortality (HR's 2.3 [1.3-4.1] and 1.9 [1.0-3.5], resp.), predominantly cardiovascular. The association of high Hp lost significance upon adjustment for inflammation markers (HR 1.5 [0.8-2.7]), while low Hp was independently associated with mortality (HR 2.2 [1.2-4.0]). Hp was not associated with graft failure (P = 0.49). In conclusion, plasma Hp is independently associated with MetS in RTR. Importantly, high and low Hp are associated with increased mortality risk, independent of MetS.

Background: The National Nutrition Research Roadmap has called for support of greater collaborative, interdisciplinary research for multiple areas of nutrition research. However, a substantial reduction in federal funding makes responding to these calls challenging. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine temporal trends in research funding and to discuss the potential consequences of these trends.Methods: We searched the NIH RePORTER database to identify NIH research grants and USASpending to identify National Science Foundation and USDA research grants awarded from 1992 to 2015. We focused on those that pertained to vitamin research. For the years 2000 to 2015, we examined funding trends for different vitamins, including vitamins A, B (one-carbon B-vitamins were considered separately from other B-vitamins), C, D, E, and K. Results: From 1992 to 2015, total federal research spending increased from ;$14 to $45 billion (2016 US dollars). Although vitamin research spending increased from ;$89 to $95 million, the proportion of grants awarded for vitamin research declined by more than two-thirds, from 0.65% in 1992 to 0.2% in 2015. Federal agencies awarded 6035 vitamin research grants over the time period, with vitamin A associated with the most research projects per year on average (n = 115) and vitamin K the fewest (n = 8). Vitamin D research projects were associated with the greatest average yearly project value ($34.8 million).Conclusions: Vitamin research has faced a disproportionate decline in research funding from 1992 to 2015. Insufficient federal research funding streams risk stalling progress in vitamin research and leaving important advancements unrealized.

Vitamins play a crucial role in health, but modern lifestyles may lead to suboptimal intakes even in affluent countries. The aim of the present study is to review vitamin intakes in Germany, the UK, The Netherlands and the USA and to compare them with respective national recommendations. Data on adults from the most recently published national dietary intake surveys for the first three countries and data for adults from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 to 2008 for the USA were used as a basis for the analysis. The proportions of the populations with intakes below recommendations were categorised as <5, 5-25, >25-50, >50-75 and >75% for each vitamin. The data generated are presented in a ‘traffic light display', using colours from green to red to indicate degrees of sufficiency. The trends found were compared with the results from the European Nutrition and Health Report 2009, even though in that report, only information on mean intakes in the different countries was available. We showed that, although inter-country differences exist, intakes of several vitamins are below recommendations in a significant part of the population in all these countries. The most critical vitamin appears to be vitamin D and the least critical niacin. The variation between the countries is most probably due to differences in recommendations, levels of fortification and local dietary habits. We show that a gap exists between vitamin intakes and requirements for a significant proportion of the population, even though diverse foods are available. Ways to correct this gap need to be investigated

A workshop organized by the University Medical Center Groningen addressed various current issues regarding nutrient status of individuals and populations, tools and strategies for its assessment, and opportunities to intervene. The importance of nutrient deficiencies and information on nutrient status for health has been illustrated, in particular for elderly and specific patient groups. The nutrient profile of individuals can be connected to phenotypes, like hypertension or obesity, as well as to socio-economic data. This approach provides information on the relationship between nutrition (nutrient intake and status) and health outcomes and, for instance, allows us to use the findings to communicate and advocate a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition is complex: a broader profile of nutrients should be considered rather than focusing solely on a single nutrient. Evaluating food patterns instead of intake of individual nutrients provides better insight into relationships between nutrition and health and disease. This approach would allow us to provide feedback to individuals about their status and ways to improve their nutritional habits. In addition, it would provide tools for scientists and health authorities to update and develop public health recommendations

Micronutrients and nutraceuticals such as vitamins, carotenoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols are classes of food ingredients that are essential for human health and well-being. These compounds are rarely added purely to the targeted food application but rather in encapsulated, solid, dry product forms with added functionalities such as improved stability, bioavailability or handling. This review presents some of the industrially most relevant particle technologies, as well as emerging ones, for synthesis and formulation of micronutrients and nutraceuticals. The influence of technological process parameters on product particle physicochemical properties such as size, morphology and structure are highlighted as well as their importance for end-use applications.

Non-PR, IFPRI5; B Promoting healthy food systems, PHND