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Background Pakistan is a multi-ethnic society where there is a disparity between dietary habits, genetic composition, and environmental exposures. The microbial ecology of healthy Pakistani gut in the context of anthropometric, sociodemographic, and dietary patterns holds interest by virtue of it being one of the most populous countries, and also being a Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC). Methods 16S rRNA profiling of healthy gut microbiome of normo-weight healthy Pakistani individuals from different regions of residence is performed with additional meta-data collected through filled questionnaires. The current health status is then linked to dietary patterns through [formula omitted] test of independence and Generalized Linear Latent Variable Model (GLLVM) where distribution of individual microbes is regressed against all recorded sources of variability. To identify the core microbiome signature, a dynamic approach is used that considers into account species occupancy as well as consistency across assumed grouping of samples including organization by gender and province of residence. Fitting neutral modeling then revealed core microbiome that is selected by the environment. Results A strong determinant of disparity is by province of residence. It is also established that the male microbiome is better adapted to the local niche than the female microbiome, and that there is microbial taxonomic and functional diversity in different ethnicities, dietary patterns and lifestyle habits. Some microbial genera, such as, Megamonas, Porphyromonas, Haemophilus, Klebsiella and Finegoldia showed significant associations with consumption of pickle, fresh fruits, rice, and cheese. Our analyses suggest current health status being associated with the diet, sleeping patterns, employment status, and the medical history. Conclusions This study provides a snapshot of the healthy core Pakistani gut microbiome by focusing on the most populous provinces and ethnic groups residing in predominantly urban areas. The study serves a reference dataset for exploring variations in disease status and designing personalized dietary and lifestyle interventions to promote gut health, particularly in LMICs settings., Author(s): Farzana Gul[sup.1], Hilde Herrema[sup.2], Mark Davids[sup.2], Ciara Keating[sup.3], Arshan Nasir[sup.1,7], Umer Zeeshan Ijaz[sup.4,5,6] and Sundus Javed[sup.1] Background The gut microbiota harbors the largest microbial community assemblage in humans and [...]

Health claims on food packaging can focus on the presence of good (vs. the absence of bad) and the preservation of nature (vs. nutritional improvements). We study the frequency of use of four resulting types of claims ('clean,' 'whole,' 'diet,' and 'enriched') in three categories over the past ten years and contrast it with the preferences and associations of American and French consumers. Focusing on breakfast cereals, we find a strong match in France but a mismatch in the United States, where marketers' claim use is negatively correlated with consumers' claim preferences. The mismatch arises from the underuse of presence-focused and nutrition-based 'enriched' claims (e.g., 'added calcium') and the overuse of absence-focused and nutrition-based 'diet' claims (e.g., 'low fat'). The mismatch is more pronounced among privately-owned companies than among public companies, which tend to claim that their products are healthy in the way that consumers prefer., Author(s): Pierre Chandon [sup.1] , Romain Cadario [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.424837.e, 0000 0004 1791 3287, INSEAD, Boulevard de Constance, , 77300, Fontainebleau, France (2) grid.6906.9, 0000000092621349, Rotterdam School of [...]

Plant domestication represents a major turning point in human history, resulting in the shift from a hunting/ gathering/fishing-based economy to food production. Combining the analysis of ground stone tools and dental calculus, the PATH project aims to investigate dynamics of plant consumption, and the knowledge and toolkits involved in their processing. Keywords: plant domestication, plant consumption, ground stone tools, dental calculus, Introduction Plants have played a significant role in human subsistence economy and lifeways throughout the evolution of the hominin clade. It is, however, in parallel with the domestication of plants [...]

Research has shown that dietary patterns and obesity are associated with cognitive deficits. The present study examined the extent to which undergraduate students' tendency to overeat was associated with difficulties in cognitive functioning. Participants (n = 300) completed an online survey that assessed the relationship of dietary patterns to various aspects of psychological functioning. Regression analyses revealed that students' perceived tendency to overeat was negatively associated with their perceived ability to concentrate on academic tasks ([beta] = -2.73, p = .007) and level of cognitive functioning during daily activities ([beta] = -2.93, p = .004), even after controlling for such factors as body mass index and tendency toward uncontrolled eating. The results suggest that overeating, independent of obesity and difficulties in the self-regulation of eating, may be associated with cognitive deficits. Implications of the findings are discussed along with its limitations. Historical references to the possibility that overeating may undermine cognitive functioning are also presented. Keywords: overeating, uncontrolled eating, cognitive dysfunction, concentration, Benjamin Franklin, In his famous autobiography, Benjamin Franklin (1793/1997) described how, at age 16, he adopted the practice of eating only a light meal during his mid-day break at work. In addition [...]

Access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food is essential to ensure food and nutrition security and healthy lives for all. Secure access to nutritious food ensures healthy eating habits, economic growth, and stability in an economy. However, food insecurity and malnutrition persist globally. In Ghana, more than half of food-insecure people reside in the Northern ecological zones of the country. Moreover, Ghana lacks a systematic food security monitoring system to track food insecurity among vulnerable populations. This study reviewed existing evidence on the current situation and changes related to food production, trade, safety, and consumption in Ghana, as part of the process to develop food-based dietary guidelines for the country. The literature review included peer-reviewed articles published from 2010-2020 in Ghana to document household-level food production, consumption, and safety issues. In addition, food disappearance data (from 2010 to 2018) from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was analysed. Means and compound annual growth rates were calculated for each food item included. The results showed that per capita food production was higher than per capita consumption in all the food categories studied, except for vegetables, and fish and fishery products. Food consumption was centred on a few priority staple crops such as cassava, maize, rice, and yams, with less consideration given to underutilised foods such as akokono (palm weevil larvae). Food imports exceeded food exports in all food categories except 1) cocoa beans and products, 2) root crops and tubers, 3) oil-bearing crops and nuts, and 4) fruits and products. Fruit and vegetable consumption in Ghana has been declining since 2013. There was also a rise in the import and consumption of processed foods, especially tomato paste, sugars, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Food safety issues included microbial contamination, aflatoxin contamination, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in smoked fish, mercury in fish, pesticide and heavy metal residues in vegetables and fruits, and food adulteration. The evidence synthesized from this study will be useful to inform the development of food-based dietary guidelines for Ghana. Key words: Food, production, trade, consumption, food security, safety, Ghana, INTRODUCTION In 1996, the Rome Declaration on World Food Security highlighted food availability, accessibility, and utilisation as the three dimensions of food security [1]. Food availability includes producing, distributing, and [...]

Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) are important tools for promoting healthy eating and nutrition education at the population level. Currently, more than 100 countries worldwide have developed FBDGs with majority of existing FBDGs in high-income countries. However, there are a few countries in Africa which have developed FBDGs. This review describes and compares the characteristics of existing FBDGs in Africa. Data were extracted from all existing FBDGs from African countries which have been archived in the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) online repository of FBDGs. In addition, supporting documentation from other sources linked to the identified FBDGs were also reviewed. Extracted data were coded and synthesized to describe the purpose of the FBDGs, the process for developing the FBDGs, and how healthy diets were expressed in the FBDGs. In addition, the FBDGs were examined for content on considerations for planetary health, and non-dietary recommendations. A checklist was used to extract the evidence in the identified documents. Of the 47 African countries in the WHO Africa region, only eight FBDGs were identified from seven countries. South Africa had two FBDGs (including a FBDG for young children). Multi-disciplinary technical working groups were convened in developing majority of the FBDGs. The working groups utilised scientific evidence on diet-related diseases and nutrient requirements as a basis for recommendations. All the FBDGs were intended as a tool for promoting healthy diets among the lay population. The FBDGs that were reviewed included between six and sixteen dietary messages. Diet diversification was promoted as the most common recommendation across African country FBDGs. The recommendations often promoted consumption of four to six food groups communicated using text as well as images (food guide). Local availability and cultural acceptability were important values promoted as part of an optimal diet in some of the countries. However, none of the recommendations addressed environmental sustainability. Apart from South Africa, none of the FBDGs had been evaluated or revised. Across Africa, there is a need for increased focus on developing new FBDGs or revising existing ones as a tool for meeting the dietary information needs of populations at risk of malnutrition in all its forms. Key words: Food-based, Dietary, Guidelines, diversity, Africa, Health, Non-communicable, Sustainability, INTRODUCTION Unhealthy diets are a major avoidable risk factor for mortality and morbidity across the lifespan [1,2]. One in five deaths, globally, has been linked to unhealthy diets [1]. On [...]

Food-related beliefs and attitudes influence dietary behaviors and are important drivers of nutrition outcomes. Understanding beliefs and attitudes that drive dietary behaviors, as part of the process for developing Food-based Dietary Guidelines is critical for targeting messages to motivate healthy dietary diets. This rapid review was undertaken to summarize readily available local evidence on food-related beliefs, attitudes, and associated practices in Ghana. A rapid review of 39 peer-reviewed publications and graduate-level theses on the dietary behaviors of Ghanaians was conducted between November and December 2020. The study only included articles published between 1990 and 2020 involving apparently healthy populations living in Ghana. Documents were identified through a systematic literature search of Google Scholar and PubMed. Data on food-related knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices were extracted into an excel template and analyzed using thematic content analysis. The sampled research included primarily cross-sectional studies of urban, rural, peri-urban and mixed localities throughout Ghana: one was a prospective research. A range of food-related taboos were identified and classified as taboos for the general population, pregnancy-related, or child-related. Although awareness of food-related taboos was common, they were not extensively practiced. Energy-giving and nutrient-dense foods are commonly promoted during pregnancy. Culturally prescribed pre-lacteal feeds and other infant and young child feeding (IYCF) behaviors reported in the studies were not aligned with IYCF recommendations. A 3-meals-a-day pattern was observed, commonly, across all age groups; most adult meals, particularly supper, was prepared at home. However, ready-to-eat meals were regularly purchased by adults and adolescents. Adolescents frequently reported snacking and skipping meals; breakfast was the most frequently skipped meal. Fruits and vegetables were the least consumed food groups across all age groups. Muslim faith was associated with consuming more diverse diets and greater fruit and vegetable consumption. The findings of this review provide an overview of food-related beliefs and practices of Ghanaians and can inform decisions on areas to emphasize in food-based dietary guidelines and associated nutrition education messages to promote healthy diets in the Ghanaian population. Effective nutrition education is needed to dispel harmful food beliefs and practices and promote healthy food choices across the life cycle. Dietary patterns in Ghana are linked with cultural and religious practices that are often unique to particular subgroups, although there are common strands of beliefs across ethnic groups. These beliefs can result in either adverse or beneficial outcomes, depending on what eating patterns it determines. Key words: food prohibitions, dietary practices, dietary pattern, Nutrition, Ghana, INTRODUCTION Dietary behaviors encompass the various processes associated with food choice, eating behaviors, and actual dietary intake, all of which are regulated by environmental, socioeconomic, and sociocultural influences [1,2]. It [...]

Technology-based interventions have been shown to reduce maladaptive eating behaviors and associated risk factors. Though several reviews have examined the effectiveness of technology-based interventions for eating problems, this is the first meta-analysis focused solely on controlled trials that include participants with threshold eating disorders. Eleven eligible studies were identified. Significant effects favoring technology-based interventions over waitlist/minimal intervention control were found for global eating pathology, eating concern, objective binge episodes, dietary restraint, shape concern, weight concern, bulimia, drive for thinness, and interoceptive awareness. Limitations of the study include evidence of non-random variation in some pooled effect sizes and a lack of studies with anorexia nervosa patients. The results provide preliminary support for technology-based intervention as a promising strategy for the treatment of threshold eating disorders., Author(s): Taona Patricia Haderlein [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.417119.b, 0000 0001 0384 5381, Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, , [...]

The last meal of Tollund Man, a bog body from Early Iron Age Denmark, has been re-examined using new analyses of plant macrofossils, pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, steroid markers and proteins found in his gut. Some 12-24 hours before he was killed, he ate a porridge containing barley, pale persicaria and flax, and probably some fish. Proteins and eggs from intestinal worms indicate that he was infected with parasites. Although the meal may reflect ordinary Iron Age fare, the inclusion of threshing waste could possibly relate to ritual practices. This re-analysis illustrates that new techniques can throw fresh light on old questions and contribute to understanding life and death in the Danish Early Iron Age. Keywords: Denmark, Iron Age, bog body, diet, palynology, non-pollen palynomorphs, lipid analysis, protein analysis, Introduction During the Iron Age the lives of thousands of people came to their end in the wetlands of North-west Europe (van der Sanden 1996). Bodies deposited in fens were [...]

For two decades, stable isotope studies have documented palaeodietary transitions in the Sabana de Bogota region of north-west South America. Using traditional and Bayesian stable isotope mixing models, this article investigates the contribution of different resources to Holocene human diets. Temporal patterns include dietary emphases on plants during the Early and Middle Holocene, on maize horticulture through the initial Late Holocene and on maize/tuber agriculture during the final Late Holocene; animal protein apparently contributed little across all periods. These results suggest that the management and selection of diverse plants occurred early, and the later emphasis on maize raises universal questions about the role of agriculture in cultural change and social differentiation. Keywords: Colombia, Sabana de Bogota, Holocene, stable isotopes, palaeodietary reconstruction, Introduction Roughly corresponding with present-day Colombia, north-west South America is a region characterised by substantial geographical diversity, including the Andean mountain ranges, inter-Andean valleys, rain forests and grass-covered plains. Previous [...]

Two practices characterize the diet of elite African soccer players. The first practice consists of the period just before and during competitions, when the players are grouped together in training camps (TC) and supported by sports federations, and the second practice consists of the period when the players are out of training camp (OTC), that is, when they live and eat with their families. This study aims to describe the two characteristic contexts of the diet of Benin's elite soccer players during the 2015 under-17 Soccer African Cup of Nations (U-17 ACN) qualifiers. This is a qualitative and comparative study conducted using an approach that focuses on food consumption practices. The 24-hour recall and food logbook techniques were used to collect food data from the 24 cadet soccer players, during the OTC and TC periods within the three and eight days prior to an U-17 ACN qualifying match. In both contexts, the players' diets were spread over three meals, except for four players in the OTC period. The players claimed that they ate to satiety and with appetite, meals which were mostly local and monotonous in the OTC period, but Western and made with seven out of eight food groups in the TC period. In OTC conditions, meals were presented as a single dish and were often consumed alone in 15 to 17 minutes at variable times. In the TC period, meals were consumed in groups at the tables and at fixed times for 22 to 41 minutes. The number of food groups served and the conditions under which meals were consumed during the training camp period make this context the best match for the players' benchmark goals as well as help identify the benchmark eating behaviours of the Beninese soccer players in this study. The results suggest that the trainers of the studied soccer players promote good food hygiene and a longer time devoted to meals by good chewing. Benin Soccer Federation and the Ministry of Sports must work together to daily provide these soccer players with three meals, prepared with local food and containing all eight food groups when they are outside of the training camps as well as during training camp periods. Key words: Survey, Diet, Dietary Consumption, Meals, Eating Behaviour Exercise Training, Elite Soccer Players, Benin, African Cup of Nations, INTRODUCTION Eating is a vital act for people regardless of their age, sex, physiological or health status and level of physical activity [1]. The body derives the nutrients necessary for [...]

Vitamin A deficiency is a major public health problem in Nigeria. Staple crops are targeted by biofortification efforts because they possess low micronutrient density and are consumed in large quantities by a large proportion of poor households. This study was designed to assess the knowledge, perception and utilization of biofortified cassava and orange-fleshed sweet potato in selected Local government Areas in Abia and Imo States. The study was descriptive and cross-sectional in design. A total of 710 respondents were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit the required information. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and inferential (correlation) analysis. Socio-demographic data revealed a preponderance of females, married, well-educated and working-class respondents. Monthly income above N29,000 (US$ 70.54) and household size of 4-6 members were reported in 53.5% and 48.6% of the respondents. Study results further revealed that some (34.9%) of the respondents had good knowledge, while 46.1% and 19.0% had an average and poor knowledge of biofortified staples, respectively. Orange fleshed sweet potatoes and biofortified cassava were purchased at least once monthly by 73.7% of the respondents, however 16.5% and 27.5% of the respondents consumed these biofortified staples on a daily and weekly basis. Low positive perception towards the consumption (27.5%), benefits (39.6%) and barriers (16.9%) of utilizing studied biofortified staples was reported. A positive correlation was observed between respondents' knowledge of biofortified staples and their benefits perception (p = 0.003), purchase (p =0.001) and consumption (p= 0.001) frequency. Therefore, while a good number of the respondents were fairly knowledgeable about the studied biofortified staples, it significantly influenced the perception and utilization of these staples, despite being reportedly low. Therefore, increased sensitization, price subsidy and availability of these biofortified staples will help improve their acceptance and utilization among rural households. Key words: Knowledge, perception, utilization, orange-fleshed sweet potato, biofortified cassava, Nigeria, INTRODUCTION Micronutrient malnutrition such as the lack of vitamin A is one of the major public health problems in Africa. The World Health Organization reports that Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) [...]

Context: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as lacking 'access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members'. The projected food insecurity rate for the City of Milwaukee was 13.1%. Milwaukee is known for poor health outcomes ranking 71 out of 72 Wisconsin counties in health. The reasons are wide-ranging. While poverty undoubtably plays a role, food deserts limit access especially in low-income neighborhoods. Our clinics see a predominately urban underserved patient population many of who are medically complex and socially at-risk (hotspots). Many are on fixed budgets and struggle with food insecurity. As a result, there is a lack of healthy food options both physically and economically. Furthermore, food insecurity is not routinely screened for in our clinics. Objective: Our quality improvement study aimed to highlight the importance of not only screening for food insecurity but to also pilot home deliveries to food insecure patients. Study Design & Analysis: Experimental; pre/post-test design with the collection of both qualitative & quantitative data. Setting: Two residency primary care clinics; Milwaukee, WI. Population Studied: Patients who at the time of the study had been identified as hotspots. Intervention: For 6 months households selected for the intervention group received monthly food deliveries from a local food pantry, which were delivered by the medical team. Results: Of the 45 patients, 49% screened positive for some level of food insecurity and a surprising 68% of those had 'very low food security' defined as 'reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake' (USDA). While overall QOL scores remained unchanged, in the social relationships' domain, a statistically significant improvement was noted (P=0.01). In gathering qualitative data from the intervention group 4 themes emerged: Appreciated Food Visits, Enjoyed Food Quality and Quantity, Improved Food Insecurity & Bridged Transportation Access. Conclusions: Home food deliveries to our food insecure patients were viewed in a positive manner. In the future the hope is to expand this pilot project to screen all patients during office visits for food insecurity and to find creative approaches to provide home food deliveries to the most vulnerable households as it matters., Presenters Zeeshan Yacoob, MD, MPH, Do Dang, MD, BS, Cathryn Phouybanhdyt, Jessica Kram, MPH, George Neureuther, Glenda Sundberg, [...]

Daily changes in light and food availability are major time cues that influence circadian timing.sup.1. However, little is known about the circuits that integrate these time cues to drive a coherent circadian output.sup.1-3. Here we investigate whether retinal inputs modulate entrainment to nonphotic cues such as time-restricted feeding. Photic information is relayed to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)--the central circadian pacemaker--and the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) through intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs).sup.4. We show that adult mice that lack ipRGCs from the early postnatal stages have impaired entrainment to time-restricted feeding, whereas ablation of ipRGCs at later stages had no effect. Innervation of ipRGCs at early postnatal stages influences IGL neurons that express neuropeptide Y (NPY) (hereafter, IGL.sup.NPY neurons), guiding the assembly of a functional IGL.sup.NPY-SCN circuit. Moreover, silencing IGL.sup.NPY neurons in adult mice mimicked the deficits that were induced by ablation of ipRGCs in the early postnatal stages, and acute inhibition of IGL.sup.NPY terminals in the SCN decreased food-anticipatory activity. Thus, innervation of ipRGCs in the early postnatal period tunes the IGL.sup.NPY-SCN circuit to allow entrainment to time-restricted feeding. Ablating retinal input at early postnatal stages--but not later time points--impaired entrainment to time-restricted feeding in adult mice, as did silencing intergeniculate-leaflet neurons that express neuropeptide Y and project to the central pacemaker, Author(s): Diego Carlos Fernandez [sup.1] , Ruchi Komal [sup.1] , Jennifer Langel [sup.1] , Jun Ma [sup.1] , Phan Q. Duy [sup.1] [sup.3] , Mario A. Penzo [sup.1] , Haiqing [...]

People with developmental disorders (DD) often display high levels of selective eating, which can result in micronutrient deficiencies. It is therefore essential to explore ways to increase dietary variety in this population. To identify different types of interventions promoting increased acceptance of new foods or dietary variety for DD populations and to determine their effectiveness. Thirty-six studies met criteria for inclusion in the review. Twenty-two types of intervention were identified with 34 studies being reported as effective and 33 of these incorporating components drawn from learning theory. Multi-component interventions centred on operant conditioning, systematic desensitisation and changes to environment and familial practices were reported as effective for individuals., Author(s): L. R. Chawner [sup.1] , P. Blundell-Birtill [sup.1] , M. M. Hetherington [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) 0000 0004 1936 8403, grid.9909.9, School of Psychology, University of Leeds, , LS2 [...]

We analysed data of a globally distributed model organism (brown trout, Salmo trutta) in an attempt to understand relationships among biogeography, prey communities, and climate on diet composition at regional spatial scales (Scandinavia) and thereafter explored whether diet patterns remained the same at global scales. At regional scales, we uncovered comprehensive patterns in diet composition among neighbouring freshwater ecoregions, with site-specific prey communities as the best predictor of the observed prey utilization patterns. Thus, we posit that environmental gradients altering site-specific prey communities and consequently the trophic niche of the predator through bottom-up mechanisms are key in understanding spatial dietary patterns. Proximity was also important for the revealed biogeographic patterns at global scales. We suggest that geographic location (latitude and elevation) as a proxy of environmental heterogeneity is key at small spatial scales, and climate at global extents, to understand spatial dietary patterns. Our findings support the hypothesis that future shifts in prey communities due to climate change will strengthen biographical patterns in feeding of freshwater fishes, with consequences for invasiveness assessment and nature management and conservation. Nous avons analyse des donnees sur un organisme modele a repartition planetaire (la truite brune, Salmo trutta) pour tenter de comprendre les relations de la biogeographie, des communautes de proies et du climat avec la composition du regime alimentaire a des echelles spatiales regionales (la Scandinavie), puis nous avons examine si les motifs de repartition des regimes alimentaires demeurent les memes a des echelles planetaires. Aux echelles regionales, nous avons releve des motifs comparables de composition du regime alimentaire entre ecoregions d'eau douce voisines, les communautes de proies propres au site constituant le meilleur predicteur des motifs d'utilisation des proies observes. Nous postulons donc que des gradients environnementaux qui modifient les communautes de proies propres au site et, consequemment, par l'entremise de mecanismes ascendants, la niche trophique du predateur sont d'importance cle pour la comprehension des motifs de repartition spatiale des regimes alimentaires. La proximite est aussi importante pour les motifs biogeographiques releves a des echelles planetaires. Nous suggerons que l'emplacement geographique (latitude et altitude) comme variable substitutive de l'heterogeneite environnementale a petite echelle et le climat a l'echelle planetaire revetent une importance cle pour la comprehension de la repartition spatiale des regimes alimentaires. Nos constatations appuient l'hypothese selon laquelle les modifications futures des communautes de proies dues aux changements climatiques renforceront les motifs biogeographiques d'alimentation des poissons d'eau douce, ce qui aura des consequences sur revaluation du potentiel d'envahissement et sur la gestion et la conservation des milieux naturels. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Knowledge of the feeding habits of fish populations is essential to understand their ecological role in food webs and their potential carrying capacity, which in turn is critical for [...]