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Gluten is the most common protein in wheat and is related to different pathogeneses. There are three main gluten-related disorders: celiac disease (CD), wheat allergy (WA), and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). Clinical manifestations are strictly related in all of them, such as abdominal pain and distention, however the development pathways may differ. The diagnosis criteria are also different, in CD features immunological markers such as IgA, while WA presents IgE markers, and NCGS does not have any specific immunological marker. The consumption of wheat, and consequently gluten-related products, is historical and it has grown over human evolution, which leads us to question what role this component plays in other diseases, and the consequence of a gluten-free diet (GFD). GFD is the treatment with major efficacy in CD and, likewise, is related with improvements in neuropathologies (autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression and schizophrenia), obesity, and the gut microbiome. Further investigation is required. GFD studies in people who do not present CD seem to be safe, especially when products containing gluten are not replaced by processed gluten-free products but by minimally processed foods, and also when the food strategy is accompanied by a qualified professional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aims to describe the consumption of ultra-processed foods, from 2 to 4 years old, and evaluate its association with growth outcomes during the same period. It is a prospective cohort study using data from the 2015 Pelotas-Brazil Birth Cohort. Outcomes assessed at the 2- and 4-year-old follow-ups were BMI-for-age Z -score and length/height-for-age Z -score. The exposure was a score of ultra-processed food consumption calculated at each follow-up by summing up the positive answers for the consumption of nine specific items/subgroups of ultra-processed foods: (i) instant noodles; (ii) soft drink; (iii) chocolate powder in milk; (iv) nuggets, hamburger or sausages; (v) packaged salty snacks; (vi) candies, lollipops, chewing gum, chocolate or jelly; (vii) sandwich cookie or sweet biscuit; (viii) juice in can or box or prepared from a powdered mix and (ix) yogurt. Crude and adjusted analyses between the score of ultra-processed foods and the outcomes were run using generalised estimating equations. Prevalence of consumption of ultra-processed foods increased from 2 to 4 years old, for all evaluated items/subgroups, except yogurt. In prospective analyses, higher scores of ultra-processed food consumption were associated with higher BMI-for-age Z -score and lower length/height-for-age Z -score, after adjustment for confounders. Ultra-processed food consumption, measured using a short questionnaire with low research burden, increased from 2 to 4 years old and was related to deleterious growth outcomes in early childhood. These results reinforce the importance of avoiding the consumption of these products in childhood to prevent the double burden of malnutrition and non-communicable chronic diseases throughout the life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Appropriate infant feeding practices to promote optimal growth and development include exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months of life and introduction complementary foods at 6 months, with continued BF up to 2 years of age or older. Mothers experiencing postpartum depression (PPD) may show difficulties feeding their children. Aims: the aims of this analysis were 2-fold: to examine the association between PPD and early introduction of complementary foods (EICF) before 4 months of age and to describe the frequency of EICF among women with a history of depression during pregnancy. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from women enrolled in a community trial, collected between 6 to 9 months after childbirth. The presence of PPD was evaluated using the "Patient Health Questionnaire-9". Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to examine the association between PPD and EICF. Covariates included demographics, socioeconomic, maternal, and child factors. A total of 326 mother-infant dyads were included. Results: The overall prevalence of EICF was 75.8%. There were no differences in EICF regarding maternal depression status. Lower prevalence of EICF was associated with continuity of BF at 6 months, working outside of the home, and lower family income. The food items that were introduced more commonly before 4 months included: water, tea, milk, and cookies, with no differences regarding maternal depression status. Conclusions: Interventions to prevent EICF should not prioritize maternal emotional status during the postpartum period, but breastfeeding and social aspects such as family income and the women's external work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study assessed associations between ultraprocessed food consumption and dietary nutrient profile linked to obesity in children and adolescents in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States using nationally representative data collected between 2004 and 2014. Linear regression models were used to evaluate associations between dietary share of ultraprocessed foods (country and age group‐specific quintiles and a 10% share increase) and the energy density of diets and their content of free sugars and fiber. Ultraprocessed foods, defined by the NOVA system, ranged from 18% of total energy intake among preschool children in Colombia to 68% among adolescents in the United Kingdom. In almost all countries and age groups, increases in the dietary share of ultraprocessed foods were associated with increases in energy density and free sugars and decreases in fiber, suggesting that ultraprocessed food consumption is a potential determinant of obesity in children and adolescents. Effective global policy action to address growing ultraprocessed food consumption and childhood obesity is urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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