Seafood and health: What you need to know?

Eco-friendly and safe alternatives for the valorization of shrimp farming waste

The seafood industry generates waste, including shells, bones, intestines, and wastewater. The discards are nutrient-rich, containing varying concentrations of carotenoids, proteins, chitin, and other minerals. Thus, it is imperative to subject seafood waste, including shrimp waste (SW), to secondary processing and valorization for demineralization and deproteination to retrieve industrially essential compounds. Although several chemical processes are available for SW processing, most of them are inherently ecotoxic. Bioconversion of SW is cost-effective, ecofriendly, and safe. Microbial fermentation and the action of exogenous enzymes are among the significant SW bioconversion processes that transform seafood waste into valuable products. SW is a potential raw material for agrochemicals, microbial culture media, adsorbents, therapeutics, nutraceuticals, and bio-nanomaterials. This review comprehensively elucidates the valorization approaches of SW, addressing the drawbacks of chemically mediated methods for SW treatments. It is a broad overview of the applications associated with nutrient-rich SW, besides highlighting the role of major shrimp-producing countries in exploring SW to achieve safe, ecofriendly, and efficient bio-products.

Design and Development of an Edible Coating for a Ready-to-Eat Fish Product

The application of chitosan and alginate coatings for a ready-to-eat (RTE) baked fish product was studied. An experimental design was used to investigate the effect of coating a polysaccharide concentration and glycerol addition on the safety (microbial growth) and quality (water loss and lipid oxidation) of an RTE fish product under optimal and abused storage conditions. The results showed that a chitosan coating with 1% (w/v) chitosan in 1% (v/v) acetic acid and 15% (w/w chitosan) glycerol, or a 1% (w/v) alginate coating with no glycerol and no crosslinking, showed the best performance in controlling the tested safety and quality parameters. The desirability method was used to identify the shelf lives of chitosan, alginate, and double-coated RTE products. The chitosan-coated samples showed the best performance with a three-fold shelf-life extension compared to the uncoated products stored at 4 °C. Moreover, the tested coatings demonstrated their ability to provide protective functions under abused storage conditions. These results strongly suggest that edible coatings have significant potential in enhancing the shelf life and safety of ready-to-eat (RTE) fish products.

To Eat or Not to Eat?-Food Safety Aspects of Essential Metals in Seafood

The popularity of seafoods is high due to their superb dietary properties and healthy composition. However, it is crucial to understand whether they adequately contribute to our essential nutritional needs. Small amounts of essential metals are indispensable in the human body to proper physiological functioning; their deficiency can manifest in various sets of symptoms that can only be eliminated with their intake during treatment or nutrition. However, the excessive consumption of metals can induce undesirable effects, or even toxicosis. Shellfish, oyster, and squid samples were collected directly from a fish market. After sample preparation, the concentration of essential metals (cobalt, chromium, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, and zinc) was detected by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. The results were analyzed statistically using ANOVA and two-sample t-tests. The average concentration of the investigated essential elements and the calculated burden based on the consumption were below the Recommended Dietary Allowances and Tolerable Upper Intake Levels. Based on these results, the trace element contents of the investigated seafoods do not cover the necessary recommended daily intake of them, but their consumption poses no health hazard due to their low levels.

Evaluation of a gold-nanoparticle-modified carbon-fiber microelectrode to quantify mercury in canned tuna sold in Ecuador

Seafood consumption is the primary exposure route for trace metals like mercury. Accordingly, canned tuna meat has been focused on by researchers because of the potential bioaccumulation of high amounts of mercury. This study aimed to test a novel and reliable electroanalytical method employing a working electrode consisting of gold-nanoparticle-modified carbon microfibers to quantify total mercury in canned tuna samples. Determination was achieved via differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The proposed method had a limit of detection of 3.9781 ± 0.0001 μg L-1 and a limit of quantification of 33.6634 ± 0.0001 μg L-1, with a sensitivity of 0.3275 nA μg L-1. The modified electrode was evaluated in samples taken from three canned tuna brands sold in the Sangolquí parish in Rumiñahui, Ecuador. These brands, coded A, B, and C, represent 47.92%, 27.08%, and 11.98% of all canned tuna sold in the Ecuadorian market, respectively. The resulting respective total mercury concentrations were 0.5999 ± 0.0001 mg kg-1; 0.9387 ± 0.0001 mg kg-1; and 0.3442 ± 0.0001 mg kg-1 for A, B, and C. Method accuracy was determined through the recovery percentages of ≥98%, which indicated acceptable accuracy for the final optimized method. Mean mercury concentrations for all samples did not represent a carcinogenic risk for consumers. However, the values obtained for potential no-carcinogenic risk and daily consumption rate suggest that consumers of tuna canned in water, particularly brand C, may be at risk.

Association of COVID-19 mortality with serum selenium, zinc and copper: Six observational studies across Europe

Introduction

Certain trace elements are essential for life and affect immune system function, and their intake varies by region and population. Alterations in serum Se, Zn and Cu have been associated with COVID-19 mortality risk. We tested the hypothesis that a disease-specific decline occurs and correlates with mortality risk in different countries in Europe.

Methods

Serum samples from 551 COVID-19 patients (including 87 non-survivors) who had participated in observational studies in Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Poland) were analyzed for trace elements by total reflection X-ray fluorescence. A subset (n=2069) of the European EPIC study served as reference. Analyses were performed blinded to clinical data in one analytical laboratory.

Results

Median levels of Se and Zn were lower than in EPIC, except for Zn in Italy. Non-survivors consistently had lower Se and Zn concentrations than survivors and displayed an elevated Cu/Zn ratio. Restricted cubic spline regression models revealed an inverse nonlinear association between Se or Zn and death, and a positive association between Cu/Zn ratio and death. With respect to patient age and sex, Se showed the highest predictive value for death (AUC=0.816), compared with Zn (0.782) or Cu (0.769).

Discussion

The data support the potential relevance of a decrease in serum Se and Zn for survival in COVID-19 across Europe. The observational study design cannot account for residual confounding and reverse causation, but supports the need for intervention trials in COVID-19 patients with severe Se and Zn deficiency to test the potential benefit of correcting their deficits for survival and convalescence.

Healthier diet associated with reduced risk of excessive gestational weight gain: A Chinese prospective cohort study

Limited studies have examined the associations between diet quality and gestational weight gain (GWG) among Chinese pregnant women, adopting Chinese GWG guidelines. We prospectively investigate the associations of diet quality, using the Chinese Healthy Diet Index for Pregnancy (CHDI-P), which assessed diet quality from 'Diversity', 'Adequacy' and 'Limitation' dimensions with overall 100 points, with GWG among participants enroled in Southwest China. Food consumption was collected by 24 h dietary recalls for three consecutive days and CHDI-P scores were divided into tertiles. GWG was calculated according to the weight measured before delivery and classified into adequate weight gain (AWG), insufficient weight gain (IWG) and excessive weight gain(EWG) following Chinese GWG guidelines. Multinomial regression analyses and stratified analyses by pre-pregnancy body mass index were performed to estimate the association between CHDI-P and GWG. A total of 1416 participants were recruited in early pregnancy, and 971 and 997 participants were respectively followed up in middle and late pregnancy. The mean CHDI-P score was 56.44 ± 6.74, 57.07 ± 7.44 and 57.38 ± 7.94 points in early, middle and late pregnancy, respectively. Women in the lowest CHDI-P scores group had an increased risk of EWG in middle (OR = 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-2.17) and late pregnancy (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.21-2.41) than women in the highest group, while overweight/obese women had a greater risk of EWG in late pregnancy (OR = 4.25, 95% CI = 1.30-13.90). No association was found between the CHDI-P scores and IWG. Poor diet quality in middle and late pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of EWG.

Lifestyle, Eating Habits, and Health Behaviors Among Dietary Supplement Users in Three European Countries

Dietary supplements (DS) are used by about 30-50% of adults in developed countries. However, only a few studies have compared the characteristics of DS users in different nations. This study aimed to identify and compare selected health-related behaviors of DS users from three European countries. A total of 3,588 adults (32.08 ± 8.04 years) from Poland (1,030 females, 287 males), Germany (994 females, 190 males), and the United Kingdom (911 females, 176 males) were included in the analysis. The study was based on a self-administered survey consisting of 70 questions regarding baseline characteristics, lifestyle, eating, and health habits. The associations of the obtained results were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test, Pearson Chi-Square test, and Cramer's V value. The highest percentage of DS users (56.98%, n = 2,044) had a correct body weight, while higher body weight values were observed in 39.19% (n = 1,406). In terms of lifestyle, statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were noted for alcohol consumption and the level of physical activity. Fruit and vegetables were most often consumed a few times a weeks (34.67%, n = 1,244). A similar result was observed for the consumption of whole grain (37.76%, n = 1,355), dairy (39.99%, n = 1,435), eggs (49.67%, n = 1,782), and meat (51.45%, n = 1,846). Most DS users did not have a chronic disease (66.72%, n = 2,394). Among the other conditions, a frequent occurrence (a few times a weeks) of gastrointestinal problems (28.29%, n = 1,015) and concentration disorders (29.15%, n = 1,046) was noted. Cramer's V values (<0.3) indicated a weak (but significant p < 0.05) relationship between the country of residence and most of the analyzed variables. In conclusion, DS users were characterized by a healthy lifestyle with appropriate behaviors but not healthy eating habits.

Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination Status and Confidence on Dietary Practices among Chinese Residents

Healthy diets promote immune functions and have been shown to reduce COVID-19 severity. In 2021, COVID-19 vaccines have become available to the general public. However, whether vaccination status could affect individual and populational health behaviors is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of vaccination status and confidence on dietary practices. An online survey was conducted in August 2021. We collected data on dietary intake, diversity and behaviors, vaccination status and confidence and socio-demographic characteristics. Among the 5107 responses received, a total of 4873 study participants were included in the final analysis. Most of our participants aged between 18 and 45 years and 82% of them were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Household level dietary diversity was found to be higher among people who were fully vaccinated (β = 0.321, 95%CI: 0.024 to 0.618) or who were more confident in the protectiveness of the vaccine (β for tertile 3 comparing with lowest tertile = 0.544, 95%CI: 0.407, 0.682). Vaccination promoted the intake of seafood, but it was also positively associated with the consumption of sugar, preserved, fried and barbequed foods and reduced vegetable intake. Higher vaccination confidence was associated with increased consumption of seafood, bean, fruits and vegetables and reduced fat intake. Changes in dietary behaviors compared with early 2021 (when vaccination was not common) were observed and differed by vaccination status and confidence level. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccination status and confidence had varied, and possibly negative, impacts on dietary intake and behaviors. Our results suggest that vaccination status and confidence might be significant influencing factors affecting people’s health behaviors and highlight that healthy eating should be consistently promoted to prevent poor dietary practices during global health crisis.

Fish and the Thyroid: A Janus Bifrons Relationship Caused by Pollutants and the Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Benefits of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on a number of clinical disorders, including autoimmune diseases, are widely reported in the literature. One major dietary source of PUFA are fish, particularly the small oily fish, like anchovy, sardine, mackerel and others. Unfortunately, fish (particularly the large, top-predator fish like swordfish) are also a source of pollutants, including the heavy metals. One relevant heavy metal is mercury, a known environmental trigger of autoimmunity that is measurable inside the thyroid. There are a number of interactions between the omega-3 PUFA and thyroid hormones, even at the level of the thyroid hormone transport proteins. Concerning the mechanisms behind the protection from/amelioration of autoimmune diseases, including thyroiditis, that are caused by the omega-3 PUFA, one can be the decreased production of chemokines, a decrease that was reported in the literature for other nutraceuticals. Recent studies point also to the involvement of resolvins. The intracellular increase in resolvins is associated with the tissue protection from inflammation that was observed in experimental animals after coadministration of omega-3 PUFA and thyroid hormone. After having presented data on fish consumption at the beginning, we conclude our review by presenting data on the market of the dietary supplements/nutraceuticals. The global omega-3 products market was valued at USD 2.10 billion in 2020, and was projected to go up at a compound annual growth rate of 7.8% from 2020 to 2028. Among supplements, fish oils, which are derived mainly from anchovies, are considered the best and generally safest source of omega-3. Taking into account (i) the anti-autoimmunity and anti-cancer properties of the omega-3 PUFA, (ii) the increasing incidence of both autoimmune thyroiditis and thyroid cancer worldwide, (iii) the predisposing role for thyroid cancer exerted by autoimmune thyroiditis, and (iv) the risk for developing metabolic and cardiovascular disorders conferred by both elevated/trendwise elevated serum TSH levels and thyroid autoimmunity, then there is enough rationale for the omega-3 PUFA as measures to contrast the appearance and/or duration of Hashimoto's thyroiditis as well as to correct the slightly elevated serum TSH levels of subclinical hypothyroidism.

Recommendations for Integrating Evidence-Based, Sustainable Diet Information into Nutrition Education

The adoption of more sustainable diets (SD) has the capacity to meet the needs of individuals without compromising future generations' abilities to do the same. Nutrition educators are ideal candidates for delivering SD education to consumers, yet evidence-based recommendations for the profession have not been crafted. The results of a thorough, narrative review of the literature performed in 2021 suggest there are five well-supported recommendations nutrition educators should consider incorporating in their work. They are (1) shift towards a plant-based diet, (2) mitigate food waste, (3) limit consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), (4) engage in local food systems, and (5) choose sustainable seafood. Each recommendation is discussed below in detail, to provide nutrition educators with a nuanced scope of the issue, after which suggestions for the inclusion of these recommendations, using an example of the authors' experiences from the US Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), are provided.