Limitations of Food Composition Databases and Nutrition Surveys for Evaluating Food Fortification in the United States and Canada

A healthy eating plan for employees engaged in oil and gas exploration and production in the Far North

Proper nutrition is undoubtedly one of the most important factors of good health. Currently, the priority field of study for the Russian nutritionists is the development of well-balanced nutrition plans which can help to prevent or alleviate the most common medical conditions and work-related diseases. Extensive research has been carried out for the stateled program for the Development of Hydrocarbon Resources in the Northern Regions of Russia, including the Far North, where the huge oil and gas fields are located, and the specialists of Art-Life scientific production association have developed a healthy eating plan to help people working in the Far North maintain general well-being.

Pediatric thiamine deficiency disorders in high-income countries between 2000 and 2020: a clinical reappraisal

Often thought to be a nutritional issue limited to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), pediatric thiamine deficiency (PTD) is perceived as being eradicated or anecdotal in high-income countries (HICs). In HICs, classic beriberi cases in breastfed infants by thiamine-deficient mothers living in disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions are thought to be rare. This study aims to assess PTD in HICs in the 21st century. Literature searches were conducted to identify case reports of PTD observed in HICs and published between 2000 and 2020. The analyzed variables were age, country, underlying conditions, clinical manifestations of PTD, and response to thiamine supplementation. One hundred and ten articles were identified, totaling 389 PTD cases that were classified into four age groups: neonates, infants, children, and adolescents. Eleven categories of PTD-predisposing factors were identified, including genetic causes, lifestyle (diabetes, obesity, and excessive consumption of sweetened beverages), eating disorders, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders/surgeries, critical illness, and artificial nutrition. TD-associated hyperlactatemia and Wernicke encephalopathy were the most frequent clinical manifestations. The circumstances surrounding PTD in HICs differ from classic PTD observed in LMICs and this study delineates its mutiple predisposing factors. Further studies are required to estimate its magnitude. Awareness is of utmost importance in clinical practice.

An Italian-Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Developed Based on the EAT-Lancet Reference Diet (EAT-IT): A Nutritional Evaluation

There is an urgent need to promote healthy and sustainable diets that are tailored to the preferences and cultures of different populations. The present study aimed to (i) define a Mediterranean dietary pattern in line with the EAT-Lancet Commission reference diet (ELCRD), based on 2500 kcal/day and adapted to the Italian food habits (EAT-IT); (ii) develop a mid/long-term dietary plan based on EAT-IT and a dietary plan based on the Italian Dietary Guidelines (IDG); (iii) compare the two dietary plans in terms of portions, frequencies of consumption, and nutritional adequacy based on the nutrient and energy recommendations for the Italian adult population. The main differences between the two plans were related to the higher amount of fruit and vegetables in the IDG compared to the EAT-IT, while the EAT-IT plan was higher in nuts and legumes, which represent the main protein sources in the ELCRD. Differences in the protein sources, especially milk and derivatives, and for cereal-based foods, were also found. Dietary plans were comparable for most nutrients, except for higher energy from lipids and vegetal protein, a higher amount of fiber, and lower levels of calcium that were evidenced for the EAT-IT dietary plan compared to the IDG-based one. In conclusion, the analysis of the EAT-IT demonstrated certain nutritional issues. It remains to be determined whether this may represent a health concern in further studies aimed at investigating the feasibility of sustainable dietary patterns.

An examination of contributions of animal- and plant-based dietary patterns on the nutrient quality of diets of adult Canadians

Dietary guidance and Canada's 2019 Food Guide encourage increased consumption of plant-based foods as a source of dietary protein. However, there is an absence of recent data on protein and nutrient intakes and quality of Canadian dietary patterns that might occur with increased plant protein intakes. This study compared food sources and nutrient intakes of Canadian adults within groups of increasing plant protein-containing diets. The CCHS 2015 Public-Use Microdata File of single 24-hour dietary recalls of males and females ≥19 years (n = 6498) or ≥70 years (n = 1482) were examined. Respondents were allocated into 4 groups defined by their protein intake percentage coming from plant-based foods (i.e., group 1: 0-24.9%, group 2: 25-49.9%, group 3: 50-74.9%, group 4: 75-100%). Protein intake in adults averaged 63.3% animal and 36.7% plant protein. Where plant protein contributed >50% protein, higher intakes of carbohydrate, dietary fibre, folate, dietary folate equivalents, iron and magnesium (p < 0.001) but lower intakes of total and saturated fat, protein, vitamin D, vitamin B12, riboflavin and niacin (p < 0.0001) were reported. In contrast, group 1 had higher total and saturated fat, protein, vitamin B12, thiamin, niacin, and zinc, but lower carbohydrate, dietary fibre, and magnesium. Balancing plant- with animal-based protein foods leads to healthier dietary patterns with more favourable nutritional properties when compared with diets based on either high animal or high plant protein content. Novelty: Combinations of animal- and plant-based proteins improve nutrient quality of Canadian diets. The source of protein influences diet quality.

Discretionary fortification--a public health perspective

'Discretionary fortification' refers to the addition of vitamins and minerals to foods at the discretion of manufacturers for marketing purposes, but not as part of a planned public health intervention. While the nutrients added may correspond to needs in the population, an examination of novel beverages sold in Toronto supermarkets revealed added nutrients for which there is little or no evidence of inadequacy in the population. This is consistent with the variable effects of manufacturer-driven fortification on nutrient adequacy observed in the US. Nutrient intakes in excess of Tolerable Upper Intake Levels are now observed in the context of supplement use and high levels of consumption of fortified foods. Expanding discretionary fortification can only increase nutrient exposures, but any health risks associated with chronically high nutrient loads from fortification and supplementation remain to be discovered. Regulatory bodies are focused on the establishment of safe levels of nutrient addition, but their estimation procedures are fraught with untested assumptions and data limitations. The task of determining the benefits of discretionary fortification is being left to consumers, but the nutrition information available to them is insufficient to allow for differentiation of potentially beneficial fortification from gratuitous nutrient additions.

Voluntary fortification with folic acid in Spain: An updated food composition database

Folic acid (FA) is a key vitamin in the prevention of many diseases including neural tube defects. In Spain, only voluntary FA food fortification is allowed and there is a lack of compositional data to assess the contribution of these products to population's dietary folate intakes. Since 2007, our group has been compiling and updating a FA fortified food composition database. FA levels were obtained from retailers in Madrid and information provided by manufacturers. FA was also quantified by an affinity chromatography-HPLC method. In the present study we recorded 375 products. Our results show a high variability in the declared FA levels amongst different products, and food groups, which is also dependant on the commercial brand. FA overages are commonly added by manufacturers to some fortified products. FA content label claims are missing in 64% of products. This database is a useful tool to manage FA fortified foods data but it is necessary to continuously update it for the sound evaluation and monitoring of population's FA dietary intakes.