Consumption of organic foods and risk of atopic disease during the first 2 years of life in the Netherlands

Potential Health Benefits of a Diet Rich in Organic Fruit and Vegetables versus a Diet Based on Conventional Produce: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Over the past decade, the production and consumption of organic food (OF) have received increasing interest. Scientific studies have shown better quality of organic fruit and vegetables (FV) in terms of nutrients and pesticide contents, but it appears difficult to conclude if there are potentially greater health benefits of these products compared with conventional food (CF).

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the current scientific literature demonstrates that a diet rich in organic FV is healthier than 1 based on conventional produce.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted using the PubMed and Web of Science databases for articles published between January 2003 and December 2022. Articles were analyzed uniformly by 2 reviewer, using a specific template summary sheet, and scored from 1 to 5. The level of evidence and the quality of studies in humans were assessed using the Jadad score and the French National Authority for Health method.

RESULTS

A total of 12 human studies were included. Studies often reported contradictory or even opposite results, with methodological limitations. Only 6 of the 12 studies found significant associations between OF and the health outcomes evaluated.

CONCLUSION

The current data do not enable a firm conclusion about a greater health benefit for a diet rich in FV based on products grown organically compared with conventional farming. There is a paucity of available data and considerable heterogeneity in study designs (participants, exposures, durations, health outcomes, and residual confounding factors). Well-designed interventional studies are required.

Organic Food Consumption Might Protect Against Sensitisation to Inhalant Allergens at School Age: The PARIS Cohort

BACKGROUND

Interest has grown recently in childhood diet's role in allergy development. However, the studies focusing on organic food consumption are scarce. We address the relationships between such consumption and respiratory/allergic morbidity at school age in the PARIS (Pollution and asthma risk: An infant study) cohort.

METHODS

Diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire completed by the parents at 8 years. Dietary patterns were identified by cluster analysis based on the consumption frequency of 30 foods (either organic or conventional) and 19 organic foods. Associations between dietary patterns and respiratory/allergic morbidity (asthma, rhinitis, eczema and sensitisation) were studied using multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders, including family socioeconomic status and adherence to the Mediterranean diet as a proxy for dietary balance.

RESULTS

Among 1258 children, three dietary patterns were identified, which differed significantly in terms of organic food consumption frequency: low frequency in G0 (51% of children), moderate in G1 (28%) and high in G2 (21%). No association was found between dietary patterns and asthma, eczema, rhinitis or sensitisation to food allergens. Children in G2 had lower likelihood of sensitisation to any allergen than those in G0 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40-0.91), particularly to inhalant allergens (aOR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.42-0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that frequent organic food consumption may be protective against allergic sensitisation at school age, based on the assumption that organic food consumption at the age of eight reflects consumption at earlier ages. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms for this association, including nutritional and environmental exposures.

What are the changes in mothers' diets after the birth of a child: results from the NutriNet-Santé cohort

Childbirth is a major life-changing event, this period is an opportunity to improve eating habits. The aim of this longitudinal study was to identify and characterise dietary changes in women according to their parity status. Dietary intake data from 4194 women of childbearing age included in the NutriNet-Santé cohort were derived using a FFQ, administered in 2014 and 2018, distinguishing between organic and conventional food consumption. Women were classified into four groups: ‘previous children’, ‘multiparous’, ‘primiparous’ and ‘nulliparous’. Multi-adjusted ANCOVA models were used to estimate the changes according to the parity group. Changes in food consumption towards a more plant-based, healthier and organic diet were observed in all four groups of women, although to various degrees. In multivariable models, ‘Nulliparous’ women showed a greater improvement in terms of ‘sustainable’ food consumption than ‘previous children’ women. ‘Primiparous’ women significantly increased their energy intake (+349 (269–429) kcal/d) and their consumption of dairy products (+30 (3–56) g/d), and they significantly decreased their consumption of alcohol (–23 (–32–15) g/d), coffee and tea (–107 (–155–60) g/d). Regarding organic food, ‘nulliparous’ women increased their consumption more than ‘previous children’ and ‘primiparous’ women were those who were most frequently in the top quintile of organic food increase. Although there were dietary changes in all groups of women according to their parity, childless women have a shift moving towards a more sustainable diet. Women who had a first child reduced their alcohol and caffeine consumption.

The effects of organic food on human health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies

CONTEXT

Although the nutritional composition of organic food has been thoroughly researched, there is a dearth of published data relating to its impact on human health.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aimed to examine the association between organic food intake and health effects, including changes in in vivo biomarkers, disease prevalence, and functional changes.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception through Nov 13, 2022.

DATA EXTRACTION

Both observational and interventional studies conducted in human populations were included, and association between level of organic food intake and each outcome was quantified as "no association," "inconsistent," "beneficial correlation/harmful correlation," or "insufficient". For outcomes with sufficient data reported by at least 3 studies, meta-analyses were conducted, using random-effects models to calculate standardized mean differences.

DATA ANALYSIS

Based on the included 23 observational and 27 interventional studies, the association between levels of organic food intake and (i) pesticide exposure biomarker was assessed as "beneficial correlation," (ii) toxic metals and carotenoids in the plasma was assessed as "no association," (iii) fatty acids in human milk was assessed as "insufficient," (iv) phenolics was assessed as "beneficial", and serum parameters and antioxidant status was assessed as "inconsistent". For diseases and functional changes, there was an overall "beneficial" association with organic food intake, and there were similar findings for obesity and body mass index. However, evidence for association of organic food intake with other single diseases was assessed as "insufficient" due to the limited number and extent of studies.

CONCLUSION

Organic food intake was found to have a beneficial impact in terms of reducing pesticide exposure, and the general effect on disease and functional changes (body mass index, male sperm quality) was appreciable. More long-term studies are required, especially for single diseases.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022350175.

Production, Composition and Nutritional Properties of Organic Milk: A Critical Review

Milk is one of the most valuable products in the food industry with most milk production throughout the world being carried out using conventional management, which includes intensive and traditional systems. The intensive use of fertilizers, antibiotics, pesticides and concerns regarding animal health and the environment have given increasing importance to organic dairy and dairy products in the last two decades. This review aims to compare the production, nutritional, and compositional properties of milk produced by conventional and organic dairy management systems. We also shed light on the health benefits of milk and the worldwide scenario of the organic dairy production system. Most reports suggest milk has beneficial health effects with very few, if any, adverse effects reported. Organic milk is reported to confer additional benefits due to its lower omega-6-omega-3 ratio, which is due to the difference in feeding practices, with organic cows predominantly pasture fed. Despite the testified animal, host, and environmental benefits, organic milk production is difficult in several regions due to the cost-intensive process and geographical conditions. Finally, we offer perspectives for a better future and highlight knowledge gaps in the organic dairy management system.

Diet, but not food type, significantly affects micronutrient and toxic metal profiles in urine and/or plasma; a randomized, controlled intervention trial

BACKGROUND

Observational studies have linked Mediterranean Diets (MedDiet) and organic food consumption with positive health outcomes, which may be explained by higher mineral micronutrient and phenolic intake and lower dietary exposure to toxic compounds.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effects of diet and food type (organic versus conventional) on urinary excretion (UE) and/or plasma concentrations of mineral micronutrients, phenolics and toxic metals.

METHODS

Healthy, adult participants were randomly allocated to a conventional (n=14) or an intervention (n=13) group. During a two-week period, the intervention group consumed a MedDiet made entirely from organic foods, while the conventional group consumed a MedDiet made from conventional foods. Before and after the intervention period, both groups consumed their habitual Western diets made from conventional foods. The primary outcome was UE and/or plasma concentrations of selected mineral micronutrients, toxic metals and phenolic markers. In addition, we monitored diets using food diaries. The participants were aware of study group assignment, but the study assessors were not.

RESULTS

Changing from a Western to a MedDiet for two weeks resulted in significant increases in UE of total phenolics and salicylic acid (by 46 and 45% respectively), the mineral micronutrients Co, I, and Mn (by 211, 70 and 102% respectively) and the toxic metal Ni (by 42%), and plasma Se concentrations (by 14%). However, no significant effects of food type (organic versus conventional) were detected. Redundancy analysis identified vegetables, coffee, wine and fruit as positive drivers for UE of phenolic markers and mineral micronutrients, and fish consumption as a positive driver for UE of Cd and Pb.

CONCLUSIONS

Although small effects of food type cannot be ruled out, our study suggests that only changing to a MedDiet with higher fruit and vegetable, and lower meat consumption results in a large increase in phenolic and mineral micronutrient intake.

Organic Egg Consumption: A Systematic Review of Aspects Related to Human Health

Consumption of organic foods has increased recently, but evidence about their potential health benefits is still limited. This systematic review aims to synthesize the available scientific evidence on the association between organic egg consumption and human health. We searched for peer-reviewed articles on this subject indexed in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases from the inception date to April 13, 2022. This review was based on PRISMA guideline recommendations. Three studies on organic egg consumption in humans were included. After 8 weeks of consuming organic eggs, one randomized crossover trial found that participants had higher serum concentrations of the beta-carotene lutein compared to the period without consuming organic eggs. Moreover, in a cross-sectional study with nationally representative data from Americans over the age of 50, it was found that consumption of organic eggs was associated with lower levels of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein and cystine C compared with conventional eggs. Finally, in a cohort of children aged 0 to 2 years, no significant association was observed between consuming organic eggs and the risk of eczema. In conclusion, the evidence about the potential benefits of organic egg consumption and human health is promising but still requires further research. A human research agenda is proposed based on laboratory studies pointing out that organic eggs have a more desirable nutritional profile than conventional eggs.

Non-Cholesterol Sterols in Breast Milk and Risk of Allergic Outcomes in the First Two Years of Life

This study aimed to explore associations between non-cholesterol sterol concentrations in breast milk and allergic outcomes in children aged two. Data from the KOALA Birth Cohort Study, the Netherlands, were used. Non-cholesterol sterols were analyzed by gas–liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry in breast milk sampled one-month postpartum (N = 311). Sterols were selected for each allergic outcome, i.e., eczema, wheeze, and allergic sensitization, prior to analyses. Associations between the selected sterols with allergic outcomes were analyzed using multiple logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs). The odds of eczema in the first two years of life were lower with higher concentrations of cholestanol (OR (95%CI): 0.98 (0.95; 1.00), p = 0.04), lanosterol (0.97 (0.95; 1.00), p = 0.02), lathosterol (0.93 (0.87; 0.99), p = 0.02), and stigmasterol (0.51 (0.29; 0.91), p = 0.02) in breast milk sampled one-month postpartum. None of the sterols were associated with wheeze in the first two years of life. The odds of allergic sensitization at age two were lower with higher concentrations of campesterol in breast milk (OR (95%CI): 0.81 (0.70; 0.95), p = 0.01). In conclusion, our data suggest that exposure to higher non-cholesterol sterol concentrations in breast milk may indeed be associated with the prevention of allergic outcomes in the first two years of life.

Organic Food Consumption During the Complementary Feeding Period and Respiratory or Allergic Diseases Up to Age 5.5 Years in the ELFE Cohort

Objectives: To assess (1) whether a history of allergy is associated with feeding with organic foods (OFs) during the complementary feeding period and (2) whether OF consumption in infancy is related to the incidence of respiratory and allergic diseases up to age 5.5 years.

Study Design: Analyses involved more than 8,000 children from the nationwide Étude Longitudinale Française depuis l'Enfance (ELFE) birth cohort. Associations between family or infant history of allergy and frequency of OF consumption during the complementary feeding period were assessed with multinomial logistic regression. Associations between OF consumption in infancy and respiratory or allergic diseases between age 1 and 5.5 years were assessed with logistic regression.

Results: A family history of allergy or cow's milk protein allergy at age 2 months was strongly and positively related to feeding with OF during the complementary feeding period. Feeding with OF during the complementary feeding period was not related to respiratory diseases or eczema up to age 5.5 years. Compared to infrequent consumption of both organic and commercial complementary foods, frequent OF consumption without commercial complementary foods was associated with a higher risk of food allergy, whereas frequent commercial complementary food consumption without OF use was associated with a lower risk of food allergy.

Conclusions: This study suggests that a history of allergy strongly affects feeding with OF during the complementary feeding period. However, OF consumption was not associated with reduced odds of food allergy later in childhood but could be associated with increased odds, which should be examined more deeply.

Characteristics associated with feeding organic foods during complementary feeding: the nationwide Étude Longitudinale Française depuis l'Enfance (ELFE) birth cohort

Organic food consumption and its effects on health remain understudied in adults and in children. The aim of this study was to describe family characteristics associated with feeding infants organic foods during the complementary feeding period. The analysis included 9764 children from the French Étude Longitudinale Française depuis l'Enfance (ELFE) birth cohort. In addition to telephone interviews conducted at 2, 12 and 24 months, a monthly questionnaire about milk feeding and complementary foods (including organic foods) was completed by parents between 3 and 10 months. Associations between family characteristics and feeding with organic foods during complementary feeding were analysed by multivariable multinomial logistic regression. Overall, 51 % of infants never consumed organic food during the complementary feeding period (up to 10 months), 24 % sometimes, 15 % often and 9 % always or almost always. As compared with infants never fed organic foods, those 'often' or 'always' fed organic foods were born to older mothers, with higher education level or family income, and lower pre-pregnancy BMI. As compared with never-smoking women, women who had stopped smoking before pregnancy were more likely to feed their infant organic foods. Feeding with organic foods was also related to long breast-feeding duration and later introduction to complementary foods. To conclude, associations between feeding with organic foods and family socio-economic position as well as infant feeding practices need to be considered when studying the impact of organic foods on children's health and development.

Organic food retailing: to what extent are foods processed and do they contain markers of ultra-processing?

In France, around 70% of conventional industrial foods are ultra-processed, with no data for organic foods. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the percentage of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in industrially packaged organic (n = 8554) and conventional (n = 45,791) foods, and to describe their marker of ultra-processing (MUP) profiles. The percentage of UPFs and MUP profiles were determined with the Siga methodology. UPF percentages were 53% in organic foods and 74% in conventional foods, and there was 8% more organic UPFs in conventional stores than in organic stores. The more additive MUPs are used, the greater the quantity of nonadditive MUPs. Conventional UPFs contained twice as many total MUPs as organic UPFs. Main MUPs in organic UPFs were refined oils, extracts and natural aromas, native starches, glucose syrup, lecithins and citric acid. Organic foods are, therefore, overall less ultra-processed although still containing high levels of nonadditive MUPs.

Organic food use, meat intake, and prevalence of gestational diabetes: KOALA birth cohort study

Purpose

To evaluate whether consumption of organic food and reduced intake of meat products in pregnancy are associated with lower prevalence of gestational diabetes (GD).

Methods

Women participating in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study with valid informed consent, a singleton pregnancy and information on their food intake were considered in this cross-sectional analysis. Participants with and without GD were compared with each other in terms of dietary characteristics (n = 37 and n = 2766, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression (LR) was used to adjust for relevant covariates.

Results

Organic food consumption tended to be lower, although not significantly, in women with GD compared to women without GD, whereas consumption of meat was positively associated with GD prevalence. LR modelling showed that GD was significantly associated with higher consumption of meat and, in addition, also of cheese, after adjustment for other relevant covariates. GD was associated with some indicators of animal product intake, namely dietary animal to plant protein ratio and maternal plasma arachidonic acid (for the latter, data available for n = 16 and n = 1304, respectively). Food patterns of participants with GD were characterised by more meat products and less vegetarian products.

Conclusions

Due to the low number of participants with GD, results have to be interpreted cautiously. Consumption of organic food during pregnancy does not seem to be markedly associated with a lower GD prevalence; lower intake of meat and cheese, irrespective of its origin (organic or conventional), does. The latter supports previous studies suggesting a causal association between consumption of animal products and GD.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00394-021-02601-4.

An integrative medicine review of primary prevention of allergy in pediatrics

The prevalence of allergic disease has been rapidly increasing in the developed world for over fifty years. The prevention of allergic disease remains one of the most elusive topics in medicine. Integrative medicine emphasizes prevention of disease and utilizes many interventions to help modify long-term outcomes of health. Primary prevention refers to the arrest of manifestations of a disease before they present clinically. Preventing allergy is not simply about preventing sensitization, but also about developing tolerance. This narrative review article will discuss integrative medicine approaches that may help to prevent atopic disease in the pediatric population. It is organized chronologically to aid in counseling patients: 1) prevention during pregnancy and 2) prevention after birth. While research into allergy prevention is in its infancy, Integrative Medicine is well-suited to provide many insights into the prevention and mitigation of atopic disease.

Methanogenic Archaea: Emerging Partners in the Field of Allergic Diseases

Archaea, which form one of four domains of life alongside Eukarya, Bacteria, and giant viruses, have long been neglected as components of the human microbiota and potential opportunistic infectious pathogens. In this review, we focus on methanogenic Archaea, which rely on hydrogen for their metabolism and growth. On one hand, methanogenic Archaea in the gut are functional associates of the fermentative digestion of dietary fibers, favoring the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids and likely contributing to the weaning reaction during the neonatal window of opportunity. On the other hand, methanogenic Archaea trigger the activation of innate and adaptive responses and the generation of specific T and B cells in animals and humans. In mouse models, lung hypersensitivity reactions can be induced by inhaled methanogenic Archaea mimicking human professional exposure to organic dust. Changes in methanogenic Archaea of the microbiota are detected in an array of dysimmune conditions comprising inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, malnutrition, anorexia, colorectal cancer, and diverticulosis. At the subcellular level, methanogenic Archaea are activators of the TLR8-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome, modulate the release of antimicrobial peptides and drive the production of proinflammatory, Th-1, Th-2, and Th-17 cytokines. Our objective was to introduce the most recent and major pieces of evidence supporting the involvement of Archaea in the balance between health and dysimmune diseases, with a particular focus on atopic and allergic conditions.

A Systematic Review of Organic Versus Conventional Food Consumption: Is There a Measurable Benefit on Human Health?

The current review aims to systematically assess the evidence related to human health outcomes when an organic diet is consumed in comparison to its conventional counterpart. Relevant databases were searched for articles published to January 2019. Clinical trials and observational research studies were included where they provided comparative results on direct or indirect health outcomes. Thirty-five papers met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Few clinical trials assessed direct improvements in health outcomes associated with organic food consumption; most assessed either differences in pesticide exposure or other indirect measures. Significant positive outcomes were seen in longitudinal studies where increased organic intake was associated with reduced incidence of infertility, birth defects, allergic sensitisation, otitis media, pre-eclampsia, metabolic syndrome, high BMI, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The current evidence base does not allow a definitive statement on the health benefits of organic dietary intake. However, a growing number of important findings are being reported from observational research linking demonstrable health benefits with organic food consumption. Future clinical research should focus on using long-term whole-diet substitution with certified organic interventions as this approach is more likely to determine whether or not true measurable health benefits exist.

Food Consumption, Nutrient Intake and Status during the First 1000 days of Life in the Netherlands: a Systematic Review

Adequate nutrition is essential for growth and development in early life. Nutritional data serves as a basis for national nutritional guidelines and policies. Currently, there is no insight into the availability of such data during the first 1000 days of life. Therefore, a systematic review was performed, following the PRISMA reporting guideline, to identify studies on food consumption, nutrient intake or status in the Netherlands. Potential gaps were identified, and the quality of the studies is discussed. The databases Embase and Medline were used, as well as databases from national institutes. Articles published in 2008-2018 were screened by two independent reviewers. In total 601 articles were identified, of which 173 were included. For pregnant women, 32 studies were available with nutritional data, for young children 40 studies were identified. No studies were available for breastfeeding women. A large variety of foods and nutrients were assessed, however certain nutrients were lacking (e.g., vitamin K). Overall, the studies had methodological limitations, making the data unsuitable to assess nutrient inadequacies. There is a need for recent, high quality nutritional research to strengthen the understanding of the nutritional needs and deficiencies during early life, and is fundamental for national guidelines and policies.

The Influence of a Multimodal Health Program with Diet, Art, and Biofield Therapy on the Quality of Life of People in Japan

Objective: To investigate whether the frequency of the practice of each of diet, art, and biofield therapy influences improvement in quality of life (QOL), and to examine whether the simultaneous practice of all three components increasingly improves QOL in a real-world setting.

Design: Pre–post-test design using convenience sampling methods.

Setting: Home setting.

Subjects: A total of 4681 individuals aged 16 years or older who answered the questionnaire appropriately.

Intervention: Participants agreed to practice the three components daily and self-evaluated the frequency of their weekly practice for three consecutive months. At the beginning and end of the study, they completed the MOA quality-of-life questionnaire (10-item MOA quality-of-life questionnaire [MQL-10]).

Outcome measures: Factors associated with the increase in MQL-10 scores for each component, and the relationship between the simultaneous practice of multiple components and the changes in MQL-10 scores were analyzed.

Results: Frequent practice of the diet and/or art components was associated with an increase in the term-end MQL-10 score (p < 0.001); however, receiving biofield therapy frequently was not. Participants' age, gender, and qualification as a practitioner of biofield therapy had no relationship with changes in scores, but the reasons for participation had a significant influence on changes in scores (p < 0.001). Participants who initially did not practice any components frequently but who subsequently increased the number of components and frequency of each practice had a higher likelihood of exhibiting an increase in the term-end score (p < 0.01). Participants who initially practiced all three components frequently but later decreased the number of components practiced frequently had a lower chance of increase and a higher risk of decrease in scores (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: The data suggest that the frequent practice of the diet and art components is associated with improvement in QOL. Simultaneous practice of diet, art, and biofield therapy is more likely to improve QOL. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01927250)

RESEARCH OF CONSUMER PROPERTIES OF DEVELOPED BISCUITS BASED ON ORGANIC RAW MATERIALS

The article discusses the recipes of new biscuits based on organic raw materials, as well as the results of the study of their quality and safety indicators. The aim of this research is studying the consumer properties of biscuits, developed on the basis of organic raw materials, which will expand the range of organic confectionery products. The main difference between the developed biscuit recipes is that instead of wheat flour buckwheat flour, spelled flour and hemp flour were used, and coconut and maple sugar were used as sweeteners. To determine the organoleptic characteristics, a 25-point scale was developed, which includes indicators: taste, smell, appearance, crust state, crumb color. On the basis of the carried out organoleptic assessment, it has been established that the developed biscuits have a pleasant taste and good aroma and are highly appreciated by the tasting commission. Physico-chemical characteristics and safety performance of the developed products were within the normal range. Thanks to the use of non-traditional raw materials, the energy value of biscuits was reduced. On the basis of the obtained data, the expediency of expanding the range of organic confectionery products with new types of biscuits is substantiated.

Organic food and the impact on human health

In the last decade, the production and consumption of organic food have increased steadily worldwide, despite the lower productivity of organic crops. Indeed, the population attributes healthier properties to organic food. Although scientific evidence is still scarce, organic agriculture seems to contribute to maintaining an optimal health status and decreases the risk of developing chronic diseases. This may be due to the higher content of bioactive compounds and lower content of unhealthy substances such as cadmium and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in organic foods of plant origin compared to conventional agricultural products. Thus, large long-term intervention studies are needed to determine whether an organic diet is healthier than a diet including conventionally grown food products. This review provides an update of the present knowledge of the impact of an organic versus a conventional food diet on health.

Is organic food consumption associated with life satisfaction? A cross-sectional analysis from the NutriNet-Santé study

Well-being is often mentioned as an important motive for organic food consumption. Little is known about the relationship between organic food consumption and life satisfaction (a component of well-being). The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional relationship between organic food consumption and life satisfaction.

A total of 17,446 volunteers aged 45 or above, from the NutriNet-Santé cohort filled in an organic food semi-quantitative frequency questionnaire and completed the French validated satisfaction with life scale (range score 5–35). Adjusted means (95% confidence intervals) of the satisfaction with life score across quintiles of contribution of organic food to the diet (total and by food group) were estimated using ANCOVA models.

In multivariable model, life satisfaction among lowest and highest consumers of organic food reached 24.98 (95%CI: 24.78–25.17) and 25.52 (95%CI: 25.33–25.71) respectively (P trend < 0.0001). Life satisfaction was slightly and positively associated with higher contribution of organic food to the diet (overall and in most food groups).

Our findings suggest that high organic food consumption may play a role in life satisfaction of participants over 45 years old through hedonist or eudemonic approaches.

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Life satisfaction was slightly associated with high organic food consumption.

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Organic food may impact life satisfaction by hedonist or eudemonic approaches.

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Longitudinal studies are needed to better characterize the direction of causation.

Human health implications of organic food and organic agriculture: a comprehensive review

This review summarises existing evidence on the impact of organic food on human health. It compares organic vs. conventional food production with respect to parameters important to human health and discusses the potential impact of organic management practices with an emphasis on EU conditions. Organic food consumption may reduce the risk of allergic disease and of overweight and obesity, but the evidence is not conclusive due to likely residual confounding, as consumers of organic food tend to have healthier lifestyles overall. However, animal experiments suggest that identically composed feed from organic or conventional production impacts in different ways on growth and development. In organic agriculture, the use of pesticides is restricted, while residues in conventional fruits and vegetables constitute the main source of human pesticide exposures. Epidemiological studies have reported adverse effects of certain pesticides on children's cognitive development at current levels of exposure, but these data have so far not been applied in formal risk assessments of individual pesticides. Differences in the composition between organic and conventional crops are limited, such as a modestly higher content of phenolic compounds in organic fruit and vegetables, and likely also a lower content of cadmium in organic cereal crops. Organic dairy products, and perhaps also meats, have a higher content of omega-3 fatty acids compared to conventional products. However, these differences are likely of marginal nutritional significance. Of greater concern is the prevalent use of antibiotics in conventional animal production as a key driver of antibiotic resistance in society; antibiotic use is less intensive in organic production. Overall, this review emphasises several documented and likely human health benefits associated with organic food production, and application of such production methods is likely to be beneficial within conventional agriculture, e.g., in integrated pest management.

Organic food consumption during pregnancy and its association with health-related characteristics: the KOALA Birth Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the associations of organic food consumption with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, hypertension and diabetes in pregnancy, and several blood biomarkers of pregnant women.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Pregnant women were recruited at midwives' practices and through channels related to consumption of food from organic origin.

SUBJECTS

Pregnant women who filled in FFQ and donated a blood sample (n 1339). Participant groups were defined based on the share of consumed organic products; to discriminate between effects of food origin and food patterns, healthy diet indicators were considered in some statistical models.

RESULTS

Consumption of organic food was associated with a more favourable pre-pregnancy BMI and lower prevalence of gestational diabetes. Compared with participants consuming no organic food (reference group), a marker of dairy products intake (pentadecanoic acid) and trans-fatty acids from natural origin (vaccenic and rumenic acids) were higher among participants consuming organic food (organic groups), whereas elaidic acid, a marker of the intake of trans-fatty acids found in industrially hydrogenated fats, was lower. Plasma levels of homocysteine and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were lower in the organic groups than in the reference group. Differences in pentadecanoic acid, vaccenic acid and vitamin D retained statistical significance when correcting for indicators of the healthy diet pattern associated with the consumption of organic food.

CONCLUSIONS

Consumption of organic food during pregnancy is associated with several health-related characteristics and blood biomarkers. Part of the observed associations is explained by food patterns accompanying the consumption of organic food.

Organic food consumption during pregnancy is associated with different consumer profiles, food patterns and intake: the KOALA Birth Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To find out how the consumption of organic food during pregnancy is associated with consumer characteristics, dietary patterns and macro- and micronutrient intakes.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional description of consumer characteristics, dietary patterns and macro- and micronutrient intakes associated with consumption of organic food during pregnancy.

SETTING

Healthy, pregnant women recruited to a prospective cohort study at midwives' practices in the southern part of the Netherlands; to enrich the study with participants adhering to alternative lifestyles, pregnant women were recruited through various specific channels.

SUBJECTS

Participants who filled in questionnaires on food frequency in gestational week 34 (n 2786). Participant groups were defined based on the share of organic products within various food types.

RESULTS

Consumers of organic food more often adhere to specific lifestyle rules, such as vegetarianism or anthroposophy, than do participants who consume conventional food only (reference group). Consumption of organic food is associated with food patterns comprising more products of vegetable origin (soya/vegetarian products, vegetables, cereal products, bread, fruits, and legumes) and fewer animal products (milk and meat), sugar and potatoes than consumed in conventional diets. These differences translate into distinct intakes of macro- and micronutrients, including higher retinol, carotene, tocopherol and folate intakes, lower intakes of vitamin D and B12 and specific types of trans-fatty acids in the organic groups. These differences are seen even in groups with low consumption of organic food.

CONCLUSIONS

Various consumer characteristics, specific dietary patterns and types of food intake are associated with the consumption of organic food during pregnancy.

Classification of Human Milks Based on Their Trans 18:1 Fatty Acid Profile and Effect of Maternal Diet

BACKGROUND

The diet of breastfeeding women influences the trans fatty acid (TFA) composition of the milk excreted. However, the effects associated to TFA are isomer-dependent and diverse TFA profiles may have different nutritional implications.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this research was to evaluate whether certain TFA patterns in human milk fat can be used as indicators of TFA intake from different sources.

METHODS

Milk fat from 60 women were examined and classified based on their TFA profile and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) contents by principal component analysis (PCA).

RESULTS

The PCA of the data allowed the classification of the women into 3 groups depending on milk TFA content and profile. From the 60 subjects, 19 presented a TFA profile characteristic of ruminant products intake, 10 a typical TFA profile of industrial trans fats consumption and 31 a negligible trans content. Superimposed on this, 21 women presented high amounts of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3) which was related to fish intake.

CONCLUSIONS

The present research overcome problems associated to heterogeneous groups in nutritional experiments by a statistical classification of lactating subjects based on the TFA composition of their milk. This classification could be extrapolated to other nutritional studies dealing with TFA analysis and samples of different nature as biological samples or foodstuffs.

Dietary primary prevention of allergic diseases in children: the Philippine guidelines

Allergic diseases, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, and food allergy, are preventable diseases. Primary prevention strategies of allergic diseases have been in scrutiny. Effective prevention strategies maybe started prenatally, postnatally, during infancy, and even during childhood. These guidelines have been prepared by the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the Philippine Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. They aim to provide evidence-based recommendations for the dietary primary prevention of allergic diseases in children. The primary audience of these guidelines is all healthcare practitioners who manage patients with potential allergic conditions. These guidelines are based on an exhaustive review of evidences, mostly systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and cohort studies. However, there are still many gaps in the evidence of dietary primary prevention of allergic diseases.

Organic Food in the Diet: Exposure and Health Implications

The market for organic food products is growing rapidly worldwide. Such foods meet certified organic standards for production, handling, processing, and marketing. Most notably, the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetic modification is not allowed. One major reason for the increased demand is the perception that organic food is more environmentally friendly and healthier than conventionally produced food. This review provides an update on market data and consumer preferences for organic food and summarizes the scientific evidence for compositional differences and health benefits of organic compared with conventionally produced food. Studies indicate some differences in favor of organic food, including indications of beneficial health effects. Organic foods convey lower pesticide residue exposure than do conventionally produced foods, but the impact of this on human health is not clear. Comparisons are complicated by organic food consumption being strongly correlated with several indicators of a healthy lifestyle and by conventional agriculture “best practices” often being quite close to those of organic.

Effects of organic food consumption on human health; the jury is still out!

The most recent systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses have indicated significant and nutritionally-relevant composition differences between organic and conventional foods. This included higher antioxidant, but lower cadmium and pesticide levels in organic crops, and higher omega-3 fatty acids concentrations in organic meat and dairy products. Also, results from a small number of human cohort studies indicate that there are positive associations between organic food consumption and reduced risk/incidence of certain acute diseases (e.g. pre-eclampsia, hypospadias) and obesity. Concerns about potential negative health impacts of organic food consumption (e.g. risks linked to lower iodine levels in organic milk) have also been raised, but are not currently supported by evidence from human cohort studies. However, there is virtually no published data from (1) long-term cohort studies focusing on chronic diseases (e.g. cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative conditions) and (2) controlled human dietary intervention studies comparing effects of organic and conventional diets. It is therefore currently not possible to quantify to what extent organic food consumption may affect human health.

Food Choice Motives When Purchasing in Organic and Conventional Consumer Clusters: Focus on Sustainable Concerns (The NutriNet-Santé Cohort Study)

The purpose of this study was to examine food choice motives associated with various organic and conventional dietary patterns among 22,366 participants of the NutriNet-Santé study. Dietary intakes were estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. Food choice motives were assessed using a validated 63-item-questionnaire gathered into nine food choice motive dimension scores: "absence of contaminants", "avoidance for environmental reasons", "ethics and environment", "taste", "innovation", "local and traditional production", "price", "health" and "convenience". Five consumers' clusters were identified: "standard conventional food small eaters", "unhealthy conventional food big eaters", "standard organic food small eaters", "green organic food eaters" and "hedonist moderate organic food eaters". Relationships between food choice motive dimension scores and consumers' clusters were assessed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models adjusted for sociodemographic factors. "Green organic food eaters" had the highest mean score for the "health" dimension, while "unhealthy conventional food big eaters" obtained the lowest mean score for the "absence of contaminants" dimension. "Standard organic food small eaters", "green organic food eaters" and "hedonist moderate organic food eaters" had comparable scores for the "taste" dimension. "Unhealthy conventional food big eaters" had the highest mean score for the "price" dimension while "green organic food eaters" had the lowest mean scores for the "innovation" and "convenience" dimensions. These results provide new insights into the food choice motives of diverse consumers' profiles including "green" and "hedonist" eaters.

Dietary intakes and diet quality according to levels of organic food consumption by French adults: cross-sectional findings from the NutriNet-Santé Cohort Study

Objective

We aimed to assess dietary profiles of adults from the NutriNet-Santé cohort according to different levels of organic food consumption using detailed self-reported data on organic food intakes.

Design

Food intakes were obtained using an organic food frequency questionnaire (Org-FFQ). The participants were ranked into five groups (quintiles, Q) according to the proportion of organic foods in their diet. To determine diet quality, two scores were computed reflecting adherence to food-based recommendations (mPNNS-GS) and the probability of adequate nutrient intake (PANDiet). Relationships between levels of organic food consumption and dietary characteristics were assessed using multivariable-adjusted ANCOVA models.

Setting

The NutriNet-Santé Study.

Subjects

French adults from the NutriNet-Santé Study (n 28 245).

Results

Intakes of foods of plant origin increased along with the contribution of organic foods to the diet while a reverse trend was identified for dairy products, cookies and soda (P-trend<0·0001). The diet quality scores increased from Q1 (mPNNS-GS, 7·89 (se 0·02); PANDiet: 63·04 (se 0·11)) to Q5 (mPNNS-GS, 8·78 (se 0·02); PANDiet, 69·37 (se 0·10)). Overall, high organic food consumers exhibited better diet quality, although intermediate organic food consumers showed better adherence to specific nutritional recommendations related to animal products.

Conclusions

The study provides new insights into the understanding of organic food consumption as a part of a healthy diet and sheds some light on the dietary profiles of different categories of organic food consumers. These results underline strong dietary behaviour correlates associated with organic food consumption that should be controlled for in future aetiological studies on organic foods and health.

Breastmilk fatty acids in relation to sensitization - the ALADDIN birth cohort

BACKGROUND

Breastmilk fatty acids (FAs) have been associated with childhood allergic disease. Children of families with an anthroposophic lifestyle have a low prevalence of sensitization compared to reference groups. This study aimed to investigate whether the lower prevalence of sensitization among these children can be explained by the differences in breastmilk FA composition.

METHODS

The prospective birth cohort ALADDIN included 330 children from anthroposophic, partly anthroposophic and nonanthroposophic families recruited between 2004 and 2007 in Sweden. In total, 245 breastmilk samples, collected at 2 months of age, were analysed for FA composition. Allergen-specific IgE levels against seven common allergens were measured in the blood samples at the ages of 6, 12 and 24 months. Data were analysed longitudinally using generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

An inverse association was observed between total concentration of omega-3 PUFA in breastmilk and sensitization in the child up to 24 months of age (highest vs lowest quartile, RRadj 0. 49, 95% CI 0.23-1.05, P for trend 0.024). No associations were observed between omega-6 PUFAs or ruminant FAs and sensitization. Overall, we observed 56% lower risks of sensitization among the anthroposophic group compared to the nonanthroposophic group (RRadj 0.44, 95% CI 0.21-0.90). This association remained largely unchanged when breastmilk omega-3 PUFA was included in the model.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that a higher concentration of omega-3 PUFAs in breastmilk may be associated with a reduced risk of sensitization up to 24 months of age; however, this did not explain the lower risk of sensitization among children of anthroposophic families.

Higher PUFA and n-3 PUFA, conjugated linoleic acid, α-tocopherol and iron, but lower iodine and selenium concentrations in organic milk: a systematic literature review and meta- and redundancy analyses

Demand for organic milk is partially driven by consumer perceptions that it is more nutritious. However, there is still considerable uncertainty over whether the use of organic production standards affects milk quality. Here we report results of meta-analyses based on 170 published studies comparing the nutrient content of organic and conventional bovine milk. There were no significant differences in total SFA and MUFA concentrations between organic and conventional milk. However, concentrations of total PUFA and n-3 PUFA were significantly higher in organic milk, by an estimated 7 (95 % CI -1, 15) % and 56 (95 % CI 38, 74) %, respectively. Concentrations of α-linolenic acid (ALA), very long-chain n-3 fatty acids (EPA+DPA+DHA) and conjugated linoleic acid were also significantly higher in organic milk, by an 69 (95 % CI 53, 84) %, 57 (95 % CI 27, 87) % and 41 (95 % CI 14, 68) %, respectively. As there were no significant differences in total n-6 PUFA and linoleic acid (LA) concentrations, the n-6:n-3 and LA:ALA ratios were lower in organic milk, by an estimated 71 (95 % CI -122, -20) % and 93 (95 % CI -116, -70) %. It is concluded that organic bovine milk has a more desirable fatty acid composition than conventional milk. Meta-analyses also showed that organic milk has significantly higher α-tocopherol and Fe, but lower I and Se concentrations. Redundancy analysis of data from a large cross-European milk quality survey indicates that the higher grazing/conserved forage intakes in organic systems were the main reason for milk composition differences.

Allergenic Potential of Tomatoes Cultivated in Organic and Conventional Systems

Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) are a widely consumed vegetables and contain many health beneficial micronutrients. Unfortunately, they may also cause adverse allergic reactions in sensitized people. Many studies, conducted in recent years, indicate that organically produced vegetables have higher nutritional value, improved sensory quality and contain more health-enhancing bioactive compounds than vegetables grown under the conventional system. However, the relation between organic methods of cultivation and allergenic potential of tomatoes has received little scientific attention. This study analyzed samples of five tomato cultivars taken from organic and conventional systems over three consecutive years. The content of profilin, Bet v 1 and lipid transfer protein (LTP) analogues in tomato samples was determined using an indirect ELISA assay. Substantial quantities of these proteins were found in certain cultivars across all three years of cultivation. On the basis of these findings, organically grown tomatoes appear to offer little advantage over conventionally cultivated plants in terms of reduced allergenic potential.

Vitamin D and atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Despite the evidence supporting the use of vitamin D supplements for managing atopic dermatitis (AD), no meta-analysis providing definite conclusions in this field has been reported. The purpose of the present study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of all controlled studies of vitamin D for treating AD to elucidate the efficacy of vitamin D for alleviating the symptoms of AD.

METHODS

Literature searches were conducted using Ovid-MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Korean and Chinese databases. Search terms used were "vitamin D", "atopic dermatitis", "randomized", "controlled trial", and "clinical trial". Random effects models were used to calculate the mean difference, with 95% confidence intervals to analyze the effects of vitamin D supplementation for severity of AD.

RESULTS

Initial searches yielded 266 citations. Of these original results, nine met specific selection criteria. Four of the randomized controlled trials compared the efficacy of vitamin D with a placebo on severity of AD and were included in the meta-analysis. The vitamin D supplementation interventions showed a higher mean difference in severity of AD symptoms (mean difference = -5.81, 95% CI: -9.03 to -2.59, P = 0.0004, I(2) = 50%).

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D has a potentially significant role for improving the symptoms of AD. The results from this study suggest that vitamin D supplementation may help ameliorate the severity of AD, and can be considered as a safe and tolerable therapy. However, larger-scale studies over a longer duration of treatment are needed to confirm this conclusion.

Composition differences between organic and conventional meat: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Demand for organic meat is partially driven by consumer perceptions that organic foods are more nutritious than non-organic foods. However, there have been no systematic reviews comparing specifically the nutrient content of organic and conventionally produced meat. In this study, we report results of a meta-analysis based on sixty-seven published studies comparing the composition of organic and non-organic meat products. For many nutritionally relevant compounds (e.g. minerals, antioxidants and most individual fatty acids (FA)), the evidence base was too weak for meaningful meta-analyses. However, significant differences in FA profiles were detected when data from all livestock species were pooled. Concentrations of SFA and MUFA were similar or slightly lower, respectively, in organic compared with conventional meat. Larger differences were detected for total PUFA and n-3 PUFA, which were an estimated 23 (95 % CI 11, 35) % and 47 (95 % CI 10, 84) % higher in organic meat, respectively. However, for these and many other composition parameters, for which meta-analyses found significant differences, heterogeneity was high, and this could be explained by differences between animal species/meat types. Evidence from controlled experimental studies indicates that the high grazing/forage-based diets prescribed under organic farming standards may be the main reason for differences in FA profiles. Further studies are required to enable meta-analyses for a wider range of parameters (e.g. antioxidant, vitamin and mineral concentrations) and to improve both precision and consistency of results for FA profiles for all species. Potential impacts of composition differences on human health are discussed.

Health and dietary traits of organic food consumers: results from the NutriNet-Santé study

The dietary and health traits of organic food (OF) consumers have not been comprehensively described. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with OF consumption. Data were collected from 54 283 participants from the NutriNet-Santé cohort using self-administered web-based questionnaires. Occasional organic food consumers and regular organic food consumers (ROFC) were compared with non-organic food consumers (NOFC) using logistical regression providing an OR and 95 % CI. Adherence to the French food-based guidelines and interactions between nutritional knowledge and OF consumption in adherence to dietary guidelines were investigated. Medical history was also assessed in relation to OF consumption. Compared with NOFC, ROFC were more likely to be vegetarian (OR 9·93; 95 % CI 7·42, 13·29 in women; OR 13·07; CI 7·00, 24·41 in men) and were less likely to be aware of nutritional guidelines regarding meat consumption (OR 0·37; CI 0·34, 0·40 in women; OR 0·41; CI 0·36, 0·47 in men). Compared with NOFC, ROFC had a lower risk of type II diabetes, hypertension and CVD; however, this effect was only significant for men. In contrast, organic consumers were more likely to report food allergies. Consuming OF appeared to affect the relationship between nutritional knowledge and adequate intake of meat/poultry/seafood/eggs and starchy food among both sexes. Our study provides new insights into the diet- and health-related behaviours of OF consumers in a large sample of participants residing in France. This should be taken into account in future studies investigating relationships between health and OF consumption.

Organic foods for children: health or hype

Organic foods are promoted as superior and safer options for today's health-conscious consumer. Manufacturers of organic food claim it to be pesticide-free and better in terms of micronutrients. Consumers have to pay heavily for these products--and they are willing to--provided they are assured of the claimed advantages. Scientific data proving the health benefits of organic foods, especially in children, are lacking. Indian Government has developed strict guidelines and certification procedures to keep a check on manufacturers in this financially attractive market. American Academy of Pediatrics, in its recently issued guidelines, did not recommend organic foods over conventional food for children. Indian Academy of Pediatrics has not opined on this issue till date. In this perspective, we present a critical review of production and marketing of organic foods, and scientific evidence pertaining to their merits and demerits, with special reference to pediatric population.

Fatty acid profiles and antioxidants of organic and conventional milk from low- and high-input systems during outdoor period

BACKGROUND

Intensification of organic dairy production leads to the question of whether the implementation of intensive feeding incorporating maize silage and concentrates is altering milk quality. Therefore the fatty acid (FA) and antioxidant (AO) profiles of milk on 24 farms divided into four system groups in three replications (n = 71) during the outdoor period were analyzed. In this system comparison, a differentiation of the system groups and the effects of the main system factors 'intensification level' (high-input versus low-input) and 'origin' (organic versus conventional) were evaluated in a multivariate statistical approach.

RESULTS

Consistent differentiation of milk from the system groups due to feeding-related impacts was possible in general and on the basis of 15 markers. The prediction of the main system factors was based on four or five markers. The prediction of 'intensification level' was based mainly on CLA c9,t11 and C18:1 t11, whereas that of 'origin' was based on n-3 PUFA.

CONCLUSION

It was possible to demonstrate consistent differences in the FA and AO profiles of organic and standard conventional milk samples. Highest concentrations of nutritionally beneficial compounds were found in the low-input organic system. Adapted grass-based feeding strategies including pasture offer the potential to produce a distinguishable organic milk product quality.

Historic overview of allergy research in the Netherlands

Research in allergy has a long history in the Netherlands, although the relation with immunology has not always been appreciated. In many aspects Dutch researchers have made major contribution in allergy research. This ranges from the first characterization of house dust mite as an important allergen, the first characterization of human Th2 and Th1 T cell clones, to the development of diagnostic test systems. In this overview Aalberse and Knol have made an overview of the major contributions of Dutch immunologists in allergy.

A systematic review of associations between environmental exposures and development of asthma in children aged up to 9 years

OBJECTIVES

Childhood asthma is a complex condition where many environmental factors are implicated in causation. The aim of this study was to complete a systematic review of the literature describing associations between environmental exposures and the development of asthma in young children.

SETTING

A systematic review of the literature up to November 2013 was conducted using key words agreed by the research team. Abstracts were screened and potentially eligible papers reviewed. Papers describing associations between exposures and exacerbation of pre-existing asthma were not included. Papers were placed into the following predefined categories: secondhand smoke (SHS), inhaled chemicals, damp housing/mould, inhaled allergens, air pollution, domestic combustion, dietary exposures, respiratory virus infection and medications.

PARTICIPANTS

Children aged up to 9 years.

PRIMARY OUTCOMES

Diagnosed asthma and wheeze.

RESULTS

14,691 abstracts were identified, 207 papers reviewed and 135 included in the present review of which 15 were systematic reviews, 6 were meta-analyses and 14 were intervention studies. There was consistent evidence linking exposures to SHS, inhaled chemicals, mould, ambient air pollutants, some deficiencies in maternal diet and respiratory viruses to an increased risk for asthma (OR typically increased by 1.5-2.0). There was less consistent evidence linking exposures to pets, breast feeding and infant dietary exposures to asthma risk, and although there were consistent associations between exposures to antibiotics and paracetamol in early life, these associations might reflect reverse causation. There was good evidence that exposures to house dust mites (in isolation) was not associated with asthma risk. Evidence from observational and intervention studies suggest that interactions between exposures were important to asthma causation, where the effect size was typically 1.5-3.0.

CONCLUSIONS

There are many publications reporting associations between environmental exposures and modest changes in risk for asthma in young children, and this review highlights the complex interactions between exposures that further increase risk.

Elaidic, vaccenic, and rumenic acid status during pregnancy: association with maternal plasmatic LC-PUFAs and atopic manifestations in infants

BACKGROUND

Few studies have explored whether fetal exposure to trans fatty acids (TFAs) influences the inception of atopic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the concentration of specific TFAs (elaidic, vaccenic, and rumenic acids) in maternal plasma and the risk of developing atopic manifestations in the first year of life.

METHODS

A subsample from a population-based pregnancy cohort of the INMA Project was analyzed. Maternal intake of fatty acids was assessed by a food-frequency questionnaire (75.5% of the cohort). TFAs and n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids were measured in samples of plasmatic phospholipids at 12 wk of pregnancy. Information regarding eczema and wheeze in offspring was obtained through questionnaires at ages 6 and 14 mo.

RESULTS

Elaidic acid correlated negatively with n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (total, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid), and rumenic acid positively with both n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in maternal plasma. Neither of these two fatty acids was associated with the risk of atopic eczema or wheeze in offspring in the first year of life. However, a higher vaccenic acid level was found to be linked to a lower risk of atopic eczema.

CONCLUSION

High vaccenic acid concentrations in maternal plasma may protect offspring against atopic eczema in infancy.

Reduced risk of pre-eclampsia with organic vegetable consumption: results from the prospective Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about the potential health effects of eating organic food either in the general population or during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to examine associations between organic food consumption during pregnancy and the risk of pre-eclampsia among nulliparous Norwegian women.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Norway, years 2002-2008.

PARTICIPANTS

28 192 pregnant women (nulliparous, answered food frequency questionnaire and general health questionnaire in mid-pregnancy and no missing information on height, body weight or gestational weight gain).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Relative risk was estimated as ORs by performing binary logistic regression with pre-eclampsia as the outcome and organic food consumption as the exposure.

RESULTS

The prevalence of pre-eclampsia in the study sample was 5.3% (n=1491). Women who reported to have eaten organic vegetables 'often' or 'mostly' (n=2493, 8.8%) had lower risk of pre-eclampsia than those who reported 'never/rarely' or 'sometimes' (crude OR=0.76, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.96; adjusted OR=0.79, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.99). The lower risk associated with high organic vegetable consumption was evident also when adjusting for overall dietary quality, assessed as scores on a healthy food pattern derived by principal component analysis. No associations with pre-eclampsia were found for high intake of organic fruit, cereals, eggs or milk, or a combined index reflecting organic consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that choosing organically grown vegetables during pregnancy was associated with reduced risk of pre-eclampsia. Possible explanations for an association between pre-eclampsia and use of organic vegetables could be that organic vegetables may change the exposure to pesticides, secondary plant metabolites and/or influence the composition of the gut microbiota.

Contribution of organically grown crops to human health

An increasing interest in organic agriculture for food production is seen throughout the world and one key reason for this interest is the assumption that organic food consumption is beneficial to public health. The present paper focuses on the background of organic agriculture, important public health related compounds from crop food and variations in the amount of health related compounds in crops. In addition, influence of organic farming on health related compounds, on pesticide residues and heavy metals in crops, and relations between organic food and health biomarkers as well as in vitro studies are also the focus of the present paper. Nutritionally beneficial compounds of highest relevance for public health were micronutrients, especially Fe and Zn, and bioactive compounds such as carotenoids (including pro-vitamin A compounds), tocopherols (including vitamin E) and phenolic compounds. Extremely large variations in the contents of these compounds were seen, depending on genotype, climate, environment, farming conditions, harvest time, and part of the crop. Highest amounts seen were related to the choice of genotype and were also increased by genetic modification of the crop. Organic cultivation did not influence the content of most of the nutritional beneficial compounds, except the phenolic compounds that were increased with the amounts of pathogens. However, higher amounts of pesticide residues and in many cases also of heavy metals were seen in the conventionally produced crops compared to the organic ones. Animal studies as well as in vitro studies showed a clear indication of a beneficial effect of organic food/extracts as compared to conventional ones. Thus, consumption of organic food seems to be positive from a public health point of view, although the reasons are unclear, and synergistic effects between various constituents within the food are likely.

Organic production enhances milk nutritional quality by shifting fatty acid composition: a United States-wide, 18-month study

Over the last century, intakes of omega-6 (ω-6) fatty acids in Western diets have dramatically increased, while omega-3 (ω-3) intakes have fallen. Resulting ω-6/ω-3 intake ratios have risen to nutritionally undesirable levels, generally 10 to 15, compared to a possible optimal ratio near 2.3. We report results of the first large-scale, nationwide study of fatty acids in U.S. organic and conventional milk. Averaged over 12 months, organic milk contained 25% less ω-6 fatty acids and 62% more ω-3 fatty acids than conventional milk, yielding a 2.5-fold higher ω-6/ω-3 ratio in conventional compared to organic milk (5.77 vs. 2.28). All individual ω-3 fatty acid concentrations were higher in organic milk—α-linolenic acid (by 60%), eicosapentaenoic acid (32%), and docosapentaenoic acid (19%)—as was the concentration of conjugated linoleic acid (18%). We report mostly moderate regional and seasonal variability in milk fatty acid profiles. Hypothetical diets of adult women were modeled to assess milk fatty-acid-driven differences in overall dietary ω-6/ω-3 ratios. Diets varied according to three choices: high instead of moderate dairy consumption; organic vs. conventional dairy products; and reduced vs. typical consumption of ω-6 fatty acids. The three choices together would decrease the ω-6/ω-3 ratio among adult women by ∼80% of the total decrease needed to reach a target ratio of 2.3, with relative impact “switch to low ω-6 foods” > “switch to organic dairy products” ≈ “increase consumption of conventional dairy products.” Based on recommended servings of dairy products and seafoods, dairy products supply far more α-linolenic acid than seafoods, about one-third as much eicosapentaenoic acid, and slightly more docosapentaenoic acid, but negligible docosahexaenoic acid. We conclude that consumers have viable options to reduce average ω-6/ω-3 intake ratios, thereby reducing or eliminating probable risk factors for a wide range of developmental and chronic health problems.

Manipulating dietary PUFA in animal feed: implications for human health

Milk, meat and eggs tend not to be regarded as an important source of PUFA. They are disproportionally high in SFA compared with their PUFA content, especially those from cattle and sheep, since their rumen microbes are responsible for the loss of over 90% of PUFA intake by livestock. This need not necessarily be the case since the relative proportion of PUFA in these foods is dictated by livestock management, especially feeding, and this can be manipulated to boost their content of crucial long-chain n-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic fatty acids. The present paper considers the fatty acid composition in animal-derived foods and how these can be manipulated to be more conducive for consumers' health. The importance of recognising the effect of livestock production systems on fat composition is also highlighted along with the fact that we may have to compromise between intensive, high levels of production and this particular aspect of food quality.

Effect of maternal intake of organically or conventionally produced feed on oral tolerance development in offspring rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal consumption of organically or conventionally produced feed on immunological biomarkers and their offsprings' response to a novel dietary antigen. First-generation rats were fed plant-based diets from two different cultivation systems (organic or conventional) or a chow. Second-generation rats were exposed to ovalbumin (OVA) via their mother's milk and subsequently challenged with OVA after weaning onto the chow diet. In the chow diet group feeding the dams OVA resulted in suppression of the pups' anti-OVA antibody response to the OVA challenge (total OVA-specific IgG was 197 for the OVA-treated chow diet group and 823 for the control chow diet group (arbitrary ELISA units)). In contrast, OVA exposure of the dams from the plant-based dietary groups did not result in a similar suppression. Cultivation system had no effect on the immunological biomarkers, except for a higher spleen prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentration in pups originating from dams fed the conventional plant-based diet (223 ng/L) than from those fed the organic plant-based diet (189 ng/L).

Influence of alternative lifestyles on self-reported body weight and health characteristics in women

BACKGROUND

Alternative lifestyles are often associated with distinct practices with respect to nutrition, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use and usage of complementary medicine. Evidence concerning effects of these lifestyle-related practices on health status is still fragmentary.

OBJECTIVE

To describe maternal health characteristics related to alternative lifestyles, with emphasis on body-weight status, during pregnancy and maternity periods.

METHODS

We compared self-reported health-related features of mothers with alternative lifestyles and conventional lifestyles during pregnancy and maternity period in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study. This cohort comprises two recruitment groups of mother-infant pairs, one with a conventional (no selection based on lifestyle, n = 2333), the other with an alternative lifestyle (selected via organic food shops, anthroposophic clinicians and midwives, anthroposophic under-five clinics, Rudolf Steiner schools and relevant magazines, n = 485). Mothers in the alternative group more frequently chose organic foods, adhered to specific living rules, practised vegetarianism and identified themselves with anthroposophy.

RESULTS

Mothers in the alternative group showed lower BMI and lower prevalence of overweight and obesity than the conventional group, before pregnancy as well as 4-5 years after delivery. This difference was partly retained after adjusting for potential confounders. Furthermore, women in the alternative group had a lower prevalence of pregnancy-related hypertension, more often started breastfeeding and gave exclusive and prolonged breastfeeding for a longer period. Finally, they smoked less often, but more often drunk alcohol during pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that an alternative lifestyle is associated with favourable body weight and with several differences in other health features.

Effect of crop protection and fertilization regimes used in organic and conventional production systems on feed composition and physiological parameters in rats

Very little is known about the effects of an organic or conventional diet on animal physiology and health. Here, we report the effect of contrasting crop protection (with or without chemosynthetic pesticides) and fertilization (manure or mineral fertilizers) regimes on feed composition and growth and the physiological parameters of rats. The use of manure instead of mineral fertilizers in feed production resulted in lower concentrations of protein (18.8 vs 20.6%) and cadmium (3.33 vs 4.92 μg/100 g) but higher concentrations of polyphenols (1.46 vs 0.89 g/100 g) in feeds and higher body protein (22.0 vs 21.5%), body ash (3.59 vs 3.51%), white blood cell count (10.86 vs 8.19 × 10³/mm³), plasma glucose (7.23 vs 6.22 mmol/L), leptin (3.56 vs 2.78 ng/mL), insulin-like growth factor 1 (1.87 vs 1.28 μg/mL), corticosterone (247 vs 209 ng/mL), and spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation (11.14 vs 5.03 × 10³ cpm) but lower plasma testosterone (1.07 vs 1.97 ng/mL) and mitogen stimulated proliferation of lymphocytes (182 vs 278 × 10³ cpm) in rats. There were no main effects of crop protection, but a range of significant interactions between fertilization and crop protection occurred.

The challenge of evaluating health effects of organic food; operationalisation of a dynamic concept of health

The health benefits of consuming organically produced foods compared with conventional foods are unclear. Important obstacles to drawing clear conclusions in this field of research are (1) the lack of a clear operational definition of health and (2) the inability to distinguish between different levels of health using valid biomarkers. In this paper, some shortcomings of the current definition of health are outlined and the relevance of integrating a more dynamic and functional component is emphasised, which is reflected by the ability to adapt. The state of health could then be determined by challenging an individual with some form of stressor and by subsequent quantification and evaluation of the coherence in recovery of various physiological processes and parameters. A set of relevant parameters includes the activity of the immune system and the activity of the autonomous nervous system. A good recovery towards homeostasis is suggested to reflect a qualitatively good state of health. Furthermore, it would enable objective evaluation of health-optimising strategies, including the consumption of organically produced foods that aim to strengthen health.

Sociodemographic characteristics and food habits of organic consumers – a study from the Danish National Birth Cohort

Objective

To develop a basis for building models that can examine the impact of organic food (OF) choices on maternal and offspring health, including identification of factors associated with OF consumption and underlying dietary patterns.

Design

Dietary intake was collected for the preceding month from an FFQ in mid-pregnancy and information on sociodemographic characteristics was collected from telephone interviews during pregnancy. From a question about OF consumption in the FFQ, including six food categories, an OF preference index was calculated. Latent variables that captured the variability in OF choices in relation to dietary intake were defined.

Setting

The Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC), 1996–2002.

Subjects

Pregnant women from DNBC (n 60 773).

Results

We found that frequent OF use was highly associated with age, occupational status, urbanization, smoking and vegetarianism. By principal components analysis we identified two eating patterns, a ‘Western dietary pattern’ and a ‘Prudent dietary pattern’, that explained 14·2 % of the variability in data. Frequent OF users consumed a more ‘prudent’ diet compared with non-users and had significantly higher intakes of vegetables (+67 %), fibre (+13 %) and n-3 fatty acids (+11 %) and less saturated fat (−8 %).

Conclusions

Frequent OF users seemed to have a healthier lifestyle than non-users. These findings highlight a major challenge in observational studies examining the impact of OF consumption on health due to potentially irremediable confounding factors.

Effect of feeding intensity and milking system on nutritionally relevant milk components in dairy farming systems in the North East of England

There is increasing concern that the intensification of dairy production reduces the concentrations of nutritionally desirable compounds in milk. This study therefore compared important quality parameters (protein and fatty acid profiles; α-tocopherol and carotenoid concentrations) in milk from four dairy systems with contrasting production intensities (in terms of feeding regimens and milking systems). The concentrations of several nutritionally desirable compounds (β-lactoglobulin, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-3/omega-6 ratio, conjugated linoleic acid c9t11, and/or carotenoids) decreased with increasing feeding intensity (organic outdoor ≥ conventional outdoor ≥ conventional indoors). Milking system intensification (use of robotic milking parlors) had a more limited effect on milk composition, but increased mastitis incidence. Multivariate analyses indicated that differences in milk quality were mainly linked to contrasting feeding regimens and that milking system and breed choice also contributed to differences in milk composition between production systems.