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Luconi E, Tosi M, Boracchi P, Colonna I, Rappocciolo E, Ferraretto A, Lorenzini EC. Italian and Middle Eastern adherence to Mediterranean diet in relation to Body Mass Index and non-communicable diseases: nutritional adequacy of simulated weekly food plans. J Transl Med 2024; 22:703. [PMID: 39080668 PMCID: PMC11290242 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05325-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Mediterranean diet (MD), known to prevent obesity, overweight and the related non communicable diseases (NCD), is based on typical dishes, foods and on a common cultural milieu. Although MD is the basis of dietary guidelines, the prevalence of obesity, overweight and NCD, is increasing both in Western regions, and even more in Middle Eastern regions (MER). This study aimed to analyze (i) the impact of different levels of adherence to the MD, in Italy and MER, on body mass index (BMI) (ii) the bromatological composition of a simulated 7-days food plan (7-DFP) based on Italian or MER typical meals, following MD criteria and the Italian or MER food base dietary guideline; (iii) the optimization of nutrients impacting on NCD. METHODS The 7-DFPs were implemented using a dietary software. The association between adherence to MD and BMI was evaluated by pooled estimated ORs (with 95% confidence intervals and p-values). Pooled measures were obtained by the methods appropriate for meta-analysis. The different food-based guidelines have been compared. RESULTS The pooled ORs of obese status comparing medium vs. high adherence to MD were: 1.19 (95% C.I.: 0.99; 1.42, p-value = 0.062) and 1.12 (95% C.I.: 0.90; 1.38, p-value = 0.311) for MER and Italy respectively. For the comparison of low vs. high adherence, the pooled ORs were 1.05 (95% C.I.: 0.88; 1.24, p-value = 0.598) for MER, and 1.20 (95% C.I.: 1.02; 1.41, p-value = 0.031) for Italy when outliers are removed. High adherence to the MD resulted as potential protective factor against obesity. In MER 7-DFP: total fats is higher (34.5 E%) vs. Italian 7-DFP (29.4 E%); EPA (20 mg) and DHA (40 mg) are lower than recommended (200 mg each); sugars (12.6 E%) are higher than recommended (< 10 E%). Calcium, Zinc, and vitamin D do not reach target values in both 7-DFPs. CONCLUSION This study highlights that, even when 7-DFPs follow MD and refer to nutrient needs, it is necessary to verify nutrient excesses or deficits impacting on NCD. High MD adherence is protective toward NCDs. MD principles, and energy balance should be communicated according to socioeconomic and educational levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Luconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, via Luigi Mangiagalli 31, Milano, 20133, Italy
| | - Martina Tosi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Via di Rudinì 8, Milano, 20146, Italy
| | - Patrizia Boracchi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Giovanni Battista Grassi 74, Milano, 20157, Italy
| | | | - Emilia Rappocciolo
- Biology and Biochemistry Department, Birzeit University, PO BOX 14, Birzeit, Palestine
| | - Anita Ferraretto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, via Luigi Mangiagalli 31, Milano, 20133, Italy
| | - Erna C Lorenzini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, via Luigi Mangiagalli 31, Milano, 20133, Italy.
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Mattavelli E, Piperni E, Asnicar F, Redaelli L, Grigore L, Pellegatta F, Nabinejad A, Tamburini S, Segata N, Catapano AL, Baragetti A. High dietary inflammatory index associates with inflammatory proteins in plasma. Diabetol Metab Syndr 2024; 16:50. [PMID: 38409061 PMCID: PMC10895728 DOI: 10.1186/s13098-024-01287-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Unhealthy dietary habits and highly caloric foods induce metabolic alterations and promote the development of the inflammatory consequences of obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Describing an inflammatory effect of diet is difficult to pursue, owing lacks of standardized quali-quantitative dietary assessments. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) has been proposed as an estimator of the pro- or anti-inflammatory effect of nutrients and higher DII values, which indicate an increased intake of nutrients with pro-inflammatory effects, relate to an increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and we here assessed whether they reflect biologically relevant plasmatic variations of inflammatory proteins. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, seven days dietary records from 663 subjects in primary prevention for cardiovascular diseases were analyzed to derive the intake of nutrients, foods and to calculate DII. To associate DII with the Normalized Protein eXpression (NPX), an index of abundance, of a targeted panel of 368 inflammatory biomarkers (Olink™) measured in the plasma, we divided the population by the median value of DII (1.60 (0.83-2.30)). RESULTS 332 subjects with estimated DII over the median value reported a higher intake of saturated fats but lower intakes of poly-unsaturated fats, including omega-3 and omega-6 fats, versus subjects with estimated dietary DII below the median value (N = 331). The NPX of 61 proteins was increased in the plasma of subjects with DII > median vs. subjects with DII < median. By contrast, in the latter group, we underscored only 3 proteins with increased NPX. Only 23, out of these 64 proteins, accurately identified subjects with DII > median (Area Under the Curve = 0.601 (0.519-0.668), p = 0.035). CONCLUSION This large-scale proteomic study supports that higher DII reflects changes in the plasmatic abundance of inflammatory proteins. Larger studies are warranted to validate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Mattavelli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- SISA Center for the Study of Atherosclerosis, Bassini Hospital, Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Piperni
- Department CIBIO, Trento University, Trento, Italy
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Laura Redaelli
- SISA Center for the Study of Atherosclerosis, Bassini Hospital, Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Amir Nabinejad
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Sabrina Tamburini
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University, Venice, Italy
| | - Nicola Segata
- Department CIBIO, Trento University, Trento, Italy
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberico Luigi Catapano
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- IRCCS MultiMedica Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Baragetti
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
- IRCCS MultiMedica Hospital, Milano, Italy.
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Pedersini R, Laganà M, Bosio S, Zanini B, Cosentini D, di Mauro P, Alberti A, Schivardi G, Laini L, Ippolito G, Amoroso V, Vassalli L, Simoncini EL, Berruti A, Donato F. Is weight gain preventable in women with early breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy? A real-world study on dietary pattern, physical activity, and body weight before and after chemotherapy. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023; 202:461-471. [PMID: 37695400 PMCID: PMC10564810 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-07095-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to investigate the role of a lifestyle intervention and clinical and therapeutic factors for preventing weight gain in early breast cancer (BC) patients from one week before to 12 months after chemotherapy. METHODS Dietary assessments were conducted by a trained dietician using a food-frequency questionnaire at each clinical assessment. Total energy, macronutrients intakes, and physical activity were estimated and the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) for adherence to Mediterranean diet was calculated. At each follow-up visit, patients were provided with dietary advices according to Mediterranean and Italian guidelines by a registered dietician, after evaluation of their food records. The associations of clinical characteristics, dietary pattern, and physical activity with weight gain were evaluated by multiple logistic regression, with weight gain ≥5% from baseline value as a dichotomous dependent variable. RESULTS 169 early BC patients who met all follow-up visits and provided complete data were included in the analysis. From baseline to last assessment, weight loss (≥5% decrease from baseline value), stable weight, and weight gain were observed in 23.1%, 58%, and 18.9% women, respectively. Overall, a 0.68 kg mean decrease in women's weight (-1.1% from baseline) was observed. The risk of gaining weight increased for having normal weight/underweight at baseline, receiving hormone therapy, MDS worsening, and physical activity decreasing from baseline to last assessment. CONCLUSION Providing simple suggestions on Mediterranean diet principles was effective for preventing weight gain in normal weight women and favoring weight loss in overweight and obese women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Pedersini
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
- SSVD Breast Unit, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Laganà
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
- SSVD Breast Unit, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sara Bosio
- SSVD Breast Unit, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Zanini
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences Department, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Deborah Cosentini
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Pierluigi di Mauro
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Alberti
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Greta Schivardi
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Lara Laini
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ippolito
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Vito Amoroso
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Lucia Vassalli
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
- SSVD Breast Unit, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Alfredo Berruti
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Francesco Donato
- Unit of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Public Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
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Forleo MB, Bredice M. The Sustainability of Seafood Products in the Opinions of Italian Consumers of Generation Z. Foods 2023; 12:4047. [PMID: 38002105 PMCID: PMC10670485 DOI: 10.3390/foods12224047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aims to explore whether members of Generation Z have sensitivity and awareness about environmental issues related to seafood production and consumption, their beliefs on how to make more sustainable the future provisioning of seafood, their consumption frequency, and, finally, whether different profiles and groups of people could be detected. A survey was implemented with 778 Italian students attending secondary schools. Descriptive statistics, testing, and cluster analyses were applied. Results provide the sustainability profile of five groups, of which three are aligned with SDGs 12 and 14, but the other groups, comprising almost half of the sample, are insensitive, unaware, or irresolute about the sustainability of seafood production and consumption. Overall, people's environmental consciousness does not appear to be strongly related to the frequency of consumption of sustainable seafood species. Regarding the solutions for improving the sustainability of future seafood production, young respondents underlined the catching and raising of novel, discarded, not exploited, or marginally exploited seafood species. People declared a high knowledge of the nutritional and safety implications of seafood. This study is one of the few that explore issues specifically related to the profiles of Generation Z and young people's approach toward sustainable seafood production and consumption.
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Yoong SL, Turon H, Wong CK, Bayles L, Finch M, Barnes C, Doherty E, Wolfenden L. An audit of the dissemination strategies and plan included in international food-based dietary guidelines. Public Health Nutr 2023; 26:2586-2594. [PMID: 37565494 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980023001714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) are an important resource to improve population health; however, little is known about the types of strategies to disseminate them. This study sought to describe dissemination strategies and content of dissemination plans that were available for FBDG. DESIGN A cross-sectional audit of FBDG with a published English-language version sourced from the United Nations FAO repository. We searched for publicly available dissemination strategies and any corresponding plans available in English language. Two authors extracted data on strategies, which were grouped according to the Model for Dissemination Research Framework (including source, audience, channel and message). For guidelines with a dissemination plan, we described goals, audience, strategies and expertise and resources according to the Canadian Institute for Health Research guidance. SETTING FBDG from fifty-three countries mostly from high-income (n 28, 52·8 %), and upper-middle income (n 18, 34 %) areas were included. PARTICIPANTS n/a. RESULTS The source of guidelines was most frequently health departments (79·2 %). The message included quantities and types of foods, physical activity recommendations and 88·7 % included summarised versions of main messages. The most common channels were infographics and information booklets, and the main end-users were the public. For twelve countries (22·6 %), we were able to source an English-language dissemination plan, where none met all recommendations outlined by the Canadian Institute for Health Research. CONCLUSIONS The public was the most frequently identified end-user and thus most dissemination strategies and plans focused on this group. Few FBDG had formal dissemination plans and of those there was limited detailed provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sze Lin Yoong
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
- College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Population Health Research Program, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Heidi Turon
- College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Population Health Research Program, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Carrie K Wong
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Lyndal Bayles
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Meghan Finch
- College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Population Health Research Program, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Courtney Barnes
- College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Population Health Research Program, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma Doherty
- College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Population Health Research Program, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Luke Wolfenden
- College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Population Health Research Program, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
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Ilić A, Rumbak I, Dizdarić D, Matek Sarić M, Colić Barić I, Guiné RPF. Motivations Associated with Food Choices among Adults from Urban Setting. Foods 2023; 12:3546. [PMID: 37835199 PMCID: PMC10572751 DOI: 10.3390/foods12193546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Motivation for food choices is one of the most important determinant of eating behavior, because it comes from within the person. The aim of this study was to observe food choice motivations and estimate differences in demographic and health characteristics towards food choice motives in the adult population (n = 675; 54% women, ≥18 years) from urban setting. Food choice motivations were assessed using an online questionnaire validated by the EATMOT project. Using K-Means cluster analysis, participants were divided into two clusters of six motivational categories for food choices. Regarding the most and least important motivations, participants in cluster 1 chose food based on emotional motivations, and in cluster 2, they chose based on environmental and political motivations. In addition, younger and obese individuals had more pronounced emotional motivations. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the need to address emotional motivations for healthier food choices among overweight and young people. In addition, the prevalence of health motivations and growing awareness of sustainability indicate a willingness to take actions that benefit personal health and the environment. Apart from providing education, it is society's responsibility to create an environment that promotes the implementation of acquired knowledge and changes in dietary habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ilić
- Department of Food Quality Control, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Rumbak
- Department of Food Quality Control, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dina Dizdarić
- Department of Food Quality Control, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marijana Matek Sarić
- Department of Health Studies, University of Zadar, Splitska 1, 23000 Zadar, Croatia
| | - Irena Colić Barić
- Department of Food Quality Control, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Aureli V, Nardi A, Palmieri N, Peluso D, Di Veroli JN, Scognamiglio U, Rossi L. Sustainability Perception of Italian Consumers: Is it Possible to Replace Meat, and What Is the Best Alternative? Nutrients 2023; 15:3861. [PMID: 37764645 PMCID: PMC10650016 DOI: 10.3390/nu15183861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing worldwide food demand with its environmental impacts requires a reshaping of food consumption. This study aims to evaluate the degree of Italian consumers' awareness of sustainability and whether protein alternatives to meat could be accepted. A cross-sectional survey was carried out on a group of 815 respondents, representative of the Italian adult population for geography, gender, and age, using multivariate analysis together with cluster analysis. Lack of awareness of the consequences of food choices on the environment was found in 45% of respondents, and 51% reduced their consumption of meat. Typical foods of the Mediterranean diet (84% legumes 82% eggs, and 77% fish) were selected as the preferred sources of protein to replace meat, while insects and insect-based products were less accepted (67%). The importance of meat is the latent factor that explains more than 50% of the common variance observed in the factor analysis. The cluster analysis confirmed the importance of meat for Italian consumers, emphasizing other aspects of the sustainability of food choices. Cluster 1 (25.6%) considered meat very important. Two out of five clusters (clusters 2 and 3, 38%) considered meat replaceable in the diet, and cluster 4 (31.3%) included meat consumers that were willing to be sustainable. Cluster 5 identifies the "unsustainable consumers" (5.7%). In conclusion, besides the perceived importance of meat, there is room for recommendations for its reduction by proposing alternative foods already present in the Mediterranean diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Aureli
- CREA Council for Agricultural Research and Economics—Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, 00178 Rome, Italy; (V.A.); (J.N.D.V.); (U.S.)
| | - Alessandra Nardi
- Department of Mathematics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Nadia Palmieri
- CREA Council for Agricultural Research and Economics—Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Daniele Peluso
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Jacopo Niccolò Di Veroli
- CREA Council for Agricultural Research and Economics—Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, 00178 Rome, Italy; (V.A.); (J.N.D.V.); (U.S.)
| | - Umberto Scognamiglio
- CREA Council for Agricultural Research and Economics—Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, 00178 Rome, Italy; (V.A.); (J.N.D.V.); (U.S.)
| | - Laura Rossi
- CREA Council for Agricultural Research and Economics—Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, 00178 Rome, Italy; (V.A.); (J.N.D.V.); (U.S.)
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Bordoni A. Insight into the Sustainability of the Mediterranean Diet: The Water Footprint of the Recommended Italian Diet. Nutrients 2023; 15:2204. [PMID: 37432353 DOI: 10.3390/nu15092204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, as we face climate change and natural resource scarcity, one of the major challenges linking humans and the environment is to ensure sufficient, nutritious, safe, and affordable food for a rapidly growing world population. In a nutshell, "feed the world without destroying it". The water footprint (WF), i.e., the withdrawals of fresh water necessary to produce one kilogram of food product, is one of the key indicators of the environmental impact of diets. In this work, the WF of the food patterns suggested by the Italian Food Based Dietary Guidelines, considered a model of the Mediterranean Diet, was evaluated for the first time. The data reported here clearly demonstrate that the suggested Italian dietary patterns have a low WF, the reduction of which by replacing animal foods with plant foods is limited because the suggested consumption of meat is already low. Consumer choice in the consumption of specific products within a food group could further reduce the WF of the diet, underlining the need to provide correct information not only to consumers but also to farmers and producers to encourage them to make water-saving choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Bordoni
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), University of Bologna, Piazza Goidanich 60, 47521 Cesena, FC, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Agri-Food Research (CIRI), University of Bologna, Via Quinto Bucci 336, 47521 Cesena, FC, Italy
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9
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The Irrational Food Beliefs Scale: Validation of the Italian Version in Patients with Obesity. JOURNAL OF RATIONAL-EMOTIVE AND COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOR THERAPY 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10942-023-00499-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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10
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Varì R, Silenzi A, d’Amore A, Catena A, Masella R, Scazzocchio B. MaestraNatura Reveals Its Effectiveness in Acquiring Nutritional Knowledge and Skills: Bridging the Gap between Girls and Boys from Primary School. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15061357. [PMID: 36986085 PMCID: PMC10055962 DOI: 10.3390/nu15061357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
MaestraNatura (MN) is a nutrition education program developed to both enhance awareness about the importance of healthy eating behaviour and skills on food and nutrition in primary school students. The level of knowledge about food and nutritional issues was assessed by a questionnaire administered to 256 students (9–10 years old) attending the last class of primary school and was compared with that of a control group of 98 students frequenting the same schools that received traditional nutrition education based on curricular science lessons and one frontal lesson conducted by an expert nutritionist. The results indicated that students in the MN program showed a higher percentage of correct responses to the questionnaire when compared with the control group (76 ± 15.4 vs. 59 ± 17.7; p < 0.001). Furthermore, the students attending the MN program were requested to organise a weekly menu before (T0) and when finished (T1) the MN program. The results evidenced an overall significant improvement in the score obtained at T1 with respect to those at T0 (p < 0.001), indicating a strong improvement in the ability to translate the theoretical concepts of nutrition guidelines in practice. In addition, the analysis revealed a gender gap between boys and girls, with boys showing a worse score at T0 that was ameliorated after the completion of the program (p < 0.001). Overall, MN program is effective in improving nutrition knowledge amongst 9–10-year-old students. Furthermore, students showed an increased ability to organise a weekly dietary plan after completing the MN program, a result which also bridged gender gaps. Thus, preventive nutrition education strategies specifically addressed to boys and girls, and involving both the school and family, are needed to make children aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and to correct inadequate eating habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Varì
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Silenzi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio d’Amore
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alice Catena
- Postgraduate School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberta Masella
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Beatrice Scazzocchio
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Rossi L, Ferrari M, Ghiselli A. The Alignment of Recommendations of Dietary Guidelines with Sustainability Aspects: Lessons Learned from Italy's Example and Proposals for Future Development. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15030542. [PMID: 36771249 PMCID: PMC9921064 DOI: 10.3390/nu15030542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The main objective of this paper is to describe the process of the inclusion of sustainability in the Italian Dietary Guidelines (IDGs). In the IDGs' sustainability chapter, particular emphasis was put on the selection of foods, recommending a plant-based diet with a large quota of vegetable proteins. Advice was also given on the selection of local seasonal products, with low growth input, such as fertilizers, artificial light and heating. Reduction of animal food was recommended, to be substituted with lower impact foods (poultry, milk, eggs and Mediterranean fish including aquaculture). Food waste was largely addressed. Recommendations were made for food purchase planning, food storage and the reuse of leftovers as strategies to reduce waste and save money. The IDGs sustainability recommendations were related to the 16 guiding principles of a sustainable healthy diet and their contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Developing Goals was provided. The inclusion of sustainability in dietary guidelines requires a multidisciplinary approach to cover the wide range of aspects of a sustainable diet. In the IDGs, it was possible to show that practical recommendations for improving sustainability behavior can be passed on to consumers. Methodological aspects for developing recommendations are not definitive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rossi
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics—Research Centre for Food and Nutrition (CREA–Food and Nutrition), Via Ardeatina 546, 00178 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Marika Ferrari
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics—Research Centre for Food and Nutrition (CREA–Food and Nutrition), Via Ardeatina 546, 00178 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Ghiselli
- Italian Society of Food Science and Nutrition, Via Bu Meliana, 00195 Rome, Italy
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Di Nucci A, Scognamiglio U, Grant F, Rossi L. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on food habits and neophobia in children in the framework of the family context and parents' behaviors: A study in an Italian central region. Front Nutr 2022; 9:1070388. [PMID: 36570161 PMCID: PMC9772991 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1070388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This paper aims to evaluate whether changes in lifestyle and eating habits resulting from the Covid-19 emergency have influenced the post-pandemic level of food neophobia and in children living in an Italian central region. Methods A sample of 99 children took part in a retrospective assessment carried out with a self-administrated questionnaire. Pre and post-pandemic evaluation of eating habits, physical activity, and lifestyle indicators was carried out. Food neophobia was evaluated following the Child Food Neophobia Scale (CFNS). Descriptive statistics were produced. A contingency analysis was performed to check associations between variables. Results For a large part of the sample (97%) the selective food refusal did not change during the pandemic period. About 70% of participants did not change their eating habits, with some subgroups reporting an increase in the consumption of fruits (22.2%), vegetables (19.2%), and legumes (21.2%). Relevantly the impact of the pandemic on the sedentary attitude passed from 25.3 to 70.7%. Neophobia was not associated with ponderal status (p-value 0.5). However, in normal-weight children, a high prevalence of intermediate-level neophobia (78.4%) was found. 39.4% of the studied children were involved in meal preparation during social isolation, with an increase in the proportion of children that shared all meals with their family (32.3% vs. 78.8%). Non-coercive parent behaviors in reaction to food refusal were associated with low levels of neophobia (p-value < 0.05). Discussion In this sample, for the effect of parents' attitudes, the pandemic positively affected children's food habits and, consequently, the level of neophobia after the social restrictions. The main implication of the study is the importance of capitalizing on the period of restrictions in order to involve children in meal sharing and food preparation.
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Turrini A, D'Addezio L, Ferrari M, Le Donne C, Mistura L, Piccinelli R, Sette S. Editorial: Emerging topics in dietary assessment – Edition II. Front Nutr 2022; 9:984915. [PMID: 36211512 PMCID: PMC9534308 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.984915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aida Turrini
- Independent Researcher (former CREA), Scansano, Italy
- *Correspondence: Aida Turrini
| | - Laura D'Addezio
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Rome, Italy
| | - Marika Ferrari
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Le Donne
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenza Mistura
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaela Piccinelli
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Sette
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Rome, Italy
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Consumers' Attitude towards Sustainability in Italy: Process of Validation of a Duly Designed Questionnaire. Foods 2022; 11:foods11172629. [PMID: 36076814 PMCID: PMC9455261 DOI: 10.3390/foods11172629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to describe the process of validation of a questionnaire assessing Italian consumers’ perception of food sustainability. The study has a multiphase design. Phase 1 consisted in translating and structuring the questionnaire. Phase 2 aimed at assessing the validity of the content by experts. Phase 3 consisted of a pilot study (n = 150) carried out to revise the questionnaire based on the reactions of consumers representing the target group of the assessment. The questionnaire showed adequate content validity for 11 out of 14 questions (>0.79) and S-CVI/Ave > 0.80. Cronbach’s alpha values ranged from 0.08 to 0.90. The construct with insufficient results (0.08) was changed because it failed to correlate with the rest of the questionnaire. The factor analysis permitted the identification of questions that needed improvement in terms of comprehensibility, elimination of redundancies, and repetitions. The validated questionnaire included 12 questions (71 response options); 3 sections were identified: food sustainability knowledge (4 questions-30 items); sources of proteins alternative to meat (3 questions-20 items); eating behaviors (5 questions-21 items). This study showed the importance of validation before the administration on a large scale of a questionnaire on a topic such as sustainability still lacking large support from consensus documents.
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Rossi L, Martone D, Piccinelli R, Buonocore P, Ghiselli A. Considerations for the translation of nutrient recommendations as dietary plans for infants, children, and adolescents as reported in Italian Guidelines for healthy eating. Front Nutr 2022; 9:935963. [PMID: 36091229 PMCID: PMC9452650 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.935963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development and to establish a healthy foundation for future dietary habits. This paper aims to describe the elaboration of dietary plans for pediatric ages highlighting critical points related to the application of the Italian nutrient recommendations. National databases on food composition data were used to compile the dietary plans. Starting from the definition of serving size for adults, the suggested portion size for pediatric ages was shaped to produce appropriate dietary plans according to the different classes of age. Items from “cereals and derivatives,” “milk,” “fruit,” “vegetables,” “olive oil,” and “water” groups were included daily. Pizza was included once a week. Sweets and snacks were gradually introduced, once a week in infants and up to five times a week in adolescents. Legumes were provided three times a week, as a source of vegetable and sustainable proteins. The main critical aspect of the dietary plans was related to the monotony, especially for snacks and breakfasts. This work demonstrated the limits of the translation of Italian nutrient recommendations into dietary plans for pediatric age groups. Keeping the protein intake in the recommended range of 8–12% of daily energy resulted in inadequate provision of calcium and iron. Other critical points were the reference values for body weight and physical activity. The proposed dietary plans are adequate with regard to food composition, the intake of energy and several nutrients, and in terms of food selection. However, their implementations require action, information, and advocacy.
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Varì R, d’Amore A, Silenzi A, Chiarotti F, Del Papa S, Giovannini C, Scazzocchio B, Masella R. Improving Nutrition Knowledge and Skills by the Innovative Education Program MaestraNatura in Middle School Students of Italy. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14102037. [PMID: 35631178 PMCID: PMC9148077 DOI: 10.3390/nu14102037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Promoting a healthy diet, mainly in youths, is the most effective action to prevent and fight dietary excesses and nutritional imbalance in the population. MaestraNatura (MN) is an innovative nutritional education program aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle in first-level secondary school students. The study evaluated the effectiveness of the MN program in improving knowledge in students following the MN program (MN group) with respect to a control group (CO group) undergoing a “traditional” nutritional education path. To this end, the nutrition knowledge of the two groups was assessed by three multi-choice questionnaires. The results showed a significant improvement in knowledge (p < 0.001) in the MN group with respect to the CO group for all the questionnaires. Furthermore, the students’ ability to transfer the principles of nutrition guidelines to the real context of daily meals was determined by asking the MN group to create a weekly food plan before (T0) and after (T1) the completion of the MN program. The MN group demonstrated improved performance in organizing the weekly menu plan at T1 with respect to T0 (p = 0.005). In conclusion, the MN nutritional education program appears to be an effective tool for improving knowledge and skills on nutritional issues, especially in those students with a lower starting level of knowledge and ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Varì
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Italian National Institute for Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.V.); (A.d.); (A.S.); (S.D.P.); (C.G.); (R.M.)
| | - Antonio d’Amore
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Italian National Institute for Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.V.); (A.d.); (A.S.); (S.D.P.); (C.G.); (R.M.)
| | - Annalisa Silenzi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Italian National Institute for Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.V.); (A.d.); (A.S.); (S.D.P.); (C.G.); (R.M.)
| | - Flavia Chiarotti
- Reference Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Italian National Institute for Health, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Sara Del Papa
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Italian National Institute for Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.V.); (A.d.); (A.S.); (S.D.P.); (C.G.); (R.M.)
| | - Claudio Giovannini
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Italian National Institute for Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.V.); (A.d.); (A.S.); (S.D.P.); (C.G.); (R.M.)
| | - Beatrice Scazzocchio
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Italian National Institute for Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.V.); (A.d.); (A.S.); (S.D.P.); (C.G.); (R.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Roberta Masella
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Italian National Institute for Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.V.); (A.d.); (A.S.); (S.D.P.); (C.G.); (R.M.)
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