Identification of Lower Water Use and Higher Nutritional Value Agricultural Food Commodities in California

Objectives

As the world's population increases, a focus on nutrition security and water sustainability is needed to ensure the availability of resources for the survival and wellbeing of future generations. The agricultural (Ag) sector accounts for 70% of global water withdrawals and California (CA) is the biggest Ag state in the country with 12.5% of Ag cash receipts, almost double the next largest Ag state. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify CA Ag products that are both more nutritious and use less water.

Methods

The analysis was conducted using the latest publicly available data on water footprint (WF) and nutrient content of 57 out of 82 Ag products listed in the 2019–2020 CA Ag Statistics Review report. WFs per ton of commodity produced were calculated using precipitation and irrigation data from the CA Department of Water Resources’ report. Nutrient Rich Food (NRF) scores were calculated with data from the USDA's Food Data Central based on each commodity's content of nutrients to encourage (protein; fiber; vitamins A, C, D, E; calcium; magnesium; iron; potassium) and to limit (saturated fat, added sugar, sodium). Higher scores indicate higher nutrient density per 100 kcal. WF and NRF scores were separately sorted numerically and the foods that were both above the median NRF score and below the median WF were identified.

Results

The WF ranged from 71 (strawberry) to 9,907 m3/ton (pistachio) with a median of 332 m3/ton. The range of NRF scores was 1.39 (olive) to 605.67 (spinach) with a median of 91.13. Foods with lower water use (≤332 m3/ton) and higher nutritional value (≥91.13) from highest to lowest NRF score were spinach, lettuce, pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, squash, carrots, celery, lemons, strawberries, raspberries, onions, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, honeydew, sugar beets, watermelon, and peaches. On the other hand, most animal products, most field crops, and all nuts had higher water use and lower nutritional value per 100 kcal.

Conclusions

This study characterizes which CA Ag products could be encouraged at the consumer, business, and policy levels to increase water conservation while maintaining a higher nutritional value. It is the first study on water use and nutritional value that uses CA water data and includes animal products.

Funding Sources

None.

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Prevalent Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) alter their dietary behaviors to reduce disease-related symptoms, avoid feared food triggers, and control inflammation. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), evaluate risk factors, and examine the association with risk of malnutrition in patients with IBD.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study recruited adult patients with IBD from an ambulatory clinic. ARFID risk was measured using the Nine-Item ARFID Screen. Nutritional risk was measured with the Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between clinical characteristics and a positive ARFID risk screen. Patient demographics, disease characteristics, and medical history were abstracted from medical records.

RESULTS

Of the 161 participants (Crohn's disease, 45.3%; ulcerative colitis, 51.6%; IBD-unclassified, 3.1%), 28 (17%) had a positive ARFID risk score (≥24). Most participants (92%) reported avoiding 1 or more foods while having active symptoms, and 74% continued to avoid 1 or more foods even in the absence of symptoms. Active symptoms (odds ratio, 5.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-15.01) and inflammation (odds ratio, 3.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-10.29) were significantly associated with positive ARFID risk. Patients with a positive ARFID risk screen were significantly more likely to be at risk for malnutrition (60.7% vs 15.8%; P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Avoidant eating behaviors are common in IBD patients, even when in clinical remission. Patients who exhibit active symptoms and/or inflammation should be screened for ARFID risk, with referrals to registered dietitians to help monitor and address disordered eating behaviors and malnutrition risk.

Exploring the Relationships Among the Inflammatory Potential of the Diet, Bone Mineral Density, and Injury Incidence in Collegiate Athletes (P23-006-19)

Objectives

The relationship between the inflammatory potential of the diet, estimated by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) score, and bone health has been studied in older populations and suggests that the diet can influence bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk. These relationships have yet to be explored in other potentially vulnerable populations, such as athletes, where risk of injuries may be more common due to high physical stresses and over-use. The aims of this study were 1) to examine the correlation between DII scores, and BMD in collegiate athletes, and 2) to assess the relationship between DII score and self-reported prior injury incidence.

Methods

Healthy collegiate athletes (n = 43) were recruited for this study: football, n = 12; men's soccer, n = 2; women's soccer, n = 13; women's swimming, n = 12; and women's basketball, n = 4. For each athlete, three 24-hour dietary intakes were collected using a standardized multiple-pass interview methodology (Nutrition Data System for Research) and this data was used to calculate individual DII scores. Body composition, including whole-body sub-total BMD, was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. A modified overuse injury questionnaire (Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre) was used to assess incidence of injuries in the prior 12 months.

Results

The participants (n = 14 male, n = 29 female) had a mean age of 19.4 ± 1.1 yrs and BMI of 25.8 ± 4.1 kg/m2. Mean DII score was −0.43 ± 0.17 points (range: −3.94 to 4.34). Mean BMD was 1.251 ± 0.169 g/cm2. Overall, DII score and BMD was not correlated (P = 0.47). Furthermore, DII scores of athletes that reported no prior injury did not differ from those who reported 1 or more injuries.

Conclusions

Unlike research in postmenopausal women, it appears that bone health of young healthy athletes is less vulnerable to the influence of diets with higher inflammatory potential. Moreover, the lack of difference in DII score among athletes reporting various levels of prior injury suggests that the inflammatory potential of the diet is a poor predictor of injury risk in collegiate athletes.

Funding Sources

N/A.

Disordered Eating in Collegiate Athletes: Prevalence and Relationships Between Sub-Threshold Behaviors and Body Composition (P23-007-19)

Objectives

Disordered eating (DE), although subclinical, increases the risk for clinical eating disorders and is prevalent in collegiate athletes. At the same time, athletes are often more aware of and therefore behave in ways that modify their body composition, as it can influence performance. Despite this understanding, relevant data is lacking and therefore research is needed to establish prevalence rates within specific collegiate sports, and to better understand the relationships between DE behaviors and body composition in student athletes. Therefore, the aims of this study were 1) to determine the prevalence of DE among collegiate athletes and 2) to determine the relationship between prevalence of DE behaviors and body composition.

Methods

NCAA Division 1 student athletes (n = 56) during the 2018–2019 academic year were recruited from various sports: football (n = 13), men's soccer (n = 2), women's soccer, (n = 13), women's swimming (n = 12), women's basketball (n = 12), track and field (n = 4), and gymnastics (n = 8). DE was assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) questionnaire, which classified athletes as either asymptomatic (EAT-26 < 20) or symptomatic (EAT-26 > 20). Height and weight were measured and % body fat, fat mass and lean mass were assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Results

Athlete ages ranged between 18–22 years, 71% (n = 40) identified as female, and their mean BMI was 25.4 kg/m2. No athletes met criteria to be classified as symptomatic for DE (EAT-26 range: 0 to 15). Female athletes had higher mean EAT-26 scores than males (5.6 ± 3.8 vs 2.9 ± 2.1, P = 0.008). Gymnastics had the highest mean EAT-26 score (7.3 ± 3.9) and football had the lowest (3.4 ± 3.5). Although there were no correlations between EAT-26 and % body fat (P = 0.345) or fat mass (P = 0.984), it was negatively correlated with lean mass (P = 0.038).

Conclusions

In contrast to current research, no athletes were at risk for disordered eating. Despite this, the fact that asymptomatic EAT-26 scores (which assesses prevalence of DE behavior) were still inversely correlated with lean mass, prompts a need for further research to clarify these interactions in collegiate athletes.

Funding Sources

N/A.