Considerations for the translation of nutrient recommendations as dietary plans for infants, children, and adolescents as reported in Italian Guidelines for healthy eating

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.

Food Supplement Use Differs from the Recommendations in Pregnant Women: A Multinational Survey

The aim was to investigate, among pregnant women, (1) the use of food supplements and (2) the awareness of food supplement recommendations and beliefs about food supplement use in four European countries: Finland, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom. The participants (n = 1804) completed an online questionnaire with predefined statements. Daily intakes of vitamins and minerals were calculated using uploaded pictures or weblinks of the supplement packages. Country differences were assessed. Most participants (91%) used at least one food supplement during pregnancy. A prenatal multivitamin was the most commonly used supplement type (84% of the users), and 75% of the participants thought consumption of multivitamin is recommended. Of the participants, 81% knew that folic acid is recommended during pregnancy while 58% knew the recommendation for vitamin D. In 19% of the supplement users, the daily safe upper intake limit of at least one nutrient was exceeded. Nevertheless, most participants agreed that they knew which supplements (91%) and doses of supplements (87%) needed to be used during pregnancy. To conclude, the majority of the participants used food supplements, but lower proportions knew and adhered to the recommended intakes. Between-country differences were observed in the use and knowledge of and beliefs regarding supplements. The results suggest a need for assessment and monitoring of supplement use in antenatal care to ensure appropriate use.

Eating behaviour, physical activity and lifestyle of Italian children during lockdown for COVID-19

In March 2020 Italy went into lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic and children changed rapidly their lifestyles with possible negative effects on their health status. An online survey collected data on eating habits, physical activity, perception/behaviour of 1027 Italian 2-11 years children during lockdown. The chi-square test was applied to test differences in proportions. Results showed a tendency of eating behaviour to worsen as children age and by areas. Only 32.3% of the children had high adherence to Mediterranean Diet, with better scores in 2-5 years children. 78.1% of the children stopped their habitual physical activity, with higher percentage among 6-11 and in Northern children; only 51.8% maintained some activities at home, playing mainly movement games/sports. Children spent more time on devices, missed school and friends, being more bored and less creative. This framework highlights the growing need for strategies to preserve children's health in this and future pandemics.

Physical Activity Is Associated with Attention Capacity in Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationships among physical activity, measured objectively, and attention capacity in European adolescents.

STUDY DESIGN

The study included 273 adolescents, aged 12.5-17.5 years, who participated in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Study. Participants wore a uniaxial accelerometer for 7 days to measure physical activity. The d2 Test of Attention was administered to assess attention capacity. Multivariate analyses were used to study the association of attention capacity with each measure of physical activity. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine thresholds that best discriminate between low and good attention capacity.

RESULTS

After controlling for potential confounding variables (age, sex, body mass index, parental educational level, fat mass, aerobic fitness, and center), adolescents' attention capacity test performances were significantly and positively associated with longer time spent in moderate or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in free-living conditions (P < .05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that the physical activity thresholds that best discriminated between low/good attention capacities were ≥41 min·day(-1) for moderate, ≥12 min·day(-1) for vigorous, and ≥58 min·day(-1) for MVPA.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that promoting MVPA may be have a beneficial effect on attention capacity, an important component of cognition, in adolescents.

Prevalence of enteropathogenic bacteria in common quail (Coturnix coturnix)

The study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of enteropathogenic bacteria (i.e. Campylobacter spp., shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp.) in common quail (Coturnix coturnix). To achieve this goal, 70 common quails were collected during the hunting season in the Campania region (southern Italy). From each bird, cloacal swab samples were collected and subjected to culture methods, polymerase chain reaction and serotyping. The results of the present study showed a prevalence of 21.4% and 5.7% for Campylobacter spp. and shigatoxin-producing E. coli, respectively. In contrast, no Salmonella spp. was isolated. These findings show that common quail, as migratory birds, may constitute an environmental carrier of these pathogens representing a source of infection for other birds, livestock and humans.

[Spinal electrostimulation in the treatment of advanced chronic obliterating arteriopathies]

From 1989 to 1992 83 patients suffering from peripheral vascular disease without medical or surgical possibilities, were treated by spinal cord stimulation (SCS). We studied claudicatio intermittens, rest pain and ischemic lesion behaviour in all the patients. We also studied microcirculation behaviour of 21 patients, by oxygen transcutaneous tension (vasodilatation index VI = TcPO2 42 degrees C: TcPO2 45 degrees C) and laser Doppler flowmetry (resting flow RF, standing flow SF, venoarteriolar reflex VAR = RF - SF, flow temperature increase FTI = F 40 degrees C 15'-RF). The clinical follow-up at 2 years showed an improvement of walking distance in 85.7% of 7 controls, a complete rest pain control in 82.35% of 17 controls, an improvement and healing of ischemic lesions respectively in 27.07% and 53.86% of 18 controls. In arteriosclerotic arteriopathy with or without diabetes but without neuropathy VI increased and FTI decreased, after SCS, showing a sympathetic tone decrease. In arteriosclerotic arteriopathy with diabetic neuropathy V.I. decreased and FTI increased, after SCS, showing a sympathetic tone reappearance. VAR improved or reappeared, in arteriosclerotic arteriopathy with or without diabetes, showing improvement of tissue perfusion as regards a better efficiency of "paramicrovessels" and "microvascular unit". We believe that SCS, as regards favourable clinical results represents a useful and effective treatment in peripheral vascular disease treatment.