Biomarker-based validity of a food frequency questionnaire estimating intake in Brazilian children and adolescents

Human Nutrition Research in the Data Era: Results of 11 Reports on the Effects of a Multiple-Micronutrient-Intervention Study

Large datasets have been used in molecular and genetic research for decades, but only a few studies have included nutrition and lifestyle factors. Our team conducted an n-of-1 intervention with 12 vitamins and five minerals in 9- to 13-year-old Brazilian children and teens with poor healthy-eating indices. A unique feature of the experimental design was the inclusion of a replication arm. Twenty-six types of data were acquired including clinical measures, whole-genome mapping, whole-exome sequencing, and proteomic and a variety of metabolomic measurements over two years. A goal of this study was to use these diverse data sets to discover previously undetected physiological effects associated with a poor diet that include a more complete micronutrient composition. We summarize the key findings of 11 reports from this study that (i) found that LDL and total cholesterol and fasting glucose decreased in the population after the intervention but with inter-individual variation; (ii) associated a polygenic risk score that predicted baseline vitamin B12 levels; (iii) identified metabotypes linking diet intake, genetic makeup, and metabolic physiology; (iv) found multiple biomarkers for nutrient and food groups; and (v) discovered metabolites and proteins that are associated with DNA damage. This summary also highlights the limitations and lessons in analyzing diverse omic data.

Reproducibility and relative validity of a semi-quantitative food and beverage frequency questionnaire for Spanish children aged 3 to 11 years: the COME-Kids F&B-FQ

A reliable food and beverage frequency questionnaire (F&B-FQ) to measure dietary intakes for children across Spain is currently unavailable. Thus, we designed and assessed the reproducibility and relative validity of a new F&B-FQ in 210 Spanish children aged 3-11 years. COME-Kids F&B-FQ contained 125 items to assess the usual diet intake in the past year among children. To explore the reproducibility, caregivers answered COME-Kids F&B-FQ twice over a 15-day period (± 1 week). To evaluate the relative validity, estimates from a third COME-Kids F&B-FQ administered at 1 year of follow-up were compared with the mean estimates from 3-day dietary records (3d-DR) collected at baseline, 6 months, and after 1 year of follow-up. Reproducibility and relative validity of the COME-Kids F&B-FQ in estimating food groups and nutrients were assessed using Pearson (r) and intra-class (ICC) correlation coefficients. We used the kappa index to evaluate the agreement in repeat administrations or with the 3d-DR. We used Bland-Altman plots to identify bias across levels of intake. A total of 195 children (105 boys, 90 girls) completed the study. The reproducibility of data estimated from COME-Kids F&B-FQ was substantial with mean r and ICC being 0.65 and 0.64 for food groups and 0.63 and 0.62 for nutrients, respectively. Validation assessments comparing the FFQ and 3d-DRs showed r = 0.36 and ICC = 0.30 for food groups and r = 0.29 and ICC = 0.24 for nutrients. The mean agreement for food group reproducibility and relative validity was 86% and 65%, respectively. These estimates were 85% for reproducibility and 64% for relative validity in the case of nutrients. For reproducibility and relative validity, the overall mean kappa index was 63% and 37% for all food groups and 52% and 27% for nutrients, respectively. Bland-Altman plots showed no specific bias relating to the level of intake of nutrients and several food groups.

CONCLUSION

COME-Kids F&B-FQ showed substantial reproducibility and acceptable relative validity to assess food and beverage intake in Spanish children aged 3 to 11 years. Most children were correctly classified in relation to the intake of food groups and nutrients, and misclassification was unlikely with reference to 3d-DR.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• The estimation of dietary intake in children is complex, especially in large cohorts. • The food frequency questionnaire is a well-recognized and the most frequently used method for assessing food consumption.

WHAT IS NEW

• A new food and beverage frequency questionnaire including a beverage section and novel plant-based food items has been validated in Spanish children aged 3-11 years.

Food frequency questionnaires developed and validated in Brazil: A scoping review protocol

A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is used to assess habitual food and nutrient intake. The choice of a FFQ should consider the study objectives, instrument particularities, target population, and geographic region. Over the past few years, FFQs have been constructed and validated in Brazil for children, adolescents, adults, athletes, and individuals with specific clinical conditions. The aim of this scoping review is to map the food frequency questionnaires developed and validated in Brazil. The Population-Concept-Context (PCC) framework was used for search strategy and defined as P-not applicable (open), C-food frequency questionnaire, and C-Brazil. FFQ validation studies performed with healthy or sick people will be included, regardless of clinical condition, age, sex, or region in the country. Studies with populations from other countries will be excluded. The review will be conducted in accordance with JBI (formerly known as Joanna Briggs Institute) methodology for scoping reviews. Search databases will include PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, Embase, Web of Science (ISI), Scopus, and Google Scholar. Data extraction will be performed by two independent reviewers and discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. In order to improve the understanding and contextualization of the studies, a description of the results and presentation in tables and figures will be provided. Applications and implications for future research, practices, and policies will be discussed. Our protocol is registered through the Open Science Framework (doi 10.17605/OSF.IO/G5J3K).

Mass spectrometry as a lens into molecular human nutrition and health

Mass spectrometry (MS) has developed over the last decades into the most informative and versatile analytical technology in molecular and structural biology (). The platform enables discovery, identification, and characterisation of non-volatile biomolecules, such as proteins, peptides, DNA, RNA, nutrients, metabolites, and lipids at both speed and scale and can elucidate their interactions and effects. The versatility, robustness, and throughput have rendered MS a major research and development platform in molecular human health and biomedical science. More recently, MS has also been established as the central tool for 'Molecular Nutrition', enabling comprehensive and rapid identification and characterisation of macro- and micronutrients, bioactives, and other food compounds. 'Molecular Nutrition' thereby helps understand bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and bioefficacy of macro- and micronutrients and related health effects. Hence, MS provides a lens through which the fate of nutrients can be monitored along digestion via absorption to metabolism. This in turn provides the bioanalytical foundation for 'Personalised Nutrition' or 'Precision Nutrition' in which design and development of diets and nutritional products is tailored towards consumer and patient groups sharing similar genetic and environmental predisposition, health/disease conditions and lifestyles, and/or objectives of performance and wellbeing. The next level of integrated nutrition science is now being built as 'Systems Nutrition' where public and personal health data are correlated with life condition and lifestyle factors, to establish directional relationships between nutrition, lifestyle, environment, and health, eventually translating into science-based public and personal heath recommendations and actions. This account provides a condensed summary of the contributions of MS to a precise, quantitative, and comprehensive nutrition and health science and sketches an outlook on its future role in this fascinating and relevant field.

Assessment of Fruit and Vegetables Intake with Biomarkers in Children and Adolescents and Their Level of Validation: A Systematic Review

Fruit and vegetables (FV) are part of a healthy diet and should be frequently consumed already at a young age. However, intake of FV is difficult to assess in children and adolescents due to various misreporting aspects. Thus, measurement of dietary biomarkers may be a promising alternative to assess FV intake more objectively at young age. To date, dietary biomarkers have been primarily studied in adults, and research focused on their usefulness in children is scarce. However, clinical studies have revealed important differences between children and adults, most importantly in their gut microbiome composition, resulting in differences in postprandial metabolism, as well as in food choices and meal compositions that may influence individual biomarker levels. Therefore, the present review aimed to identify biomarkers of FV intake (BFVI) currently available in children and adolescents and to explore whether there are any differences in the BFVI profile above between children and adolescents and adults. In addition, the current level of validation of BFVI in children and adolescents was examined. In total, 28 studies were eligible for this review, and 18 compounds were identified as potential biomarkers for FV intake in children and adolescents. Carotenoid concentration in skin was a valuable biomarker for total FV intake for both children and adult populations. Common BFVI in blood in adults (e.g., carotenoids and vitamin C) showed inconsistent results in children and adolescents. Biomarkers particularly useful in children included urinary hippuric acid as a biomarker of polyphenolic compound intake originating from FV and the combination of N-methylnicotinic acid and acetylornithine as a biomarker of bean intake. Further studies are needed to assess their kinetics, dose-response, and other validation aspects. There is limited evidence so far regarding valid BFVI in children and adolescents. Thus, to put BFVI into practice in children and adolescents, further studies, particularly based on metabolomics, are needed to identify and validate BFVI that can be used in future epidemiological studies.

Effects of dietary omega-3 intake on vigilant attention and resting-state functional connectivity in neurotypical children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

Vigilant Attention (VA) is a critical cognitive function allowing to maintain our attention, particularly in redundant or intellectually unchallenging situations. Evidence has shown that, as the brain develops, VA abilities rapidly improve throughout childhood and adolescence. Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fats (PUFA), playing a critical role for proper brain development and maturation of cortical regions, may contribute to variations in VA abilities.

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigated the effect of dietary omega-3 PUFA intake (docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)) on resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of a meta-analytically defined VA network in 24 neurotypical children and adolescents (7.3-17.2 years) from the Healthy Brain Network databank.

METHODS

Functional MRI and phenotypical information were collected from the Healthy Brain Network databank. Intake of omega-3 DHA and EPA was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and was adjusted for total calorie intake. Out of scanner VA-related performance was assessed using the VA condition of the Adaptive Cognitive Evaluation tool.

RESULTS

Overall, reported intake of omega-3 PUFA was not significantly associated with VA-related performance. Furthermore, energy-adjusted omega-3 intake was not significantly correlated with rsFC within the VA network. A complementary whole-brain analysis revealed that energy-adjusted omega-3 intake was correlated with decreased rsFC between parieto-occipital brain regions.

CONCLUSION

The present study was not able to detect a relationship between dietary omega-3 and rsFC or VA performance.

Contribution of genetic ancestry and polygenic risk score in meeting vitamin B12 needs in healthy Brazilian children and adolescents

Polymorphisms in genes related to the metabolism of vitamin B12 haven’t been examined in a Brazilian population. To (a) determine the correlation between the local genetic ancestry components and vitamin B12 levels using ninety B12-related genes; (b) determine associations between these genes and their SNPs with vitamin B12 levels; (c) determine a polygenic risk score (PRS) using significant variants. This cross-sectional study included 168 children and adolescents, aged 9–13 years old. Total cobalamin was measured in plasma. Genotyping arrays and whole exome data were combined to yield ~ 7000 SNPs in 90 genes related to vitamin B12. The Efficient Local Ancestry Inference was used to estimate local ancestry for African (AFR), Native American, and European (EUR). The association between the genotypes and vitamin B12 levels were determined with generalized estimating equation. Vitamin B12 levels were driven by positive (EUR) and negative (AFR, AMR) correlations with genetic ancestry. A set of 36 variants were used to create a PRS that explained 42% of vitamin level variation. Vitamin B12 levels are influenced by genetic ancestry and a PRS explained almost 50% of the variation in plasma cobalamin in Brazilian children and adolescents.