Affordability influences nutritional quality of seafood consumption among income and race/ethnicity groups in the United States

Degree of food processing and serum poly- and perfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2018

BACKGROUND

Ultra-processed foods account for >50% of total energy consumed among U.S. individuals and may be a source of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure - chemicals linked with cancer/cardiometabolic disorders.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate associations between degree of food processing and PFAS exposure.

METHODS

Serum concentrations of seven PFAS were analyzed in 11,530 individuals ≥12-years-old from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2018). We averaged responses from two 24-h dietary recalls to calculate relative energy intakes of unprocessed/minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and ultra-processed foods using the Nova food classification system. We estimated percent differences in concentrations (β; PFAS with ≥70% detection) or odds ratios of detection (OR; PFAS with <70% detection) using linear or logistic regression, respectively. We explored associations stratified by cycle, life stage, sex, body mass index, race/ethnicity, and poverty/income ratio.

RESULTS

Each 10% increase in ultra-processed food intake was associated with higher serum perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS; β: 1.40; 95%CI: -0.12, 2.94), but lower perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA; β: -4.41; 95%CI: -5.55, -3.26) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA; OR: 0.82; 95%CI: 0.79, 0.86) concentrations. Positive associations between ultra-processed foods and PFHxS were driven by adolescents and under-/normal weight individuals. Additionally, each 10% increase in unprocessed/minimally processed food intake was associated with lower perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; β: -1.10; 95%CI: -2.38, 0.20) and PFHxS (β: -1.50; 95%CI: -3.03, 0.06), but higher perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA; β: 1.71; 95%CI: 0.24, 3.21), PFDA (β: 5.33; 95%CI: 3.78, 6.90), and PFUnDA (OR: 1.22; 95%CI: 1.16, 1.27). Positive and negative associations of unprocessed/minimally processed foods and ultra-processed foods, respectively, with PFDA and PFUnDA were strongest in recent survey cycles, males, and non-Hispanic Asians.

SIGNIFICANCE

Unprocessed/minimally processed foods, more than ultra-processed, were associated with serum PFAS concentrations. Efforts should focus on eliminating PFAS from multiple parts of the food chain.

A global analysis of the burden of ischemic heart disease attributable to diet low in ω-3 fatty acids between 1990 and 2021

AIM

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a major contributor to global mortality and disability, imposing a significant health and economic burden on patients and society. Despite existing treatment options including medications and surgeries, their effectiveness remains limited, with issues such as suboptimal treatment outcomes and high recurrence rates. This study aims to investigate the relationship between low dietary intake of ω-3 fatty acids and the burden of IHD, hoping to provide new insights into the prevention and treatment of IHD.

METHOD

Using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 dataset, we examined the impact of low ω-3 dietary intake on the burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD) between 1990 and 2021globally, regionally, temporally. The Joinpoint regression model was applied to analyze the trend of IHD burden attributed to low ω-3 dietary intake over time.

RESULTS

In 2021, the global IHD-related Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and deaths caused by a low ω-3 diet was 15,511,020(95% UI: 3,098,820 to 25,946,110) and 627,340 (95% UI: 119,540 to 1,082,740), accounting for 8.23% (95% UI: 1.64-13.52%) of all IHD-related DALYs and 6.97% (95% UI: 1.33-11.76%) of all IHD deaths, respectively. From 1990 to 2021, there was a significant upward trend in DALYs and deaths, but age-standardized DALYs and death rates showed a declining trend. Regional analysis indicated that the burden of IHD was highest in South Asia and lowest in High-Income Asia Pacific regions. At the national level, India, China, the United States, and Pakistan had a higher burden of IHD. Furthermore, as the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) increased, the burden of IHD caused by a low ω-3 diet gradually decreased.

CONCLUSION

This study untangles a significant association between a low ω-3 diet and the burden of IHD, emphasizing the importance of promoting healthy eating habits globally. Future research should further explore the impact of dietary changes on the burden of IHD and develop targeted public health policies to reduce the burden of IHD.

Gender Differences in Protein Consumption and Body Composition: The Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Dietary Choices

INTRODUCTION

Gender differences in eating habits and protein consumption patterns are determined by cultural, socio-economic, and behavioural factors. Men tend to consume more meat, while women prefer plant-based proteins; however, the impact of these choices on body composition remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

This study explores gender differences in protein consumption and the influence of socioeconomic status on dietary choices, evaluating their potential association with body composition parameters, including fat mass (FM%) and fat-free mass (FFM%).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1708 Italian adults (721 males, 987 females). Food intake was assessed using a validated 7-day food diary. Participants were classified as non-consumers, low consumers, or high consumers according to the median intake of each protein source. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.

RESULTS

Meat and processed meat consumption was significantly higher in men (p < 0.001), while women consumed more soy (p = 0.0087). Individuals with high meat and processed meat consumption had a higher BMI (p < 0.01), whereas soy consumption was associated with a lower BMI (p = 0.0027). Socioeconomic status influenced food choices: low-income men consumed more meat and processed meat compared to higher-income groups (p < 0.01), while differences in fish consumption were mainly observed in low-income groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Gender differences in protein consumption persist across socioeconomic levels and are related to body composition. Meat consumption is culturally linked to masculinity, whereas plant-based proteins are more commonly consumed by women. Understanding these dietary patterns can inform targeted nutritional interventions that promote balanced and sustainable diets.

Using machine-learning approaches to investigate the volatile-compound fingerprint of fishy off-flavour from beef with enhanced healthful fatty acids

Machine learning classification approaches were used to discriminate a fishy off-flavour identified in beef with health-enhanced fatty acid profiles. The random forest approach outperformed (P < 0.001; receiver operating characteristic curve: 99.8 %, sensitivity: 99.9 % and specificity: 93.7 %) the logistic regression, partial least-squares discrimination analysis and the support vector machine (linear and radial) approaches, correctly classifying 100 % and 82 % of the fishy and non-fishy meat samples, respectively. The random forest algorithm identified 20 volatile compounds responsible for the discrimination of fishy from non-fishy meat samples. Among those, seven volatile compounds (pentadecane, octadecane, γ-dodecalactone, dodecanal, (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal, 2-heptanone, and ethylbenzene) were selected as significant contributors to the fishy off-flavour fingerprint, all being related to lipid oxidation. This fishy off-flavour fingerprint could facilitate the rapid monitoring of beef with enhanced healthy fatty acids to avoid consumer dissatisfaction due to fishy off-flavour.

Consumption Patterns and Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Aquatic Food in China

China, as the world's largest producer, trader, and consumer of aquatic foods, lacks comprehensive research on consumption patterns and willingness to pay for sustainable aquatic food. This study addressed this gap through an online survey of 3403 participants across Chinese provinces. A majority of consumers (34.7% of the participants) consume aquatic food twice or more per week, mainly from traditional markets (26%). Most prefer fresh or live products (76%), with 42% seeing no difference between farmed and wild options. Consumption is higher among older, affluent, urban, and coastal residents. Crustaceans, especially shrimp, are frequently consumed species, with growing interest in luxury species like salmon and abalone. Taste and quality emerge as the primary factors motivating consumer choices in aquatic food purchases. Food safety is the primary concern, followed by environmental impact. Notably, 92.4% of participants would pay extra for certified products. Factors influencing a higher willingness to pay include higher income, inland residence, price sensitivity, origin consciousness, and concerns about food safety and the environment. The findings highlight that China's aquatic food industry and consumption can become more sustainable by aligning with consumer preferences for high-quality and diverse aquatic food through both production and import, while also addressing concerns related to food safety and environmental impact. This research provides valuable insights into China's rapidly transforming aquatic food market landscape, offering implications for industry innovation and the promotion of sustainable consumption patterns.

Food insecurity is associated with metabolic syndrome among US adults: NHANES 2005-2016

The primary objective of this study was to examine the association between food security status and metabolic syndrome (MetS) using a nationally representative dataset. We hypothesized that food insecurity would be associated with an increased odds of having MetS. This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2005-2006 to 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data collection cycles. Food security was measured using the US Food Security Survey Module. Presence of MetS was determined using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The association between food insecurity and MetS was examined using logistic regression models stratified by sex and adjusted for poverty to income ratio, age, race, marital status, educational attainment, smoking status, and body mass index. After adjusting for covariates, men with marginal (odds ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-2.20) and low (odds ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.02-1.73) food security had a higher odds of having MetS than men with full food security; however, this association was lost among men with very low food security. For women, very low food security was associated with a 1.61 times greater odds of having MetS (95% CI, 1.16-2.25). These results suggest that food insecurity is generally associated with an increased prevalence of MetS for women, but not necessarily for men. These findings highlight the need to address rising food insecurity rates, while also highlighting the need for further research to fully elucidate the role of gender and sex in food insecurity and chronic disease.

The dynamics in food selection stemming from price awareness and perceived income adequacy: a cross-sectional study using 1-year loyalty card data

BACKGROUND

Higher cost of healthy foods may explain unhealthy dietary patterns in lower-income households. Unfortunately, combining food selection and nutrient intake data to price and expenditure is challenging. Food retailer's customer loyalty card data, linked to nutrient composition database, is a novel method for simultaneous exploration of food purchases, price, and nutrition.

OBJECTIVES

We studied the associations between perceived income adequacy (PIA) as a grouping variable with price (per kilogram or megajoule) and the volume of purchases (percentage of expenditure or energy) simultaneously as outcome variables for 17 most purchased food groups.

METHODS

We used 1-year (2018) loyalty card data from the largest grocery chain in Finland. Participants were 28,783 loyalty cardholders who made ≥41% of food purchases from the retailer and answered an online questionnaire at the midpoint of data collection. The 5-level PIA described the perceived financial situation in the household. Energy and nutrient content of foods purchased were from the Finnish Food Composition Database Fineli. We calculated the Nutrient Rich Food Index per 100 g food using 11 nutrients. Trends in prices and expenditures between PIA levels were analyzed using 2-sided Jonckheere-Terpstra tests, with false discovery rate control (Benjamini-Hochberg method) and confounder adjustments (inverse probability weighting).

RESULTS

Lower PIA participants selected cheaper foods per kilogram and megajoule within most food groups. They also favored unhealthy food groups cheap in energy [<1 € (USD 1.18)/MJ]. Despite lower purchase price, the expenditure (%) among lower PIA was higher on alcohol, snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sweets and chocolates.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants with lower PIA showed stronger price awareness. It is crucial to consider the pricing of competing alternative food groups, when steering toward environmentally sustainable and healthier food purchases. Package labeling might also direct the selection of healthier choices among the less expensive items within a food group.

Unlocking the potential of forage fish to reduce the global burden of disease

Red meat consumption is associated with an elevated risk of mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In contrast, forage fish, as highly nutritious, environmentally friendly, affordable, and the most abundant fish species in the ocean, are receiving increasing interest from a global food system perspective. However, little research has examined the impact of replacing red meat with forage fish in the global diet on diet-related NCDs.

METHODS

We based our study on datasets of red meat projections in 2050 for 137 countries and forage fish catches. We replaced the red meat consumption in each country with forage fish (from marine habitats), without exceeding the potential supply of forage fish. We used a comparative risk assessment framework to investigate how such substitutions could reduce the global burden of diet-related NCDs in adults.

RESULTS

The results of our study show that forage fish may replace only a fraction (approximately 8%) of the world's red meat due to its limited supply, but it may increase global daily per capita fish consumption close to the recommended level. Such a substitution could avoid 0.5-0.75 million deaths and 8-15 million disability-adjusted life years, concentrated in low- and middle-income countries. Forage fish as an alternative to red meat could double (or more) the number of deaths that could be avoided by simply reducing red meat consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis suggests that forage fish is a promising alternative to red meat. Policies targeting the allocation of forage fish to regions where they are needed, such as the Global South, could be more effective in maximising the potential of forage fish to reduce the global burden of disease.

Wild fish consumption can balance nutrient retention in farmed fish

Wild fish used as aquafeeds could be redirected towards human consumption to support sustainable marine resource use. Here we use mass-balance fish-in/fish-out ratio approaches to assess nutrient retention in salmon farming and identify scenarios that provide more nutrient-rich food to people. Using data on Norway's salmon farms, our study revealed that six of nine dietary nutrients had higher yields in wild fish used for feeds, such as anchovies and mackerel, than in farmed salmon production. Reallocating one-third of food-grade wild feed fish towards direct human consumption would increase seafood production, while also retaining by-products for use as aquafeeds, thus maximizing nutrient utilization of marine resources.

Aquatic food loss and waste rate in the United States is half of earlier estimates

Food loss and waste (FLW) is a major challenge to food system sustainability, including aquatic foods. We investigated aquatic FLW in the food supply of the United States, the largest importer of aquatic food globally, using primary and secondary data and life cycle methodology. We show that there are significant differences in FLW among species, production technology, origin and stage of supply chain. We estimate total aquatic FLW was 22.7%, which is 43-55% lower than earlier estimates reported in the literature, illustrating the importance of applying a disaggregated approach. Production losses associated with imported food contribute over a quarter of total FLW, and addressing these losses requires multinational efforts to implement interventions along the supply chain. These findings inform prioritization of solutions-including areas of need for innovations, government incentives, policy change, infrastructure and equity.

Update on Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Cardiovascular Health

Twenty percent of deaths in the United States are secondary to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In patients with hyperlipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia, studies have shown high atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) event rates despite the use of statins. Given the association of high triglyceride (TG) levels with elevated cholesterol and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) cholesterol guidelines recommend using elevated TGs as a "risk-enhancing factor" for ASCVD and using omega 3 fatty acids (Ω3FAs) for patients with persistently elevated severe hypertriglyceridemia. Ω3FA, or fish oils (FOs), have been shown to reduce very high TG levels, hospitalizations, and CVD mortality in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We have published the largest meta-analysis to date demonstrating significant effects on several CVD outcomes, especially fatal myocardial infarctions (MIs) and total MIs. Despite the most intensive research on Ω3FAs on CVD, their benefits have been demonstrated to cluster across multiple systems and pathologies, including autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, chronic kidney disease, central nervous system diseases, and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. A review and summary of the controversies surrounding Ω3FAs, some of the latest evidence-based findings, and the current and most updated recommendations on Ω3FAs are presented in this paper.

Small pelagic fish supply abundant and affordable micronutrients to low- and middle-income countries

Wild-caught fish provide an irreplaceable source of essential nutrients in food-insecure places. Fishers catch thousands of species, yet the diversity of aquatic foods is often categorized homogeneously as 'fish', obscuring an understanding of which species supply affordable, nutritious and abundant food. Here, we use catch, economic and nutrient data on 2,348 species to identify the most affordable and nutritious fish in 39 low- and middle-income countries. We find that a 100 g portion of fish cost between 10 and 30% of the cheapest daily diet, with small pelagic fish (herring, sardine, anchovy) being the cheapest nutritious fish in 72% of countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, where nutrient deficiencies are rising, <20% of small pelagic catch would meet recommended dietary fish intakes for all children (6 months to 4 years old) living near to water bodies. Nutrition-sensitive policies that ensure local supplies and promote consumption of wild-caught fish could help address nutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations.