The effects of 9 months of formulated whole-egg or milk powder food products as meal or snack replacements on executive function in preadolescents: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

The acute neurotoxicity of inorganic mercury in Mactra chinensis philippi

Inorganic mercury (IHg) is hazardous to marine organisms especially resulting in neurotoxicity, bivalves are sensitive to pollutants as "ocean sentinel", but data on the neurotoxicity of IHg in bivalves are sparse. So we chosed M. chinensis philippi with typical neural structures in bivalves to investigate the neurotoxicity of IHg, which could be helpful to understand the specificity of neural regulation and the response characteristics of bivalves. After acute exposed to IHg (HgCl2) for 24 h, the metabolites of ganglion tissues in M. chinensis philippi were evaluated using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance based metabolomics; Ca2+, neurotransmitters (nitric oxide, glutamate, acetylcholine) and related enzymes (calcineurin, nitric oxide synthase and acetylcholinesterase) were measured using biochemical detection. Compared to the control group, the levels of the nitric oxide (81.04 ± 12.84 μmol/g prot) and acetylcholine (30.93 ± 12.57 μg/mg prot) in M. chinensis philippi of IHg-treated were decreased, while glutamate (2.11 ± 0.61 mmol/L) increased significantly; the activity of nitric oxide synthase (679.34 ± 135.33 U/mg prot) was increased, while acetylcholinesterase (1.39 ± 0.44 U/mg prot) decreased significantly, and the activity of calcineurin (0.52 ± 0.02 U/mg prot) had a statistically insignificant increasing tendency. The concentration of Ca2+ (0.92 ± 0.46 mmol/g prot) in the IHg-treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group. OPLS-DA was performed to reveal the difference in metabolites between the control and IHg-challenged groups, the metabolites of glucose, glutamine, inosine, succinate, glutamate, homarine, and alanine were sensitive to IHg, subsequently metabolic pathways that were affected including glucose metabolism, glutamine metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, Krebs cycle, amino acid metabolism and osmotic regulation. In our study, IHg interfered with metabolites in M. chinensis philippi, thus the corresponding metabolic pathways were changed, which influenced the neurotransmitters subsequently. Furthermore, Ca2+overload affected the synthesis or degradation of the neurotransmitters, and then the altered neurotransmitters involved in changes in metabolic pathways again. Overall, we hypothesized that the neurotoxic effects of IHg on bivalve were in close contact with metabolism, neurotransmitters, related enzymes and Ca2+, which could be effective neurotoxic biomarkers for marine environmental quality assessment, and also provide effective data for the study of the regulatory mechanism of the nervous system in response to IHg in bivalves.

Egg consumption and growth in children: a meta-analysis of interventional trials

Introduction

Stunting and wasting are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, putting children at risk for disease and disability. Eggs are a nutrient-rich food that can potentially facilitate growth.

Purpose

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the potential beneficial effect of egg supplementation on growth in children.

Methods

Following the PRISMA guidelines, PubMed and Healthline (Ovid) were systematically searched for interventional studies on egg supplementation for growth in children aged 6 months to 18 years, with no restrictions on date. Studies were evaluated for quality using Cochrane's GRADE technique. Data were pooled and reported as means and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Seven studies reporting on 9 unique interventions in 3,575 male and female participants were included in the meta-analysis. Participants in the intervention groups experienced significantly greater increases in height/length (by 0.47 [0.13, 0.80] cm, p < 0.01) and weight (by 0.07 [0.01, 0.13] kg, p = 0.03) when compared to those in the control groups.

Conclusion

Eggs are an affordable, nutritious option for improving growth in children, though more studies with longer interventions are warranted.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO (CRD42021289609: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/).

The Impact of Whole Egg Consumption on Bone Accrual in Healthy Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Dietary interventions designed to examine the role of nutrition on childhood bone accrual have often focused on the role of individual micronutrients (eg, calcium, vitamin D, and zinc) and macronutrients (eg, protein). The osteogenic benefits of whole foods, such as eggs, are not well understood despite eggs being a source of high-quality nutrients and bioactive compounds known to positively influence bone. A significant positive cross-sectional association between whole egg consumption and tibia cortical bone mass has recently been shown in young children; however, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have not been conducted. This study is a double-blind RCT in male and female children ages 9-13 years of different ancestries, designed to determine if consuming food products with whole eggs (equivalent to 8-10 eggs/wk) versus foods with milk or gelatin (placebo) over a 9-month period will improve measures of bone strength. Total body less head (TBLH) and lumbar spine bone mineral content (BMC) and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). DXA Z-scores were computed using published pediatric growth charts and were adjusted for height-for-age Z-score (HAZ). Mid-tibia cortical volumetric BMD, BMC, cortical area, total bone area, cortical thickness, and strength strain index were measured using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Overall, there were no significant intervention effects for any bone outcomes. The increase in spine BMCHAZ Z-score in the egg group versus the gelatin group approached significance (p = 0.07). Significant time effects in TBLH aBMDHAZ Z-score occurred as all groups decreased over 9 months (p < 0.03). Most tibia cortical bone outcomes increased over time (all p < 0.02), but changes did not differ across intervention groups. Whole eggs provide important nutritional benefits for children, but the bone responses to consumption of 8-10 eggs/wk over a period of 9 months in children entering the early stages of puberty were small. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Association between milk and dairy consumption and executive functioning: A cross-sectional survey based on rural Chinese adolescents

BACKGROUND

Milk and dairy product consumption continue to increase in developing countries, with positive effects on adolescent physical and mental health. However, the effect of milk and dairy product consumption on executive function of adolescents has been less reported. This study aimed to analyze the status of milk and dairy product consumption and its association with executive function among adolescents in rural areas of China. The study aims to contribute to the healthy development of adolescents in rural areas of China.

METHODS

A three-stage stratified whole-group sampling method was used to investigate the milk and dairy product consumption status and executive function of 1360 adolescents in rural areas of China. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi-square test was used to compare the milk and dairy product consumption of different categories of adolescents. Linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the association between milk and dairy product consumption and executive function.

RESULTS

The proportions of adolescents in rural China with milk and dairy product consumption ≤1 t/w, 2-4 t/w, and ≥5 t/w were 39.26%, 45.07%, and 15.66%, respectively. After adjusting for relevant confounding variables, logistic regression analysis showed that compared to adolescents with milk and dairy product consumption ≥5 t/w, milk and dairy product consumption 2-4 t/w (OR = 2.115,95% CI: 1.265, 3.533) and ≤1 t/w (OR = 5.929,95% CI: 3.552,9.895) had a higher risk of inhibit control dysfunction (p < 0.05). Compared to adolescents with milk and dairy product consumption ≥5 t/w, adolescents with milk and dairy product consumption ≤1 t/w (OR = 2.141,95% CI: 1.110,4.129) had a higher risk of conversion the risk of flexibility dysfunction was also higher in adolescents with milk and dairy product consumption ≤1 t/w (OR = 2.141,95% CI: 1.110,4.129).

CONCLUSION

Milk and dairy product consumption among adolescents in rural areas of China is inadequate and has a positive association with executive function. In the future, we should increase milk and dairy product consumption and improve executive function of adolescents in rural areas of China in order to promote healthy physical and mental development.