Trend of minimally processed and ultra-processed beverages purchased in Brazilian households: Less milk and much soft drink (2002-2003 to 2017-2018)

Bugs got milk? Exploring the potential of lactose as a prebiotic ingredient for the human gut microbiota of lactose-tolerant individuals

Milk consumption is important to help meet daily nutrient requirements. However, lactose-present in dairy products-has been associated with digestive discomfort in individuals who are lactose intolerant or have inadequate lactase activity. Yet, a new perspective on this dietary component has emerged: its potential as a prebiotic for the lactose-tolerant population. We hypothesized that ingestion of lactose may improve the microbial community structure and metabolism of the gut microbiota from healthy adults. First, we assessed the acute impact of lactose ingestion on the gut microbiota of adults using a short-duration in vitro batch colonic model. Subsequently, we employed a long-duration in vitro dynamic multivessel colonic model to evaluate the effects of lactose chronic ingestion. In both cases, a mixture of lactose/galactose/glucose was administered in a defined proportion to mimic lactose metabolism and galactose/glucose absorption in lactose-tolerant adults. The hypothesis was confirmed, as a modulatory prebiotic effect was revealed on the microbial community structure and metabolism of the microbiota upon treatments simulating the ingestion of three doses of lactose, equivalent to half a glass, one glass, and two glasses of cow's milk. The long-duration model confirmed this potential, increasing the relative abundance of the beneficial genera Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, and Faecalibacterium, while the usually detrimental genus Clostridium decreased. Additionally, the health-promoting microbial metabolites acetate, propionate, and lactate were increased. Therefore, lactose ingestion could positively modulate the gut microbiota in healthy lactose-tolerant adults, thereby promoting gut health and shedding light on the dietary benefits of consuming milk.

Anaemia, overweight and abdominal obesity in mothers and children are associated with the food environment in socially vulnerable areas of a northeastern Brazilian capital

This study aimed to assess the association between community and consumer food environment (FE) measures and anaemia, overweight and abdominal obesity in mother-child dyads living in situations of social vulnerability. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 40 favelas in a capital city in the northeast of Brazil. The sample consisted of 1882 women and 665 children aged under 5 years. The community FE was assessed using a scale of perception of the availability of healthy food in the neighbourhood. Consumer FE was assessed by auditing 624 retail food stores using the AUDITNOVA instrument. This investigated various aspects of the food environment and evaluated the availability of 18 ultra-processed foods (UPF) most consumed by the Brazilian population available in these stores. The presence of overweight was assessed by measuring the weight and height of the mother and the child, and abdominal obesity was assessed by measuring the mother's waist circumference. The presence of anaemia in the mother and the child was assessed by measuring haemoglobin. Adjusted multilevel regression models were used to verify associations between the FE and malnutrition in mother-child dyads. Low perception of community FE was associated with higher risk of women being overweight (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.05-1.73) and abdominally obese (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.04-1.84); low health scores in food shops were associated with higher risk of abdominal obesity (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.01-1.79) and anaemia (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.02-1.98) in women and overweight in children (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.05-2.73); and the high availability of UPF in retail shops was associated with increased odds of overweight (OR: 2.64; 95% CI: 1.61-4.33) and anaemia (OR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.38-3.02) in children by 164% and 111%, respectively. It was observed that less healthy food environments are associated with greater chances of anaemia, overweight and abdominal obesity in mothers and children under 5 years in situations of social vulnerability in Brazil.

Association between hypercholesterolemia and isolated and simultaneous consumption of ultra-processed foods in older adults

Background

Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is a risk factor for several cardiovascular diseases and mortality, with potential physiological mechanisms including elevated serum cholesterol levels.

Objectives

To analyze the association between hypercholesterolemia and the isolated and simultaneous consumption of UPFs in older adults.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted with 1322 Brazilian older adults (mean age of 70.4 years; 55.0% females) from the state of Roraima. The data was obtained from the Department of Epidemiological Surveillance of the State of Roraima. Hypercholesterolemia was diagnosed based on nosology criteria. Food consumption patterns were assessed using a nationally standardized instrument comprising four categories of UPFs. Binary logistic regression models were employed to explore potential associations.

Results

The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was high (54.4%, 95% CI 51.7-56.6). While the simultaneous consumption of all UPFs types was lower (15.2%), over half of the older adults reported consuming at least one type of UPFs (71.8%). Isolated consumption of UPFs was associated with approximately twice the odds of hypercholesterolemia. Older adults who consumed two (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.26-2.43), three (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.58-3.29), or all four types of UPF (OR 6.65, 95% CI 4.35-9.44) had a higher likelihood of having hypercholesterolemia.

Conclusions

Isolated consumption of UPFs is a risk factor for hypercholesterolemia, which can increase up to sixfold when older adults consume multiple UPFs simultaneously. Prioritizing nutritional education and raising awareness regarding the reduction of UPFs consumption is crucial.

Association of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages with elevated blood pressure among college students in Yunnan Province, China

OBJECTIVE

Although some studies have examined the association between eating behaviour and elevated blood pressure (EBP) in adolescents, current data on the association between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and EBP in adolescents in Yunnan Province, China, are lacking.

SETTING

Cluster sampling was used to survey freshmen at a college in Kunming, Yunnan Province, from November to December. Data on SSB consumption were collected using an FFQ measuring height, weight and blood pressure. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the association between SSB consumption and EBP, encompassing prehypertension and hypertension with sex-specific analyses.

PARTICIPANTS

The analysis included 4781 college students.

RESULTS

Elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were detected in 35·10 % (1678/4781) and 39·34 % (1881/4781) of patients, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, tea beverage consumption was associated with elevated SBP (OR = 1·24, 95 % CI: 1·03, 1·49, P = 0·024), and carbonated beverage (OR = 1·23, 95 % CI: 1·04, 1·45, P = 0·019) and milk beverage (OR = 0·81, 95 % CI: 0·69, 0·95, P = 0·010) consumption was associated with elevated DBP in college students. Moreover, fruit beverage (OR = 1·32, 95 % CI: 1·00, 1·75, P = 0·048) and milk beverage consumption (OR = 0·69, 95 % CI: 0·52, 0·93, P = 0·014) was associated with elevated DBP in males.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicated that fruit and milk beverage consumption was associated with elevated DBP in males, and no association was observed with EBP in females.

Effect of sweetened beverages intake on salivary aspartame, insulin and alpha-amylase levels: A single-blind study

The objective was to assess aspartame excretion in saliva and the salivary insulin, total protein (TP), and alpha-amylase (AMI) levels in response to the ingestion of sweetened beverages (sodium cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame, and sucrose). Fifteen healthy participants were included in a single-blinded trial with the intake of Diet soft drink, Regular soft drink, Water + sweeteners, Low sucrose content (3.5 g), and Water (blank) in 5 different days. In each day, saliva was collected at T0 (fasting), T1 (15 min after test-drink intake), T2 (30 min), T3 (60 min), and T4 (120 min) for the measurement of salivary aspartame (HPLC), TP, AMI (ELISA assays) and insulin levels (chemiluminescence). Chi-square, Friedman, ANOVA and Spearman correlation tests were applied. The late-perceived sweet/sour residual flavor was reported at a frequency of 80%, 60% and 20% after ingestion of artificially sweetened drinks, beverages with sucrose, and plain water, respectively (p < 0.05). Aspartame was detected in saliva after artificially sweetened drinks intake, with highest area under the peak for the Diet soft drink (p = 0.014). No change was observed for TP and AMI levels during the 120 min. Insulin levels increased 1 h after soft-drinks ingestion (regular and diet), while the levels did not change for Low sucrose content and Water + sweeteners test-drinks. Salivary aspartame correlated with insulin levels only after Diet soft drink intake (rho ≥ 0.7; p < 0.05). As aspartame can be detected in saliva and swallowed again until completely excreted, these results contribute to the knowledge of the biological fate of artificial sweeteners and the study of health outcomes.