Changes in dietary patterns among youths in China during COVID-19 epidemic: The COVID-19 impact on lifestyle change survey (COINLICS)

Limited studies have focused on how COVID-19 outbreak and thereby lockdown have affected the youth's diet patterns. This study aimed to assess changes in diet patterns among youths in China under the COVID-19 lockdown, based on the COVID-19 Impact on Lifestyle Change Survey (COINLICS), a nationwide retrospective survey distributed via social media platforms during 9-12 May 2020 where 10,082 youth participants in China have voluntarily reported their basic sociodemographic information and routine diet patterns in the months before and after COVID-19 lockdown. We used paired t-tests or χ² tests to evaluate the significance of differences in consumption patterns of 12 major food groups and beverages across educational levels, between sexes, and before and after COVID-19 lockdown. During the COVID-19 lockdown, significant decreases were observed in the frequency of intake of rice, meat, poultry, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, soybean products, and dairy products, with significant sex differences (females consuming more rice, fresh vegetables and fruit and less meat, poultry, soybean and dairy products than males). Significant increases were observed in the frequency of consumption of wheat products, other staple foods, and preserved vegetables, with males consuming these foods more frequently than females. Graduate students consumed most foods more frequently except rice and other staple foods and preserved vegetables. The frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption had decreased while frequency of tea drinking had increased. The participating youths' diet patterns had significantly changed during the COVID-19 lockdown, with heterogeneities observed to different extents between sexes and across educational levels. Our findings would inform policy-makers and health professionals of these changes in time for better policy making and public health practice.

[Study of relationship between dietary patterns and precocious puberty of school-age girls in Shenzhen]

Objective: To explore the daily dietary behaviors of girls under precocious puberty and provide targeted measures for the prevention of precocious puberty. Methods: A case control study was conducted in a hospital in Shenzhen between September 2016 and December 2018. Girls with diagnosed precocious puberty were selected as case group. A 1∶1 matching was conducted. The control group was from 26 primary schools in Shenzhen. Dietary survey was conducted in parents, completing a self-administered questionnaire. Frequencies of 12 kinds of food intakes were investigated and dietary patterns were analyzed. Conditional logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between dietary patterns and precocious puberty. Results: A total of 568 girls were included in the study. Among them, those aged 8-year-old accounted for highest proportion (43.8%). The median of age was same in both case group and control group (8 years-old). There was no significant difference in ethnic group between two groups (P>0.05). The medians of height, weight and BMI of case group were 135.0 cm, 30.2 kg and 16.6 kg/m(2), respectively, which were all higher than those of the control group (129.2 cm, 25.0 kg and 15.3 kg/m(2)), the differences were significant (P<0.05). There was significant difference in nutritional assessment result between two groups (P< 0.05). Three dietary patterns were defined, i.e. balanced pattern, high calorie and fat pattern and high protein diet pattern. The cumulative rate of variance contribution of the three dietary patterns was 0.541 2. The differences in the prevalence of three dietary patterns between two groups were significant (χ(2)=4.41, χ(2)=49.24, χ(2)=39.68, P<0.05 respectively). Data from the multivariate regression analysis showed that both balanced dietary pattern (OR=0.633, 95%CI: 0.504-0.769) and high protein diet pattern (OR=0.622, 95%CI: 0.498-0.776) were protective factors for precocious puberty, while high calorie and fat pattern was risk factors (OR=1.850, 95%CI: 1.461-2.342). Conclusions: Balanced dietary pattern was common in school-aged girls. High calorie and fat pattern was risk factor for precocious puberty. Children should be encouraged to develop a balanced dietary habit and increasing the intake of legumes and fish since they are beneficial to normal growth and development.

Factors associated with exposure of pregnant women to perfluoroalkyl acids in North China and health risk assessment

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have been frequently found in blood of pregnant women, but the predictors and potential health risk have not been well studied in China. We recruited 534 pregnant women in Tangshan City of Hebei Province in North China between 2013 and 2014 and measured five PFAAs in serum during their early term of pregnancy, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluoro‑n‑undecanoic acid (PFUdA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). We explored the factors associated with the levels of serum PFAAs and assessed associated health risks. Food consumption information was obtained by food frequency questionnaire covering 100 items. Multiple linear regression model was used to determine the associations of sociodemographic, anthropometric, and food factors with the concentrations of serum PFAAs. Some PFAAs in serum were positively associated with age and body mass index (BMI). Consumption of beans, aquatic products, and eggs was positively associated with the concentrations of several PFAAs after adjusting for important covariates. Pregnant women who ate more cereal, vegetables, mushrooms and alga tended to have lower levels of serum PFOA, PFOS and PFNA. The Hazard index (HI) for reproductive toxicity and developmental toxicity was below 0.8, and the HI for hepatotoxicity beyond 1 was found in 0.37% of pregnant women. These results suggested that age, BMI, and some food consumption were predictors for the exposure to PFAAs in Chinese pregnant women. More attention should be paid to the hepatotoxicity for these exposures.

Identifying the pattern of unhealthy dietary habits among an Iranian population: A latent class analysis

Background: An unhealthy diet is one of the most important risk factors for chronic diseases. The goal of this study was to use the latent class analysis (LCA) modeling to define unhealthy diet habits among an Iranian population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted within the framework of Amol (North of Iran) cohort health study (Phase 1). The participants aged 10 to 90 years. All participants provided written informed consent. Latent class analysis was used to classify the participants of the study. All analyses were conducted by PROC LCA in SAS 9.2 software. Significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The mean age of the participants was 42.58±17.23 years. Four classes of individuals with different diet habits were identified using LCA modeling: class 1: individuals with healthy diet patterns (92.6%); class 2: individuals with slightly unhealthy diet habits (6.3%); class 3: individuals with relatively unhealthy diet habits (0.8%); and class 4: individuals with unhealthy diet habits (0.2%). Being female and alcohol consumption increased the odds of membership in latent classes 2,3, and 4 compared to class 1. Physical activity decreased the odds of membership in classes 3 and 4 compared to class 1. Conclusion: Overall, almost more than 7.4% of all participants had some degree of unhealthy dietary habits, and some variables acted as risk factors for membership in risky classes. Therefore, focusing on these variables may help design and execute effective preventive interventions in groups with unhealthy dietary habits.

Inuit Country Food Diet Pattern Is Associated with Lower Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

BACKGROUND

Inuit have experienced a rapid transition in diet and lifestyle over the past several decades, paralleled by the emergence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

OBJECTIVE

To identify contemporary dietary patterns among Inuit and investigate their association with cardiovascular disease outcomes.

DESIGN

This was an association study in a cross-sectional population health and nutrition survey.

PARTICIPANTS

The participants included 1,570 adults (aged ≥18 years) from Nunavut in the International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey 2007-2008 who completed diet/health questionnaires and provided blood samples.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Outcomes measured included the prevalence of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED

Principal component analysis was used to derive dietary patterns based on the consumption of nine market food groups and four country food groups reported in 24-hour dietary recalls. The associations between cardiovascular outcomes and identified dietary patterns were examined with logistic regression.

RESULTS

Three dietary patterns were identified: market food, country food-fat, and country food-fish. The market food diet, characterized by high consumption of market-bought meat, cereals, vegetables, and added oil, was associated with elevated prevalence of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 1.44, 95% CI 0.82 to 2.51; OR 2.27, 95% CI 0.88 to 5.83; and OR 1.36, 95% CI 0.88 to 2.09). The country food-fish diet, characterized by high fish consumption and low sugar and sweets intake, was inversely associated with the prevalence of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and hyperlipidemia (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.37; OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.18 to 1.20; OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.07 to 2.13; and OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.22). The country food-fat diet, characterized by high marine mammal and added fat intake, was positively associated with the prevalence of coronary heart disease.

CONCLUSIONS

A diet featuring high food variety, high fish intake, and low sugar intake was negatively associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular outcomes among Inuit.

Muscular fitness, adherence to the Southern European Atlantic Diet and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Muscular fitness and an adherence to the Southern European Atlantic Diet (SEADiet) have been inversely associated with cardiometabolic risk. Our aim was to assess the independent and combined associations of muscular fitness and adherence to the SEADiet on cardiometabolic risk in adolescents.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 467 Portuguese adolescents (275 girls) participated in this cross-sectional study. Sum of the Z-Scores of Curl-Up and Push-Up tests was used to create a muscular fitness score. Adherence to SEADiet was obtained using a food frequency questionnaire. A cardiometabolic risk score was computed from sum of Z-score of triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol/HDL ratio, HOMA-IR and waist circumference. Adolescents with low muscular fitness and low adherence to the SEADiet had the poorest cardiovascular profile F_(5, 452) = 5.074 (p < 0.001) and the highest odds of having a high cardiometabolic risk score (OR = 4.5; 95% CI: 2.1-14) when compared to those with High muscular fitness/High adherence to the SEADiet after adjustments for age, sex, pubertal stage, socioeconomic status, total energy intake, low-energy reporter and cardiorespiratory fitness.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings seem suggest that improving muscular fitness as well as an adherence to the SEADiet could be an important strategy to reduce clustered cardiometabolic risk in youth.

Association Between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Asthma in Peruvian Children

PURPOSE

Adherence to a Mediterranean diet pattern may be associated with lower asthma prevalence in children. We sought to corroborate these findings in Peruvian children.

METHODS

This case-control study included children of ages 9-19 years living in Lima, Peru. A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was completed and diet pattern was analyzed using a modified Mediterranean diet score (MDS). Primary analysis investigated the relationship between MDS and asthma status. Maternal education, age, sex, and body mass index category were included in multivariate model. Secondary outcomes included asthma control, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), allergic rhinitis, and atopic status.

RESULTS

287 participants with asthma and 96 controls without asthma completed a FFQ. Mean age was 13.5 years. According to the asthma control test (ACT), 86 % of those with asthma were controlled (score >19). MDS scores ranged 6-18 (median 15). In adjusted analysis, being above the median MDS scores was associated with decreased odds of asthma [OR = 0.55, 95 % CI (0.33, 0.92), p = 0.02]. Among children whose mothers completed secondary education, being above the median MDS significantly decreased the odds of asthma [OR = 0.31, 95 % CI (0.14, 0.71), p < 0.01], whereas among those whose mothers did not complete secondary education there was no protective effect [OR = 0.86, 95 % CI (0.43, 1.7), p = 0.66]. There was no association between MDS scores and asthma control, FEV1, allergic rhinitis, or atopic status.

CONCLUSION

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was inversely associated with having asthma among children in Lima, Peru. This effect was strongest among children with better educated mothers.

Dietary pattern and antioxidants in plasma and erythrocyte in patients with mild cognitive impairment from China

OBJECTIVES

Oxidative stress and unhealthy dietary patterns are might correlate with the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients to develop Alzheimer's disease. We explored the association between dietary pattern, plasma and erythrocyte antioxidants levels, and cognitive function in the older Chinese adults.

METHODS

The present study is a case-control study. A total of 138 MCI patients and 138 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (aged from 55 to 75) were recruited. A food frequency questionnaire method was used for the dietary survey. Peripheral blood and morning spot urine were sampled for parameters detection. Cognitive function of the old subjects was measured by using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test. Antioxidant parameters in plasma, erythrocyte, and urine samples were measured by using the assay kits. Plasma retinol, α-tocopherol, and flavonoids contents were detected by using high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography mass spectrometer methods respectively.

RESULTS

The MCI patients had lower plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than control subjects (P < 0.01). MCI patients consumed less fish and more red meat daily than the controls (P < 0.05). Comparing with controls, lower plasma total antioxidant capacity, α-tocopherol, and higher level of malondialdehyde were detected in the MCI patients (P < 0.05). No significant difference of plasma flavonoids concentration, erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities, and urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine content was detected among the MCI and control subjects (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower plasma concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total antioxidant capacity, and α-tocopherol levels, and a dietary pattern that is low in fish and high in red meat might contribute to the cognition impairment in older Chinese adults.

A high fat, high cholesterol diet leads to changes in metabolite patterns in pigs--a metabolomic study

Non-targeted metabolite profiling can identify biological markers of dietary exposure that lead to a better understanding of interactions between diet and health. In this study, pigs were used as an animal model to discover changes in metabolic profiles between regular basal and high fat/high cholesterol diets. Extracts of plasma, fecal and urine samples from pigs fed high fat or basal regular diets for 11 weeks were analysed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) and chemometric analysis. Cloud plots from XCMS online were used for class separation of the most discriminatory metabolites. The major metabolites contributing to the discrimination were identified as bile acids (BAs), lipid metabolites, fatty acids, amino acids and phosphatidic acid (PAs), phosphatidylglycerol (PGs), glycerophospholipids (PI), phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and tripeptides. These results suggest the developed approach can be used to identify biomarkers associated with specific feeding diets and possible metabolic disorders related to diet.

Inflammatory dietary pattern and risk of depression among women

BACKGROUND

Inflammation is considered as a mechanism leading to depression, but the association between inflammatory dietary pattern and depression risk is unknown.

METHODS

Using reduced-rank regression, we identified a dietary pattern that was related to plasma levels of inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α receptor 2), and we conducted a prospective analysis of the relationship of this pattern and depression risk among participants in the Nurses' Health Study. A total of 43,685 women (aged 50-77) without depression at baseline (1996) were included and followed up until 2008. Diet information was obtained from food frequency questionnaires completed between 1984 through 2002 and computed as cumulative average of dietary intakes with a 2-year latency applied. We used a strict definition of depression that required both self-reported physician-diagnosed depression and use of antidepressants, and a broader definition that included women who reported either clinical diagnosis or antidepressant use.

RESULTS

During the 12-year follow-up, we documented 2594 incident cases of depression using the stricter definition and 6446 using the broader definition. After adjustment for body mass index and other potential confounders, relative risks comparing extreme quintiles of the inflammatory dietary pattern were 1.41 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22, 1.63; P-trend<.001) for the strict definition and 1.29 (95% CI, 1.18, 1.41; P-trend<.001) for the broader definition of depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The inflammatory dietary pattern is associated with a higher depression risk. This finding suggests that chronic inflammation may underlie the association between diet and depression.