bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preschool meals as a source of nutrients for 3–6-year-old Finnish preschoolers
Authors: Nissinen Kaija , Korkalo Liisa , Vepsäläinen Henna , Skaffari Essi , Lehto Reetta , Koivusilta Leena , Roos Eva , Erkkola Maijaliisa 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPreschool meals influence the child's growth, development and learning ability. According to the Finnish National Nutrition Council, preschool meals should cover two thirds of the daily energy requirements if the child attends to a full-time childcare. We investigated the contribution of preschool meals on a weekday's total energy and nutrient intake among Finnish preschoolers. A cross-sectional DAGIS Study was conducted in 2015–2016. Altogether 864 3- to 6-year-old children from 66 preschools participated. Parents and early educators kept 3-day food records for the child. To capture the seasonal variation in the diet, 24% of the families also kept an additional 2-day food record. To assess the nutritional contribution of preschool meals, we selected a sub-sample of children based on the criteria that they ate all three meals (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack) at preschool. This yielded a sub-sample of 557 children, each contributing the data with 1 to 4 full preschool days. Data was analysed using two age groups: 3–4 years (n = 324) and 5–6 years (n = 233). Mean intake of nutrients from different preschool meals and population proportions were calculated. Mean energy intake at preschool was 3.0 ± 0.8 MJ for 3–4-year-olds and 3.5 ± 0.9 MJ for 6–7-year-olds contributing 54% of the total daily energy intake in both age groups. At preschool, lunch was the main single source of energy, protein, and fat. It was also an important source of folate (27% of the total daily intake in the younger and 29 % in the older age group) and of fibre (25% of the total daily intake in both age groups). Most of the added sugar was consumed at home (61% in the younger and 63% in the older age group). Most of the polyunsaturated fatty acid intake occurred at the preschool meals, mostly at lunch. Salt intake at preschool was high (3.2 ± 1.1 g/day and 3.6 ± 1.2 g/day in the younger and older age group, respectively). Cereal products were the main sources of salt at preschool. Preschool meals did not cover two thirds of the daily energy as recommended but preschool food was an important source of fibre, polyunsaturated fatty acids, folate, and vitamin D but also of salt. Salt intake at preschool needs to be tackled by reducing salt in recipes and using low-sodium bread.
Main sources and parental educational level differences in intake of vitamin D in Finnish preschool children
Authors: Skaffari Essi , Korkalo Liisa , Vepsäläinen Henna , Itkonen Suvi , Nissinen Kaija , Adebayo Folasade , Roos Eva , Lamberg-Allardt Christel , Erkkola Maijaliisa 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn Finland the recommendation for the use of vitamin D supplement is a daily supplement throughout the year for all children. It is also recommended that fluid milk products and fat spreads are fortified with vitamin D. The purpose of this study was to provide up-to-date data on children's dietary and supplemental intake of vitamin D. We also examined educational level differences in the intake and sources of vitamin D.A cross-sectional study on the diet in Finnish 3–6-year-old preschool children (the DAGIS Study) was carried out in 2015–2016. Children were recruited in preschools in Southern Finland and in the Southern Ostrobothnia Region (n = 864). The parents reported child's supplement use (brand name, dose, frequency of use) during the last month and their own education level. The highest parental education level (PEL) was used in analysis. Parents and preschool personnel also filled in a 3-day food record for the child. A part of the families also kept an additional 2-day food record, which we sent to capture seasonal variation in the diet. In this analysis we included children (n = 794) with data for supplement use and at least 1-day food record. We calculated dietary intake based on the Fineli food composition database and created a dietary supplement database. We used Kruskal-Wallis test for statistical analysis.Most of the children in all PELs used vitamin D supplements (low 77%, medium 85%, high 85%). Dietary supplements covered almost half of the total intake in all groups (low 42%, medium 48%, high 47%, p = 0,087). The main dietary sources of vitamin D were fortified fluid milk products, fortified fat spreads and fish dishes. A higher proportion of vitamin D was obtained from fish dishes in families with higher PEL (low 4.3%, medium 4.5%, high 6.1%, p = 0.005), but otherwise there were no differences in the proportions of the main sources. The vitamin D intake from diet and supplements was lowest in families with low PEL but the total intake of vitamin D was adequate in all groups (low 18.3, medium 20.7, high 20.7 μg/day, p = 0.001).The use of vitamin D fortified fluid milk products and fat spreads and the vitamin D supplementation seem to ensure adequate vitamin D intake in all children, regardless the level of parental education.
Adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle is inversely associated with insomnia presence and severity: cross-sectional analysis in obstructive sleep apnea patients
Authors: Kechribari Ioanna , Kontogianni Meropi , Georgoulis Michael , Lamprou Kallirroi , Kalogera Antonia , Vagiakis Emmanouil , Yiannakouris Nikos 
Published: June 2020

AbstractInsomnia is the most prevalent sleep disorder and frequently co-occurs with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a chronic disease characterized by repetitive pauses of breathing during sleep due to obstructions of the upper airways. The link between lifestyle and sleep quantity and quality is an area of intensive research, however data exploring associations between lifestyle habits and insomnia symptoms are still scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential association between the level of adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle (ML), a healthy lifestyle pattern incorporating the prudent Mediterranean diet, adequate physical activity and healthy sleep habits, and insomnia presence and severity. The study sample consisted of 243 adult patients with polysomnography-diagnosed OSA. Participants’ insomnia-related disorders were evaluated through the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), an 8-item index ranging from 0 (absence of any sleep-related problem) to 24 (severe degree of insomnia); AIS values of > 6 were used to establish the diagnosis of insomnia. All patients were evaluated with regard to anthropometric indices and lifestyle habits, and adherence to the ML was estimated through the MEDLIFE index, a 28-item index ranging from 0 to 28, with higher values indicating greater proximity to the healthy lifestyle of the Mediterranean region. An inverse correlation was observed between the MEDLIFE index and total AIS (rho = -0.22, p = 0.001), as well as most individual components of AIS, including difficulty in sleep induction (rho = -0.14, p = 0.03), awakenings during the night (rho = -0.2, p = 0.008), short sleep duration (rho = -0.16, p = 0.01), low quality of sleep (rho = -0.13, p = 0.05), low well-being during the day (rho = -0.16, p = 0.02), and low functioning capacity during the day (rho = -0.15, p = 0.02). Patients with insomnia (AIS > 6), compared to those without (AIS ≤ 6), exhibited lower MEDLIFE index values [13 (11–15) vs. 14 (12–15), P = 0.002], had more severe OSA as assessed by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) [55 (24–87) vs. 35 (17–57) events/hour, P < 0.001] and tended to have higher body mass index (BMI) [35.0 (30.6–39.7) vs. 32.4 (29.5–38.6) kg/m2, P = 0.06]. According to logistic regression analysis, MEDLIFE index was inversely associated with the presence of insomnia (OR: 0.89, 95%CI: 0.80–0.99, P = 0.04) after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, BMI, daily energy intake and AHI. In conclusion, a higher adherence to the ML is inversely associated with insomnia presence and severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Future research should assess whether this association applies in other samples, as well as whether the ML could be an efficient therapeutic tool alleviating or treating insomnia symptoms.
Associations between the home environment and children's fruit, vegetable and confectionary/sugary drink intakes
Authors: Bassul Carolina , Corish Clare A. , Kearney John M 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe home environment is acknowledged as an important setting that can shape dietary habits in early childhood. For instance, parents influence their children's dietary intakes through the foods they make available to their children, their own eating habits and their parenting practices. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the associations between home environmental characteristics and children's fruit, vegetable and confectionary/sugary drink intakes. A total of 332 children aged 3–5 years old and their parents/guardians participated in the study. Home environmental characteristics, including mealtimes, child television viewing, parental control feeding practices, food availability and accessibility, were explored using questions from validated questionnaires. Parent and child food consumption was also measured. The data were analysed using bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression. Independent variables (home environment and parental diet) were included in the multivariate analysis if they were significant in the bivariate analysis. An association between household income and children's fruit intake was observed with children from lower income households being 54% less likely to eat fruit daily (95% CI 0.22–0.96, p < 0.040) compared with those from higher income households. Home food availability also influenced children's fruit intake. Greater variety of fruits available in the home increased the likelihood of fruit consumption in children (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.09–1.68, p < 0.005). Watching television for ≥ 1 hour per day had a negative impact on children's diets, decreasing their probability of eating vegetables on a daily basis (OR 0.38 95% Cl 0.22–0.72, p < 0.003) and increasing by 2.7 times their likelihood of consuming confectionary/sugary drink more than once a week (95% CI 1.11–6.36, p < 0.027). Those children whose parents had lower vegetable consumption and higher confectionary intake were 59% less likely to eat vegetables, and 4.42 times more likely to consume confectionary/sugary drinks (OR 0.41, 95%Cl 0.21–0.82, p < 0.012) and (OR 4.42, 95% CI 1.69–11.59, p < 0.002) respectively. Pressure to eat from parents was associated with lower fruit intake only (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47–0.96, p < 0.032). This study has demonstrated that modifiable home environmental characteristics were significantly associated with decreased fruit and vegetable intake and increased confectionary/sugary drink consumption among children aged 3–5 years. These findings may help in the development of intervention strategies to encourage a healthier diet for this age group.
Policy driven improvement of the school food environment for the Bulgarian first-graders in the period 2008–2016
Authors: Duleva Vesselka , Chikova-Ischener Ekaterina , Rangelova Lalka , Dimitrov Plamen 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntroduction:The disbalanced school food environment may be a significant factor contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic observed in the last decades worldwide and in Bulgaria. Policy measures targeting to improve the food and beverage availability at the school premises, to include nutrition education in the school curriculum and to implement initiatives aiming to promote a healthy lifestyle among children and their families, all have the potential to help lowering the prevalence of childhood obesity and improve the well-being and health of the children.The aim of the present study is to assess the policy driven improvement of the school food environment for the Bulgarian first-graders within the period 2008–2016.Materials and methods:Three cross-sectional studies among 7-year-old schoolchildren in Bulgaria were carried out on nationally representative samples of about 3500 children selected from the same sample of primary schools in the years 2008, 2013 and 2016 as part of the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). The present study is based on the data collected through questionnaire on the school environment characteristics.Results:Within the nationally representative sample of schools from 2008 to 2016 there is decrease in the percentage of schools with availability at their premises of salty snacks (from 73.7% to 32.3%), sweet snacks (from 76.5% to 49.7%), cold drinks with sugar (from 68.2% to 10.1%) and fruit juices with sugar (from 69.3% to 8.7%), paralleled by increase in the proportion of schools offering vegetables (from 17.9% to 59.8%) and fresh fruits (from 36.9% to 87.4%). Most of the schools have nutrition education as a separate class or included in the curriculum (92.4% of the schools in 2008 and 91.5% in 2016). There is marked increase in the proportion of schools that have initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles (from 42.4% in 2008 to 68.3% in 2016).Discussion:The legislative and policy measures initiated within the period 2008–2016 have led to significant improvement in the profile of foods and drinks available at the school premises, as well as higher involvement of the schools in initiatives promoting healthy lifestyles. These positive changes in the school food environment have probably important role for the trend for plateauing in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 7-year-old schoolchildren observed within the same study.
Health-Beneficial Properties of Black Sea Shellfish for the Bulgarian Consumers
Authors: Merdzhanova Albena , Panayotova Veselina , Dobreva Diana , Bratoeva Kameliya , Makedonski Lubomir 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMarine shellfish is considered high-protein, low-fat and low-saturated-fat food, yet providing significant amounts of essential lipids such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), phospholipids, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D3 and E) and carotenoids. These nutrients exhibit a variety of beneficial effects on human health, therefore the increased intake of marine shellfish could contribute significantly to a diverse and nutritious diet. One of the most consumed Black Sea shellfish species in Bulgaria is the black mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis). The aim of the present study was to assess health-beneficial properties of Black Sea mussels based on their nutritional lipid composition.Total lipids (TL) were extracted according to Bligh & Dyer. Lipid classes were separated by column and thin layer chromatography. Fatty acid composition was determined by GC/MS system and sterol – by GC/FID. Fat-soluble vitamins and carotenoids were analyzed simultaneously using RP-HPLC system.Mytilus galloprovincialis were characterized by low lipid content: 1.8 ± 0.08 g.100g-1 ww, more than 50% representing polar lipids. Sterols were minor components (6.2% of TL fraction). Fatty acid (FA) composition showed similar distribution: polyunsaturated > monounsaturated > saturated FA in TL, neutral lipids (NL) and polar lipids (PL) classes. Sum of omega-3 (n-3) PUFA was from 47.1% in TL, 49.2% in NL and 62.5% in PL. Ratio n-6/n-3 was 0.2. Analyzed mussels contained EPA + DHA 0.360 g.100g-1 ww. Sterol fraction consisted mainly of cholesterol (36.3%) and brassicasterol (22.9%). Fat-soluble vitamins contents were: 50.1 ± 2.01μg.100g-1 ww (vitamin A), 7.3 ± 0.2μg.100g-1 ww (vitamin D3) and 4500 ± 140μg.100g-1 ww (vitamin E); and carotenoids: 40.1 ± 1.9μg.100g-1 ww (astaxanthin), 490 ± 5.2μg.100g-1 ww (β-carotene).Strong correlation between seafood consumption and various obesity-related disorders can suggest the unique potential of seafood, such as shellfish for supplementation nutrients deficiencies. Recent studies suggest that seafood consumption in Bulgaria is low, increasing the concern of nutrient deficiency, especially PUFA, phospholipids and vitamin D3. This study presented that although Black Sea shellfish is low in TL content, it is a very good source of PL bonded n-3 PUFA (> 140% of RDI), vitamin D3 (> 50% of RDI) and other essential lipid antioxidants (astaxanthin). The PUFA/SFA (1.4) and n-6/n-3 (0.2) showed the good nutritional quality of Black Sea Mytilus galloprovincialis tissue. Black Sea shellfish lipids are rich in molecules with health-beneficial properties and high potential for developing functional foods and dietary supplements. Increased intake of shellfish should be encouraged to provide essential nutrients to avoid nutritional deficiencies in Bulgarian population.
The association between preconception fruit and vegetable intake in relation to in-vitro fertilization treatment outcome among women attempting fertility
Authors: Karayiannis Dimitrios , Kontogianni Meropi , Mastrominas Minas , Yiannakouris Nikos 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntroductionAdequate intake of fruits and vegetables (F&V) has been long promoted as a public health priority based on the evidence supporting various health benefits attributed to these food groups. Their effects on reproductive outcomes, however, remain poorly explored. F&V intake has been positively associated with embryo quality in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) but there is lack of data regarding potential associations with IVF final outcomes (clinical pregnancy and live birth). Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate habitual F&V intake in relation to clinical pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing infertility treatment.Materials and MethodsNulliparous non-obese women [n = 244, 22–41 years old, body mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2] undergoing their first IVF cycle were recruited from an Assisted Conception Unit in Athens, Greece, between November 2013 and September 2016. Habitual F&V intake was estimated via a validated for the Greek population semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire and expressed in servings/day. Intermediate outcomes (i.e. oocyte yield and embryo quality measures) and clinical endpoints (implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth) were prospectively recorded. Generalized linear models adjusting for age, ovarian stimulation protocol, BMI, physical activity, anxiety levels, infertility diagnosis, caloric intake and supplements use were used to test associations between F&V intake and IVF outcomes.ResultsOverall, 229 women (93.9%) had an embryo transfer, 104 (42.6%) achieved a clinical pregnancy and 99 (40.5%) had a live birth. Women with a clinical pregnancy and live birth did not differ in age, BMI, smoking habits, physical activity or stress levels, compared to those who did not achieve pregnancy (all P > 0.05). Compared to women with IVF failure, those achieving clinical pregnancy and live birth reported consuming more fruits (median values: 1.77 vs. 1.49 servings/day and 1.77 vs. 1.41 servings/day, respectively) and more vegetables (1.79 vs. 1.37 servings/day and 1.89 vs. 1.36 servings/day, respectively), all P < 0.05. No significant association between F&V intake and IVF intermediate outcomes was recorded. The multivariable-adjusted relative risk (95% confidence interval) for clinical pregnancy for increasing intake of fruit and vegetable (servings/day, continuous) was 1.23 (1.06–1.44) and 1.25 (1.02–1.57), respectively, and for live birth it was 1.29 (1.10–1.51) and 1.36 (1.10–1.71), respectively.DiscussionHigher pre-treatment F&V was related to higher probability of clinical pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing IVF. These results highlight the importance of dietary influences on fertility and suggest the need for additional research on the effects of F&V intake on reproductive endpoints in women conceiving through infertility treatments.
Associations of Diet and Plasma BCAA Concentrations in Healthy Men and Women – Results from the KarMeN Study
Authors: Merz Benedikt , Rist Manuela , Bub Achim , Watzl Bernhard 
Published: June 2020

AbstractDiet is the only source of the essential branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) isoleucine, leucine and valine. High plasma concentrations of these amino acids are discussed as risk factors for the onset of several diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) or cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Information about the contribution of the overall diet to plasma levels of these amino acids is controversial. Our objective was to investigate which dietary pattern is associated with plasma BCAA concentrations in a healthy population and which other additional nutrients besides isoleucine, leucine and valine, such as other amino acids, may contribute to the diseases risk.The Karlsruhe Metabolomics and Nutrition (KarMeN) study is a cross-sectional study aiming to determine the impact of a number of factors on the human metabolome in healthy men and women aged 18 and 80 years. In our study, fasting plasma amino acid concentrations as well as current and habitual dietary intake were assessed in 298 apparently healthy individuals, 171 men (57.4%) and 127 women (42.6%) with a mean age of 44.5 and 51.6 years, respectively. All reported foods were summarized into 35 food groups. Dietary patterns were derived that explain as much variation as possible in plasma BCAA concentrations using reduced rank regression. The first derived current dietary pattern covering the diet of the past 24 hours, showed 19.2% of explained variance for BCAA plasma concentrations, whereas the first habitual dietary pattern, covering a period of more than 4 weeks, explained 32.5%. For further analysis, we focused on the first derived habitual dietary pattern. This pattern was high in meat, sausages, sauces, eggs, and ice cream but low in nuts, cereals, mushrooms, and pulses. The age, sex, and energy intake adjusted dietary pattern score was associated with an increase in animal-based protein and at the same a decrease in plant-based protein, dietary fibre and an unfavorable fatty acid composition. Amino acids alanine, lysine and the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan were positively associated with the dietary pattern score as well. All of these factors were reported to be associated with risk of T2D and CVD.Our data suggest that rather than the dietary intake of BCAA, the overall dietary pattern contributing to high BCAA plasma concentrations may modulate the chronic diseases risk.