Risk assessment of exposure to pesticides through dietary intake of vegetables typical of the Mediterranean diet in the Basque Country

This study examined estimated dietary exposure among the Basque Country Autonomous Community (northern Spain) to pesticides resulting from dietary intake of unprocessed vegetables. Samples were collected according to a sampling plan established previously, which was performed taking into account statistical factors, such as the population distribution, the point of sale, (local shops or supermarkets), the season and the consumption frequency of each vegetable. A total of 221 samples were analyzed using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS), and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Results showed that 48.0% of the samples contained no pesticide residues, while 52.0% contained pesticides, and 6.8% of all samples showed residues above the maximum residue limit (MRL). As for the pesticides detected, 56 different active substances were detected, including fungicides and insecticides as the main pesticide types. All of the positive samples were collected in local-area shops. The potential risk to the consumers through vegetable intake was estimated by calculating the Hazard Quotient (HQ), showing ranges between 0.001–0.214%. These results indicate that the exposure to pesticides from vegetable intake among Basque consumers did not raise health concerns.     

Levels and daily intake of lead (Pb) and six essential elements in gari samples from Ondo State,Southwest Nigeria: A potential risk factor of health status

Gari, a staple food in most West African countries is a processed product of cassava plant. It supplies about 70% of the daily calorie intake in these countries. In this study, levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) in gari samples that were collected from four major Nigerian cities: Akure, Ondo, Isua and Ore – all located in Ondo State, Southwest, Nigeria were determined. The estimated daily intakes (EDI) of these elements were determined and compared to the recommended dietary intake limits or requirements. The mean concentrations of Pb in gari samples was 0.16 ± 0.09 mg/kg while for essential elements the concentrations were 4.13 ± 0.95, 0.00497 ± 0.00078, 12.98 ± 1.48, 1.01 ± 0.47, 512.6 ± 9.12 and 23.22 ± 2.32 mg/kg for Zn, Mn, Co, Cu, Ca and Fe, respectively. The mean estimated dietary intakes were 0.0333 ± 0.00443, 0.88 ± 0.21, 1.06 ± 0.36, 0.00278 ± 0.00068, 0.22 ± 0.04, 109.7 ± 4.22 and 4.97 ± 1.07 mg/day for Pb, Zn, Mn, Co, Cu, Ca and Fe respectively. The estimated mean Pb dietary intake from gari consumption alone was almost the same as the benchmark dose lower confidence limit (BMDL) for Pb, thus inferring that dietary route is a potential source of Pb contamination for gari consumers in Southwest Nigerian. Also, the data from this study indicated that gari is a good source of some essential elements like Mn, Co, and Cu but not exceptionally rich in Zn, Fe and Ca. It is therefore recommended that gari diets should be complemented with other food substances like beef, vegetables and low fat cheese that are good sources of the deficient elements.     

Acute effects of different dietary polysaccharides added in milk on food intake,postprandial appetite and glycemic responses in healthy young females

In the present study we compared the postprandial glycemic and satiety responses of different dietary polysaccharides when added in milk (2% M.F.). The objective of this study was to evaluate different polysaccharides against postprandial glucose, appetite responses and food intake at subsequent meal. In a repeated measures design, 30 females (18–30 years) consumed 250?ml milk 2% M.F. (control), or milk with carrageenan (2.5?g), guar gum (2.5?g) and alginate (2.5?g), followed by an ad libitum pizza meal after 120?min. Alginate and guar gum addition resulted in lower caloric intake at subsequent pizza meal. The post-treatment (0–120?min) glucose and average appetite were suppressed by alginate and guar gum (p?p?相似文献   

The impact of a population-level school food and nutrition policy on dietary intake and body weights of Canadian children

Objective

The objective of this study is to assess population-level trends in children's dietary intake and weight status before and after the implementation of a provincial school nutrition policy in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada.

Method

Self-reported dietary behavior and nutrient intake and measured body mass index were collected as part of a population-level study with grade 5 students in 2003 (n = 5215) and 2011 (5508), prior to and following implementation of the policy. We applied random effects regression methods to assess the effect of the policy on dietary and health outcomes.

Results

In 2011, students reported consuming more milk products, while there was no difference in mean consumption of vegetables and fruits in adjusted models. Adjusted regression analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Despite significant temporal decreases in dietary energy intake and increases in diet quality, prevalence rates of overweight and obesity continued to increase.

Conclusion

This population-level intervention research suggests a positive influence of school nutrition policies on diet quality, energy intake and healthy beverage consumption, and that more action beyond schools is needed to curb the increases in the prevalence of childhood obesity.     

Assessment of vitamin D and vitamin A intake by female students at the United Arab Emirates University based on self-reported dietary and selected fortified food consumption

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), many adolescent girls and women (especially the UAE citizens) are not adequately exposed to sunlight and their dietary intake of vitamin D is insufficient to fulfill the required recommended daily allowance of the vitamin. In the present study, the problem of vitamin D and vitamin A insufficiency in female students of UAE University was investigated through a dietary intake assessment of the vitamins. Results indicated that over 70% of female students constituting the survey population did not consume enough milk and other vitamin-D-rich foods, and many showed poor food habits. Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among the population studied indicated that 37% of the total population was considered vitamin D insufficient and 40% of the female students residing in the hostels also had vitamin D insufficiency ( < 5 μg/day) based on self-reported dietary and selected fortified food consumption.     

An ultra-sensitive analytical platform based on bluish green emitting carbon quantum dots for the detection of curcumin in dietary foods

This work reports the development of a new analytical method for the rapid detection of curcumin in food samples by using bluish green emissive fluorescence carbon quantum dots (BG-CQDs) as nanoprobe. The sensing mechanism behind the detection work is the quenching effect of curcumin on the fluorescence intensity of BG-CQDs, where curcumin and BG-CQDs interact via a combined effect of inner filter effect (IFE) and dynamic interaction process. After optimisation of the experimental parameters, the developed analytical method is capable of detecting curcumin with good selectivity and high sensitivity, achieving good linearity in the concentration range of 0.01–25.0 μM. A limit of detection (LOD) of 28.7 nM was obtained, which is lower than that of any of the previously reported CQDs-based fluorescence methods. The developed analytical method was applied to the analyses of food samples with a high degree of accuracy and precision. This work highlights a robust BG-CQDs-based analytical platform of rapid response, low cost, great simplicity, high selectivity and favourable sensitivity, which exhibits immense potential for the accurate monitoring of the curcumin content in dietary food samples.     

Daily intake of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDFs) in foodstuffs consumed in Tarragona, Spain: a review of recent studies (2001-2003) on human PCDD/PCDF exposure through the diet

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) were measured in foodstuffs randomly acquired in various locations of Tarragona County (Catalonia, Spain) in September 2002. A total of 36 composite samples, belonging to various food groups (vegetables, fruits, meat and meat products, fish and seafood, cereals, pulses, milk, dairy products, eggs, and oils and fats) were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. The dietary intake of PCDD/Fs was subsequently determined. For calculations, recent data on consumption of the selected food items were used. Total dietary intake of PCDD/Fs for the general population of Tarragona County was estimated to be 59.6 pg I-TEQ/day (63.8 pg WHO-TEQ/day). Fish and seafood (33.7%), oils and fats (15.3%), cereals (14.4%), and dairy products (13.7%) were the most important contributors to this intake. This PCDD/F intake is notably lower than the intake estimated in 1998 for the same geographical area, 210.1 pg I-TEQ/day. The current PCDD/F dietary intake is below the tolerable intake range of 1-4 pg TEQ/kg body weight/day established by the WHO in 1998. Finally, the current intake is compared with the dietary intakes of PCDD/Fs recently (2001-2003) reported for a number of regions and countries.     

Fluorometric method based on molecular recognition solid-phase extraction for determination of riboflavin in milk and infant formula

Riboflavin (vitamin B₂) is involved in several biological processes, particularly in energy production, and it is acquired from food ingestion, principally from supplemented food during the first years of life. Therefore, a simple, fast and cost-effective high-throughput method for determination of riboflavin in milk and infant formula is proposed, based on selective extraction using commercially available molecularly imprinted polymers targeted to riboflavin, followed by direct fluorometric determination. Several aspects were studied, namely microplate assay conditions, the composition of eluting solution and the stability of riboflavin in the eluate. Hence, elution using 1% (v/v) acetic acid in methanol or in acetonitrile is recommended, followed by immediate analysis or solvent evaporation, with reconstitution and analysis within 24 h. The proposed method provided a LOD of 0.03 mg L⁻¹, with working range for undiluted samples between 0.125 and 2 mg L⁻¹, and sample throughput of 24 h⁻¹. It was successfully applied to certified reference material NIST-1846 and also to commercial milk and infant formula samples.     

Development of a new method for determination of aluminum (Al) in Jordanian foods and drinks: Solid phase extraction and adsorption of Al3+-d-mannitol on carbon nanotubes

In this work, a new method was developed for determination of aluminum (Al) in traditional Jordanian foods (Mansaf, Kofta, Tabboola, Hummous, bread), tea, Arabian coffee and water samples. The method involved solid phase extraction (SPE) of Al³⁺ from the digested samples after complexation with d-mannitol using carbon nanotubes (CNT) as the extractive sorbent. Formation of the Al³⁺-d-mannitol complex was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. Optimization of the SPE method involved sample pH, d-mannitol-to-Al mole ratio, sample loading and elution flow rates, adsorbent mass, eluent concentration and volume. Based on spiked water samples, the characteristics of the method were as follows: the limit of quantification: 23 μg l⁻¹; sensitivity: 0.0036 (mg l⁻¹)⁻¹; %RSD range: 0.4–1.9%; recovery range: 76.0–93.0%. The equilibrium, thermodynamic and kinetic adsorption studies of Al³⁺-d-mannitol on CNT revealed that adsorption was spontaneous, exothermic, preferred, of physical nature; followed second-order rate kinetics; pore diffusion was not the only rate-controlling step; both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms represented the data satisfactorily.     

Gender and age group differences in nutrition intake and dietary quality of Korean adults eating alone: based on Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data, 2013–2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESThis study investigated gender and age differences in nutrient intake and dietary quality of people eating alone.SUBJECTS/METHODSFrom Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2016 data, 2,305 adults aged 20 years and older that ate meals alone were included in this study. Their energy and nutrients intakes, as well as their nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), mean adequacy ratio (MAR), and index of nutritional quality (INQ) were analyzed. Food group consumption pattern, dietary variety score (DVS), dietary diversity score (DDS) were also analyzed. All data were compared among gender and age groups.RESULTSMen consumed more energy and nutrients than women, except for vitamin C, and the NARs showed similar gender differences. The INQs of 4 nutrients (calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and riboflavin) were lower than 1.0 in men, whereas only the calcium INQ was lower than 1.0 in women. Men had a lower DDS (3.6) than women (3.9) (P < 0.001) and had more ‘undesirable’ food group consumption patterns than women (P < 0.001). The intakes of calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C were relatively low in the young-aged group (INQs less than 1.0). In the old-aged group, the MAR level was relatively low, and the INQs of calcium, riboflavin, and niacin were below 1.0. The old-aged group consumed more menu items, but their DVS was the lowest.CONCLUSIONSCompared to women, the dietary quality and food diversity among men were poorer. There were poorer quality and diversity patterns in the young-aged group compared to those of the older groups. An overall low intake of nutrients and the low nutrient density of meals were the main dietary problems among the old-aged group who eat alone. Therefore, men, particularly young- and old-aged, need to be prioritized in nutritional policies directed toward those who eat alone.