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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 October 2024) | Viewed by 12795

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Andreu Farran-Codina

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Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Gastronomy, INSA-UB, XIA, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Food and Nutrition Torribera Campus, University of Barcelona, Av. Prat de la Riba, 171, E-08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: food composition tables/databases; community nutrition; social environment; feeding behavior; geographic information systems; dietary assessment methods; sports nutrition

Dr. Mireia Urpi-Sarda

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Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Gastronomy, INSA-UB, XIA, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Food and Nutrition Torribera Campus, University of Barcelona, Av. Prat de la Riba, 171, E-08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: nutrimetabolomics; biomarkers; food metabolome databases; food metabolome; metabotypes; Mediterranean diet; dietary patterns; intervariability; cardiovascular diseases; age-related diseases; intestinal microbiota
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Almost from the very beginnings of nutrition science, databases (in printed or electronic format) have been a fundamental tool in nutrition research, and in the evaluation and dietary planning of individuals and populations. This includes a wide range of databases, such as food composition databases, descriptor databases for use in standardized and structured languages to describe foods, food allergen databases, food intake databases, and even databases for decision-making in food safety and nutrition policies. The importance of databases has increased in recent decades due to the development of computing and big data analysis. Taking advantage of these advances, omics disciplines such as genomics or metabolomics have emerged, which also have their application in the field of nutrition and require specialized databases. Developments in fields such as semantic Web or artificial intelligence are likely to further increase the importance of high-quality and comprehensive databases. As examples, databases of metabolites detected in the human organism from dietary components, databases of descriptors used in ontologies (well-defined vocabularies with terms connected by logical relationships) and databases of recipes used in computational gastronomy have recently been developed.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a broad overview of the applications of databases in nutrition, their development methodologies, as well as the quality requirements they must meet.

Prof. Dr. Andreu Farran-Codina
Dr. Mireia Urpi-Sarda
Guest Editors

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Keywords

databases
food composition data
omics sciences
public health
computing
nutrition
ontologies
artificial intelligence
big data

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 2842 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tailoring the Nutritional Composition of Italian Foods to the US Nutrition5k Dataset for Food Image Recognition: Challenges and a Comparative Analysis

by Rachele Bianco, Michela Marinoni, Sergio Coluccia, Giulia Carioni, Federica Fiori, Patrizia Gnagnarella, Valeria Edefonti and Maria Parpinel

Nutrients 2024, 16(19), 3339; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193339 - 1 Oct 2024

Viewed by 768

Abstract

Background: Training of machine learning algorithms on dish images collected in other countries requires possible sources of systematic discrepancies, including country-specific food composition databases (FCDBs), to be tackled. The US Nutrition5k project provides for ~5000 dish images and related dish- and ingredient-level information on mass, energy, and macronutrients from the US FCDB. The aim of this study is to (1) identify challenges/solutions in linking the nutritional composition of Italian foods with food images from Nutrition5k and (2) assess potential differences in nutrient content estimated across the Italian and US FCDBs and their determinants. Methods: After food matching, expert data curation, and handling of missing values, dish-level ingredients from Nutrition5k were integrated with the Italian-FCDB-specific nutritional composition (86 components); dish-specific nutrient content was calculated by summing the corresponding ingredient-specific nutritional values. Measures of agreement/difference were calculated between Italian- and US-FCDB-specific content of energy and macronutrients. Potential determinants of identified differences were investigated with multiple robust regression models. Results: Dishes showed a median mass of 145 g and included three ingredients in median. Energy, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates showed moderate-to-strong agreement between Italian- and US-FCDB-specific content; carbohydrates showed the worst performance, with the Italian FCDB providing smaller median values (median raw difference between the Italian and US FCDBs: −2.10 g). Regression models on dishes suggested a role for mass, number of ingredients, and presence of recreated recipes, alone or jointly with differential use of raw/cooked ingredients across the two FCDBs. Conclusions: In the era of machine learning approaches for food image recognition, manual data curation in the alignment of FCDBs is worth the effort. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Databases, Nutrition and Human Health)

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12 pages, 2367 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adequate Intake of Dietary Fiber May Relieve the Detrimental Impact of Blood Lead on Dyslipidemia among US Adults: A Study of Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Database

by Bin Li, Fengzhan Zhang, Haoqi Jiang, Chen Wang, Qihong Zhao, Wanshui Yang and Anla Hu

Nutrients 2023, 15(20), 4434; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15204434 - 19 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2104

Abstract

Lead (Pb) exposure is a well-established risk factor for dyslipidemia, and people are exposed to it in multiple ways daily. Dietary fiber is presumed to improve lipid metabolism disorders, but it is still unknown whether it can relieve the detrimental impact of Pb on dyslipidemia. We used publicly accessible data from the 2011–2016 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A total of 2128 US adults were enrolled for the subsequent analysis. Heavy metal concentrations in blood were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A weighted logistic regression was conducted to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The dose–response relationship between blood heavy metals and dyslipidemia was explored using a weighted restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. After fully adjusting for potential confounding factors (age, gender, race, education level, ratio of family income to poverty, marital status, body mass index, physical activity, waist circumference, smoke, alcohol drinking and history of metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and diabetes), a positive association between blood Pb levels and dyslipidemia risk was revealed (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03–1.40). Dietary fiber intake may significantly modify the association between blood Pb levels and dyslipidemia (p-interaction = 0.049), with a stronger association (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05–1.52) being revealed in individuals with an inadequate intake of dietary fiber (<14 g/1000 kcal/day), but a null association (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.72–1.42) being observed in those with an adequate intake of dietary fiber (≥14 g/1000 kcal/day). Moreover, the weighted RCS analysis showed that compared with the average blood Pb exposure level (4.24 µg/dL), a lower blood Pb exposure level (3.08 µg/dL) may contribute to the risk of dyslipidemia in the group with an inadequate dietary fiber intake. Our findings suggest that Pb exposure in blood may be a risk factor for dyslipidemia. However, an adequate dietary fiber intake may offset the risk of dyslipidemia caused by blood Pb exposure. Since avoiding Pb exposure in daily life is difficult, increasing dietary fiber intake in the future might be a promising approach to alleviate dyslipidemia caused by Pb exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Databases, Nutrition and Human Health)

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12 pages, 735 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Qualitative Review of National Nutrition Surveillance Systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

by Ayoub Al Jawaldeh, Ola El Hajj Hassan, Abdul Baseer Qureshi, Ferima Coulibaly Zerbo, Shafekah Alahnoumy, Mahmoud Bozo, Mousa Al-Halaika, Mushary H. Al-Dakheel, Lamya Alhamdan, Sahibzada Azhar Mujib, Laila El Ammari, Hassan Aguenaou, Nawal Alqaoud, Salima Almaamari, Saleh Alshamkhi and Fekri Dureab

Nutrients 2023, 15(17), 3689; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15173689 - 23 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2127

Abstract

The World Food Conference in 1974 emphasized the significance of establishing global nutrition surveillance to monitor and address nutritional challenges effectively. However, many countries, especially in the EMRO region, continue to encounter substantial difficulties in regularly generating disaggregated data on nutrition. The current study aimed to review the existing nutrition surveillance systems in the region and to identify their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the challenges they face in functioning optimally. Methods: This study focused on the functional nutrition surveillance systems in eight Arab countries; namely Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The study’s analysis involved utilizing primary data collected from both published and unpublished reports. Additionally, a structured checklist was employed to gather information from all countries involved in the study. Furthermore, interviews were conducted with the EMRO offices to gain deeper insights into the challenges, if any, that these nutrition surveillance systems face in functioning optimally. Results: All countries use health facilities as a basic source of data for their nutrition surveillance, some countries triangulate their nutrition surveillance reports with data from other sources of information such as community or school surveys. Identified nutrition surveillance approaches are closely split between those who operate in stable settings and use routine health information systems (Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait) and other countries that operate in fragile settings; for example, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan struggle to provide early warning reports for rapid nutritional responses. Conclusions: Nutrition surveillance systems that utilize existing health information systems are the most sustained in the EMRO region. However, by integrating data from multiple sources, such as health facilities, surveys, and population censuses, countries can provide a holistic view of the nutritional situation, enhance their response to any emergency, and can leverage the infrastructure and resources already in place for health data collection and reporting. Collaboration between countries in the region through sharing experiences and success stories is important in order to reach a standardized system that can be implemented in different settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Databases, Nutrition and Human Health)

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19 pages, 352 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Special Low-Protein Foods Consumption in the Dietary Pattern and Biochemical Profile of Patients with Inborn Errors of Protein Metabolism: Application of a Database of Special Low-Protein Foods

by Dolores Garcia-Arenas, Blanca Barrau-Martinez, Arnau Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Rafael Llorach, Jaume Campistol-Plana, Angeles García-Cazorla, Aida Ormazabal and Mireia Urpi-Sarda

Nutrients 2023, 15(15), 3475; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15153475 - 6 Aug 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2029

Abstract

In inborn errors of intermediate protein metabolism (IEM), the effect of special low-protein foods (SLPFs) on dietary intake has been scarcely studied. The aim of this study was to compare the nutritional profile of SLPFs with usual foods and to assess whether their intake determines the dietary pattern and affects the plasma biochemical profile in children with IEMs with different protein restrictions. A database with the nutritional composition of 250 SLPFs was created. A total of 59 children with IEMs were included in this cross-sectional observational study. The greatest significant differences in macronutrient composition were observed between dairy, meat, fish, and egg SLPFs and regular foods. After stratifying subjects by SLPFs, the participants with the highest intake (>32%) had a higher total energy intake and lower intake of natural protein than those in the lowest tertile (<24%) (p < 0.05). However, when stratifying subjects by dairy SLPF intake, children in the highest tertile (>5%) showed a higher intake of sugars, total and saturated fats, and higher plasma levels of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol than those in the first tertile (<1%) (p < 0.05). The variability in the nutritional composition of SLPFs highlights the need for up-to-date databases which would greatly assist in optimizing individualized recommendations for children with IEMs and protein restrictions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Databases, Nutrition and Human Health)

12 pages, 325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between CLOCK Gene Polymorphisms and Insomnia Risk According to Food Groups: A KoGES Longitudinal Study

by Sunghee Lee

Nutrients 2023, 15(10), 2300; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15102300 - 13 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1728

Abstract

Food intake could mitigate or exacerbate the risk for insomnia associated with the CLOCK gene. This study investigated the associations between the clock circadian regulator (CLOCK) polymorphisms rs12649507 and rs4580704 and the risk of insomnia, as well as its interactions with food groups. Among 1430 adults, new insomnia cases were identified between 2005 and 2012. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped, and dietary intake was assessed. Next, Cox proportional hazard models were established. The fruit and meat groups significantly mitigated the risk of insomnia associated with rs12649507 among males (p_interaction = 0.006 in a recessive model; p = 0.010 in a dominant model). In contrast, among females the beverage group significantly increased the risk of insomnia (p = 0.041 in a dominant model). As for rs4580704, among males the fruit and meat groups modified the risk of insomnia (p = 0.006 in a recessive model; p = 0.001 in a dominant model). However, among females, the beverage group exacerbated the risk of insomnia associated with rs4580704 (p = 0.004 in a dominant model). In this longitudinal study, we observed a significantly modified insomnia risk associated with the CLOCK gene depending on food groups. Notably, in a general population the risks were modified according to both the fruit and meat intake among 775 males but exacerbated with beverage intake among 655 females. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Databases, Nutrition and Human Health)

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Review

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15 pages, 1242 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Forty Systematic Reviews of Foods with Function Claims (FFC) in Japan: Quality Assessment Using AMSTAR 2

by Hiroharu Kamioka, Hideki Origasa, Kiichiro Tsutani, Jun Kitayuguchi, Takahiro Yoshizaki, Mikiko Shimada, Yasuyo Wada and Hiromi Takano-Ohmuro

Nutrients 2023, 15(9), 2047; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092047 - 24 Apr 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2675

Abstract

Background: The Foods with Function Claims (FFC) was introduced in Japan in April 2015 to make more products available that are labeled with health functions. The products’ functionality of function claims must be explained by scientific evidence presented in systematic reviews (SRs), but the quality of recent SRs is unclear. This study assessed the quality of SRs in the FFC registered on the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) website in Japan. Methods: We searched the database from 1 April to 31 October 2022. Confidence in the methodological quality of each SR was evaluated by the AMSTAR 2 checklist. Results: Forty SRs were randomly extracted on the basis of the eligibility criteria and recruitment procedures. Overall confidence was rated as “high” (N = 0, 0%), “moderate” (N = 0, 0%), “low” (N = 2, 5%), or “critically low” (N = 38, 95%). The mean AMSTAR 2 score was 51.1% (SD 12.1%; range 19–73%). Among the 40 SRs, the number of critical domain deficiencies was 4 in 7.5% of SRs, 3 in 52.5% of SRs, 2 in 35% of SRs, and 1 in 5% of SRs. Registering the review’s protocol and comprehensive search strategies were particularly common deficiencies. Additionally, the risk of bias (RoB) was insufficiently considered. Conclusion: Overall, the methodological quality of the SRs based on the FFC, introduced eight years earlier, was very poor. This was especially true in the interpretation and discussion of critical domains, which had many deficiencies in terms of protocol registration, a comprehensive literature search strategy, and accounting for the RoB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Databases, Nutrition and Human Health)

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