Resilience effects for household food expenditure and dietary diversity in rural western China

A more resilient livelihood is increasingly recognized as an efficient way to improve vulnerable households’food security and optimize their dietary decisions.This study quantifies rural household resilience in western China,identifies the three pillars(absorptive capacity,adaptive capacity,and transformative capacity)contribution to resilience,and then establishes the estimated Resilience Capacity Index(RCI)linked with food security and dietary diversity supported by the multiple indicator multiple cause(MIMIC)model.Results show that,despite geographical heterogeneity,the RCI consistently increased from 2015 to 2021.Households with a higher RCI inheriting better capacity to deal with risk and shocks are significantly and positively correlated with increasing food expenditure and diversifying food choices.It can be because resilient households will allocate more money to food expenditure instead of saving for livelihood uncertainty.Thus,policymakers can provide more incentives for rural households to adopt more dynamic and effective risk management strategies.This,in turn,could yield positive spillover effects by preventing human capital loss associated with dietary-related chronic diseases and mortality.

Off-farm employment,agriculture production activities,and household dietary diversity in environmentally and economically vulnerable areas of Asia

Access to off-farm employment has been expected to be a critical approach to ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition,two important targets of achieving Zero Hunger.This study aims to investigate the role of off-farm employment in improving dietary diversity through substitution effect and complementary effect with agricultural production activities and income effect.This study adopts Poisson/Tobit/Probit/OLS regressions and the instrument variable method based on the primary survey data collected among 1,282 households at 12 sites in environmentally and economically vulnerable areas of China,Nepal,Cambodia,Thailand,and Myanmar in 2019.The results show that off-farm employment is positively associated with household dietary diversity and the consumption of flesh meat,fish and other aquatic animals,fruits,and milk and dairy products,which are rich in protein and micronutrients.The results of mechanism analysis show that off-farm employment contributes to household dietary diversity by improving crop diversity,especially for poor households,boosting the probability of livestock raising for households with the middle one-third disposal income,and increasing household income.The positive association between off-farm employment and household dietary diversity is much higher for households with the bottom one-third disposal income,low illiteracy,and from upper-middle income countries.These findings imply that off-farm employment does play a vital role in achieving multiple benefits of poverty alleviation,malnutrition reduction,and agrobiodiversity conservation in environmentally and economically vulnerable areas.However,it may enlarge the gaps in dietary diversity between households with low human capital and from low and lower-middle income countries and those with high human capital and from middle-high countries.

Carbon Emission Effects Driven by Evolution of Chinese Dietary Structure from 1987 to 2020

Exploring carbon emission effects based on the evolution of residents’ dietary structure to achieve the carbon neutrality goal and mitigate climate change is an important task.This study took China as the research object(data excluding Hong Kong,Macao and Taiwan) and used the carbon emission coefficient method to quantitatively measure the food carbon emissions from 1987–2020,then analyzed the carbon emission effects under the evolution of dietary structure.The results showed that during the study period,the Chinese dietary structure gradually changed to a high-carbon consumption pattern.The dietary structure of urban residents developed to a balanced one,while that of rural residents developed to a high-quality one.During the study period,the per capita food carbon emissions and total food consumption of Chinese showed an increasing trend.The per capita food carbon emissions of residents in urban and rural showed an overall upward trend.The total food carbon emissions in urban increased significantly,while that in rural increased first and then decreased.The influence of beef and mutton on carbon emissions is the highest in dietary structure.Compared with the balanced dietary pattern,the food carbon emissions of Chinese residents had not yet reached the peak,but were evolving to a high-carbon consumption pattern.

The impact of Internet access on household dietary quality:Evidence from rural China

Over the past few decades,the Internet has rapidly diffused across China.The spread of the Internet has had a profound economic and social impact on Chinese rural areas.Existing research shows that Internet access significantly impacts agricultural production and improves smallholder farmers’income.Beyond these,the Internet can affect other dimensions of social welfare.However,research about the impact of Internet access on dietary quality in rural China remains scarce.This study utilizes multi-period panel data from Fixed Observation Point in rural China from 2009 to 2015 to estimate the impact of Internet access on dietary quality and food consumption of rural households and conducts a causal analysis.Regression models with time and household fixed effects allow robust estimation while reducing potential issues of unobserved heterogeneity.The estimates show that Internet access has significantly increased rural household dietary quality(measured by the Chinese Diet Balance Index).Further research finds that Internet access has increased the consumption of animal products,such as aquatic and dairy products.We also examine the underlying mechanisms.Internet access improves dietary quality and food consumption mainly through increasing household income and food expenditure.These results encourage the promotion of Internet access as a valuable tool for nutritional improvements,especially in rural areas.

Plant-based dietary patterns and risk of esophageal cancer:A prospective cohort study spanning 17 years

Objective: Plant-based diets have multiple health benefits for cancers;however, little is known about the association between plant-based dietary patterns and esophageal cancer(EC).This study presents an investigation of the prospective associations among three predefined indices of plant-based dietary patterns and the risk of EC.Methods: We performed endoscopic screening for 15,709 participants aged 40-69 years from two high-risk areas of China from January 2005 to December 2009 and followed the cohort until December 31, 2022. The overall plant-based diet index(PDI), healthful plant-based diet index(h PDI), and unhealthful plant-based diet index(u PDI), were calculated using survey responses to assess dietary patterns. We applied Cox proportional hazard regression to estimate the multivariable hazard ratios(HRs) and 95% confidence intervals(95% CIs) of EC across 3plant-based diet indices and further stratified the analysis by subgroups.Results: The final study sample included 15,184 participants in the cohort. During a follow-up of 219,365person-years, 176 patients with EC were identified. When the highest quartile was compared with the lowest quartile, the pooled multivariable-adjusted HR of EC was 0.50(95% CI, 0.32-0.77) for h PDI. In addition, the HR per 10-point increase in the h PDI score was 0.42(95% CI, 0.27-0.66) for ECs. Conversely, u PDI was positively associated with the risk of EC, and the HR was 1.80(95% CI, 1.16-2.82). The HR per 10-point increase in the u PDI score was 1.90(95% CI, 1.26-2.88) for ECs. The associations between these scores and the risk of EC were consistent in most subgroups. These results remained robust in sensitivity analyses.Conclusions: A healthy plant-based dietary pattern was associated with a reduced risk of EC. Emphasizing the healthiness and quality of plant-based diets may be important for preventing the development of EC.

Comprehensive analysis of advanced glycation end-products in commonly consumed foods:presenting a database for dietary AGEs and associated exposure assessment

Advanced glycation end-products(AGEs)are a group of heterogeneous compounds formed in heatprocessed foods and are proven to be detrimental to human health.Currently,there is no comprehensive database for AGEs in foods that covers the entire range of food categories,which limits the accurate risk assessment of dietary AGEs in human diseases.In this study,we first established an isotope dilution UHPLCQq Q-MS/MS-based method for simultaneous quantification of 10 major AGEs in foods.The contents of these AGEs were detected in 334 foods covering all main groups consumed in Western and Chinese populations.Nε-Carboxymethyllysine,methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone isomers,and glyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone-1 are predominant AGEs found in most foodstuffs.Total amounts of AGEs were high in processed nuts,bakery products,and certain types of cereals and meats(>150 mg/kg),while low in dairy products,vegetables,fruits,and beverages(<40 mg/kg).Assessment of estimated daily intake implied that the contribution of food groups to daily AGE intake varied a lot under different eating patterns,and selection of high-AGE foods leads to up to a 2.7-fold higher intake of AGEs through daily meals.The presented AGE database allows accurate assessment of dietary exposure to these glycotoxins to explore their physiological impacts on human health.

Review on dietary supplements as an effective improvement of Alzheimer's disease:focus on structures and mechanisms

Alzheimer’s disease(AD),the major form of neurodegenerative diseases that can severely impede normal cognitive function,makes it one of the most common fatal diseases.There are currently over 50 million AD patients worldwide.The neuropathology of AD is perplexing and there is a scarcity of disease-modifying treatments.Currently,early diagnosis of AD has been made possible with the discovery of biological markers associated with pathology,providing strong support for the improvement of the disease status.The search for inhibitors of AD markers from dietary supplements(DSs)has become a major hot topic.Especially with the widespread use of DSs,DSs containing polyphenols,alkaloids,terpenes,polysaccharides and other bioactive components can prevent AD by reducing Aβdeposition,inhibiting tau protein hyperphosphorylation,reconstructing synaptic dysfunction,weakening cholinesterase activity,regulating mitochondrial oxidative stress,neuronal inflammation and apoptosis.This review summarizes the anti-AD effects of the main DSs and their bioactive constituents,as well as the potential molecular mechanisms covers from 2017 to 2023.Additionally,we discussed the opportunities and challenges faced by DSs in the process of AD prevention and treatment,aiming to further provide new perspectives for functional food development.

Different effects of 24 dietary intakes on gastroesophageal reflux disease: A mendelian randomization

BACKGROUND In observational studies,dietary intakes are associated with gastroesophageal re-flux disease(GERD).AIM To conduct a two-sample mendelian randomization(MR)analysis to determine whether those associations are causal.METHODS To explore the relationship between dietary intake and the risk of GERD,we extracted appropriate single nucleotide polymorphisms from genome-wide asso-ciation study data on 24 dietary intakes.Three methods were adopted for data analysis:Inverse variance weighting,weighted median methods,and MR-Egger's method.The odds ratio(OR)and 95%confidence interval(CI)were used to eva-luate the causal association between dietary intake and GERD.RESULTS Our univariate Mendelian randomization(UVMR)results showed significant evidence that pork intake(OR,2.83;95%CI:1.76-4.55;P=1.84×10–5),beer intake(OR,2.70,95%CI:2.00-3.64;P=6.54×10–11),non-oily fish intake(OR,2.41;95%CI:1.49-3.91;P=3.59×10–4)have a protective effect on GERD.In addition,dried fruit intake(OR,0.37;95%CI:0.27-0.50;6.27×10–11),red wine intake(OR,0.34;95%CI:0.25-0.47;P=1.90×10-11),cheese intake(OR,0.46;95%CI:0.39-0.55;P=3.73×10-19),bread intake(OR,0.72;95%CI:0.56-0.92;P=0.0009)and cereal intake(OR,0.45;95%CI:0.36-0.57;P=2.07×10-11)were negatively associated with the risk of GERD.There was a suggestive asso-ciation for genetically predicted coffee intake(OR per one SD increase,1.22,95%CI:1.03-1.44;P=0.019).Multi-variate Mendelian randomization further confirmed that dried fruit intake,red wine intake,cheese intake,and cereal intake directly affected GERD.In contrast,the impact of pork intake,beer intake,non-oily fish intake,and bread intake on GERD was partly driven by the common risk factors for GERD.However,after adjusting for all four elements,there was no longer a suggestive association between coffee intake and GERD.CONCLUSION This study provides MR evidence to support the causal relationship between a broad range of dietary intake and GERD,providing new insights for the treatment and prevention of GERD.

Dietary fiber intake and its association with diabetic kidney disease in American adults with diabetes:A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Dietary fiber(DF)intake may have a protective effect against type 2 diabetes(T2D);however,its relationship with diabetic kidney disease(DKD)remains unclear.AIM To investigate the potential association between DF intake and the prevalence of DKD in individuals diagnosed with T2D.METHODS This cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey collected between 2005 and 2018.DF intake was assessed through 24-h dietary recall interviews,and DKD diagnosis in individuals with T2D was based on predefined criteria,including albuminuria,impaired glomerular filtration rate,or a combination of both.Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between DF intake and DKD,and comprehensive subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed.RESULTS Among the 6032 participants,38.4%had DKD.With lower DF intake-T1(≤6.4 g/1000 kcal/day)-as a reference,the adjusted odds ratio for DF and DKD for levels T2(6.5-10.0 g/1000 kcal/day)and T3(≥10.1 g/1000 kcal/day)were 0.97(95%CI:0.84-1.12,P=0.674)and 0.79(95%CI:0.68-0.92,P=0.002),respectively.The subgroup analysis yielded consistent results across various demographic and health-related subgroups,with no statistically significant interactions(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION In United States adults with T2D,increased DF intake may be related to reduced DKD incidence.Further research is required to confirm these findings.

Dietary Green Tea Extract and Antioxidants Improve Insulin Secretory Functions of Pancreatic β-Cells in Mild and Severe Experimental Rodent Model of Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive inflammatory disorder of the pancreas. It is predominantly idiopathic (with an unknown cause) in India and mostly due to alcohol in the West. Diabetes that occur secondary to chronic pancreatitis (T3c Diabetes) is often brittle, and is difficult to attain normoglycemia with conventional treatment requiring multiple doses of insulin. Mild and severe model of CP was induced in mice by repeated intraperitoneal injections of cerulein and L-arginine respectively with an intent to study islet dysfunction and develop therapeutic strategy in animal models of CP. Dietary intervention of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) was tested in both the models of CP for its beneficial effects on insulin secretory functions. Pancreata collected upon euthanasia were used to study alterations in the morphology of pancreatic parenchyma and inflammation by staining with H&E and fibrotic changes by Masson’s trichrome and picrosirius staining. Insulin secretory functions of islets were evaluated to test the efficacy of the dietary intervention on β-cell functions. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test was performed to monitor the glucose homeostasis before and after the dietary intervention. Both the models resulted in CP with dispersed acini, inflammation and fibrosis. The loss of acini and extent of fibrosis was more in L-arginine model. 2-fold improvement in glucose-stimulated insulin secretory functions of islets was observed with 0.5% EGCG dietary intervention in cerulein model of CP and 1.6-fold in L-arginine model of CP. A further improvement in insulin secretion by 3.2-fold was observed with additional dietary supplements like N-acetyl cysteine, curcumin in combination with EGCG. Our results thus demonstrate and highlight the therapeutic potential of dietary green tea (EGCG) supplementation in reversing islet dysfunction and improving glucose homeostasis in experimental chronic pancreatitis in mice.

Irregular dietary habits as a predictor of stunting occurrence among children under 5 years of age:a literature review

Objective:To identify the illustration of feeding patterns of stunting children using literature review method.Methods:This study was a descriptive narrative research using literature review approach to explore dietary habits of children with stunting problem.All the literature review processes employed Guideline Review measurement of Joanna Briggs Institute.Related ar ticles in literature were obtained from journal databases,such as Pub Med,Science Direct,Google Scholar,and Dimensions through structured research question with Patient,Exposure an interest,Outcome or response(PEO)methods.Results:This study found 2246 published ar ticles from 2018 to 2021 about children with stunting.Screening process was conducted fur ther to eliminate ar ticles with irrelevant titles and abstracts,and also the unsuitable ar ticles with the research question;hence,about 9 ar ticles were eligible to be reviewed ahead.All these ar ticles mentioned that children with irregular dietary habits would likely experience stunting.The low intake of nutritional food became the major predictor of stunting.Conclusions:Inappropriate feeding patterns and the variety of food were being the factors of stunting emergence among children<5 years of age.High consumption of carbohydrates,less animal-based protein,and misunderstanding about intake of sweetenedcondensed milk predisposed children to suffer stunting.

Progress of Research on the Effect of Dietary Care on Patients with Gastritis and Gastric Ulcers

Gastritis gastric ulcer is a common disease of the digestive system,which has a serious impact on the quality of life and health of affected individuals.Dietary care is one of the important measures to treat and prevent gastritis gastric ulcers.This paper reviews the research progress on the impact of dietary care on patients with gastritis and gastric ulcers,including dietary behavioral intervention,dietary habit cultivation,dietary hygiene education,and nutritional support.Studies have shown that rational dietary care was able to improve the clinical symptoms of patients,regulate the intestinal microbial community,anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,and other pathways to improve the pathophysiological state of patients with gastritis and gastric ulcer and prevent recurrence.Therefore,dietary care is of great significance to patients with gastritis and gastric ulcers.

Research Progress on the Relationship Between Dietary Inflammation Index and Geriatricrelated Diseases

Along with the acceleration of aging in our country and the increased prioritization on healthy living,the prevention and treatment of senile diseases have become a hot topic.The Dietary Inflammation Index(DII)is a new tool for assessing dietary inflammation.This article reviewed the research processes on the association between DII and age-related diseases such as osteoporosis,cognitive impairment,cardiovascular disease,cancer,and so on.It is expected that DII can provide guidance on the daily diet of older people,prevent and treat age-related diseases,and improve their quality of life.

Fecal DNA metabarcoding reveals the dietary composition of wintering Red-crowned Cranes(Grus japonensis)

Understanding the diet of threatened wildlife is vital for species-specific conservation and habitat management measures.The Red-crowned Crane(Grus japonensis)is a vulnerable bird distributed in Northeast Asia.Previous dietary studies of this bird focused mainly on its plant food composition based on field observations and microhistological identification.Herein,a total of 45 fecal samples were collected in November,December and January(15 fecal samples each month)from wintering cranes,and then subjected to a high throughput sequencing meta-barcoding approach to determine the primary plant(rbcL)and animal(COI)food items in their diet.A total of 230 operational taxonomic units(OTUs)of plant foods and 371 OTUs of animal foods were obtained.The main plant foods in the wintering period were Miscanthus,Zea,and Hordeum genera,which were similar to those in the breeding and the migration periods.Both agricultural and natural plants were detected,indicating a relatively broad dietary niche for this crane species.However,the main animal foods were representatives of Theridiidae,Megascolecidae,and Agelenidae,in sharp contrast to previous studies.The higher number of small terrestrial arthropods in animal foods might be due to the indirect intake of plants.The composition of both plant and animal foods in the diet showed the highest diversity in December,while it was homogeneous in January.The plant of Zea genus became the main source of nutrition in late winter,as supplementary feeding was performed in the reserve,which could help Red-crowned Cranes to get through the cold season.The results obtained in this work would contribute to the development of effective conservation strategies for the Red-crowned Crane.

Dietary adherence and the associated factors among Indonesian patients with type 2 diabetes: what should we be concerned about?

Objective: To identify the level of dietary adherence for particular foods and determine which are challenging for patients with diabetes in Indonesia, as well as the associated factors. Methods: This study was conducted in a primary health care facility, using a cross-sectional design. Diabetic patients who had received dietary education, agreed to par ticipate, and adult age were invited. All patients with type 1, gestational, and other types of diabetes who did not join regular meetings of Prolanis and were repor ted moving or dying were excluded. The data collection used demographic and perceived dietary adherence questionnaires(PDAQs). Moreover, the height, weight, and blood glucose level were recorded. Data were analyzed using Pearson, point biserial correlation, and one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) tests. Results: The respondents were mostly female, married, and non-smoking with a mean age of 60.2 ± 8.48 years. Mean score for dietary adherence was 29.7 ± 8.85 with scores from the specific food groups between 0.72 ± 1.89 and 4.60 ± 2.30. The lower scores of adherence were identified on low-sugar foods, high-fiber foods, fish and foods with high omega-3, and olive/organic oils in cooking. Additionally, people living with diabetes for more than 10 years and not having any comorbidity showed a higher score of dietary adherence. Conclusions: There were 4 groups of foods that had a low score of adherence. Accordingly, health care providers working in primary health care should be concerned about those 4 food groups during diabetes education and counseling. Public health workers should make more effor ts to promote consumption of the healthy diet among patients with diabetes, par ticularly those who have had diabetes for less than 10 years and other comorbidities.

The structural characteristics of dietary fibers from Tremella fuciformis and their hypolipidemic effects in mice

In this study,Tremella fuciformis residues as raw material,dietary fibers from tremella were prepared by multiple enzymes.The structure of dietary fibers from tremella was studied by Fourier transform infrared(FTIR),X-ray diffraction analysis(XRD)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).We analyzed their lipidlowering properties in vitro(water holding,oil holding swelling cholesterol and sodium cholate binding capacitises)and the hypolipidemic effects in mice.The results showed that tremella dietary fibers presented the infrared absorption spectrum characteristics of polysaccharides and the characteristic diffraction peaks of cellulose type I.SEM results indicated that the surface of insoluble dietary fiber(IDF)was porous,while the soluble dietary fiber(SDF)was relatively compact and spongy.IDF exhibited significantly higher water holding,oil holding,and swelling binding capacities than the corresponding SDF.However,SDF exhibited significantly higher viscosity than IDF.The results showed tremella dietary fibers were significant in swelling,water holding and oil holding,cholesterol and bile acids.In vivo experiment results in mice indicated that SDF has the best effect on hyperlipidemia mice than IDF and total dietary fiber(TDF).SDF showed that the total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG)and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)contents dropped by 28.33%,18.65%,and 48.97%,respectively,while high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)content increased by 43.80%.Compared with the high-fat control(HCM)group,the arteriosclerosis index(AI)and liver index(LI)of the SDF group mice showed significant differences,indicating that SDF has a good auxiliary effect of lowering blood lipids.The administration of tremella fibers improved the lipid metabolism disorderly situation of hyperlipidemia mice.These results provide a reference for further research and rational development of T.fuciformis.

Dietary fibers with low hydration properties exacerbate diarrhea and impair intestinal health and nutrient digestibility in weaned piglets

Background:This study aimed to investigate the hydration properties of different-source fibrous materials by com-paring their water-binding capacity(WBC),water swelling capacity(WSC),viscosity,and in vivo effects of selected samples on growth performance,nutrient digestibility,diarrhea,and intestinal health in weaned piglets.Methods:A total of 13 commercially available fibrous materials were first compared in chemical composition and in vitro hydration property.Subsequently,40 weaned piglets were randomized to five experimental dietary groups(8 piglets per group):control diet(a basal diet without dietary fiber,CON),basal diet supplemented with 5%microcrys-talline cellulose(MCC),5%wheat bran(WB),5%Moringa oleifera leaf powder(MOLP),or 5%sugar beet pulp(SBP),fol-lowed by analyzing their growth performance and diarrhea rate in a 28-d experiment.After the feeding experiment,anaesthetized piglets were killed,and their intestinal and colon content or plasma samples were analyzed in nutrient digestibility,intestinal morphology,intestinal barrier,short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs),and bacterial population.Results:In vitro studies showed low hydration properties for WB and MCC,while medium hydration properties for MOLP and SBP.In vivo studies indicated that compared with medium hydration property groups,low hydration prop-erty groups showed(1)exacerbated diarrhea,impaired intestinal health,and reduced apparent fecal digestibility of dry matter,gross energy,acid detergent fiber,and neutral detergent fiber;(2)decreased SCFAs concentration and rela-tive levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium,but increased levels of Escherichia coli and Brachyspira hyodysenteriae in colon contents.Additionally,SBP showed optimal performance in reducing diarrhea and increasing SCFAs produc-tion.Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation of fiber hydration properties with in vitro SCFAs production,and diarrhea index and nutrient digestibility were negatively and positively correlated with SCFAs levels in the colon contents of weaned piglets,respectively.Conclusions:Different-source dietary fibers varied in their hydration properties and impacts on diarrhea,microbial composition and SCFAs production in weaned piglets.WB and MCC could exacerbate diarrhea and impair nutrient digestibility,probably because their low hydration properties were detrimental to gut microbial homeostasis and fermentation.Our findings provide new ideas for rational use of fiber resources in weaned piglets.

Mechanistic associations between dietary patterns and colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a common cancer with high morbidity and mortality rates.Its occurrence and development are determined by many factors,including genetics,the environment,lifestyle,and so on.The occurrence of CRC is often accompanied by changes in the intestinal microenvironment.Numerous studies have focused on the association between dietary patterns,dietary components,and CRC now.This article reviews five different dietary patterns:the Western diet,the Mediterranean diet,the ketogenic diet,the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet,and fasting,and themechanistic associations between their food components and CRC.The finding can provide a reference for further studies on the association between different dietary patterns and CRC and will help clinicians formulate reasonable and feasible dietary interventions.

Dietary fiber during gestation improves lactational feed intake of sows by modulating gut microbiota

Background The feed intake of sows during lactation is often lower than their needs.High-fiber feed is usually used during gestation to increase the voluntary feed intake of sows during lactation.However,the mechanism underlying the effect of bulky diets on the appetites of sows during lactation have not been fully clarified.The current study was conducted to determine whether a high-fiber diet during gestation improves lactational feed intake(LFI)of sows by modulating gut microbiota.Methods We selected an appropriate high-fiber diet during gestation and utilized the fecal microbial transplanta-tion(FMT)method to conduct research on the role of the gut microbiota in feed intake regulation of sows during lactation,as follows:high-fiber(HF)diet during gestation(n=23),low-fiber(LF)diet during gestation(n=23),and low-fiber diet+HF-FMT(LFM)during gestation(n=23).Results Compared with the LF,sows in the HF and LFM groups had a higher LFI,while the sows also had higher peptide tyrosine tyrosine and glucagon-like peptide 1 on d 110 of gestation(G110 d).The litter weight gain of piglets during lactation and weaning weight of piglets from LFM group were higher than LF group.Sows given a HF diet had lower Proteobacteria,especially Escherichia-Shigella,on G110 d and higher Lactobacillus,especially Lactobacil-lus_mucosae_LM1 and Lactobacillus_amylovorus,on d 7 of lactation(L7 d).The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella was reduced by HF-FMT in numerically compared with the LF.In addition,HF and HF-FMT both decreased the perinatal concentrations of proinflammatory factors,such as endotoxin(ET),lipocalin-2(LCN-2),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and interleukin-1β(IL-1β).The concentration of ET and LCN-2 and the abundance of Proteobacteria and Escheri-chia-Shigella were negatively correlated with the LFI of sows.Conclusion The high abundance of Proteobacteria,especially Escherichia-Shigella of LF sows in late gestation,led to increased endotoxin levels,which result in inflammatory responses and adverse effects on the LFI of sows.Add-ing HF during gestation reverses this process by increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus,especially Lactobacil-lus_mucosae_LM1 and Lactobacillus_amylovorus.

An Artificial Neural Network Model Combined with Dietary Retinol Intake from Different Sources to Predict the Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Objective This study aimed to develop an artificial neural network(ANN) model combined with dietary retinol intake from different sources to predict the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) in American adults.Methods Data from the 2007 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)2007–2014 were analyzed. Eligible subjects(n = 6,613) were randomly divided into a training set(n1 =4,609) and a validation set(n2 = 2,004) at a ratio of 7:3. The training set was used to identify predictors of NAFLD risk using logistic regression analysis. An ANN was established to predict the NAFLD risk using a training set. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the accuracy of the model using the training and validation sets.Results Our study found that the odds ratios(ORs) and 95% confidence intervals(CIs) of NAFLD for the highest quartile of plant-derived dietary retinol intake(i.e., provitamin A carotenoids, such as β-carotene)(OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.99) were inversely associated with NAFLD risk, compared to the lowest quartile of intake, after adjusting for potential confounders. The areas under the ROC curves were 0.874 and 0.883 for the training and validation sets, respectively. NAFLD occurs when its incidence probability is greater than 0.388.Conclusion The ANN model combined with plant-derived dietary retinol intake showed a significant effect on NAFLD. This could be applied to predict NAFLD risk in the American adult population when government departments formulate future health plans.