Challenges Brought about by Rapid Changes in Chinese Diets: Comparison with Developed Countries and Implications for Further Improvement

Given developments in urbanization, agricultural, and technological practices, the diet and lifestyle of developed countries has changed dramatically over the course of the last century[1].

Measurement of the Thermic Effect of Food in a Chinese Mixed Diet in Young People

Objective To determine the thermic effect of food(TEF)in a Chinese mixed diet in young people.Methods During the study,the participants were weighed and examined for body composition every morning.The total energy expenditure(TEE)of the participants was measured by the doubly labeled water method for 7 days,and during this period,basal energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry and physical activity energy expenditure was measured by an accelerometer.The value obtained by subtracting basal energy expenditure and physical activity energy expenditure from TEE was used to calculate TEF.Results Twenty healthy young students(18–30 years;10 male)participated in the study.The energy intake of the participants was not significantly different from the Chinese Dietary Reference Intake of energy(P>0.05).The percentage of energy from protein,fat and carbohydrate were all in the normal range.The intakes of fruits,milk and dietary fiber of the participants were significantly lower than those in the Chinese Dietary Guidelines(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the body weight of the participants during the experiment(P>0.05).When adjusted for body weight,there was no significant difference in either TEE or basal energy expenditure between the male and female participants(P>0.05).In addition,there was no significant difference in physical activity energy expenditure and TEF between the male and female participants(P>0.05).The percentage of TEF in TEE was 8.73%.Conclusion The percentage of TEF in TEE in a Chinese mixed diet in young people was significantly lower than 10%(P<0.001).A value of 10%is usually considered to be the TEF in mixed diets as a percentage of TEE.

TREATMENT OF TEN CASES OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME WITH CHINESE HERBS,ACUPUNCTURE, AND DIET PRECAUTIONS

Ten cases of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were treated for 4 weeks by acupuncture, Chinese herbs and diet precautions. Diagnosis of CFS was determined by conventional medicine criteria(CDC criteria for CFS), physical examination, and routine laboratory tests. TCM diagnosis of CFS relied on Four Examination Methods and Eight Principal Patterns. They were diagnosed as Ganyu Qizhi (liver and qi stagnation) and Pixu Qiruo (spleen and qi deficiency). The treatment method is to disperse the liver and facilitate qi, rehabilitate the spleen and strengthen qi (Shugan Liqi, Jianpi Yiqi). The result of the treatment indicated that the total effective rate was 100% in terms of fatigue, difficulty concentrating, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, joint aches, feverishness, rapid pulse, insomnia, depression, irregular menses, abdominal cramps, and night sweats. The percentages of specific symptoms of CFS in the patients were comparable to the conventional medical record (Table 1).

Application regularity of medicinal and dietary substances for patients during COVID-19 rehabilitation

Objective This study focused on the application regularity of medicinal and dietary sub-stances(MDS)of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)diet therapy during rehabilitation,in order to help patients with Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19)reduce sequelae and improve their life quality.Methods The official websites of the national and provincial health committees,the website of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine,the China BioMedical Literature Database(CBM),China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),China Science and Technology Journal Database(VIP),and Wanfang Database were used to search the keywords,such as“coronavirus”“novel coronavirus pneumonia”“COVID-19”“protocol”“guideline”“consensus”and“rehabilitation period”.The search time was from the establishment of databases to July 31,2022.The prevention and control protocols of various provinces and cities were manually supplemented and screened out.The information on the frequency,property,flavor,meridian tropism,and efficacy of MDS was collected for association rule analysis through the Apriori algorithm.Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed using the Euclidean distance and longest distance.Results A total of 18 protocols were screened out,including 56 lists of TCM diet therapy,and 47 kinds of MDS with a frequency of 132 times during the rehabilitation of COVID-19.Among them,six lists of diet therapy were collected from national websites,26 from local government websites,and 24 from social and academic institution websites.The intended population can be divided into seven categories including normal recovery,lung-spleen Qi deficiency,deficiency of both Qi and Yin,spleen-stomach weakness,deficiency of Yang Qi,kidney Qi deficiency,and blood deficiency.Shanyao(Dioscoreae Rhizoma)and Lianzi(Nelumbinis Semen),followed by Dazao(Jujubae Fructus)were used most commonly in MDS,with mainly flat property,sweet flavor,and spleen and lung meridians in meridian tropism.Besides,deficiency-tonifying drugs were commonly used in MDS.Through association rule analysis,12 groups of association MDS pairs were obtained.The pair of Yiyiren(Coicis Semen)and Chenpi(Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium)had the highest Lift value,and Yiyiren(Coicis Semen)was used most frequently in the MDS category for eliminating pathogenic factors.The results of complex network analysis showed that the core MDS were Yiyiren(Coicis Semen),Shanyao(Dioscoreae Rhizoma),Huangqi(Astragali Radix),Fuling(Poria),and Dazao(Jujubae Fructus).Three core categories were classified by cluster analysis,including the category of strengthening spleen,nourishing kidney,and grasping Qi,the category of removing phlegm,abating panting,and regulating Qi,and the category of strengthening the middle-energizer and reinforcing Qi.Conclusion Based on the TCM theory,most patients during the rehabilitation of COVID-19 are in a state of lingering pathogens due to deficient vital Qi.TCM diet therapy is based on the principle of“giving both reinforcing and reducing treatment”,and the MDS combinations focus on both reinforcing the health Qi and eliminating pathogenic factors.The diet therapy mainly uses the MDS with flat property and sweet flavor,which belongs to deficiency-tonifying drugs,adding suitable MDS of pathogen-eliminating drugs according to different situations.The ultimate goal is to promote lung inflammation absorption,improve pulmonary fibrosis,increase immunity,reduce the occurrence of sequelae,and improve life quality.

Effect of a basic Chinese traditional diet in overweight patients

OBJECTIVE： To evaluate the effect of a basic Chi- nese traditional diet （BTCD） in overweight patients on body mass index （BMI）, lean mass, sense of hun- ger, and eating behaviour. METHODS： A total of 694 enrolled subjects （218 male and 476 female） were divided into two groups： group A undergoing a 1200-Kcal BTCD, and group B undergoing a 1200-Kcal standard western diet. RESULTS： From TO （before treatment） to T1 （6 weeks after treatment）, BMI was lowered in group A from （32.33±5.51） to （31.96±5.56） kg/m2, and in group B from （31.62±6.29） to （31.36±6.47） kglm2. After treatment, patients in group A lost more weight （0.37±0.52） kg than group B （0.26±0.79） kg （P=0.0044）. From TO to TI, the mean lean mass of group A decreased from （16.48±5.50） to （16.27± 5.45） kg. In group B, mean lean mass decreased from （16.93 ± 6.49） to （16.44 ± 6.29） kg. The differ- ence was significant （P=0.0078）. CONCLUSION： The two diets could lead to lowerBMI, improve lean mass as well as eating behaviour and sense of hunger. However, the BTCD was signif- icantly better than the western standard diet.