The aim of the experiment reported in this research paper was to determine the influence of the bovine appeasing substance (BAS) on milk yield, energy metabolism, inflammation, and stress in cows during the transition period. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows (day 28 pre-partum to 21 postpartum) were distributed randomly into two groups: control (n = 12) and BAS (Secure Cattle®; n = 12). Each animal was administered 5 mL of the product on days 28 and 14 pre-partum and on the day of calving. The feed intake was assessed using automated, individual feeders and the milk yield was determined electronically. Six milk samples were obtained from each animal, which were analyzed for chemical composition and somatic cell count. Six blood samples were obtained per animal for future biochemical analyses (free fatty acids, beta hydroxybutyrate, cortisol, myeloperoxidase and paraoxonase 1). The statistical analyses were conducted with the JMP Pro 14 software, with P ≤ 0.05 being considered as statistical significance. BAS-treated cows showed higher milk yield than controls. Dry matter intake (DMI) during the pre- and postpartum periods was greater for the control than treated group. The BAS group exhibited reduced plasma cortisol postpartum. In conclusion, cows treated with BAS showed higher milk yield, lower DMI, and reduced plasma cortisol concentrations than controls.

Previous estimations of the associations between fruits and vegetables (F/V) intake with diabetes markers showed mixed results, possibly partly because of the subjective assessment of dietary intake. We aimed to examine the relationship between plasma carotenoids and α-tocopherol (as objective markers of F/V intake) and fasting glucose. This was a population-based cross-sectional study in 592 adults in Cameroon. Self-reported F/V intake was assessed using the WHO STEPS questionnaire, and the biomarkers were analysed by HPLC. The mean age of participants was 38·5 (sd 8·6) years (63·7 % women). The median (IQR) number of times participants self-reported consuming fruits in a typical week was 2(1–5) and vegetables was 4(2–7) times/week. Plasma total carotenoids was positively correlated with self-reported intake of fruits (r = 0·13) and vegetables (r = 0·29), both P-values < 0·01. In unadjusted analysis, the difference in fasting glucose comparing the highest against the lowest tertile of the biomarkers concentrations was −0·28 (95 % CI −0·56, −0·001) mmol/l for total carotenoids and −0·31 (–0·59, −0·03) mmol/l for plasma α-carotene. The associations became stronger after adjusting for sociodemographics, lifesyle factors and cholesterol (–0·36 (–0·73, −0·002) mmol/l for total carotenoids and −0·41 (–0·79, −0·03) mmol/l for α-carotene). There was no evidence of an association between α-tocopherol and fasting glucose. We showed an inverse association of total carotenoids and α-carotene, objective indicators of F/V intake, with fasting glucose; suggesting that higher F/V intake may be beneficial for diabetes prevention in African populations where F/V intake is low.

Greater consumption of red meat has been linked to a higher risk of mortality and chronic diseases, including diabetes. We aim to examine the associations between total, processed and unprocessed red meat intake and diabetes and to evaluate the substitution effects of other protein sources for red meat on diabetes. This population-based cross-sectional study utilised data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2016. Diabetes was defined as a self-reported diagnosis by a physician or other health professional, having a fasting plasma glucose of 126 mg/dl or higher, an HbA1c level of 6·5 % or higher, or the use of antidiabetic drugs. Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted. The study included 34 737 adult participants (mean (sd) age of 45·8 (17·5) years) from NHANES 2003–2016. After adjusting for major confounders, compared with the first quintile, higher intakes of total, processed and unprocessed red meat were positively associated with higher odds of diabetes, with adjusted OR of 1·49 (95 % CI 1·22, 1·81), 1·47 (95 % CI 1·17, 1·84) and 1·24 (95 % CI 1·06, 1·44), respectively. The corresponding P-trend values were (< 0.001, 0.001, and 0.006). In this nationally representative sample of US adults, participants in the highest quintiles of total, processed and unprocessed red meat intake had higher odds of diabetes than those in the lowest quintile. Substituting 1 serving/d of dietary protein from foods of plant origin (including nuts, seeds, legumes and soya) for total, processed or unprocessed red meat was associated with 9 % to 14 % lower odds of diabetes.

Limited evidence exists on the combined effects of lifestyle factors on breast cancer (BC) risk, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate the association between adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) cancer prevention recommendations and BC risk among Moroccan women. We conducted a large case–control study including 1,400 cases and 1,400 matched controls (by age and place of residence) between 2019 and 2023. A structured general questionnaire and a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire were used for data collection. Adherence to cancer prevention recommendations was assessed using a score ranging from 0 to 7, comprising seven components covering dietary patterns, physical activity, healthy weight, and breastfeeding. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate OR and 95 % CI, accounting for potential confounding variables. For each one-point increase in the WCRF/AICR adherence score, the odds of BC decreased by 67 % overall (OR = 0·33; 95 % CI: 0·29–0·37). This inverse association was consistent among both premenopausal women (OR = 0·29; 95 % CI: 0·24–0·35) and postmenopausal women (OR = 0·35; 95 % CI: 0·30–0·41). Analysis of individual recommendations indicated that physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, breastfeeding, consuming a plant-rich diet, and limiting the intake of fast and other processed foods were the main drivers of the observed inverse association with BC. In conclusion, greater adherence to the WCRF/AICR recommendations is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in Morocco. Prevention strategies should incorporate comprehensive interventions targeting multiple lifestyle factors.

Grip strength is a simple and practical method for evaluating overall muscle strength and a key health biomarker that is linked to sarcopenia, chronic conditions and overall mortality. Although protein intake plays a vital role in muscle protein synthesis, its association with grip strength in adults remains unclear. This study examined the cross-sectional relationship between total, animal and plant protein intake and grip strength among local government workers in Japan. Participants were 349 workers (175 men and 174 women; mean age, 42·9 years; range, 19–71 years) who received a health check-up and participated in a nutrition and health survey. Protein intake was assessed using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. Grip strength was measured with a digital dynamometer. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted means of grip strength according to the tertile of protein intake. Higher animal protein intake was significantly associated with higher grip strength in women, but not in men. After adjustment for covariates including lifestyle and dietary factors, mean (95 % CI) grip strength for the lowest through highest tertile of animal protein intake was 24·6 (21·7, 27·5) kg, 25·8 (22·9, 28·7) kg and 26·8 (23·7, 29·9) kg (Pfor trend = 0·015) in women. No association was found between total and plant protein intake and grip strength in either men or women. These findings suggest that animal protein is important for muscle strength in women, with potential sex differences in the relationship between protein intake and grip strength.

Growing evidence supports early eating to control appetite and energy balance but there are few controlled studies to assess the amount and/or type of breakfast meal. This randomised, within-participant, diet intervention examined the effects of higher-fibre (HF) and higher-protein (HP) breakfasts in adults with overweight/obesity. Nineteen healthy adults consumed two randomised 28-d weight loss (WL) diets, as higher-fibre (HFWL) or higher protein (HPWL), with all food provided. Both WL diets were designed as 45 %, 35 % and 20 % of calories to be consumed in the morning, afternoon and evening, respectively. The primary outcome was energy balance, analysed by body weight changes. The secondary outcomes were gut health (assessed by changes in faecal microbiota composition and microbial metabolite concentrations) and subjective appetite assessed with visual analogue scales. There was a diet effect on WL, with mean loss of −4·87 kg and −3·87 kg for the HFWL and HPWL diets, respectively (P = 0·002). The HPWL diet was superior to the HFWL diet for suppressing subjective appetite (P = 0·003). The faecal microbiota analysis showed beneficial groups of bacteria, including bifidobacteria, and the butyrate producers Faecalibacterium and Roseburia, were significantly increased in proportional abundance on the HFWL diet. Breakfast composition has an important role in influencing subjective appetite with the HP diet promoting greater feelings of satiety. The proportional abundance of putatively beneficial groups of gut microbiota was markedly higher on the fibre-enriched diet, which may be preferable for gut health.

This study explored the relationship between dairy technology adoption (DTA), crop diversification and food security among smallholder farmers practicing mixed agriculture in Bason Werana Woreda, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region. A systematic sampling method selected 252 households from two randomly chosen government administrative areas (kebeles), proportional to size. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and an endogeneity-corrected recursive conditional mixed process regression model to examine bidirectional causation. Findings showed a 34% adoption rate of dairy technology, with improved housing and vaccination being the most common, while artificial insemination and improved breeds had the lowest adoption. The Herfindahl Iindex for crop diversification was 0.31, indicating a lower-middle level. Food security analysis, based on the Food Consumption Score, revealed that 78.57% of households were food secure, while 16.27% and 5.16% had borderline and poor food security, respectively. The regression results indicated that DTA significantly improves food security, and vice versa, but no causal relationship was found between these factors and crop diversification. The study identified key household-level and policy-related variables that are critical for enhancing DTA and addressing food insecurity. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of designing and promoting context-specific, locally optimal agricultural strategies that are closely aligned with household characteristics. Such alignment is essential for advancing dairy sector development and improving the welfare of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia.

Depression affects over 280 million people worldwide. Long-chain n-3 fatty acids may relate to depression, but observational evidence is inconsistent. This cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2021–2023 examined the association between dietary long-chain n-3 intake and depression severity in USA adults ≥ 18 years with complete dietary, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and covariate data (n 3608). PHQ-9 severity categories (0–4 to 20–27) served as the main outcome. Total n-3 (α-linolenic acid (ALA), EPA, DPA and DHA) from 24-h recalls (Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies 2021–2023) served as the exposure; supplements were excluded, and supplement use was a binary covariate. Survey-weighted ordinal logistic regression (svyolr) was used with all continuous variables centred/scaled (OR per 1 sd). Covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity (collapsed for sparse cells), income:poverty ratio, BMI, smoking, alcohol, physical activity and n-3 supplement use. Higher total n-3 intake was inversely associated with depression severity (OR 0·865 per 1 sd, 95 % CI 0·761, 0·983, P = 0·026). EPA showed a significant inverse association (OR 0·907, 95 % CI 0·824, 0·998, P = 0·045); ALA, DPA and DHA were NS. No interaction by sex (P = 0·656) or race/ethnicity (P = 0·155). Sensitivity analyses: excluding supplement users (n 3093) OR 0·872 (95 % CI 0·773, 0·984, P = 0·026); two recalls only (n 3229) OR 0·847 (95 % CI 0·751, 0·955, P = 0·007). Dietary n-3 intake, particularly EPA, was modestly and inversely associated with depression severity. Residual confounding and reverse causation remain possible; longitudinal studies with biomarkers are needed.

This study aimed to verify whether a higher percentage contribution of food and beverage consumption at dinner and evening snack was associated with overweight in schoolchildren from a city in southern Brazil. Cross-sectional study conducted with schoolchildren aged 7–14 years from the Prevalence Study of Obesity in Children and Adolescents of Florianopolis/SC. Weight and height were measured individually by trained researchers. The assessment of the weight status of the schoolchildren was conducted using the BMI, classified according to the Z-score for age. The self-reported food consumption was obtained through the online Web-CAAFE questionnaire. Multivariate logistic was used to verify the association between the percentage contribution of food groups in the dinner and evening snack meals with overweight. A total of 1379 schoolchildren participated in the study, of which 33·8 % were overweight. It was observed that a higher percentage contribution of meat, eggs, and seafood consumption at dinner was positively associated with overweight (OR: 1·61; 95 % CI: 1·27, 2·04); P = 0·001). In contrast, a higher percentage contribution of water consumption at dinner and dairy products and sugary drinks at the evening snack were negatively associated with overweight (OR: 0·67; OR: 0·61; and OR: 0·67, respectively). It is concluded that a higher percentage contribution of food groups in schoolchildren’s diet at dinner and evening snack is associated with overweight. However, further studies are recommended to assess food consumption in schoolchildren during dinner and evening snack meals for more conclusive findings.

Iron deficiency (ID) represents the most prevalent nutritional disorder and a major public health concern. As part of the HYDRIA 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition study, a cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of adults in Greece, serum ferritin levels (SFL) were measured in participants aged ≥ 55 years, and dietary intake was assessed using two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls per participant. The study aimed to evaluate SFL, determine the prevalence of ID among older adults and explore associations with dietary iron intake and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD). Among individuals over 55 years, ID prevalence was 6·5 % for SFL < 15 ng/ml and 12·7 % for SFL < 30 ng/ml. SFL were significantly associated with sex and age (P < 0·001), with men showing higher SFL than women. Advancing age, particularly among individuals over 74 years, increased the risk of ID. Dietary iron intake declined with age, and women had significantly lower intake than men (P < 0·001). Overall, 57·2 % of participants had inadequate daily iron intake. SFL were not associated with total or haem iron intake. High adherence to MD was associated with higher energy-adjusted total iron intake but lower haem iron intake. Weighted logistic regression for SFL < 15 ng/ml showed that MD adherence was significantly associated with reduced odds of ID (P = 0·007), likely due to the protective effect of intermediate adherence (OR = 0·10, P = 0·002). Conclusively, while ID prevalence among older adults in Greece is low, over half of the population presents inadequate daily iron intake, especially women. High adherence to MD may have a protective effect against ID.