To investigate the determinants of vegetable intake in urban socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents to inform the development of an intervention programme.

A narrative systematic review was carried out by searching five electronic databases from 2013 to 2020. The descriptors used for the search strategy were vegetable intake, adolescents, determinants and correlates. Inclusion criteria were including a sample of socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents aged 12–18 years, evaluation of the association between vegetable intake and determinants of intake, and conducted in urban settings of high-income countries. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Identified determinants of vegetable intake were reported according to the five levels of the socio-ecological model of health.

Studies included in the review were conducted in four countries: USA (n 8), Australia (n 3), Ireland (n 1) and New Zealand (n 1).

Adolescents aged 12–18 years from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds living in urban settings.

Thirty-nine determinants were identified. Nutrition knowledge was the only determinant consistently investigated in several independent samples which was not associated with vegetable intake in socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents. For the remaining potential determinants, it was not possible to examine the consistency of evidence as there were not enough studies investigating the same determinants. Most of the studies followed a cross-sectional design and were carried out in school settings.

There is a need for further studies on the determinants of vegetable intake in this population preferably with longitudinal designs and beyond the school setting in different countries to guide the development of successful interventions.

The food environment influences food choices made by populations. On-the-go snacking has become an integral part of modern Irish life and must be considered when shaping such environments, considering that the Republic of Ireland population consume an average of 2.5 snacks daily, with 22% of snacking occasions occurring outside the home. This has driven the increased prevalence of snack food vending machines which typically stock unhealthy products that are high in energy, fat and sugar. The Health Service Executive (HSE) implemented the Healthier Vending Policy in 2015 to increase the availability of healthier products across HSE premises. This research examined the nutrient content of snacks and beverages purchased in vending machines on HSE premises following the implementation of the HSE Healthier Vending Policy.

Vending machines product and sales data were obtained from two vending machines companies at baseline in 2015 and following policy implementation in 2016. Product labels and online product information were used to obtain the energy and nutrient contents. The products were assigned to a snack or beverage category; nuts, mints, cereal bars, chocolates, sweets, crisps, waters, juices, carbonated drinks and other. New variables were computed, descriptive analyses were undertaken and Wilcoxon-signed rank tests performed using SPSS Statistics 24. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Snacks and beverages sold in 295 vending machines across 89 HSE premises were analysed. There were statistically significant decreases in median energy sold per packet (9.7%) and per 100 g (7.1%) following policy implementation. Reductions in total fat (53.2%), saturated fat (32.4%), sugar (10.0%) and sodium (20.0%) sold also occurred. When snacks were analysed separately the findings were less positive, as a statistically significant increase in energy sold per packet and an increase in total fat sold per 100 g occurred. The findings in relation to beverages were mixed. The effect of the policy varied across snack categories, with particularly large reductions in energy sold per packet in carbonated drinks (54.0%) and cereal bars (44.2%).

Adecrease in the amount of energy, total fat, saturated fat, sugar and sodium sold was observed following the implementation of the policy. The HSE Healthier Vending Policy seemed to promote a healthier environment. It is recommended that this policy continues to be implemented and is reviewed to ensure the best possible outcomes nationally. It is also advisable to bring this policy to other settings to combat obesogenic environments and promote public health.

This study was undertaken in a convenience sample of 33 Irish children aged 7–9 years old from urban Dublin-based primary schools. Food group intake estimates were collected with the FGFQand compared with those obtained with a 7-day semi-weighed food diary. Agreement between frequencies of intake between the two instruments were examined using Spearman's correlation coefficient, cross-classification analyses and weighted kappa.

The FGFQ over-estimated the number of portions for most of the food groups as compared with the reference method. Spearman correlation coefficients ranged from 0.75 (cheese) to 0.03 (flavoured milk). Level of agreement was moderate with an average correlation coefficient of 0.45. The proportion of children classified in the same category ranged from 96.9% (sweet treats) to 60.6% (vegetables). Misclassification was less than 15% for fruit, soft drinks, low fat milk, fish, savoury snacks and sweet treats and above 30% for vegetables, dairy products and pastries & biscuits. Weighted kappa statistic values ranged from 0.84 (sweet treats) to 0.10 (vegetables). Mean level of agreement was moderate (0.39). No agreement (< 0.0) was found for soft drinks.

Although the strength of association estimates varied by food group, strong to moderate levels of relative validity were observed. Our results show that the FGFQ gives acceptable estimates of food group intakes among Irish school-aged children and that the tool can be used for ranking subjects according to food group intakes.

To investigate whether adherence to the adapted Mediterranean Diet Score for Adolescents (MDS_A) and the adapted Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Adolescents (KIDMED_A) is associated with better food/nutrient intakes and nutritional biomarkers.

The Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study is a cross-sectional study aiming to obtain comparable data on a variety of nutritional and health-related parameters in European adolescents aged 12·5–17·5 years.

Nine European countries.

European adolescents (n 2330) recruited to the HELENA study. Dietary intake was obtained with 24 h dietary recalls, an FFQ and a Food Choices and Preferences questionnaire. MDS_A was calculated as a categorical variable using cut-offs (MDS_A), as a continuous variable (zMDS_A) and with energy adjustments (zEnMDS_A). The KIDMED_A score was also calculated.

Multilevel linear regression analysis showed positive associations for zMDS_A and KIDMED_A with serum levels of vitamin D, vitamin C, plasma folate, holo-transcobalamin, β-carotene and n-3 fatty acids, while negative associations were observed with trans-fatty acid serum levels. For categorical indices, blood biomarkers showed few significant results. zMDS_A and KIDMED_A showed positive associations with vegetables and fruits intake, and negative associations with energy-dense and low-nutritious foods. zMDS_A and KIDMED_A were positively associated with all macronutrients, vitamins and minerals (all P < 0·0001), except with monosaccharides and PUFA for KIDMED_A and cholesterol for both indices (P < 0·05).

zMDS_A and KIDMED_A have shown the strongest associations with the dietary indicators and biomarkers that have been associated with the Mediterranean diet before, and are therefore considered the most appropriate and valid Mediterranean diet scores for European adolescents.

The present study describes the procedure and approaches needed to adapt and harmonise the GloboDiet methodology, a computer- and interview-based 24 h dietary recall, for use in two Latin American pilot countries, Brazil and Mexico.

About seventy common and country-specific databases on foods, recipes, dietary supplements, quantification methods and coefficients were customised and translated following standardised guidelines, starting from existing Spanish and Portuguese versions.

Brazil and Mexico.

Not applicable.

New subgroups were added into the existing common food classification together with new descriptors required to better classify and describe specific Brazilian and Mexican foods. Quantification methods were critically evaluated and adapted considering types and quantities of food consumed in these two countries, using data available from previous surveys. Furthermore, the photos to be used for quantification purposes were identified for compilation in country-specific but standardised picture booklets.

The completion of the customisation of the GloboDiet Latin America versions in these two pilot countries provides new insights into the adaptability of this dietary international tool to the Latin American context. The ultimate purpose is to enable dietary intake comparisons within and between Latin American countries, support building capacities and foster regional and international collaborations. The development of the GloboDiet methodology could represent a major benefit for Latin America in terms of standardised dietary methodologies for multiple surveillance, research and prevention purposes.

To compare, specifically by age group, proxy-reported food group estimates obtained from the food frequency section of the Children's Eating Habits questionnaire (CEHQ-FFQ) against the estimates of two non-consecutive 24 h dietary recalls (24-HDR).

Estimates of food group intakes assessed via the forty-three-food-group CEHQ-FFQ were compared with those obtained by a computerized 24-HDR. Agreement on frequencies of intakes (equal to the number of portions per recall period) between the two instruments was examined using crude and de-attenuated Pearson's correlation coefficients, cross-classification analyses, weighted kappa statistics (κw) and Bland–Altman analysis.

Kindergartens/schools from eight European countries participating in the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS) Study cross-sectional survey (2007–2008).

Children aged 2–9 years (n 2508, 50·4 % boys).

The CEHQ-FFQ provided higher intake estimates for most of the food groups than the 24-HDR. De-attenuated Pearson correlation coefficients ranged from 0·01 (sweetened fruit) to 0·48 (sweetened milk) in children aged 2–<6 years (mean = 0·25) and from 0·01 (milled cereal) to 0·44 (water) in children aged 6–9 years (mean = 0·23). An average of 32 % and 31 % of food group intakes were assigned to the same quartile in younger and older children, respectively, and classification into extreme opposite quartiles was ≤12 % for all food groups in both age groups. Mean κw was 0·20 for 2–<6-year-olds and 0·17 for 6–9-year-olds.

The strength of association estimates assessed by the CEHQ-FFQ and the 24-HDR varied by food group and by age group. Observed level of agreement and CEHQ-FFQ ability to rank children according to intakes of food groups were considered to be low.

Measurement errors in dietary data lead to attenuated estimates of associations between dietary exposures and health outcomes. The present study aimed to compare and evaluate different approaches of handling implausible reports by exemplary analysis of the association between dietary intakes (total energy, soft drinks, fruits/vegetables) and overweight/obesity in children.

Cross-sectional multicentre study.

Kindergartens/schools from eight European countries participating in the IDEFICS Study.

Children (n 5357) aged 2–9 years who provided one 24 h dietary recall and complete covariate information.

The 24 h recalls were classified into three reporting groups according to adapted Goldberg cut-offs: under-report, plausible report or over-report. In the basic logistic multilevel model (adjusted for age and sex, including study centre as random effect), the dietary exposures showed no significant association with overweight/obesity (energy intake: OR=0·996 (95 % CI 0·983, 1·010); soft drinks: OR = 0·999 (95 % CI 0·986, 1·013)) and revealed even a positive association for fruits/vegetables (OR = 1·009 (95 % CI 1·001, 1·018)). When adding the reporting group (dummy variables) and a propensity score for misreporting as adjustment terms, associations became significant for energy intake as well as soft drinks (energy: OR = 1·074 (95 % CI 1·053, 1·096); soft drinks: OR = 1·015 (95 % CI 1·000, 1·031)) and the association between fruits/vegetables and overweight/obesity pointed to the reverse direction compared with the basic model (OR = 0·993 (95 % CI 0·984, 1·002)).

Associations between dietary exposures and health outcomes are strongly affected or even masked by measurement errors. In the present analysis consideration of the reporting group and inclusion of a propensity score for misreporting turned out to be useful tools to counteract attenuation of effect estimates.

To review evidence on the associations between vitamin B12 intake and its biomarkers, vitamin B12 intake and its functional health outcomes, and vitamin B12 biomarkers and functional health outcomes.

A systematic review was conducted by searching electronic databases, until January 2012, using a standardized strategy developed in the EURRECA network. Relevant articles were screened and sorted based on title and abstract, then based on full text, and finally included if they met inclusion criteria. A total of sixteen articles were included in the review.

Articles covered four continents: America (n 4), Europe (n 8), Africa (n 1) and Asia (n 3).

Population groups included healthy infants, children and adolescents, and pregnant and lactating women.

From the total number of 5815 papers retrieved from the initial search, only sixteen were eligible according to the inclusion criteria: five for infants, five for children and adolescents, and six for pregnant and lactating women.

Only one main conclusion could be extracted from this scarce number of references: a positive association between vitamin B12 intake and serum vitamin B12 in the infant group. Other associations were not reported in the eligible papers or the results were not provided in a consistent manner. The low number of papers that could be included in our systematic review is probably due to the attention that is currently given to research on vitamin B12 in elderly people. Our observations in the current systematic review justify the idea of performing well-designed studies on vitamin B12 in young populations.