One-carbon nutrients play an important role in epigenetic mechanisms and cellular methylation reactions. Inadequate intake of these nutrients is linked to metabolic perturbations, yet the current intake levels of these nutrients have rarely been studied in Asia. This cross-sectional study surveyed the usual dietary intake of one-carbon nutrients (folate, choline and vitamins B2, B6 and B12) among Thai university students aged 19–30 years (n 246). Socioeconomic background, health information, anthropometric data and 24-h dietary recall data were collected. The long-term usual intake was estimated using the multiple-source method. The average usual intake levels for men and women were (mean ± sd) 1⋅85 ± 0⋅95 and 2⋅42 ± 8⋅7 mg/d of vitamin B2, 1⋅96 ± 1⋅0 and 2⋅49 ± 8⋅7 mg/d of vitamin B6, 6⋅20 ± 9⋅5 and 6⋅28 ± 12 μg/d of vitamin B12, 195 ± 154 and 155 ± 101 μg dietary folate equivalent/d of folate, 418 ± 191 and 337 ± 164 mg/d of choline, respectively. Effect modification by sex was observed for vitamin B2 (P-interaction = 0⋅002) and choline (P-interaction = 0⋅02), where every 1 mg increase in vitamin B2 and 100 mg increase in choline intake were associated with a 2⋅07 (P = 0⋅01) and 0⋅81 kg/m2 (P = 0⋅04) lower BMI, respectively, in men. The study results suggest that Thai young adults meet the recommended levels for vitamins B2, B6 and B12. The majority of participants had inadequate folate intake and did not achieve recommended intake levels for choline. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee at the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. This trial was registered at www.thaiclinicaltrials.gov (TCTR20210420007).

Rice is consumed by nearly half of the global population and a significant source of energy and nutrients. However, rice consumption can also be a significant pathway of inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure, thus requiring a risk–benefit assessment. This study assessed nutrient element (NE) densities in fifty-five rice types (white, brown and wild rice) marketed in the UK. Densities of essential NE were used to rank rice types in meeting daily NE targets under different consumption scenarios through a newly developed optimisation approach. Using iAs data from these rice types, we assessed the margin of exposure (MOE) for low (the UK) and high (Bangladesh) rice intake scenarios. Our results showed that brown and wild rice are significantly higher in many NE and significantly contribute to dietary reference value (DRV). Our modelling showed that switching to brown or wild rice could increase the intake of several essential nutrients by up to eight times that of white rice. Using rice consumption data for mid-to-high-consumption countries, we estimate that brown rice could provide 100 % adult DRV for Fe, Mg, Cr, P and Mo, and substantial contributions for Zn, Se and K. Our results show that the amount of rice primarily determines risk from iAs consumed rather than the type of rice. Therefore, switching from white to brown or wild rice could be beneficial, provided iAs concentration in rice is within the recommended limits.

Food pantries provide free food to individuals at nutritional risk given lack of available foods. Frequent use of food pantries is associated with higher dietary quality; however, neither the nutrient contributions of food pantries to participant diets nor their relationship with household food security are known. This cross-sectional analysis used secondary data from rural food pantry participants, including sociodemographic characteristics, household food security and 24-h recalls. Mean intakes of selected food groups and nutrients from food pantries, supermarkets, other stores and restaurants, and other were compared by one-way ANCOVA. Interaction effects of household food security with food sources were evaluated by two-way ANCOVA. About 40 % of participants’ dietary intake came from food pantries. Mean intakes of fibre (P < 0·0001), Na (P < 0·0001), fruit (P < 0·0001), grains (P < 0·0001) and oils (P < 0·0001) were higher from food pantries compared with all other sources, as were Ca (P = 0·004), vitamin D (P < 0·0001) and K (P < 0·0001) from food pantries compared with two other sources. Percentage total energy intake (%TEI) from added sugars (P < 0·0001) and saturated fat (P < 0·0001) was higher from supermarkets than most other sources. Significant interaction effects were observed between food sources and household food security for vegetables (P = 0·01), Na (P = 0·01) and %TEI from saturated fat (P = 0·004), with food-insecure participants having significantly higher intakes from food pantries and/or supermarkets compared with all other sources. Future interventions may incorporate these findings by providing education on purchasing and preparing healthy meals on limited budgets, to complement foods received from pantries, and by reducing Na in pantry environments.

Breakfast skipping is a public health issue which affects nutrient intake among adolescents worldwide. However, there have been few reports comparing intake and reference values to assess the deficiency of nutrient intake between breakfast consumers and skippers. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between breakfast skipping and adequacy of total habitual nutrient intake among junior high school female students. The participants were 516 Japanese female junior high school students. Dietary habits during the preceding month were assessed using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. Inadequacy of each nutrient intake was assessed by the cut-point method, based on the estimated average requirement for fourteen nutrients and on dietary goal values for five nutrients. The overall nutritional inadequacy in participants was assessed by the number of consumed nutrients which did not meet the requirements as per the dietary reference intakes for Japanese, 2015 version. The participants were classified into two groups according to the frequency of breakfast eating: breakfast consumers (seven times/week) and breakfast skippers (0–6 times/week). Adequacy of vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, Ca, Fe, Zn and K was higher among breakfast consumers than among skippers. Breakfast consumers had more intakes of fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Our findings suggest that breakfast skipping was related to deficiencies in vitamin and mineral intakes, and to an unfavourable dietary pattern, among Japanese female junior high school students.

Several factors can affect the nutritional status of children undergoing cancer therapy. The present review aims to describe children’s food intake during cancer treatments and to explore the contributing determinants. It also assesses the nutritional educational interventions developed for this clientele. Scientific literature from January 1995 to January 2018 was searched through PubMed and MEDLINE using keywords related to childhood cancer and nutritional intake. Quantitative and qualitative studies were reviewed: forty-seven articles were selected: thirty-eight related to food intake and parental practices and nine related to nutritional interventions. Patients’ intakes in energy, macronutrients and micronutrients were compared with those of healthy controls or with requirement standards. Generally, patients ate less energy and proteins than healthy children, but adhered similarly to national guidelines. There is a lack of consensus for standard nutrient requirement in this population and a need for more prospective evaluations. Qualitative studies provide an insight into the perceptions of children, parents and nurses on several determinants influencing eating behaviours, including the type of treatment and their side effects. Parental practices were found to be diverse. In general, savoury and salty foods were preferred to sweet foods. Finally, most interventional studies in childhood cancer have presented their protocol or assessed the feasibility of an intervention. Therefore, because of the variability of study designs and since only a few studies have presented results, their impact on the development of healthful eating habits remains unclear. A better understanding of children’s nutritional intakes and eating behaviours during cancer treatment could guide future nutritional interventions.

Residents of Hong Kong have undergone a dietary transition from a traditional Chinese diet that is high in seafood to a more Western diet. This may have affected the nutritional composition of breast milk of Hong Kong mothers. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between the dietary pattern and the fatty acid profile of the breast milk of lactating women in Hong Kong. Seventy-three volunteering healthy Hong Kong lactating mothers participated in the study. Their dietary intakes were assessed by using a 3-d dietary record and FFQ. The mean n-3 fatty acid levels were approximately 0·4 % (EPA) and 0·9 % (DHA) of total fatty acids in the breast milk of lactating mothers who had exclusively breastfed their infants aged 2–6 months. Maternal dietary intakes of n-3 fatty acids were positively associated with their levels in the breast milk. The levels of maternal intakes of freshwater and saltwater fish, especially the consumption of salmon, croaker and mandarin, were significantly correlated with the content of DHA in breast milk. The present study is among the very few in the literature to determine the fatty acid profile of breast milk in Hong Kong populations and verify certain dietary factors that influence this profile. High levels of n-3 PUFA, especially DHA, were observed in the breast milk of Hong Kong lactating women. The findings may serve as a dietary reference for lactating mothers to optimise the fatty acid profile of their breast milk.

Home cooking has been suggested as a key to healthy dietary intakes. However, little is known about the association between cooking behaviour and nutrient intake among young-to-middle-aged women. We aimed to investigate the association between home cooking frequency and nutrient intake adequacy among married Japanese women. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess the weekly frequency of cooking dinner at home and habitual nutrient intake during the preceding month. We evaluated nutrient intake adequacy by comparing the self-reported intake with two indices of the dietary reference intakes for Japanese (2015): the estimated average requirement (EAR) of fourteen nutrients, and the ‘tentative dietary goal for preventing lifestyle-related diseases’ (DG) of seven nutrients. A total of 143 participants (25–44 years old) completed the questionnaires, with 32·9 % of participants reporting a weekly home cooking frequency of seven times/week. Women with a higher home cooking frequency (seven times/week) were more likely to have children (P = 0·001) than those with a lower home cooking frequency (0–6 times/week). Of the nutrients evaluated, there was no significant difference between the two groups in meeting EAR and DG. Our findings suggest that daily home cooking may not be necessary to achieve adequate nutrient intake, specifically among married, young-to-middle-aged Japanese women.

This study determines the prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intakes consumed by long-term care (LTC) residents. This cross-sectional study was completed in thirty-two LTC homes in four Canadian provinces. Weighed and estimated food and beverage intake were collected over 3 non-consecutive days from 632 randomly selected residents. Nutrient intakes were adjusted for intra-individual variation and compared with the Dietary Reference Intakes. Proportion of participants, stratified by sex and use of modified (MTF) or regular texture foods, with intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) or Adequate Intake (AI), were identified. Numbers of participants that met these adequacy values with use of micronutrient supplements was determined. Mean age of males (n 197) was 85·2 (sd 7·6) years and females (n 435) was 87·4 (sd 7·8) years. In all, 33 % consumed MTF; 78·2 % (males) and 76·1 % (females) took at least one micronutrient pill. Participants on a MTF had lower intake for some nutrients (males=4; females=8), but also consumed a few nutrients in larger amounts than regular texture consumers (males=4; females =1). More than 50 % of participants in both sexes and texture groups consumed inadequate amounts of folate, vitamins B6, Ca, Mg and Zn (males only), with >90 % consuming amounts below the EAR/AI for vitamin D, E, K, Mg (males only) and K. Vitamin D supplements resolved inadequate intakes for 50–70 % of participants. High proportions of LTC residents have intakes for nine of twenty nutrients examined below the EAR or AI. Strategies to improve intake specific to these nutrients are needed.

Recently, countries at high latitudes have updated their vitamin D recommendations to ensure adequate intake for the musculoskeletal health of their respective populations. In 2010, the dietary guidelines for vitamin D for Canadians and Americans aged 1–70 years increased from 5 μg/d to 15 μg/d, whereas in 2016 for citizens of the UK aged ≥4 years 10 μg/d is recommended. The vitamin D status of Canadian children following the revised dietary guidelines is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of vitamin D deficiency and sufficiency among Canadian children. For this study, we assumed serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations <30 nmol/l as ‘deficient’ and ≥50nmol/l as ‘sufficient’. Data from children aged 3–18 years (n 2270) who participated in the 2012/2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey were analysed. Of all children, 5·6 % were vitamin D deficient and 71 % were vitamin D sufficient. Children who consumed vitamin D-fortified milk daily (77 %) were more likely to be sufficient than those who consumed it less frequently (OR 2·7; 95 % CI 1·4, 5·0). The 9 % of children who reported taking vitamin D-containing supplements in the previous month had higher 25(OH)D concentrations (OR 6·9 nmol/l; 95 % CI 1·1, 12·7 nmol/l) relative to those who did not. Children who were older, obese, of non-white ethnicity and from low-income households were less likely to be vitamin D sufficient. To improve vitamin D status, consumption of vitamin D-rich foods should be promoted, and fortification of more food items or formal recommendations for vitamin D supplementation should be considered.

The biofortification of staple crops with vitamins is an attractive strategy to increase the nutritional quality of human food, particularly in areas where the population subsists on a cereal-based diet. Unlike other approaches, biofortification is sustainable and does not require anything more than a standard food-distribution infrastructure. The health-promoting effects of vitamins depend on overall intake and bioavailability, the latter influenced by food processing, absorption efficiency and the utilisation or retention of the vitamin in the body. The bioavailability of vitamins in nutritionally enriched foods should ideally be adjusted to achieve the dietary reference intake in a reasonable portion. Current vitamin biofortification programmes focus on the fat-soluble vitamins A and E, and the water-soluble vitamins C and B9 (folate), but the control of dosage and bioavailability has been largely overlooked. In the present review, we discuss the vitamin content of nutritionally enhanced foods developed by conventional breeding and genetic engineering, focusing on dosage and bioavailability. Although the biofortification of staple crops could potentially address micronutrient deficiency on a global scale, further research is required to develop effective strategies that match the bioavailability of vitamins to the requirements of the human diet.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability that may affect nutritional management of children with autism. This study aimed to compare the nutritional status of children with autism with that of typically developing children (aged 4–6 years) in China. Nutritional status was assessed by means of nutritional data, anthropometric data, biochemical assessment, physical examination for nutrient deficiencies and providing a questionnaire to parents. A total of fifty-three children with autism and fifty-three typically developing children were enrolled in this study. The parents were asked to complete the questionnaire regarding the eating behaviour and gastrointestinal symptoms of their children. They were also asked to provide a 3 d food diary. Children with autism exhibited several abnormalities in terms of eating behaviour and gastrointestinal symptoms. The levels of vitamins A and B6, Zn and Ca intakes were <80 % of the dietary reference intakes in both groups. In addition, the proportions of vitamin C and Ca intake deficiencies in the autism group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Serum Zn level was less than the normal reference range in both the groups. Serum Ca, vitamin A and folate levels in children with autism were significantly lower when compared with children without autism. According to the anthropometric data, the mean BMI, weight-for-height Z-score (ZWH) and BMI for age Z-score (ZBMIA) of children with autism were significantly higher than those of the typically developing children. Thus, nutritional inadequacies were observed in children with autism and typically developing children in China, which were, however, more pronounced among children with autism.