Nutritional factors are widely considered to be critical for human health. Overwhelming evidence from epidemiological studies indicate that diets rich in fruit and vegetables are associated with a ...lower risk of several degenerative diseases. These results have created a new perspective concerning the potential of diet in preventing serious diseases in the future. However, the health-promoting capacity of fruit and vegetables strictly depends on their processing history. This aspect has been generally neglected or scarcely considered in present nutritional and epidemiological studies. Processing is expected to affect content, activity and bioavailability of bioactive compounds.
The aim of this article, therefore, is to review the effects of processing on the antioxidant properties of foods by means of a multidisciplinary approach. It is believed that the implications of this challenging and rapidly advancing area may contribute to enhanced industrial competitiveness as well as consumer health and well-being.
BACKGROUND:A few papers have considered reproducibility of a posteriori dietary patterns across populations, as well as pattern associations with head and neck cancer risk when multiple populations ...are available.
METHODS:We used individual-level pooled data from seven case–control studies (3844 cases; 6824 controls) participating in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology consortium. We simultaneously derived shared and study-specific a posteriori patterns with a novel approach called multi-study factor analysis applied to 23 nutrients. We derived odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx combined, and larynx, from logistic regression models.
RESULTS:We identified three shared patterns that were reproducible across studies (75% variance explained)the Antioxidant vitamins and fiber (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.41, 0.78, highest versus lowest score quintile) and the Fats (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.67, 0.95) patterns were inversely associated with oral and pharyngeal cancer risk. The Animal products and cereals (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1, 2.1) and the Fats (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.4, 2.3) patterns were positively associated with laryngeal cancer risk, whereas a linear inverse trend in laryngeal cancer risk was evident for the Antioxidant vitamins and fiber pattern. We also identified four additional study-specific patterns, one for each of the four US studies examined. We named them all as Dairy products and breakfast cereals, and two were associated with oral and pharyngeal cancer risk.
CONCLUSION:Multi-study factor analysis provides insight into pattern reproducibility and supports previous evidence on cross-country reproducibility of dietary patterns and on their association with head and neck cancer risk. See video abstract at, http://links.lww.com/EDE/B430.
Evidence for the possible effect of vitamin E on head and neck cancers (HNCs) is limited.
We used individual-level pooled data from 10 case-control studies (5959 cases and 12 248 controls) ...participating in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology (INHANCE) consortium to assess the association between vitamin E intake from natural sources and cancer of the oral cavity/pharynx and larynx. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression models applied to quintile categories of non-alcohol energy-adjusted vitamin E intake.
Intake of vitamin E was inversely related to oral/pharyngeal cancer (OR for the fifth vs the first quintile category=0.59, 95% CI: 0.49-0.71; P for trend <0.001) and to laryngeal cancer (OR=0.67, 95% CI: 0.54-0.83, P for trend <0.001). There was, however, appreciable heterogeneity of the estimated effect across studies for oral/pharyngeal cancer. Inverse associations were generally observed for the anatomical subsites of oral and pharyngeal cancer and within covariate strata for both sites.
Our findings suggest that greater vitamin E intake from foods may lower HNC risk, although we were not able to explain the heterogeneity observed across studies or rule out certain sources of bias.
BackgroundUniversities are critical in educating tomorrow's citizens and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Organization. The aim of this study was to investigate the ...integration of these goals in the curricula of an Italian university.Study designCross-sectional study.MethodsIn February 2021, as part of the annual Syllabus preparation for each course, the teaching staffs at the University of Udine (Italy) were asked to complete an additional section in which they could indicate up to three Sustainable Development Goals for their courses. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression were performed to determine whether the professors' sex, age, or department affected the likelihood of mentioning Sustainable Development Goals.ResultsIn 723 courses, 360/1040 professors 59% male, mean age 53 years (range 30-73), mentioned one (29%), two (23%), or three (31%) Sustainable Development Goals. No Sustainable Development Goals were mentioned in 16% of courses, the majority of which were from the Mathematical, Computer and Physical Sciences Department (58%). The top six Sustainable Development Goals quoted were: Good health and well-being (35%), Responsible consumption and production (22%), Quality education (17%), Industry, innovation and infrastructure (13%), Gender equality (13%), Decent work and economic growth (13%). The least frequently mentioned Goal was Life below water (1%). Women (p<0.0001) and senior professors (p=0.0148) were more likely to consider at least one of the Sustainable Development Goals, while Mathematical, Computer and Physical Sciences Department showed a negative correlation (p<0.0001).ConclusionsGaps were identified with respect to specific Sustainable Development Goals, but discrepancies between departments may indicate deficits in respondent awareness. A transparent description of the Sustainable Development Goals in courses is recommended, to increase students' and university's engagement in sustainability.
The fight against fake news, mainly spread through Internet, is a major public health issue, even among undergraduate students. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a website promoted by ...the Italian Federation of the Provincial Orders of the Medical Doctors as a first aid communication kit for health topics.
Pre-post study using a web-based survey, conducted in April-May 2019 on Medical students and October-November 2020 on Communication Sciences students at the University of Florence (Italy). Methods. Undergraduate students of both schools were exposed to the use of the "dottoremaeveroche" website. Primary and secondary outcomes measures: the Italian-electronic Health Literacy Scale self-assessment tool was used to examine subjects' electronic Health literacy, and source quality. All responses were rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Changing in perception of abilities were examined using the Wilcoxon test.
The 362 participants felt moderately confident in electronic Health Literacy, with an initial Italian-electronic Health Literacy Scale overall mean score of 3.6±0.7 for medical and 3.2±0.8 for communication students. Medical students had a good idea of how to find helpful sources (3.9±0.8) and communication students felt confident in recognizing their quality (3.5±1.0). In contrast, their confidence in using Web information to make health decisions was low (medical: 2.9±1.1; communication: 2.8±1.1). All items improved significantly after "dottoremaeveroche" use (p<.001), with the overall mean score of Italian-electronic Health Literacy Scale increasing to 4.3±0.6 for medical and 4.1±0.8 for communication students.
Low electronic health literacy levels can affect public health efforts, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of "dottoremaeveroche" among students showed the usefulness of online educational interventions that, if further implemented, could help combat the spread of infodemic.
The association between dietary patterns and head and neck cancer has rarely been addressed.
We used individual-level pooled data from five case–control studies (2452 cases and 5013 controls) ...participating in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology consortium. A posteriori dietary patterns were identified through a principal component factor analysis carried out on 24 nutrients derived from study-specific food-frequency questionnaires. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression models on quintiles of factor scores.
We identified three major dietary patterns named ‘animal products and cereals’, ‘antioxidant vitamins and fiber’, and ‘fats’. The ‘antioxidant vitamins and fiber’ pattern was inversely related to oral and pharyngeal cancer (OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.43–0.76 for the highest versus the lowest score quintile). The ‘animal products and cereals’ pattern was positively associated with laryngeal cancer (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.12–2.11), whereas the ‘fats’ pattern was inversely associated with oral and pharyngeal cancer (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.63–0.97) and positively associated with laryngeal cancer (OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.22–2.34).
These findings suggest that diets rich in animal products, cereals, and fats are positively related to laryngeal cancer, and those rich in fruit and vegetables inversely related to oral and pharyngeal cancer.
Because of their antioxidant and antimutagenic properties, flavonoids may reduce cancer risk. Some flavonoids have antiestrogenic effects that can inhibit the growth and proliferation of endometrial ...cancer cells.
In order to examine the relation between dietary flavonoids and endometrial cancer, we analysed data from an Italian case-control study including 454 incident, histologically confirmed endometrial cancers and 908 hospital-based controls. Information was collected through a validated food-frequency questionnaire. We applied data on food and beverage composition to estimate the intake of flavanols, flavanones, flavonols, anthocyanidins, flavones, isoflavones, and proanthocyanidins. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated from multiple logistic regression models conditioned on age and study centre and adjusted for major confounding factors.
Women in the highest quartile category of proanthocyanidins with ≥3 mers vs the first three quartile categories had an OR for endometrial cancer of 0.66 (95% CI=0.48-0.89). For no other class of flavonoids, a significant overall association was found. There was a suggestion of an inverse association for flavanones and isoflavones among women with body mass index <25 kg m(-2), and, for flavanones, among parous or non-users of hormone-replacement therapy women.
High consumption of selected proanthocyanidins may reduce endometrial cancer risk.
The relative effects of prenatal and postnatal low-level mercury exposure and fish intake on child neurodevelopment are still controversial. Limited evidence is available from Mediterranean ...populations. In this prospective study, we measured the Verbal and Performance IQ in Italian children at school-age who were resident in an area declared as a National contaminated site because of mercury pollution, taking into account the possible beneficial effect of fish consumption and potential confounders. A mother–child cohort made up of 242 children was established at birth in Northeastern Italy in 2001. Their mothers were interviewed approximately 2 months after delivery to determine type, quantity, and origin of fish consumed during pregnancy and about a number of mother, child and family characteristics. Total mercury (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) were assessed in maternal hair and breast milk and in the child's hair. When children reached 7–9 years of age, 154 (63.6%) parents gave consent to participate in a follow-up evaluation. On that occasion, a child's hair sample was collected to determine the current concentration of THg, mothers were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire, and children underwent neuropsychological testing. Verbal IQ, performance IQ and full scale IQ were measured by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC III) administered by psychologists at school or local health centers. Demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle information, medical information of the child's family and the child's dietary habits were collected using a questionnaire filled in by mothers. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between prenatal THg exposure through fish consumption of mothers in pregnancy and children's IQ after adjustment for possible confounders such as fish consumption of mothers in pregnancy, child's fish consumption at follow-up, child's birthweight, maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy, house size and property place of residence during pregnancy and gender. THg in the child's hair at 7 years of age was fairly correlated with THg in maternal hair at delivery (rs=0.35; p<0.0001) and was strongly correlated with child's seafood consumption (rs=0.50, p<0.0001). No differences in maternal THg levels were found when comparing children with low or extremely low or high or extremely high scores vs others, considering separately full scale, verbal, and performance IQs. Children born from mothers with hair THg levels greater than or equal to 2000ng/g had full scale, verbal and performance IQs which were 4–5 points lower than children born from women with lower THg levels, but these differences were not statistically significant. Fresh fish intake of mothers in pregnancy was slightly positively associated with full scale and performance but not so with verbal IQs. Canned fish showed to be negatively associated with all the outcome variables. Unexpectedly, children born to mothers from one town showed IQ scores significantly lower than the other children; however, none of the many variables considered in these analyses could explain this result. The relatively low Hg levels found in the biological samples did not provide evidence of high and extensive Hg exposure in this population. Although THg levels in maternal and child's biological samples are correlated with fish consumption, the effects of THg and fish on neurological outcomes go in opposite directions. These results do not allow to develop recommendations regarding fish consumption in pregnancy but suggest that keeping THg hair levels<2000ng/g might be desirable.
Dietary habits have been related to the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but information on a wide range of macro- and micronutrients is still lacking, particularly for low-incidence ...countries.
We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in Italy on 198, histologically confirmed, NPC cases of Caucasian ethnicity of 18-76 years of age. Controls were 594 Caucasian cancer-free patients admitted to general hospitals for acute conditions. Nutrients intake was assessed through a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated through logistic regression.
Dietary intake of carotenoids were inversely related to NPC risk, notably carotene (OR for highest vs lowest quartile=0.46; 95% CI: 0.26-0.79), α-carotene (OR=0.57; 95% CI: 0.33-0.97), and β-carotene (OR=0.42; 95% CI: 0.24-0.75). Increased NPC risk was observed for elevate cholesterol intake (OR=1.85; 95% CI: 1.12-3.05).
Study findings suggest a protective effect of carotenoids against NPC in a low-risk population, adding further support to a possible beneficial role of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables in cancers of the head and neck.
PDF
