Associations between maternal fish intake and polyunsaturated fatty acid status with childhood asthma in a high fish-eating population.

Background: Studies investigating associations between prenatal polyunsaturated fatty acid status (PUFAs), in particular the anti-inflammatory n-3 PUFAs, and the development of childhood asthma have yielded conflicting results.

Objective: To determine the associations between maternal fish intake (a rich source of the n-3 PUFAs), maternal or cord PUFAs with the prevalence of childhood asthma in a high fish-eating population.

Methods: We examined these associations between fish intake and PUFA concentrations with childhood asthma prevalence in the Seychelles Child Development Study Nutrition Cohort 2, a large observational study in a high fish-eating population.

Dietary selenium and mercury intakes from fish consumption during pregnancy: Seychelles Child Development Study Nutrition Cohort 2.

Some health agencies have issued precautionary principle fish advisories to pregnant women based on the presence of methylmercury (MeHg) in fish that could possibly be harmful to the developing fetus. Fish, however, is a rich source of selenium (Se) and other nutrients essential for normal brain development. Selenium is also thought to have a key role in alleviating MeHg toxicity.

Net effects explains the benefits to children from maternal fish consumption despite methylmercury in fish.

In 2001 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued precautionary advice to pregnant women to limit fish consumption over concern that the methylmercury content might harm their children's neurodevelopment.

KEAP1 polymorphisms and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with exposure to prenatal MeHg from the Seychelles Child Development Study Nutrition Cohort 2.

Background: Humans differ in the metabolism of the neurotoxicant methyl mercury (MeHg). This variation may be partially due to variation in genes encoding the transcription factor Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and its negative regulator Kelch-like ECH-Associated Protein 1 (KEAP1), which regulate glutathione and related transporter and antioxidant proteins that play a role in the metabolism and neurotoxicity of MeHg.

Aim: To elucidate a potential risk from genetic variation in NFE2L2 (encoding NRF2) and KEAP1 toward prenatal mercury exposure and child neurodevelopmental outcomes at 20 months and 7 years of age in a population with variable prenatal exposure to MeHg from maternal fish consumption.

Fish consumption and its lipid modifying effects - A review of intervention studies.

Fish is an important source of nutrients, particularly the long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs). The incorporation of fish into the diet has been shown to have several health benefits, including lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Elevated plasma lipids are one of the main modifiable risk factors contributing to CVD and may be partly mediated by n-3 PUFAs.

Potential role of selenium in modifying the effect of maternal methylmercury exposure on child neurodevelopment - A review.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for normal neurodevelopment. It is incorporated into multiple selenoenzymes which have roles in the brain and neurological function, the synthesis of thyroid hormones, the antioxidant defense system, DNA synthesis, and reproduction. Fish is a source of both Se and neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg).

A Bayesian Partial Membership Model for Multiple Exposures with Uncertain Group Memberships.

We present a Bayesian partial membership model that estimates the associations between an outcome, a small number of latent variables, and multiple observed exposures where the number of latent variables is specified . We assign one observed exposure as the sentinel marker for each latent variable. The model allows non-sentinel exposures to have complete membership in one latent group, or partial membership across two or more latent groups.

Associations between serum taurine concentrations in mothers and neonates and the children's anthropometrics and early neurodevelopment: Results from the Seychelles Child Development Study, Nutrition Cohort 2.

Background: High concentrations of taurine are present in the developing human brain and maternal breast milk. Taurine is thought to influence fetal growth and brain development based on experimental rodent studies. As fish is an important dietary source of taurine, we investigated associations between taurine concentrations and child outcomes in a high fish consuming population.

Vitamin D deficiency in nursing home residents: a systematic review.

Context: Vitamin D deficiency is a global public health issue, particularly in nursing home residents.

Objective: This review critically summarizes the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in nursing home residents worldwide. In addition, it outlines the effect of vitamin D intervention, alone or in combination with other nutrients or therapies, on improving vitamin D status and associated health outcomes in nursing home residents.

Associations of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids with bone mineral density and bone turnover in postmenopausal women.

Purpose: The immunomodulatory properties of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are reported to reduce bone loss through alteration of bone remodelling and n-3 LCPUFA, therefore, may benefit bone health in post-menopausal women, a vulnerable group at high risk of osteoporosis.

Methods: Measures of bone mineral density (BMD) were determined using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in 300 post-menopausal women. The bone turnover markers osteocalcin (OC), C-terminal telopeptides of type 1 collagen (CTX) and total alkaline phosphatase were quantified in serum along with urinary creatinine corrected deoxypyridinoline (DPD/Cr) and CTX/Cr and the CTX:OC ratio calculated.

Vitamin D and Bone Health of Older Adults within Care Homes: An Observational Study.

Limited studies have reported vitamin D status and health outcomes in care home residents, a group at risk of vitamin D deficiency. This study investigated serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentrations in older adults within care homes in Northern Ireland (NI) and its association with musculoskeletal health (ultrasound T-score, muscle strength, Timed Up & Go test (TUG)), bone turnover markers (BTMs), and immune function markers. A total of 87 participants were recruited with mean ± SD age 83.

Modeling the effects of multiple exposures with unknown group memberships: a Bayesian latent variable approach.

We propose a Bayesian latent variable model to allow estimation of the covariate-adjusted relationships between an outcome and a small number of latent exposure variables, using data from multiple observed exposures. Each latent variable is assumed to be represented by multiple exposures, where membership of the observed exposures to latent groups is unknown. Our model assumes that one measured exposure variable can be considered as a sentinel marker for each latent variable, while membership of the other measured exposures is estimated using MCMC sampling based on a classical measurement error model framework.

Nutrition policy: developing scientific recommendations for food-based dietary guidelines for older adults living independently in Ireland.

Older adults (≥65 years) are the fastest growing population group. Thus, ensuring nutritional well-being of the 'over-65s' to optimise health is critically important. Older adults represent a diverse population - some are fit and healthy, others are frail and many live with chronic conditions.

Associations between maternal thyroid function in pregnancy and child neurodevelopmental outcomes at 20 months in the Seychelles Child Development Study, Nutrition Cohort 2 (SCDS NC2).

Maternal thyroid hormones facilitate optimal foetal neurodevelopment; however, the exact role of the thyroid hormones on specific cognitive outcomes is unknown. The present study aimed to investigate associations between maternal thyroid function and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the Seychelles Child Development Study (SCDS) Nutrition 2 cohort ( 1328). Maternal free thyroid hormones (fT3, fT4 and fTSH) were assessed at 28 weeks' gestation with a range of child cognitive outcomes analysed at 20 months.

Serum cytokines are associated with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and not with methylmercury measured in infant cord blood in the Seychelles child development study.

Background: Maternal fish consumption increases infant methylmercury (MeHg) exposure and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations. The n-3 PUFA are regulators of inflammation while MeHg may impact the cord cytokine profile and, subsequently, contribute to immune mediated outcomes. This study aimed to investigate associations between infant MeHg exposure and cord cytokine concentrations while adjusting for cord PUFA.

Associations between maternal urinary iodine assessment, dietary iodine intakes and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the child: a systematic review.

Objective: Mild to moderate iodine deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. Few research studies to date combine assessment of urinary iodine (UIC and/or ICr), biomarkers that best reflect dietary intake, with reported dietary intake of iodine rich foods in their assessment of iodine deficiency. Thus, a systematic review was conducted to incorporate both these important measures.

Maternal Serum Cytokine Concentrations in Healthy Pregnancy and Preeclampsia.

The maternal immune response is essential for successful pregnancy, promoting immune tolerance to the fetus while maintaining innate and adaptive immunity. Uncontrolled, increased proinflammatory responses are a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The Th1/Th2 cytokine shift theory, characterised by bias production of Th2 anti-inflammatory cytokine midgestation, was frequently used to reflect the maternal immune response in pregnancy.

Maternal and child fatty acid desaturase genotype as determinants of cord blood long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) concentrations in the Seychelles Child Development Study.

Optimal maternal long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) status is essential for the developing fetus. The fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genes are involved in the endogenous synthesis of LCPUFA. The minor allele of various FADS SNP have been associated with increased maternal concentrations of the precursors linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA), and lower concentrations of arachidonic acid (AA) and DHA.

Associations of prenatal methylmercury exposure and maternal polyunsaturated fatty acid status with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 7 years of age: results from the Seychelles Child Development Study Nutrition Cohort 2.

Background: Fish is a primary source of protein and n-3 PUFA but also contains methylmercury (MeHg), a naturally occurring neurotoxicant to which, at sufficient exposure levels, the developing fetal brain is particularly sensitive.

Objectives: To examine the association between prenatal MeHg and maternal status of n-3 and n-6 PUFA with neurodevelopment, and to determine whether PUFA might modify prenatal MeHg associations with neurodevelopment.

Methods: We examined the Seychelles Child Development Study Nutrition Cohort 2 (NC2) at age 7 y.

An investigation of dietary intake, nutrition knowledge and hydration status of Gaelic Football players.

Purpose: To assess the dietary intake, nutrition knowledge and hydration status of Irish Gaelic footballers.

Method: One hundred and sixty-eight male club/county level Irish Gaelic footballers (median [IQR]; age 23 years [20.0, 27.

The influence of fish consumption on serum n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations in women of childbearing age: a randomised controlled trial (the iFish Study).

Purpose: Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) can be synthesised endogenously from linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) in a pathway involving the fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genes. Endogenous synthesis is inefficient; therefore, dietary intake of preformed LCPUFA from their richest source of fish is preferred. This study investigated the effect of fish consumption on PUFA concentrations in women of childbearing age while stratifying by FADS genotype.

Identification and characterisation of peptides from a boarfish (Capros aper) protein hydrolysate displaying in vitro dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory and insulinotropic activity.

Twenty-two novel dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides (with IC values <200 µM) and fifteen novel insulinotropic peptides were identified in a boarfish protein hydrolysate generated at semi-pilot scale using Alcalase 2.4L and Flavourzyme 500L. This was achieved by bioassay-driven semi-preparative reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography fractionation, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and confirmatory studies with synthetic peptides.