Moving towards sustainable food systems and food consumption are proposed as strategies to reduce environmental impact. However, these strategies require joint action between different stakeholders, including the general population’s knowledge and perception, as final consumers. To assess the knowledge and awareness on food sustainability and environmental impact concepts in a representative sample of Spanish adult population, we conducted a cross-sectional, nationally representative telephone survey. After random selection, 2052 respondents aged ≥18 years (57% woman and 43% men) participated. A questionnaire was specifically designed for the research. Participants showed a good attitude towards sustainable diets, which were described as healthy by 40% of the population. Most of the responders (>70%), did not well understand ecological and carbon footprints, and green and blue water concepts. Men declared a higher understanding of sustainability concepts, as compared to women. More than 50% of the population misunderstood the impact of meat and derivatives production on sustainability, and 70% perceived the same for fish and dairy products. Women were more prone to pay more money to afford a sustainable diet than men were. In conclusion, although consumers show a positive attitude towards sustainability, important misconceptions remain, and thus require intervention through education, information, and motivation.

Adequate nutrition during breastfeeding is crucial for ensuring the good health of mothers and babies. Despite the high energy and nutrient demands of breastfeeding, lactating women are often vulnerable from a nutritional perspective. The nutritional focus during breastfeeding tends to be on the newborn, often neglecting the mother’s diet. Therefore, in the present narrative review, nutrient intakes were compared with the dietary reference values (DRVs) proposed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as well as by the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization (WHO/FAO). In the diets of lactating mothers, dietary inadequacies were observed in the intake of some vitamins, such as folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and vitamin D, and in the intake of certain minerals like calcium, iron, and iodine; polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies, primarily in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, were also observed. On the other hand, the debate on the necessity of supplementation during lactation continues; the need for nutritional supplementation during lactation depends on many factors, such us mothers’ eating habits. There seems to be a positive association between nutritional supplementation of the lactating mother and the concentration of certain nutrients in human milk. The present narrative review provides an update on the nutritional status (fatty acids and micronutrients) of breastfeeding mothers and the impact of diet and dietary supplementation on human milk composition.

Background: Folic acid (FA), which in its chemical form is pteroylglutamic acid, is the fully oxidised, water-soluble, monoglutamic form of vitamin B9. This compound is part of the folate group but with higher bioavailability, and it is found in vitamin supplements and fortified foods and drugs. Folate metabolism is complex and associated with various metabolic pathways, all of which confer protection on the cell and allow its survival. Methods: We conducted a non-systematic search of articles published in English and Spanish including controlled trials, cohort studies, systematic re-views, and meta-analyses were included, as well as key studies in animal models related to pharmacokinetic studies. Search terms encompassed: “folic acid”, “folates”, “5-metyltetrahydrofolate”, “5-MTHF”, “neural tube defects”, “supplementation”, “fortification”, AND “homocysteine” Results: A crucial role demonstrated for FA is to help prevent neural tube defects (NTDs). However, more studies are definitely still needed to establish 5-MTHF as a safe and effective therapeutic approach comparable with FA. Moreover, there is a lack of clinical studies that evaluate the efficacy of 5-MTHF supplementation in the prevention of NTDs. The present evidence-based narrative review discusses differences between FA and 5-MTHF in terms of structure, metabolism, bioavailability, clinical efficacy, and safety. Conclusions: Despite the potential value of 5-MTHF as an alternative to FA, clinical studies would be urgently needed to support the efficacy, dosage, timing, and/or safety of its use as a supplement.

Background: An adequate hydration status is critical to ensure efficiency during mental and physical activities. Our goal was to assess the hydration status of a Spanish group of aeronautical military men and to determine the association of hydration status with body composition and anxiety. Methods: A total of 188 men were evaluated through a validated hydration questionnaire, anthropometric and biochemical parameters, and an anxiety questionnaire. Based on these methods, the criteria of hydration were established. Results: Of the total sample, 81% met the hydration criteria (urine color = well hydrated, water balance ≥ 0 ml, and total water intake/weight ≥ 35 ml/kg), and 19% did not meet the hydration criteria (urine color = not sufficiently hydrated or dehydrated, water balance < 0 ml, and total water intake/weight < 35 ml/kg). Subjects not meeting the hydration criteria had lower urine pH, negative water balance, and lower water intake. The latter also had higher anxiety status (score = 4 vs. 3, P = 0.026), weight [(84.7 ± 10.5) vs. (80.5 ± 10.2) kg], body mass index [(26.3 ± 3.1) vs. (25.2 ± 2.8)]kg/m ² , body fat [(22.3 ± 5.6) vs. (18.3 ± 6.5)] %, urine specific gravity, and urine color. Using a logistic binary regression model, hydration status was related significantly with the percentage of body fat ( P = 0.004), but no relation was found with age, comorbidities, or medications. Furthermore, total water intake/weight was positively correlated with percentage of body water ( r = 0.357, P = 0.000) and negatively with body fat (kg) ( r = − 0.427, P = 0.000), percentage of body fat ( r = − 0.405, P = 0.000), and waist/hip ratio ( r = − 0.223, P = 0.002). Based on a linear regression model, total water intake/weight was related significantly with percentage of body fat ( P = 0.001) and percentage of body water content ( P = 0.035). No relation was found, however, with waist/hip ratio, age, comorbidities, or medications. Conclusions: These findings all suggest a relationship between hydration status and body composition but also set the bases for future studies that relate hydration status and anxiety status. These results can be used to improve the hydration status and body composition of military personnel.

Overweight and obesity amongst childhood are currently global health issues. However, this is the best stage of life to prevent diseases and to promote healthy habits. In our study, we evaluate the effectiveness of the THAO Salud Infantil, a community-based intervention program, by means of a cross-sectional study carried out from 2009 to 2019 surveying children aged 3 to 12 years old (n = 27,686). During the study timeframe, overweight and obesity prevalence, according to both the International Obesity Task Force and Orbegozo Foundation criteria, showed a downward trend. Differences in the anthropometric variables were observed from the beginning to the end of the study, mainly in girls. Analysis of the influence of the socioeconomic status revealed that children from families with lower incomes are in greater risk of suffering from overweight and obesity and showed lower effectiveness of the actions proposed by the program. The overall results of the study confirmed the effectiveness of community-based interventions in terms of childhood overweight/obesity prevention.

Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity and nutritional inequalities remain major public health challenges, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged settings. In Spain, these disparities are reflected in unequal access to healthy food and differing health outcomes among the young population. This study aimed to explore how social vulnerability influences dietary patterns, body composition, and food insecurity among children and adolescents, with a particular focus on sex differences. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 280 participants aged 6 to 15 years old, recruited from urban areas across Spain. Two groups were evaluated, a socioeconomically vulnerable group (VG) (n = 175) and a non-vulnerable group (NVG) (n = 105), classified according to socioeconomic and social established criteria. Validated tools were used to assess diet quality, adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD), consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), and household food insecurity. Anthropometric measurements were also collected, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated using both national and international reference standards. Results: Vulnerable children and adolescents showed higher prevalence of food insecurity, less favorable body composition indicators, and lower global dietary quality, characterized by lower adherence to the MD and higher consumption of UPF. Multivariate analysis confirmed that socioeconomic vulnerability was significantly associated with female sex, higher BMI, lower adherence to the MD, and greater consumption of UPF. Conclusions: Our findings highlight a concerning pattern of health and nutritional inequality among children and adolescents based on socioeconomic status. There is a clear and urgent need for effective public health strategies with an equity focus that promote healthy and affordable eating habits from early life, especially in the most disadvantaged environments and targeted by gender.