Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) is one of the most common uncomfortable symptoms of women in early pregnancy. A total of 303 Chinese pregnant women from 10 urban cities in their first trimester were recruited in this study to collect their sociodemographic characteristics and their NVP occurrence. Their dietary nutrient and food intakes were also collected by a 24 h dietary recall and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ). Using the univariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis to estimate the correlation between NVP and dietary intake, we found that 255 (84.1%) pregnant women experienced NVP during their first trimester. The intake of energy, protein, fat, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin E, phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc was lower in women with NVP than in those with no NVP. Additionally, women with NVP were more likely to have insufficient intake of protein, riboflavin, calcium, phosphorus and selenium. In terms of specific food groups, the average daily intake of mushrooms, algae, nuts and seeds, meat, eggs and dairy products in the NVP group was lower. Women in the severe NVP group even had insufficient gestational weight gain. We should pay more attention to women who experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and provide them with targeted nutritional support.

Sea buckthorn berries have been reported to have beneficial effects on plasma lipid profile and cardiovascular health. This study aimed to investigate the impact of intervention with sea buckthorn berry puree on plasma metabolomics profile and gut microbiota in hypercholesterolemic subjects. A total of 56 subjects with hypercholesterolemia consumed 90 g of sea buckthorn berry puree daily for 90 days, and plasma metabolomic profile was studied at 0 (baseline), 45, and 90 days of intervention by using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR). Gut microbiota composition was analyzed at the baseline and after 90 days of supplementation by using high-throughput sequencing. The plasma metabolic profile was significantly altered after 45 days of intervention as compared to the baseline (day 0). A clear trend of returning to the baseline metabolomic profile was observed in plasma when the intervention extended from 45 days to 90 days. Despite this, the levels of several key plasma metabolites such as glucose, lactate, and creatine were lowered at day 90 compared to the baseline levels, suggesting an improved energy metabolism in those patients. In addition, intervention with sea buckthorn puree enriched butyrate-producing bacteria and other gut microbes linked to lipid metabolisms such as Prevotella and Faecalibacterium while depleting Parasutterella associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease. These findings indicate that sea buckthorn berries have potential in modulating energy metabolism and the gut microbiota composition in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (Lp N1115) was isolated from fermented milk products. The administration of Lp N1115 is safe and well tolerated in Chinese children, but its effectiveness among young Chinese children is still unclear. To investigate the efficacy of Lp N1115 as a probiotic to enhance gut development in Chinese infants and toddlers born by cesarean section, 109 healthy and cesarean-delivered infants aged 6–24 months were recruited for a 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled trial, with 101 finally completing the study. Saliva and stool samples were collected and detected at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12 of the intervention. Statistical analyses were performed by using a per-protocol (PP) approach. After 12 weeks of intervention, the fecal pH in the control group increased (p = 0.003), while the fecal pH in the experimental group did not change. Salivary cortisol decreased from baseline in the experimental group (p = 0.023), while the control group showed little change. In addition, Lp N1115 increased the fecal sIgA content of infants aged 6–12 months (p = 0.044) but had no obvious effect on fecal calprotectin and saliva sIgA. At week 4, the increase in Lactobacillus relative to baseline was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p = 0.019). Further analysis showed a trend toward a higher detection rate of Lactobacillus in the experimental group than in the control group (p = 0.039). In conclusion, Lp N1115 was able to enhance the content of Lactobacillus and maintain fecal pH levels. Its beneficial effects on gut development were more obvious in 6–12-month-old infants.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between daily screen time, picky eating, and consumption frequency of sugared foods and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Methods: The research data came from the Young Investigation (YI) study conducted in 10 cities in China. This study used sociodemographic information, feeding behavior, picky eating reported by parents, and the consumption frequency of sugared foods and SSBs of 879 toddlers aged 1–3 years. The relationship between daily screen time and picky eating behavior was assessed using logistic regression. The zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) model was used to fit the consumption frequencies of sugared foods and SSBs. Results: In all, 13.1% (n = 115) of toddlers did not have sugared foods 1 month before the survey, while 73.3% (n = 644) of toddlers did not have SSBs 1 month before the survey. The consumption rate of sugared foods was relatively higher than SSBs (χ² = 661.25, p < 0.001). After adjusting for social demographic information, no relationship was found between daily screen time and picky eating (OR = 1.437; 95% CI: 0.990,2.092). The ZINB model showed that, among children who ate sugared foods, children who were picky eaters ate them more often (IRR = 1.133; 95% CI: 1.095,1.172), but no association was found between picky eating and the chance of avoiding sugared foods (OR = 0.949; 95% CI: 0.613,1.471). Children who were picky eaters were less likely not to drink SSBs (OR = 0.664; 95% CI: 0.478,0.921). However, among children who consumed SSBs, picky eaters drank them less frequently (IRR = 0.599; 95% CI: 0.552,0.650). Children with a screen time of no less than 1 h/d ate sugared foods more frequently (IRR = 1.383; 95% CI: 1.164,1.644), and they were less likely to avoid sugared foods (OR = 0.223; 95% CI: 0.085,0.587). The longer the screen time per day was, the less likely children did not have SSBs (<1 h/d: OR = 0.272; 95% CI: 0.130, 0.569; ≥1 h/d: OR = 0.136; 95% CI: 0.057, 0.328). Conclusions: The consumption rate of sugared foods was higher than that of SSBs. Picky eating and daily screen time were related to the consumption frequency of added sugar among Chinese toddlers aged 1–3 years. Picky eaters consumed sugared foods more frequently and were more likely to drink SSBs. Children whose daily screen time reached 1 h/d were more likely to eat sugared foods and drink SSBs.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the safety and tolerance of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis YLGB-1496 (B. infantis YLGB-1496) in toddlers with respiratory illness. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 120 toddlers with respiratory illness were randomly assigned to the probiotic (YLGB-1496) or control group for a 12-week intervention. Follow-up examinations were conducted at baseline (week 0) and at weeks 6 and 12 of the intervention. Toddlers’ height and weight were measured by trained personnel, and defecation characteristics and gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded by parents or guardians. Stool samples were collected to determine the fecal pH, fecal calprotectin (FC) concentration, and fecal α1-antitrypsin (AAT) concentration. Results: A total of 115 toddlers completed the 12-week intervention (58 in the YLGB-1496 group and 57 in the control group). The height-for-age Z score (HAZ) in the YLGB-1496 group was significantly greater than that in the control group (p = 0.006). The weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) in the YLGB-1496 group increased between weeks 6 and 12, whereas the WAZ in the control group continuously decreased during the intervention. No differences in the frequency or consistency of defecation between the groups were observed. Toddlers in the YLGB-1496 group had lower incidences of poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomachache, lower abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dehydration (p < 0.05) but higher fecal AAT concentrations (p = 0.008) than did those in the control group. No differences in the fecal pH or FC concentration were observed between the groups. Conclusions: B. infantis YLGB-1496 demonstrated excellent safety and tolerability in toddlers and effectively reduced the gastrointestinal discomfort associated with respiratory illnesses.

Sn-2 palmitate is widely used in infant formula. However, little is known about its effects on metabolism and body composition in middle-aged and elderly adults. In a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, we enrolled Chinese adults aged 45–75 years with self-reported constipation. Individuals were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to a 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl-glycerol (OPO)-enriched oil (66% palmitic acid in the sn-2 position) or a control vegetable oil (24% palmitic acid in the sn-2 position) daily for 24 weeks. Skim milk powder was used as the carrier for both fats. Interviews and body composition were performed at baseline, week 4, week 12 and week 24. A fasting blood draw was taken except at week 4. This study was a secondary analysis and considered exploratory. A total of 111 adults (83 women and 28 men, mean age 64.2 ± 7.0 years) were enrolled, of whom 53 were assigned to the OPO group and 57 to the control group. During the intervention, blood glucose, triglyceride, the triglyceride-glucose index, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and remnant cholesterol remained stable, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased in both groups (p = 0.003). No differences in change were observed between the groups (all p > 0.05). From baseline to week 24, the level of visceral fat increased slightly (p = 0.017), while body weight, total body water, protein, soft lean mass, fat-free mass, skeletal muscle and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) decreased in two groups (p < 0.01). At weeks 4, 12 and 24, the SMI decreased less in the OPO group than in the control group, with a trend towards significance (p = 0.090). A 24-week daily intake of sn-2-palmitate-enriched oil had no adverse impact on fasting blood glucose, lipids and body composition compared with the control vegetable oil in Chinese adults (funded by Chinese Nutrition Society National Nutrition Science Research Grant, National Key Research and Development Program of China and Wilmar (Shanghai) Biotechnology Research & Development Center Co., Ltd.; ChiCTR1900026480).