Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis is a prevalent member of the gut microbiota of breastfed infants. In this study, the effects of human breastmilk-derived B.longum subsp. infantis CCFM1269 on bone formation in developing BALB/c mice were investigated. Newborn female and male mice were assigned to control group (administered saline), CCFM11269 group (administered B. longum subsp. infantis CCFM1269, 1 × 10₉ CFU/mouse/day) and I5TI group (administered B. longum subsp. infantis I5TI, 1 × 10₉ CFU/mouse/day) from 1-week-old to 3-, 4- and 5-week old. B. longum subsp. infantis I5TI served as a negative control in this study. The results demonstrated that B. longum subsp. infantis CCFM1269 promoted bone formation in growing mice by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota and metabolites. The expression of genes and proteins in the PI3K/AKT pathway was stimulated by B. longum subsp. infantis CCFM1269 through the GH/IGF-1 axis in growing mice. This finding suggests B. longum subsp. infantis CCFM1269 may be useful for modulating bone metabolism during growth.

Nutrition plays an important and modifiable role in bone health. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary diversity on the risk of any type of fracture in adults. Data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey collected between waves 1997 and 2015 were used. A total of 10,192 adults aged 40 years and older were included in the analysis. Both dietary diversity score (DDS) based on Chinese dietary guidelines (DDS-CDG) and minimum dietary diversity for women (DDS-MDD-W) were computed. Cox proportional hazards regression models were conducted to determine the association. Stratified analyses were conducted in women by the age of fracture using the case-control study approach. In men, higher scores in both the DDS-CDG (hazard ratio (HR) 0.70, 95% CI 0.56–0.88) and DDS-MDD-W (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.54–0.82) were associated with decreased risk of fracture, however, the associations were not significant in women (DDS-CDG: HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.79–1.12; DDS-MDD-W: HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.79–1.09). In the stratified analyses, higher DDS-CDG (odds ratio (OR) 0.74, 95% CI 0.58–0.95) and higher DDS-MDD-W (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.60–0.95) were associated with lower risks of fracture in women aged 40 to 60 years; in women aged over 60 years, no association was observed (DDS-CDG: OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.83–1.46; DDS-MDD-W: OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.79–1.27). In summary, higher dietary diversity was associated with decreased risk of fracture in men and middle-aged women, but not in women aged over 60 years.

Background: China is currently developing standards for Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) targeting for oncology patients. However, substantial challenges remain in defining optimal fortification levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs). Accumulating evidence suggests that ω-3 PUFA intake improves postoperative prognosis by modulating oncological parameters in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ω-3 PUFA supplementation in enhancing postoperative safety and recovery stability following CRC surgery, to address critical gaps in nutritional interventions for optimizing clinical outcomes. These findings are expected to FSMP standard development, clinical nutrition protocols and product innovation. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, across major databases until June 16, 2025. Data were analyzed using RevMan v5.4 (Cochrane Collaboration). Results: Thirty-four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n = 2889) were included. Compared to controls, the ω-3 PUFAs group showed significantly increased levels of nutritional markers: total protein (p < 0.00001), albumin (p = 0.001); immunological parameters: CD3⁺/CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-cells, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio (all p < 0.0001); Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scores (p = 0.04); and serum ω-3 PUFA concentrations (p = 0.0004). Significant reductions were observed in inflammatory markers, such as procalcitonin, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (p = 0.004 to < 0.00001); and clinical outcomes, such as hospitalization duration (p < 0.00001), infectious complications (p < 0.00001), anastomotic leakage (p = 0.0005), surgical site infections (p = 0.03). No significant intergroup differences were detected for white blood cells, transcription factor activity, mortality, or crypt cell proliferation indices (p = 0.06–0.55). Conclusions: Overall, ω-3 PUFA supplementation significantly attenuates postoperative inflammation, enhances immune function, shortens hospitalization, and improves the quality of life in CRC patients, though without mortality benefit. Notably, post hoc dose–response analysis identified a supplementation range of 0.16–0.30 g/kg/day as a potentially optimal supplementation range for Chinese CRC populations, providing foundational evidence for clinical practice and FSMP standardization.

Childhood overweight/obesity has emerged as a pressing public health concern globally, and the impact of the food environment on children's diets and health outcomes has gained heightened attention. Comprehensive and child-specific monitoring systems are critical for guiding targeted interventions and policies. This review aimed to synthesize recent literature on food environment indicators associated with children with overweight/obesity using the 4A framework, including food availability, accessibility, affordability, and appeal. We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed literature (2020-2025). This systematic review is guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and involved narrative synthesis and framework-based classification (CRD420251116187). A total of 75 observational and 6 intervention studies are included. Indicators related to availability (e.g., home food supply and fast food outlet density) and accessibility (e.g., proximity to healthy food stores) are most commonly studied, whereas affordability and appeal indicators (e.g., food pricing and marketing exposure) are less frequently addressed. Current evidence underscores deficiencies in the measurement and monitoring of the food environment for children, which is important to prevent and manage childhood overweight/obesity using integrated indicators at home, schools, communities, and society. Moreover, there is a necessity to develop a standardized, child-centered food environment monitoring system, facilitating prompt, equity-sensitive policy action to address children with overweight/obesity on a worldwide scale, which also supports global sustainable development. This systematic review paper will be useful for selecting indicators to construct a food environment monitoring system.

Objective: To identify major sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption patterns among Chinese children and adolescents and examine their associations with childhood overweight/obesity. Methods: Data were drawn from the Chinese Food Consumption Survey (2017–2020), including 7979 children and adolescents. SSB intake was assessed using a non-consecutive 3-day 24 h dietary recall and classified into nine types. Principal component analysis identified SSB consumption patterns. Nutritional status was defined using BMI Z-scores, following the World Health Organization growth standards. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the associations between SSB patterns and overweight/obesity, with subgroup analyses by sex, age, and residence area. Results: Three major SSB patterns were identified: (1) Carbonated Beverage and Milk Tea Pattern (dominated by carbonated beverages and milk tea); (2) Functional Beverages Pattern (dominated by coffee beverages and sports beverages); and (3) Plant Hybrid Pattern (dominated by plant protein beverages and plant-based beverages). Preschool-aged children exhibited lower scores across all three patterns. Higher pattern scores were observed among school-aged children and adolescents and those with lower parental education levels, parents working as unskilled labor or homemakers, lower family annual income per capita, and residence in rural areas. All three identified SSB consumption patterns demonstrated significant positive associations with overweight/obesity in children, where higher consumption levels corresponded to greater odds of overweight/obesity. Children exhibiting higher scores in two or more patterns had higher odds of being overweight/obese (Medium-high: OR = 1.249, 95% CI = 1.053, 1.482; High: OR = 1.256, 95% CI = 1.081, 1.459). Subgroup analysis further indicated that the association between the Plant Hybrid Pattern score and overweight/obesity varied significantly by sex. Conclusions: Three SSB consumption patterns were associated with a higher likelihood of overweight/obesity among Chinese children, particularly among those with preferences for multiple SSB types. Interventions should be tailored to SSB consumption habits and socioeconomic contexts, with special attention to rural populations.

Background:Food allergies, particularly to peanuts and milk, are an increasing global health concern with few safe and effective interventions. Lactoferrin (LF), a multifunctional glycoprotein abundant in human milk, has immunomodulatory and gut-protective properties. However, the therapeutic potential of LF and the mechanism of action against specific food allergies remain incompletely understood.Methods:Five-week-old female BALB/c (Bagg ALBino c series) mice were sensitized intraperitoneally with peanut protein or whey protein combined with aluminum adjuvant to establish peanut or milk allergy models. Mice were then randomized into nine groups (n = 10): normal control, allergy model, dexamethasone positive control, and low-dose (0.1 mg/kg) or high-dose (1 mg/kg) LF intervention groups. After two weeks of oral LF administration, clinical symptoms, body weight changes, serum allergen-specific Immunoglobulin G1 [IgG1] and Immunoglobulin G2a [IgG2a] levels (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]), splenic T helper 2 cell [Th2] cytokines (interleukin-5 [IL-5], interleukin-13 [IL-13]), immune organ indices, and jejunal and ileal histopathology were assessed.Results:LF intervention significantly reduced clinical allergy symptoms in both peanut- and milk-sensitized mice compared with model groups. In the milk allergy model, LF significantly reduced serum levels of both IgG2a and IgG1 (≥20 pg/mL reduction; p < 0.05). The reductions were statistically significant only in the milk model (p < 0.05). LF suppressed splenic IL-5 and IL-13 secretion (≥1 pg/mL reduction; p < 0.01). LF also mitigated allergy-induced elevation of the spleen index (≥1.5% reduction; p < 0.05) and improved intestinal villus structure, with reduced inflammatory infiltration. Notably, dose- and allergen-dependent effects were observed: low-dose LF (0.1 mg/kg) was more effective for milk allergy, while high-dose LF (1 mg/kg) was more effective for peanut allergy.Conclusion:Dietary LF supplementation effectively alleviates peanut and milk allergy responses in juvenile mice, as evidenced by reduced clinical symptoms, suppression of Th2-type cytokines (IL-5, IL-13) and total IgG subclasses, and protection of intestinal barrier integrity. These findings provide preclinical evidence supporting LF as a natural nutritional intervention strategy for managing food allergies in infants and young children. However, the precise immune mechanisms remains to be further elucidated.