2022 ILSI Federation Scholar Travel Awardees

Dr. Boushra Dalile, Post-doctoral Researcher (Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID) - Department of chronic diseases and metabolism (CHROMETA)) at KU Leuven, Belgium

Abstract: The EAT-Lancet Commission has devised a sustainable ‘reference diet’ with the aim to reduce the incidence of non-communicable diseases and overall mortality. The extent to which this reference diet supports cognitive function across the life course has, however, not yet been evaluated. This perspective paper addresses whether the reference diet supports cognitive function from childhood into old age. A comprehensive but non-exhaustive literature search was conducted, synthesizing studies that investigated the impact of whole foods on cognition in healthy, community-dwelling human participants. We found that the current evidence base is weak with mixed conclusions and multiple methodological caveats, which precludes strong conclusions pertaining to the suitability of the reference diet’s recommended intake of each food group per age group. Long-term intervention as well as prospective cohort studies are needed to remedy this knowledge gap. Revising the EAT-Lancet Commission's recommendations with a goal to maintain an adequate nutrient intake to sustain healthy cognitive function across the life course may also be a worthy undertaking. To this end, we outline a set of recommendations for future work to help address the current knowledge gap and expand the implications of adhering to the EAT-Lancet Commission's reference diet.

Boushra Dalile obtained her Bachelor in Behavioral Studies (Psychology) from Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia at the age of 19. She completed a Master of Science in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Skövde, Sweden. She was awarded the Global Swede Award by The Swedish Institute and the best Master’s Thesis in Cognitive Neuroscience for the year 2016. Dr. Boushra Dalile is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID) at KU Leuven, Belgium. She was trained in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience (2012-2017) and holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from KU Leuven (2021), where she investigated the role of short-chain fatty acids in the human microbiota-gut-brain axis, particularly pertaining to psychophysiological stress- and fear-related responses under the supervision of Prof. Kristin Verbeke. Her research interests include the gut microbiota, dietary fiber, short-chain fatty acids as well as brain health in general, and psychological stress, anxiety, and cognition in particular. Currently, she is working on unravelling the mechanisms that mediate the effect of short-chain fatty acids on the stress response in human, and the implications of that on various brain functions. Her work was published in various peer-reviewed academic journals including Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Neuropsychopharmacology, and Psycho-neuroendocrinology.

Socioeconomic status impact on diet quality and body mass index in eight Latin American countries: ELANS study results - Dahiana Quesada, psychology student at the University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica

Abstract: Latin American countries are experiencing a nutrition transition, moving from underweight to excess weight. Data from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health shows that 59.6% of the populations had overweight and obesity. Obesity is a condition caused by multiple factors, among them behavioral and lifestyle practices, which may be affected by socio-demographic factors. Previous studies have described that socioeconomic and demographic characteristic carry an impact on lifestyle risk factors. Individuals from low socio-economic status tend to have unhealthier lifestyle practices and diets. Poor diet quality is associated with higher risk to develop several diseases as cancer, cardiometabolic disease, respiratory disease. To create more effective health public polices, it is crucial to understanding how sociodemographic factors impact diet quality and micronutrients intake. This study seeks to understand the impact of SES on diet quality and body mass index in a representative sample of Latin American individuals older than 15 years old. The ELANS is a multi-country, household, cross-sectional study aimed to describe the nutritional status, diet and physical activity from eight Latin American countries. The design of the ELANS study is available elsewhere. In the present analysis, data from adolescents and adults aged 15–65 years old were analyzed and were included the variables included sex (male vs. female), age group and SES.

Dietary intake data were obtained from two non-consecutive in-person 24 h dietary recall (24hR). Dietary quality score (DQS) and Dietary Diversity Score were evaluated. The prevalence of adequacy, for micronutrients, was determined using the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR), from the Institute of Medicine. The estimation of 17 out 18 micronutrients was calculated based on the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), except for sodium. The NAR value for a given nutrient is the ratio of a participant’s current nutrient intake to the EAR for the corresponding sex and age category. Values close to 1 for the NAR that recommended nutrient intake were achieved or exceeded. The food groups consumption varied among the three SES. The consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber and fish and seafood increased progressively with income level. Inversely, the consumption of processed meat and red meat were lower in high SES. Dairy and nuts and seeds groups intake were lower in the low SES. Regarding to micronutrient adequacy, NAR values for vitamins C, A, D differed among all SESs; magnesium and pyridoxin levels were significantly higher in the high SES, but they do not differ between low-middle SES. another. Calcium, copper, iron, cobalamin, thiamin and riboflavin were lower in the low SES. Finally, the MAR score was higher in the high-SES and differed significantly among all SES. For all countries, except for Peru, diet quality tended to increase across the SES. MAR values increased with SES in all countries. Body Mass Index did not differ among the SESs, moreover sex showed as determining factor in BMI differences. Women had significantly higher BMI than men in the middle and low SESs, also the proportion of women with abdominal obesity and was higher in the low SES. Our results showed a direct association between SES and diet quality, assessed by the diet quality score, the dietary diversity score and the nutrients adequacy ratio variables.

Health policies and behavioral-change strategies should be addressed to reduce the impact of socioeconomic factors on compromising a healthy diet and nutritional status, with gender as a level of vulnerability.

Dahiana Quesada is a Nutritionist and Dietician. She currently is a bachelor student in the Psychology Department at the University of Costa Rica. She also assists with scientific projects related to animal models, obesity, eating habits, diet, food consumption and sociodemographic determinants of the food consumption. She is a member of the Latin-American Study of Nutrition and Health (ELANS) group in Costa Rica.

The impact of birth weight inadequacy on neonatal survival in term newborns: a population-based study in a middle-income setting - Dr. Tulio Konstantyner, Professor and Head of Nutrition Unit - Department of Pediatric - São Paulo Federal University, Brasil

Abstract: Background: Neonatal deaths are mainly associated with complications of prematurity, intrapartum asphyxia, and neonatal infections. Birth weight inadequacy also affects neonatal survival in ways that may differ according to gestational age at birth. Aim: To test the association between the birth weight inadequacy with neonatal death in term live births. Methods: This is a cohort study, including all term live births (≥37 and <42 weeks) from 2004 to 2013 in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Data was retrieved with deterministic linkage of Death and Birth Certificates. We measured the outcome in terms of time to death (in days) and the status of each subject (death or censorship) at the end of the observation period, which was the neonatal period (0-27 days). Definition of very small and very large for gestational age (VSGA and VLGA) used the 10th percentile of 37 weeks and the 90th percentile of 41 weeks + 6 days, respectively, based on the Intergrowth21st. Survival functions were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method stratified according to the birth weight for gestational age (normal, very small or very large). The adjusted analysis of proportional hazard ratios was carried out using multivariate Cox regression. Results: Among 5,141,681 births, there were 6,186 neonatal deaths (rate: 12.03/10,000). The prevalence of VSGA and VLGA were 1.77% and 2.74% live births, respectively. The adjusted Cox regression showed a significant increase of mortality risk for VSGA infants (HR=4.25; 95%CI: 3.89;4.65), independently of sex, 1st minute Apgar score and five maternal factors. Conclusions: Birth-restricted weight approximately quadrupled the risk of neonatal death of term live births as a function of time in Sao Paulo State. The prevention of fetal growth retardation through adequate prenatal care, which supposedly includes controlling its risk, potentially contributes to the reduction of neonatal deaths in term live births.

Professor Tulio Konstantyner, MD, MSc, PhD is a pediatrician. His area of expertise is in nutrition. He is the Head of the discipline of Nutrology in the Department of Pediatrics at the University Federal de São Paulo (Escola Paulista de Medicina). Tulio is a titular member of the Scientific Department of Nutrology of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. He also serves as the scientific coordinator of the ILSI Brazil Child Nutrition Task Force.

Influence of dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces cultures on growth performance, fecal microbiota, blood profile, cholesterol contents and metagenomic study by replacing antibiotics as growth promoter in broilers - Dr. Subrota Hati, Assistant Professor at the Department of Dairy Microbiology, SMC College of Dairy Science, Kamdhenu University, India

Abstract: The study is aimed to optimize the growth conditions for the production of physiologically active peptides from fermented milks using probiotic lactic cultures and to separate, purify and characterize the novel peptides from fermented goat, camel, bovine and soy milks of Indian breeds for the wellbeing of the hosts. These fermented milks help to prevent then lifestyle diseases. The study is for the improvement of health and nutritional potential of traditional Indian fermented dairy foods through biotechnological interventions. Bioactive peptides with antihypertensive (ACE inhibitory), antioxidative, antimicrobial potential have been identified and characterized from fermented milks of camel, bovine, goat and soy. We have started to purify and characterize the bioactive peptides from different fermented milks (bovine, camel and goat of Indian origin) with potent indigenous well identified probiotic cultures viz., L. rhamnosus MTCC 5945 (NS4), L. rhamnosus MTCC 5946 (NS6), L. acidophilus NCDC (298), L. helveticus MTCC 5463 (V3), S. thermophilus MTCC 5460 (MD2), Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis MTCC 25066 (NK6), L. fermentum TDS030603 (LBF). Their suitability in product manufacture was also evaluated by studying their growth pattern in milks, by measuring rate of acid production, pH and bacterial counts and other physico-chemical parameters. Fermented camel milk was prepared using proteolytic Lactobacillus rhamnosus MTCC 5945 (NS4), which was analyzed for X-prolyl-dipeptidyl aminopeptidase activity and Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. Fractionated 3 kDa, 5 kDa and 10 kDa permeate and retentate samples were further analyzed for ACE-inhibitory activity under the optimized growth conditions. Subsequently, we have isolated and purified the novel peptides with free radical scavenging activity, antioxidative activity and ACE-inhibitory activity, antimicrobial and antidiabetic activities through in vitro and in vivo studies and also developed functional fermented milks with these activities.

The influence of dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus cultures on growth performance, fecal microbiota, blood profile and cholesterol contents by replacing antibiotics as growth promoter in broilers with increasing concerns about antibiotic resistance was studied as well. There is increasing interest in finding alternatives to antibiotics for poultry production. Feeding of strong lactic acid bacteria with proven probiotic attributes could be an alternative for the replacement of antibiotics in poultry feeds for the production of antibiotic free eggs and meat production. In the present study, Two Lactobacillus cultures i.e. L. plantarum (KGL3A, GN: MF951099) and L. fermentum (KGL4, GN: MG722814) were considered as an alternative to growth promoter (Antibiotics). Whole genome sequence of L. plantarum (KGL3A, GI: MF951099) and L. fermentum (KGL4, GI: MG722814) were submitted in the NCBI. Lactic acid bacteria could be an alternative for antibiotic free meat and egg production in future.

Dr. Subrota Hati is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dairy Microbiology, SMC College of Dairy Science, Kamdhenu University, Anand, Gujarat, India. Dr. Hati obtained his Doctorate Degree in dairy microbiology from the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India (2008-2012). Dr. Hati completed his post-doctoral study at The University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Australia. Dr. Hati’s research focuses on producing antibiotic free meat and eggs from broilers using dietary supplements with well characterized probiotic cultures. He is also exploring the biofunctionalities of novel peptides through fermentation using potent indigenous Lactic acid bacteria with probiotic potential to promote the health benefits of the consumers.

Dietary Risk Assessment of 2-/3- Monochloropropanediol esters (MCPDEs) and Glycidyl esters (GEs) in the Taiwanese Population: the implications for food safety management strategies - Dr. Wei-Hsiang Chang, Assistant Professor, Food Safety/Hygiene and Risk Management, NCKU, Taiwan

Abstract: Glycidyl esters (GEs) and monochloropropandiol esters (MCPDEs), both the emerging class of food-borne process contaminants, are formed in acid-hydrolyzed vegetable protein and fat-based matrices exposed to high temperature. They are always used as foods or food ingredients in the processed food or baby food in our daily life. These process-induced contaminants have been shown to be potentially carcinogenic, genotoxic and/or nephrotoxicity, making their occurrence in foods a potential concern. Glycidol and 3-MCPD have been classified as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) and possible carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), respectively. Considering the potential health risks connected with exposure to 3-MCPD and Glycidol via food intake, some risk management plans have been introduced, including the modification of the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 2 μg/kg/day for 3-MCPD and suggesting “as-low-as-reasonably achievable (ALARA)” for GEs exposure. Until now, the levels of 24 of MCPDEs and 7 of GEs in fats and oils, processed foods, whole grains, beans and nuts, dairy products, snacks, condiment, composite food, infant foods and supplement products have not been well studied. The objectives of the present study are to investigate the contamination profiles of MCPDE/GE in processed food and conduct a dietary intake risk assessment for Taiwanese. Additionally, to explore the relative contribution of MCPDE/GE in different raw materials and processes methods. 24 of MCPDEs and 7 of GEs in 280 food samples were analyzed with HPLC-MS/MS. Moreover, 3-MCPD in 28 condiment samples were analyzed with GC/MS. The highest level of 2-/3-MCPDEs and GEs (expressed as equivalent level) were found in edible oil (114-925 μg/kg), followed by snacks (85.1-220 μg/kg) and composite food (57.4-204 μg/kg). The concentration of free 3-MCPD in condiment (ND-55.4 μg/kg) was far lower than esters form. The trend analysis indicated group which food manufacturing process with baking/frying and high fat/salt content, 2-/3-MCPDEs and GEs level significantly increased (β=10.2-39.0, Ptrend<0.001). For the general population, the P95 ADDs for 2-/3-MCPDEs, and GEs was ranged from 0.55-2.36 μg/kg/day, 1.92-8.61 μg/kg/day, and 0.75-3.76 μg/kg/day, respectively. The highest P95 ADDs of 2-/3- MCPDEs and GEs were found in 0-3 years old child and the major contribution from whole grains (22.4-24.5%), composite food (20.2-22.2%), and infant food (12.3-18.4%). In the conservative scenario, the P95 HI of 2-/3-MCPDEs in all groups were ranged from 1.19-5.34, higher than 1 indicated the dietary intake health risk of 2-/3-MCPDEs is unacceptable risk. The P95 MOE of GEs in all groups were ranged from 2,712-13,619 (calculated by T25) and 638-3,205 (calculated by BMDL10), lower than the recommended value of EFSA and JECFA also indicated dietary intake health risk of GEs is unacceptable risk. We recommended Taiwan FDA needs to strengthen the management strategies, and the industry should also improve the production process to reduce the residue of MCPDE/GE in food.

Dr. Wei-Hsiang Chang holds a Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degrees in Environmental Science and Exposure, Mass spectrometry, Epidemiology & Risk analysis from the National Cheng Kung University. He is a faculty in the Department of Food Safety & Hygiene and Risk Management, NCKU. Dr. Wei-Hsiang 's work cuts across food safety and risk analysis, to environmental health, risk assessments of food additives and monitoring emerging contaminants. He focuses on defining sources, magnitudes, consequences and risk of human exposure to environmental and foodborne contaminants, as well as identifying and evaluating strategies to reduce hazard exposures and communicate with the public. His work actively aims to contribute several UN Global Sustainable Development Goals including good health and well-being and responsible consumption and production.

Regional assessment of kharif maize under future climate scenarios in Tamil Nadu - Dr. S. Kokilavani, Assistant Professor (Agrl. Meteorology) at the Agro Climate Research Centre at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India

Abstract: General Circulation Models are the main tools accessible to project future change in climate with response to various greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Climate   change   impact   assessment of maize production was carried out by downscaling of GCM model CCSM4 using Regional Climate Model RegCM4.4 for RCP4.5 scenario and were incorporated into Infocrop model.

InfoCrop model is widely used to study the impact and adaptation of climate change for different crops in India. The model has reasonably predicted the crop phenology and yield of Kharif Maize. Among the different districts of Tamil Nadu, Madurai and Virdhunagar were found to come under Most Efficient Cropping Zone for maize crop. Hence, the impact of climate change was addressed to those districts. In the near century, the yield is likely to decline from the base period for Madurai and Virudhunagar districts (8447 Kg/ha & 9117 Kg/ha) to the tune of 29 & 31 per cent (6006 Kg/ha & 6250 Kg/ha) without any adaptation strategies.

Adjusting the sowing window is one of the non-monetary strategic options which could be envisioned to the farmers of Tamil Nadu. The same was employed in the InfoCrop model with fortnight interval of sowing from normal sowing window (30th June). Delayed sowing (15th July) recorded higher yield of 6712 Kg/ha for Madurai and 7096 Kg/ha for Virudhunagar when compared with the normal and advancing sowing window (15th June).

Dr. S. Kokilavani is presently working as an Assistant Professor, at the Agro Climate Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. She is involved in the TNAU Medium Range Weather Forecast at Block level for next six years and this was awarded as one of best 100 project in India during 2016 by Skoch International. She is one of the key scientists in the development of “TNAU - AAS: Web cum Mobile App” - Automated weather based agro advisory services which has State wise adoption in Tamil Nadu and “TNAU - LSSRF” - Seasonal Rainfall Forecast given to both southwest and northeast monsoon for Tamil Nadu. She occupied the position of Secretary in the Association of Agrometeorologist, Coimbatore Chapter. She was an awardee for Junior Scientist in 2015 by the National Environmental Science Academy and for Young Women in Agriculture in 2017 by the Venus International Women Awards.