This study investigates the causal relationship between 12 micronutrients and 6 upper gastrointestinal diseases using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary data for upper gastrointestinal diseases were obtained from FinnGen, and micronutrient data were sourced from the IEU OpenGWAS database. The primary analysis method was inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, supplemented by MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode methods. Radial MR and iterative leave-one-out analyses were performed to identify and remove outlier single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the stability and reliability of the results. The MR analysis of IVW results revealed significant causal associations between genetically predicted selenium (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.15, P = 0.02) and vitamin B12 (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.43-0.83, P = 0.003) with chronic gastritis. After outlier removal, several previously non-significant associations became statistically significant: potassium with gastric ulcer (OR = 0.64, P = 0.030), zinc with gastric ulcer (OR = 1.12, P = 0.009), selenium with gastroesophageal reflux disease (OR = 1.05, P = 0.038), and vitamin B6 with gastric cancer (OR = 0.36, P = 0.018). All significant findings remained robust across sensitivity analyses, with no evidence of heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy after outlier removal. This MR study suggests that genetically predicted selenium levels may increase chronic gastritis risk, while vitamin B12 may be protective. Novel associations were identified for potassium, zinc, selenium, and vitamin B6 after outlier removal, providing new insights into the roles of micronutrients in upper gastrointestinal diseases.

Diet during early infancy, as well as dietary patterns during childhood and parental feeding styles influence children’s eating behaviours and long-term health. While extensive data exist on the timing of complementary feeding introduction and recommended food frequencies during infancy and childhood, data on portion sizes during this period remains limited in Europe, despite their clear relevance for evaluating dietary patterns and supporting evidence-based guidance. This longitudinal study, secondary to the European Childhood Obesity Project (EU CHOP), aims to describe portion sizes consumed by infants and children aged 6 months to 8 years across five European countries. Dietary intake was recorded using 3-day food diaries and analysed by trained personnel following standardized procedures at multiple infant and childhood ages (6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 and 96 months). Portions sizes were calculated for 33 food groups and expressed as percentiles in the overall sample and stratified by country. A total of 1018 3-day food records were available at 6 months, with sample size gradually declining over the 11 follow-up time points to 400 records at 8 years. The results revealed a wide variation in portion sizes across food groups, ages and countries. Food portion sizes vary across food groups, age and countries. These findings provide reference percentiles representing typical portion sizes when foods are consumed. The data can support guidance provided to parents by healthcare professionals (pediatricians, nurses, and dietitian-nutritionists) and assist public health authorities in defining appropriate portion sizes and mitigating risks associated with both overeating and undereating, while respecting children’s hunger and satiety cues. These results also have practical applications in school meal planning and dietary assessment methodologies in research.

The trimester-specific association of prenatal dietary patterns with intrauterine fetal growth and neonatal birth size is unclear. We evaluated the trimester-specific association of prenatal dietary patterns with intrauterine fetal growth and neonatal birth size. A prospective pre-birth cohort study included 1,857 mother-neonate pairs in China. Food frequency questionnaires were used to assess the maternal diet across three trimesters. we used generalized estimating equation models to examine the longitudinal associations of prenatal dietary patterns with intrauterine fetal growth and neonatal birth size. In addition, we used multinomial logistic regression models and multivariable linear regression models to estimate the trimester-specific associations. 5.0% and 6.8% of the neonates were low birth weight and macrosomia births, respectively. We observed longitudinal positive associations of maternal adherence to a "dairy-egg pattern" over three trimesters with the risk of macrosomia births [tertile 3 (T3) vs. tertile 1 (T1): odds ratio = 1.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 2.65], and the association was more pronounced in the first trimester (T3 vs. T1: relative risk ratio = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.08, 4.18). Higher adherence to the "dairy-egg pattern" and the "fish-seafood pattern" in the second and third trimesters were associated with higher and lower risk of estimated fetal weight>90th percentile during corresponding trimesters, respectively. Trimester-specific dietary patterns were differentially associated with fetal growth trajectory and neonatal birth size. These findings highlight the importance of trimester-tailored dietary guidance for optimizing fetal growth during pregnancy.

Recent studies show that dietary intake of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) may be associated with chronic diseases, including hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate the association between BCAA intake and the incidence of hypertension. This longitudinal study included 3192 participants (M = 1067, F = 2125; mean age = 34 years) from the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME Study, 2016–2022), Brazil. BCAA intake was assessed using a validated 144-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Participants were classified as an incident case of hypertension when they were free of this disease at baseline and had systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg, or used antihypertensives or received a diagnosis of hypertension by a physician in at least one follow-up. Crude and adjusted Cox regression models were used to evaluate the association between BCAA intake and incidence of hypertension. After a median follow-up time of 2.21 years, 213 new cases of hypertension were identified. A direct association was shown between the second tertile of total BCAA (HR = 1.76; 95% CI 1.06–2.90) and isoleucine (HR = 2.04; 95% CI 1.14–3.62) consumption and the incidence of hypertension in males. A direct association was observed between the second tertile of valine (HR = 1.74; 95% CI 1.01–3.02) and leucine (HR = 1.94; 95% CI 1.10–3.41) intake and hypertension incidence among adults aged 30–39 years. Conversely, among younger participants (18–29 years), leucine intake in the second tertile was inversely associated with hypertension (HR = 0.36; 95% CI 0.14–0.89). The main foods that contributed to BCAA intake were unprocessed chicken (16.56%), dairy (16.33%), unprocessed beef (14.98%), fish (7.85%), and beans/lentils (6.44%). Our findings may provide valuable evidence to support dietary interventions for the primary prevention of hypertension.

Understanding key nutrient sources in the rapidly changing food environment is essential for advising balanced food choices across different diets. We examined the main food sources of macro- and micronutrients in Finnish children and their caregivers following vegan (VGN), vegetarian or pesco-vegetarian (VGT), and omnivorous (OMN) diets. In this cross-sectional study, food consumption and nutrient intakes were analyzed from 3-day food records and compared across diet groups in 73 children aged 2–7 years (n = 29, n = 18, and n = 26 for VGN, VGT, and OMN diets, respectively) and 93 caregivers (n = 34, n = 27, and n = 32). Dairy products and plant-based dairy alternatives (PBDAs), the latter often fortified, were the most significant sources of calcium, riboflavin, vitamin D and vitamin B12. In both children and adults, higher consumption of pulses, seeds, nuts and PBDAs contributed to greater intake of fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and folate in the VGT and VGN groups compared to the OMN. The VGN diet was associated with a more favourable fat quality (highest intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids, lowest intake of saturated fatty acids); however, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were absent from diets that contained no fish or eggs. Consumption of fortified dairy and PBDA products was widespread and played an important role in supporting adequate nutrition across different diet groups. Greater attention should be given to dietary sources of iodine and long-chain n-3 fatty acids.

Current antidepressants targeting neurotransmitters often fail to alleviate symptoms. Alternative hypotheses suggest inflammation may trigger an alternative route that converts tryptophan into kynurenine, reducing the bioavailability of tryptophan to synthesize serotonin while producing neuroactive metabolites such as quinolinic acid (QUINA, excitotoxic) and kynurenic acid (KYNA, neuroprotective). This study evaluates the effects on these systems of a specific strain of Ligilactobacillus salivarius (L. salivarius), identified in the Spanish Type Culture Collection as CECT 30632, in a preclinical model depression. Male Wistar rats (n = 32) were divided into control (CT) and chronic mild stress (CMS) groups, treated with either vehicle or L. salivarius CECT 30632 for four weeks, starting one week before CMS exposure. Behavioral assessments, including the splash test (ST) and open field test (OF), were conducted. Biochemical analyses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), plasma, and frontal cortex (FC) samples assessed antioxidant markers phospho-nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (p-Nrf2) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1), as well as tryptophan metabolites. In the ST, L. salivarius CECT 30,632 reduced latency to groom, indicating improved anhedonia and self-care, while no changes were observed in the OF test. CMS reduced p-Nrf2 and GPx1 expression in PBMCs, which was restored by L. salivarius CECT 30,632. This bacterium also reduced the QUINA/KYNA ratio in plasma and FC, suggesting a lower excitotoxicity risk. Ligilactobacillus salivarius CECT 30632 improved behavioral outcomes, enhanced antioxidant defenses, and modulated tryptophan metabolism in a rat model of CMS. These findings support its potential as a probiotic intervention for depression.