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Diet affects the intestinal microbiota. Increasingly, research is linking the intestinal microbiota to various human health outcomes. Consumption of traditional prebiotics (inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides, and galacto-oligosaccharides) confers health benefits through substrate utilization by select intestinal microorganisms, namely Bifidobacterium and Lactobacilli spp. A similar but distinct concept focused on microorganisms to support human health is through direct consumption of certain live microorganisms recognized as probiotics, which classically include Lactobacilli or Bifidobacterium strains. With advances in sequencing technologies and culturing techniques, other novel functional intestinal microorganisms are being increasingly identified and studied to determine how they may underpin human health benefits. These novel microorganisms are targeted for enrichment within the autochthonous intestinal microbiota through dietary approaches and are also gaining interest as next-generation probiotics because of their purported beneficial properties. Thus, characterizing dietary approaches that nourish select microorganisms in situ is necessary to propel biotic-focused research forward. As such, we reviewed the literature to summarize findings on dietary approaches that nourish the human intestinal microbiota and benefit health to help fill the gap in knowledge on the connections between certain microorganisms, the metabolome, and host physiology. The overall objective of this systematic review was to summarize the impact of dietary interventions with the propensity to nourish certain intestinal bacteria, affect microbial metabolite concentrations, and support gastrointestinal, metabolic, and cognitive health in healthy adults. Findings from the 17 randomized controlled studies identified in this systematic review indicated that dietary interventions providing dietary fibers, phytonutrients, or unsaturated fatty acids differentially enriched Akkermansia, Bacteroides, Clostridium, Eubacterium, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Ruminococcus species, with variable effects on microbial metabolites and subsequent associations with physiologic markers of gastrointestinal and metabolic health. These findings have implications for biotic-focused research on candidate prebiotic substrates as well as next-generation probiotics., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest HDH is a member of The Journal of Nutrition Editorial Board. All other authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Due to highly personalized biological and lifestyle characteristics, different individuals may have different metabolite responses to specific foods and nutrients. In particular, the gut microbiota, a collection of trillions of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract, is highly personalized and plays a key role in the metabolite responses to foods and nutrients. Accurately predicting metabolite responses to dietary interventions based on individuals' gut microbial compositions holds great promise for precision nutrition. Existing prediction methods are typically limited to traditional machine learning models. Deep learning methods dedicated to such tasks are still lacking. Here we develop a method McMLP ( M etabolite response predictor using c oupled M ulti l ayer P erceptrons) to fill in this gap. We provide clear evidence that McMLP outperforms existing methods on both synthetic data generated by the microbial consumer-resource model and real data obtained from six dietary intervention studies. Furthermore, we perform sensitivity analysis of McMLP to infer the tripartite food-microbe-metabolite interactions, which are then validated using the ground-truth (or literature evidence) for synthetic (or real) data, respectively. The presented tool has the potential to inform the design of microbiota-based personalized dietary strategies to achieve precision nutrition., Competing Interests: Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing interests.

Background: Honey improves probiotic survival in vitro. However, if this effect translates to humans has not been investigated., Objectives: We aimed to determine effects of honey plus yogurt containing the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DN-173 010/CNCM I-2494 (B. animalis) on intestinal transit time, probiotic enrichment, digestive health, mood, and cognition in adults., Methods: Sixty-six healthy adults (34 female; 33.6 ± 9.8 y; 24.6 ± 3.0 kg/m 2 ) in a crossover trial were randomly assigned to 2-wk yogurt conditions in a counterbalanced order with ≥4-wk washout: 1) Honey (HON): yogurt plus honey and 2) Negative Control (NC): heat-treated yogurt plus sugar. Of the participants, n = 62 completed the trial, and n = 37 (17 female; 32.0 ± 8.3 y; 25.0 ± 2.9 kg/m 2 ) elected to enroll in a third condition (a nonrandomized study extension) after ≥4-wk washout with a reference Positive Control (PC): yogurt plus sugar. At baseline and end of each of the 3 conditions, intestinal transit time was measured with dye capsules; probiotic abundance with fecal DNA 16S sequencing; digestive health with symptom/function records, Bristol stool consistency, Gastrointestinal Tolerability, and Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index; mood with Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Short Form, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-42, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System questionnaires, and an emotional image task; and cognition with a spatial reconstruction task. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) with significance at P ≤ 0.05. Baseline and end data were included in the LMM, with fixed effects being treatment, time, treatment by time interaction, and baseline covariate, and the random effect being the participant., Results: B. animalis was enriched in HON (d = 3.54; P = 0.0002) compared to controls with linear discriminant analysis effect size. Intestinal transit time, gastrointestinal health, mood, and cognition did not differ between conditions (LMM: Ps > 0.05)., Conclusions: Yogurt + honey enriched B. animalis but did not reduce intestinal transit time or have other functional gastrointestinal, mood, or cognitive effects in adults. This trial was registered at www., Clinicaltrials: gov as NCT04187950 and NCT04901390., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Dietary supplement use in the United States is widespread and increasing, especially among certain population groups, such as older Americans. The science surrounding dietary supplements has evolved substantially over the last few decades since their formal regulation in 1994. Much has been learned about the mechanisms of action of many dietary supplement ingredients, but the evidence on their health effects is still building. As is true of much nutrition research, there are many studies that point to health effects, but not all are at the level of scientific evidence (e.g., randomized controlled interventions), rigor, or quality needed for definitive statements of efficacy regarding clinical end points. New technologies and approaches are being applied to the science of dietary supplements, including nutrigenomics and microbiome analysis, data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning-all of which can elevate the science behind dietary supplements. Products can contain an array of bioactive compounds derived from foods as well as from medicinal plants, which creates enormous challenges in data collection and management. Clinical applications, particularly those aimed at providing personalized nutrition options for patients, have become more sophisticated as dietary supplements are incorporated increasingly into clinical practice and self-care. The goals of this article are to provide historical context for the regulation and science of dietary supplements, identify research resources, and suggest some future directions for science in this field., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

ABSTRACT Objectives: Carotenoids are plant pigments that accumulate in human tissue (e.g. macula and skin) and can serve as biomarkers for diet quality; however, knowledge on skin and macular carotenoids in relation to cognition in children is limited. This study aimed to address this gap by assessing links between skin and macular carotenoids and academic achievement in school-aged children. Methods: Children 7-12 years old ( n = 81) participated in a crosssectional study. Skin and macular carotenoids were measured with reflection spectroscopy and heterochromatic flicker photometry, respectively. Academic achievement was measured using Woodcock-Johnson IV (WJ-IV). Body Mass Index was calculated using height and weight measurements, demographic information was collected using a family demographics and pediatric health history questionnaire, and carotenoid intake was assessed using 7-day diet records. Results: Skin carotenoids were not related to macular pigment ( r = 0.08, p = 0.22). Adjusting for age, sex, BMI percentile, household income, and total carotenoid consumption (mg/1000kcal), skin carotenoids were predictive of math (β = 0.27, p = 0.02), broad math (β = 0.36, p < 0.01) and math calculation (β = 0.38, p < 0.01). Skin carotenoids displayed trending relationships with broad reading (β = 0.23, p = 0.05) and reading fluency (β = 0.22, p = 0.07). There were no significant associations between macular pigment and academic achievement (all β's ≤ 0.07, all p 's ≥ 0.56). Discussion: Skin carotenoids were positively associated with academic abilities in children, while macular carotenoids did not display this relationship. Future interventions examining prospective effects of changes in carotenoids in different tissues on childhood academic achievement are warranted.

The Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) dietary pattern is associated with reduced cognitive decline and dementia risk. However, the nutrient features that distinguish the MIND from other patterns are unknown. We investigated the relationship between accordance to the MIND pattern and carotenoid intake (phytonutrients hypothesized to confer neuroprotection) relative to the Mediterranean, DASH, and Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2020). We hypothesized that MIND diet accordance would be a stronger predictor of carotenoid intake relative to other diet indices. A total of 396 adults (aged 19-82 years) completed the Dietary History Questionnaire to assess carotenoid intake and adherence to each diet index. Stepwise regressions with adjustment for covariates followed by the Meng's Z-test were used to compare correlation strength between each diet pattern and carotenoid. All diet patterns were positively associated with lutein and zeaxanthin, β-carotene, α-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin (all βs ≥0.38, Ps <.01). Effect size comparisons revealed that MIND accordance predicted a greater proportion of variance in lutein and zeaxanthin (all Zs ≥ 3.3, Ps < .001) and β-carotene (all Zs ≥ 2.6, Ps < .01) relative to the Mediterranean, DASH, and HEI-2020. MIND accordance explained a greater proportion of variance in α-carotene (Z = 3.8, P < .001) and β-cryptoxanthin (Z = 3.6, P < .001) relative to the HEI-2020. MIND diet accordance was disproportionately related to carotenoid intake, indicating the MIND index places greater emphasis on carotenoid-rich foods, particularly those containing lutein, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene, relative to other diet indices. Future research is needed to define the role of these carotenoids in nutritional interventions for cognitive health., Competing Interests: Author Declarations There are no conflicts to report., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis DN-173 010/CNCM I-2494 (B. animalis) is a probiotic strain commonly added to yogurt. Yogurt and honey are a popular culinary pairing. Honey improves bifidobacteria survival in vitro. However, probiotic survival in yogurt with honey during in vitro digestion has not been investigated., Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of different honey varietals and concentrations on B. animalis survivability in yogurt through in vitro digestion., Methods: Yogurt with honey or control-treated samples underwent in vitro simulated oral, gastric, and intestinal digestion. B. animalis cells were enumerated on de Man Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) medium followed by an overlay with a modified selective MRS medium; all underwent anaerobic incubation. B. animalis were enumerated predigestion and after oral, gastric, and intestinal digestion. There were 2 study phases: Phase 1 tested 4 honey varietals at 20% wt/wt per 170 g yogurt, and Phase 2 tested 7 dosages of clover honey (20, 14, 10, 9, 8, 6, and 4% wt/wt) per 170 g yogurt., Results: Similar B. animalis counts were observed between all treatments after oral and gastric digestion (<1 Log colony forming units (CFU)/g probiotic reduction). Higher B. animalis survivability was observed in yogurt with clover honey after exposure to simulated intestinal fluids (∼3.5 Log CFU/g reduction; P < 0.05) compared to all control treatments (∼5.5 Log CFU/g reduction; P < 0.05). Yogurt with 10-20% wt/wt clover honey increased B. animalis survivability after simulated in vitro digestion (≤ ∼4.7 Log CFU/g survival; P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Yogurt with added honey improves probiotic survivability during in vitro digestion. The effective dose of clover honey in yogurt was 10-20% wt/wt per serving (1-2 tablespoons per 170 g yogurt) for increased probiotic survivability during in vitro digestion., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Undigested components of the human diet affect the composition and function of the microorganisms present in the gastrointestinal tract. Techniques like metagenomic analyses allow researchers to study functional capacity, thus revealing the potential of using metagenomic data for developing objective biomarkers of food intake., Objectives: As a continuation of our previous work using 16S and metabolomic datasets, we aimed to utilize a computationally intensive, multivariate, machine-learning approach to identify fecal KEGG (Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) Orthology (KO) categories as biomarkers that accurately classify food intake., Methods: Data were aggregated from 5 controlled feeding studies that studied the individual impact of almonds, avocados, broccoli, walnuts, barley, and oats on the adult gastrointestinal microbiota. Deoxyribonucleic acid from preintervention and postintervention fecal samples underwent shotgun genomic sequencing. After preprocessing, sequences were aligned and functionally annotated with Double Index AlignMent Of Next-generation sequencing Data v2.0.11.149 and MEtaGenome ANalyzer v6.12.2, respectively. After the count normalization, the log of the fold change ratio for resulting KOs between pre- and postintervention of the treatment group against its corresponding control was utilized to conduct differential abundance analysis. Differentially abundant KOs were used to train machine-learning models examining potential biomarkers in both single-food and multi-food models., Results: We identified differentially abundant KOs in the almond (n = 54), broccoli (n = 2474), and walnut (n = 732) groups (q < 0.20), which demonstrated classification accuracies of 80%, 87%, and 86% for the almond, broccoli, and walnut groups using a random forest model to classify food intake into each food group's respective treatment and control arms, respectively. The mixed-food random forest achieved 81% accuracy., Conclusions: Our findings reveal promise in utilizing fecal metagenomics to objectively complement self-reported measures of food intake. Future research on various foods and dietary patterns will expand these exploratory analyses for eventual use in feeding study compliance and clinical settings., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 American Society for Nutrition. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Carotenoids are plant pigments with light filtering and antioxidant properties that deposit in human tissues, including retina and skin. Descriptive characteristics and covariates of carotenoid status in macula and skin have been examined in adults; however, similar studies in children are limited. Thus, this study aimed to delineate how factors of age, sex, race, weight status, and dietary carotenoid intake relate to macular and skin carotenoids in children., Methods: Children (7-13 y, N = 375) completed heterochromatic flicker photometry to assess macular pigment optical density (MPOD). Participants underwent anthropometrics to measure weight status (BMI percentile [BMI%]), and parent/guardian provided demographic information. Subsample data were available for skin carotenoids (N = 181), assessed using reflection spectroscopy, and dietary carotenoids (N = 101) using the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire. Relationships between skin and macular carotenoids were assessed using partial Pearson's correlations controlling for age, sex, race, and BMI%. Relationships between dietary carotenoids and macular and skin carotenoids were assessed using stepwise linear regression including age, sex, race, and BMI% in the model., Results: Mean MPOD was 0.56 ± 0.22 and skin carotenoid score was 282 ± 94.6. There was no significant correlation between MPOD and skin carotenoids (r = 0.02, P = 0.76). BMI% was negatively associated with skin (stdβ = -0.42, P < 0.001), but not macular carotenoids (stdβ = -0.04, P = 0.70). Neither MPOD nor skin carotenoids were associated with age, sex, or race (all P > 0.10). MPOD was positively associated with energy-adjusted reported lutein + zeaxanthin intake (stdβ = 0.27, P = 0.01). Skin carotenoids were positively associated with energy-adjusted reported carotenoid intake (stdβ = 0.26, P = 0.01)., Conclusions: The mean MPOD values in children were higher than what has been reported in adult populations. Previous studies in adult samples report an average MPOD of 0.21. Although macular and skin carotenoids were not related, they were associated with dietary carotenoids relevant to the respective tissues; however, skin carotenoids may be more susceptible negative influence from higher weight status., (Copyright © 2023 American Society for Nutrition. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The effects of following the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet on metabolic health remains understudied. This cross-sectional analysis of 163 adults investigated associations between adherence to the MIND, Mediterranean, DASH, and Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015) diets and metabolic syndrome (MetS) features and visceral adiposity. We hypothesized that the MIND diet would show the most beneficial associations with MetS risk factors. Diet adherence was assessed using the Dietary History Questionnaire II. Visceral adipose was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Waist circumference and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were obtained. Fasting blood triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose concentrations were determined. Stepwise regression analyses were applied. Waist circumference was inversely associated with DASH (β = -0.21, P < .01), HEI-2015 (β = -0.18, P = .01), and MIND (β = -0.19, P < .01). Triglycerides were inversely associated with DASH (β = -0.19, P = .01), HEI-2015 (β = -0.18, P = .02), and MIND (β = -0.23, P < .01). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was positively associated with Mediterranean (β = 0.18, P = .02) and MIND (β = 0.21, P < .01). Systolic blood pressure was inversely associated with Mediterranean (β = -0.18, P = .02), DASH (β = -0.30, P < .01), HEI-2015 (β = -0.24, P < .01), and MIND (β = -0.25, P < .01). Diastolic blood pressure was inversely associated with Mediterranean (β = -0.26, P < .01), DASH (β = -0.34, P < .01), HEI-2015 (β = -0.24, P < .01), and MIND (β = -0.31, P < .01). Fasting glucose was inversely associated with MIND (β = -0.19, P = .02). Visceral adiposity was inversely associated with Mediterranean (β = -0.19, P < .01), DASH (β = -0.22, P < .01), HEI-2015 (β = -0.22, P < .01), and MIND (β = -0.28, P < .01). Although each diet exhibited potential benefits for metabolic outcomes, only greater MIND diet adherence was associated with lower visceral adiposity and each MetS feature in adults., Competing Interests: Author Declarations The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans advises on dietary intake to meet nutritional needs, promote health, and prevent diseases. Diet affects the intestinal microbiota and is increasingly linked to health. It is vital to investigate the relationships between diet quality and the microbiota to better understand the impact of nutrition on human health., Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the differences in fecal microbiota composition in adults from the American Gut Project based on their adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans., Methods: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of the 16S sequencing and food frequency data of a subset of adults (n = 432; age = 18-60 y; 65% female, 89% white) participating in the crowdsourced American Gut Project. The Healthy Eating Index-2015 assessed the compliance with Dietary Guideline recommendations. The cohort was divided into tertiles based on Healthy Eating Index-2015 scores, and differences in taxonomic abundances and diversity were compared between high and low scorers., Results: The mean Total Score for low-scoring adults (58.1 ± 5.4) was comparable with the reported score of the average American adult (56.7). High scorers for the Total Score and components related to vegetables, grains, and dairy had greater alpha diversity than low scorers. High scorers in the fatty acid component had a lower alpha diversity than low scorers (95% CI: 0.35, 1.85). A positive log-fold difference in abundance of plant carbohydrate-metabolizing taxa in the families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae was observed in high-scoring tertiles for Total Score, vegetable, fruit, and grain components (Benjamini-Hochberg; q < 0.05)., Conclusions: Adults with greater compliance to the Dietary Guidelines demonstrated higher diversity in their fecal microbiota and greater abundance of bacteria capable of metabolizing complex carbohydrates, providing evidence on how Dietary Guidelines support the gut microbiota., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Xanthophyll carotenoids (i.e., lutein and zeaxanthin) are plant pigments that selectively deposit in the macula of the eye and provide retinal tissue with protection against photooxidative stress. Although having greater xanthophylls in various tissues is related to lower inflammation in adulthood and infancy, this relationship is underinvestigated in childhood. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the relationships between macular xanthophyll status and inflammation in school-aged children. We hypothesized that greater macular pigment would be associated with lower systemic concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP). Forty children (aged 7-12 years) from the East-Central Illinois area were recruited. Data were collected in a convenience sample over multiple visits to the laboratory that occurred over 1 month, including all individuals who provided adequate blood samples for analyses. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) was assessed using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry. Dietary lutein and zeaxanthin were determined using 7-day diet records. Capillary dried blood spot samples were analyzed for CRP concentrations via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Whole-body percentage fat (%Fat) was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Two-step hierarchical linear regression modelling was used to assess relationships between MPOD and CRP, following adjustment of pertinent covariates and the removal of outliers (N = 3). MPOD was negatively associated with CRP concentrations, after controlling for a priori covariates of age, sex, %Fat, and dietary lutein and zeaxanthin (β = -0.58, ΔR 2  = 0.22, P = .004). Age, sex, dietary lutein and zeaxanthin, and %Fat did not significantly contribute to the model. This study provides novel evidence that macular pigment and peripheral inflammation are inversely related in childhood., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

An emerging body of scientific evidence demonstrates that the food matrix-the interaction among nutrients, bioactive components, and physical structure of a food-can affect health in significant, unexpected ways beyond its individual nutrients. In particular, research suggests that consumption of dairy foods such as milk, yogurt, and cheese may affect human health in a matrix-dependent fashion. To disseminate and discuss the growing body of evidence surrounding the role of the dairy food matrix on cardiometabolic health, 3 expert researchers on the topic of the food matrix shared the latest science in a session entitled "Next-Level Health Solutions: The Magic of the Matrix" at the American Society for Nutrition's 2022 LIVE ONLINE Conference. This article is a summary of the literature presented and discussed during that session. A substantial body of literature demonstrates that full-fat dairy foods, particularly fermented dairy foods, may beneficially modulate cardiometabolic outcomes depending on an individual's health status. These findings have important implications for current authoritative dietary guidance that recommends the consumption of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods. Furthermore, this evidence may inform practical applications of harnessing dairy's unique profile of bioactives for health promotion and disease prevention at the individual and community levels., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Fermented foods are often erroneously equated with probiotics. Although they might act as delivery vehicles for probiotics, or other 'biotic' substances, including prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics, stringent criteria must be met for a fermented food to be considered a 'biotic'. Those criteria include documented health benefit, sufficient product characterization (for probiotics to the strain level) and testing. Similar to other functional ingredients, the health benefits must go beyond that of the product's nutritional components and food matrix. Therefore, the 'fermented food' and 'probiotic' terms may not be used interchangeably. This concept would apply to the other biotics as well. In this context, the capacity of fermented foods to deliver one, several, or all biotics defined so far will depend on the microbiological and chemical level of characterization, the reproducibility of the technological process used to produce the fermented foods, the evidence for health benefits conferred by the biotics, as well as the type and amount of testing carried out to show the probiotic, prebiotic, synbiotic, and postbiotic capacity of that fermented food., Competing Interests: GV and SS serves in the board of directors of ISAPP and have been speakers in scientific meetings supported by the fermented food industry. PC has been funded by PrecisionBiotics Group, Friesland Campine, Danone, and PepsiCo. He has also received funding to travel to or present at meetings by H&H, the National Dairy Council U.S., PepsiCo and Yakult. MF is the employee of Health and Scientific Affairs, Danone North America and board member of the International Probiotics Association. KS serves in the board of directors of ISAPP. MS serves as the executive science officer/executive director for the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), has been a paid consultant for Bayer, Pepsico, Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has been a paid speaker for Associated British Foods, European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians, Fairlife, Omnibiotic/Allergosan, Probi, Sanofi, Xpeer, has served on scientific advisory boards for Danone North America, Cargill, Winclove, has served in an unpaid (except for travel reimbursement) for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences and United States Pharmacopeia. CC is currently employed by the National Dairy Council. HH has received grant funding from Bio-Cat, Danone Research, General Mills, and Tate & Lyle. She has received speaking honorarium from Beneo, DSM, National Dairy Council, PepsiCo, and Tate & Lyle. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Vinderola, Cotter, Freitas, Gueimonde, Holscher, Ruas-Madiedo, Salminen, Swanson, Sanders and Cifelli.)

Consuming adequate dietary fiber is a promising strategy for reducing systemic inflammation. The objective was to evaluate relationships between dietary fiber intake, markers of metabolic endotoxemia, and systemic inflammation in adults. This was a cross-sectional study of 129 healthy participants (age 33.6 ± 6.1 yr, BMI 30.5 ± 6.9 kg/m 2 ). Dietary fiber intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire. Adiposity was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fecal microbiota sequence data (V4 region, 16S rRNA gene) were analyzed using DADA2 and QIIME2. Inflammatory cytokines were assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays; flow cytometry was conducted for monocyte surface marker quantification. Bivariate correlations and generalized step-wise linear modeling were used for statistical analyses. Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations were positively related to whole body (CRP r = 0.45, P = <0.0001; IL-6 r = 0.34, P = 0.0002) and visceral adiposity (CRP r = 0.33, P = 0.0003; IL-6 r = 0.38, P = 0.0002). Plasma lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) concentrations were inversely related to dietary fiber intake ( r = -0.22, P = 0.03) and fecal SCFA (acetate r = -0.25, P = 0.01; propionate r = -0.28, P = 0.003; butyrate r = -0.23, P = 0.02). Whole body adiposity, dietary fiber, and fecal SCFA were the most predictive of plasma LBS-BP concentrations. Novel findings included associations between dietary fiber intake, the gastrointestinal microbiota, and systemic inflammation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Dietary fiber intake may reduce the inflammation associated with obesity and metabolic disease. Our cross-sectional analysis revealed that dietary fiber intake and fecal short-chain fatty acids are inversely associated with lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, a marker of systemic inflammation. In addition, plasma interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein were positively related to markers of adiposity.

Background: Chronic stress contributes to systemic inflammation and diminished mental health. Although animal work suggests strong links with the microbiota-gut-brain axis, clinical trials investigating the effectiveness of prebiotics in improving mental health and reducing inflammation are lacking., Objectives: We aimed to determine fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and galactooligosaccharide (GOS) effects on biological markers of stress and inflammation and mental health symptoms in adults. Secondary outcomes included fecal microbiota and metabolites, digestive function, emotion, and sleep., Methods: Twenty-four healthy adults (25-45 y; 14 females, 10 males; BMI, 29.3 ± 1.8 kg/m 2 ) from central Illinois participated in a 2-period, randomized, controlled, single-blinded crossover trial. Interventions included the prebiotic (PRE) treatment (237 mL/d Lactaid low-fat 1% milk, 5 g/d FOS, 5 g/d GOS) and control (CON) (237 mL/d Lactaid), which were consumed in counterbalanced order for 4 wk each, separated by ≥4-wk washout. Inflammatory markers were measured in blood plasma (>10-h fast) and cortisol in urine. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-42 assessed mental health symptoms. Fecal samples were collected for 16S rRNA gene (V4 region) sequencing and analysis. Emotion was measured by rating images from a computer task. Sleep was assessed using 7-d records and accelerometers. Change scores were analyzed using linear mixed models with treatment and baseline covariate as fixed effects and participant ID as the random effect., Results: There were no differences in change scores between PRE and CON treatments on biological markers of stress and inflammation or mental health. PRE increased change in percent sequences (q = 0.01) of Actinobacteriota (CON: 0.46 ± 0.70%; PRE: 5.40 ± 1.67%) and Bifidobacterium (CON: -1.72 ± 0.43%; PRE: 4.92 ± 1.53%). There were also no differences in change scores between treatments for microbial metabolites, digestive function, emotion, or sleep quality., Conclusions: FOS+GOS did not affect biological markers of stress and inflammation or mental health symptoms in healthy adults; however, it increased Bifidobacterium., Clinical Trial Registry: NCT04551937, www., Clinicaltrials: gov., (Copyright © 2023 American Society for Nutrition. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We aimed to assess whether total daily physical activity (PA), PA intensities, sedentary time (ST), and prolonged ST are associated with differences in the gut microbiota composition or short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile of adults with overweight or obesity., Methods: Cross-sectional associations between total daily PA (counts per minute), PA intensities (light and moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA)), ST, prolonged ST, and fecal microbiota composition were assessed in adults ( n = 124) between 25 and 45 yr of age with body mass index ≥25 kg·m -2 . Fecal microbiota composition was assessed with 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Daily PA and ST were measured with a hip-worn ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer., Results: Daily PA volume and intensity were positively associated with relative abundance of Faecalibacterium ( P = 0.04) and negatively associated with the abundances of Alistipes , Parabacteroides , and Gemmiger ( P = 0.003-0.04) as well as the concentrations of acetate, butyrate, and total SCFA (all P = 0.04). Conversely, ST was negatively associated with abundance of Faecalibacterium but positively associated with the abundances of taxa, including Ruminococcaceae, Parabacteroides , Alistipes , and Gemmiger . Clustering of participants based on whether they met PA recommendations suggested that SCFA profiles differed between individuals who did and did not meet PA recommendations. K-means clustering based on percent of time spent in MVPA and ST also identified differences in fecal microbiota composition between cluster 1 (lower MVPA, higher ST) and cluster 2 (higher MVPA, lower ST), including a higher abundance of Alistipes in cluster 1., Conclusions: The current analysis suggests a beneficial association of daily PA on the fecal microbiota and a negative association of ST, particularly with respect to the associations of these variables with the genera Faecalibacterium , a butyrate-producing taxon., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Sports Medicine.)

Objectives: We aimed to determine whether consumption of a fermented dairy beverage containing probiotic microorganisms influences negative mood states, stress, and hippocampal memory performance in healthy adults. Methods: Adults (25-45 yrs, N = 26) free of gastrointestinal and mental illness were enrolled in a single-blind, randomized, controlled, crossover trial. Participants completed testing prior to and after 4-week consumption, with a 2-4 week washout between treatments of: (1) 8 oz of a dairy-based fermented beverage containing 25-30 billion colony forming units of live and active kefir cultures or (2) 8 oz isocaloric, non-fermented, 1% low-fat lactose-free dairy-based control beverage. Hippocampal-dependent relational memory was assessed using a spatial reconstruction task. Negative mood states of depression and anxiety were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-42 (DASS-42). Pooled 24-hour urine samples were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine urinary free-cortisol (UFC) concentrations. Fecal microbiota composition was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: Lactobacillus was increased by 235% following fermented dairy consumption compared to the control ( p  < .01). Furthermore, the fermented dairy beverage improved performance on two metrics of relational memory, misplacement ( p  = .04) and object-location binding ( p =  .03). UFC and DASS-42 scores (all p 's > .08) were not significantly changed by either arm of the intervention. No correlations were observed between the change in Lactobacillus and memory performance. Conclusions: Fermented dairy consumption increased the presence of certain microorganisms in the gut and improved relational memory in healthy adults. However, the benefits observed for relational memory were not related to changes in Lactobacillus . Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02849275.

Background: Most previous work has focused on a single-nutrient, bottom-up approach when examining the influence of diet on neurocognition. Thus, the impact of dietary patterns on cognitive health is underinvestigated., Objectives: We aimed to investigate the relation between different diet indices [i.e., Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND)] and attentional inhibition and neuroelectric function., Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional analysis of adults aged 34.1 ± 6.0 y (n = 207, 116 females) with a BMI of 18.5 to >40 kg/m2 who completed the Dietary History Questionnaire II (DHQII) FFQ (Past Month and Year with Serving Sizes) to assess adherence to different diet quality indices. Attentional inhibition was assessed using a modified Eriksen flanker task during which event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. The amplitude and latency of the P3/P300 ERP were used to index attentional resource allocation and information processing speed, respectively., Results: P3 peak latency was inversely associated with greater adherence to the MIND dietary pattern during incongruent flanker trials (∆R2 = 0.02, β = -0.14, P = 0.043) but not during congruent trials. Adherence to the Mediterranean, DASH, and HEI-2015 patterns was not associated with P3 latency (P > 0.05). No associations were observed between the diet indices and attentional inhibition at the behavioral level (i.e., accuracy or reaction time) or P3 amplitude (all P values >0.05)., Conclusions: Greater adherence to the MIND diet was selectively associated with faster information processing speed in middle-aged adults with healthy to obese BMI. Further, the influence of the MIND diet for faster information processing speed might be particularly beneficial when cognitive control demands are increased. Future intervention trials testing the effects of consuming a MIND diet on cognitive function are warranted to help inform dietary recommendations for healthy cognitive aging., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Background: The fecal metabolome is affected by diet and includes metabolites generated by human and microbial metabolism. Advances in -omics technologies and analytic approaches have allowed researchers to identify metabolites and better utilize large data sets to generate usable information. One promising aspect of these advancements is the ability to determine objective biomarkers of food intake., Objectives: We aimed to utilize a multivariate, machine learning approach to identify metabolite biomarkers that accurately predict food intake., Methods: Data were aggregated from 5 controlled feeding studies in adults that tested the impact of specific foods (almonds, avocados, broccoli, walnuts, barley, and oats) on the gastrointestinal microbiota. Fecal samples underwent GC-MS metabolomic analysis; 344 metabolites were detected in preintervention samples, whereas 307 metabolites were detected postintervention. After removing metabolites that were only detected in either pre- or postintervention and those undetectable in ≥80% of samples in all study groups, changes in 96 metabolites relative concentrations (treatment postintervention minus preintervention) were utilized in random forest models to 1) examine the relation between food consumption and fecal metabolome changes and 2) rank the fecal metabolites by their predictive power (i.e., feature importance score)., Results: Using the change in relative concentration of 96 fecal metabolites, 6 single-food random forest models for almond, avocado, broccoli, walnuts, whole-grain barley, and whole-grain oats revealed prediction accuracies between 47% and 89%. When comparing foods with one another, almond intake was differentiated from walnut intake with 91% classification accuracy., Conclusions: Our findings reveal promise in utilizing fecal metabolites as objective complements to certain self-reported food intake estimates. Future research on other foods at different doses and dietary patterns is needed to identify biomarkers that can be applied in feeding study compliance and clinical settings., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Human intestinal enzymes do not hydrolyze nondigestible carbohydrates (NDCs), and thus, they are not digested and absorbed in the small intestine. Instead, NDCs are partially to completely fermented by the intestinal microbiota. Select NDCs are associated with health benefits such as laxation and lowering of blood cholesterol and glucose. NDCs provide functional attributes to processed foods, including sugar or fat replacers, thickening agents, and bulking agents. Additionally, NDCs are incorporated into processed foods to increase their fiber content. Although consumption of NDCs can benefit health and contribute functional characteristics to foods, they can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, such as flatulence and bloating. As gastrointestinal symptoms negatively affect consumer well-being and their acceptance of foods containing NDC ingredients, it is crucial to consider tolerance when designing food products and testing their physiological health benefits in clinical trials. This perspective provides recommendations for the approach to assess gastrointestinal tolerance to NDCs, with a focus on study design, population criteria, intervention, comparator, and outcome. Special issues related to studies in children and implications for stakeholders are also discussed. It is recommended that the evaluation of gastrointestinal tolerance to NDCs be conducted in randomized, blinded, controlled crossover studies using standard gastrointestinal questionnaires, with attention to study participant background diets, health status, lifestyle, and medications., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Nondigestible carbohydrates (NDCs) are food components, including nonstarch polysaccharides and resistant starches. Many NDCs are classified as dietary fibers by the US FDA. Because of their beneficial effects on human health and product development, NDCs are widely used in the food supply. Although there are dietary intake recommendations for total dietary fiber, there are no such recommendations for individual NDCs. NDCs are heterogeneous in their chemical composition and physicochemical properties-characteristics that contribute to their tolerable intake levels. Guidance on tolerable intake levels of different NDCs is needed because overconsumption can lead to undesirable gastrointestinal side effects, further widening the gap between actual and suggested fiber intake levels. In this review, we synthesize the literature on gastrointestinal effects of NDCs that the FDA accepts as dietary fibers (β-glucan, pectin, arabinoxylan, guar gum, alginate, psyllium husk, inulin, fructooligosaccharides and oligofructose, galactooligosaccharides, polydextrose, cellulose, soy fiber, resistant maltodextrin/dextrin) and present tolerable intake dose recommendations for their consumption. We summarized the findings from 103 clinical trials in adults without gastrointestinal disease who reported gastrointestinal effects, including tolerance (e.g., bloating, flatulence, borborygmi/rumbling) and function (e.g., transit time, stool frequency, stool consistency). These studies provided doses ranging from 0.75-160 g/d and lasted for durations ranging from a single-meal tolerance test to 28 wk. Tolerance was NDC specific; thus, recommendations ranged from 3.75 g/d for alginate to 25 g/d for soy fiber. Future studies should address gaps in the literature by testing a wider range of NDC doses and consumption forms (solid compared with liquid). Furthermore, future investigations should also adopt a standard protocol to examine tolerance and functional outcomes across studies consistently., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Background: The xanthophyll carotenoids lutein+zeaxanthin and the dietary component choline have been linked to benefits in cognition. However, knowledge on the interactive influence of these dietary components on cognitive function is sparse., Design: 80 middle-aged adults with overweight and obesity (Body Mass Index: (BMI) ≥25.0 kg/m²), completed 7-day diet records, venous blood draws, heterochromatic flicker photometry, assessment of intelligence quotient (IQ), and a cognitive flexibility task while undergoing electroencephalographic recording for event-related potential (ERP) extraction. Multiplicative interaction terms and hierarchical linear regressions, controlling for age, BMI, sex, annual household income, and IQ were utilized to assess independent and interactive contributions of dietary and biomarker data on Switch task outcomes., Results: Higher intake of lutein+zeaxanthin and choline was associated interactively, but not independently, with faster reaction time (RT), after controlling for pertinent covariates. Dietary intake of lutein+zeaxanthin and choline was associated with serum lutein concentrations, but not with plasma choline metabolites nor macular pigmentation. Plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC) concentrations were associated with higher accuracy in Switch trials, while no other biomarkers were associated with cognitive outcomes. Dietary intake and biomarker data were not related to the N2 nor P3 ERP component., Conclusions: Among a sample of adults with overweight and obesity, greater intake of choline and lutein+zeaxanthin was associated with faster performance on a cognitive flexibility task. Future work examining methods of increasing consumption of both of these dietary components as a possible means of improving or maintaining cognitive flexibility among adults with overweight and obesity is therefore warranted.

Inulin-type fructans (ITF), including short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS), oligofructose, and inulin, are commonly used fibers that are widely regarded as prebiotic for their ability to be selectively utilized by the intestinal microbiota to confer a health benefit. However, to our knowledge the literature thus far lacks a thorough discussion of the evidence from human clinical trials for the prebiotic effect of ITF, including beneficial effects on intestinal microbiota composition and intestinal and extraintestinal processes (e.g., glucose homeostasis, lipids, mineral absorption and bone health, appetite and satiety, inflammation and immune function, and body composition). Additionally, there has been a lack of discussion regarding aspects such as the effect of ITF chain length on its intestinal and extraintestinal effects. The overall objective of this systematic review was to summarize the prebiotic potential of ITF based on the results of human clinical trials in healthy adult populations. Evidence from studies included in the current review suggest that ITF have a prebiotic effect on the intestinal microbiota, promoting the abundances of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Beneficial health effects reported following ITF intake include improved intestinal barrier function, improved laxation, increased insulin sensitivity, decreased triglycerides and an improved lipid profile, increased absorption of calcium and magnesium, and increased satiety. Although there is some evidence for differing effects of ITF based on chain length, the lack of direct comparisons and detailed descriptions of physicochemical properties limits the ability to draw conclusions from human clinical studies. Future research should focus on elucidating the mechanisms by which the intestinal microbiota mediates or modifies the effects of ITF on human health and the contribution of individual factors such as age and metabolic health to the movement toward personalization of prebiotic applications., (Copyright © 2021 © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Historically, humans have interacted with soils, which contain a rich source of microorganisms. Fruit and vegetable gardening is the primary interaction humans have with soil today. Animal research reveals that soil microorganisms can be transferred to the rodent intestine. However, studies on fecal and soil microbial changes associated with gardening in humans are lacking. The current case-controlled cohort study aimed to characterize the fecal and soil microbiota of gardening families (n = 10) and non-gardening (control) families (n = 9). Families included two adults and one child (5-18 years) for a total of 56 participants. All participants provided a fecal sample, soil sample, and diet history questionnaires before the gardening season (April) and during the peak of the gardening season (August). Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015) scores and nutrient analysis were performed. Fecal and soil DNA were extracted and amplified. Sequence data were then processed and analyzed. Peak season gardening families tended to have greater fecal operational features, a greater Faith's Phylogenetic Diversity score, greater fiber intake, and higher abundances of fiber fermenting bacteria than peak control families. Soil endemic microbes were also shared with gardening participant's fecal samples. This study revealed that the fecal microbiota of gardening families differs from non-gardening families, and that there are detectable changes in the fecal microbial community of gardeners and their family members over the course of the gardening season. Additional research is necessary to determine if changes induced by gardening on the gut microbiota contribute to human health., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The athlete's goal is to optimize their performance. Towards this end, nutrition has been used to improve the health of athletes' brains, bones, muscles, and cardiovascular system. However, recent research suggests that the gut and its resident microbiota may also play a role in athlete health and performance. Therefore, athletes should consider dietary strategies in the context of their potential effects on the gut microbiota, including the impact of sports-centric dietary strategies (e.g., protein supplements, carbohydrate loading) on the gut microbiota as well as the effects of gut-centric dietary strategies (e.g., probiotics, prebiotics) on performance. This review provides an overview of the interaction between diet, exercise, and the gut microbiota, focusing on dietary strategies that may impact both the gut microbiota and athletic performance. Current evidence suggests that the gut microbiota could, in theory, contribute to the effects of dietary intake on athletic performance by influencing microbial metabolite production, gastrointestinal physiology, and immune modulation. Common dietary strategies such as high protein and simple carbohydrate intake, low fiber intake, and food avoidance may adversely impact the gut microbiota and, in turn, performance. Conversely, intake of adequate dietary fiber, a variety of protein sources, and emphasis on unsaturated fats, especially omega-3 (ɷ-3) fatty acids, in addition to consumption of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics, have shown promising results in optimizing athlete health and performance. Ultimately, while this is an emerging and promising area of research, more studies are needed that incorporate, control, and manipulate all 3 of these elements (i.e., diet, exercise, and gut microbiome) to provide recommendations for athletes on how to "fuel their microbes.", (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Background: Although intake of Hass avocado has been cross-sectionally linked to lower abdominal obesity, knowledge of the effects of avocado consumption on abdominal adiposity and glycemic outcomes remains limited., Objective: The effects of avocado consumption on abdominal adiposity, insulin resistance, oral-glucose-tolerance test (OGTT), and estimated β-cell function were evaluated., Methods: A total of 105 adults aged 25-45 y (61% female) with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 were randomly assigned to an intervention (N = 53) that received a daily meal with 1 fresh Hass avocado or a control (N = 52) that received an isocaloric meal with similar ingredients without avocado for 12 wk. DXA was used to assess the primary outcomes of abdominal adiposity [visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAAT), and the ratio of VAT to SAAT (VS Ratio)]. Fasted glucose and insulin were used to assess the primary outcomes of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index) and β-cell function (Insulinogenic index) were estimated using an OGTT. Changes between groups were compared using an ANCOVA. Secondary analyses were conducted based on sex., Results: The control group exhibited a greater reduction in SAAT [-54.5 ± 155.8 g (control) compared with 17.4 ± 155.1 g (treatment), P = 0.017] and increase in VS Ratio [0.007 ± 0.047 (control) compared with -0.011 ± 0.044 (treatment), P = 0.024]. Among females, the treatment group exhibited a greater reduction in VAT [1.6 ± 89.8 g (control) compared with -32.9 ± 81.6 g (treatment), P = 0.021] and VS Ratio [0.01 ± 0.05 (control) compared with -0.01 ± 0.03 (treatment), P = 0.001]. Among males, there was no significant difference between groups in changes in abdominal adiposity or glycemic outcomes., Conclusions: Daily consumption of 1 fresh Hass avocado changed abdominal adiposity distribution among females but did not facilitate improvements in peripheral insulin sensitivity or β-cell function among adults with overweight and obesity.This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02740439., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Recent and ongoing developments in microbiome science are enabling new frontiers of research for probiotics and prebiotics. Novel types, mechanisms, and applications currently under study have the potential to change scientific understanding as well as nutritional and healthcare applications of these interventions. The expansion of related fields of microbiome-targeted interventions, and an evolving landscape for implementation across regulatory, policy, prescriber, and consumer spheres, portends an era of significant change. In this review we examine recent, emerging, and anticipated trends in probiotic and prebiotic science, and create a vision for broad areas of developing influence in the field., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests M.C., V.B., R.G., D.G., S.M., D.O., M.I.P., and R.E.S. are involved in research and development projects as employees of companies that produce, sell, and distribute food and/or healthcare products, including probiotics and prebiotics (M.C., Metagenics; V.B., General Mills; R.G., GSK Consumer Healthcare; D.G., Symrise Nutrition; S.M., Reckitt Benckiser; D.O., Danone Nutricia Research; M.I.P., Winclove Probiotics; R.E.S., DSM Nutritional Products). H.D.H has received grant funding from the Hass Avocado Board, the Almond Board of California, and the National Honey Board; presentation honoraria from Kellogg’s Company, PepsiCo, Nutricia North America, Tate & Lyle; and serves on the Grains Food Foundation scientific advisory board. M.A.A., A.B., K.H., K.S.S., D.S., J.V., and G.G. have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Excessive sedentariness has been related to poorer cognitive control in adults. Sedentariness may compound obesity-related impairments in response inhibition, but its relationship to response inhibition remains poorly understood. This study investigated the relationship between accelerometer-measured sedentary time (ST, min/day), performance on the Oddball and NoGo tasks, N2 and P3-ERP indices of response inhibition and attentional control in 80 adults with overweight and obesity (55 females, M age  = 35.2 ± 5.8 years, BMI = 32.8 ± 5.3 kg/m 2 ). ST was not related to performance on the Oddball task. However, more sedentary adults had larger P3b amplitude to targets. Higher ST was also related to increased attentional resource allocation during NoGo target and nontarget trials as indicated by higher P3b amplitudes across centroparietal sites (C1, Cz, C2, CP1, CPz, CP2; ps ≤ .03). ST was negatively indirectly related to target accuracy on NoGo trials through its association with faster response times to nontargets (95% percentile bootstrap CI for a standardized effect: -0.182, -0.014). ST was not related to N2 amplitude on either Oddball or NoGo target trials. Adjustment for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; all models), age (models with P3b NoGo target amplitude, N2 NoGo target amplitude and latency), and % fat mass (models with target NoGo accuracy and N2 NoGo target amplitude) did not modulate behavioral findings. MVPA did not significantly predict P3b amplitude. Our results suggest suboptimal response inhibition due to trading accuracy for speed and despite the upregulation of attentional resources among more sedentary adults with overweight and obesity., (© 2021 Society for Psychophysiological Research.)

Elevated visceral adipose tissue (VAT) has been associated with cardiometabolic risk factors including chronic systemic low-grade inflammation. Whereas the cognitive implications of inflammation have been extensively studied in preclinical models, the influence of inflammatory cytokines on cognitive function in humans is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relations among VAT, inflammatory cytokines, and cognitive control. We hypothesized that inflammatory markers would mediate the negative influence of VAT on selective attention. Participants between 25 and 46 years (N = 115, 43 females) underwent a DXA scan to estimate VAT. A modified Eriksen Flanker task was used to assess attentional inhibitory control while event-related potentials were recorded. ELISA was used to quantify plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations. Mediation modeling while controlling for diet quality and education level revealed that CRP concentrations significantly mediated the relationship between VAT and incongruent trial accuracy (indirect effect 95% CI {-0.24, -0.01}). Further, IL-6 concentrations had a significant mediation effect on the relationship between VAT and incongruent P3 peak latency (indirect effect 95% CI {0.05, 1.39}). These results suggest that mechanisms by which visceral adiposity exerts a negative influence on cognitive function includes systemic inflammation., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This review provides an overview of the interrelationships among the diet, gut microbiota and health status, and then focuses specifically on published research assessing the relationship of low/no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) to selected aspects of the gut microbiota. Microbiome research is expanding as new data on its role in health and disease vulnerability emerge. The gut microbiome affects health, digestion, and susceptibility to disease. In the last 10 years, investigations of LNCS effects on the gut microbiota have proliferated, though results are conflicting and are often confounded by differences in study design such as study diet, the form of the test article, dosage, and study population. Staying current on microbiome research and the role of dietary inputs, like LNCS, will allow healthcare and nutrition practitioners to provide evidenced-based guidance to the individuals they serve.

Protein intake above the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and resistance training are known anabolic stimuli to support healthy aging. Specifically, protein supplementation after resistance exercise and nightly are strategies to maximize utilization of protein intake above the RDA in healthy adults. As such, the primary objective was to examine the efficacy of protein supplementation and nutritional counseling resulting in either moderate (MOD: ∼1.0 g·kg -1 ·day -1 ) or higher (HIGH: ∼1.6 g·kg -1 ·day -1 ) protein intake during resistance training on strength (one-repetition maximum, 1-RM; isokinetic and isometric peak torque) in healthy middle-aged adults. Exploratory analyses include diet-exercise effects on lean body mass (LBM), clinical biomarkers, gut microbiota, and diet composition. In all, 50 middle-aged adults (age: 50 ± 8 yr, BMI: 27.2 ± 4.1 kg/m 2 ) were randomized to either MOD or HIGH protein intake during a 10-wk resistance training program (3 × wk). Participants received dietary counseling and consumed either 15 g (MOD) or 30 g (HIGH) of protein from lean beef in the immediate postexercise period and each evening. Maximal strength (1-RM) for all upper and lower body exercises significantly increased with no effect of protein intake ( P < 0.050). There was a main effect of time for LBM ( P < 0.005). Cardiovascular, renal, or glycemic biomarkers were not affected by the intervention. Gut microbiota were associated with several health outcomes ( P < 0.050). In conclusion, higher protein intake above moderate amounts does not potentiate resistance training adaptations in previously untrained middle-aged adults. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03029975. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our research evaluates the efficacy of higher in comparison with moderate animal-based protein intake on resistance exercise training-induced muscle strength, clinical biomarkers, and gut microbiota in middle-aged adults through a dietary counseling-controlled intervention. Higher protein intake did not potentiate training adaptations, nor did the intervention effect disease biomarkers. Both diet and exercise modified gut microbiota composition. Collectively, moderate amounts of high-quality, animal-based protein is sufficient to promote resistance exercise adaptations at the onset of aging.

Background: Avocados are rich in dietary fiber and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), nutrients that have been independently connected to metabolic health benefits and the gastrointestinal microbiota., Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the impact of avocado consumption on the gastrointestinal microbiota and microbial metabolites, secondary outcomes of the Persea americana for Total Health (PATH) study, and conduct exploratory analyses to assess relations between the fecal microbiota, fecal metabolites, and health markers., Methods: Adults [n = 163, 25-45 y, BMI (kg/m2) ≥ 25.0] were enrolled in the PATH study, a 12-wk investigator-blinded trial where participants were batch randomized to match the 2 groups by age, sex, visceral adiposity, and fasting glucose concentrations. Participants consumed isocaloric meals with or without avocado (175 g, men; 140 g, women) once daily for 12 wk. The fecal microbiota was assessed with 16S ribosomal RNA gene (V4 region) sequencing and analysis using DADA2 and QIIME2. Fecal fatty acid and bile acid concentrations were quantified using GC and LC-MS. Per-protocol (≥80% meal consumption) and intent-to-treat analyses were conducted using univariate ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U tests. Bivariate correlations were conducted between fecal microbiota, fecal metabolites, and health measures., Results: The avocado treatment increased ɑ diversity and enriched Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, and Alistipes between 26% and 65% compared with the control group. The avocado group had 18% greater fecal acetate, 70% greater stearic acid, and 98% greater palmitic acid concentrations than the control group, while the concentrations of the bile acids cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid were 91% and 57% lower, respectively., Conclusions: Daily avocado consumption resulted in lower fecal bile acid concentrations, greater fecal fatty acid and SCFAs, and greater relative abundances of bacteria capable of fiber fermentation, providing evidence that this nutrient-dense food affects digestive physiology, as well as the composition and metabolic functions of the intestinal microbiota. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02740439., (Copyright © The Author(s) on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition 2020.)

Background/objectives: To assess the relationships between daily sedentary time (ST), prolonged ST, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and behavioral and neuroelectric indices of cognitive control in adults with overweight and obesity (OW/OB)., Subjects/methods: A cross-sectional design was used. Overall, 89 adults (BMI = 31.9 ± 4.9 kg/m 2 ) provided measures of ST, prolonged ST (i.e., ST accumulated in ≥20 min), and MVPA from a hip-worn accelerometer worn over 7 days. Inhibitory control was measured with a modified Eriksen flanker task and cognitive flexibility with task switching. The amplitude and the latency of the P3 component of event-related potentials during each task were used as measures of attentional resource allocation and information processing speed, respectively., Results: After adjusting for ST and MVPA, prolonged ST was related to greater interference (i.e., a larger decrement in accuracy between congruent and incongruent trials of the flanker task) indicative of a specific relationship between prolonged ST and poorer inhibitory control. Before adjusting for ST, MVPA was related to a smaller Global Switch Cost expressed as larger (more positive) amplitude of the P3 difference wave (mixed-task minus single-task condition of the switch task). Adjustment for ST attenuated this association to non-significance., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that future interventions focused on improving inhibitory control in adults with OW/OB should target restructuring ST in addition to current efforts to increase MVPA.

Objectives: Obesity is associated with poorer brain health and cognitive function. However, it is not clear whether specific dietary factors may provide neuroprotective effects among individuals with overweight and obesity. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of choline intake on neurophysiological markers of attentional control among young and middle-aged adults with overweight or obesity. Methods: 146 adults with BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 (34.0 ± 5.9 years, 57 males) participated in the study. Behavioral performance (accuracy and reaction time) and neuroelectric indices (event-related brain potentials [ERPs]) of attentional inhibition were assessed during a Flanker task. Specifically, the amplitude and latency of the P3 waveform in a central-parietal region of interest (ROI) were used to index attentional resource allocation and information processing speed, respectively. Choline intake and overall diet quality (Healthy Eating Index [HEI-2015]) were assessed using 7-day diet records. Intelligence Quotient was assessed using the Kaufman-Brief Intelligence Test. Regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between habitual dietary choline intake and cognitive outcomes following adjustment of demographic factors, IQ, HEI-2015, and BMI. Results: Choline intake was selectively associated with a lower peak amplitude of the P300 waveform during incongruent trials ( β  = -0.25, p  = <0.01). No significant relationships were observed for accuracy or reaction time. Discussion: Higher choline intake is associated with more efficient neural processing among adults with overweight and obesity. Intervention are necessary to determine whether choline consumption provides neuroprotective effects for executive function among individuals with elevated weight status.

Background: Diet affects the human gastrointestinal microbiota. Blood and urine samples have been used to determine nutritional biomarkers. However, there is a dearth of knowledge on the utility of fecal biomarkers, including microbes, as biomarkers of food intake., Objectives: This study aimed to identify a compact set of fecal microbial biomarkers of food intake with high predictive accuracy., Methods: Data were aggregated from 5 controlled feeding studies in metabolically healthy adults (n = 285; 21-75 y; BMI 19-59 kg/m2; 340 data observations) that studied the impact of specific foods (almonds, avocados, broccoli, walnuts, and whole-grain barley and whole-grain oats) on the human gastrointestinal microbiota. Fecal DNA was sequenced using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Marginal screening was performed on all species-level taxa to examine the differences between the 6 foods and their respective controls. The top 20 species were selected and pooled together to predict study food consumption using a random forest model and out-of-bag estimation. The number of taxa was further decreased based on variable importance scores to determine the most compact, yet accurate feature set., Results: Using the change in relative abundance of the 22 taxa remaining after feature selection, the overall model classification accuracy of all 6 foods was 70%. Collapsing barley and oats into 1 grains category increased the model accuracy to 77% with 23 unique taxa. Overall model accuracy was 85% using 15 unique taxa when classifying almonds (76% accurate), avocados (88% accurate), walnuts (72% accurate), and whole grains (96% accurate). Additional statistical validation was conducted to confirm that the model was predictive of specific food intake and not the studies themselves., Conclusions: Food consumption by healthy adults can be predicted using fecal bacteria as biomarkers. The fecal microbiota may provide useful fidelity measures to ascertain nutrition study compliance., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society for Nutrition.)

Introduction: Prevalence of chronic hypohydration remains elevated among adults in the USA; however, the health effects of hypohydration in regards to human gut health have not been explored., Methods: This study examined the relationship between total water intake, hydration biomarkers (first-morning urine specific gravity [FMUsg], first-morning urine volume [FMUvol], and plasma copeptin), fecal microbiota, and plasma lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) in adults (25-45 years, 64% female). Fecal microbiota composition was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (V4 region). Immunoassays quantified plasma copeptin and LBP in fasted venous blood samples. Dietary variables were measured using 7-day food records. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analyzed differentially abundant microbiota based on median cutoffs for hydration markers. Multiple linear regressions examined the relationship between LBP and copeptin., Results: LEfSe identified 6 common taxa at the genus or species level that were differentially abundant in FMUsg, total water (g/day), or plasma copeptin (µg/mL) groups when split by their median values. Uncultured species in the Bacteroides, Desulfovibrio, Roseburia, Peptococcus, and Akkermansia genera were more abundant in groups that might indicate poorer hydration status. Multivariate linear analyses revealed a positive relationship between plasma copeptin and LBP when controlling confounding variables (F(6,52) = 4.45, p = 0.002, R2 = 0.34)., Conclusions: Taxa common between markers are associated with the intestinal mucus layer, which suggests a potential link between hydration status and intestinal mucus homeostasis. The relationship between LBP and copeptin indicates that copeptin may be sensitive to metabolic endotoxemia and potentially gut barrier function., (© 2022 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: Habitual diet impacts mood and the human gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota. Yet, studies infrequently control for diet when evaluating associations between mood and GI microbiota. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate relationships among diet, GI microbiota, and mood in adults without mood disorders by conducting a cross-sectional examination of dietary intake, subjective emotional state, and fecal microbial taxa abundances. Methods: Adults ( N  = 133; 25-45 years of age) without physician-diagnosed mood disorders were studied. Fecal DNA was extracted, and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced. Sequences were analyzed using QIIME2. Subjective mood state was assessed using the 42-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-42). Habitual dietary intake was measured with the National Cancer Institute's Diet History Questionnaire II, and diet quality was evaluated with the 2010 Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Results: Relationships were observed between 28 bacterial taxa and DASS-42 scores. Sex-dependent associations were observed among 21 bacterial taxa and DASS-42 scores, including an inverse relationship between Anxiety scale scores and Bifidobacterium in females and an inverse relationship between Depression scale scores and Lactobacillus in males. HEI total fruit and dairy components were inversely associated with Depression and Stress scales, respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest GI microbes are related to mood in adults without diagnosed mood disorders and that these relationships differ by sex and are influenced by dietary fiber intake. Incorporating dietary intake data in gut-microbiota-brain studies may help clarify the roles of specific microbes and dietary components in mental health symptoms.

Background : Oral microorganisms contribute to oral health and disease, but few have studied how infant feeding methods affect their establishment. Methods : Infant ( n = 12) feeding records and tongue and cheek swabs were collected within 48 h of birth, and after 2, 4, and 6 mo. DNA was extracted from samples, bacterial and fungal amplicons were generated and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq, and sequences were analyzed using Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology (QIIME) and Statistical Analysis System (SAS) to evaluate differences over time and among breast-fed, formula-fed, mixed-fed, and solid food-fed infants. Results : Considering all time points, breast milk- and mixed-fed infants had lower oral species richness than solid food-fed infants ( p = 0.006). Regardless of feeding mode, species richness was lower at birth than at other time points ( p = 0.006). Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) of unique fraction metric (UniFrac) distances indicated that bacterial communities were impacted by feeding method ( p < 0.005). Considering all time points, breast-fed infants had higher Streptococcus , while formula-fed infants had higher Actinomyces and Prevotella . Regardless of feeding mode, Propionibacterium , Porphyromonas , Prevotella , Gemella , Granulicatella , Veillonella , Fusobacterium , Leptotrichia , Neisseria, and Haemophilus increased with age, while Cloacibacterium and Dechloromonas decreased with age. Oral fungi were detected in infants but were not impacted by diet. Conclusions : These findings demonstrate that the establishment of oral bacteria depends on dietary composition and age. More research is necessary to determine whether this affects risk of oral caries and other health outcomes later in life.

In May 2019, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) convened a panel of nutritionists, physiologists and microbiologists to review the definition and scope of synbiotics. The panel updated the definition of a synbiotic to "a mixture comprising live microorganisms and substrate(s) selectively utilized by host microorganisms that confers a health benefit on the host". The panel concluded that defining synbiotics as simply a mixture of probiotics and prebiotics could suppress the innovation of synbiotics that are designed to function cooperatively. Requiring that each component must meet the evidence and dose requirements for probiotics and prebiotics individually could also present an obstacle. Rather, the panel clarified that a complementary synbiotic, which has not been designed so that its component parts function cooperatively, must be composed of a probiotic plus a prebiotic, whereas a synergistic synbiotic does not need to be so. A synergistic synbiotic is a synbiotic for which the substrate is designed to be selectively utilized by the co-administered microorganisms. This Consensus Statement further explores the levels of evidence (existing and required), safety, effects upon targets and implications for stakeholders of the synbiotic concept.

Background: Avocados are rich in unsaturated fat and fiber; clinical trials have investigated their effects on metabolic disease. There is high variability in individual changes following avocado consumption, which may be in part due to individual genetic differences., Objective: Secondary analyses of the Persea americana for Total Health (PATH) Study were used to examine how single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) impact blood lipid changes following a daily meal containing avocado compared with control., Methods: Adults (n = 115, 37% male) aged 25-45 y with overweight and obesity were randomly assigned to receive a daily isocaloric meal with (intervention) or without (control) a standardized amount (males: 175 g; females: 140 g) of avocado for 12 wk. Control meals were higher in saturated fat (17% of energy compared with 7%) and lower in fiber (4 g compared with 16 g) than intervention meals. Whole venous blood was taken at baseline and 12 wk to determine total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) concentrations. Seventeen SNPs in 10 genes related to lipoprotein metabolism were genotyped. Effects of SNP, diet, and SNP-diet interactions were determined using general linear models., Results: No group-by-time effects were detected for changes in TC (P = 0.96), HDL cholesterol (P = 0.28), or TG (P = 0.06) over 12 wk. Three SNP-diet interactions were associated with final TC concentrations: ANGPTL3-rs10889337 (P = 0.01), ANGPTL4-rs2278236 (P = 0.02), and CD36-rs10499859 (P = 0.01). SNPs in GCKR and LPL were associated with TC changes (P = 0.01). The interaction between GCKR-rs1260326 and diet was such that C-homozygotes receiving avocado (n = 23) had final TC concentrations that were significantly lower than the C-homozygotes in the control group (n = 20) (P = 0.02)., Conclusions: Results from these exploratory analyses indicate that avocado consumption may help manage dyslipidemia in adults with overweight and obesity; however, effectiveness may differ by genetic profile. Understanding the role of genetic variation in variability following dietary intervention can potentially inform personalized nutrition recommendations., (Copyright © The Author(s) 2020.)

Objective: Pre-clinical evidence suggests that the gastrointestinal microbiota contributes to mood and behavior disorders. Among humans, diet quality and patterns, which also impact the gastrointestinal microbiota, have been linked to depression, anxiety, and stress. This review summarizes findings from clinical studies using dietary intervention to improve depression, anxiety, or stress and the role the gastrointestinal microbiota may have in these disorders. Methods: A literature search was conducted using the keywords microbiome, microbiota, depression, anxiety, stress, diet, dietary pattern, diet quality, fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, and mood. Results: Mood was improved by enhancing diet quality. Fructooligosaccharide and galactooligosaccharide improved anxiety and depression in participants consuming ≥ 5 g/day. Additionally, bifidobacteria were enriched in subjects consuming ≥ 5 g/day. Probiotic consumption improved psychological or biological measures of depression, anxiety, or stress in individuals predisposed to a mood disorder. Probiotics suppressed biological markers of stress in healthy individuals in a strain-dependent manner. Discussion: High-quality diets, prebiotics, and probiotics may beneficially affect mood. Habitual diets rich in dietary fiber and omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids may be linked to reduced risk of developing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress; however, additional studies are necessary. Certain probiotics may enhance mood, but their influence on the gastrointestinal microbiota requires further investigation.

Objectives: Excess adiposity increases risk for cognitive impairment. Consumption of avocado, a highly bioavailable source of the xanthophyll lutein, has been shown to improve retinal lutein accumulation and cognitive function. Thus, we evaluated the influence of avocado consumption on cognitive function and lutein status among adults with overweight and obesity using a randomized-controlled trial with matching design for pertinent study outcomes., Methods: A cohort of 84 adults (25-45 years, 31 males) were randomized to a treatment group (N = 47) that received a 12-week daily meal with fresh Hass avocado or a control group (N = 37) that received an isocaloric meal (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02740439). Serum lutein and macular pigment optical density (MPOD) were used to assess xanthophyll status. Attention and inhibition were assessed using the Flanker, Oddball and Nogo tasks with accompanying electroencephalographic (EEG) recording., Results: Participants in the treatment group exhibited improvements in serum lutein and accuracy in the Flanker task. However, there were no relationships between performance and changes in lutein status, nor neuroelectric variables. No significant changes in MPOD were observed., Conclusion: Daily avocado intake over 12 weeks, after controlling for covariates, improved attentional inhibition and increased serum lutein concentrations among adults with overweight and obesity. However, the cognitive benefits were independent of changes in lutein concentrations. Additional work is necessary to determine non-carotenoid, or carotenoid interactive, mechanisms by which avocados may influence cognitive function., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Funding for this study was provided by the Hass Avocado Board. The Hass Avocado Board had no contribution to the study analyses nor finalized manuscript., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The effect of various types of dietary fat on cardiometabolic health continues to be debated, due in part to the high heterogeneity of results following clinical trials investigating the effects of saturated (SFA) and unsaturated fat intake. This variability may be due to genetic differences. Individuals with obesity are at an increased risk for adverse cardiometabolic health and dyslipidemia, and often present with the combined phenotype of elevated triglyceride (TG) and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations. Studying genetic variants relevant to lipid and lipoprotein metabolism can elucidate the mechanisms by which diet might interact with genotype to influence these phenotypes. The objective of this study was to determine relationships of genetic variation, dietary fat intake, and blood lipid concentrations in adults with overweight and obesity., Methods: Genomic DNA, blood lipid concentrations (HDL and TG), and 7-day diet records were obtained from 101 adults (25-45 years of age) with overweight or obesity. Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured using indirect calorimetry and used to determine implausible intakes using a modified Goldberg method (kilocalories/REE). Genetic variants included 23 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 15 genes in lipid metabolism pathways. Variants were analyzed with dietary fat intake (total fat, SFA, monounsaturated fat [MUFA], and polyunsaturated fat [PUFA]) via regression analyses. All models were adjusted for age, sex, ancestry, visceral adipose tissue mass, and total kilocalorie intake. The Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons., Results: Two interactions were detected for TG concentrations. Five gene-diet interactions were associated with HDL concentrations. There was a significant interaction detected between the rs5882 variant of cholesterol-esterase transfer protein (CETP) and MUFA intake to associate with TG concentrations (interaction p = 0.004, R2 = 0.306). Among carriers of the CETP-rs5882 major allele (G), TG concentrations were significantly lower in individuals consuming more than the median MUFA intake (31 g/day) than in those with an intake below the median. Total dietary fat intake interacted with the rs13702 polymorphism of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) to associate with HDL concentrations (interaction p = 0.041, R2 = 0.419), by which individuals with the risk allele (G) had significantly higher HDL concentrations when consuming a higher-fat diet (>92 g/day) than those with a lower-fat diet (56 ± 3 vs. 46 ± 2 mg/dL, p = 0.033)., Conclusions: Interactions between dietary intake and genes in lipid metabolism pathways were found to be associated with blood lipid concentrations in adults with overweight and obesity. Fatty acid intake may not modulate blood lipid concentrations uniformly across all individuals. Additional research is needed to determine the biological causes of individual variability in response to dietary intake. Understanding the influence of nutrigenetic interactions on dyslipidemia can aid in the development and implementation of personalized dietary strategies to improve health., (© 2020 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Scope: Macular accumulation of xanthophyll carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin) is known to have neuroprotective potential, yet their influence on cognition among overweight adults and those with obesity remains limited. This study examines the impact of macular xanthophylls on attentional resource allocation and information processing speed among adults with BMI ≥ 25 kg m -2 ., Methods and Results: Adults between 25 and 45 years (N = 101) complete heterochromatic flicker photometry to determine macular pigment optical density (MPOD). Event-related brain potentials are recorded during a visual oddball task. Amplitude and latency of the N2 and P3 indexed attentional resource allocation and information processing speed. Covariates included age, sex, education, intelligence quotient (IQ), %Fat (DXA), and dietary lutein and zeaxanthin (Diet History Questionnaire II). MPOD is inversely related to P3 peak amplitude during standard trials and P3 peak latency during target trials. Therefore, individuals with higher MPOD dedicate fewer attentional resources when attentional demands are low while exhibiting faster information processing speed when attentional demands are increased. Further, MPOD is inversely related to the N2 mean amplitude during targets, signifying greater inhibitory control., Conclusion: These findings are the first to link macular xanthophylls to neuroelectric indices of attentional and inhibitory control among adults with overweight and obesity., (© 2019 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)