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This paper discusses the moral implications of raising non-human animals for food and fibre. The systematic privation to which these animals are subjected, the serious compromise to their welfare and the lack of necessity for an animal-based diet are documented. Although suggestions are offered for improvement in the manner in which these animals are raised, it is argued that discontinuing our dependence on animal-based products is the only way to prevent animal suffering. The core issue of human overpopulation as a driving force for an increasing destruction of animals and environmental degradation is briefly mentioned.

Free radicals (FRs) are unstable molecules that cause reactive stress (RS), an imbalance between reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in the body and its ability to neutralize them. These species are generated by both internal and external factors and can damage cellular lipids, proteins, and DNA. Antioxidants prevent or slow down the oxidation process by interrupting the transfer of electrons between substances and reactive agents. This is particularly important at the cellular level because oxidation reactions lead to the formation of FR and contribute to various diseases. As we age, RS accumulates and leads to organ dysfunction and age-related disorders. Polyphenols; vitamins A, C, and E; and selenoproteins possess antioxidant properties and may have a role in preventing and treating certain human diseases associated with RS. In this review, we explore the current evidence on the potential benefits of dietary supplementation and investigate the intricate connection between SIRT1, a crucial regulator of aging and longevity; the transcription factor NRF2; and polyphenols, vitamins, and selenium. Finally, we discuss the positive effects of antioxidant molecules, such as reducing RS, and their potential in slowing down several diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of legumes in overcoming hunger and food insecurity is attributed to their accessibility. They have been recorgnised for their nutritional significance and their ability to provide food stability in tropical and sub-tropical regions. This study compared the nutritional values of Mucuna seeds with that of common legume pulses by analysing their percentage composition based on literature review. Similar to common legume pulses, Mucuna seeds have been found to contain promising nutritional value. However, unlike most preferred legume pulses, Mucuna seeds contain a notable quantity of anti-nutritional factors that interferes with its nutritional qualities. Besides being anti-nutritional, the compounds have bio-active potentials and have been associated with therapeutic and antioxidant activities. Notably, Mucuna pruriens L. is known to contain compounds with potential antiparkinsonian effects, such as L-Dopa and ursolic acid. Considering their high productivity and nutritional relevance, Mucuna seeds have been utilised as traditional foods in populations with lower incomes that suffer from chronic undernourishment. It should be noted that variations in agro-climatic conditions have been reported to impact the chemical composition of M. pruriens seeds. However, limited information on the chemical composition of M. pruriens seeds from different regions makes it challenging to compare their composition across various agro-climates. Furthermore, in order to support the widespread use of M. pruriens in different areas, further research is needed to determine the optimal conditions for cultivating highly nutritious, phytochemically rich, and commercially viable seeds. Additionally, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of L-Dopa in treating Parkinsonian patients across a diverse range of populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetables are wholesome and inseparable part of the human diet. They are the major providers of minerals, vitamins and trace elements which are essential for the normal sustenance of humans. There are some underutilized vegetables which are not included into the normal foods. These are either neglected or not popular as other conventional vegetables but have tremendous potential and can have much significance in human life. These are abundant sources of antioxidants and phytochemicals and can act as nutraceutical. Therefore, these could be included into the daily diet regime of individuals without any hesitation. In cases of issues related to nutrition like allergies, deficiencies, these should be taken into the utmost consideration. They also remove monotony from the regular or traditional fruits and vegetables. Hence, this present paper displays the significance and potentials of some under utilized vegetables and strategies that can be implied to utilise these and include them into our daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to determine aflatoxins in corn grains sold in Mozambique, using the thin layer chromatography (CCD) technique, as well as to evaluate their physical quality and safety. The evaluation of the physical quality and safety of the maize grains consisted of counting insects (live and dead), determining grains that were attacked, broken, defective and impurities through entomological tests and the moisture of the grains was determined through the humidity kit. In the analyzed samples, it was verified the absence of aflatoxins in one sample and the presence of only group B aflatoxins in the remaining ones, whose levels vary from 1,67 to 8,33μg/Kg. Aflatoxin contamination levels are below the limit allowed by national legislation (20μg/Kg). The moisture content in the samples varied between 13, 3% and 16, 5%, which means that some samples have low values ​​and above 14%, the maximum value acceptable. While evaluating the physical quality and safety of the grains, it was found that the samples have a strong infestation by insects of different types per kg of sample, with Sitophilus Zeamais being the species that most attacks and causes damage to the stored grains. The analyzed samples showed a high percentage of attacked grains (which varies between 4 and 10,2%), broken grains between 5,0 and 6,0%, impurities between 4,2 and 5,5%, where the values ​​were far above the maximum allowed by the same standard whose maximum limits are 3%, 3% and 0,1%, respectively.

The Gravettian site of Fuente del Salín Cave is located in the northern Iberian Peninsula (Cantabrian Region, Spain). In 2016, excavations conducted at the site yielded numerous faunal remains, including mammals and fish. Researchers also recovered molluscs remains during the 1990, 1991, and 2000 campaigns. This study presents the results of the archaeozoological and taphonomical analyses of the large mammals and fish remains recovered during these excavations. At Fuente del Salín Cave, a high level of bone fragmentation and the presence of burning damage characterizes the faunal assemblage. Taxonomy of large game shows diverse habitat exploitation, such as coastal valleys and plains (red deer, Cervus elaphus; horse, Equus ferus) as well as rocky landscapes (Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica; and chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra). Additionally, fish remains show the presence of salmonids (Salmo sp.), cyprinids, and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), indicating the exploitation of coastal, demersal, and riverine species. The taphonomic analysis of the mammals revealed burning damage concentrated on axial elements and epiphyses, characterized by temperatures typical of carbonization or calcification. The scarcity of carnivore gnawing marks and the presence of butchering marks prove that humans were the main accumulators at Fuente del Salín Cave. Concerning fish, most remains correspond to spines, branchial spines, ribs, and vertebrae, indicating humans processed fish by removing these elements for consumption. Based on our results, Fuente del Salín Cave provides an essential record of the subsistence strategies of the inhabitants of the Cantabrian Region during the Gravettian.

The food chain is a large contributor to environmental pollution, especially greenhouse gas emissions, strongly associated with the consumption of animal-based proteins. The understanding of the negative environmental impacts of dietary habits by the population is of the utmost importance to provide the means to effect change to more sustainable eating patterns. The main purpose of this study was to assess the carbon footprint of animal protein consumption in Portugal, while also evaluating six mitigation scenarios aiming to lower greenhouse gas emissions through strategic changes to the animal protein consumption of current dietary habits. Overall, the carbon footprint associated with animal protein consumption is 2.63 kg CO2 eq/(cap⋅day) nationally and 28.4 t CO2 eq/month for the faculty canteen. Meat is by far the largest contributor to the carbon footprint in both cases, with beef being its "hotspot". All scenarios showed significant reduction potentials, with values ranging from 16% (lower value for both the national case and the faculty canteen) to 71% (faculty canteen). In sum, substantial carbon footprint reductions can be attained if policymakers support the implementation of effective measures to promote a shift in the current animal protein consumption towards more sustainable eating habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cadmium (Cd) levels of food crops can be elevated through management activities and geogenic factors. While emphasis is placed on reducing Cd in phosphorus (P) fertilizers, increasing evidence shows that Cd accumulation in plants is markedly influenced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Mycorrhizas are highly effective in reducing shoot Cd accumulation through various mechanisms including Cd immobilization in fungal structures and increasing root zinc (Zn) uptake. Scope: The increase in plant Cd concentrations in response to short- or long-term P fertilization is not necessarily related to fertilizer Cd concentration. Novel results suggest that this counterintuitive result is related to suppressed mycorrhizal colonization by P fertilization. When applied P fertilizers reduce mycorrhizal colonization, there is risk for concurrent increased Cd accumulation in plants. Although the mechanism is not fully understood, grain Cd concentrations in crop rotations are highest in plants grown after non-mycorrhizal (e.g. rapeseed), rather than mycorrhizal species (e.g., wheat), probably due to diminished mycorrhizal activity by non-mycorrhizal plants. These findings indicate that rapeseed-wheat rotations may enhance Cd concentrations in human diets. Published data also show that AMF contribute up to 50% of total Zn uptake in plants. Conclusions: Considering various soil and crop management factors that negatively affect mycorrhizal colonization, a priority should be to maintain functional AMF in soils to support healthy food systems. Considering also the fundamental role of AMF in root Zn uptake and the global prevalence of human Zn deficiency, improving functioning of AMF may provide a dual benefit to healthy and nutritious food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research was conducted to determine the content of total polyphenols (TP) in table potato tubers obtained in a three-year field experiment arranged as a split-plot design with three replicates. The first experimental factor included two potato cultivars: Oberon and Malaga, the second one being an application of the following biostimulants: PlonoStart, Aminoplant, Agro-Sorb Folium and the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC (clomazone + metribuzin). The polyphenol content of potato tubers was determined in the fresh tuber mass by the spectrophotometric method with the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The tuber content of polyphenols was affected by cultivars and test biostimulants. Cv. Malaga accumulated more polyphenols than cv. Oberon. Biostimulants + herbicide significantly increased the accumulation of polyphenolic compounds compared with tubers cultivated in the control unit, which were not treated with the test products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free radicals (FRs) are unstable molecules that cause reactive stress (RS), an imbalance between reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in the body and its ability to neutralize them. These species are generated by both internal and external factors and can damage cellular lipids, proteins, and DNA. Antioxidants prevent or slow down the oxidation process by interrupting the transfer of electrons between substances and reactive agents. This is particularly important at the cellular level because oxidation reactions lead to the formation of FR and contribute to various diseases. As we age, RS accumulates and leads to organ dysfunction and age-related disorders. Polyphenols; vitamins A, C, and E; and selenoproteins possess antioxidant properties and may have a role in preventing and treating certain human diseases associated with RS. In this review, we explore the current evidence on the potential benefits of dietary supplementation and investigate the intricate connection between SIRT1, a crucial regulator of aging and longevity; the transcription factor NRF2; and polyphenols, vitamins, and selenium. Finally, we discuss the positive effects of antioxidant molecules, such as reducing RS, and their potential in slowing down several diseases.

Dietary intake is difficult to measure reliably in humans because approaches typically rely on self-reporting, which can be incomplete and biased. In field studies of animals, DNA sequencing-based approaches such as metabarcoding have been developed to characterize diets, but such approaches have not previously been widely applied to humans. Here, we present data derived from sequencing of a chloroplast DNA marker (the P6 loop of the trnL [UAA] intron) in stool samples collected from 11 individuals consuming both controlled and freely selected diets. The DNA metabarcoding strategy resulted in successful PCR amplification in about 50% of samples, which increased to a 70% success rate in samples from individuals eating a controlled plant-rich diet. Detection of plant taxa among sequenced samples yielded a recall of 0.86 and a precision of 0.55 compared to a written diet record during controlled feeding of plant-based foods. The majority of sequenced plant DNA matched common human food plants, including grains, vegetables, fruits, and herbs prepared both cooked and uncooked. Moreover, DNA metabarcoding data were sufficient to distinguish between baseline and treatment diet arms of the study. Still, the relatively high PCR failure rate and an inability to distinguish some dietary plants at the sequence level using the trnL-P6 marker suggest that future methodological refinements are necessary. Overall, our results suggest that DNA metabarcoding provides a promising new method for tracking human plant intake and that similar approaches could be used to characterize the animal and fungal components of our omnivorous diets.IMPORTANCE Current methods for capturing human dietary patterns typically rely on individual recall and as such are subject to the limitations of human memory. DNA sequencing-based approaches, frequently used for profiling nonhuman diets, do not suffer from the same limitations. Here, we used metabarcoding to broadly characterize the plant portion of human diets for the first time. The majority of sequences corresponded to known human foods, including all but one foodstuff included in an experimental plant-rich diet. Metabarcoding could distinguish between experimental diets and matched individual diet records from controlled settings with high accuracy. Because this method is independent of survey language and timing, it could also be applied to geographically and culturally disparate human populations, as well as in retrospective studies involving banked human stool.

This paper discusses the moral implications of raising non-human animals for food and fiber. The systematic privation to which these animals are subjected, the serious compromise to their welfare and the lack of necessity for an animal-based diet are documented. Although suggestions are offered for improvement in the manner in which these animals are raised, it is argued that discontinuing our dependence on animal-based products is the only way to prevent animal suffering.

Fodder crops play an important role in agriculture as they deliver food for animals, which is eventually converted to food for humans. All over the world, Alfalfa has had utmost importance for a few decades, not only as a fodder crop due to having high nutritional value for dairy farming but also being positively involved in many health-related and environmental affairs. Medicinally, it helps in controlling diseases such as arthritis, cholesterol, anemia, and cardio-related illnesses. Furthermore, like other cereal crops (wheat, rice, corn, etc.), it could also be a great source of several healthy nutrients for humans when the proper quantity is added to daily meals. However, unlike other nations of the world such as America, China, and India, Pakistan does not utilize it directly in human meals. This crop also has eco-friendly behavior since it controls soil erosion by binding the soil particles together and makes atmospheric nitrogen available to the plants by fixing it in the soil. Other uses include its role in water purification, improved pollination, and most importantly, its tolerance against water, salt, and temperature stress, making its position even stronger in arid and semi-arid areas. This review will draw researchers' attention to its multiple uses other than fodder crop and most importantly, its nutritional availability at a very low cost, which could prove nothing short of a miracle for the economy if properly mediated.

Fresh vegetables and fruits have always been the mainstays of good nutrition as providers of fiber, beneficial phytochemicals (such as vitamins and phenolic compounds), and minerals. Today and in the future, biofortification is a promising strategy to increase the concentration of these compounds. Considering the importance of minerals in human health, the enrichment of fresh produce for consumption has been considered through specific agronomic approaches. This review discusses, in detail, the latest findings on vegetable agronomic biofortification, aimed at increasing the concentration of crucial minerals, such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), iodine (I), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), and silicon (Si), in edible portions, focusing on the direct and indirect effects of this strategy. Although agronomic biofortification is considered a feasible technique, the approach is complex due to the many interactions between the microelement bioavailability for both plants and consumers. Therefore, the effects of biofortification on human health and the influence of beneficial and antinutritional compounds were discussed in detail to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of this practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice fields occupy great biodiversity and support a variety of living organisms, including edible aquatic insects. The goal of this study was to assess the richness and diversity of edible aquatic insects living in rice fields. A sampling of aquatic insects and physico-chemical parameters of the rice field water were made after irrigation. Three replications of sampling by aquatic net were collected from the bottom along the edge of the rice plots. The richness and diversity indices were analyzed. A total of 10.501 individuals, comprising 64 genera of aquatic insects belonging to six orders, were collected at different study sites. Among aquatic insects, the order Hemiptera occupied the highest abundance of the total insects collected. Richness showed a range of 14 to 50. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′) showed a range of 1.877 to 3.450, whereas Simpson's diversity index (D) showed a range of 0.7665 to 0.9605. CCA and non-parametric Spearman correlation revealed that some insect species were correlated positively with pH, temperature, turbidity, alkalinity, and nutrients (nitrate and phosphate), and had a negative correlation with electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current paleodietary studies about the Naviform and Talayotic groups that took place in Minorca (Balearic Islands) during the Late Bronze Age–Early Iron Age (ca.1600–850/800 BC) have suggested a mixed and variable diet, largely depending on terrestrial sources of vegetables and meat. This study explores the nutritional pattern of the individuals buried in the Cova des Pas site (Minorca Island, Spain), a cave used as a collective sepulcher and the most exceptional and major human assemblage found in the Balearic Islands during this period. Carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopic signatures were measured on extracted bone collagen from 49 individuals. Further, faunal remains from the Son Mercer de Baix site, the closest contemporaneous village to the collective sepulcher, were also analyzed to provide a baseline corpus of data to interpret human isotopic data. The results indicate a human diet based mainly on C3 plants with an important consumption of animal protein. The δ15N values of infants up to 4 years were high, indicating the enriched isotopic signature of breast milk, and weaning is assumed to occur around this age. Differences between sexes and the age subcategories were not statistically significant, assuming that the different groups of society had the same access to food. The data obtained in this isotopic study provides insight into the palaeodietary pattern of the human groups dated to the Late Bronze Age–Early Iron Age ages in the island of Minorca, contributing to the present debate on the emergence and development of complex societies on the Balearic archipelago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micronutrients perform a significant role in growth and development of human population, but food crops grown on metal deficient soil showed limited accumulation in their grains, leads toward human malnutrition. Present experiment evaluated the Fe effect in soil and different wheat varieties grown under organic fertilizers treatments. For this purpose, experiment was conducted in Municipal solid waste (MSW-100 & MSW-200g), Poultry waste (PW-100 & PW-200), Press Mud (PM-100 & PM-200), Farm yard manure (FM-100 & FM-200) and control (CT) treatment under both pot and field trials. Study results presented that organic fertilizer treatment significantly increases the Fe content in wheat varieties with respect to control treatment. Maximum Fe level (4.33-8.78mg/kg) was found in MSW-200 treated soil. Root (12.86-29.97mg/kg) and shoot (29.11 to 12.41mg/kg) samples showed maximum Fe mean value in 11CO23 variety grown in FM-200 treatment. Grains (12.46-29.63mg/kg) showed highest Fe accumulation in the JOHAR-16 grown in PM-200 treatment. Fe content was ranges as 0.076-0.154mg/kg in pollution load index, 2.878-4.609mg/kg in bio-concentration factor, 0.00542-0.01287mg/kg in Daily intake index and 0.7737-1.8386mg/kg/day in health risk index. In term of varieties and treatments, maximum Fe content was exhibited in JOHAR-16 during PM-200 treatment while its minimal concentration was recorded in IHSAN-16 during CT treatment. Organic fertilizer treatments basically enhance the Fe content in wheat grains; which proves to be fruitful in decreasing micronutrient malnutrition from human diet in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Dietary supplements and agricultural byproducts were characterized by neutron activation analysis. The nutritional potential of supplements was evaluated according to alternative and commercial categories, using analysis of variance and cluster analysis, and recommended dietary intake for children. The results indicated statistically significant differences between both categories for the elements Cs, K, Na, and Rb. For the nutritional elements Ca, Co, Fe, K, Na, and Zn, the categories were similar in cluster analysis. The similarity between elemental profiles of alternative supplements and agricultural byproducts was calculated using a dissimilarity matrix, showing that rice and wheat are the predominant ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet is an important lifestyle factor influencing disease risk. Vegetarian and Mediterranean diets have their proponents and are promoted for various potential health benefits. Over the years, numerous cross-sectional and cohort studies and randomized clinical trials have been conducted to elucidate the relationship between the Mediterranean and vegetarian diet and cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, and other disease risks. More recently, research has been conducted to compare both diets directly. In this narrative review, we discuss the effects of vegetarian and Mediterranean diets on lipid profile, blood pressure, inflammation markers, body weight, risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease, as well as their associations with gut microbiota and mental health. The paper also discusses the studies comparing vegetarian and Mediterranean diets and their health effects. It provides further evidence that both diets can be beneficial and advocates their promotion, especially in Westernized populations plagued by various chronic lifestyle-associated diseases. At the same time, the Mediterranean dietary model may appear to be a superior public health strategy, less prone to the risk of nutritional deficiencies and less challenging in implantation on a broader scale. However, further studies based on cross-over design and long-term observations are recommended to thoroughly compare vegetarian and Mediterranean diets and draw more firm conclusions on their effects on health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between selective nutrients and linked genes involving a specific organ reveals the genetic make-up of an individual in response to a particular nutrient. The interaction of genes with food opens opportunities for the addition of bioactive compounds for specific populations comprising identical genotypes. The slight difference in the genetic blueprints of humans is advantageous in determining the effect of nutrients and their metabolism in the body. The basic knowledge of emerging nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics can be applied to optimize health, prevention, and treatment of diseases. In addition, nutrient-mediated pathways detecting the cellular concentration of nutrients such as sugars, amino acids, lipids, and metabolites are integrated and coordinated at the organismal level via hormone signals. This review deals with the interaction of nutrients with various aspects of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics along with pathways involved in nutrient sensing and regulation, which can provide a detailed understanding of this new leading edge in nutrition research and its potential application to dietetic practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Based on the analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes of bone collagen, stable carbon isotopes of bone apatite and an extensive AMS dating series (~10,000-299 years cal BP), the human paleodiets of 34 individuals from the Central Pampean Dunefields (Argentina, South America) are evaluated., Materials and Methods: These data are interpreted from the isotopic ecology of animals with archaeofaunal evidence of consumption and isotopic models of human diet. Multivariate carbon and nitrogen stable isotope model and Bayesian stable isotope ellipses were used to interpret human diets., Results: Analysis of isotopic values indicates intake of enriched lipids and/or carbohydrates in relation to the proteins consumed throughout the Holocene. The isotopic values of Middle Holocene humans in relation to the values of exploited resources point out that individuals obtained protein mainly from guanaco. Subsequently, there was an increase in the human breadth diet during the Late Holocene, with a greater relevance of small prey of high trophic levels and vegetables. This contrasts with zooarchaeological information indicating generalist human diets during the Middle Holocene and specialized human diets in guanaco during the Late Holocene., Conclusions: It is proposed that during the Middle Holocene arid period, the combination of low human population density and high residential mobility in wide foraging ranges allowed the guanaco to be the main source of protein. During the Late Holocene humid period, there was an increase in human population density and a decrease in residential mobility, which caused greater pressure on foraging territories and increased dietary breadth., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Abstract Fishing ensures necessary food for humans and is inextricably linked with the environment because coastal communities developed special fishing procedures to achieve better exploitation of the aquatic resources. Lake Trichonis, Greece’s largest natural lake, is a freshwater ecosystem in which a marine species (Atherina boyeri) has entered and dominate the ichthyofauna. This species is exploited by purse seine fishing with the use of light, and previous studies revealed that the fishing lights create a particular food chain reaction, which promotes predation among the attracted fish species, one of which is Scardinius acarnanicus that preys upon A. boyeri. The purse seine fishers typically return to the lake alive S. acarnanicus, due to its low market demand, although it is the main predator of their catch. This custom, apart from causing income losses, promotes instability in the fish populations, while eventually altered the foraging behaviour of S. acarnanicus and made it a fish-predator instead of a typical omnivorous species. Based on data from official fish landing recordings, interviews with local fishers, and responses to questionnaires completed by residents of villages around Lake Trichonis, the present study investigates how changes in the dietary habits of the lakeside communities over time have led to the low market demand for S. acarnanicus. The present findings revealed an interesting relation between the dietary preferences of the local population and their ecological consequences for the fish community of this lake. This will eventually lead to the increase in the top predator (S. acarnanicus) and an inevitable decrease in the main catch (A. boyeri), affecting not only the ecological status of the lake, but also the socioeconomic characteristics of the human populations in this area. From another perspective, the results demonstrate a paradigm of adapted evolution by a wild fish under the pressure of human activities.

• Good water quality requires end-of-pipe control plus lifestyle and food system change. • Local dominance of natural sources can hinder mitigation strategies for N and P. • Unbalanced reductions of N versus P loads can lead to unexpected negative impacts. A spatially explicit (0.5 degree resolution) analysis is presented of the impact of human lifestyle, diet and nutrient use efficiency in food production and wastewater treatment on exceedance of threshold concentrations for nitrate in groundwater, and total N and total P concentrations in surface water, as well as criteria for their ratio. This analysis starts from the middle-of-the-road (SSP2) and the sustainability (SSP1) Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSP), focusing on the year 2050. The scenarios with changed lifestyle assume a reduction of food wastage and a low-meat diet for all world inhabitants, implying large reductions of meat and milk consumption and production in industrialized countries. Scenarios with improved nutrient use efficiencies assume maximum achievable efficiencies under practical conditions. The SSP2 scenario combined with assumptions on lifestyle and human diet leads to improvement in industrialized countries only, and increased levels in many other regions. A strong improvement is achieved in SSP1, but not in many developing countries, and SSP1 combined with changed lifestyle leads to improvement of groundwater and surface water quality in industrialized countries only. Therefore, changed lifestyle needs to be combined with efforts to improve the efficiency in food production systems and wastewater treatment to achieve reductions of the area affected by groundwater contamination and eutrophication of surface waters. Reduction strategies need to find a balance between N and P, since it is easier to reduce N in rivers to levels below the threshold than P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The appearance of Homo erectus shortly after 2.0 Ma is widely considered a turning point in human dietary evolution, with increased consumption of animal tissues driving the evolution of larger brain and body size and a reorganization of the gut. An increase in the size and number of zooarchaeological assemblages after the appearance of H. erectus is often offered as a central piece of archaeological evidence for increased carnivory in this species, but this characterization has yet to be subject to detailed scrutiny. Any widespread dietary shift leading to the acquisition of key traits in H. erectus should be persistent in the zooarchaeological record through time and can only be convincingly demonstrated by a broad-scale analysis that transcends individual sites or localities. Here, we present a quantitative synthesis of the zooarchaeological record of eastern Africa from 2.6 to 1.2 Ma. We show that several proxies for the prevalence of hominin carnivory are all strongly related to how well the fossil record has been sampled, which constrains the zooarchaeological visibility of hominin carnivory. When correcting for sampling effort, there is no sustained increase in the amount of evidence for hominin carnivory between 2.6 and 1.2 Ma. Our observations undercut evolutionary narratives linking anatomical and behavioral traits to increased meat consumption in H. erectus, suggesting that other factors are likely responsible for the appearance of its human-like traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevotella copri is a prevalent inhabitant of the human gut and has been associated with plant‐rich diet consumption and diverse health states. The underlying genetic basis of these associations remains enigmatic due to the lack of genetic tools. Here, we developed a novel versatile genetic toolbox for rapid and efficient genetic insertion and allelic exchange applicable to P. copri strains from multiple clades. Enabled by the genetic platform, we systematically investigated the specificity of polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) and identified four highly conserved PULs for utilizing arabinan, pectic galactan, arabinoxylan, and inulin, respectively. Further genetic and functional analysis of arabinan utilization systems illustrate that P. copri has evolved two distinct types of arabinan‐processing PULs (PULAra) and that the type‐II PULAra is significantly enriched in individuals consuming a vegan diet compared to other diets. In summary, this genetic toolbox will enable functional genetic studies for P. copri in future. SYNOPSIS: Genetic intractability limits functional studies of prevalent human gut commensals. Here, we establish a genetic toolbox validated by the characterization of polysaccharide utilization systems in Prevotella copri providing a roadmap for functional gene studies in human commensal bacteria. We developed a toolbox for genetic insertion and allelic exchange in P. copri.This enables functional studies of genetically diverse P. copri strains.Distinct PULs in P. copri for processing arabinan, pectic galactan, arabinoxylan and inulin were identified.Prevotella copri strains encode two types of arabinan processing PULs with distinct binding and importing modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to evaluate genotypes of iron- and zinc-enriched common beans during breeding in producers’ farms. Yield, disease reaction, and commercial grain characteristics were evaluated to achieve this objective. In three locations of Antioquia (Rionegro, Jardín, and Betulia), seven bush beans and eight climbing bean genotypes were planted. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used in each location. There were significant differences between the bush and climbing bean genotypes that were evaluated. The highest yields, in all locations, were for the biofortified bean NUA 45 and the control variety Uribe Rosado, followed by the CAL 96 and AFR 612 genotypes. For the climbing beans, the highest yields were found in the G2333 genotypes, being this treatment equal to the MAC 27, a bean that is adapted to mid-climate and altitudes. The MAC 27 material is presented as a promising variety because of its high yields and tolerance to diseases, mainly anthracnose.

Fresh vegetables and fruits have always been the mainstays of good nutrition as providers of fiber, beneficial phytochemicals (such as vitamins and phenolic compounds), and minerals. Today and in the future, biofortification is a promising strategy to increase the concentration of these compounds. Considering the importance of minerals in human health, the enrichment of fresh produce for consumption has been considered through specific agronomic approaches. This review discusses, in detail, the latest findings on vegetable agronomic biofortification, aimed at increasing the concentration of crucial minerals, such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), iodine (I), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), and silicon (Si), in edible portions, focusing on the direct and indirect effects of this strategy. Although agronomic biofortification is considered a feasible technique, the approach is complex due to the many interactions between the microelement bioavailability for both plants and consumers. Therefore, the effects of biofortification on human health and the influence of beneficial and antinutritional compounds were discussed in detail to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of this practice.

Fishing ensures necessary food for humans and is inextricably linked with the environment because coastal communities developed special fishing procedures to achieve better exploitation of the aquatic resources. Lake Trichonis, Greece's largest natural lake, is a freshwater ecosystem in which a marine species (Atherina boyeri) has entered and dominate the ichthyofauna. This species is exploited by purse seine fishing with the use of light, and previous studies revealed that the fishing lights create a particular food chain reaction, which promotes predation among the attracted fish species, one of which is Scardinius acarnanicus that preys upon A. boyeri. The purse seine fishers typically return to the lake alive S. acarnanicus, due to its low market demand, although it is the main predator of their catch. This custom, apart from causing income losses, promotes instability in the fish populations, while eventually altered the foraging behaviour of S. acarnanicus and made it a fish-predator instead of a typical omnivorous species. Based on data from official fish landing recordings, interviews with local fishers, and responses to questionnaires completed by residents of villages around Lake Trichonis, the present study investigates how changes in the dietary habits of the lakeside communities over time have led to the low market demand for S. acarnanicus. The present findings revealed an interesting relation between the dietary preferences of the local population and their ecological consequences for the fish community of this lake. This will eventually lead to the increase in the top predator (S. acarnanicus) and an inevitable decrease in the main catch (A. boyeri), affecting not only the ecological status of the lake, but also the socioeconomic characteristics of the human populations in this area. From another perspective, the results demonstrate a paradigm of adapted evolution by a wild fish under the pressure of human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human diet is characterized by the intake of major minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, N) and trace elements (Zn, Mn, Se, Cu, Fe, Co, I, Cr, F, Pb, Cd) for their key role in many metabolic functions. Nowadays, the research of sources able to improve their intake is in continuous evolution, especially in the undeveloped countries. In this sense, wild edible herbs, commonly used since ancient times, can represent a good alternative to improve the daily human intake of minerals. In this study, four wild edible species, Rumex acetosa, Picris hieracioides, Cichorium intybus, and Plantago coronopus, were analyzed for their content in Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn and, besides, three domestications (named "soilless," pot, and open field) were evaluated in the analyzed species in the prospective of their commercialization as valuable sources of minerals in the human diet. Nitrate and oxalate contents were also evaluated, given their negative impact on human health. Results unveil that open field domestication allowed the plants to maintain the content of major minerals similar to those measured in wild plants, especially in C. intybus and P. hieracioides. The trace elements Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn were not recorded at high content irrespectively to the wild collection or domestications. Finally, plants grown in the open field also accounted for a high oxalate and nitrate content, especially in R. acetosa. Further researches should be aimed at decreasing the oxalate and nitrate content in the domesticated species and to promote the commercialization of the domesticated species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between selective nutrients and linked genes involving a specific organ reveals the genetic make-up of an individual in response to a particular nutrient. The interaction of genes with food opens opportunities for the addition of bioactive compounds for specific populations comprising identical genotypes. The slight difference in the genetic blueprints of humans is advantageous in determining the effect of nutrients and their metabolism in the body. The basic knowledge of emerging nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics can be applied to optimize health, prevention, and treatment of diseases. In addition, nutrient-mediated pathways detecting the cellular concentration of nutrients such as sugars, amino acids, lipids, and metabolites are integrated and coordinated at the organismal level via hormone signals. This review deals with the interaction of nutrients with various aspects of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics along with pathways involved in nutrient sensing and regulation, which can provide a detailed understanding of this new leading edge in nutrition research and its potential application to dietetic practice.

Abstract Background Termites are an important food resource for many human populations around the world, and are a good supply of nutrients. The fungus-farming ‘higher’ termite members of Macrotermitinae are also consumed by modern great apes and are implicated as critical dietary resources for early hominins. While the chemical nutritional composition of edible termites is well known, their microbiomes are unexplored in the context of human health. Here we sequenced the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene of gut microbiota extracted from the whole intestinal tract of two Macrotermes sp. soldiers collected from the Limpopo region of South Africa. Results Major and minor soldier subcastes of M. falciger exhibit consistent differences in taxonomic representation, and are variable in microbial presence and abundance patterns when compared to another edible but less preferred species, M. natalensis. Subcaste differences include alternate patterns in sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogenic Euryarchaeota abundance, and differences in abundance between Alistipes and Ruminococcaceae. M. falciger minor soldiers and M. natalensis soldiers have similar microbial profiles, likely from close proximity to the termite worker castes, particularly during foraging and fungus garden cultivation. Compared with previously published termite and cockroach gut microbiome data, the taxonomic representation was generally split between termites that directly digest lignocellulose and humic substrates and those that consume a more distilled form of nutrition as with the omnivorous cockroaches and fungus-farming termites. Lastly, to determine if edible termites may point to a shared reservoir for rare bacterial taxa found in the gut microbiome of humans, we focused on the genus Treponema. The majority of Treponema sequences from edible termite gut microbiota most closely relate to species recovered from other termites or from environmental samples, except for one novel OTU strain, which clustered separately with Treponema found in hunter-gatherer human groups. Conclusions Macrotermes consumed by humans display special gut microbial arrangements that are atypical for a lignocellulose digesting invertebrate, but are instead suited to the simplified nutrition in the fungus-farmer diet. Our work brings to light the particular termite microbiome features that should be explored further as avenues in human health, agricultural sustainability, and evolutionary research.

Abstract The aim of the study was to assess small-scale farmers’ attitude and willingness to consume goat milk and its products. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 151 household farmers by using a 15% random sampling technique. Data were analysed using descriptive frequencies and chi-square tests to check for any association between the variables and farmers’ willingness to consume goat milk and its products. The results showed that a large share (41.78%) of the respondents do not consume goat milk. Taste (20.83%), cultural bias (8.33%), strong smell and natural dislike (64.58%) were some reasons why farmers do not consume goat milk. Some proportions (38.10%) of farmers were not aware of any nutritional benefits of goat milk. However, when these benefits were explained to them, a high percentage (93.10%) of these farmers indicated their willingness to consume goat milk and/or its products based on its nutritional benefits. Age, gender and educational status had a significant influence (P ≤ 0.05) on farmers’ willingness to consume goat milk and its products. The nutritional importance of goat milk and its products should be strongly promoted to improve the human diet in the study area.

The n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) present primarily in oily fish, namely eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are important components of cell membranes and that are needed for normal development and cell function. Humans have very limited capacity for EPA and DHA synthesis from α‐linolenic acid and so they must be obtained pre‐formed from the diet. However, perceived unpalatability of oily fish and fish oil concerns about contamination with environmental pollutants, dietary choices that exclude fish and animal products, and price limit the effectiveness of recommendations for EPA and DHA intakes. Moreover, marine sources of EPA and DHA are diminishing in the face of increasing demands. Therefore, an alternative source of EPA and DHA is needed that is broadly acceptable, can be upscaled and is sustainable. This review discusses these challenges and, using findings from recent nutritional trials, explains how they may be overcome by seed oils from transgenic plants engineered to produce EPA and DHA. Trials in healthy men and women assessed the acute uptake and appearance in blood over 8 hours of EPA and DHA from transgenic Camelina sativa compared to fish oil, and the incorporation of these PUFA into blood lipids after dietary supplementation. The findings showed that postprandial EPA and DHA incorporation into blood lipids and accumulation in plasma lipids after dietary supplementation was as good as that achieved with fish oil. The oil derived from this transgenic plant was well tolerated. This review also discusses the implications for human nutrition, marine ecology and agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human diet has been considered to be the main source of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) intake, but only a few risk assessments for PFASs alternatives and isomers with persistent and bioaccumulative properties were available. Hence, the concentrations and human exposure of 10 linear PFASs, 8 branched PFASs and 4 alternatives were characterised in animal-origin and vegetable dietary food samples consumed by Beijing residents of China. Linear-PFASs were commonly found in fish, while PFBS was mainly found in vegetables. PFASs alternative 6:2Cl-PFESA was mainly detected in freshwater and marine fish, with a mean level of 223 and 158 pg/g ww, respectively. In addition, br-PFOA and br-PFOS were only detected in pork liver and fish samples. The EDI∑PFOA and EDI∑PFOS values were far below the tolerable weekly intake as recommended by EFSA in 2018. However, the occurrence and exposure of PFAS alternatives suggested that the risk of these contaminants should be further evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in the application of grape stems as source of nutrients and bioactive compounds, for its use in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries. The main goal of this study was to determine the content of essential minerals, toxic metals and phenolic compounds present in grape stems, not only to understand if this by-product can be applied in the development of new products as a source of mineral nutrients, but also to understand the possibility of existing a relationship between all these parameters. The results demonstrated that this by-product presented a high content of essential minerals, being the most abundant Na, Mg, Ca, and K, ranging from 0.65, 1.34, and 1.41 to 24.45 g/kg DW, respectively, on average, as well as phenolic contents ranging from 30.91 ± 0.73 to 96.12 ± 8.14 mg GAE/g DW. In fact, stems are richer in phenolic compounds and minerals, in some cases higher than some food matrices consumed in our diet, whereby this by-product can be a good bet in the production of value added products. Furthermore, the principal component analysis showed a relationship between some elements (NI, Na, Al, As, Cd, and Pb) and the higher/lowest concentration of phenolics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When biosolids are applied to agricultural soil, potentially toxic elements (PTEs) accumulate in the topsoil, although it takes many repeated applications to reach soil limit values.Two programmes of UK government-funded research were commissioned in the 1990s to investigate the transfer of PTEs to the food chain via ingestion by sheep grazing biosolids-amended soil. Here, we critically re-examine this evidence in the light of other published work and current food quality standards. This was particularly motivated by the need to determine the safety of biosolids controls on PTEs in relation to revised and stricter European food quality controls for PTEs in foodstuffs.The major pathway for transfer of PTEs to grazing livestock is via direct ingestion of biosolids or biosolids-amended soil from the soil surface. The main elements of concern for the human diet are cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), with Cd being the focus of the current paper. Animal ingestion of plant tissue is also a potential pathway for Cd exposure, which, unlike Pb, can transfer to crop tissues.The concentrations of Cd in the muscle tissue of sheep grazing biosolids-amended soil were generally small and similar to control values. Cadmium concentrations in sheep offal were below the maximum permitted concentration for human consumption. This was despite ingestion of soils exceeding the maximum permissible concentration for Cd in soil (3 mg kg−1 dry soil) by up to three times, at an ingestion rate of 10% total dietary dry matter intake. Grazing trials under practical conditions on high Cd soils demonstrated that the Cd concentrations in sheep offal remained below the food limit value for this element in offal from the combined intakes from biosolids-amended soil and herbage. Futhermore, given the substantial fall in environmental emissions and concentrations in biosolids of this element and, consequently, it cannot accumulate in soil to the limit value, biosolids Cd does not represent an issue for the safety of animal meat products.

Recipes on the composition of the “salad of the monks” (Capuchin monks) have been reported in Italy since the 17th century. Different wild edible plants were highly regarded as an important ingredient of this mixed salad. Among these, some species played a key role for both their taste and nutritional properties: Plantago coronopus L. (PC), Rumex acetosa L., Cichorium intybus L., and Artemisia dracunculus L. In the present study, the micromorphological and phytochemical features as well as the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of extracts of these fresh and blanched leaves, were investigated. The extracts obtained by blanched leaves, according to the traditionally used cooking method, showed the highest content of bioactive compounds (total phenols 1202.31–10,751.88 mg GAE/100 g DW; flavonoids 2921.38–61,141.83 mg QE/100 g DW; flavanols 17.47–685.52 mg CE/100 g DW; proanthocyanidins 2.83–16.33 mg CyE/100 g DW; total chlorophyll 0.84–1.09 mg/g FW; carbohydrates 0.14–1.92 g/100 g FW) and possess the most marked antioxidant (IC50 0.30–425.20 µg/mL) and anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 240.20–970.02 µg/mL). Considering this, our results indicate that increased consumption of the investigated plants, in particular of PC, raw or cooked briefly, could provide a healthy food source in the modern diet by the recovery and enhancement of ancient ingredients.