Browsing by Subject "nutrition"
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(2023)Background and aim: Formula fed (FF) infants show consistently higher rates of infections, and accelerated growth rate during the first year of life compared to breastfed (BF) infants. Lipid components of bovine origin, such as the lipid membrane structure, and phospholipids have been suggested as promising in narrowing the gap in health and development between FF and BF infants. The aim of this master’s thesis was to identify differences in the development and health of infants primarily fed with either milk-fat (MF) or vegetable-oil (VO) based formula, during the first year of life, and to elucidate the relativeness of lipid source and structure in currently commercially available formulas for infant growth and infectious morbidity. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of the observational, longitudinal Health and Early Life Microbiota (HELMi) cohort data, collected among healthy, term infants and their families during 2016 and 2019 in the capital region of Finland. FF infants were divided into two groups (MF, VO), and observational BF group was included as a reference. Infant growth was analysed with general linear model for repeated measures of WHO z-scores: weight-for age (WFA), weight-for-length (WFL), BMI-for-age (BMIFA), and length-for-age (LFA). Infectious morbidity was assessed as the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for doctor visit and antibiotics use during the first year of life based on parental reports and using binary logistic regression model. Results: Type of feeding (FF vs BF) was significantly (p<0.001) associated with the pattern of growth during the first year of life. FF groups showed slower weight gain for age during the first 3 months of life, but MF were then characterized with rapid catch-up growth (≥0.67 mean change in z-score) from 3 to 12 months of life, compared to BF infants. After inclusion of formula, the adjusted OR of doctor visit for respiratory infections was 2.58 (CI 1.14-5.86, p=0.024) from 3 to 6, and 3.25 (CI 1.46-7.25, p=0.004) from 6 to 9, among MF, compared to BF infants. For the antibiotics use the adjusted OR was 2.98 (CI 1.03-8.64, p=0.043) among MF infants from 6 to 9 months, compared to BF. No significant differences were detected between the two formula groups in any of the outcome parameters. Conclusions: Type of feeding is significantly associated with infant growth pattern and infectious morbidity during the first year of life, but no significant association could be determined with the lipid source of formula. Infant feeding is certainly an area of high importance and based on the current findings commercially available formulas are lacking in terms of health outcomes and growth compared to BF infants.
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(2023)Background and aim: Formula fed (FF) infants show consistently higher rates of infections, and accelerated growth rate during the first year of life compared to breastfed (BF) infants. Lipid components of bovine origin, such as the lipid membrane structure, and phospholipids have been suggested as promising in narrowing the gap in health and development between FF and BF infants. The aim of this master’s thesis was to identify differences in the development and health of infants primarily fed with either milk-fat (MF) or vegetable-oil (VO) based formula, during the first year of life, and to elucidate the relativeness of lipid source and structure in currently commercially available formulas for infant growth and infectious morbidity. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of the observational, longitudinal Health and Early Life Microbiota (HELMi) cohort data, collected among healthy, term infants and their families during 2016 and 2019 in the capital region of Finland. FF infants were divided into two groups (MF, VO), and observational BF group was included as a reference. Infant growth was analysed with general linear model for repeated measures of WHO z-scores: weight-for age (WFA), weight-for-length (WFL), BMI-for-age (BMIFA), and length-for-age (LFA). Infectious morbidity was assessed as the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for doctor visit and antibiotics use during the first year of life based on parental reports and using binary logistic regression model. Results: Type of feeding (FF vs BF) was significantly (p<0.001) associated with the pattern of growth during the first year of life. FF groups showed slower weight gain for age during the first 3 months of life, but MF were then characterized with rapid catch-up growth (≥0.67 mean change in z-score) from 3 to 12 months of life, compared to BF infants. After inclusion of formula, the adjusted OR of doctor visit for respiratory infections was 2.58 (CI 1.14-5.86, p=0.024) from 3 to 6, and 3.25 (CI 1.46-7.25, p=0.004) from 6 to 9, among MF, compared to BF infants. For the antibiotics use the adjusted OR was 2.98 (CI 1.03-8.64, p=0.043) among MF infants from 6 to 9 months, compared to BF. No significant differences were detected between the two formula groups in any of the outcome parameters. Conclusions: Type of feeding is significantly associated with infant growth pattern and infectious morbidity during the first year of life, but no significant association could be determined with the lipid source of formula. Infant feeding is certainly an area of high importance and based on the current findings commercially available formulas are lacking in terms of health outcomes and growth compared to BF infants.
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(2020)BACKGROUND: Diet has a major influence on the human gut microbiome, which has been linked to health and disease. However, epidemiological studies on the association of a healthy diet with the gut microbiome utilizing a whole-diet approach are still scant. OBJECTIVES: To assess associations between healthy food choices and human gut microbiome composition, and to determine the strength of association with the functional potential of the microbiome. DESIGN: The study sample consisted of 4,930 participants in the FINRISK 2002 study. Food intake was assessed using a food propensity questionnaire. Intake of food items recommended to be part of a healthy diet in the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations were transformed into a healthy food choices (HFC) score. Microbial diversity (alpha diversity) and compositional differences (beta diversity) and their associations with the HFC score and its components were assessed using linear regression and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA). Associations between specific taxa and HFC were analyzed using multivariate associations with linear models (MaAsLin). Functional associations were derived from KEGG orthologies (KO) with linear regression models. RESULTS: Both microbial alpha (p = 1.90x10-4) and beta diversity (p ≤ 0.001) associated with HFC score. For alpha diversity, the strongest associations were observed for fiber-rich breads, poultry, fruits, and low-fat cheeses. For beta diversity, most prominent associations were observed for vegetables followed by berries and fruits. Genera with fiber-degrading and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) producing capacity were positively associated with the HFC score. HFC associated positively with KO-based functions such as vitamin biosynthesis and SCFA metabolism, and inversely with fatty acid biosynthesis and the sulfur relay system. CONCLUSIONS: These results from a large and representative population-based survey confirm and extend findings of other smaller-scale studies that plant and fiber-rich dietary choices are associated with a more diverse and compositionally distinct microbiome, and with a greater potential to produce SCFAs.
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(2020)BACKGROUND: Diet has a major influence on the human gut microbiome, which has been linked to health and disease. However, epidemiological studies on the association of a healthy diet with the gut microbiome utilizing a whole-diet approach are still scant. OBJECTIVES: To assess associations between healthy food choices and human gut microbiome composition, and to determine the strength of association with the functional potential of the microbiome. DESIGN: The study sample consisted of 4,930 participants in the FINRISK 2002 study. Food intake was assessed using a food propensity questionnaire. Intake of food items recommended to be part of a healthy diet in the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations were transformed into a healthy food choices (HFC) score. Microbial diversity (alpha diversity) and compositional differences (beta diversity) and their associations with the HFC score and its components were assessed using linear regression and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA). Associations between specific taxa and HFC were analyzed using multivariate associations with linear models (MaAsLin). Functional associations were derived from KEGG orthologies (KO) with linear regression models. RESULTS: Both microbial alpha (p = 1.90x10-4) and beta diversity (p ≤ 0.001) associated with HFC score. For alpha diversity, the strongest associations were observed for fiber-rich breads, poultry, fruits, and low-fat cheeses. For beta diversity, most prominent associations were observed for vegetables followed by berries and fruits. Genera with fiber-degrading and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) producing capacity were positively associated with the HFC score. HFC associated positively with KO-based functions such as vitamin biosynthesis and SCFA metabolism, and inversely with fatty acid biosynthesis and the sulfur relay system. CONCLUSIONS: These results from a large and representative population-based survey confirm and extend findings of other smaller-scale studies that plant and fiber-rich dietary choices are associated with a more diverse and compositionally distinct microbiome, and with a greater potential to produce SCFAs.
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(2020)Introduction Kenya has recently acquired lower-middle income country status and is facing the triple burden of malnutrition. There is a shortage of data on food intake habits of children and adolescents especially in the rapidly changing urban environments. To be able to reliably measure food intake, one must be able to accurately estimate food portion sizes. Children’s ability to recall portion sizes consumed can vary widely. When a photographic food atlas designed for children with applicable portions is used, it can improve children’s estimation of food portions. Objectives The aim of this study was to develop a photographic food atlas to be used in assessing portion sizes among Kenyan adolescents aged 9-14 years living in urban areas, to support a quantitative 7-day food frequency questionnaire. The second aim was to assess the usability of the atlas amongst 9-14-year-olds and professionals working in the field of nutrition. Methodology A steering group of Finnish and Kenyan nutritionists was formed to oversee the development of the atlas. Literature and other official documents were reviewed to identify the most commonly consumed foods among 9-14-year-old Kenyans. To obtain weighed portion size data, participants were recruited in Nairobi sub-counties Embakasi Central and Langata to represent low- and middle-socioeconomic status respectively. Twenty-one participants aged 9-14 years participated in the weighing of portion sizes, food portions from street markets were also weighed. Three portion sizes (A, B, C) were calculated for most of the 88 food items in the photographic food atlas. Portion B was the average of all weighed portion sizes, portion A was half of B, and portion C was one and half times B. Cooking demonstrations were arranged with the families of participants and the food portions were weighed out and photographed. A photographic food atlas was compiled, and its usability was tested amongst eight adolescents and four nutrition professionals. The usability survey consisted of Likert scale and open-end questions to ascertain acceptability of the atlas. Verbal feedback and observations were also recorded. Results Based on the usability survey, the photographic food atlas received the Usability Score of “OK” and “Good” from adolescents and nutrition professionals respectively. All eight adolescents agreed that the atlas helped them recall portion sizes, but half disagreed and one was unsure whether they could use the atlas on their own. All four professionals agreed they would use the atlas in their work, but all found the quality of photographs poor. Two adolescents disagreed when asked if the portion sizes were small enough and one disagreed when asked if the portion sizes were large enough. However, all professionals agreed that portion sizes were reasonable for the age group. Professionals gave verbal suggestions on improvements, for example, which foods were missing, how to adjust layout as well as the shapes of portion sizes. Conclusion An atlas consisting of 88 most commonly consumed Kenyan foods was developed based on weighed portion sizes of 9-14-year-old Kenyans. The shapes of portion sizes as well as range of portion sizes were crucial for its usability. Poor picture quality hampered recognition of pictures. Clear instructions and explanation of the purpose of the atlas were crucial. A second version of the atlas was developed based on the feedback. The updated atlas, including 173 food items, was used in a cross-sectional study in Nairobi. Further research is recommended to validate the photographic food atlas in order to identify the possible bias it may introduce to portion size estimation.
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(2020)Johdanto Alhaisen ja keskituloluokan maissa, kuten Keniassa, lasten ja nuorten ravitsemuksesta tiedetään hyvin vähän. Kun maa on siirtymässä alhaisen tuloluokan maasta keskituloluokan maaksi, virheravitsemuksen riski moninkertaistuu. Tällöin väestössä ja samassa kotitaloudessa voi esiintyä samanaikaisesti sekä ali- että yliravitsemusta ja ravinnonpuutteita. Tästä johtuen on tärkeää saada lisää tietoa lasten ja nuorten ravitsemuksesta ja ruoankäytöstä sekä niissä tapahtuvista muutoksista. Jotta lasten ja nuorten ruoankulutusta voidaan mitata tarkasti ja luotettavasti, heidän täytyy osata luotettavasti arvioida ruoka-annostensa koko. Annoskoon arviointi tarkentuu lasten käyttäessä annoskuvakirjaa, jossa on ikäryhmälle sopivia annoskuvia. Tavoitteet Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli kehittää annoskuvakirja tukemaan 9–14-vuotiaiden nairobilaisten lasten annoskokojen arviointia ruoankäyttöfrekvenssikyselyn yhteydessä. Toinen tavoite oli selvittää 9–14-vuotiaiden lasten sekä kenialaisten ravitsemustieteilijöiden näkemystä kehitetyn annoskuvakirjan hyväksyttävyydestä ja käytettävyydestä. Menetelmät Julkaisuista ja muista virallisista dokumenteista selvitettiin taustatietoa yleisimmistä kenialaisista ruokalajeista ja annosko’oista. Annoskokojen määritystä varten rekrytoitiin 21 9–14-vuotiasta lasta, joista kymmenen Nairobin Embakasi Central-alueelta ja yksitoista Nairobin Langata-alueelta. Vierailujen yhteydessä heidän annoskokonsa punnittiin ja selvitettiin yleisimmin syödyt ruokalajit. Lisäksi selvitettiin alueiden katukauppojen, ravintoloiden sekä valintamyymälöiden tarjonta ja tarjolla olevien annosten koot punnittiin. Punnittujen annoskokojen perusteella määriteltiin kolme annoskokoa (A, B, C) suurimalle osalle ruokalajeista. B-annoskoko oli punnittujen annoskokojen keskiarvo, A oli puolet B:sta ja C puolitoista kertaa B. Kyselyyn osallistuneiden lasten äideille järjestettiin ruoanvalmistustilaisuus, jossa he valmistivat annoskuvakirjaan tulevat ruoat ja annoskoot punnittiin ja kuvattiin. Lopuksi annoskuvakirja koottiin ja sen käytettävyyttä testattiin kahdeksan lapsen ja neljän ravitsemustieteilijän keskuudessa. Käytettävyyskysely sisälsi yhdeksän Likert-asteikollista väitettä sekä avoimia kysymyksiä. Tutkittavien suullinen palaute ja tutkijoiden huomiot kirjattiin ylös. Tulokset Annoskuvakirja sai käytettävyysarvioiksi lapsilta ”OK” ja ravitsemusosaajilta ”Hyvä”. Kaikki kahdeksan nuorta uskoivat annoskuvakirjan auttavan heitä annoskokojen mieleen palauttamisessa, mutta vain puolet uskoi, että osaisivat käyttää annoskuvakirjaa yksin. Kaikki neljä ravitsemusosaajaa kertoivat, että käyttäisivät annoskuvakirjaa työssään, mutta kaikki kommentoivat, että valokuvien laatu oli kehno. Kolme lapsista katsoi, ettei annoskuvakirjan annoskoot vastaa heidän tavallisia annoskokojaan, mutta kaikki ravitsemusosaajat uskoivat, että annoskoot olivat sopivia ikäryhmälle. Ravitsemusosaajat antoivat suullista palautetta liittyen siihen, mitkä ruokalajit puuttuivat, missä järjestyksessä ne tulisi esittää sekä esittivät korjauksia ruoka-annosten muotoon. Johtopäätökset Valmis kirja sisälsi 88 ruokalajia. Annoskuvakirjan käytettävyyteen vaikutti etenkin valokuvien laatu sekä ruoka-annosten muodot. Selvät käyttöohjeet olivat myös tarpeelliset. Tässä tutkimuksessa saadun palautteen perusteella tehtiin annoskuvakirjasta toinen versio, jota käytettiin myöhemmin 160 lapsen poikkileikkaustutkimuksessa Nairobissa. Jatkotoimenpiteenä annoskuvakirja tulisi validoida, jotta tutkimuksissa voidaan paremmin huomioida sen tuomia virhelähteitä annoskokojen arviointiin.
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(2024)Background: The infant gut microbiome undergoes major temporal changes in the first year of life, crucial for supporting normal development and long-term health. The immense diversity of fiber structures in breast milk and later in solid foods pose unique selection pressures on the gut microbiome maturation by providing novel substrates for the microbiota. However, the longitudinal impact of complementary food-derived fibers on the taxonomic and functional maturation of the gut microbiome during the gradual transition from breast milk to solid foods is not well understood. Objectives: My objective was to examine how breast milk, its fiber and complementary food fibers in the broader context of overall infant diet may affect the gut microbiome bacterial species composition and support age-appropriate gut bacterial maturation trajectories during first year of life. Methods: Longitudinal and cross-sectional development of 68 infant gut microbiomes and 33 metabolomes were examined with linear mixed models to determine the impact of infant nutrition on gut microbiome taxa and functional development. Nutrition assessments were based on detailed quantitative weighted 3-day food records (months 3,6,9,12) and the intakes of total dietary fiber with its food sources and fiber fractions relied on current internationally approved CODEX-compliant values. Questionnaires were utilized to monitor when various complementary foods were introduced, enabling more comprehensive nutritional analyses. Bacterial species identification was based on MetaPhlAn2 quantification of bacterial species from metagenomic data and metabolomic profiles were generated using four liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods. Results: My examinations place the previously described sequential trajectories in infant gut microbiome maturation into detailed fiber-dependent nutritional context relying on metagenomic species identification. I discovered 176 complementary food derived fiber-bacterial species associations. The majority of the associations (147, 84%) were positive whereas breastfeeding and related variables tended to be inversely associated with the same species, showing strongest inverse correlations to later trajectory species indicative of slower maturation. Both bacterial species and metabolomic profiles displayed pronounced longitudinal shifts in response to solid food fibers. Each introduction of novel dietary source of fiber associated to diversification of the microbiome revealing fiber-species specific temporal patterns. Conclusions: The longitudinal analyses highlight that sufficient fiber intake from appropriate sources during the weaning period likely function to build capacity for the species permanence in the more diverse and stable mature gut microbiome composition and function reached in later childhood.
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(2024)Background: The infant gut microbiome undergoes major temporal changes in the first year of life, crucial for supporting normal development and long-term health. The immense diversity of fiber structures in breast milk and later in solid foods pose unique selection pressures on the gut microbiome maturation by providing novel substrates for the microbiota. However, the longitudinal impact of complementary food-derived fibers on the taxonomic and functional maturation of the gut microbiome during the gradual transition from breast milk to solid foods is not well understood. Objectives: My objective was to examine how breast milk, its fiber and complementary food fibers in the broader context of overall infant diet may affect the gut microbiome bacterial species composition and support age-appropriate gut bacterial maturation trajectories during first year of life. Methods: Longitudinal and cross-sectional development of 68 infant gut microbiomes and 33 metabolomes were examined with linear mixed models to determine the impact of infant nutrition on gut microbiome taxa and functional development. Nutrition assessments were based on detailed quantitative weighted 3-day food records (months 3,6,9,12) and the intakes of total dietary fiber with its food sources and fiber fractions relied on current internationally approved CODEX-compliant values. Questionnaires were utilized to monitor when various complementary foods were introduced, enabling more comprehensive nutritional analyses. Bacterial species identification was based on MetaPhlAn2 quantification of bacterial species from metagenomic data and metabolomic profiles were generated using four liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods. Results: My examinations place the previously described sequential trajectories in infant gut microbiome maturation into detailed fiber-dependent nutritional context relying on metagenomic species identification. I discovered 176 complementary food derived fiber-bacterial species associations. The majority of the associations (147, 84%) were positive whereas breastfeeding and related variables tended to be inversely associated with the same species, showing strongest inverse correlations to later trajectory species indicative of slower maturation. Both bacterial species and metabolomic profiles displayed pronounced longitudinal shifts in response to solid food fibers. Each introduction of novel dietary source of fiber associated to diversification of the microbiome revealing fiber-species specific temporal patterns. Conclusions: The longitudinal analyses highlight that sufficient fiber intake from appropriate sources during the weaning period likely function to build capacity for the species permanence in the more diverse and stable mature gut microbiome composition and function reached in later childhood.
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Elintapakeskustelu ja Neuvokas perhe : elintapaohjausmenetelmän käytännön toimivuus lastenneuvolassa (2013)Maternity and child health clinics have a central role in preventing childhood obesity and providing the entire family with lifestyle counselling. The Pilot Intervention Study on Diet of Toddlers in Finland aims at evaluating the feasibility of a nutrition intervention in child health clinics. The Resourceful Family counselling method developed by the Finnish Heart Association is a family-centred and empowerment-based method employed in child health clinics that are part of the nutrition intervention group in the Pilot Intervention Study on Diet of Toddlers in Finland. The aim of this thesis was to describe the discussions about lifestyle issues in child health clinic. Another aim was to evaluate the translation of the principles and objectives of the Resourceful Family method into practice. Ten child’s one-year visits to child health clinic recorded in the Pilot Intervention Study on Diet of Toddlers in Finland were analyzed in this study. The check-up visits had been recorded in three child health clinics where the nutrition intervention was carried out. The research method was content analysis. The most frequent themes in discussions about lifestyle during the child’s one-year visit to child health clinic were: adjusting of the child to the family diet, milk or milk products in the child’s diet and vitamin D supplementation of the child (discussed during 8/10 child health clinic appointments). Salt in food preparation was also a common theme (6/10). In nearly all of the appointments (9/10) one or more theme related to the lifestyle of parents and/or the entire family was discussed. The nurse mostly controlled the counselling situation by bringing up new topics. The nurses invited families to participate in the discussions in more than half of the appointments in accordance with a specific guidance practice part of the Resourceful Family counselling method. The nurses linked the invitation to the Resourceful Family card. They provided families with information in a neutral manner. Some of the information provided was client-centred. Discussions related to changing habits were evident in more than half of the appointments. These discussions did not lead to setting specific goals or creating plans due to the lack of guidance practices aimed at helping the family proceed in the change process. Family-centred and resource-based lifestyle counselling should be developed especially regarding motivating the family and supporting the family members in the change process. Thus the importance of these two areas of counselling should be emphasized in the education of nurses.
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(2019)The intestinal stem cells (ISC) are responsible for the regeneration of the intestine epithelial barrier after acute injury and for the replenishment of its cells overall. How the ISC activation and resulting proliferation is controlled is complex and still under study. The ISCs of the midgut, which is the functional analogue to mammalian small intestine, are also highly responsive to changes in nutrition, and with proper methodologies it is possible to study the effects of diet on stem cell activation. The metabolic flux of the nutritional components of the diet can then shed light on which metabolic pathways are necessary for nutrient-dependent proliferation. One nutrient that has garnered interest is glutamine (Gln). It is well established that glutamine supplementation can in parenterally fed patients diminish intestinal barrier atrophy, extend the time the patient can be kept under the regime, and increase survivability of critically ill patients. Consequently, glutamine or its downstream metabolites may have stem cell activating characteristics. However, the exact regulatory mechanisms and specific effects of Gln are not well known, and studies have found contradictory results on the beneficial effects of Gln supplementation. Glutamine itself is a conditionally essential amino acid that has a variety of functions: it is an important source of nitrogen and cellular energy and contributes carbon into the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and is involved in protein and nucleotide synthesis. In this thesis, the effects of Gln supplementation on the cell populations of D. melanogaster were studied via microscopy and computational analysis. Cross-breeds of fruit fly were established to lineage label the ISC with a GAL4/UAS driver system. Confocal microscope was used to image the midguts which were then analysed with Imaris software. A novel analysis method was developed to study population changes and varying features of the cells in the midgut in an unprecedented region-by-region bulk analysis. Earlier studies into nutrient control of ISC have had limited focus within the midgut and might have consequently given a restricted view of ISC activation. This new Longitudinal Analysis of Midgut (LAM) can be utilized in a diverse set of further studies to describe conditional variation within midgut, and possibly other tissues. Gln was found to increase total cell numbers to comparable levels with well-fed midguts, and to drive limited endoreplication in enterocytes. Lineage labelled cell population grew primarily in the R3 and R4 regions of the midgut. Additionally, enteroendocrine cells (EE) were greatly increased in the posterior part of R3 but had conceivable minor increases along the whole length of the midgut. Improved nutrition was also found to affect the proportions of the midgut, presenting itself as elongated posterior and stunted anterior. Overall, the pipeline and analysis method established during this study enable more expeditious research of effects of other nutritional components and allows for study of effects of other mechanisms, for example how gene knock-downs or altered gene activities affect cell populations of the midgut.
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(2019)The intestinal stem cells (ISC) are responsible for the regeneration of the intestine epithelial barrier after acute injury and for the replenishment of its cells overall. How the ISC activation and resulting proliferation is controlled is complex and still under study. The ISCs of the midgut, which is the functional analogue to mammalian small intestine, are also highly responsive to changes in nutrition, and with proper methodologies it is possible to study the effects of diet on stem cell activation. The metabolic flux of the nutritional components of the diet can then shed light on which metabolic pathways are necessary for nutrient-dependent proliferation. One nutrient that has garnered interest is glutamine (Gln). It is well established that glutamine supplementation can in parenterally fed patients diminish intestinal barrier atrophy, extend the time the patient can be kept under the regime, and increase survivability of critically ill patients. Consequently, glutamine or its downstream metabolites may have stem cell activating characteristics. However, the exact regulatory mechanisms and specific effects of Gln are not well known, and studies have found contradictory results on the beneficial effects of Gln supplementation. Glutamine itself is a conditionally essential amino acid that has a variety of functions: it is an important source of nitrogen and cellular energy and contributes carbon into the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and is involved in protein and nucleotide synthesis. In this thesis, the effects of Gln supplementation on the cell populations of D. melanogaster were studied via microscopy and computational analysis. Cross-breeds of fruit fly were established to lineage label the ISC with a GAL4/UAS driver system. Confocal microscope was used to image the midguts which were then analysed with Imaris software. A novel analysis method was developed to study population changes and varying features of the cells in the midgut in an unprecedented region-by-region bulk analysis. Earlier studies into nutrient control of ISC have had limited focus within the midgut and might have consequently given a restricted view of ISC activation. This new Longitudinal Analysis of Midgut (LAM) can be utilized in a diverse set of further studies to describe conditional variation within midgut, and possibly other tissues. Gln was found to increase total cell numbers to comparable levels with well-fed midguts, and to drive limited endoreplication in enterocytes. Lineage labelled cell population grew primarily in the R3 and R4 regions of the midgut. Additionally, enteroendocrine cells (EE) were greatly increased in the posterior part of R3 but had conceivable minor increases along the whole length of the midgut. Improved nutrition was also found to affect the proportions of the midgut, presenting itself as elongated posterior and stunted anterior. Overall, the pipeline and analysis method established during this study enable more expeditious research of effects of other nutritional components and allows for study of effects of other mechanisms, for example how gene knock-downs or altered gene activities affect cell populations of the midgut.
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(2013)The aim of this master’s thesis was to quantify the net benefits when 7 % of Finnish adults shift from their average diet to a low carbohydrate diet (VHH), a very low carbohydrate diet (EVHH) or a diet based on Finnish nutrition recommendations (SUOSITUS). The low carbohydrate diets were based on 84 food diaries that were collected by an online survey. The diet shifts were conducted by social cost-benefit-analysis (CBA) including environmental and health impacts in monetary values. The environmental impacts included changes in greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient emissions into Baltic sea while the health impacts included changes in myocardial infarction and stroke incidence related on consumption of fruits and vegetables, and in colorectal cancer incidence related on red and processed meat. The net benefits were quantified also in a scenario when the energy intake in VHH, EVHH and SUOSITUS were lower and the diets lead to 15 kilograms weight reduction and to normal weight. In the weight loss scenario the changes in colorectal cancer and type 2 diabetes incidence related on overweight were included in addition to other impacts. In the non-weight loss scenario when 7 % of Finnish adults shift to VHH, EVHH or SUOSITUS diet, the total net benefits were respectively -3,7 million, -10,8 million and 7,3 million euros per year. The net benefits of environmental impacts dominated: in VHH, EVHH and SUOSITUS cases they were -6,5 million, -12,9 million and 3,3 million euros. The largest difference between diets resulted from consumption of meat and milk products. In weight loss scenario, the net benefits from VHH, EVHH and SUOSITUS cases were 11,2 million, 5,8 million and 20,6 million euros per year and the benefits of reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes dominated: in all cases they were 10,0 million euros. In conclusion, the sift to the diet based on Finnish nutrient recommendations resulted in the highest positive net benefit. The net benefits of sifting to the VHH and EVHH diets were positive only if when these lead to significant weight loss. However, many potential impacts and factors (e.g. saturated fat, dietary fiber) were not included in this study. Further research is needed.
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(2011)The aim of this study was to develop mathematical energy balance models for early and middle lactation period of dairy cows. The traits for predicting were information of diet, feed, milk production, milk composition, body weight and body condition score. This study was a part of development work of KarjaKompassi-project. The data used in this study was based on 12 feeding experiments performed in Finland. The complete data from the studies included 2647 weekly records from multiparous dairy cows and 1070 weekly records from primiparous dairy cows. The data was collected from calving to 8-28 weeks of lactation. Three-fourths of the totals of 344 dairy cows were Finnish Ayshire cows and the rest of the cows were Friesian Cattle. The cows were fed by the Finnish feeding standards. The data was handled by the Mixed-procedure of the SAS-programme. The outliers were removed with Tukey´s method. The relationship between energy balance and predictor traits was studied with correlation analysis. The regression analysis was used to predicting energy balance. To quantify the relationship of lactation day to energy balance, 5 functions were fitted. The random factor was a cow in the experiment. The model fit was assessed by residual mean square error, coefficient of determination and Bayesian information criterion. The best models were validated in the independent data. Ali-Schaeffer achieved the highest fit functions. It was used by the basal model. The error in every model grew after the 12th lactation week, because the number of records decreased and energy balance turned positive. The proportion of concentrate in the diets and concentrate dry matter intake index were the best predictors of energy balance from traits of diet. Milk yield, ECM, milk fat and milk fat-protein ratio were good predictors during lactation period. The RMSE was lower when ECM was standardized. The body weight and body condition score didn’t improve the predictive value of the basal model. The models can be used to predict energy balance in the herd level, but they are not applicable for predicting individual cow energy balance.
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(2021)The wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) is one of the two native reindeer subspecies in Finland. The other one is semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), which is a common livestock species in Lapland. A total of 22 zoos hold wild forest reindeer in Europe. These individuals along with individuals from the wild population are the base of a reintroduction program implemented in central Finland. The objective of this thesis is to shed light on the diet of wild forest reindeer in the wild and in captivity. From individuals in the wild and in reintroduction enclosures, a total of 17 fecal samples were collected. The samples were analyzed with DNA metabarcoding technique to determine the diet. The samples were analyzed at the Institute of Biotechnology and the obtained sequences were identified as plant genera with NCBI BLAST. The data was grouped according to sampling date and snow coverage to two groups and according to sampling site to two groups. The genera were assigned under types. 17 zoos submitted their feeding guideline of wild forest reindeer for the study. These were analyzed to obtain data about the different food item types corresponding to the types of plant genera found from the fecal samples. Fecal sample results were compared as frequencies of sequence reads assigned to genera and types. The most frequent types in the whole data was forbs and shrubs (42,1 %) and deciduous trees (38,9 %). The biggest differences were in the two groups when the data was grouped according to season. Differences were less prominent in the locationally grouped data. In the feeding guidelines from zoos, most of them (94 %) stated feeding deciduous trees and almost as many (88 %) stated feeding graminoids. In the fecal sample data, graminoids accounted for only 0,5 % of the sequence reads. The wild forest reindeer diets in the wild seem to have seasonal variation and not so much locational variation. The captive forest reindeer diets could be advanced with increasing the amount of forbs and shrubs offered and decreasing the amount of graminoids. The small sample size of 17 makes the results of this study indicative at best and further research is needed.
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(2021)The wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) is one of the two native reindeer subspecies in Finland. The other one is semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), which is a common livestock species in Lapland. A total of 22 zoos hold wild forest reindeer in Europe. These individuals along with individuals from the wild population are the base of a reintroduction program implemented in central Finland. The objective of this thesis is to shed light on the diet of wild forest reindeer in the wild and in captivity. From individuals in the wild and in reintroduction enclosures, a total of 17 fecal samples were collected. The samples were analyzed with DNA metabarcoding technique to determine the diet. The samples were analyzed at the Institute of Biotechnology and the obtained sequences were identified as plant genera with NCBI BLAST. The data was grouped according to sampling date and snow coverage to two groups and according to sampling site to two groups. The genera were assigned under types. 17 zoos submitted their feeding guideline of wild forest reindeer for the study. These were analyzed to obtain data about the different food item types corresponding to the types of plant genera found from the fecal samples. Fecal sample results were compared as frequencies of sequence reads assigned to genera and types. The most frequent types in the whole data was forbs and shrubs (42,1 %) and deciduous trees (38,9 %). The biggest differences were in the two groups when the data was grouped according to season. Differences were less prominent in the locationally grouped data. In the feeding guidelines from zoos, most of them (94 %) stated feeding deciduous trees and almost as many (88 %) stated feeding graminoids. In the fecal sample data, graminoids accounted for only 0,5 % of the sequence reads. The wild forest reindeer diets in the wild seem to have seasonal variation and not so much locational variation. The captive forest reindeer diets could be advanced with increasing the amount of forbs and shrubs offered and decreasing the amount of graminoids. The small sample size of 17 makes the results of this study indicative at best and further research is needed.
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(2022)Tässä kirjallisuuskatsauksessa käsitellään suomalaisia ravitsemussuosituksia sekä suomalaisten lasten ravitsemusta ja niissä tapahtuneita muutoksia 1970-2019 luvulla. Ravitsemussuositukset on haettu Ruokaviraston sivuilta ja kirjana julkaistuista suosituksista ja lasten ravitsemusta koskeva aineisto Pubmedistä, Ovidista sekä Medicistä hakusanoilla lapsi, children, nuori, adolescent, ravitsemus, ravinto, nutrition, Finland. Lasten ja aikuisten ylipaino ja ruokavaliosta aiheutuvat terveyshaitat ovat yleistyneet. Länsimaissa lapset eivät saavuta kaikkien ravintoaineiden suosituksia. Ravitsemustottumukset muodostuvat jo lapsena. Olisi tärkeää, että terveydelle edulliset elintavat opittaisiin jo nuorena. Ravitsemussuositukset pyrkivät koko väestön terveyden parantamiseen ja ylläpitoon. Niissä annetaan ohjeita ruokavalion oikeanlaisesta koostamisesta, ravintoainemääristä ja fyysisestä aktiivisuudesta. Lapsille on tehty myös omia ruokasuosituksia. Ravitsemussuosituksiin pohjautuva ruokavalio ehkäisee ylipainon syntymistä sekä ylläpitää hyvää suun- ja yleisterveyttä. Lasten ruokavalio on muuttunut 1970-luvulta 2019 luvulle. Kokonaisenergian ja -rasvan saanti on vähentynyt ja rasvan laatu parantunut, mutta tyydyttynyttä rasvaa saadaan silti liikaa. D-vitamiinin ja raudan saanti on pysynyt niukkana. Lisätyn sokerin osuus ruokavaliossa on liian suuri.
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(2022)Tässä kirjallisuuskatsauksessa käsitellään suomalaisia ravitsemussuosituksia sekä suomalaisten lasten ravitsemusta ja niissä tapahtuneita muutoksia 1970-2019 luvulla. Ravitsemussuositukset on haettu Ruokaviraston sivuilta ja kirjana julkaistuista suosituksista ja lasten ravitsemusta koskeva aineisto Pubmedistä, Ovidista sekä Medicistä hakusanoilla lapsi, children, nuori, adolescent, ravitsemus, ravinto, nutrition, Finland. Lasten ja aikuisten ylipaino ja ruokavaliosta aiheutuvat terveyshaitat ovat yleistyneet. Länsimaissa lapset eivät saavuta kaikkien ravintoaineiden suosituksia. Ravitsemustottumukset muodostuvat jo lapsena. Olisi tärkeää, että terveydelle edulliset elintavat opittaisiin jo nuorena. Ravitsemussuositukset pyrkivät koko väestön terveyden parantamiseen ja ylläpitoon. Niissä annetaan ohjeita ruokavalion oikeanlaisesta koostamisesta, ravintoainemääristä ja fyysisestä aktiivisuudesta. Lapsille on tehty myös omia ruokasuosituksia. Ravitsemussuosituksiin pohjautuva ruokavalio ehkäisee ylipainon syntymistä sekä ylläpitää hyvää suun- ja yleisterveyttä. Lasten ruokavalio on muuttunut 1970-luvulta 2019 luvulle. Kokonaisenergian ja -rasvan saanti on vähentynyt ja rasvan laatu parantunut, mutta tyydyttynyttä rasvaa saadaan silti liikaa. D-vitamiinin ja raudan saanti on pysynyt niukkana. Lisätyn sokerin osuus ruokavaliossa on liian suuri.
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(2018)In Finnish beef production, high quality silage is the main ingredient in bull nutrition. The aim is to maximize the growth potential of the bulls with ad libitum feeding, which increases the daily energy supply. The effect of the quality of the feed is emphasized, especially in ad libitum feeding. High quality and well-preserved silage increases palatability, which increases the daily feed rate. In addition, high quality silage reduces the need for concentrated feed, which means lower production costs than low-quality feed. The role of preservatives is to improve nutrient stability by preventing unfavorable fermentation and the growth of molds and yeasts during preservation. The failure of storage increases the costs of production, and the effects on farm economy are considerable. This study looked at the effect of two different types of silage additives on the feeding and production results of dairy bulls. 45 Ayrshires and 45 Holstein bulls were chosen to the study. The bulls were randomly divided into three groups. The groups consisted of three treatments: 1. timothy silage, without preservative + barley (CONTROL), 2. timothy silage, preserved with acid additive + barley (ACID), 3. timothy silage with salt additive + barley (SALT). The bulls were fed ad libitum with total mixed rations. The statistical analysis of the results was performed in the SAS software GLM procedure. The average intake of dry matter during the experiment (259 days) was 10.1 kg/day, and there were no significant difference between the treatments. The average live weight gain was 1363 g and the carcass gain was 741 g/day. The control group's daily growth was 5% higher than the preservatives (P <0.05), but the carcass quality score was on average 6% higher in the preservative groups than in the control group (P<0.01). It can be concluded that the results of the experiment are indicative and it is possible that the silage without additives can be successful when the dry matter content of the feed is 350-400 g / kg and the feed is ensiled in round bales. In that case the effect of the additives is not necessarily significant.
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(2018)In Finnish beef production, high quality silage is the main ingredient in bull nutrition. The aim is to maximize the growth potential of the bulls with ad libitum feeding, which increases the daily energy supply. The effect of the quality of the feed is emphasized, especially in ad libitum feeding. High quality and well-preserved silage increases palatability, which increases the daily feed rate. In addition, high quality silage reduces the need for concentrated feed, which means lower production costs than low-quality feed. The role of preservatives is to improve nutrient stability by preventing unfavorable fermentation and the growth of molds and yeasts during preservation. The failure of storage increases the costs of production, and the effects on farm economy are considerable. This study looked at the effect of two different types of silage additives on the feeding and production results of dairy bulls. 45 Ayrshires and 45 Holstein bulls were chosen to the study. The bulls were randomly divided into three groups. The groups consisted of three treatments: 1. timothy silage, without preservative + barley (CONTROL), 2. timothy silage, preserved with acid additive + barley (ACID), 3. timothy silage with salt additive + barley (SALT). The bulls were fed ad libitum with total mixed rations. The statistical analysis of the results was performed in the SAS software GLM procedure. The average intake of dry matter during the experiment (259 days) was 10.1 kg/day, and there were no significant difference between the treatments. The average live weight gain was 1363 g and the carcass gain was 741 g/day. The control group's daily growth was 5% higher than the preservatives (P <0.05), but the carcass quality score was on average 6% higher in the preservative groups than in the control group (P<0.01). It can be concluded that the results of the experiment are indicative and it is possible that the silage without additives can be successful when the dry matter content of the feed is 350-400 g / kg and the feed is ensiled in round bales. In that case the effect of the additives is not necessarily significant.
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(2018)Finland has a tradition of children having a “Sweets day”. Sweets day was originally established as a prophylactic measure for dental caries. To my knowledge, the sweets day phenomenon has not been investigated in relation to sugar intake. Previous studies have reported that the intake of dietary sugar is a bit higher than recommended in Finnish children. However, comparing to other countries sugar intake in Finnish children is modest. There are no recent studies on added sugar intake in Finnish children. To my knowledge free sugar has not been studied in any age group in Finland before. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of sweets day, and its association with savory and sugar-sweetened snack and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption frequency, as well as socioeconomic factors related to sweets day habit. Another aim was to create a method for assessing added and free sugar in food record data and to investigate the intake of added and free sugar, and associations between having a sweets day and added and free sugar intake. The DAGIS study examined health behaviors among Finnish preschool children. The participants were 3–6-year-old children and their guardians. Altogether 66 preschools (n=864) in Southern Finland and Southern Ostrobothnia regions participated in the study. Dietary assessment was done with Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ, n=805) and food a three-day food record (n=813) data. Parents filled (FFQ) for children and reported if the child had a specific sweets day. FFQ data was used to assess the frequency of snack consumption. Parents and daycare personnel filled a 3-day food record for the child. Parents reported background information such as highest education in the family and number of children living in the same household. Food record data was used to assess dietary added and free sugar. Participants were divided in two groups based on their sweets day habit. Pearson’s Chi-square was used to study the association between the sweets day habit and background variables. Mann-Whitney’s U-test was used to compare the consumption frequency of snacks and SSB’s. T-test was used to compare the added and free sugar intakes between the children with and without a sweets day. Altogether 63% of the children had a sweets day. Mean intake of added sugar was 9.0 E% and free sugar 9.8 E%. Children who had a sweets day obtained slightly more added sugar than did the children without a sweets day ((9.2 E% vs. 8.5 E%, p=0.03). Free sugar intake was higher in the sweets day group as well compared to non-sweets day group (10.1 E% vs. 9.3 E%, p=0,01). Having a sweets day was more common in families with less education (p=0.001). Frequency of candy consumption did not differ between the groups. Having a sweets day was associated with more frequent consumption of SSB’s and savory snacks (p=0,007 and p=0,001, respectively). Children without a sweets day consumed more often chocolate (p=0.004) than did the children without a sweets day. Our results suggest that in Finland, having a sweets day is popular, and more common in families with less education. Having a sweets day was associated with slightly higher intake of added and free sugars compared to children who do not have a sweets day. The mean added and free sugar intake did not exceed the recommendations for sugar intake in Finland.
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