Elena Garicano Vilar

BACKGROUND: Information pertaining to the aromatic profile of seaweeds and seaweed extracts can provide evidence regarding their potential suitability as ingredients in processed foods. To date only limited material has been available on the volatile profiles of some seaweed species. Others in this study have not previously been described. The volatile profiles of dried brown (Himanthalia elongata, Undaria pinnatifida, Alaria esculenta) and red (Porphyra umbilicalis, Palmaria palmata) seaweeds, and a brown seaweed extract (fucoxanthin) from Laminaria japonica were investigated using a chemometric approach to collate data from volatile gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC–MS), direct sensory aroma evaluation, and gas‐chromatography – olfactometry (GC‐O) to obtain a better understanding of their volatile profile and sensory perception.RESULTS: More than 100 volatile compounds were identified by static headspace solid phase micro‐extraction (HS‐SPME) and thermal desorption gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (TD GC–MS). Brown seaweeds were characterized by ‘grassy/herbal/floral’, ‘fruity’, and ‘fatty’ aromas, red seaweeds by ‘green/vegetable’, ‘mushroom/earthy’ and ‘sweet/buttery’ aromas, and the fucoxanthin extract by ‘rancid’ and ‘nutty’ aromas with an overall lower intensity. Heptanal appeared to be a major odor‐active compound in all samples. Other volatiles were more characteristic of each individual seaweed: hexanal, (E,Z)‐2,6‐nonadienal and 2‐pentylfuran for H. elongata; ethyl butanoate and 2,3‐butanedione for U. pinnatifida; 6‐dimethylpyrazine, (E,Z)‐2,6‐nonadienal and sulactone for P. palmata; 1‐octen‐3‐ol for P. umbilicalis, heptanone for A. esculenta, and 2‐furanmethanol for fucoxanthin.Conclusion: Brown and red seaweeds had distinct sensory properties with individual seaweeds having differing volatiles and odorants. This study provides additional information that can contribute to the development of products incorporating dried seaweeds / extracts that are more acceptable to the consumer. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

Background: The aetiology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) continues to be debated, although several contributing factors have been acknowledged. Objective: Assess the association between weight, birth attributes, exercise and sleep habits, dietary intake and adherence to a Mediterranean diet, and impulsive behaviour on Spanish ADHD children. Establish whether specific food groups (not just adherence to the Mediterranean diet) associate with impulsive behaviour. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included 57 ADHD children from Madrid (Spain). Demographic, clinical data, sleep, exercise and technology-use habits were obtained. Anthropometric measurements included height and weight. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed using the KIDMED test. Barratt Impulsivity Scale version-11c was used to assess impulsivity. Subjects were divided into three groups for analysis, according to their age (6–10 years, children; 11–13 years, pre-adolescents; 14–16 years, adolescents). Results: There were clear associations between those who had higher BIS scores and who slept less at weekends (49.4 ± 10.16 vs. 43.8 ± 12.51), who adhered poorly to the Mediterranean diet (49.9 ± 11.72 vs. 41.6 ± 16.52), who used internet and technological devices for >3 h/day (45.5 ± 13.6 vs. 44.7 ± 12.11), who were born with >2.5 kg (46.1 ± 11.61 vs. 42.9 ± 15.29), who were delivered by caesarean (45.1 ± 12.78 vs. 44.7 ± 12.5) and who were not breastfed (45.0 ± 13.38 vs. 44.8 ± 12.39). Subjects exercising more than 3 days a week also scored slightly higher (45.4±14.02 vs. 44.6±11.85) in the BIS. Conclusion: There is a need to follow up the link between ADHD and sleep onset difficulties, dietary patterns, technological habits, perinatal factors, breastfeeding and birth delivery mode.

Introducción: La metabolómica permite estudiar la resistencia a insulina (RI), un factor de riesgo de pre-diabetes y diabetes. Quantose IRTM es el único test que mide la RI mediante la abrazadera hiperinsulinémica euglicémica. Objetivo: Se comprobó la eficacia de un test metabolómico en la detección de marcadores de RI en población infantil. Materiales y Métodos: Once niños, de edad 8,54±3,53 años y con factores de riesgo de diabetes, fueron reclutados del Hospital El Escorial. Se estableció como criterio diagnóstico para la prediabetes el estándar de la Asociación Americana de Diabetes (ADA) (HbA1C 5,7-6,4% y glucosa basal 100-125mg/dl). Se compararon las analíticas de sangre con la prueba de Quantose IRTM, estudiando el perfil del metaboloma relacionado con la RI (ácido alfa-hidroxibutírico, ácido oleico, linoleo-glicerofosfocolina e insulina). Su análisis generó una puntuación Quantose© (escala 0-100), siendo >63 RI. Resultados: Ningún sujeto cumplió el criterio de la ADA para prediabetes: HbA1C fue 5,3±0,18 % y glucosa 86,6±5,6 mg/dl. Por el contrario, 10 sujetos cumplieron criterios del test Quantose IRTM para la RI (score: 78,09 ± 9,24 (>63)). Conclusiones: El test Quantose IRTM mide el porcentaje de hemoglobina unida a glucosa dentro de los glóbulos rojos. Permite prever el riesgo de diabetes, y tomar medidas preventivas.

Observe the association of foods habits, body composition, lifestyle habits, and loss of gustatory function with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This comparative study enrolled 75 patients with AD (mean age 77.5 years) and 267 healthy volunteers (mean age 73 years). Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), body fat, visceral fat, muscle mass, and waist circumference were measured. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured by the Mediterranean-Diet-Adherence Screener. Gustatory function was investigated using a threshold and triangle test. Cases with AD presented lower BMI and weight and higher sleep hours, being statistically significant the difference between cases and controls (P = .02; P = .001; P = .001, respectively). Patients with AD showed lower adherence to exercise and Mediterranean diet as shown by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener–score (8.12 ± 2.5 vs 8.65 ± 2.4). The gustatory function was impaired in patients with AD when compared to controls. Patients with AD show worst outcomes in terms of anthropometric measurements, lifestyle habits (diet, exercise), and gustatory function than controls.

Introducción: La prevalencia de la obesidad entre los adolescentes ha aumentado con el paso de los años, lo que supone un reto en salud pública. Objetivo: Determinar el grado de asociación de las horas de sueño y los hábitos alimentarios como factores determinantes de la obesidad en adolescentes de un país europeo y otro sudamericano. Materiales y métodos: Se estudió la duración del sueño, la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea mediante el índice KIDMED, los hábitos alimentarios y el estudio de antropometría para la composición corporal de 272 adolescentes. Resultados: De los 272 adolescentes, 164 eran españoles y 108 argentinos, con edades entre los 11-16 años. El 42% de la muestra argentina presentaba exceso ponderal, el 53,3% normopeso y el 4,8% bajo peso. En España, el 39% sobrepeso u obesidad, el 54,3% normopeso y el 6,7% bajo peso. La muestra española presentaba mayor adherencia a la dieta mediterránea. Con respecto a la duración del sueño, se reflejaron diferencias significativas: un 18% de la muestra adolescente española y un 57% de Argentina llegaba a dormir 8h diarias. No se encontró relación estadísticamente significativa entre las horas de sueño y la nutrición sobre el sobrepeso u obesidad de los adolescentes. Aquellos adolescentes que seguían unos hábitos alimentarios más cercanos a la Dieta Mediterránea presentaban mejores valores de IMC. Conclusiones: En general, los adolescentes argentinos tenían peores hábitos alimentarios y mayor exceso ponderal que la muestra española.