Linking Conventional and Organic Rainfed Almond Cultivation to Nut Quality in a Marginal Growing Area (SE Spain)
The need to improve agroecosystem sustainability to secure yields, minimize environmental impacts and improve soil health is widely recognized. Organic production systems are one of the strategies that may be used to alleviate the negative environmental repercussions of conventional agriculture. In the present study, we compared the impact of conventional and organic production systems on the almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) yield and quality of nuts of two cultivars (Marcona and Desmayo largueta), with both systems being managed on marginal hillslopes in the southeast of Spain. Our findings show that the organic production system in rainfed almond trees has positive effects on certain nut quality parameters, with a slight decrease in almond yield, specifically 9.5% for cv. D. largueta and 1.3% for cv. Marcona, with respect to the conventional system. The results obtained have varied depending on the cultivar. Statistically significant differences have been obtained for cv. Marcona in the sugar content (54.4 and 49.8 g kg−1 in organic and conventional, respectively) and the total phenol content (3.41 and 2.46 g GAE kg−1 for organic and conventional, respectively). In the case of cv D. largueta, statistically significant differences were found between the organic and conventional systems for antioxidant activity (14.8 vs. 8.68 mmol Trolox kg−1, DPPH), fatty acid content (229 vs. 188 g kg−1 dw), saturated fatty acids (36 vs. 28.7 g kg−1 dw), monounsaturated fatty acids (113 vs. 110 g kg−1 dw) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (60.3 vs. 49.6 g kg−1 dw). Here, we show for the first time how a rainfed organic system allows for higherquality almonds, specifically with a higher content of phytochemicals beneficial for health, which, together with the higher price compared to conventional almonds, could compensate for the yield losses while preserving the sustainability of marginal agroecosystems.
New Discovery in Peanut Defense Mechanisms Against Aflatoxins
The findings hold promise for the future development of fully resistant varieties
A recent study shed light on the natural resistance exhibited by some peanut varieties to Aspergillus flavus infection and subsequent aflatoxin contamination.
Researchers used a metabolomics-based systems biology approach to understand the biochemistry behind increased peanut resistance to Aspergillus infection. The study reports the linkage between two specific metabolites and the level of resistance exhibited by peanut varieties.
The two key metabolites, hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCAAs) and lignin precursor levels, were higher in the resistant genotype. These compounds strengthen the secondary cell wall, providing a physical and chemical barrier against infection. These findings provide insights that will be useful for breeding peanut varieties that are fully resistant to Aspergillus infection in the future.
Avuthu, T., Sanivarapu, H., Prasad, K., Sharma, N., Sudini, H. K., & Yogendra, K. (2024). Comparative metabolomics analysis reveals secondary cell wall thickening as a barrier to resist Aspergillus flavus infection in groundnut. Physiologia Plantarum, 176(1), e14169.
Further Attacks Planned Beyond Red Sea
U.S. Department of Transportation issues maritime advisory for the region
The group responsible for attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea in the last three months announced last week that it intended to expand the range of its activity into the Indian Ocean, according to Reuters. The announcement came just a week after the first fatalities in the group’s three-month campaign of attacks against commercial traffic in the Red Sea.
According to a maritime advisory issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration on March 18, 2024, “regional conflict, military activity, terrorist attacks, and piracy pose significant threats to commercial vessels operating in [the Southern Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden].” The advisory recommends that U.S.-flagged vessels to turn off their AIS transponders when transiting the region.
FDA Approves Medication to Help Reduce Allergic Reactions to Peanut and Cashew
Xolair is the first and only FDA-approved medicine to reduce allergic reactions in people with one or more food allergies
On February 16, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xolair (omalizumab) injection for immunoglobulin E–mediated food allergy in certain adults and children 1 year or older for the reduction of allergic reactions —including reducing the risk of anaphylaxis— that may occur with accidental exposure to one or more foods, including peanuts and cashews.
The safety and efficacy of omalizumab in reducing allergic reactions in subjects with food allergies was established in a clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine earlier this year. This multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 168 participants who were allergic to peanut and at least two other foods, including milk, egg, wheat, cashew, hazelnut or walnut. Participants were given either omalizumab or placebo treatment for 16 to 20 weeks.
The primary measure of omalizumab’s efficacy was the percentage of participants who were able to eat a single dose (≥600 mg) of peanut protein (equivalent to 2.5 peanuts) without moderate to severe allergic symptoms at the end of the course of treatment. Of those who received omalizumab, 68% were able to eat the single dose of peanut protein without moderate to severe allergic symptoms, compared to 6% who received the placebo. The key secondary measure of efficacy was the percentage of participants who were able to consume a single dose (≥1,000 mg) of cashew, milk or egg protein without moderate to severe allergic symptoms at the end of the course of treatment. For cashew, 42% of participants who received omalizumab achieved this endpoint compared to 3% of those who received the placebo.
The researchers concluded that omalizumab treatment for 16 weeks was superior to placebo in increasing the reaction threshold for peanut and other common food allergens, including cashew, in individuals as young as 1 year of age.
Wood, R. A., Togias, A., Sicherer, S. H., Shreffler, W. G., Kim, E. H., Jones, S. M., Leung, D. Y. M., Vickery, B. P., Bird, J. A., Spergel, J. M., Iqbal, A., Olsson, J., Ligueros-Saylan, M., Uddin, A., Calatroni, A., Huckabee, C. M., Rogers, N. H., Yovetich, N., Dantzer, J., Mudd, K., … Chinthrajah, R. S. (2024). Omalizumab for the Treatment of Multiple Food Allergies. The New England Journal of Medicine, 10.1056/NEJMoa2312382. Advance online publication.
A Walnut-Enriched Diet for 2 Years Changes the Serum Oxylipin Profile in Healthy Older Persons
Background: Oxylipins are products derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that play a role in cardiovascular disease and aging. Fish oil-derived n-3 PUFAs promote the formation of anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory oxylipins; however, there are little data on oxylipins derived from α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3), the primary plant-derived n-3 PUFA. Walnuts are a source of C18:3n-3. Objectives: To investigate the effect on serum oxylipins of a diet enriched with walnuts at 15% energy (30-60 g/d; 2.6-5.2 g C18:3n-3/d) for 2 y compared to a control diet (abstention from walnuts) in healthy older males and females (63-79 y). Methods: The red blood cell proportion of α-linolenic acid was determined by gas chromatography as a measure of compliance. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure serum concentrations of 53 oxylipins in participants randomly assigned to receive the walnut diet (n = 64) or the control diet (n = 51). Two-year concentration changes (final minus baseline) were log-transformed (base log-10) and standardized (mean-centered and divided by the standard deviation of each variable). Volcano plots were then generated (fold change ≥1.5; false discovery rate ≤0.1). For each oxylipin delta surviving multiple testing, we further assessed between-intervention group differences by analysis of covariance adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and the baseline concentration of the oxylipin. Results: The 2-y change in red blood cell C18:3n-3 in the walnut group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.001). Compared to the control diet, the walnut diet resulted in statistically significantly greater increases in 3 C18:3n-3-derived oxylipins (9-HOTrE, 13-HOTrE, and 12,13-EpODE) and in the C20:5n-3 derived 14,15-diHETE, and greater reductions of the C20:4n-6-derived 5-HETE, 19-HETE, and 5,6-diHETrE. Conclusions: Long-term walnut consumption changes the serum oxylipin profile in healthy older persons. Our results add novel mechanistic evidence on the cardioprotective effects of walnuts.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.12.007
Prune Consumption Attenuates Proinflammatory Cytokine Secretion and Alters Monocyte Activation in Postmenopausal Women: Secondary Outcome Analysis of a 12-Mo Randomized Controlled Trial: The Prune Study
Background: Proinflammatory cytokines are implicated in the pathophysiology of postmenopausal bone loss. Clinical studies demonstrate that prunes prevent bone mineral density loss; however, the mechanism underlying this effect is unknown. Objective: We investigated the effect of prune supplementation on immune, inflammatory, and oxidative stress markers. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted in the Prune Study, a single-center, parallel-arm, 12-mo randomized controlled trial of postmenopausal women (55–75 y old; n = 235 recruited; n = 183 completed) who were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: “no-prune” control, 50 g prune/d and 100 g prune/d groups. At baseline and after 12 mo of intervention, blood samples were collected to measure serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), plasma 8-isoprostane, proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] concentrations in plasma and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) culture supernatants, and the percentage and activation of circulating monocytes, as secondary outcomes. Results: Prune supplementation did not alter hs-CRP, TAC, 8-isoprostane, and plasma cytokine concentrations. However, percent change from baseline in circulating activated monocytes was lower in the 100 g prune/d group compared with the control group (mean ± SD, −1.8% ± 4.0% in 100 g prune/d compared with 0.1% ± 2.9% in control; P < 0.01). Furthermore, in LPS-stimulated PBMC supernatants, the percent change from baseline in TNF-α secretion was lower in the 50 g prune/d group compared with the control group (−4.4% ± 43.0% in 50 g prune/d compared with 24.3% ± 70.7% in control; P < 0.01), and the percent change from baseline in IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 secretion was lower in the 100 g prune/d group compared with the control group (−8.9% ± 61.6%, −4.3% ± 75.3%, −14.3% ± 60.8% in 100 g prune/d compared with 46.9% ± 107.4%, 16.9% ± 70.6%, 39.8% ± 90.8% in control for IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8, respectively; all P < 0.05). Conclusions: Dietary supplementation with 50–100 g prunes for 12 mo reduced proinflammatory cytokine secretion from PBMCs and suppressed the circulating levels of activated monocytes in postmenopausal women.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.11.014
A Dietary Model of Partial Meat Replacement with Walnuts Demonstrates Changes in the Nutrient Profile and Quality of the United States Population's Diet
The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of partial meat replacement with walnuts using a dose-escalation approach on nutrient intake and diet quality in the usual US diet. Food modeling was implemented using the nationally representative 2015-2018 National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES), with a focus on non-nut consumers, which included 2707 children and adolescents and 5190 adults. Walnuts replaced meat in a dose-escalating manner (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 oz walnuts per day replaced 1, 2, 3, and 4 oz meat, respectively). Diet quality was estimated using the population ratio method of the 2015 Healthy Eating Index. The usual intake of nutrients was estimated using the National Cancer Institute method. Significant differences were determined using non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals. The partial replacement of meat with walnuts demonstrated significant increases in the mean intake of fiber, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids and significant decreases in cholesterol and vitamin B12 in the modeled diets for children, adolescents, and adults. Additionally, the partial replacement of meat with walnuts improved overall diet quality. Walnut consumption at 1-2 oz as a replacement for some meat may improve nutrient intake and diet quality across age groups. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15214518
Dietary fiber intake and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
Background: Accumulating evidence supports the effects of dietary fiber on the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, there is no updated systematic review and meta-analysis that compares and pools the effect of different types of fiber on mortality. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, all prospective cohort studies that evaluated the relationship between dietary fiber intake and all-cause or cause-specific mortality were included. The PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases were searched up to October 2022. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed by two researchers independently. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using Chi-square based test. Random/fixed effect meta-analysis was used to pool the hazard ratios (HR) or relative risks (RR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for the association between different types of fiber and mortality. Results: This systematic review included 64 eligible studies, with a total sample size of 3512828 subjects, that investigated the association between dietary fiber intake and mortality from all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer. Random-effect meta-analysis shows that higher consumption of total dietary fiber, significantly decreased the risk of all-cause mortality, CVD-related mortality, and cancer-related mortality by 23, 26 and 22 % (HR:0.77; 95%CI (0.73,0.82), HR:0.74; 95%CI (0.71,0.77) and HR:0.78; 95%CI (0.68,0.87)), respectively. The consumption of insoluble fiber tended to be more effective than soluble fiber intake in reducing the risk of total mortality and mortality due to CVD and cancer. Additionally, dietary fiber from whole grains, cereals, and vegetables was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality, while dietary fiber from nuts and seeds reduced the risk of CVD-related death by 43 % (HR:0.57; 95 % CI (0.38,0.77)). Conclusion: This comprehensive meta-analysis provides additional evidence supporting the protective association between fiber intake and all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2023.11.005
Life expectancy can increase by up to 10 years following sustained shifts towards healthier diets in the United Kingdom
Adherence to healthy dietary patterns can prevent the development of non-communicable diseases and affect life expectancy. Here, using a prospective population-based cohort data from the UK Biobank, we show that sustained dietary change from unhealthy dietary patterns to the Eatwell Guide dietary recommendations is associated with 8.9 and 8.6 years gain in life expectancy for 40-year-old males and females, respectively. In the same population, sustained dietary change from unhealthy to longevity-associated dietary patterns is associated with 10.8 and 10.4 years gain in life expectancy in males and females, respectively. The largest gains are obtained from consuming more whole grains, nuts and fruits and less sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats. Understanding the contribution of sustained dietary changes to life expectancy can provide guidance for the development of health policies.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-023-00868-w
Pediatric oral food challenges in the outpatient setting: A single-center experience
Background: Oral food challenge (OFC) is the criterion standard for diagnosing food allergy (FA). It is important to have parameters to aid in selecting ideal OFC candidates. Objective: We sought to characterize outcomes and predictors of OFCs for common food allergens. Methods: We completed a retrospective chart review of all OFCs for IgE-mediated FA performed at Duke University pediatric allergy clinics from June 2017 through May 2022. Patients were deemed eligible for milk, egg, and nut OFC if testing revealed a specific IgE level not exceeding 2 kU/L and a skin prick test (SPT) resulting in a wheal size not exceeding 5 mm. Different parameters were followed for selecting candidates for baked challenge. Results: A total of 663 OFCs were conducted on 510 patients (59% male). The most common foods challenged were peanut (26%), plain egg (23%), baked egg (8%), and milk (8%), with pass rates of 84%, 88%, 62%, and 84%, respectively. Of the patients who failed OFC, 84% had objective symptoms, 23% had multisystemic reactions, and 15% required epinephrine. Although the presence of a personal or family history of atopy or prior failed OFC was not associated with outcomes, a history of anaphylaxis (regardless of the trigger) was associated with increased risk of failure. Conclusion: Although there are no established consensus guidelines, our study provides a benchmark illustrating that cutoffs of a specific IgE level not exceeding 2 kU/L and SPT finding not exceeding 5 mm result in a failure rate of approximately 13% for nonbaked milk, nonbaked egg, and nuts. The high rate of failed baked egg OFCs is likely related to selection bias, but our results illustrate the low negative predictive value of ovomucoid.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacig.2023.100187