Evidence of the relationship between fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) levels, dietary quality and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in rural populations is limited. Here, we aimed to investigate the association between fecal SCFA levels and T2DM and the combined effects of dietar quality on T2DM in rural China. In total, 100 adults were included in the case-control study. Dietary quality was assessed by the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010), and SCFA levels were analysed using the GC-MS system. Generalised linear regression was conducted to calculate the OR and 95 % CI to evaluate the effect of SCFA level and dietary quality on the risk of T2DM. Finally, an interaction was used to study the combined effect of SCFA levels and AHEI-2010 scores on T2DM. T2DM participants had lower levels of acetic and butyric acid. Generalised linear regression analysis revealed that the OR (95 % CI) of the highest acetic and butyric acid levels were 0·099 (0·022, 0·441) and 0·210 (0·057, 0·774), respectively, compared with the subjects with the lowest tertile of level. We also observed a significantly lower risk of T2DM with acetic acid levels > 1330·106 μg/g or butyric acid levels > 585·031 μg/g. Moreover, the risks of higher acetic and butyric acid levels of T2DM were 0·007 (95 % CI: 0·001, 0·148), 0·005 (95 % CI: 0·001, 0·120) compared with participants with lower AHEI-2010 scores (all P < 0·05). Acetate and butyrate levels may be important modifiable beneficial factors affecting T2DM in rural China. Improving dietary quality for body metabolism balance should be encouraged to promote good health.

Lower-income populations experience food insecurity, are less likely to meet dietary recommendations, and develop noncommunicable diseases at higher rates than the general U.S. population. Food pantries, which provide food to individuals in need, present an opportunity to decrease these disparities. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutrient quality of the food supply using multiple measures in two food pantry food environments and examine the methodological impactions for translation from research to practice. Nutrient quality of the food supply at two food pantries located in southwest Montana was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2015, NOVA classification system, and UnProcessed Pantry Project (UP3) framework every other month during 2018 and 2019. From a total of 63,429 pounds, 291,070 servings, and 32,818 calories of food, processed and ultraprocessed food (UPF) accounted for 57% of servings, 59% of pounds, and 67% of calories. UPF accounts for the highest proportion of food calories compared to its weight. Simutaneously, the food pantries\' food supply had total HEI scores of 77.55 and 79.45 out of a total possible score of 100. NOVA, UP3, and HEI measured multiple aspects that increased the understanding of the nutrient quality of the food supply in two food pantries. A multifaceted approach should be applied, or an all-inclusive tool should be developed, to speed the translation of evidence to practice when assessing and promoting a food supply that limits UPF, increasing the availability of nutritious food and decreasing health disparities for low-income populations.

In 2009, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) implemented new food packages to improve dietary intake among WIC participants. This paper examines how the healthfulness of food purchases among low-income households changed following this reform.
Point-of-sale data for 2137 WIC-participating and 1303 comparison households were obtained from a regional supermarket chain. The healthfulness of purchased foods and beverages was determined per their saturated fat, sugar, and sodium content. A pre-post assessment (2009-2010) of the product basket healthfulness was completed using generalized estimating equation models. Data were analyzed in 2015.
At baseline, healthy products accounted for most of the food volume purchased by WIC participants, but beverages were dominated by moderation (less healthy) items. With new subsidies for fruit, vegetables and whole grains, the WIC revisions increased the volume of healthy food purchases of WIC-participating households by 3.9% and reduced moderation foods by 1.8%. The biggest improvements were reductions in moderation beverages (down by 24.7% in volume), driven by milk fat restrictions in the WIC food package revisions. The healthfulness of the product basket increased post-WIC revisions; mainly due to a reduction in the volume of moderation food and beverages purchased (down by 15.5%) rather than growth in healthy products (up by 1.9%). No similar improvements were seen in a comparison group of low-income nonparticipants.
After the WIC revisions, the healthfulness of participant purchases improved, particularly for beverages. Efforts to encourage healthy eating by people receiving federal food assistance are paying off.