UNASSIGNED: The association between maternal fruit consumption and fetal growth remains inconsistent. The current study aimed to determine whether maternal fruit consumption was associated with low birth weight (LBW) or small for gestational age (SGA) babies.
UNASSIGNED: A large birth cohort study was conducted in Lanzhou, China, from 2010 to 2012 and included 10,076 pregnant women at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester of pregnancy for analysis. Fruit consumption in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester of pregnancy was measured by a self-designed food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and divided into three groups: 1) inadequate fruit consumption: <200 g/d for the1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester; 2) adequate fruit consumption: 200-350 g/d for the 1st trimester or 200-400 g/d for the 2nd and 3rd trimester; 3) excessive fruit consumption: >350 g/d for the 1st trimester or > 400 g/d for the 2nd and 3rd trimester. A case-control study was used to analyze the association between fruit intake during pregnancy and low birth weight infants.
UNASSIGNED: Compared to adequate fruit consumption, excessive fruit consumption throughout each trimester of pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of LBW, with an odds ratio (OR) ranging from 0.70 to 0.79 (95 % confidence interval, CI: 0.57-0.98); while inadequate fruit consumption was associated with a higher risk of infant LBW, with an OR ranging from 1.26 to 1.36 (95%CI: 1.04-1.66). After stratifying by mother\'s pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), the results were similar among women with underweight BMI. No significance was found between fruit consumption and SGA in the general population. Still, stratified analyses showed that inadequate fruit consumption was associated with an increased risk of SGA in underweight mothers, with an OR ranging from 1.66 to 1.79 (95%CI: 1.13-2.64).
UNASSIGNED: Fruit consumption during pregnancy reduces the risk of LBW in Chinese women, especially in women with low pre-pregnancy BMI.

For the first time in Iran, in this study, the amount of 19 trace elements in some types of commonly consumed Iranian fruits (in their peel and pulp) was evaluated by ICP-OES (Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry) method. Based on the outcomes, the highest and lowest average detected elements in all fruits samples were related to (Al) aluminum (1842.18) and (V) vanadium (0.28) ppm, respectively. Mercury (Hg) and antimony (Sb) were not detected (ND) in any samples. Also, the maximum mean of elements in quince, lemon, grapefruit, kiwi, orange south, orange north and tangerine samples was related to(Fe) iron (2048.32 ppm), (Zn)zinc(753.45 ppm), Fe (1056.33 ppm), Al (9794.41 ppm), Zn (717.78 ppm), Fe (1334.87 ppm) and Fe (974.93 ppm), respectively. Furthermore, our outcomes revealed, the highest mean of elements in kiwi peel, kiwi pulp, orange North peel, orange North pulp, orange South peel, orange South pulp, quince peel, quince pulp, grapefruit peel, grapefruit pulp, lemon peel, lemon pulp, tangerine peel and tangerine pulp was related to Al (17967.79 ppm), Al (1621.03 ppm), Fe (1350.01 ppm), Al (1457.66 ppm), Zn (934.71 ppm), Fe (728.06 ppm), Fe (2768.11 ppm), Fe (1328.54 ppm), Zn (1008.54 ppm), Fe (1198.00 ppm), Zn (683.35 ppm), Zn (823.55 ppm), Fe (1182.59 ppm), and Fe (767.27 ppm), respectively. Based on the Monte Carlo simulation results, the THQ (target hazard quotient) and ILCR (Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk) related to exposure to heavy metals via fruits for adults and children showed that there is no significant non-carcinogenic risk (THQ < 1) and carcinogenic risk (ILCR < 1E-4) for adults and children.

UNASSIGNED: Exercise offers substantial health benefits but can induce oxidative stress and inflammation, especially in high-intensity formats such as high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). Exergaming has become an effective, enjoyable fitness tool for all ages, particularly older adults. Enzyme supplements may enhance exercise performance by improving lactate metabolism and reducing oxidative stress.
UNASSIGNED: This study investigates the efficacy of fruit and vegetable enzyme supplementation in modulating fatigue and enhancing aerobic capacity in older adults following HIIE through exergaming.
UNASSIGNED: The study recruited 16 older adult female participants and allocated them into 2 distinct groups (enzyme and placebo) based on their pretest lactate levels. This division used pairwise grouping to guarantee comparability between the groups, ensuring the integrity of the results. They engaged in HIIE using Nintendo Switch Ring Fit Adventure, performing 8 sets of 20 seconds of maximum effort exercise interspersed with 30 seconds of rest, totaling 370 seconds of exercise. Key metrics assessed included blood lactate levels, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and training impulse. Participants in the enzyme group were administered a fruit and vegetable enzyme supplement at a dosage of 30 mL twice daily over a period of 14 days.
UNASSIGNED: The enzyme group showed significantly lower blood lactate levels compared to the placebo group, notably after the fourth (mean 4.29, SD 0.67 vs mean 6.34, SD 1.17 mmol/L; P=.001) and eighth (mean 5.84, SD 0.63 vs mean 8.20, SD 1.15 mmol/L; P<.001) exercise sessions. This trend continued at 5 minutes (mean 6.85, SD 0.82 vs mean 8.60, SD 1.13 mmol/L; P=.003) and 10 minutes (mean 5.91, SD 1.16 vs mean 8.21, SD 1.27 mmol/L; P=.002) after exercise. Although both groups exceeded 85% of their estimated maximum heart rate during the exercise, enzyme supplementation did not markedly affect the perceived intensity or effort.
UNASSIGNED: The study indicates that fruit and vegetable enzyme supplementation can significantly reduce blood lactate levels in older adults following HIIE through exergaming. This suggests a potential role for these enzymes in modulating lactate production or clearance during and after high-intensity exercise. These findings have implications for developing targeted interventions to enhance exercise tolerance and recovery in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Older adults are at greater risk of eating rotten fruits and of getting food poisoning because cognitive function declines as they age, making it difficult to distinguish rotten fruits. To address this problem, researchers have developed and evaluated various tools to detect rotten food items in various ways. Nevertheless, little is known about how to create an app to detect rotten food items to support older adults at a risk of health problems from eating rotten food items.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) create a smartphone app that enables older adults to take a picture of food items with a camera and classifies the fruit as rotten or not rotten for older adults and (2) evaluate the usability of the app and the perceptions of older adults about the app.
METHODS: We developed a smartphone app that supports older adults in determining whether the 3 fruits selected for this study (apple, banana, and orange) were fresh enough to eat. We used several residual deep networks to check whether the fruit photos collected were of fresh fruit. We recruited healthy older adults aged over 65 years (n=15, 57.7%, males and n=11, 42.3%, females) as participants. We evaluated the usability of the app and the participants\' perceptions about the app through surveys and interviews. We analyzed the survey responses, including an after-scenario questionnaire, as evaluation indicators of the usability of the app and collected qualitative data from the interviewees for in-depth analysis of the survey responses.
RESULTS: The participants were satisfied with using an app to determine whether a fruit is fresh by taking a picture of the fruit but are reluctant to use the paid version of the app. The survey results revealed that the participants tended to use the app efficiently to take pictures of fruits and determine their freshness. The qualitative data analysis on app usability and participants\' perceptions about the app revealed that they found the app simple and easy to use, they had no difficulty taking pictures, and they found the app interface visually satisfactory.
CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the possibility of developing an app that supports older adults in identifying rotten food items effectively and efficiently. Future work to make the app distinguish the freshness of various food items other than the 3 fruits selected still remains.

BACKGROUND: More is to be explored between dietary patterns and sleep quality in the Chinese adult population.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study including 7987 Shanghai suburban adults aged 20-74 years was conducted. Dietary information was obtained using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Adherence to a priori dietary patterns, such as the Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and Mediterranean diet (MD), was assessed. Sleep quality was assessed from self-reported responses to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. Logistic regression models adjusting for confounders were employed to examine the associations.
RESULTS: The overall prevalence of poor sleep (PSQI score ≥ 5) was 28.46%. Factor analysis demonstrated four a posteriori dietary patterns. Participants with a higher CHEI (ORQ4 vs. Q1: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.70-0.95), DASH (ORQ4 vs. Q1: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.60-0.82) or MD (ORQ4 vs. Q1: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.64-0.87) had a lower poor sleep prevalence, while participants with a higher \"Beverages\" score had a higher poor sleep prevalence (ORQ4 vs. Q1: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.02-1.27).
CONCLUSIONS: In Shanghai suburban adults, healthier dietary patterns and lower consumption of beverages were associated with better sleep quality.

BACKGROUND: The role of dietary intake on precocious puberty remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between the amount and frequency of dietary intake and the risk of precocious puberty in Chinese girls.
METHODS: In this case-control study, we enrolled 185 precocious puberty girls and 185 age-matched controls. Their dietary intake was assessed through a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Their sociodemographic and lifestyle data were collected. The associations between dietary intake and risk of precocious puberty were assessed by conditional logistic regression models.
RESULTS: After multivariate adjustment, consuming a higher amount of red meat was associated with higher precocious puberty risk (OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.25-6.02), while a higher frequency of fruit ( P for trend = 0.024) and amount of vegetable intake was associated with a lower risk of precocious puberty (P for trend = 0.002). The high vegetable and protein dietary pattern was significantly negatively associated with precocious puberty (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.63-0.97), whereas the high animal food and fruits dietary pattern was remarkably positively associated with precocious puberty (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.09-1.69), after adjusting for age and body mass index.
CONCLUSIONS: High vegetable and protein dietary pattern is a protective factor against precocious puberty, while high animal food and fruits dietary pattern is a risk factor for precocious puberty in Chinese girls. Attentions should be paid to a reasonable intake of red meat, eggs, and fruits in children\'s daily diet, increase their intake of vegetables, in order to reduce the risk of precocious puberty.

UNASSIGNED: Raw vegetables have been considered vehicles of enteroparasites. South American countries are among the most important exporters of fresh vegetables, including Ecuador, which has a tropical climate and soils rich in organic matter that allow it to harvest throughout the year for sale to different countries. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of the parasitic contamination of fruits, vegetables and leafy greens grown in an agricultural area of the Ecuadorian Andes.
UNASSIGNED: A cross-sectional field study was conducted with snowball sampling on 1,416 samples (516 fruits, 488 vegetables, and 412 leafy greens). Each sample were washed with water, and the resulting solution after removing the vegetables, was subjected to 24-hour sedimentation. The concentrated sediment underwent microscopic analysis.
UNASSIGNED: The overall positivity for parasitic contamination was 63.4%, with leafy greens having the highest contamination rate (76.9%) (P<0.0001), surpassing vegetables (67.8%) and fruits (48.4%). Cabbage (100%), onions (84%), and strawberries (60.2%) emerged as the most contaminated within their respective groups. Protozoa were more prevalent (49.6%) than helminths (15.5%) (P<0.0001). Blastocystis sp. (33.5%) ranked highest, followed by Eimeria spp. (26.3%), Entamoeba spp. (10.3%), Giardia spp. (8.3%), Balantidium spp. (6.9%), Cryptosporidium spp. (6.6%), Cyclospora spp. (4.4%), Cystoisospora spp. (0.5%), Strongylida (15.5%), and Ascaris spp. (0.4%).
UNASSIGNED: The study reveals that vegetables and fruits for human consumption from this area of the Ecuadorian Andes are highly contaminated with various parasites, constituting a possible source of infection for humans and animals in this area, or in non-endemic areas where these products are marketed. The finding emphasizes the need for strict hygienic measures in agricultural crops, which will be properly achieved through the treatment of soil, manure and water used for cultivation.

We aimed to prospectively assess the association between variety and quantity of fruits and vegetables (FV) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) incidence and mortality due to the limited evidence. Our analysis included 2,918 adults with a follow-up period of 29,559 person-years. An inverse association was detected between fruit intake and the risk of incidence and mortality from CVD. We found no association between diversity scores of fruits, vegetables, and FV with CVD risk. Subjects with high quantity-high variety, high quantity-low variety, and low quantity-high variety of fruits, vegetables, or FV exhibited no difference in CVD risk compared to the subjects with low quantity-low variety intake. Increasing the variety of FV was associated with increases in the intake of β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, vitamin C, selenium, fibre, fat, and protein after adjustment for the quantity and covariates. We detected an inverse association between fruit intake and the incidence and mortality rates of CVD.

Prospective studies investigating the association among fruit, berry, and vegetable consumption and the risk of islet autoimmunity (IA) and type 1 diabetes (T1D) are few.
In this cohort study, we explored whether the consumption of fruits, berries, and vegetables is associated with the IA and T1D development in genetically susceptible children.
Food consumption data in the Finnish Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) cohort study were available from 5674 children born between September 1996 and September 2004 in the Oulu and Tampere University Hospitals. Diet was assessed with 3-d food records at the age of 3 and 6 mo and annually from 1 to 6 y. The association between food consumption and the risk of IA and T1D was analyzed using joint models adjusted for energy intake, sex, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype, and a family history of diabetes.
During the 6-y follow-up, 247 children (4.4%) developed IA and 94 (1.7%) T1D. Furthermore, 64 of 505 children with at least 1 repeatedly positive autoantibody (12.7%) progressed from islet autoantibody positivity to T1D. The consumption of cruciferous vegetables was associated with decreased risk of IA [hazard ratio (HR): 0.83; 95% credible intervals (CI): 0.72, 0.95, per 1 g/MJ increase in consumption] and the consumption of berries with decreased risk of T1D (0.60; 0.47, 0.89). The consumption of banana was associated with increased risk of IA (1.08; 1.04, 1.12) and T1D (1.11; 1.01, 1.21). Only the association between banana and IA remain significant after multiple testing correction.
In children genetically at risk for T1D, the consumption of cruciferous vegetables was associated with decreased risk of IA and consumption of berries with decreased risk of T1D. In addition, the consumption of banana was associated with increased risk of IA and T1D.

Metconazole is a novel chiral fungicide with two chiral carbon atoms, but the research on its stereoselective behavior is limited. Therefore, the stereoselective behaviors of metconazole in four fruits, including grape, peach, pear and jujube, were summarized in this study. After determining the absolute configuration of metconazole stereoisomers, a chiral separation method through supercritical fluid chromatography/tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was first developed, which combined an improved QuEChERS method obtained the recoveries of 71.6-113 % with RSD ≤ 19.8 %. The LOD and LOQ were 4.30-95.9 and 10.5-143.2 ng/kg, respectively. Different stereoselective and diastereoselective behaviors were observed in four fruits. Dietary risk assessments of rac-metconazole were performed in populations with different ages and genders. Both acute (RQa, 0.0124-0.140 %) and chronic (HQ, 0.0234-0.0794 %) intake risks were acceptable. The results of this study would contribute to more complete risk assessments of metconazole and provide data for chiral studies.