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Diet and exercise are recognized as important lifestyle factors that significantly influence breast cancer risk. In particular, dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to play an important role in breast cancer prevention. Growing evidence also demonstrates a role for exercise in cancer and chronic disease prevention. However, the potential synergistic effect of n-3 PUFA intake and exercise is yet to be determined. This review explores targets for breast cancer prevention that are common between n-3 PUFA intake and exercise and that may be important study outcomes for future research investigating the combined effect of n-3 PUFA intake and exercise. These lines of evidence highlight potential new avenues for research and strategies for breast cancer prevention.

Past research using hepatic rat microsomes showed that soy protein suppressed delta-6 desaturase activity (D6D) compared to casein (a dairy protein). The effects of soy and dairy on desaturase pathway activity in humans remain poorly investigated. The objective of this analysis was to investigate the association between soy and dairy consumption with plasma fatty acids and estimate the desaturase pathway activity in a multiethnic Canadian population of young adults. We analyzed data from men (n = 319) and women (n = 764) previously collected for the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health Study. Food frequency questionnaires and plasma fatty acids were assessed. Relationships between soy and dairy beverages and food consumption with estimated desaturase activities were assessed by regression models and by grouping participants according to beverage and food intake data. Weak inverse associations (p ≤ 0.05) were found between soy consumption and the overall desaturation pathway activity, specifically D6D activity. When participants were grouped based on soy and dairy consumption habits, omega-6 LC-PUFAs, as well as various estimates of the desaturase pathway activity, were significantly lower in individuals consuming soy (with or without dairy) compared to individuals consuming only fluid milk and dairy products. In conclusion, soy consumption, not dairy consumption, appears to suppress desaturase pathway activity.

Purpose: Our understanding of the influence of sugar intake on anthropometrics among young children is limited. Most existing research is cross-sectional and has focused on sugar-sweetened beverages. The study objective was to investigate longitudinal associations between young children's total, free, and added sugar intake from all food sources at baseline with anthropometric measures at baseline and 18 months. Methods: The Guelph Family Health Study (GFHS) is an ongoing randomized controlled trial and a family-based health promotion study. Food records and anthropometric data were collected at baseline (n = 109, 55 males; 3.7 [+ or -]1.1 y, mean [+ or -] SD) and 18 months (n = 109, 55 males; 5.1 [+ or -] 1.1 y) of the GFHS pilots. Associations between sugar intakes and anthropometrics were estimated using linear regression models with generalized estimating equations adjusted for age, sex, household income, and intervention status. Results: Total sugar intake was inversely associated with body weight at 18 months (P = 0.01). There was no effect of time on any other associations between total, free, and added sugar intakes and anthropometrics. Conclusions: Early life dietary sugar intakes may not relate to anthropometric measures in the short term. Further investigation into potential associations between dietary sugar intakes and anthropometric variables over longer time periods is warranted. Key words: dietary sugar, free sugar, total sugar, added sugar, preschool-aged children, BMI Z-scores, body weight, waist circumference, percent fat mass. (Can J Diet Pract Res. 2024;85:132-139) (DOI: 10.3148/cjdpr-2024-001) Published at dcjournal.ca on 5 June 2024 Objectif. Notre comprehension de ['influence de la consommation de sucre sur le profil anthropometrique des jeunes enfants est limitee. La plupart des etudes existantes sont transversales et portent sur les boissons sucrees. L'objectif de cette etude etait d'explorer les associations longitudinales entre la consommation par les jeunes enfants de sucres totaux, libres et ajoutes provenant de toutes sources alimentaires au debut de l'etude et les mesures anthropometriques au debut de l'etude et apres 18 mois. Methodes. La Guelph Family Health Study (GFHS) est un essai controle randomise en cours et une etude de promotion de la sante suivant des familles. Des journaux alimentaires et des donnees anthropometriques ont ete recueillis au debut de l'etude (n = 109, 55 garcons; 3,7 [+ or -] 1,1 ans, moyenne [+ or -] ecart-type) et 18 mois (n = 109, 55 garcons; 5,1 [+ or -]1,1 ans) apres le debut des projets pilotes de la GFHS. Les associations entre la consommation de sucre et les donnees anthropometriques ont ete estimees a l'aide de modeles de regression lineaire avec des equations d'estimation generalisees ajustees en fonction de l'age, du sexe, du revenu du menage et du statut de l'intervention. Resultats. La consommation totale de sucre etait inversement associee au poids corporel apres 18 mois (P = 0,01). Le temps n'avait d'effet sur aucune autre association entre la consommation de sucres totaux, libres et ajoutes et les donnees anthropometriques. Conclusions. La consommation de sucres alimentaires au debut de la vie pourrait ne pas etre liee aux mesures anthropometriques a court terme. D'autres etudes sur les associations potentielles entre la consommation de sucres alimentaires et les variables anthropometriques sur des periodes plus longues sont justifiees. Mots-cles : sucre alimentaire, sucre libre, sucre total, sucre ajoute, enfants d'age prescolaire, ecart reduit de l'IMC, poids corporel, tour de taille, pourcentage de masse grasse. (Rev can prat rech dietet. 2024;85:132-139) (DOI: 10.3148/cjdpr-2024-001) Publie au dcjournal.ca le 5 juin 2024

Purpose: To assess the dietary contributions of foods consumed in childcare (childcare centre, preschool, or out-of-home childcare) and compare nutrient and food intakes between locations (in childcare vs away from childcare). Method: Dietary intakes of 46 children (1.5–4 years) were assessed with parent-reported 24-hour recalls occurring on a childcare day. The contribution of each nutrient and food group consumed in childcare to its total daily intake was calculated as a proportion and presented as a percentage. Mean nutrient and food group intake densities (per 1000 kcal) were compared between childcare and away-from-childcare locations using linear regression. Results: Foods consumed at childcare contributed to 46% of children’s daily energy intake. Relative to energy, foods consumed in childcare provided proportionally high intakes of vitamin A (56%), fruit (56%), vegetables (54%), whole grains (53%), and legumes (71%) but proportionally low intakes of added sugars (30%), thiamin (38%), vitamin D (40%), iron (40%), and meat and alternatives (38%). Significant differences in nutrient densities were found for vitamin A (higher in childcare) as well as added sugars, thiamin, vitamin B 6 , and iron (all lower in childcare). Conclusions: These data can provide evidence to inform the development of tailored interventions to improve young children’s diets across multiple settings.

Purpose: Fish and seafood consumption by North American children is low. This is concerning, given the critical role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), found in fish and seafood, in early development. This study aimed to determine whether parental factors related to fish and seafood consumption are associated with frequency of fish and seafood consumption in Canadian children. Methods: A subgroup of parents (n = 28) participating in the Guelph Family Health Study Pilot reported their perceptions and history of fish and seafood consumption, confidence in preparing fish and seafood dishes, and the frequency of intake for their children (n = 40). Results: This study found that 20% of children consumed one serving of saltwater fish, freshwater fish, or shellfish weekly and 63% consumed at least one type of fish or seafood monthly. Parental cooking confidence preparing fish and seafood was positively associated with at least monthly fish and seafood intake in children. Conclusions: These findings suggest that some children may have low intakes of fish and seafood due to a lack of parental cooking confidence when preparing fish and seafood dishes. Therefore, future research and interventions focused on addressing this barrier may aid in improving fish and seafood intake.

Purpose: Plant-based diets have become increasingly popular and, in adults, have been inversely associated with body fat outcomes. We examined associations between overall, healthful, and less-healthful plant-based dietary index (PDI) scores and BMI z-score, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, % fat mass (%FM), and fat mass index in young children, aged 1.5–6 years. Methods: Baseline data from the Guelph Family Health Study (287 children and 211 families) were used in this cross-sectional study. PDI scores were calculated from a single dietary recall using the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment Tool – Canada. Body composition outcomes were measured by trained research staff, with FM assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Associations between PDI scores and body composition outcomes were estimated using generalized estimating equations applied to linear regression models. Covariates included energy intake, physical activity, age, sex, ethnicity, household income, and gestational age. Results: After adjusting for covariates, there were no significant associations between overall, healthful, and less-healthful PDI scores and body composition outcomes. Conclusions: Proportions of plant- and animal-based food consumption were not cross-sectionally related to body composition in this sample of young children. Further research on longitudinal associations between PDI scores and health outcomes in young children is warranted.

Purpose: Associations between anthropometry and child cardiometabolic risk (CMR) are understudied. We investigated cross-sectional associations between body mass index (BMI) z-score, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), blood pressure (BP), and serum biomarkers (triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein, glucose, insulin, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)) among young children in the Guelph Family Health Study. Methods: This study included 210 children (1.5–6.2 years, from 171 families). Blood samples were provided by 46 of the participating children. BP and anthropometry were measured during a health assessment visit. Generalized estimating equations applied to regression models were used to determine associations between anthropometric measures and CMR factors, while controlling for relevant covariates. Results: WHtR was positively associated with diastolic BP ([Formula: see text] = 5.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.12, 10.3)) and glucose ([Formula: see text] = 0.50; 95% CI (0.21, 0.79)), total cholesterol ([Formula: see text] = 0.87; 95% CI (0.02, 1.73)) and negatively associated with insulin ([Formula: see text] = −0.01; 95% CI (−18.6, 2.54)). BMI z-score was negatively associated with HbA1c ([Formula: see text] = −0.13; 95% CI (−0.23, −0.04)), and WC was positively associated with HDL-C ([Formula: see text] = 0.04; 95% CI (0.00, 0.08)). No other associations were significant. Conclusions: WHtR, more so than BMI z-score or WC, may show promise as a noninvasive screening tool for lipid- and/or BP-related risk in early childhood.

Excess dietary sugar intake increases the risk of unhealthy weight gain, an important cardiometabolic risk factor in children. To further our understanding of this relationship, we performed a narrative review using two approaches. First, research examining dietary sugar intake, its associations with cardiometabolic health, impact of genetics on sweet taste perception and intake, and how genetics moderates the association of dietary sugar intake and cardiometabolic risk factors in preschool-aged children 1.5–5 years old is reviewed. Second, methodological considerations for collecting and analyzing dietary intake of sugar, genetic information, and markers of cardiometabolic health among young children are provided. Our key recommendations include the following for researchers: (1) Further longitudinal research on sugar intake and cardiometabolic risk factors is warranted to inform policy decisions and guidelines for healthy eating in preschool-aged children. (2) Consistency in sugar definitions is needed across research studies to aid with comparisons of results. (3) Select dietary collection tools specific to each study’s aim and sugar definition(s). (4) Limit subjectivity of dietary assessment tools as this impacts interpretation of study results. (5) Choose non-invasive biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease until the strengths and limitations of available biomarkers in preschool-aged children are clarified. (6) Select approaches that account for the polygenic nature of cardiometabolic disease such as genome risk scores and genome wide association studies to assess how genetics moderates the relationship between dietary sugar intake and cardiometabolic risk. This review highlights potential recommendations that will support a research environment to help inform policy decisions and healthy eating policies to reduce cardiometabolic risk in young children.

Cancerogenesis is associated with cell membrane changes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether breast tissues with different degrees of cancer involvement have different fatty acid profiles. Fourteen breast cancer patients with a mean age of 61 years were recruited. Morphological features of the tumoral specimens were characterized. Approximately 60 % of patients had invasive ductal carcinoma, and 80 % were ER positive; 65 % were PR positive; and 65 % were HER2 negative. The segments with confirmed cancer had significantly less amounts of total lipids as compared with the corresponding grossly normal or interface tissues. The fatty acid profile in cancer tissue was significantly different from that in other tissues. Fatty acid composition of five classes of phospholipids revealed the variations between cancer tissue and the other two segments. A transition of changes in fatty acid composition in these fractions of phospholipids was observed. The interface tissue had intermediate amounts of several fatty acids including palmitic acid, stearic acid, and arachidonic acid. Interestingly, we observed significantly higher amounts of the n-3 fatty acid DHA in cancer tissue as compared to the other two tissues. Data from this study will provide evidence that biochemical changes particularly phospholipid composition may take place well in advance prior to morphological changes. Should this theory be confirmed by larger studies, deviation of phospholipid composition from normal values can be used as markers of susceptibility of tissue to cancer development.

Purpose: To investigate the breakfast quality of preschool-aged children through a comparison of their energy and nutrient intakes at breakfast to published benchmarks for a balanced breakfast. Methods: Dietary data were collected for 163 children aged 3–5 years enrolled in the Guelph Family Health Study using one parent-reported online 24-hour recall and analyzed for energy and nutrient intakes. Breakfast quality was assessed by tallying the frequency of participants whose nutrient and energy intakes at their breakfast meal met the recommendations for a balanced breakfast established by the International Breakfast Research Initiative (IRBI). Results: Almost all participants (98%) consumed breakfast, and most participants (82.5%) met the energy IRBI recommendation. However, the majority of participants did not meet the IRBI recommendations for breakfast intakes of most macronutrients and micronutrients. In particular, fewer than 25% of participants met the IRBI recommendations for breakfast intakes of dietary fibre, niacin, folate, vitamin C, calcium, potassium and zinc. Conclusions: Almost all preschool-aged children in this study consumed breakfast, but the nutritional quality of their breakfast did not meet recommendations for most nutrients. These results can inform nutrition education and intervention programs for children that aim to improve the nutritional quality of breakfast.