Browsing by Author "Correia, D."
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- Building capacity in risk-benefit assessment of foods: lessons learned from the RB4EU ProjectPublication . Boué, Géraldine; Assunção, Ricardo; Alvito, Paula; Brazão, R.; Carmona, Paulo; Carvalho, Catarina; Correia, D.; Fernandes, Paulo; Jakobsen, Lea; Lopes, Carla; Martins, Carla; Membré, Jeanne-Marie; Monteiro, Sarogini; Nabais, Pedro; Thomsen, Sofie; Torres, Duarte; Pires, SaraRisk-Benefit Assessment (RBA) of food, food ingredients and diets, has recently emerged to address multidisciplinary public health issues. RBA aims to assess in a global perspective potential risks and benefits related to microbiology, toxicology and nutrition; in order to evaluate different options and to support decision-making process. At this time, significant methodological progress have been made but only few research groups have experience in RBA. To promote knowledge transfer, the RiskBenefit4EU project was funded by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The objective of the presentation will be to introduce the strategy developed to capacitate a new team in RBA and to give an overview on lessons learned from this experience. The new team was comprised of experts in risk assessment in toxicology, microbiology or nutrition, epidemiology, dietary assessment or data analysis to answer to a specific multidisciplinary public health issue on cereal-based foods consumed by young children considering breakfast and infant cereals. Activities of the capacity building experience were designed by experienced researchers in RBA to transfer a harmonized methodology. Two weeks of face-to-face training were organized, one on theoretical concepts used in RBA and one on their application to the cereal case study. This experience has highlighted the necessity to build a common language within the team by harmonizing important concepts including hazard, health effect, adverse health effect, beneficial health effect, risk, benefit, health and health impact. It was also important that all participant learn basis of all area of expertise used in RBA. A harmonized RBA stepwise approach was introduced with key steps illustrated with examples of previous RBA performed. Finally, the RBA case study was initiated to design a shared protocol. The learning by doing process experienced under the RB4EU project enabled to create the first training in RBA. The strategy developed, with materials and method used, can now be re-used to capacitate other new teams in RBA and can be considered as a robust basis to build on.
- Nut consumption in Portugal: the balance between the risks and the benefits regarding liver cancer and cardiovascular diseasePublication . Assunção, Ricardo; Jakobsen, Lea; Alvito, Paula; Carmona, P.; Carvalho, C.; Lopes, C.; Martins, C.; Monteiro, Sarogini; Nabais, P.; Correia, D.; Torres, D.; Viegas, Carla; Viegas, S.; Nauta, Marten; Pires, SaraNuts are rich sources of cis-unsaturated fatty acids, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and a number of bioactive substances and the regular consumption of nuts are being associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD). At the same time, the occurrence of mycotoxins in nuts, including the most potent carcinogenic aflatoxins (AFTs), has been reported by several authors worldwide. According to the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (IAN-AF 2015-16), the usual consumption of nuts by the Portuguese adults is 2.7 g/day. Some recent epidemiological studies (e.g. PREDIMED) suggested that a daily nuts consumption of 30 g could reduce the incidence of CVD. The present study aimed to quantify the health impact in terms of Disability-adjusted life years (DALY) of increasing nut consumption to 30 g/day by adult Portuguese population, when compared to the current intake. Regarding nut consumption, two scenarios were established: current consumption (CS) – 2.7 g/day; alternative scenario (AS) – 30 g/day. AFTs occurrence in nuts available in Portuguese market and nut consumption data were used to estimate AFTs intake. Epidemiological and National population data were used to estimate the DALYs, considering two different endpoints: the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma due to exposure to AFTs (IPSC/WHO) and the prevention of acute myocardial infarction due to nuts’ consumption (PREDIMED). A mean daily intake of AFTs of 0.013 (CS) and 0.142 (AS) ng/kg bw/day was predicted. This intake is estimated to cause 0.013 (CS) and 0.15 (AS) extra cases of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, corresponding to 0.2 (CS) and 2.7 (AS) annual DALYs. In contrast, the estimated number of preventable cases of myocardial infarction due to the increasing of nut consumption to 30 g/day was 1402 and the DALYs gained was 5658. Integrating risks and benefits, 5656 annual DALYs could be potentially saved. These results suggest an overall beneficial health effect of increased nut consumption in Portugal. Therefore, it seems not advisable to reduce exposure to AFTs by recommending a reduced intake of nuts.
- Risk-benefit assessment of cereal-based foods consumed by children - a case study under RB4EU projectPublication . Assunção, Ricardo; Boué, Géraldine; Alvito, Paula; Brazão, R.; Carmona, Paulo; Carvalho, Catarina; Correia, D.; Fernandes, Paulo; Jakobsen, Lea; Lopes, Carla; Martins, Carla; Membré, Jeanne-Marie; Monteiro, Sarogini; Nabais, Pedro; Thomsen, Sofie; Torres, Duarte; Pires, SaraFoodstuffs, as cereal-based products, may present both potential risks and benefits to consumers. Cereal-based foods including breakfast and infant cereals, represent important components of human diets and are also among the first solid foods that young children usually eat. From the risk components, cereals are one of the most frequent foodstuffs contaminated by mycotoxins. Aflatoxins, a frequent mycotoxin found in cereals, are undoubtedly the most toxic and are associated to genotoxic, carcinogenic and immunosuppressive toxic effects. Besides chemical hazards, cereal-based foods also potentially contain microbiological hazards, as e.g. Bacillus cereus. Despite the fact that organisms cannot easily grow in low moisture foods as e.g. breakfast and infant cereals, B. cereus can persist for long periods of time and can cause illness due to possible subsequent temperature abuse that allows the organism to grow. Cereal-based products are also a source of several nutrients, including sodium, fibre and free sugars. High sodium intake is linked to increased blood pressure and also represents a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Regarding free sugars, WHO strongly recommends a reduced intake, up to 10% of total energy. Dietary fibre intake contributes to significant immediate and future health benefits, as e.g. promotion of normal gastrointestinal function, prevention of childhood obesity and risk reduction for future chronic diseases. The present case study, developed under RiskBenefit4EU project and funded by EFSA, aimed to assess the risks and the benefits associated to the consumption of cereal-based products by the Portuguese young children. The risks posed by breakfast and infant cereals, due to aflatoxins, B. cereus, sodium and free sugars, were evaluated against the benefits of the intake of fibre. Obtained results showed that moving from the current consumption to the considered alternative scenarios could result in a gain of healthy-life years.
- Risk-benefit assessment of cereal-based foods: a case study under RiskBenefit4EU projectPublication . Martins, Carla; Boué, Géraldine; Alvito, Paula; Brazão, Roberto; Carmona, Paulo; Carvalho, C.; Correia, D.; Fernandes, Paulo; Lopes, C.; Membré, Jeanne-Marie; Monteiro, Sarogini; Nabais, P.; Thomsen, Sofie T.; Torres, D.; Pires, S.; Jakobsen, Lea S.; Assunção, RicardoCereal-based foods, including breakfast cereals (BC) and infant cereals (IC), are among the first solid foods introduced in infants’ diets. BC and IC are sources of nutrients that have beneficial effects on health. However, they can also be a source of potentially harmful chemical or microbiological contaminants, or of nutrients that at high consumption levels may lead to adverse health effects. Young children have a less varied diet and consume food in amounts that are higher relative to their body weight, if compared to adults. Therefore, the potential health risk of contaminants in foods consumed by young children is likewise higher. The aim of this study was to assess the risks and benefits associated with the consumption of BC and IC in children below 35 months of age in Portugal. The health effects associated with the presence of aflatoxins, Bacillus cereus, sodium and free sugars were weighted against the health benefits of the intake of fiber. A risk-benefit assessment approach was applied and the impact on health of a modification in consumption of BC and IC from the current consumption to various alternative scenarios was quantified in terms of disability-adjusted life years. Results showed that moving from the current consumption to the considered alternative scenarios could result in a gain of healthy-life years. The Portuguese children could benefit from exclusive BC consumption if the products consumed have an adequate nutritional profile in terms of fiber, sodium and free sugars and levels of aflatoxins reduced as much as possible.