Fish Consumption Hits Record High

According to a report from FAO, “State of the World’s Fisheries and Aquaculture," global fish consumption has reached a record of about 17 kg per person on average, supplying over three billion people with at least 15 percent of their average animal protein intake. The report notes that the increase is due to the ever-growing production of aquaculture which is set to overtake capture fisheries as a source of food fish. The report also notes, however, that the status of global fish stocks has not improved. About 32 percent of world fish stocks are estimated to be overexploited, depleted or recovering and need to be urgently rebuilt, the report says.

"That there has been no improvement in the status of stocks is a matter of great concern," said senior FAO fisheries expert Richard Grainger, one of the report's editors. "The percentage of overexploitation needs to go down, although at least we seem to be reaching a plateau."

That said, 15 percent of the stock groups monitored by FAO were estimated to be underexploited (three percent) or moderately exploited (12 percent) and therefore able to produce more than their current catches, according to the report.

The report also examines the growing efforts to enforce against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and also notes increasing debate about a proposed global record of fishing vessels that would make it easier to police vessels engaged in illegal fishing activities.

Gut Bacteria May Influence Brain, Behavior

A team of scientists from Sweden and Singapore found that gut bacteria may influence brain development and adult behavior, at least in mice.

"Not only are signal substances like serotonin and dopamine subject to regulation by bacteria, synapse function also appears to be regulated by colonizing bacteria," continues Prof. Sven Pettersson, coordinator of the study. "However, it is important to note that this new knowledge can be applied only to mice, and that it is too early to say anything about the effect of gut bacteria on the human brain."

For the study, published in PNAS, researchers from Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, and the Genome Institute of Singapore compared behavior and gene expression in two groups of mice: those raised with normal microorganisms, and those raised in the absence of microorganisms (or germ-free). The adult germ-free mice were observed to be more active and engaged in more 'risky' behavior than mice raised with normal microorganisms. When germ-free mice were exposed to normal microorganisms very early in life, as adults they developed the behavioral characteristics of those exposed to microorganisms from birth. In contrast, colonizing adult germ-free mice with bacteria did not influence their behavior.

Subsequent gene profiling in the brain identified genes and signaling pathways involved in learning, memory and motor control that were affected by the absence of gut bacteria, highlighting the profound changes in the mice that developed in the absence of microorganisms. This suggests that, over the course of evolution, colonization of the gut by microorganisms (in total 1.5 kilograms) in early infancy became integrated into early brain development.

"The data suggests that there is a critical period early in life when gut microorganisms affect the brain and change the behavior in later life," says Dr. Rochellys Diaz Heijtz, first author of the study.

Western Diet Linked to Kidney Function Decline

A diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and legumes may offer protection from loss of kidney function over time, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Kidney Disease.

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital examined the effect of three different dietary patterns—Western, Prudent and DASH—on change in kidney function over 11 years in 3,121 female participants in the Nurses' Health Study. Kidney dysfunction was determined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which measures how well the kidney filters blood, and presence of microalbuminuria, a urinary protein that may be a marker of vascular disease and inflammation.

The findings revealed the Western style diet was associated with increased levels of albuminuria and increased risk of rapid eGFR decline, while the DASH-style diet was inversely associated with eGFR decline. The association persisted after controlling for other health factors such as smoking, activity level, obesity and diabetes.

"Traditional studies about diet and health focus on specific nutrients or foods, but dietary patterns may better reflect how people really eat," said Julie Lin, MD, MPH, lead author and a physician in the Renal Division at BWH. "We found that a diet that is low in red meat, saturated fat, and sweets but high in whole grains and fruit and vegetables may be associated with slower loss of kidney function over time."

Sources:

* Brigham and Women's Hospital: Western Dietary Pattern Associated with Kidney Function Decline

Demand Increases for Functional Beverages that Support Mood

The global market for functional beverages that support alertness and enhance relaxation is $521 million, according to a new report from Zenith International. The report analyzed opportunities in five key countries—the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan—and estimated sales volumes have tripled since 2007 to 133 million liters in 2010.

“Consumers are now looking for products to help them deal with pressure and to perform effectively without the use of stimulants," said Cecelia Martinez, Zenith market analyst. “Alertness drinks are designed to reduce stress and focus the mind. Relaxation drinks usually contain ingredients solely to assist relaxation and in some cases to aid sleep."

While the concept of this category of functional beverages primarily started in Japan with drinks enhanced with GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid), the market has grown globally, with the majority of innovation now stemming from the United States. There is a broad range of active ingredients used the alertness and relaxation drinks including vitamins, minerals, botanicals, amino acids (L-theanine, in particular) and even hormones (melatonin).

Zenith is projecting an annual growth rate of more than 20 percent for the alertness and relaxation drink market through 2013. The firm’s new report includes more than 25 brand profiles as well as a commentary on consumer positioning and market potential.