Browsing by Author "Fernández-Verdejo, Rodrigo"

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    Resting energy metabolism and sweet taste preference during the menstrual cycle in healthy women
    (2023) Malo-Vintimilla, Lorena; Aguirre Polanco, Carolina; Vergara, Angie; Fernández-Verdejo, Rodrigo; Galgani, Jose E.
    Differences in blood concentration of sex hormones in the follicular (FP) and luteal (LP) phases may influence energy metabolism in women. We compared fasting energy metabolism and sweet taste preference on a representative day of the FP and LP in twenty healthy women (25·3 (SD 5·1) years, BMI: 22·2 (SD 2·2) kg/m2) with regular self-reported menses and without the use of hormonal contraceptives. From the self-reported duration of the three prior menstrual cycles, the predicted FP and LP visits were scheduled for days 5–12 and 20–25 after menses, respectively. The order of the FP and LP visits was randomly assigned. On each visit, RMR and RQ by indirect calorimetry, sweet taste preference by the Monell two-series forced-choice tracking procedure, serum fibroblast growth factor 21 by a commercial ELISA (FGF21, a liver-derived protein with action in energy balance, fuel oxidation and sugar preference) and dietary food intake by a 24-h dietary recall were determined. Serum progesterone and oestradiol concentrations displayed the expected differences between phases. RMR was lower in the FP v. LP (5042 (SD 460) v. 5197 (SD 490) kJ/d, respectively; P = 0·04; Cohen effect size, drm = 0·33), while RQ showed borderline significant higher values (0·84 (SD 0·05) v. 0·81 (SD 0·05), respectively; P = 0·07; drm = 0·62). Also, in the FP v. LP, sweet taste preference was lower (12 (SD 8) v. 16 (SD 9) %; P = 0·04; drm = 0·47) concomitant with higher serum FGF21 concentration (294 (SD 164) v. 197 (SD 104) pg/ml; P < 0·01; drm = 0·66). The menstrual cycle is associated with changes in energy expenditure, sweet taste preference and oxidative fuel partitioning.
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    Tailored Informational Interventions for Reducing Surplus and Waste of Fruits and Vegetables in a Food Market: A Pilot Study
    (MDPI, 2023) Fredes González, Carolina Paz; Perez Poblete Maria-ignacia Consuelo; Jiménez, Macarena; Reutter, Beatriz; Fernández-Verdejo, Rodrigo
    This pilot study explored the effectiveness of tailored informational interventions to reduce the surplus and waste of fruits and vegetables at the distribution level in Chile. Stalls from a fresh food market were randomized to intervention (n = 5 selling fruits, n = 5 selling vegetables) or control (n = 4 selling fruits, n = 4 selling vegetables) groups. The causes of surplus and waste were estimated by questionnaires. Surplus, avoidable waste, and unavoidable waste were measured using direct quantification before and after the intervention, and were expressed relative to the initial stock. Before the intervention, the surplus was (median [25th-75th percentile]) 46.2% [33.3-51.2] for fruits and 51.5% [41.3-55.0] for vegetables; avoidable waste was 0.1% [0.0-0.8] for fruits and 1.8% [0.7-5.3] for vegetables; and unavoidable waste was 0.0% [0.0-1.0] for fruits and 0.0% [0.0-1.3] for vegetables. Planning and storage represented the main causes explaining surplus and waste. After the intervention, the intervention group decreased the surplus of fruits compared to the control group (-17.8% [-29.0--11.0] vs. 5.8% [-0.6-7.8], respectively; p = 0.016), without other differences. In conclusion, tailored informational interventions based on the causes of surplus and waste may reduce the surplus of fruits in a fresh food market. Interventions might also include management strategies for the surplus to improve grocers' business operations.