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Anthocyanins (ACNs) are (poly)phenols associated with reduced cardiometabolic risk. Associations between dietary intake, microbial metabolism, and cardiometabolic health benefits of ACNs have not been fully characterized. Our aims were to study the association between ACN intake, considering its dietary sources, and plasma metabolites, and to relate them with cardiometabolic risk factors in an observational study. A total of 1351 samples from 624 participants (55% female, mean age: 45 ± 12 years old) enrolled in the DCH-NG MAX study were studied using a targeted metabolomic analysis. Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were used to collect dietary data at baseline, six, and twelve months. ACN content of foods was calculated using Phenol Explorer and foods were categorized into food groups. The median intake of total ACNs was 1.6mg/day. Using mixed graphical models, ACNs from different foods showed specific associations with plasma metabolome biomarkers. Combining these results with censored regression analysis, metabolites associated with ACNs intake were: salsolinol sulfate, 4-methylcatechol sulfate, linoleoyl carnitine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and one valerolactone. Salsolinol sulfate and 4-methylcatechol sulfate, both related to the intake of ACNs mainly from berries, were inversely associated with visceral adipose tissue. In conclusion, plasma metabolome biomarkers of dietary ACNs depended on the dietary source and some of them, such as salsolinol sulfate and 4-methylcatechol sulfate may link berry intake with cardiometabolic health benefits.

We collect data on 15 reasons why people in the 27 EU countries engage in physical activity, from the European Commission’s Special Eurobarometer. A graphical output was obtained using classical Principal Component Analysis techniques in order to analyse types of motivation in the EU. Cluster Analysis method were used to define the interrelationship between the data in the 27 countries. People in Sweden, Denmark and Finland were the most highly motivated. High rates were detected in Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Estonia, Luxembourg and Latvia while low rates were found in Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia. The lowest motivation rates were in the Netherlands. Regarding the reasons for engaging in exercise (a sport or physical activity), we observed two motivation types. The first group was related to health and physical appearance while the second was associated with social reasons: to be with friends, to better integrate into society, to meet people from other cultures. For citizens of Latvia, Bulgaria and Romania, health and physical appearance carried greater importance than the European average while for citizens of Germany, Finland and Sweden the second motivation type was higher than the European average.

No abstract

Data on self-reported frequency of exercising or playing sport of adults aged 15 and above in 27 EU countries were collected, from the European Commission's Special Eurobarometer. A graphical output was obtained using classical a statistical methodology known as metric Multidimensional Scaling method to better define the interrelationships between a large set of variables for the data from the 27 European countries and "average" country included in the study. People in Sweden, Denmark and Finland had the highest level of exercise and playing sport level. High level of exercise and play sport level were detected in Slovenia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and France while low level of exercise and play sport level were found in Romania, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Portugal. The lowest level of exercise and play sport was observed in Bulgaria and Greece. The groups of countries that result from this classification also are characterized by the extent of the difference between the lowest levels of activity (never practising) and the highest (regularly practising); Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia, have the highest proportion of people who seldom practising. In 4 countries, Ireland, Malta, Republic of Cyprus and Portugal, the proportion of citizens who practice exercise or play sport regularly or never (extreme behaviour) is high. This study shows what a high level and regularly of exercise and playing sport are associated with adults participating in education and training, satisfaction with household financial situation and kind of work activity.