title: Potato chips and childhood: what does the science say? An unrecognized threat?
abstract: With recent rapid progress in technology and advancing lifestyle associated with modernization, individuals are consuming increasing quantities of unhealthy food, a major risk factor for the onset of a variety of diseases. In particular, fried potato chips (FPCs), are the most commonly consumed snack, especially by children. However, research in the field of nutrition demonstrated that FPCs encompass significant quantities of acrylamide, a known carcinogen and neurotoxin. Thus, frequent intake of FPC, especially at younger age, might generate cumulative amounts of acrylamide in the body, thereby silently increasing the risk for various diseases. Although intake of a balanced diet can prevent this scenario, further measures should be set to overcome the oxidative damage from fried food. This review outlines existing scientific evidence suggesting an urgent need for systematic study regarding the health effects of consumption of FPC and French fries in the general population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Electronic address: Aouhtit@squ.edu.om.
authors.forename: Allal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ouhtit
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Marwan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Sharbati
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Ishita
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al-Farsi
mesh_terms: D020106:Acrylamide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D003296:Cooking; D004032:Diet; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D062410:Snacks; D011198:Solanum tuberosum
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D020106:Acrylamide
keywords: Acrylamide; Congenital; Fried potato chips; Nutrition