Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism最新文献

Introduction: It is still uncertain whether vitamin D deficiency is a cause, effect, or contributing element in childhood obesity and metabolic imbalance. This study combines univariate and multivariate analyses to investigate associations between vitamin D levels, metabolic parameters, and adiposity indices, with the goal of identifying potential patterns and biomarkers among highly interrelated variables.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 285 children with obesity (mean age of 10.71 ± 2.69 years). Clinical, anthropometric, metabolic, and endocrinological parameters and vitamin D levels were assessed. A control group of 55 normal-weight children, comparable in age, was included. Both univariate and multivariate statistical approaches were applied.

Results: Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between weight classes in multiple clinical and biochemical parameters, including atherogenic markers, adiposity indices, and insulin-resistance indicators (p < 0.001 for most). In comparisons based on vitamin D status, differences were particularly marked in body mass index (BMI), insulin, triglycerides, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) Index. Multivariate analysis identified weak but significant negative correlations between vitamin D and some clinical parameters (atherogenic coefficient, Triglyceride-Cholesterol Body Index, and HOMA-IR), with correlation coefficients ranging from -0.14 to -0.28. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that vitamin D and BMI are often positioned on opposite axes in biplots, supporting a negative correlation. Notably, the principal component (PC) 2, dominated by BMI and vitamin D, effectively distinguished weight groups based on insulin resistance and adiposity variables. No consistent associations were observed with sex or traditional atherogenic markers.

Conclusions: Vitamin D levels are significantly associated with key metabolic parameters, especially those related to insulin resistance and adiposity. Although no direct relationship was observed with classical atherogenic markers, multivariate analysis suggests possible indirect links mediated by excess adiposity. These findings support the potential role of vitamin D as a marker of metabolic health. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether improving vitamin D status can enhance insulin sensitivity and reduce metabolic risk in children with obesity.

Introduction: Obesity has become a global health crisis, with prevalence nearly tripling since 1975. In 2016, approximately 39% of adults worldwide were overweight or obese. Lifestyle factors, such as dietary habits and physical activity levels, significantly contribute to this alarming trend. This study aimed to assess the eating habits, physical activity levels and nutritional status of university students.

Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study. The study was conducted among 249 students from 17 schools within the university, selected using a multistage stratified sampling technique. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24.0.

Results: The study participants were aged between 18 and 31 years. The findings revealed that 79.9% of students exhibited a mixture of both healthy and unhealthy eating habits, whereas 8% and 12% demonstrated unhealthy and healthy eating habits, respectively. A higher percentage of females (70%) had more nutritious eating habits compared to males. Overall, 75.9% of students were classified as physically inactive. A higher proportion of females (61%) were physically inactive compared to males (39%). In comparison, 49.8% reported sitting for eight or more hours per day, indicating a sedentary lifestyle that further contributes to health risks. Based on BMI, 8.4% of students were underweight, 67.5% were within the normal range, 16.5% were overweight and 7.6% were obese. However, based on waist circumference, 21.7% exhibited abdominal obesity. Furthermore, females had significantly higher BMI and waist circumference values. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between BMI and age, year of study and meal source. Waist circumference was significantly associated with sex, year of study and residence status. Additionally, a significant relationship was observed between residential status and eating habits, and the daily consumption of fast food was significantly associated with BMI.

Conclusion: It is imperative to consider gender-specific interventions to address physical inactivity, obesity and abdominal obesity among university students. Future research should utilise objective methods to assess physical activity levels for a more comprehensive understanding of student health.

Background: Obesity is a serious health concern associated with many diseases. Studies have found that medicinal herbs have potential leads to treatment. Therefore, clove and cardamom extracts are known to have a positive effect on obesity management and reducing obesity-related risks.

Aims: This study aimed to compare the effect of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) on the body weight and nutritional status of obese experimental animals.

Methods: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into four groups (five rats each) as follows; The first was the negative control group, the second was the positive control group (obese rats), the third group was obese with oral administration of 1 mg/kg b.wt. of cardamom alcoholic extract, and the fourth group was obese with oral administration of 1 mg/kg b.wt. of clove alcoholic extract. At the end of the experiment (28 days), rats were mercy sacrificed; the body weight gain, food intake, and feed efficiency ratio were measured; and TC, TG, HDL, LDL and VLDL were analyzed.

Results: Rats treated with cardamom and clove extracts showed a significant decrease in body weight gain compared to the positive control group, with a higher significant reduction in cardamom, in addition, for enhancing nutritional status.

Conclusion: Cardamom and clove improve the body weight and nutritional status, as well as improve food intake and feed efficiency ratio, showing a higher effect of the cardamom extract.

Background: Maternal mortality is a global health concern, particularly in developing nations, such as Nigeria. Pregnant women face health challenges and complications, necessitating prompt attention to understand healthcare-seeking behaviours to improve maternal health outcomes.

Objective: To assess the healthcare-seeking behavioural practices among pregnant women in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at five selected primary healthcare centres in the Odeda Local Government Area. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20.0 for descriptive statistics, such as frequencies, percentages and chi-square tests to explore the association between sociodemographic characteristics and healthcare-seeking behaviours.

Results: Most respondents (94%) were married, with an average age of 27 years. Approximately 48.5% had a secondary education, while 42.5% had tertiary education. A significant number of respondents (78%) were knowledgeable about danger signs during pregnancy, such as vaginal bleeding, high fever and reduced foetal movement. Regarding healthcare-seeking practices, 54.5% of the respondents sought healthcare at hospitals or clinics when they experienced pregnancy complications. However, 18% resorted to praying first, and 22% informed their husbands before taking further action. The decision to seek care was influenced primarily by husbands in 53% of the cases.

Conclusion: Sociodemographic factors, such as age of the respondents, gestational age and marital status, influence healthcare-seeking behaviour among pregnant women in the Odeda Local Government Area. Although there is a high knowledge of pregnancy danger signs, timely healthcare actions are needed to reduce maternal mortality rates.

Background: Low estrogen levels affect bone mineral density and bone microarchitecture, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. This hormonal change can also contribute to the loss of strength, muscle mass, and physical performance.

Aim: To investigate associations between the components of sarcopenia and bone microarchitecture in postmenopausal women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 98 women ≥ 50 years of age. Data were collected on sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics. Measurements were performed of height, body mass, calf circumference adjusted for BMI, grip strength, and physical performance using the Timed Up and Go test. The appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) and bone mineral density were estimated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Bone microarchitecture was determined by the trabecular bone score. The association between ASMI and bone microarchitecture was tested using multivariate linear regression analysis with adjusted models.

Results: The participants were predominantly between 60.0 and 69.9 years of age (62.3%), lived with a partner (51.0%), declared themselves to be non-White (59.2%), had low or no education (67.3%), were sufficiently active (52.0%), and did not consume alcohol (87.8%) or smoke (94.9%). ASMI was associated with bone microarchitecture after the adjustment of the models (β = 0.047; 95% CI: 0.009-0.084; p = 0.015).

Conclusion: The positive association found between skeletal muscle mass and bone microarchitecture indicates that maintaining muscle mass may play a significant role in bone health among postmenopausal women.

Background: Dietary supplements are widely used by athletes and sportspersons; however, little is known about protein supplement intake among university students undertaking strength training in gyms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the consumption, knowledge, perceptions, and use of protein supplementation, alone or in association with other supplements, among university students attending fitness centers in the UAE.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students in the UAE using a previously validated, self-administered online survey.

Result: A total of 402 adults participated in the study. Approximately 260 (64%) of the participants visited fitness centers, with a higher percentage of males (154/207, 74.4%) than females (106/195, 54.4%). Those who frequented gyms consumed more protein supplements (91/260, 35.0%) compared with nonattendees (8/142, 5.6%). Significant gender differences were observed regarding the benefits and risks of protein supplementation. Among all the participants, 123 (31%) thought that the greatest benefit was building muscle mass, while 141 (35%) believed there was no risk involved. Among protein supplement users, 65 of 109 (59.6%) experienced some type of side effect. Additionally, 57 (14.2%) reported that friends or family encouraged them to take protein supplements.

Conclusion: There is an urgent need to educate university students about the responsible use of protein supplements and the potential risks associated with their misuse. This can be achieved by providing reliable information through university health centers, academic tutors, nutritionists, and awareness campaigns conducted by student wellness services.

Background: The present study aimed to explore the association between dietary sources of aromatic amino acids (AAAs) from both animal and plant sources and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Objective: The primary goal of this research was to examine how the intake of AAAs correlates with the incidence of MetS.

Methods: The current prospective observational study was conducted on collected data from 4920 adult individuals aged between 19 and 74 years, participants from Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. Dietary data and usual intake of AAAs such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan were calculated using a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire.

Result: In this study, median intakes of AAAs were 5.9 g/d (IQR: 4.7-7.4 g/d), which corresponded to 2.8 g/d (2.2-3.4 g/d) of animal sources and 2.5 g/d (1.8-3.2 g/d) of plant sources. An increased intake of total AAAs (HR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.57) and AAAs from animal sources (HR: 1.30 and 95% CI: 1.03, 1.65) was positively linked to a higher risk of MetS, even after controlling for confounding variables. In different strata of BMI, the risk of MetS was positively associated with MetS only in obese subjects in the highest tertile of total AAAs intake (HR: 1.36 and 95% CI: 1.02-1.87) and for AAAs from animal sources (HR: 1.16 and 95% CI: 1.09-2.12). Nevertheless, none of the three BMI groups showed a statistically significant association between incident MetS and AAAs from plant sources. Also, no significant interactions were found between sex and AAAs intake and its constituents on MetS risk.

Conclusion: The intake of AAAs, particularly from animal sources, was positively associated with the risk of MetS, especially in obese individuals. However, more studies are needed in this area.

Malnutrition remains a critical public health issue among women of reproductive age (WRA) worldwide, and Nepal is no exception, as the country experiences a triple burden of malnutrition among WRA, including undernutrition, overnutrition, and anemia. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize the existing literature to explore the scope of research on the prevalence and predictors of malnutrition (underweight, obesity, and anemia) among WRA in Nepal. A comprehensive search was conducted using several databases, including MEDLINE, DOAJ, CINAHL, and NepJOL, covering studies published between January 1, 2000, and June 15, 2024. Studies reporting the prevalence and/or predictors of undernutrition, obesity, or anemia among women aged 15-49 years in Nepal were included in this review. The exclusion criteria were studies focusing on disease-specific malnutrition, review articles, and clinical trials. Studies relying solely on secondary analyses of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data were excluded to prevent duplication of estimates. A total of 1448 records were retrieved, and 751 duplicates were removed, leaving 697 records for screening. After excluding 577 records at the title/abstract stage, 120 full texts (including 6 from citation searching) were assessed, and 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of underweight ranged from 2.0% to 30.3%; overweight/obesity ranged from 4.8% to 55.0%; and anemia ranged from 12.83% to 66.8%. Definitions and measurement methods varied considerably across studies, contributing to wide variability in reported prevalence estimates. The studies identified numerous factors associated with malnutrition. Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics such as age, ethnicity, family size, educational status, occupation, food consumption patterns, and health-seeking behavior were linked to different forms of malnutrition. Anemia was associated with women's ethnicity, deworming medication, and reproductive health factors, such as menarcheal status and number of antenatal visits. This review maps the existing research on malnutrition among WRA in Nepal, identifying key trends and critical gaps that require further investigation. It also emphasizes the need for multisector-targeted interventions to address the diverse factors contributing to malnutrition, including anemia.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. Its development and progression are influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors such as diet. Recent studies highlight the role of dietary phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of CRC. In this review, we explore the role of phytochemicals in directly targeting CRC and examine how microbiota convert these phytochemicals into bioactive metabolites. These metabolites may play a preventive and therapeutic role against CRC through cellular, molecular, and epigenetic mechanisms. We emphasize the need for additional actions to translate the existing knowledge effectively and safely into complementary treatments for CRC patients. The incorporation of phytochemical-rich diets represents a viable option in the battle against this debilitating condition.

Roasted coffee's bioactive compounds may affect human glucose metabolism. This pilot clinical trial investigated the impact of coffee roast level, coffee timing, and carbohydrate (CHO) type on blood glucose responses. Healthy participants (15 female and 4 male) completed this six-week, randomized, single-blinded study. Treatments comprised combinations of roast levels (light, medium, or dark), coffee timings (pre-, co-, or post-CHO ingestion), and CHO types: oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) beverages or a standardized breakfast designated as PreO, PreB, CoO, CoB, PostO, and PostB. Subjects consumed 300 mL of test beverages and provided 10 capillary blood samples over 4 h. Coffees were analyzed for caffeine, 3, 4, and 5 chlorogenic acids (CGA), trigonelline, total phenols, color, °Brix, and total dissolved solids (TDS). Significant (p < 0.05) differences in 3CQA, 5CQA, and trigonelline, but not caffeine and 4CQA, were observed across roast levels. Prior to CHO, coffee did not increase blood glucose, but potentiated increases after CHO. PreO and PreB treatments produced the highest peak glucose values (160 mg/dL). This was not observed for co- or posttreatments. In the CoO combination, AUC values were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than placebo only for medium roast. In posttreatments, peak glucose levels were higher following OGTT than breakfast, but AUCs did not differ. Light roast coffee yielded the lowest AUC for PreO and the highest peak at 3 h in the CoO combination. Medium roast resulted in the lowest AUC across all time points in CoO, while both medium and dark roasts elevated AUC in PreO. Only dark roast increased AUC in the PreB condition. Three AUC main effects (CHO type, coffee roast, and timing) and two interactions (timing × roast; timing × CHO × roast) were highly significant (p < 0.002). These findings may benefit those desiring temporary blood glucose elevations for exercise performance and recovery versus those seeking to moderate glucose. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05119153.