Nutrition and health最新文献

Circulating testosterone levels decrease as males age and this is associated with changes in muscle mass, bone density, libido and general wellbeing. Testosterone booster (TB) supplements are purported to increase testosterone and mitigate some of the physical and psychological symptoms of ageing. These supplements are popular in young and middle-aged males yet there is limited assessment of the beliefs, perceptions and experiences of males who use TB supplements. This cross-sectional, online survey explored the motivations, experiences and viewpoints of a sample of 182 males with experience of using TB supplements. Approximately two thirds of survey respondents perceived they had gained expected benefits from TB supplements despite concomitant use of other dietary supplements, instigation of lifestyle change and lack of objective measurement of effects. Perceived benefits included positive body composition alterations and improvements to energy and libido. One quarter of respondents reported mild side-effects from TB supplements. As such, caution is advised when taking TB supplements, and monitoring of adverse events is recommended.

BackgroundFamily-level interventions can promote early child health. Partnering with community stakeholders, we co-developed Water is K'é, a culturally grounded family intervention delivered in early childhood education settings to promote healthy beverage choices and wellbeing among Navajo. (Diné) children ages two to seven. This manuscript describes the rationale, design, and methods of the study.AimTo evaluate the impact of Water is K'é on beverage behaviors among children and families, and on family cohesion and cultural connectedness.MethodsDiné and non-Diné researchers and community advisors developed the intervention and study design using community engagement methods. In this cluster-randomized crossover trial, early childhood education sites on Navajo Nation will be enrolled and randomly assigned to begin the intervention in year one or serve as a waitlist control until year two. Child-caregiver dyads will be enrolled at the start of the school year, with optional participation from other family members. The intervention strengthens the cultural connection to water, encourages behavior change, and addresses water access through 4 monthly lesson plans, social media content, and tailored strategies to increase children's access to drinking water throughout the day. Primary endpoints include beverage habits and family cohesion. Collected data includes surveys, optional health measures, and qualitative interviews.SummaryWater is K'é is a multilevel, community-designed intervention emphasizing Navajo language and culture. Innovative features include participant choice of health measures and family member enrollment. If successful, the program could be scaled across Navajo Nation and adapted for other early childhood programs.

IntroductionMalnutrition and changes in body composition are common in pediatric cancer patients and are often underestimated during outpatient care. Simple anthropometric tools and functional assessments may enhance nutritional screening and clinical monitoring in this population. This study aims to investigate the relationship between anthropometric indicators, handgrip strength (HGS), and dietary intake in children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment, compared to healthy peers.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with 45 participants (15 cancer patients and 30 age- and sex-matched controls). Assessments included arm and calf circumferences, tricipital skinfold, arm muscle circumference, HGS via dynamometry, and a 3-day dietary record classified using the NOVA system.ResultsThe cancer group reported significantly lower consumption of ultra-processed foods compared to controls (p = 0.039). Anthropometric indicators and HGS were significantly lower in the cancer group (p < 0.05). A strong positive correlation was found between HGS and calf circumference (r > 0.80). In the total sample, 42.2% were eutrophic, while 51.1% were classified as overweight or obese.ConclusionHGS and basic anthropometric measurements may serve as supportive tools for early identification of nutritional risk. Integrating these indicators into routine outpatient care may support targeted interventions and promote dietary quality in children with chronic illnesses.

BackgroundDietary strategies such as beetroot juice and grapefruit juice have been proposed to acutely influence blood pressure and autonomic regulation through nitrate and polyphenol-related pathways. However, evidence comparing their individual and combined acute effects in hypertensive adults remains limited.ObjectiveTo investigate the acute effects of beetroot juice, grapefruit juice, and their combined ingestion on blood pressure and heart rate variability (HRV) in adults with hypertension.MethodsIn a randomized crossover pilot study, 15 adults with hypertension consumed beetroot juice, grapefruit juice, and a combined beetroot-grapefruit juice intervention in randomized order, with appropriate washout between visits. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and HRV indices were assessed at baseline and at multiple time points up to 4.5 h post-ingestion. Data were analysed using repeated-measures models testing the effects of condition, time, and their interaction. Inferential conclusions were based on between-condition analyses.ResultsSignificant main effects of time were observed for SBP (p = 0.002), DBP (p = 0.006), heart rate (p = 0.004), and selected HRV indices, including the standard deviation of NN intervals (p = 0.034), the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent NN intervals (p = 0.028), and the proportion derived by dividing NN50 by the total number of NN intervals (p = 0.049). However, no significant main effects of condition or condition × time interactions were detected for any outcome, indicating that temporal physiological responses did not differ significantly between beetroot juice, grapefruit juice, and their combination.ConclusionAcute time-dependent changes in haemodynamic and autonomic parameters were observed following juice ingestion in hypertensive adults, with no clear differential effects between interventions. These findings are hypothesis-generating and highlight the need for larger, placebo-controlled trials incorporating biochemical validation to clarify potential dietary influences on cardiovascular regulation.

BackgroundDietary quality is a critical determinant of reproductive health, yet little is known about how distinct dietary patterns and food processing affect fertility outcomes in the general population.AimTo examine the associations between ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence and self-reported fertility among American women of reproductive age.MethodsWe analyzed data from 2582 women aged 20-45 years participating in the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Fertility status was defined based on self-reported attempts to conceive for ≥12 months. Dietary data collected by two 24-h dietary recalls was used to classify UPFs according to the Nova classification and UPF intake was defined as % grams per day. MD adherence was assessed using a modified 8-point score. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations, adjusting for sociodemographic and health covariates, including obesity.SummaryThe mean UPF intake was 27.15% of daily intake (g/day) and the mean MD score was 3.35 out of 8. Women reporting infertility had significantly higher UPF intake and lower MD scores compared to fertile women. Higher UPF intake was significantly associated with lower odds of fertility in the fully adjusted model (OR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.75). MD adherence was initially associated with higher odds of fertility (OR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.33), though this association was no longer significant when adjusted for obesity. These findings underscore the need for dietary guidance targeting women of reproductive age.

Background: Choline is an essential nutrient involved in human health and development across the lifespan. The evidence on choline and its health effects has been growing; yet the findings are inconsistent.

Aim: We aimed to map the current evidence and identify gaps in knowledge.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review of the studies that examined relationships between choline exposure and any health outcomes. MEDLINE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for research involving humans and published between January 2000 and May 2025. Screening and data abstraction were performed in duplicate.

Results: A total of 117 primary studies were included. Most of the studies were conducted in North America (54%) and Europe (22%). Cardiometabolic disease accounted for the largest proportion (34%), followed by offspring neurodevelopment (19%) and liver conditions (12%). The studies were predominantly observational (prospective 60%, retrospective 12%, cross-sectional 20%). The evidence regarding potential benefits and harms was reported to be insufficient or equivocal for many health outcomes. Based largely on data from small randomized controlled trials in women with prenatal exposure to alcohol or infants with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder, high maternal choline intake/status was associated with improved neurocognition and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring.

Conclusion: Potential benefits of high maternal choline intake/status was indicated for neurodevelopment of the offspring; however, the evidence was insufficient or equivocal for most of the outcomes reviewed. A more comprehensive synthesis incorporating preclinical evidence from animal studies will improve the current understanding of choline and its health effects.

Background/ObjectivesDietary fructose intake has increased markedly in Western countries, leading to an increase of children with a normal weight suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of this study is to examine current knowledge of the association between fructose consumption and hepatic steatosis in non-obese, non-diabetic children and adolescents and raise awareness of a well-known disease in a new cohort of paediatric patients.MethodsThis was a narrative literature review with systematic search elements. A literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Scopus was conducted with the final search completed on 21 September 2024. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed clinical or translational studies (including relevant animal models) reporting hepatic outcomes in paediatric populations without obesity or diabetes.ResultsThirteen studies met inclusion criteria including experimental (n = 2) and observational (n = 4) studies and reviews (n = 4). Those studies demonstrated that high fructose intake promotes hepatic lipid accumulation via unregulated hepatic fructose metabolism, increased de novo lipogenesis, impaired VLDL secretion, oxidative stress and gut-derived inflammation.ConclusionFructose-associated hepatic steatosis is a clinically relevant phenomenon in children without obesity or metabolic syndrome without symptoms, so paediatricians need to screen their patients for it. This review highlights mechanistic distinctions between fructose and glucose metabolism, discusses the complexity of clinical trials, which explains the current gap in literature, and it underscores the role of misleading health marketing and opaque food labelling in exacerbating this risk. It emphasises the need for targeted preventive strategies and clearer food labelling to reduce hidden fructose exposure in youth.

BackgroundObesity is rising worldwide, including Japan. Seasonal "holiday weight gain," well documented in Western settings, may similarly contribute to long-term body mass index increases in Japan.AimTo estimate the prevalence and magnitude of winter weight gain in Japanese university students and identify lifestyle factors associated with prolonged weight retention.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 339 students (141 men, 198 women; mean age 19.4 years). Participants self-reported winter weight change, time needed to return to their usual pre-winter weight, diet, physical activity, sedentary time, alcohol use, and sleep. Sex-stratified binary logistic regression identified predictors of winter weight gain and prolonged weight retention (≤1 month vs. >1 month).ResultsWinter weight gain was reported by 51.1% of men and 68.2% of women; the mean (standard deviation) increases were 2.3 ± 1.2 and 2.0 ± 1.1 kg, respectively. Among participants who reported winter weight gain, 61.8% indicated that their weight returned to normal within 1 month, whereas 38.2% required more than 1 month. In men, prolonged retention was predicted only by longer sedentary time during holidays. In women, predictors of prolonged retention included more frequent alcohol consumption and shorter sleep; winter weight gain itself was associated with lower intake of instant/retort foods, less weekday sitting, and more frequent exercise.ConclusionsWinter weight gain is common among Japanese university students, particularly women, with sex-specific predictors of persistence. Reducing sedentary time in men and addressing alcohol use, taste preferences, and sleep in women may inform prevention.

BackgroundSeveral cardiometabolic (CM) risk-including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and lipid levels-track from childhood into adulthood, highlighting the need for early identification.AimQuantify long-term patterns in BMI and CM risk and develop prediction models incorporating perinatal, environmental and lifestyle exposures.MethodsThis ongoing study follows 2661 preadolescents (9-13 years) from the 2007-2009 Healthy Growth Study in Greece over a mean 15.6-year follow-up to examine weight and CM tracking into adulthood. Follow-up assessments include anthropometry, body composition, medical and family history, blood biomarkers, dietary intake, physical activity, sleep, eating behaviors, quality of life and sociodemographic variables. Weight status at baseline was classified using IOTF criteria. Adult BMI was classified using World Health Organization criteria. To date, 557 participants have completed follow-up (79.1% acceptance rate); 316 completed telephone interviews and 241 completed face-to-face evaluations (mean age 25.5 ± 0.9 years; BMI 25.1 ± 3.8 kg/m²). Preliminary findings indicate strong BMI tracking. Among children with normal weight at baseline, 68% remained with normal weight in adulthood, 31% transitioned to overweight and 1% to obesity. Among those with obesity at baseline, 46% remained with obesity and 54% transitioned to overweight; none transitioned to normal weight.SummaryBMI tracks strongly from preadolescence to early adulthood, with individuals with overweight or obesity in preadolescence retaining excess weight. As recruitment continues, this longitudinal cohort will elucidate determinants of weight status transitions and CM risk in early adulthood.

Creatine supplementation has long been proposed as a potentially beneficial adjunct to exercise for improving metabolic health, owing to its well-described effects on skeletal muscle energetics and glucose transport. In individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), mechanistic and preclinical studies suggest that creatine may enhance exercise-induced GLUT4 translocation, muscle glycogen storage, and insulin sensitivity. However, despite this biological plausibility, the available clinical evidence remains limited and inconsistent, precluding firm conclusions regarding its therapeutic value in T2D. This commentary critically examines the persistent translational gap between mechanistic promise and clinical outcomes, with particular emphasis on the methodological limitations of existing trials, safety considerations in a metabolically vulnerable population, and the need for contemporary, high-quality evidence. We argue that future research must move beyond short-term surrogate endpoints and incorporate longer follow-up, rigorous clinical outcomes, and integration with standard-of-care pharmacological therapies.