Nutrition and health最新文献

BackgroundThe global medicine market is projected to reach US$417 billion by 2033, reflecting rising demand for natural healthcare alternatives. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine for stress management, but evidence supporting its efficacy remains inconsistent.AimThis systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated Ashwagandha's impact on cortisol levels (a biological stress marker) and perceived stress via Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) scores across randomized controlled trials (RCTs).MethodPRISMA guidelines were followed. Four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Scopus) were searched for studies from January 2012 to February 2024, yielding seven studies on cortisol and six on perceived stress (n = 488 participants). Inclusion criteria were RCTs longer than or equal to two weeks, oral doses ≥250 mg/day, and reporting cortisol and PSS outcomes. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool was used to assess the risk of bias.ResultsThere was a statistically significant reduction in cortisol levels (-1.16 µg/dL, 95% CI: -1.64 to -0.69, P < 0.001). No significant impact was observed on perceived stress (SMD = -0.355, 95% CI: -1.188 to 0.47; P = 0.40). Heterogeneity was moderate (I² = 50.9%). However, no statistically significant impact was observed on perceived stress (SMD = -0.355, 95% CI: -1.188 to 0.47; P-value = 0.40). The heterogeneity among studies was moderate (I² = 50.9%). Risk of bias was generally moderate; most studies reported adequate randomization, but some lacked allocation concealment. No publication bias was detected.ConclusionFindings support Ashwagandha's role in lowering cortisol, but gaps remain regarding long-term safety, dosing, and effectiveness across diverse populations. The disconnect between cortisol and PSS outcomes highlights the need for longer treatment duration and broader demographic inclusion. Longitudinal research is recommended to validate Ashwagandha as a holistic stress management tool.

Background: Estimating the actual impact of eating out on calorie intake poses challenges due to the potential endogeneity of eating out. Controlling for endogeneity is essential to obtain more precise estimates. Aim: This study estimates the effect of eating out on calorie intake, specifically focusing on dinner among the three daily meals. Methods: The endogenous treatment effect model is employed, utilizing restricted-access data from the 2017 to 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. To aid model identification, daily precipitation is used as an instrumental variable influencing the decision to eat dinner out. Results: Eating dinner out results in an additional intake of 388.39 Kcal compared to eating at home, whereas the model that does not control for the endogeneity estimates a 261 Kcal increase. The increase in calorie intake from eating dinner out varies significantly depending on individual characteristics. Conclusion: Eating out leads to a substantial amount of calorie intake. Managing the frequency of eating out at a reasonable level could play a crucial role in preventing obesity.

Background: The quality of life (QoL) associated nutritional symptoms among advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess the impact of nutrition-related symptoms (indicated by Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment-PG-SGA) to QoL among individuals diagnosed with advanced NSCLC, utilizing the EORTC QLQ-LC13 tool. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 170 patients diagnosed with NSCLC (TxNxM1) with periodically chemotherapy treatment at Hanoi Oncology hospital were invited to the study. The PG-SGA and EORTC QLQ-LC13 were assessed by a dietitian. Results: Poor nutritional status related with decrease in QoL (p < 0.05). Cough and short of breath moderate-positively correlated with PG-SGA score, while pain, take medicine for pain and trouble swallowing were fairly correlated. The symptoms of cough up blood, sore mouth or tongue, tingling and hair lost had poor correlation with PG-SGA score. Loss of appetite and anorexia had poor negative correlation with short of breath and pain in arm or shoulder. Conclusions: QoL declined in advance stage NSCLC malnutrition patients. Nutrition-related symptoms had poor to fair correlation with QoL categories, which suggests the insufficiency on solely addressing nutritional symptoms to enhance QoL in this group.

Background: NOVA is a food classification system that classifies foods according to the scope and purpose of food processing, rather than nutrients. Asthma is usually characterized by chronic inflammation and respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough, and variable expiratory airflow limitation. According to the NOVA food classification system, consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) can affect asthma symptoms. Aim: In this study, the relationship between UPF consumption and pulmonary function test (PFT) results of asthma patients in adults aged 18 to 65 was investigated using biochemical parameters. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study and, was conducted with 339 asthmatic participants diagnosed with asthma and receiving medical treatment. The participants' consumption of UPF was determined using a food frequency questionnaire. The evaluation of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) (L/s) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (L/s) in the respiratory function tests was based on the percentage of the measured and expected values. Results: Although no significant relationship was found between % FEV₁ expected value and UPF consumption (P > 0.05), it was concluded that % FVC expected and % FEV₁/FVC values decreased with increasing UPF consumption (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It has been concluded that consumption of UPF worsens respiratory function and asthma prognosis. Therefore, replacing UPF and beverage products with healthier foods or food processing methods will play an important role in maintaining health.

Background: A nutritious diet is crucial for good health and cognitive function, including working memory (WM). Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins found in whole foods have been linked to improved WM. Examining the impact of dietary habits on WM in women, who face hormonal and health-related challenges, is important. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of nutrition on WM in women with good and poor dietary habits. Methods: A total of 60 female participants in the age range of 20-30 years were included in the study. Participants were divided according to dietary habits into two groups of 30 each: group 1 with good and group 2 with poor food habits. This categorization was based on their scores on Adolescent Food Habits Checklist (AFHC). Auditory WM was evaluated across multiple tasks-forward digit span, backward digit span, ascending and descending digit span, 3n running span, and 3n-back digit to all participants. Results: Results of Mann-Whitney U test showed that women with good food habits had significantly better backward digit span (/Z/ = 0.009, p < 0.05, Re = 0.011) and descending scores (/Z/ = 0.032, p < 0.05, Re = 0.004) compared to those with poor food habits. No correlation was found between the AFHC scores and the scores on all WM tests (p > 0.05), except the backward span (p = 0.002). These results suggest that better nutritional intake might enhance performance in these memory-related tasks. Conclusion: Nutritional intake differentially affects WM in women, with those having good dietary habits performing better in tasks requiring sustained memory as inferred from their superior performance on backward and descending span tasks. This highlights the potential role of nutrition in shaping cognitive abilities. However, the WM does not correlate with the AFHC scores, except on backward memory span.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for leading causes of death. Aim: This study investigated the associations of obesity with demographic and lifestyle factors among adults aged 18-64 in Hong Kong. Methods: The study uses data (n = 24,855) from the government online database. It uses T-tests to compare mean values for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and weight-to-height ratio obese; analysis of variance for not-obese, BMI-obese-only, central-obese, and BMI + central-obese; Pearson chi-square tests for categorical variables; and multinomial logistic regression to obtain the odd ratios. It uses IBM SPSS version 26 to conduct all analyses, and at a 95% confidence level. Results: The analyses show that the risks of central-obese, and BMI + central-obese increase by 4%, and 4%/year of age, respectively. Females have 60%, 38%, and 60% lower risks of BMI-obese-only, central-obese, and BMI + central-obese, respectively, and people with tertiary education have 28%, 20%, and 20% lower risks, respectively. Employed people have a 40% higher risk of BMI-obese-only when compared with the unemployed; students have a 46% lower risk of BMI + central-obese and home-makers have a 38% higher risk. The risk of central-obese decreases by 14%/10 min/day of moderate physical activity, but could be different among females, and vigorous physical activity yielded mixed results. The risk of BMI + central-obese decreases by 9%/day/week of vegetable intake. Conclusions: Obesity is associated with multiple demographic and lifestyle factors. Keep doing vigorous and moderate physical activity but state alert to obesity risk factors, and frequent vegetable intake are recommended. Lifelong learning and continuing education could be an effective strategy to combat obesity.

BackgroundMetabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, is a growing concern globally. In Saudi Arabia, lifestyle factors such as physical activity and dietary patterns play a significant role in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.Study PurposeThis study aims to explore the relationship between physical activity levels, dietary patterns, and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adults in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using purposive and convenience sampling techniques. A total of 468 participants completed questionnaires assessing their physical activity levels and dietary patterns. Metabolic syndrome was determined based on clinical measurements of waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and lipid levels.ResultsThe analysis revealed a significant association between lower physical activity levels and poor dietary patterns with higher prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome. The analysis revealed that participants with low physical activity levels had a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (p < 0.01). Similarly, those with unhealthy dietary patterns (high in saturated fats and sugars) showed a metabolic syndrome risk (p < 0.01), compared to those with healthy dietary patterns.ConclusionThe findings underscore the critical role of physical activity and dietary patterns in the development of metabolic syndrome in Saudi Arabia. Public health interventions targeting lifestyle modifications could be essential in mitigating metabolic syndrome and improving overall health.

Background: Engel's biopsychosocial model has long advanced our understanding of how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health and illness. However, its exclusion of ecological dimensions omits food studies and food systems from its analyses, thereby limiting the scope and efficacy of research, restricting communication, and preventing effective implementation of policy into practice. Aim: Using an expert-informed grounded theory approach, we propose developing an eco-biopsychosocial framework that includes the ecological context in which biological, psychological, and social factors operate. In this article, we report findings from expert interviews in which our objective was to explore the benefits, limitations, and opportunities associated with current biopsychosocial modeling. Methods: Using purposive sampling, we conducted interviews with leaders at community food organizations, healthcare professionals, researchers, and educators. Results: We analyzed interviews using naturalistic qualitative data analysis and identified themes related to the benefits of biopsychosocial framing and the strengths of current biopsychosocial frameworks. We also identified four thematic dimensions along which current models reveal significant deficits: (1) social inequities as systemic root causes of illness; (2) agency and ability as drivers of engagement in the food system; (3) traditional knowledge and historical connections to food and land as conveyors of agency; and (4) human-nature nonduality as a guide to patient and community care. Conclusion: Incorporating an eco-dimension into the model would integrate, more effectively, food studies into research, program design, and clinical practice. Future work will explore how this eco-biopsychosocial model can reduce current practical gaps in recognizing and responding to food system effects.

Study purposethis study aims to investigate the extent to which ChatGPT enhances medical educators' pedagogical practices, fosters reflective teaching, and contributes to their ongoing learning and growth.Methodsthis cross-sectional survey study assessed ChatGPT's efficacy in contributing to professional development among medical educators. Utilizing purposive and convenience sampling, a questionnaire was administered to 309 medical educators. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and ANOVA, were conducted to evaluate perceptions of ChatGPT's effectiveness, considering demographic factors and impairment types.Resultsresource recommendations received the highest mean score (4.08), while continuing education had the lowest (3.62). T-tests showed no significant gender differences (p > .05), while ANOVA indicated significant variances across job roles (p < .0001) and age groups (p < .0001). Lecturers consistently rated ChatGPT's support highest, followed by assistant professors and associate professors, with professors providing lower ratings.ConclusionChatGPT's efficacy in providing personalized feedback, resource recommendations, pedagogical guidance, and other forms of support. However, addressing challenges such as ethical considerations and ensuring accuracy remains imperative for its effective integration into educational contexts.

Background: Despite its omnipresence, paediatric pain remains poorly understood and documented, especially in low-income countries. Such pain can be a symptom of long-term subclinical conditions such as systemic chronic inflammation (SCI). The latter can be related to malnutrition. Aim: To explore a potential association between paediatric pain and malnutrition in low-income countries. Methods: Narrative review, including a literature search in the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus databases (update 24 March 2025). The search query comprised controlled terminology and free text words relating to 'Malnutrition', 'Pain', 'SCI' and 'Paediatric'. Results: To comprehend the complex relation between malnutrition and paediatric pain, associations between (1a) malnutrition, and nociceptive brain development, (1b) malnutrition, the gut microbiome and SCI, and (2) SCI and pain were explored. (1a) Early noxious exposure (e.g. malnutrition-related SCI) can cause long-term alterations in pain perception, brain function and structures. The consequences of malnutrition on the nociceptive brain depend on the life-cycle. (1b) Moderate acute malnutrition causes chronic inflammation and exaggerated inflammatory responses. Such responses could indicate hyper-inflammatory phenotypes. (2) Systemic-induced inflammation causes a widespread increase in musculoskeletal pain sensitivity. Conclusion: Malnutrition could contribute to the development of a nociceptive brain and SCI. Malnutrition-related SCI could induce changes in pain perception/thresholds, and predispose to developing chronic pain. If a relation between malnutrition and SCI predisposes children to develop pain, the prevailing biophysical approach needs revision. A multidimensional interdisciplinary approach seems more relevant. Such approach includes social, cognitive, socioeconomic, lifestyle, nutritional (e.g. integrating nutritional and microbiome-targeted interventions) and environmental dimensions.