Nutrition and health最新文献

Background: Iron is a trace mineral that plays a significant role in oxygen transport and energy production during exercise. In deficiency, iron can have a significant negative impact on sports performance. Due to its relative simplicity, supplementation is a common treatment to combat deficiency. However, there is a paucity of analyses combining supplementation with dietary education as a method of treatment. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a systematic iron intervention combining nutrition education and supplementation stages to combat low ferritin levels in collegiate runners. Methods: Twenty four distance runners (13 women; 11 men; 19.5 ± 0.8 years of age) were measured for serum ferritin, daily iron, calcium and vitamin C intake at the start of the fall semester and again after 100 days of supplementation. A dependent groups t-test was applied to delineate changes in Ferritin levels and iron, vitamin C and calcium intake. Alpha levels were maintained a priori at p < 0.05. Results: Ferritin levels averaged 40.0 ± 22.6 ng/mL in Fall and 33.7 ± 14.7 ng/mL in Spring. There were no statistical differences in ferritin levels from Fall to Spring (p = 0.074). Weekly Iron intake (# of foods) significantly increased from Fall (110.8 ± 43.1) to Spring (123.3 ± 43.9), (p = 0.028). There were no significant changes in Vitamin C or Calcium intake between time points (p = 0.441), (p = 0.901). Conclusion: We found no significant differences in serum ferritin measures but dietary intake of iron increased as a result of the intervention.

BackgroundThiamine deficiency is an important cause of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. It is especially common among women who follow customary dietary restrictions.AimTo estimate the prevalence of subclinical thiamine deficiency among lactating mothers following customary dietary restrictions and to compare it with age-matched controls.MethodA community-based cross-sectional study, conducted on healthy lactating mothers. Study subjects consisted of two groups namely "Exposure group" (mothers on customary dietary restrictions and "Control group" (mothers consuming more diverse diet). Relevant demographic and clinical information were noted. Thiamine status was checked by blood thiamine diphosphate (TDP) estimation using high-performance liquid chromatography. A TDP concentration below 90 nmol/L was considered as thiamine deficiency.ResultsExposure group mothers significantly belonged to lower socioeconomic class and had fewer years of formal education. Mean Maternal TDP level was lower in the Exposure group (148.5 ± 62.9 nmol/L) compared to the Control group (183.5 ± 76.1 nmol/L). 11.64% of mothers in the Exposure group and 3.5% of mothers in the Control group were found to be thiamine-deficient. There was a significant correlation between maternal and infant blood TDP levels.ConclusionWomen following customary dietary restrictions significantly belonged to lower socioeconomic class and had fewer years of formal education. The prevalence of subclinical thiamine deficiency was higher in the Exposure group mothers. These findings highlight the need for awareness campaigns to educate women of childbearing age on the importance of a diverse, balanced diet and thiamine supplementation during pregnancy and lactation.

The global prevalence of oxidative stress-related disorders is increasing; hence, understanding the dietary sources that are involved in maintaining high antioxidant levels gains great importance. This study aims to explore the relationship between adherence to the healthy eating index (HEI) and the alternative healthy eating index (AHEI) with an antioxidant profile of young women. Diet quality was assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire to calculate HEI and AHEI scores. The serum total oxidant/antioxidant status was evaluated by measuring ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance, and nitric oxide (NO) levels. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 155 women aged 18-24 years. While no significant associations were found between any parameters and adherence to AHEI recommendations, serum FRAP levels were significantly correlated with HEI scores (r = 0.297, P < 0.001). Higher serum FRAP was associated with greater reported consumption of fruit, dark green vegetables, total vegetables, and empty calories, as well as a lower intake score for polyunsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.05). Linear regression analysis confirmed a direct association between HEI scores and serum FRAP levels (β=3.03, P = 0.001). Overall compliance with a HEI diet was related to higher levels of antioxidant index in healthy young women.

Rising consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in India is a significant public health challenge, contributing to obesity, type 2 diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). SSB-attributable deaths exceed 10,000 annually. The associated economic burden is projected to reach 2.47% of India's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2060. This study evaluates the impact of taxation as a policy instrument to reduce SSB consumption in India. Data from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) 2022-23 household survey and Euromonitor retail sales data were used. SSB affordability was measured using the relative income price (RIP). A three-stage econometric model following Deaton's methodology was applied to estimate own price, cross-price and income elasticities using cross-sectional data. These estimates were used to simulate the effect of a uniform tax increase. Between 2015 and 2024, SSB affordability increased by 33%. The overall own-price elasticity was estimated at -0.8, with low-income households showing greater responsiveness (-0.97) than high-income groups (-0.77). Overall income elasticity was 0.48, rising to 0.59 for high-income households. Low-income households allocate a higher budget share (2.01%) to SSBs than high-income households (1.22%). Tax simulations suggest that a new 18.5% ad valorem excise tax could reduce consumption by ∼10% and increase annual tax revenue by 50%. A uniform 40% peak Goods and Services Tax (GST) had a smaller consumption impact. Findings support implementing excise taxes based on sugar content and a harmonized tax structure across SSBs. Evidence-informed fiscal policies are essential to mitigate NCD risks, as failure to act risks reinforcing harmful consumption patterns.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can be influenced by nutritional status and dietary habits. In particular, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, is increasingly being investigated in relation to disease severity and nutritional status. Aims: This case-control study, including 50 psoriatic patients and 40 healthy controls, aimed to examine the correlation between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and disease severity, nutritional status, and disease presence in patients with psoriasis. Methods: The clinical severity of psoriasis was assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and body composition was determined using bioelectrical impedance analysis. All participants' Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (PREDIMED) scores and 24-h food consumption records were evaluated. Results: The body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and fat mass (FM) values of psoriatic patients were found to be significantly higher than those of the healthy control group (p < 0.05). The PREDIMED score of psoriatic patients was found to be significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.001). A negative correlation was observed between the PREDIMED score and BW, FM, and HC (p < 0.05). PASI levels decreased as PREDIMED scores increased (r = -0.314, p = 0.048). According to logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for age and sex, the likelihood of being healthy was approximately 6.363 times higher in those with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p < 0.001). Conclusion: When psoriatic patients were compared with healthy controls, significant differences were observed in PREDIMED scores. Notably, greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with reduced disease severity, suggesting a potential mitigating effect even in the presence of obesity.

Dichotomous thinking may cause individuals to classify foods as "good" or "bad" by oversimplifying their thought processes. This study aims to examine the relationship between the Dichotomous Thinking Scale (DTS) and eating attitudes in pre-obese and obese adults, as well as to evaluate its impact on fat phobia. Participants completed a survey consisting of questions about their sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional habits, the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS), the Dichotomous Thinking in Eating Disorders Scale (DTEDS), the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), and a 3-day food consumption record (two weekdays and one weekend day). As the "Food" subfactor scores of the DTEDS increased, the "Diet" and "Oral Control" subfactor scores of the EAT-26 and the "Total EAT-26" scores also increased (p < 0.05). As the "General" subfactor scores of the DTEDS increased, the total scores of the FPS, the "Bulimia and Food Preoccupation" and "Oral Control" subfactor scores of the EAT-26, and the "Total EAT-26" scores also increased (p < 0.05). As the "Total DTEDS" scores increased, the "Diet," "Bulimia and Food Preoccupation," and "Oral Control" subfactor scores of the EAT-26 and the "Total EAT-26" scores also increased (p < 0.05). Dichotomous thinking has been found to be significantly associated with eating attitudes and fat phobia and increases eating attitudes and fat phobia. However, dichotomous thinking has no significant effect on the total scores of the EAT-26 and FPS.

BackgroundPolyphenols are widely occurring bioactive compounds in fruits and are extensively investigated for their potential health effects. The growing prominence of artificial intelligence tools in nutrition science necessitates evaluating their capacity to provide accurate biochemical data.AimThis analysis aims to assess the reliability of two models ChatGPT-4o mini (free version) and ChatGPT-4o (paid version) in predicting polyphenol compound concentrations and their potential use in nutritional research and health applications.MethodsSeven different berries were selected for the study, and their anthocyanins, flavonols, phenolic acids, lignans, and stilbenes were queried in three different sessions using both ChatGPT-4o mini (free version) and ChatGPT-4o (paid version). The responses were compared with those from Phenol-Explorer, and the evaluation was based on relative accuracy (%).ResultsNo significant difference in relative accuracy (%) was found between ChatGPT-4o mini (41.36 ± 34.74) and ChatGPT-4o (46.23 ± 34.01) models (p > 0.05; Cohen's d = -0.107). In ChatGPT-4o mini, the highest mean accuracy was observed for total polyphenols (68.01 ± 25.00%; significantly higher than flavonols, p < 0.01), followed by anthocyanins (58.95 ± 32.68%). In ChatGPT-4o, anthocyanins showed the highest accuracy (65.36 ± 38.17%; significantly higher than flavonols, p < 0.01, and stilbenes, p < 0.001) followed closely by total polyphenols (65.72 ± 20.93%). Accuracy for flavonols, phenolic acids, and stilbenes was lower than for other compounds.ConclusionThis study shows that ChatGPT-4o mini and ChatGPT-4o exhibit varying accuracy in predicting polyphenols, with higher accuracy for common compounds like polyphenols and anthocyanins, and lower accuracy for flavonols, phenolic acids, and stilbenes.

BackgroundHypertension is a major public health concern in Saudi Arabia, with poor medication adherence and inadequate self-care contributing to uncontrolled blood pressure and increased morbidity.AimThis study aimed to assess levels of medication adherence and self-care behaviors among hypertensive patients in Saudi Arabia and to explore how patient perceptions-behavior, motivation, and self-efficacy-affect adherence.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 408 hypertensive patients using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) and the Hypertension Self-Care Profile. Data were analyzed using SPSS v29.ResultsLow medication adherence was reported by 88.2% of participants. Females showed higher self-care perceptions, while males had higher adherence scores (P = 0.0088). Younger adults (18-29 years) had the lowest adherence and self-care scores. Significant negative correlations were found between MMAS scores and self-efficacy (r = -0.251).ConclusionPatient perceptions, particularly self-efficacy, are strongly associated with adherence. Culturally tailored behavioral interventions are needed to improve hypertension management outcomes.

BackgroundHow universities support medical students to attain balanced diets represents an important area to help students improve their physical and mental health, alongside their academic performance. Although dietary barriers have been studied in the general population, they have been minimally studied in medical students; a group expected to give dietary advice in their future career.MethodsNine semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourth- and fifth-year medical students at a London university. Participants were asked about their perceived dietary barriers, enablers and strategies to tackle barriers and promote enablers. Transcripts were thematically analysed.ResultsThree superordinate themes were derived from the data: proximity to food options and support network, expenditure of limited resources and prioritising health and knowledge. Key enablers were social eating and feeling well-nourished, while key barriers were inaccessibility, increased time and costs. Some influences were both enablers and barriers. For example, peer influence: positive in instances of good cooking skills, but negative in instances of pressuring to eat out regularly. Additionally, participants suggested both personal and university-based strategies. Some personal strategies included splitting food costs and preparation amongst the household, whereas some university strategies comprised improving the variety and convenience of healthy food on campus.ConclusionMoving forward, the student-suggested strategies have the potential to improve the operational aspect of university-based dietary support; for example, including formal dietary advice and guidance in induction lectures. Through having a greater focus on student diet and nutrition, universities may be able to better nurture academic success, physical and mental health.

BackgroundCameroon, Africa, scores as one of the highest for malnutrition worldwide, significantly affecting maternal and childhood health. In response, the Cameroonian government pledged in 2013 to support nationwide policies that promote and protect breastfeeding and address malnutrition. To meet these needs, the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services created the Nutrition Improvement Program (NIP) to provide nutrition counseling within their hospital system. The NIP trains nutrition counselors through a 3-month training and internship program.AimThis study explored the experiences of NIP trainees in Cameroon using reflective journaling.Methods39 participants documented their experiences during training through reflective journaling. Three researchers independently coded and analyzed the entries to identify common themes through triangulation.SummaryAnalysis of journals unveiled positive and negative experiences and highlighted seven main themes: feelings of fulfillment, self-evaluation and analysis, relationships with the NIP hospital system, their educational environment, resources, barriers to completing the training, and their overall perceptions towards their trainers. The journals unveiled a transformative mindset towards current and new exercises implemented into nutrition counselor training and revealed disparities and areas of opportunity to enhance nutrition counselors' practices. Trainees' reflections called for continued support of the NIP training and increased resources to support the ongoing battle of malnutrition.