Human Nutrition and Metabolism最新文献

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and dietary fatty acid intake among children from low-income households in Sabah, Malaysia.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to February 2023 in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau. A total of 182 children aged 5–12 years from low-income households (less than RM 4850 per month) were recruited. Anthropometric measurements included body weight, height, and body mass index. Dietary intakes were assessed using a 24-h diet recall and the fatty acid (FA) intakes were analyzed using a database with FA content for local foods.

Results

The mean age of children was 8.8 ± 1.8 years, with a majority being girls (53.8%) and of Bajau ethnicity (53.3%). Based on the anthropometric measurements, 16.5% of children were stunted, 7.1% were thin, and 21.4% were overweight or obese. Intakes of total fat, saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and trans fatty acids as a percentage of total energy were 29.3%, 12.3%, 12.6%, 4.0%, and 0.05%, respectively. 77.5% of children exceeded the recommendation for SFA and 63.2% of children did not meet the recommendation for n-3 PUFA. All children did not meet the recommendation for ⍺-linolenic. Children from Tawau had greater consumption of n-3 PUFA (p < 0.001) while children from Kota Kinabalu had greater intakes of total fat (p = 0.020), MUFA (p = 0.005), n-6 PUFA (p = 0.015), and trans fatty acid (p = 0.001). None of the dietary fatty acids was associated with anthropometric indices.

Conclusions

There was a high prevalence of stunting and overweight or obesity among children from low-income households in Sabah. Most of the children failed to meet the recommendations for SFA and n-3 PUFAs. These findings indicate a compelling need for the implementation of nutritional strategies to enhance adherence to dietary recommendations for fatty acids.

Background

COVID-19 adversely affects the nutritional characteristics of patients which may negatively impact their quality of life (QOL). The current study determined the association between the nutritional status of COVID-19 patients, its impact on their QOL, and the factors that affected patients' QOL.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al Madinah Al Munawarah in Saudi Arabia. Patients confirmed with COVID-19 infection by a nucleic acid-positive test and identified as acute severe or acute non-severely ill were enrolled. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHO-BREF QOL) was used to assess the patients' QOL, and nutritional status was assessed using the Malnutrition Screening Tool. Demographic characteristics, food intake, and body mass index (BMI) were also assessed. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 28.

Results

515 patients were enrolled, with 391 (76%) having acute non-severe symptoms. Patients (15%) were malnourished and suffered from loss of appetite (32%), low food intake (19.4%) and weight loss (16%). Most patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their health (80.2%), and 76.2% rated their QOL as good or very good. Loss of appetite negatively impacted the physical (p = 0.004, 95% CI 0.086, 0.458) and psychological (p = 0.021, 95% CI 0.034, 0.405) QOL domains. Also, decreased food intake affected patients' physical (p = 0.034, 95% CI 0.018, 0.458) QOL domain. Greater weight loss influenced the psychological (p = 0.005.95% CI 0.002, 0.049) QOL domain.

Conclusions

Poor nutritional status among COVID-19 patients was associated with adverse health outcomes and impaired QOL. Nutritional interventions should focus on patients with poor nutritional status or nutrition-related parameters such as weight loss, and loss of appetite which will help improve their QOL.

Background

Nasopharyngeal Cancer (NPC) patients experience a deficiency immune system due to a systemic inflammatory response. Anorexia due to inflammation and dysphagia, as well as the effects of therapy such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy in NPC, causes a decreased intake of macronutrients and micronutrients, including zinc. Long-term zinc deficiency affects both non-specific and specific immune components (lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils). However, research regarding zinc intake and lymphocyte counts is still rarely carried out, especially in NPC patients in Indonesia. The population of Indonesia has a different dietary intake pattern from the population of western countries. Therefore, researchers intend to examine zinc intake and lymphocyte counts in NPC patients at Dr. Kariadi Hospital in Semarang, Indonesia.

Aims

To determine the relationship between dietary zinc intake and Absolute Lymphocyte Counts (ALC) in NPC patients.

Methods

This study was a cross-sectional study involving NPC patients undergoing first to third cycles of chemotherapy and aged 18–59 years at Dr Kariadi Semarang in July 2020–October 2022. Patients with hypoalbuminemia, experienced metastases, had other comorbid diseases, and had undergone radiotherapy were excluded from this study. Dietary zinc intake was measured using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for the last 14 days and ALC was measured using a heme analyzer at Dr Kariadi Hospital Laboratory. Statistical analysis used the Pearson and Spearman correlation test to measure the strength of the correlation between dietary zinc intake and ALC, and a one sample T test to determine whether participants' zinc intake differed from the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).

Results

The sample of this research was 35 subjects [20 male subjects (57.1%) and 15 female subjects (42.1%)]. The average dietary zinc intake of NPC patients undergoing chemotherapy at Dr Kariadi Hospital was 5.18 ± 2.19 mg/day (5.83 ± 1.63 mg/day and 4.32 ± 2.58 mg/day for males and females, respectively). The results showed a positive correlation between dietary zinc intake and ALC in NPC patients (r = 0.41, p = 0.013; p < 0.05). ALC in NPC patients was influenced by zinc intake and protein intake (p < 0.05), but not energy intake, BMI, and age (p > 0.05). The zinc intake of men and women was significantly different compared to the RDA recommendation (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

There is a significant and positive correlation between dietary zinc intake and absolute lymphocyte counts in NPC patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) have been linked to women's reproductive health, though to a lesser extent, alteration in the production of SCFA and SCFA-producing bacteria has been associated significantly with pregnancy-related complications, unfavourable pregnancy outcomes, menstrual anomalies, and gynaecological cancer.

The female reproductive system is a delicate, intricate, hormone-dependent group of tissues required for the continuity of life and the species' survival. Reproductive health impacts the ovarian function to implantation and foetal development. Several environmental and physiological factors contribute to mammalian infertility concerns caused by a change in reproductive health status. Several lifestyle factors have been demonstrated to affect reproductive health, including age, body weight, smoking, alcohol consumption, work stress, exercise, diet, and nutrition. Nutrition influences puberty, the menstrual cycle, ovulation, conception, implantation and early foetal development. This review provides an overview of how intestinal derived SCFAs maintains female reproductive health summarizing the current knowledge and future perspectives. Microbial SCFAs improve human metabolism by interfering with, glucose homeostasis, appetite regulation and lipid metabolism. Also affect host immunity and intestinal barrier integrity via primary by inhibition of Histone deacetylases (HDAC) mechanism. Therefore, SCFAs exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, immunoregulatory, anti-diabetes, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, cardiovascular protective and neuroprotective properties.

This review highlights recent findings on SCFA and gynaecological pathologies such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, pregnancy complications, polycystic ovary syndrome, bacterial vaginosis, and endometriosis to describe current knowledge of the relationship between SCFA and reproductive health and disease in women.

Objective

To analyze the association between the dietary protein/energy ratio and percentages of dietary animal and plant protein and obesity in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Design

This was a cross-sectional study. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥25 kg/m². Data were collected for all study participants and stratified according to age and sex. Diet was assessed via a food frequency questionnaire.

Setting

26 clinics participating in the Japan Diabetes Clinical Data Management Study Group (JDDM) from December 2014 to December 2019.

Participants

1567 Japanese out patients with type 2 diabetes (63.1% men; mean age 62.3 ± 11.6 years).

Results

In all participants, multivariate analysis with adjustment by major confounders showed a significant inverse association in those in the highest quartile of the protein/energy ratio (mean 17.7%) with obesity (OR = 0.588, 95% CI = 0.435-0.794; p trend = 00.007), but after the addition of vegetable intake it became non-significant. In the age- and sex-stratified analysis, a high protein/energy ratio (mean 15.6%) was inversely associated with obesity in older women only (OR = 0.280, 95% CI = 0.123-0.638), which remained significant after adjustment of individual food groups correlated with protein. No association between percentages of dietary animal or plant protein and obesity was found.

Conclusions

In older women only, a higher dietary protein/energy ratio was associated with lower obesity after adjustment by confounders and individual food groups correlated with protein intake. Future longitudinal research that includes data on food groups as well as age- and sex-stratification of participants is recommended to further clarify this relationship.

Background

The reliance on ultra-processed foods (UPF) as a source of energy has increased over the last decade. Consumption of UPF is associated with increased calorie intake and increased risk for chronic disease. An intentional increase of a variety of non-ultra-processed plant foods may decrease UPF intake and reduce risk for chronic disease.

Methods

The objective of this study was to determine whether an intervention to increase in the number of varieties of non-ultra-processed plant foods consumed each week along with grocery reimbursement was associated with reduced intake of UPF and reduced risk of chronic disease. An 8-week dietary intervention with the intention for subjects (22 were recruited and started the study, while 19 subjects completed the study) to consume at least 30 varieties of non-ultra-processed plant foods per week was conducted. Subjects watched a weekly educational module, received recipes and grocery lists, and received reimbursement for non-ultra-processed plant foods that were purchased. Diet assessments were conducted by 24-h recall and 3-day diet records. Fasting plasma glucose, C-reactive protein, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and anthropomorphic measurements were assessed at four time points.

Results

The number of different types of non-ultra-processed plant foods consumed each week was significantly increased after the 8-week intervention compared to before (34.7 ± 10.8 vs 23.1 ± 12.1; p < 0.001). The number of ultra-processed foods consumed per day was significantly lower during the intervention compared to the control period (5.32 ± 1.65 vs 6.54 ± 2.04; p = 0.02). There were no significant changes to biochemical or anthropomorphic following the 8-week intervention.

Discussion

Educating individuals on the importance of the variety of plant foods intake along with reducing the financial barrier for purchasing plant foods may be an effective way to reduce reliance on ultra-processed foods. More research is needed to determine whether an increase in varieties of plant foods and reduction in ultra-processed food intake impacts risk for chronic disease.

A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been reported in Malaysian pregnant women, indicating that neonates at birth are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. Factors including low dietary vitamin D intake and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the vitamin D metabolism genes have been associated with this deficiency in the population. However, there was limited data available regarding the prevalence of neonatal vitamin D deficiency and the factors associated with it among neonates in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and explore the associations between maternal and neonatal gene polymorphisms, as well as non-genetic factors and neonatal vitamin D deficiency. A total of 217 mother-neonate dyads were recruited for this study. Data on skin type, maternal sun exposure, dietary intake, as well as maternal and neonatal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations were collected. Maternal and neonatal vitamin D Receptor (VDR) SNP (rs2228570) and Group-specific component (GC) SNPs (rs4588 and rs7041) genotypes were determined using high-resolution melting (HRM) and restriction fragment length polymorphism, respectively. The results showed that 60.4%, 71.4% and 95.4% of neonates had cord blood 25OHD levels below 25 nmol/L, 30 nmol/L and 50 nmol/L, respectively. After adjusting for the maternal vitamin D status, the maternal VDR rs2228570 GG genotype was significantly associated with neonatal vitamin D deficiency (25OHD<30 nmol/L) (aOR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.18–5.87, p = 0.018). Maternal vitamin D supplement intake was found to be a protective factor. However, maternal and neonatal vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) SNPs were not associated with neonatal vitamin D deficiency. The high prevalence of neonatal vitamin D deficiency reported in this study indicates the urgent need for the development and implementation of strategies to improve neonatal vitamin D status. The findings suggest that maternal supplementation may be an effective approach to enhance the vitamin D status of neonates.

The rapid and extensive transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Initially thought to be an acute illness, many patients have reported persistent and recurring symptoms even after the infectious period. This has given rise to a new epidemic known as "long-COVID" or post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease, which has significantly impacted the lives of millions of individuals globally. The symptoms of both COVID-19 vary from person to person, but they share similarities with other respiratory viruses, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, as well as adverse effects on metabolic and pulmonary health. Nutrition plays a crucial role in immune function and metabolic health, and therefore, it is believed to have an impact on reducing the risk or severity of symptoms for both COVID-19. However, despite the importance of nutrition in these physiological functions related to COVID-19, the exact role of nutrition in the onset or severity of COVID-19 infection is still not fully understood. This review aims to explore established and emerging nutrition approaches that may have a role in COVID-19, while emphasizing the significance of established nutrition and clinical practice guidelines as the primary resources for patients and healthcare practitioners.

Background

The global rise in obesity, particularly among black Africans in developing nations experiencing nutritional transitions, underscores the importance of exploring Overweight/Obesity Perception (OP) as a crucial factor in maintaining an optimal body weight. Incorrect body image perception may impede efforts to achieve the desired body weight, leading to adverse outcomes related to Cardiometabolic Diseases (CMD). This cross-sectional study investigated the interplay between overweight/obesity perception, actual body weight, and CMD risk in a cohort of healthy Ghanaian adults.

Methods

A total of 302 apparently healthy adults, aged 25–60 years, with Dagomba ancestry, were recruited from three communities. Participants were screened based on age, ancestry, history of communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), and use of antidiabetic, lipid-lowering, and antihypertensive drugs. Anthropometric assessments and blood sample collections for biochemical analysis were conducted. Body image perception was measured using the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale (SFRS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, correlation analysis, logistic regression, and multivariate analysis.

Results

Participants had a mean age of 38.28 ± 10.88, with 61.6% being women. While 47% accurately perceived their body weight, 53% had incorrect perceptions. Notably, 47.2% underestimated and 8.5% overestimated their weight status. Among overweight individuals, 33% underestimated and 9.4% overestimated their weight, whereas among the obese, 66.7% and 33.3% respectively had inaccurate perceptions. Gender, serum triglyceride levels, and waist circumference were significantly associated with weight perception. About 55% of overweight/obese participants and 62.1% with high waist circumference did not express a desire to lose weight. Multiple logistic regression revealed that both overweight (AOR = 6, 95% CI (1.8–20.2), p < 0.05) and obesity (AOR = 20.5, 95% CI (5–84.9), p < 0.05) significantly increased the odds of CMD.

Conclusion

The findings underscore the association between overweight/obesity and an elevated risk of CMD. This emphasizes the imperative for public health interventions aimed at promoting an ideal body weight and highlighting the impact of overweight/obesity on CMD risk factors.

Background & aims

Habitual dietary pattern has been shown to be a major modulator of systemic inflammation and is considered a modifiable risk factor for cardio-metabolic diseases (CMDs) and mental health disorders. We examined whether dietary-inflammation is associated with the multimorbidity of CMDs and mental health disorders in urbanizing-villages in southern India. We hypothesized that the participants with higher dietary-inflammation would have a higher burden of multimorbidity.

Materials & methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 5984 adults (53% male) participating in the Andhra Pradesh Children and Parents' Study. We assessed dietary-inflammation using dietary inflammatory index (DII®) based on intake of 27 micro- and macro-nutrients which were measured using a validated food-frequency-questionnaires. The CMDs and mental health disorders were assessed using standardized clinical procedures and validated questionnaires. ‘Multimorbidity’ was defined as a co-existence of one or more CMDs (hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction, heart failure, angina and stroke) and one or more mental health disorders (depression and anxiety). The association of multimorbidity with dietary-inflammation was examined using robust Poisson regression.

Results

The prevalence of multimorbidity was 3.5% and ∼75% of participants were consuming a pro-inflammatory diet (DII >0.0). As compared to the 1st DII-quartile (least dietary-inflammatory group), the adjusted prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval) for the presence of multimorbidity was 1.46(0.87, 2.46) for 2nd, 1.75(1.05, 2.89) for 3rd, and 1.77(1.06, 2.96) for 4th DII-quartile (p-trend = 0.021). There was no evidence of an interaction between DII and sex on multimorbidity.

Conclusions

Dietary-inflammation had a positive linear association with the multimorbidity, which suggest that even modest reduction in dietary-inflammation may reduce the multimorbidity burden.