Journal of Nutritional Science最新文献

Combating the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) in adolescents is a critical public health challenge in low-income countries like Ethiopia. However, past efforts have lacked focus and exhibited diverse governance strategies. Therefore, this study assesses the effect of selected double-duty interventions (DDIs) on DBM among adolescents in Central Ethiopia. The DBM status (thinness, normal, overweight/obesity) was determined using WHO AnthroPlus software. A two-arm parallel cluster randomised controlled trial was used among 708 adolescents (356 for the intervention group [IG] and 352 for the control group [CG]) from 13 October 2022 to 30 June 2023. The intervention's effect was analysed through difference-in-difference (DID) analysis and a multivariable multinomial generalised estimating equation (GEE) model with significance set at P < 0.05. The overall DBM prevalence decreased by nearly 7% (4.7% for thinness, 2.2% for overweight/obesity) in the DID analysis. After adjusting for possible confounders, the GEE model indicated that adolescents in the IG were 34% less likely to have higher DBM than those in the CG (AOR = 0.66, 95% CI [0.46, 0.94]). Additionally, the probability of DBM decreased by 59% at the end line compared to baseline measurements (AOR = 0.41, 95% CI [0.03, 0.92]). Adolescents in the category of time and IG interaction were 44% less likely to have increased DBM (AOR = 0.56, 95% [CI 0.02, 0.38]). Thus, this study underscores the effectiveness of selected DDIs in addressing DBM among adolescents using a health belief model. These results advocate for the integration of DDI strategies into existing nutrition guidelines, programmes, and policies. The trial was registered prospectively in ClinicalTrials.gov with registration number NCT05574842.

Spontaneous abortion (SA) is considered one of the most prevalent adverse outcomes of pregnancy. SA may occur due to genetic susceptibility and various maternal factors such as nutritional status. The aim of this study was to assess how dietary carotenoids and the FTO gene are related to SA. This case-control study included 192 women with a history of SA as the case group and 347 healthy women without history of SA as the control group. To evaluate carotenoid intake, a valid 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used. The FTO gene was genotyped for the presence of the rs9939609 polymorphism using the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain (ARMS-PCR). The results indicated a significant negative association between dietary intake of β-cryptoxanthin and SA in carriers of the TT genotype of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism after adjustment for age, BMI, physical activity, smoking, alcohol drinking, and calorie intake (β = -0.28, P = 0.02). No association was found between SA with dietary intake of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, and lycopene among carriers of different FTO genotypes. The FTO genotype may have an effect on the association between SA and carotenoid intake. Dietary intake of β-cryptoxanthin may act as a protective factor against SA only in carriers of the TT genotype of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism.

This study aimed to assess nutritional status and associated factors among adult tuberculosis patients in public health centres in Horro Guduru Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia, 2021. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 334 randomly selected adult TB patients at public health centres from May 7, 2021, to June 21, 2021. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. The nutritional status was measured by using body mass index (BMI). Data was entered into EpiData version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. A bivariate and multivariable multinomial logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with nutritional status. The prevalence of under and overnutrition was found to be 48.2% and 8.7%, respectively. Female TB patients (AOR = 3.48, 95% CI: (1.918-6.314)), patients who didn't receive dietary counselling (AOR = 2.51, 95% CI: (1.335-4.720)), TB patients on the initiation phase of treatment (AOR = 3.76, 95% CI: (2.072-6.852)), and meal frequency less than three times per day (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: (1.942-6.676)) were significantly associated with under nutrition. The prevalence of undernutrition was high in the study area. Being a female, being in the initiation phase of treatment, lack of dietary counselling, and having meal less than three per day were independently associated with undernutrition. Hence, regular nutritional assessments, dietary counselling, and nutritional support should be encouraged at the facility and community level.

This cross-sectional study examined the barriers and facilitators that influence vegetarian menu choices in a university cafeteria in Geneva, Switzerland. As a first step, an online survey developed by the authors based on the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) model was e-mailed to all university students and staff. In the second step, focus groups (FG) were held to complete the survey responses and identify what needed to be changed to promote the choice of the vegetarian menu in the cafeteria. Data from 304 participants collected through the survey was analysed. The main mentioned barriers were lack of vegetarian options, tastelessness and insufficient satiation. The facilitators that emerged from the survey were the price of the vegetarian menu for students and health and environmental benefits. Thirteen people participated in four FG sessions, which were analysed using thematic analysis. Five themes were identified: spontaneous menu selection, predefined menu selection, influence of opportunity on menu selection, influence of environmental sensitivity on menu selection, and threat to identity in menu selection. The choice of a vegetarian menu in a university cafeteria was mainly influenced by the attractiveness and taste of the plate. Future strategies to reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions should (a) ensure the quality and attractiveness of the vegetarian menu, especially to appeal to the more resistant, such as men and omnivores, and (b) inform consumers about the guarantee of balanced nutrient intake of the vegetarian menu offered in the cafeteria, and about health and environmental benefits.

Since lack of culture-specific foods in dietary assessment methods may bias reported dietary intake, we identified foods and dishes consumed by residents not born in Sweden and describe consequences for reported foods and nutrient intake using a culturally adapted dietary assessment method. Design consisted of cross-sectional data collection using (semi-)qualitative methods of dietary assessment (and national diet survey instrument RiksmatenFlex) with subsequent longitudinal data collection using quantitative methods for method comparison (December 2020-January 2023). Three community-based research groups were recruited that consisted of mothers born in Sweden, Syria/Iraq, and Somalia, with a median age of 34, 37, and 36 years, respectively. Women born in Syria/Iraq and Somalia who had lived in Sweden for approximately 10 years, reported 78 foods to be added to RiksmatenFlex. In a subsequent study phase, 69% of these foods were reported by around 90% of the ethnic minority groups and contributed to 17% of their reported energy intake. However, differences between the three study groups in median self-reported energy intake remained (Sweden 7.19 MJ, Syria/Iraq 5.54 MJ, and Somalia 5.69 MJ). The groups also showed differences in relative energy contribution from fats and carbohydrates, as well as differences in energy intake from food groups such as bread and sweet snacks. We conclude that a dietary assessment instrument containing culture-specific foods could not resolve group differences in reported energy intake, although these foods provided content validity and contributed 17% of energy intake. The dietary habits collected in this study serve to develop new dietary assessment instruments.

The objectives of this experiment were to determine the digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS) for eggs cooked in different forms and in traditional egg-bread or egg-hash brown combinations, and to test the hypothesis that DIAAS in eggs is greater than in breads or potatoes. Nine ileal cannulated gilts (average initial body weight: 51.1 ± 6.0 kg) were allotted to a 9 × 6 Youden square design with nine diets and six 7-day periods. Fried egg, boiled egg, scrambled egg, English muffin, Texas toast, and hash brown were included in the experiment. Six diets each contained one source of protein and three diets were combinations of fried eggs and English muffin, boiled eggs and Texas toast, or scrambled egg and hash brown. A nitrogen-free diet was also used and fed to all pigs in one period. The standardised ileal digestibility (SID) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) was calculated, and DIAAS was calculated for the individual ingredient and combined meals for children between 6 and 36 months and individuals older than 3 years. For both age groups, all cooked eggs had greater (P < 0.001) DIAAS compared with the other foods, and hash brown had greater (P < 0.001) DIAAS than both breads. All combined meals had DIAAS greater than 75 and there were no differences between measured and predicted DIAAS for the combined meals. In conclusion, eggs have 'excellent' protein quality for individuals older than 6 months and can compensate for the lower protein quality in plant-based foods, and DIAAS obtained from individual ingredients are additive in mixed meals.

Perinatal malnutrition is a critical cause of diseases in offspring. Based on the different rates of organ development, we hypothesised that malnutrition at varying early life stages would have a differential impact on cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older adults. This study sought to assess the long-term impact of exposure to the 1959-1961 Great Chinese Famine (GCF) during early developmental periods on risks of cardiovascular diseases in the late middle-aged offspring. A total 6, 662 individuals, born between 1958 and 1964, were divided into six groups according to the birth date. The generalised line model was used to control age and estimate differences with 95% confidence interval (CI) in blood pressure. Binary logistic regression was applied to evaluate the association between famine exposure and cardiovascular diseases. Compared to the unexposed late middle-aged persons, blood pressure was elevated in the entire gestation exposure group, regardless of postnatal exposure to GCF. Increased blood pressure was also found in the female offspring exposed to GCF during early and middle gestation. The early-childhood exposure was associated with the risk of bradycardia in the offspring. The risks of vertebral artery atherosclerosis were elevated in GCF famine-exposed groups except first trimester exposed group. The chronic influence of GCF in early life periods was specific to the developmental timing window, sexesand organs, suggesting an essential role of interactions among multiple factors and prenatal malnutrition in developmentally "programming" cardiovascular diseases.

Plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and their metabolites, branched-chain ketoacids (BCKA), are increased in insulin resistance. We previously showed that ketoisocaproic acid (KIC) suppressed insulin-stimulated glucose transport in L6 myotubes, especially in myotubes depleted of branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKD), the enzyme that decarboxylates BCKA. This suggests that upregulating BCKD activity might improve insulin sensitivity. We hypothesised that increasing BCAA catabolism would upregulate insulin-stimulated glucose transport and attenuate insulin resistance induced by BCKA. L6 myotubes were either depleted of BCKD kinase (BDK), the enzyme that inhibits BCKD activity, or treated with BT2, a BDK inhibitor. Myotubes were then treated with KIC (200 μM), leucine (150 μM), BCKA (200 μM), or BCAA (400 μM) and then treated with or without insulin (100 nM). BDK depletion/inhibition rescued the suppression of insulin-stimulated glucose transport by KIC/BCKA. This was consistent with the attenuation of IRS-1 (Ser612) and S6K1 (Thr389) phosphorylation but there was no effect on Akt (Ser473) phosphorylation. The effect of leucine or BCAA on these measures was not as pronounced and BT2 did not influence the effect. Induction of the mTORC1/IRS-1 (Ser612) axis abolished the attenuating effect of BT2 treatment on glucose transport in cells treated with KIC. Surprisingly, rapamycin co-treatment with BT2 and KIC further reduced glucose transport. Our data suggests that the suppression of insulin-stimulated glucose transport by KIC/BCKA in muscle is mediated by mTORC1/S6K1 signalling. This was attenuated by upregulating BCAA catabolic flux. Thus, interventions targeting BCAA metabolism may provide benefits against insulin resistance and its sequelae.

Obesity rates in Colombia are increasing, with variations among racial and ethnic groups. Studies on adult obesity often address socio-economic status, gender, and education but neglect racial-ethnic influences, notably in areas like Quibdó. Therefore, based on the theory of triadic influence, we conducted a qualitative study to identify biobehavioural, social, and cultural phenomena that, from the perspectives of the participants, influence the onset of obesity in Afro-Colombian and indigenous in Quibdó in 2022. The stratification variables were race, ethnicity (Afro-Colombian and Indigenous), and educational level (secondary or higher). Based on a literature review of qualitative studies that commonly explored food culture, nutritional status, and physical activity in analysing obesity within racial and ethnic populations, we incorporated these categories into our research methodology through semi-structured interviews. A framework analysis was used as a qualitative methodology to organise and analyse the collected data. We conducted 21 semi-structured interviews, 13 with the Afro-Colombian population and eight with indigenous inhabitants. The results indicate that cultural beliefs, forced displacement/migration, and alterations in public order have resulted in changes in food security, food culture, and physical activity practices, affecting the onset of obesity. Notably, distinctions in cultural beliefs regarding food culture and health as factors influencing obesity were observed between Afro-Colombians and the Indigenous populations; however, educational differences within the same racial ethnic group were not predominant. Findings indicate obesity is influenced by cultural, social, and biobehavioural factors, especially in regions with racial-ethnic communities facing complex conditions, necessitating targeted racial-ethnic public health policies.