Nutrition Bulletin最新文献

This study aimed to examine the effects of two different intermittent fasting protocols, distinguished by macronutrient distribution (classical intermittent fasting versus high-fat, low-carbohydrate intermittent fasting), on body composition, eating behaviour, and diet satisfaction. The study was conducted at a single centre and included 44 adult women who consulted a dietitian. Participants were randomly assigned, in a single blind manner, to one of two groups. The diet interventions were applied for six weeks; all participants completed this period. Body composition, eating behaviour, and diet satisfaction were evaluated. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21.0. The dietary interventions resulted in significant improvements in body composition in both groups (p < 0.05); however, no significant differences were observed between the groups compared to baseline (p > 0.05). Participants' eating behaviour improved across all subscales in both groups (p < 0.05). Importantly, the classical diet group showed significantly greater improvements compared to baseline in cognitive restraint (adjusted post-intervention mean: 19.66 vs. 17.38; p = 0.006) and emotional eating (adjusted post-intervention mean: 9.66 vs. 12.97; p < 0.001) compared to the high-fat group. Satisfaction with the diet did not differ significantly between groups (classical: 41.0; high-fat: 34.0) (p = 0.063). This study demonstrated that classical and high-fat intermittent fasting models led to improvements in body composition and eating behaviour compared to baseline measurements. Further research with longer durations and diverse populations, including men, is needed to fully understand the impact of macronutrient distribution within intermittent fasting.

Pregnancy is a crucial period during which maternal nutrition, weight and lifestyle behaviours have a direct impact on both maternal and fetal health. This briefing paper describes dietary and lifestyle recommendations for women during the preconceptional period and throughout pregnancy, identifying specific factors that can be modified to improve health outcomes for both mother and child. It considers key areas such as nutrient intakes, supplementation, food safety and weight management, and highlights how dietary choices can help reduce the risk of common pregnancy-related conditions. Despite widespread recognition of the importance of a healthy, balanced diet, many women in the UK fall short of recommended intakes for important nutrients, including iron, folate, iodine and vitamin D. These shortfalls are particularly evident among nutritionally vulnerable groups, such as teenagers, women from lower-income households and those experiencing food insecurity; such groups may face barriers to accessing healthy foods and adhering to supplementation guidance. An increasing interest in plant-based diets presents an opportunity to consider a range of dietary patterns that support both maternal health and environmental sustainability. However, such shifts must be carefully managed to ensure adequate intake of nutrients commonly found in animal products, such as vitamin B12, iron, iodine, calcium and long-chain fatty acids. Rates of overweight and obesity among women of childbearing age remain high, reflecting trends in the general population and contributing to growing concern about maternal obesity. Maintaining a healthy weight before and during pregnancy plays a key role in supporting maternal and fetal wellbeing. Both insufficient and excessive weight gain are associated with elevated risks of complications. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders such as pre-eclampsia, preterm birth and a greater likelihood of long-term obesity in both mother and child. Supporting women to achieve and maintain a healthy weight in the periconceptional period and throughout pregnancy is therefore a public health priority. The antenatal period presents a unique window of opportunity to promote healthier and more sustainable eating patterns, as women are often highly motivated to improve their health and are in more regular contact with healthcare professionals at this time. Yet, research indicates that many women are unaware of dietary recommendations or receive inconsistent advice. To fully harness this opportunity, healthcare providers must be equipped with culturally appropriate, accessible and evidence-based resources to support perinatal conversations around diet, supplementation, physical activity and body weight. Providing appropriate support during the periconceptional and early pregnancy period is essential to addressing health inequalities, improving long-term

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults, primarily driven by hyperglycaemia in the retinal tissue. The role of antioxidant phytochemicals, particularly carotenoids, has gained attention due to their potential in mitigating these damaging processes. Carotenoids exhibit strong antioxidant properties by neutralising reactive oxygen species and reducing inflammation. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the molecular mechanisms by which these carotenoids exert protective effects on the retina, focusing on their role in combating oxidative stress, preserving retinal integrity and preventing neovascularization associated with DR. By highlighting key findings from recent studies, we underscore the therapeutic potential of carotenoids as natural interventions in preventing or slowing the progression of DR. Further research into their bioavailability, dosage and long-term effects may pave the way for carotenoid-based treatments in the clinical management of DR.

Scientific literature remains inconsistent on whether and to what extent 100% fruit juice should be recommended in the diet. Specifically, the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) do not specifically refer to free sugars in fruit juice, and further clarification to provide more explicit guidance may be needed in the 2025-2030 version. We compared evidence on whole fruit and 100% fruit juice regarding its nutrient composition, impact on hunger and satiety, and association with chronic health conditions while highlighting the potential public health perspectives and implications for healthy dietary recommendations. Processing and/or storing 100% fruit juice reduces its fibre, vitamins and other antioxidant contents and transforms intrinsic sugars in the whole fruit into free sugars. Fruit consumed in solid form provides greater satiety due to delayed gastric emptying and related physiological reactions. The synergistic effects of polyphenols and fibre in whole fruit benefit the gut microbiome by acting as prebiotics and producing short-chain fatty acids that reduce inflammation. Although the evidence surrounding 100% fruit juice on chronic conditions remains inconsistent, accumulating studies indicate a more consistently beneficial role of whole fruits. The research evidence reviewed highlights the need for the DGA to update the recommendations on fruit juice, including emphasising the health benefits of whole fruit over fruit juice, providing a clear guideline on the daily fruit juice allowance, defining "free sugars" in fruit juice, and clarifying the distinction between 100% fruit juice and fruit drinks.

Recently, there has been an emerging trend of purchasing foods and beverages via online food delivery systems but there is scarce evidence on the healthfulness of these items, particularly in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and nutrient profiles of foods and beverages available via online food delivery systems in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to March 2023 to identify foods and beverages available on the Grab Food and Foodpanda mobile applications. The healthfulness of selected foods and beverages was determined based on the Food Standards Agency Nutrient Profiling System. The present study included 3729 foods and 1882 beverages. Most of the foods were cereal-based dishes (37.4%), followed by cereals with protein-based dishes (12.8%) and meat or poultry-based dishes (12.0%), while most of the beverages were local handcrafted beverages (27.8%), followed by bubble milk tea (15.0%) and Western handcrafted beverages (14.6%). For protein dishes, deep-frying or battered-frying was the most common preparation method (33.8%) while most of the cereal-based dishes were stir-fried (76.7%). Out of 23 common foods, 15 foods (65%) were categorised as less healthy based on the nutrient profile score while 19 out of 24 (79%) common beverages were categorised as less healthy. The online food delivery systems feature predominantly local foods and beverages that are less healthy, potentially contributing to the development of an obesogenic environment.

Healthy midlife cognitive function (CF) reduces the risk of later cognitive decline. Emerging evidence suggests that chrono-nutrition may be associated with CF. This cross-sectional cohort study aimed to examine associations between chrono-nutrition behaviours and CF in adults aged 45-65 years living in Cyprus. Chrono-nutrition, including misalignments between actual and preferred eating times, Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence, sleep and physical activity were assessed using validated questionnaires. Computerised neurocognitive remote testing was used to derive standard normalised age-matched scores for composite memory, psychomotor speed, cognitive flexibility, complex attention, reaction time and neurocognitive index. Education, marital status, smoking, body mass index, chronic disease diagnosis and religious fasting were also assessed. Adjusted multivariate ordinal logistic regression was used to assess each chrono-nutrition variable against each cognitive outcome. Two-hundred and seven participants were analysed (58% female, median age: 52 years, 75.6% university graduates). Morning latency (duration of time between one's wake time and first eating event) misalignment was associated with higher neurocognitive index (OR eating later than preferred by 30-90 min: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.33-5.97 and OR eating later than preferred by > 90 min: 2.57; 95% CI: 1.34-4.88) and with higher cognitive flexibility (OR eating later than preferred by 30-90 min: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.07-4.64). An eating window longer than preferred by > 120 min was associated with a lower psychomotor speed (OR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.04-0.67). Evening eating between 20:00 and 22:59 versus before 20:00 was associated with higher complex attention (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.08-3.97). No evidence was found that eating alignment is associated with better CF. The study provides insights that some chrono-nutrition behaviours may be associated with CF with potential implications for improving CF in middle-aged adults.

In recent years, the growing popularity of vegan and vegetarian diets, along with the rising demand for plant-based foods, has led researchers to concentrate on examining the presence and effects of antinutrients. While there are existing literature reviews focusing on antinutritional compounds, particularly on their reduction, this review aims to provide a comprehensive description of antinutrients for producers, food scientists, professionals, legislators and consumers, emphasising the complexity of the subject and the necessity for diverse approaches while identifying aspects that still require further research. Antinutrients, including protease inhibitors, amylase inhibitors, phytic acid, lectins, saponins, tannins, cyanogenic glycosides, oxalic acid, polyphenols, goitrogens and pyrimidine glycosides, are described, encompassing various aspects such as their structural characteristics, analytical detection methods, distribution, physiological impacts and strategies for mitigation or elimination. Specifically, our review concentrates on assessing the presence of antinutrients in plant-based food products and the primary ingredients, categorised into five distinct groups, cereals, pseudocereals, pulses, seeds and nuts, which are commonly used in their production. Among these categories, legumes are identified as the richest source of anti-nutritional compounds, followed by cereal grains. However, certain pseudocereals, seeds and nuts also demonstrate high levels of specific antinutrients. While antinutrients are generally regarded as harmful to nutrient absorption, recent studies have revealed some potential health benefits associated with them. Therefore, further in vivo research is essential to elucidate the behaviour of antinutritional compounds within the human body. Additionally, there is a significant lack of formal regulations and guidelines regarding antinutrients, and food products currently do not feature labelling related to these compounds.

The global obesity epidemic remains a significant public health challenge, prompting various interventions to address its complexity. Among these, sugar reformulation in foods has gained traction as a potential strategy. While successful in sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), applying this approach to solid foods presents unique challenges and potential drawbacks. This article critically discusses the efficacy of sugar reformulation in solid foods as an obesity prevention strategy. The discussion explores the differential impacts of sugars from SSBs versus solid foods, technical constraints in reformulation and possible unintended outcomes. Additionally, the article evaluates the limitations of modelling studies that advocate for sugar reformulation, emphasising the importance of a balanced and evidence-based perspective on its role in addressing obesity.