Search Results (49)

Diet-related diseases and mortalities are assuming epidemic proportions globally. It is more worrisome in the Global South, especially in Africa, where the healthcare system is not resilient to the public health burden. There is a growing effort around the world to foster urban food system policies that would checkmate the failing health of the public and ensure improved quality of life. However, these efforts seem non-existent in many African regions. Therefore, there is a need for heightened efforts in these areas to address the food system and ensure a global healthy society. This study identified Nnewi, Nigeria, in sub-Saharan Africa, a typical urban area in Nigeria, and analyzed the public health challenges attributed to the non-existent food system policy and poor nutritional practices. The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact model, which has been successfully implemented in many cities, was adopted to propose a sustainable food system policy for Nnewi. Key policies proposed include autonomous local government power, government-assisted programs, clean and sustainable amenities, agricultural reforms, nutrition education, and reductions in food wastage to achieve a circular economy. An evaluation tool for implementing the food system policy was also developed. Overall, implementing the food system policies proposed herein would improve the quality of life of Nnewi residents. Other urban areas could also adopt similar food system policies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of a healthy and resilient global society. Full article

Oxidative stress is thought to be one of the common mechanisms for several neonatal diseases in premature infants. Moreover, fat-soluble antioxidant vitamins, i.e., retinol and α-tocopherol, have been found to be low in preterm neonates; however, data are limited. The aim of this was to assess the circulating α-tocopherol and retinol concentrations in preterm infants at birth and investigate if they are related to gestational age. Retinol and α-tocopherol were measured on the first day after birth in 30 preterm neonates with HPLC. Means ± SD of serum retinol and α-tocopherol were 392.0 ± 162.9 μg/L and 6.83 ± 3.02 mg/L, respectively. In total, 73% of infants had a very low birth weight (<1500 g) and 23.3% were small for gestational age (SGA). Moreover, 10% of neonates had a retinol deficiency and 20% had an α-tocopherol deficiency. The retinol concentration was lower in SGA infants compared to appropriate for gestational age ones (340.85 ± 75.89 vs. 407.60 ± 179.83 μg/L, correspondingly p = 0.030). Retinol was linearly related to gestational age (Pearson’s rho = 0.84, p < 0.001) but the association did not remain significant after an adjustment for birth weight (partial rho = 0.193, p = 0.316). α-tocopherol was nonlinearly associated with gestational age (Spearman’s rho = 0.470, p = 0.044). The assessment of the vitamin status and potential deficiency in neonates is crucial in order to appropriately support the nutritional needs of newborns. Full article

Gluten-free products present huge advantages for individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. The most influential strategy to develop a product comparable to wheat-containing gluten products is to promote its nutritional and sensorial attributes. Recently, rice flour and teosinte flour were used to develop gluten-free bread. As a result, this work aimed to compare the physical/technological attributes of bread made with rice flour and teosinte flour with corn fiber fortification and examine consumer acceptance and purchase intent. An extreme vertices mixture design decided that a teosinte flour (43.4%), high protein white rice flour (55%), and high protein brown rice flour (1.6%) ratio of gluten-free flour mixture for bread was best based on the sensory attributes utilized for the desirability function methodology. After optimizing the gluten-free flour mixture, the bread was fortified with corn fiber under 1.7 g and 3.8 g per serving, and it was evaluated to examine its physical/technological attributes, consumer perception, liking, emotions, and purchase intent. Incorporating fiber into gluten-free bread impacted the color and texture, giving lighter and yellower colors with a firmer texture. Likewise, concerning health benefit claims, gluten-free bread with fiber claims only improves the purchase intent and overall liking of bread containing 1.7 g per serving of fiber. The flavor attribute was the main driver for consumers’ purchase decisions. This product could be beneficial for consumers who are seeking fiber in their diet. Full article

Healthy dietary patterns can play a major role in preventing chronic diseases. Improving nutrition-related knowledge in young individuals is considered a promising approach to adopting healthy dietary behaviors, thus improving outcomes later in life. However, healthy eating habits in college students may prove challenging to acquire and maintain. This cross-sectional pilot study aimed to investigate the relationship between nutrition knowledge and its effect on dietary factors, body weight, and body composition in female college students in Turkey. Second- and third-year female college nutrition students (NS), (n = 85) and corresponding non-nutrition/non-health sciences students (NNS) (n = 80), aged 20–22 years old, were evaluated using a validated nutrition knowledge questionnaire, 24 h recalls, anthropometry, and body composition analysis using bioelectrical impedance during the 2015–2016 academic year. The findings revealed that nutrition knowledge was positively associated with increased intake of water, fruits and vegetables, grains, and fiber, whereas total carbohydrate intake exhibited an inverse relationship with nutrition knowledge. Moreover, protein and lipid intake, while not significant, appeared to show higher and lower values, respectively, for the NS participants compared to NNS, revealing a healthier trend for more nutrition-knowledgeable students, which was similar to the finding of a marginally better body composition profile in nutrition-knowledgeable students. As young adulthood is critical for the development of dietary habits, demonstrating the effectiveness of nutrition education is important as a potential tool for public health in terms of improving the risk of chronic diseases. Full article

Systematic and random errors based on self-reported diet may bias estimates of dietary intake. The objective of this pilot study was to describe errors in self-reported dietary intake by comparing 24 h dietary recalls to provided menu items in a controlled feeding study. This feeding study was a parallel randomized block design consisting of a standard diet (STD; 15% protein, 50% carbohydrate, 35% fat) followed by either a high-fat (HF; 15% protein, 25% carbohydrate, 60% fat) or a high-carbohydrate (HC; 15% protein, 75% carbohydrate, 10% fat) diet. During the intervention, participants reported dietary intake in 24 h recalls. Participants included 12 males (seven HC, five HF) and 12 females (six HC, six HF). The Nutrition Data System for Research was utilized to quantify energy, macronutrients, and serving size of food groups. Statistical analyses assessed differences in 24 h dietary recalls vs. provided menu items, considering intervention type (STD vs. HF vs. HC) (Student’s t-test). Caloric intake was consistent between self-reported intake and provided meals. Participants in the HF diet underreported energy-adjusted dietary fat and participants in the HC diet underreported energy-adjusted dietary carbohydrates. Energy-adjusted protein intake was overreported in each dietary intervention, specifically overreporting beef and poultry. Classifying misreported dietary components can lead to strategies to mitigate self-report errors for accurate dietary assessment. Full article

Lifelong learning has been integral to advancement of the nutrition and dietetics profession and its practitioners. Both the United States (US) Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy) advocate for continuous skill development and professional growth. Responding to evolving environmental trends and diverse practice perspectives, the CDR joined the Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education organization in 2020, and the CDR is transforming its own continuing professional education (CPE) requirements and prior-approval program. This paper presents a historical perspective and a current state narrative review, chronicling past and recent developments in nutrition and dietetics CPE in the US, including opportunities for reflective learning and interprofessional continuing education (IPCE). Also explored are the establishment and expansion of the Joint Accreditation organization and its standards, as well as applicable case examples. Additionally, this paper outlines the CDR and the Academy’s strategies for advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) within the profession and identifies how CPE advancements may facilitate accessible and equitable CPE for an increasingly diverse membership of practitioners. Nutrition and dietetics professionals stand to benefit from a more comprehensive understanding of changes in CPE and the opportunities they may bring to the future of the profession. Full article

Background: Researchers have established that the preterm neonate is born with an immature gastrointestinal tract. The preterm neonate is thus susceptible to various complications often seen in the neonatal intensive care unit, e.g., feeding intolerances, necrotizing enterocolitis, and hospital-acquired bloodstream infections. These complications can be life-threatening, and if survived, can have an unfavorable effect on the neonate’s growth and development. Aim: The aims of this narrative review article were to provide an in-depth understanding of the various factors contributing to the development of the preterm neonatal microbiome. Further, we reviewed gastrointestinal microbiome dysbiosis and its potential role in the development of feeding intolerances, necrotizing enterocolitis, and hospital-acquired bloodstream infections. Lastly, we described the potential role of probiotics in this vulnerable population. Methods: A PubMed database search was conducted identifying articles that describe the development and function of the neonatal microbiome, the role of gastrointestinal dysbiosis, and the development of neonatal complications as well as the role of probiotics in gastrointestinal dysbiosis. Results: Various maternal, neonatal, and environmental factors play a role in the development of gastrointestinal dysbiosis in the preterm neonate. This can lead to feeding intolerances, necrotizing enterocolitis, and hospital-acquired bloodstream infections. Discussion: The pathogenesis of the development of short-term complications in the preterm neonate can be linked to the immaturity of the host immune system as well as alterations seen in the intestinal microbiome. There is a growing body of evidence that probiotics can play a role in preventing dysbiosis and thus complications observed in the preterm neonate. However, the optimal combination of probiotic strains and dosage still needs to be identified. Full article

Strenuous exercise can be associated with “Exercise Induced Gastrointestinal Syndrome” (Ex-GIS), a clinical condition characterized by a series of gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances that may impact the physical and psychological performance of athletes. The pathophysiology comprises multi-factorial interactions between the GI tract and the circulatory, immune, enteric, and central nervous systems. There is considerable evidence for increases in the indices of intestinal damage, permeability, and endotoxemia associated with impaired gastric emptying, slowing of small intestinal transit, and malabsorption of nutrients. Heat stress and racing mode seem to exacerbate these GI disturbances. GI symptomatology that derives from strenuous exercise is similar to that of IBS and other GI functional disorders defined in the Rome IV Criteria. To manage Ex-GIS, the exercise modality, state of dehydration, environmental temperature, concomitant therapies, and self-managed diet should be evaluated, and if risk elements are present, an attempt should be made to modify them. Multiple strategies can be successively adopted to manage Ex-GIS. Nutritional and behavioral interventions appear to be the principal ones to avoid symptoms during the exercise. The aim of this review will be to explore the pathophysiology, clinical aspect, and current literature on behavioral and nutritional strategies to manage Ex-GIS, regarding a gluten-free diet and low-fermentable oligo-, di-, and mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet. Full article

In the German beverage market, a shift in consumption has become apparent in recent decades: away from alcoholic beverages and towards non-alcoholic alternatives. This indicates a tradeoff between two important and nutritionally relevant substances: alcohol and sugar. This review, therefore, addresses the question of the significance of these developments to the German wine industry, where non-alcoholic wines and sparkling wines are becoming increasingly important. The production of these products is accompanied by a reduction in alcohol content with a simultaneous increase in sugar. Furthermore, these products could also become the focus of health policy efforts when it comes to accusations of possible “alibi marketing”. Here, parallels with the handling of tobacco products become clear, while the tradeoff between alcohol and sugar recedes into the background. Full article

The aim of this paper is to report on the differences in clinical and service engagement outcomes of patients attending the paediatric dietetic outpatient service at a major metropolitan hospital before the outbreak of the coronavirus (using face-to-face care) and during the pandemic (using telehealth). This paper also reports on learning lessons from the rapid implementation of telehealth in this service. This study collected pre- and post-coronavirus pandemic data from 44 paediatric patients. Data on outcomes pre- and post-implementation were analysed. There were no statistically significant differences between pre- and post-coronavirus data for growth (p = 0.92), adherence to dietetic recommendations (p = 0.08) or attendance rate (p = 1.00). This study also found a low uptake of virtual telehealth, technical issues and suboptimal anthropometric data collection associated with this modality of care. Telehealth was not associated with a change in clinical and service engagement outcomes. Thus, telehealth service delivery is not inferior to usual face–face dietetic care and has the potential to be a useful adjunct to usual nutrition care for paediatric health service users after the coronavirus pandemic. Full article

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide. This disease often leads to poor health outcomes, such as neuropathy and diabetic foot ulcers, and increased risk for comorbidities such as cardiovascular complications and renal disease. Lifestyle modifications including diet and physical activity interventions are often explored as prevention and management strategies for T2DM. It is well established that fruits are a rich source of fiber and a variety of phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds that can help optimize human health. Unfortunately, many experts associate the consumption of fruit with a moderate to high glycemic index (GI), which leads to a spike in blood glucose and eventually elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The purpose of this comprehensive review is to outline the current clinical literature on the relationship between fruit consumption and various indices of glucose metabolism. A variety of fruits have been clinically studied to determine this relationship, namely in the fresh form (e.g., berries, apples, watermelon, cherries, mangoes), dried fruits (raisins and dates), and juices (derived from cranberry, orange, grape, cherry, and pomegranate). Overall, intake of fruits and fruit-derived products is beneficial for healthy subjects and subjects with T2DM regarding their impact on glucose metabolism and other cardiometabolic markers (e.g., inflammatory responses, lipid profiles). Nonetheless, it is more advisable for diabetic patients to consume fresh or dried fruits rather than fruit-derived products. A special consideration needs to be attributed to both the amount of fruit intake with regards to their respective GI and glycemic load (GL), and when these fruits are consumed. Trials with more a comprehensive design and specific outcomes are required to reveal the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of fruit consumption on the T2DM population particularly. Full article

Cocoa beverage and dark chocolate are important dietary sources of polyphenol and have been hypothesised to improve the lipid profile. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of cocoa beverage and dark chocolate intake on lipid profile in individuals living with normal and elevated LDL cholesterol. The question on whether cocoa beverage and chocolate differentially modify the lipid profile was also explored. A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed and Cochrane Library on 26 February 2022 following the PRISMA guideline. Cocoa beverage and chocolate consumption had no significant effect on circulating concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (p > 0.05, all), but favourably and significantly increased circulating concentration of HDL cholesterol by 0.05 (95% CI [0.02, 0.09]) mmol/L (p = 0.002). Changes in lipid profile were similar when comparing populations with normal vs. elevated LDL cholesterol (p > 0.05, all). When considering the food matrix, cocoa beverage intake significantly increased HDL cholesterol by 0.11 (95% CI [0.06, 0.17]) mmol/L (p < 0.001), but the improvement in HDL cholesterol was not significant when chocolate (p = 0.10) or a combination of cocoa beverage and chocolate (p = 0.19) (subgroup differences, p = 0.03) was administered. Cocoa consumption could be recommended as part of a healthy diet in the general population with normal and elevated LDL cholesterol. Full article

Aim: To evaluate the nutritional adequacy of the hospital haemodialysis menu, quantify the dietary intake of hospitalised haemodialysis patients and explore patient perceptions of the menu. Methods: The menu analysis compared the default menu to reference standards using a one sample t-test via SPSS. Eight hospitalised haemodialysis patients were purposively interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify the dominant themes. The participant’s actual dietary intake was calculated and compared to individual nutrients using evidence-based guidelines. Results: Compared to the reference standards, the default inpatient haemodialysis menu did not provide adequate energy (p < 0.001, mean = 8767 kJ/day ± 362), sodium (p < 0.001, mean = 72 mmol/day ± 9), potassium (p < 0.001, mean = 64 mmol/day ± 4), vitamin C (p ≤ 0.001, mean = 33 mg/day ± 10) and fibre (p < 0.001, mean = 26 g/day ± 3). Inadequate intake of energy and protein occurred in half of the participants. Passive acceptance of the menu, environmental and cultural considerations contributed to missed food opportunities impacting the patient experience and limited intake. Conclusions: The profile of the current default inpatient haemodialysis menu impacts the dietary intake and the experience of haemodialysis inpatients. It is recommended that the default menu is optimised in line with evidence-based guidelines for inpatients. Full article

This study shows the effect of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids via perilla oil intake on gut microbiota and constipation. Eight sedentary females participated in a nonrandomized placebo-controlled pilot study consisting of eight-week perilla oil (OIL) and placebo (PLA) intervention phases. There was a 10-month washout period between phases. All participants received 9 g of perilla oil-containing jelly in the OIL phase, and a placebo jelly in the PLA phase. Gut microbiota, α-diversity, and constipation scores were measured pre- and post-intervention in both phases. The α-diversity, an important indicator of gut microbiota diversity, was significantly increased post-intervention (4.5 ± 0.1) compared to pre-intervention (3.8 ± 0.3) in the OIL only (p = 0.021). Notably, the level of α-diversity was maintained even after the washout period of 10 months. Butyrate-producing bacteria, Lachnospiraceae (%), did not change in the OIL but were significantly reduced post-intervention (15.1 ± 4.8) compared to pre-intervention (20.1 ± 7.0) in the PLA (p = 0.040). In addition, the constipation scores were significantly or tended to be reduced during the OIL phase only (p < 0.05, p < 0.1). In conclusion, an eight-week perilla oil supplementation may enhance and establish the diversity of gut microbiota, which may relieve constipation. Full article

The beneficial effects of a Mediterranean diet are due to the numerous active compounds in the food and, particularly, the high concentration of compounds with synergistically acting antioxidant properties. Resveratrol, a stilbenoid nonflavonoid phenol, is an antioxidant that is naturally produced by numerous plants as a defensive agent in response to attacks from pathogens, such as bacteria and fungi. Resveratrol has several effects on human health, including on the lipid profile, where it primarily downregulates the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, reducing the synthesis of cholesterol. Resveratrol also increases the expression of LDL receptors in the liver, contributing to the reduction in the LDL-cholesterol levels. This short narrative review, based on relevant articles written in English from a PubMed search, using the keywords “resveratrol”, “atherosclerosis”, “cardiovascular disease”, and “Mediterranean Diet“, focuses on the possible effects of this molecule on cardiovascular disease, lipid metabolism, and atherosclerosis. Full article