Healthy Diet Research Articles

Designing sustainable healthy diets: Analysis of two modelling approaches

There is an urgent need for a transition to healthy diets that can be produced in a sustainable food system. Different modelling approaches are used to understand what constitutes such sustainable healthy diets. Diet optimization and environmental food system optimization are modelling approaches that are developed from different angles, i.e. either starting from dietary changes or from food system changes. The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of using a diet optimization model or an environmental food system optimization model on the healthiness, the environmental impact, the cultural acceptability, and the composition of modelled diets. To illustrate these consequences we used CiFoS (Circular Food System) and SHARP (Sustainable, Healthy, Affordable, Reliable, and Preferable diets) as case models. CiFoS is a biophysical environmental food system optimization model that allows to redesign the food system to produce a (healthy) diet for the current or future population within planetary boundaries. SHARP is a diet optimization model that is based on benchmarking and aims to calculate healthier and more sustainable diets that are acceptable for consumers. We found that both optimization approaches have unique applications in time scale (long vs short term solutions), geographic scale (national vs continental scale) and an individual versus a population approach. However, due to different approaches in calculating environmental impacts, accounting for co-products and biophysical boundaries in the food system, translating commodities into realistic diets, and considering cultural acceptability, modelled diets from these two approaches are not comparable. These findings show that, when used in the right context, both models provide unique insights in how sustainable healthy diets may be achieved, but also stress the need to understand the methodology behind models. This paper is an important step in strengthening the integration of different disciplines to make well informed decisions for healthy diets within planetary boundaries.

Lifestyle, biological, and genetic factors related to brain iron accumulation across adulthood

Iron is necessary for many neurobiological mechanisms, but its overaccumulation can be harmful. Factors triggering age-related brain iron accumulation remain largely unknown and longitudinal data are insufficient. We examined associations between brain iron load and accumulation and, blood markers of iron metabolism, cardiovascular health, lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, diet), and ApoE status using longitudinal data from the IronAge study (n = 208, age = 20–79, mean follow-up time = 2.75 years). Iron in cortex and basal ganglia was estimated with magnetic resonance imaging using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). Our results showed that (1) higher peripheral iron levels (i.e., composite score of blood iron markers) were related to greater iron load in the basal ganglia; (2) healthier diet was related to higher iron levels in the cortex and basal ganglia, although for the latter the association was significant only in younger adults (age = 20–39); (3) worsening cardiovascular health was related to increased iron accumulation; (4) younger ApoE ε4 carriers accumulated more iron in basal ganglia than younger non-carriers. Our results demonstrate that modifiable factors, including lifestyle, cardiovascular, and physiological ones, are linked to age-related brain iron content and accumulation, contributing novel information on potential targets for interventions in preventing brain iron-overload.

Genome-wide analysis of flavonoid biosynthetic genes in Musaceae (Ensete, Musella, and Musa species) reveals amplification of flavonoid 3ʹ,5ʹ-hydroxylase

Abstract Flavonoids in Musaceae are involved in pigmentation and stress responses, including cold resistance, and are a component of the healthy human diet. Identification and analysis of the sequence and copy number of flavonoid biosynthetic genes are valuable for understanding the nature and diversity of flavonoid evolution in Musaceae species. In this study, we identified 71–80 flavonoid biosynthetic genes in chromosome-scale genome sequence assemblies of Musaceae, including those of Ensete glaucum, Musella lasiocarpa, Musa beccarii, M. acuminata, M. balbisiana and M. schizocarpa, checking annotations with BLAST and determining the presence of conserved domains. The number of genes increased through segmental duplication and tandem duplication. Orthologues of both structural and regulatory genes in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway are highly conserved across Musaceae. The flavonoid 3ʹ,5ʹ-hydroxylase gene F3ʹ5ʹH was amplified in Musaceae and ginger compared with grasses (rice, Brachypodium, Avena longiglumis, and sorghum). One group of genes from this gene family amplified near the centromere of chromosome 2 in the x = 11 Musaceae species. Flavonoid biosynthetic genes displayed few consistent responses in the yellow and red bracts of Musella lasiocarpa when subjected to low temperatures. The expression levels of MlDFR2/3 (dihydroflavonol reductase) increased while MlLAR (leucoanthocyanidin reductase) was reduced by half. Overall, the results establish the range of diversity in both sequence and copy number of flavonoid biosynthetic genes during evolution of Musaceae. The combination of allelic variants of genes, changes in their copy numbers, and variation in transcription factors with the modulation of expression under cold treatments and between genotypes with contrasting bract-colours suggests the variation may be exploited in plant breeding programmes, particularly for improvement of stress-resistance in the banana crop.

Built environment and childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity, an escalating global health challenge, is intricately linked to the built environment in which children live, learn, and play. This review and perspective examined the multifaceted relationship between the built environment and childhood obesity, offering insights into potential interventions for prevention. Factors such as urbanization, access to unhealthy food options, sedentary behaviors, and socioeconomic disparities are critical contributors to this complex epidemic. Built environment encompasses the human-modified spaces such as homes, schools, workplaces, and urban areas. These settings can influence children's physical activity levels, dietary habits, and overall health. The built environment can be modified to prevent childhood obesity by enhancing active transportation through the development of safe walking and cycling routes, creating accessible and inviting green spaces and play areas, and promoting healthy food environments by regulating fast-food outlet density. School design is another area for intervention, with a focus on integrating outdoor spaces and facilities that promote physical activity and healthy eating. Community engagement and education in reinforcing healthy behaviors is necessary, alongside the potential of technology and innovation in encouraging physical activity among children. Policy and legislative support are crucial for sustaining these efforts. In conclusion, addressing the built environment in the fight against childhood obesity requires the need for a comprehensive, multipronged approach that leverages the built environment as a tool for promoting healthier lifestyles among children, ultimately paving the way for a healthier, more active future generation.

Barriers to a Healthy Lifestyle Among Obese Patients Attending Primary Care Clinics in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

Obesity is a significant public health issue in Saudi Arabia, contributing to high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to identify the barriers preventing obese patients from adhering to healthy diets and regular exercise while following a health coach in primary healthcare centers in Al-Ahsa. A cross-sectional study of 283 obese adults revealed that major barriers included lack of energy, willpower, and time for exercise, as well as lack of willpower, social influence, and time for maintaining a healthy diet. These barriers were significantly associated with demographic factors such as obesity grade, comorbidities, and educational level. Addressing these barriers is essential for developing effective interventions to support lifestyle changes in obese patients.

The joy of eating: how eating experiences enhance the well-being of older adults.

The active aging strategy has as its policy implications the health, security, and participation of older people. The joy of eating is the main goal of establishing community-based service facilities for older people, as well as a source of health and well-being and a sense of meaning in the lives of older people. Based on the theory of human-environment relations and cognitive-emotional personality systems (CAPS), the study constructed a structural equation model of the eating experience, nostalgia, place attachment, and the well-being of the older adults in the community canteens as an interactive situation, and explored the relationship between the eating experience and the well-being of older people in the community canteens through the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results of the study show that the older adults' eating experience has a significant positive effect on their well-being, and "eating" can make older adults feel happy. Older adults' eating experience has a significant effect on nostalgia, place attachment, and well-being, but nostalgia does not have a significant effect on older adults' well-being, and place attachment in the community canteens can enhance older adults' well-being. Meanwhile, the study further confirmed that place attachment plays a mediating role in the effect of eating experience on older adults' well-being. The findings of the study promote the development of the fields of healthy eating, quality of life assessment, and dietary memory management for older people to a certain extent and provide an important reference for promoting the balanced layout and effective spatial design of community service facilities for older people.

How can advocates leverage power to advance comprehensive regulation on ultra-processed foods? learning from advocate experience in Argentina

BackgroundThe use of corporate power to undermine public health policy processes is increasingly well understood; however, relatively little scholarship examines how advocates can leverage power to promote the successful adoption of public health policies. The objective of this paper is to explore how advocates leveraged three forms of power – structural, instrumental and discursive – to promote the passage of the Promotion of Healthy Eating Law (Ley 27,642) in Argentina, one of the most comprehensive policies to introduce mandatory front-of-package (FOP) warning labels and regulate the marketing and sales of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) adopted to date.MethodsWe conducted seventeen semi-structured interviews with advocates from different sectors, including civil society, international agencies, and government. Both data collection and analysis were guided by Milsom’s conceptual framework for analyzing power in public health policymaking, and the data was analyzed using hybrid deductive and inductive thematic analysis.ResultsAdvocates harnessed structural power through the leveraging of revolving doors, informal alliances, and formal coalitions, enabling them to convene discussion spaces with decision-makers, make strategic use of limited resources, and cultivate the diverse expertise (e.g., research, nutrition science, advocacy, law, political science, activism and communications) needed to support the law through different phases of the policy process. Advocates wielded instrumental power by amassing an armada of localized evidence to promote robust policy design, building technical literacy amongst themselves and decision-makers, and exposing conflicts of interest to harness public pressure. Advocates exercised discursive power by adopting a rights-based discourse, including of children and adolescents and of consumers to transparent information, which enabled advocates to foster a favorable perception of the law amongst both decision-makers and the public. Key contextual enablers include a political window of opportunity, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ability to learn from the regional precedent of similar policies.ConclusionsPublic health policymaking, particularly when encroaching upon corporate interests, is characterized by stark imbalances of power that hinder policy decisions. The strategies identified in the case of Argentina provide important insights as to how advocates might harness and exercise structural, instrumental, and discursive power to counter corporate influence and promote the successful adoption of comprehensive UPF regulation.

Oral Health and Nutraceutical Agents.

Oral health is essential for both overall health and quality of life. The mouth is a window into the body's health, and nutrition can strongly impact the state of general and oral health. A healthy diet involves the synergistic effect of various nutraceutical agents, potentially capable of conferring protective actions against some inflammatory and chronic-degenerative disorders. Nutraceuticals, mostly present in plant-derived products, present multiple potential clinical, preventive, and therapeutic benefits. Accordingly, preclinical and epidemiological studies suggested a protective role for these compounds, but their real preventive and therapeutic effects in humans still await confirmation. Available evidence suggests that plant extracts are more effective than individual constituents because they contain different phytochemicals with multiple pharmacological targets and additive/synergistic effects, maximizing the benefits for oral health. Moreover, nutritional recommendations for oral health should be personalized and aligned with valid suggestions for overall health. This review is aimed to: introduce the basic concepts of nutraceuticals, including their main food sources; examine the logic that supports their relationship with oral health, and summarize and critically discuss clinical trials testing the utility of nutraceuticals in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases.

A randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a brief Triple P discussion group to increase healthy feeding practices and reduce risk factors for infant obesity.

Test the efficacy of a brief 2-hr parenting intervention in increasing protective factors against and reducing risk factors for infant obesity. A 2 (Baby Healthy Living Triple P vs. care-as-usual) × 3 (baseline, postintervention, 6-month follow-up) design was used. Eighty-two parents of 4- to 18-month-old infants meeting at least two risk factors for early childhood obesity (e.g., parent/child overweight, low education level) were randomized to intervention (n = 42) or control group (n = 40). Parents questionnaires and child weight status was measured. Results showed an intervention effect on a primary outcome, early feeding practices (restrictive: d = 0.44, 95% CI [-0.01,0.88], pressuring: d = 0.11, 95% CI [-0.32,0.54], nonresponsive behaviors: (d = 0.32, 95% CI [-0.11,0.75]), and on a secondary outcome, feeding beliefs (d = 0.29, 95% CI [-0.14,0.73]). No beneficial impact was found on other primary outcomes (responsiveness in feeding: quantity d = 0.50, 95% CI [-0.03,1.03]) and nutritive d = 0.52, 95% CI [-0.03,1.07], mealtime environment: d = 0.35, 95% CI [-0.78,0.08], self-efficacy in responsive feeding: d = 0.21, 95% CI [-0.22,0.64]), or secondary outcomes (parental self-efficacy: d = 0.08, 95% CI [-0.50,0.35]), parent emotional eating (d = 0.01, 95% CI [-0.43,0.43]), food restraint (d = 0.42, 95% CI [-0.85,0.02]), and body satisfaction (d = 0.01, 95% CI [-0.43,0.43]) and child weight status (d = 0.11, 95% CI [-0.54,0.32]). Promising though limited support was demonstrated for a brief, low-intensity program to help parents in the prevention of obesity for infants at risk.

Assessing the risk of consuming fish from Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), India: An evaluative study on bioaccumulated heavy metals in different fish species using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Environmental pollutants which are developing an alarming situation in the contemporary world captured attention in the present research. When it comes to food safety and security concerns it becomes an important field to be studied rigorously as food contributes majorly to human and animal health. The pollution of aquatic ecosystems by heavy metals (HMs) ultimately results in adverse effect on the food chain, which is covered in the current study. Fish is considered to be one of the main components of a balanced diet plate due to its high-quality protein, which sets it apart from other dietary sources. On the other hand, it is also susceptible to the absorption and bioaccumulation of HMs at toxic levels. In our study, we have considered three different species (Nemipterus japonicus, Oreochromis mossambicus, and Lates calcarifer) of fish collected from Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu (India). Three organs namely liver, gill, and muscle were taken into consideration for the HM profiling using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb) were found to be in varied concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1.13, 0.89–1.45, 9.95–30.66, 0.14–1.62, and 24.69–189.5 µg/kg respectively, in the studied organs of fish. Carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risk assessments were also done indicating a notable level of Pb and Cr in selected fish species. The Hazard Index (HI) for Oreochromis mossambicus was >1 for adults and children, indicating future possibility of probable health hazards on daily consumption of these fish. In Oreochromis mossambicus, the cancer risk (CR) values for Cr and As were significantly high, particularly for children, indicating a possible occurrence of acute health risk as it exceeded the threshold of 1 × 10−3 and suggesting a significant concern. Though consumption of fish on daily basis in such significant quantity is practically impossible both for adult and children, rendering these species safe.

SOCIALIZATION OF BENEFITS OF ULTRASOUND, FE, AND HEALTHY FOOD FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

The objectives of the KKN Stikes Muhammadiyah Cirebon activity are 1. To find out the knowledge of pregnant women about ultrasound examinations and compliance with the use of Fe 2 tablets. To increase the knowledge of pregnant women about the fetus about the importance of ultrasound examination and its consumption of Fe. The importance of a healthy and nutritious diet. The specific goals to be achieved include increasing public knowledge, understanding and awareness, especially pregnant women and children, about healthy diets. The results that Salam Village, Sarewu Village RW 03, Pancalang District, Kuningan Regency, especially pregnant women with ultrasound knowledge and agricultural counseling, were held on February 13 and 15, 2023 at the Sarewu Village Health Center and Sarewu Elementary School, targeting pregnant women and elementary school children. The enthusiasm of pregnant women and students is quite good, some pregnant women have had ultrasounds and take Fe tablets. Primary school students also responded quite positively, showing optimal cognitive development and most had a stable weight despite experiencing growth. Family participation plays a very important role in caring for and assisting pregnant women and children in meeting the nutritional needs and development of pregnancy.

Monitoring foodborne pathogens of food served at an institutional cafeteria

The provision of food by cafeterias is an opportunity to promote health through a balanced diet and safe food, offering the prospect of sustainably developing the well-being a community and the local economy. This study assessed the hygiene conditions of an institutional cafeteria. The presence of foodborne pathogens and indicators of general hygiene in 143 food and environmental samples were analyzed using the TEMPO and VIDAS food safety testing machines. All food samples tested negative for Salmonella sp., and Staphylococcus aureus counts were below the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) limit. Escherichia coli was detected at level above the set limit in six food samples. Sixteen food samples showed aerobic bacterial counts above the set limit. Total coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae were each detected above the set limits in eight food samples. Yeasts and molds were detected above the set limit in 14 food samples. Coliform bacteria, S. aureus, and mold were detected on the hands and white coats of cafeteria workers and on work surfaces, machines, and cutting boards. The hygiene conditions of the cafeteria are not suitable for food preparation, and to improve hygienic conditions in cafeterias, regular inspection of food and food preparation facilities is strongly recommended.

Implementing healthy food policies in health sector settings: New Zealand stakeholder perspectives

BackgroundIn 2016, a voluntary National Healthy Food and Drink Policy was released to improve the healthiness of food and drinks for sale in New Zealand health sector organisations. The Policy aims to role model healthy eating and demonstrate commitment to health and well-being of hospital staff and visitors and the general public. This study aimed to understand the experiences of hospital food providers and public health dietitians/staff in implementing the Policy, and identify tools and resources needed to assist with the implementation.MethodsA maximum variation purposive sampling strategy (based on a health district’s population size and food outlet type) was used to recruit participants by email. Video conference or email semi-structured interviews included 15 open-ended questions that focused on awareness, understanding of, and attitudes towards the Policy; level of support received; perceived customer response; tools and resources needed to support implementation; and unintended or unforeseen consequences. Data was analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach.ResultsTwelve participants (eight food providers and four public health dietitians/staff) were interviewed; three from small (< 100,000 people), four from medium (100,000-300,000 people) and five from large (> 300,000 people) health districts. There was agreement that hospitals should role model healthy eating for the wider community. Three themes were identified relating to the implementation of the Policy: (1) Complexities of operating food outlets under a healthy food and drink policy in public health sector settings; (2) Adoption, implementation, and monitoring of the Policy as a series of incoherent ad-hoc actions; and (3) Policy is (currently) not achieving the desired impact. Concerns about increased food waste, loss of profits and an uneven playing field between food providers were related to the voluntary nature of the unsupported Policy. Three tools could enable implementation: a digital monitoring tool, a web-based database of compliant products, and customer communication materials.ConclusionsAdopting a single, mandatory Policy, provision of funding for implementation actions and supportive tools, and good communication with customers could facilitate implementation. Despite the relatively small sample size and views from only two stakeholder groups, strategies identified are relevant to policy makers, healthcare providers and public health professionals.

Physical activity in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis: From biomarkers to quality of life

Introduction and Objective: Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disease typified by diminished bone density and deterioration of bone structure. It represents a significant risk factor for fractures, particularly in postmenopausal women. This study evaluates the role of physical activity and bone biomarkers in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Review and Methods: A review of the literature was conducted with the objective of analysing the impact of weight-bearing exercise and resistance training on bone health and the use of biomarkers in diagnosing and monitoring osteoporosis. Moreover, the potential impact of dietary interventions and supplementation was examined. Abbreviated Description of the State of Knowledge: It is of the utmost importance to engage in regular physical activity, particularly weight-bearing exercises, in order to prevent and treat osteoporosis. It has been demonstrated to enhance bone density and moderate the likelihood of fracture. Biomarkers such as osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase are of significant value in the assessment of bone health. Summary: The combination of physical activity, a balanced diet and appropriate supplementation is fundamental to the prevention and effective management of osteoporosis. This approach confers substantial benefits with respect to bone health and quality of life. Keywords: Osteoporosis; Physical activity; Bone health; Skeletal System

Change in sexual and reproductive health knowledge among young women using the conversational agent “Nthabi” in Lesotho: a clinical trial

BackgroundYoung women worldwide face problems like unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Providing sexual and reproductive health education to young women in low- and middle-income countries is a priority. It is unknown if using digital health interventions to deliver health education is effective in resource-constrained settings.MethodsWe conducted an interventional trial among young women in the low–middle-income country of Lesotho to test the impact of the conversational agent system (“Nthabi”) designed to deliver sexual and reproductive health information on either a smartphone or tablet for up to 6 weeks. We measured participant’s knowledge before and after the discussion of family planning, folic acid use, and healthy eating. The main outcome measure was a change in knowledge among participants in these three topic areas. The number of correct pre- and post-test responses was compared using generalized linear models that directly estimated the proportions and percentages of correct responses.ResultsWe recruited 172 young women (mean age 22.5 years, 91% unmarried, 69% completed high school, 23% unemployed, 66% students) to use Nthabi on a mobile phone (11.6%) or loaned tablet device (88.4%). The mean number of interactions with Nthabi was 8.6. Family planning was chosen to be discussed by 82 of the 172 participants (52.2%), and of those, 49 (31.2%) completed the content on this topic, and 26 (16.6) completed the post-test. For the 11 questions about family planning, the total percent of correct responses increased from 85.5% (796 total responses) on the pre-test to 89.9% (320 responses) on the post-test (p = 0.0233). Folic acid use was chosen to be discussed by 74 (47.1%) of 172 participants, and of those, 27 (17.7%) completed the content on this topic, and all 27 (17.7%) completed the post-test. For the 5 questions about folic acid use, the total percent of correct responses was 45.3% (181 total responses) on the pre-test and 71.6% (111 responses) on the post-test (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThe Nthabi conversational agent system increased knowledge of family planning methods and folic acid use among young women in Lesotho. Digital health interventions like Nthabi have the potential to offer new ways to deliver reproductive health information.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov registration April 20, 2020; ID: NCT04354168.

Purified fibers in chemically defined synthetic diets destabilize the gut microbiome of an omnivorous insect model.

The macronutrient composition of a host's diet shapes its gut microbial community, with dietary fiber in particular escaping host digestion to serve as a potent carbon source for gut microbiota. Despite widespread recognition of fiber's importance to microbiome health, nutritional research often fails to differentiate hyper-processed fibers from cell-matrix derived intrinsic fibers, limiting our understanding of how individual polysaccharides influence the gut community. We use the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) as a model system to dissect the response of complex gut microbial communities to diet modifications that are impossible to test in traditional host models. Here, we designed synthetic diets from lab-grade, purified ingredients to identify how the cockroach microbiome responds to six different carbohydrates (chitin, methylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, pectin, starch, xylan) in otherwise balanced diets. We show via 16S rRNA gene profiling that these synthetic diets reduce bacterial diversity and alter the phylogenetic composition of cockroach gut microbiota in a fiber-dependent manner, regardless of the vitamin and protein content of the diet. Comparisons with cockroaches fed whole-food diets reveal that synthetic diets induce blooms in common cockroach-associated taxa and subsequently fragment previously stable microbial correlation networks. Our research leverages an unconventional microbiome model system and customizable lab-grade artificial diets to shed light on how purified polysaccharides, as opposed to nutritionally complex intrinsic fibers, exert substantial influence over a normally stable gut community.

Characterising cricket flour from Gryllus assimilis: an alternative source of nutrients for sustainability

SummaryA trend to study entomological options as food is turning the practice of entomophagy into a novel research field in search for sustainable and accessible sources of nutrients. In this work, cricket (Gryllus assimilis) was processed into flour (CF), and then extracted using different solvents to obtain oils and defatted flours. The repeatability of CF obtention, its nutritional profile, and some of its physicochemical properties were studied. Results showed repeatability with a 28% mass yield for CF production. The CF presented adequate amino acid, mineral, and fatty acid profiles, a high content of dietary fibre, and low available carbohydrates, thus being considered a suitable alternative for inclusion in healthy human diets. Using data obtained from the total nitrogen content, the amino acid profile, and the total dietary fibre determinations, the CF protein digestibility was estimated at 67.4%. Based on experimental data, a mean nitrogen‐to‐protein conversion factor of 5.76 was calculated for a G. assimilis meal. The study showed that nutritional cricket flour and derivatives can be obtained using non‐sophisticated methods.

Comprehensive modulatory effects of whole grain consumption on immune-mediated inflammation in middle-aged and elderly community residents: A real-world randomized controlled trial

Background and aimsWhole grain consumption is widely recognized as a vital component of a balanced diet. Dietary fiber has been well-documented to play a crucial role in these health benefits attributed to whole grain intake. However, population-based evidence directly linking whole grain consumption to anti-inflammatory effects, especially in the context of immune-mediated inflammation, remains limited. We hypothesized that whole grain consumption promotes health by modulating immune-mediated inflammation. Methods and resultsThis study was designed as a real-world, population-based randomized controlled trial. We compared the effects of whole grain versus refined grain consumption on immune-mediated inflammation through staple food substitution, while participants maintained their usual dietary practices. The results demonstrated that whole grain consumption significantly reduced circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-22 and IL-23 compared to refined grain consumption. These reductions were associated with optimized short-chain fatty acid profiles and changes in CD4+ T cell subset distributions. ConclusionsThe findings suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of whole grain consumption in middle-aged and elderly populations are mediated by targeting specific CD4+ T cell subsets, in addition to modulating both upstream short-chain fatty acid composition and downstream expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-22 and IL-23.

Effectiveness of Multifaceted Lifestyle Interventions in Prediabetic Adults: A Field Study in an Urban Slum Population of Pune, India.

Introduction Adults with diabetes have an increased risk of hypertension, heart attack, and stroke than those without diabetes. Diagnosing prediabetes at an early stage can significantly reduce the risk of diabetes through simple interventions such as lifestyle modifications. Lifestyle modifications such as weight loss combined with regular physical exercise and a healthy diet can help delay or prevent the progression of diabetes. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of prediabetesamong the urban slum population and to assess the effect of lifestyle modifications on blood sugar levels, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and lipid profile among the participants. Methods A quasi-experimental field study was conducted among the urban slum population. Participants were randomly selected from previous health screening data. Pre-intervention blood evaluations were performed, and those who fulfilled the criteria were enrolled for interventions. The follow-up period lasted three months and included telephonic and in-person meetings for support and motivation. All variables were reevaluated at the end of the follow-up period. Results Out of 34 participants included in the study, 20 completed the three-month follow-up. Statistically significant changes were observed after three months of intervention in weight, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, BMI, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, decreases in systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were not statistically significant. Conclusion The study revealed that lifestyle intervention programs promoting healthy diets, physical activity, and body weight reduction can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes among high-risk populations. The effectiveness of interventions across community settings depends on delivery formats, implementers, and the level of motivation of participants.

Safety and impact of the Mediterranean diet in patients with chronic kidney disease: a pilot randomized crossover trial.

Emerging evidence highlights the potential advantages of the Mediterranean diet (MD) in preserving kidney function and slowing chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. However, interventional studies on the MD are scarce in East Asian populations. This randomized crossover trial aimed to assess the safety and short-term impact of the Mediterranean Proper Optimal Balance (MEDi-POB) diet in Korean patients with stage 3-4 CKD. Kidney function was assessed using the estimated glomerular filtration rate, which was calculated using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Fifty patients with CKD were randomly assigned to two groups, each starting with a different 4-week intervention, followed by a 4-week washout period, followed by a switch to the other 4-week intervention. During the MEDi-POB intervention, patients received home delivery of meals twice daily, 5 days a week, while the control intervention comprised a conventional diet. Forty-six patients successfully completed the entire 12-week trial. Paired t-tests were conducted to assess mean differences between the two groups. A linear mixed model was used to adjust for sequence and period. Dietary fat, fiber, and niacin intake were significantly higher following the MEDi-POB diet than following the control diet (p = 0.001 for fat, p < 0.001 for fiber, and p = 0.007 for niacin). The MEDi-POB diet also yielded slightly increased total CO2 levels (p = 0.043), indicating effective management of metabolic acidosis. Conversely, sodium and copper intake were significantly lower with the MEDi-POB diet (p = 0.032 and p = 0.037, respectively). Caloric intake increased, but body mass index slightly decreased from baseline after consuming the MEDi-POB diet. Dietary potassium intake exhibited a non-significant increase (p = 0.053), and no significant changes in serum (p = 0.883) and urine potassium levels (p = 0.087) occurred. Kidney function remained well-preserved following the MEDi-POB diet. These results indicate that the MEDi-POB diet is safe even in patients with advanced CKD, as it does not adversely affect serum and urine potassium levels and helps maintain kidney function.