Changes In Dietary Patterns Research Articles

Culturally Tailored Lifestyle Modification Strategies for Hypertension Management: A Narrative Review.

Hypertension (HTN) is a significant global health challenge affecting billions of individuals worldwide. The prevalence of HTN varies considerably across the globe due to diverse factors, such as lifestyle influenced by culture, genetics, health care access, and socioeconomic conditions. Lifestyle modification has a substantial impact on blood pressure management; however, some cultural practices and behaviors affect recommended lifestyle modification strategies for HTN management. The purpose of this review was to explore lifestyle modification strategies for HTN management from a cultural perspective. Lifestyle modification, including physical activity, stress reduction, changes in dietary patterns (adopting a low-sodium diet and intake of fruit and vegetables), and weight management, provide an effective non-pharmacologic intervention for the management of hypertension. Individual's cultural practices have the potential to determine their diet, physical activity levels, knowledge, and perception about HTN, adherence to treatment and medications, and the use of local herbal preparations for HTN management. Culture focuses on individuals' belief, practices and how these beliefs and practices influence their lifestyle behaviors for HTN management. It is important to consider patients' cultural beliefs before recommending lifestyle behaviors for HTN management.

Food Insecurity Is Common in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Is Associated with Increased Ultra-Processed Food Intake.

Food insecurity (FI) is defined as the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active and healthy life. FI affects over 30 million Americans and is associated with poor clinical outcomes and impaired quality of life and drives significant health inequities. Despite the rising prevalence of FI and the federal focus on improving access to healthy food, there is a paucity of research on FI in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, the goal of this study was to define FI in a cohort of IBD patients and determine whether FI was associated with changes in dietary patterns, including specifically an increase in ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption in this high-risk patient population. This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of patients with a diagnosis of IBD who were 18 years of age or older and who were seen in a nutrition focused clinic. Patients were screened for FI using the Hunger Vital Sign™, a 2-question validated FI screening tool and underwent a 24-h dietary recall. The degree of food processing was assessed using the NOVA Food Classification System. Among 128 patients with IBD, we observed that FI is increasingly prevalent, with 45% of patients reporting difficulty with sufficient grocery access at least "sometimes" in the last 12 months and 10% reporting decreased food access "often" in the prior year. In addition, the patients at high-risk for FI were significantly more likely to eat NOVA 4 UPFs (54% vs. 27%, p = 0.001) and were significantly less likely to eat NOVA 1 unprocessed foods (32% vs. 61%, p = 0.001) as compared to those not at risk for FI. Finally, only a small percentage of those at highest risk for FI were enrolled in a federal food assistance program for grocery support. The prevalence of FI is increasing in patients with IBD and is associated with reduced dietary quality.

Food systems in protracted crises: examining indigenous food sovereignty amid de-development in Kashmir.

How do protracted crises shape indigenous food systems, and what are their ramifications for food and nutritional security? Building on decolonial and interdisciplinary research approaches, this paper assesses the consequences of militarised violence for Kashmir's food system. We document the impact of settler-colonialism and conflict-induced agrarian changes on delocalisation of diets. The protracted nature of the crises has two key implications for changes in dietary patterns. First, land control over common land dispossesses the local population and hinders food production. Second, disenfranchisement from (agricultural) land has led to increased reliance on markets that are flooded by imported foods as local production declines. The paper argues that the state plays an important role in food system changes by destroying local patterns of food production and consumption. Slow violence and agrarian de-development serve as tools to de-develop the local food system. Indigenous food cultures form part of everyday resistance and resilience that are operationalised as mitigation and adaptation strategies to address food insecurity.

Effect of Magnesium Intake on Hypertension in Chinese Elderly Population

Existing studies have found that the prevalence of hypertension in people aged 70 and above is as high as 70%. At present, the prevalence of hypertension among the elderly in China is rising sharply, and these are closely related to magnesium deficiency. This is a review article to demonstrate the association between magnesium deficiency and hypertension by reviewing the literature in recent years. According to the Dietary Recommendations for the Elderly in China, the recommended daily consumption of magnesium for adults would be 330 milligrams (mg), while 74.8% of the population did not meet the recommended intake. Due to the traditional dietary patterns of older Chinese people, who do not have a high uptake of foods such as nuts and seeds, which increases the risk of magnesium deficiency. At the same time, incomplete absorption of magnesium can lead to magnesium deficiency as the absorption rate of gastrointestinal function decreases with age. Studies have found that changing dietary patterns and consuming magnesium supplements are effective in increasing magnesium intake and thus reducing the prevalence of hypertension.

Dietary pattern transition and its nutrient intakes and diet quality among Japanese population: results from the 2003-2019 National Survey.

While many Asian countries undergo dietary transitions, little is known about Japan's dietary pattern changes and their impact on nutritional intake. We aimed to examine 17-year trends in dietary patterns and nutrient intakes in Japan. Principal component analysis was used to derive dietary patterns. The nutrient intake of subjects with principal component scores in the highest quartiles of each dietary pattern was assessed using the NRF9.3 which is a scale that evaluates the entire diet in terms of nutrient density. Japan. We used data from the National Survey 2003-2019 (67,066 women, 55,133 men). Two common dietary patterns were identified in both sexes: the 'Japanese style' and the 'bread and dairy' pattern. Additionally, two other patterns: 'meat and oil' and 'noodles', were pronounced in men. Over the 17 years, the scores of the 'Japanese style' pattern decreased while the 'meat and oil' and the 'bread and dairy' patterns increased. The nutrition assessment result showed that the highest quartiles of the 'Japanese style' pattern had higher NRF scores (women: 716.0, men: 670.5) (p<0.001), whereas those of the 'bread and dairy' pattern had a lower score (636.9 in women, 661.2 in men) (p<0.001). Trend analysis in this study suggests the ongoing Westernization of diet in Japan. A decreasing trend of the dietary pattern with the most preferable nutrient profile (i.e., the 'Japanese style') might indicate a potential decrease in beneficial nutrient intake and, thus, a deterioration of the nutritional status of the Japanese population.

Research progress of antiviral treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis B combined with metabolic fatty liver disease

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) mainly causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Metabolic fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide with the continuous changes in lifestyle and dietary patterns and the increase in the number of obese individuals. Consequently, the incidence rate of CHB combined with MAFLD is rapidly increasing. However, the pathogenesis, treatment, and clinical prognosis remain unclear due to the interaction between CHB and MAFLD. Notably, in the academic community, there are still controversies as to whether patients with CHB and MAFLD should immediately start antiviral treatment, whether MAFLD affects the antiviral efficacy in CHB patients, and whether nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) affect the body's metabolism. This article reviews the epidemiology, clinical prognosis, treatment management strategies (especially the antiviral efficacy of NAs drugs), and NAs drug effects on the body's metabolism in patients with CHB combined with MAFLD so as to provide diagnostic and therapeutic concept for clinicians.

From Local Farms to Supermarket Foods: The Story of the Homogenization of the Argentine Diet Told by the IsotopeRatios of Modern Teeth.

Nutritional changes over the last century, driven by globalization, hypermarketization, and malnutrition, are global in scale. Large countries in the Global South might be resilient to dietary homogenization due to their natural diversity of regions and ecosystems, which might have prevented the adoption of supermarket diets. Argentina has a wide array of ecosystems and historically different subsistence diets dependent on regional characteristics. We analyzed the spatiotemporal variation of stable isotope values in Argentina using modern teeth to test for regional dietary patterns and its consistence over time. We collected teeth from voluntary donors born between 1940 and 2010, from 72 locations across Argentina. A total of 119 teeth were analyzed for the markers δ13Cdentine, δ13Cenamel, δ15N, and δ34S. A reconstruction of isotopic niches was performed to estimate dietary patterns across different regions and time periods. This study is the first to analyze changes in modern dietary patterns in Argentina using isotopic data measured in contemporary teeth. We showed latitudinal, longitudinal, and temporal differences in isotopic values, reflecting the variation in available resources within the country. Changes in the diet were observed over time, including declining δ15N values, a reduction in δ34S range, and a trend toward homogenization of δ13Cenamel values. Conversely, δ13Cdentine values remained constant over time, maintaining latitudinal patterns and regional differences across regions. This study increases our understanding of modern population dietary patterns both spatially and over the last 70 years. Our findings suggest that the Argentine population has shifted toward a supermarket diet in recent years.

Environmental impact of dietary patterns in 10 European countries; a cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative dietary surveys.

Changing dietary patterns is essential to reducing the substantial environment impact of agriculture and food production systems. We performed a cross-country comparison of dietary patterns and their associated environmental impact in Europe, including by sociodemographic factors. We analyzed pooled cross-sectional dietary records collected during 2010-18 from 10 European countries using the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Comprehensive European Food Database (16 508 adults; aged 18-79 years). Each food consumed was mapped to the corresponding environmental impact data using the SHARP Indicators Database, which provides greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) and land use (LU) values of approximately 900 foods. Total diet-associated environmental impact was calculated for each person and averaged across multiple days. Multivariable linear regression models were used to compare diet-associated GHGE and LU between population subgroups (gender, age, education and diet type) with country-level fixed effects. The mean dietary GHGE and LU per capita ranged from 4.0 kgCO2/day and 5.0 m2*year/day in Spain to 6.5 kgCO2eq/day and 8.2 m2*year/day in France. Diet-related GHGE and LU (per kg/food) were lower among females (2.6 kgCO2eq/day, B = -0.08, P < 0.01; 3.2 m2*year/day, B = -0.11, P < 0.01), older population aged 66-79 (2.6 kgCO2eq/day, B = -0.03, P < 0.01; 3.4 m2*year/day, B = -0.4, P < 0.01), people following vegetarian diets (1.7 kgCO2eq/day, B = -0.07, P < 0.01; 2.0 m2*year/day, B = -0.07, P < 0.01), and higher among individuals with secondary education (2.7 kgCO2eq/day, B = 0.05, P < 0.01; 3.6 m2*year/day, B = -0.05, P < 0.01). Environmental footprints vary substantially across countries, dietary patterns and between different sociodemographic groups in Europe. These findings are crucial for the development of country-specific food policies aimed at promoting environmentally sustainable diets.

Development of a CVD mortality risk score using nutritional predictors: A risk prediction model in the Golestan Cohort Study

Background and AimWe aimed to develop a dietary score using prediction model method for evaluating the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and suggesting a simple and practical scoring system within the healthcare context. Method and ResultsA total of 43878 adult participants (aged 37-80 years) from the Golestan Cohort Study (GCS) were included in analysis. A random split of the subjects into the derivation (n=28930) and the validation sets (n=14948) was done. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to develop prediction model for the 8-year risk of CVD mortality. The model’s discrimination and calibration were assessed by C-statistic and calibration plot, respectively. To enhance clinical utility, we devised a point-based scoring system derived from our model. This prediction model was developed by nine predictors including age, physical activity level (MET minutes/week), waist-to-hip ratio, tea intake (cup/day), vegetable intake (gr/1000 kcal/day), white meat intake (gr/1000 kcal/day), salt intake (gr/1000 kcal/day), dairy intake (Cup/1000 kcal/day), and percentage of protein intake. The model had an acceptable discrimination in both derivation (C-statistic: 0.76, p<0.001) and validation (C- statistic: 0.77, p<0.001) samples. Also, the calibration of model in both derivation and validation datasets was 0.81. ConclusionThis is the first attempt to develop a risk prediction model of CVD mortality and the risk scoring system by the majority of nutritional predictors in a large cohort study. This nutritional risk assessment tool is suitable for motivating at-risk individuals to make lifestyle and dietary pattern changes to reduce future risk to prevent health problems.

Prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity among adolescents in Nagarjun municipality: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionOverweight and obesity are a growing global public health threat increasingly prevalent among adolescents in low-income and middle-income countries such as Nepal. These conditions are influenced by multifaceted social, behavioural, and habitual factors. Adolescents are particularly at risk due to changing dietary and lifestyle patterns. Additionally, the current nutritional shift, economic progress and rapid urbanisation pose significant threats to nutrition-related health outcomes. This study aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity among adolescents in Nepal.MethodsA school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to January 2023 among 768 randomly selected adolescents from 10 schools in the Nagarjun municipality of Nepal. Anthropometric measurements of height and weight were assessed using standard tools, and the corresponding body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Factors associated with overweight/obesity were examined using the χ2tests, followed by logistic regression analyses. The statistical significance was set at p&lt;0.05 and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs).ResultsThe overall prevalence of overweight/obesity among adolescents was 6.38% (95% CI 4.64% to 8.11%). The mean weight, height and BMI of the participants were 50.22±9.37 kg, 160.17±9.14 cm and 19.56±3.24 kg/m2, respectively. Adolescents studying in higher grades (AOR 3.61, 95% CI 1.26 to 10.30), uninvolved in any kind of physical activity (AOR 4.97, 95% CI 2.38 to 10.34) and various games and extracurricular activities at school (AOR 2.49, 95% CI 1.16 to 5.28) and consuming high-calorie sugar-rich foods as lunch (AOR 3.02, 95% CI 1.31 to 6.94) were more likely of being overweight/obese than their respective counterparts.ConclusionOverweight and obesity are significantly influenced by lifestyles that involve minimal to no physical activity and by the dietary habits of adolescents. The findings warrant interventions in educational and home settings aiming to improve the lifestyles of adolescents.

Association of Physical Activity and Dietary Diversity with Cognitive Function in the Elderly with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study

Aims Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a common complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Changes in lifestyle and dietary patterns play a crucial role in preventing both diabetes and cognitive impairment. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 899 aging participants. The Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was used to evaluate dietary diversity. The physical activity (PA) levels were divided based on metabolic equivalents and weekly activity time. Individual PA levels were further re-scored and combined with DDS scores to obtain each participant’s total score. Results Regardless of T2DM status, individuals with MCI had lower DDS and plant-derived DDS compared to non-MCI individuals. Non-MCI subjects had higher total PA and DDS scores than MCI subjects. There were differences in the correlation between DDS or PA scores and blood glucose and MoCA scores among different groups. The subjects with high DDS levels showed a significantly decreased risk of MCI and T2DM + MCI. Those with a total PA and DDS score in Q4 showed a significantly decreased risk of MCI and T2DM + MCI compared to Q1. Conclusions A diversified diet improved blood glucose levels and cognitive function. Elderly individuals with diverse diets and adequate PA had a reduced risk of developing T2DM and MCI.

Neuroprotective Dietary Patterns and Longitudinal Changes in Cognitive Function in Older Adults

BackgroundNumerous studies have examined the association between neuroprotective diets and cognitive function during aging; however, these studies have produced divergent findings. Some studies find that greater adherence to these dietary patterns is associated with preserved cognition, whereas others find no effect. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the association of the Mediterranean, the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegeneration Delay (MIND) dietary patterns with global cognition over 4 waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal panel study conducted at the University of Michigan. DesignThis is a longitudinal secondary data analysis using Health and Retirement Study data drawn from the Food Frequency Questionnaire completed as part of the Health Care and Nutrition Survey administered in 2013 to 2014, neuropsychological assessment data obtained from the Core questionnaire in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020, and demographic data from the Core questionnaire in 2014. Participants/settingParticipants with total daily energy intake below 600 or 800 kcal and above 6000 and 8000 kcal for women and men, respectively, were excluded based on criteria from a similar study using the same dataset. In addition, participants with a diagnosis of dementia, Alzheimer disease, or stroke as of 2014 were excluded. There were 6154 participants in the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet analyses and 5143 participants in the MIND diet analyses. Main outcome measureA global cognitive measure incorporating immediate and delayed recall, serial 7s, and backward counting scores was calculated for each participant at each wave. Statistical analysisThe primary analyses examined the association between each diet type and cognition over 4 waves using separate multilevel models that controlled for age, gender, self-rated health, years of education, total energy intake, weekly exercise, and body mass index. ResultsMediterranean and DASH diet adherence were positively and significantly associated with baseline cognition and were associated with slower cognitive decline over a 6-year period. MIND diet adherence was positively and significantly correlated with baseline cognition but was not significantly associated with slower cognitive decline over a 6-year period. Cross-level interactions for adherence to each dietary pattern and cognitive change over time, computed with standardized diet scores, were as follows: Mediterranean diet (β = .03; P = .002), DASH diet (β = .04; P = .004), and MIND diet (β = .02; P = .094). ConclusionsThe Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND dietary patterns are associated with better cognitive performance at baseline and the Mediterranean and DASH diets were associated with slower cognitive decline over time. Adherence to the DASH diet had the greatest magnitude of association with baseline cognition and rate of cognitive change.

Evolution of dietary patterns in Flanders: an ecological trend study on best-selling cookbook recipes (2008–2018) and their correlation with household purchases

BackgroundWith rising obesity rates in Western societies, analyzing changes in dietary patterns is paramount. While nutritional surveys have been informative, traditional cookbooks have historically shed light on national cuisines and its changes. Despite the growing popularity of online platforms for food information, cookbooks might still reflect prevalent dietary trends and the diets people follow. This study examined (1) the changes in nutritional content and food group usage in the best-selling cookbooks from 2008 to 2018, and (2) the correlation between the food groups in these cookbooks and dietary patterns (inferred from household purchases) over the same timeframe.MethodsAn exploratory ecological study was conducted on 20 main course recipes of each of the five best-selling cookbooks in Flanders annually between 2008 and 2018. Trends in macronutrients and food group usage in these recipes were analyzed using generalized linear models. Additionally, these trends were compared to household purchase data in Flanders using correlation matrices.ResultsOur results reveal a rising trend towards the use of plant-based ingredients and meat alternatives in cookbooks over the period 2008–2018. There was an increase in the usage of vegetables, nuts & seeds, and cheese. Conversely, there was a decline in the usage of meat, sugar & sweeteners, alcohol, and dairy (all p-values < 0.05). In terms of macronutrient content, there was an upswing in carbohydrate, fibre, and sugar levels, while the total fat content showed a decrease (all p-values < 0.05). The levels of protein and saturated fat remained consistent over time. Notably, shifts in plant-based and animal-based food group preferences in popular cookbook recipes align with the trends seen in actual household purchases of these food groups (all p-values < 0.05).ConclusionThese findings indicate that cookbook content evolves over time, potentially reflecting shifts in population dietary patterns. Future research is needed to (1) determine any causative link between cookbooks and any causative link between cookbooks and (2) the potential for cookbooks to aid in health promotion.

Youth-derived Lactobacillus rhamnosus with prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharide exhibits anti-hyperlipidemic effects as a novel synbiotic

Changes in dietary patterns and living habits have led to an increasing number of individuals with elevated cholesterol levels. Excessive consumption of high-cholesterol foods can disrupt the body’s lipid metabolism. Numerous studies have firmly established the cholesterol-lowering effects of probiotics and prebiotics, with evidence showing that the synergistic use of synbiotics is functionally more potent than using probiotics or prebiotics alone. Currently, the screening strategy involves screening prebiotics for synbiotic development with probiotics as the core. However, in comparison to probiotics, there are fewer types of prebiotics available, leading to limited resources. Consequently, the combinations of synbiotics obtained are restricted, and probiotics and prebiotics are only relatively suitable. Therefore, in this study, a novel synbiotic screening strategy with prebiotics as the core was developed. The synbiotic combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus S_82 and xylo-oligosaccharides was screened from the intestinal tract of young people through five generations of xylo-oligosaccharides. Subsequently, the cholesterol-lowering ability of the medium was simulated, and the two carbon sources of glucose and xylo-oligosaccharides were screened out. The results showed that synbiotics may participate in cholesterol-lowering regulation by down-regulating the expression of NPC1L1 gene, down-regulating ACAT2 and increasing the expression of ABCG8 gene in vitro through cell adsorption and cell absorption in vitro, and regulating the intestinal microbiota. Synbiotics hold promise as potential candidates for the prevention of hypercholesterolemia in humans and animals, and this study providing a theoretical foundation for the development of new synbiotic products.

Modeling the acceptance of vegetarian diets to promote sustainable food systems.

With increasing concerns about health, animal welfare, and the environment, changes in dietary patterns are emerging, as evidenced by the gradual shift toward plant-rich diets. To appropriately plan vegetarian meals with high consumer satisfaction that would help promote this dietary pattern and ultimately improve the sustainability of food systems, meal acceptability testing would be crucial. The present work aims to investigate the influence of individual food components' acceptability on the overall meal acceptability in vegetarian diets. Over four taste-testing periods, 94 panelists of US nationality recruited from Cornell University staff (47 males and 47 females; 30-50 years of age) were asked to rate the acceptability of 41 vegetarian meals containing various food category items, including a main dish, side dish, appetizer, salad, soup, bread, dessert, beverage, and a control food. Each meal included six menu items to ensure the tested foods resembled a typical meal. Consequently, some meals lacked one or more of the nine total food categories. Participants were asked to rate the acceptability of the six meal items and the overall meal acceptability on a 9-point hedonic scale. Multiple imputation was used to fill in any missing data, and multiple linear regression analysis was then performed. Through this study, a model that predicts the overall meal acceptability of vegetarian diets based on individual meal category components was developed with an R-squared value of .7033, suggesting that around 70.33% of the variation in overall meal acceptability could be explained by the nine food category predictors. The findings also suggested that the most influential food item on overall meal acceptability was the main dish followed by the side dish. For every unit increase in the acceptability score of the main dish on a 9-point hedonic scale, the overall meal acceptability increased by 0.324 points. The positive findings would be beneficial to food service providers in designing a vegetarian meal with high meal acceptability. By focusing on optimizing the acceptability of these two key categories, menu planners can effectively elevate customers' satisfaction of their meals.

Modifiable risk factors for weight loss after cancer treatment in Korean gastric cancer survivors.

Weight loss is a critical problem in gastric cancer survivor (GCS) associated with worse prognosis and quality of life. Nevertheless, modifiable factors related to weight loss of GCS seem limited. We investigated the factors with significant weight loss including dietary pattern change in GCS. In this cross-sectional study, Korean cancer survivors were recruited from two university-affiliated hospitals from 2014 to 2017. Overall, 591 GCSs were analyzed by preoperative body mass index levels. Significant and severe weight loss was defined as a weight reduction of more than 5% and 10%, respectively. Around 68.7% and 35.0% of GCS reported significant and severe weight loss, respectively. Age and surgery type were the important factors related to significant weight loss in total. In preoperative overweight or obese subjects, sex and surgery type were the risk factors for weight loss. Total food intake reduction was the only modifiable factor of significant weight loss (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-2.64), particularly in preoperative normal or underweight GCS (aOR 2.62, 95% CI 1.44-4.78). Increasing vegetable and salt reduction was found to be related to a lower risk of significant weight loss. The impact of reducing processed meat on weight loss differed by degree of weight loss and preoperative BMI level. Changing food consumption was the important modifiable factor related to significant weight loss which was more evident in preoperative underweight or normal GCS. Thus, further specific dietary recommendation is necessary for them to prevent significant weight loss. In order to prevent significant weight loss, dietary modification should be provided to GCS to ensure that total foodintake does not decrease.

Assessing Nutrition Awareness and Education within Active Population in MENA and its Effect on Professional Performance

ABSTRACT Background The MENA region witnesses significant changes in lifestyle and dietary patterns. These shifts raise concerns about the potential impact on nutritional awareness and dietary habits, which can influence professional performance. Purpose This study assessed the relationship between nutritional awareness, dietary quality, and professional performance within the region. Methods A cross-sectional study relied on data collected from 967 individuals in various countries. The research focused on evaluating nutritional awareness, dietary quality, and their association with self-reported professional performance. Data analysis was done with SPSS. Results The analysis revealed a robust correlation between nutritional awareness, the quality of diet, and professional performance. Individuals with heightened nutritional knowledge demonstrated a propensity for making healthier dietary choices, positively influencing their well-being. This translated into enhanced job performance, emphasizing a positive association between nutrition-related factors and professional success. Discussion The findings highlight the importance of nutritional awareness and healthy dietary choices in promoting higher professional performance within the region. Translation to Health Education Practice The results of the present study reflect prospects for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) focused on the need for interventions promoting nutritional education to optimize the well-being and productivity of the workforce in the MENA region in evolving socio-economic landscape. By targeting individuals and workplaces, health educators can play a crucial role in this endeavor.

Evaluation of a mobile behavior change program for weight loss in breast cancer survivors

Post-diagnosis weight gain is common in early-stage breast cancer and is associated with increased risk of recurrence and mortality. Intentional weight loss is difficult to maintain, and digital lifestyle interventions may provide a scalable approach to address this challenge. In this prospective single-arm study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04753268; February 15, 2021), key eligibility criteria included: stage I–III breast cancer, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 27.5 kg/m2, and completion of cancer treatment ≥6 months before study enrollment. Participants were provided with a behavioral change mobile application (Noom®). The primary endpoint was a change in self-reported weight from baseline to 26 weeks. Secondary endpoints included engagement, changes in physical activity, dietary patterns, and patient-reported outcomes (PRO). In total, 31 patients were enrolled (mean age 56.8 ± 9.9, mean baseline BMI 33.5 kg/m2 ± 6.5). The mean weight change was −4.8 kg ( ± 4.4, P < 0.001), mean percent weight change was −5.6% ( ± 5.0%); 11/31 patients (35.5%) lost ≥5% of their initial weight. Metrics of digital application engagement associated with weight loss ≥5% included articles read (P = 0.012), weights logged (P = 0.006), food records logged (P = 0.001), messages sent (P = 0.001), and application open count (P = 0.014). Significant increases were seen in mean daily step count (P = 0.004), GPAQ scores (P = 0.002), and Body Image Scale scores (P < 0.001). Mean energy intake remained consistently in a calorie-restricted range of 1300–1400 kcal/day. In this study, breast cancer survivors were highly engaged with a behavioral change smartphone application which led to clinically significant weight loss, increased physical activity, maintenance of an energy-restricted diet, and improvements in body image.

Edible herbal source-derived polysaccharides as potential prebiotics: Composition, structure, gut microbiota regulation, and its related health effects

Recently, with changes in dietary patterns, there has been increased interest in the concept of food and medicine homology, which can help prevent disease development. This has led to a growing focus on the development of functional health foods derived from edible herbal sources. Polysaccharides, found in many edible herbal sources, are gaining popularity as natural ingredients in the production of functional food products. The gut microbiota can effectively utilize most edible herbal polysaccharides (EHPs) and produce beneficial metabolites; therefore, the prebiotic potential of EHPs is gradually being recognized. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the structural features and characterization of EHPs to promote gut microbiota regulation as well as the structure–activity relationship between EHPs and gut microbiota. As prebiotics, intestinal microbiota can use EHPs to indirectly produce metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids to promote overall health; on the other hand, different EHP structures possess some degree of selectivity on gut microbiota regulation. Moreover, we evaluate the functionality and mechanism underlying EHPs in terms of anticancer activity, antimetabolic diseases, anti-inflammatory activity, and anti-neuropsychiatric diseases.

A comparative nutritional life cycle assessment of processed and unprocessed soy-based meat and milk alternatives including protein quality adjustment

Efforts towards sustainable food systems have stimulated the development of plant-based alternatives to meat and milk. However, the debate on the nutritional quality of (processed) plant products compared to animal products remains unresolved, and combined assessments are needed to assess the benefits and trade-offs of these products in future diets. Using life cycle assessment (LCA) combined with nutrient density measurements and the Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score (DIAAS), this case study evaluates different processing stages of soy-based products, including cooked soybeans, tofu, soy drink, and a processed soy-based meat analogue (SBMA) produced in Switzerland. The nutritional LCA (n-LCA) showed that the environmental impact of all soy-based meat alternatives was 4–20 times lower than that of beef, especially when locally sourced soy was used. The differences were smaller when compared to chicken meat. All soy-based products showed lower DIAAS compared to animal products, but the results from the combined n-LCA were always less favourable for animal products in this case study. Contribution analyses showed that despite the high level of processing, the raw materials contributed significantly to the environmental footprint of SBMA, exceeding 50% in some environmental impact categories. Moreover, comparisons within the soy-based alternatives revealed a lower environmental impact of the minimally processed products. The higher protein quality and quantity of the processed SBMA were not sufficient to offset its higher environmental impact in this case study. SBMA also contained highest level of sodium and saturated fatty acids, highlighting the need for careful food formulation. Overall, this study showed the potential of soy-based alternatives to meat and milk to reduce the environmental impact of food production whilst highlighting the importance of considering their nutritional quality and the role of processing. Overall, this research provides insight into the potential of plant-based alternatives to meat and milk for sustainable diets amid the global challenge of climate change and changing dietary patterns.