Diet Quality Index Research Articles

Association between breakfast consumption, breakfast quality, mental health and quality of life in Turkish adolescents: A high school-based cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to determine the frequency of breakfast consumption and breakfast quality among adolescents and to evaluate the relationships between breakfast consumption, breakfast quality, mental health, and health-related quality of life. This cross-sectional study included 449 students from 17 high schools between December 2022 and May 2023. A face-to-face questionnaire measuring the frequency of breakfast consumption, Mediterranean diet quality index (KIDMED), health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN), and depression, anxiety and stress scales (DASS-21) was performed. Of the students, 54.1% skipped breakfast 2 or more times a week and 75.9% had poor breakfast quality. There were significant differences in breakfast quality classification according to the frequency of breakfast consumption (p = 0.003). Breakfast consumption ≤1 time/week or 2-5 times/week was associated with depression, anxiety and low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. No relationship was observed between breakfast quality and stress, depression or anxiety (p = 0.620, p = 0.586, p = 0.539, respectively) or between breakfast quality and the KIDSCREEN-27 subscales (p > 0.05). However, those eating poor-quality breakfasts had better results in physical wellbeing (p = 0.022), psychological wellbeing (p = 0.024), autonomy and parent relations (p = 0.017) than breakfast-skippers and also scored lower for depression, stress and anxiety (all p < 0.001). In conclusion, the frequency of breakfast consumption had a stronger association with reduced symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety, as well as improvements in all dimensions of health-related quality of life, compared to the quality of breakfast consumed. Given the association of breakfast consumption with mental health outcomes in adolescents, our findings are of great importance, especially to parents, clinicians and nutritional educators.

Meeting the 24-h movement recommendations and its relationship with Mediterranean dietary patterns in early childhood: the SENDO project

The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to assess the association between meeting all three 24-h movement recommendations and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) in early childhood and (2) to examine whether participants who meet all three 24-h movement recommendations have greater adherence to the individual MedDiet foods/components than those who do not meet these recommendations. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a sample of 822 participants from the Seguimiento del Niño para un DesarrolloÓptimo (SENDO) project (Pamplona, Spain). Physical activity was assessed through a questionnaire that covered 17 different types of activities. Screen time was assessed by averaging the daily hours spent on activities such as watching TV, using a computer, or playing video games. Sleep duration was determined by taking the average of sleep durations during both weekdays and weekends. Adherence to the MedDiet was evaluated using the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents (KIDMED). Greater odds of having an optimal adherence to the MedDiet were found for participants meeting all three 24-h movement recommendations (odds ratio (OR) = 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33–2.87, p = 0.001) in comparison with their counterparts not meeting these recommendations. Specifically, significant differences were found for “fruit or fruit juice every day” (p = 0.012), “second fruit every day” (p = 0.001), and “fresh or cooked vegetables regularly once a day” (p = 0.018) in relation to meeting all three 24-h movement recommendation status. Conclusions: This study provides further evidence of the potential importance of meeting all three 24-h movement recommendations to adopt a healthier eating pattern.What is Known:• Only a limited number of studies have investigated the joint connection between the 24-h movement recommendations and dietary habits.• Integrating the 24-h movement recommendations with dietary recommendations could potentially yield greater effectiveness compared to promoting these recommendations independently within public health strategies.What is New:• This is the first study in assessing the relationship between 24-h movement recommendations and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in early childhood.• These findings provide further evidence of the potential importance of meeting all three 24-h movement recommendations to adopt a healthier eating pattern.

Association between dental caries and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, dietary intake, and body mass index in children

BackgroundChildren with healthier nutritional status are less likely to develop severe caries than those with a high-sugar content diet. Studies evaluating dental caries and nutritional status in school-age children have generally focused on dietary intake, diet quality, or anthropometric measures, and the number of studies evaluating them together is limited.ObjectiveIt was aimed to evaluate the relationship between dental caries adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD), dietary intake, and Body Mass Index (BMI) in school-age children.Materials and methodsThis study was conducted with 300 healthy children (52.0% boys, 48.0% girls) aged between 6 and 12 years. The data collection forms included sociodemographic characteristics, oral health practices of children, Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (KIDMED), and food consumption records. Anthropometric measurements (body weight and height) of the children were taken. Dental examinations were performed by a pediatric dentist.ResultsWhile the DMFT mean score of the children was 1.7 ± 2.09, the mean dft score was 2.9 ± 3.29. The mean of KIDMED scores was 5.9 ± 3.32. DMFT and dft scores decreased statistically as maternal education increased (p < 0.05). DMFT and dft scores were not statistically different between BMI groups according to gender and age (p > 0.05). DMFT scores differed statistically between KIDMED groups (p < 0.05). This difference was between low-optimal and low-improvement-needed groups. While there was a low negative correlation (r=-0.169) between calcium intake and DMFT score, a low positive correlation was found between glucose (r = 0.172) and fructose (r = 0.149) intake and dft score (p < 0.05). In regression analysis, while the children’s age related DMFT scores positively, maternal education and KIDMED scores related DMFT scores negatively. Also, children’s age and maternal education related dft scores negatively.ConclusionIn this study, adherence to the MD rather than nutrients was found to be important in dental caries. Also maternal education level was also found to be a determinant factor in dental caries in children. DMFT and dft did not differ between BMI groups.Further studies should be conducted to assess the impact of the MD on dental caries in children to develop dietary interventions for preventative purposes.

Diet quality and cardiovascular disease risk among breast cancer survivors in the Pathways Study.

Women with breast cancer are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with women without breast cancer. Whether higher diet quality at breast cancer diagnosis lowers this risk remains unknown. We set out to determine if higher diet quality at breast cancer diagnosis was related to lower risk of CVD and CVD-related death. This analysis included 3415 participants from the Pathway Study, a prospective cohort of women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at Kaiser Permanente Northern California between 2005 and 2013 and followed through December 31, 2021. Scores from 5 diet quality indices consistent with healthy eating were obtained at the time of breast cancer diagnosis. Scores were categorized into ascending quartiles of concordance for each diet quality index, and multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. P values were 2-sided. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet quality index was associated with lower risk of heart failure (HR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.33 to 0.87; Ptrend = .03), arrhythmia (HR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.62 to 0.94; Ptrend = .008), cardiac arrest (HR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.61 to 0.96; Ptrend = .02), valvular heart disease (HR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.64 to 0.98; Ptrend = .046), venous thromboembolic disease (HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.60 to 0.93; Ptrend = .01), and CVD-related death (HR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.50 to 0.99; Ptrend = .04), when comparing the highest with lowest quartiles. Inverse associations were also found between the healthy plant-based dietary index and heart failure (HR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.39 to 0.94; Ptrend = .02), as well as the alternate Mediterranean dietary index and arrhythmia (HR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.60 to 0.93; Ptrend = .02). Among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, higher diet quality at diagnosis was associated with lower risk of CVD events and death.

Dietary Changes of Youth during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has taken the lives of millions and disrupted countless more worldwide. Simply living through the pandemic has had drastic effects on the health of citizens. Diet, an important aspect of health, has been uniquely affected by the pandemic, although these changes have not been sufficiently studied among youth. ObjectivesThe objective of this systematic review was to investigate dietary changes of youth during COVID-19. MethodsA prespecified literature review was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and CINAHL to identify studies from January 2020 to May 2023 that assessed dietary changes among youth aged ≤20 y compared with before the pandemic. Only quantitative observational studies that were published in English were included. Two authors completed all screening/study selection independently, with disagreements being resolved via discussion. Data extraction was completed by 1 author. Dietary changes were categorized into food groups and habits for analysis purposes. ResultsIn total, 67 studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies used recall to assess changes (48/67; 71.6%). Most studies found an increase in fruits and vegetables (24/46; 52.2%), grain products (6/11; 54.5%), meat, poultry, and eggs (4/8, 50.0%), diet quality indices and/or overall dietary assessments (7/13, 53.8%), and the frequency of snacking (9/12; 75.0%), whereas generally finding a decrease in ultraprocessed foods (32/53; 60.4%), compared with before the COVID-19 pandemic. Mixed findings or primarily no changes were found for fish and aquatic products, legumes, beans, seeds and nuts, milk and milk products, breakfast consumption, and nutrient intake. ConclusionsMostly favorable dietary changes appear to have occurred among youth during COVID-19, although there were several mixed findings and unclear takeaways among the foods and habits under study. The heterogeneity of defining food groups was a noted limitation in the current review.

Associations between Four Diet Quality Indexes and High Blood Pressure among Adults: Results from the 2015 Health Survey of Sao Paulo.

Several dietary quality indexes (DQIs) have been proposed to investigate adherence to a healthy diet. However, only a few studies have been conducted to investigate their association with high blood pressure (BP) in Brazil. In the present work, we examine the association between four established DQIs-2020 Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2020), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), and Brazilian Healthy Eating Index (BHEI)-and high BP in a cross-sectional sample of Brazilian adults from the 2015 Health Survey of São Paulo with Focus on Nutrition. Based on two 24 h recalls adjusted for the within-person variation, higher HEI-2020 and BHEI total scores were inversely related to elevated BP (HEI-2020: OR 0.94, BHEI: OR 0.95). Individuals at the second quartile (OR 0.33) and the fourth quartile of BHEI (OR 0.35), as well as individuals with higher scores on dairy components (HEI-2020: OR 0.80, BHEI: OR 0.83, DASH: OR 0.75), and fruit components (AHEI: OR 0.82, HEI-2020: OR 0.72, BHEI: OR 0.77, DASH: OR 0.79) also presented lower odds for the occurrence of elevated BP. In conclusion, healthier diet quality using the HEI-2020 and BHEI indexes and the fruit and dairy components were identified as protective factors for high BP.

Inflammatory index score in children: its relationship with neophobia, dietary quality and anthropometric measurements

The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between the Diet Inflammatory Index (DII) scores and dietary quality in children, which was measured by the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED), also neophobia scores and anthropometric measurements. This study was conducted in primary schools in Famagusta, Cyprus. A total of 300 children (150 girls, 150 boys) in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade were included in the study. The frequency of food consumption was measured to calculate the DII scores. Moreover, neophobia and KIDMED scores were obtained. The KIDMED score is a popular tool that is mostly used as a practical scale to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet among children. Additionally, anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, waist circumference, neck circumference) were collected. Finally, DII scores were compared with KIDMED scores, neophobia scores, and anthropometric measurements. Anthropometric measurements and body mass index (BMI) values were found to be significantly different (p < 0.05) based on the DII scores. Children with DII scores in the 1st quartile had significantly different anthropometric measurements compared to those who had scores in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles (p < 0.05). The DII scores of normal-weight children were higher than those of obese children. A significant negative correlation was observed between KIDMED scores and DII scores of the children (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between neophobia scores and DII scores (p < 0.05). Additionally, DII scores were correlated with dietary quality and anthropometric measurements (p < 0.05). The MD enhances the anti-inflammatory properties of the diet; it has clearly demonstrated positive effects on diet quality and anthropometric measurements. Furthermore, the MD is suggested to reduce the risk of chronic diseases as a result of improving DII scores at an early age.

Examining the Relationship Between Schoolchildren's Physical Activity and Nutrition Status

Objective: Nutritional status of school children can be supported through physical activity. However, today, especially in Turkey, the nutritional status of school children is worrying. This study aimed for an inspection of the relationship between the physical activity of school children and their nutrition status. Methods: The study was planned in a descriptive-correlational manner. The sample of the study constituted 339 students aged 10-14 from a province center located in Turkey’s eastern region. The data was collected through the Socio-Demographic Information Form, the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children and the Mediterranean diet quality index. Results: Of the students participating in the study, 56.9% of them were male and 48.1% were studying in the 8th grade. Male students' physical activity levels (2.21±0.61) and Mediterranean diet adaptation scores (3.44±2.14) were higher than female students. A low statistically significant relationship in the positive direction between Physical Activity and Mediterranean Diet (r=0.175, p

The Dietary Inflammatory Index is associated with diet quality and nutrient intake during the gestational period

In pregnant women, the Energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) is adopted to measure the inflammatory potential of the diet, but it does not predict the quality of the diet. Our hypothesis is that a more pro-inflammatory diet during pregnancy is also a poorer quality diet. Thus, the objective of this study is to verify the association of the E-DII with the Diet Quality Index Adapted for Pregnancy (DQI-P) and the nutrient intake from the diet in terms of the second and third gestational trimesters. This is a cross-sectional study that took place in Brazil (2018-2019), with eligible adult women up to 72 hours' postpartum and in good health. Socioeconomic, gestational, anthropometric, and food consumption data were collected, enabling the calculation of E-DII, DQI-P, and nutrient intake. The sample (n = 260) had a median E-DII of 0.04 (-1.30 to 1.90) and DQI-P of 68.82 (18.82-98.22). There was no relevant difference between E-DII tertiles by sociodemographic, gestational, and anthropometric characteristics. The E-DII and the DQI-P showed agreement (55.7%) and inverse correlation (r = -0.53; P < .001). Each 1-unit increase in DQI-P, iron, iodine, magnesium, pyridoxine, and vitamin E decreased the E-DII score (P < .05). An increase of 1 unit in protein, saturated fatty acids, and vitamin C increased the E-DII score (P < .05). Thus, the results suggest that the E-DII can predict diet quality during pregnancy, with the added benefit of measuring the inflammatory potential of the diet.

Exploring Biases of the Healthy Eating Index and Alternative Healthy Eating Index When Scoring Low-Carbohydrate and Low-Fat Diets

BackgroundThe Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010) and Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010) are commonly used to measure dietary quality in research settings. Neither index is designed specifically to compare diet quality between low-carbohydrate (LC) and low-fat (LF) diets. It is unknown whether biases exist in making these comparisons. ObjectiveThe aim was to determine whether HEI-2010 and AHEI-2010 contain biases when scoring LC and LF diets. DesignSecondary analyses of the Diet Intervention Examining the Factors Interacting With Treatment Success (DIETFITS) weight loss trial were conducted. The trial was conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area of California between January 2013 and May 2016. Three approaches were used to investigate whether biases existed for HEI-2010 and AHEI-2010 when scoring LC and LF diets. Participants/settingDIETFITS participants were assigned to follow healthy LC or healthy LF diets for 12 months (n = 609). Main outcomes measuresMean diet quality index scores for each diet were measured. Statistical analysisApproach 1 examined both diet quality indices’ scoring criteria. Approach 2 compared scores garnered by exemplary quality LC and LF menus created by registered dietitian nutritionists. Approach 3 used 2-sided t tests to compare the HEI-2010 and AHEI-2010 scores calculated from 24-hour dietary recalls of DIETFITS trial participants (n = 608). ResultsScoring criteria for both HEI-2010 (100 possible points) and AHEI-2010 (110 possible points) were estimated to favor an LF diet by 10 points. Mean scores for exemplary quality LF menus were higher than for LC menus using both HEI-2010 (91.8 vs 76.8) and AHEI-2010 (71.7 vs 64.4, adjusted to 100 possible points). DIETFITS participants assigned to a healthy LF diet scored significantly higher on HEI and AHEI than those assigned to a healthy LC diet at 3, 6, and 12 months (all, P < .001). Mean baseline scores were lower than mean scores at all follow-up time points regardless of diet assignment or diet quality index used. ConclusionsCommonly used diet quality indices, HEI-2010 and AHEI-2010, showed biases toward LF vs LC diets. However, both indices detected expected changes in diet quality within each diet, with HEI-2010 yielding greater variation in scores. Findings support the use of these indices in measuring diet quality differences within, but not between, LC and LF diets.

Association of Mediterranean diet with sleep quality, depression, anxiety, stress, and body mass index in university students: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The Mediterranean diet (MD) has many beneficial effects on health. However, compliance with MD is decreasing among university students. Aim: This study aims to investigate compliance with the MD and the association of MD with sleep quality, depression, anxiety, stress, and body mass index (BMI) among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 750 students of Ondokuz Mayıs University, a state university in Samsun, Türkiye. Sociodemographic data and self-reported anthropometric data (weight and height) were recorded using a survey. The Mediterranean diet quality index for children and adolescents (KIDMED), the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and the depression anxiety stress scale-42 (DASS-42) were self-administered. Results: Most students (59.2%) had poor KIDMED adherence. Compared to poor adherers, those with good adherence to the KIDMED had significantly lower depression scores (in males and females). Higher adherence to the KIDMED was correlated with lower depression and stress levels (in males and females) and lower PSQI scores (lower sleep disturbances) in females. The KIDMED scores of overweight females were greater than those of underweight females. Conclusion: University students show poor adherence to the MD. Low adherence to the MD may have a negative impact on depression, stress, and sleep quality. This study suggests that interventions to promote MD may help improve university students' sleep disturbances and mental health.

Association of Mediterranean diet pattern with disease activity in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study on Iranian patients

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease that causes joint erosion, as well as damage to extra-articular organs. The aim of this study was the investigation of the association between the Mediterranean diet quality index with disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In this cross-sectional study 184 females with rheumatoid arthritis were studied in Kermanshah, Iran. The American College of Rheumatology's 2010 criteria were used to diagnose RA. The biochemical tests including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid facto, anti-nuclear antibody titration, antibodies against cyclic citrulline peptide, disease activity score 28 and the food frequency questionnaire was used to assess rheumatoid arthritis activity and the Mediterranean diet quality index, respectively. To compare the dietary intakes of participants across tertiles of Mediterranean diet score, we used Analysis of Variance. Multinomial logistic regression with three adjusted models was used to investigate the association between Mediterranean diet score with disease activity. 184 eligible patients with rheumatoid arthritis participated in this study. The mean age and duration of disease, body mass index, waist circumference and percent body fat did not differ significantly among the tertiles of the Mediterranean diet score (P-value>0.05). Participants in the highest tertile of Mediterranean diet score had significantly greater intakes of fruits, vegetables, fish, legume, nuts and had lowest intake of grains (refrain grain) and red and process meats to white meat ratio (P-value<0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of variables related to disease activity among the tertiles of the Mediterranean score (P-value>0.05). In multi-adjusted models, the odds ratio of Mediterranean diet scores no significant different in the third as compared to the first tertile of Mediterranean diet score (P-value>0.05). Based on our findings there is no association between the Mediterranean diet score and disease activity of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Associations of diet quality and daily free sugar intake with depressive and anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents

BackgroundAssessing diet quality has been challenging, and the associations of diet quality and daily free sugar intake with depressive and/or anxiety symptoms have shown inconsistency. MethodsA total of 1749 students aged 12–16 years were recruited using stratified random cluster sampling across three cities in China. The overall Global Dietary Recommendations (GDR) score, a novel indicator of diet quality, was constructed using the low-burden Diet Quality Questionnaire. Free sugar intake, including from beverages and foods, was measured using the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Daily free sugar intake was divided into low, medium, and high categories based on the latest version of the dietary guidelines for Chinese residents. Binomial and multinominal logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations of the overall GDR score and daily free sugar intake categories or different sources of free sugar intake with depressive and/or anxiety symptoms. ResultsThe overall GDR score was negatively associated with depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio[aOR] = 0.92, 95%CI: 0.87–0.98) and anxiety symptoms (0.95, 0.90–0.99), particularly with comorbid depression and anxiety (0.90, 0.84–0.97). Conversely, daily free sugar intake was positively associated with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, the multiple aOR for symptoms depression or anxiety were significantly increased with higher daily free sugar intake (all Ptrend < 0.05). Both free sugar from beverages and from foods were positively associated with depressive and/or anxiety symptoms. These associations were consistent between males and females. LimitationsCross-sectional design and self-reported symptoms. ConclusionsDiet quality was negatively associated with symptoms of depression or anxiety, especially with comorbid symptoms among adolescents. Daily free sugar intake, regardless of its sources, was positively associated with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety.

Determinants of the adherence to Mediterranean diet: application of the k-means cluster analysis profiling children in the Metropolitan City of Bari

The transition to sustainable food systems and the achievement of SDGs 2 and 12 entails the adoption of sustainable consumption and production patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet and its impact on nutritional status and health have been the focus of recent research. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, BMI (kg/m2), and age of children. The geographical area is the Metropolitan City of Bari (Apulia region, southern Italy), which is involved in the development of an effective food policy aimed at ensuring a sustainable food transition. An online survey was filled out by parents or guardians responsible for the dietary patterns of children between 2 and 15 years of age to collect data about their Mediterranean diet adherence through the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) and sociodemographic features, food habits and lifestyles, and anthropometric variables. Descriptive statistics and k-means cluster analysis were applied for profiling children, contributing to identifying the main factors that might affect individual Mediterranean diet adherence. Four clusters were characterized, taking into account food habits and lifestyle index, socioeconomic index, children’s age, and body mass index (BMI). Results showed an association between low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and high prevalence of overweight and obesity in children. The factors positively associated with following an optimal Mediterranean diet adherence were the mother’s education level and level of income; skipping breakfast is linked to low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Therefore, targeted strategies should be put in place to improve Mediterranean diet adherence among children, promoting healthy dietary habits.

Associations between diet quality and dietary patterns and gestational diabetes mellitus in a low-risk cohort of pregnant women in Australia: a cross-sectional study.

Evidence of associations between the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnant women is limited. This study examined changes in MDS and DASH and dietary patterns in Australian pregnant women between early and late pregnancy and their associations with GDM. The data from n = 284 participants were analysed. Diet quality indices and empirical dietary patterns were determined in early (15 ± 3 weeks gestation) and late pregnancy (35 ± 2 weeks gestation). Paired t-tests were used to examine changes in scores for diet quality indices and dietary patterns from early to late pregnancy. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between GDM, diet quality indices and dietary patterns. Three major dietary patterns were identified at early pregnancy. The first and second dietary patterns included unhealthier and healthier food groups, respectively, and the third comprised mixed food groups. Although diet quality scores did not change over time, consumption of the first dietary pattern increased (p = 0.01), and consumption of the second dietary pattern decreased by late pregnancy in women without GDM (p < 0.001). No associations between DASH score, MDS and GDM were found; however an inverse association was observed between the first dietary pattern and GDM in late pregnancy (p = 0.023). Longitudinal studies are needed to examine diet quality and dietary patterns at early and late pregnancy to inform the development of tailored dietary advice for GDM.

Diet quality indices and odds of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: a case-control study.

There are only limited studies investigating the impact of dietary quality indicators, such as dietary quality index (DQI), dietary diversity score (DDS), and alternative healthy eating index (AHEI), on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD). Furthermore, these indicators may have different components that could lead to varying results. Therefore, this study aims to assess the nutritional quality indicators and their potential association with MASLD. The study included 128 recently diagnosed MASLD patients and 256 controls aged between 20 and 60 years. The dietary intake of participants was evaluated using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire that consisted of 168 items. In this study, the method used to evaluate dietary diversity was based on five main food groups, specifically bread and grains, vegetables, fruits, meat, and dairy. The AHEI-2010 was computed using data collected from the FFQ. After adjusting for confounders in the fully adjusted model, a significant negative correlation was observed between DDS and the risk of MASLD (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20, 0.97). Participants in the top quartile of AHEI had a 76% lower risk of MASLD compared with those in the bottom quartile after controlling for all potential confounders in the fully adjusted model (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.12, 0.56). The results of our study suggest that there is a significant association between adherence to a high-diversity diet and a reduced likelihood of developing MASLD. Similarly, we observed a similar association between adherence to the AHEI diet and a lower risk of MASLD.

A prospective association between dietary mushroom intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes: the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study-Cardiovascular Disease Association Study.

Mushrooms, known for their nutritious and functional components, are considered healthy and medicinal. This study investigated the prospective association between dietary mushroom consumption and the incidence of type 2 diabetes among Korean adults aged ≥40 years. In total, 16,666 participants who were not taking anti-diabetic medication or insulin and had normal fasting blood glucose (FBG; <126 mg/dL) were included. We used the cumulative average dietary consumption of mushrooms as an exposure metric, calculated from food frequency questionnaires at every follow-up, along with covariates collected during a baseline survey. To estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for type 2 diabetes, a modified Poisson regression model with a robust error estimator was applied. In multivariable models, dietary mushroom consumption was inversely associated with type 2 diabetes incidence in both genders (men: IRR, 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47 to 0.90; plinearity=0.043 in the highest quartile (Q4) vs. the lowest quartile (Q1); women: IRR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.93; plinearity=0.114 in Q4 vs. Q1). The inverse association remained after adjustment for dietary factors instead of dietary quality index, the baseline FBG, and the exclusion of incidence within the first year. Additionally, no significant interaction was found regarding the risk of type 2 diabetes between dietary mushroom consumption and participants' gender or other factors. Dietary mushroom consumption was inversely linked with the risk of type 2 diabetes incidence in both genders, indicating the beneficial role of mushrooms in preventing the disease.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms in Spanish adolescents: results from the EHDLA study.

Depression and anxiety are prevalent and disabling conditions among adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms in adolescents. This cross-sectional study included a sample of 698 adolescent students from a region of Spain (mean age of 13.9 ± 1.5years; 56.2% girls). Adherence to the MD was evaluated with the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents (KIDMED). Mental health symptoms were measured with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Logistic regression models were performed, including a wide range of potential confounders. Compared to individuals with low adherence to the MD, those with moderate and high adherence had lower odds of experiencing depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.24-0.65 and OR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.20-0.55, respectively), which were statistically significant even after adjustment. No significant associations were found regarding anxiety or stress symptoms. Therefore, according to our results, higher adherence to the MD is inversely related to having depressive symptoms among adolescents, regardless of socioeconomic, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors. Considering the deleterious effects of mental health problems in youths, further research on the role of nonpharmacological strategies for the prevention and treatment of depressive symptoms in adolescence is essential.

The interaction between MALAT1 and TUG1 with dietary fatty acid quality indices on visceral adiposity index and body adiposity index

We aimed to investigate the interaction between the transcript levels of taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) and metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and the Cholesterol-Saturated Fat Index (CSI) in relation to the visceral adiposity index (VAI) and body adiposity index (BAI). This cross-sectional study involved 346 women classified as obese and overweight, aged between 18 and 48 years. Dietary intake and the quality of dietary fat were assessed using a validated and reliable 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, with the Cholesterol-Saturated Fat Index (CSI) used as an indicator. Transcription levels of MALAT1 and TUG1 were evaluated through real-time polymerase chain reaction following the criteria outlined in the Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative standards. Serum profiles were measured using standard protocols. We observed a positive association between transcription level of MALAT1 and VAI in both crude (β = 3.646, 95% CI 1.950–5.341, p < 0.001) and adjusted (β = 8.338, 95% CI 6.110–10.566, p < 0.001) models. Furthermore, after adjusting for confounders, a significant positive interaction was noted between MALAT1 expression and CSI on BAI (β: 0.130, 95% CI 0.019, 0.240, p = 0.022), with a marginal positive interaction observed on VAI (β: 0.718, 95% CI − 0.028, 1.463, p = 0.059). It seems that there may be a positive interaction between MALAT1 transcription level and CSI on VAI and BAI among overweight and obese women. However, no associations were seen between TUG1 mRNA level and the above-mentioned outcomes. Further functional studies are still required to elucidate this concept.

Evaluation of the Relationships Among Mindful Eating, Environmental Beliefs, Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, and Obesity in Children.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), mindful eating, environmental beliefs, and obesity in children. The study included 318 children (50.6% male, 49.4% female, 10.0 ± 0.73 years old). Data were obtained using survey and a face-to-face interview method. The questionnaire includes general information, anthropometric measurements, the New Ecological Paradigm Scale for Children (NEP), the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (KIDMED), and the Mindful Eating Questionnaire for Children. According to the KIDMED classification, 52.5% of the children were in the group that needs improvement, 35.2% were in the low diet quality group, and 12.3% were in the optimal MD group. The Mindless score was higher in overweight/obese children compared to the normal body mass index (BMI) group (P < .05). Awareness, NEP, and KIDMED scores were the lowest in overweight/obese children (P < .05). In regression analysis, the father's age, KIDMED, and Awareness scores related to NEP scores positively (R2 : 0.545, P < .001). Also, children's body mass index-related KIDMED scores negatively, and awareness and NEP scores related KIDMED scores positively (R2 : 0.276, P < .001). Our results show that higher adherence to the MD is associated with higher environmental beliefs. Children with higher mindful eating have higher environmental beliefs and adherence to the MD, and these scores are lower in obese children. Therefore, raising generations that adopt sustainable diet models and have high environmental awareness is necessary. This research provides significant findings for future clinical studies on children's body weight maintenance and sustainability. Cite this article as: Bozkurt O, Kocaadam-Bozkurt B, Koçyiğit E. Evaluation of the relationships among mindful eating, environmental beliefs, adherence to the mediterranean diet, and obesity in children. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2024;59(1):98-105.