Food Frequency Research Articles

Breakfast patterns in relation to physical activity among school adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan

BackgroundUnhealthy habits and poor diet patterns are significant concerns among adolescents, impacting their overall quality of life. This study aimed to assess and improve these habits in adolescents.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2017–2018 in Karachi. The research participants, aged 11–17 years, were drawn from lower-middle-income secondary schools using multistage random selection. Sociodemographics, the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A), and breakfast consumption were determined through questionnaire and a food frequency survey.ResultsA study of 334 school-going adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan, found that 82% consumed breakfast daily, with chapatti being the preferred choice (72.2%). Physical activity levels varied, but 56.6% engaged in regular activity. No significant differences were found in breakfast consumption by age or parental education.ConclusionsUnderstanding South Asian adolescents’ breakfast habits is crucial. Promoting healthier breakfast options and increased physical activity are recommended for long-term well-being, with further research needed for targeted interventions.

Early-onset restrictive food intake disorders in children: a latent class analysis.

The two most frequent early-onset restrictive food intake disorders are early-onset anorexia nervosa (EOAN) and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorders (ARFID). Although the core symptoms of EOAN (i.e., fear of gaining weight and disturbed body image) are not present in ARFID, these symptoms are difficult to assess during the initial phase of hospitalisation.Ouraim was to identify restrictive food intake disorder subtypes in children using latent class analysis (LCA) based on the information available at admission to hospital, and to determine the agreement between the subtypes identified using LCA and the final diagnosis: EOAN or ARFID. We retrospectively included 97 children under 13years old with severe eating disorders (DSM-5) at their first hospitalisation in a specialised French paediatric unit. LCA was based on clinical information, growth chart analyses and socio-demographic parameters available at admission. We then compared the probabilities of latent class membership with the diagnosis (EOAN or ARFID) made at the end of the hospitalisation. The most parsimonious LCA model was a 2-class solution. Children diagnosed with EOAN at the end of hospitalisation had a 100% probability of belonging to class 1 while children diagnosed with ARFID had an 8% probability of belonging to class 1 based on parameters available at admission. Our results indicate that clinical and socio-demographic characteristics other than the core symptoms of EOAN may be discriminating for a differential diagnosis.

The effects of lifestyle changes like diet, toilet habits, physical activity and others in children with functional constipation

Background: Functional constipation is common in pediatric age group. Our aim is to evaluate the effects of lifestyle changes (diet, toilet habits, physical activity and others) in children with functional constipation, and to assess the risk factors of functional constipation in Indian children. Methods: This was an observational, prospective, questionnaire and proforma based (pretested and predesigned) follow-up study. Duration was from January 2016 to December 2017. Study was conducted at, department of paediatrics, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur. Results: On regular follow-up, stool frequency was improved after changing the lifestyle factors like adequate physical activity (p<0.05, CI: 0.27) and regular toilet habits (p<0.05, CI:0.93), blood/mucus, straining, painful defecation and pain abdomen, all are showing significant improvement (p<0.05) after relieving constipation. On regular follow-up Need of disimpaction (polyethylene glycol or proctoclys enema) reduced significantly (p=0.001), number of cases with adequate fiber diet improved significantly (p=0.001), Number of children consuming frequent junk food decreased significantly (p=0.001). Conclusions: Initial disimpaction, if needed and maintenance laxative therapy (1-3 months as per need) along with major lifestyle changes like fibers rich diet, avoidance of junk food, adequate physical activity, optimal sleep hygiene, and daily regular toilet habits have significantly positive correlation with improvement in functional constipation and its symptoms.

Investigating the Effect of Educational Intervention Based on the Health Belief Model on Nutritional Behaviors that Prevent Cardiovascular Diseases

Background: Health recommendations to adopt health behaviors are implemented by the patient if they are internalized as beliefs in the patient’s mind and are expressed in their actions. This study investigated the effect of educational intervention based on health beliefs on the nutritional behaviors that prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in middle-aged women of Sarbaz city in 2021. Methods: This interventional research was a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical sample was 90 people, which were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=30) and control (n=60) groups. Computer-generated random numbers were used for simple randomization of subjects. First, both groups were asked to answer the questionnaires, then training was provided to the intervention group, and finally, both groups were asked to answer the questionnaires again. The data was collected using the health belief, food frequency, and nutritional behavior questionnaire (FFQ). Analysis of variance, chi-square, independent t-test, and paired t-test were used to analyze the data. Results: The findings showed that the educational intervention was effective in increasing the constructs of the health belief model that prevent CVDs (awareness, P=0.001; susceptibility, P=0.014; severity, P=0.005; benefits, P=0.020; barriers, P=0.005; selfefficacy, P=0.000). Also, the educational intervention improved nutritional behaviors that prevent CVDs (increased vegetable (P=0.001), fruit (P=0.001) consumption; reduced fat (P=0.001), and sugar (P=0.001) consumption). Conclusion: According to the findings, it can be said that increasing the awareness of middle-aged women about nutritional behaviors is a necessity to reduce the incidence of CVD risk factors.

Using labelling information to evaluate the distribution of food additives in products marketed in Brazil

Food additives are ingredients added to food and beverages in order to modify physical, chemical, biological or sensory characteristics, contributing to the development of products that are safer and more convenient and attractive. Although they are widely used by food industries, little is known about the distribution of the food additives currently employed in products marketed in Brazil. Therefore, this study aimed to use labelling information of commercial food and beverages in order to identify the substances currently used by the Brazilian industry. For this, 3300 labels of 426 food items described in the Personal Food Consumption module of the Household Budget Survey (POF 2017/2018) of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) were searched on websites of supermarket chains and food companies as well as by visits to commercial establishments. According to the ingredient lists of the evaluated samples, 186 distinct food additives were identified. The average number of declared substances per product was between 4 and 5, with most of the labels indicating the presence of 2 or 3 additives. Considering the identified substances, 93 had an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) not specified or not limited and 89 were additives with a numerical ADI. Citric acid and lecithin were the most frequent substances with ADI not specified or not limited while potassium sorbate and pentasodium triphosphate were the most frequent food additives with numerical ADI. The most frequent combinations found in the evaluated samples were of potassium sorbate and citric acid, and also sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, and sodium diphosphate. This study demonstrates the distribution of food additives in products marketed in Brazil, allowing the creation of a comprehensive and unprecedented database, which will contribute to the evaluation of usage trends and future exposure studies for health risk assessment.

Hubungan Tingkat Stres, Kebiasaan Konsumsi Fast Food dengan Status Gizi pada Remaja

Background: One of the main health indicators of a country is nutritional status. There are various factors that can influence nutritional status, one of which is stress levels and fastfood consumption habits, excessive stress levels and consuming fast food too often will have an impact on changes in a person's nutritional status, which will then pose a risk of health problems in the future. Objective: To determine the relationship between stress levels, fast food consumption habits and nutritional status of adolescents at SMAN 1 Kalasan Yogyakarta. Methods: This research uses a cross-sectional design, with a proportional random sampling technique, the number of research respondents was 77 respondents. Weight and height measurement data is carried out directly to determine nutritional status (BMI/U), stress levels were measured using the DASS questionnaire, fast food consumption habits using the fastfood consumption habit questionnaire form. Data analysis used univariate and bivariate tests with the Chi-Square test. Results: There were 57,1% of adolescents with normal nutritional status, 51,9% of adolescents with stress levels in the no-stress category, 50,6% of adolescents with frequent fast food consumption habits. The results showed that there was no relationship between stress levels and the nutritional status of adolescents (p-value = 0,449). There was no relationship between the habit of consuming fast food and the nutritional status of adolescents (p-value = 0,576). Conclusion: There is no relationship between stress levels, fast food consumption habits and nutritional status of adolescents at SMAN 1 Kalasan Yogyakarta.

Opening the “black box” of food safety policy implementation: The efficiency-enhancing role of a private meso-institution

There is continuing interest in how rules created at the “institutional environment” level influence the performance of food safety policies. The influence of institutional rules on the behavior of farms and firms may vary widely depending on how strongly incentives reach potential users. This article assesses how the creation of a private meso-institution (i.e., Conseleite) affects the implementation of food safety guidelines in the Brazilian dairy industry. We use a dataset that has laboratory analyses of milk from 18 out of the 27 Brazilian states over a period that goes from 2006 to 2014. We show that the creation of Conseleite has led to an increased effectiveness of implementation of the Normative Instruction 51, which sets indicators and basic parameters of milk quality in Brazil. Specifically, the creation of Conseleite in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul led to a decrease in the low-quality index related to the bacterial contamination of milk. In turn, we find that Conseleite played a limited role in raising the values of the high-quality milk index. Our conclusions highlight the fundamental role of meso-institutions in bridging the gap between the “institutional environment” level and the “governance” level. This study sheds light on a potential policy implementation path for other developing and emerging countries in the dairy industry, which is marked by frequent food safety scandals.

Efficacy of an extensively hydrolyzed formula with the addition of synbiotics in infants with cow's milk protein allergy: a real-world evidence study.

Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is the most frequent food allergy in early childhood. For those infants requiring breastmilk substitutes, formulas with extensively hydrolyzed proteins (EHF), should be the treatment of choice. As there are limited data showing the progression of initial symptoms in infants newly diagnosed with CMPA who are treated with EHF with added synbiotics, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the resolution of symptoms in said infants after 4 weeks of treatment. As a secondary objective this study aimed to assess the impact of the treatment on the family's quality of life. observational, longitudinal, prospective, and multicentric real-world evidence study. The intervention phase (EHF with synbiotics) lasted 28 days and was completed by 65 patients. Treating physicians registered child´s anthropometry, Infant Gastrointestinal Symptoms Questionnaire (IGSQ-13) and CoMiSS (Cow´s Milk Allergy Symptoms Score) both at baseline and after 28 days of treatment. During treatment, caregivers reported child´s regurgitation and stools, PO-SCORAD (Patient Oriented Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis) and FAQL-PB (Family Quality of Life-Parental Burden). Data were collected using Google Forms and analyzed through the STATA program. 95.4% of the patients showed an improvement or disappearance of the overall initial symptoms after 4 weeks of treatment. Gastrointestinal symptoms improved or disappeared in 92% of patients (p < 0.05) while dermatological symptoms improved or disappeared in 87.5% of patients (p < 0.05). The median CoMiSS at baseline was 9, with 21 patients exceeding the cut-off point of 12. After 4 weeks of treatment, the median dropped to 3, and no patient exceeded the 12-cut-off point (p = 0.000). At baseline, patients had a PO-SCORAD of 11.5 (interquartile range 1-23) that went to 1.0 (interquartile range 1-6) at day 28 (p = 0.000). The treatment diminished stool frequency (p < 0.05), improved stool consistency (p = 0.004) and decreased the frequency of regurgitation in infants with CMPA (p = 0.01). The percentage of patients who no longer had any episode of regurgitation increased from 11% to 31% on day 28 (p = 0.003). At baseline, 13% of patients cried more than 3 h per day, while at day 28 that percentage dropped to 3% (p = 0.03). An improvement in the infants' sleep pattern was also appreciated with the treatment. At study onset, 56% of the families reported feeling very overwhelmed, a percentage that dropped to 17% after 28 days of treatment (p < 0.05). The small percentage of families who did not feel overwhelmed at study onset (17%), grew to 43% on day 28 (p < 0.05). The use of an EHF with synbiotics for the management of infants diagnosed with or suspected to have CMPA suggested a good safety profile, an adequate infant growth, and improvement of overall, gastrointestinal, and dermatological symptoms. It also suggested a lower daily frequency of regurgitations and stools, and an improvement in stool consistency, sleeping pattern, and quality of life of the infant and his family.

Protein Intake from Various Foods Sources Is Negatively Associated with Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Italian Older Adults

ObjectivesTo examine the relationships between protein intake from various food sources and cardiometabolic risk markers in Italian older adults.DesignCross-sectional study. Setting: Unconventional settings across Italy (e.g., exhibitions, health promotion campaigns).ParticipantsPeople 65+ years who provided a written informed consent.MeasurementsBlood pressure (BP), blood glucose, total blood cholesterol, and anthropometric indices were assessed. Daily protein intake was estimated for 12 food items listed in a food frequency questionnaire.ResultsThree-thousand four-hundred twenty-four older adults (mean age: 72.7 ± 5.7 years; 55% women) were included in the study. Results of linear regression analysis indicated that protein intake from several food sources was negatively associated with BP, waist and hip circumferences, and waist-to-hip ratio in both sexes. Blood glucose levels were inversely associated with many protein sources in women. Positive associations were observed between some protein sources and total blood cholesterol in both men and women.ConclusionOur findings suggest that dietary protein is differentially associated with cardiometabolic risk factors depending on sex and food sources.

Development of nucleotide signatures for common poisonous organisms provides a new strategy for food poisoning diagnosis

DNA barcoding is widely used in toxic species authentication, but due to serious DNA degradation of forensic materials, the application of full-length barcode sequences in food poisoning diagnosis is greatly limited. Nucleotide signature, a shorter specific molecular marker, derived from traditional DNA barcoding has been proposed as an emerging tool of toxic species detection in deeply processed materials. In this study, to resolve the frequent food poisoning accidents with unknown origin, we envisioned developing a nucleotide signature data set of common poisonous organisms and combining high-throughput sequencing (HTS) to reveal the poisoning cause. Ninety-three individuals and 1093 DNA barcode sequences of twelve common poisonous plants, fish, mushrooms and their related species were collected. Through sequence alignment and screening, the nucleotide signatures were respectively developed and validated as their specific molecular markers. The sequence length varied from 19 bp to 38 bp. These fragments were conserved within the same species or genera, and the specificity between related species has been also demonstrated. To further evaluate the application potential of nucleotide signature in forensic diagnosis, simulated forensic specimens (SFS) containing different poisonous ingredients were sequenced by HTS with PCR-free libraries. As a result, the nucleotide signature was successfully captured from original HTS data without assembly and annotation, accompanied by a high detection sensitivity of 0.1 ng/µl in mixture system. Therefore, this method was suitable for the assay of forensic materials with serious DNA degradation. The present study undoubtedly provides a new perspective and strong support for the detection of toxic ingredients and the diagnosis of food poisoning.

Health behaviours associated with healthy body composition among Aboriginal adolescents in Australia in the ‘Next Generation: Youth Well-being study’

This study described the distribution of healthy body composition among Aboriginal adolescents in Australia aged 10–24 years and examined associations with health behaviours and self-rated health. Data were cross-sectional from the ‘Next Generation: Youth Well-being study’ baseline (N = 1294). We used robust Poisson regression to quantify associations of self-reported health behaviours (physical activity, screen time, sleep, consumption of vegetables, fruit, soft drinks and fast food, and tobacco smoking and alcohol) and self-rated health to healthy body mass index (BMI) and waist/height ratio (WHtR). Overall, 48% of participants had healthy BMI and 64% healthy WHtR, with healthy body composition more common among younger adolescents. Higher physical activity was associated with healthy body composition (5–7 days last week vs none; adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) healthy BMI 1.31 [95% CI 1.05–1.64], and healthy WHtR 1.30 [1.10–1.54]), as was recommended sleep duration (vs not; aPR healthy BMI 1.56 [1.19–2.05], and healthy WHtR 1.37 [1.13–1.67]). There was a trend for higher proportion of healthy body composition with more frequent fast food consumption. Healthy body composition was also associated with higher self-rated health (‘very good/excellent’ vs ‘poor/fair’; aPR healthy BMI 1.87 [1.45–2.42], and healthy WHtR 1.71 [1.40–2.10]). Culturally appropriate community health interventions with a focus on physical activity and sleep may hold promise for improving body composition among Aboriginal adolescents.

Food intolerance related to gastrointestinal symptoms amongst adults living with bile acid diarrhoea: A cross-sectional study.

The role of food in managing bile acid diarrhoea (BAD) is poorly understood. The present study explored the prevalence of food intolerance amongst adults with BAD. The study comprised a cross-sectional survey of adults with BAD determined by the 75 selenium homotaurocholic acid test (SeHCAT) living in the UK. Participants anonymously completed an online questionnaire on 39 food items. Frequency of food in general affecting BAD symptoms, as well as frequencies of diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and consequential food avoidance after food item ingestion, were assessed. Food group avoidance was also assessed. There were 434 participants who completed the questionnaire between April and May 2021 of whom 80% reported moderate to severe chronic diarrhoea. Food intolerances were reported by 88.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 84.6-90.9) of participants. Diarrhoea was reported most frequently after take-away food, fish and chips, creamy sauces, cream and large quantities of fruit (range 41.0%-33.6%). Lowest frequencies were for potato, avocado, mango, watermelon and pear (range 3.7%-7.4%) for the foods listed in the questionnaire. Similar trends were found for abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and consequential food avoidance. Symptom-triggering within 30 min of ingestion was more prevalence than after 30 min for almost all foods. Food group avoidance was highest for fatty foods (81.2%; 95% CI = 77.8-85.3) followed by dairy (53.9%; 95% CI = 49.1-58.7). Perceived food intolerance amongst adults with BAD and persisting diarrhoeal symptoms is high. Important triggers were meals with a higher fat content and higher-fat dairy products. Diets amongst those with persisting diarrhoeal symptoms may be overly restrictive.

Vitamin D Concentration Changes after Bariatric Surgery.

Bariatric surgery causes physiological and anatomical changes in the gastrointestinal tract that interfere with intestinal absorption and, consequently, with the nutritional status, especially about vitamin D. The aim of the study was to evaluate the vitamin D levels and body composition of these patients in the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) types of surgery. The retrospective cohort study included a population of 120 patients aged between 18 and 65 years, with class II or III obesity, undergoing bariatric surgery procedures (VSG or RYGB-type). Data were collected on the degree of obesity, age, average time since surgery, and gender. The individuals underwent a complete physical examination, measuring blood pressure, weight, height, waist, and neck circumference. In addition to calculating the percentage of loss of body weight and assessing body fat, the food frequency and physical activity of these patients were evaluated. Blood was collected, and the insulin variables, hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), were analyzed. There was a significant difference between groups only for PTH, total BMD, and insulin variables. A significant intragroup difference was found in the variables' body mass index (BMI) and vitamin D for the vertical sleeve gastrectomy group and BMI for the RYGB group. The analysis between the groups of procedures, similarity in body composition and postsurgical vitamin D levels, with significant differences only for PTH, BMD, and insulin variables, demonstrates that both procedures are effective in reducing fat mass.

A dietary pattern of frequent plant-based foods intake reduced the associated risks for atopic dermatitis exacerbation: Insights from the Singapore/Malaysia cross-sectional genetics epidemiology cohort

BackgroundThe prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has been increasing in recent years, especially in Asia. There is growing evidence to suggest the importance of dietary patterns in the development and management of AD. Here, we seek to understand how certain dietary patterns in a Singapore/Malaysia population are associated with various risks of AD development and exacerbation.MethodsA standardized questionnaire following the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) guidelines was investigator-administered to a clinically and epidemiology well-defined allergic cohort of 13,561 young Chinese adults aged 19–22. Information on their sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary habits, and personal and family medical atopic histories were obtained. Allergic sensitization was assessed by a skin prick test to mite allergens. Spearman’s rank-order correlation was used to assess the correlation between the intake frequencies of 16 food types. Dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Four corresponding dietary scores were derived to examine the association of identified dietary patterns with allergic sensitization and AD exacerbations through a multivariable logistic regression that controlled for age, gender, parental eczema, BMI, and lifestyle factors.ResultsThe correlation is the strongest between the intake of butter and margarine (R = 0.65). We identified four dietary patterns, “high-calorie foods”, “plant-based foods”, “meat and rice”, and “probiotics, milk and eggs”, and these accounted for 47.4% of the variance in the dietary habits among the subjects. Among these patterns, moderate-to-high intake of “plant-based foods” conferred a negative association for chronic (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.706; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.589–0.847; p < 0.001) and moderate-to-severe AD (AOR: 0.756; 95% CI: 0.638–0.897; p < 0.01). “Meat and rice” and “probiotics, milk and eggs” were not significantly associated with AD exacerbation. While frequent adherence to “high-calorie foods” increased the associated risks for ever AD and moderate-to-severe AD, having a higher adherence to “plant-based foods” diminished the overall associated risks.ConclusionsFrequent adherence to “plant-based foods” was associated with reduced risks for AD exacerbation in young Chinese adults from Singapore/Malaysia. This provides the initial evidence to support the association between dietary factors and AD. Further research is needed to better understand the pathomechanisms underlying diet and AD exacerbations.

Factors associated with anemia among school-going adolescents aged 10–17 years in Zanzibar, Tanzania: a cross sectional study

BackgroundAnemia among adolescents (ages 10–19 years) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries and carries long-term health and economic consequences. To address the issue, policymakers and programmers require evidence of the burden of anemia among adolescents in specific contexts, as well as an understanding of the factors associated with anemia in this population.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey as a baseline assessment to determine the prevalence and factors associated with anemia in secondary school students, as part of a cluster-randomized effectiveness trial testing different micronutrient supplementation strategies in addressing anemia among adolescents in Zanzibar. Between March 7th to 25th, 2022 the survey was conducted on 2,479 school-going adolescents aged 10–17 years from 42 schools on the island of Zanzibar, Tanzania. Hemoglobin concentration was measured along with the collection of socio-demographics, health, food frequency, and water, sanitation and hygiene data.ResultsBased on the World Health Organization cutoffs for anemia, 53.3% of the sample had anemia (mild, moderate, or severe). Using chi-square tests and logistic regressions, we determined that females had higher odds of anemia than males (Adjusted OR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.74), those in the highest wealth quintile had lower odds of anemia than those in the lowest wealth quintile (Adjusted OR = 0.7; CI: 0.54, 0.91), stunted adolescents had higher odds of anemia than non-stunted students (Adjusted OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.06,1.81), and those who used shared toilets had higher odds of moderate or severe anemia than those with private toilet access (Adjusted OR = 1.68; CI: 1.07, 2.64).ConclusionsThe high prevalence of anemia in this sample indicates an urgent need to address anemia among adolescents in Zanzibar, and the factors associated with anemia point to the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions in addition to dietary and nutritional support.Trial RegistrationNCT05104554, registered 03/11/2021.

Assessment of Micronutrient Deficiency through Dietary Intake, Food Consumption Practices and Nutritional Status Amongst Women of Reproductive Age in Kongowea, Mombasa County

Micronutrient deficiencies are a public health concern among women of reproductive age (WRA) and children aged below five years in low and middle-income countries. Random sampling in a cross-sectional study was used to assess the nutritional status and dietary diversity of 184 women of reproductive age (15-49 years), estimated by data obtained on food frequency, 24-hour recall and dietary diversity using a structured, validated questionnaire. The data was analyzed using Nutri-survey software and transferred to SPSS version 20 and was analysed using descriptive statistics. The BMI status indicated that 47.6% were normal, 42.9% were overweight and 9.5% were obese. The mean energy intake was 2132.6±626.7, protein 49.6±10.2, iron 12.5±2.02 and zinc 9.13±2.14. The results indicate that the respondents in this study were below optimum in the intake of some vitamins and minerals. The vitamins consumed below the RDA included vitamin A (15.8%), vitamin B2 (49.4% and 31.4%), vitamin C (13.3% and 27.7%) and vitamin D (87.0% and 77.8%). The minerals consumed below the RDA in both age categories were sodium (55.1% and 42.4%), potassium (36.5% and 38.8%), calcium (68.8% and 67.8%) and iron (16.7% and 3.9%). The most consumed foods were starch cereals and the least consumed were meat and fish. There is need for nutrition education aimed at improving proper nutrition and increased micronutrient intake among women of reproductive age.

Nutritional Status and its Association with Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Practices Among Children visiting Tertiary Care Health Centre

Objective: To assess the nutritional status of children (up to 2 years of age) visiting the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) Karachi and to determine its association with breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices.&#x0D; Study Design: Cross-Sectional Study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Outpatient Department, National Institute of Child Health, Karachi Pakistan, from Jan to Jun 2021.&#x0D; Methodology: Children aged 1 to 24 months were included. Demographic information, weight, height, weight for height and grade of malnutrition using WHO criteria were checked and categorized as median, -1S.D, -2S.D, -3SD and -4 SD. Face-to-face interview with the mother was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire based on WHO Infant and Young Child Feeding guidelines to find out the breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices of the mother.&#x0D; Results: A total of 355 children were enrolled with a mean age of 9.18±5.90 months. Median SD was attained by 65(18.3%) children, 177(49.9%) infants lied within -1SD(mild malnutrition), 77(21.4%) within -2SD(moderate malnutrition) while 36(10.1%) had severe malnutrition including 26(7.3%) within -3SD and 10(2.8%) within -4SD. Exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months had a significantly lower frequency of severe malnourishment (p-value&lt;0.001). Complimentary feeding practices, including the age of initiation, dietary diversity and food frequency, also had a significant association with nutritional status (p-value&lt;0.01).&#x0D; Conclusion: Inappropriate breastfeeding and complementary feeding lead to poor health and malnutrition. Exclusive breastfeeding till six months and the introduction of complementary feeding on time with adequate diversity and frequency are critical to the infant’s health.

On Geographic Range, Diet and Conservation of Endemic Murree Hills Frog &lt;i&gt;Nanorana vicina&lt;/i&gt; (Stoliczka, 1872)

Murree Hills Frog, Nanorana vicina, is one of the under studied anuran species of South Asia. We hypothesized that the diet of Murree Hills Frog differed during breeding and non-breeding seasons. We found that the geographic range of the species in Pakistan is narrower than reported. It occurs in Tehsil Murree (District Rawalpindi, Province Punjab), District Abbotoabad (Province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Districts Poonch and Bagh (Azad Jammu and Kashmir). We recovered 12 taxa from stomach contents during the breeding season. The most frequent food items included Coleopterans (60%, constant) and Hymenopterans (40%, secondary). The food items from order Coleoptera contributed the most in the stomach content volume (ml) 0.06, followed by Hymenoptera 0.05, and Isoptera 0.05. The frogs showed secondary degree of food preference for Coleopterans and occasional for other food items. We recorded ten food items during non-breeding season. The most frequent food items included Coleopterans (45%, secondary), Hymenopterans (40%, secondary) and Orthopterans (35%, secondary). The food items from order Coleoptera contributed the most in the stomach content volume (ml) 0.12, followed by Orthoptera 0.11. The species showed secondary degree of food preference for Coleopterans, Hymenopterans and Orthopterans and occasional for other food items. The food item taxa during breeding and non-breeding seasons did not differ significantly. We have reported major threats to the species and suggested research, conservation and management options.

Frequency of Phytoestrogen Consumption and Symptoms at Midlife among Bangladeshis in Bangladesh and London.

There is a longstanding interest in the relationship between diet and hot flash symptoms during midlife, especially in whether phytoestrogens ease menopausal symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, and vaginal dryness in relation to the intake of foods rich in phytoestrogens among Bangladeshi women aged 35 to 59 years who were living either in Sylhet, Bangladesh (n = 157) or as migrants in London (n = 174). Consumption ranges for phytoestrogens were constructed from food frequencies. We hypothesized that diets rich in isoflavones, lignans, and coumestrol would be associated with lower symptom frequencies. However, adjusted logistic regression results showed that with each incremental increase in general phytoestrogen consumption (scale of 0 to 10), the likelihood of hot flashes increased by 1.4%. Each incremental increase in lignan consumption raised the likelihood of hot flashes by 1.6%. In contrast, the odds of vaginal dryness decreased by 2%, with each incremental increase in phytoestrogen and lignan consumption, and by 4%, with each incremental increase in isoflavone consumption. Night sweats and trouble sleeping were not associated with phytoestrogen intake in logistic regressions. Our findings add to the conflicting data on relationships between phytoestrogens and symptoms associated with menopause.

Impact on Diet Quality and Burden of Care in Sapropterin Dihydrochloride Use in Children with Phenylketonuria: A 6 Month Follow-Up Report.

In phenylketonuria (PKU) changes in dietary patterns and behaviors in sapropterin-responsive populations have not been widely reported. We aimed to assess changes in food quality, mental health and burden of care in a paediatric PKU sapropterin-responsive cohort. In an observational, longitudinal study, patient questionnaires on food frequency, neophobia, anxiety and depression, impact on family and burden of care were applied at baseline, 3 and 6-months post successful sapropterin-responsiveness testing (defined as a 30% reduction in blood phenylalanine levels). 17 children (10.8 ± 4.2 years) completed 6-months follow-up. Patients body mass index (BMI) z-scores remained unchanged after sapropterin initiation. Blood phenylalanine was stable. Natural protein increased (p < 0.001) and protein substitute intake decreased (p = 0.002). There were increases in regular cow's milk (p = 0.001), meat/fish, eggs (p = 0.005), bread (p = 0.01) and pasta (p = 0.011) intakes but special low-protein foods intake decreased. Anxiety (p = 0.016) and depression (p = 0.022) decreased in caregivers. The impact-on-family, familial-social impact (p = 0.002) and personal strain (p = 0.001) lessened. After sapropterin, caregivers spent less time on PKU tasks, the majority ate meals outside the home more regularly and fewer caregivers had to deny food choices to their children. There were significant positive changes in food patterns, behaviors and burden of care in children with PKU and their families after 6-months on sapropterin treatment.