Healthy Pattern Research Articles

Normative Database of Spatiotemporal Gait Metrics Across Age Groups: An Observational Case-Control Study.

Gait analysis is a vital tool in the assessment of human movement and has been widely used in clinical settings to identify potential abnormalities in individuals. However, there is a lack of consensus on the normative values for gait metrics in large populations. The primary objective of this study is to establish a normative database of spatiotemporal gait metrics across various age groups, contributing to a broader understanding of human gait dynamics. By doing so, we aim to enhance the clinical utility of gait analysis in diagnosing and managing health conditions. We conducted an observational case-control study involving 313 healthy participants. The MetaMotionC IMU by Mbientlab Inc., equipped with a triaxial accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer, was used to capture gait data. The IMU was placed at the sternal angle of each participant to ensure optimal data capture during a 50 m walk along a flat, unobstructed pathway. Data were collected through a Bluetooth connection to a smartphone running a custom-developed application and subsequently analysed using IMUGaitPY, a specialised version of the GaitPY Python package. The data showed that gait speeds decrease with ageing for males and females. The fastest gait speed is observed in the 41-50 age group at 1.35 ± 0.23 m/s. Males consistently exhibit faster gait speeds than females across all age groups. Step length and cadence do not have clear trends with ageing. Gait speed and step length increase consistently with height, with the tallest group (191-200 cm) walking at an average speed of 1.49 ± 0.12 m/s, with an average step length of 0.91 ± 0.05 m. Cadence, however, decreases with increasing height, with the tallest group taking 103.52 ± 5.04 steps/min on average. This study has established a comprehensive normative database for the spatiotemporal gait metrics of gait speed, step length, and cadence, highlighting the complexities of gait dynamics across age and sex groups and the influence of height. Our findings offer valuable reference points for clinicians to distinguish between healthy and pathological gait patterns, facilitating early detection and intervention for gait-related disorders. Moreover, this database enhances the clinical utility of gait analysis, supporting more objective diagnoses and assessments of therapeutic interventions. The normative database provides a valuable reference future research and clinical practice. It enables a more nuanced understanding of how gait evolves with age, gender, and physical stature, thus informing the development of targeted interventions to maintain mobility and prevent falls in older adults. Despite potential selection bias and the cross-sectional nature of the study, the insights gained provide a solid foundation for further longitudinal studies and diverse sampling to validate and expand upon these findings.

Sleep Pattern, Lifestyle Pattern, and Risks of Overall and 20 Types of Cancers: Findings From the UK Biobank Cohort

ObjectivesSleep health and other lifestyle behaviours are gaining increasing attention in public health, particularly for cancer prevention, but a comprehensive assessment is lacking.MethodsThe study included 380,042 UK Biobank participants. A healthy sleep score was constructed based on five sleep factors: chronotype, sleep duration, insomnia, snoring, and daytime dozing. A healthy lifestyle score was constructed based on four lifestyle factors: smoking, alcohol consumption, diet and physical activity. The effect of healthy sleep and lifestyle on cancer risk was examined by Cox proportional hazard models.ResultsBoth healthy sleep and lifestyle patterns were significantly associated with a reduced risk of overall cancer and specific cancer sites. Participants with healthy sleep and lifestyle patterns had a lower risk of overall cancer (HR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.68–0.77), liver cancer (HR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.31–0.90), bladder cancer (HR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.47–0.79), lung cancer (HR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.19–0.27), and colorectal cancer (HR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.66–0.96) compared to those with unhealthy patterns.ConclusionOur findings highlight the importance of public health education and interventions to improve sleep and other lifestyle behaviours for cancer prevention.

Association Between Healthful Plant-Based Dietary Pattern and Obesity Trajectories and Future Cardiovascular Diseases in Middle-Aged and Elderly: A Prospective and Longitudinal Cohort Study.

We aimed to explore the association between plant-based dietary (PBD) patterns and obesity trajectories in middle-aged and elderly, as well as obesity trajectories linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. A total of 7108 middle-aged and elderly UK Biobank participants with at least three physical measurements were included. Dietary information collected at enrolment was used to calculate the healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI). Group-based trajectory modeling identified two trajectories for each adiposity measure: BMI Low-Smooth and High-Growth-Decline; FMI Low-Smooth and High-Growth-Decline; WHR Low-Growth and High-Growth. Logistic regression showed that participants in the medium and high hPDI groups were less likely to follow the BMI High-Growth-Decline (OR=0.72, 95% CI: 0.60-0.87; OR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.39-0.61), FMI High-Growth-Decline (OR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.60-0.84; OR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.46-0.66), and WHR High-Growth (OR=0.73, 95% CI: 0.61-0.87; OR=0.52, 95% CI: 0.43-0.63) trajectories. After a median follow-up time of 3.88 years, Cox regression showed higher CVD risk for participants in these trajectories (HR=1.70, 95% CI: 1.37-2.11; HR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.37-2.06; HR=1.30, 95% CI: 1.04-1.63). A healthy PBD pattern was associated with the maintenance of a healthy BMI classification. Furthermore, the long-term stabilization of a healthy BMI classification may be linked to a reduced risk of CVD.

Association between body esteem and sugar-sweetened beverage intake among Chinese undergraduate students: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundHigh intake of sugar-sweetened beverages has been linked to a range of physical, psychological, and emotional issues. Although there were various factors influencing sugar-sweetened beverage intake, the relationship between body esteem and sugar-sweetened beverage intake remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between three dimensions of body esteem (body esteem-appearance, body esteem-attribution, and body esteem-weight) and the likelihood of high sugar-sweetened beverage intake.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between the three dimensions of body esteem and the risk of high sugar-sweetened beverage intake. Additionally, restricted cubic splines and subgroup analyses were implemented to further explore the associations.ResultsA total of 969 participants were included in the study, with 771 females (79.6%). The mean age of the participants was 20.07 years (standard deviation [SD] = 1.65). After adjusting for covariates, body esteem-appearance was found to be negatively associated with high sugar-sweetened beverage intake (OR = 0.962, 95% CI = 0.935–0.989, p = 0.007), while body esteem-attribution was positively associated with high sugar-sweetened beverage intake (OR = 1.091, 95% CI = 1.046–1.139, p < 0.001). However, no significant association was found between body esteem-weight and high sugar-sweetened beverage intake (p = 0.781). Restricted cubic spline plots showed no non-linear associations between any dimensions of body esteem and the risk of high sugar-sweetened beverage intake (p-nonlinear was 0.912, 0.225, 0.109, respectively). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant interactions.ConclusionThese findings underscored the significance of targeted health promotion strategies and provided references for educational institutions or governmental bodies to steer undergraduate beverage consumption toward healthier patterns.

Dietary-Lifestyle Patterns and Colorectal Cancer Risk: Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) Systematic Literature Review.

While healthy dietary and lifestyle factors have been individually linked to lower colorectal cancer (CRC) risks, recommendations for whole diet-lifestyle patterns remained unestablished due to limited studies and inconsistent pattern definitions. This updated review synthesized literature on dietary-lifestyle patterns and CRC risk/mortality. PubMed and Embase were searched through 31 March 2023 for randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies examining adulthood dietary patterns combined with modifiable lifestyle factors such as adiposity, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and/or others. Patterns were categorized by derivation methods: a priori, a posteriori, and a hybrid combining both; and were then descriptively reviewed for the primary outcomes: CRC risk or mortality. The Global Cancer Update Programme Expert Committee and Expert Panel independently graded the evidence on the likelihood of causality using pre-defined grading criteria. Thirty-three observational studies were reviewed. 'Strong-probable' evidence was concluded for higher levels of alignment with the a priori-derived World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) recommendations score and lower CRC risk; and 'limited-suggestive' evidence for the American Cancer Society guidelines and Healthy Lifestyle Index with lower CRC risk (mainly due to concerns about risk of bias for confounding). A posteriori-derived patterns lack firm evidence (only one study). 'Strong-probable' evidence was concluded for higher levels of alignment with the Empirical Lifestyle Index for Hyperinsulinemia hybrid pattern and higher CRC risk. By cancer subsite, only the WCRF/AICR recommendations score showed 'strong-probable' evidence with lower colon cancer risk. All exposure-mortality pairs were graded 'limited-no conclusion'. The evidence for other pattern-outcome associations was graded as 'limited-no conclusion'. Adopting a healthy pattern of diet, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, and embracing health-conscious habits, such as avoiding tobacco and moderating alcohol, are collectively associated with a lower CRC risk. Healthy lifestyle habits are key to primary CRC prevention.

Common Dietary Patterns Among Female Employees Participating in the Persian Cohort Study (Mashhad) and Their Relationship With Metabolic Syndrome.

The protective effect of a healthy diet against chronic diseases has been confirmed in several primary studies. This study identifies the dominant food patterns using factor analysis and determining its relationship with metabolic syndrome in female employees participating in the Persian cohort study. Female participants with metabolic syndrome (based on the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP ATP III) were studied using a cross-sectional design. Demographic, clinical and anthropometric information of the subjects were analyzed after checking the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Also, dietary intake based on the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was extracted from the participants' records. Waist circumference and HDL were significantly correlated with the healthy food pattern (p < 0.05). In the unadjusted model, a significant relationship was observed between healthy food patterns and low HDL (p = 0.035, OR = 0.674, 95% CI for OR: 0.467-0.973). After adjusting for confounding factors, a significant relationship was observed between low HDL and the third and fourth quartiles of healthy food pattern (p < 0.001, OR = 420, 95% CI for OR: 0.257-0.684, and p < 0.001, OR = 0.294, 95% CI for OR: 0.148-0.585, respectively), indicating that being in the third and fourth quartiles of dietary health was associated with 58% and 70.6% decreased risk of low HDL, respectively. The results indicated that only healthy dietary patterns could have a preventive role against low HDL criterion of the metabolic syndrome among women.

Cashew nut consumption reduces waist circumference and oxidative stress in adolescents with obesity: A randomized clinical trial.

Previous evidence suggests that certain types of nuts, when included in a healthy diet pattern, may provide health benefits. Therefore, we hypothesize that the consumption of cashew nuts associated with a healthy diet may enhance antioxidant defenses and improve anthropometric and body composition parameters in individuals with obesity. We conducted a 12-week randomized clinical trial, divided into 4 sessions, involving adolescents randomly assigned to receive either 30 g of roasted cashew nuts together with nutrition education (cashew nut group-CNG) or only nutrition education (control group-CG). The total number of participants who started the study was 142, with 77 in the CNG and 65 in the CG. Data on anthropometry, body composition, and oxidative stress were collected at baseline (0-week) and endpoint (12-week). The main post-intervention findings in the CNG showed decreases in waist circumference (WC), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) at 60 minutes in the CNG, while neck circumference (NC) increased. However, the CG showed an increase in TBARS and percentage of lean body mass (LBM), along with reduction in TAC at 60 minutes. After 12 weeks, the consumption of cashew nuts seemed to assist in WC reduction, even without a decrease in other anthropometric parameters, thereby decreasing the cardiometabolic risk. Furthermore, the consumption of cashew nuts demonstrated the ability to decrease overall oxidative damage as assessed by TBARS, a finding that reinforces the effects of this nut consumption against systemic oxidative stress associated with obesity.

Longitudinal Associations Between Movement Behaviours and Development Among Infants Using Compositional Data Analysis.

The study examined the longitudinal associations of sleep time, restrained time, back time and tummy time with development in a sample of infants using compositional data analysis. Participants were a subsample of 93 parent-infant dyads from the Early Movers project in Edmonton, Canada. Parents completed a 3-day time-use diary at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. Time spent in four mutually exclusive movement behaviours were calculated representing sleep (i.e., sleep time), sedentary behaviour (i.e., restrained time and back time) and physical activity (i.e., tummy time). Communication, fine motor, gross motor, personal-social, problem solving and total development were measured at 2, 4 and 6 months of age with the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3). Gross motor development was also measured by a physiotherapist using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) at 6 months. The age six major gross motor milestones (i.e., independent sitting, crawling, assisted standing, assisted walking, independent standing, independent walking) were achieved according to World Health Organization criteria, in the first 18 months of life, were calculated. The composition of movement behaviours across time points was significantly associated with: ASQ-3 gross motor, problem solving and total development scores over time, total and percentile AIMS scores at 6 months and independent standing and walking milestones (ilr model p-value: < 0.001-0.045; model R2: 0.02-0.15). More sleep time or tummy time relative to other movement behaviours was associated with more advanced development and earlier achievement of some milestones. The opposite was observed for back time. Associations with restrained time were mixed. The optimal movement behaviour durations (minutes/day) for AIMS and WHO milestone outcomes, were 38-43 of tummy time, 51-54 of back time, 43-96 of restrained time and 845-900 of sleep time. Targeting healthy movement behaviour patterns in infants may be a promising health promotion strategy.

In Vitro Toxicity of a DEHP and Cadmium Mixture on Sheep Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and Cadmium (Cd) affect female reproduction. To date, toxicological research has focused on the effects of individual contaminants, whereas living beings are exposed to mixtures. This study analyzed the effects of a DEHP/Cd mixture on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of sheep cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) compared with single compounds. COCs recovered from slaughterhouses-derived sheep ovaries were in vitro exposed to 0.5 μM DEHP, 0.1 μM Cd, or DEHP/Cd mixture at the same concentrations during 24 h of in vitro maturation (IVM). After IVM, oocyte nuclear chromatin configuration was evaluated, and bioenergetic/oxidative parameters were assessed on expanded cumulus cells (CCs) and matured oocytes (chi-square test and one-way ANOVA; p < 0.05). Under examined conditions, oocyte nuclear maturation was never impaired. However, COC bioenergetics was affected with stronger effects for the mixture than single compounds. Indeed, the percentages of matured oocytes with healthy mitochondrial distribution patterns were reduced (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 for mixture and single compounds, respectively). Oocyte mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular ROS levels, and mitochondria/ROS co-localization were reduced, with the same significance level, in all contaminated conditions. CCs displayed increased ROS levels only upon mixture exposure (p < 0.001). In conclusion, in vitro exposure to the DEHP/Cd mixture affected COC quality in the sheep to a greater extent than separate compounds.

Healthy eating patterns associated with reduced risk of inflammatory bowel disease by lowering low-grade inflammation: evidence from a large prospective cohort study

BackgroundLimited epidemiological evidence exists regarding the role of healthy eating patterns in reducing the risk of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to investigate the association between adherence to four established healthy eating patterns and subsequent CD or UC risk, and further examined whether these associations are linked to anti-inflammatory mechanisms.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study of 197,391 participants from the UK Biobank who completed at least one dietary questionnaire and were free from inflammatory bowel disease or cancer at baseline. Four dietary patterns were assessed, including Alternate Mediterranean Diet (AMED), Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015), Healthful Plant-based Diet Index (HPDI), and EAT-Lancet. Cox proportional models with restricted cubic splines were applied to explore the associations. The potential role of low-grade inflammation in these associations was examined through mediation analysis.ResultsDuring 2,193,436 person-years follow-up, 260 CD and 601 UC cases were identified. Higher AMED and HEI-2015 scores were associated with a reduced risk of CD but no UC, with no evidence against nonlinearity. These associations remained consistent across multiple sensitive and subgroup analyses. For dietary components, the fruits and monounsaturated fatty acids: saturated fatty acids ratio in AMED, and total fruits, total protein foods and fatty acid in HEI-2015 were linked to a decreased CD risk. Both diets were also associated with lower plasma inflammation biomarkers. Mediation analysis indicated that 7.66% and 13.40% of the reductions in CD risk attributed to AMED and HEI-2015 diets, respectively, were mediated by low-grade inflammation scores.ConclusionsHigher adherence to AMED and HEI-2015 might significantly reduce CD risk, partly due to their anti-inflammatory properties.

AHARVIDHIVISHESHAYATAN A DETAILED REVIEW OF A HEALTHY AND BALANCED DIET IN AYURVEDA ACCORDING TO ASHTANG SANGRAH: A CRITICAL REVIEW

To live healthy life healthy patterns are necessary to sustain physical and mental health, which is mostly rely on Diet pattern. Ayurveda suggests the right ways of having meals for proper digestion, metabolism, nutrition and excretion. The correct way of taking meals in daily life is Aharvidhivisheshayatana mentioned in Ashtang Sangrah. There are 7 Aharvidhivisheshayatana described in Ashtang Sangraha. Swabhav, Sanyoga, Sanskar, Matra, Desh, Kaal and Upyogvyavstha. In Ayurveda physical and mental well-being is a must and it totally depends on Ahar (diet), if these 7 methods are followed correctly then there are less chances of having diseases in future and it will maintain the health of healthy individuals.

Typologies of activity-related behaviours during adolescence and their transitions: a longitudinal analysis of the ELSPAC cohort

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to identify typologies of activity-related behaviours during adolescence and to explore transitions between the identified typologies. Additionally, we aimed to identify demographic indicators associated...

The relationship between carbohydrate intake and sleep patterns.

A healthy dietary habit may contribute to good sleep quality. The present study investigates the correlation between the quality and quantity of daily carbohydrate consumption and poor sleep patterns. The exposures of interest included low-and high-quality carbohydrate consumption and total daily carbohydrate consumption. Subjects were classified into four different carbohydrate consumption patterns: Pattern 1 was characterized by high-quality carbohydrates below the median and low-quality carbohydrates above the median; Pattern 2 included both high-and low-quality carbohydrates below the median; Pattern 3 was defined as high-and low-quality carbohydrates above the median; Pattern 4 referred to high-quality carbohydrates above the median and low-quality carbohydrates below the median. The comprehensive sleep patterns included three different sleep behaviors: sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, and snoring, which were used to score sleep patterns. A score ranging from 0 to 1 was classified as having a healthy sleep pattern, while a score between 2 and 3 showed poor sleep patterns. Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression analyses were adopted. In the multivariate analysis, individuals who consumed more high-quality carbohydrates were linked to a decreased likelihood of experiencing poor sleep patterns [odds ratio (OR) 0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62-0.81], while increased consumption of low-quality carbohydrates (OR 1.39; 95%CI 1.20-1.61) and total daily carbohydrates (OR 1.31; 95%CI 1.10-1.57) was related to an elevated risk of poor sleep patterns. Participants who adhered to carbohydrate intake pattern 4 exhibited a 36% lower risk of poor sleep patterns than those who followed carbohydrate intake pattern 1 (OR 0.64; 95%CI 0.56-0.74). There was a positive correlation between elevated added sugar consumption and an increased probability of developing poor sleep patterns. In contrast, an elevated intake of whole grains, fruits, or non-starchy vegetables was related to a decreased likelihood of experiencing poor sleep patterns. The increased consumption of low-quality carbohydrates may heighten the susceptibility to poor sleep patterns, whereas the increased consumption of high-quality carbohydrates may mitigate the risk of developing poor sleep patterns.

Peer support and healthy lifestyle among adolescents in urban areas in Indonesia

Unhealthy lifestyles among adolescents in urban areas are still a problem. Peers are role models in adolescent's lifestyle. However, little is known about the peer support in eating behavior, sedentary lifestyle and physical activities, which thus needs to be explored. This study aims to analyze the relationship between peer support and adolescent lifestyle. This study used a cross-sectional design with a sample size of 105 adolescents using proportional stratified random sampling. Data were collected by questionnaire. The Spearman rho test was performed to identify the relationship between peer support within a sedentary lifestyle and eating behavior, while to identify the relationship between peer support and physical activity using pearson, the level of significance was determined as p≤0.05. The results showed that there was a relationship between peer support and eating behavior (p=0.012; r=0.243) as well as adolescents' physical activity (p=0.001; r=0.324). There is no relationship between peer support and a sedentary lifestyle both on weekdays (p=0.181; r=0.131) and on weekends (p=0.735; r=0.033). The results show that peers have an important role in improving healthy lifestyle patterns in adolescents, especially in eating behavior and physical activity, so peer involvement interventions to improve healthy lifestyles in adolescents are recommended.

Assessment of women's awareness of reproductive health concepts in an Iraqi community.

Researches indicate that reproductive and sexual health awareness is a major health indicator in communities. This study aimed to assess women's awareness of reproductive health in the Iraqi community. A cross-sectional survey in Iraqi governorates was implemented, and a convenient sample of 3416 women participated in the study. Data were collected using a well-designed structured questionnaire. SPSS version 26 was used for data analysis and description statistics. The study found low awareness about reproductive and sexual health among women. While one-third showed adequate awareness regarding premarital care, child marriage, and breastfeeding. Only 21% and 10% of the participants, respectively, having adequate awareness of sexually transmitted disease types and contraceptive methods. Remarkably, a large majority lacked awareness of healthy sleep patterns. 47% of the participants expressed adequate awareness of the stress effects on health. Overall, using health facilities appropriately and regularly was present in only 5% of the participants with the preferential to private sector. Low reproductive health awareness was significantly associated with low educational levels among participants (p-value < .00001). The study revealed that awareness of sexual and reproductive health among Iraqi women is unsatisfactory in the majority of its determinants. Education programs targeting all Iraqi communities are crucial for improving understanding of this vital subject. Future research is advised to examine the effect of digital health system platforms in disseminating knowledge of reproductive health and preventing diseases.

Short-term effects of exposure to workplace bullying on objective sleep: an actigraphy diary study.

Exposure to bullying behaviours has been associated with a variety of negative health outcomes, such as sleep complaints. However, the current state of the knowledge is limited regarding the association with objective sleep. The present study investigated the short-term effects of workplace bullying on objective sleep patterns using an actigraphy diary approach. Participants (N = 55) wore actigraphy devices for 10 days to measure sleep parameters such as duration, wake-after-sleep onset (WASO), and the number of awakenings. Multilevel analyses showed that exposure to workplace bullying was directly associated with the three parameters of sleep disturbances, with higher levels of bullying linked to poorer sleep outcomes. Anxiety was also found to mediate this relationship. Specifically, anxiety mediated the association between bullying and WASO and sleep duration. The study contributes valuable insights into the detrimental impact of workplace bullying on objective sleep quality, highlighting the importance of addressing psychosocial stressors in the workplace to promote healthy sleep patterns.

Pengaruh Sarapan, Aktivitas Fisik, dan Status Gizi terhadap Pola Menstruasi Remaja di SMP 2 Meureubo

This study investigates the correlation between menstrual cycle patterns, breakfast habits, physical activity, and nutritional status among adolescents at SMP 2 Meureubo. The research aims to identify key factors influencing menstrual cycle regularity. A total of 53 students were selected using a random sampling method for this cross-sectional quantitative study. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire assessing breakfast habits, levels of physical activity, and nutritional status determined by Body Mass Index (BMI). Chi-square analysis revealed statistically significant associations, with breakfast habits (p&lt;0.05) and physical activity (p&lt;0.05) playing critical roles in maintaining menstrual regularity. Adolescents with consistent breakfast routines demonstrated a 77% improvement in cycle regularity, while adequate physical activity contributed to a 73% enhancement in consistency. The findings underscore the importance of balanced nutrition and physical activity in promoting healthy menstrual patterns. The study recommends targeted health education programs focusing on balanced meals, regular exercise, and consistent monitoring of nutritional health to improve adolescent menstrual health outcomes.

Energy, Macronutrients and Micronutrients Intake Among Pregnant Women in Lebanon: Findings from the Updated Lebanese National Food Consumption Survey (LEBANON-FCS).

Pregnancy is a crucial period for maternal and fetal health, and in Lebanon, where cultural and economic factors influence dietary practices, there is an urgent need to evaluate the food consumption patterns and diet quality of pregnant women. To evaluate the food consumption patterns, energy intake, as well as macro- and micro-nutrient intake among a nationally representative sample of Lebanese pregnant women aged 18-49 years old. A cross-sectional study was carried out from March to October 2023, involving 500 pregnant women from all eight Lebanese governorates. Sociodemographic and medical information was gathered, food consumption was evaluated using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and three 24-h recall, and anthropometric measurements were recorded. The current population did not meet the USDA healthy pattern recommendations for whole grain, seafood, dairy, nuts, seeds and soy products consumption but exceeded the guidelines for vegetables, meats, poultry, eggs, oils, and refined grains. According to Mediterranean diet guidelines, the sample fell short in recommended intakes for fruits, olives/nuts/seeds, eggs, and olive oil, while surpassing the recommended levels for potatoes, legumes, pulses, sweets, red meat, processed meat, and fish and seafood. None of the participants met the energy requirements for their trimester and age group. In terms of macronutrient intake, the requirements for protein, unsaturated fats, and fiber were not met, while intakes of fats and sugars were exceeded. Regarding micronutrients, the recommended levels were not fully achieved, with particularly low intakes of vitamin D and iodine, as well as inadequate adherence to recommendations for iron, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc, and choline. Additionally, a third of the participants did not meet the recommended intakes for folate and vitamin B12. The findings reveal significant dietary inadequacies among the current population, with participants failing to meet essential recommendations for whole grains and key food groups, alongside insufficient energy intake for their trimesters and age groups. Critical micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in vitamin D, iodine, and B vitamins, highlight the urgent need for targeted nutritional interventions and public health initiatives to improve dietary practices among pregnant women in Lebanon.

Longitudinal associations between dietary diversity and serum lipid markers in Japanese workers.

The aim of this study was to determine the longitudinal associations between dietary diversity score and serum lipid markers in a five-year follow-up period in Japanese workers. This study included 745 participants aged 20-60 years in 2012-2013 without dyslipidemia at baseline who participated at least once from 2013 to 2017. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and dietary diversity score was determined using the Quantitative Index for Dietary Diversity. Principal component analysis was used to determine three dietary patterns: healthy, western, and sweetener. Lipid markers including total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and non-HDL-cholesterol were measured. Generalized estimating equations were used for calculating the cumulative mean of lipid profiles in the follow-up period according to the dietary diversity score at baseline with control of confounding factors. Higher dietary diversity score was inversely associated with serum concentrations of LDL cholesterol (p for trend = 0.028), triglycerides (p for trend = 0.029), and non-HDL cholesterol (p for trend = 0.026) in women. The associations except for the association with serum triglycerides were robust after additional adjustment for three dietary patterns (healthy, western, and sweetener). The association with serum triglycerides disappeared after additional adjustment for a healthy pattern. There was no significant association between dietary diversity and dyslipidemia in men in the follow-up period. This study suggests that dietary diversity is beneficial for lipid profiles in Japanese female workers.

Relationship between sleep abnormalities and hypothyroidism: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2012

BackgroundStudies have emphasised the adverse effects of poor sleep on human health, however, the correlation between sleep abnormalities and hypothyroidism remains unclear. This study evaluated whether sleep abnormalities may be related to increased prevalence of hypothyroidism in general US adults. Methods: In total, 9016 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2012 were analysed. A standardised questionnaire was used to collect data regarding sleep duration, self-reported trouble sleeping and sleep disorders. Values were assigned to the three aforementioned sleep factors, resulting in an overall sleep score of 0–3. The sleep patterns were divided into healthy sleep pattern (overall sleep score = 3), intermediate sleep pattern (overall sleep score = 2) and poor sleep pattern (overall sleep score = 0 or 1) according to a former study. Hypothyroidism was defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels > 5.6 mIU/mL or the need to take thyroid hormones. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between sleep abnormalities and hypothyroidism. Results: The overall prevalence of hypothyroidism was 8.0% among the 9016 participants. Self-reported trouble sleeping (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.14–1.68, p = 0.001) and sleep disorders (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.06–1.86, p = 0.0196) were associated with increased prevalence of hypothyroidism. Neither short sleep duration (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.82–1.19) nor long sleep duration (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.61–1.58) was significantly associated with hypothyroidism. Moreover, poor sleep pattern was significantly associated with increased prevalence of hypothyroidism (OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.03–1.66, p = 0.0301). Conclusions: Both trouble sleeping and sleep disorders were associated with increased prevalence of hypothyroidism.