High Consumption Of Fruits Research Articles

SWITCHtoHEALTHY: Switching Mediterranean Consumers to Mediterranean Sustainable Healthy Dietary Patterns

Abstract In the Mediterranean countries profound changes in diet are taking place, largely due to cultural and socio-economic changes in lifestyle, which are leading to the erosion of the Mediterranean food cultures. The diet modernization process is noticeable; it has generated not only a modification of food choices in the direction of unhealthy foods, but also the habit of sedentary behaviours leading to an imbalance between energy intake and consumption. All of this has negative health impacts, as shown by the ever-increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, as well as the rise of chronic diet-related diseases. The SWITCHtoHEALTHY project aims to generate an overall change of approach to the modern problem of eating behaviours, by strengthening the role of families towards the promotion of the sustainable Mediterranean food model. The main goal is to generate an actual switch to healthier dietary models, that are more consistent with the Mediterranean Diet. The project SWITCHtoHEALTHY aims to generate a dietary behaviour change in the direction of a greater adherence to the Mediterranean food model, by strengthening the role of families in the process of acquiring and maintaining healthy eating habits. The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is a healthy and sustainable food model, with an essentially plant-based dietary pattern (high consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, and legumes). This goal will be reached by making available to families a combination of hands-on educational material and digital tools and complementing the dietary and lifestyle recommendations with easy-to-eat healthier snacking products.

Dietary patterns among European children and their association with adiposity-related outcomes: a multi-country study.

Children's diets in school-age are inherently unhealthy, with few meeting dietary recommendations. Yet, little is known about similarities and differences on dietary patterns across countries and their association with obesity. We aimed to derive dietary patterns in childhood and explore their association with adiposity-related outcomes in childhood and adolescence. This study included data from six European countries (Spain, France, UK, Greece, Lithuania and Norway) during childhood (n = 1597) and adolescence (n = 803). Using a food frequency questionnaire, we derived data-driven dietary patterns through exploratory factor analyses and calculated the Mediterranean KIDMED index. We assessed body mass index z-score (zBMI), fat mass proportion and waist-to-height ratio at both visits. Associations were estimated using generalized linear regressions, adjusted for key-confounders. "Meat", "Dairy", "Western", "Healthy" and "Sweets and fats" dietary patterns were derived. Norwegian children showed better diet quality, with higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, and highest "Healthy pattern" adherence, and Lithuanian children, the worst, with higher sweets consumption, and highest "Western pattern" adherence. Children with lower intake of healthy foods (vegetables, fruits, fish) tended to have higher adiposity, e.g., children with average or low "Healthy pattern" adherence (vs. high) had higher fat mass proportion in childhood (average: β (95% CI) 1.44 (0.48; 2.39), low: 1.10 (0.09; 2.12)). Low adherence to a "Healthy pattern" (vs. high) was associated with increased adolescent zBMI, and child and adolescent waist-to-height ratio. Low "Dairy pattern" adherence (vs. high), was associated with lower zBMI and fat mass in childhood, but not in adolescence. No significant associations were seen with the KIDMED index. Many European children have poor diets and a low adherence to a healthy diet pattern may be of concern for adiposity-related outcomes. Assessment of children's dietary patterns can help tailor dietary advice and provide support for families aiming to prevent future excess weight gain.

A Theory of Food Exploration with Gender Differences: Childhood Eating Habits and Implicit Food Attitudes.

The growing interest in nutritional psychology has sparked explorations into how eating habits impact one's emotional, cognitive, and physical health. The Theory of Food (ToF) posits that childhood eating patterns shape food choices in adulthood, influenced by cognitive and associative representations formed early in life. This study explores the relationship between specific childhood eating habits-fruit and snack consumption-and implicit attitudes toward these food groups in adulthood. It also investigates whether this relationship differs by gender. One hundred and nineteen participants completed a recall questionnaire about their childhood eating habits and an Implicit Association Test (IAT) to assess implicit attitudes toward food groups. The primary hypotheses were that greater fruit consumption in childhood would lead to more positive attitudes toward fruits, and higher snack consumption would result in more favourable attitudes toward snacks. The results did not support the initial hypotheses, indicating no direct relationship between the consumption of fruits or snacks in childhood and implicit attitudes in adulthood. However, further analyses revealed a significant difference in implicit attitudes toward fruits below versus high childhood fruit consumption participation, particularly among women. These findings highlight the complexity of the relationship between childhood eating habits and implicit food attitudes. While no direct associations were found for the overall sample, the significant differences in attitudes based on childhood fruit consumption in women suggest gender-specific patterns. These results emphasize the need for further research to unravel the intricate connections between early eating behaviours and later food attitudes.

Association of Physical Activity and/or Diet with Sleep Quality and Duration in Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Background: Sleep is essential for health, especially during adolescence. However, most adolescents do not obtain the recommended 8 to 10 h of sleep, and their health is significantly affected. While both physical activity (PA) and diet have been shown to help improve the sleep quality and duration, the combined association of these two factors with sleep has yet to be analysed. Objectives: Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the evidence on the combined association of PA and diet with the quality and duration of sleep in adolescents. Secondary objectives were to analyse the evidence on the single association of PA with the quality and duration of sleep in adolescents and to analyse the single association of diet with the quality and duration of sleep in adolescents. Methods: To this end, a scoping review was conducted with a structured search in four online databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and ERIC). Results: The findings suggest that the amount of PA (time/week) and healthy dietary patterns, characterised by meal regularity and high consumption of fruits and vegetables, favour a better quality and a longer duration of sleep. Conversely, less weekly PA and the intake of less healthy foods, such as ultra-processed foods, are associated with decreasing the sleep quality and duration. Conclusions: In conclusion, the results underscore the importance of considering PA and diet as an appropriate approach to investigating sleep quality and duration in adolescents. Studies analysing the interplay between PA, diet and sleep in adolescents are scarce.

Trend Analysis of the Burden of Hypertensive Heart Disease in China from 1990 to 2021

Objective: To quantitatively analyze the burden of hypertensive heart disease (HHD) in China and provide a scientific basis for prevention and control strategies. Methods: Data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database were used to assess the disease burden, deaths, years lived with disability (YLDs), and risk factors for HHD in the Chinese population from 1990 to 2021. Results: From 1990 to 2021, HHD cases in China increased from 1.5 million to 3.9 million, with an average annual growth rate of 2.83%. Prevalence rose from 127.76/100,000 to 259.00/100,000, while age-standardized prevalence decreased by 0.68% annually. HHD deaths increased from 232,478 to 320,247, with a mortality rate rise from 19.76/100,000 to 22.56/100,000, though age-standardized mortality decreased by 2.68% annually. YLDs rose from 124,386 to 301,426, with the rate increasing by 2.20% annually, while age-standardized YLDs decreased by 0.67% annually. High sodium intake and low fruit consumption were key risk factors for HHD deaths. Deaths related to low vegetable intake decreased until 2005 and then rose, while deaths from lead exposure showed a similar pattern. Conclusion: HHD cases and prevalence increased significantly, but age-standardized prevalence and mortality rates declined, reflecting the impact of an aging population and improved health interventions. The rise in YLDs highlights the long-term impact on patients’ quality of life. Key risk factors included high sodium intake and low fruit consumption, emphasizing the importance of dietary improvements in HHD prevention. HHD remains a significant public health challenge in China, requiring continuous research and targeted prevention strategies.

Food craving, vitamin A, and menstrual disorders: A comprehensive study on university female students.

Menstrual disorders, influenced by dietary habits like high fat intake and low fruit and vegetable consumption, are a global public health issue. This study assessed the prevalence of dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and irregular menstrual cycle (IMC) among female university students in Bangladesh, focusing on food cravings and low vitamin A intake as risk factors. In this comprehensive study, data from randomly selected female university students were collected using a structured questionnaire. The associations were analyzed through chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression, reported as adjusted odds ratios (AOR). The most prevalent menstrual disorder was dysmenorrhea (68.3%) followed by PMS (33.8%), and IMC (24.3%). Food cravers for high-fat and sweet foods were likely to experience dysmenorrhea (AOR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5-3.9, P<0.001), suffer from PMS (AOR: 3.9, 95% CI: 2.3-6.6, P<0.001), and have IMC (AOR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.6-5.3, P<0.001) vs. subjects who didn't. Subjects consuming vitamin A-rich plant foods had 40% (AOR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4-0.9, P < 0.01) and 60% (AOR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.6, P<0.001) less likely suffering from dysmenorrhea and IMC vs. who didn't. Both underweight and overweight/obese subjects experienced more than 2-fold dysmenorrhea vs. normal-weight peers. The chance of IMC was nearly 3-fold among overweight/obese subjects. However, lower physical activity was associated with PMS and IMC whereas family history was associated with dysmenorrhea and PMS. Among the socio-demographic factors, maternal education, place of residence, and earlier menarche (≤12 years) were associated with dysmenorrhea while marital status was associated with IMC. This study indicates that increasing the intake of vitamin A-rich plant foods and reducing high-fat, sweet foods can lower the risk of dysmenorrhea and IMC. Additionally, it highlights the need for regular exercise to mitigate the increased risk of PMS and IMC.

Using Household Dietary Diversity Score and Spatial Analysis to Inform Food Governance in Chile.

This study explores how the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) and spatial visualization can inform food governance in Chile, focusing on socio-demographic and geographical determinants affecting food consumption patterns. A national household database (n = 4047), including households from 2019 (n = 3967; 98.02%) and 2020 (n = 80; 1.98%), provided by the "Family Support Program of Food Self-Sufficiency" (FSPFS) of the Ministry of Social Development and Family, was analyzed. The findings revealed that Chilean vulnerable households were led mostly by women (86.6%), with an age average of 55.9 ± 15.6 years old, versus 68.9 ± 12.9 years in the case of men. The intake frequency analysis showed that dairy, fruits, and vegetables were below the recommended values in at least half of the households, and that fats and sugars were above recommended levels. Regarding the HDDS (0-189), the national average was 91.4 ± 20.6 and was significantly influenced by the number of minors in the households, water access, food access issues, and residing in the Zona Sur. Finally, the spatial visualization showed that the Zona Central had higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, while the extreme zones Norte Grande and Zona Austral showed higher intakes of fats and sugars. These findings emphasize the importance of leveraging data insights like the HDDS and spatial visualization to enhance food security and inform food governance strategies.

Association between dietary patterns and depression symptoms among adults with or without diabetes in Qatar: a population-based study

BackgroundDiabetes is a major public health problem in Qatar and is associated with an increased risk of depression. However, no study has been conducted in Qatar on the relationship between dietary patterns and depression symptoms in adults. The aim of this study was to assess the association between dietary patterns and depression symptoms among adults with or without diabetes in Qatar.MethodsA total of 1000 participants from the Qatar Biobank (QBB) were included in this cross-sectional study. Food intake was assessed using a computer-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis. Depression symptoms were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).ResultsDepression symptoms were present in 13.5% of the sample. Two dietary patterns were identified: “unhealthy” (high consumption of fast food, biryani, mixed dish (chicken/meat/fish), croissant) and “prudent” (high consumption of fresh fruit, salads/raw vegetables, canned/dried fruit, and dates). After adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle factors (smoking and physical activity), diabetes and medication use for diabetes and hypertension, a high intake of “unhealthy” pattern was associated with an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms in individuals with diabetes (prevalence ratio, PR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.28, 1.56; p-value < 0.001), while there was no statistically significant association between depressive symptoms and the “prudent” dietary pattern. The “prudent” pattern was inversely and significantly associated with depressive symptoms in individuals with a normal body weight (PR = 0.21; 95% CI = 0.06, 0.76; p-value = 0.018).ConclusionThe “unhealthy” dietary pattern was positively associated with depression symptoms in those with diabetes, whereas the “prudent” dietary pattern was inversely associated with depression symptoms in those with a normal body weight. Promoting healthy eating habits should be considered in the prevention and management of depression.

Associations of fruit intake with adiposity and cardiometabolic biomarkers in UK Biobank

BackgroundFruit consumption has been associated with a lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We investigated the cross-sectional and prospective associations of fruit consumption with markers of adiposity, blood pressure, lipids, low-grade inflammation, glycaemia, and oxidative stress.MethodsThe main analyses included 365 534 middle-aged adults from the UK Biobank at baseline, of whom 11 510, and 38 988 were included in the first and second follow-up respectively, free from CVD and cancer at baseline. Fruit consumption frequency at baseline was assessed using a questionnaire. We assessed the cross-sectional and prospective associations of fruit with adiposity (body mass index, waist circumference and %body fat), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipids (low-density and high-density lipoproteins, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B), glycaemia (haemoglobin A1c), low-grade inflammation (C-reactive protein) and oxidative stress (gamma-glutamyl-transferase) using linear regression models adjusted for socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Analyses were repeated in a subset with two to five complete 24-h dietary assessments (n = 26 596) allowing for adjustment for total energy intake.ResultsFruit consumption at baseline generally showed weak inverse associations with adiposity and biomarkers at baseline. Most of these relationships did not persist through follow-up, except for inverse associations with diastolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, gamma-glutamyl transferase and adiposity. However, for most mechanisms, mean levels varied by less than 0.1 standard deviations (SD) between high and low fruit consumption (> 3 vs < 1 servings/day) in further adjusted models (while the difference was < 0.2 SD for all of them). For example, waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure were 1 cm and 1 mmHg lower in high compared to low fruit intake at the first follow-up (95% confidence interval: -1.8, -0.1 and -1.8, -0.3, respectively). Analyses in the 24-h dietary assessment subset showed overall similar associations.ConclusionsWe observed very small differences in adiposity and cardiometabolic biomarkers between those who reported high fruit consumption vs low, most of which did not persist over follow-up. Future studies on other mechanisms and detailed assessment of confounding might further elucidate the relevance of fruit to cardiovascular disease.

Correlates of lifestyle patterns among children in Singapore aged 10 years: the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study

ObjectiveTo characterise lifestyle patterns (comprising dietary and movement behaviour aspects) of children in Singapore and examine the correlates of these patterns.DesignAn observational study approach was used. Children recorded their diet and activities over two weekdays and two weekend days on a validated web-based assessment, My E-Diary for Activities and Lifestyle (MEDAL). Lifestyle patterns were derived using principal component analysis, and the correlations of these with multiple known determinants organised by distal, intermediate, and proximal levels of influence were studied.SettingChildren of the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort.ParticipantsTen-year-old children (n = 397).ResultsThree lifestyle patterns, “high snacks and processed food”, “balanced” and “mixed”, were identified. We focused on the more health-promoting “balanced” pattern, characterised by lower screen-viewing and higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, and dairy. Among the distal factors, girls were more adherent to the “balanced” pattern compared to boys, and children of parents with lower education levels were less adherent to this pattern. Among intermediate factors, children of mothers with higher diet quality were more adherent to the “balanced” pattern. Among the proximal factors, engagement in active transport, leisure sports, and educational activities outside of school were positively associated with the “balanced” pattern, whereas screen-viewing while travelling was negatively associated with this pattern. Having siblings, pet ownership, mother’s physical activity, parenting style, parental bonding, child’s outdoor time, and breakfast consumption were not associated with children’s lifestyle patterns.ConclusionsThese findings provide direction for future interventions by identifying vulnerable groups and contexts that should be prioritised.

The impact of vegetable and fruit consumption on mortality in persons aged 65 years and older: results of a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: High consumption of vegetables and fruits is associated with a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer and all — causes mortality. However, most studies on the health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption have traditionally focused on children, adolescents, young and middle-aged people, and only a few of them included older adults, and even more so did not take into account the geriatric status of the study participants. AIM: To assess the effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on mortality in Russian population people 65 years and older. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study of a random sample of individuals aged 65 years and older (n = 383). The main parameters of the study: Mini Nutritional Assessment anthropometry, clinical blood test, albumin, total protein, C-reactive protein, comprehensive geriatric assessment, 2.5 years of follow-up. RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 77.7 ± 5.7 years. The frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption was higher among women, compared with men by 16.7% (95% confidence interval 1.5–33.6%). Consumption of 2 or more portions vegetables and/or fruits per day was associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes with hazard ratio 0.401 (95% confidence interval 0.180–0.896) after adjusting for gender, age of study participants, presence of malnourishment syndrome, protein intake, glasses drunk per day, body mass index, reduced middle arm circumstance, falls, cognitive status, autonomy decline and a decrease in the level of physical function. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of 2 or more portions of vegetables and/or fruits per day was independently associated with a 59.9% reduction in the risk of death from all causes in persons aged 65 years and older.

Fruits and vegetables intake and bladder cancer risk: a pooled analysis from 11 case-control studies in the BLadder cancer Epidemiology and Nutritional Determinants (BLEND) consortium.

High consumption of fruits and vegetables decrease the risk of bladder cancer (BC). The evidence of specific fruits and vegetables and the BC risk is still limited. Fruit and vegetable consumptions in relation to BC risk was examined by pooling individual participant data from case-control studies. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate study-specific odds ratio's (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and combined using a random-effects model for intakes of total fruits, total vegetables, and subgroups of fruits and vegetables. A total of 11 case-control studies were included, comprising 5637 BC cases and 10,504 controls. Overall, participants with the highest intakes versus the lowest intakes of fruits in total (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.68-0.91), citrus fruits (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.65-0.98), pome fruits (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.65-0.87), and tropical fruits (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.73-0.94) reduced the BC risk. Greater consumption of vegetables in total, and specifically shoot vegetables, was associated with decreased BC risk (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.68-0.96 and OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.78-0.96, respectively). Substantial heterogeneity was observed for the associations between citrus fruits and total vegetables and BC risk. This comprehensive study provides compelling evidence that the consumption of fruits overall, citrus fruits, pome fruits and tropical fruits reduce the BC risk. Besides, evidence was found for an inverse association between total vegetables and shoot vegetables intake.

Gardening and subjective cognitive decline: a cross-sectional study and mediation analyses of 136,748 adults aged 45+ years

BackgroundGiven the benefits of gardening for physical and psychological health, we explored whether gardening was associated with lower risks of subjective cognitive decline (SCD), a precursor of dementia, and SCD-related functional limitations.MethodsIncluded in this cross-sectional study were 136,748 participants aged 45 + years old from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2019 survey, who were then categorized into three groups according to self-reported exercise status: non-exercisers, gardeners, and other exercisers. SCD was assessed via a questionnaire, and SCD-related functional limitations were referred to as having difficulties in engaging in household or social activities due to SCD. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to assess the associations of gardening with SCD and SCD-related functional limitations, adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, and health status. Mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether the observed association between gardening and SCD was mediated by energy expenditure (MET-hours/week), depression status, and consumption of fruits and vegetables.ResultsOverall, 11.1% and 5.4% of participants self-reported experiencing SCD and SCD-related functional limitations, respectively. The adjusted OR for gardeners vs. non-exercisers, was 0.72 (95% CI 0.62–0.83) for SCD and 0.57 (95% CI 0.44–0.73) for SCD-related functional limitations. The observed association between gardening and SCD was explained by higher energy expenditure (39.0%), lower likelihood of having depression (21.5%), and higher consumption of fruits and vegetables (3.4%) (P<0.05 for all). Similar patterns were observed for SCD-related functional limitations.ConclusionIn this nationally representative sample, gardening was associated with better cognitive status, which may be mainly attributed to better depression status and energy expenditure.

The Association between Diet and Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS) that affects individuals between the ages of 20 and 40 years, with a higher prevalence among women. Prevalence of this disease has increased significantly in recent decades in different geographical areas. There is evidence to suggest that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of MS. This study aims to investigate the potential relationship between diet and MS in the Azeri population of the East Azerbaijan province of Iran. 467 MS patients and 260 non-related healthy individuals under the age of 15 completed a dietary demographic questionnaire. The relationship between food consumption and MS was evaluated using the obtained data. MS patients had a significantly higher consumption of fat, high-fat dairy, fast food, soybean, sausages and kielbasa, pickles, and leftover food (p-value=0.0001), while healthy individuals had a higher consumption of fruit (p-value=0.0001). Consumption of Meat, sweets, and fizzy drinks was also found to be higher in MS patients (p-value<0.05). There was no significant difference in the consumption of vegetables, cakes biscuits, and spices between the two groups (p-value>0.05). The results suggest that fruit consumption under the age of 15 may be a protective factoragainst MS, while the consumption of fat, high-fat dairy, fast food, soybean, sausages and kielbasa, pickles, leftover food, meat, sweets, sauce, and fizzy drinks under the age of 15, maybe risk factors for MS.

Modifiable and Non-Modifiable Factors Associated with Gastric Cancer

Numerous studies have investigated the associations between dietary components, behavioral patterns, and susceptibility to gastric cancer (GC). Diet and lifestyle cover a spectrum of both protective and harmful factors associated with GC. Additionally, non-modifiable factors such as age, gender, blood type, family history, and genetic predispositions may influence GC development. This review aims to explore the interplay between modifiable and non-modifiable factors, along with dietary habits and lifestyle practices, in relation to GC risk and the potential underlying mechanisms. We have synthesized the primary findings of observational studies (case-control and cohort), systematic reviews, and meta-analyses pertaining to preventive and deleterious factors affecting the incidence of gastric cancer. A literature search was conducted on Google Scholar, MEDLINE (PubMed), ScienceDirect, and Scopus for articles published in English from 2001 to 2024. The main search terms included body weight and body fat; diet; fruits and vegetables; meats and processed meats; fried and fast foods; milk and dairy products; salty foods; food and dietary patterns; fat and sweets intake; alcohol consumption; smoking; physical activity; age; sex; family history; blood type; genetics; and medication, and the risk of gastric cancer. Unhealthy dietary patterns, consumption of fried and fast foods, salty foods, alcohol, and smoking have been associated with an increased risk of GC. Non-modifiable factors such as advanced age, male sex, family history, genetics, and blood type A were linked to an elevated risk of GC. Conversely, physical activity and high consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables may prevent GC occurrence due to the presence of antioxidants, fiber, and polyphenols. While many studies have demonstrated that dietary patterns loaded with red and processed meats were associated with a high risk of GC, others have yielded inconclusive results. Controversial findings regarding the relationship between body weight and body fat, medications, milk and dairy products, and fat and sweets consumption with the risk of GC were also observed. Adequate diet modification and addressing preventable factors may play a pivotal role in reducing the incidence of gastric cancer.

Effect of glucomannan and sugar concentration for physicochemical and organoleptic characteristics of dragon fruit skin slice jam

The high consumption of dragon fruit causes a high amount of dragon fruit skin waste produced that still has benefits and nutritional value. Amorphophallus oncophyllus contain high glucomannan. Glucomannan as a hydrocolloid has gelling agent properties. Water in food can also be reduced in the presence of sugar which has hygroscopic properties. The purpose of this research is to describe effect of glucomannan and sugar concentration for physicochemical and organoleptic dragon fruit skin slice jam. The treatments are glucomannan (1%, 1.5%, 2%), sugar (10%, 15%, 20%), and single control (glucomannan 1% with sugar 0%). Samples were analyzed by color, water activity, syneresis, total solid soluble (TSS), texture, and hedonic test. The result showed that the addition of glucomannan and sugar significantly affect decrease of water activity, syneresis and increase TSS and texture. Based on overall hedonic test, panelist preferred 1% glucomannan with 15% sugar formulation.

Factors related to breastfeeding length among Filipino migrant women in South Korea

Breastfeeding is vital to infants’ health and development during their first year. The quality and quantity of breastmilk are closely linked to the mother’s nutrition [1]. However, for migrant women who become new mothers, various social, economic, and family factors can pose challenges that negatively affect their dietary and breastfeeding practices. Due to the limited research evidence, this study aimed to investigate the factors associated with breastfeeding duration in migrant women. The study sample was drawn from the Filipino Women’s Diet and Health Study (FiLWHEL). These women migrated to South Korea through marriage. At baseline (2014-2016), 504 women provided survey data, including demographic characteristics such as age, marital status, education, employment, income, and language proficiency. Anthropometric measures such as body mass index (BMI) and lifestyle factors were also recorded. Dietary intake of each food group was assessed using 24-hour recalls. We derived the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) from the ten food groups [2]. Breastfeeding (any) duration was defined as the average length in months per child. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between participants’ characteristics and breastfeeding duration, with a cut-off of 12 months (&lt;12 months; &gt; = 12 months). Linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between each of these factors and breastfeeding duration in months. Out of the initial 504 women, 271 met the eligibility criteria, with the median age of 35 [interquartile range (IQR): 30,40] years, median breastfeeding duration of 4 [IQR: 1, 10] months, mean BMI of 23.8kg/m2, median (IQR) o fruits, vegetables, and legumes of 162.2 [76.9, 265.9] grams/day, and median of MDD-W score of 5 [IQR:4, 6]. Over 50% of the sample held a university degree or higher, but only 47.8% were employed. Most women were married (90%) and earned less than 20 million won (~AU$23,114.58) per year (65%). Over half had a good understanding of the Korean language. The cross-sectional regression analysis found no associations for breastfeeding length, except for the total fruit, vegetable, and legume intake. Women in the highest tertile of this consumption had a two-fold likelihood of breastfeeding for 12 months or longer [adj.OR (95% CI): 2.15 (0.99-4.68)]. While the MDD-W score had a positive association with breastfeeding for at least 12 months, it did not reach statistical significance [adj.OR: 1.11 (0.92-1.34)]. In the linear regression analysis, only vegetable consumption (per gram increase) was positively related to the length of breastfeeding (beta-coefficient: 0.016; SE: 0.006; p = 0.01). This study among Filipino migrant women in Korea suggests that higher consumption of fruit, vegetables, and legumes positively linked to breastfeeding for at least 12 months. Given the study’s small sample size, interpreting these results should be cautious and warrants further validation in other studies.

Lifestyle-Driven Variations in Nutrimiromic MicroRNA Expression Patterns across and beyond Genders.

The importance of diet and lifestyle in maintaining overall health has long been recognised. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key players in the intricate interplay between health and disease. This study, including 305 participants, examined the role of miRNAs from capillary blood as indicators of individual physiological characteristics, diet, and lifestyle influences. Key findings include specific miRNAs associated with inflammatory processes and dietary patterns. Notably, miR-155 was associated with subjects with metabolic diseases and upregulated in age. Additionally, the study revealed diet-related miRNA expressions: high consumption of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains correlated with increased levels of miR-let-7a and miR-328, both implicated in anti-inflammatory pathways, and decreased expression of pro-inflammatory miR-21. In the context of smoking, we found a significant decrease in miRNA-142, known for its downregulation in lung cancer. We observed a sex-biased expression of various miRNAs with significant upregulation of miR-151a in females and a higher expression of miR-155 in ageing females, representing a possible mechanism for the increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. In conclusion, the study underscores the significant influence of lifestyle, nutrition, and sex on miRNA profiles. Circulating miRNAs demonstrate significant potential as biomarkers in personalized medicine, highlighting their utility in tailoring healthcare to individual needs.

Factors Associated with Depression Symptoms in the Peruvian Population : Analysis of a National Health Survey

Introduction: Worldwide, approximately 280 million people suffer from depression, which results from complex interactions. Aim: Determining the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their associated factors in the Peruvian Population. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study. The odds ratios together with their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. For evaluating the strength of association between the variables of interest, a generalized linear model of the Poisson family was performed with robust variance. Results: The factors associated with exhibiting symptoms of depression were: the female sex; the age group older than 70 years; the year 2021; being married, cohabiting and being separated; residents in the region of Lima, the rest of the coast, mountains and jungle; possessing a level of higher education; living in a rural area; physical disability; drinking alcoholic beverages; having type 2 diabetes mellitus; having hypertension; medium and high fruit consumption. Conclusions: All the variables evaluated, except for the wealth index, tobacco consumption, health insurance, and body mass index, were associated with depressive symptoms.

Diet's Role in Modifying Risk of Alzheimer's Disease: History and Present Understanding.

Diet is an important nonpharmacological risk-modifying factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The approaches used here to assess diet's role in the risk of AD include multi-country ecological studies, prospective and cross-sectional observational studies, and laboratory studies. Ecological studies have identified fat, meat, and obesity from high-energy diets as important risk factors for AD and reported that AD rates peak about 15-20 years after national dietary changes. Observational studies have compared the Western dietary pattern with those of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Mediterranean (MedDi), and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets. Those studies identified AD risk factors including higher consumption of saturated and total fats, meat, and ultraprocessed foods and a lower risk of AD with higher consumption of fruits, legumes, nuts, omega-3 fatty acids, vegetables, and whole grains. Diet-induced factors associated with a significant risk of AD include inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, elevated homocysteine, dietary advanced glycation end products, and trimethylamine N-oxide. The molecular mechanisms by which dietary bioactive components and specific foods affect risk of AD are discussed. Given most countries' entrenched food supply systems, the upward trends of AD rates would be hard to reverse. However, for people willing and able, a low-animal product diet with plenty of anti-inflammatory, low-glycemic load foods may be helpful.