Inadequate Food Intake Research Articles

Pola Asuh Pemberian Makan dan Tingkat Pendidikan Pengasuh Baduta Stunting di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Tete Sulawesi Tengah

Background: According to the 2014 World Health Organization, the causes of child stunting include maternal nutritional status, exclusive breastfeeding, inadequate food intake and infectious diseases. In addition, other factors that affect the nutritional status of stunting are maternal characteristics of age, education, occupation or height Aims: To describe the feeding parenting pattern and the level of education of the caregivers for stunting children. Methods: This research is a cross sectional descriptive study. The research population was all stunting children in the Tete Health Center working area with a total of 154 children with a sample of 61 people. The sampling technique used proportional random sampling. Data were obtained from respondents by means of interviews using questionnaires and univariate data analysis. Results: The results of the study showed that the parenting pattern of feeding stunting children was no IMD 95.1%, not exclusive breastfeeding 63.9%, complementary feeding at the age of 6-8 months with a frequency of 2.6 times/day with a total of 0.5 servings/day. , ages 9-11 months frequency is 3 times/day with a total of 0.75 servings/day, ages 12-23 months the frequency is 3 times/day with a total of 0.75 servings/day, texture does not match 63.9%, does not vary 100 %. Parenting related to cleanliness, namely mothers do not clean their children's teeth every day 68.9%, children do not wear shoes when playing outside the house 57.4%, mothers do not clean their children's milk bottles after use (who use) 68.9%, and the level of caregiver education is SMA/MA 82.0%. Conclusion: The conclusion of the feeding parenting pattern starting from IMD, exclusive breastfeeding, MP-ASI, and the level of education of the mother in the working area of ​​the Tete Health Center, Tojo Una-Una Regency is still low, the mother's education is on average high school/MA. It is suggested that the Tete Health Center is able to improve education and innovation programs about the importance of the role of feeding parenting in children.

Covid-19 related factors to food security and dietary diversity among urban households in western Oromia, Ethiopia

BackgroundThis study aims to assess factors associated with food security and dietary diversity among poor urban households of western Oromia, Ethiopia, after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. MethodA cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted in May to June 2021 with 361 poor urban households in the Horo Guduru Wollega zone, western Oromia, Ethiopia. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Twenty-four hour reminder points were used to assess household dietary diversity, and household food security was assessed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale tool. Data were evaluated using the statistical software SPSS version 25.0. ResultsThis study showed a prevalence of food insecurity in households of 59.6%. The mean and standard deviation of household dietary diversity values were 4.19 ± 1.844. Family size (AOR = 8.5; 95% CI:3.295–21.92), monthly income (AOR = 3.52; 95% CI; 1.771–6.986), dietary diversity (AOR = 8.5; 95% CI; 3.92–18.59), knowledge (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.08–)8.347), attitude (AOR = 8.35, 95% CI:3.112–22.39) and practices against Covid-19 (AOR = 2.12; 95% CI:1.299–11.4) were factors significantly associated with food insecurity. Variables like educational status (AOR = 3.46; 95% CI:1.44–8.312), increased family size after the Covid-19 pandemic (AOR = 2.26; 95% CI:1.02–5.04), food security (AOR = 6.7; 95% CI:4.01–19.01), knowledge (AOR = 3.96; 95% CI:1.57–10.0), attitude (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI:1.75–8.82) and practices toward coronavirus (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI:2.18–23.95) were predictors significantly associated with dietary diversity. ConclusionThis study concluded that family size, monthly income, and dietary diversity were factors contributed to household food security. On the other hand, variables such as educational status, family size, and food security were highly relevant factors for dietary diversity after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices were also variables related to both household food security and dietary diversity. Therefore, immediate interventions such as nutrition-specific interventions can be suggested to address food insecurity and problems of inadequate food intake in poor urban households. In addition, governmental and non-governmental organizations should raise awareness and policies to support those at higher risk by developing affordable, sustainable and targeted social protection systems that ensure food security and adequate dietary intake at the household level.

Photobiomodulation for Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis in Pediatric Patients

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common side effect in patients undergoing chemotherapy (CT), especially in children due to their rapid epithelial mitotic rate. It has been associated with a significant reduction in life quality since it leads to pain, an inadequate intake of nutrients, an increased risk of opportunistic infections, and interruptions of CT. Photobiomodulation (PMB) with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has shown faster healing, reduction in pain, and the reduced use of analgesic compared to placebo groups. The purpose of this review is to analyze and compare the existing clinical trials and identify their shortcomings in hope to make future research easier. Using MeSH terms and keywords, the Embase, Medline, and PubMed databases we searched for the period of the last 5 years. We identified a total of 15 clinical trials, with a total of 929 pediatric patients analyzed in this review. We compared different light sources and other laser technique characteristics used in clinical trials such as wavelength, energy and power density, spot size, irradiation time, PBM protocol, and OM evaluation. The main findings show inconsistent laser parameter quotations, differences in the PBM protocol along with a laser application technique, and a lack of clinical trials. Based on that, more studies with a high methodological quality should be conducted in order to provide a unified PBM protocol suitable for the pediatric population.

Dietary intake and socio-economic predictors of inadequate energy and nutrient intake among women of childbearing age in Karamoja sub-region of Uganda

BackgroundKaramoja sub-region is the most food insecure part of Eastern Africa. The poor status of food security in the sub-region is reflected in the high rate of undernutrition among women of childbearing age (WCBA) and children under 5 years (CUFY). The sub-region is unique in Uganda in terms of cultural diversity, agro-ecology and rainfall pattern and agricultural practices. However, the influence of these unique characteristics on dietary intake of WCBA in the sub-region is less understood. Therefore, this study examined dietary intake and socio-economic predictors of inadequate energy and nutrient intake among WCBA in Karamoja sub-region.MethodsA longitudinal study design was used involving 755 WCBA in the harvesting season where 635 were followed-up in the planting season. Data were collected using 24-h recall, dietary diversity and socio-economic and demographic questionnaires.ResultsIntake of energy and nutrients were generally significantly higher (p < 0.05) during the planting season than in the harvesting season. Irrespective of the district, physiological status and season, household consumption of plant-based foods was far higher than intake of animal-based foods dominated by starchy stables (76–100%), dark green leafy vegetables (70–100%) and legumes, nuts and seeds (22–97%) depending on the district. Majority of the respondents had two meals (breakfast: 65–100%; supper: 90–100%) with up to 45% of WCBA who consumed alcohol across meal times. .Overall on average, 57.7, 66.6, 78.5, 60.3, 67.7 and 93.7% of WCBA did not meet the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for energy, protein, calcium, iron, zinc and folic acid, respectively. Binary logistic regression revealed that inadequate intake of energy and nutrients significantly increased (p < 0.05) with the status of being lactating/breastfeeding and was influenced by age of WCBA, number of women married, education level and occupation of the household head depending on season.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that dietary intake of WCBA in Karamoja sub-region was inadequate. Age of WCBA, number of women married, education level and occupation of the household head and spouse and being a lactating/breastfeeding mother were the key socio-economic and demographic factors that influenced inadequate intake of energy and nutrients among WCBA.

LITERATUR REVIEW: PENGARUH ASI EKSLUSIF TERHADAP KEJADIAN STUNTING PADA BALITA

Stunting is one of the nutritional problems of toddlers with growth failure that has accumulated since before and after birth caused by inadequate intake of nutrients. Short toddlers (stunting) can be detected when a toddler has been measured for length or height, then compared with nutritional status based on length or height according to age when compared to the 2005 WHO-MGRS standard, the z-score value is less than -2SD and categorized as very short if the z-score is less than -3SD (Ministry of Health, 2016). Objective: To find out the effect of "The Effect of Exclusive Breastfeeding on Stunting Incidents in Toddlers". Methods: Database searches include Google Scholar, Science Direct and Proquest with the keywords Exclusive Breastfeeding, Stunting, and Toddlers. Results: The analysis of 15 shows that there is an influence of Gadget Addict against adolescent deviant behavior. Conclusion : The results of the research from the literature review show that there are "The Influence of Exclusive Breastfeeding on Stunting Incidences in Toddlers" : With the average results of the journal showing a relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and the incidence of stunting. It was found that a history of exclusive breastfeeding and a history of energy intake were factors in the incidence of stunting.

Dietary supplement use among adult survivors of childhoodcancer: A report from the St. Jude Lifetime CohortStudy.

Adult survivors of childhood cancer have poor adherence to nutrition guidelines and inadequate intake of dietary vitamins D and E, potassium, fiber, magnesium, and calcium. The contribution of vitamin and mineral supplement use to total nutrient intake in this population is unclear. We examined the prevalence and dose of nutrient intake among 2570 adult survivors of childhood cancer participating in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study, and the association of dietary supplement use with treatment exposures, symptom burden, and quality of life. Nearly 40% of the adult survivors of cancer survivors reported regular use of dietary supplements. Although cancer survivors who used dietary supplements were less likely to have inadequate intake of several nutrients, they were also more likely to have excessive intake (total nutrient intake≥tolerable upper intake levels) of folate (15.4% vs. 1.3%), vitamin A (12.2% vs. 0.2%), iron (27.8% vs. 1.2%), zinc (18.6% vs. 1%), and calcium (5.1% vs. 0.9%) compared with survivors who did not use dietary supplements (all p <0.05). Treatment exposures, symptom burden, and physical functioning were not associated with supplement use, whereas emotional well-being and vitality were positively associated with supplement use among childhood cancer survivors. Supplement use is associated with both inadequate and excessive intake of specific nutrients, but positively impacts aspects of quality of life among childhood cancer survivors.

Abstract 145: Dietary Intake And Quality Among Stroke Survivors Compared To Matched Controls Who Participated In The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey: 1999 - 2018

Introduction: Nutrition is an important modifiable risk factor for the prevention and treatment of stroke. However, the examination of nutrient intake and diet quality in stroke survivors is limited. The purpose of this study was to estimate usual nutrient intake and diet quality in a nationally representative sample of US adults who have a history of stroke and compare to controls. Methods: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2018 data were used to examine 1,626 stroke survivors matched for age, gender, and survey cycle to their respective controls (n=1,621), with no history of stroke. Data were collected on demographics and dietary intake and quality (assessed by Healthy Eating Index [HEI] 2015) from at least one reliable 24-h dietary recall. Estimates were reported as mean[SE]. Differences in continuous and categorical variables were assessed using independent-samples t-tests and Rao-Scott Chi-Squared tests, respectively. Results: In comparison to controls, stroke survivors were more likely to report excessive (% &gt; Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range) intake for total fat (50.9%[2.7] vs. 40.4%[2.2], p&lt;.001), and inadequate intake (% &lt; Estimated Average Requirement) for calcium (54.6%[1.8] vs. 43.5%[2.4], p=.001) and magnesium (66%[1.8] vs. 53.6%[1.8], p&lt;.001). In addition, stroke survivors were less likely to report adequate intakes (% &gt; Adequate Intake) for fiber (6.8%[0.9] vs. 11.9%[1.3]) and potassium (0.8%[0.3] vs. 1.0%[0.4]) (p&lt;.001, all comparisons). Finally, stroke survivors reported lower HEI scores than controls (49.8 vs. 51.9, p&lt;.001) which indicates lower diet quality, and were more likely to be food insecure, and report physical and mental limitations including difficulty preparing and eating meals compared to controls (p&lt;.001, all comparisons). Conclusions: Stroke survivors had lower overall diet quality and greater prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake profiles typically associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases including higher total fat intake and lower intake of key micronutrients and fiber compared to matched controls. Stroke survivors were also more likely to experience food insecurity and have physical and mental limitations that may directly impact dietary intake.

Global, regional and national prevalence of copper, selenium and zinc deficiencies in women of childbearing age: protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionMicronutrient deficiencies are common in low-income and middle-income countries and are usually related to inadequate food intake, poor diet quality and low bioavailability. Copper, selenium and zinc are essential minerals...

Serum Magnesium Level in Protein-Energy Malnourished Children

Background: Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is mainly due to inadequate intake of food both in quantity and quality. Serum magnesium level can be detected to identify magnesium deficiency in malnourished children. Low magnesium level in these children is associated with illness and death. Objective: To determine the serum magnesium level in protein energy malnourished children who are under the age of 5 years. Study Design: Prospective Cross Sectional study. Setting: The Pediatric department, civil hospital, Karachi. Study period: From July to December 2021. Material and Methods: Total 245 patients of both genders with moderate and severe malnutrition were included. Venous samples were sent to laboratory and a centrifuge machine was used to separate the serum, which was maintained at a temperature of 20°C for serum magnesium test. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was used to measure serum magnesium levels. Descriptive statistics were applied. Frequency and percentage was calculated. Stratification was done using chi square test and p-value ≤0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Total 156 male and 89 female patients were included in the study. Mean age was 26.63±15.17 months. Mean duration of malnutrition was 11.74±4.86 months. Mean mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) was 11.66±0.76 cm. Serum magnesium level was 1.78±0.22 mg/dl. Overall 180 (73.5%) have moderate PEM. Conclusion: Study showed low serum concentration of magnesium in children with PEM. Keywords: Serum Magnesium Level, Protein Energy Malnutrition, Children Under 5 Years.

Low Sodium Intake, Low Protein Intake, and Excess Mortality in an Older Dutch General Population Cohort: Findings in the Prospective Lifelines-MINUTHE Study.

Several studies have found a U-shaped association between sodium intake and mortality. The increased mortality risk of low sodium intake has raised debates and hampers widespread acceptance of public health campaigns and dietary guidelines on reducing sodium intake. Whether the excess risk can be attributed to low sodium intake alone or concomitant inadequate intake of other relevant nutrients is unknown. We investigated whether concomitant low protein intake could explain the lower part of the U-shaped association of sodium intake with all-cause mortality. We included 1603 individuals aged between 60 and 75 years old from the gender- and socioeconomic status-balanced prospective Lifelines-MINUTHE cohort study. Using multivariable Cox regression analyses, we investigated the association of sodium intake (24 h urinary sodium excretion) with all-cause mortality, including the interaction with protein intake calculated from the Maroni formula. Mean intakes of sodium and protein were 3.9 ± 1.6 g/day and 1.1 ± 0.3 g/kg/day, respectively. After a median follow-up of 8.9 years, 125 individuals (7.8%) had died. The proportion of participants with insufficient protein intake (&lt;0.8 g/kg/day) was inversely related to sodium intake (i.e., 23.3% in Q1 versus 2.8% in Q4, p &lt; 0.001). We found an increased risk for mortality in both the highest quartile (Q4, &gt;4.7 g/day; hazard ratio (HR) 1.74 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-2.95)) and the lowest two quartiles of sodium intake (Q1, 0.7-2.8 g/day; 2.05 (1.16-3.62); p = 0.01 and Q2, 2.8-3.6 g/day; 1.85 (1.08-3.20); p = 0.03), compared with the third quartile of sodium intake (Q3, 3.6-4.7 g/day). This U-shaped association was significantly modified by protein intake (Pinteraction = 0.006), with the increased mortality risk of low sodium intake being reversed to the lowest mortality risk with concomitant high protein intake. In contrast, the increased mortality risk of low sodium intake was magnified by concomitant low protein intake. We found that a higher protein intake counteracts the increased mortality risk observed in subjects with a low sodium intake. In contrast, a joint low intake of sodium and protein is associated with an increased mortality risk, allegedly due to poor nutritional status. These findings support the guidelines that advocate a lower sodium intake, while highlighting the importance of recognizing overall nutritional status among older adults.

Correlation of Mother’s Knowledge on Child Nutrition, Feeding Practices and Nutritional Status of Children in Karnataka, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Malnutrition is a critical health problem in many countries, including India. The main reason for this is incorrect dietary habits that lead to illness and infections in early childhood. Inadequate food intake can hinder the growth and development of children. Childhood malnutrition can impair psychological and intellectual development, which can subsequently result in low school performance and behavioural disturbances. Therefore, child nutrition is of utmost importance. The knowledge and feeding practices of mothers can significantly influence child nutrition. Hence, it is essential to study the knowledge, feeding practices, and nutritional status of children as influenced by their mothers. Aim: To was to determine the correlation between the knowledge of mothers regarding child nutrition, their feeding practices, and the nutritional status of children. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in a 1050-bed multispecialty tertiary care hospital in Mangaluru, Karnataka, India, from December 30, 2021, to August 30, 2022. A total of 150 children under the age of five, visiting the hospital accompanied by their mothers, were selected as study participants using a non probability convenience sampling technique. Data was collected using a demographic proforma, a structured knowledge questionnaire on child nutrition, a structured checklist on feeding practices, and anthropometric measurements of children, which were taken using a digital weighing scale and stadiometer. Descriptive statistics including mean, frequency, percentage, Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and World Health Organisation (WHO) Anthro software were used for statistical analysis. Results: The majority of the study participants, 96 (64%), had average knowledge regarding child nutrition, while all of them had good child feeding practices. Regarding the nutritional status of the children, the majority fell under the normal category based on weight for height (123, 82%), weight for age (118, 78.67%), and height for age (104, 69.33%). The study also revealed a significant correlation between the knowledge of mothers, feeding practices, and nutritional status of children (p-value &lt;0.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that although majority of the study participants had a normal nutritional status and their mothers had average knowledge, regular awareness programs could be conducted, and the nutritional status of children needs to be regularly monitored.

An Assessment of the Energy and Nutritional Value of Menus Delivered by a Catering Company in a Selected Kindergarten in Wrocław and Parental Awareness Regarding Dietary Recommendations

Objective: The proper nutrition of preschool children is one of the key elements supporting their physical and mental development and intellectual agility. With the increasing awareness of the role of diet in preventing lifestyle diseases, there is a growing need for comprehensive education and the development of healthy eating habits from an early age. In this regard, parents and caregivers face the significant challenge of providing adequate and balanced diets that meet the individual nutritional needs of their children. This study aimed to estimate the energy and nutritional value of decadal menus provided by a catering company in a selected kindergarten in Wrocław. Additionally, a proprietary survey questionnaire assessed parental awareness of nutritional recommendations. Methodology: Forty dietary plans were analysed using the Dieta 6D computer software. The energy value and content of nutritional components, such as protein, fats, carbohydrates, mineral components (calcium, iron), and vitamins (A, C), were estimated in decadal menus for each season. In the second part of the study, parental awareness of nutritional recommendations was assessed. A survey questionnaire was prepared and directed to parents or guardians of preschool-aged children. Results: A qualitative analysis of 10-day dietary allowances showed them as being composed based on the principles of healthy eating, taking into consideration variety, seasonality of products, and diverse cooking techniques. The menus differed in meeting children’s needs for vitamins and mineral components. Regardless of the season, they provided an excessive amount of vitamin A compared to recommended norms, while vitamin C intake exceeded recommended norms in summer. Calcium content was consistently below dietary recommendations for the age group of 4 to 6 years. Only the iron content complied with the norms, regardless of the season. The survey research results indicate that parents of preschool-aged children pay close attention to nutrition in preschool facilities. When acquiring knowledge about the nutrition of 3-6-year-old children, parents rely on information from their relatives and dietitians rather than scientists specialising in children’s nutrition. Unfortunately, regarding knowledge about the dosage of vitamin D, only 35% of parents with higher education knew the appropriate dosage of vitamin D required at this age. Implications and recommendations: The assessment of preschool menus indicated the necessity of changes regarding their composition modifications, including adding legume seeds into the diet and limiting meals containing simple sugars. The knowledge and dietary attitudes of preschool teachers and parents play a significant role in shaping children’s dietary habits. Research has shown that inadequate or excessive intake of nutrients, ‘picky eating’ behaviour, and lack of knowledge about nutrition among teachers and staff are common issues in preschools. Therefore, interventions focusing on improving knowledge and dietary attitudes among teachers and parents are essential.

Dietary practice and nutritional status and the respective effect of pulses-based nutrition education among adolescent girls in Northwest Ethiopia: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Thinness and stunting are the most severe public health problems among adolescent girls in Ethiopia. An inadequate intake of protein-source foods is the most critical cause, mainly due to the non-affordability of animal-origin foods. However, research into what extent improving pulses-based food consumption could contribute to decreasing the magnitude of protein-energy undernutrition is limited. This trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of pulses-based nutrition education in reducing the proportion of thinness among adolescent girls. A two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted among adolescent girls in Northwest Ethiopia from December 2021 to June 2022. A total of 602 adolescent girls from four schools were enrolled in the trial. Schools were assigned to intervention and control groups using the stratified cluster randomization method. Pulses-based nutrition education was the intervention, whereas the usual dietary practice of adolescent girls was the comparator. The education was delivered over 4 weeks on a 45-60-min session per week basis. Thinness was the primary outcome of the trial, measured by anthropometry. An intention-to-treat analysis method was used. A log-binomial regression model was fitted to the data. Relative risk with the respective confidence interval and value of p was calculated. A value of p < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Stata 16 software was used for the analysis. About 89.37% of the participants in the intervention group and 92.36% in the control group completed the trial. The pulses-based nutrition education intervention did not show a significant difference in reducing the proportion of thinness among the participants in the intervention group compared to the participants in the control group even though a significant difference was observed in terms of the consumption of pulses-based food. The present trial was statistically non-significant in reducing thinness among adolescent girls. Similar studies that utilize objective methods for ascertaining pulses-based food consumption need to be conducted.Clinical trial registration: https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/Search.aspx, the trial was registered in the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR202111605102515) on November 12, 2021.

Ernährung und Nahrungsergänzungsmittel

Nutritional problems occur very frequently in patients with cancer and different problems are associated with separate phases of the disease. Therefore, it is principally recommended to regularly screen all patients with cancer for nutritional disorders and in the case of conspicuous results meticulous diagnostics should be carried to clarify the underlying causes. The focus is on food intake and possible disturbing complaints, the physical performance index, nutritional status including weight change and body composition, the metabolic pattern and the presence of a systemic inflammatory reaction. As anti-cancer treatments frequently induce gastrointestinal derangements which endanger adequate food intake, individualized nutritional care should be offered routinely. After successful curative treatment patients are at risk of developing a metabolic syndrome; therefore, abalanced diet and regular physically activity are recommended. During palliative treatment special attention should be paid to the development of malnutrition. Patients are particularly endangered by cachexia with the combination of inadequate food intake, inactivity and prevailing catabolism. The treatment of cachexia requires amultiprofessional approach to ensure adequate food intake, guiding and supporting physical activity and interventions for normalization of the metabolic situation. In addition, the need for psychological and social support should be discussed. Dietary supplements are of minor relevance; however, deficits in micronutrients, such as vitamins and trace elements need to be balanced. At the end of life, care should primarily be focused on alleviating debilitating symptoms. To reliably support all patients affected by nutritional disorders, clear structures need to be established, responsibilities assigned and standardized procedures codified.

Why Patients Discard Their Food? A Qualitative Study in Iranian Hospitals.

Food waste reflects inadequate food intake and is of economic and environmental importance. Therefore, understanding the underlying factors is a must to combat food waste. A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with managers, nurses, nutritionists, food providers, kitchen staff, and inpatients at three hospitals in Tehran. Responses were recorded, coded, and analyzed thematically. Forty-eight face-to-face interviews led to three core categories: 1. opinions/performance; 2. causes, related factors, and characteristics; and 3. rooting and suggestions. We found that the majority of the hospitalized patients did not consume their entire food. In spite of overall satisfaction with the quantity and quality of food, anorexia, personal taste, and poor quality of raw materials prohibited patients from eating. Also, rice was the most discarded food. Economic barriers were the most important hindrance to elevate the quality, and some strategies, like the supply of high-quality materials and recruiting skillful cooking team, were proposed to improve it. Our findings delineated a limited budget as the main barrier to improve the quality. Nevertheless, the low quality of hospital foods may actually impose a heavier economic burden due to food waste.

Chronic Low or High Nutrient Intake and Myokine Levels.

Inadequate nutrient availability has been demonstrated to be one of the main factors related to endocrine and metabolic dysfunction. We investigated the role of inadequate nutrient intakes in the myokine levels of runners. Sixty-one amateur runners participated in this study. The myokine levels were determined using the Human Magnetic Bead Panel from plasma samples collected before and after the marathon. Dietary intake was determined using a prospective method of three food records. The runners with lower carbohydrate and calcium intakes had higher percentages of fat mass (p < 0.01). The runners with a sucrose intake comprising above 10% of their energy intake and an adequate sodium intake had higher levels of BDNF (p = 0.027 and p = 0.031). After the race and in the recovery period, the runners with adequate carbohydrate intakes (g/kg) (>5 g/kg/day) had higher levels of myostatin and musclin (p < 0.05). The runners with less than 45% of carbohydrate of EI had lower levels of IL-15 (p = 0.015) and BNDF (p = 0.013). The runners with higher cholesterol intakes had lower levels of irisin (p = 0.011) and apelin (p = 0.020), and those with a low fiber intake had lower levels of irisin (p = 0.005) and BDNF (p = 0.049). The inadequate intake influenced myokine levels, which promoted cardiometabolic tissue repair and adaptations to exercise.

Development of a Diet Quality Score for Japanese and Comparison With Existing Diet Quality Scores Regarding Inadequacy of Nutrient Intake

BackgroundFew studies have explored optimal diet quality scores in Japan. ObjectivesWe developed a Diet Quality Score for Japanese (DQSJ) and examined the associations of DQSJ and existing diet quality scores with inadequacy of nutrient intake in Japanese adults. MethodsCandidate components of the DQSJ were extracted from well-established diet quality scores: Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), Alternate Mediterranean Diet score (AMED), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). From candidates, we selected the components of the DQSJ, considering potential health effects of the components (from the Global Burden of Disease Study) and dietary intake in Japan. The DQSJ included 10 components: fruits, vegetables, whole grain, dairy, nuts, legumes, fish, red and processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sodium. We calculated the DQSJ, HEI-2015, AHEI-2010, AMED, DASH, and Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top score (JFGST) based on 4-d dietary records of 392 Japanese aged 20–69 y. Inadequate intakes of 21 nutrients were assessed using the DRIs for Japanese. Logistic regression was used to examine the prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake according to quartiles of the scores. ResultsAll examined scores except the JFGST were moderately to strongly correlated with each other (Spearman correlation coefficients: 0.52–0.84). They were inversely associated with the prevalence of inadequate intake of most nutrients (n = 16 for DQSJ and HEI-2015, n = 13 for AHEI-2010 and DASH, n = 17 for AMED, compared with n = 4 for JFGST). AMED was also positively associated with the prevalence of inadequate sodium intake, whereas no such associations were observed for the other scores. ConclusionsSimilar to HEI-2015, AHEI-2010, and DASH, the DQSJ was generally associated with the low prevalence of inadequate intake of most nutrients in Japanese adults. Further evaluations against biomarkers and health outcomes are warranted.

Associação entre segurança alimentar e fatores sociodemográficos: estudo transversal em beneficiários do POAPMC

Introduction: Food insecurity is a complex problem with several factors such as sociodemography. In addition, it is associated with harmful effects on health such as inadequate food intake and the consequent emergence of chronic diseases, mental health problems, among others. Objectives: Determine the association between sociodemographic factors and the food security status in households supported by the Operational Programme to Support Most Deprived People (POAPMC – Programa Operacional de Apoio às Pessoas Mais Carenciadas). Material and methods: A cross-sectional, observational, quantitative, and analytical study, carried out at Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Vieira do Minho with a sample of 71 individuals who are POAPMC beneficiaries. It was applied a questionnaire on sociodemographic factors and a food insecurity scale. The analytical study involved association tests, namely the Pearson Chi-square test and the Spearman test. Results: Food insecurity was found in 74,6% of respondents, 14,1% in the severe level, 22,5% in the moderate level, and 38,0% in the low level. According to the Spearman test, the sociodemographic variable that showed an association with the food security status was the level of education completed (Rho = -0,23, p = 0,050). This correlation is negative, that is, as the level of education increases, the level of food insecurity decreases. Conclusions: The level of education seems to be associated with the food security status of POAPMC beneficiaries. Thus, the results of this study show that the educational level of each beneficiary must be considered in the creation of new public policies.

Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Health and Diseases.

We have adopted the following four topics: 1) dietary phosphorus management in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, 2) inadequate nutrient intakes in Filipino schoolchildren and adolescents, 3) clinical and societal implications of vitamin insufficiency, and 4) zinc transporters. Vitamins and minerals play essential roles in health promotion in clinical and societal perspectives with marked advances in understanding the mechanism underlying such effects.

Nutrition for Older Adults.

The world population is aging rapidly. Japan has the oldest population in the world, with 28% of the current population aged 65 y or older. Maintaining good nutrition is important for preventing age-related deterioration in health. Physical activity levels, energy intake, and weight tend to decrease with age. Decreased food intake increases the risk of undernutrition due to the inadequate intake of essential nutrients. The proportion of the older population that is malnourished ranges from 1% to 5% among independent older adults living in the community, and increases to 30% to 50% among residents of care institutions. Among older adults, the risk of death increases with increasing leanness. In Japan, the government pays considerable attention to the prevention of adverse health effects related to obesity among young and middle-aged adults, although the adverse health effects related to undernutrition and being underweight among older adults have been overlooked. In addition to providing nutrients, eating has important psychological and social benefits. Therefore, there is a need to pay attention to the diet and nutritional needs of older adults in Japan in order to promote and maintain their physical and mental health.