Nutritional Recommendations Research Articles

Identifying gaps between perceived and actual intakes in Finnish adults: self-assessment of macronutrient intakes in relation to nutrition recommendations is challenging

Background: Population adherence to nutrition recommendations measured by dietary surveys is well known, but people’s perceptions in adherence to nutrition recommendations are less explored. For macronutrients, nutrition recommendations suggest broad intake ranges. Objective: To study individuals’ perceptions of their macronutrient intakes compared to the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations and discrepancies between perceived and actual macronutrient intakes. Design: The ScenoProt trial investigated nutritional and health effects of replacing animal-source proteins with plant-source proteins in Finnish adults (n = 102, 78% women, mean age 47 years). This cross-sectional sub-study utilized data collected at the baseline of the trial. Participants’ perceptions of intakes and sources of carbohydrates, fibers, fats, and proteins were collected by a questionnaire developed for the study. Actual macronutrient intakes and sources were assessed with 4-day food records. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between sociodemographic factors and the capacity to self-assess macronutrient intakes relative to the nutrition recommendations. Results: Discrepancies were found in relative proportions of three categories, below/according to/above the recommendation, between perceived and actual macronutrient intakes regarding the nutrition recommendations. Participants rated themselves rather according to or above than below the recommendation. The most distinct gap was discovered between perceived and actual carbohydrate intakes, for example, proportions of participants being below the recommendation: 8% measured as perceived intake; 70% measured as actual mean intake. Gaps were also observed for fat and protein. Cereals were one of the most common protein sources but only 8% of the participants named them. No associations emerged between age, gender, or education (46% with a master’s degree or higher) and the capacity to self-assess macronutrient intakes. Discussion & conclusions: Our study suggests that self-assessment of macronutrient intakes is challenging. Misperceptions can be obstacles in shifting to healthier and more sustainable diets. Interpretation of nutrition recommendations to the public could still be improved.

Food consumption and adherence to dietary guidelines among Jordanian children and adolescents

Background Early-life food consumption patterns may affect children’s health by increasing susceptibility to developing non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) in adulthood. Aims To evaluate Jordanian children and adolescents’ energy and macronutrient intake and how closely they adhere to dietary recommendations. Methods This cross-sectional study used data from Jordan’s Population-based Food Consumption Survey, a household population-based study conducted in Jordan between 2021 and 2022 (561 children and adolescents 8-19 years). Dietary intake was assessed using the two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recall methods (24-h DR). The estimated food group and nutrient intakes were compared to nutritional recommendations, including MyPlate dietary guidelines. Results The prevalence of overweight/obese individuals based on body mass index (BMI) was 44%, and the average waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was 24.7%. Compared to MyPlate dietary guidelines, children and adolescents had a higher added sugar intake (57g/day). Also, consuming vegetables, fruits, and dairy fell short of MyPlate dietary guidelines. The total discretionary calorie intake in children and adolescents was approximately one-third of the total energy intake. Conclusion The food consumption of Jordanian children and adolescents includes high intakes of discretionary calories, with a low intake of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was elevated compared to international norms.

Obstacles to meeting nutritional recommendations in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit.

Optimal nutrition is associated with positive outcomes in critically ill children. In 2017, the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) updated guidelines for nutritional support for this population. However, implementation of these guidelines may be delayed due to clinical barriers. We aimed to assess our practice against the recommendations of the ASPEN guidelines, hypothesizing that caregiver bias and clinical factors may hinder their implementation in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). We focused on two ASPEN recommendations: (1) feeding within 48 h (48H) of admission and (2) meeting two thirds of estimated caloric requirements after seven calendar days. All children aged 1 month to 16 years admitted to our PICU from July 2017 to January 2020 were eligible. Using a retrospective chart review, nutritional and clinical data were collected at the time of admission, at 48H, and 7 calendar days after admission. A total of 533 patients were included. After 48H of admission to the PICU, 402 out of 533 (75.4%) patients received feeding. The following factors were associated with not reaching nutritional goals at 48H: invasive ventilation support, inotropic and vasoactive support, and extracorporeal life support. After 7 days, 95 out of 118 (80.5%) received two thirds of caloric needs. At 7 days, the main obstacle to meeting caloric goals was invasive ventilation. In a representative tertiary PICU, barriers to meeting ASPEN nutritional recommendations included hemodynamic instability or invasive ventilator support, especially within the first 48H of admission.

Gastrointestinal autonomic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: features of diagnosis and treatment

Diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 is one of the components of metabolic syndrome. One of the most common complications of type 2 diabetes is diabetic neuropathy, which results in damage to peripheral and/or autonomic nerve fibers. Disorders of the autonomic nervous system - diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN)-can occur in up to 60% of patients. One form of GAN is gastrointestinal autonomic neuropathy (GAN). There is no exact information about its prevalence due to the complexity of diagnosis, but according to some data, symptoms occur in half of patients with diabetes. The main manifestations of GAN are esophageal motility disorders (heartburn, reflux), gastroparesis (nausea, vomiting, feeling of fullness), intestinal motility disorders (diarrhea, constipation), anorectal dysfunction (fecal incontinence). Impaired gastrointestinal motility, in particular gastroparesis, leads to changes in the pharmacokinetics of oral glucose-lowering drugs, which reduces their effectiveness. And in patients receiving insulin therapy, impaired movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract can lead to hypoglycemia. In this regard, identifying and treating manifestations of GAN is an important aspect of managing a patient with type 2 diabetes. Diagnosis of GAN should be aimed at excluding other causes of gastrointestinal disorders and includes, depending on the clinical manifestations, fibrogastroduodenoscopy, barium radiography, colonoscopy, etc. The “gold standard” for diagnosing gastroparesis is considered to be measuring gastric emptying using scintigraphy of digested solids, but due to the high cost and complexity of the procedure, this method is not used in routine practice. The main therapeutic measures in the management of patients with diabetes and GAN are glycemic compensation, compliance with nutritional recommendations, treatment of neuropathy and symptomatic therapy.

Critical analysis of updated international recommendations on nutrition of patients with cystic fibrosis

The aim of the review is to analyse the Guidelines in the updated version of the ESPEN-ESPGHAN-ECFS 2024 Guidelines on infant, child and adult nutrition in cystic fibrosis (CF). The previous version of the Guideline was published in 2016. An expert working group of physicians, dietitians, and patient community representatives updated the nutritional recommendations, including methods for nutritional assessment and management at all ages. Chapters on pregnancy, liver disease, CF-related diabetes, bone disease, nutritional and mineral supplements, and probiotics have been expanded. There are new chapters on nutrition in the use of highly effective CFTR modulator (targeted) therapies and nutrition after organ transplantation. The main point is the change in the concept of nutrition in the era of targeted therapy from a hypercaloric high-fat diet for all patients to ‘healthy eating’ as the main recommendation. The ESPEN-ESPGHAN-ECFS 2024 Guidelines on nutrition in CF contain a number of important provisions that will be useful to paediatricians and general practitioners, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists and dietitians specialising in CF. Significant differences in the clinical and epidemiological situation in the Russian Federation should be taken into account when diagnosing disturbances of nutritional status and determining the tactics of nutritional support for patients with CF.

The Association of Fruits and Vegetables Consumption and COVID-19: Results from Yazd Health Study and TAMYZ Study

Background: COVID-19 has caused a high health burden worldwide and increased the need to identify factors affecting its risk. Fruits and vegetables are essential for a healthy diet and immune system function. This study investigated the associations between fruit and vegetable intake and COVID-19 incidence in a large sample of Iranian adults. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used data from 9189 participants of Yazd Health Study (YaHS) and Taghzieh Mardom-e-Yazd (TAMIZ) study aged 20 to 70 years. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Results: After adjusting for confounding variables, we found that higher intake of total fruit (OR: 0.42, CI: 0.20–0.83, P-trend =0.05), fresh fruit (OR: 0.46, CI: 0.23– 0.92, P-trend =0.04), green leafy vegetables (OR: 0.48, CI: 0.24–0.96, P-trend =0.08), and vitamin C (OR: 0.38, CI: 0.17– 0.81, P-trend =0.02) were associated with lower odds of COVID-19. No significant associations were observed for fruit juice, dried fruit, fruit compote, cruciferous vegetables, yellow vegetables, total vegetables and dietary fiber intake. Conclusion: Our study suggests that higher consumption of fresh fruit, total fruit, green leafy vegetables, and dietary vitamin C may reduce the risk of COVID-19. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and provide evidence-based nutritional recommendations. Furthermore, the current study's findings could be important for similar pandemics.

Post-exercise myofibrillar protein synthesis rates do not differ following 1.5 g essential amino acids compared to 15 and 20 g of whey protein in young females.

Optimal adaptation to resistance exercise requires maximal rates of myofibrillar protein synthesis (MyoPS), which can be achieved by postexercise consumption of >20 g of protein or ~2 g of the essential amino acid (EAA) leucine. These nutritional recommendations are based on studies in males. The aim of the present study was to compare the postexercise MyoPS response to nutrition in young females. Twenty-eight healthy, females (age: 28±8 y; BMI: 24±3 kg⋅m2) received a primed-continuous infusion of L-[ring-2H5]-phenylalanine and completed a bout of unilateral resistance exercise before ingesting a drink containing either 1.5 g EAA (n=10), 15 g (n=10) or 20 g (n=8) whey protein, containing 0.6, 1.5, and 2.0 g leucine, respectively. Blood and muscle samples were collected pre- and post-exercise and drink ingestion to assess MyoPS and gene expression. Drink ingestion increased plasma leucine concentrations following 15 and 20 g whey protein compared with 1.5 g EAA (P<0.0001). Exercise and drink ingestion increased basal (0.060±0.026, 0.063±0.034, 0.051±0.023%·h-1) MyoPS rates between 0-2 h to 0.117±0.028, 0.098±0.051 and 0.116±0.034%·h-1 (P<0.0001) and between 2-4 h to 0.110±0.028, 0.074±0.038, and 0.082±0.061%·h-1 (P=0.009) for 1.5, 15, and 20 g drinks, respectively, with no differences observed between drinks (P=0.416). The postexercise changes in muscle mRNA expression of genes involved in protein turnover, substrate utilization, remodeling and inflammation, did not differ between drinks (P>0.050). Post-exercise MyoPS did not differ following ingestion of 1.5, 15 and 20 g drinks, hence 0.6 g leucine may be sufficient to stimulate post-exercise MyoPS in young females.

Complete shielding of multivitamins to reduce toxic peroxides in the parenteral nutrition (C-SMART-PN): A randomized controlled pilot study.

When exposed to ambient light, parenteral nutrition (PN) contamination with peroxides almost doubles, which increases oxidative stress in preterm infants, contributing to the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) recommends complete PN photoprotection to reduce peroxide contamination and optimize its integrity but acknowledges the challenges of its implementation. In this study, a novel photoprotection procedure was tested for its effectiveness in reducing peroxide load and limiting ascorbic acid degradation, and for its feasibility and effectiveness in reducing urinary peroxide levels in preterm infants. In vitro evaluation included neonatal lipid injectable emulsion-free PN admixtures prepared and infused according to current practice or the suggested photoprotection procedure through separation and complete shielding of intravenous multivitamin preparation from compounding to administration through photoprotected infusion sets. In vivo evaluation included a single-center randomized controlled pilot study of extremely preterm infants receiving PN according to current practice or the suggested photoprotection procedure. In vitro, photoprotection allowed a 44% decrease in peroxide generation (P < 0.001) and reduced by half ascorbic acid degradation in PN admixtures (P < 0.001). In vivo, 28 infants completed the study. Baseline urinary peroxide levels were similar in both groups before PN initiation, and the suggested photoprotection procedure resulted in a significant decrease in urinary peroxide levels over the first week of life (P < 0.05). The suggested procedure appears feasible and effective in reducing peroxide contamination and optimizing PN integrity, representing a step toward integrating complete photoprotection of PN as the standard of care in preterm infants.

Energy availability and macronutrient intake over a 7-day training period in adolescent rugby players.

Understanding the dietary intake of elite adolescent athletes and its adequacy with sport nutrition recommendation is a key issue for health and player development, as well as performance and recovery. Energy availability needs to be considered to ensure optimal health and performance in young athletes. The present study aimed to quantify energy availability, energy expenditure and macronutrient intake in young male rugby union players competing at national level. Twelve male adolescent players (15.6±0.6 years) completed a 7-days prospective observational study (5 days of training and 2 days of full recovery). Total energy expenditure was estimated using indirect calorimetry and heart rate measurement. Energy intake was assessed using weighed food by a dietitian in cafeteria (training days) and image-based dietary (recovery days). Energy availability was calculated using (energy intake-exercise energy expenditure)/fat-free mass. Mean energy availability was 38.5±7.5, 40.2±5.4 and 47.8±5.1 kcal/kgFFM/d on heavy training, moderate training and recovery days, respectively. Players consumed a low carbohydrate (~5.0 g/kg/d), high protein (~2.0 g/kg/d) and high fat (~1.8 g/kg/d) diet on training and recovery days in relation to current international nutritional recommendations for young athletes. Athletes showed sub-optimal energy availability on training days, high energy availability on recovery days and did not comply with carbohydrate intake recommendations on training nor recovery days. These results highlight the short-term inadequacy of energy availability as a result of low carbohydrate intake, warning about the possible adverse short-term metabolic effects on health and performance of young athletes.

Impact of Hypocaloric Diets on Weight Loss and Body Composition in Obese Dogs: A Meta-Analysis.

Canine obesity is a complex, multifactorial condition marked by excessive body fat accumulation due to a sustained positive energy balance. Over the past decade, its global prevalence has risen significantly in most industrialized nations. Despite the availability of numerous commercial diets designed for obesity management in dogs, these products exhibit considerable variability in nutrient composition, and there is currently no standardized guideline on optimal macronutrient levels for effective weight loss. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of specific macronutrient levels on weight loss and body composition in obese dogs. A comprehensive literature search was conducted from 2022 to 2024 across PUBMED, Scielo, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Out of an initial 1727 documents, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into this meta-analysis. Diets with energy densities below 3.275 kcal, protein levels above 25%, total dietary fiber exceeding 12%, lower fat (<10%), and reduced non-nitrogenous extract (<40%) demonstrated beneficial effects on all evaluated parameters, including weight loss and body composition assessment. This meta-analysis provides evidence-based nutritional recommendations on optimal caloric, protein, fiber, fat, and carbohydrate levels for hypocaloric diet formulations, supporting healthy weight loss and lean mass preservation in obese dogs. These findings contribute to the development of effective dietary strategies that enhance canine quality of life and longevity.

Meat is healthy, green and vital to social and economic sustainability: frames used by the red meat industry during development of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Meat is healthy, green and vital to social and economic sustainability: frames used by the red meat industry during development of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

The Interactive Effects of Fruit Intake Frequency and Serum miR-484 Levels as Biomarkers for Incident Type 2 Diabetes in a Prospective Cohort of the Spanish Adult Population: The Di@bet.es Study.

Background/Objectives: Although evidence suggests that miR-484 and several fruit components are involved in glucose metabolism and insulin resistance metabolic pathways, the relationship between serum miR-484 levels and fruit consumption in relation to the risk of Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remains elusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between serum miR-484 levels and fruit intake frequency with the risk of T2DM in the Spanish adult population. Methods: 2234 subjects from the Di@bet.es cohort study without T2DM at baseline were studied. Socio-demographic, anthropometric and clinical data were recorded, as well as responses to a questionnaire on habits, including frequency of fruit consumption (daily vs. occasional). T2DM was diagnosed at baseline and after 7.5 years of follow-up. Baseline serum miR-484 levels were measured using real-time qPCR and categorized based on the 25th percentile. Association analyses were performed using logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Interaction effects were evaluated on the multiplicative and additive scales. Results: There was no association between miR-484 levels and fruit intake frequency. Categorized miR-484 levels and fruit consumption were inversely and independently associated with the likelihood of incident T2DM. Analysis of the interaction effect suggests the presence of both positive multiplicative and additive interactions between miR-484 categories and fruit consumption frequency. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a protective effect of daily fruit intake and high miR-484 levels regarding the risk of T2DM and supports the nutritional recommendations advocating daily fruit consumption. This study also suggests that the combined effect of low miR-484 levels and occasional fruit intake may increase the risk of T2DM beyond their independent effects.

Simulation and Local Parametric Sensitivity Analysis of a Computational Model of Fructose Metabolism

This research utilized a mathematical model of fructose metabolism within the CellDesigner software package to investigate the effects of varying dietary fructose intake on fat metabolism. By simulating different meal patterns with varying levels of fructose, the model provided valuable insights into the relationship between fructose consumption and hepatic triglyceride accumulation. The results demonstrated a clear correlation between increased fructose intake and elevated hepatic triglycerides. Additionally, a local parametric sensitivity analysis identified glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and pyruvate as key regulatory factors in this process. Importantly, the model accurately simulated changes in fructose concentration and its metabolites, validating its predictive capabilities. These findings underscore the importance of systems biology in elucidating the complex mechanisms underlying nutrition-related diseases. By integrating computational modeling with experimental data, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of how dietary factors influence metabolic pathways and contribute to health outcomes. Ultimately, systems biology holds the promise of enabling personalized nutrition recommendations tailored to individual needs and genetic predispositions.

Nutrient Intake Among Lactating Women With Overweight and Obesity in Norway: A Comparison With the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023.

During lactation, maternal requirements for many nutrients increase due to the physiological demands of breast milk production, reflected in dietary recommendations. BMI is negatively associated with dietary quality postpartum, and 40% of women in Norway have pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity. Currently, there is limited data on dietary intake among lactating women in Norway and whether they meet nutritional requirements. We aimed to evaluate the nutrient intake in a study sample of lactating women with overweight and obesity, compared with the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR 2023). In this cross-sectional analysis, we included baseline data from 112 lactating women with a pre-pregnancy BMI of 25-35 kg/m2, participating in a weight loss and breastfeeding promotion intervention trial in Oslo, Norway. Data were collected at 2 weeks postpartum (subject characteristics, anthropometry and dietary supplement use), at 7 weeks postpartum (dietary assessment) and post-weaning (retrospective dietary supplement use). Dietary data were obtained from a 4-day dietary record before randomisation to dietary treatment for weight loss. Nutrient intake was compared to the dietary reference values for lactating women in NNR 2023. Increased risk of inadequate intake of micronutrients was assessed as the proportion of women with intakes below the average requirement (AR), with and without dietary supplements. Mean ± SD BMI at 2 weeks postpartum was 30.7 ± 2.5 kg/m2. At 7 weeks postpartum the women reported a mean energy intake of 9.2 ± 2.0 MJ/day, with a higher intake of saturated fat and a lower intake of carbohydrate, dietary fibre and docosahexaenoic acid than recommended. The majority had an increased risk of inadequate intake of vitamin A (92%), folate (92%), vitamin D (84%), selenium (87%) and iodine (71%) from the diet alone. When dietary supplements were taken into account, ≥ 50% of the women still had an increased risk of inadequate intake of vitamin A, folate and selenium. The high proportion of lactating women with overweight and obesity failing to meet the newly updated Nordic Nutrition Recommendations highlights the need to raise awareness among new mothers and healthcare professionals about the increased maternal nutritional demands during lactation and hence, the importance of nutrient-dense diets.

Fiber, lactose and fat-modified diet for the prevention of gastrointestinal chemo-radiotherapy-induced toxicity in patients with cervical cancer: Randomized clinical trial.

The most frequent early gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity symptoms are nausea (58%), diarrhea (46.7%), and vomiting (45.5%) in patients with cervical cancer (CC). Approximately 90% of patients undergoing abdominopelvic radiotherapy present with changes in the GI tract, such as degenerative alterations in mucosal epithelial cells and nutrient malabsorption. To evaluate the effect of a diet modified in fiber, lactose, and fat on the prevention of chemoradiotherapy (QTRT)-induced GI toxicity compared to the usual prescription in women with locally advanced CC. A total of 134 women with a confirmed diagnosis of CC in locally advanced stages (IB2-IVA) were included in a randomized clinical trial conducted between February 2017 and March 2020. The intervention group (IG) received a modified diet of fiber, lactose, and fat, while the usual prescription group (UP) followed habitual nutritional recommendations. Toxicity was measured using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4. A total of 134 women were included in the IG (65) and UP (69) groups. The mean age in the IG and UP groups were 47.2±13.4 and 49.7±14.2 years, respectively. Radiotherapy doses received by the IG and UP groups were 50.1±6.7 and 49.9±4.6 Gy, respectively. IG had a lower risk of presenting with mild constipation compared to the UP (hazard ratio: 0.46, 95% confidence interval: 0.28-0.76, P<0.01). Patients with locally advanced stages of CC undergoing QTRT who received fiber, lactose, and fat-modified diet may have a lower risk of mild constipation during abdominal radiotherapy.

Next-generation diabetes diagnosis and personalized diet-activity management: A hybrid ensemble paradigm.

Diabetes, a chronic metabolic condition characterised by persistently high blood sugar levels, necessitates early detection to mitigate its risks. Inadequate dietary choices can contribute to various health complications, emphasising the importance of personalised nutrition interventions. However, real-time selection of diets tailored to individual nutritional needs is challenging because of the intricate nature of foods and the abundance of dietary sources. Because diabetes is a chronic condition, patients with this illness must choose a healthy diet. Patients with diabetes frequently need to visit their doctor and rely on expensive medications to manage their condition. It is challenging to purchase medication for chronic illnesses on a regular basis in underdeveloped nations. Motivated by this concept, we suggest a hybrid model that, rather than depending solely on medication to evade a visit to the doctor, can first anticipate diabetes and then suggest a diet and exercise regimen. This research proposes an optimized approach by harnessing machine learning classifiers, including Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and XGBoost, to develop a robust framework for accurate diabetes prediction. The study addresses the difficulties in predicting diabetes precisely from limited labeled data and outliers in diabetes datasets. Furthermore, a thorough food and exercise recommender system is unveiled, offering individualized and health-conscious nutrition recommendations based on user preferences and medical information. Leveraging efficient learning and inference techniques, the study achieves a meager error rate of less than 30% using an extensive dataset comprising over 100 million user-rated foods. This research underscores the significance of integrating machine learning classifiers with personalized nutritional recommendations to enhance diabetes prediction and management. The proposed framework has substantial potential to facilitate early detection, provide tailored dietary guidance, and alleviate the economic burden associated with diabetes-related healthcare expenses.

Nutritional recommendations: an easy and difficult task for the doctor.

Nutritional recommendations: an easy and difficult task for the doctor.

Awareness of nutrition-related effects among Saudi women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Objective: This study aimed to assess women&amp;apos;s knowledge about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and associated nutritional recommendations, as well as identify factors influencing their awareness. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of women, aged 18 to 45 years, who were surveyed on their general and nutritional knowledge of PCOS. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire that assessed participants&amp;apos; awareness of PCOS, its symptoms, nutritional management strategies, and sources of information. Demographic factors such as age, marital status, education, and occupation were also analyzed about knowledge levels. Results: A majority of participants (90.4%) had heard of PCOS, with 88.2% correctly identifying that PCOS involves multiple small cysts in the ovaries, and 82.4% recognizing the link between obesity and PCOS. However, less than half (43.7%) were aware that diabetes can cause PCOS. Regarding nutritional knowledge, 75.0% of participants believed that specific foods could help manage PCOS, but only 48.6% knew specific dietary recommendations. Younger women, single women, and those with higher education exhibited significantly better knowledge. Additionally, healthcare professionals were identified as the most common source of information. Conclusions: The study found that participants had good general knowledge of PCOS but lacked awareness of important nutritional strategies like low-glycemic-index foods, protein sources, and omega-3 fatty acids. It highlighted the need for targeted educational programs, especially for older, married women and those with lower education, to improve PCOS management.

Self-reported carbohydrate supercompensation and supplementation strategies adopted by Olympic triathlon athletes.

The aim of the present study was to describe the use of tapering, carbohydrate (CHO) supercompensation, and supplementation strategies self-reported by athletes in the Olympic triathlon category. A total of 72 triathletes (61 males and 11 females) answered an online questionnaire about their training and performance, supercompensation strategies, carbohydrate supplementation, and use of supplements and other ergogenic substances. The information was summarized and subjected to descriptive analysis. Shapiro-Wilk test was applied to check data normality. The t-test was used to investigate differences in the analyzed variables between sexes. Almost all triathletes reported to have performed tapering (93.05%) and approximately half of them adopted a CHO supercompensation strategy (48.61%); updated CHO supercompensation was the most used strategy (27.77%). Most participants (86.11%) used CHO supplementation during competitions, but in amounts below the 60 g/h recommended for most athletes (96.77%). Thus, since few triathletes performed supercompensation, in addition to the insufficient amount of supplemented carbohydrate taken by them, it could be concluded that triathletes were not sufficiently aware of nutritional recommendations or did not adopt them.

Nordic nutrition recommendations 2023 on diet for health and environment estimated for children

Nordic nutrition recommendations 2023 (NNR2023) advised for the first time certain amounts of foods from food-groups based on scientific data on healthy and environment-friendly diet. The food-based-dietary-guidelines are intended for adults and children above age two, but children's energy requirement and intake are lower than those of adults. In this review, reference amounts of food from different food-groups are calculated for children to align with the combination recommended for adults in NNR2023. The calculated reference consumption for children aged three to 9 years was 50%-76% of that for adults, which means at least 250-380 grams daily of vegetables, fruits and berries, with at least half being vegetables. A comparison with results from studies on diet of randomly selected children in Iceland, in the capital area or country-wide, 2003-2012 (N=943), indicates that children's diet needs to be improved. The data are 10-20 years old, and new data are necessary, but changes in consumption of the food groups compared in the current paper are not expected to be large. Below 5% of the children had lower consumption of vegetables than advised. The median of meat intake was higher than advised maximum intake of red meat for pre-schoolers and adolescents. Pre-schoolers had high fish intake, while older children, especially adolescent girls, had a lower intake. New studies on children's diet are needed in Iceland to analyse their diet today.