Nutritional Patterns Research Articles

Food security and dietary patterns in the Tajik Pamirs

For mountain regions in the so-called ‘developing world’, an increase in the number of people considered vulnerable to food insecurity has been noted since the turn of the millennium. Challenging environmental settings, as well as difficult societal conditions have been identified as sources of aggravation to mountain food systems. This paper applies a case study approach, conducted in a remote settlement in the Western Pamirs of Tajikistan, to underpin these general insights with detailed accounts of the complexity of the subject under study, and examines the question of how food security plays out in a specific local setting. The goal is to illustrate how socio-ecological conditions influence the food situation in a specific location, how different parameters generate unequal access to food and effect the nutrition patterns of local households, and what dynamics these patterns exhibit over time. Empirical material was analyzed using Cannon’s food systems approach. The findings exemplify how ensuring food security is made more difficult by the concurrence of challenging conditions, that there is a relationship between the socio-economic status and the dietary patterns of individual households, and how consumption patterns are subject to fluctuations over time. Based upon this, I argue that customized strategies are vital in order to tackle food security challenges in specific settings effectively, and that differentiated, empirically grounded analyses are essential to developing such approaches.

Effects of Zeaxanthin on the Insulin Resistance and Gut Microbiota of High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Obesity-induced insulin resistance (IR) can precipitate metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Zeaxanthin, a crucial member of the carotenoid family, has been found to mitigate the damage caused by obesity. However, reports on the effects of zeaxanthin on obesity-induced IR are lacking. Our objective was to examine the metabolic regulatory impacts of zeaxanthin on mice subjected to a high-fat diet (HFD) that triggered IR and to explore their influence on gut microbiota regulation. This study constructed a mouse model of metabolic dysfunction caused by lipid-rich nutritional patterns to investigate physiological and biochemical indices, liver pathway expression, and the intestinal microbiota. The mechanisms by which zeaxanthin improved both IR and glucose metabolic disorders were elucidated. The results demonstrate that zeaxanthin effectively suppressed obesity. The fasting blood glucose, area under curve of oral glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test, and homeostatic model assessment–insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) indices in the HFDZEA group decreased by 14.9%, 25.2%, 28.9%, and 29.8%. Additionally, zeaxanthin improved the lipid metabolism and alleviated damage to the liver and pancreas while also activating the PI3K/Akt pathway, regulating hepatic gluconeogenesis and the glycogen metabolism. The number of OTUs in the HFDZEA group increased by 29.04%. Zeaxanthin improved the structure and profile of the gastrointestinal microbiome and enhanced its diversity, increasing probiotics abundance, decreasing pathogen abundance, and thereby ameliorating the dysbiosis of enteric microbial communities in rodents with obesity resulting from excessive fat consumption. The outcomes of our analysis provide a rational basis for advancing zeaxanthin-based nutritional products.

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Melalui Pelatihan Membuat Makanan Olahan Dari jantung Pisang Untuk Kelancaran Produksi ASI di Link. Temu Putih Kota Cilegon Tahun 2024

Breast milk is the primary and most essential food for newborn babies aged 0-6 months. Several factors can affect the amount of breast milk production, including nutritional patterns, support, breast care, baby's sucking, and socio-cultural factors. It is important to understand the nutritional factors for breastfeeding mothers because their nutritional needs must be increased to enhance breast milk production. One effort to boost breast milk production is through the consumption of foods that influence lactation, such as banana blossom preparations. The dietary fiber in banana blossoms is beneficial for increasing milk production because it contains lactagogum, which has the potential to stimulate oxytocin and prolactin hormones. These components, such as alkaloids, polyphenols, steroids, flavonoids, and other substances, are effective in enhancing and facilitating breast milk production. The purpose of this community service, in the form of training to make food preparations from banana blossoms, is to empower the community, particularly pregnant and postpartum women, by enhancing their skills in utilizing banana blossoms as a food that can be processed to increase breast milk production. This community service is carried out by providing training on how to make banana blossom-based food, specifically turning it into nuggets, for pregnant and postpartum women in the Temu Putih area, Cilegon City.

Investigating the psychological disorder and nutritional disorder during COVID-19 epidemic

BackgroundConsidering the various effects of the corona epidemic on humans, the current study was conducted to investigate adults' nutritional patterns and the psychological status during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods and materialsThis cross-sectional analytical study was performed on adults in Iran during the COVID-19 epidemic. A total of 315 participants were examined by the convenience sampling method. To collect data from the standard 21 questionnaire (das) and Eating Attitudes Test - 26 items were used. The data were analysis by SPSS and independent t-test, correlation coefficient, and chi-square analysis of variance at a significance level of less than 0.05. ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 31.93±10.02 years. Based on the findings, 31.1% had some degree of depression, 29.5% had some degree of anxiety, and 31.7% have been affected by varying degrees of stress. Also, 8.7% of the participants had eating disorders. A statistically significant relationship was observed between depression score, anxiety score, stress score as well as an overall score of mental disorders and eating disorders; in such a way that with the increase of each of these cases, the score of eating disorders also increases. ConclusionFollowing the prevalence of the COVID-19 epidemic and its psychological effects, the level of stress and anxiety has increased. Awareness controlled the level of anxiety and stress and prevented its adverse effects on nutrition.

Preterm Infant Enteral Feeding Practices in Saudi Arabia: A Scoping Review

Abstract Background: Preterm infants are at risk of developing nutritional deficiencies, which is further compounded by the fact that providing them with adequate nutrition is often challenging. Enteral feeding (EF) practices vary across neonatal units and can be impacted by the setting and geographical region. There is also a lack of evidence on best practices. Objective: To investigate EF practices and related nutrition factors, patterns, and outcomes in preterm infants in Saudi Arabia by examining studies published in this area. Methods: A search was conducted for articles on EF practices among preterm infants in Saudi Arabia that were published between January 2010 and May 2024. Searches were carried out across five electronic databases and through searching inward and backward citation and reference lists of relevant papers. Studies that described or assessed EF practices used in preterm infants from any region of Saudi Arabia and were published in English or Arabic were included. Results: The database and manual search resulted in 1905 articles. After removing duplicates and applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 14 publications were included: 12 were observational studies, 1 was a conference abstract (with retrospective analysis), and 1 was a commentary. Of these, 7 studies were conducted in the Central Province, 6 in the Western Province, and 1 in the Eastern Province. More than half of the publications (8 of 14) were published between 2021 and 2023. The studies included were categorized to three themes based on their aim: studies describing practices on mother–infant bond to encourage breastfeeding, assessing nutritional status and EF, and assessing EF as a risk factor for developing prematurity complications. Conclusion: While research activity on EF practices in Saudi Arabia has increased very recently, yet there is a paucity of studies, particularly experimental studies that focus on both short- and long-term health outcomes.

The Effect of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Sleep Pattern on Success in Medical Students

The Effect of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Sleep Pattern on Success in Medical Students

Effects of Religious Fasting on Markers of Oxidative Status in Vitamin D-Deficient and Overweight Orthodox Nuns versus Implementation of Time-Restricted Eating in Lay Women from Central and Northern Greece

Background/Objectives: The Mediterranean diet has been widely suggested to exert significant beneficial effects on endothelial oxidative status and cardiometabolic health. Greek Orthodox monasteries, due to their specific nutritional and sartorial habits, comprise a population thatstrictly adheres to nutritional patterns with restricted eating and a plant-based subset of the Mediterranean diet, often accompanied by profound hypovitaminosis D. Time-restricted eating (TRE) is also adopted bya large part of the general lay Greek population for health-promoting reasons, without restrictions on animal product consumption, as imposed by Orthodox religious fasting. However, the comparative effects of these nutritional patterns on oxidative stress markers remain scarce. Methods: The present study attempted to evaluate the effects of Christian Orthodox fasting (COF) in a group of vitamin D-deficient and overweight Orthodox nuns from Central and Northern Greece compared to the implementation of TRE, a 16:8 dietary regimen (16 h of food abstinence and 8 h of feeding) in a cohort of adult women from the general population from the same region with regard to markers of endothelial oxidative status. A group of 50 women from two Orthodox monasteries in Northern Greece and one group of 50 healthy lay women were included. During the enrollment, a detailed recording of their dietary habits was performed, along with a scientific registry of their demographic and anthropometric characteristics (via bioimpedance). The Orthodox nuns followed a typical Orthodox fasting regimen [daily feeding window (8 a.m.–4 p.m.)], whereas the lay women followed a TRE 16:8 regimen with the same feeding time-window with a recommendation to follow a low-fat diet, without characteristics of the Mediterranean diet. We included a complete biochemical analysis, as well as calciotropic profiles [calcium—Ca, albumin, parathyroid hormone—PTH, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D—25(OH)D] and markers of TAC (total antioxidant capacity), GSH (glutathione),and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) concentrations as markers of oxidative status. Results: All the groups were compared at the baseline regarding their calcium, PTH, and 25(OH)D concentrations, with no statistically significant differences between the groups apart from higher PTH levels in the nuns due to lower 25(OH)D levels. The Orthodox nuns manifested a lower median GSH compared to the controls (6.0 vs. 7.2, p 0.04) and a higher median TAC (0.92 vs. 0.77, p < 0.001). The TBARS comparisons showed no significant difference between the two groups. No significant associations of oxidative status with 25(OH)D, PTH, and the markers of glucose homeostasis were evident. Conclusions: The results of this small pilot study indicate that both dietary regimens have advantages over the oxidative markers compared to each other, with increased TAC in the group of Orthodox nuns after a 16-week period of COF compared to a 16:8 TRE and increased GSH concentrations in the lay women group. Future randomized trials are required to investigate the superiority or non-inferiority between these dietary patterns in the daily clinical setting.

Physical and textural properties and sensory acceptability of wheat bread partially incorporated with unripe non-commercial banana cultivars

Abstract Unripe banana flour (UBF) is recognised as a functional ingredient because of its nutritional pattern. The influence of substituting wheat flour with unripe non-commercial banana (Luvhele and Mabonde) flours on bread’s physical and textural properties and sensory acceptability was evaluated. Wheat flour was replaced with 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% of UBF of Luvhele and Mabonde in bread production. Physical properties such as volume, density, weight, colour, and textural characteristics were determined. Furthermore, a sensory evaluation of the bread was performed. The inclusion of UBF of Luvhele and Mabonde cultivars significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.05) the weight, volume, and specific volume of breads, but a higher density of breads was observed. Breads containing 10% UBF had the highest hardness values (9.92, Luvhele, and 9.96 N, Mabonde). However, breads incorporated with UBF of both banana cultivars had lower chewiness, cohesiveness, and springiness than control bread. The control bread had crumbs and crust that were significantly lighter (P ≤ 0.05) than the crumb of composite breads. Sensory evaluation results showed that bread incorporated with up to 7.5% UBF of both banana cultivars was acceptable in terms of aroma, taste, and overall acceptability.

Correlation between diet, body mass index, and lipid profile in Kosovar women treated for primary infertility

The increasing prevalence of female fertility requires the identification of potentially modifiable factors and non-pharmacological treatments. There is strong evidence that healthy preconception dietary patterns of women of reproductive age have a beneficial effect on fertility. In accordance with the hypothesis, the aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of diet on overweight and obesity in infertile women as well as the correlation of serum lipid concentration by making a comparison between three observed groups with different body mass index (BMI). A total of 107 women who were treated for infertility were investigated. Diet and food pattern survey, BMI, and lipidogram determination from venous blood samples were carried out. The determination of lipidogram parameters was carried out by enzymatic colorimetric test with the COBAS INTEGRA 400 apparatus. From the total number of patients included in the study (107), infertile women with abnormal BMI accounted for 26.16%, while fertile women with normal BMI accounted for 73.83% (p<0.001). The total cholesterol value for groups with BMI>25 kg/m2 was 6.78 mmol/L (p=0.031). High triglycerides with increased BMI were observed (2.27 mmol/L versus 2.68 mmol/L) (p=0.028). Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol had higher concentrations in obese women (n=28), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol had lower concentrations in women with BMI>25 km2 (p<0.05). Western dietary patterns of nutrition results in obesity and increased BMI values in infertile women. Increased BMI has a positive correlation with lipid profile in obese infertile women.

Effect of the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) on the Progression of Retinal Disease: A Narrative Review.

Worldwide, the number of individuals suffering from visual impairment, as well as those affected by blindness, is about 600 million and it will further increase in the coming decades. These diseases also seriously affect the quality of life in working-age individuals. Beyond the characterization of metabolic, genetic, and environmental factors related to ocular pathologies, it is important to verify how lifestyle may participate in the induction of the molecular pathways underlying these diseases. On the other hand, scientific studies are also contributing to investigations as to whether lifestyle could intervene in modulating pathophysiological cellular responses, including the production of metabolites and neurohormonal factors, through the intake of natural compounds capable of interfering with molecular mechanisms that lead to ocular diseases. Nutraceuticals are promising in ameliorating pathophysiological complications of ocular disease such as inflammation and neurodegeneration. Moreover, it is important to characterize the nutritional patterns and/or natural compounds that may be beneficial against certain ocular diseases. The adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) is proposed as a promising intervention for the prevention and amelioration of several eye diseases. Several characteristic compounds and micronutrients of MeDi, including vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, and omega-3 fatty acids, are proposed as adjuvants against several ocular diseases. In this review, we focus on studies that analyze the effects of MeDi in ameliorating diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. The analysis of knowledge in this field is requested in order to provide direction on recommendations for nutritional interventions aimed to prevent and ameliorate ocular diseases.

Diet and risk of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia. Comprehensive modification of established AF risk factors combined with dietary interventions and breaking deleterious habits has been shown to reduce AF burden and recurrence. Numerous AF risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity or hypertension can be partially related to dietary and lifestyle choices. Therefore, dietary interventions may have potential as a therapeutic approach in AF. Based on available data, current guidelines recommend alcohol abstinence or reduction to decrease AF symptoms, burden, and progression, and do not indicate the need for caffeine abstention to prevent AF episodes (unless it is a trigger for AF symptoms). Uncertainty persists regarding harms or benefits of other dietary factors including chocolate, fish, salt, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and micronutrients. This article provides a systematic review of the association between AF and both dietary patterns and components. Additionally, it discusses potentially related mechanisms and introduces different strategies to assess patients' nutrition patterns, including mobile health solutions and diet indices. Finally, it highlights the gaps in knowledge requiring future investigation.

Impact of urbanization on gut microbiome mosaics across geographic and dietary contexts.

The study examined gut microbiome composition across diverse geographical locations in Kazakhstan, spanning urban centers and rural settlements. This allows for thoroughly investigating how urbanization gradients and geographic factors shape the gut microbiome. The study's examination of the gut resistome and prevalence of virulence-associated genes provide essential insights into the public health implications of urbanization-driven microbiome alterations. Collecting comprehensive demographic, dietary, and stool sample data enables the researchers to better understand the relationships between urbanization, nutritional patterns, and gut microbiome composition. The findings have important implications for understanding how urbanization-driven microbiome changes may impact human health and well-being, paving the way for tailored interventions to restore a balanced gut microbial ecology.

Mental distress and nutrition of family physicians, a European based cross-sectional study.

Family physicians are a pillar of the primary healthcare system, and their own mental well-being is integral to their performance. However, many studies have suggested a high prevalence of mental distress. The contributing factors include the emotional demands of the profession, work overload, budgetary constraints, loss of autonomy, and erosion of professional values. Outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbate distress due to a greater risk of exposure to the virus, increased working hours, and fear of infecting families. Thus, it is crucial to assess risks and provide preventive measures. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the dietary patterns of family physicians and their mood. This study used a cross-sectional descriptive method and a validated Food-Mood Questionnaire (FMQ), shared via social networks across 10 European countries, to collect data from family physicians. Permission to use the FMQ was obtained. The breakfast-pattern subscale had the highest mean score (14.670 ± 4.305). The other subscale mean scores were as follows: health pattern (13.317 ± 5.388), mental distress pattern (11.184 ± 3.824), and western diet pattern (9.827 ± 3.604). According to Pearson correlation test there was a positive correlation between breakfast and Western diet patterns and between breakfast and health patterns. There was a negative correlation between health and mental distress pattern. Evidence suggests that mental distress may arise from different dietary deficiencies. Physicians' nutritional patterns have an impact on health indicators and are distributed in relation to sociodemographic factors, especially the regions they live in. Diet assessment is becoming a vital modifiable risk factor for mental health, but further research in this field is needed.

Examining the Varied Culinary Practices and Nutritional Patterns: A Comprehensive Analysis of Eating Habits Amongst Student Populations in Educational Settings

Comprehensive bibliometric analysis represents an in-depth exploration of the dynamic and evolving landscape of research concerning eating habits among students, leveraging insights extracted from a vast dataset comprising 563 Scopus-indexed publications spanning diverse academic disciplines. Contrary to anticipated trends, the study's findings reveal a surprising absence of discernible patterns in the convergence of eating habits within the examined literature. This unexpected revelation challenges existing assumptions and underscores the fluidity and complexity of scholarly inquiries into the dietary behaviors of students. Notably, Spain emerges as a crucial contributor, assuming a leadership role in the distribution of documents related to eating habits, thereby highlighting its substantial influence in shaping the global discourse on this pertinent subject. Moving beyond a conventional panoramic overview, this study delves into the intricate fabric of relationships and collaborations within the domain of eating habits research among students. Unraveling these complex dynamics provides nuanced insights into the significant authors, organizations, and seminal papers that have played instrumental roles in advancing the knowledge base within this realm. The dual-focus approach not only enriches our understanding of the multifaceted research terrain but also highlights key contributors and influential organizations that have made noteworthy strides in shaping the discourse on eating habits among students. Furthermore, the analysis identifies essential keywords such as "body mass," "obesity," and "stress" with a notably high frequency of occurrence. These keywords serve as thematic markers, indicating the central dimensions of the scholarly conversation surrounding student dietary behaviors. This revelation underscores the critical relevance of these themes in the existing literature and points towards avenues for further exploration and investigation. By adopting a bibliometric approach, this study not only provides a comprehensive snapshot of the current state of research on eating habits among students but also offers a roadmap for future exploration, emphasizing key contributors, themes, and the intricate collaborative networks that define this evolving field. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers alike stood to benefit from the nuanced insights gleaned from this expansive analysis, contributing to a more holistic understanding of the multifaceted aspects of student nutrition.

Irruption of Network Analysis to Explain Dietary, Psychological and Nutritional Patterns and Metabolic Health Status in Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Overweight and Obese University Students: Ecuadorian Case.

The association between dietary nutritional patterns, psychological factors, and metabolic health status has not been investigated in university students. There are studies that include numerous variables to test hypotheses from various theoretical bases, but due to their complexity, they have not been studied in combination. The scientific community recognizes the use of Gaussian graphical models (GGM) as a set of novel methods capable of addressing this. To apply GGMs to derive specific networks for groups of healthy and unhealthy obese individuals that represent nutritional, psychological, and metabolic patterns in an Ecuadorian population. This was a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational study conducted on a sample of 230 obese/overweight university students, selected through a multi-stage random sampling method. To assess usual dietary intake, a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used; to evaluate psychological profiles (anxiety, depression, and stress), the DASS-21 scale was employed; blood pressure and anthropometric data were collected; and insulin levels, lipid profiles, and glucose levels were determined using fasting blood samples. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria were applied to identify metabolically healthy and unhealthy individuals. Statistical analysis relied on univariate methods (frequencies, measures of central tendency, and dispersion), and the relationships were analyzed through networks. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze differences between groups. In metabolically unhealthy obese individuals, GGMs identified a primary network consisting of the influence of waist circumference on blood pressure and insulin levels. In the healthy obese group, a different network was identified, incorporating stress and anxiety variables that influenced blood pressure, anthropometry, and insulin levels. Other identified networks show the dynamics of obesity and the effect of waist circumference on triglycerides, anxiety, and riboflavin intake. GGMs are an exploratory method that can be used to construct networks that illustrate the behavior of obesity in the studied population. In the future, the identified networks could form the basis for updating obesity management protocols in Primary Care Units and supporting clinical interventions in Ecuador.

Clarifying main nutritional aspects and resting energy expenditure in children with Smith-Magenis syndrome

Our study aims to define resting energy expenditure (REE) and describe the main nutritional patterns in a single-center cohort of children with Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS). REE was calculated using indirect calorimetry. Patients’ metabolic status was assessed by comparing measured REE (mREE) with predictive REE (pREE). Patients also underwent multidisciplinary evaluation, anthropometric measurements and an assessment of average energy intake, using a 3-day food diary, which was reviewed by a specialized dietitian. Twenty-four patients (13 M) were included, the median age was 9 years (IC 95%, 6–14 years), 84% had 17p11.2 deletion, and 16% had RAI1 variants. REE was not reduced in SMS pediatric patients, and the mREE did not differ from the pREE. In patients with RAI1 variants (16%, n = 3/24), obesity was more prevalent than those with 17p11.2 deletion (100% vs 38%). Lower proteins intake and higher total energy intake were reported in obese and overweight patients, compared to healthy weight children. No significant difference was found between males and females in energy or macronutrient intake. Conclusions: In SMS, the onset of obesity is not explained by REE abnormalities, but dietary factors seem to be crucial. Greater concern should be addressed to patients with RAI1 variants. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms causing obesity in SMS patients could set the basis for possible future targeted therapies.What is Known:• More than 90% of SMS patients after the age of 10 are overweight or obese.What is New:• Onset of overweight and obesity in SMS pediatric patients is not explained by abnormal resting energy expenditure.• The development of syndrome-specific dietary guidelines for SMS patients should be of utmost relevance and are highly needed.

Nutritional convergence in plants growing on gypsum soils in two distinct climatic regions.

Soil endemics have long fascinated botanists due to the insights they can provide about plant ecology and evolution. Often, these species have unique foliar nutrient composition patterns that reflect potential physiological adaptations to these harsh soil types. However, understanding global nutritional patterns to unique soil types can be complicated by the influence of recent and ancient evolutionary events. Our goal was to understand whether plant specialization to unique soils is a stronger determinant of plant nutrient composition than climate or evolutionary constraints. We worked on gypsum soils. We analyzed whole-plant nutrient composition (leaves, stems, coarse roots and fine roots) of 36 native species of gypsophilous lineages from the Chihuahuan Desert (North America) and the Iberian Peninsula (Europe) regions, including widely distributed gypsum endemics, as specialists, and narrowly distributed endemics and non-endemics, as non-specialists. We evaluated the impact of evolutionary events and soil composition on the whole-plant composition, comparing the three categories of gypsum plants. Our findings reveal nutritional convergence of widely distributed gypsum endemics. These taxa displayed higher foliar Sulfur and higher whole-plant Magnesium than their non-endemic relatives, irrespective of geographic location or phylogenetic history. Sulfur and Magnesium concentrations were mainly explained by non-phylogenetic variation among species related to gypsum specialization. Other nutrient concentrations were determined by more ancient evolutionary events. For example, Caryophyllales usually displayed high foliar Calcium, whereas Poaceae did not. In contrast, plant concentrations of Phosphorus was mainly explained by species-specific physiology not related to gypsum specialization or evolutionary constraints. Plant specialization to a unique soil may strongly influence plant nutritional strategies, as we described for gypsophilous lineages. Taking a whole-plant perspective (all organs) within a phylogenetic framework has enabled us to gain a better understanding of plant adaptation to unique soils when studying taxa from distinct regions.

Myanmar immigrant women’s perceptions, beliefs, and information-seeking behaviors with nutrition and food practices during pregnancy in Thailand: a qualitative study

BackgroundAlthough nutrition is an essential contributor to the quality of pregnancy outcomes, little is known about the experiences and influences affecting dietary behaviors during pregnancy among migrant women, particularly those from Myanmar, the largest immigrant population in Thailand. To fill this gap, we conducted a descriptive qualitative study to explore Myanmar immigrant women’s perceptions, beliefs, and information-seeking behaviors concerning nutrition and food practices during pregnancy.MethodsWe conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) with fifty Myanmar immigrant pregnant women aged 18–45 years across all trimesters, who were recruited using purposive sampling from a public tertiary hospital. The FGDs were conducted in Thai or Myanmar using semi-structured guides that probed women’s pregnancy perceptions and experiences about nutrition and food patterns during pregnancy. The FGDs were audio-recorded, translated, and transcribed. Direct content analysis was used to guide the analysis through an ecological perspective framework.ResultsThe seven FGDs with fifty women revealed four major themes involving perceptions, beliefs, and information-seeking behaviors. The qualitative results consisted of (1) a positive attitude toward better changes under difficult conditions (setting goals for infant health; uncertainty about changes); (2) beliefs about eating patterns and dietary practices during pregnancy (taboos aimed at protecting women’s health and ensuring safe childbirth; taboos aimed at guaranteeing infant safety); (3) limited access to appropriate information about nutrition (unclear dietary information from healthcare providers; ease of learning from experiences in informal social networks); and (4) difficult living conditions in a non-native setting (work-related influences on dietary behaviors; lack of comprehensible language to gain food literacy). In addition, the results were highlighted across four levels of ecological perspectives.ConclusionsImmigrant pregnant women are a vulnerable population that should be treated with equity to ensure quality of life through optimal nutrition throughout pregnancy. Respectful care requires that healthcare providers develop culturally sensitive nutrition interventions to increase nutrition literacy, accessibility, and pregnancy outcomes.

Maternal Malnutrition and Its Associated Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Childbirth in Dadu District, Sindh, Pakistan

Background: Maternal malnutrition poses serious risks to both mother and child, contributing to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as anemia, pre-eclampsia, and low birth weight. Addressing maternal malnutrition is essential for promoting healthy pregnancies and favorable birth outcomes. Methodology: The study involved 660 third-trimester pregnant women at a tertiary care hospital in Dadu district, Sindh, Pakistan. The aim was to identify the association patterns of maternal nutrition on birth outcomes to inform future programming. Data were collected using a mixed-methods approach with a snowballing technique. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using R-Studio and Canvas software to analyze associations and differences related to maternal nutrition. Results: The majority of rural participants (84%) intended to deliver at DHQ Dadu, with 81% facing inconsistent family income sources, impacting food security and healthcare access. Maternal education positively correlated with healthcare service utilization, while maternal counseling had a weaker influence. Early pregnancies were prevalent, with 29% of women reporting their first pregnancy before age 20 and 6.7% before age 16. Iron and folic acid utilization was suboptimal (20.4%), and access to healthcare was hindered by distance, cost, and inconsistent coverage, particularly in rural areas. Maternal malnutrition was a significant concern, with 15.4% identified as acutely malnourished. Conclusion: The study highlights significant challenges, including socioeconomic disparities, early pregnancies, inadequate healthcare access, and poor maternal nutrition status. Targeted interventions such as improving healthcare infrastructure, enhancing maternal education, promoting early prenatal care, strengthening community-based nutrition programs, and leveraging social safety net programs can help mitigate adverse birth outcomes.

Breastfeeding patterns in infants are associated with a later diagnosis of autism Spectrum disorder.

Breastfeeding is associated with medical and developmental benefits. This study aimed to assess associations between nutritional patterns in the first year of life and the likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 270 children diagnosed with ASD (cases) and 500 neurotypical children (controls) matched to cases by sex, ethnicity, and birth date (± 3 months) were included in this retrospective case-control study. Both groups were ascertained from children born between 2014 and 2017 whose development/nutrition were monitored at mother-child health clinics in southern Israel. Conditional logistic regression was used to determine the independent association of nutritional patterns with ASD while adjusting for socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Both exclusive and partial breastfeeding modes were associated with decreased odds of ASD diagnosis (aOR = 0.221, 95%CI = 0.136-0.360; aOR = 0.494, 95%CI = 0.328-0.743, respectively). A breastfeeding duration of >12 months was associated with lower ASD odds (aOR = 0.418, 95%CI = 0.204-0.855), while the introduction of solids after 6 months of age was associated with higher ASD odds than the introduction of solids at 6 months (aOR = 2.455, 95%CI = 1.116-4.201). These findings suggest that a longer period of exclusive breastfeeding is associated with a subsequent reduced likelihood of ASD diagnosis, thus reiterating the importance of proper post-natal nutrition for infant neurodevelopment.