Introduction. Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality, disability, and premature loss of working capacity worldwide. Nutrition is one of the major modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, as dietary habits directly influence lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, endothelial function, blood pressure regulation, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Excessive intake of salt, saturated fats, trans fats, refined carbohydrates, and ultra-processed foods contributes to dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, obesity, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis. The aim of the study. To summarise current scientific evidence regarding the role of nutrients in the prevention and complex treatment of cardiovascular diseases, as well as to evaluate the potential of nutrient correction in reducing cardiovascular risk and improving patient prognosis. Materials and methods. An analytical review of current scientific publications, clinical guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomised clinical trials was conducted. The effects of dietary patterns, macro- and micronutrients on cardiometabolic risk were analysed. Results. Adequate intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, potassium, magnesium, dietary fibre, antioxidants, and polyphenols was associated with improved lipid profile, endothelial function, blood pressure stabilisation, and reduced inflammatory activity. The Mediterranean and DASH diets demonstrated the strongest cardioprotective effects. Conclusions. Nutrient correction is an important component of cardiovascular prevention and complex treatment. Rational nutrition should be combined with lifestyle modification, individualised dietary recommendations, and evidence-based pharmacotherapy.

Sedentary work environments may contribute to unhealthy dietary behaviors and increase the risk of non-communicable diseases among white-collar employees.This cross-sectional study examined the diet quality and its associations with physical activity while exploratorily examining health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among 208 white-collar workers in Istanbul.Data were collected using an online survey including self-reported anthropometric measures, a three-day dietary record analyzed with the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), the SF-36 questionnaire, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).Mean daily energy, protein, and fiber intakes were below recommended levels, and 65% of participants had poor diet quality (HEI < 51). Higher HEI-2015 scores were correlated with greater fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and iron intake. In multiple regression analysis, older age (β = 0.19, p = 0.007) and high physical activity level (β = 0.17, p = 0.015) were significantly associated with higher HEI-2015 scores, however, the model explained a limited proportion of variance (Adjusted R² = 0.041).Age and physical activity were modestly associated with diet quality, highlighting the potential relevance of workplace health promotion strategies in sedentary occupational settings.

Systemic chronic inflammation (SCI) is associated with a range of noncommunicable diseases. Emerging evidence indicates that the dietary potassium-to-sodium (K/Na) ratio may predict cardiovascular and inflammatory health more accurately than potassium or sodium alone. However, its relationship with established systemic chronic inflammation markers (SCI markers) has not yet been thoroughly investigated. This study was conducted to examine the association between dietary K/Na ratio and serum concentrations of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and to explore the shape of these dose-response relationships. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 892 adults aged ≥ 20 years using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2021 to 2023. Dietary intake was assessed via two 24-hour recalls, from which individual potassium and sodium intakes were used to calculate the K/Na ratio. Serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured using standardized immunoturbidimetric assays. We applied survey-weighted multivariable linear regression models to examine adjusted associations between the continuous K/Na ratio and each inflammatory marker, controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, smoking, physical activity, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, and lipid profiles. Generalized additive models (GAMs) with penalized splines were used to assess potential nonlinear dose-response relationships. Sensitivity analyses excluded participants with CRP > 10 mg/L and explored subgroup effects by sex and race/ethnicity. After full adjustment, each 1-unit increase in dietary K/Na ratio was associated with a 0.068 mg/dL decrease in AGP (SE = 0.021; P = .001) and a 0.248 decrease in ln-transformed hs-CRP (SE = 0.095; P = .009). GAM analyses revealed a significant nonlinear inverse relationship between K/Na ratio and AGP (effective degrees of freedom = 1.49; P = .007), whereas the association with ln-CRP remained linear (edf = 1.33; P = .499). Findings were consistent across sensitivity and subgroup analyses. In this nationally representative US sample, a higher dietary K/Na ratio is independently associated with lower systemic inflammation, supporting public health strategies that promote improved potassium-to-sodium balance to mitigate chronic disease risk.

Diet may influence allergic disease risk through oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, and immune pathways. However, evidence for specific nutrients remains inconsistent, particularly in Asian adult populations. We examined nutrient-wide associations with asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis in a nationally representative cohort of Korean adults to systematically characterize nutrient-allergy relationships at the population level. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 37,808 adults (≥ 18 years) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016-2023. Physician-diagnosed asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis were identified using standardized questionnaires. Dietary exposure was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall, from which absolute daily intakes of 28 nutrients were derived. Nutrient variables were transformed as appropriate and standardized to 1-standard-deviation (SD) increments. For each outcome, we fitted survey-weighted logistic regression models with sequential adjustment for demographic and lifestyle covariates. Multiple testing was addressed using false discovery rate (FDR) control (q values < 0.05). In fully adjusted models, greater intakes of total dietary fiber, potassium, and magnesium were associated with lower odds of asthma and remained significant under FDR correction (q < 0.05), with odds ratios (OR) per 1-SD increase ranging from 0.80 to 0.90. In contrast, allergic rhinitis showed positive associations with higher intakes of total fat, vitamin E, riboflavin, and potassium, which also met the FDR criterion (ORs per 1-SD increase approximately 1.05-1.15). For atopic dermatitis, no nutrient achieved FDR significance. In this nutrient-wide evaluation among Korean adults, only a limited subset of nutrients showed robust associations with asthma or allergic rhinitis, and the direction of association varied by allergic diseases. These findings underscore heterogeneity in diet-allergy relationships and support the value of nutrient-wide approaches for prioritizing targets for future prospective research.

Background/Objectives: Nutrient profiling models are widely used to support healthier food choices, but their applicability may be limited in dietary cultures with multi-dish meals and high consumption of minimally processed foods. This study extended the Ajinomoto Group Nutrient Profiling System (ANPS), originally developed for dish- and meal-level assessment, to evaluate overall quality of daily intake (ANPS-Day) based on four components (protein, vegetables, saturated fatty acids [SFAs], and sodium), and examined its criterion-related validity using 24 h urinary biomarkers. Methods: A total of 324 healthy Japanese adults aged 20–69 years completed four-day semi-weighed dietary records and two non-consecutive 24 h urine collections. Urinary sodium, potassium and urea nitrogen were measured. Associations were examined using age- and sex-adjusted Spearman correlation coefficients and trend analyses. Results: The crude ANPS-Day score showed weak and inconsistent correlations with urinary biomarkers. In contrast, the energy-adjusted ANPS-Day score was positively correlated with estimated potassium intake (r = 0.25) and inversely correlated with the urinary sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio (r = −0.24). In quartile analyses, higher energy-adjusted ANPS-Day scores were associated with higher protein and potassium intakes and with a lower Na/K ratio (all p for trend ≤ 0.001). In component analysis, vegetable points were positively associated with potassium intake, whereas sodium points were inversely associated with estimated sodium intake and the Na/K ratio. SFA points were not associated with urinary biomarkers. Conclusions: The energy-adjusted ANPS-Day score showed modest but biologically plausible associations with urinary biomarkers, providing partial evidence of criterion-related validity in assessing diet quality in multi-dish dietary settings.

Reducing sodium intake in populations is essential, but insufficient for preventing and managing high blood pressure, while the importance of increasing potassium intake is overlooked. We investigated the effects of 1-year population-approach programs (2021-2022) promoting salt reduction and potassium intake using urinalysis feedback and food environment improvement. This retrospective observational study included 7649 participants (mean age, 54.0 years; 45.3% women) from 11 municipalities and 4 workplaces. Outcomes in intensive support programs-including urinary sodium, potassium, and sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio measurements with feedback, dietary promotion, and food environment improvement-were compared with standard support programs providing usual health guidance. In linear regression adjusted for demographics, lifestyle factors, and medical history, the reduction in urinary Na/K ratio was greater in the intensive support group (n = 4064) than in the standard support group (n = 3585) (mean difference -0.14 [95% confidence interval, -0.27 to -0.01]). Although estimated potassium intake decreased in both groups, the decline was smaller in the intensive support group (mean difference 31 [12 to 51] mg/day). Estimated salt intake did not differ between the groups. The intensive support group showed greater increases in diastolic blood pressure and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and smaller increases in blood glucose, as well as greater reductions in hemoglobin A1c and Salt Check Sheet scores. Mean differences between the groups for endpoints were not heterogeneous across intensive support program types. Our findings support the development of hypertension prevention and management strategies that promote healthier dietary behaviors and can be implemented in community and workplace settings, with broad public health applicability.

HighlightsWhat are the main findings?Nutrition education significantly improved several dietary variables among university nutrition students.Short-term dietary improvements did not result in measurable changes in body composition.What are the implications of the main findings?Nutrition education may improve diet quality among young adults.Preventive strategies within university settings may promote healthier lifestyle behaviour.Background/Objectives: University students frequently exhibit suboptimal dietary habits, and even those enrolled in nutrition-related programmes may fail to meet recommended intakes of several key nutrients. This study aimed to assess changes in dietary intake and body composition over a single academic semester among university nutrition students. Methods: A prospective pre–post study was conducted with 102 students at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day food record and evaluated for energy, macronutrients, and specific micronutrients. Body composition was measured by a multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Changes between baseline and follow-up were analysed using paired statistical tests with the false discovery rate correction. Predictors of follow-up body fat percentage were examined using an analysis of covariance. Results: At baseline, mean daily energy intake was 2114 ± 632 kcal. A particularly low intake was observed for dietary fibre (15.45 ± 8.46 g/day), potassium (2013 ± 954 mg/day), iodine (63.5 ± 69.8 µg/day), and vitamin D (2.31 ± 3.01 µg/day), whereas protein intake was relatively high. During follow-up, significant increases were observed in the intake of carbohydrates (+54.2 g/day), dietary fibre (+9.3 g/day), potassium (+766 mg/day), vitamin C (+69.2 mg/day), and magnesium (+86.2 mg/day), together with lower sodium and saturated fat intake (all adjusted p < 0.001). No significant short-term changes were found in body weight, body fat percentage, or skeletal muscle mass. Follow-up body fat percentage was primarily associated with baseline adiposity. Conclusions: One semester of nutrition-related education was associated with improved dietary intake, particularly for fibre and selected micronutrients, but not with measurable short-term changes in body composition. These findings suggest that nutrition education may support healthier dietary behaviour and may contribute to preventive healthcare strategies in young adults.

Potassium-containing low-sodium salt substitutes (LSSS) may lower sodium intake, increase potassium intake, and reduce cardiovascular risk in mixed adult populations, but the review literature is overlapping and methodologically heterogeneous. This umbrella review assessed the efficacy, safety, and evidence quality of potassium-containing LSSS for blood pressure, cardiovascular outcomes, and adverse events. Following a registered PROSPERO protocol (CRD420261294404), we searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Global Health (EBSCO) and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception to 6 March 2026 for systematic reviews, meta-analyses and umbrella reviews of potassium-containing LSSS. Eleven reviews met eligibility criteria. Methodological confidence was high in one review, moderate in three, low in five and critically low in two. Primary-study overlap was very high (corrected covered area 28.5%). Review-level pooled estimates consistently favoured potassium-containing LSSS for systolic blood pressure (mean differences −4.61 to −8.87 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (−1.42 to −4.04 mmHg). Later reviews also reported lower all-cause mortality (RR 0.88–0.89), cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.72–0.87), composite cardiovascular events and selected stroke outcomes; however, clinical-outcome estimates were heavily influenced by the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study. Serum potassium changed minimally (−0.02 to 0.18 mmol/l), and pooled estimates for hyperkalaemia and serious adverse events showed no clear excess risk in trial populations that largely excluded participants at higher risk of impaired potassium handling. Potassium-containing LSSS consistently lower blood pressure and may improve cardiovascular outcomes, but further trials are needed outside Eastern Asia, with clearer formulation reporting, prespecified baseline CVD-history strata, and stronger safety data in higher-risk populations.

Special Operations Forces (SOF) Soldiers are elite warfighters who have high nutritional requirements based on the rigorous nature of their training and deployments. Inadequate nutrition can lead to diminished health and performance. Energy and nutrient guidelines for military personnel are defined in the Military Dietary Reference Intakes (MDRI). It is not known if SOF Soldiers meet the MDRIs during deployment when physical demands are high and access to quality nutrition may be limited. The objective of this study was to compare self-reported intake with established MDRIs in SOF personnel during a deployment in an austere environment. This was a cross-sectional study who was conducted at the end of a 6-month deployment in Afghanistan. Active duty SOF male Soldiers (n = 40) were administered a 2014 Block Food Frequency Questionnaire to assess food intake during the deployment. Self-reported nutrient intake was compared to the MDRIs using one sample t-tests. Self-reported intake of energy, carbohydrate, fiber, vitamin D, and potassium were significantly lower than the MDRIs (P < .001). Intake of fat and protein met the MDRIs (P > .05), although B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and sodium all exceeded the MDRIs (P ≤ .001). Relative to body mass, average energy intake was 28.9 kcal/kg, carbohydrate was 3.2 g/kg, protein was 1.3 g/kg, and fat was 1.2 g/kg. Deployed SOF Soldiers may under consume energy and key nutrients, which could jeopardize health, performance, and operational readiness. Tailored nutrition interventions with consideration of operational demands and food/supplement accessibility may be needed to optimize energy and nutrient intake in austere environments.

Purpose of reviewThe health effects of dietary sodium and dietary potassium intake in mitigating blood pressure (BP) are a focus of research. This review summarizes recent findings of these health effects and the effectiveness of potassium-enriched salt substitutes on the risk for and recurrence of cardiovascular events.Recent findingsSalt substitution is an emerging sodium reduction strategy that may prove to be more beneficial in lowering BP and reducing risk for recurrent stroke compared with alternative low-sodium diets. However, careful consideration is required for patients with impaired renal function or on specific renal physiology-modulating pharmacotherapies.SummaryLow sodium substitutes have proven to be more efficacious and practical in lowering BP and preventing stroke or recurrence of stroke than alternative low-sodium diets. This salt reduction strategy holds promising value in reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE To examine differences in nutrient intake among U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, prediabetes, and no diabetes, and how intake of nutrients has changed over time by diabetes status. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted cross-sectional analyses of major macronutrient and micronutrient intakes using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2020 data. Energy-adjusted nutrient intakes across all year periods were compared across categories of diabetes status. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the time trends in energy-adjusted nutrient intake by diabetes status after adjusting for age, sex, and race. All analyses were weighted to account for the complex survey design. RESULTS Compared with individuals without diabetes, individuals with diagnosed diabetes had greater average intakes of protein, total fat, cholesterol, calcium, and sodium, but lower total sugar, potassium, and magnesium intakes across all periods. Among individuals with diagnosed diabetes, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, magnesium, sodium, and potassium intake decreased from 2011 to 2020, whereas total fat and saturated fatty acid intakes increased. Adults with undiagnosed diabetes consumed less dietary fiber, more saturated fatty acids, and less magnesium than those without diabetes. The Healthy Eating Index was lower for people with prediabetes and undiagnosed and diagnosed diabetes than for those without diabetes (all P &amp;lt; 0.01). CONCLUSIONS In the 10-year study period, nutrient intakes did not improve in individuals with prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, or diagnosed diabetes. The lack of improvement in dietary quality, coupled with a high prevalence of diabetes in the U.S., warrants public health efforts to reverse these adverse trends.

Anxiety, a common mental disorder, is epidemiologically linked to high dietary sugar intake. However, the underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, using male C57BL/6 mice (n ≥ 10 per group), we show that two-week consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks reliably induced anxiety-like behavior, characterized by reduced center time in the open field test and less open arm exploration in the elevated plus maze. Notably, consumption of sucrose, glucose, or the non-metabolizable glucose analog methyl-α-D-glucopyranoside induced anxiety-like behavior, whereas intake of the artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) did not. Moreover, after two weeks of exposure to sucrose or glucose but not to Ace-K, c-Fos expression was elevated in glutamatergic neurons of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Mechanistically, high glucose activated intrinsic excitability and the amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents in NTS glutamatergic neurons; congruently, selective activation of NTS glutamatergic neurons mimicked anxiety-like behavior in mice, while chemogenetic silencing of these neurons abolished glucose-induced anxiety. Together, our findings demonstrate that NTS glutamatergic neurons activation mediates sugar-induced anxiety. These results suggest that this anxiogenic effect is driven by glucose-related signaling rather than artificial sweet taste perception alone, shedding light on a novel clinical therapy against anxiety.

Lower potassium intake is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population, with observed sex differences. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between potassium intake and CVD in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and sex-specific differences have not been well examined. A total of 4,314 patients aged 18 years or older in Japan were prospectively followed for 5 years using data from the Fukuoka Kidney disease Registry study. The patients were divided into sex-specific quartiles according to the estimated potassium intake, which was calculated using the Tanaka formula from spot urine samples. The primary outcome was the occurrence of CVD events. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between the estimated potassium intake and CVD in the overall cohort with stratification by sex. Over a 5-year follow-up, 431 patients developed CVD (292 [12.1%] men and 139 [7.3%] women). In the overall cohort, patients in the lowest quartile of estimated potassium intake tended to have a higher hazard ratio (HR) for CVD than those in the highest quartile (HR [95% CI], 1.41 [0.97-2.03]). A significant interaction between sex and potassium intake was observed (p<0.001). In sex-stratified analyses, lower potassium intake was significantly associated with an increased risk of CVD in women (HR [95% CI]: men, 0.98 [0.63-1.53]; women, 2.97 [1.44-6.10]). Lower estimated potassium intake is associated with a higher risk of CVD in patients with CKD, with a particularly strong association in women.

Military veterans (ex-serving members of the Armed Services) experience unique physical and mental health challenges, with diet playing a critical role in chronic disease management and well-being. This review aimed to evaluate veterans' dietary intake against nutrient reference values (NRV) relevant to age and sex. A systematic search of CINAHL, MedLine, Scopus, PubMed and AMED (January 2024, updated March 2025) identified 1268 records; thirty-three studies (n 654323) met inclusion criteria. Eligible designs included cross-sectional, cohort, quasi-experimental and randomised controlled trials. Data were extracted using the Joanna Briggs critical appraisal checklist, indicating low risk of bias. Across studies, veterans' intake of fibre, folate, vitamin D, Ca, potassium, fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and legumes was consistently inadequate, with overall diet quality rated poor to average. BMI ranged widely, and veterans reported high rates of mood disorders and low quality-of-life scores. These findings highlight key nutrients and dietary patterns that might be considered and targeted in dietary and lifestyle interventions for promoting the physical and mental health of veterans.

This study addresses the relatively high maternal mortality rate in Indonesia, where in 2023 there were 4,460 cases, with hypertension during pregnancy as a leading cause. It aims to examine the relationship between nutrient intake, maternal age, parity, and nutritional status and the incidence of preeclampsia at Umbulharjo 1 Public Health Center in Yogyakarta. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, the study involved 45 respondents selected through accidental sampling based on Slovin’s formula, with data collected באמצעות the Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQFFQ). The findings revealed that 33.3% of respondents experienced preeclampsia, with most showing inadequate intake of protein, fat, carbohydrates, sodium, and potassium, but relatively adequate fiber intake. The majority were within the non-risk maternal age group, had low-risk parity, and exhibited poor nutritional status. Bivariate analysis using Fisher’s exact test indicated significant associations between preeclampsia and fat intake, fiber intake, sodium intake, maternal age, parity, and nutritional status, while no significant relationships were found with protein, carbohydrate, or potassium intake. Overall, the study concludes that several nutritional and maternal factors are significantly linked to the occurrence of preeclampsia, highlighting the importance of dietary and maternal health considerations in its prevention.

Abstract Objective This study aimed to compare dietary patterns and nutrient intakes between cold and non-cold regions of China, and to assess the associations between dietary mineral intake and the risks of overweight, obesity, abdominal obesity and hypertension in residents of cold region. Methods A total of 12,190 participants from the China Health and Nutrition Survey were included, of whom 1261 were residents of Heilongjiang province. Dietary intake was assessed using three consecutive 24 h individual dietary recalls. General linear models were applied to compare dietary differences between Heilongjiang and other provinces, and Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the associations between mineral intake and the aforementioned health outcomes among Heilongjiang residents. Results Significant differences were observed in the intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, processed meats, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium between Heilongjiang and other provinces (all P &lt; 0.05). In Heilongjiang residents, higher intakes of phosphorus, iron, and calcium were more strongly associated with lower risks of overweight, obesity, abdominal obesity, and hypertension than potassium or magnesium. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) across tertiles of calcium, phosphorus and iron intake were as follows: 0.37 (0.28-0.50), 0.37 (0.28-0.49), 0.48 (0.36-0.64) for overweight; 0.53 (0.35-0.79), 0.50 (0.34-0.75), 0.45 (0.30-0.69) for obesity; 0.49 (0.38-0.64), 0.52 (0.40-0.66), 0.59 (0.46-0.77) for abdominal obesity; and 0.42 (0.32-0.54), 0.42 (0.33-0.53), 0.49 (0.38-0.63) for hypertension. Conclusion Distinct dietary patterns exist between cold and other region of China. Adequate intake of phosphorus, iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium consumption may help protect against obesity and hypertension in populations living in cold environments.

Background: Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in post-kidney transplantation care, influencing graft function, body composition, and the risk of metabolic complications. Protein intake is of particular importance due to its role in preserving muscle mass and preventing protein energy wasting. Objective: This study aimed to assess dietary intake, with emphasis on protein consumption, and to analyze its associations with nutritional status, anthropometric indices, and metabolic complications in kidney transplant recipients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 71 adult kidney transplant recipients. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24 h dietary recall and the FFQ-6 questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were performed, and multiple indices of body composition and central obesity were calculated. Associations between dietary intake, anthropometric parameters, age, and kidney graft function were analyzed. Results: Mean BMI was within the upper normal range; however, a high prevalence of central adiposity was observed. Age was positively correlated with indices of visceral obesity (ABSI, AVI, WHtR, and CI). Protein intake was positively associated with calf circumference, indicating a relationship with muscle mass preservation. Dietary analysis revealed excessive sodium intake and insufficient intake of potassium, calcium, vitamin D, and unsaturated fatty acids. Post-transplant diabetes mellitus was present in 25.35% of participants. Conclusions: Kidney transplant recipients frequently present with unfavorable body composition and dietary imbalances that are not adequately reflected by BMI alone. Comprehensive nutritional assessment and individualized dietary counseling are important strategies that may help reduce the risk of metabolic complications and support long-term transplant outcomes.

Dietary sodium and potassium intake are key determinants of blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensive patients. However, their associations with longitudinal home BP control in patients with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aTRH) remain unclear. In this prospective cohort study, baseline 24-hour urinary sodium and potassium excretion, objective biomarkers of dietary sodium and potassium intake, as well as urinary sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio were evaluated as exposure variables. The primary outcome was longitudinal home BP control during follow-up. Mixed-effects models were used to assess these associations. A total of 172 patients were followed for a median of 39.3 months, contributing 7547 morning and 6640 evening home BP measurements. After multivariable adjustment, each 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in urinary sodium excretion (99.49mmol) was associated with poorer home systolic BP (SBP) control (morning: odds ratio [OR] 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38-0.89; evening: OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44-0.96). Each 1-SD increase in the urinary Na/K ratio (1.98 units) was associated with poorer morning (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.48-0.97) and evening home SBP control (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.51-0.94). A higher Na/K ratio was also associated with poorer overall evening home BP control (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.54-0.98). Consistent associations were observed when BP was analyzed as a continuous outcome. Urinary potassium excretion alone was not significantly associated with home BP control. Dietary sodium restriction and maintenance of sodium-potassium balance may represent important strategies for improving home BP control in patients with aTRH. Trial Registration: Not applicable. This study was a prospective observational cohort study with no assignment of participants to any intervention; thereby clinical trial registration was not required.

Diet quality and diversity according to ultra-processed food consumption in non-dialytic chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study.

Globally, efforts are underway to evaluate foods and meals by their nutritional value. In Japan, however, there is no comprehensive system for evaluating overall diet quality. The aim of this study is to use the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2020, which is based on the American Dietary Guidelines, to evaluate the diet quality of independent elderly Japanese people to consider appropriate methods for evaluating the Japanese diet. The subjects were 71 individuals aged 60 years or older who participated in a health examination. HEI-2020 was used to evaluate diet quality, with 13 components scored based on intake per energy unit. Associations of HEI-2020 scores with nutrient intake, food group intake, and dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for Japanese were analysed using statistical methods. The median HEI-2020 score was 52/100 points. Among the components, the median score was the maximum for Saturated Fats and Added Sugars, but zero for Whole Grains and Refined Grains. The high-score group had significantly lower intake of saturated fatty acids and higher intake of dietary fiber, vitamin K, potassium, and magnesium. In comparison to DRIs, the high-score group had a significantly higher "% meeting the reference value" for several nutrients, including dietary fiber, magnesium, and potassium. This study shows that the HEI-2020 can identify nutrients such as dietary fiber and minerals that are lacking in the Japanese population. However, for more effective assessment, there is a need to adjust the reference values to match the intake of Japanese people.