Soft Drink Consumption Research Articles

Test-Retest Reproducibility of the WebCas Electronic Questionnaire for Assessing Health-Related Behaviors in Adolescents

Purpose: The goal of the study was to evaluate the reproducibility between the application-replication of the electronic version of the WebCas questionnaire. Methods: The sample consisted of 152 students (10 to 15 years old) of both sexes, enrolled in a public school in the city of Curitiba (PR). Anthropometric data (weight and height) were collected to calculate the body mass index. The reproducibility of the questionnaire was assessed by means of concordance between the repeated measures obtained by applying the WebCas, with a 7-day interval between applications. Results: Most of the variables showed percentages of reproducibility above 50% (7/12 variables). Eight variables presented Kappa values considered “very good”: commuting to school (K=0.95); alcohol intake in the last 30 days (K=0.92); alcohol intake in doses (K=0.92); smoking (K=0.93); intoxication (K=0.92), nap (K=0.83), illness (K=0.94) and medication use (K=0.90). Daytime sleepiness, frequency of consumption of fruits, vegetables, sweets, snacks and soft drinks showed “moderate” Kappa values (0.41 to 0.65). Regarding accuracy, the variables hours of sleep, time to wake up on weekdays and bedtime on weekdays showed substantial values (>0.95 to <0.99). For the other variables, the values were almost perfect (≥0.99), with the exception of the variable “bedtime the night before” which showed low accuracy (Cb=0.90). Conclusion: The results showed that the WebCas questionnaire showed satisfactory evidence of reproducibility.

Prediction of overweight/obesity risk in adolescence using static and dynamic multi-exposure models

Abstract Background Studying the risk factors for obesity development and timely identification of individuals at increased risk are key for obesity prevention. We aimed to assess the associations of multiple prenatal, infancy and childhood exposures with overweight/obesity at 13 years (y) and develop static and dynamic multiple-exposure prediction models. Methods In 4232 mother-child pairs from the Generation XXI birth cohort, we assessed, during pregnancy/infancy and childhood, 55 sociodemographic factors, anthropometric measures, lifestyle behaviors, and clinical exposures related to the mother and the child and categorized body mass index z-scores as normal weight and overweight/obesity at 13y. Static models for pregnancy/infancy, 4, 7 and 10y, and a dynamic model were fitted using Elastic Net and logistic regression and were compared in terms of predictive performance. Results Mothers with lower educational level and household income, no partner, overweight/obesity before and after pregnancy, excessive gestational weight gain, pregnancy complications and who were smokers during pregnancy had children with a higher risk of overweight/obesity at 13y. Children with higher BMI during infancy, overweight/obesity during childhood, an early introduction of solid foods (before 4 months), a higher consumption of soft drinks at 4y and females had a higher risk of overweight/obesity at 13y. We observed the lowest predictive performance for the pregnancy/infancy model (prediction error of 36%) and the highest predictive performance for the 10y and dynamic models (prediction errors of 17%). Conclusions We identified the most important predictors of overweight/obesity in adolescence, most of them modifiable, and able to be targeted in prevention strategies. Predicting overweight/obesity risk in adolescence might be suboptimal if only considering pregnancy/infancy data and improves as closer to the age of the outcome, with no additional benefit in using a complex dynamic model. Key messages • Prevention of overweight/obesity should start during prenatal life. • Children at higher risk of overweight/obesity may be identified years earlier using prediction models in clinical practice.

Occurrence of overweight, obesity and their associated risk factors among primary school pupils in Samarra/Iraq: a cross-sectional study.

To find the prevalence of overweight and obesity and the risk factors for increasing weight among young students. The cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted during the 2018-19 academic year in Samarra, Iraq, after approval from the ethics review committee of Anbar University, Al Anbar, Iraq, and comprised primary schoolchildren aged 7-13 years regardless of gender. After collecting sociodemographic data, based on body mass index values, the children were categorised into malnourished <5th percentile, normal 5-84th percentile, overweight 85-97th percentile, and obese ≥97th percentile. Data was analysed using SPSS 27. Of the 450 subjects, 243(54%) were girls and 207(46%) were boys. Obesity was found in 54(12%,) subjects, while 83(18.4%) were overweight. Class grades of the schoolchildren, mothers' education, type of food taken to school, money to buy from the school canteen, consumption of soft drinks, and eating snacks were significantly related to body mass index percentile (p<0.05). Overweight and obesity were prevalent in school children, and a number of factors contributed to the problem, highlighting the need for health education interventions.

Functional whey-based drinks with grape pomace extract and fruit juice

Industrial waste leads to pollution and deterioration of the environment, as well as harming the living population and animals. Whey, being a by-product of milk processing, is a source of protein and nitrogenous compounds, carbohydrates, lipids, mineral supplements, vitamins, organic acids, enzymes and macro- and microelements. Amino acid content of whey is represented by amino acids of protein substances and free amino acids. The next valuable secondary raw material is grape pomace, which is practically not processed and becomes a factor of anthropogenic load, polluting the environment. Grape pomace has a rich chemical composition, especially a large number of phenolic compounds, which have antioxidant properties. Currently, there is a significant increase in the production and consumption of soft drinks with various additives, the composition of which is replete with unnecessary colors and flavors. The aim of the work is to use milk whey for the development of technology of drinks of functional purpose, which will directly increase the efficiency of its processing, as a secondary raw material in industrial production, as well as serve the purpose of improving the environmental situation in places where milk processing plants are located. In particular, the creation of functional drinks on the basis of milk whey with the addition of grape pomace, fruit juices and pectin, will enrich the milk drink with a complex of biologically active substances, trace elements, antioxidants, vitamins. Using organoleptic and physico-chemical parameters, two technologies of functional drinks based on milk whey with 25% Husein Black grape pomace extract, in the first 25% cherry and in the second 25% peach juices were developed. The first formulation demonstrated noteworthy macro- and microelement content, including calcium (12.10%), sodium (5.04%), magnesium (1.60%), phosphorus (7.31%), and potassium (24.61%). Similarly, the second formulation exhibited significant macro- and microelement composition, including calcium (9.50%), sodium (4.28%), magnesium (1.33%), phosphorus (6.37%), and potassium (21.91%). All microbiological indicators meet the requirements of GOST and indicate the absence of pathogenic microflora, which is one of the indicators of guaranteed sanitary well-being of the proposed products. The developed drinks have pleasant organoleptic indicators, high biological value and low cost price.

Soft drink consumption and increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Results from the health workers cohort study

Introduction and ObjectivesNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common clinical condition and an important public health problem. Some epidemiological studies have suggested that soft drinks (SD) intake is associated with NAFLD. However, the evidence is inconsistent. Our objective was to assess the association between SD consumption and the risk of NAFLD in a Mexican adult population. Materials and MethodsA total of 1,759 participants from the Health Workers Cohort Study (HWCS) were included in the analyses. SD intake was measured using a validated food frequency questionnaire. We classified SD consumption as follows: a) less than 1 serving per week, b) 1 to less than 3.5 servings per week, and c) 3.5 or more servings per week. Hepatic steatosis index (HSI) was calculated based on sex, BMI, and blood transaminase levels, and was categorized as NAFLD ≥ 36. To assess the relation between SD and NAFLD, we followed two approaches: fixed effects logistic regression and generalized estimating equations. ResultsAfter adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and dietary intake, the odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) for NAFLD were 1.26 (95 % CI: 1.08, 1.48) for 1 to less than 3.5 servings per week and 1.42 (95 % CI: 1.19, 1.69) for ≥3.5 servings/week category in both sexes. When stratifying the analysis by sex, we observed that the association tended to be greater in men than in women. ConclusionsThe results from our prospective study indicate that SD consumption is associated with an increased risk of NAFLD.

Associations between soft drinks intake and primary dysmenorrhea among Chinese undergraduate female students

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a common global health concern. However, limited studies explored the association between soft drinks intake and PD among female undergraduates in China. To determine the association between soft drinks (carbonated soft drinks, etc.) as well coffee intake and the incidence/severity of PD among female undergraduates in China. We performed a cross-sectional study among 1809 female undergraduates in China from September 29, 2020 to October 22, 2020. The demographic information and menstrual information of the participants were collected by a self-administrated questionnaire. Chi-square test, ANOVA test, and logistic regression test were used to investigate the association between soft drinks intake and the incidence/severity of PD. We also conducted stratification analysis among different locations (rural or urban). The prevalence of PD was 47.1% (n = 852). There were 221 (25.9%) participants suffered from severe pain. In the participants with PD, the OR of carbonated soft drinks intake was 1.244 (95% CI 1.010–1.533). Among the participants with PD from rural areas, the OR of carbonated soft drinks intake was 1.402 (95% CI 1.045–1.881), compared with the non-carbonated soft drink group. In the participants with moderate and severe PD, the OR of coffee intake was 0.451 (95% CI 0.228–0.892), compared with the non-coffee-drinking group. There was a significant association between carbonated soft drinks intake frequency and the severity of PD (P < 0.05). Our study showed that carbonated soft drinks intake is a risk factor for PD, especially in participants from rural areas. Coffee intake is a protective factor for the severity of PD. Periodical awareness programs about adverse effects of excessive soft drink consumption should be introduced to reduce the prevalence and exacerbation of PD. Coffee intake might be helpful to relieve the severity of PD.

The Impact of Light-Dark Cycle Alteration on the Acceleration of Type 1 Diabetes in NOD Mice Model.

We aimed to evaluate the effect of light-dark cycle alteration and soft drink consumption on the acceleration of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) development among non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice model. We exposed female NOD and C57BL/6 mice from the age of 5 weeks to either adlib soft drink consumption and/or T20 light-dark cycle alteration until the development of diabetes, or the mice reached the age of 30 weeks. Each group consisted of 7-15 mice. We monitored weight, length, blood glucose level, and insulin autoantibody (IAA) levels weekly. Out of 75 NOD and 22 C57BL/6 mice, 41 NOD mice developed diabetes, and 6 mice died between 7 and 8 weeks of age. The mean time to development of T1DM among NOD control mice was 20 weeks. The time to development of T1DM was accelerated by two weeks in the NOD mice exposed to light-dark cycle alteration, hazard ratio of 2.65,95th CI (0.70, 10.04) p = 0.15). The other groups developed T1DM, similar to the control group. There was a trend toward earlier development of T1DM among NOD mice exposed to light-dark cycle alteration, but this difference was not statistically significant. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings using larger sample sizes and different animal species.

P097 SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN A HYPERTENSIVE MODEL OF FRUCTOSE PLUS HIGH SALT DIET

High salt diet (HSD) and fructose are both consumed in excess and contributes to hypertension (HTN). Fructose is commonly used to sweeten soft drinks, and studies have linked soft drink consumption to salt-sensitive HTN. However, full mechanisms aren’t understood. Previous data indicates that an acute fructose-enriched diet (FED) increases Na/K/2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2) activity, promoting salt-sensitive HTN in rats; however, there is no research on long-term consumption. Here, our goal was to evaluate whether a FED, coupled to HSD, can induce HTN. Given the known sex-dependent differences in salt-sensitive HTN, we also hypothesized differences between male and female mice. Male and female C57BI/6 mice (10 weeks old, n=4-6) were treated with vehicle or fructose (10% in drinking water) plus HSD (4% in food) for 28 days. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured by tail-cuff plethysmography, and cardiac hypertrophy (morphometry). We performed an acute diuresis test using furosemide to inhibit NKCC2 (20 mg/kg bw, ip) at day 26, and then measured natriuresis (metabolic cages) for 2-hrs. All data are presented by mean standard deviation. Fructose+HSD increased SBP in male mice after 28 days (Veh=110.5±4.6 vs. Frucose+HSD=130.2±5.6 mmHg; p&lt;0.01); in contrast, HTN was completely prevented in female mice (Veh=109.8±6.8 vs. Fructose+HSD=114.0±11.0 mmHg; ns). We did not observe changes in cardiac hypertrophy in either sex. We observed a significant decrease in natriuresis (∼20%) after furosemide injection in male mice (Veh=5.9±1.1 vs. Fructose+HSD=4.7±0.8 μEq/2 h/g bw; ns). Surprisingly, we observed an increase in natriuresis following furosemide injection in female mice (Veh=3.8±5.0 vs. Fructose+HSD= 7.7±2.7 μEq/2 h/g bw; p&lt;0.01). We observed HTN in males following a FED combined with HSD, which was not associated with increased NKCC2 activation. In contrast, female mice showed a resistance to HTN, and yet an apparent increase in NKCC2 activity. This probably suggests a dysregulation of other transporters not evaluated in this work. Finally, we demonstrate that long-term FED, with HSD, induces HTN with a sexual dimorphic effect, apparently through differential renal sodium handling.

Prevalence and Predictors of Soft Drink Consumption among Adolescents in the Gulf Countries: Findings from National Surveys.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of soft drink consumption among adolescents in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries using nationally representative data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Cross-sectional data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire in a school survey and included 22,116 adolescents aged 12-18 years from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Data were collected and analyzed using complex survey methods. The GSHS was not available for Saudi Arabia. Soft drink consumption was the main outcome variable. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine its associations with sociodemographic characteristics, dietary behaviors, parental factors, and health-related behaviors. The prevalence of soft drink consumption three or more times per day ranged from 10.6% to 26.8% across the countries, with the highest being in Qatar. Adjusted analyses showed that girls had lower odds of SD consumption compared to boys (OR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.57-0.77). Food insecurity, a proxy for low socioeconomic status, was associated with twice the odds of frequent consumption (OR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.75-2.43). Parental smoking and low physical activity levels were also associated with higher soft drink intake (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.13-1.88 and OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08-1.28, respectively), while obesity showed a weak positive association. Daily soft drink consumption was highly prevalent among adolescents in the GCC countries. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and health-related factors were significantly associated with frequent intake. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive, multi-sectoral interventions to reduce soft drink consumption in the region.

Dental Carries Prevalence and Associated Factors of Secondary Level Students in Eastern Nepal

Background: Dental caries or a tooth decay is a common oral health condition characterized by demineralization oftooth enamel and subsequent formation of cavities It is a global public health problem and influence the overall health ofchildren.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 343 secondary level school students by complete enumerationsampling method. A pretested, standardized, closed-ended questionnaire and a standard Decayed, Missing, and Filledprimary Teeth (DMFT) tools were adopted to find out the prevalence and associated factors of Dental Caries. Face to faceinterview and oral assessment under natural day light were uses for data collection methods. Data were coded, entered,cleaned and analyzed by using SPSS version 22. Descriptive and bi-variate statistics were employed to test the associationbetween dependent and independent variables. P-value less than 0.05 was taken as significant association and result waspresented in text, tables and graph.Result: The overall prevalence of dental caries was 68.5% with a mean and SD of DMFT of 1.53±1.462 and femalestudents were most sufferer (70.1%) from dental caries. There was a significant association of dental caries with mother’seducational status (p=0.009), consumption of sugary tea/coffee (p=&lt;0.001), frequency of soft drinks consumption(p=0.004), frequency of tooth brushing (p=&lt;0.001) and changing time of new tooth brush (p=&lt;0.001).Conclusion: The study found a high prevalence of dental caries among the students, which were attributed to consumptionof sugary foods and drinks and poor oral hygiene practices. The researchers hold a strong conviction that relevant authoritiescan provide the necessary actions to raise the awareness regarding the issue.

How do maternal socioeconomic and behavioral patterns affect oral health in early childhood?

A prospective longitudinal observational cohort study. The data analyzed were derived from a comprehensive observational study on BRISA prenatal cohort conducted in São Luís City, Brazil, between 2010 and 2013. A convenience sample included pregnant women recruited from both public and private prenatal health services in the city. To participate in the study, women needed to have undergone an obstetric ultrasound before the 20th week of pregnancy to estimate gestational age. Multiple pregnancies were excluded. Initially, the pregnant women were interviewed and assessed for oral health indicators between the 22nd and 25th weeks of pregnancy. A follow-up interview was conducted within 48 h after delivery. In the child's second year, the mothers were re-interviewed, and the children were examined for the second follow-up. The study received approval from the local ethics committee, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The research followed the STROBE guidelines for reporting observational studies. At baseline, a structured questionnaire was used to gather sociodemographic and lifestyle information like maternal age, family income, education level, occupation of the family head, pre-gestational BMI, alcohol and soft drink consumption, and smoking status during pregnancy. Dental examinations were conducted by 6 trained and calibrated dentists who assessed DMFT index and periodontal health indicators. In the second follow-up, children's oral health was evaluated using visible plaque index (VPI), gingival bleeding, and the modified dmft index. Children's weight and height were measured by a digital scale, and BMI z-scores were calculated based on WHO standards. Sugar-sweetened beverage intake was categorized by terciles based on the percentage of total daily energy from these beverages. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze multiple pathways among a set of latent and observed variables. Three latent variables were proposed and measured: Socioeconomic Status and Periodontal Maternal Status in the mothers, and Chronic Oral Disease Burden (CODB) in the children. CODB was inferred from 3 observed indicators: VPI, gingival bleeding, and tooth decay. Total, direct, and indirect effects were calculated for variables from the gestational period and the child's second year of life. In total, 1141 mother-child dyads were included. Periodontal Maternal Status correlated with more decayed teeth in pregnant women (standardized coefficient (SC) = 0.089; p = 0.008). Addictive risk behaviors were highly correlated, with SCs of 0.679 (p < 0.001) for alcohol and smoking, and 0.262 (p < 0.001) for soft drink and alcohol consumption. Obesity (SC = 0.081; p = 0.048) and added sugar consumption (SC = 0.142; p = 0.040) were interconnected across generations from pregnant women to their offspring. Children's consumption of sugar was strongly associated with CODB (SC = 0.357; p = 0.005). Caries and periodontitis were correlated in pregnant women. Obesity and sugar consumption have intergenerational impacts. Early sugar intake relates to CODB in early childhood. Intergenerational behavioral risks affect oral health in the first 1000 days of life, influencing long-term health outcomes.

The Prevalence of Dental Carious Lesions and Associated Risk Factors in Chinese Children Aged 7-9 Years.

To investigate the prevalence, severity, oral distribution, and associated risk factors of carious lesions in the pri- mary teeth in children in Jinzhou, China, aged 7-9 years. A total of 1603 primary school students aged 7-9 years old from public and private schools in Jinzhou were recruited using multi-stage, stratified, and random sampling methods for cross-sectional studies. Carious lesions in the primary teeth of school-age children were detected and recorded according to the World Health Organiza- tion standard, and a questionnaire was collected from a parent or guardian with information on the relevant risk factors for the child. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of factors related to carious lesions were estimated using binary logistic regression analysis (p<0.05). The prevalence of carious lesions in the primary teeth was 74.5%, the average number of carious lesions was 3.02, and dmft was 4.08 ± 2.74. There were 655 cases (77.1%) of dental carious lesions in boys and 546 cases (72.5%) in girls, and the difference between them was statistically significant (p<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the mother's educational level, brushing frequency, brushing time, and consumption of soft drinks, desserts, and sweets were all associated with a higher prevalence of carious lesions (p<0.05). The children in our sample had a high incidence of carious lesions of the primary teeth, especially the man- dibular primary molars. Social demographic factors, oral hygiene habits, and dietary habits all play an important role in the occurrence of carious lesions.

The association between food preferences, eating behavior, and body weight among female university students in the United Arab Emirates.

This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between lifestyle, eating habits, food preferences, consumption patterns, and obesity among female university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Approximately 4,728 participants, including both Emirati and Non-Emirati students (International Students). Data collection involved face-to-face interviews and anthropometric measurements, showing an interrelated relationship between food preferences and obesity among female university students. While sociodemographic factors and lifestyle habits contribute to obesity, this study uniquely focuses on the role of food preferences and food consumption patterns in body weight status. The findings reveal a significant correlation between the intake of high-sugar beverages-such as milk, juices, soft drinks, and energy drinks-and an increased risk of overweight and obesity among both Emirati and Non-Emirati populations. Notably, milk consumption was particularly associated with obesity in non-Emirati populations (F = 88.1, p < 0.001) and with overweight status in Non-Emiratis (F = 7.73, p < 0.05). The consumption of juices and soft drinks was linked to obesity. Additionally, a significant preference for fruits and vegetables among overweight and obese students was observed, indicating a trend toward healthier food choices. However, there was also a clear preference for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods such as processed meats, sweets, and salty snacks. Fast food items like burgers, fried chicken, fries, pizza, shawarma, chips, and noodles were significantly correlated with increased body weight status, especially shawarma, which showed a notably high correlation with both obesity and overweight statuses (F-values of 38.3 and 91.11, respectively). The study indicated that food choices shape weight-related outcomes is important for designing effective strategies to promote healthier dietary patterns.

The association between soft drinks consumption and risk of mental disorders among Iranian adults: The LIPOKAP study

ObjectiveWith rising demand for soft drinks (SDs) in low-income countries, studies examining mental disorders in relation to SDs are rather scarce. Therefore, we aimed to explore this association in a sample of Iranian adults. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out within the framework of the multi-centric LIPOKAP project, with 1970 Iranian healthy adults. Dietary intake and symptoms of depression and anxiety were collected using validated, Persian versions of a food frequency questionnaire and a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), respectively. Artificial juices were considered fruit-flavored carbonated sugar beverages, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) included fruit-flavored carbonated sugar beverages and carbonated colas, and soft drinks included SSB and drinks containing non-nutritive sweeteners. ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 39.8 ± 13.9 years. Compared to lower intake, higher intake of SDs (OR = 1.30, 95 % CI: 1.01, 1.69; P = 0.041), SSBs (OR = 1.30, 95 % CI: 1.00, 1.67; P = 0.045) and artificial juice (OR = 1.63, 95 % CI: 1.24, 2.13; P < 0.001) was associated with higher risk of depression in adjusted model. These associations were sex-specific and more evident in males. No significant association was found between any of the drinks and anxiety risk except for artificial juice in men which was directly associated with anxiety risk (OR = 1.66, 95 % CI: 1.06, 2.61; P = 0.028). ConclusionThis study found a positive association between SDs, SSBs and artificial juice and depression, but not anxiety. These associations varied between men and women. Prospective cohort studies are warranted to confirm our results and reveal the causal relationship.

Investigating the Sociodemographic and Health Characteristics of Non-Sugar Sweeteners Consumption in Greek School-Aged Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The childhood consumption of non-sugar-sweetened (NSS) soft drinks is a growing concern due to its potential health implications. This study investigated demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors influencing NSS soft drink consumption among children. A sample of 1304 children and their parents were surveyed. Analysis revealed that nearly 60% reported consuming NSS soft drinks at least once a week. Also, positive associations were found between NSS soft drink consumption and lower socioeconomic status, increased total beverage consumption, higher maternal BMI, and parental soft drink habits. However, upon employing multivariable models, only the association between total and NSS soft drinks consumption remained statistically significant (OR = 18.925, p < 0.05 for children; OR = 3.801, p < 0.05 for parents), highlighting the pivotal role of parental behavior in shaping children's consumption patterns. These findings emphasize the importance of tracking parental habits, revealing a strong correlation between parental behavior and children's soft drink consumption patterns. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective public health strategies for children, which should prioritize not only individual behaviors but also parental modeling and household dynamics.

The Association of Lifestyle Factors and Attention Problems in Adolescents

OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the associations between lifestyle factors such as physical activity, sleep patterns, media usage, and diet, and attention problems in adolescents. METHODS This cross-sectional study involved 4,370 adolescents aged 13-18 years in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Lifestyle factors were assessed using the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System questionnaire, while attention problems were evaluated with the Youth Self-Report (YSR) Attention Problems subscale. Associations were analyzed using univariable and multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS Media use exceeding two hours per day was significantly asso-ciated with clinical attention problems (aOR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.81-5.71). Additionally, increased media use (b = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.19-0.28, p &lt; 0.01), and high soft drinks consumption (b = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.12-0.26, p &lt; 0.01) were positively associated with higher attention problem scores. Conversely, active physical activity (b = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.13 to -0.05, p &lt; 0.01), adequate sleep (b = -0.26, 95% CI: -0.33 to -0.19, p &lt; 0.01), regular breakfast intake (b = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.12 to -0.05, p &lt; 0.01), vegetable consumption (b = -0.07, 95% CI: -0.13 to -0.02, p = 0.01), and milk consumption (b = -0.06, 95% CI: -0.11 to -0.01, p = 0.03) were negatively associated with attention problems scores. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the significant impact of lifestyle factors on attention problems among adolescents. These findings support the integration of lifestyle modifications into the assessment and manage-ment of attention issues in this age group, particularly emphasizing the need to reduce excessive media use. KEYWORDS lifestyle factors, dietary patterns, attention problems, ADHD, adolescence

A Path Model of Factors Associated with Hypertension and Disease: Analysis of Indonesian Basic Health Survey Year 2018

Non-communicable diseases are estimated to account for 73% of all deaths in Indonesia, and cardiovascular disease contributes 35%. Unhealthy dietary behavior leads to several NCDs, such as Diabetes Mellitus, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. This cross-sectional study used secondary data from the Indonesian Basic Health Survey Year 2018. The study selected 10,171 samples aged ≥15 years from West Borneo Province. The dependent variable was coronary disease. The independent variables were hypertension, age, gender, education, smoking, vegetables, fruit consumption, fat intake, alcohol consumption, instant noodles consumption, soft drink consumption, physical activity, and residence. A path analysis was conducted data analysis. The coronary disease was directly increased by hypertension (b=1.19; 95% CI=0.90 to 1.48; p 0.001), age ≥43 years (b=0.88; 95% CI=0.55 to 1.21; p 0.001), and high physical activity (b= -0.49; 95% CI= -0.81 to -0.17; p=0.003). It was directly decreased by alcohol consumption, but it was statistically non-significant (b=-0.71; 95% CI=-1.54 to 0.11; p=0.088). Coronary disease was indirectly affected by males, smoking, vegetable consumption, fruit consumption, fat intake, grilled food consumption, energy drink consumption, instant noodles consumption, soft drink consumption, residence, and education.

Egg protein exposure estimation in risk assessment for Japanese food allergy labeling

To assess the risk of food allergies in foods processed under the Japanese food labeling system, estimating exposure to hidden allergens is necessary. We assessed exposure to egg protein in foods processed according to the Japanese food labeling system. First, we estimated the concentration distribution of egg protein by Bayesian methods using data from the literature and the measurement of food products with precautional declarations in the labeling margin. We then estimated the food-intake portion-size distribution under two scenarios: soft drink consumption as an example of single, high-intake consumption, and confections, which are frequently consumed by children, as a realistic example of low-intake consumption. Finally, we estimated the distribution of unexpected intake of egg proteins in the form of single consumption. The mean exposure to egg protein under the high-intake scenario was estimated to be 0.0164 mg for 1–15-year-olds, 0.0171 mg for 4–15-year-olds, 0.0181 mg for 7–15-year-olds, and ≥0.0188 mg for 16-year-olds. The mean exposure to egg protein under the low-intake scenario was estimated to be 0.0018 mg for 1–15-year-olds, 0.0019 mg for 4–15-year-olds, 0.0020 mg for 7–15-year-olds, and ≥0.0022 mg for 16-year-olds. Compared to the reference dose of 2.0 mg proposed by the Joint the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee, the risk of onset of food allergies due to egg protein contamination from foods without egg labeling is considered to be extremely low under the current Japanese food labeling system.

Highlighting Soft Drinks Consumption in Lebanon

This paper aims to highlight the excess consumption of carbonated soft drinks among the Lebanese population and consequently present a call for moderation and reduced consumption (Controlled consumption). A quantitative analysis with a positivist philosophy and a deductive approach is adopted. A questionnaire was administered to 1,612 participants based on their willingness to provide input. Descriptive analysis is used based on the IBM SPSS version 26.0 software. In addition, cross-tabulations were run with Chi-square testing, and a nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was also applied to study differences in medians between selected variables. Results illustrate that compared to other nations, Lebanon is a less-than-average consumer of soft drinks (45.5 liters per person per year), with a large percentage of soft drink consumers being young adults and middle-aged adults in the range of 17 to 48 years. This research shows that women consume fewer soft drink glasses than men with averages of 3.82 glasses per week (49.66 liters/yr.) for men and 3.18 glasses per week (41.34 liters/yr.) for women. Results also show no statistically significant relationship between having a job or living status and consuming soft drinks with snacks or food at restaurants. However, the relationship between gender and consuming soft drinks with snacks or food at restaurants is significant (p &lt; 5%). In addition, 17.1% of the participants declared they would never quit consuming soft drinks. Moreover, 85% of females and 79.4% of males have a very good level of health issues awareness about the harms soft drinks cause. Findings also show a significant relation (p &lt; 5%) between gender and awareness.

The association between dietary inflammatory index with some cardio-metabolic risk indices among the patients with type 2 diabetes from Hoveyzeh cohort study: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe dietary inflammatory index (DII) serves as a tool to assess the inflammatory impact of an individual’s diet. This study aimed to investigate the association between DII and some cardio-metabolic risk indices among patients with T2DM.MethodsData from the Hoveyzeh Cohort Study, encompassing 2045 adults with T2DM, were analyzed. DII scores were calculated based on food frequency questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical tests were performed to assess cardio-metabolic risk factors.ResultsHigher DII scores were positively associated with elevated triglyceride levels, triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, lipid accumulation product (LAP), anthropometric indices including a body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), body mass index (BMI), hip, waist circumferences (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (all Ptrend < 0.05). Notably, no significant association was observed between DII and fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels (Ptrend > 0.05). Additionally, dietary intake analysis revealed a negative correlation between DII scores and intake of fiber, fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, seafood, dairy products, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, D, and E (all Ptrend < 0.05). Conversely, higher DII scores were associated with increased consumption of red meat, processed meat, refined cereals, potatoes, and soft drinks (all Ptrend < 0.05).ConclusionThis study underscores the critical link between dietary inflammation, assessed by the DII score, and a multitude of cardio-metabolic risk factors in patients with T2DM. Notably, while the study did not find a significant association between DII and fasting blood sugar levels, it identified robust associations with novel anthropometric and biochemical indices indicative of cardio-metabolic risk. These findings highlight the potential of dietary interventions as a cornerstone strategy for managing T2DM and mitigating its associated complications.