Special Diet Research Articles

Association between the prognostic nutritional index and severe headache or migraine: a population-based study

ABSTRACT Purpose Migraine is a highly prevalent headache disorder, and intake of various nutrients and special diets may improve migraine symptoms. We aimed to clarify the association between nutritional status and migraine. Patients and methods We collected the data of 1838/8953 (migraineurs/all participants) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004 cycle. We used weighted multivariable linear or logistic regression analyses to study the association between the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and the occurrence of severe headache or migraine. Results After adjusting for confounding variables, we found that mild (PNI 45–50) or moderate to severe (PNI <45) malnutrition were associated with higher prevalence of severe headache or migraine (odds ratio [OR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–1.12, P = 0.004; OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03–1.12, P < 0.001). In addition, we found that those with severe headache or migraine consumed less alcohol, dietary fiber, cholesterol, total folate, vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin K, selenium, potassium, magnesium, and copper, and consumed more caffeine and theobromine than did those without severe headache or migraine. Conclusion The PNI is associated with migraine prevalence, and may thus serve as a predictor of migraine risk and highlights the potential of nutrition-based strategies for migraine prevention and treatment.

Dietary energy restriction inneurologicaldiseases: what's new?

Energy-restricted diet is a specific dietary regimen, including the continuous energy-restricted diet and the intermittent energy-restricted diet. It has been proven effective not only to reduce weight and extend the lifespan in animal models, but also to regulate the development and progression of various neurological diseases such as epilepsy, cerebrovascular diseases (stroke), neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease) and autoimmune diseases (multiple sclerosis). However, the mechanism in this field is still not clear and a systematic neurological summary is still missing. In this review, we first give a brief summary of the definition and mainstream strategies of energy restrictions. We then review evidence about the effects of energy-restricted diet from both animal models and human trials, and update the current understanding of mechanisms underlying the biological role of energy-restricted diet in the fight against neurological diseases. Our review thus contributes to the modification of dietary regimen and the search for special diet mimics.

Use Patterns and Perceptions of Non-Traditional Therapies in Radiotherapy Patients: Results from the Multi-Institutional Complementary and Alternative Medicine Exposure in Oncology (CAMEO) Study

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been associated with detrimental effects on survival outcomes in cancer patients compared to standard of care medical interventions. CAM has received a significant increase in public awareness and interest in recent years. We sought to understand use patterns and perceptions in radiotherapy patients. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> Data was collected from a cross-sectional survey of prospectively enrolled adult cancer patients, conducted at an NCI-designated cancer center and a comprehensive cancer center between 2020 and 2021. Cancer patients who received or were recommended radiotherapy were selected for analysis and grouped by CAM use. CAM users analyzed were those reporting use of enteral and parental interventions, including alternative medicines, special diets and herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements, and excluding mind/body practices. Differences between CAM users and non-users were analyzed with χ² and two-sample t-tests. Predictors of CAM use were identified with multivariable logistic regression. <h3>Results</h3> Of the 749 respondents, 445 (59%) received or were recommended radiotherapy. Of those 445, 297 (67%) used enteral or parenteral CAM. Among CAM users, 81% were satisfied and 77% felt CAM was effective for intended use. The most common goal of CAM therapy was symptom management (44%), although CAM use as a curative-intent treatment (31%) was common. Compared to non-users, CAM users were more likely to be female (76% vs 62%, p<0.01), have self-reported incurable disease (73% vs 62%, p=0.04), to feel CAM is safe (45% vs 9%, p<0.01), effective at curing cancer (26% vs 11%, p<0.01), effective at managing symptoms (42% vs 20%, p<0.01), more likely to trust naturopaths (33% vs 22%, p=0.02) or chiropractors (26% vs 15%, p=0.01), more likely since COVID-19 to have a more favorable view of CAM (79% vs 42%, p=0.01) or use CAM (61% vs 40%, p=0.04), but less likely to decline recommended surgery (7% vs 19%, p<0.01) or recommended radiotherapy (5% vs 11%, p=0.03). No differences were noted between CAM users and non-users in trust of physicians or any media. Predictors of enteral or parenteral CAM use included female gender (OR 1.4, p=0.04), breast cancer (OR 2.1, p=0.03), colon cancer (OR 3.5, p=0.01), and metastatic cancer (OR 2.2, p<0.01). <h3>Conclusion</h3> The use of CAM is common among patients receiving or recommended radiotherapy, with nearly one-third of patients using CAM as a cancer cure. However, radiotherapy patients using CAM were less likely than non-users to decline other recommended therapies, dispelling the notion that CAM-users are more likely to eschew standard-of-care treatments, at least in this cohort. Understanding the patterns and perceptions of CAM use in radiotherapy patients is essential for improving patient-physician communication and treatment decision-making.

Out-of-pocket expenses of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a comparison of patient-reported outcomes across 12 European countries.

There is a high variability of out-of-packet patient costs of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), but the issue is not widely recognised. Therefore, we compared patient costs of IBDs between 12 European countries. A questionnaire-based study was conducted among adult patients with IBD. Data on patient characteristics and out-of-pocket expenses were anonymously collected. Ordered logit regression models were used to analyse the responses provided by patients. The results were adjusted for confounders and multiplicity. The questionnaires obtained from 3687 patients were analysed. Patients with comorbidities and active disease indicated higher out-of-pocket expenses than those without comorbidities and with disease in remission, respectively. Compared with other IBD, patients with ulcerative colitis indicated higher expenses on medications prescribed or recommended by physicians [odds ratio (OR) 1.99, 95% CI 1.48-2.67]. Expenses on dietary supplements, special diet or equipment, ostomy pouches, and transportation to a medical facility differed slightly between patients at different ages and were lower among men than among women (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54-0.93). The expenses differed significantly between countries. An adjusted mean patient cost per month varied from €77 (patient with Crohn disease in remission from Denmark) to €376 (patient with active ulcerative colitis from Romania). Compared with active disease, patients with IBD in remission had a lower out-of-pocket cost by 29-62% (€10-€22 monthly; p < 0.001). The study revealed a high relevance of the out-of-pocket cost of IBD in the context of economic evaluation and a high variability of the cost between countries.

High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol as a Potential Medium between Depletion of Lachnospiraceae Genera and Hypertension under a High-Calorie Diet.

Gut microbial dysbiosis has been associated with hypertension. An extremely high incidence of essential hypertension was found in the Han and the Yugur people who resided in Sunan County in China's nomadic steppes, with little population movement. To investigate gut microbial contributions to this high incidence of hypertension, we recruited a total of 1, 242 Yugur and Han people, who had resided in Sunan County for more than 15 years and accounted for 3% of the local population. The epidemiological survey of 1,089 individuals indicated their nearly 1.8-times-higher prevalence of hypertension (38.2 to 43.3%) than the average in China (23.2%), under a special high-calorie diet based on wheat, cattle, mutton, and animal offal. Investigations of the fecal microbiota of another cohort of 153 individuals revealed that certain Lachnospiraceae genera were positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) but negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). HDL-C was negatively correlated with SBP and DBP. We further observed that the serum butyrate content was lower in both Han and Yugur people with hypertension than in those without hypertension. This study gives novel insight into the role of gut microbial dysbiosis in hypertension modulation under a high-calorie diet, where the notable depletion of Lachnospiraceae genera might lead to less production of butyrate, contributing to the lower level of HDL-C and elevating blood pressure in hypertension. IMPORTANCE Dietary nutrients can be converted by the gut microbiota into metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, which may serve as disease-preventing agents in hypertension. Due to the limited population mobility and unique high-calorie dietary habits, the cohort of this study can serve as a representative cohort for elucidating the associations between the gut microbiota and hypertension under a high-calorie diet. Moreover, low levels of HDL-C have previously been associated with an increased risk of various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Our findings provide new insight showing that low levels of HDL-C may be a potential medium between the depletion of Lachnospiraceae genera and hypertension under a high-calorie diet, which might also be a potential candidate for other CVDs.

Food Stress and Diabetes-Related Psychosocial Outcomes in American Indian Communities: A Mixed Methods Approach

ObjectiveExplore the relationship between diabetes-related psychosocial outcomes and food stress in American Indian communities. DesignConvergence model of a mixed methods triangulation study. SettingFive American Indian reservation communities in the Midwest. ParticipantsOne-hundred ninety-two participants were randomly selected from tribal health centers using clinic patient records and were surveyed about diabetes distress, empowerment, and food stress across 4 different time points. Seventeen focus group discussions were conducted and transcribed, and a mix of purposive and convenience sampling was used. Phenomenon of InterestPsychosocial outcomes associated with (or related to) diabetes and food stress. AnalysisQuantitative: Multiple linear regression was performed to explore relationships between food stress and diabetes distress and empowerment. Qualitative: Open coding of data identified portions of the transcripts related to food followed by a deductive approach on the basis of the components of quantitative food stress. ResultsFood stress in the forms of (1) not having enough money for food and not having enough time for cooking or shopping (P = 0.08) and (2) inadequate food access and being on a special diet (P = 0.032) were associated with increased diabetes distress. Lower diabetes empowerment was associated with not having enough money for food and being on a special diet (P = 0.030). Our qualitative data mirrored quantitative findings that experiencing multiple forms of food stress negatively impacted diabetes psychosocial outcomes and illuminated the cyclical role mental health can play in relationships to food. Conclusions and ImplicationsOur findings highlight that experiencing food stress negatively affects diabetes empowerment and diabetes distress. These findings emphasize the importance of improving community food environments and addressing individual food access for diabetes management and prevention initiatives in American Indian communities.

Trophological approach in the development of nutrition theories

This article presents a trophological approach to the development of nutrition. The evolution of human views on nutrition from antiquity to the present time, including issues of perfect nutrition, is considered. The main concepts of nutrition theories are formulated. The systematized reasoning is useful for new rationale for solutions of challenges related to optimization of nutrition. Within the scope of the development of nutrition theories, the problem of perfect food plays a special role. The article presents a modern vision of perfect nutrition. The designing of trophological nutrition algorithm is based on scientific approaches that both to justify the correct consumption of food products, and also define the most reasonable way of their production, storage, distribution and disposal of food waste. The implementation of the trophological approach in theories of nutrition is also reflected in the concept of the state policy of the Russian Federation in the field of healthy nutrition among the population. This topic is also relevant in light of the sharp increase of food allergies among the various groups of population, because people who suffer from food allergies must follow a special diet to prevent the risk of allergic reactions, which can be managed using a nutritional approach.

Ketogenic diet may be a new approach to treatment stress urinary incontinence in obese elderly women: report of five cases

BackgroundStress urinary incontinence (SUI) as a serious social problem restricted women's daily life and affect their quality of life, especially for obese women. The mechanism of stress urinary incontinence is unclear. Weight loss is the first line of treatment for stress incontinence in obese women. Ketogenic diet is a special diet with high fat, low carbohydrate and moderate protein, which can reduce body mass faster than the traditional diet. There exist no reports on the therapeutic effect of ketogenic diet on SUI in obese women.Case presentationFive postmenopausal obese women are diagnosed as mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence, which affected their quality of life for medical treatment. After 4 weeks ketogenic diet, we found that ketogenic diet can significantly improve urine leakage, reduce body weight, decrease visceral fat area, reduce body fat percentage, and reduce BMI.ConclusionReports in this case reveal that ketogenic diet may become one of the effective methods for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in obese women in the future, providing a minimally invasive, highly profitable and highly compliant treatment for stress urinary incontinence in obese women.

The Effect of Internet-Based Intervention on Lifestyle and Healthy Nutrition Habits of Women in North of Iran: A Field-Based Trial Study

Background: A healthy lifestyle based on healthy eating habits and appropriate physical activity during different periods of life, bring healthy old age to women through preventing overweight or maintaining a healthy weight Objectives: This study was aimed to determine the effect of Internet-based intervention on the lifestyle and healthy eating habits of women in northern Iran. Materials &amp; Methods: The present field-trial study was conducted on 268 women who were members of Population of Mental Health Assistants from November 2014 to May 2015. The educational intervention was carried out through a website containing information on healthy lifestyle, nutrition, and cooking methods of various healthy foods. The participants of the intervention group were also received their special diet. All participants were evaluated after 3 and 6 months in terms of changes in weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and nutritional habits. Their lifestyle were measured using the standard questionnaire of Health- Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II). Data was analyzed using repeated measure analysis of variance. Results: The average age (Standard Deviation (SD)) of the intervention and comparison group was 38.7 (10.8) and 36.9 (10.8) years, respectively. After six months, the average BMI of the intervention group decreased from 27.4 (SD=5.3) to 26.3 (SD=5.7) kg/m2 (P&lt;0.001). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure of both groups showed a significant decrease (P&lt;0.001). Nutrition (F1,266=62.09, P=0.001, η2=0.19) followed by health responsibility (F1,255=30.4, P= 0.001, η2= 0.11) were the most important dimensions of HPLP-II affected by intervention. Conclusion: The Internet-based educational intervention program, using a bottom-up approach, has a favorable effect on the improvement of the lifestyle and weight loss of the participants. The findings of the present study showed the possibility of using the new e-health technology in order to promote healthy lifestyle and eating habits in women.

14.5 Dietary Considerations in ASD: Nutrient Intake, Special Diets, Potential Interventions

Children and adolescents with ASD can have rigid eating patterns and dietary preferences, resulting in poor nutrient intake and increased risk for inadequate nutrition. In addition, food allergies and the use of specific diets can further narrow the food repertoire, making it difficult for children with ASD to consume a balanced diet and negatively impacting their quality of life. This presentation is designed to provide clinicians with current knowledge on assessing and managing nutritional status in this specific population.

Giant pandas' staple food bamboo phyllosphere fungal community and its influencing factors.

Giant pandas have developed a series of foraging strategies to adapt to their special bamboo diets. Although bamboo is an important food resource for giant pandas in Liziping National Nature Reserve (Liziping NR), China, there are relatively few studies on their phyllosphere fungal community and its influencing factors. Herein, we used ITS1 amplification and metagenomic sequencing to analyze the phyllosphere fungi diversity and functions (KEGG, CAZyme, and antibiotic resistance gene) and explore the influencing factors for the three giant pandas foraging bamboo species (Arundinaria spanostachya, AS; Yushania lineolate, YL; and Fargesia ferax, FF) over different seasons (spring vs. autumn) in Liziping NR, China. We found that Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the most dominant phyla in the bamboo phyllosphere. The alpha diversity (e.g., the Sobs index and Shannon index) was relatively higher in autumn samples than in spring samples, and the community structure differed significantly between the three bamboo species in spring and autumn. Some biotic and abiotic variables (e.g., the elevation and mean base diameter of bamboo) significantly influenced the abundance, diversity, and community structure of the bamboo phyllosphere fungal community. Moreover, the functional analysis showed the differences in the glycoside hydrolase community and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) profile between spring and autumn samples. Co–occurrence network modeling suggested that AS phyllosphere fungal communities in autumn employed a much more complex network than that in spring, and the abundance of multidrug, tetracycline, and glycopeptide resistance genes was high and closely correlated with other ARGs. These results indicate that fungal community’s abundance, diversity, and community structure are mainly affected by the season, host species, and elevation. The season and host species are major factors affecting the biological functions (KEGG and CAZyme), ARGs, and interactions between sympatric bacterial and fungal communities in bamboo phyllosphere. This integrated study can provide a reference basis for the seasonal management of bamboo resources foraged by wild giant pandas, and predict the risk of antibiotic resistance in bamboo phyllosphere fungal flora in Liziping NR (Xiaoxiangling mountains), China.

Losing Weight through Regular Exercise among Overweight/Obesity Women Aged 35-45 years

Exercise is a simple and low-cost way to lose weight, but many people have become apprehensive to provide it. This activity aims to shift the community’s lifestyle from sedentary to active by encouraging physical activity through frequent gymnastics. Darussalam housewives gathered near the Universitas Syiah Kuala campus. There were two groups of 20 people: regular participants (n=11) and non-regular participants (n=9). Everyone in the study was between the ages of 30-45. Participants’ body weight (BW), height, and Body Mass Index (BMI) were measured before and after treatment. Participants did 60 minutes of gymnastics modified from Zumba, Aerobic, and Salsa, 3–4 times per week, at 05.00–06.00 p.m, for 12 weeks (3 months), and without any special diet. The regular group’s average age was 35.3 years, whereas the non-regular group’s average age was 36.78 years. The results showed that 80 percent and 22.22 percent of participants in the regular and non-regular groups, respectively, lost weight. Before and after exercise, the regular group’s mean BW decreased by 3.65 kg (68.25 and 84.6 vs. 59.19 and 59.25 kg), while the non-regular group’s BW increased by 0.06 kg. The regular exercise group’s BMI dropped by 1.53 kg/m2 after gymnastics (28.45 and 26.92 vs. 27.01 and 27.01 kg/m2), while the non-regular exercise group’s BMI remained unchanged. Gymnastic movements have been modified to include Zumba, Aerobics, and Salsa, which could reduce BW and BMI. As a result, sustained exercise is required to help people reduce their risk of obesity. This practice has helped the government of the Republic of Indonesia’s efforts to increase physical activity and decrease the sedentary lifestyle in the population, thereby improving societal health. Obesity in women can be treated and prevented with regular exercise.

The Special Dietary Needs of Pilgrims and Practices of Agencies Regarding Food Quality and Safety During the Hajj

It is necessary to take the pilgrims' dietary needs into consideration to avoid the complication of health especially chronic diseases, which will lead to reduce expenditure on health services. This study aimed to explore the availability of special meals that are provided to pilgrims according to their health condition, highlight the Hajj agencies’ practices with regard to food quality and safety for pilgrims and investigate the prevalence of the diseases requiring special diets among pilgrims. A cross-sectional study design was used. The data was collected via an online questionnaire. This study included 394 pilgrims who attended Hajj at least once from 2015-2019. About 20% suffered from chronic diseases; the most common: hypertension, diabetes and allergy. 15.7% required a special diet. There was an increase in the healthy method of meal preparation, the amount of water and vegetables/fruit, however, unhealthy sweets too. About 82% were overall satisfied with services; there were significant associations between it and some parameters: such as specified meal times, cleanness of eating place, utensils and hygiene of workers. In conclusion, most agencies did not provide special meals. It is important to take into consideration the calorie, nutrients and safety of food. This study recommends pre-Hajj electronic orders of meals due to health condition and using meal vending machines.

Effect of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) extract on the drying behavior of cassava starch films enriched with rebaudioside A

AbstractIn this study, the drying behavior of cassava starch‐based edible films was investigated. Formulations were elaborated with rebaudioside A, glycerol, and low concentrations (0.5, 2, and 4%, w/w) of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) extract (YM%). Physicochemical properties (pH, apparent viscosity, and density) and film‐forming capacity (dip‐coating method) were evaluated at 25°C. Films were casted by drying and mathematically described using the Henderson and Pabis thin‐layer model. Effective moisture diffusion coefficients (Deff) were determined using theoretical film thicknesses evaluated at the critical moisture content. The Deff dependency on temperature and YM% was analyzed using an Arrhenius‐type model. Based on the results, as YM% increased, values of pH, and apparent viscosity decreased. Low YM% increased the drying rates and the values of Deff of cassava starch‐based edible films elaborated with rebaudioside A as a sweetener and bioactive compound, obtaining the highest values at 4% (w/w) and 70°C.Novelty impact statementThe optimization and control of the drying process are important to produce coated foods with high‐quality and nutritional value in the industry. Yerba mate extract powder added to cassava starch‐based formulations at low concentrations (&lt;5%, w/w) is suitable for obtaining edible films and coatings with higher drying rates and effective moisture diffusion coefficients that control film casting due to the better hydrophobicity and plasticizing effect. This information could be useful to manufacture new film‐forming fluids with bioactive compounds (e.g., rebaudioside A), such as alternative bio‐packages that allow to replace the disposable composite synthetic plastic containers, and products for people with special diet requirements due to its low or sugar‐free nature.

Using social media data in diabetes care: bridging the conceptual gap between health providers and the network population

BackgroundPatients with diabetes who have poor health literacy about the disease may exhibit poor compliance and thus subsequently experience more complications. However, the conceptual gap of diabetes between health providers and the general population is still not well understood. Decoding concerns about diabetes on social media may help to close this gap.MethodsSocial media data were collected from the OpView social media platform. After checking the quality of the data, we analyzed the trends in people’s discussions on the internet using text mining. The natural language process includes word segmentation, word counting and counting the relationships between the words. A word cloud was developed, and clustering analyses were performed.ResultsThere were 19,565 posts about diabetes collected from forums, community websites, and Q&A websites in the summer (June, July, and August) of 2017. The three most popular aspects of diabetes were diet (33.2%), life adjustment (21.2%), and avoiding complications (15.6%). Most discussions about diabetes were negative. The negative/positive ratios of the top three aspects were avoiding complications (7.60), problem solving (4.08), and exercise (3.97). In terms of diet, the most popular topics were Chinese medicine and special diet therapy. In terms of life adjustment, financial issues, weight reduction, and a less painful glucometer were discussed the most. Furthermore, sexual dysfunction, neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy were the most worrisome issues in avoiding complications. Using text mining, we found that people care most about sexual dysfunction. Health providers care about the benefits of exercise in diabetes care, but people are mostly concerned about sexual functioning.ConclusionA conceptual gap between health providers and the network population existed in this real-world social media investigation. To spread healthy diabetic education concepts in the media, health providers might wish to provide more information related to the network population’s actual areas of concern, such as sexual function, Chinese medicine, and weight reduction.

Dietary Factors and Changes in Blood Pressure in Adult Kazakhs: A 3-year Follow-Up Study

BACKGROUND: As in the world and Kazakhstan’s clinical protocols for the treatment of AH, it is proposed to limit the intake of salt to &lt;5 g/day and alcohol as a dietary therapy, as well as an increase in the consumption of vegetables, fresh fruits, fish, nuts, and sources of unsaturated fatty acids, to reduce the consumption of meat as a source of saturated fatty acids (SFA); consumption of low-fat dairy products. However, it remains unclear how the traditional diet of Kazakhs, which is dominated by sources of carbohydrates and fats with its subspecies, affects the development of AD in the Kazakh population. Local epidemiological and clinical data are required for the successful work of doctors with the population in the prevention of diseases of the blood circulatory system and the creation of clinical recommendations. AIM: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate an influence of fats, its subspecies, and carbohydrates on BP change after 3-year observation of adult Kazakhs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There is described data of 96 individuals of the Kazakh population recruited by the cluster method, living in Aktobe, the Republic of Kazakhstan. Clusters were 14 polyclinics in Aktobe, of which three outpatient municipal polyclinics were randomly selected, each of which had one attached site. From the list of attached adults, also randomly selected 96 people without a history of cardiovascular events. RESULTS: Average age of participants of the study was 61.9 ± 10.8. None of the participants had a special diets or food restrictions for health reasons or personal beliefs. Body mass index was 27.1 ± 8.4. The over half of the study participants practice on smoking. The average level of SBP in the study’s participants was initially 124.6 mmHg, after 3 years, it increased by an average of 8.6 mmHg and became 133.2, the average level of DBP was 82.2 mmHg, which became higher by 6.2 mmHg and became 88.4 mmHg. According to the regression analysis, higher consumption of carbohydrates, MUFAs, SFAs, and total fats increased SBP by 9.3, 12.3, 46.1, and 5.3 mmHg, respectively. However, with the use of PUFAs, an inverse relationship was found, an increase in PUFA sources in the diet by 100 g reduces SBP by 43.3 mmHg. An effect of all nutrients was not significantly reduced at 3 years on SBP when adjusted for age, sex, and waist circumference. CONCLUSION: In accordance with the performed analysis in this cohort of subjects, that a significant percentage of these people are overweight or obese, the diet of the Kazakh population does not differ from the eating habits of residents of other countries. The examined individuals received an excess amount of energy from carbohydrates, fat, and SFA, an irrational diet was significantly correlated with an increase in blood pressure.

Quality of life, perceived stress and nutrition of patients with irritable bowel syndrome: A descriptive study

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and common functional bowel disorder that currently has no definite treatment. Depending on the type and severity of the individual's symptoms, medication, diet, and/or lifestyle changes are recommended. Aims: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the quality of life, perceived stress levels, and nutrition of individuals diagnosed with IBS. Subjects and Methods: Between March 2020 and March 2021, 340 patients with IBS volunteered for this study. The demographic information questionnaire, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) scale, Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14), and Food Frequency Questionnaire were applied via an online form. Results: From the 340 patients, 230 were eligible. Out of them, 27% followed a special diet for IBS. When the IBS-QOL scores of men were compared according to their educational status, the scores of those with a high school or higher education level (109.7±32.8) were found to be higher than those with a lower education level than high school (95.4±17.5) (p=0.008), while the educational status of women did not affect the IBS-QOL scores (p&gt;0.05). The mean IBS-QOL score of men was 44.8 ± 20.1 and lower than women (50.9±21.7) (p=0.030). The mean IBS-QOL score of women following an IBS-specific diet was 57.6 ± 22.6 and higher than women who did not follow an IBS-specific diet (48.2±20.9) (p=0.023). The IBS-QOL scores of women with gluten or lactose intolerance were lower than women without any intolerances (p=0.004). The mean IBS-QOL score for women with lactose intolerance was higher than those with gluten intolerance (p=0.004). When the IBS-QOL scores were evaluated according to the frequency of food consumption, no significant differences were found in the food groups (p&gt;0.05). In this study, no significant correlation was found between IBS-QOL scores and PSS-14 scores (p&gt;0.05). Conclusions: The prediction equations developed for healthy populations are not accurate enough to determine the energy requirements in SCD. Keywords: Irritable bowel syndrome, nutrition, stress, quality of life, patients.

Development of a cost of illness inventory questionnaire for children with autism spectrum disorder in South Asia

BackgroundThe economic burden of autism is substantial and includes a range of costs, including healthcare, education, productivity losses, informal care and respite care, among others. In India, approximately, 2 million children aged 2–9 years have autism. Given the likely substantial burden of illness and the need to identify effective and cost-effective interventions, this research aimed to produce a comprehensive cost of illness inventory (COII) suitable for children with autism in South Asia (India) to support future research.MethodsA structured and iterative design process was followed to create the COII, including literature reviews, interviews with caregivers, pilot testing and translation. Across the development of the COII, thirty-two families were involved in the design and piloting of the tool. The COII was forward translated (from English to Hindi) and back translated. Each stage of the process of development of the COII resulted in the further refinement of the tool.ResultsDomains covered in the final COII include education, childcare, relocation, healthcare contacts (outpatient, inpatient, medical emergencies, investigations and medication), religious retreats and rituals, specialist equipment, workshops and training, special diet, support and care, certification, occupational adjustments and government rebates/schemes. Administration and completion of the COII determined it to be feasible to complete in 35 minutes by qualified and trained researchers. The final COII is hosted by REDCap Cloud and is a bilingual instrument (Hindi and English).ConclusionsThe COII was developed using experiences gathered from an iterative process in a metropolitan area within the context of one low- and middle-income country (LMIC) setting, India. Compared to COII tools used for children with autism in high-income country settings, additional domains were required, such as complimentary medication (e.g. religious retreats and homeopathy). The COII will allow future research to quantify the cost of illness of autism in India from a broad perspective and will support relevant economic evaluations. Understanding the process of developing the questionnaire will help researchers working in LMICs needing to adapt the current COII or developing similar questionnaires.

Food-derived bioactive oligopeptide iron complexes ameliorate iron deficiency anemia and offspring development in pregnant rats.

This study aimed to investigate anemia treatment and other potential effects of two food-derived bioactive oligopeptide iron complexes on pregnant rats with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and their offspring. Rats with IDA were established with a low iron diet and then mated. There were one control group and seven randomly assigned groups of pregnant rats with IDA: Control group [Control, 40 ppm ferrous sulfate (FeSO4)]; IDA model group (ID, 4 ppm FeSO4), three high-iron groups (H-FeSO4, 400 ppm FeSO4; MCOP-Fe, 400 ppm marine fish oligopeptide iron complex; WCOP-Fe, 400 ppm whey protein oligopeptide iron complex) and three low-iron groups (L-FeSO4, 40 ppm FeSO4; MOP-Fe, 40 ppm marine fish oligopeptide iron complex; WOP-Fe, 40 ppm whey protein oligopeptide iron complex). Rats in each group were fed the corresponding special diet during pregnancy until the day of delivery. After different doses of iron supplement, serum hemoglobin, iron, and ferritin levels in rats with IDA were significantly increased to normal levels (P < 0.05). Serum iron levels were significantly lower in two food-derived bioactive oligopeptide low-iron complex groups than in the low FeSO4 group (P<0.05). Liver malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased in the three high-iron groups compared with the other five groups (P < 0.05), and hemosiderin deposition was observed in liver tissue, indicating that the iron dose was overloaded and aggravated the peroxidative damage in pregnant rats. Liver inflammation was reduced in the three low-iron groups. Tumor necrosis factor α secretion was significantly decreased in all groups with supplemented oligopeptide (P < 0.05), with the concentration of tumor necrosis factor α declining to normal levels in the two whey protein oligopeptide iron complex groups. In the marine fish oligopeptide iron complex groups, body length, tail length, and weight of offspring were significantly increased (P < 0.05) and reached normal levels. Therefore, food-derived bioactive oligopeptide (derived from marine fish skin and milk) iron complexes may be an effective type of iron supplement for pregnancy to improve anemia, as well as reduce the side effects of iron overload, and improve the growth and nutritional status of offspring.

Therapy of Food Refusal and Anorexia Nervosa in German-Language Psychiatry Textbooks of the Past 200 Years

The aim of this study was to describe how the therapy of anorexia nervosa (AN) and food refusal have been discussed in leading textbooks used in German-speaking academic psychiatry over the past 200 years. For this purpose, 18 textbooks of important school psychiatrists were selected. These were analyzed in a structured way to determine the content of the subject taught at universities in German-speaking countries at a given period. We found that AN was not taught as a distinct disorder until the end of the 20th century, although great attention had been paid to food refusal as a symptom and manifold therapeutic concepts had been developed much earlier. Whereas at the beginning of the 19th century forced feeding using feeding tubes was established, in the following years pharmacotherapies and special diets were developed. It is noteworthy that since the beginnings of academic psychiatry, some early forms of psychotherapy have been developed; for instance, special kinds of behavior were recommended when dealing with the patient, as the therapist was supposed to serve as a role model to encourage patients to eat. Treatment of food refusal by means of structured psychotherapeutic approaches were not established before AN was generally accepted as a distinct disease entity. The understanding of etiological factors that might lead to AN as well as potential psychotherapeutic interventions have changed fundamentally over the past decades.