Consumption Of Sweet Foods Research Articles

The prevalence and predictive factors of dentine hypersensitivity among adults in Turkey

AimThis study sought to determine the prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity (DH) among adults in Turkey. Also, to ascertain the association between DH and both etiological predictors and demographic patient characteristics.Material methodUsing a questionnaire and thermal and evaporative tests, 259 women and 209 men in the age range of 18 to 72 were analyzed. Individually, a clinical evaluation of DH signs was conducted. The DMFT index, gingival index, and gingival bleeding were reported for each subject. The gingival recession and tooth wear of sensitive teeth were also evaluated. Pearson Chi-square test was used to compare categorical data. Logistic Regression Analysis was used to examine the risk factors of DH. Data with dependent categorical variables were compared using the McNemar-Browker test. The significance level was p < 0.05.ResultsThe average age of the population was 35.6 years. In the present study, a total of 12,048 teeth were analyzed. 1755 had thermal hypersensitivity (14.57%), while 470 experienced evaporative hypersensitivity (3.9%). The incisors were the teeth most impacted by DH, whereas the molars were the least affected. Exposure to cold air and sweet foods, gingival recession, and the presence of noncarious cervical lesions were all strongly linked to DH (Logistic regression analysis, p < 0.05). The cold stimulus increases sensitivity more than the evaporation stimulus.ConclusionSignificant risk factors for both thermal and evaporative DH include cold air, consumption of sweet food, presence of noncarious cervical lesions, and gingival recession. More epidemiological research in this area is still required to fully characterize the risk factors and implement the most effective preventive interventions.

Comparing the imagined consumption of sweet and savoury food on sensory-specific satiety

Repeated imagined consumption of food has become an intriguing and novel means to reduce, and thereby manage, appetite. However, it is thus far unknown how the sensory-specific satiation derived from imagined consumption transfers from food of one taste to another. This work presents two online studies (n = 748). The first study was a follow-up on a previous series of experiments on sweet food, now investigating sensory-specific appetite responses to savoury food. Participants were randomly assigned to imagine the consumption of depicted food items for either 3 or 30 trials, with appetite being assessed before and after the experimental manipulation. Akin to the previous experiments, savoury-specific appetite increased after 3 trials and showed no change (compared to baseline) after 30 trials. However, none of the two conditions had a statistically significant effect on general appetite. The second study compared the satiation transferability between 30 trials of imagined consumption of sweet to savoury food and vice versa. The data indicated that satiating on sweet food may transfer more readily to savoury food than the other way around. Collectively, these studies suggest that, in the context of imagined consumption, sweet and savoury food are equivalent in modulating the respective taste-specific appetites, while sweet food has a higher capacity to modulate general appetite as well as the appetite for food not consumed.

Associations between dietary factors and caries among 12-year-old children in Arkhangelsk region

BACKGROUND: Despite the decrease in the prevalence and experience of dental caries in 12-year-old children in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, the quality of life associated with dental health remains low. Consumption of sweet foods has been reported to be associated with a low quality of life. However, associations between nutritional factors and dental caries remain poorly studied in Russia, particularly in the Arctic using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.&#x0D; AIM: To study associations between nutritional risk factors and the prevalence and experience of dental caries among 12-year-old children in Arkhangelsk region using WHO criteria.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 1162 children aged 12 years in seven urban and five rural settings of Arkhangelsk region participated in a cross-sectional study using the WHO methodology. Bivariate associations between the frequency of consumption of the studied foods and caries were analyzed using Pearsons chi-squared tests. Associations between the average values of the DMFT index and its components across frequency categories of nutritional factors were assessed by a multivariable Poisson regression.&#x0D; RESULTS: Adolescents drinking soft drinks once a day or more often had significantly more filled teeth than those in the reference group (p = 0.003). An inverse association was observed between the frequency of tea / coffee / milk consumption and mean DMFT (p = 0.041), which was largely attributed to the differences in the number of filled teeth (p = 0.009). The number of filled teeth among those who consumed tea / coffee / milk at least once a day was 8% lower than in the reference group.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: Among adolescents, significant associations were observed between caries experience and consumption of soft drinks and tea / coffee / milk with sugar. Measures aimed at the reduction of consumption of these items should be included in caries prevention programs.

Noninvasive predictive models based on lifestyle analysis and risk factors for early-onset colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence has increased among patients aged <50years. Exploring high-risk factors and screening high-risk populations may help lower early-onset CRC (EO-CRC) incidence. We developed noninvasive predictive models for EO-CRC and investigated its risk factors. This retrospective multicenter study collected information on 1756 patients (811 patients with EO-CRC and 945 healthy controls) from two medical centers in China. Sociodemographic features, clinical symptoms, medical and family history, lifestyle, and dietary factors were measured. Patients from one cohort were randomly assigned (8:2) to two groups for model establishment and internal validation, and another independent cohort was used for external validation. Multivariable logistic regression, random forest, and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) were performed to establish noninvasive predictive models for EO-CRC. Some variables in the model influenced EO-CRC occurrence and were further analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis yielded adjusted odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All three models showed good performance, with areas under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUCs) of 0.82, 0.84, and 0.82 in the internal and 0.78, 0.79, and 0.78 in the external validation cohorts, respectively. Consumption of sweet (OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.89-3.86, P<0.001) and fried (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.29-3.62, P<0.001) foods ≥3 times per week was significantly associated with EO-CRC occurrence. We established noninvasive predictive models for EO-CRC and identified multiple nongenetic risk factors, especially sweet and fried foods. The model has good performance and can help predict the occurrence of EO-CRC in the Chinese population.

Daily Hassles and Eating Behaviours in Adults: Exploring the Buffering Effects of Daily Uplifts.

Existing research has shown that daily hassles are associated with increases in between-meal snacking, often resulting in the increased consumption of high sweet and high fat foods. However, it is currently unclear whether the presence of daily uplifts may buffer the negative effects of daily hassles on unhealthy eating behaviour. Therefore, the current study explored the main and interactive effects of daily hassles and daily uplifts on snacking behaviours in adults. One hundred and sixty participants (M age: 23.69 years) reported their daily hassles, daily uplifts and snacking behaviours over the preceding 24 hour period. Participants' emotional eating style was also measured. Using moderated regression analysis, the daily hassles x daily uplifts interaction was found to be statistically significant for both total snack and unhealthy snack consumption. Simple slopes analyses showed that the relationship between daily hassles and snacking was weaker and non-significant at higher levels of daily uplifts compared to moderate and lower levels. The current study provides novel evidence that daily uplifts may act as a buffer against the negative impact of daily hassles on food consumption.

Prevalence of dental caries and relation with nutritional status among school-age children in resource limited setting of southern Ethiopia

BackgroundGlobally, dental caries appears a major public health problem and a widespread non -communicable disease. It is more prevalent among children school-age children (6–12 years), However, there are few studies that correlate dental caries with nutritional status. Thus, this study aims to determine the relation of dental caries with nutritional status among school-age children at resource limited setting of southern Ethiopia.MethodologyA community-based cross sectional study was employed on randomly selected 761 school-age children of Areka town. Data were collected by face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire and clinical assessment of dental caries. After that, the collected data were entered into Epi data 3.2.1 and exported to SPSS 20 for further analysis. On the other hand, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify the association of dependent and independent variables. p Value < 0.05 was considered to declare a result as statistically significant.ResultsPrevalence of dental caries among school-age children was 15.6% (95% CI 13.0–18.5). In technical senses, 4.3% (95% CI 2.9–5.8%) of children were underweight and 14.2% (95% CI 11.7–16.6%) were overweight. However, it has been unfolded that the relationship between dental caries and nutritional status was not statistically significant with a p value (p = 0.32). Factors associated with dental caries were educational status of a mother AOR 3.14, (95% CI 1.03–9.56), not cleaning teeth AOR 7.70, (95% CI 4.00–14.85), sugared coffee drinking AOR 3.22, (95% CI 1.68–6.18.0), sweet food consumption AOR 4.19, (95% CI 1.76–9.96) and non-consuming milk AOR 5.66 ( 95% CI 1.49–21.49).Conclusion and recommendationDental caries at south Ethiopia were low compared to WHO’s reports on oral health on school-age children. Tooth cleaning habit, parental education, sweet food consumption and milk consumption are associated factors. Therefore, behavioral intervention on dental hygiene and dietary practices are mandatory for school-age children.

Ecological momentary assessment of changes in eating behaviors, appetite, and other aspects of eating regulation in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy patients

Bariatric surgery can have profound impacts on eating behaviors and experiences, yet most prior research studying these changes has relied on retrospective self-report measures with limited precision and susceptibility to bias. This study used smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to evaluate the trajectory of change in eating behaviors, appetite, and other aspects of eating regulation in 71 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy patients assessed preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12-months postoperative. For some outcomes, results showed a consistent and similar pattern for SG and RYGB where consumption of sweet and high-fat foods and hunger, desire to eat, ability to eat right now, and satisfaction with amount eaten all improved from pre-to 6-months post-surgery with some degree of deterioration at 12-months post-surgery. By contrast, other variables, largely related to hedonic hunger and craving and desire for specific foods, showed less consistent patterns that differed by surgery type. While the findings suggest an overall pattern of improvement in eating patterns following bariatric surgery, they also highlight how a return to preoperative habits may begin as early as 6 months after surgery. Additional research is needed to understand mechanisms that promote changes in eating behavior after surgery, and how best to intervene to preserve beneficial effects.

Does early fruit juice introduction influence anthropometric outcomes and food consumption at preschool age?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of fruit juice consumption before 6 months of age on Body Mass Index-for-age (BMI-for-age) and food consumption in preschoolers. We conducted a longitudinal study with mothers and their children (n=103) at 6 months and 3-6 years. Weight and height were measured and converted into BMI-for-age z-scores. Food consumption was analyzed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire for Children. Groups were compared using the chi-squared and Student's t-tests. No differences in anthropometric measurements were found at preschool age between children who had been given fruit juice before 6 months and those who had not. Consumption of artificial juice (≥once/day) and sandwich cookies at preschool age was higher in children with early introduction of fruit juice (≤150 days of life) (63.8% versus 35.7%; p=0.028 and 21.3% versus 14.3%; p=0.001, respectively). The prevalence of the consumption of soda (1 to 4 times/week) and chocolate milk (at least once/day) was higher in children who had been given artificial juice before 6 months (69.2% versus 27.4%; p=0.014 and 38.5% versus 69.4%; p=0.027, respectively). It can be concluded that the consumption of sweet foods and sugary beverages was higher in children with early introduction of fruit juice.

A introdução precoce de sucos pode influenciar desfechos antropométricos e consumo alimentar em idade pré-escolar?

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of fruit juice consumption before 6 months of age on Body Mass Index-for-age (BMI-for-age) and food consumption in preschoolers. We conducted a longitudinal study with mothers and their children (n=103) at 6 months and 3-6 years. Weight and height were measured and converted into BMI-for-age z-scores. Food consumption was analyzed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire for Children. Groups were compared using the chi-squared and Student’s t-tests. No differences in anthropometric measurements were found at preschool age between children who had been given fruit juice before 6 months and those who had not. Consumption of artificial juice (≥once/day) and sandwich cookies at preschool age was higher in children with early introduction of fruit juice (≤150 days of life) (63.8% versus 35.7%; p=0.028 and 21.3% versus 14.3%; p=0.001, respectively). The prevalence of the consumption of soda (1 to 4 times/week) and chocolate milk (at least once/day) was higher in children who had been given artificial juice before 6 months (69.2% versus 27.4%; p=0.014 and 38.5% versus 69.4%; p=0.027, respectively). It can be concluded that the consumption of sweet foods and sugary beverages was higher in children with early introduction of fruit juice.

Depression symptoms and sweet foods consumption in Mexican college men: the role of emotional eating.

Objective: to evaluate the association between depression symptoms and frequency of unhealthy food consumption, and to explore the mediation effect of emotional eating in this relationship in college men. Method: a cross-sectional study was performed on 764 men at a public university in Mexico City. To assess emotional eating (EE), a validated Spanish-language version of the Eating and Appraisal Due to Emotions and Stress Questionnaire (EADES) was applied. Depression symptoms were evaluated using the scale elaborated by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies (CES-D) and a Questionnaire of Frequency of Food Consumption was used to measure frequency of food consumption. Path and mediation analysis were applied. Results: one-fifth (20.42 %) of college men reported depression symptoms (CES-D ≥ 16). Students with depression symptoms had a higher mean EE score (p < 0.001), a higher frequency of fried food (p = 0.049), sweetened beverages (p = 0.050), and sweet foods consumption (p = 0.005) than students with low CES-D score. According to the mediation analysis, the effect of depression symptoms on the frequency of sweet foods consumption was partially mediated by EE (23.11 % of the total effect). Conclusion: the prevalence of depression symptoms was high. EE is an important mediator in the relationship between depression symptoms and the consumption of sweet foods. Understanding the manifestation of eating behaviors in men and their relationship with depression symptoms may help clinicians and health authorities develop treatment and prevention programs aimed to decrease the risk of obesity and eating disorders.

Reflections on the association between depression and sweet food consumption in Mexican university students.

Reflections on the association between depression and sweet food consumption in Mexican university students.

Comparison of Vantej and Dente 91 Toothpastes in the Management of Dentin Hypersensitivity: A Randomised Clinical Trial

Introduction: Dentinal hypersensitivity is a prevalent and distressing dental condition characterised by acute, transient pain or discomfort arising from exposed dentin in response to external stimuli, such as variations in temperature, mechanical stimuli, or consumption of acidic or sweet foods. Dentinal Hypersensitivity (DH) impacts daily activities, such as eating, drinking, and oral hygiene practices. Dentifrices are commonly used in the treatment of hypersensitivity, as they relieve sensitivity by obstructing nerve pathways through the formation of compounds. Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate and compare the efficacy of two types of desensitising toothpastes, Vantej and Dente 91, in treating DH. Materials and Methods: A randomised controlled clinical trial was conducted with 40 patients who had a minimum of two hypersensitive teeth. The clinical investigation took place in a dental set-up in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from July to August 2022. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups (20 in each group) in a 1:1 ratio for the Vantej and Dente 91 groups. Over a four-week period, the patients were instructed to use the prescribed toothpaste twice daily. DH assessment techniques included a Verbal Response Scale (VRS), air blast stimulation, and cold stimulation, both at baseline and after the four-week duration. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with the significance level set at p&lt;0.05. Results: The fourth-week scores compared to baseline scores for the verbal scale, air blast stimulus, and cold sensitivity methods in both groups showed a reduction in DH. In the inter group comparison, the Dente 91 group exhibited greater effectiveness compared to the Vantej group, with a significant reduction in VRS (p=0.02) and air blast stimulus (p=0.01), but not in cold sensitivity (p=0.09). Conclusion: Both Vantej and Dente 91 toothpastes significantly reduced dentinal hypersensitivity. However, the percentage reduction was higher in the latter group, suggesting more effective management of DH. Dente 91 could be considered a promising alternative to the existing over-the-counter desensitising toothpastes.

Study of relationships between taste receptor gene (&lt;i&gt;TAS1R2&lt;/i&gt;) polymorphism rs4920566 and sugar sensitivity and food preference of sweet products

BACKGROUND : Increased consumption of sweet and high-calorie foods leads to weight gain in humans and the development of metabolic syndrome. Great attention is given to a personalized approach to nutrition correction based on genetic testing. The genetic basis for human taste sensitivity to sweet stimuli remains is understudied. The role of the g.18853330 A&gt;G (rs4920566) polymorphism of the TAS1R2 gene in preference for sweets has not been fully studied. AIM : To investigate the possible relationship between rs4920566 polymorphism in TAS1R2 gene and sensitivity to natural sugars and food preference of high-calorie sweet foods in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS : A single-sample experimental study was carried out. The study participants were conditionally healthy students who voluntarily agreed to conduct it. Sugar sensitivity was assessed in two tasting tests. Sucrose sensitivity thresholds (STS) were determined by staircase procedure (solutions: 8.0 to 500 mM/l). To assess food preferences for sweet foods, specially designed questionnaires with a checklist of products were used. Genomic DNA samples from all study participants were obtained from buccal epithelial cells. Genomic DNA was extracted from buccal epithelial cells using the adsorption of DNA with an inorganic sorbent in the presence of a chaotropic agent. Typing of the rs4920566 polymorphism in TAS1R2 gene was performed using asymmetric real-time PCR. RESULTS : The study included 26 young men and 110 young women which the average age was 20.8±4.8 (SD) years. Gender was a significant factor affecting the taste perception of the sweetness sugars (maltose, glucose, sucrose and fructose) in students. Young men more often than young women could not distinguish the taste of four sugars (β=-2.93(0.99), p=0.003). The rs4920566 polymorphism in TAS1R2 gene did not affect the ability of students to distinguish the taste of four natural sugars. It was found that the variation series of STS values for sucrose in young women with the A allele (16.0[16.0–31.0] versus 16.0[8.0–16.0] mmol/l, p cor =0.002) and A/G genotype (16.0[16.0–31.0] vs. 16.0[8.0–16.0] mmol/l, p cor =0.010) were significantly lower compared to young men. Separately, in young women with the G/G genotype the range of STS is shifted towards higher concentrations of sucrose compared with women with the A/G genotype (16.0[16.0–31.0] vs. 16.0[8.0 -16.0] mmol/l, p cor =0.039). Testing the hypothesis about the randomness of the relationship between the rs4920566 genotypes of the TAS1R2 gene and the liking rating of foods with a sweet taste using Kruskal-Wallis test did not allow us to conclude that the A/A, A/G and G/G genotypes of the TAS1R2 gene influence the choice of sugary high-calorie foods in students. CONCLUSION : Our results are consistent with the literature data and confirm that rs4920566 polymorphism of TAS1R2 gene cannot be an informative marker for the diagnosis of metabolic conditions associated with the consumption of high-calorie sweet foods. Likely, its functions are related to the mechanisms of neurotransduction of the sweet taste signal.

Temporal discounting modifies the effect of microtemporal hedonic hunger on food consumption: An ecological momentary assessment study

IntroductionSteeper delay discounting, or preference for small rewards sooner versus larger rewards later, has been linked to disinhibited eating and obesity. The overconsumption of food may also be motivated by hedonic hunger, or the drive to consume foods for pleasure rather than energy need. The present study hypothesized that hedonic hunger would modify the relation between temporal discounting and palatable food consumption. MethodsSeventeen adolescents between the ages of 13–18 (M = 15.12,SD = 1.80) completed a temporal discounting measure at baseline followed by daily ecological momentary assessments of food intake (e.g., self-reported servings of sweet, starchy, fatty, fast foods) and hedonic hunger for 20 days on a mobile phone. Multilevel models examined between-person (BP) and within-person (WP) hedonic hunger, monetary temporal discounting, and their interactions, on food consumption. ResultsThe models for sweet, starchy, and fast food consumption had significant interactions between WP hedonic hunger and temporal discounting. For each of these interactions, those with average-or-lower temporal discounting rates were at less risk of consuming sweet, starchy, and fast foods when hedonic hunger was higher than typical while those with high rates of discounting were at higher risk of consuming these types of foods when hedonic hunger was elevated. ConclusionIncreases in daily hedonic hunger may confer risk for sweet, starchy, and fast food consumption. However, preference for larger rewards later may serve as a protective factor against consumption of these palatable foods. Future studies should further investigate this and other reward-driven processes that may influence food consumption.

Long-Lasting Impact of Sugar Intake on Neurotrophins and Neurotransmitters from Adolescence to Young Adulthood in Rat Frontal Cortex

The detrimental impact of fructose, a widely used sweetener in industrial foods, was previously evidenced on various brain regions. Although adolescents are among the highest consumers of sweet foods, whether brain alterations induced by the sugar intake during this age persist until young adulthood or are rescued returning to a healthy diet remains largely unexplored. To shed light on this issue, just weaned rats were fed with a fructose-rich or control diet for 3 weeks. At the end of the treatment, fructose-fed rats underwent a control diet for a further 3 weeks until young adulthood phase and compared with animals that received from the beginning the healthy control diet. We focused on the consequences induced by the sugar on the main neurotrophins and neurotransmitters in the frontal cortex, as its maturation continues until late adolescence, thus being the last brain region to achieve a full maturity. We observed that fructose intake induces inflammation and oxidative stress, alteration of mitochondrial function, and changes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin receptors, synaptic proteins, acetylcholine, dopamine, and glutamate levels, as well as increased formation of the glycation end-products Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML) and Nε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL). Importantly, many of these alterations (BDNF, CML, CEL, acetylcholinesterase activity, dysregulation of neurotransmitters levels) persisted after switching to the control diet, thus pointing out to the adolescence as a critical phase, in which extreme attention should be devoted to limit an excessive consumption of sweet foods that can affect brain physiology also in the long term.

Chronic mild stress induces differential depression-like symptoms and c-Fos and 5HT1A protein levels in high-anxiety female Long Evans rats

Depression and anxiety disorders overlap in clinical populations, suggesting common mechanisms that may be further investigated in reliable animal models. We used filial 8 female Long-Evans rats bred for high (HAn; n = 19) and low anxiety (LAn)-like behavior (n = 21) to assess forced swim test mobility strategies and chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depression-like symptoms. We measured (1) weight, (2) fur piloerection, (3) sweet food consumption, (4) grooming behavior, and (5) circulating estradiol (E2). One month after CMS terminated and following a terminal forced swim test, brains were processed for immunohistochemistry targeting c-Fos and serotonin 1 A receptor (5-HT1AR) protein in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. HAn female rats showed increased anxiety-like behavior (i.e., lower open to closed arm ratios, increased closed arm entries), more swimming (i.e., mobility), and less floating (i.e., immobility) behavior in the forced swim test. Overall, HAn females weighed less than their LAn counterparts. After chronic mild stress, HAn lines displayed even greater mobility and consumed fewer Froot Loops™. Fur and grooming analyses indicated no significant differences in mean counts across experimental groups. One month after CMS, cycling E2 concentrations (pg/ml) did not differ between HAn and LAn animals. Elevated c-Fos and 5-HT1AR expression were observed in the PVN, where HAn CMS rats expressed the most c-Fos and 5-HT1AR immunoreactivity. In summary, outbred HAn rats show robust anxiety-like behavior, exhibit more mobility in the forced swim test, and are more sensitive to chronic mild stress-induced grooming and decline in palatable food ingestion.

RISK FACTORS FOR DIABETES MELLITUS IN INDONESIA: ANALYSIS OF IFLS DATA 2014

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) remains a public health problem that needs attention in various countries, including in Indonesia that has the 4th largest DM cases globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, by 2030, the number of people with DM will be twice higher than the current number which is 180 million people worldwide. Diabetes mellitus can be prevented and avoided by taking control of the risk factors. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk factors of Diabetes Mellitus in Indonesia. This is a secondary data analysis of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) 5 which was a cross sectional survey. To analyze risk factors of DM, Chi-square and logistic regression test were used. The risk factors analyzed included sex, age, marital status, history of hypertension, cholesterol levels, obesity, smoking habit, employment status, habit of consuming fast food, consumption of sweet foods, and consumption soft drinks. Significant risk factors of diabetes mellitus included age (OR = 5.28, 95% CI: 4.37 – 6.37; p value = 0.001), marital status (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.36 – 2.09; p value = 0.001), history of hypertension (OR = 2.67, 95% CI: 2.25 – 3.17; p value = 0.001), cholesterol levels (OR = 4.36, 95% CI: 3.58 – 5.31; p value = 0.001), employment status (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.29 – 1.80; p value = 0.001), and habit of consuming sweet foods (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.48 – 0.83; p value = 0.002).

Preference for high-carbohydrate foods does not change for children and adolescents in insulin-induced hypoglycemia

IntroductionHypoglycemia elicits coordinated counter-regulatory neuroendocrine responses. The extent to which this process involves an increased drive to eat, together with greater preference for foods high in carbohydrate content, is unclear....

Knowledge of diabetes and the practice of diabetes self-management during Ramadan fasting among patients with type 2 diabetes in Malaysia

Background and aimsTo assess the level of diabetes knowledge and its association with diabetes self-management practices during Ramadan fasting among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted involving a sample of Malaysian patients with T2D. Patients aged 18 years and above, and attending an outpatient diabetic unit of a government hospital were recruited between February and April 2021. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized to assess diabetes knowledge and diabetes self-management practices. ResultsA total of 306 participants completed the questionnaire. Most of them were females (54.2%) and above 55 years old (75.1%). Resultantly, knowledge of diabetes was considered average among 52% of the participants. Only 9.5% of them avoided the consumption of sweet foods during iftar. Practicing late suhoor (p = 0.012) and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) (p = 0.026) during Ramadan were significantly associated with a better diabetes knowledge score. Education level (p = 0.000), working status (p = 0.030), and monthly income (p = 0.000) were significantly associated with participants’ knowledge level of diabetes. A higher proportion (72.2%) of the participants completed fasting for a month during Ramadan 2020. Meanwhile, hypoglycemia was the main reason (38.8%) for incomplete fasting. ConclusionsThese findings reflect the need to improve patients’ knowledge of diabetes and diabetes self-management practices, especially during Ramadan. Such objectives could be achieved by considering the associated factors identified in this study.

The Association between the rs35874116 Gene TAS1R2 Polymorphism with Caries Index

Background: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease influenced by complex genetic and environmental factors. At least 27 gene polymorphisms have been identified that are associated with caries risk. Polymorphisms of genes encoding taste receptors, such as the TAS1R2 gene, can cause individual differences in perception and sensitivity to sweet tastes. Research shows that the TAS1R2 gene polymorphism is associated with the consumption of sweet foods, which affects increasing caries risk. This study aims to determine the relationship between the TAS1R2 gene rs35874116 polymorphism and the caries index in Tangerang Selatan population. Methods: This study is observational with a cross-sectional method involving 266 research subjects (45 males and 221 females; 20-55 years). DNA was extracted from venous blood using the Genomic DNA Mini Kit from Geneaid and the genotyping process using the rhAmp-SNP assay kit, which was analyzed using RT-PCR. Dental caries was assessed by calculating D(decayed), M(missing), and F(filled) on permanent teeth. The hypothesis between the TAS1R2 genotype and the DMF-T index was tested using the Mann-Whitney test, while the comparison between the TAS1R2 genotype and caries risk was tested using Kruskal-Wallis' test. The results of the study were considered significant if p&lt;0.05. Results: The minor allele frequency was 16.5%. The proportion of TT, TC, and CC genotypes were 71.%, 24.1%, and 4.5%, respectively. According to WHO classification, the DMF-T index of all research subjects was 5.62, a high category. The group of subjects with the CC genotype had a higher DMF-T index (7.08; very high) than the group of subjects with the CT genotype (6.05; high) and TT (5.38; high). CT and TT genotypes with high risk were significantly lower than those with low-moderate caries risk. Conclusion: there is no significant association between the TAS1R2 gene polymorphism rs35874116 with the caries index value in the people in South Tangerang.