Use Of Nutritional Supplements Research Articles

Supplementation use and diet changes during COVID-19 pandemic according to anxiety level and Mediterranean diet adherence

Aim; This study was planned and conducted to examine the change in food consumption and nutritional supplement use during the COVID-19 pandemic according to individuals' status of anxiety and Mediterranean diet adherence. Methods; This prospective, cross-sectional research was completed online with the participation of 949 people (66.4% women). The Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener Scale (MEDAS) and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) were applied. After this section of the questionnaire was completed, the participants were tasked with answering questions regarding changes in food consumption and use of nutritional supplements during the pandemic. Results; While 50.8% of the participants had low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, 18.2% were considered to have a high adherence. It was observed that legume (p=0.001), milk and dairy (p=0.01), and fruit (p<0.001) consumption of participants with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet increased during the pandemic, and packaged food (p<0.001) consumption decreased. The increase in the consumption of fruit (p<0.001) and vegetables (p=0.018) were significantly higher in the group with anxiety. Age, sex, educational status, positive COVID-19 test, place of residence, CAS score and MEDAS score affect the use of dietary supplements according to binary logistic regression (R2=0.106 p<0.001). The three most commonly used supplements were identified as vitamins C, D and B12. Conclusions: These results can shed light on how to prepare for possible future pandemics when it comes to dealing with anxiety through diet.

Association of vitamin and/or nutritional supplements with fall among patients with diabetes: A prospective study based on ACCORD and UK Biobank.

To assess the associations of vitamin and/or nutritional supplements (VNS) with falls among patients with diabetes. 9,141 and 21,489 middle-aged participants with diabetes from Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial and UK Biobank were included. Use of VNS was collected at baseline, and fall events were recorded using annual questionnaires in ACCORD and electric records in UK Biobank during follow-up. The associations of VNS use with fall risk were analyzed using logistic regression models in ACCORD and Fine-Gray sub-distribution hazard models in UK Biobank. The role of specific supplements was also estimated in UK Biobank, adjusting for confounding factors and multiple comparisons. 45.9% (4,193/9,141, 5.5 median follow-up years) patients in ACCORD and 10.5% (2,251/21,489, 11.9 median follow-up years) in UK Biobank experienced fall and in-patient events during follow-up, respectively. In ACCORD, VNS using was associated with an increased risk of fall (full-adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.26, P < 0.05). In UK Biobank, despite no significant association between VNS overall and in-patient fall, vitamin B, calcium, and iron using increased the risk of falls significantly (full-adjusted hazard ratio range: 1.31-1.37, P < 0.05). Use of specific VNS increased the risk of fall among patients with diabetes. The non-indicative use of nutritional supplements for patients with diabetes might be inadvisable.

Weight Loss and Weight Gain: Multi-Level Determinants Associated with Resident 3-Month Weight Change in Long-Term Care

This study examined factors associated with weight change in 535 residents in 32 long term care homes where 3-month weight records were available. Trained researchers and standardized measures (e.g., nutrition status, food intake, home characteristics) were used to collect data; weight change was defined as ±2.5%. Just over 25% of the sample lost and 21% gained weight. Weight stability was compared to loss or gain. Weight loss was associated with being male, malnourished (MNA-SF or BMI <25), energy and protein intake and oral nutritional supplement use, while weight gain was associated with being female, and a physically (e.g., less noise) and socially supportive dining room. Weight stability was associated with better cognition. A high proportion of residents had a significant weight change in 3 months. Modifiable factors associated with weight stability or gain suggest focusing interventions that promote food intake and improve the mealtime environment.

Intervenções nutricionais em crianças e adolescentes com paralisia cerebral: revisão sistemática

ABSTRACT Objective: To systematically review the literature in search of the most suitable and effective nutritional interventions and indications for the nutritional treatment of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). Data source: This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The articles were selected from seven databases (Cochrane, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde — Lilacs, Embase, United States National Library of Medicine — PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online — SciELO, Scopus, and Web of Science). Studies from a pediatric group (0 to 18 years old) diagnosed with CP were included and the search strategy included the descriptors: “children” OR “childhood” AND “nutritional therapy” OR “nutritional intervention” OR “nutrition” OR “nutritional support” OR “diet” AND “cerebral palsy” OR “cerebral injury”. Methodological quality was assessed using the checklist for cross-sectional analytical studies, the Newcastle-Ottawa scale or the Cochrane Collaboration tool for clinical trials. Data synthesis: Fifteen studies (n=658) published from 1990 to 2020 met the inclusion criteria. All of them had a low risk of bias. The data showed that children and adolescents with CP have worse nutritional status than those normally developed. Those who received hypercaloric and hyperprotein nutritional supplementation benefited from its use. Studies indicate that enteral nutrition should be considered when nutritional needs are not met by the oral diet, especially in cases where oral motor functions are impaired. In addition, there was a direct relationship between the consistency of food, the level of motor function and nutritional status. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with CP have a greater risk of malnutrition. The use of nutritional supplementation may help with weight gain. In addition, enteral nutrition and modification of food texture have been used to improve the nutritional status of this group.

Caracterização do perfil alimentar e sociodemográfico de um grupo de mulheres vegetarianas colombianas em idade fértil no período 2021-2022

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the dietary and sociodemographic profile of vegetarian women of childbearing age (18 and 49 years) from the Valle de Aburrá Metropolitan Area in 2021-2022 Methods Through an online survey, 232 vegetarian and vegan women of childbearing age (18 to 49 years) from the Valle de Aburrá Metropolitan Area were surveyed regarding their sociodemographic characteristics, amount of time following this eating pattern and, type and reason for choosing vegetarianism, physical activity, use of nutritional supplements and frequency of consumption of certain food groups. Descriptive analyses, association of variables with the type of vegetarianism and multinomial regression models were performed. Results A total of 232 vegetarian women were surveyed: 60.8% were between 18 and 30 years of age and belonged mainly to the middle class. According to the type of diet, 68.1% used an ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet, 18.1% were vegan, 9.0% lacto-vegetarian and 4.8% ovo-vegetarian. Among the factors evaluated in their potential relationship with the different types of vegetarianism, it is highlighted that vitamin B12 supplementation presents a statistically significant association when using veganism as a comparison category. Conclusion According to the results, among young female adults the vegetarian eating style predominates, without significant differences as to the educational level, adequate levels of physical activity in most of the population; there was a higher prevalence of ovo-lacto-vegetarianism. Vitamin B12 supplementation was significantly higher in the vegan population, indicating that ovo-lacto and ovo-vegetarian populations may be at high risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.

COVID-19 Pandemi Öncesi ve Sırasında Besin Destekleri Kullanım Durumu ve Akdeniz Diyet Kalite İndeksi Skorları: Üniversite Öğrencileri Örneği, Türkiye: Kesitsel Çalışma

COVID-19 Pandemi Öncesi ve Sırasında Besin Destekleri Kullanım Durumu ve Akdeniz Diyet Kalite İndeksi Skorları: Üniversite Öğrencileri Örneği, Türkiye: Kesitsel Çalışma

Sports nutrition supplements: Current dental perspective

Introduction: Despite their frequent consumption, studies on oral cavity effects of sports supplements that have shown a positive effect on health or performance are scarce. Methodology: Current literature review in the dental, medical and public health fields was carried out using the following databases: Pubmed, MedLine and Biblioteca UANL. Whey protein, creatine, magnesium and beta alanine were used from which those framed in the dates 2017-2022 were selected. Results: Whey protein: When interacting with salivary proteins, they remove the lubricating saliva layer of the mouth and can directly influence the epithelial tissue; in acidic conditions they exhibit astringency which is perceived as increased oral friction or roughness. Creatine: Exhibits non-energy related properties, contributing as a possible direct and indirect antioxidant and eliciting anti-inflammatory effects. Magnesium: In the oral cavity, low dietary intake of magnesium or deficiency is associated with the prevalence of periodontitis. Beta Alanine: The only reported side effect is paresthesia, this can be attenuated by using lower divided doses (1.6 g) or by using a sustained release formulation. Conclusion: It is important to investigate in the initial questioning of patients in the dental office about the possible use of sports nutrition supplements, since some of them could have repercussions on systemic and oral health. Its use should be taken hand in hand with a specialist since the recommended doses could vary depending on age, gender, requirement and general condition.

Hidden figures: Revisiting doping prevalence estimates previously reported for two major international sport events in the context of further empirical evidence and the extant literature.

High levels of admitted doping use (43.6% and 57.1%) were reported for two international sport events in 2011. Because these are frequently referenced in evaluating aspects of anti-doping, having high level of confidence in these estimates is paramount. In this study, we present new prevalence estimates from a concurrently administered method, the Single Sample Count (SSC), and critically review the two sets of estimates in the context of other doping prevalence estimates. The survey featuring the SSC model was completed by 1,203 athletes at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics (WCA) (65.3% of all participating athletes) and 954 athletes at the 2011 Pan-Arab Games (PAG) (28.2% of all participating athletes). At WCA, athletes completed both UQM and SSC surveys in randomised order. At PAG, athletes were randomly allocated to one of the two surveys. Doping was defined as "having knowingly violated anti-doping regulations by using a prohibited substance or method." Estimates with the SSC model for 12-month doping prevalence were 21.2% (95% CI: 9.69-32.7) at WCA and 10.6% (95% CI: 1.76-19.4) at PAG. Estimated herbal, mineral, and/or vitamin supplements use was 8.57% (95% CI: 1.3-16.11) at PAG. Reliability of the estimates were confirmed with re-sampling method (n = 1,000, 80% of the sample). Survey non-compliance (31.90%, 95%CI: 26.28-37.52; p < 0.0001) was detected in the WCA data but occurred to a lesser degree at PAG (9.85%, 95% CI: 4.01-15.69, p = 0.0144 and 11.43%, 95% CI: 5.31-11.55, p = 0.0196, for doping and nutritional supplement use, respectively). A large discrepancy between those previously reported from the UQM and the prevalence rate estimated by the SSC model for the same population is evident. Caution in interpreting these estimates as bona fide prevalence rates is warranted. Critical appraisal of the obtained prevalence rates and triangulation with other sources are recommended over "the higher rate must be closer to the truth" heuristics. Non-compliance appears to be the Achilles heel of the indirect estimation models thus it should be routinely tested for and minimised. Further research into cognitive and behaviour aspects, including motivation for honesty, is needed to improve the ecological validity of the estimated prevalence rates.

MEDPass versus conventional administration of oral nutritional supplements – A randomized controlled trial comparing coverage of energy and protein requirements

The use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in the hospital setting is important to reach individual protein and energy goals in patients at risk for malnutrition. Compliance with ONS can be challenging but may be improved by prescribing ONS in smaller portions with medication rounds (MEDPass). We compared the likelihood of meeting energy and protein requirements in patients receiving ONS with MEDPass versus conventional ONS administration. The MEDPass Trial is a randomized, controlled, open-label superiority trial conducted on medical and geriatric wards in a University Hospital in Switzerland. The MEDPass group was allocated to receive 50ml of ONS four times per day with the medication rounds. The control group received ONS per conventional care between the meals. The primary outcome was the percentage of energy in relation to the individual requirement. Secondary outcomes included the coverage of protein intake in relation to the individual requirement, the amount of daily consumed ONS, the course of handgrip strength (HGS), body weight appetite and nausea. Furthermore, we compared 30-day mortality and hospital length of stay (LOS) was studied in medical patients. From November 22nd, 2018 until November 30th, 2021, 204 patients were included in the trial (MEDPass group n=100, control group n=104). A total of 203 patients at nutritional risk were analyzed in the intention-to-treat analysis (ITT). Regarding the primary endpoint, there was no difference in the coverage of energy requirement between the MEDPass and control group (82 vs. 85% (Δ-3%, 95%CI -11 to 4%), p=0.38). Similarly, no differences were found for the secondary outcomes including coverage of protein requirement (101 vs. 104% (Δ-3%, 95% CI -12 -7%), p=0.57, average daily intake of ONS (170 vs 173ml (Δ - 3ml, 95% CI -14 to 8ml), p=0.58) and 30-day mortality (3 vs. 8 patients, OR 0.4 (95% CI 0.1-1.4), p=0.15). The course of HGS, body weight, appetite and nausea did not differ between the groups (p=0.29, p=0.14, p=0.65 and p=0.94, respectively). The per protocol analysis including 178 patients showed similar results. Within this controlled trial setting, we found a high compliance for ONS intake and high coverage of protein requirements but no further improvement when ONS was administered using MEDPass compared to conventional care. MEDPass administration may provide an alternative that is easy to integrate into nursing routines, which may lead to lower workload with cost benefits and reduction of food waste. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03761680.

Assessment of nutritional status, use of nutritional supplements and their adherence during pregnancy

Assessment of nutritional status, use of nutritional supplements and their adherence during pregnancy

Assessment of nutritional status, use of nutritional supplements and their adherence during pregnancy

Objective: The objective of the present study was to assess the nutritional status during pregnancy, survey the prescribed nutritional supplements, and monitor the adherence to prescribed nutritional supplements &amp; to assess the attitude/experience of subjects towards supplement use. Methods: This was a prospective study. A data collection form was used to collect demographic data, Biochemical, clinical, obstetrics, nutritional supplements and dietary data. The adherence to the supplements by using 24-h recall method was noted, and the attitude towards supplement use was assessed. Results: The study was conducted over a period of six months in a tertiary care hospital in Pimpri- Chinchwad which comprised of 193 subjects. There was not much difference in the mean age of the pregnant women attending antenatal care at the hospital, which figured up to 29.93 years. The nutritional status of the study population was assessed and was classified on the basis of BMI and MUAC. BMI measurements revealed that out of 193 subjects studied, 5(2.5%) were underweight, 78(40%) had normal nutritional status, 75(38.8%) were overweight, and 35(18%) were obese. MUAC measurements show 19(9.8%) had moderate malnutrition (MUAC190-230mm), and 174(90.1%) had normal nutritional status (MUAC&gt;230mm). FIGO analysis showed that an average of 47.33 out of 193 required assessment of nutritional status in detail. Out of the 193 subjects studied, combination therapy with Calcium &amp; Vitamin D3 193(100%) was the most commonly prescribed nutritional supplement, followed by combination of Folic acid &amp; iron 151(78.23%), and monotherapy with iron &amp; folic acid respectively 42(21.7%) Adherence to the oral nutritional supplements was measured by a 24-h recall method, 11(6%) of the population reported skipping the prescribed supplements on the previous day. Out of 193 participants surveyed, 67(34.7%) reported they tend to skip the nutritional supplements sometimes. Reported barriers to adherence were forgetfulness (55%), followed by metallic taste (26%), fear of ADRs (9%), gastric ADRs (5%), and inconvenience in taking them along with other medications (5%). Conclusion: The findings of our study reveal that many pregnant women continue to have compromised nutritional status, despite the fact that there exist recommendations and ways for treating under nutrition, lack of sufficient dietary intake of the nutrients, weight management during pregnancy for avoiding post-pregnancy complications.

The Frequency &amp; Determinants of the Use of Nutritional Supplements and Hormones among Selected Gym Users in Karachi, Pakistan

Purpose: The use of hormones/ anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and nutritional supplements (NS) has gained popularity worldwide for improving physical appearance and sports performance. There have been limited studies that examine the frequency and determinants of their use among gym users in Pakistan. Our objective was to estimate the frequency of NS and AAS consumption among gym users of Karachi and to determine the determinants of NS and AAS consumption. &#x0D; Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 435 gym users from five districts of Karachi using non-probability quota sampling and gyms were selected on a convenience basis. Data were collected on a pre-tested validated tool and the association of outcome with variables was assessed by applying multivariate logistic regression using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. &#x0D; Findings: The frequencies of AAS and NS were 9.2% (n=40) and 42.5% (n=185) respectively. Reasons for use included increasing muscle size and strength, impressing the opposite gender, getting popularity on TikTok videos, and getting a boyfriend/girlfriend. Male gender (p=0.000) and gym users who were businessmen were more inclined to using hormones (p=0.033). Gym users of district Central were less likely to consume AAS (p =0.004).&#x0D; Contribution to literature and practical implications: The study concludes that male gender and occupation are positively associated with NS consumption and the dwelling of gym attendees is also significantly associated with AAS intake. These findings can help policymakers to make decisions for improvement in addressing public health issues.

Toward a ‘green allopathy’? Naturopathic paradigm and practice in Ontario, Canada

Epistemic tensions have long been evident within naturopathy, a heterodox healthcare occupation licensed across much of North America. Naturopaths less inclined toward bioscientific explanatory and evidentiary norms have long used the trope of the ‘green allopath’ to critique the practices of their more biomedically- (i.e., ‘allopathically’) inclined colleagues. Using the ‘green allopathy’ narrative as a conceptual starting point, this work uses a qualitatively-driven, mixed methods design involving interviews (n = 17) and a census-style survey (n = 366) to characterize the paradigmatic and practice patterns of licensed naturopaths in Ontario, Canada between 2017 and 2019. At odds with many interviewees' accounts, survey results suggest that the occupation's overall epistemic character, aligned with the concept of holism, has not changed much over the last two decades. Nevertheless, findings suggest notable changes in Ontario naturopaths' clinical practice patterns over the same period, including: more frequent use of botanical medicines, nutritional supplements and acupuncture; less frequent use of physical medicine (e.g., massage, hydrotherapy); and, an overall reduction in homeopathic usage. Controlling for other factors, older naturopaths are more likely to rely often on non-biomedical diagnostic modes (p = 0.042), suggesting an emerging shift, in practice, toward a ‘green allopathy’. Naturopaths' widespread ongoing engagement with therapeutic modalities whose epistemic premises diverge strongly from conventional biomedicine (e.g., homeopathy, East Asian medicine), appears mediated by the increasing body of related bioscientific evidence, and by gender and age (p-values <0.05). Gender and age also significantly predict naturopaths' alignment with more pharmaceutically-oriented care (p values < 0.05). Though naturopathy's ‘green allopathization’ appears underway, the demographic predominance of women within the profession may temper this trend in the years ahead.

Nutritional supplementation on wound healing in diabetic foot: What is known and what is new?

Non-healing diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are the most notable and striking complications of diabetes mellitus. More than 25% of nonhealing DFU can ultimately lead to amputation of the lower extremity within 6-18 mo after the first manifestation of the wound. Although wound healing is complex, nutritional status is crucial in soft tissue repair. Malnutrition is highly prevalent and overlooked in patients with diabetes and chronic wounds. Moreover, to date, we do not have clear recommendations or evidence about the use of nutritional supplements for improving wound healing in patients with DFU. In this article the authors briefly analyzed the current evidence on the use of nutritional supplements of proteins or amino acids, fatty acids, probiotics, vitamins, and trace elements in the wound healing process in patients with DFU.

Association of nutrition knowledge, practice, supplement use, and nutrient intake with strength performance among Taekwondo players in Nepal.

Optimum dietary intake and adequate nutritional knowledge have been recognized as the key factors that play a critical role in improving the athlete's health and nutrition status. This study aimed to measure the association of nutritional knowledge, practice, supplement use, and nutrient intake with strength performance among Nepalese Taekwondo players. Between August 2019 and January 2020, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 293 Taekwondo players in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (mean age, 18 years; 63.1% male, 36.9% female). Face-to-face interviews were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires. Anthropometric measures, nutritional intake, nutrition knowledge, and practice were all recorded. The handgrip strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer as a proxy for strength performance. Univariate and bivariate analyses were used to find out the association between predictor and outcome variables. More than half of the participants had poor nutrition knowledge [54.3% (159/293)], and poor nutrition practice [55.3% (162/293)] scores. Daily mean energy, carbohydrate, protein and fat intake were 48.0 kcal.kg-1.d-1, 8.6, 1.6, and 1.5 g.kg-1.d-1, respectively among Taekwondo players. Daily total energy and carbohydrate intake were 48.2 kcal.kg-1.d-1 and 8.7 g.kg-1.d-1, respectively among male players which is higher than female players. However, daily protein and fat intake were higher in female players (1.7 and 1.6 g.kg-1.d-1, respectively). Both calcium (375.3 mg) and iron (9 mg) intake among Taekwondo players were significantly lower than current sports nutrition guidelines. Nutritional knowledge score (r = 0.117), height (r = 0.538), weight (r = 0.651), body mass index (r = 0.347), fat (r = 0.075), and energy (r = 0.127) intake showed significant positive correlation with strength performance of athletes. The strength performance was positively associated with training hours per day (β = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.09-0.91), body mass index (β = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.09-0.61), nutrition knowledge score (β = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.01-0.25), and energy intake (β = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.12-0.14). The nutritional knowledge and practice both were suboptimal among Taekwondo athletes. Height, weight, body mass index, nutritional knowledge, energy, and fat intake showed a positive correlation with strength performance. Future studies can build on the premise of this study to identify the robust relationship between nutritional knowledge, practice, different supplement use, and nutrient intake among other athletes too.

Optimal use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in medical nutrition therapy: ONS consensus report from KEPAN.

Medical nutrition therapy is one of the core components of the patient management, although its implication is still limited in daily practice globally. Clinicians are in need of guidance that will ease the application of medical nutrition therapy. The first treatment choice in medical nutrition therapy is the use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) after or concomitant with dietary interventions. The pre and post-graduate curriculum for medical nutrition therapy is limited in most regions, worldwide. A report that is short, clear, and having clear-cut recommendations that will guide the primary healthcare professionals in indications, choice, practical application, follow-up, and stopping ONS would facilitate the application and success of medical nutrition therapy. KEPAN is the Clinical Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Society of Turkey and is an active member of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN). In this study, we present the KEPAN ONS consensus report on optimal ONS use in medical nutrition therapy as outlined by works of academicians experienced in clinical application of ONS (eight working group academicians and 19 expert group academicians). This report provides 22 clear-cut recommendations in a question-answer format. We believe that this report could have a significant impact in the ideal use of ONS in the context of medical nutrition therapy when clinicians manage everyday patients.

Nutritional Supplement Use and Athletic Characteristics among a Sample of NCAA Division I and Division III Student-Athletes

Due to documented adverse events, understanding the prevalence of nutritional supplements commonly used by athletes is essential. This cross-sectional study used data from a web-based survey conducted in February-March 2022. Participants were Division I (DI) and Division III (DIII) student-athletes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Chi-square tests were conducted to identify the differences in the prevalence of demographic and athletic characteristics between the divisions. Multivariable odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders to determine the predictors of supplement usage. A total of 247 NCAA student-athletes (72.5% Division I, 27.5% Division III) completed the survey, yielding a 24.5% response rate. There were no significant differences between nutritional supplementation and NCAA divisions. Instead, all student-athletes used supplements regardless of division. There were significant differences in race, ethnicity, sports dietitian access, name, image, and likeness (NIL), advisement to consume NS, and knowledge of NS between the divisions (all P-values < 0.01). Unadjusted regression models showed that being in an upper-level academic standing was associated with higher odds of using sports food and ergogenic supplements than student-athletes with a lower-level academic standing. However, multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that none of the demographic and athletic characteristics significantly affected supplement usage. Allocating resources for access to sports dietitians and supplement education for all divisions may benefit student-athletes knowledge and safety.

Knowledge, practice and attitude toward anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements among people practicing sports in the MENA region before and during COVID-19 lockdown.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, people's lifestyles have changed including their habits and physical activities. There has been an increase in anabolic hormones and nutritional supplement use among people who regularly do exercise in the MENA region. This study aims to assess knowledge, practice, and attitude toward the use of anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements among people who regularly exercise in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and to compare their exercise habits and hormones and supplements usage between before and during COVID-19 lockdown. A self-administrated online Google form survey was carried out between February 2021 and April 2021. Five thousand eight hundred forty-five participants who regularly exercise and aged ≥18 years responded to the questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed through social media platforms and included five sections: demographic, training characters, knowledge, practice, and attitude. The participants mean age was 27.4 ± 8.6 years. Males represented 58.2 % of participants. 75.3% of the study participants had not used either hormones or supplements, and about 19% used supplements only. The mean percent score for knowledge, practice, and attitude were 39.3 ± 30.5, 1.1 ± 9.5, and 21.3 ± 23.8, respectively. Level of knowledge was higher among participants who worked in the medical field or as sports coaches. The practice was higher among male participants. The most commonly used anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements were steroids and proteins with bodybuilding being the most common purpose. Internet was the main source of information and pharmacy was the main source for procuring these substances. There was a significant decrease in proteins, carbohydrates, and sports drinks used during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to before the COVID-19 lockdown, while a statistically significant increase in vitamins used during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to before COVID-19 lockdown. In the MENA region, there has been an increase in the use of anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements. Most of the population has low knowledge of the harmful effect of uncontrolled, uninformed and unmonitored use of these substances Therefore, increasing the awareness level of participants and sports coaches should be a priority to limit the unsupervised use of hormones and supplements.

The effect of oral nutrition supplements and appetite stimulants on weight status among pediatric cancer patients: A systematic review.

The objective of this study was to identify the use and impact of oral nutrition supplements (ONSs) and appetite stimulants on weight status among pediatric patients diagnosed with malignancy. We performed a literature search of trials using Medline PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and included all prospective studies except review articles and case-reports/series that assessed ONSs or appetite stimulants among patients (0-20 years old) diagnosed with a pediatric malignancy. Databases were searched through May 17, 2022. There were six trials included with three studies related to ONS and the remaining on appetite stimulants. No studies that compared both ONS and appetite stimulants were found. To assess quality, we used the Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions and the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Trials depending on the study design. The studies all had pediatric patients diagnosed with a variety of malignancy types. All studies demonstrated improvement of weight status in the treatment group across various malignancy types. However, none of the studies addressed nutrition intakes outside of ONS consumption, compliance to ONSs, or frequency of ONS use. Despite the short durations (3-6 months) and significant differences in the timing of intervention initiation (ONS or appetite stimulants), these treatment modalities can improve weight status. Further research is needed to identify the best intervention for improving weight status.

Selenomethionine incorporation in proteins of individual mammalian cells determined with a genetically encoded fluorescent sensor

Selenomethionine (SeMet) randomly replaces methionine (Met) in protein translation. Because of strongly differing redox properties of SeMet and Met, SeMet mis-incorporation may have detrimental effects on protein function, possibly compromising the use of nutritional SeMet supplementation as an anti-oxidant. Studying the functional impact of SeMet in proteins on a cellular level is hampered by the lack of accurate and efficient methods for estimating the SeMet incorporation level in individual viable cells. Here we introduce and apply a method to measure the extent of SeMet incorporation in cellular proteins by utilizing a genetically encoded fluorescent methionine oxidation probe. Supplementation of SeMet in mammalian culture medium resulted in >84% incorporation of SeMet, and SeMet labeling as low as 5% was readily measured. Kinetics and extent of SeMet incorporation on the single-cell level under live-cell imaging conditions provided direct access to protein turn-over kinetics and SeMet redox properties in a cellular context. The method is furthermore suited for experiments utilizing high-throughput fluorescence microplate readers or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis.