Abstract Wuopio et al. (22:104, 2025) examined associations between urinary sodium excretion and metabolic markers using an invalid method (a spot urine sample and the Kawasaki estimating equation (‘spot method’)). The spot method has both high random and systematic error, and has been shown to produce spurious health outcome and disease association. Due to false controversy generated by studies using spot method, it has been recommended not to be used in research associating dietary sodium to health outcomes by major international and national scientific organizations and experts. Wuopio et al. are aware of the methods limitations and concerns about its use but in our opinion did not address these issues in their manuscript. The spot urine method represents a good example of how an inappropriate research method can undermine scientific understanding and generate false controversy.
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases
Objectives This study investigated differences in dietary habits, lifestyle patterns, and feeding-related developmental issues among Korean preschool children based on their parents’ levels of growth concern, and examined the associations between parental growth concern and children’s eating behaviors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with parents of children aged 1–5 years residing in Gyeonggi Province, Korea. Participants were classified into high, moderate, and low growth concern groups using the children’s dietary screening test. Data were collected on the children’s anthropometric status, lifestyle routines, dietary intake patterns, eating behaviors, and mealtime media exposure. Results Children in the high growth concern group showed a higher prevalence of underweight; irregular sleep and mealtime routines; and more frequent eating difficulties, including picky eating, slow eating, and oral processing problems. Mealtime media exposure was associated with lower fruit and vegetable intake and higher consumption of processed and sugar-rich foods. Higher parental growth concern did not correlate with healthier dietary or lifestyle outcomes. Conclusion Preschool children’s dietary behaviors and routines differed according to the parents’ levels of growth concern. Higher levels of parental concern were associated with increased feeding difficulties and greater mealtime media exposure. These findings suggest that excessive concern may contribute to maladaptive eating patterns in children. Evidence-based parental guidance and structured nutrition education are essential to promote healthy growth and eating behaviors during early childhood.
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases
Population aging has been accompanied by significant changes in the epidemiological profile of the population, with a significant increase in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases. In this context, Primary Health Care plays a fundamental role in organizing care and providing longitudinal follow-up for users, especially the elderly population. Simple clinical and nutritional monitoring tools can contribute to improving this follow-up, favoring the systematic recording of information and the active participation of the user in the care process. This study aims to describe the development of a nutritional monitoring card for elderly people with chronic diseases followed up in Primary Health Care. This is an experience report regarding the development of a care instrument focused on monitoring relevant nutritional and clinical indicators. The card was structured with spaces for recording anthropometric data, clinical parameters, and monitoring of consultations, allowing for greater organization of information and strengthening the bond between health professionals and users. The use of this instrument has the potential to contribute to the continuous monitoring of health conditions, encourage self-care, and assist in planning care actions in primary care.
Sophie Richardson, Janice Marshall, Catarina Rendeiro
Abstract Background Cocoa flavanols (CFs) are polyphenolic molecules with proposed cardioprotective effects. Whilst extensive evidence supports their ability to ameliorate vasodilator responses within conduit vessels, their actions in the microvasculature are less clear. This systematic review of the literature aimed to determine whether CF interventions lead to improvements in microvascular vasodilator responses in healthy populations and those with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Methods Database searches were conducted up to September 2023 using Medline, Embase, Pubmed and Web of Science Core Collection to identify randomised, placebo-controlled, human studies investigating the effect of CF interventions on the microvasculature (at rest and vasodilator responses). All studies were assessed for risk of-bias according to Cochrane Collaboration recommendations for randomised-controlled trials, data were extracted from studies and findings collated by vote-counting. Results Searches identified 511 unique articles for screening, of which 19 were selected for data extraction. Vasodilator responses were enhanced in 85.7% (80.4–91.0%, p = 0.013) of all acute studies (n = 13), and in 81.8% (74.1–89.4%, p = 0.065) of studies in healthy subgroups (n = 11). Importantly, this effect was apparent in all studies with ‘low risk of bias’ (n = 8, p = 0.008). In contrast, there was no effect of acute CF interventions at rest. For chronic studies (n = 7), the effect of CFs was less clear, with a significant benefit reported at rest only, in all young, healthy subgroups (n = 7, p = 0.016), but no evidence of improvements in vasodilator responses. Conclusions CFs have the potential to improve microvascular function, particularly in healthy individuals, with benefits appearing more pronounced following acute CF supplementation. Despite this, interpretations are limited by the small number of comparable studies identified and the heterogeneity of populations studied. Overall, the effects of CFs on the microvasculature seem to be less consistent than previous evidence in the macrovasculature, suggesting that the microvessels may be less susceptible to the effect of CFs than conduit arteries. Registration The PROSPERO registration number for this review is CRD42023483814.
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases
Julie Jesson, Bongiwe Zulu, Kalysha Closson
et al.
Abstract
Objective:
To estimate the effect of income change on difficulty accessing food since the COVID-19 pandemic for South African youth and evaluate whether this effect was modified by receiving social grants.
Design:
A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted between December 2021 and May 2022. Primary outcome was increased difficulty accessing food since the COVID-19 pandemic. Income change was categorised as ‘Decreased a lot’, ‘Decreased slightly’ and ‘Unchanged or increased’. Multivariable logistic regressions were used, with an interaction term between social grant receipt and income change.
Setting:
eThekwini district, South Africa.
Participants:
Youth aged 16–24 years.
Results:
Among 1,620 participants, median age was 22 years (IQR 19–24); 861 (53 %) were women; 476 (29 %) reported increased difficulty accessing food; 297 (18 %) reported that income decreased a lot, of whom 149 (50 %) did not receive social grants. Experiencing a large income decrease was highly associated with increased difficulty accessing food during the COVID-19 pandemic (adjusted OR [aOR] 3·63, 95 % CI 2·70, 4·88). The aOR for the effect of a large income decrease on difficulty accessing food, compared to no income change, were 1·49 (95 % CI 0·98, 2·28) among participants receiving social grants, and 6·63 (95 % CI 4·39, 9·99) among participants not receiving social grants.
Conclusions:
While social grant support made a great difference in lowering the effect of income decrease on difficulty accessing food, it was insufficient to fully protect youth from those difficulties. In post-pandemic recovery efforts, there is a critical need to support youth through economic empowerment programming and food schemes.
Public aspects of medicine, Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases
Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), one of the most common public diseases threatening human health, is always accompanied by infection. Though there are still a variety of flaws in the treatment of some infectious diseases, metabolomics provides a fresh perspective to explore the relationship between T2DM and infection. Our research aimed to investigate the association between plasma free amino acids (PFAAs) and T2DM complicated with infection in Chinese patients. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2015 to August 2016. We retrieved the medical records of 1032 inpatients with T2DM from Liaoning Medical University First Affiliated Hospital and we used mass spectrometry to quantify 23 PFAAs. Infections contained 15 individual categories that could be retrieved from the database. Principal component analysis was used to extract factors of PFAAs. Multi-variable binary logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Among 1032 inpatients,109 (10.6%) had infectious diseases. Six factors, accounting for 68.6% of the total variance, were extracted. Factor 4 consisted of Glu, Asp and Orn. Factor 5 consisted of Hcy and Pip. After adjusting for potential confounders, factor 4 was positively correlated with T2DM complicated with infection in Chinese T2DM patients (OR: 1.27, 95%CI: 1.06–1.52). Individual Hcy in factor 5 was positively associated with T2DM complicated with infection (OR: 1.33, 95%CI: 1.08–1.64). Furthermore, factor 4 (OR: 1.44, 95%CI: 1.11–1.87), Orn (OR: 1.01, 95%CI: 1.00-1.02) and Hcy (OR: 1.56, 95%CI: 1.14–3.14) were positively associated with bacterial infection in Chinese T2DM patients, while factor 5 (OR: 0.71, 95%CI: 0.50-1.00) was negatively associated with bacterial infection. Conclusions Urea cycle-related metabolites (Orn, Asp, Glu) and Hcy were positively associated with T2DM complicated with infection in China. Orn and Hcy were positively associated with bacterial infection in T2DM patients in China.
Abstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated that trans fatty acids (TFAs) intake was linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases. As a novel systemic inflammatory biomarker, the clinical value and efficacy of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) have been widely explored. However, the association between TFAs and SII is still unclear. Therefore, the study aims to investigate the connection between TFAs and SII in US adults. Methods The study retrieved data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 1999–2000 and 2009–2010. Following the exclusion of ineligible participants, the study encompassed a total of 3047 individuals. The research employed a multivariate linear regression model to investigate the connection between circulating TFAs and SII. Furthermore, the restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was utilized to evaluate the potential nonlinear association. Subgroup analysis was also conducted to investigate the latent interactive factors. Results In this investigation, participants exhibited a mean age of 47.40 years, with 53.91% of them being female. Utilizing a multivariate linear regression model, the independent positive associations between the log2-transformed palmitelaidic acid, the log2 transformed-vaccenic acid, the log2-transformed elaidic acid, the log2-transformed linolelaidic acid, and the log2-transformed-total sum of TFAs with the SII (all P < 0.05) were noted. In the RCS analysis, no nonlinear relationship was observed between the log2-transformed palmitelaidic acid, the log2 transformed-vaccenic acid, the log2-transformed elaidic acid, the log2-transformed linolelaidic acid, the log2-transformed-total sum of TFAs and the SII (all P for nonlinear > 0.05). For the stratified analysis, the relationship between the circulating TFAs and the SII differed by the obesity status and the smoking status. Conclusions A positive association was investigated between three types of TFA, the sum of TFAs, and the SII in the US population. Additional rigorously designed studies are needed to verify the results and explore the potential mechanism.
Artin Sarkarinejad, Shahram Paydar, Arezou Khosrojerdi
et al.
Abstract Background Trauma has a significant impact on the overall health of individuals worldwide, being a leading cause of morbidity and mortality with long-lasting effects. The identification of suitable biomarkers is crucial to predict patient outcomes, providing information about the severity of a condition or the probability of a specific outcome. Hence, in this study, we addressed a new biomarker, copeptin, and discussed its prognostic roles in various trauma researches. Main body Copeptin is a peptide derived from the precursor of the hormone vasopressin, which is released in response to stress. Copeptin can serve as a valuable biomarker for determining the severity, prognosis, and outcome of trauma patients. Elevated levels of copeptin are associated with increased mortality and poor clinical outcomes in patients with severe injuries or bleeding. Implementing copeptin measurements in clinical practice can enable healthcare providers to more accurately gauge the degree of trauma and predict patient mortality and morbidity outcomes facilitating prompt interventions and personalized treatment. Conclusion The measurement of novel biomarker copeptin can serve as a prognostic molecule for further outcomes in trauma patients. Nevertheless, supplementary research is needed to fully comprehend its role in the development and progression of traumatic injuries.
Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases, Public aspects of medicine
Abstract The use of infant formula is widespread internationally. In Australia, 55% of infants receive formula before 6 months of age, with higher rates among disadvantaged communities. Infant formula use can contribute to childhood overweight and obesity, through formula composition and feeding behaviours, such as adding cereal to bottles and parental feeding style. While information abounds to promote and support breastfeeding, formula‐feeding parents report a paucity of advice and support; many rely on formula packaging for information. This study systematically searched and reviewed online resources for infant formula and bottle feeding from Australian governments, health services, hospitals, and not‐for‐profit parenting organisations. A comprehensive search strategy located 74 current resources, mostly for parents. Researchers evaluated the resources against best practice criteria derived from Australian government and UNICEF guidelines on six topics. They assessed how comprehensively the resources addressed each topic and whether the resources provided all the information necessary for parents to understand each topic. The mean ‘comprehensiveness’ rating for topics across all resources was 54.36%. However, some topics were addressed more fully than others. Information on ‘discussing infant formula with health workers’ and on ‘preparing infant formula’ was more frequently accurate and comprehensive. However, there was much less comprehensive information on ‘using infant formula’, including amounts of formula to feed, use of bottle teats, appropriate bottle‐feeding practice and responsiveness to infant satiety cues. Over half the resources were written at an acceptable reading level.
Lydia Toscano-Palomar, Gilberto García-Gómez, Francisco J. Gómez-Puentes
et al.
Introducción: La necesidad de alimentos nutritivos se ha incrementado por la demanda de un público exigente. Los consumidores, en la actualidad, desean aperitivos que además de satisfacer su apetito, aporten también nutrientes esenciales. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo la caracterización físico-química de una barra alimenticia elaborada a base de semillas (girasol, ajonjolí, chía y linaza) y nueces (almendra, nuez de la India, corazón de nuez de pecana, pistache y nuez de Castilla entera) libre de componentes de origen animal, como leche de vaca en polvo, ovoalbúmina y/o grasas animales utilizados en barras alimenticias comerciales.
Material y métodos: Los métodos de análisis próximo, valor energético, vida útil de la barra alimenticia y análisis sensorial y las pruebas de aceptación, se realizaron de acuerdo a métodos estándares de análisis de la Asociación de Químicos Analíticos Oficiales (AOAC por sus siglas en inglés). Todos los análisis se realizaron por triplicado a menos que se indicara de otra manera. Los resultados obtenidos fueron estadísticamente analizados con un 5 % de nivel de significancia para cada prueba.
Resultados: Se analizó su composición próxima (27% proteína, 7,5% fibra cruda y 4,4% de azúcares). Estos valores posicionan a este producto dentro de las barras de alto contenido proteico con contenido en azúcar muy bajo si se compara con barras comerciales (20 – 40%). Presentó el 45% de lípidos con el 19% de aceites saturados y 81 % de insaturados, todos estos derivados de las nueces y semillas. Se cuantificaron minerales esenciales como: calcio, magnesio, potasio, sodio, cobre, hierro, manganeso y zinc. La velocidad de rancidez fue relativamente baja hasta alcanzar el valor máximo permisible de 10 meq/kg en peróxidos como valor de rancidez a los 9 días de almacenamiento a 40 °C.
Conclusiones: Las barras alimenticias a base de semillas y nueces tuvieron una alta aceptación en pruebas sensoriales de preferencia por público adulto. De acuerdo con estos resultados se presenta un alimento de alto contenido proteico, nutricionalmente completo y estable al almacenamiento.
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases
Background: Adolescents would like to search for information about various foods before consumption via social media such as Facebook and Instagram too. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of nutritional booklets on knowledge and consumption of fattening foods among adolescents of Surakarta, Indonesia.Methods: This study analyzed the effect of nutritional booklets and social media on knowledge and consumption of fattening-foods among adolescents. In a quasi experiment using nonequivalent control group during a period of 30 days, three high schools of 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade in Surakarta, indonesia were enrolled including 34, 33 and 29 students,respectively based on a probability proportional sampling method. Nutritional education was carried out via nutritional booklets and social media during two weeks.Results: Nutritional education using nutritional booklets was significantly more effective on knowledge and consumption of fattening foods.Conclusion: Our findings showed that nutritional booklets and social media could ignificantly influence the knowledge and consumption of fattening foods among adolescents. Even the effect of nutritional booklets was more prominent.
Abstract Background In recent years, the evaluation of convenience food has changed. It came to be considered not to have a negative effect on health and is now positioned as a tool to support dietary habits of elderly and other people. In advanced countries where the population is aging, convenience foods are expected to improve the eating habits of the elderly. Methods We defined the indicators of cooking effort and usage intensity of convenience food and presented a model wherein a “meal” is home-produced. In the model, a home cook decides the optimal cooking effort to apply for a given usage intensity of convenience food. Using an empirical form of the proposed model, we performed a multiple regression analysis and calculated “the elasticity of cooking effort with respect to the usage intensity of convenience food” for home cooks, with each attribute defined by a combination of different personality and demographic factors, using the estimated coefficients. Results Regression analysis results revealed a negative correlation between cooking effort and the usage intensity of convenience food, which is consistent with our theoretical model of home meal production. The results showed that home cooks who have special food preferences may not be satisfied with accepting convenience foods purchased from the market as they are and that these home cooks will require a higher cooking effort to obtain higher satisfaction. The elasticity of elderly home cooks was low, implying that they are not flexible enough to accept convenience food. Conclusions The results revealed that existing convenience foods do not have the same impact on home cooks with attributes. This problem can be solved with smart food systems that utilize information and communication technology, which allow home cooks to explore information on convenience foods that match their preferences and enable food providers to offer food that matches the specific tastes of home cooks. The regression results suggest this possibility.
Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases, Public aspects of medicine
Louise C. Mâsse, Teresia M. O’Connor, Yingyi Lin
et al.
Abstract Purpose There has been a call to improve measurement rigour and standardization of food parenting practices measures, as well as aligning the measurement of food parenting practices with the parenting literature. Drawing from an expert-informed conceptual framework assessing three key domains of food parenting practices (autonomy promotion, control, and structure), this study combined factor analytic methods with Item Response Modeling (IRM) methodology to psychometrically validate responses to the Food Parenting Practice item bank. Methods A sample of 799 Canadian parents of 5–12-year-old children completed the Food Parenting Practice item bank (129 items measuring 17 constructs). The factorial structure of the responses to the item bank was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), confirmatory bi-factor item analysis, and IRM. Following these analyses, differential Item Functioning (DIF) and Differential Response Functioning (DRF) analyses were then used to test invariance properties by parents’ sex, income and ethnicity. Finally, the efficiency of the item bank was examined using computerized adaptive testing simulations to identify the items to include in a short form. Results Overall, the expert-informed conceptual framework was predominantly supported by the CFA as it retained the same 17 constructs included in the conceptual framework with the exception of the access/availability and permissive constructs which were respectively renamed covert control and accommodating the child to better reflect the content of the final solution. The bi-factor item analyses and IRM analyses revealed that the solution could be simplified to 11 unidimensional constructs and the full item bank included 86-items (empirical reliability from 0.78 to 0.96, except for 1 construct) and the short form had 48 items. Conclusion Overall the food parenting practice item bank has excellent psychometric properties. The item bank includes an expanded version and short version to meet various study needs. This study provides more efficient tools for assessing how food parenting practices influence child dietary behaviours. Next steps are to use the IRM calibrated item bank and draw on computerized adaptive testing methodology to administer the item bank and provide flexibility in item selection.
Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases, Public aspects of medicine
Mechanistic data have revealed a key role for selenium (Se) and selenoproteins in biological pathways known to be altered in multifactorial diseases, such as cellular maintenance, response to oxidative stress and correct protein folding. Although epidemiological studies indicate that low Se intake is linked to increased risk for various chronic diseases, supplementation trials have given confusing outcomes, suggesting that additional genetic factors could affect the relationship between Se and health. Genetic data support this hypothesis, as risk for several chronic diseases, in particular cancer, was linked to a number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) altering Se metabolism, selenoprotein synthesis or activity. Interactions between SNPs in selenoprotein genes, SNPs in related molecular pathways and biomarkers of Se status were found to further modulate the genetic risk carried by the SNPs. Taken together, nutritional genomics approaches uncovered the potential implication of some selenoproteins as well as the influence of complex interactions between genetic variants and Se status in the aetiology of several chronic diseases. This review discusses the results from these genetic associations in the context of selenoprotein functions and epidemiological investigations and emphasises the need to assess in future studies the combined contribution of Se status, environmental stress, and multiple or individual SNPs to disease risk.