Despite advances in parenteral nutrition (PN) formulations, the temporal aspects of PN delivery are less defined. This review synthesizes evidence on the optimal timing of PN initiation, duration, and delivery within the 24-h day in pediatric populations. Evidence suggests that the optimal timing of PN initiation varies by age and clinical context. While early PN remains standard practice for very preterm and very low birth weight infants, delaying PN has been associated with improved outcomes in critically ill children. Continuous PN is routinely initiated in neonates and critically ill children to minimize fluid and metabolic fluctuations, whereas cyclic PN is generally used in older infants and children who are clinically stable to allow infusion-free periods and greater mobility. Despite the widespread use of overnight PN infusions in both the hospital and home settings, the clinical implications of aligning PN delivery with endogenous circadian rhythms remain very limited. Future studies should establish optimal temporal strategies for different pediatric populations and determine whether optimizing the timing, infusion pattern, and circadian alignment of PN delivery improves growth, development, metabolic health, and quality of life.
Background: Aging is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, which are associated with synaptic dysfunction and cognitive decline. Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) is rich in anthocyanins with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an essential fatty acid, plays a key role in neuronal membrane integrity during brain aging. However, it remains unclear whether elderberry and DHA exert overlapping or distinct effects on brain aging and how these relate to molecular signaling. This study aimed to characterize molecular signatures induced by dietary supplementation and to determine their relationships with behavioral outcomes. Methods: 44-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to control, elderberry, DHA, or combined diets for 12 weeks. Behavioral testing assessed anxiety-like behavior, spatial learning and memory. Brain tissues underwent proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling and fatty-acid analysis. Data were analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis to identify enriched pathways, upstream regulators, and functional associations. Results: Elderberry as well as DHA supplementation induced targeted remodeling of the proteome and phosphoproteome, with pathway enrichment involving synaptogenesis, glutamatergic signaling, and long-term potentiation. Upstream-regulator analysis predicted elderberry-associated CDK5 signaling, accompanied by reduced MAPT/Tau phosphorylation at selected sites, whereas DHA supplementation was associated with CAMK-related signaling. DHA supplementation altered fatty-acid composition, increasing the n-3/n-6 ratio. Elderberry reduced anxiety-like behavior and improved target-directed search during the Barnes maze probe test. Molecular signatures were examined in relation to the measured behavioral outcomes. Conclusions: Elderberry and DHA are associated with distinct molecular networks related to synaptic function and behavioral outcomes in the aging male mouse brain. These findings support further investigation of elderberry and DHA as dietary interventions targeting molecular and behavioral features of brain aging.
Background/Objectives: Early feeding intolerance (FI) affects 20–50% of critically ill patients receiving enteral nutrition, yet no validated predictive tool exists and diagnosis remains retrospective. Plasma citrulline, mainly synthesized by enterocytes, is considered as the “factor V of the intestine”. The citrulline generation test (CGT) evaluates small bowel mucosal function by measuring the increase in plasma citrulline after glutamine administration. We hypothesized that patients with a lower CGT would be more prone to FI. We aimed to compare CGT results according to the presence or absence of FI and to identify factors associated with CGT. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of Besancon Hospital. Plasma citrulline and glutamine concentrations were measured at admission and after an alanine–glutamine dipeptide bolus. CGT was defined as the slope between basal and 90 min peak plasma citrulline concentrations. Signs of FI were collected during follow-up. Results: Among the sixty-six included patients, nine (14%) developed FI by day three, only characterized by vomiting and gastric residual volumes above 500 mL; abdominal pain or diarrhea were not observed. CGT values did not differ between patients with and without FI. CGT correlated positively with baseline citrulline and peak glutamine concentrations. Conclusions: FI was not associated with CGT, possibly because FI was predominantly gastric rather than intestinal. Low CGT values were associated with low plasma citrulline concentrations, suggesting reduced functional enterocyte mass. The positive correlation between CGT and peak plasma glutamine suggests that CGT not only reflects enterocyte function but also glutamine bioavailability.
Background & Aims: One-carbon metabolism plays a central role in neurotransmitter synthesis, methylation capacity, and neurobiological resilience. Variants in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene can reduce enzymatic activity, affecting folate- and methionine-cycle functions and potentially influencing biological pathways relevant to mood and anxiety disorders. Personalised nutraceutical treatment strategies, particularly those addressing methylation capacity through targeted B-vitamin, folate, and adjunctive metabolic interventions are increasingly implemented in integrative clinical practice, yet evidence regarding their clinical outcomes remains limited. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 50 adults attending an integrative general practice clinic for anxiety and/or depression. All received personalised nutraceutical treatment informed by clinical assessment, laboratory testing and, for 37/50 patients, MTHFR genotyping. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler-10 (K10) scale at baseline and approximately three months later. Secondary analyses evaluated whether outcomes differed by MTHFR genotype, whether specific supplements (e.g., L-methylfolate and SAMe) were associated with greater improvement, whether biomarker changes correlated with symptom change, and the safety/tolerability profile. Results: Across the full cohort, mean K10 scores significantly decreased by four points over the treatment period, with 72% of patients showing clinical improvement. Reductions in psychological distress were seen across all MTHFR genotypes, including individuals with homozygous variant genotypes. Supplement-specific analyses showed improvement among those receiving methylfolate or SAMe, although the differences were not statistically significant. Following nutraceutical treatment, biomarker analyses demonstrated significant increases in serum vitamin B12 and modest reductions in homocysteine, but biomarker shifts did not correlate strongly with K10 change. No serious adverse events or clinically significant abnormalities in liver or renal function were identified. Conclusions: In this real-world primary care cohort, personalised nutraceutical treatment, grounded in one-carbon metabolism support and applied alongside usual care, was associated with clinically meaningful reductions in psychological distress. Outcomes were comparable across MTHFR genotypes when treatments were appropriately tailored, suggesting that genotype and biomarker-informed nutraceutical strategies may mitigate potential metabolic disadvantages. These findings support further controlled research into precision nutraceutical psychiatry for anxiety and depression. Secondary analyses of genotype subgroup, specific supplements, and biomarker–outcome associations are reported alongside Benjamini–Hochberg FDR-adjusted p-values and should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating.
Background: Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for foetal development, cognitive function, and metabolic regulation; however, suboptimal iodine status remains a public health concern in Europe and other regions. Improving food literacy related to iodine may support healthier dietary choices during adolescence, a critical life stage for establishing long-term habits. This intervention development study describes the development of The ABC of Iodine Teaching Programme within the EUthyroid2 project, designed to enhance iodine-related knowledge and awareness among adolescents aged 13–17 years across six regions (UK, Republic of Cyprus, Slovenia, Germany, Bangladesh, and Pakistan). Methods: The intervention was developed according to the Behaviour Change Wheel, targeting capability, opportunity, and motivation, and informed by guidance for complex interventions. The programme was comprised of three flexible, culturally adapted modules integrating lectures on iodine physiology, deficiency risks, WHO recommendations, and locally relevant dietary sources. Active learning strategies, including collaborative tasks and personalised feedback through an Iodine Feedback Tool, were included. Materials were translated and adapted to local contexts and implemented in a hybrid format combining printed booklets with QR-linked digital resources. Results: The primary outcome of the intervention development process was The ABC of Iodine Teaching Programme, a multi-component, scalable educational intervention aligned with principles of food literacy, active learning and behaviour change theory. It incorporated behaviour change techniques and context-specific adaptations to facilitate engagement and knowledge acquisition in school settings. The programme is currently under evaluation in participating regions. Conclusions: This study presents the systematic development of a complex teaching programme. By combining behaviour change theory with innovative and context-sensitive educational strategies, The ABC of Iodine Teaching Programme provides a flexible and scalable framework for improving iodine-related food literacy among adolescents. Its effectiveness will be determined through the ongoing evaluation studies.
Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. is a traditional medicinal and edible plant abundant in bioactive constituents which has been proven to exert prominent intestinal protective effects. Schisandrol A (SA) is one of the lignan components with a relatively high content in this plant. This study aims to evaluate the intestinal protective effects of schisandrol A (SA) in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury mouse model. An LPS-induced mouse model was established and treated with SA in different groups, and oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, apoptosis, NF-κB signaling pathway proteins, and tight junction proteins were examined. Meanwhile, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and serum metabolomics were employed to evaluate alterations in the gut microbiota and host serum biochemical profiles. The results showed that SA significantly alleviated LPS-induced intestinal injury. SA attenuated oxidative stress, upregulated the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and reduced the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. In addition, SA inhibited apoptosis and the activation of the NF-κB pathway, while upregulating the expression of the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that SA reversed the LPS-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis. Serum metabolomics indicated that SA exerted its intestinal protective effects by targeting and modulating several core host serum biochemical pathways. In conclusion, SA reduces oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, restores the intestinal barrier, reshapes the gut microbiota, improves disturbed serum biochemical profiles, and inhibits the activation of the NF-κB pathway, thereby effectively ameliorating intestinal injury in mice.
Moderate wine consumption has historically been associated with a J-shaped relationship between dose and total mortality, driven primarily by cardiovascular protection, enhanced endothelial function, improved glucose metabolism, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects attributable to both ethanol and grape-derived phenolic constituents. Yet in recent years, international alcohol guidelines have shifted markedly towards the assertion that ‘no safe level’ of alcohol exists. This transition has occurred despite the continued consistency of mechanistic, clinical, and epidemiological evidence demonstrating hormetic (biphasic) responses to wine and its constituents and despite methodological controversies over the mathematical models used in several recent national guideline revisions. This narrative review synthesises mechanistic evidence on hormesis and wine-specific biological effects—including polyphenols, resveratrol, nitric oxide signalling, platelet modulation, and endothelial benefits—with epidemiological data on J-shaped associations with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and total mortality. It further examines key methodological changes in recent guidelines, particularly the adoption of the ‘Sheffield model’ and the exclusion of or reduced emphasis on cardioprotective outcomes. The review argues that these methodological decisions, rather than new scientific evidence, largely explain the departure from earlier guideline thresholds that allowed moderate wine consumption. Understanding wine’s biological specificity, the differential health implications of drinking patterns and contexts, and the limitations of model-driven policy changes is essential to develop coherent, evidence-informed public health recommendations.
Oxidative stress is a central mechanism linking placental dysfunction, fetal injury, and neonatal disease, supporting the concept of a perinatal oxidative stress continuum that begins during abnormal placentation and may persist after birth. This narrative review explores the biological rationale and current experimental and clinical evidence for melatonin as a potential multitarget intervention across this continuum. Melatonin combines direct antioxidant activity with mitochondrial protection, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, and modulation of endogenous antioxidant defenses and redox homeostasis. Evidence from placental, fetal, and neonatal studies suggests potential protective effects in pregnancy complications and in neonatal conditions characterized by oxidative injury, including hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, neonatal sepsis, and retinopathy of prematurity. The review was informed by a non-systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library for relevant literature published up to 2026, including preclinical and clinical studies, systematic reviews, and relevant clinical trial registrations. Overall, although preclinical evidence is encouraging and early clinical studies suggest potential safety and biological activity, translation into clinical practice remains limited by heterogeneous study designs, dosing and timing regimens, and the lack of adequately powered randomized trials. Further research is needed to establish optimal dosing, timing, patient selection, pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic relationships, and long-term safety and efficacy.
Background: Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and is closely associated with oxidative stress. Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) cladodes are recognized as a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their metabolic benefits remain incompletely understood. Objectives: This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective potential of a polyphenol-rich O. ficus-indica cladode extract (OCE) using an integrated approach combining in vivo evaluation, untargeted metabolomics (UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS), molecular docking, and ADMET prediction. Methods: Hyperlipidemic mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) were treated with OCE, while molecular docking was performed on ten major annotated phytochemicals against twelve key proteins involved in lipid metabolism and cholesterol homeostasis, including HMGCR, FAS, PPARα, PCSK9, and NPC1L1, using simvastatin as the reference compound. Results: OCE treatment significantly improved plasma and hepatic lipid profiles, improved glucose homeostasis, and markedly reduced hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating attenuation of oxidative stress. Histopathological analysis further supported a pronounced hepatoprotective effect, with a substantial reduction in hepatic steatosis. Untargeted metabolomics enabled the annotation of 102 metabolites, putatively identifying piscidic acid as the predominant phenolic constituent together with a diverse profile of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Molecular docking supported the potential contribution of these phytochemicals to the regulation of lipid metabolism through favorable interactions with multiple therapeutic targets, while ADMET prediction suggested an overall favorable pharmacokinetic and toxicity profile despite the lower intestinal permeability predicted for glycosylated derivatives. Conclusions: Overall, these findings support O. ficus-indica cladodes as a promising source of dietary bioactive compounds with potential applications in the nutritional management and prevention of hyperlipidemia and related cardiometabolic disorders.
Background/Objectives: Abnormal nocturnal dipping (ND) in diabetes mellitus is linked to adverse outcomes. Its association with vitamin D (VD), cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN), and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains unclear. We aim to evaluate the association of VD status with ND loss as well as CAN in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) across different DKD stages. Methods: 83 T2DM patients were included in this cross-sectional study: 36 with early-stage DKD (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio [UACR] 30–299 mg/g; Group 1) as well as 47 with advanced-stage DKD (UACR ≥ 300 mg/g; Group 2). Results: Patients with advanced DKD exhibited higher CAN prevalence (72.70% vs. 52.80%; p < 0.05), lower 25(OH)D (26.90 ± 9.90 vs. 29.60 ± 8.00 ng/mL; p = 0.05), and lower systolic ND (0.82 ± 8.40 vs. 4.50 ± 7%; p < 0.05). Among patients with advanced DKD, lower 25(OH)D levels, classified according to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) criteria (normal ≥ 20 ng/mL), were associated with reduced systolic ND (1.90 ± 7.80 vs. −5.60 ± 9.30%; p < 0.05), while the Endocrine Society criteria showed a progressive reduction in systolic ND across VD classification (insufficiency 20–29.9, deficiency <20, and sufficiency ≥30 ng/mL), (−5.60 ± 9.30 vs. −0.20 ± 7.30 vs. 3.30 ± 8%, respectively; p < 0.05). Patients with definite/severe CAN exhibited lower systolic ND (−4.38 ± 7.41 vs. 3.34 ± 8.00%; p < 0.01) than those with absent/early CAN. In addition, lower VD levels were associated with greater CAN severity according to both the Endocrine Society criteria (p < 0.01, r = 0.40), and the IOM criteria (p < 0.05, r = 0.30). In the regression model, VD remained an independent predictor of absence of diastolic ND (Rsqr = 0.393; p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest a potential link between vitamin D status, autonomic dysfunction, and ND in patients with T2DM and advanced DKD.
Background/Objectives: Skin yellowness measured using reflectance spectroscopy can be used as a proxy for ‘skin carotenoid’ concentration and as a valid estimate of fruit and vegetable intake. However, the association between different ethnic backgrounds, age, sex and self-reported skin colour on skin yellowness is yet to be explored. Methods: This exploratory cross-sectional study used a convenience sample to assess the relationship between skin yellowness (b*), measured using skin reflectance spectroscopy, and fruit and vegetable intakes across different age groups, sex, self-reported Caucasian and Asian ethnicities and self-reported skin colour. Recruited adults were aged ≥18 years who self-reported as Caucasian or of Asian ethnicity (N = 137). Data were collected on skin L*, a*, b* colours using skin reflectance spectroscopy, height, weight, body composition, waist circumference, demographic variables (e.g., age, sex, self-reported skin colour), and dietary intake measured using the online Australian Eating Survey® (AES®). Multiple linear regression models were used to investigate factors associated with the dependent variable, skin yellowness (b*). Results: Participants were on average 38.6 (SD = 17.7) years of age, self-reported as female (61%), Caucasian (77%) and met the recommended fruit intake of two serves/day (mean = 2.1, SD = 1.5) but not the recommended vegetable intake of five to six serves per day (mean = 4.4, SD = 3.1). There were significant associations between skin yellowness (b*) and several independent variables, including combined fruit and vegetable intake, total carotenoid intake, body fat percentage and self-reported skin colour. Conclusions: This study adds additional support for using skin yellowness as a proxy for fruit and vegetable intake when adjusting for self-reported skin colour, age and sex.
Background/Objectives: School-based food and nutrition education is an important public health strategy for developing healthy dietary behaviors during childhood and adolescence. However, limited qualitative evidence describes how nutrition teachers, who are simultaneously responsible for school meals, perceive established educational priorities and emerging needs. This study explored current and future priorities for school-based food and nutrition education in South Korea. Methods: Two online focus group interviews were conducted with eight nutrition teachers working in elementary, middle, and high schools. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis procedures. Results: Current priorities included foundational nutrition and food-related knowledge, balanced eating, environmental issues, low-sodium and low-sugar diets, understanding school meals, prevention of eating disorders and chronic diseases, and table manners and picky eating. Future needs centered on food choice and food literacy, sustainable diets, interdisciplinary education, and understanding diverse food cultures. Across themes, participants described a shift from primarily knowledge-focused instruction toward applied dietary competence, a broadening from individual disease prevention toward health and sustainability, and stronger integration of classroom education with school meals and other subjects. Conclusions: From the perspectives of the participating nutrition teachers, the findings provide formative evidence for curricula and interventions that combine foundational nutrition science with food-choice skills, age-appropriate preventive messages, sustainable dietary practices, and opportunities for behavioral application in the school meal setting. Future quantitative and intervention studies, including nationally representative samples, are needed before robust national priorities can be established.
Substance use disorders (SUDs) remain a major public health concern and contribute substantially to compromised quality of life, mortality, and healthcare burden. In the United States alone, millions of individuals are affected by alcohol use disorder (AUD), tobacco use disorder (TUD), and opioid use disorder (OUD), with many cases complicated by co-existing anxiety and stress-related disorders. Piper methysticum G. Forst (kava), a traditional South Pacific plant preparation, has gained attention for its anxiolytic, sedative, and sleep-promoting properties. Its pharmacological effects are primarily attributed to a set of lipophilic compounds known as kavalactones, which have been reported to modulate GABAA receptor activity, dopaminergic and adrenergic signaling pathways, monoamine oxidase-B activity, cannabinoid receptor type 1 activity, and voltage-gated ion channels. Peer-reviewed literature was identified through searches of PubMed, NIH resources, and other scientific databases using terms related to kava, kavalactones, addiction, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and SUDs. Both clinical and preclinical studies were reviewed, including investigations of neurotransmitter systems and addiction-related signaling pathways. The current literature suggests that the strongest rationale for kava use exists in AUD, where anxiety and stress are established contributors to relapse. Evidence supporting kava use in TUD and OUD is largely theoretical, while concerns regarding hepatotoxicity, cytochrome P450 interactions, product variability, and additive risk remain important barriers to its clinical application. In summary, current evidence does not support kava as a replacement for established therapies, while its unique pharmacological profile warrants further investigation as a potential adjunctive treatment for withdrawal and relapse in SUDs.
Background: Technostress has emerged as a major occupational health concern in increasingly digitalized workplaces. Although organizational and technological determinants of technostress have been widely investigated, the potential influence of healthy lifestyle behaviors remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the association between a combined Healthy Lifestyle Score (HLS) and technostress in a large cross-sectional sample of Spanish workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 104,175 workers who underwent routine occupational health examinations between January 2021 and December 2024. The Healthy Lifestyle Score was constructed by assigning one point each for regular physical activity, high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and non-smoking status, resulting in scores ranging from 0 to 3. Technostress was assessed using the Technostress Short Questionnaire (TCS-Short) and categorized as low, moderate, high, or very high. Logistic regression models were used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for high-to-very high technostress according to HLS categories. Results: Significant differences in technostress levels were observed across HLS categories (p < 0.001). The prevalence of high-to-very high technostress was 50.8% among workers with HLS = 0 and 50.7% among those with HLS = 1, decreasing markedly to 7.5% and 7.2% among workers with HLS = 2 and HLS = 3, respectively. After adjustment for sex, age, educational level, and social class, participants with HLS = 2 and HLS = 3 exhibited substantially lower odds of high technostress (OR = 0.073, 95% CI 0.068–0.078 and OR = 0.074, 95% CI 0.069–0.079, respectively) compared with those with HLS = 0. The categorical analysis suggested a threshold-like rather than progressive association, with substantially lower odds of high-to-very high technostress observed among workers with HLS = 2 and HLS = 3, whereas HLS = 1 did not show lower odds compared with HLS = 0. The final model demonstrated excellent discrimination (AUC = 0.902). Conclusions: Healthy lifestyle profiles were strongly associated with technostress in this large cross-sectional occupational sample. Workers with HLS = 2 and HLS = 3 showed markedly lower odds of high-to-very high technostress than those with HLS = 0, whereas HLS = 1 did not show lower odds. Component-specific analyses indicated that the associations differed substantially across the behaviors comprising the score, supporting interpretation of the HLS as an unweighted behavioral count rather than as a measure of equivalent contributions from each component.
Background/Objectives: The health-protective properties of olive oil phenolics, including their potential chemopreventive and anticancer effects, have attracted considerable scientific interest. However, their in vivo efficacy and mechanisms of action remain insufficiently understood. Recent advances in extraction and purification technologies have enabled large-scale production of highly purified olive oil phenols and phenolic-rich extracts, facilitating translational research. Methods: Herein, the antitumor efficacy of isolated olive oil phenols and phenolic-rich formulations was investigated in an MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) xenograft model. Results: Intraperitoneal administration of oleocanthal (OLC), oleuropein aglycone (OleA) or their combination reduced endpoint tumor burden, with OLC exhibiting the most pronounced effect. Oral administration of total olive oil phenolics (OOPs) achieved comparable efficacy. Pre-treatment initiated before tumor cell implantation conferred the greatest protection, consistent with a prophylactic mode of action. In contrast, delayed intervention displayed diminished or no antitumor benefit. Phenolic-rich extra virgin olive oil likewise showed an inhibition trend in tumor progression. Mechanistically, OOPs attenuated plasma protein oxidation, modulated proteasome mediated proteolysis, and reduced γH2AX levels in vivo. Furthermore, OOPs negatively affected the MDA-MB-231 cell migration in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings are consistent with antitumor activities of olive oil phenolics via multiple mechanisms and support their further investigation as prophylactic agents in TNBC and as nutraceuticals.
Background/Objectives: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour are related but distinct components of adolescent movement behaviour and may combine into heterogeneous lifestyle profiles. This study aimed to identify empirically derived physical activity–sedentary behaviour profiles and to examine sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with profile membership. Methods: This cross-sectional, school-based study included 3307 Polish adolescents aged 15–17 years (52.22% girls; mean age, 15.89 ± 0.71 years). Weekly sedentary time and walking, moderate-intensity, and vigorous-intensity physical activity were assessed using the IPAQ-LF, reprocessed using predefined truncation procedures, standardised using z-scores, and entered into k-means clustering. Two- and three-cluster solutions were evaluated. Separate binary logistic regression models examined crude and sex- and school-type-adjusted associations between candidate lifestyle correlates and profile membership. Results: Although the two-cluster solution had a higher average silhouette coefficient (0.36 vs. 0.28), the three-cluster solution was retained because it provided a more differentiated and substantively interpretable representation of movement-behaviour patterns. The profiles comprised a walking-dominant activity profile (C1; n = 645; 19.50%), a high moderate-to-vigorous activity/lower sedentary profile (C2; n = 354; 10.71%), and a lower physical activity profile (C3; n = 2308; 69.80%). C3 had substantially lower walking, moderate-intensity, and vigorous-intensity activity than C1, while sedentary time was similar in magnitude between these profiles. After adjustment for sex and school type, C2 membership was associated with irregular eating patterns (OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.05–2.84), school-day sleep ≥ 9 h/day (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.11–3.54), weekend sleep < 7 h/day (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.02–2.82), and weekend sleep ≥ 9 h/day (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.16–2.16). No lifestyle candidate correlate reached statistical significance in the adjusted C3-versus-C1 analyses. Conclusions: The identified profiles support viewing physical activity and sedentary behaviour as related but non-equivalent dimensions of adolescent movement behaviour. Lower physical activity did not necessarily coincide with higher sedentary time, while selected sleep-duration and eating-regularity characteristics were associated with the high moderate-to-vigorous activity/lower sedentary profile. These findings are exploratory and warrant confirmation in longitudinal studies using objective measures.
Background/Objectives: Obesity is a complex systemic condition driven by interactions between biological mechanisms and environmental factors. This retrospective, uncontrolled, completer study aimed to evaluate changes in body composition and long-term weight maintenance, as well as the impact of comorbidities, in adult patients undergoing personalised dietary and behavioural interventions. Methods: A retrospective analysis of outpatient medical records (2018–2024) was conducted. Of the 1416 patients analysed, 267 overweight or obese adults completed the active treatment phase and a one-year post-intervention follow-up period. The primary endpoints were absolute changes in body weight, BMI, and body fat mass (BFM), as measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), as well as the maintenance of ≥10% weight loss after one year. The intervention consisted of a personalised diet based on a food-exchange system, combined with psychodietetic support. Results: Participants achieved a mean weight loss of 10.45 ± 7.56 kg, which was associated with significant decreases in BMI and BFM. The average loss of fat-free mass and skeletal muscle mass was 1.72 ± 2.20 kg and 1.11 ± 1.36 kg, respectively. Weight maintenance, defined as maintaining a weight loss of at least 10% of baseline body weight after a one-year follow-up period, was achieved by 23.2% of participants who completed the study. Conclusions: Participants experienced significant reductions in body weight and body fat while preserving lean body mass to a moderate extent. However, long-term maintenance of weight loss was achieved by less than a quarter of participants after one year, highlighting the ongoing challenge of weight regain.
Background/Objectives: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects approximately 60 × 104 incident cases, 283.3 × 105 prevalent cases, and 43.1 × 105 DALYs globally and is frequently accompanied by irritability, hyperactivity, and social withdrawal linked to low-grade neuroinflammation. Omega-3 supplementation is among the most common complementary approaches used by families, but clinical evidence remains inconsistent, and prior meta-analyses have relied on a single outcome instrument. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of omega-3 supplementation on ASD-associated behavioral symptoms by harmonizing outcomes across multiple validated instruments. Methods: Twelve randomized controlled trials (number of studies per domain: k = 6–12) were identified through a systematic search of ten databases (CRD420261390092). Outcomes from eight instruments (ABC, CGI-I, BASC-2, SRS/SRS-2, GARS-2, CARS/SDQ, VABS/PLS-4/PDDBI, and CBCL) were mapped onto five behavioral domains: Irritability, Lethargy/Social Withdrawal, Stereotypy, Hyperactivity, and Inappropriate Speech/Communication. Random-effects models (REML, Knapp-Hartung adjustment) pooled Hedges’ g for each domain, with fixed-effects, subgroup, and PET-PEESE publication-bias sensitivity analyses. Results: Significant pooled effects favoring omega-3 supplementation were observed for Irritability (g = −0.287, 95% CI [−0.562, −0.013], p = 0.043) and Inappropriate Speech/Communication (g = −0.213, 95% CI [−0.363, −0.063], p = 0.010). Lethargy/Social Withdrawal, Stereotypy, and Hyperactivity showed trivial-to-small, non-significant effects. Heterogeneity was negligible (I2 ≤ 0.83%) in four domains; Hyperactivity showed moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 37.86%). Sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness, and no evidence of publication bias was detected. Conclusions: Expanding synthesis beyond a single outcome instrument revealed statistically significant, though clinically modest, benefits of omega-3 supplementation on irritability and communication symptoms in ASD, effects undetectable in prior smaller, single-instrument analyses. These findings support its consideration as a low-risk adjunctive option, while larger, adequately powered trials remain needed to confirm clinical relevance.
Background/Objectives: Postbiotics derived from beneficial bacteria have emerged as promising bioactive ingredients owing to their enhanced stability, safety, and functional versatility relative to live microorganisms. Methods: The present study was structured in two complementary stages: (i) biological characterization of liquid microfiltrates obtained from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Bacillus mojavensis fermented in aguamiel, and (ii) technological stabilization of these postbiotics through microencapsulation by spray drying, with a view to their potential incorporation into food matrices. Results&Conclusions: In the first stage, biological activity was assessed in vitro using MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and in vivo in C57BL/6J mice, in order to evaluate safety and gastrointestinal effects. Both postbiotics significantly reduced cell viability relative to controls, consistent with antiproliferative activity. In vivo, no macroscopic intestinal damage was observed, supporting their safety profile. Histomorphometric analysis revealed preserved intestinal architecture, with elongation of villi and crypts and increased mucin 2 production, indicating strengthened mucosal barrier integrity; these effects were more pronounced in the Bacillus mojavensis-treated group. In the second stage, the spray-dried powders exhibited adequate physicochemical stability, supporting their potential application as functional food ingredients. The spray-dried powders exhibited adequate physicochemical stability, supporting their potential application as functional food ingredients.
Background/Objectives: Abdominal obesity is a major risk factor for metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Laver (Porphyra spp.), a seaweed commonly consumed in Korea, contains dietary fiber and bioactive compounds that may help reduce abdominal fat accumulation. This study aimed to investigate the association between laver intake and the incidence of abdominal obesity in Korean adults. Methods: Data from 5457 adults aged 40–69 years who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were analyzed. Laver intake was assessed at baseline using a validated 103-item food frequency questionnaire. Abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference of ≥90 cm in men and ≥85 cm in women. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: During 18 years of follow-up, 1202 men (39.4%) and 1117 women (46.4%) developed abdominal obesity. A higher laver intake was significantly associated with a lower risk of abdominal obesity in both sexes. Compared with participants in the lowest category of laver intake, those in the highest category had a 28% lower risk among men (HR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.58–0.89; p for trend = 0.0099) and a 33% lower risk among women (HR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.54–0.84; p for trend = 0.0005). These associations remained significant after additional adjustment for overall diet quality. Conclusions: Higher habitual laver intake was associated with a lower risk of incident abdominal obesity in Korean adults. Further prospective and intervention studies are needed to confirm these findings.
