Despite growing interest in urban food systems, evidence on the implementation of urban food policies remains scarce, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to analyze changes observed in municipal food and nutrition security actions during the first year of implementation of the Alimenta Cidades Strategy, identifying the main advances achieved and the remaining implementation gaps among participating municipalities. A longitudinal descriptive study was conducted using data from the official monitoring process of the Alimenta Cidades Strategy. The analysis included all 60 municipalities participating in the first implementation cycle (2024–2026). Data were collected through structured interviews with municipal focal points at baseline (2024–2025) and after 12 months of implementation (2025–2026). Relative frequencies were calculated for each indicator at both time points, and changes over time were estimated as absolute differences in percentage points (pp). The largest increases were found in public food supply and commercialization facilities (+ 38.3 pp), partnerships between food assistance services and the social assistance network (+ 31.7 pp), active Municipal Food and Nutrition Security Councils (+ 23.3 pp), active Intersectoral Chambers for Food and Nutrition Security (+ 23.3 pp), family farming procurement centers (+ 21.7 pp), food insecurity monitoring within social assistance services (+ 21.7 pp), and solidarity kitchens (+ 20.0 pp). Positive changes were also observed in community and institutional gardens, food and nutrition education actions, urban agriculture initiatives, and climate-related planning. Despite these advances, several indicators remained implemented in fewer than half of municipalities after 12 months, including subsidized food retail initiatives (11.7
Adolescence is a critical stage for the development of dietary habits that influence long-term health outcomes. Health literacy and nutrition literacy have been identified as important factors associated with healthy lifestyle choices; however, evidence on their relationship with adolescent eating behaviour remains limited in Ghana. This study examined the associations between health literacy, nutrition literacy, parental socio-economic characteristics, and eating behaviour among adolescents in the Ho Municipality. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 494 adolescents from three senior high schools in the Ho Municipality, Ghana. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing health literacy, nutrition literacy, eating behaviour, and parental socio-economic characteristics. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to analyse the data. Nutrition literacy was positively associated with eating behaviour (r = 0.39, p < .001). In the regression analysis, nutrition literacy remained significantly associated with eating behaviour (β = .42, p < .001), whereas health literacy was not significantly associated with eating behaviour (β = .05, p = .34). Parental income and educational attainment were also not significantly associated with eating behaviour (p > .05). Nutrition literacy was significantly associated with eating behaviour among adolescents in the Ho Municipality, whereas health literacy and parental socio-economic characteristics were not. These findings highlight the potential importance of nutrition-specific knowledge and skills in supporting healthy dietary choices among adolescents. Interventions that strengthen nutrition literacy may contribute to healthier eating practices and support efforts to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases.
Evidence on the relationship between habitual dietary patterns and diabetes-related foot ulceration (DFU) remains limited. We examined associations between empirically derived dietary patterns and DFU among adults with type 2 diabetes. In this hospital-based case–control study, 115 patients with a first-ever DFU and 115 controls without current or previous DFU were recruited in Tehran, Iran. Dietary intake was assessed using a 147-item food-frequency questionnaire administered at enrollment. Cases retrospectively reported intake during the 12 months preceding DFU diagnosis, whereas controls reported intake during the 12 months preceding interview. Principal component analysis of 26 food groups was used to identify dietary patterns, and multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95
Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) has been linked to the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), however there is still not much proof in children. The current research on UPF consumption and IBD-related outcomes in paediatric population was collected in this review. This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO and complied with PRISMA 2020 requirements. We searched article in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Google scholar from the beginning to 31/07/2026. The tool Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used by two reviewers to independently screen documents, extract data, and evaluate risk of bias. The results were narratively summarised in accordance with Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines due to the variability in exposure and outcome measurements. Three investigations (n = 114 paediatric patients with IBD) from a total of 512 records met the inclusion criteria. A cross-sectional investigation involving paediatric ulcerative colitis (n = 47) indicated that increased consumption of UPF correlated with diminished probabilities of clinical remission and mucosal healing. A case–control investigation indicated that children with IBD had a greater consumption of UPF compared to healthy controls; however, this disparity showed no significance after oral nutritional supplements (categorised as UPF) were omitted, and UPF intake showed no correlation with disease activity. A preliminary cohort study (n = 20) revealed no notable disparity in UPF consumption based on household food security. The potential for bias was moderate across all three investigations (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale scores ranging from 4 to 6 out of 9), primarily due to insufficient control of confounding variables. The evidence is limited (three diverse studies with moderate bias risk), thus no definitive conclusions can be made on the link between UPF intake and paediatric IBD; the conclusions drawn are only suggestive. Before UPF-restriction recommendations can be made, larger multicenter prospective trails are required.
Menopause is frequently associated with cognitive complaints, including difficulties with memory, concentration, and executive functioning. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), caffeine, and B vitamins have been individually associated with mechanisms that may support cognitive health. This study evaluated the effects of a multi-component dietary supplement containing these ingredients on cognitive function in healthy postmenopausal women. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, healthy postmenopausal women were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a multicomponent dietary supplement containing PQQ, GABA, caffeine, vitamins, and minerals or matching placebo for 6 weeks. Cognitive performance was assessed at baseline and study completion using the CNS Vital Signs computerized neurocognitive battery. The primary endpoint was the Neurocognition Index (NCI). Secondary endpoints included multiple cognitive domains, including Memory, Visual Memory, Cognitive Flexibility, and Executive Functioning. Analyses were performed using ANCOVA adjusted for baseline scores. Sixty-three participants completed the study and were included in the efficacy analysis (30 active treatment, 33 placebo). Compared with placebo, the dietary supplement was associated with a significant improvement in the primary endpoint, Neurocognition Index (adjusted mean difference + 5.89 points; 95
