Background Accurate assessment of dietary protein intake is essential in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, biochemical approaches such as 24-hour urinary urea nitrogen (UUN) collection are impractical in routine care. Digital dietary assessment tools may provide a feasible alternative, but validation in CKD populations remains limited. Objective To evaluate the validity of the Nutrirodcal digital dietary assessment application in estimating dietary protein intake compared with normalized protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance (nPNA) derived from 24-hour UUN in patients with predialysis CKD. Methods In this prospective validation study, adult patients with CKD stages 3–5 recorded dietary intake using the Nutrirodcal application. Protein intake estimated by the application (DPI) was compared with nPNA at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Agreement was assessed using two-way mixed-effects intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for absolute agreement and Bland–Altman analysis. Pearson correlation coefficients were also calculated. Results Twenty-six participants were enrolled. Of these, 21 participants completed the 12-week follow-up and had complete paired Nutrirodcal and nPNA measurements at weeks 4, 8, and 12 (mean age 60 ± 9.9 years; 57% male). Moderate agreement between DPI and nPNA was observed (ICC range 0.413–0.510). Pearson correlations were significant at week 4 (r = 0.485, P = 0.026) and week 8 (r = 0.510, P = 0.018), with a non-significant trend at week 12 (r = 0.414, P = 0.062). Bland–Altman analysis showed small mean bias but wide limits of agreement, particularly at week 12. Conclusion In this small, selected pilot cohort, Nutrirodcal showed small average bias but limited individual-level agreement with nPNA derived from 24-hour UUN. These findings provide preliminary methodological evidence and do not support replacing biochemical or dietitian-led assessment. Nutrirodcal may be considered an adjunct for protein-intake self-monitoring, while comprehensive CKD nutritional care should continue to address energy, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, fluid, and overall nutritional status.
Background & Aims Obesity is a major global health problem associated with multiple metabolic disorders, and dietary fat quality has emerged as an important modulator of obesity-related complications. This study investigated the hypolipidemic potential and hepatic enzyme-modulating effects of black cumin oil (BCO), linseed oil (LO), and putty fish oil (PFO) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese Wistar rats. Methods A total of 48 male Wistar rats (4–5 weeks old; 80–85 g) were randomly assigned to a control diet group (n=8) or an experimental group (n=40) fed an HFD supplemented with ghee, dalda, palm oil, and mutton fat (n=10 each) for obesity induction. After eight weeks, a subset of rats from each group was sacrificed for baseline assessment of anthropometric, biochemical, and analytical parameters. The remaining obese rats (n=20) were assigned to five intervention groups: continuing high-fat diet (CHF, n=4); BCO, n=4; LO, n=4; PFO-15%, n=4; and PFO-20%, n=4; and continuing control diet groups (n=4 each), and fed for an additional eight weeks. Results Following the intervention, BCO, LO, PFO (15%), and PFO (20%) significantly reduced body weight (P<0.05) compared with CHF. A non-significant reduction in the weights of the liver, heart, kidney, abdominal adipose tissue (AAT), and interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) was observed, while a significant reduction (P<0.05) in spleen weight, epididymal adipose tissue (EAT), and liver fat occurred following BCO and PFO (15%) supplementation. In contrast, LO and PFO (20%) produced non-significant reductions in organ and adipose tissue weights but significantly reduced liver fat (P<0.05) relative to CHF. Furthermore, all experimental oils significantly lowered serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TAG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Hepatic enzyme activities (ALT, AST, and ALP) were also significantly reduced following oil supplementation. Conclusions These findings suggest that edible oils, particularly BCO, LO, and PFO, may improve lipid metabolism and hepatic enzyme profiles in high-fat diet-induced obese rats. Further mechanistic investigations and human clinical trials are warranted to determine their potential role in obesity management.
Background Malnutrition is a global public health concern. While Africa and Ethiopia face significant nutritional challenges, the Tigray region faces a disproportionately high burden of child under nutrition, with a recent 2024 Global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates of 44.3%. This crisis is severely exacerbated by recent conflict, mass displacement, and the collapse of health infrastructure. Consequently, the rate of acute malnutrition in Tigray following the recent armed conflict is substantially higher than prior to the armed conflict. However, while a few studies highlight the prevalence of acute malnutrition in Tigray following the conflict, no study has yet been conducted to identify the determinant factors of acute malnutrition in the study area. Objective To identify the determinants of acute malnutrition among children aged 6 to 59 month s in public hospitals of the Eastern zone Tigray, Ethiopia,2025. Methodology An institutional-based unmatched case control study was carried out among 402 study participants with a 1:2 case to control ratio (134 cases and 268 controls)in public hospitals of the Eastern zone Tigray from March 1 to June 30, 2025. A systematic sampling method was used, and Data were collected via Kobo Toolbox and exported to Microsoft Excel for data cleaning, then imported into SPSS version 25 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression identified determinants using Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) at p-value< 0.05. To assess the model fitness, Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was applied. Result A 100% response rate was achieved. Female child (AOR=3.2, 95% CI:1.792–5.641), poor dietary diversity (AOR= 5.64, 95% CI:3.004–10.576), household food insecurity (AOR= 3.32, 95% CI: 1.772–6.213),acute respiratory tract infection (AOR= 2.24, 95% CI:1.222–4.094), incomplete vaccination (AOR=3.14, 95% CI: 1.132–8.692), and lack of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) counseling (AOR=2.64, 95% CI:1.152–6.049) were the determinants of acute malnutrition. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test indicated good model fit (P-value=.691). Conclusion This study identified that being female, poor dietary diversity, household food insecurity, acute respiratory infection, incomplete vaccination, and lack of IYCF counseling are the determinant factors for acute malnutrition. Targeted interventions are urgently needed to improving household food security, promoting dietary diversity, optimizing routine immunization and healthcare services, and expanding community-based IYCF counseling for mothers.
