Dietetics, Volume 5, Issue 1 (March 2026) – 9 articles

Background: Hyperuricemia is a well-known problem in end-stage kidney disease. Currently, the end-stage kidney disease patients may be treated with comprehensive conservative management, hemodialysis, or peritoneal dialysis, which impact uric acid levels distinctly. We assessed the impact of these strategies on uric acid control and identified the factors that influence it. Methods: We conducted a preliminary case–control study comparing patients in comprehensive conservative management, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. For each patient, we evaluated demographic characteristics, comorbidities, body mass index, protein intake, urine output and blood test results. Results: In the entire population, uric acid levels were slightly higher in the comprehensive conservative management group. Furthermore, uric acid control was influenced primarily by body mass index (β = −0.005, p = 0.03) and treatment modality (β = −0.0026, p = 0.05). In comprehensive conservative management, body mass index (β = −0.007, p = 0.02) and urine urea excretion (β = 0.014, p = 0.04) were independent predictors of uric acid level. Conversely, only the suggested protein intake (β = 0.16, p = 0.05), potassium levels (β = −0.046, p = 0.04) and allopurinol therapy (β = −0.073, p = 0.03) were independent predictors of uric acid in hemodialysis patients. Finally, only the recommended protein intake (B = −0.005, p = 0.03) was associated with uric acid levels in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Conclusions: In our series, uric acid control correlates with the treatment modality used for end-stage kidney disease and dietary protein intake. Full article

Negative body image is a widespread phenomenon among women in Western cultures. Appearance-related social media trends such as “thinspiration” and “fitspiration” have been found to be related to poor body image, and recent research suggests that food-related social media may also impact women’s body dissatisfaction, though this literature is in its infancy. The current study examined the impact of diet- and food-related social media among undergraduate women. Participants (N = 256) were randomized to view either “What I Eat in a Day” (WIEIAD) or interior design TikTok videos, with or without a depiction of a “thin-ideal” body. They completed measures of body image before and immediately after viewing the video, and a measure of dieting intentions after viewing. Results indicated a worsened body image among those who watched WIEIAD videos depicting thin-ideal bodies, which was significantly greater than the change reported by those who viewed either interior design videos (with or without thin-ideal bodies depicted). This finding suggests a possible detrimental effect of WIEIAD videos on body image; however, they did not appear to affect dieting intentions, as no significant group differences were found in this outcome between WIEIAD and interior design video groups. Considering WIEIAD videos are common across social media platforms, it is important for young women to be aware of the potential adverse impact of the social media they are exposed to. Full article

Background: Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are essential micronutrients integral to metabolic processes and cardiovascular health. Emerging evidence suggests that the dietary Ca:Mg ratio may influence chronic disease risk, yet variability in this ratio across diverse demographic groups and its relationship to body composition and vitamin D status remain unclear. Methods: Dietary intakes of Ca and Mg were assessed using validated Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs) and body composition was quantified via Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Relationships between dietary Ca:Mg ratios and demographics, body composition parameters (lean and fat mass), and vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were examined statistically using SPSS ver. 29.0 and R ver. 4.5.1 (2025) employing Kruskal–Wallis, regression, and moderated mediation analyses. Results: We examined 155 healthy adults with a mean age of 36.6 ± 12.5 years. Only 16.8% had adequate intakes of Mg compared with 45.8% who had adequate dietary Ca intakes. Significant differences in the Ca:Mg ratio were observed across racial groups (p = 0.023) and age groups (p = 0.017). South Asian Indians exhibited the highest median Ca:Mg ratio (4.83), whereas African Americans exhibited the lowest (2.67). Interestingly, our moderated mediation analysis indicated that African Americans were the most sensitive to the impact of PTH changes on the balance of Ca:Mg (indirect effect = −0.762, 95% CI [−1.298, −0.234]), indicating that even slight shifts in their Ca:Mg balances cause significant elevation in the PTH, which, in turn, leads to lowering of their vitamin D levels. Young adults (ages 18–29) had the highest median Ca:Mg ratio (4.73). No statistically significant differences were detected based on Gender (p = 0.425 and BMI (p = 0.744) on Ca:Mg ratios. Additionally, dietary Ca:Mg ratios were positively associated with sPTH in males (r = 0.203, p < 0.05), but not with body composition. Conclusion: Important variations in dietary Ca:Mg ratios exist across racial and age demographics, notably among young adults, and specific ethnic groups exhibited elevated ratios. Tailored nutritional interventions may be necessary for these populations to optimize Ca:Mg balance and support metabolic and cardiovascular health outcomes in these populations. Full article

Worsening nutritional status in patients with pancreatic cancer may be associated with poorer tolerance to chemotherapy and increased complications. This retrospective cohort pilot study, conducted between October 2023 and March 2024, aimed to evaluate the association between nutritional status, weight loss, and clinical outcomes that included hospitalization, neutropenia, chemotherapy delay, and worsening laboratory changes. Patients were categorized into two groups: those with weight loss >5% of usual body weight and those with ≤5%. Of the 21 participants, 8 were male and 13 were female. Weight loss >5% was significantly associated with more patients requiring hospitalizations compared to weight loss ≤5% [6 (75%) vs. 3 (23.1%), p = 0.02], while no statistically significant differences were observed for other clinical outcomes. Risk factors associated with greater weight loss included age >72 years (crude odds ratio [COR] 9.17; 95% CI 1.15–73.24; p = 0.037), treatment with a paclitaxel plus gemcitabine regimen (COR 12.00; 95% CI 1.02–141.34; p = 0.048), and a history of hospitalization (COR 10.00; 95% CI 1.28–78.12; p = 0.028). Weight loss in pancreatic cancer is linked to poorer clinical outcomes, with older age, certain chemotherapy regimens, and hospitalization identified as risk factors. Early dietary counseling by registered dietitians may help mitigate this risk. Full article

The present work aimed to assess associations between food insecurity, WIC participation, diversity of dietary exposures, and diet quality in infancy. A secondary analysis was conducted of the WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2 (WIC ITFPS-2), a national longitudinal study of WIC participation, feeding practices, and children’s health outcomes. Food security at 13 and 24 months, WIC participation at 13 and 24 months, diversity of dietary exposures between 5 and 13 months, and diet quality at 24 months were assessed in 1246 participants who had complete data on all variables of interest. Multivariable linear regression using weighted cases was used. Among families participating in WIC at 13 months, infants in families with low or very low food security had a greater diversity of dietary exposures (mean ± SE: 8.9 ± 0.3) compared to families with high or marginal food security (8.6 ± 0.2); the magnitude of this effect was small but significant (p = 0.03). In both food-insecure and -secure families, greater diversity of dietary exposures (b = 0.30, 95% CI 0.15, 0.44) and WIC participation at 24 months (b = 2.35, 95% CI 1.29, 3.40) were associated with higher diet quality at 24 months. Greater diversity of dietary exposures and participation in WIC may support improved diet quality during the first 2 years. Full article

Background: Identifying factors associated with cognitive impairment among older adults is critical. This study investigates both concurrent and longitudinal associations between sleep quality, sleep duration, and cognitive performance among older adults in China, with particular emphasis on the moderating role of fruit and/or vegetable intake (FVI), a factor rarely examined in previous research. Methods: We pooled five waves of a specially designed nationwide sample of adults aged 65 years or older (N = 64,690; mean age: 86.3 years; men: 43.5%) in 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2018 in China. Cognitive impairment was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination. Among the sample, 10.7% were cognitively impaired. FVI was dichotomized into frequent (almost daily) versus infrequent (other low frequencies). Sleep hours were grouped into short (≤6 h), normal (7–9 h), and long (≥10 h) durations. Both concurrent and cross-lagged analyses were performed after adjusting for a wide set of covariates (demographics, socioeconomic status, family/social connections, health practices, disability, self-rated health, and chronic conditions). Analyses were further stratified by gender, age group, and urban–rural residence. Results: When all covariates were present (the full model), good sleep quality was associated with 22% lower odds of the prevalence of cognitive impairment, whereas the long sleep duration was associated with 24% higher odds as compared with the normal sleep duration. Although the short sleep duration was not associated with the prevalence of cognitive impairment in the full model, it was associated with 8% higher odds of cognitive impairment when health condition was not controlled for. Interaction analyses revealed that frequent FVI buffered the adverse cognitive effects of poor sleep quality and both short and long sleep durations. Subgroup analyses further show similar patterns across subpopulations, with more pronounced protective associations in older women and the oldest-old. Conclusions: Good sleep quality, normal sleep durations, and frequent FVI jointly contribute to better cognitive functioning at older ages. While the observed relationships are largely concurrent rather than causal, promoting both healthy sleep and dietary habits may be important for cognitive health among older adults. Full article

Plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.) is a tropical monocotyledonous, succulent plant of the Musaceae family commonly grown for food in the tropical regions of the African, Asian, and South American continents, where its parts are also sought for ethnomedicinal purposes in the treatment of burns, inflammation, and diabetes, among others. In the present preliminary exploratory study, the ethanol extract of the underutilized Musa paradisiaca peel (MPE) was evaluated for its in vitro inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase, as well as its in vivo hypoglycemic activity and potential biochemical toxicity. MPE (100, 200, 400 mg/kg) was orally administered to normal experimental rats for 30 days, following which the lipid profile, antioxidant status, and serum/tissue indices of hepatic, renal, and cardiac functions were evaluated. MPE produced significant inhibition (p < 0.05) of α-amylase (37%) and α-glucosidase (46%) at 120 µg/mL in vitro. The effect was lower than that of acarbose (IC₅₀ = 44.4 ± 1.14 and 15.60 ± 0.01 µg/mL, respectively). A modest blood glucose-lowering effect of MPE was observed at the highest tested dose (400 mg/kg) following subacute oral administration. During this treatment period, no biochemical alterations of toxicological importance were caused by MPE, as the organ–body weight ratio and serum/tissue indicators of organ function/damage were not adversely altered. In conclusion, MPE demonstrated inhibitory activity against both α-amylase and α-glucosidase, which may contribute to its potential hypoglycemic effects. Additionally, the findings indicate that the peel extract is non-toxic in rats following sub-acute administration at doses up to 400 mg/kg body weight. Further studies involving diabetic models and chronic exposure will substantiate and extend these preliminary observations. Full article

The national obesity prevalence for children between 2 and 5 years old was 12.7% from 2017 to 2020. These prevalence rates are concerning because as obesity in youth increases, so do long-term health and psychosocial risks. Preschool children can spend up to 50% of their day in childcare with their educators, consuming meals and snacks together. Therefore, the role modeling of healthy eating behaviors by these educators may have an impact on children’s eating behaviors and future weight status. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between Head Start educators’ self-reported dietary intake patterns and BMI. Variables included BMI and 8 items from the Starting the Conversation brief dietary assessment screener. Data were collected at educators’ respective Head Start centers in the spring of 2019. Pearson correlations were calculated to examine the relationship between educators’ self-reported dietary intake patterns and BMI. Of 66 teachers and teacher assistants who completed all items and BMI assessment, significant relationships were found between consumption of snack chips or crackers and fast food (r = 0.33, p = 0.007 and r = 0.27, p = 0.031, respectively). This study’s findings call attention to the importance of supporting healthier diets among early childhood educators. Full article

Mothers’ behavior strongly influences children’s eating habits, with family attitudes and feeding practices playing a key role in dietary development. In accordance with the previous literature, this study examined these aspects, including also mothers’ use of social media to stay informed about nutrition as an innovative element. The main goal was to validate the Italian version of the PSEPAD scale (Parental Self-Efficacy for Promoting Healthy Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviors in Children), which is a valid and reliable tool for assessing parental self-efficacy in encouraging healthy lifestyles in children, through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The sample was composed of 217 mothers. Results were interpreted through groups comparisons (chi-square, ANOVA, and t-test). The findings confirmed the central role of mothers in managing children’s diets and using strategies against picky eating behaviors. The study also highlighted the growing use of social media among mothers, especially younger ones, as a source of nutritional information, meal planning, and peer support, despite a generally low level of satisfaction with the content available on pediatric nutrition. Finally, the results showed a positive link between maternal self-efficacy and healthier child behaviors: mothers with higher self-esteem and confidence were more effective in promoting healthy habits. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions to strengthen maternal self-efficacy and the development of digital tools to support healthy family lifestyles. Full article