Nutrients

Background: Adolescence represents a critical period for growth and athletic development, yet young athletes frequently demonstrate significant gaps in nutritional knowledge that can impair performance and long-term health outcomes. Limited research exists on comprehensive nutrition education interventions for adolescent soccer players in North African populations. Objective: To evaluate both general and sports-specific nutritional knowledge among adolescent soccer players from an elite Tunisian club and assess the feasibility of a digital nutrition intervention using mobile application technology. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between June and August 2024 among 50 male soccer players aged 11–18 years from Étoile du Sahel club in Sousse, Tunisia. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire comprising sections on basic nutrition knowledge, influences on food choices, sports nutrition knowledge and practices, and demographic information. A pilot digital intervention using the FatSecret app was implemented with 8 participants over 4 weeks, involving meal photo uploads and nutritionist feedback. Results: Participants had a mean age of 15.16 ± 1.55 years, with 92% reporting no formal nutrition education. While 90% correctly identified carbohydrates as the primary energy source, only 2% recognized that fat provides the highest energy density. Significant misconceptions existed regarding sports nutrition: 74% incorrectly believed that consuming protein 2–4 h before an event enhances performance, and only 17% knew the recommended pre-event carbohydrate intake. Food choices were primarily influenced by cravings (80%) and sensory appeal rather than health considerations (20%). The digital intervention demonstrated extremely low engagement, with minimal participation in meal photo uploads. Conclusions: This study reveals critical gaps in both general and sports-specific nutritional knowledge among adolescent soccer players in Tunisia, providing important descriptive information about knowledge distribution in this population. While knowledge deficits are substantial, it is important to acknowledge that this cross-sectional assessment documents only knowledge patterns, without measures of actual dietary intake or athletic performance. The persistent misconceptions and the low feasibility of the digital intervention provide important lessons regarding technology-based approaches to nutrition education in this age group, highlighting challenges in sustained engagement that must be addressed in future intervention design.

Introduction: The dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) are dietary indicators of how carbohydrate-containing foods affect blood glucose. While the Mediterranean diet’s glycemic impact has been explored, data specific to the Greek population remain limited. This study aims to assess the dietary GI and GL in the HYDRIA survey of a representative sample of Greek adults. Methods: HYDRIA was conducted from June 2013 to December 2014 and collected nationally representative data, including detailed dietary information. GI and GL were analyzed by age, sex, BMI, education, employment, smoking status, and Mediterranean diet adherence. Multivariate analysis was used to identify independent predictors of GI and GL. Results: The analysis included 3951 adults (52% females; median age: 49 years). The average GI was 59.7 (95% CI: 59.4–60.0) and the mean GL 101.7 (95% CI: 99.4–104.0). Males had significantly (p ≤ 0.001) higher mean GI and GL (61.2, 95% CI: 57.4–64.7 and 112.9, 95% CI: 82.1–151.1, respectively) than females (59.2, 95% CI: 55.6–62.8 and 81.9, 95% CI: 62.2–107.8, respectively). Older age (≥55 years) and higher education were associated with lower GI and GL in both sexes. Current smoking was associated with higher GI and GL, particularly in males. Among males, medium and high adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with lower GI and GL. This relationship was not observed in females. Discussion: These findings emphasize the role of demographics and lifestyle factors in determining differences in dietary GI and GL of the Greek population. The Mediterranean diet appeared to mitigate the dietary GI and GL mainly in males, suggesting effects that merit further investigation.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent and heterogeneous functional gastrointestinal disorder with a complex and multifactorial pathophysiology. Traditional treatment approaches have focused on symptom relief, often overlooking the underlying biological mechanisms driving the disease. Τhis review summarizes the current evidence linking core pathophysiological pathways of IBS with mechanism- and diet- based therapeutic strategies to guide personalized treatment. Serotonergic signaling, microbial dysbiosis, immune activation, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and bile acid malabsorption interact to shape the diverse phenotypes of IBS, contributing to altered motility, visceral hypersensitivity, and gut-brain axis dysregulation. Increasing evidence supports that targeted dietary and biological interventions including low-FODMAP and Mediterranean low-FODMAP diets, targeted use of probiotics and psychobiotics, and vitamin D supplementation can modulate microbial composition, reduce luminal irritants, support barrier integrity, and attenuate immune system activation. Similarly, pharmacologic therapies including serotonergic receptor modulators, bile acid sequestrants and neuroimmune agents act on specific mechanistic pathways, reflecting a shift from symptom-based to mechanism-driven management. Collectively, these findings highlight that integrating dietary, microbial, neuroimmune, and serotonergic modulation within a unified therapeutic framework can support a more rational and individualized approach to IBS management and long term symptom control.