Nutrients

Background/Objectives: Plant-based diets are widely recommended for lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes, with the caveat that their health benefits depend on the quality of the foods consumed. This analysis examined associations between five dietary patterns and pre-existing diabetes among patients with acute pancreatitis (AP), a population in which the relationship between diet and diabetes has not been well characterized. Methods: Participants were drawn from the Diabetes RElated to Acute Pancreatitis and its Mechanisms (DREAM) study, an ongoing multicenter study of adults aged 18 to 75 years with AP in the U.S. This cross-sectional analysis evaluated five dietary patterns using food frequency questionnaires (FFQ): the reverse Empirical Dietary Index for Hyperinsulinemia (rEDIH), the reverse Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (rEDIP), the overall plant-based diet index (PDI), the healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI), and the unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI). We used multivariable logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for pre-existing diabetes (i.e., prior to the AP episode). Results: A total of 647 participants (mean age 49.1 ± 14.5 years) were included. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, participants in the highest versus lowest tertile of PDI had 55% lower odds of pre-existing diabetes (adjusted OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.25–0.80; p-trend = 0.005). No statistically significant associations were detected for rEDIP, rEDIH, hPDI, or uPDI. Conclusions: Higher overall PDI scores were associated with lower odds of prevalent diabetes. Among patients with AP, further studies are needed to evaluate dietary contributions to future diabetes development following AP and identify potential dietary strategies for diabetes prevention.

Background/Objectives: Commercially produced infant and toddler foods (CITFs) often contain high levels of added sugars, which can contribute to tooth decay, a preference for sweet foods, and long-term health risks. Warning labels (WLs) signposting added sugar may help parents to evaluate CITFs and choose healthier options for their children. This study examined the effects of added sugar WLs on parents’ selection and perception of CITFs. Methods: In a between-subjects field experiment, 533 Australian parents were allocated to either an infant or toddler food arm based on their youngest child’s age, then randomly assigned to a control (no WL) or intervention (WL) condition. Participants viewed three sets of four CITFs (two with added sugars and two without) and selected the product they would be most likely to purchase for their child. Outcomes included product choices, purchase intentions, perceived added and total sugar content, and perceived healthiness. Results: Parents exposed to WLs were significantly less likely to choose CITFs with added sugar than those in the control condition (27% vs. 43%, p < 0.001). WLs also reduced purchase intentions (M = 2.83 vs. M = 3.28, p = 0.011) and perceived healthiness (M = 2.90 vs. 3.29; p = 0.001) of CITFs with added sugar, increased accurate identification of CITFs containing added sugar (89% vs. 61%; p < 0.001) and increased perceived total sugar content (M = 4.88 vs. M = 4.30, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this experimental study, added sugar WLs improved parents’ understanding of added sugar content and reduced selection of, and purchase intentions for, CITFs with added sugar, suggesting they may be an effective strategy to support healthier food choices for young children.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) encompasses a spectrum of disease pathologies that include dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, obesity, and inflammation. The rising prevalence of MetS and the associated morbidity and mortality represent a growing burden on global healthcare. MetS’s hallmarks are readily quantified and can be used to assess development and progression of the syndrome. Nutraceuticals, bioactive compounds derived from natural sources such as plants, fruits, cultures and grains, have a potential role in protection against cardiometabolic diseases. Relevant actions of nutraceuticals include their antioxidant, probiotic, anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitising, lipid-modifying, anti-adiposity, and endothelial protective functions. This review explores the evidence for common nutrient deficiencies in metabolic syndrome alongside their role in preventing and modifying the complex elements that characterise this prevalent disease cluster.