Search Results (797)

Omega-3 fatty acids transferred from breeder hens to their developing offspring via the egg may affect the offspring’s emotional reactivity and fearfulness. In one experiment, broiler (meat) parent flocks were fed flaxseed or control diets during rearing, laying, or both. In a second experiment, ISA Brown and Shaver White layer (egg) parent flocks were fed flaxseed or control diets throughout rearing and laying. Male and female broiler offspring and female layer offspring underwent a five-minute social isolation test at 4–6 days of age. Vocalisations, escape attempts, and freezing (immobility) durations were recorded. In the broiler experiment, maternal laying diet and sex interacted to affect vocalisation frequency (χ² = 5.57, p = 0.02). Male broiler chicks from the flaxseed maternal laying diet vocalised most frequently (p < 0.04). An interaction between the rearing diet, laying diet, and sex affected escape attempts in broiler offspring (χ² = 6.03, p = 0.01). Control-control males made the fewest escape attempts. In the layer experiment, no maternal diet effects were observed in any offspring, but Brown chicks vocalised substantially more than White chicks (χ² = 4.56, p = 0.03), and White chicks spent more time frozen (χ² = 5.86, p = 0.02). We found sex-specific effects of maternal flaxseed diets on measures of anxiety and fear of broiler chickens in social isolation. Genetic strain-dependent effects in layer chickens suggest differing behavioural responses to isolation. Full article

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a multifactorial complication of diabetes mellitus driven by chronic hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and disturbed metabolic homeostasis, leading to progressive injury of both the peripheral and central nervous systems. This study investigated whether L-serine supplementation could attenuate DN through dose-dependent metabolic and neuroprotective mechanisms in a high-fat diet (HFD) plus streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model. Male Wistar rats (n = 8 per group) were allocated to five groups: normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), pioglitazone (PIO; 1.5 mg/kg/day), low-dose L-serine (S1; 200 mg/kg/day), and high-dose L-serine (S2; 400 mg/kg/day). After 60 days of oral gavage, behavioural testing, glucose and insulin profiling, HOMA-IR calculation, brain histopathology, nerve growth factor (NGF) immunohistochemistry, and LC–MS/MS-based proteomic analysis of cerebral tissue were performed. Diabetic rats exhibited marked hyperglycaemia (355.33 ± 4.72 mg/dL), hyperinsulinaemia, severe insulin resistance (HOMA-IR 16.8 ± 3.2; a 14-fold increase), impaired thermal nociception, motor dysfunction, and pronounced neuronal degeneration. L-serine supplementation significantly improved metabolic status: S1 reduced HOMA-IR by 77.4% and S2 by 87.5% relative to diabetic controls (p < 0.001). High-dose L-serine produced greater improvements in thermal sensitivity, motor coordination (rotarod latency 26.67 ± 1.52 s vs. 16.1 ± 0.85 s in DC; p < 0.05), and NGF expression (8.6-fold increase vs. DC). Histopathology confirmed attenuation of neuronal injury and gliosis in both treatment groups. Exploratory, group-level proteomic profiling identified dose-specific molecular signatures: S1 was predominantly associated with carbohydrate, lipid, and biosynthetic pathways, whereas S2 was associated with synaptic, neurotransmission-related, and proteostasis pathways. Within the constraints of an exploratory design—group-level pooled proteomics, analysis of cerebral rather than peripheral-nerve tissue, and only two doses—these findings indicate that L-serine attenuates the metabolic and behavioural features of experimental diabetic neuropathy and generates the testable hypothesis of dose-dependent neuro-metabolic remodelling. The proteomic signatures are hypothesis-generating and require orthogonal validation before any mechanistic or translational inference can be drawn. Full article

Background/Objectives: Lifestyle Modification Programs (LMPs) based on exercise and nutrition aim to prevent/manage chronic diseases and foster well-being. However, moving LMPs from research to medical practice can be challenging, as programs must be both effective and feasible. The primary goal of this study was to assess cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) changes according to an LMP, measured through VO_2max, as a key indicator of health outcomes and intervention efficacy. Methods: In this single-arm intervention study, 100 subjects were enrolled; per-protocol analysis of main parameters was performed on 85 participants (15 were excluded due to medical/technical reasons). A feasible intervention program (of low resource intensity with only two physician/patient encounters) provided personalized exercise prescription, optimized nutritional habits based on the Mediterranean diet and Healthy Eating Plate principles, and supported behaviour change. We assessed CRF through VO_2max, a key indicator of health outcomes and intervention efficacy. We also analyzed, using regression analysis, the relationship between VO_2max (the gold-standard measure of CRF) and MET_Speak, a simpler, feasible parameter of CRF derived from Exercise Stress Testing. Body composition (BC) and AHA diet score were also measured at baseline and post-6-month intervention. Statistical analyses included paired comparisons and multivariable regression to explore factors influencing CRF changes. Results: Analysis on the primary outcome, VO_2max, was performed according to the intention-to-treat principle and per-protocol. This feasible protocol resulted in a significant increase in VO_2max, improvements in fat-free mass, and a reduction in fat mass. Overall, 42.4% of participants achieved an improvement of ≥1 MET, a change previously associated with reduced mortality risk. Older participants tend to experience smaller improvements in VO_2max. Conclusions: Although observing an improvement in CRF and BC following an LMP is not surprising, the strength of the study is to show the feasibility of implementing an effective, feasible LMP into clinical routine, supporting the integration of such programs into clinical practice. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study examined weight pressures and symptoms of eating disorders in professional modern dancers. Methods: Eighty-six female dancers (age: 20.7 ± 2.5 y, dancing experience: 14.2 ± 4.4 y) completed the Eating Attitudes Test 26 (EAT-26), the Weight-Pressures in Sport inventory for females (WPS-F), and provided information on their dance lessons. Results: Twenty-five dancers (29.07%) scored ≥20 in EAT-26. Positive associations were found between EAT-26 and its subscales with WPS-F and its subscales (r = 0.217 to 0.600, p ˂ 0.05). Negative associations were found between age and dancing experience with the EAT-26 score and its subscales Dieting and Bulimia and Food Preoccupation (r = −0.286 to −0.373, p ˂ 0.001) and between body weight and BMI with Oral Control (r = −0.300 to −0.372, p ˂ 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that Pressures regarding Appearance and Performance, age, and dancing experience accounted for 38.3% of the variance in EAT-26 (p ˂ 0.001), with age and training experience showing a negative coefficient. Moderation analysis showed that dancing experience moderates the relationship between Pressures regarding Appearance and Performance and eating disorder symptoms (interaction b = −0.329, p = 0.040). Conclusions: Professional female dancers are at elevated risk for disordered eating. Inherent pressures regarding appearance and performance were associated with and explained a significant portion of the variance in eating disorder symptom scores, while dancing experience appeared to attenuate this association, although the cross-sectional design of this study precludes conclusions regarding the direction of this effect. Full article

The sustainability, crop production, and food safety of agriculture are increasingly challenged by microplastic pollution, as agricultural soils are the largest reservoirs and may serve as points of contact for plastic particles in the food chain. This review provides a comprehensive overview of plant materials, fate and uptake pathways, detection techniques, and the possible risks of microplastics in agriculture. Agroecosystems are also a source of microplastics, such as plastic mulch films, sewage sludge, compost and manure additives, wastewater irrigation, polymer-coated fertilizers, greenhouse materials, atmospheric deposition, and decomposition of discarded agricultural plastics. Their distribution and mobility in soil are controlled by polymer composition, particle size, morphology, density, surface ageing, soil texture, organic matter content, tillage practices, runoff, leaching, and soil biota. Recent data show that microplastics, especially smaller microplastics and nanoplastics, can attach to root surfaces, penetrate plants via cracks in roots, areas of lateral root development, and apoplastic pathways, and eventually move to tissues aboveground. Plant tissue detection is often accomplished by digestion of the sample, density separation, visual and fluorescence microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, pyrolysis–gas chromatography mass spectrometry, and electron microscopy, but standardization of these methods remains a significant challenge. Microplastics can disrupt seed germination, root structure, nutrient absorption, photosynthesis, oxidative homeostasis, biomass buildup, yield development, and quality. Further, their capacity to transport additives, plasticizers, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants raises concerns about the transfer of contaminants to edible plant parts and their potential transfer to human diets. Further studies are needed focusing on field-realistic exposure conditions, long-term crop–soil interactions, nanoplastics behaviour, standardised analysis procedures, uptake and translocation pathways, edible crop risk assessments, and sustainable mitigation approaches to reduce microplastics in agroecosystems. Full article

Background: Modifiable lifestyle factors may contribute additively to colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in individuals who already have non-modifiable risk factors, such as prior colorectal neoplasia or significant family history of CRC. However, the impact of multicomponent lifestyle interventions (such as dietary modification, physical activity, and counselling) on behavioural modification, risk of colorectal neoplasia, and quality of life (QoL) in this population has not yet been systematically reviewed. Aims: The primary aim was behavioural change (change in body weight, diet, physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and alcohol consumption). The secondary aim was colorectal neoplasia outcomes, including the incidence of precancerous lesions and/or cancer and CRC mortality/survival, and QoL, including specific domains. Methods: This review was conducted following the Cochrane guidelines for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Both randomised and non-randomised studies assessing the effect of multicomponent lifestyle interventions on behavioural modification, risk of colorectal neoplasia, mortality, and quality of life in people at above-average risk of CRC were included. Medline/Ovid, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched. Screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were independently performed by two reviewers using the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) tools. Results: Of the 4174 studies screened, 10 interventional studies were eligible for inclusion, which had outcomes for behavioural change or quality of life. No interventions assessed neoplasia risk or mortality outcomes. Multicomponent lifestyle interventions mainly targeting diet and physical activity, delivered via a telephone-based or health coaching approach, showed positive effects on healthy behaviours and quality of life compared with usual care, although some studies reported inconsistent results. Conclusions: There is emerging evidence that multicomponent lifestyle interventions may offer beneficial effects on practicing healthy behaviours and improving QoL for individuals at above-average risk for CRC and undergoing colonoscopy surveillance. Full article

Sustainable dietary transitions are increasingly recognised as essential for addressing the interconnected challenges of public health, environmental degradation and food system sustainability. Although the Mediterranean Diet (MD) is widely acknowledged as a healthy and sustainable dietary model, adherence has progressively declined across diverse populations. This study develops an integrated conceptual framework to explain the sustainable adoption of the Mediterranean Diet, with particular emphasis on the conceptual mediating role of plant-based foods. A structured conceptual narrative review was conducted using interdisciplinary evidence from nutrition science, sustainability research, behavioural sciences and food policy. The proposed framework integrates individual capacities, socio-cultural contexts, structural environments and ecological awareness within a systems-oriented perspective. The findings suggest that dietary behaviour is shaped by dynamic and context-dependent interactions influenced by feedback mechanisms, life-course transitions and structural constraints. Within this framework, plant-based foods function as integrative leverage points linking health, environmental and cultural dimensions. The study highlights the limitations of individual-centred approaches and emphasises the importance of coordinated multi-level strategies to support sustainable dietary transitions. Overall, the framework provides a theoretically grounded basis for future research, policy development and integrated interventions aimed at promoting resilient and sustainable food systems. Full article

Background: Dietary behaviours in young athletes are shaped by multiple behavioural, social, and environmental influences, which may contribute to the coexistence of healthy and unhealthy eating patterns. This study aimed to explore factors associated with fast-food consumption frequency and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) among young football athletes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 94 male football players aged 10–16 years from a Portuguese football club. Adherence to the MD was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Adolescents (KIDMED) index. Fast-food consumption patterns and food-choice motivations were evaluated through a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were obtained using standardised procedures. Correlation, linear regression, and ordinal regression analyses were performed. Results: Most participants demonstrated high adherence to the MD (96.8%), with a median KIDMED score of 12.0 (IQR: 10.0–13.0). Although 88.3% of participants reported consuming fast food, intake frequency was generally low, with 67.0% reporting consumption never or only once per month. Higher fast-food consumption frequency was associated with lower fruit and vegetable intake and higher consumption of sweets and pastries. No significant associations were observed between fast-food consumption frequency and overall MD adherence, Body Mass Index z-score, or fat mass percentage. Higher health-related motivation scores were associated with lower odds of more frequent fast-food consumption (OR = 0.248; p = 0.021), whereas greater decision autonomy regarding restaurant choice was associated with higher consumption frequency (OR = 4.036; p = 0.010). Conclusions: Young football athletes showed high adherence to the Mediterranean diet despite the presence of fast-food consumption, suggesting that healthy and unhealthy dietary behaviours may coexist within the same population. Behavioural factors, particularly health motivations and food-choice autonomy, appear to influence fast-food consumption independently of overall diet quality and anthropometric status. Full article

Background/objectives: Obesity is a multifactorial condition influenced by interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene has been widely linked to obesity risk, particularly the rs9939609 polymorphism, which is associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and adiposity. However, evidence in adolescents remains inconsistent, and lifestyle factors such as physical activity and diet may modify genetic risk. The objectives of this study were: (i) to examine the influence of environmental, genetic, physical activity, and dietary factors on the BMI and overweight-related variables of adolescents, and (ii) to assess the impact of the rs9939609 polymorphism in the FTO gene on these variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 206 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years. Body mass index (BMI), physical fitness, physical activity levels, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, mobile phone usage, and FTO rs9939609 genotyping from buccal swabs were collected. Results: No significant associations were found between the FTO genotype and BMI, or with physical activity, mobile phone usage and dietary habits. Boys showed higher physical fitness and physical activity levels than girls (p < 0.05). The only factor significantly associated with BMI was regular breakfast consumption: adolescents who habitually ate breakfast had a lower prevalence of overweight (χ² = 7.98, p = 0.005). Conclusions: The rs9939609 polymorphism in the FTO gene was not associated with overweight in this adolescent cohort. The findings underscore the relevance of healthy behaviours, particularly regular breakfast consumption and physical activity, especially among boys, as factors potentially associated with lower prevalence of overweight during adolescence. Full article

Soccer support staff operate under demanding schedules and high-performance environments while guiding players’ movement, sleep, and nutrition; however, their own lifestyle behaviours remain under-researched. This exploratory study assessed adherence to the Canadian 24-Hour Movement (24HM) guidelines and its association with diet quality (DQ) in professional and semi-professional soccer support staff. Methods: A cross-sectional survey collected data from 236 staff in the United Kingdom and Spain. Movement behaviours were measured using the Whole Day Matters Toolkit and DQ using the validated Mini-EAT questionnaire. A graded 24HM score (0–8) summed binary adherence across four general (MVPA, LPA, sedentary time, sleep) and four secondary (muscle-strengthening, sedentary interruptions, screen time, sleep–wake time) behaviours. Associations with DQ were estimated using adjusted multiple linear regression. Results: Only 7.6% of participants met all eight guidelines. Each one-point increase in the graded score was associated with 0.89-point higher DQ (95% CI 0.29–1.49, p = 0.004), with stronger associations observed for secondary behaviours (β = 1.27, p = 0.006) than for general behaviours (β = 0.38, p = 0.50). Conclusions: A graded 24HM scoring approach showed a graded association with DQ in soccer staff, with secondary movement behaviours showing a stronger association. All findings should be interpreted as exploratory and hypothesis-generating. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06771752. Full article

The population of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus is rapidly expanding in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is causing increasing ecological and economic impacts. However, biological information from recently colonised areas remains limited. This study combined controlled experiments and reproductive analyses to investigate the key biological traits of C. sapidus in the northern Adriatic Sea. Feeding trials were conducted under controlled conditions to assess prey consumption and feeding behaviours using Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) and Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), offered as monospecific and mixed diets. The results showed that, while the number of prey items consumed did not differ markedly between species, mussels provided a significantly higher edible biomass, indicating greater energetic profitability. Handling and consumption times were comparable between prey types, suggesting compensatory differences between opening and feeding phases. Food intake was strongly influenced by temperature, with peak consumption observed between 25 and 28 °C and reduced feeding at both lower and higher temperatures. Reproductive analysis of ovigerous females revealed high fecundity, with a mean of 1.63 ± 0.53 million eggs per individual and a positive relationship between fecundity and body size. Overall, the results confirm that C. sapidus combines trophic flexibility with high reproductive output—traits that support its invasive success. These findings improve the understanding of the blue crab’s ecological role in the northern Adriatic, providing useful insights for assessing its impact on shellfish aquaculture and developing management strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diet quality indices (DQIs) are commonly used to evaluate the alignment of dietary intake with national dietary guidelines. However, few methods have been developed to apply DQIs to image-based dietary assessment tools. This study aimed to develop a novel food-based Diet Quality Score (DQS) and examine its construct validity in Australian adults aged 18–65 years living with a higher weight (BMI 30–45 kg/m²), using the validated Healthy Eating Index for Australians 2013 (HEIFA-2013) for comparison. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed dietary intake in 260 adults (mean age 48 ± 12 years; BMI 35.0 ± 4.2) collected over 4 days using the mobile Food Record (mFR™) and scored using the HEIFA-2013 and DQS (both scored out of 100). Descriptive statistics summarised participant characteristics with DQS and HEIFA-2013 scores. Construct validity was examined by assessing the associations between sociodemographic, health behaviour, anthropometric, and clinical blood marker variables and DQS and HEIFA-2013 scores. Multivariable binary logistic regression identified variables associated with being in the lowest diet quality tertile for both DQIs. Results: The mean scores were 47.4 ± 8.7 for the DQS and 52.0 ± 8.6 for HEIFA-2013. Both scores were positively associated with age (DQS: r = 0.216, p < 0.001; HEIFA-2013: r = 0.265, p < 0.001) and attention paid to the health aspects of their diet (DQS: p < 0.023; HEIFA-2013: p < 0.010). Increasing age (OR = 0.958, 95% CI: 0.932–0.985, p = 0.003) and moderate versus low physical activity (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.21–0.80, p = 0.009) decreased odds of being in the lowest diet quality tertile for both DQI scores. Conclusions: The DQS demonstrated acceptable construct validity, providing a valid method for using image-based dietary assessments to evaluate diet quality in Australian populations. Full article

Background/Objectives: To assess the prevalence of eating disorder (ED) risk in a sample of Italian university students and to examine its independent associations with mental health indicators, self-rated health, body mass index (BMI), lifestyle behaviours, and engagement with digital food-related applications. Methods: Of the 2779 Italian university students who accessed the survey, 2691 completed and were included in the analysis. ED risk was assessed with the validated 5-item SCOFF questionnaire. Exposure included socio-demographics, BMI, depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), self-rated health, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Medi-Lite), smoking, alcohol use (AUDIT-C), and use of food delivery and food waste apps. Multivariable logistic regression models, stratified by sex, and adjusted by age and education, estimated associations with ED risk. Results: Overall, 34.6% of participants screened positive for ED risk (women 39.5%, men 21.8%). Smoking and use of food delivery apps and food waste apps were independently associated with ED risk. Clinically relevant depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) (aOR 3.37, 95% CI 2.82–4.02) and poor/fair self-rated health (aOR 2.45, 95% CI 1.93–3.11) showed the strongest association. Overweight (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.06–2.03) and obesity (aOR 2.48, 95% CI 1.53–4.01) increased the likelihood of ED risk. Risky alcohol use was also associated (aOR 1.42, 95% CI 1.15–1.75). Conclusions: More than one in three Italian university students is at risk for an ED, highlighting a substantial public health concern. Strong links with depression, perceived poor health, digital food app use, and unhealthy behaviours underscore the need for early screening and integrated mental health and nutrition interventions within university settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity represents a growing public health concern worldwide. Chrononutrition, a research field examining the timing and regularity of food intake, has been shown in animal models to influence body weight regulation and obesity-related outcomes. Previous research has also explored the association between chrononutrition information and BMI. Using INRAN-SCAI 2005/2006 adult nutrition data based on 3-day diet diaries (n = 2312), this study aims to assess whether chrononutritional information on the distribution of energy intake during the day is able to improve prediction of overweight status (BMI > 25 kg/m²), compared to information on energy from the whole day alone. Methods: This research investigates it using logistic regression and random forest models. For both types of models, three different specifications were compared: a model trained on the mean and irregularity of calorie intake over 3 days for 6 day-time intervals (MI6); a model trained on repeated measures over 3 days of calorie intake from the same 6 time intervals (RM); and a model trained on mean and irregularity of calorie intake over 3 days for the whole day (MID). The performance of the models was compared using risk prediction metrics and ROC curves. Results: When including additional demographic and behavioural predictors beside the energy variables, the results only showed a statistically significant difference in the performance of the logistic regression models if they were trained and tested on the same data. The models trained using chrononutrition information performed better, but the difference in diagnostic accuracy was very small (AUC = 0.7909 for MI6, p = 0.0086; 0.7923 for RM compared to 0.7850 for MID, p = 0.0072) and possibly attributable to overfitting, as it was no longer significant in the comparison within a testing set (70% training and 30% testing samples). For the random forest models, no significant difference was found. In the same models including only the energy variables, the improved performance of MI6 and RM was significantly better than for MID also in the test set (respectively, p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0002), and the gap in AUCs became substantial (AUC = 0.622 for MI6, 0.618 for RM and 0.507 for MID), indicating that socio-demographic and behavioural variables encapsulate information on energy intake by time of the day. Typical under-reporting bias present in nutritional epidemiology and the cross-sectional nature of the sample based on 3-day diaries may have affected these results, although use of diet diaries should minimize recall bias. Conclusions: In conclusion, the impact on health of timing and regularity of calorie intake in the day may act through other mechanisms than via overweight and may be captured by other demographic and behavioural variables; larger and prospective longitudinal studies are warranted to thoroughly investigate the added value of time-of-day information. Full article

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by structural or functional cardiac abnormalities that impair ventricular filling or ejection, leading to inadequate systemic perfusion and elevated intracardiac pressures. Current epidemiological estimations declare approximately 26 million patients affected worldwide are living with HF. While ischemic heart disease remains the primary etiology, there is a wide range of behavioural factors that significantly influence disease onset and progression. This review focuses on the evidence for established risk factors, including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet, sleep disorders, and psychological stress. Furthermore, we discuss other novel determinants such as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), cannabis, high-dose caffeine, and psychostimulants. The basic mechanistic pathways, including endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, neurohormonal activation, and direct myocardial toxicity, are also pointed out and reviewed in this paper. The aim of this study is to integrate epidemiological data with pathophysiological insights to identify priority targets for primary prevention and highlight areas for future research. Full article