Search Results (280)

The genus Sonchus (Asteraceae) comprises 98 species, including 17 predominantly herbaceous taxa native to the Mediterranean region. These plants have long been utilized as traditional wild food sources due to their high nutritional value, as they are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, essential minerals, and bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the taxonomy, geographic distribution, phytochemical composition, traditional uses, historical significance, and pharmacological properties of Sonchus species. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, focusing on studies from 1980 to 2024. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and methodological quality was assessed using standardized tools. A bibliometric analysis of 440 publications (from 1856 to 2025) reveals evolving research trends, with S. oleraceus, S. arvensis, and S. asper being the most extensively studied species. The review provides detailed taxonomic insights into 17 species and 14 subspecies, emphasizing their ecological adaptations and biogeographical patterns. Additionally, it highlights the cultural and medicinal relevance of Sonchus since antiquity while underscoring the threats posed by environmental degradation and changing dietary habits. Sonchus oleraceus and S. tenerrimus dominate the culinary applications of the genus, likely due to favorable taste, wide accessibility, and longstanding cultural importance. The comprehensive nutritional profile of Sonchus species positions these plants as valuable contributors to dietary diversity and food security. Finally, the study identifies current knowledge gaps and proposes future research directions to support the conservation and sustainable utilization of Sonchus species. Full article

Childhood obesity increases chronic disease risk, but no comprehensive synthesis has evaluated the impact of school-based combined nutrition education and physical activity interventions on cardiometabolic biomarkers in children aged 3 to 12 years. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251085194). Five databases were systematically searched through June 2025. Twelve randomized controlled trials involving 18,231 children were included and assessed using the PEDro scale. Ten trials demonstrated significant improvements in at least one cardiometabolic biomarker. Blood pressure (8 studies) outcomes showed systolic reductions of 1.41–6.0 mmHg in six studies. Glucose metabolism (5 studies) improved in two studies with reductions of 0.20–0.22 mmol/L. Lipid profiles (7 studies) improved in three studies, including total cholesterol (−0.32 mmol/L). Insulin levels (5 studies) decreased significantly in two investigations. Anthropometric improvements included BMI and body fat. Physical activity increased by >45 min/week and dietary habits improved significantly. Programs with daily implementation (90-min sessions 4x/week), longer duration (≥12 months), family involvement (parent education), and curriculum integration (classroom lessons) showed superior effectiveness. Interventions targeting children with overweight/obesity demonstrated higher changes compared to the general population. However, methodological limitations included a lack of assessor blinding, absence of subject/therapist blinding, and inadequate retention rates. School-based interventions combining nutrition and physical activity can produce significant improvements in cardiometabolic biomarkers, supporting comprehensive, sustained multicomponent programs for early chronic disease prevention. Full article

Background/Objectives: Taste dysfunction is a highly prevalent yet underrecognized complication among patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), significantly impairing nutritional intake, treatment adherence, and quality of life (QoL). This comprehensive review synthesizes current knowledge on the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical management of taste dysfunction associated with HNC and its treatments, particularly chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Methods: A structured literature search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library for articles published between January 2015 and February 2025. Studies were included if they investigated taste dysfunction related to HNC, focusing on pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. A total of 47 original studies were analyzed through a narrative synthesis due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes. Results: Taste dysfunction in HNC patients arises from tumor-related inflammation, cytotoxic injury from chemotherapy, and radiation-induced epithelial and neural damage. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy often exert synergistic negative effects on gustatory function. Management strategies identified include dietary counselling, nutritional supplementation (zinc, lactoferrin, monosodium glutamate, miraculin), pharmacological agents targeting salivary function, and non-pharmacological interventions such as acupuncture, photobiomodulation, and reconstructive surgery. However, the evidence is limited by small sample sizes, methodological variability, and the frequent exclusion of HNC patients from broader dysgeusia trials. Reported prevalence of taste dysfunction ranged from 39% to 97.4%, with higher rates observed among patients treated with radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy. Conclusions: Taste dysfunction remains a critical yet unmet clinical challenge in HNC patients. High-quality, targeted research is urgently needed to develop standardized assessments and evidence-based management strategies to improve patient outcomes. Full article

Food safety concerns related to pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables have increased globally, particularly in regions where monitoring programs are scarce or inconsistent. This study provides the first multi-year evaluation of pesticide contamination and associated dietary risks in Cape Verde, an African island nation increasingly reliant on imported produce. A total of 570 samples of fruits and vegetables—both locally produced and imported—were collected from major markets across the country between 2017 and 2020 and analyzed using validated multiresidue methods based on gas chromatography coupled to Ion Trap mass spectrometry (GC-IT-MS/MS), and both gas and liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (GC-QqQ-MS/MS and LC-QqQ-MS/MS). Residues were detected in 63.9% of fruits and 13.2% of vegetables, with imported fruits showing the highest contamination levels and diversity of compounds. Although only one sample exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by the European Union, 80 different active substances were quantified—many of them not authorized under the current EU pesticide residue legislation. Dietary exposure was estimated using median residue levels and real consumption data from the national nutrition survey (ENCAVE 2019), enabling a refined risk assessment based on actual consumption patterns. The cumulative hazard index for the adult population was 0.416, below the toxicological threshold of concern. However, when adjusted for children aged 6–11 years—taking into account body weight and relative consumption—the cumulative index approached 1.0, suggesting a potential health risk for this vulnerable group. A limited number of compounds, including omethoate, oxamyl, imazalil, and dithiocarbamates, accounted for most of the risk. Many are banned or heavily restricted in the EU, highlighting regulatory asymmetries in global food trade. These findings underscore the urgent need for strengthened residue monitoring in Cape Verde, particularly for imported products, and support the adoption of risk-based food safety policies that consider population-specific vulnerabilities and mixture effects. The methodological framework used here can serve as a model for other low-resource countries seeking to integrate analytical data with dietary exposure in a One Health context. Full article

Acid–base balance is critical to human health and can be significantly influenced by dietary choices. The Western diet, characterized by high meat and cheese consumption, induces excess acidity, highlighting the need for strategies to mitigate this. Recent studies have focused on bicarbonate-rich mineral water as a viable solution. In this context, the present narrative review synthesizes the findings from recent scientific studies on bicarbonate-rich mineral water, specifically those with bicarbonate levels over 1300 mg/L and medium or low PRAL values. This water has been shown to exert beneficial effects on both urinary and blood parameters. The key effects include an increase in the urine pH and a profound reduction in net acid excretion as a sign for a reduced acid load. Additionally, bicarbonate mineral water has been shown to decrease the excretion of nephrolithiasis-related constituents, including calcium and oxalates, as well as inhibitory substances such as magnesium and citrates. In blood, bicarbonate-rich water has been demonstrated to stabilize pH and increase bicarbonate levels, thereby enhancing systemic buffering capacity. Clinically, these changes have been associated with a lowered risk of calcium oxalate stone formation and improved kidney health. Furthermore, bicarbonate-rich water has been shown to support bone health by reducing bone resorption markers. Consequently, the integration of bicarbonate-rich mineral water into the diet has the potential to enhance urinary and blood parameters, mitigate the risk of kidney stones, and strengthen skeletal integrity, thereby serving as a promising strategy for health promotion and disease prevention. While promising, these findings underscore the need for further research to establish long-term recommendations. Future interventional studies should be designed with rigorous randomization, larger sample sizes, cross-over methodologies, and comprehensive dietary assessments to address the methodological limitations of previous research. Full article

Food pattern recognition plays a crucial role in modern healthcare by enabling automated dietary monitoring and personalised nutritional interventions, particularly for vulnerable populations with complex dietary needs. Current food recognition systems struggle to balance high accuracy with interpretability and computational efficiency when analysing complex meal compositions in real-world settings. We developed a novel self-explaining neural architecture that integrates specialised attention mechanisms with temporal modules within a streamlined framework. Our methodology employs hierarchical feature extraction through successive convolution operations, multi-head attention mechanisms for pattern classification, and bidirectional LSTM networks for temporal analysis. Architecture incorporates self-explaining components utilising attention-based mechanisms and interpretable concept encoders to maintain transparency. We evaluated our model on the FOOD101 dataset using 5-fold cross-validation, ablation studies, and comprehensive computational efficiency assessments. Training employed multi-objective optimisation with adaptive learning rates and specialised loss functions designed for dietary pattern recognition. Experiments demonstrate our model’s superior performance, achieving 94.1% accuracy with only 29.3 ms inference latency and 3.8 GB memory usage, representing a 63.3% parameter reduction compared to baseline transformers. The system maintains detection rates above 84% in complex multi-item recognition scenarios, whilst feature attribution analysis achieved scores of 0.89 for primary components. Cross-validation confirmed consistent performance with accuracy ranging from 92.8% to 93.5% across all folds. This research advances automated dietary analysis by providing an efficient, interpretable solution for food recognition with direct applications in nutritional monitoring and personalised healthcare, particularly benefiting vulnerable populations who require transparent and trustworthy dietary guidance. Full article

The garden Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) is increasingly consumed worldwide due to its culinary appeal and perceived health benefits. However, the chemical markers underlying its functional properties remain insufficiently characterized. Building on evidence from a recent human pilot study confirming both high acceptability and dietary safety, we conducted a comprehensive volatilomic and phytochemical analysis of T. majus flowers and their juice. Headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS) was employed to establish the volatilomic fingerprint of floral tissues and juice. Our analysis revealed a striking dominance of benzyl isothiocyanate and benzonitrile, which together accounted for 88% of the total volatile organic metabolites (VOMs) in the juice, 67% and 21%, respectively. In the floral tissues, benzyl isothiocyanate was even more prevalent, representing 95% of the total volatile profile. Complementary in vitro assays confirmed a substantial total phenolic content and strong antioxidant activity in the flowers. These findings provide a robust chemical rationale for the potential health-promoting attributes of T. majus, while identifying key volatilomic markers that could support future functional and safety claims. In parallel, a benefit–risk assessment framework is discussed in accordance with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidelines for the Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) of edible flowers. Given that both benzyl isothiocyanate and benzonitrile are classified as Cramer Class III substances, a conservative intake threshold of 1.5 μg/kg body weight per day is proposed. To enable quantitative exposure modeling and support the derivation of a tolerable daily intake (TDI), future studies should integrate organic solvent-based extraction methodologies to estimate the total volatile load per gram of floral biomass. This would align risk–benefit assessments with the EFSA’s evolving framework for novel foods and functional ingredients. Full article

Background: Prostate cancer is a leading malignancy among men globally, with its incidence expected to rise due to aging populations and shifting lifestyles. While established risk factors include age, ethnicity, and genetics, the role of modifiable dietary factors, particularly sugar intake, remains less clear. Emerging evidence suggests that high sugar consumption may promote carcinogenesis through insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and hormonal dysregulation. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the current evidence on the association between dietary sugar intake and prostate cancer risk. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across six databases for observational studies published between January 2005 and April 2025. Eligible studies assessed the associations between quantitative sugar intake and prostate cancer outcomes. Screening, data extraction, and a risk of bias assessment (using ROBINS-E) were performed independently by multiple reviewers. Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising four prospective cohorts, one case–control study, and one cross-sectional study, with a combined sample of 11,583 men from the USA, Canada, Sweden, and France. Three studies reported a significant positive association between a high intake of dietary sugars and prostate cancer risk, two found no association, and one showed mixed findings depending on the type of sugar. Heterogeneity in the exposure assessments and confounder control limited the comparability. Conclusions: This review suggests a possible association between high dietary sugar intake and increased prostate cancer risk, especially from added sugars and sugar-sweetened beverages. However, inconsistent findings and methodological limitations highlight the need for robust, prospective studies with standardized assessments to understand this relationship better. Full article

Globally, unhealthy dietary behaviours are consistently seen to significantly contribute to the burden caused by diet-related diseases (DRDs). This is particularly evident among adolescents, a demographic that are at a critical stage of development for lifelong eating habits. This study aims to map the efficacy of post-primary school-based nutritional education (NE) interventions in the modification of adolescent dietary behaviours. A scoping review methodology was implemented, following the Joanna Briggs Institute framework, and adhering to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Peer-reviewed research from 2015 to 2024 was thoroughly searched using the PubMed and Scopus databases, with inclusion criteria centred on school-based NE interventions aimed at changing post-primary students’ eating habits. In total, 50 studies were selected for analysis, which were then further categorised into five key intervention approaches: knowledge and behaviour-focused programmes, DRD-specific interventions, gamified or interactive learning methods, peer-led or externally facilitated programmes, and school food environment modifications. The findings indicate that structured NE interventions, particularly those incorporating behavioural theories, show positive outcomes in enhancing adolescent dietary knowledge and self-efficacy. The gamified interventions and interactive approaches demonstrated high engagement among participants, but the success of long-term changes was varied. The interventions addressing DRDs, especially obesity, showed significant impacts when combining educational components with structural modifications to school food environments. Peer-led models improved relatability and participation rates but faced challenges in terms of standardisation and repeatability. While school-based NE interventions effectively improve adolescent nutritional knowledge and behaviours, future research should focus on long-term follow-up assessments to determine the sustainability of these changes. These findings offer valuable insights for educators designing curricula, policymakers developing school health strategies, and practitioners seeking to implement feasible, evidence-based nutrition programmes in diverse educational settings. Full article

Inadequate vitamin D and dietary fibre intake are growing public health concerns in Western countries, especially in regions with limited sunlight and diets rich in processed foods. Bakery products, widely consumed, offer a promising opportunity for nutritional fortification. This study explored the possibility of fortifying white wheat bread—a staple food but low in fibre—with vitamin D₃ and various dietary fibres (oat fibre, pectin, cellulose, and beta-glucan). The goal was to enhance its nutritional profile while maintaining desirable bread qualities. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), an empirical model, optimised the fibre combination. A range of dough and bread analyses were conducted—including assessments of gluten structure, starch pasting, fermentation activity, crumb hardness, specific volume, and colourimetry. The results showed fibre addition weakened the gluten network and altered starch properties (reduced peak, final and breakdown viscosities)—reducing loaf volume (4.2 ± 0.4 mL/g vs. 4.8 ± 0.1 mL/g for the control)—though to a lesser extent than in wholemeal bread (2.4 ± 0.1 mL/g), while vitamin D₃ inclusion had a minimal impact (4.0 ± 0.4 mL/g for white bread, 2.1 ± 0.0 mL/g for wholemeal bread). The study identified an optimal mix of soluble and insoluble fibres with vitamin D₃ that preserved the texture, crumb structure, and appearance of standard white bread. The final product offered fibre levels (Total Dietary Fibre, TDF = 10.72 ± 0.31 g/100 g bread, vs. 3.81 ± 0.06 g/100 g for the control) comparable to those of wholemeal bread (TDF = 9.54 ± 0.67 g/100 g), with improved texture and volume. This approach presents an effective strategy to enhance staple foods, potentially improving public health through better nutrient intake without compromising consumer acceptance. Full article

Background: Beetroot juice, the most commonly used route of dietary nitrate supplementation, is theorized to enhance physical performance. However, its effects on different aspects of physical performance, different populations, and optimal supplementation strategies remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of beetroot juice (nitrate-rich) on physical performance, to compare its effects between professional athletes and non-athletes (healthy individuals), and to determine the optimal supplementation strategy. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on the Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Database, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and CINAHL databases. Reviewers conducted study screening and selection, data extraction, and assessment of methodological quality using the AMSTAR 2 tool. Fifteen meta-analyses were included in this Umbrella Review. A narrative and quantitative synthesis was performed. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Results: (1) Beetroot juice significantly improved muscle strength (SMD = 0.08, p < 0.001), but the effect size was negligible. (2) Aerobic Endurance: Beetroot juice significantly improved VO2max (SMD = 0.16, p = 0.033) in healthy adults; however, the effect size was negligible. (3) Lactate Tolerance: beetroot juice significantly improved TTE (SMD = 0.25, p = 0.034) and YO-YOIR1 (SMD = 0.27, p = 0.049) performance in healthy adults, but the effect size was small. (4) Subgroup analyses revealed significant population differences: professional athletes showed significant muscular strength benefits (SMD = 0.27, p = 0.007), whereas non-athletes had more pronounced aerobic endurance improvements (SMD = 0.26, p < 0.001), but the effect size was small. (5) Nitrate supplementation timing and dose–response analysis revealed that nitrate supplementation, whether administered 2–3 h before exercise or over a prolonged period (≥3 days), produces a significant enhancement in physical performance (p < 0.01). Notably, acute improvement only has a small effect size (SMD = 0.20), while the impact of chronic supplementation is essentially negligible (SMD = 0.13). A dosage of 8.3–16.4 mmol NO₃⁻ (515–1017 mg) showed a significant improvement (SMD = 0.14, p = 0.029), although the effect size was negligible. Conclusions: Acute (2–3 h pre-exercise) and chronic (≥3 days) supplementation with beetroot juice to achieve nitrate levels of 8.3–16.4 mmol (515–1017 mg/d) are recommended to enhance physical performance. Beetroot juice shows population-specific effects: proper beetroot juice supplementation improves muscular strength in professional athletes and aerobic endurance in non-athletes. Moreover, appropriate supplementation of beetroot juice can improve the lactate tolerance in healthy adults. Full article

Background: Pediatric obesity represents a multifactorial condition in which gut microbiota dysbiosis, low-grade systemic inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction are intricately connected. Objectives: This systematic review sought to evaluate and integrate current findings regarding the interactions between gut microbial composition, dietary influences, inflammatory status, and metabolic outcomes in obese pediatric populations. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted for studies published from January 2010 onward. Eligible studies comprised randomized controlled trials, and cohort, cross-sectional, and longitudinal designs involving individuals aged ≤18 years. Study quality was appraised using the NIH Study Quality Assessment Tool. Results: Sixteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Dysbiosis was consistently observed among obese children, characterized by alterations in microbial diversity and abundance associated with increased inflammation and adverse metabolic profiles. Dietary interventions, notably symbiotic supplementation and adherence to Mediterranean diet patterns, were associated with favorable modulation of gut microbiota and inflammatory parameters. The majority of studies demonstrated high methodological quality, although minor observational limitations were noted. Conclusions: Gut microbiota dysregulation plays a central role in the development of metabolic and inflammatory complications associated with pediatric obesity. Although dietary and microbiota-modifying strategies show therapeutic promise, their effectiveness must be substantiated through robust, long-term studies. Full article

Nutrition plays a crucial role during pregnancy and lactation, influencing maternal and infant health, as well as human milk (HM) composition. The Mediterranean diet (MED) is recognized worldwide as a well-established healthy dietary pattern. This narrative review aims to integrate and summarize observational and interventional studies investigating the association between the MED and outcomes across the mother–milk–infant triad. A literature search was conducted in the Cochrane, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases, and 22 studies that met the eligibility criteria were included into review. The included studies were categorized into maternal outcomes (n = 13), HM composition outcomes (n = 9), and infant outcomes (n = 3). This narrative review suggests that adherence to the MED may be associated with maternal psychological health and well-being, postpartum weight loss, glucose metabolism, and the fatty acid profile of HM. Moreover, the included studies exhibited notable methodological differences that hindered direct comparisons and limited the generalizability of the findings. Future research should adopt an integrated and standardized methodology for assessing MED adherence, HM collection, and infant outcomes, considering the mother–human milk–infant triad. Full article

Introduction: The rising global consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has paralleled a concerning decline in sperm quality, raising concern about potential dietary impacts on male fertility. Sperm health parameters, including count, motility, and morphology, are critical indicators of reproductive potential and may be adversely affected by excessive sugar intake. This narrative review consolidates the current evidence on the association between SSB consumption and sperm health, highlighting potential biological mechanisms. Methods: A targeted literature search across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted, utilising keywords “sugar-sweetened beverages”, “sperm health”, and related terms. A total of 11 eligible observational and cohort studies were selected. Studies focusing solely on animal models or unrelated dietary factors were excluded. Results: The primary research consistently reports a negative association between high SSB consumption and sperm parameters, including reduced count and motility, and increased DNA fragmentation. Potential mechanisms include oxidative stress, hormonal dysregulation, and metabolic dysfunction linked to obesity and insulin resistance. However, variability in study design, exposure assessment, and population demographics limits generalisability of the results. Conclusions: The current evidence suggests that regular SSB consumption adversely affects male reproductive health through oxidative damage and hormonal imbalances. These findings underscore the importance of public health strategies to reduce SSB intake, especially among young men of reproductive age. Further longitudinal studies with standardised methodologies, particularly in underrepresented populations such as Asian cohorts, are necessary to establish causal relationships and guide clinical recommendations. Full article

Dietary exposure to a high dose of cadmium (Cd) ≥ 100 µg/day for at least 50 years or a lifetime intake of Cd ≥ 1 g can cause severe damage to the kidneys and bones. Alarmingly, however, exposure to a dose of Cd between 10 and 15 µg/day and excretion of Cd at a rate below 0.5 µg/g creatinine have been associated with an increased risk of diseases with a high prevalence worldwide, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), fragile bones, diabetes, and cancer. These findings have cast considerable doubt on a “tolerable” Cd exposure level of 58 µg/day for a 70 kg person, while questioning the threshold level for the Cd excretion rate of 5.24 µg/g creatinine. The present review addresses many unmet challenges in a threshold-based risk assessment for Cd. Special emphasis is given to the benchmark dose (BMD) methodology to estimate the Cd exposure limit that aligns with a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL). Cd exposure limits estimated from conventional dosing experiments and human data are highlighted. The results of the BMDL modeling of the relationship between Cd excretion and various indicators of its effects on kidneys are summarized. It is recommended that exposure guidelines for Cd should employ the most recent scientific research data, dose–response curves constructed from an unbiased exposure indicator, and clinically relevant adverse effects such as proteinuria, albuminuria, and a decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). These are signs of developing CKD and its progression to the end stage, when dialysis or a kidney transplant is required for survival. Full article