Search Results (4,770)

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic psychiatric condition characterized by recurrent mood episodes and substantial functional impairment. Emerging evidence highlights the role of nutrition in modulating neurobiological pathways and influencing the course of BD. However, systematic recommendations for dietetic prescriptions remain limited. Methods: This narrative review was conducted by searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to October 2025. Keywords included “bipolar disorder,” “nutrition,” “dietary interventions,” and “nutritional psychiatry.” Studies focusing on nutritional patterns, dietary components, and dietetic recommendations relevant to BD were included. Evidence was synthesized narratively to identify potential dietary strategies and gaps in current knowledge. Results: The available literature suggests that nutritional interventions may influence mood stabilization, metabolic comorbidities, and treatment response in BD. Key findings highlight the potential benefits of Mediterranean-style diets, omega-3 fatty acids, micronutrients (including magnesium, zinc, and vitamins D and B-complex), and dietary approaches targeting inflammation and oxidative stress. Conversely, Western-style diets, rich in saturated fats and refined sugars, appear to exacerbate mood instability and metabolic burden. Despite promising findings, heterogeneity across studies and the scarcity of randomized controlled trials limit firm conclusions. Conclusions: Nutrition represents a promising adjunctive strategy in the management of BD. Dietetic prescriptions may contribute to improved outcomes by addressing both psychiatric symptoms and physical health comorbidities. Future research should prioritize well-designed clinical trials to establish evidence-based guidelines for integrating nutrition into BD management. Full article

Background: The human gut microbiome is highly complex, and its composition is strongly influenced by dietary patterns. Alterations in microbiome structure have been associated with a range of diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the underlying mechanisms for this remain poorly understood. In this study, a novel in vitro approach was utilized to investigate the interplay between gut bacteria, dietary metabolites, and metabolic dysfunction. Methods: Two representative gut bacterial species—Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Lactobacillus fermentum—were isolated from human faecal samples and subjected to controlled dietary manipulation to mimic eubiotic and dysbiotic conditions. Metabolites produced under these conditions were extracted, characterized, and quantified. To assess the functional impact of these metabolites, we utilized the INS-1 832/3 insulinoma cell line, evaluating insulin sensitivity through glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and ERK1/2 activation. Results: Our findings demonstrate that metabolites derived from high-carbohydrate/high-fat diets exacerbate metabolic dysfunction, whereas those generated under high-fibre conditions significantly enhance insulin secretion and glucose-dependent ERK1/2 activation in co-culture compared to monocultures. Conclusions: This work systematically disentangles the complex interactions between gut microbiota, diet, and disease, providing mechanistic insights into how microbial metabolites contribute to the onset of metabolic disorders. Full article

Parental perceptions of healthy eating often diverge from children’s actual diets, but this gap is poorly documented in Central Asia. We examined how parents’ priorities for key food groups relate to nutrient intakes in 390 urban children aged 1–6 years in Central Kazakhstan. In a cross-sectional study, parents completed a 24 h multiple-pass dietary recall and rated the importance of fats and sweets, meat and fish, dairy, vegetables and fruits, and bread and potatoes on 5-point scales. Nutrient intakes were calculated using software, compared with national DRIs, and analyzed using rank-based tests and Spearman correlations. Parents reported near-ceiling priority for restricting fats and sweets and consistently high priority for bread and potatoes, whereas vegetables, fruits, meat/fish ,and dairy were rated moderately important, with dairy under-prioritized in 1–2-year-olds. On the recalled day, median intakes of fat, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and calcium were below national recommendations at all ages, and median intakes of iron, thiamine, and niacin were particularly low at 3–4 years, while sodium intake exceeded recommended levels; the 3–4-year group showed the most pronounced clustering of shortfalls. Prevalence estimates indicated that most children had intakes below recommendations for dietary fiber and calcium and above recommendations for sodium, underscoring population-wide nutritional imbalance. Across all scales, parental priorities showed only weak, non-significant associations with nutrient intakes (|r| < 0.11). These findings indicate a perception–intake gap and support interventions that ensure adequate fats, fiber, vitamin C, calcium, and bioavailable iron in preschool diets. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary linseed cake on the fatty acid profile of meat and abdominal fat, and on growth performance in broiler chickens. A total of 198 birds were randomly allocated to three groups (66 birds/group). The control group (C) received a standard soybean meal-based feed, while the LIN6 and LIN12 groups were fed diets that were supplemented with 6% and 12% linseed cake, respectively. Linseed cake supplementation reduced saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, increased n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in meat and abdominal fat, and lowered the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio (FDR-adjusted p < 0.05). The 12% inclusion resulted in a more pronounced accumulation of n-3 PUFAs—4.3–5.0 times higher than the control—while 6% inclusion increased n-3 PUFAs by 2.8–3.3 times (FDR-adjusted p < 0.05). However, 12% inclusion negatively affected growth performance, reducing body weight by 9.9% and feed intake by 10.4% at 42 days (p < 0.05), whereas the 6% inclusion had no adverse impact (p < 0.05). These results indicate that 6% linseed cake represents the optimal practical inclusion level, effectively enhancing the n-3 PUFA profile of broiler meat and abdominal fat without compromising growth, while higher inclusion levels may impair production performance. Full article

Long-term excessive fat intake can easily induce metabolic diseases such as fatty liver and hyperlipidemia. As a natural active ingredient, polysaccharides exhibit notable lipid-lowering effects and can serve as effective lipid regulators. Nevertheless, the lipid-lowering effect of Arabica coffee cherry peel polysaccharides (CCPPs) and the underlying regulatory mechanism remain poorly understood. This study isolated polysaccharides from coffee cherry peel, and their functional properties and the lipid-lowering effects and mechanisms on hyperlipidemic mice. In high-fat diet-fed (HFD-fed) mice, CCPP administration had significant regulatory effects on various metabolic parameters. In laboratory mice where hyperlipidemia is induced by a high-fat diet, CCPP administration improved serum lipid levels and demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. These benefits were achieved by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity, and lowering overall oxidative stress. Additionally, it effectively decreased fat area in liver tissues and adipocytes. Specifically, compared with the control group, after high-dose CCPP intervention, the adipocyte area of mice on a high-fat diet was significantly reduced by 41.3%. Notably, CCPP intervention resulted in a shift in the gut microbiota composition. At the phylum level, the model group showed a significant increase in Bacillota and a concomitant reduction in Bacteroidetes in comparison with the control group. Compared with the model group, CCPP intervention, especially in the CCPP-H group, resulted in an increase in the proportion of Bacteroidetes and a decrease in Bacillota. At the genus level, CCPP modulated the abundances of key bacterial genera; for instance, the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group increased from 2.64% in the model group to 11.9% in CCPP-H group, while Faecalibaculum decreased from 62.69% to 41.27% in CCPP-L group and 25.29% in CCPP-H group. These shifts suggest that CCPP has a reparative effect on the gut microbial composition, potentially contributing to the promotion of gut health. Taken together, these factors highlight the promise of CCPP as a functional food ingredient for dietary interventions to ameliorate obesity and hyperlipidemia. Full article

Chronic, low-grade inflammation is a characteristic of metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes. Despite recommendations to select low- or non-fat dairy foods over full-fat dairy foods for metabolic health, recent research suggests potential anti-inflammatory benefits of dairy fat consumption. We aimed to compare the systemic inflammatory tone (i.e., circulating inflammatory biomarker concentrations and ex vivo peripheral blood mononuclear cell inflammatory responses) of individuals with prediabetes after consuming diets with full-fat (3.25%) or non-fat yogurt. We hypothesized that short-term consumption of three daily full-fat yogurt servings beneficially affects inflammatory tone. Thirteen participants aged 45–75 years completed an eight-week randomized, double-masked, controlled crossover study. The two, three-week experimental diets comprised three daily servings of full-fat or non-fat yogurt and were each preceded by a one-week run-in diet. Following each diet, circulating inflammatory biomarkers and cytokine concentrations in the supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells under control or lipopolysaccharide-stimulated conditions were measured. Compared with non-fat yogurt intake, circulating immature granulocyte concentrations were lower following full-fat yogurt intake, but there were no other differences in leukocyte concentrations. Circulating concentrations of cytokines or other inflammatory markers did not differ by diet. Cell supernatant interleukin-1β concentrations were lower following the full-fat yogurt diet under unstimulated conditions but were not different between diets under stimulated conditions. There were no differences by diet in supernatant concentrations of other cytokines under unstimulated or stimulated conditions. Together, minimal differences in inflammatory tone were observed following the short-term consumption of three daily servings of full-fat or non-fat yogurt in individuals with prediabetes. Full article

Background: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have emerged as a critical component of diet quality, yet data on the associations between UPF and nutrient intakes remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate nutrient consumption in relation to UPF intake and adherence to international dietary guidelines for non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention. Methods: Data from 469 individuals aged 2–18 years enrolled in the Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey (HNNHS) were analyzed. Intakes were assessed using two 24 h recalls, and foods were classified according to the NOVA system. Participants were categorized by UPF energy intake tertiles. Nutrient adequacy was assessed using Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, European Society of Cardiology guidelines for macronutrients, and the Institute of Medicine’s Estimated Average Requirements and Adequate Intake values for micronutrients. Results: Children in the highest UPF tertile had significantly higher intakes of energy, carbohydrates, added sugars, saturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, and cholesterol, but lower intakes of protein compared to those in the lowest tertile. Fiber intake remained inadequate across all tertiles, with no significant differences. Regarding adherence to NCD prevention guidelines, children in the 3rd UPF tertile had a 2.3 times higher prevalence ratio for exceeding added sugar recommendations, while their protein intake prevalence ratio was 0.8 times lower. For micronutrients, the highest UPF tertile showed significantly elevated intakes of vitamins E, B₁, folate, calcium, iron, copper, and sodium, but lower potassium intake compared to the lowest tertile. Conclusions: Our results underscore the need for effective public health strategies to improve diet quality in children and adolescents and prevent diet-related NCDs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Poor dietary habits are a major contributor to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the leading cause of mortality worldwide. To promote healthier eating, governments and stakeholders have implemented various nutrition policies, including front-of-pack nutrition labeling (FOPNL). The Choices International Foundation (Choices), through its criteria, supports these efforts through its standardized nutrient profiling system (NPS). Originally developed to underpin a positive FOPNL logo, in 2021, the criteria were expanded into a globally oriented five-level profiling system covering 23 basic and 10 discretionary food groups, addressing key nutrients such as trans-fatty acids, saturated fat, sodium, sugar, fiber, and energy. To ensure continued scientific relevance, the Choices criteria are periodically reviewed by an independent International Scientific Committee (ISC). Methods: This paper presents the 2025 revision of the Choices criteria, focusing on priority areas identified through stakeholder consultation and recent scientific developments. Results: Key updates include the introduction of nutrient-based equivalence criteria for plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy, based on protein and selected micronutrient thresholds. Non-sugar sweeteners (NSSs) were newly included as a factor that lowers a product’s health classification and makes it ineligible for a positive FOPNL. Additionally, the industrially produced trans-fatty acid (iTFA) criteria were revised and aligned with the latest World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, improving both technical feasibility and policy coherence. While options for incorporating whole-grain and micronutrient criteria were explored, these were not included in the current revision. Conclusions: The 2025 update system enhances the scientific rigor, policy alignment, and global applicability of the Choices system. By providing a harmonized and evidence-based tool, it aims to support national policies that foster healthier food environments and, ultimately, improve public health outcomes worldwide. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of varying dietary salt and boric acid addition doses on the milk quality of Savak Akkaraman sheep. A total of 120 animals were as-signed to six treatment groups (n = 20): control (C), rock salt (S; 10 g/day), boric acid 20 mg/day (B20), boric acid 40 mg/day (B40), BS20 (20 mg boric acid + 10 g/day rock salt), and BS40 (40 mg boric acid + 10 g/day rock salt). All analyses were performed in duplicate on six samples, taken on days 30 and 35 following the administration of the additives. Physicochemical analyses only showed significant variation in milk pH (p = 0.006), while acidity, dry matter, and ash remained unaffected. Strong positive correlations were found among protein, lactose, salt, and density (r > 0.95; p < 0.001). Coagulation times differed widely, with the longest being observed in BS20 (995.03 s) and the shortest in BS40 (141.73 s). Among mineral parameters, only selenium levels differed significantly between the treatment groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found for fat, solids-not-fat, lactose, freezing point, or electrical conductivity. Importantly, boron addition had a significant influence on total casein content (p < 0.001). Overall, dietary rock salt and boric acid did not markedly alter the basic milk composition but produced notable physicochemical changes, particularly in coagulation behavior and casein levels, which may influence the technological properties of sheep milk. Full article

Background: Adolescence is a formative period for lifelong dietary patterns, yet Korean adolescents show low fruit and vegetable intake, high sugar and sodium consumption, and rising obesity, highlighting the importance of multidimensional assessment that integrates behavioral, cultural, environmental, and competency-related factors. Methods: A total of 1010 adolescents aged 12–18 years completed an online cross-sectional survey assessing food intake, dietary and physical activity behaviors, dietary culture, and Food Literacy (FL) competencies. Standardized scores were used for hierarchical and K-means clustering to identify dietary practice patterns, and between-cluster differences were examined using ANOVA. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between Dietary Guideline Adherence (DGA) and FL. Results: Four clusters were identified—selective intake–low support (20.4%), regular habits–unbalanced intake (33.3%), high adherence (23.2%), and low adherence (23.1%)—with significant differences in DGA total and domain scores (p < 0.001). The high-adherence cluster showed balanced intake, regular routines, and strong household support, whereas the low-adherence cluster showed poor diet quality, irregular behaviors, and lower socioeconomic status. FL differed across clusters (p < 0.001) and correlated with DGA (r = 0.496, p < 0.01). Total FL predicted DGA (β = 0.496, p < 0.001), explaining 25% of its variance (R² = 0.246). Conclusions: Adolescent diet quality appears to be associated with behavioral, cultural, and competency-related factors. These findings suggest that cluster-specific strategies—such as fat–sugar–sodium reduction, promotion of low-sodium and diverse diets, and maintenance of balanced-dietary patterns—may support tailored school- and community-based nutrition programs and inform further longitudinal and intervention research. Full article

Objective: This study aims to investigate the dietary assessment and trends of preschoolers aged 3 to 5 years in Korea from 2012 to 2021 and to provide basic data for early childhood dietary education and policy development. Methods: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2012 to 2021 were analyzed for 2510 children in the 3–5 age group. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24 h recall. Intakes of food groups, dishes, and nutrients were calculated, and trends across years were tested using generalized linear models adjusted for gender, age, household income, energy intake, mother’s age, and mother’s education. Results: Over the tenyear period, intakes of carbohydrates, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, carotene, thiamine, niacin, and vitamin C, as well as the carbohydrate energy ratio, showed significant declines. Meanwhile, protein, fat, retinol, and riboflavin increased, as did the protein and fat energy ratios. Fruit intake decreased by approximately 42 g among food group intakes. Analysis of foods contributing to total food intake revealed that milk, white rice, apples, and eggs consistently accounted for a high proportion of total intake in all survey years. Average calcium intake was approximately 100 mg below the estimated average requirement. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that preschoolers exhibit insufficient intake of certain nutrients, such as calcium, and a decrease in fruit intake. Interventions are needed to establish regular meal patterns, promote plant food intake such as fruit, and improve calcium intake. These results provide valuable evidence for designing dietary education programs and dietary guidelines tailored to early childhood. Full article

Background/Objectives: Intermittent fasting and ketogenic dietary approaches are increasingly investigated for their potential metabolic benefits in obesity. However, their long-term neuroendocrine effects—particularly those involving Orexin-A, a peptide implicated in energy regulation—remain poorly understood. The objective of this study was to compare the long-term metabolic, inflammatory, and orexinergic responses to different dietary strategies in adults with obesity. Methods: In this 12-month randomized, three-arm trial, 30 adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to a hypocaloric ketogenic diet (KD), a 16:8 time-restricted eating regimen (TRF16:8), or a 5:2 intermittent fasting protocol (ADF5:2). Anthropometric parameters, body composition, fasting glucose, lipid profile, inflammatory cytokines (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10), and plasma Orexin-A levels were assessed at baseline and every 3 months. Dietary adherence was monitored through structured logs and monthly assessments. Statistical analyses included repeated-measures models with sensitivity analyses adjusted for age and sex. Results: All participants completed the intervention. The ketogenic diet produced the largest sustained reductions in BMI, fat mass, fasting glucose, and total cholesterol over 12 months. TRF16:8 elicited more rapid early metabolic improvements and showed the most consistent longitudinal increase in Orexin-A levels. The ADF5:2 protocol resulted in moderate improvements across outcomes. In all groups, increases in Orexin-A were associated with markers of improved metabolic flexibility and reduced inflammation; however, mediation analyses were exploratory and non-causal. Between-group differences remained significant for fat mass, glucose, and Orexin-A trajectories after correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusions: The ketogenic diet was associated with the most pronounced long-term metabolic improvements, whereas 16:8 time-restricted eating yielded faster early responses and the most stable enhancement in Orexin-A levels. These findings indicate distinct metabolic and neuroendocrine adaptation profiles across dietary strategies. Given the small sample size, results should be interpreted cautiously, and larger trials are warranted to clarify the role of Orexin-A as a potential biomarker of dietary response in obesity. Full article

Rosemary extract (RE), rich in carnosic and rosmarinic acid, which have antibacterial/antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects, is a potential natural feed supplement for heat-stressed dairy buffaloes. This study systematically evaluated dietary RE effects on dairy buffaloes during hot weather. Twenty Mediterranean dairy buffaloes were randomly allocated into two groups for a 35-day trial: the control (CON) group receiving a basal diet, and the RE group receiving the same basal diet supplemented with 20 g/d of RE. Results showed RE tended to reduce buffalo body surface temperature; increased milk production, 4% fat-corrected milk, milk protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat; and optimized milk fatty acid profiles. In regard to blood, the RE group exhibited higher catalase activity, total antioxidant capacity, and concentrations of immunoglobulin A and M, together with lower concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. Additionally, RE markedly elevated concentrations of total volatile fatty acid, acetate, propionate, and butyrate; improved microbial α-diversity indices (Sobs and Ace); and increased the abundances of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Butyrivibrio spp., as well as the enrichment of multiple genera belonging to the family Lachnospiraceae. In conclusion, supplementing the diet of heat-stressed dairy buffaloes with 20 g/d of RE improves milk production and composition-related performance by optimizing the rumen ecosystem and enhancing systemic health status, with these effects observed as short-term responses under the conditions of the present study. Full article

Background: Cardiometabolic risk (CMR), including obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and impaired glucose regulation, disproportionately affects Hispanic/Latinx adults in the United States (U.S.). Although plant-forward dietary patterns are established as cardioprotective, less is known about how dietary patterns within Hispanic/Latinx subgroups relate to CMR. Methods: A narrative review was conducted of observational studies among U.S. Hispanic/Latinx adults (≥18 years) examining defined dietary patterns (a priori, a posteriori, or hybrid) in relation to CMR outcomes (e.g., BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, lipids). Risk of bias was assessed using an adapted version of the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria, including Seventh-day Adventist Latinx, Puerto Rican adults, Mexican American adults, Hispanic women, and a national Hispanic cohort. Plant-forward dietary patterns were associated with lower BMI and waist circumference, lower triglycerides and fasting glucose, and higher HDL-C. In contrast, energy-dense patterns characterized by refined grains, added sugars, processed meats, fried foods, solid fats, and sugar-sweetened beverages were associated with greater adiposity, poorer lipid profiles, and higher blood pressure. Traditional rice-and-beans–based patterns observed in Puerto Rican and Mexican American groups were associated with central adiposity and higher metabolic syndrome prevalence, despite modestly higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Study quality ranged from good (n = 4) to very good (n = 6). Conclusions: Across Hispanic/Latinx subgroups, plant-forward dietary patterns were associated with favorable cardiometabolic profiles, whereas refined and animal-based patterns aligned with higher CMR. Given the predominance of cross-sectional evidence, these findings should be interpreted as associative rather than causal. Culturally grounded dietary counseling, along with additional longitudinal and intervention studies, is needed to support cardiometabolic health in these populations. Full article

Resistance training (RT) influences endocrine pathways that control skeletal muscle (SM) growth. This review summarizes 25 years of evidence (January 2000–December 2025) from PubMed, Medline, and ScienceDirect, focusing on three aspects: (1) exercise types such as RT, speed, power, high-intensity interval training, and aerobic training at various intensities; (2) dietary factors, including caloric restriction, total protein, protein sources, amino acids, and carbohydrates; and (3) aging-related physiological factors that may impair the insulin/IGF-1 axis in SM, such as insulin resistance, fat infiltration, physical inactivity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. The data from Grade A evidence in systematic reviews and RCTs are prioritized to develop practical recommendations and future research directions for young, middle-aged, older, and very old individuals. Evidence regarding the effects of anabolic amino acids in women, middle-aged, and very old individuals, as well as locally mediated IGF-1 effects of any type of exercise, is limited. Full article