Search Results (33)

Background: Participation in home and wild food procurement (HWFP) activities (i.e., gardening, hunting, fishing, foraging, preserving food, raising livestock, and raising poultry for eggs) skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Procuring food through HWFP activities may have important food security and nutrition benefits, while also enhancing food sovereignty and food system resilience. This cross-sectional study examined the effect of HWFP activities on food security status, fruit and vegetable intake, and meat consumption. Methods: We used data collected in 2021 and 2022 from adults (n = 2001) through two statewide representative surveys in Maine and Vermont, United States. Dietary intake was assessed using the Dietary Screener Questionnaire. Food security status was assessed using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 6-item short-form food security module. We analyzed the data using linear regression, logistic regression, and ordinal logistic regression models. Results: Sixty-one percent of respondents engaged in HWFP activities; the majority of those gardened. Households engaging in most individual HWFP activities had greater odds of being food insecure. HWFP engagement was positively associated with fruit and vegetable consumption. Specifically, gardening was associated with an additional one cup-equivalent in fruit and vegetable consumption per week compared to respondents that did not garden. Furthermore, when exploring these relationships disaggregated by food security status, we find that this effect is stronger for food insecure households than food secure households. Respondents from households that hunted were more likely to eat wild game meat and also consumed red and white meat more frequently compared to households that did not hunt. Conclusions: Overall, our results indicate potential nutrition and food security benefits from engaging in HWFP activities. Future research should continue to examine a full suite of HWFP activities and their relationship to diet, health, food security, and food sovereignty. Full article

Background: Few studies have examined whether sleep is related to dietary intake in aging adults. To address this gap, this study investigated (1) the associations between sleep duration and sleep quality with fruits and vegetables (FV), fiber, and fat intake in lower-income midlife and older adults and (2) sex differences in these relationships. Methods: Baseline data from 163 ethnically diverse, lower-income midlife and older adults in the NIH-funded Steps for Change trial were analyzed. Dietary intake was assessed using the Block Fruit/Vegetable/Fiber and Fat Intake Screeners, operationalized as weekly servings. Sleep duration (hours per night) and quality were self-reported via the Stanford WELL for Life Scale. Linear regression models assessed the association between sleep duration and FV, fiber, and fat intake, adjusting for potential confounding covariates with separate models for sleep quality. Sex differences were tested using interaction terms, with stratified models also used to explore differences. Results: The sample was 73.2% female, with a mean age of 70.5 (SD = 9.7) years (range: 41–99). The mean sleep duration was 6.8 (1.2) hours per night, with 79.2% reporting fairly or very good sleep quality. Mean weekly servings were 24 for FV, 7 for fiber, and 18 for fat. Sleep duration was positively associated with FV intake (β = 2.2; p = 0.02). The interaction between duration and sex was marginally significant (p = 0.08), with a positive association in males (β = 5.5; p = 0.02) but not in females (β = 0.9; p = 0.41). No significant associations were found between sleep duration and fiber or fat intake or between sleep quality and any dietary intake outcomes. Conclusions: This study found that longer sleep duration was associated with higher FV intake in males but not in females. These findings suggest the possibility of sex differences in the sleep–diet relationship among aging populations that merit further exploration in longitudinal studies. Full article

Background: Multidisciplinary lifestyle interventions are being researched to treat fibromyalgia. However, the impact of nutrition as a key treatment component is little studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the SYNCHRONIZE + lifestyle multidisciplinary intervention in improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet, nutrition quality and dietary intake pattern in persons with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Methods: A pragmatic randomized clinical trial was conducted in primary care. Data were collected using the 17-item energy-restricted Mediterranean Adherence Screener (er-MEDAS), the food frequency questionnaire (sFFQ) and the 24 h recall questionnaire (24 HR), in addition to chrono-nutritional, anthropometric, and body composition data, at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12- month follow-up visits, and statistically analyzed. Results: A total of 158 participants were evaluated. Results showed the effectiveness of the intervention in improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The adherence depended on the group-time interaction being positive and significant at 3 and 6 months post-intervention in the INT group and on the participant age and educational level. Specifically, the intake of legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts and blue fish was increased, while the intake of sweets and pastries, butter and cream and red and processed meat was reduced. Furthermore, the intake of chips and candies was also reduced, and the consumption of fermented food (yogurts, cheese, kefir) increased. Thus, general diet quality improved. Interestingly, the intake of key nutrients such as protein and iron increased. Furthermore, the number of night eaters was decreased significantly. Muscle mass index was also improved in the intervention group. These results were maintained in the medium to long term. Conclusion: SYNCHRONIZE + is a brief, low-cost, multidisciplinary intervention effective in improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet and improving nutritional and dietary intake patterns in persons with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Further evaluation of the effect on quality of life and symptoms is needed. Full article

The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is characterized by a high intake of fruits and vegetables (FVs), which is considered as an important contributor to the beneficial effects of the MD pattern. In this cross-sectional study, we compared the food choices, evaluated by dietary habit questionnaires, of a sample of 995 adults, including 601 and 394 participants from Southern Italy and the Dominican Republic, respectively. In addition, we focused on their FV consumption, assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) questionnaire, and on its association with skin carotenoid levels as measured by the Veggie Meter^®. We found that a significantly higher percentage of Italians had five meals/day and breakfast compared to Dominicans (five meals/day: 43 vs. 25, p < 0.05; breakfast: 89 vs. 79, p < 0.05), whereas a lower percentage of participants from Italy consumed snacks between the two meals compared to the Dominican Republic population (47 vs. 70, p < 0.005). Most of the participants from both populations had breakfast at home. However, 59.3% of Italians and 27.5% of Dominicans (p = 0.005) had breakfast between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m., whereas 5.8% and 27.5% (p = 0.001) had breakfast after 9:00 a.m., respectively. Milk/yogurt and eggs were the most consumed foods for breakfast in Italy and the Dominican Republic, respectively. Regarding the main meals, most of the Italians and Dominicans had a first course for lunch and a second course for dinner. Of note, we observed that approximately half of the Italians ate FVs in their main meals and had a higher carotenoid score than the Dominicans. Interestingly, in the multiple linear regression analysis, we found that the carotenoid score was positively associated with sex (β = 0.078; p = 0.009), age (β = 0.008; p = 0.001), vegetable consumption (β = 0.12; p = 0.041) and the perception of a healthy diet (β = 0.12; p = 0.001) in the Dominic Republic population, while the carotenoid score was directly associated with sex (β = 54.97; p < 0.0001) and both vegetable (β = 25.42; p = 0.0008) and fruit (β = 38.61; p < 0.0001) consumption in the Italian sample. Our findings confirm the need to promote nutrition-based interventions to encourage FV intake, particularly in non-Mediterranean countries. Full article

Infertility, affecting 15 to 25% of couples in the most developed countries, is recognized by the World Health Organization as a public health issue at a global level. Different causes are acknowledged to reduce fertility in both sexes. In particular, about 40–50% of cases recognize a male factor. Dietary habits and lifestyle are acknowledged to influence sperm quality and are therefore important modifiable factors in male reproductive health. Conditions such as overweight/obesity, impaired glucose metabolism and determinants of metabolic syndrome, together with unhealthy lifestyle behavior, i.e., smoking cigarettes and physical inactivity, are suggested to have a negative impact on male fertility. While individual elements and characteristics of the Western diet and habits are considered risk factors for male infertility, the Mediterranean diet (MD) seems to promote reproductive potential for improving sperm quality. It is also interesting to note that previous observational studies reported a positive correlation between the consumption of the single food classes of the MD pattern (i.e., vegetables and fruits, poultry, fish and seafood, whole grains, low-fat dairy products) and the quality of several sperm parameters. To evaluate the relationship between sperm parameters and MD adherence, we performed a cross-sectional study on the seminal data of 300 males (mean age 34.6 ± 9.1 years) who spontaneously referred to our center of reproductive medicine. The evaluation of adherence to MD was performed with a validated 14-point Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) questionnaire. Our findings showed that sperm parameters such as sperm count, motility, viability and normal morphology are significantly and positively correlated with MEDAS, independently of BMI and age. In addition, the application of an ROC curve on MEDAS value vs. seminal alterations identified 6.25 as the score threshold value below which altered sperm parameters were more likely to occur [AUC = 0.096 (CI: 0.059–0.133; p < 0.00)]. Therefore, adhering to the MD with at least a MEDAS score of 6.26 increases the probability of normozoospermia. Moreover, subjects who had a MEDAS value lower than 6.25 had an Odds Ratio of 6.28 (CI = 3.967–9.945) for having at least one altered sperm parameter compared to those who were more adherent to the MD. In conclusion, our findings show that a higher adherence to the MD is associated with better semen parameters, in particular in relation to sperm count, sperm concentration, typical sperm morphology, and sperm progressive motility. Full article

Background and objectives: Current dietary patterns are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, in addition to significantly contributing to natural resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. The general adoption of healthy diets with a low environmental impact is timely. While dietary screeners have been used widely to assess the nutritional adequacy of diets, no simple tool that considers both human and environmental dimensions has been developed. Methods: We developed REFRESH (Rapid Evaluation FoR an Environmentally Sustainable and Healthy diet), a 10-item screener that briefly assesses the dietary environmental sustainability and healthiness at once by evaluating habitual consumption of key food groups for a healthy and environmentally sustainable diet. The scoring criteria are based on the EAT-Lancet Commission, FAO, and WHO recommendations. Overall, REFRESH score ranges from 0 to 10 points, with 0 being the lowest and 10 being the highest for adopting an environmentally sustainable healthy diet. Subsequently, we conducted a validation study to evaluate the reliability and validity of REFRESH. In this study, 100 participants were asked to complete the screener’s questionnaire. The results were then compared with a 7-day food record completed in the following week. The questionnaire’s reliability was evaluated by comparing reported servings in both dietary assessments. Additionally, we evaluated the capacity of REFRESH´s scoring system to capture dietary quality and environmental impact. Results: Preliminary validation study results indicated a mean REFRESH score of 5.73 points (range: 1–8) among the participants. Comparing the REFRESH data to the food records, we found a good correlation among both dietary tools. However, we identified that participants tended to slightly overestimate their consumption of legumes, fruits, and vegetables while underestimating their consumption of highly processed foods. The diet of participants who scored higher included a larger proportion of whole plant-based foods. This pattern led to a higher intake of fiber, a lower intake of saturated fats, and a 20% lower environmental impact. Discussion: REFRESH is a valid instrument for rapid estimation of healthy and environmentally sustainable diets and, thus, can be useful for research and clinical practice. The availability of such a validated screener is crucial for promoting environmentally sustainable healthy dietary changes in the general population. Full article

The purpose is to examine validity and reliability for an obesity risk assessment tool developed in Spanish for immigrant families with children, 3–5 years old using an 8-week cross-sectional design with data collected over 1 year at Head Start and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children [WIC]. Parent/child dyads (206) provided a child obesity risk assessment, three child modified 24 h dietary recalls, three child 36+ h activity logs and one parent food behavior checklist. Main outcome measures were convergent validity with nutrients, cup equivalents, and diet quality and three assessments of reliability that included item difficulty index, item discrimination index, and coefficient of variation. Validity was demonstrated for assessment tool, named Niños Sanos. Scales were significantly related to variables in direction hypothesized [p ≤ 0.05]: Healthy Eating Index, fruit/vegetable cup equivalents, folate, dairy cup equivalents, vitamins D, β-carotene, fiber, saturated fat, sugar, time at screen/ sleep/physical activity and parent behaviors. Three measures of reliability were acceptable. The addition of nutrient values as an analytical validation approach adds strength and consistency to previously reported Niños Sanos validation results using children’s blood biomarkers and body mass index. This tool can be used by health professionals as an assessment of obesity risk in several capacities: (1) screener for counseling in a clinic, (2) large survey, (3) guide for participant goal setting and tailoring interventions, and (4) evaluation. Full article

Young adult (YA) cancer survivors are at increased risk for chronic diseases and face age-dependent stressors that may hinder their ability to maintain healthy lifestyle behaviors. This study examined associations between reported mental health, eating beliefs, and health behaviors in YA cancer survivors. YA cancer survivors aged 18–39 years (n = 225) completed a self-administered REDCap^® survey, including the Perceived Stress Scale 10, PROMIS^® Anxiety and Depression, Eating Beliefs Questionnaire, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Dietary Screener Questionnaire, Godin–Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire, and demographic and diagnosis-related questions. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multiple linear regression were performed. Participants were mean 31.3 years old and 3.7 years post-treatment; 77.3% were women. Most participants reported White (78%) or Black or African American (11.2%) race and non-Hispanic ethnicity (84%). Adjusting for covariates, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression were associated with increased added sugar intake (p < 0.001) and eating beliefs (p < 0.001). Perceived stress and depression were associated with reduced vegetable intake (p < 0.05). There were no associations with fruit intake or physical activity in the adjusted models. Health behavior interventions for this population may address psychosocial needs by including a stress management or mind–body component. Further research including direct measures of health behaviors is warranted. Full article

This study aimed to assess the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet with serum Nitric oxide, Prostacyclin, and Thromboxane B₂ among Prinzmetal angina patients and healthy persons. This case-control study was conducted among 100 Prinzmetal angina patients and 100 healthy persons referred to the Ardabil Imam Khomeini hospital between 2021 and 2022. Blood samples were obtained from all study participants for measurement of serum Nitric oxide, Prostacyclin, and Thromboxane B₂. To calculate adherence to the Mediterranean diet, the ten-item screener was used. The serum Nitric oxide in patients who adhered more to the Mediterranean diet was higher than patients with less adherence (coeff. = 0.41 p = 0.04). The serum Prostacyclin level in patients with greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was 0.34 units higher than patients with less adherence (coeff. = 0.34 p = 0.02). The level of serum Thromboxane B₂ had a negative association with adherence to the Mediterranean diet (coeff. = −0.48 p = 0.04). The amount of consumption of olive oil, fruits, vegetables, and legumes in healthy people was more than Prinzmetal angina patients. In Prinzmetal angina patients, more adherence to the Mediterranean diet can decrease the serum Thromboxane B₂ and increase the serum Nitric oxide and Prostacyclin. Full article

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Rescue Plan (2021) allowed state agencies of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) the option of temporarily increasing the Cash-Value Benefit (CVB) for fruit and vegetable (FV) purchases. To examine the impact of this enhancement on WIC caregiver experience, the MA WIC State Office invited 4600 randomly selected MA WIC caregivers to complete an online survey (February–March 2022). Eligible adults had at least one child, had been enrolled at least a year, and were aware of the increase. Of those who opened the screener (n = 545), 58.9% completed it (n = 321). We calculated the frequencies of reporting increased FV outcomes and tested whether responses differed by race/ethnicity, market access, and food security. Most caregivers perceived the CVB increase to benefit FV purchasing (amount and quality, 71.0% and 55.5%), FV consumption (offered to children and personally consumed, 70.1% and 63.2%), and satisfaction with the WIC food package (37.1% reported improved satisfaction, pre- vs. post-increase). Probability of reporting improved outcomes was not found to differ by race/ethnicity, market access, or food security. CVB increases may pose important implications for dietary behaviors and satisfaction with WIC. Policymakers should consider making this increase permanent. Full article

Recent changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Cash-Value Benefit (CVB), which provides participants with money to spend on fruits and vegetables, have the potential to reduce disparities in healthy food access and food insecurity that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, few studies have examined how the changes to the CVB allotment that occurred during the pandemic influenced WIC participants’ perceptions of the benefit or their fruit and vegetable purchasing and consumption. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 51 WIC participants in Wilmington, Delaware. Survey measures included demographic questions, the Hunger Vital Sign food insecurity screener, and open-ended questions regarding perceptions of the CVB increase and its influence on participants’ fruit and vegetable purchasing and consumption. Data were analyzed using a hybrid inductive and deductive coding approach. The results demonstrate that higher CVB allotments increased WIC participants’ purchasing and consumption of fruits and vegetables, increased the frequency of their shopping occasions, and enhanced their dietary variety. Our findings also suggest that WIC participants highly value the increased CVB. Consequently, maintaining the increased CVB allotment could improve the nutritional outcomes of low-income mothers, infants, and children participating in WIC. Full article

While there is an association between Western diets and the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), this dietary association has remained unexplored in Palestine. The aim of this study was to examine how fiber and fruit and vegetable (FV) intakes are associated with CRC risk among Palestinian adults. We recruited 528 Palestinians between 2014 and 2016. We identified 118 patients who received CRC treatment at Augusta Victoria Hospital, East Jerusalem. We additionally identified 410 controls who consisted of community-based Palestinians without cancer. All participants completed a survey on demographics and a validated dietary intake food screener. Multivariable logistic regression models tested associations between fiber and FV intakes (categorized into quartiles) with CRC risk. After adjusting for significant covariates (age, sex, education, physical activity, smoking status, BMI, IBD, and family history of CRC), as fibers increased across increasing quartiles, the CRC risk significantly decreased (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.15–0.86, p-trend = 0.02). After adjusting for age and sex, as FV intake increased, the CRC risk significantly decreased (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.15–0.75, p-trend = 0.009). Consumption of fiber-rich foods was inversely associated with CRC risk. Understanding this relationship among Palestinians is essential in order to develop targeted, culturally relevant strategies that may potentially alleviate the burden of CRC. Full article

Background: The aging world population is accelerating rapidly. Physical self-concept (PSC) is one of the psychosocial factors with the greatest influence on an individual’s well-being and health. The traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) is considered one of the healthiest dietary models, as it is nutritionally complete and easy to follow. Objective: To assess the adherence to MDP and its association with the practice of physical activity (PA) and PSC levels in the older adult Spanish population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample of Spanish older adults (n = 342; older than 55 years old). Their PSC was assessed using a previously validated PSC questionnaire. Adherence to an MDP was assessed using a validated Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener questionnaire. Their PA was measured using the Spanish version of the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity Questionnaire. Data on age, sex, hypertension, cholesterol or diabetes suffered in the last 12 months, as well as weight, height, and BMI, were collected. Results: At the lowest levels of PSC, the percentage of individuals who were non-active and non-adhering to the MDP was lower compared to the highest levels (75.0% vs. 19.6; p = 0.001; Cramer’s V = 0.414, and 83.3% vs. 57.9%; p = 0.001; Cramer’s V = 0.221, respectively). This sample showed an abandonment of the most classic habits of the MDP, such as the consumption of olive oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts and fish. Conclusions: Non-adherence to the MDP and low levels of PA are associated with low levels of PSC in older adults. Full article

Women with low household income and from racial/ethnic minority groups are at elevated risk of food insecurity. Food insecurity during pregnancy is associated with overall less healthy diets, lower intake of the pregnancy-supportive nutrients iron and folate, and significant variations in diet across the course of a month. The goal of this study was to explore the impact of an ongoing $40/month supplement for fruits and vegetables (F&Vs) provided to pregnant people enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women and Children (WIC). Our primary outcome was food insecurity using the USDA 6-item survey, and our secondary outcome was dietary intake of F&Vs based on the 10-item Dietary Screener Questionnaire. Participants in intervention and comparison counties completed surveys at enrollment and approximately three months later (n = 609). Mean ± SD food insecurity at baseline was 3.67 ± 2.79 and 3.47 ± 2.73 in the intervention and comparison groups, respectively, and the adjusted between-group change from baseline to follow-up in food insecurity was 0.05 [95% CI: −0.35, 0.44] (p > 0.05). F&V intake (in cup equivalents) was 2.56 ± 0.95 and 2.51 ± 0.89 at baseline in the two groups, and the adjusted mean between-group difference in changes from baseline was −0.06 [−0.23, 0.11] (p > 0.05). Recruitment and data collection for this study coincided with the most intensive of America’s COVID relief efforts. Our results may indicate that small increases in highly targeted food resources make less of a difference in the context of larger, more general resources being provided to individuals and households in need. Full article

This study aims to identify the relationships between eating habits and psychological adjustment and health perception, and to analyze potential mediating role of healthy and unhealthy foods in the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and the psychological constructs and health perception. The sample was selected through stratified random cluster sampling and was composed of 788 university students. The participants responded to a MedDiet adherence screener and food consumption inventory to assess the eating habits, instruments measuring self-esteem, life satisfaction, curiosity and sense of coherence to assess the psychological adjustment, and single item measuring perceived health. The results revealed 41.9% of the participants had a high consumption of vegetables and 85.1% a low consumption of energy drinks, while 29.9% showed a high adherence to the MedDiet which was positively associated to each psychological variable and healthy foods and negatively with unhealthy foods. In conclusion, a higher adherence to the MedDiet, and the consumption of fruits and vegetables is related to higher psychological adjustment and health perception. However, the relationships between MedDiet and the psychological variables and health perception were fully or partially explained because of the consumption of healthy and unhealthy foods. Full article