Search Results (5,787)

Background: Cosmetic injection of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) into the submandibular glands is increasingly performed to enhance jawline contour. Although generally considered safe, unintended diffusion of the toxin can impair pharyngeal musculature and lead to dysphagia. Severe aspiration-prone dysphagia after esthetic submandibular gland injection has rarely been described. Case Presentation: A healthy 37-year-old woman developed acute oropharyngeal dysphagia the day after receiving cosmetic contouring injections with incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin^®), administered to both submandibular glands (20 units per gland, performed without ultrasound guidance). She presented to our rehabilitation medicine clinic 11 days later with severe difficulty swallowing solids and liquids. Her functional oral intake was severely restricted (Functional Oral Intake Scale [FOIS] score 3), and the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) score was 24. Videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) demonstrated markedly delayed pharyngeal swallow initiation, reduced palatal elevation, poor airway protection, consistent laryngeal penetration, and silent aspiration of thin liquids (Penetration–Aspiration Scale score 8). She underwent diet modification and structured dysphagia rehabilitation. At three months, repeat VFSS showed substantial improvement, with only occasional penetration of large-volume thin liquids, corresponding to FOIS 5 and EAT-10 score 8. By five months, VFSS confirmed complete resolution of penetration and aspiration with normalization of swallowing physiology, reflected by a FOIS score of 7 and EAT-10 score of 1. Conclusions: This case demonstrates that cosmetic incobotulinumtoxinA injection into the submandibular glands, particularly when performed without ultrasound guidance, can lead to significant oropharyngeal dysphagia. Clinicians performing esthetic lower-face procedures should be aware of this potential complication and ensure timely swallowing evaluation and rehabilitation when symptoms arise. Full article

Zanthoxylum bungeanum leaves (ZBL) are a phytogenic feed resource, but their energy value and functional effects in laying hens are not well defined. Two experiments were conducted. In Exp. 1, 96 healthy 38-week-old Roman Pink laying hens were allotted to either a control diet or a diet containing 5% ZBL (eight replicates, six hens per replicate) to determine apparent metabolizable energy (AME) using an indicator method (7 d adaptation, 3 d collection). The AME and nitrogen-corrected AME of ZBL were 5.46 and 5.33 MJ/kg, respectively. In Exp. 2, 832 healthy 41-week-old hens were randomly assigned to diets supplemented with 0, 1%, 2%, or 3% ZBL (8 replicates, 26 hens per replicate) for 8 weeks after 1 week adaptation. Dietary ZBL at 1% to 3% did not affect production performance (p > 0.05), but increased albumen height linearly (p < 0.05) and improved yolk color at 2% and 3% (p < 0.05). ZBL increased serum albumin (p < 0.05) with a linear tendency (p = 0.065), and elevated serum IgA and IgM linearly (p < 0.05). Serum total antioxidant capacity and total superoxide dismutase were increased (p < 0.05) with significant linear and quadratic responses (p < 0.05), while serum malondialdehyde was reduced (p < 0.05). In the liver, 3% ZBL increased total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05), hepatic catalase activity was decreased in all ZBL groups (p < 0.05), and hepatic malondialdehyde was reduced (p < 0.05). Cecal acetate increased linearly (p < 0.05), and propionate and butyrate increased with both linear and quadratic dose responses (p < 0.05). ZBL improved small intestinal morphology, especially duodenal villus height (p < 0.05). Gut microbiota was remodeled, with a marked reduction in norank_o__WCHB1-41 and increases in Ruminococcus, Pseudoflavonifractor, and several Coriobacteriales and Erysipelatoclostridiaceae taxa. Overall, ZBL provides usable energy and, at 2–3% inclusion, enhances egg quality, antioxidant status, humoral immunity, short-chain-fatty-acid production, and intestinal health without compromising laying performance. 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

Functional food plays an increasingly important role in shaping healthy dietary habits by integrating health-promoting components into consumers’ everyday diets and helping reduce food waste. Products developed using by-products and raw material streams from food processing can support the principles of the circular economy (CE) by improving resource efficiency and lowering the environmental footprint of the food system. In Poland, as in many countries worldwide, functional food is a rapidly growing category that can contribute to public health and serve as a driver of economic development. However, the excessive and scientifically unsupported use of the term “functional food” for marketing purposes may mislead consumers and weaken trust in this product group. From a CE perspective, transparent communication and informed consumer choices are essential, as they promote environmentally responsible behaviors and support sustainable production models. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge about functional food among residents of Eastern Poland, which is a less industrialized and predominantly agricultural region. The analysis focused on awareness of health benefits, consumption frequency, consumer attitudes, and interest in educational initiatives promoting functional food within CE principles. The study also examined whether consumers associate functional food with sustainability-oriented practices. The findings offer insights for educational and marketing strategies grounded in scientific evidence and highlight the potential of functional food in building a sustainable, resource-efficient food system. Full article

As age progresses and the population increases, the prevalence of dementia also increases. Pharmacological interventions are used to treat cognitive decline. Alternative approaches to traditional pharmacology, such as dietary interventions, may help combat cognitive decline in aging populations. This review summarizes existing investigations using complementary and alternative approaches as mitigating interventions. We also briefly note other important modifiable factors to decrease the risk of cognitive decline, and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Such approaches include nutrition and dietary interventions that show promising results for mitigating cognitive decline, as well as additional lifestyle modifying factors that are important to note (e.g., sleep, cardiovascular diseases, environmental factors, physical, social and leisure activities, cognitive stimulation, psychosocial factors, and sensory functioning) for their impact on cognition in aging. Despite the limited findings and support for complementary and alternative approaches in combating existing cognitive decline, findings suggest that such approaches may be most beneficial prior to the onset of cognitive impairment. Specific nutrition components, including flavonoids and omega fatty acids, may mitigate cognitive decline, and emerging evidence suggests that these nutrients may promote a healthy gut microbiota. Of the complementary and alternative approaches, adhering to specific diets, generally, has the most consistent support to combat cognitive decline. It is important to note that other non-nutritional or non-dietary modifiable lifestyle factors also show promising benefits in mitigating further cognitive decline. Future investigations and clinical trials with replication studies are needed to elucidate these complementary and alternative approaches as effective treatment options for clinicians. Full article

Background/Objectives: Modifiable lifestyle factors, particularly diet, are important for preventing type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, the evidence regarding this from prospective studies is limited in the Asian population. We therefore evaluated whether a diet-inclusive healthy lifestyle score (HLS) predicts incident T2D in a community-based cohort. Methods: We analyzed 7185 T2D-free adults from the KoGES Ansan–Ansung cohort, constructing the HLS (range: 0–5) based on five lifestyle factors: non-smoking, ≥30 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, low-risk alcohol consumption (≤40 g/day for men; ≤20 g/day for women), BMI of 18.5–24.9 kg/m², and a healthy diet, defined as a healthy plant-based diet index within the top 40th percentile. Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to examine the association between HLS and incident T2D risk. Results: During a median follow-up of 17.5 years, 1223 cases of T2D were identified. Compared to individuals with a score of 0 or 1, those with a score of 5 had a 56% lower risk of T2D after adjustment for potential confounders (HR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.32–0.62), and these associations remained consistent across subgroups stratified by age, sex, family history of T2D, hypertension, and residential area. However, the association was stronger among non-users of anti-diabetic medication than among users. Conclusions: Adherence to a healthier lifestyle, as indicated by a higher HLS, was significantly associated with a reduced risk of developing T2D among Korean adults. These findings underscore the importance of promoting integrated healthy lifestyle behaviors to prevent T2D. Full article

Background/Objectives: To promote sustainable and healthy diets, increased consumption of pulses (the edible grains of legumes) is recommended. Adolescence is a period in which perceptions and behaviours develop that can impact lifelong dietary behaviours. Therefore, this study aimed to understand how Australian adolescents perceive healthy, sustainable diets and perceive and consume pulses. Methods: Students (11–17 years old, median = 15 years, n = 33) in Brisbane, Australia, participated in school-based face-to-face focus groups and an online survey. Results: Students’ perceptions of healthy and sustainable dietary behaviours largely focused on the health aspects of food and consideration of food waste. The main factors that adolescents identified as influencing the health and sustainability of their diet were a lack of perceived responsibility for the impact of their meal choices and lack of knowledge of what constitutes a healthy and sustainable diet. Most students were unfamiliar with the term ‘pulses’ and lacked a desire to consume pulses more often. Consumption of pulses was below recommendations in national and international dietary guidelines. The main factors that adolescents identified as influencing pulse consumption related to students’ lack of capability to prepare pulses and the limited opportunities to access pulse-based foods. Conclusions: Perceptions of sustainable diets and pulses were very limited, and a lack of knowledge, skills, and limited availability were identified as barriers to their consumption. Education and cooking classes, in conjunction with increased availability of tasty pulse foods, are recommended to increase students’ pulse consumption as part of a healthy and sustainable diet. Full article

Background: The aim of the S.A.P.O.R.E. (Sustainable And Pocket friendly Options for nutritious and Responsible Eating) initiative was to offer students attending the University of Brescia a teaching kitchen programme to develop cooking and food skills (CS and FS) and promote healthy food choices. Methods: The course was structured in four weekly lessons, and both before and after, participants were asked to anonymously complete validated questionnaires to assess CS and FS, adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and dietary fibre intake. Levels of competence and satisfaction were assessed at the end of the course. Results: Twenty-eight students completed the course. Mean CS and FS scores significantly increased, from 56.1 ± 19.8 to 68.0 ± 16.5 (score range 0–98, p < 0.001) and from 92.7 ± 22.4 to 104.3 ± 21.0 (score range 0–133; p = 0.012), respectively. The MediLite score significantly increased from 9.43 ± 2.77 to 10.9 ± 2.06 (p = 0.006). The mean daily dietary fibre intake increased slightly from 17.8 ± 8.4 to 19.2 ± 7.1 g. More than 70% of participants correctly answered the questionnaire about acquired competence. The average cost for a single meal was EUR 1.50 ± 0.60, and the mean level of students’ satisfaction was 4.4 out of 5. Conclusions: This initiative was significantly associated with improvement in CS, FS and adherence to MD, but not in fibre intake. Full article

This paper investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practical adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) among students of the Teacher Education Study Program in Split. Recent trends indicate a decline in adherence within Mediterranean regions, a phenomenon known as the Mediterranean paradox. Studying the relationship between students’ knowledge and practice is critical within the context of SDG 3 and SDG 4, as it highlights the role of future educators in promoting healthy communities. A quantitative approach was employed using the MDNK methodology, supplemented with the MEDAS test, to assess adherence to the Mediterranean Diet. Statistical analysis included p-values and effect size measures to assess practical relevance. Students averaged 13.39/18 on the MDNK test, with most showing moderate MEDAS adherence and only 5 reaching high adherence. The year of study or employment status has not been shown as an influential factor. While most students possess a high level of knowledge on the MD’s key components and express a positive attitude toward this dietary pattern, a significant knowledge-practice gap exists, confirming the Mediterranean paradox among future teachers. The need for nutritional and food education within the university curriculum is essential to move beyond theoretical instruction and actively promote food literacy and practical skills. Full article

Background/Objectives: Metabolism is fundamental to all living organisms. It comprises a highly complex network of fine-tuned chemical reactions that sustain life but also generate by-products that damage cellular biomolecules, including DNA, thereby contributing to aging and disease. As metabolism can be largely modified by dietary alterations, it has the potential to positively or negatively affect health and disease. Interestingly, many aging-associated illnesses known to be influenced by diet also show a causal relation with DNA damage. As DNA keeps all instructions for life, and DNA lesions, if unrepaired, interfere with vital processes such as DNA replication and transcription, DNA damage may be an important mediator of the impact of nutrition on health and aging. Methods: Here, we discuss the genome-protective effects of various oral interventions in mice, aiming to elucidate which nutritional alterations lower DNA damage and promote overall health. Results: Our analysis covers a wide range of interventions with reported positive impacts on genomic stability, including modified diets (e.g., dietary restriction, probiotics, micronutrients, fatty acids, and hormones), NAD+ precursors (e.g., nicotinamide riboside), plant derivatives, and synthetic drugs. Among these, caloric and dietary restriction emerge as the most potent, generic modulators of DNA damage and repair processes, enhancing aspects of repair efficiency through metabolic recalibration and improved cellular resilience. Other interventions, like NAD+ precursors, activate partly similar pathways without necessitating reduced food intake. Conclusions: While many interventions show promise, their effects are often less pronounced or are process-specific compared to caloric or dietary restriction. Additionally, many substances lack comprehensive exploration of their genome-protective effects in mice, with often only a small number of studies examining their impact on genome stability. Moreover, the heterogeneity between studies limits direct comparison. However, the observed overlap in mechanistic effects between treatments lends credibility to their potential efficacy. Ultimately, a deeper understanding of these mechanisms could pave the way for translating these findings into, e.g., combination treatments to promote healthy aging in humans. Full article

Background/Objectives: Healthy ageing, focused on maintaining daily autonomy and cognitive function despite chronic comorbidities, poses a challenge for public health systems, especially for those aged ≥80, given the expected increase in this population. Promoting a healthy lifestyle in this group is essential to achieving this goal, with primary care services playing a key role in this effort. Therefore, our objective was to profile the participants based on these characteristics. Methods: The study included 222 non-institutionalized, dementia-free individuals (mean age 84.58 ± 3.72 years, 56.3% women) recruited from a primary healthcare service. Data were collected from medical records and interviews, including the cognitive Pfeiffer test, the functional Barthel index (BI), and ad hoc questionnaires (for lifestyle variables). Latent profiling analysis (LPA) was used to classify the participants. Results: The participants reported social support (97.7%), low-risk alcohol consumption (94.6%), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (85.1%), physical activity (74.8%), and never smoking (72.5%). Hypertension (86.5%), cataracts (74.3%), and osteoarticular diseases (68.5%) were the most frequent chronic conditions. Women showed a significantly different distribution of certain variables and a higher number of comorbidities (6.34 ± 2.38) than men (5.58 ± 2.44) (p = 0.019). After LPA, we found that 38.29% of individuals met characteristics compatible with healthy ageing, predominantly male (60%); the association of a high probability of cognitive impairment with a high degree (severe or total), exhibited by the profiles likely >85% women (18.5% of individuals); physical activity, smoking, osteoporosis, anxiety, COPD, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and creatinine blood levels exhibited statistical differences between profiles; and the probability of dependence severity was associated with an increase in age, although cognitive status conservation was associated being male. Conclusions: The studied +80 group seems to follow a healthy lifestyle, as self-reported. Women fare worse than men in resilient ageing. While common factors related to dysfunctionality did not differentiate between profiles, CKD, an increasingly common age-related condition, did. Full article

Chronic low-grade inflammation, or “inflammaging,” represents a central mechanism linking dietary patterns, gut microbiome composition, and biological aging. Evidence from Blue Zone populations and Mediterranean diet studies demonstrates that specific nutritional interventions are associated with up to 23% lower all-cause mortality, with analyses suggesting that part of this association may be mediated by measurable improvements in inflammatory biomarkers. This paper synthesizes published evidence from Mediterranean diet trials, centenarian microbiome studies, and digital health platforms to propose a comprehensive digital health framework that integrates quarterly inflammation and microbiome monitoring with continuous lifestyle tracking to deliver personalized longevity interventions. This paper introduces the Longevity-Inflammation Index (L-II), a composite score combining high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and microbiome-derived markers, with scoring algorithms derived from centenarian population studies. The proposed platform leverages artificial intelligence to generate evidence-based recommendations adapted from centenarian and Mediterranean dietary patterns. Published evidence from multiple randomized controlled trials demonstrates that Mediterranean dietary interventions reduce hs-CRP by 18–32%, increase microbiome diversity by 6–28%, and improve metabolic markers including HOMA-IR and TG/HDL ratios. Digital health platforms demonstrate sustained engagement rates of 58–84% at 12 months, with dietary logging frequencies of 4–6 days per week. Cost-effectiveness analyses of dietary interventions show incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of USD 2100–4800 per quality-adjusted life year gained. This inflammation-centered digital health framework offers a scalable approach for translating longevity research into practical interventions for healthy aging, with validation studies needed to confirm the integrated platform’s efficacy and real-world implementation feasibility. Full article

Background/Objectives: Some Japanese people still adhere to a systematic traditional Japanese diet pattern (the Shokuyo diet) consisting mainly of brown rice, vegetables, legumes, and small amounts of fish. We investigated the impact of this dietary pattern on the intestinal microbiota of its female consumers. Methods: The intestinal microbiota of 19 Japanese females in their 60s and 70s consuming the Shokuyo diet (Shokuyo diet group) and 50 females of the same age consuming a normal Japanese diet (NJ diet group) were compared. The NJ diet group was further subdivided into a healthy NJ diet H subgroup, comprising females (n = 19) without any diseases, and an unhealthy NJ diet UH subgroup (n = 31) consisting of females with certain diseases, and a subgroup analysis was performed. Intestinal microbiota analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results: The β-diversity of the intestinal microbiota significantly differed between the Shokuyo diet and NJ diet groups. Similarly, in the subgroup analysis, β-diversity also significantly differed between the NJ diet UH subgroup and the Shokuyo diet group. However, no significant difference was observed between the NJ diet H and Shokuyo diet groups. These results indicate that the intestinal microbial composition of the Shokuyo diet group resembled that of the healthy participants, and that differences in intestinal microbial composition between the Shokuyo and NJ diet groups were strongly influenced by the presence of participants with diseases in the NJ diet group. That is, differences in β-diversity may have been strongly mediated by the health status of the participants. Conclusions: Consumption of the Shokuyo diet may be associated with a healthy intestinal microbial composition in older Japanese female, suggesting its potential as a viable dietary intervention option. Full article

The circadian cycle regulates metabolism in response to external stimuli, such as light exposure, sleep schedules, and eating patterns. However, misalignment between internal biological rhythms and social demands can compromise food choices, potentially leading to overweight and obesity. This research aimed to assess how a person’s chronotype links to social jet lag (SJL), which in turn would relate to their nutritional status and food consumption patterns as a university student. 617 students from a State University located in the State of Paraná, Brazil, completed a cross-sectional research study that collected sociodemographic information/anthropometrics by means of an online survey. It included self-reported height/weight data and dietary habits. The Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ) was utilized to determine each participant’s chronotype classification and SJL calculation. Researchers found that nearly half of the students (49.3%) displayed an Intermediate Chronotype, which is associated with a diet that contained elements of the “Mixed” Diet, meaning there are equal portions of healthy food (Fresh Fruits, Beans, etc.) and unhealthy foods (Sweetened Beverages). The multivariate logistic regression analyses identified age as a significant predictor of obesity risk (OR: 1.15, p < 0.001), while dietary habits such as fruit consumption played a protective role. Additionally, having a breakfast protected them from being classified as obese compared to those who did not eat breakfast (OR = 0.59). Contrary to expectations, late-night supper was not a statistically significant predictor in the adjusted model. Predictors of an Intermediate chronotype included being male and eating morning snacks regularly. The results of this study suggest that students with an intermediate chronotype will predictably have skewed eating patterns, such as skipping breakfast and eating late—both of which affect obesity risks. Nutritional strategies for university students should focus on promoting circadian regularity and optimizing meal timing. Full article

This study investigated the effects of amylose/amylopectin (AM/AP) ratios in low-protein (LP) diets on the growth performance, fat deposition, and nutrient utilization in goslings. A total of 288 healthy, 35-day-old male Jiangnan White Geese were randomly divided into four treatment groups: one group fed a normal protein diet (16%) with an AM/AP ratio of 0.34 (NPR_0.34), and three groups fed low protein diets (14%) with different AM/AP ratios (LPR_0.26, LPR_0.34, LPR_0.44). Each group consisted of six replicates, with 12 geese per replicate, and they were fed for 28 days. The results showed that the body weight at 63 days and average daily gain (ADG) of the LPR_0.44 group geese were significantly higher than those of the other groups (p < 0.01), while the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) was lower (p < 0.05). The abdominal and mesenteric fat contents were lower in the LPR_0.44 group than in the LPR_0.26 group (p < 0.05), whereas the breast and leg muscle yields were higher (p < 0.05). The breast muscle redness (a*) of the LPR_0.34 and LPR_0.44 groups was higher than in the NPR_0.34 group at 45 min (p < 0.05). The levels of C6:0, C8:0, C11:0, C12:0, and C13:0 in breast muscle saturated fatty acids (SFAs) of the LPR_0.44 group were higher, while that of C18:0 was lower compared with the LPR_0.26 group (p < 0.05). The serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TGs) in the LPR_0.44 group were lower than in the LPR_0.26 group (p < 0.05). Hepatic lipase (HL) activity was significantly lower in the LPR_0.44 group (p < 0.01). Regarding hepatic fatty acids, the levels of butyric acid (C4:0), lauric acid (C12:0), and nervonic acid (C24:1) were lower in the LPR_0.44 group than in the LPR_0.26 group (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activities, or nutrient utilization among the groups. (p > 0.05). In conclusion, adjusting the AM/AP ratio to 0.44 in a low-protein diet improved growth performance, regulated lipid metabolism, and maintained intestinal function in goslings. Full article