Search Results (2,832)

The purpose of this study was to examine vegetable consumption and its relationship with lifestyle characteristics among children and adolescents. Data from a health survey administered to a representative sample of 177,091 schoolchildren between the ages of 8 and 17 were employed in this observational, cross-sectional investigation. Physical activity level, screen time, and sleeping patterns were assessed using self-completed questionnaires. Vegetable consumption and dietary habits were analyzed using the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Adolescents. Participants consuming vegetables more than once daily were categorized as consumers vs. non-consumers. Physical education teachers measured anthropometric and physical fitness factors. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis were conducted, and the odds ratio with the corresponding 95% confidence interval was calculated and adjusted for confounders. Vegetables were consumed once or more times a day by more females than males (25.5% vs. 24.0%, p < 0.001). In both sexes, vegetable consumers slept more, ate healthier, spent less time on screens, and had better anthropometric and aerobic fitness measurements than non-consumers. Healthy eating practices, such as regularly consuming fruits, legumes, nuts, and dairy products, were strongly correlated with vegetable intake. For every one-year increase in age, the odds of being a vegetable consumer decreased by 8% and 10% in boys and girls, respectively. Overweight/obese participants had lower odds of being a vegetable consumer by 20%. Increased screen time, inadequate physical activity, and insufficient sleeping hours decreased the odds of being a vegetable consumer by 22%, 30%, and 25%, respectively (all p-values < 0.001). Overall, a healthier lifestyle profile was associated with higher vegetable intake for both sexes among children and adolescents. Full article

Background/Objectives: Perceptions of obesity critically influence people’s eating behaviors and responses to food stimuli. However, few studies have investigated the impact of negative body perception on behavioral and neural responses to food stimuli. This study investigates how elevated body dissatisfaction modulates food-related inhibitory control. Methods: Fifty-one participants comprising three cohorts—overweight/obese individuals (OO), normal-weight participants exhibiting high negative body image (HNN), and healthy controls—performed a food-specific inhibitory control task under EEG recording. Results: The results showed that the HNN cohort achieved superior no-go accuracy and enhanced inhibitory control compared to controls. An event-related potentials (ERPs) analysis revealed increased conflict detection (P200) for high-calorie foods and reduced conflict resolution (LPP) in the HNN group, similar to the overweight/obese group. A multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) identified earlier neural discrimination in the HNN group, suggesting more efficient inhibitory processing. Conclusions: These findings underscore negative body perception as a critical modulator of food-related cognitive control mechanisms. Full article

Background: Clinical outcomes among older adults hospitalized with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in the setting of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to evaluate whether MHO status is associated with different rates of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) during HFpEF-related hospitalizations compared to patients without MHO. Methods: Data from the 2019 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was analyzed using relevant ICD-10 codes to identify HFpEF admissions in older adults. Propensity score matching (1:1) was applied to generate balanced cohorts of patients with and without MHO. Multivariable adjustments were performed to assess primary outcomes, including MACCEs, all-cause mortality (ACM), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), dysrhythmia, cardiac arrest (CA), and stroke. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Each MHO cohort included 22,405 patients with a median age of 75 years. The MHO+ group demonstrated a significantly higher risk of dysrhythmia (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.21–1.43, p < 0.001). Interestingly, an “obesity paradox” was observed, as the MHO+ cohort had lower odds of MACCEs (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.61–0.81, p < 0.001), ACM (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.54–0.82, p < 0.001), and AMI (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.59–0.86, p = 0.001) compared to MHO−. No significant differences were found for CA or stroke between the groups. Conclusions: Although the MHO+ group had an elevated risk of dysrhythmia, they exhibited more favorable outcomes in terms of MACCEs, ACM, and AMI—supporting the concept of an “obesity paradox.” Further research is needed to better understand the role of MHO as a comorbid condition in patients with HFpEF. Full article

A dietary supplement, trans-resveratrol and hesperetin (tRES+HESP)—also known as GlucoRegulate—induces increased expression of glyoxalase 1 (Glo1) by activation of transcription factor Nrf2, countering accumulation of the reactive dicarbonyl glycating agent, methylglyoxal. tRES+HESP corrected insulin resistance and decreased fasting and postprandial plasma glucose and low-grade inflammation in overweight and obese subjects in a clinical trial. The aim of this study was to explore, for the first time, health-beneficial gene expression other than Glo1 induced by tRES+HESP in human endothelial cells and fibroblasts in primary culture and HepG2 hepatoma cell line and activity of cis-resveratrol (cRES) as a Glo1 inducer. We measured antioxidant response element-linked gene expression in these cells in response to 5 µM tRES+HESP by the NanoString method. tRES+HESP increases gene expression linked to the prevention of dicarbonyl stress, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, proteotoxicity and hyperglycemia-linked glycolytic overload. Downstream benefits were improved regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism and decreased inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling and senescence markers. The median effective concentration of tRES was ninefold lower than cRES in the Glo1 inducer luciferase reporter assay. The GlucoRegulate supplement provides a new treatment option for the prevention of type 2 diabetes and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease and supports healthy aging. Full article

Background/Objectives: The association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and body size phenotypes in metabolically diverse but apparently healthy adult populations remains inadequately understood. This study investigated the association between CKD and body size phenotypes in a nationally representative sample of healthy Korean adults. Methods: Data from 8227 participants in the 2019–2021 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Participants were categorized into four body size phenotypes by combining BMI status (normal weight or obese) with metabolic health status (healthy or abnormal)—MHNW (Metabolically Healthy Normal Weight), MANW (Metabolically Abnormal Normal Weight), MHO (Metabolically Healthy Obese), or MAO (Metabolically Abnormal Obese). CKD was defined based on the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). To assess the association between CKD and body size phenotypes, multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: CKD prevalence was 4.4%. MANW and MAO made up 12.6% and 26.4% of the CKD group, compared to 5.0% and 13.2% of the non-CKD group. CKD prevalence by phenotype was observed as follows: MHNW, 3.2%; MANW, 10.5%; MHO, 4.0%; and MAO, 8.5%. CKD odds were highest in the MAO group (OR: 3.770, 95% CI: 2.648–5.367), followed by the MANW (OR: 2.492, 95% CI: 1.547–4.016) and MHO (OR: 1.974, 95% CI: 1.358–2.870) groups. MAO individuals carried a higher CKD risk than MHO individuals (OR: 1.897, 95% CI: 1.221–2.945). Conclusions: Among apparently healthy adults, body size phenotypes—particularly those with metabolic abnormalities—were significantly associated with the presence of CKD. These findings highlight the need to assess both metabolic health and body composition for effective CKD prevention and management. Full article

Background/Objectives: Conventional ketogenic diets, although effective for weight loss, often contain high total and saturated fat intake, which leads to increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Thus, the Healthy Ketogenic Diet (HKD) was developed to address these concerns. It emphasizes calorie restriction, limiting net carbohydrate intake to 50 g per day, prioritizing unsaturated fats, and reducing saturated fat intake. However, adherence to the HKD remains a challenge in urban, time-constrained environments. Therefore, this pilot randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of Healthy Ketogenic Diet Ready-To-Eat (HKD-RTE) meals (provided for the first month only) versus HKD alone on weight loss and metabolic parameters among overweight adults. Methods: Multi-ethnic Asian adults (n = 50) with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 27.5 kg/m² were randomized into the HKD-RTE group (n = 24) and the HKD group (n = 26). Both groups followed the HKD for six months, with the HKD-RTE group receiving HKD-RTE meals during the first month. Five in-person workshops and mobile health coaching through the Nutritionist Buddy Keto app helped to facilitate dietary adherence. The primary outcome was the change in body weight at 6 months. Linear regression was performed on the change from baseline for each continuous outcome, adjusting for demographics and relevant covariates. Logistic regression was performed on binary weight loss ≥ 5%, adjusting for demographics and relevant covariates. Results: In the HKD group, participants’ adherence to the 50 g net carbohydrate target was 15 days, while that in the HKD-RTE group was 19 days over a period of 30 days. Participants’ adherence to calorie targets was 21 days in the HKD group and 23 days in the HKD-RTE. The average compliance with the HKD-RTE meals provided in the HKD-RTE group was 55%. The HKD-RTE group experienced a greater percentage weight loss at 1 month (−4.8 ± 3.0% vs. −1.8 ± 6.2%), although this was not statistically significant. This trend continued up to 6 months, with the HKD-RTE group showing a greater percentage weight reduction (−8.6 ± 6.8% vs. −3.9 ± 8.6%; p = 0.092). At 6 months, the HKD-RTE group had a greater reduction in total cholesterol (−0.54 ± 0.76 mmol/L vs. −0.05 ± 0.56 mmol/L; p = 0.283) and LDL-C (−0.43 ± 0.67 mmol/L vs. −0.03 ± 0.52 mmol/L; p = 0.374) compared to the HKD group. Additionally, the HKD-RTE group exhibited greater reductions in systolic blood pressure (−8.3 ± 9.7 mmHg vs. −5.3 ± 11.0 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (−7.7 ± 8.8 mmHg vs. −2.0 ± 7.0 mmHg), and HbA1c (−0.3 ± 0.5% vs. −0.1 ± 0.4%) than the HKD group (not statistically significant for any). Conclusions: Both HKD-RTE and HKD led to weight loss and improved metabolic profiles. The HKD-RTE group tended to show more favorable outcomes. Short-term HKD-RTE meal provision may enhance initial weight loss, with sustained long-term effects. Full article

Introduction: Night shift work (NSW) has been increasingly addressed in the scientific literature, as it is considered a probable carcinogen. In this study, we investigated the association of NSW with health problems, unhealthy behaviors, and occupational carcinogens. Methods: Cross-sectional study with a sample of 47,953 workers from the 2019 National Health Survey. NSW prevalence was estimated according to sociodemographic characteristics. To investigate the associations of NSW with all study variables, gender stratified logistic regression models were used. The odds-ratio and 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Results: Among men, there was a significant association of NSW with sleep disorders (OR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.17–1.65), tiredness (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.41–2.00), obesity (OR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.20–1.66), unhealthy food consumption (OR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.12–1.46), handling of radioactive material (OR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.61–3.72), and biological material (OR = 3.18; 95% CI: 3.15–4.80). Among females, NSW was associated with the same variables except obesity, but depressive feelings (OR = 1.35 95% CI: 1.09–1.67), frequent alcohol intake (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.23–1.78), handling of chemical substances (OR = 1.54; OR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.20–1.97), and passive smoking at work (OR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.12–1.86) were highly significant. Conclusion: Night shift workers are more vulnerable to occupational carcinogen exposure, experience greater impacts on their well-being, and are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors. These findings should be considered in managing and organizing night work in the workplace. Actions to promote healthy work environments should be encouraged to protect workers’ health. Full article

Background/Objectives: Food-related memory influences appetite regulation, with memory inhibition potentially reducing cravings. While obesity is linked to inhibitory deficits, how restrained eating affects memory suppression in healthy-weight individuals remains unclear. This study examined the cognitive and neural mechanisms of food-memory suppression in young women. Methods: Forty-two female participants completed a think/no-think task with high-/low-calorie food cues while an EEG was recorded. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were assessed and time–frequency analyses (theta/beta oscillations) were performed. Results: Restrained eaters showed reduced memory control for both food types. The ERP analysis revealed significant N200 amplitude differences between think/no-think conditions (p = 0.03) and a significant interaction between food calories and think/no-think conditions (p = 0.032). Theta oscillations differed by group, food calories, and conditions (p = 0.038), while beta oscillations reflected food-cue processing variations. Conclusions: In conclusion, restrained eaters exhibit distinct neural processing and attenuated food-memory suppression. These results elucidate the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying dietary behavior, suggesting that targeted interventions for maladaptive eating could strengthen memory inhibition. Full article

Background/Objectives: Prioritizing diet- or exercise-related self-efficacy and social support with their interactions may improve the effectiveness of interventions aimed at increasing daily fruit/vegetable intake and exercise, thereby reducing the risk of metabolic disorders in abdominally obese women. This study aimed to identify the profiles of diet- or exercise-related self-efficacy and social support among women with abdominal obesity, examine profiles related to insufficient fruit/vegetable intake and exercise, and explore associating factors of these profiles. Methods: A cross-sectional investigation in central south mainland China collected sociodemographic, anthropometric, and health-related variables, diet-related self-efficacy (Diet-SE) and social support (Diet-SS), exercise-related self-efficacy (Exercise-SE) and social support (Exercise-SS), and daily fruit/vegetable intake and exercise. We used latent profile analysis to identify distinct profiles, and binary logistic regression to examine the profiles’ behaviors and associating factors. Results: A total of 327 abdominally obese women were categorized into four profiles of Diet-SE and Diet-SS, and five profiles of Exercise-SE and Exercise-SS. Women in the Diet Dual-Low Group were associated with insufficient daily fruits/vegetables intake. Women in the Exercise Dual-Low Group or Exercise-SS Medium–Low Group were more likely to engage in insufficient daily exercise. Conclusions: Our findings align with previous evidence that women with low diet- or exercise-related self-efficacy and social support are at increased risk for insufficient daily fruit/vegetable intake or exercise. Additionally, medium Exercise-SS is associated with insufficient exercise behaviors, suggesting that interventions targeting healthy exercise should be initiated earlier among women with medium Exercise-SS, rather than waiting for it to decline to low level. Full article

Purpose: To review parental pre-pregnancy and pregnancy exposures in relation to pediatric cancer (diagnosis before age 20). Methods: We conducted literature searches using Ovid Medline and Scopus to find primary research studies, review articles, and meta-analyses published from 2014 to 17 March 2021. Results: Strong evidence links increased risk of childhood cancer with maternal diabetes, age, and alcohol and coffee consumption during pregnancy. Both paternal and maternal cigarette smoking before and during pregnancy are associated with childhood cancers. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure in utero has long been known to be causally associated with increased risk of vaginal/cervical cancers in adolescent girls. More recent evidence implicates in utero DES exposure to testicular cancer in young men and possible intergenerational effects on ovarian cancer in the granddaughters of women exposed to DES during pregnancy. There is strong evidence that childhood cancer risk is also associated with both high and very low birth weight and with gestational age. Evidence is also strong for the protective effects of maternal vitamin consumption and a healthy diet during pregnancy. Unlike early studies, those reviewed here show no association between in utero exposure to medical ionizing radiation, which may be explained by reductions over time in radiation doses, avoidance of radiation during pregnancy, and/or by inadequate statistical power to detect small increases in risk, rather than a lack of causal association. Evidence is mixed or conflicting for an association between childhood cancer and maternal obesity, birth order, cesarean/instrumental delivery, and prenatal exposure to diagnostic medical radiation. Evidence is weak or absent for associations between childhood cancer and multiple gestations or assisted reproductive therapies, as well as prenatal exposure to hormones other than DES, and medications. Full article

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy in developed countries. Risk factors for EC include metabolic alterations (obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance), hormonal imbalance, age at menopause, reproductive factors, and inherited conditions, such as Lynch syndrome. For the inherited forms, several genes had been implicated in EC occurrence and development, such as POLE, MLH1, TP53, PTEN, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, CTNNB1, ARID1A, PPP2R1A, and FBXW7, all mutated at high frequency in EC patients. However, gene function impairment is not necessarily caused by mutations in the coding sequence of these and other genes. Gene function alteration may also occur through post-transcriptional control of messenger RNA translation, frequently caused by microRNA action, but transcriptional impairment also has a profound impact. Here, we review how chromatin modifications change the expression of genes whose impaired function is directly related to EC etiopathogenesis. Chromatin modification plays a central role in EC. The modification of chromatin structure alters the accessibility of genes to transcription factors and other regulatory proteins, thus altering the intracellular protein amount. Thus, DNA structural alterations may impair gene function as profoundly as mutations in the coding sequences. Hence, its central importance is in the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of EC patients, with the caveat that chromatin alteration is often difficult to identify and needs investigations that are specific and not broadly used in common clinical practice. The different phases of the healthy endometrium menstrual cycle are characterized by differential gene expression, which, in turn, is also regulated through epigenetic mechanisms involving DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, and non-coding RNA action. From a medicolegal and policy-making perspective, the implications of using epigenetics in cancer care are briefly explored as well. Epigenetics in endometrial cancer is not only a topic of biomedical interest but also a crossroads between science, ethics, law, and public health, requiring integrated approaches and careful regulation. Full article

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a group of metabolic defects that include hypertension, insulin resistance, visceral obesity, fatty liver disease, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). The first step in controlling the progression of MetS is lifestyle changes, including dietary modification. Regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other plant foods negatively correlates with the risk of developing chronic diseases. Green leafy vegetables (GLVs) are a key element of healthy eating habits and an important source of vitamins C and E, carotenoids—mainly β-carotene and lutein—and minerals. This review discusses and summarizes the current knowledge on the health benefits of consuming GLVs in the prevention and treatment of MetS to provide a compendium for other researchers investigating new natural products. Full article

Pleurotus eryngii is an edible mushroom with previously characterized β-glucans. Its potential to ameliorate postprandial glycemia and regulate appetite at the postprandial state has been previously shown. However, its effect on protein digestion remains unexplored. We aimed to investigate the effect of baked P. eryngii with a known β-glucan content (4.5 g) on plasma free amino acids of patients with central obesity and metabolic abnormalities at a postprandial state. In this acute, randomized controlled cross-over study, thirteen healthy male volunteers consumed one meal that was prepared with P. eryngii and one control meal; each meal was separated by one month. Blood was collected, and plasma was isolated at different timepoints before and after the consumption. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to quantify 24 free amino acids in the plasma samples. The area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) was computed, and the AUCi for aromatic amino acids was found to be higher after the consumption of the control meal compared to the P. eryngii meal (p = 0.027 for phenylalanine, p = 0.008 for tyrosine, and p = 0.003 for tryptophan). The above novel findings suggest that the β-glucans present in P. eryngii mushrooms are potential modulators of AA release into the bloodstream. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pregnancy is associated with increased procoagulant conditions, and when combined with obesity, it can elevate the risk of thrombosis. The study aims to assess thrombosis risk markers during pregnancy in relation to obesity. Methods: Somatically healthy women aged 18–42 years with spontaneous pregnancies who did not receive specific antithrombotic treatment were enrolled in the study (n = 97). The participants were divided into groups based on pregestational BMI: the first group consisted of patients who had a BMI ≤ 25 (n = 42), and the second group consisted of patients who were overweight (BMI > 25) and obese (BMI > 30) (n = 55). The control group comprised healthy, non-pregnant, non-obese women (n = 10). Results: Fibrinogen levels, elevated during pregnancy, were higher in the II and III trimesters, with gestational period having a greater influence than BMI. Moderate D-dimer accumulation was observed regardless of obesity, but higher levels were seen in obese women during the III trimester, indicating the dissolution of intravascular fibrin deposits. Soluble fibrin was significantly higher in obese and overweight women during the II trimester and elevated in both groups during the III trimester, correlating with D-dimer accumulation and indicating thrombus formation. A decrease in platelet aggregation ability was observed correlating with D-dimer and soluble fibrin patterns. Conclusions: A significant accumulation of thrombosis risk markers was observed in the III trimester compared to the II, occurring earlier in obese and overweight pregnant women and indicating a higher risk of thrombotic complications in obesity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Digital food-related videos significantly influence cravings, appetite, and weight outcomes; however, the dynamic neural mechanisms underlying appetite fluctuations during naturalistic viewing remain unclear. This study aimed to identify neural activity patterns associated with moment-to-moment appetite changes during naturalistic food-cue video viewing and to examine their relationships with cravings and weight-related outcomes. Methods: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected from 58 healthy female participants as they viewed naturalistic food-cue videos. Participants concurrently provided continuous ratings of their appetite levels throughout video viewing. Hidden Markov Modeling (HMM), combined with machine learning regression techniques, was employed to identify distinct neural states reflecting dynamic appetite fluctuations. Findings were independently validated using a shorter-duration food-cue video viewing task. Results: Distinct neural states characterized by heightened activation in default mode and frontoparietal networks consistently corresponded with increases in appetite ratings. Importantly, the higher expression of these appetite-related neural states correlated positively with participants’ Body Mass Index (BMI) and post-viewing food cravings. Furthermore, these neural states mediated the relationship between BMI and food craving levels. Longitudinal analyses revealed that the expression levels of appetite-related neural states predicted participants’ BMI trajectories over a subsequent six-month period. Participants experiencing BMI increases exhibited a significantly greater expression of these neural states compared to those whose BMI remained stable. Conclusions: Our findings elucidate how digital food cues dynamically modulate neural processes associated with appetite. These neural markers may serve as early indicators of obesity risk, offering valuable insights into the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms linking everyday media exposure to food cravings and weight management. Full article