Search Results (4,583)

Background: The use of wearable sensors to measure and monitor heart rate has exponentially grown in recent years, representing an inexpensive, time-efficient, and non-invasive method to assess the status of cardiovascular fitness and the autonomic nervous system. Validating new devices against a criterion standard, such as electrocardiography (ECG), is essential to ensure their accuracy and reliability. This study examined the accuracy and validity of the Prevayl heart rate monitor against 3-lead ECG. Methods: Twenty-six healthy adults (15 female, mean age 32.0 ± 10.4 years) completed a 16-min, incremental running test on a treadmill. Heart rate data were recorded simultaneously throughout the test via ECG and the Prevayl wearable and compared retrospectively. Beat count error (%), mean heart rate absolute error (beats per minute (bpm)), and percentage error (bpm) were calculated. In addition, a Bland–Altman analysis and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were conducted to assess agreement and correlation, respectively. Results: The Prevayl device demonstrated a median beat count agreement of 100.5% with ECG (range: 98.6–104.4%; N_part = 26). Strong correlations were observed between ECG and Prevayl for both raw beat count (r = 0.94, p < 0.01) and heart rate (beats per minute (bpm)) from ECG and the Prevayl algorithm (r = 0.96, p < 0.01). Across running speeds (0–12 kph), a strong correlation was found between raw beat count from ECG and Prevayl (r = 0.82–0.89, p < 0.01) and between bpm from ECG and Prevayl (r = 0.86–0.93, p < 0.01). Bland–Altman plots demonstrated negligible systematic bias. Conclusions: The Prevayl system provides valid measurements when compared to ECG during incremental running. This is demonstrated through strong correlations to ECG heart rate data at different speeds and with different analysis methods, supporting its use for monitoring cardiovascular responses during exercise. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pregnancy involves significant hormonal, cardiovascular, and physiological shifts that may potentially affect the vestibular system. The utricle and saccule, the two primary otolith organs, are responsible for detecting linear acceleration and maintaining equilibrium. This study aims to objectively evaluate the functional status of these organs throughout the three trimesters of pregnancy using Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMPs). Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 64 healthy primigravida women (mean age 29.4 ± 2.3 years). Cervical VEMP (cVEMP) and ocular VEMP (oVEMP) tests were performed at three distinct time points: the first (8–9 weeks), second (20–21 weeks), and third (33–34 weeks) trimesters. Latencies (p13 and n23 for cVEMP; n10 and p15 for oVEMP) and peak-to-peak amplitudes were recorded and statistically compared across trimesters. Results: No statistically significant differences were found in cVEMP p13 and n23 latencies or amplitudes across the three trimesters (p > 0.05). Similarly, oVEMP p15 latencies and amplitudes remained stable throughout the pregnancy (p = 0.43 and p = 0.95, respectively). While a slight numerical increase in certain latencies was observed in the third trimester, and the oVEMP n10 latency was found to be consistently prolonged compared to non-pregnant norms, these values remained stable between trimesters. The inter-aural asymmetry showed no significant deviations, indicating a balanced vestibular adaptation. Conclusions: The functional integrity of the saccule and utricle is preserved during a healthy pregnancy. Despite the dramatic increase in gestational hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, the otolith-dependent reflex pathways (vestibulocollic and vestibulo-ocular) remain resilient. These results provide a clinical baseline for evaluating vestibular symptoms in pregnant populations, suggesting that significant VEMP abnormalities should prompt investigation into underlying vestibular pathologies rather than being attributed to normal pregnancy changes. Full article

Purpose: We investigated the association between age and retinal microvasculature parameters as measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and the modifying effect of diabetes status on this association. Methods: In this serial, cross-sectional study, 3 × 3 mm² macular OCTA images were obtained from healthy adults and adults with diabetes mellitus (DM) with no diabetic retinopathy (DR) or with mild non-proliferative DR (NPDR). The parameters analyzed included foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area and perimeter, vessel density (VD), vessel length density (VLD), and flow index (FI) of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP). The associations between OCTA parameters and age were explored using multivariable linear regression models. Results: For the included 1855 patients (1855 eyes) (49% male; mean age: 55 years), the results were as follows: no diabetes (N = 217), DM no DR (N = 1352), and mild NPDR (N = 286). Increasing age was significantly associated with decreased SCP and DCP VD and VLD in the diabetic and non-diabetic groups. The slope of association between SCP and DCP FI and age in the diabetic patients was significantly different than that in the control patients. Conclusions: The strength of the association between aging and OCTA parameters differed significantly between the controls and those with early retinopathy, pointing to a potentially altered retinal vascular homeostasis secondary to diabetic pathophysiology. This finding offers insight into the early pathological biomarkers of DR and may guide early DR management for patients based on personalized risk scores. Full article

Hydration level (HL) is a critical physiological indicator of human health and functional status, and accurate HL monitoring is essential for applications in healthcare, sports, and wellness assessment. However, existing methods are either invasive and inconvenient or noninvasive but limited by system complexity and insufficient accuracy. To address these limitations, this study proposes a methodological approach for noninvasive computerized HL estimation based on galvanic skin response (GSR) signals, termed the PSAML approach, which integrates principal component analysis (PCA), successive decomposition index (SDI), and machine learning (ML) classifiers. A representative GSR dataset was collected from three healthy subjects under dehydrated, normal, and overhydrated states in sitting, standing, and posture-independent scenarios. After preprocessing, including outlier removal, Butterworth filtering, and time-window segmentation, conventional time-domain features were extracted and compared with PCA- and SDI-based representations. Six ML algorithms were used for classification. The results show that the conventional feature method achieved a maximum accuracy of 63.97%, whereas PCA-based feature reduction significantly improved performance, with PCA+SVM, PCA+LR, and PCA+LDA achieving accuracies above 99% in most cases. SDI-based features also demonstrated strong performance with suitable classifiers under smaller time windows. These findings demonstrate that the proposed PSAML approach provides an accurate and efficient solution for wearable noninvasive HL monitoring. Full article

Background: Spasticity is a common and disabling symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), yet its assessment remains challenging. Clinical scales such as the Ashworth Scale (AS) evaluate resistance to passive movement, whereas neurophysiological measures (e.g., H-reflex, F-wave) provide objective indices of α-motoneuron excitability but correlate inconsistently with clinical severity. Real-time ultrasound elastography (RTE) enables semi-quantitative, in vivo assessment of muscle stiffness, while the recently introduced Muscle Elastography Multiple Sclerosis Score (MEMSs) aims to classify muscle spasticity in MS. Objective: To evaluate the utility of RTE using MEMSs for the objective assessment of muscle status in MS patients with spasticity, and to compare elastographic findings with clinical and neurophysiological measures. Methods: In this single-center study, 26 MS patients (diagnosed according to the 2017 McDonald criteria) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 27) were enrolled. Spasticity was graded using the AS. All participants underwent bilateral RTE of the gastrocnemius muscle, with images independently scored by two blinded neurologists using the 5-point MEMSs scale. Neurophysiological assessment included the soleus H-reflex, with calculation of H/M ratios. Correlations were analyzed using Pearson’s coefficient, and inter-observer reliability was assessed. Results: No consistent or statistically robust associations were found between clinical spasticity severity (AS scores) and either neurophysiological or elastographic parameters. Several MEMSs did not correlate reliably with AS grades, and neurophysiological measures showed limited discriminatory ability between MS patients and healthy controls. Correlations between neurophysiological and elastography parameters were weak to moderate (ρ ranging from −0.49 to 0.45). Inter-observer reliability of MEMSs scoring ranged from poor to moderate across the examined muscle groups, with Cohen’s κ values ranging from −0.02 to 0.54. Conclusions: RTE using MEMSs did not demonstrate sufficient validity or reproducibility for assessing muscle spasticity in MS, showing poor agreement with both clinical and neurophysiological measures. Full article

Background/Objectives: The POLA index is a comprehensive tool for evaluating the nutrient-dense, immune-supportive, and anti-inflammatory properties of the diet, but its multi-component structure may limit routine use. We aimed to identify simple dietary markers associated with a lower follow-up incidence of COVID-19 or influenza, as well as the anti-inflammatory properties of the diet, and to compare a simplified screening tool with the full POLA index. Methods: This prospective observational study included 146 healthy adults aged 25–45 years from two Polish cohorts examined in 2020 and 2022 (cohort/year adjusted). Habitual diet was assessed using at least 5-day food records, and nutrient adequacy was expressed relative to Polish dietary reference values. Classification and regression tree analyses were used to identify the most informative dietary predictors of the reduction in risk of infection, and logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations after adjustment for sex, diet type, physical activity, marital status, year of cohort and waist-to-height ratio. Results: During follow-up, 39/146 participants (26.7%) reported COVID-19 or influenza. Interactive tree analysis identified dietary fiber in g per kg/m² of BMI ≥ 1, and magnesium adequacy as the key discriminators. In StrongPOLA, participants not meeting the cut-offs of ≥1 g fiber per kg/m² of BMI and ≥130% of the magnesium reference value had a higher incidence of COVID-19 or influenza than those meeting both of those cut-offs (34.9% vs. 2.7%); however, this estimate was large and imprecise, with a wide confidence interval (the adjusted OR = 14.9 (95% CI: 1.89–118.06)), and should, therefore, be interpreted cautiously. In RapidPOLA, the participants not meeting the cut-offs of ≥1 g fiber per kg/m² of BMI and ≥110% of the magnesium reference value (i.e., 352 mg/day for women and 462 mg/day for men) had a higher observed incidence of COVID-19 or influenza than those meeting both of those cut-offs (36.4% vs. 12.1%); the adjusted OR was 3.4 (95% CI: 1.18–8.75). RapidPOLA showed good agreement with the favorable result of the POLA classification (κ = 0.65). Conclusions: Dietary fiber in g per kg/m² of BMI and magnesium adequacy appear to be practical markers of a broader nutrient-dense, immune-supporting, and anti-inflammatory dietary pattern associated with a lower follow-up incidence of COVID-19 or influenza in young adults without comorbidities. RapidPOLA may be useful as a simple screening tool for a nutrient-dense, immune-supportive, and anti-inflammatory (NUTRIDIMAF) diet in young people without obesity and comorbidities, whereas StrongPOLA may serve as a stricter reference profile. The proposed cut-offs require external validation in independent and more diverse cohorts. Full article

Background: Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to the progression of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and small vessel disease. Emerging evidence highlights the role of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as non-invasive biomarkers of neuroinflammation and neuronal injury. miR-106a-5p, a member of the miR-17~92 cluster, is known to regulate inflammation, apoptosis, and vascular function. While typically studied in plasma or cerebrospinal fluid, gastric juice miRNAs represent a novel and underexplored source for biomarker discovery within the gut–brain axis. This exploratory study aimed to investigate the association between gastric juice miR-106a-5p expression and markers of neuroinflammation, including C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and imaging-based evidence of neurodegeneration. Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted on 38 participants (22 with neurodegenerative pathology and 16 healthy controls). Gastric juice samples were analyzed for miR-106a-5p using RT-qPCR, normalized to U6 snRNA. ΔCt values were used to determine relative expression. Statistical analyses included t-tests/Wilcoxon tests, ROC curve analysis, and correlation testing, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Patients with neurodegenerative changes exhibited significantly lower gastric miR-106a-5p expression compared to controls (p = 0.044). Elevated CRP and LDH levels were associated with higher ΔCt values (indicating lower expression), with p-values of 0.019 and 0.023, respectively. ROC analysis showed moderate diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.701) for miR-106a in identifying neurodegenerative status. miR-106a levels also correlated inversely with carotid intima-media thickness and brain MRI abnormalities, also reduced gastric miR-106a-5p expression is associated with systemic inflammation and neuroimaging evidence of neurodegeneration. Conclusions: While causality cannot be inferred, these findings suggest that gastric miR-106a may serve as a promising non-invasive biomarker within the gut–brain axis framework. Further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are warranted to validate its clinical utility and explore its potential role in monitoring neuroinflammatory conditions. Full article

Human milk is highly rich in miRNAs, with differential expression amongst its fractions, including cells, fat, and skim milk. Various factors, such as the stage of lactation or milk removal during breastfeeding, have been shown to influence the miRNA content of. Here, we sought to determine the effect of maternal and/or infant infection on the miRNA profile of cell and fat fractions analyzed using next-generation sequencing. Breastfeeding mother/infant dyads (n = 18) were followed during one or more infection episodes as well as upon recovery. Cells and fat together contain 1780 known miRNA species, which is the highest number of known miRNAs assayed in human body fluids to date. In addition, 592 novel miRNAs were predicted, of which 95 were of high confidence. Comparisons between samples collected when the participants were healthy and when infected yielded 453 differentially expressed (p < 0.05) known miRNAs. Of these, 70 were highly expressed and differentially regulated during infection, with 62 upregulated and 8 downregulated known miRNAs during infection. Most of the highly and differentially expressed miRNAs are known to play critical roles in immunity and immune system development. These findings support the use of miRNAs as biomarkers of the health status of the lactating breast and the breastfeeding mother/infant dyad. Full article

Objectives: To evaluate serum zonulin and CHI3L1 as indicators of intestinal permeability and disease activity in pediatric celiac disease and to explore their associations with histopathological findings and nutritional status. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 131 pediatric patients with CD (aged 2–18 years) and 42 healthy controls. Patients were classified as newly diagnosed, gluten-free diet (GFD)-adherent, or GFD-nonadherent. Body mass index was calculated, and serum levels of micronutrients, zonulin, and CHI3L1 were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Associations with histopathological findings, serological markers, and nutritional parameters were analyzed. Results: Age and sex distributions were similar across groups (mean age: 10.9 ± 4.27 years). Serum zonulin and CHI3L1 levels were moderately positively correlated (r = 0.525, p < 0.001). Both biomarkers showed significant positive correlations with Marsh scores and tissue transglutaminase IgA levels. Zonulin was inversely correlated with hemoglobin, serum iron, and ferritin, whereas CHI3L1 showed negative correlations with hemoglobin and folate. Parathyroid hormone levels were positively correlated with both biomarkers. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated acceptable discriminatory performance for distinguishing CD from controls (AUC: 0.713 for zonulin and 0.709 for CHI3L1). Conclusions: Serum zonulin and CHI3L1 levels are associated with disease activity and mucosal injury in pediatric CD but do not directly reflect micronutrient status. These biomarkers may complement conventional monitoring parameters by providing additional information on intestinal permeability and inflammatory activity during follow-up. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a critical life stage characterized by rapid growth, increased nutrient requirements, and the establishment of long-term healthy behaviors. Growing evidence suggests that nutritional inadequacies may persist even when conventional indicators such as body mass index (BMI) appear normal, reflecting hidden malnutrition, a condition characterized by micronutrient inadequacy despite adequate energy intake. This issue may be particularly relevant in structurally constrained environments. This study aimed to compare dietary intake and nutrient adequacy between adolescents residing in residential care institutions (RCIs) and those in the general population in Taiwan. Methods: A total of 248 adolescents were included in the analysis. Institutional data were collected in 2018 and compared with nationally representative data from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT 2010–2012). To improve comparability, 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was applied based on age, sex, and geographic region. Nutrient intakes were evaluated according to the Taiwan Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Results: Adolescents in RCIs demonstrated significantly lower energy and protein adequacy than their counterparts in the general population. Among boys aged 13–15 years, the proportion meeting protein adequacy was substantially lower in RCIs than in the general population (34.0% vs. 84.0%). Similarly, among girls aged 13–15 years, energy adequacy was markedly lower in RCIs (25.0% vs. 63.9%). In addition, inadequate intake of multiple micronutrients, particularly B vitamins and essential minerals, was observed. Despite these differences, BMI remained largely comparable between groups, indicating a mismatch between anthropometric status and underlying nutritional quality. Conclusions: These findings suggest that hidden nutritional vulnerability may persist even within structured institutional environments designed to ensure stable food provision. The results highlight the limitations of relying solely on anthropometric indicators to assess nutritional status and underscore the need for targeted nutritional strategies to improve dietary quality and reduce health inequalities in residential care settings. Full article

Background/Objectives:Helicobacter pylori infection is traditionally associated with gastrointestinal diseases; however, increasing evidence suggests that it may have systemic effects involving inflammatory, metabolic, and hematological pathways. Despite this, integrated evaluations of these domains remain limited, particularly in Middle Eastern populations. This study aimed to assess the impact of H. pylori infection on inflammatory, metabolic, and hematological parameters among adults. Methods: A case–control study was conducted including 100 participants (50 H. pylori-positive patients and 50 healthy controls) recruited from Qassim Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and blood samples were analyzed for random blood sugar (RBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hemoglobin, ferritin, and white blood cell count (WBC). Statistical analyses included group comparisons, Spearman correlation, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The infected group showed significantly higher levels of RBS and HbA1c, indicating impaired glycemic control. Inflammatory markers (CRP and ESR) were also significantly elevated compared to controls (p < 0.001). Hemoglobin and ferritin levels were significantly lower in the infected group (p < 0.001), suggesting disturbed iron metabolism. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between inflammatory markers and glycemic indices, and negative associations with hemoglobin and ferritin. Multivariable logistic regression identified CRP (adjusted OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.04–1.71) and ESR (adjusted OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02–1.16) as independent predictors of H. pylori infection after adjustment for smoking status and fast-food consumption. The combined model demonstrated acceptable discriminatory performance with an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.74–0.90). Conclusions:Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with significant inflammatory, metabolic, and hematological alterations, supporting its potential role as a systemic condition beyond the gastrointestinal tract. These associations remained significant after adjustment for major lifestyle-related confounders, including smoking status and fast-food consumption. Although the combined inflammatory model demonstrated acceptable discriminatory performance, it should currently be considered mainly for research or preliminary screening purposes and not as a replacement for established diagnostic methods for active H. pylori infection. Further large-scale longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted to clarify causality and evaluate the impact of eradication therapy on systemic outcomes. Full article

Background and Objectives: This research aimed to compare Type D personality characteristics and self-esteem between individuals with chronic NSLBP and healthy controls, while also exploring their relationships with functional status, psychological symptoms, and quality of life within the patient group. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional investigation, 34 patients with chronic NSLBP were compared with 34 healthy controls with similar age and sex distribution. Pain intensity was quantified via the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), while functional impairment was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Psychological profiling included the Type D Scale-14 (DS14) for personality traits, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) for self-worth, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for emotional distress. Health-related quality of life was captured through the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Results: Type D personality was significantly more prevalent in the NSLBP group than in controls (50% vs. 20.6%, p = 0.011). Patients with NSLBP had significantly higher negative affectivity (NA) scores (p < 0.001) and anxiety scores (p = 0.007) and lower SF-12 Physical Component Summary scores (p < 0.001) than controls. Pain intensity and disability were positively correlated with Type D personality traits, particularly NA and the Type D composite score. In exploratory subgroup analyses, patients with Type D personality also had higher pain intensity, disability, anxiety, and depression scores and lower SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores than those without Type D personality. In adjusted regression analyses within the NSLBP group, Type D personality was associated with higher VAS (p = 0.004) and ODI scores (p = 0.007) and lower SF-12 MCS scores (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Type D personality characteristics were more frequent in patients with chronic NSLBP than in healthy controls and were associated with higher pain intensity, greater disability, higher anxiety and depressive symptom scores, and poorer mental quality-of-life scores within the patient group. In contrast, self-esteem did not differ significantly between patients and controls. Due to the inherent constraints of a cross-sectional framework and the potential construct redundancy between NA and emotional distress, the current results signify correlational links rather than definitive causality. Consequently, subsequent prospective research is vital to delineate the temporal dynamics and the long-term predictive value of Type D personality traits in the progression of chronic NSLBP. Full article

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory disorder in which genetic and environmental factors contribute to disease onset. Evidence implicates the inflammasome pathway in MS pathophysiology. However, the interaction between inflammasome-related genetic variants and 25-OH-vitamin D₃ (25(OH)D₃) levels remains unclear. 105 MS patients and 109 healthy controls were enrolled. Genotyping of NLRP3 (rs10754558, rs3806265) and NLRC4 (rs479333) polymorphisms was performed using real-time PCR. Serum 25(OH)D₃ levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Clinical severity was assessed using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS), annualized relapse rate (ARR), and age at onset. MS patients showed significantly lower serum 25(OH)D₃ levels than controls. Genotype distributions did not differ significantly under an additive model; however, the NLRP3 rs10754558 GG genotype was more frequent in MS patients under a recessive model and was significantly associated with disease status after adjustment for sex. Subjects carrying the GG genotype also had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D₃ levels than CC/CG carriers, independently of sex. No significant associations were observed for NLRP3 rs3806265 or NLRC4 rs479333, and none of the investigated variants was associated with EDSS, MSSS, ARR, or age at onset. The NLRP3 rs10754558 polymorphism may be associated with MS susceptibility and reduced circulating vitamin D levels, suggesting a potential link between inflammasome-related genetic variability and immunometabolic regulation in MS. Full article

Background: As survival improves in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia, long-term adult morbidity, including cognitive dysfunction, has become increasingly relevant. Adult data remain limited, particularly in Eastern Europe, and many studies rely on single screening tools with limited control for confounding. Methods: We conducted a single-center case–control study (2024–2025) at the Congenital Hemolytic Anemia Treatment Center, University Hospital “Sv. Georgi” Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Fifty adults with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (86% thalassemia major; 14% transfusion-dependent intermedia) and 30 frequency-matched healthy controls completed a multi-domain cognitive battery: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clock Drawing Test (CDT), Trail Making Test (TMT-A/B), and timed verbal fluency. Associations between thalassemia status and cognitive outcomes were estimated using three prespecified models: unadjusted, adjusted for age and sex, and a doubly robust model combining covariate balancing propensity score inverse probability weighting (balancing BMI, smoking, education, and comorbidity) with age/sex regression adjustment. Results: Patients performed worse than controls on global cognition and executive/visuospatial measures. MoCA scores were lower in patients (−2.26 unadjusted, p = 0.016; −2.83 doubly robust, p = 0.001), as were MMSE scores (−1.64, p = 0.015; −1.87, p = 0.002). CDT performance was consistently poorer (OR ≈ 0.28–0.30 across models). Patients were slower on TMT-B (time ratio 1.35 unadjusted, p = 0.003; 1.42 doubly robust, p < 0.001); TMT-A reached significance only after weighting (ratio 1.32, p = 0.001). Verbal fluency was modestly lower with borderline significance (p ≈ 0.05–0.06). Conclusions: Transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia in adults is associated with poorer cognitive performance, particularly in global cognition and executive/visuospatial domains, with results robust across adjustment strategies. Routine multi-domain cognitive screening may be warranted in adult thalassemia care. Full article

Background/Objectives: Plant-based diets are increasingly adopted by families with young children, yet their potential effects on bone development and metabolic regulation during early childhood remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to evaluate body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical markers of bone turnover, and adipokine profiles in healthy children aged 5–6 years adhering to lacto-ovo-vegetarian or omnivorous diets. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in a well-characterized cohort of 90 healthy normal-weight children consuming either lacto-ovo-vegetarian or omnivorous diets. Body composition and bone mineral density were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and circulating markers of bone formation, resorption, and adipokines were determined using ELISA methods. Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationships between anthropometric variables, bone parameters, and adipokines. Results: No significant differences were observed between vegetarian and omnivorous diets in anthropometric characteristics, bone mineral content (BMC), or BMD, indicating comparable skeletal status. However, vegetarian children exhibited significantly higher levels of bone turnover markers, including bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) (p = 0.023) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) (p = 0.035), and a lower osteocalcin OC/CTX-I ratio (p = 0.027). These findings may suggest a subtle imbalance in bone remodeling dynamics in these children, although their clinical significance remains uncertain. Additionally, higher levels of carboxylated osteocalcin (Gla-OC) (p = 0.022) and an increased carboxylated to undercarboxylated OC (Gla-OC/Glu-OC) ratio (p = 0.005) were observed in vegetarian children. Among adipokines, vegetarian children showed lower HMW adiponectin levels (p = 0.05) and a lower HMW/total adiponectin ratio (p = 0.012). Correlation analyses revealed distinct metabolic patterns between groups. In vegetarian children, bone parameters were primarily associated with lean mass, indicating the predominant role of mechanical factors in skeletal development. In contrast, omnivorous children demonstrated a more integrated relationship between bone indices and adipokines. Conclusions: In conclusion, while a lacto-ovo-vegetarian balanced diet supports normal bone mass in early childhood, it may be associated with subtle alterations in bone metabolism and its regulatory pathways, including adipokine profiles. These findings highlight the importance of adequate dietary planning and underscore the need for longitudinal studies to determine long-term effects on bone status. Full article