Search Results (2,454)

Background/Objectives: Avocados are nutrient-dense fruits rich in monounsaturated fats, fiber, and key micronutrients. Although avocado purchases increased in recent years, comprehensive national data on consumption patterns remains limited. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the prevalence, quantity, and context of avocado intake among the US population and to evaluate its contribution to daily nutrient intake. Methods: Day 1 24-h dietary recall data were analyzed from 19,086 participants aged ≥1 year in NHANES 2017–March 2020 and August 2021–August 2023. Avocado intake was identified using consumption data coded as avocado, avocado for use on a sandwich, guacamole, and guacamole with tomatoes. Weighted estimates described consumption prevalence, amount, form, self-selected eating occasion, location, and source. Nutrient contributions from avocado were calculated overall and by sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Results: 5.8% of participants consumed avocado. Prevalence was highest among women (6.9%), adults aged 19–50 years (7.4%), and Hispanic individuals (9.1%). Among consumers, the mean intake was 67.0 g/day. Plain avocado was the most common form (54.8%), and most intake occurred at dinner (43.4%) and at home (67.7%). Avocado was an important contributor to the mean daily intake among consumers for beta-cryptoxanthin (33.4%), alpha-carotene (27.0%), dietary fiber (19.9%), monounsaturated fatty acids (19.7%), and other nutrients. Conclusions: Although avocado consumption remains relatively modest, it contributes meaningfully to nutrient intake among avocado consumers. These findings provide descriptive insight into avocado consumption patterns and nutrient contributions in the U.S. population. Full article

Background: Evidence on the long-term impact of sapropterin in phenylketonuria (PKU) is limited. Understanding its effects on dietary restrictions, growth in children, and caregiver burden is essential to optimize PKU management. Methods: This prospective, two-year longitudinal study with a comparison group followed 33 children with PKU after sapropterin responsiveness assessment (21 responsive, 12 non-responsive). Outcomes included metabolic control, prescribed protein intake, dietary patterns, growth, psychological measures, and caregiver burden. Results: Sapropterin-responsive children increased natural protein intake from 10 g to 28 g/day at 2 years (p < 0.001), with reduced protein substitute intake (60 g [56–63] to 45 g [40–60], p < 0.05); no changes occurred in non-responsive children (p > 0.05). Animal-based foods (cheese, eggs, meat, fish) were introduced in 52% (11/21) of responsive children once tolerance exceeded approximately 25 g/day. The caregivers of responsive children reported reduced financial, familial-social, and personal burden (all p ≤ 0.05), alongside decreased food neophobia (p = 0.005) and caregiver depression (p = 0.013). In sapropterin-responsive children, weight and BMI z-scores remained stable, while height z-score increased over 24 months (p = 0.03); non-responsive children had higher weight and BMI z-scores than responsive children at 24 months (p = 0.037 and p = 0.026). Blood phenylalanine concentrations remained within recommended target ranges overall, with lower median values in responsive children at several time points. Conclusions: Sapropterin enabled more flexible, sustainable dietary management in responsive children with PKU, supporting metabolic control, growth, and improved family well-being and social participation. Equitable access to therapies and long-term dietetic support remain essential to optimize outcomes. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of graded replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) on growth performance, growth dynamics, carcass characteristics, and economic efficiency in Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). A total of 300 one-day-old quail chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments in which SBM was replaced with BSFLM at 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% using isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets. Body weight was recorded weekly, feed intake was measured per cage, and growth dynamics were assessed using the Gompertz growth model. At 42 d of age, 150 quails were slaughtered to determine carcass yield and major carcass components, and economic evaluation was performed using scenario-based analyses to compare feed cost efficiency under contrasting ingredient price conditions. Dietary inclusion of BSFLM had no significant effects on body weight at any measured age, mortality rate, or carcass yield and composition. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved at the 50% BSFLM inclusion level, indicating improved feed efficiency at moderate replacement. Gompertz growth parameters, including mature weight, growth rate, and inflection point traits, were not affected by dietary treatment, confirming that intrinsic growth patterns were maintained. Economic analyses showed that partial replacement of SBM with BSFLM was associated with improved or stabilized feed cost efficiency depending on relative ingredient prices, whereas higher inclusion levels were more sensitive to unfavorable price conditions. In conclusion, BSFLM can be incorporated into Japanese quail diets without detrimental effects on growth performance or carcass traits, with moderate inclusion levels providing the most consistent balance between biological efficiency and economic robustness, thereby supporting risk-aware and sustainable poultry feeding strategies under variable market conditions. Full article

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with early-age onset. While vitamin D (VitD) has been associated with AD alleviation, geographical factors should be considered as VitD synthesis depends on sunlight exposure and dietary intake. We conducted a mapping review to identify geography-related evidence gaps in interventional and observational studies on the VitD-AD inverse association. We analyzed latitude and the Human Development Index (HDI) as background geographical factors. The review identified 38 studies (17 interventional, 21 observational), of which 26 confirmed the inverse VitD-AD association. Of all reviewed studies, 73% were from latitudes above 35° N, and 70.3% were from developed countries. The median latitude and HDI were 37.5° N and 0.915, respectively. Conversely, only 5.4% of studies were from Africa and 8.1% from Latin America. Studies that did not confirm the inverse VitD-AD association tended to be concentrated in developed countries at higher latitudes (median latitude 42.4° N, median HDI 0.937). Only 8.1% of all studies were from low-latitude developed countries, and among interventional studies this share was even lower (6.3%). In addition, 52.6% of studies lacked data on baseline VitD variability and 13.2% had no baseline VitD data at all. More thorough data reporting and additional clinical studies from countries that do not follow the high latitude/high HDI overlap pattern would facilitate future meta-analyses aimed at clarifying the role of VitD in AD treatment. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are global pollutants, yet data from tropical freshwater ecosystems remain scarce. This study provides the first assessment of PFAS occurrence in the Rusizi delta (Burundi), from tributaries to Lake Tanganyika, by analyzing water, sediment, macrophytes, and fish, and by evaluating human health risks from fish consumption. In water, only PFOA (<0.60–7.80 ng/L) was detected and showed a uniform spatial distribution. Sediment concentrations were largely below quantification limits, likely reflecting unfavorable sorption conditions. Macrophytes were dominated by short-chain PFAS, particularly PFBS, without consistent species- or site-specific patterns, supporting their potential as biomonitors of cumulative PFAS exposure. Fish exhibited the highest PFAS diversity, with more diverse profiles in liver than muscle, although tissue-specific patterns were often absent. PFBS was dominant across fish species, and emerging PFAS (e.g., PFBS and NaDONA) were frequently detected. Human health risks from fish consumption were, except for children, mostly below EFSA tolerable weekly intake values for regulated PFAS, but potential concern for adolescents and adults emerged when PFAS were expressed as PFOA equivalents. This study provides essential baseline data for tropical freshwater systems and highlights the need for expanded PFAS monitoring and risk assessment in data-poor regions. Full article

Staged multi-cluster fracturing in horizontal wells is a key technology for efficiently developing unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. Extreme Limited-Entry Fracturing (ELF) and Temporary Plugging Fracturing (TPF) are effective techniques to enhance the uniformity of fracture stimulation within a stage. However, in fractured reservoirs, the propagation morphology of multiple intra-stage fractures and fluid distribution patterns becomes significantly more complex under the influence of ELF and TPF. This complexity results in a lack of theoretical guidance for optimizing field operational parameters. This study establishes a competitive propagation model for multiple hydraulic fractures (HFs) within a stage under ELF and TPF conditions in fractured reservoirs based on the Displacement Discontinuity Method (DDM) and fluid mechanics theory. The accuracy of the model was verified by comparing it with laboratory experimental results and existing numerical simulation results. Using this model, the influence of ELF and TPF on intra-stage fracture propagation morphology and fluid partitioning was investigated. Results demonstrate that extremely limited-entry perforation and ball-sealer diversion effectively mitigate the additional flow resistance induced by both the stress shadow effect and the connection of natural fractures (NFs), thereby mitigating uneven fluid distribution and imbalanced fracture propagation among clusters. ELF artificially creates extremely high perforation friction by drastically reducing the number of perforations or the perforation diameter, thereby forcing the fracturing fluid to enter multiple perforation clusters relatively uniformly. Compared to the unlimited-entry scheme (16 perforations/cluster), the limited-entry scheme (5 perforations/cluster) yielded a 37.84% improvement in fluid distribution uniformity and reduced the coefficient of variation (CV) for fracture length and fluid intake by 54.28% and 44.16%, respectively. The essence of the TPF is non-uniform perforation distribution, which enables the perforation clusters with large fluid intake to obtain more temporary plugging balls (TPBs), so that their perforation friction can be increased and their fluid intake can be reduced, thereby diverting the fluid to the perforation clusters with small fluid intake. Deploying TPBs (50% of total perforations) at the mid-stage of fracturing (50% time) increased fluid distribution uniformity by 37.86% and reduced the CV of fracture length and fluid intake by 72.54% and 58.39%, respectively. This study provides methodological and modeling foundations for systematic optimization of balanced stimulation parameters in fractured reservoirs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adequate hydration is essential for health; however, water consumption behaviors are influenced not only by physiological needs but also by hydration knowledge and perceptions of drinking water quality. Empirical evidence examining these factors in Eastern European populations remains limited. This study aimed to assess hydration knowledge, water consumption patterns, and attitudes toward drinking water quality among adults in Romania, and to examine their associations with daily water intake and water source preferences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2024 and November 2025 among adults residing in Romania. Data were collected from 165 participants using an anonymous, self-developed, paper-based questionnaire administered in person to adult patients attending routine visits in four primary care clinics in Arad, Romania, using a convenience sampling approach. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, hydration knowledge, water consumption behaviors, and attitudes toward drinking water quality. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, correlation analyses, and multivariable linear and logistic regression models were applied to identify factors associated with daily water intake, adequate hydration (≥2 L/day), and bottled water consumption. Results: Hydration knowledge was moderate overall and was significantly associated with education level and gender. Higher hydration knowledge was positively correlated with daily water intake (r = 0.21, p = 0.006) and was independently associated with higher intake and adequate hydration (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.10–1.49; p = 0.002). Greater trust in tap water was also positively associated with daily intake (r = 0.27, p = 0.001) and adequate hydration (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.12–1.54; p < 0.001). Lower trust in tap water and stronger beliefs regarding bottled water were significant predictors of bottled water use as the primary drinking water source. Education level emerged as a consistent predictor across multiple hydration-related outcomes. Conclusions: Hydration knowledge and perceptions of drinking water quality are key, modifiable factors associated with water consumption behaviors. Educational strategies integrated into primary care and transparent communication regarding tap water safety may support adequate and sustainable hydration among adults. Full article

Background: The relationship between alcohol consumption and vascular function remains controversial. This study aimed to examine the association between total alcohol intake, type of alcoholic beverage, and arterial stiffness across different vascular territories in young Spanish adults, with special attention to sex-specific patterns. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Using consecutive non-probability sampling, 501 participants (222 men and 279 women) aged 18–34 years, were recruited from the urban population of Salamanca. Alcohol consumption was assessed using a standardized questionnaire and quantified in grams per week overall and by different types of drinks (wine, beer or spirits drinks). Arterial stiffness was evaluated using pulse pressure (PP), carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV), cardio–ankle vascular index (CAVI), and central augmentation index corrected to a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (CAIx75). Results: The mean age of the sample was 26.58 ± 4.40 years, and was significantly higher in men than in women (27.04 ± 4.41 vs. 26.22 ± 4.37 years; p = 0.040). The mean values for vascular function parameters were as follows: PP 42.86 ± 8.45 mmHg, cf-PWV 5.60 ± 1.29 m/s, ba-PWV 38 10.80 ± 1.01 m/s, CAVI 6.13 ± 0.75, and CAIx75 7.71 ± 19.74. Participants reporting alcohol consumption showed lower ba-PWV values compared with abstainers, while no consistent associations were observed for central arterial stiffness parameters. In sex-stratified analyses, higher total alcohol intake (β = −0.002, 95% CI: −0.004–−0.001), as well as beer (β = −0.004, 95% CI: −0.007–−0.001), and spirit consumption (β = −0.004, 95% CI: −0.006–−0.001), were inversely associated with ba-PWV exclusively in men. In women, spirit consumption was positively associated with CAIx75 (β = 0.044, 95% CI: 0.006–0.081). The magnitude of the observed differences in ba-PWV was modest and occurred in a predominantly low-risk population. Conclusions: In young adults, alcohol consumption was associated with differences in peripheral arterial stiffness, primarily reflected by ba-PWV, with clear sex-specific patterns. These findings do not support a causal or protective effect of alcohol consumption and should be interpreted cautiously due to the cross-sectional design of the study. The results highlight the importance of considering sex and vascular territory when evaluating early markers of vascular aging in young populations. Clinical trial registration: [ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT05819840]. Full article

Purpose: A growing body of evidence has emerged on the role of diet for health outcomes in cancer survivors. Patients transitioning to post-treatment care may seek guidance on dietary changes, and summaries of the evidence for dietary patterns recommended by guidelines can support providers in effectively answering questions. Increasing evidence suggests that food choices impact planetary health. Plant-based diets are one eating pattern that may improve patient outcomes and planetary health. Methods: We performed a literature review and used narrative reporting to summarize evidence for plant-based diets and offer specific guidance for breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer patients who are post-diagnosis. Specifically, we reviewed impacts on recurrence, all-cause, and cancer-specific mortality. Results: Increased fibre intake by consuming foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality, as well as reduced colon cancer-specific mortality. Replacing refined grains with whole grains is associated with improved disease-free survival for colon cancer survivors. Higher tree nut consumption is associated with improved disease-free survival for breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors. Soy is safe to consume for breast cancer survivors and is associated with a reduced risk of recurrence. Conversely, more Western dietary patterns high in processed meat intake are associated with an increased risk of colon cancer recurrence and prostate cancer mortality. There are also environmental benefits of a shift towards plant-based diets to address the adverse health outcomes associated with climate change and its potential impact on cancer care delivery as previously outlined in a 2024 ASCO policy statement. Conclusions: Based on the best existing evidence, providers can suggest that patients consider plant-based dietary patterns in the post-treatment phase of their cancer care to support health outcomes and planetary health. Full article

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines deliver mRNA packaged in lipid nanoparticles via intramuscular injection. This study investigated several factors influencing antibody production patterns and adverse reactions after vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: Among the participants of the Iwaki Health Promotion Project (IHPP), 211 individuals who consented to this study were surveyed regarding antibody titers and adverse reaction symptoms following vaccination. A machine learning approaches such as ridge regression, elastic-net, light gradient boosting, and neural network were applied to extract the variables, and Bayesian network analysis was applied to explore causal relationships between health data and the multi-omics dataset obtained from the IHPP health checkups. Results: Females with lower levels of free testosterone experienced more adverse reactions than males. Moreover, the immune system is more active in younger individuals, causing adverse reactions and higher antibody production. The Spikevax vaccine induced adverse reaction symptoms with higher antibody production in cases of fever. Meanwhile, drinking 2–3 cups of green tea daily seemed to be effective in increasing antibody production. Factors increasing side effect risk include blood natural killer cell count and muscle quality in the vaccinated arm. Plasma metabolome metabolite concentrations, tongue coating bacterial colonization, and folate intake were also identified as factors influencing side effect risk. Furthermore, characteristics of participants at risk for fever symptoms included longer telomere length, higher antibody production patterns, and higher CD4-positive T cell counts. Conclusions: Further investigation of these identified influencing factors is expected to clarify the rationale for new vaccine development and identify lifestyle and dietary habits that enhance vaccine efficacy. Full article

Background: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a prevalent autoimmune disorder, often diagnosed late due to its asymptomatic or nonspecific presentation. Emerging evidence suggests that gut-derived lipopolysaccharides (LPS) may contribute to autoimmune activation. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to assess circulating LPS concentrations and dietary patterns in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis compared to healthy controls. Methods: A hospital-based case–control study was conducted involving 105 HT patients and 25 healthy controls. Serum LPS concentrations, thyroid hormone profiles, and autoantibody levels were assessed. Dietary patterns were evaluated using the validated KomPAN questionnaire. Results: HT patients exhibited significantly higher serum LPS levels, particularly those with elevated anti-TPO and TRAB antibodies. A positive correlation was found between LPS and the fT3/fT4 ratio (r = 0.247, p = 0.006), and a negative correlation with fT4 (r = −0.314, p < 0.001). Dietary analysis revealed lower Pro-Healthy Diet Index scores in HT patients (3.94 vs. 5.34, p = 0.001), with increased consumption of processed foods and reduced intake of whole grains and oats. Conclusions: Elevated levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and unhealthy dietary patterns may play a role in the development of thyroid autoimmunity. Taken together, these observations are consistent with a multifactorial model that potentially involves gut barrier dysfunction, endotoxemia, and nutritional factors in HT pathogenesis. Full article

Background and Objectives: Intermittent fasting (IF) has emerged as a nutritional strategy capable of modulating circadian alignment, metabolic efficiency, and neuroendocrine regulation in individuals with obesity. Among the neurobiological mediators potentially involved, Orexin-A—a hypothalamic neuropeptide regulating arousal, appetite, and energy balance—may represent a key link between fasting patterns and metabolic homeostasis. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term metabolic and neuroendocrine effects of two intermittent fasting protocols, time-restricted feeding (16:8) and alternate-day fasting (5:2), compared with a hypocaloric Mediterranean diet used as a reference condition. Materials and Methods: Thirty adults with obesity (aged 20–40 years) were allocated to one of three dietary interventions—low-calorie Mediterranean diet, IF 16:8, or IF 5:2—based on habitual dietary patterns and followed prospectively for 12 months. Anthropometric parameters, metabolic indices, inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10), and circulating Orexin-A concentrations were assessed at baseline and at three-month intervals (T0–T3). Results: Both intermittent fasting protocols induced more rapid improvements in body mass index, adiposity, lipid profile, fasting glucose, and inflammatory markers compared with the Mediterranean diet. Among the IF strategies, the 16:8 regimen showed the most consistent and physiologically coherent pattern of adaptation, characterized by a progressive and sustained increase in Orexin-A levels. This response was strongly associated with enhanced metabolic flexibility, reduced systemic inflammation, and improved energy regulation over time. In contrast, the 5:2 protocol produced more variable metabolic and neuroendocrine responses, likely due to alternating cycles of marked caloric restriction and compensatory intake. Conclusions: Intermittent fasting, particularly the 16:8 time-restricted feeding protocol, appears to be an effective and sustainable chrononutritional strategy for obesity management. By reinforcing circadian organization, improving inflammatory balance, and activating orexinergic pathways, the 16:8 model emerges as a promising intervention to address key metabolic and neuroendocrine dysfunctions associated with obesity. Full article

Bump feeding is a nutritional management strategy in swine production that involves increasing feed allowance and/or dietary nutrient density during the final weeks of gestation, usually from day 90 to farrowing, to support rapid fetal growth and prepare sows for lactation. This strategy is widely applied to improve piglet birth weight, neonatal viability, and subsequent reproductive performance. This review synthesizes current evidence on the effects of increased maternal feed intake during late gestation on sow body condition and feeding-related behavioral responses, and farrowing outcomes. Available studies suggest that increasing feed allowance during late gestation can influence litter characteristics, piglet survival at birth, and sow energy reserves, as reflected by changes in backfat thickness (BFT) and body condition score (BCS). The nutritional composition of bump-feeding diets, including dietary energy and amino acid balance, is critically evaluated in relation to pregnancy maintenance, farrowing duration, and early lactation performance. In addition, the roles of parity and feeding behavior during late gestation are examined, with particular emphasis on their associations with sow activity patterns, restlessness around parturition, and farrowing efficiency. Despite these reported effects, findings across studies remain inconsistent, particularly regarding the balance between improved reproductive outcomes and the risk of excessive fat deposition in sows. This review highlights key knowledge gaps and underscores the need for optimized, parity-specific bump-feeding strategies that integrate nutritional management with feeding behavior to enhance farrowing performance, piglet survival, sow welfare, and economic sustainability in modern pig production. Full article

Background/Objectives: Research across multiple disciplines has explored how nutrition is shaped by social isolation and feelings of loneliness, especially in the elderly population. Evidence from neuroscience highlights that loneliness may alter eating patterns, encouraging emotional eating or other compensatory food behaviors. Conversely, isolation from social contexts is often linked to a reduced variety of nutrient intake. This study set out to examine how psychosocial aspects, particularly social connectedness and feeling alone, relate to adherence to the Mediterranean diet among older adults residing in Sicily, southern Italy. Methods: Dietary habits of 883 adults were collected through food frequency questionnaires and assessed for adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Loneliness was measured through a targeted question from a standardized tool designed to capture depressive symptoms. Direct questions asked whether participants were engaged in social networks, such as family, friends and neighborhoods, or religious communities, in order to assess objective aloneness. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations between variables of interest. Results: After accounting for potential confounders, both loneliness and aloneness showed an association with stronger adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Specifically, individuals experiencing loneliness and aloneness were less likely to have high adherence to the Mediterranean diet (OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.51, and OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.54, respectively). Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of fostering social engagement among older populations, who may particularly benefit from maintaining active social ties to support healthier eating behaviors. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Mediterranean (Med)-style and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating patterns are evidence-based nutrition interventions given their protective effects from cardiometabolic diseases. Little is known about adherence to each eating pattern among the Hispanic/Latine population. The objective of this cross-sectional analysis is to assess the alignment of reported dietary intakes of Hispanic/Latine adults to Med-style and DASH eating patterns and associations with clinical outcomes for diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Methods: A sample of 5406 Hispanic/Latine adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2018) was utilized. Alignment to the Med-style and DASH eating patterns was calculated by scoring indices tailored for overconsumption in the United States. Multiple linear regression determined associations between each respective eating pattern and clinical outcomes. Results: Hispanic/Latine adults in the United States have a mean DASH score of 11.2 and a Med-style score of 8.4 (out of 100), indicating poor alignment. Adjusted regression analysis showed increased alignment of both eating patterns was associated with a decrease in average blood pressure (DASH ꞵ = −0.095, p = <0.0001; Med-style: ꞵ = −0.128, p = 0.0002). Greater adherence to a Med-style eating pattern score was also associated with improved average hemoglobin A1c (ꞵ −0.007, p = 0.017). Neither diet pattern score was associated with total cholesterol. Conclusions: Evidence of low alignment to the Med-style and DASH eating patterns among Hispanic/Latine populations exacerbates the need for future work to understand cultural tailoring of evidence-based eating patterns to increase adherence and support improved cardiometabolic outcomes. Full article