Search Results (5,208)

Background and Objectives: Water polo (WP) is a high-intensity, intermittent aquatic team sport that has been extensively investigated within sports science. While contemporary literature has examined the body composition and morphological characteristics of elite and international WP players, this study aimed to define the general body composition profile of world-class WP players and determine position-specific differences. Methods: The study involved 72 national team players from Serbia, Croatia, Greece, and Italy who participated in the Olympic Games, World Championships, or European Championships. Participants’ body composition was measured using the InBody 720 multichannel bioimpedance method. Ten different variables were examined to assess body structure regarding contractile and ballast components. Results: MANOVA revealed statistically significant differences in body composition across playing positions (Wilks’ lambda = 0.239, p < 0.000, η²_p = 0.402). The variables that had the greatest impact on the difference were: body mass, body fat and body mass index with the 47.0, 44.4, and 43.7% of explained total variance of the impact on the differences (p = 0.000), respectively. Conclusions: world-class WP players assigned to different playing positions differ significantly in body composition. These positional profiles should be considered in talent identification, selection procedures, training, and nutritional strategies to optimize performance models, considering the future evolution of the game at the highest competitive level. Coaches could use this information to initially select players for different specific positions based on anthropometric and body composition criteria. Full article

Background/Objectives: Patients with unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (UR-PDAC) are vulnerable to rapid nutritional deterioration. The clinical relevance of short-term nutritional change during the diagnostic-to-treatment interval (DTI) remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated whether a dynamic change in the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (ΔGNRI) during the DTI is associated with treatment tolerability, treatment continuity, and survival. Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 120 patients with histologically confirmed UR-PDAC who initiated first-line palliative chemotherapy between January 2016 and April 2024. ΔGNRI was defined as the GNRI immediately before chemotherapy minus the GNRI at the initial visit. ΔGNRI was primarily analyzed as a continuous variable, and an exploratory cut-off value of −6.8 was determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis. One-to-one propensity score matching was performed as a sensitivity analysis. Clinically significant adverse events (AEs) were defined as grade ≥3 AEs or AEs requiring treatment modification, hospitalization, or treatment discontinuation. Results: Patients in the GNRI-decreased group had more frequent clinically significant non-hematologic AEs, including gastrointestinal AEs, higher hospitalization rates due to AEs, and more frequent early treatment discontinuation. ΔGNRI remained independently associated with early treatment discontinuation and failure to transition to second-line therapy in multivariable analyses. Patients in the GNRI-decreased group also had significantly shorter times to treatment failure and overall survival. These findings were consistent in propensity score-matched analyses. Conclusions: Dynamic nutritional decline during the DTI was associated with impaired treatment resilience and poor survival outcomes in UR-PDAC. ΔGNRI may help identify patients with emerging nutritional vulnerability before chemotherapy. Full article

Background: Pregnancy is a vital period during which maternal nutrition profoundly influences both maternal health and fetal development. Carotenoids, predominantly found in fruits and vegetables, are bioactive compounds that enhance antioxidant defenses and facilitate vitamin A metabolism throughout pregnancy. However, assessing carotenoids intake presents challenges due to the lack of dietary assessment tools capable of quantifying individual carotenoids, coupled with limited data from populations in Eastern Europe. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 621 pregnant women in Romania was conducted to estimate dietary carotenoids intake and investigate associations with dietary patterns and overall diet quality. Dietary data were obtained using the EPIC Food Frequency Questionnaire (EPIC-FFQ), adapted for Romanian populations. A dedicated carotenoid estimation model was developed utilizing the USDA Carotenoid Database. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to identify dietary patterns, and diet quality was evaluated using the Diet Quality Index during Pregnancy (DQI-P). Results: The findings revealed significant individual variability. The median intake was highest for β-carotene (2464 μg), and lycopene (1664 μg), followed by lutein and zeaxanthin (908 μg), α-carotene (615 μg), and β-cryptoxanthin (121 μg). The Vegetable-meal pattern exhibited the strongest positive correlation with carotenoids intake, whereas the Energy-dense pattern was primarily associated with vitamin E and tocopherols/tocotrienols, and the Mixed pattern with vitamins A and D. Higher DQI-P scores were consistently correlated with increased carotenoids consumption. Conclusions: Overall, maternal carotenoids intake during pregnancy was frequently insufficient and showed considerable variation among women. A diet rich in vegetables and higher overall diet quality were associated with elevated carotenoids intake levels. These findings enhance the understanding of dietary carotenoids intake among pregnant women in Eastern Europe. Full article

Background: Sarcopenia is an age-related disorder characterized by loss of muscle mass, strength, and function, driven by oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and protein imbalance. Broccoli-derived peptides (BDP) exert anti-inflammatory and myofiber-protective effects, while leucine regulates energy metabolism and redox balance. Methods: We established a D-galactose aging mouse model and treated mice with BDP alone, leucine alone, or their combination for 8 weeks. Lean mass, muscle index, grip strength, endurance, and treadmill capacity were detected, and atrophic, disorganized myofibers were observed through histology. RNA-seq was applied to screen differential signaling pathways, and qPCR was used to verify related gene expression levels. Results: D-galactose caused marked deficits in lean mass, muscle index, grip strength, endurance, and treadmill capacity, accompanied by atrophic and disorganized myofibers. Single BDP or leucine partially reversed these deficits, but the combination produced the most robust improvements. RNA-seq revealed that BDP enriched actin, chemokine, and TNF pathways; leucine enriched Apelin and ECM pathways; while the combination uniquely regulated MAPK signaling. qPCR confirmed that co-administration optimally upregulated myogenic drivers (Myod1, Myog, Mef2c), suppressed catabolic/inflammatory mediators (Mstn, Tnf, Cxcl10), and restored metabolic/adhesive regulators (Sirt3, Aplnr, Icam1). Conclusions: BDP and leucine show superior efficacy in ameliorating sarcopenia, through multimodal regulation of multiple signaling pathways, offering a promising plant-based nutritional strategy against age-related muscle decline. Full article

Background: Early childhood nutrition is strongly associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes, particularly in socially vulnerable settings. Limited evidence is available describing the relationship between nutritional status, food security, and neurodevelopment among preschool children in low-income urban areas of Colombia. This study aimed to evaluate nutritional status, household food insecurity, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children attending early childhood centers in El Codito, Bogotá, and to explore the association between anthropometric indicators and neurodevelopmental performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in children enrolled in community childcare centers. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric indicators according to World Health Organization growth standards, including weight for age, height for age, and body mass index for age. Neurodevelopment was evaluated using the Escala Abreviada de Desarrollo (EAD). Household food insecurity was measured through a validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were performed, and associations between variables were analyzed using correlation tests and group comparisons according to data distribution. Results: Most participants presented adequate nutritional status; however, a proportion of children showed risk of stunting or excess weight. Neurodevelopmental scores were generally within expected ranges, although variability was observed across developmental domains. Significant associations were identified between certain anthropometric indicators and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Moderate to severe household food insecurity was identified in 21.4% of participating households. Conclusions: Nutritional status and household food insecurity represent important contextual factors for child health in vulnerable urban populations. These findings highlight the importance of integrated nutritional and developmental monitoring strategies within early childhood programs. Further longitudinal studies are required to clarify causal pathways and to guide targeted public health interventions in similar contexts. Full article

Background: Nutritional biomarkers are linked to body composition changes, but limited evidence has studied how nutritional biomarkers relate to low muscle mass, excess adiposity, and both coexisting conditions across different physical activity levels. This study aims to investigate associations between low muscle mass, obesity, and low muscle mass with obesity and nutritional biomarkers across physical activity levels among U.S. adults across physical activity levels. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from adults aged 20–59 years from the 2015–2018 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015–2018. Low muscle mass was defined by low appendicular lean mass relative to body weight (LALM/W). Obesity was classified using body mass index (BMI¹), waist circumference (WC²), and body fat percentage (FM%³), and low muscle mass with obesity was defined using three coexisting phenotypes (LALM/W-O1, LALM/W-O2, LALM/W-O3). Nutritional biomarkers included serum albumin, vitamin D, triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, iron, insulin resistance (HOMA IR), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Physical activity was categorized as inactive, insufficiently active, or sufficiently active based on MET minutes per week. Multivariable regression models accounted for the complex survey design and relevant covariates. Results: After adjustment, LALM/W was significantly associated with low serum albumin, low vitamin D, high triglyceride, high HOMA-IR, and high CRP. Obesity was significantly associated with low serum albumin, low vitamin D, high triglyceride, high LDL cholesterol, high HOMA-IR, and high CRP. LALM/W-O in all phenotypes were significantly associated with low serum albumin, low vitamin D, high triglyceride, high LDL cholesterol, high HOMA-IR, and high CRP. LALM/W-O phenotypes demonstrated the strongest associations, particularly with high HOMA-IR and hs-CRP. Although the associations varied by physical activity level, sufficiently active group was associated with lower odds of adverse nutritional biomarkers compared with insufficient activity. Conclusions: Nutritional biomarkers are associated with LALM/W and obesity. Sufficient physical activity was associated with fewer adverse outcomes. This suggests that adequate physical activity may be associated with better nutritional status and body composition. Full article

Background/Objectives: Linear growth in children reflects cumulative influences of nutrition, health, and skeletal development. Vitamin K₂, particularly menaquinone-7 (MK-7), plays an important role in bone mineralization, yet evidence regarding its potential relationship with height growth in children remains limited. This study evaluated the association between continuous MK-7 supplementation and longitudinal height growth in children. Methods: A longitudinal observational study was conducted among 1150 apparently healthy children aged 6–14 years in Hanoi, Vietnam (2022–2025), including 613 controls and 537 children receiving MK-7 supplementation. MK-7 was administered orally at 360 µg/day from baseline throughout follow-up. A total of 3491 repeated height measurements were collected. Analyses were stratified according to pubertal stage (no-puberty and pre-puberty). Height gain was summarized according to follow-up duration, and initial mixed-effects models were used to explore longitudinal growth trajectories. Because substantial follow-up imbalance was observed after the first follow-up assessment, the primary regression analyses were subsequently restricted to baseline and first follow-up observations. Multivariable linear regression models evaluated the interaction between MK-7 supplementation and follow-up duration after adjustment for age, sex, baseline body mass index-for-age Z-score, early sleep, and physical activity. Results: Height gain increased significantly with follow-up duration across all analyses (β range: 0.49–0.58 cm/month; all p < 0.001). MK-7 supplementation alone was not independently associated with height gain; however, positive interactions between MK-7 supplementation and follow-up duration were observed in several subgroup analyses. In the overall cohort, the interaction estimate was β = 0.05 cm/month (95% CI: 0.02–0.09). Positive interactions were observed in no-puberty children (β = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.01–0.09) and pre-puberty children (β = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.03–0.09). The largest interaction estimate was observed among pre-puberty boys (β = 0.10; 95% CI: 0.07–0.13), whereas no statistically significant interaction was observed among girls in the pre-puberty subgroup. Conclusions: The findings suggest that continuous MK-7 supplementation may be associated with progressively greater height gain over time rather than an immediate increase in height. The observed associations appeared more evident with longer follow-up duration, particularly among pre-pubertal boys. However, given the observational design and substantial follow-up imbalance between groups, the findings should be interpreted cautiously. Further prospective studies with balanced longitudinal follow-up are needed to clarify the potential relationship between MK-7 supplementation and pediatric linear growth. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is associated with clinically relevant changes in body composition, energy metabolism, and functional capacity in transgender and gender-diverse individuals. The nutritional implications of these adaptations remain insufficiently characterized, and current assessment models, largely derived from cisgender populations, may not fully capture hormone-related body composition and metabolic changes. This narrative review aims to synthesize the metabolic and body composition effects of GAHT, evaluate methodological limitations in assessing nutritional status, and propose an integrated framework for clinical nutritional management. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted through searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, complemented by screening of relevant guidelines and reference lists. Priority was given to longitudinal studies, mechanistic studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical guidance addressing GAHT-related changes in body composition, metabolism, nutritional status, and functional outcomes. Results: Available evidence suggests that GAHT is associated with sex steroid-related, tissue-specific changes in body composition and metabolism. In transgender men, testosterone is generally associated with increases in lean body mass (LBM), reductions in fat mass, and potential increases in visceral adiposity, alongside possible increases in energy expenditure and altered cardiometabolic profiles. In transgender women, estrogen therapy, combined with androgen suppression, is generally associated with reductions in LBM and redistribution of subcutaneous fat, with heterogeneous metabolic and functional responses. Across both groups, changes in body composition are not consistently reflected by the Body Mass Index or functional outcomes, suggesting a possible dissociation between structural and functional adaptation. Common assessment tools show limitations, including reliance on cisgender-derived reference standards and inability to capture dynamic hormonal transitions. Conclusions: Current evidence supports the need for a longitudinal and individualized interpretation of nutritional and body composition changes during GAHT. A shift toward longitudinal, multimodal nutritional assessment, integrating body composition, functional measures, biochemical markers, dietary intake, and clinical context, may improve clinical monitoring and reduce misclassification. Full article

Background/Objectives: Malnutrition and diabetes mellitus (DM) have been linked to gut microbial perturbations, yet data are scarce for the aging population, especially in a nursing-home setting. As this group is generally at risk for malnutrition, we aimed to investigate the link between DM and gut microbial patterns in interaction with nutritional risk status in nursing-home residents. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 173 nursing-home residents (77.5% female, mean age 86 years) and were analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing. Furthermore, the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) was assessed and data on comorbidity status, anthropometric measurements, and medication were acquired. Results: Fifty-one residents had DM (mean HbA1c 6%). There were no DM-related differences in alpha diversity (observed richness: p = 0.733; Shannon index: p = 0.747). PERMANOVA revealed slight differences in beta diversity according to GNRI (R² = 0.009, p = 0.032), but no significant differences when adding DM status. Differential abundance analysis showed Clostridium_Clostridiaceae, Haemophilus, Actinomycetaceae and Micrococcaceae as significantly decreased with DM, independent of age, sex, and BMI. No interaction between DM and the GNRI in microbial diversity or composition was found. Conclusions: We report malnutrition-related differences in beta diversity and diabetes-related microbial taxa differences in nursing-home residents. DM status did not influence the relationship between the GNRI and gut microbiota in this population. Full article

Few strategies have been developed to mimic and control the supramolecular degradations induced by spontaneous fermentation in sour cassava starch, which are partly responsible for its characteristic expansion capacity in breadmaking, and their effectiveness has remained limited. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding α-amylase on the functional and nutritional properties of cassava starch used in breadmaking. Cassava starch from the INIAP 651 variety was modified with different α-amylase dosages (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 U/g α-amylase for 20 min), followed by hydration and pre-gelatinization before baking. Determinations of the specific volume of the bread (SV), dough characterization by Mixolab, pasting properties using a rheometer, and nutritional properties were performed. The treatment with 6 U/g α-amylase showed the best functional properties, achieving the highest SV (4.28 mL/g), C3 (1.67 Nm), C4 (1.11 Nm), and peak viscosity (6550 mPa·s), as well as the lowest setback (1526 mPa·s). In contrast, the treatment with 9 U/g α-amylase exhibited the most favorable nutritional profile, with the lowest estimated glycemic index (51.25) and rapidly digestible starch (15.85 g/100 g). These results confirm that controlled α-amylase dosing modulates cassava starch functionality for breadmaking and glycemic control. Full article

Background/Objectives: Higher energy and carbohydrate intakes have been hypothesized to enhance resistance training adaptations, yet empirical evidence remains mixed. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether supplemental carbohydrate–energy intake improves muscle hypertrophy and strength. Methods: Twenty resistance-trained men (26.7 ± 4.9 years old, 9.7 ± 6.1 years training experience) completed a quasi-randomized, double-blinded, counterbalanced crossover trial. Participants consumed either a daily protein-only supplement (30 g protein, 4 g carbohydrate) or a daily protein-plus-carbohydrate supplement (30 g protein, 54 g carbohydrate) for 8 weeks each, followed by crossover, while continuing their habitual training and nutrition. Primary outcomes included lean mass obtained using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, muscle thickness and cross-sectional area obtained via ultrasound, back squat one-repetition maximum, fatigue index, and knee extensor peak torque. Differences in estimated marginal means, controlling for order and phase effects, were analyzed via linear mixed models, with first-phase-only ANCOVAs as sensitivity analyses. Results: The carbohydrate–protein condition resulted in significantly higher daily energy (+485 kcal/d; p = 0.017) and carbohydrate intake (+33 g/d; p = 0.043) than the protein-only condition, with no differences in protein or fat intake or training volume. No significant differences between conditions were observed for any outcome, including in the sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: Modest supplemental carbohydrate–energy intake did not significantly augment muscle hypertrophy, fatigue resistance or strength in trained men within our study context. More high-powered research is needed to determine how much and under which circumstances carbohydrate–energy intake affects resistance training adaptations. Full article

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite advances in immunochemotherapy, approximately 30–40% of patients experience relapsed or refractory disease. Nutritional and inflammatory status, reflected by composite indices, may independently influence clinical outcomes. However, the prognostic value of the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), and Hemoglobin-Albumin-Lymphocyte-Platelet (HALP) score has not been well established in DLBCL patients treated with rituximab-based regimens. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 192 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL who received at least three cycles of R-CHOP or R-EPOCH at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital between January 2020 and January 2026. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine optimal cutoff values. Kaplan–Meier analysis with log-rank testing and univariable/multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic impact of the PNI, GNRI, and HALP on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: Among the six indices evaluated (PNI, GNRI, HALP, SII, ALI, and CAR), the PNI demonstrated the highest discriminatory ability for OS (AUC = 0.734, p = 0.001), followed by the HALP (AUC = 0.671, p = 0.020) and GNRI (AUC = 0.668, p = 0.022). The optimal cutoff values were ≤46.45 for the PNI, ≤46.91 for the GNRI, and ≤223.95 for HALP. Low values of all three indices were significantly associated with elevated LDH levels, advanced Ann Arbor stage, and higher IPI category. Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated significantly inferior OS in the low PNI (52.8 ± 2.6 vs. 67.1 ± 1.2 months, p = 0.001), low GNRI (49.5 ± 3.1 vs. 66.0 ± 1.4 months, p = 0.001), and low HALP (58.8 ± 2.8 vs. 64.9 ± 1.2 months, p = 0.005) groups. In separate multivariable Cox models adjusted for sex and IPI, the PNI (HR = 0.216, p = 0.009), HALP (HR = 0.276, p = 0.031), and GNRI (HR = 0.294, p = 0.011) remained independently associated with OS. No significant association was observed between these indices and PFS. Conclusions: The PNI, GNRI, and HALP are independent prognostic markers in patients with DLBCL treated with rituximab-based regimens. These readily available and inexpensive baseline indices may complement the IPI in identifying patients at higher risk of adverse outcomes and support risk stratification at diagnosis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Italy is among the countries with the highest life expectancy and extreme longevity worldwide, yet marked regional disparities persist. This nationwide ecological study examined temporal trends in population aging and extreme longevity across the 20 Italian regions (1982–2025) and explored regional correlates non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality and contemporary behavioral/nutritional indicators, with attention to emerging southern hotspots such as Cilento. Methods: Longevity indicators (Aging Tendency, Longevity Index [LI%], Centenarity Index [CI%], 85+ and 90+ ratios) were derived from ISTAT demographic data. Age-standardized mortality rates for five major NCDs (1990–2023) were obtained from WHO HFA-DB. Behavioral and nutritional indicators for adults aged ≥65 years (2024) were extracted from HFA-Italy. Regional associations were assessed using Spearman correlations within an ecological, hypothesis-generating framework. Results: All longevity indicators increased steadily from 1982 to 2025, with northern and central regions showing the highest values. Lower long-term mortality from diabetes mellitus and cerebrovascular diseases showed the strongest regional correlations with higher LI% and CI%. Nutritional profiles were generally more favorable in northern regions. The Cilento area emerged as a notable southern hotspot, displaying longevity indicators comparable to Sardinia and above the regional average. Conclusions: Regional patterns of extreme longevity in Italy reflect the interplay of demographic dynamics, NCD mortality burden, and contemporary lifestyle profiles. While northern regions maintain a clear advantage, specific southern areas such as Cilento demonstrate that favorable longevity outcomes can emerge in diverse macro-regional contexts. These findings highlight the value of regionally tailored strategies to promote healthy aging and reduce geographical disparities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has been linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) incidence, but its association with glycemic control in individuals already living with T2DM remains less well characterized. We evaluated the relationship between UPF consumption, assessed with the Turkish version of the short Screening Questionnaire of Highly Processed Food Consumption (sQ-HPF), and HbA1c and poor glycemic control in adults with T2DM. Methods: In this single-centre, cross-sectional observational study, 425 adults aged 18–65 years with T2DM of at least 6 months’ duration were consecutively recruited at a tertiary general internal medicine outpatient clinic. UPF consumption was assessed with the Turkish sQ-HPF (range 0–11; scores ≥ 6 = high UPF consumption). HbA1c was the primary outcome (continuous and dichotomized at 7.0%). Multiple linear and binary logistic regression analyses were performed with hierarchical adjustment for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), diabetes duration, and insulin-based treatment. Results: Total UPF score was positively correlated with HbA1c (r = 0.423, p < 0.001). In the fully adjusted linear model, each one-point increase in total UPF score was associated with a 0.418% higher HbA1c (95% CI: 0.333–0.503; β = 0.413; p < 0.001), explaining 28.9% of HbA1c variance. In the fully adjusted logistic model, each one-point increase in total UPF score was associated with 25.0% higher odds of poor glycemic control (OR = 1.250, 95% CI: 1.110–1.408, p < 0.001). Insulin-based treatment and male sex were also independent predictors. UPF score was not significantly associated with lipid parameters or C-reactive protein. Conclusions: Higher UPF consumption, captured by a brief validated screener, was independently associated with poorer glycemic control in Turkish adults with T2DM. Brief UPF screening may help identify patients who would benefit from targeted nutritional intervention. Full article

The impact of dietary inert digestibility markers on gut microbiota and intestinal fermentation remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of dietary titanium dioxide (TiO₂) supplementation at 4 kg/t feed, representing a typical dose used in animal nutrition studies, on fermentation dynamics and microbial composition in broiler chickens using combined ex vivo and in vivo approaches. Ex vivo fermentations were conducted using ileal and caecal microbiota and substrates collected from 32-day-old broiler chickens. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was supplemented directly to the fermentations, and gas production and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles were used as the main outcome measures. In parallel, 392 broiler chickens were fed diets with or without TiO₂ for 32 days, and ileal and caecal digesta were analysed for fermentation end-products and microbial composition using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. A second ex vivo experiment was performed using microbiota adapted to dietary TiO₂. In the first ex vivo model, TiO₂ reduced gas production and acetic acid concentration in the ileum (p < 0.05), whereas in the caecum it increased gas production, total eubacterial counts, and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) (p < 0.05). In vivo, TiO₂ did not affect growth performance or organ development but significantly increased isobutyric acid and total BCFA concentrations in the caecum (p < 0.05). Metagenomic analysis revealed increased caecal alpha diversity (Shannon index) and enrichment of taxa associated with amino acid metabolism, including Massilicoli timonensis, Blautia merdavium, Rubneribacter badeniensis, and Mediterraneibacter caccavium. The second ex vivo experiment showed similar trends, with increased gas and BCFA production. Collectively, these findings indicate that TiO₂ can modulate intestinal fermentation and microbial composition in a segment-specific manner, suggesting that dietary markers may not be biologically inert. Full article