The vitamin K (VK) levels vary greatly among different populations and in different regions. Currently, there is a lack of reference intervals for VK levels in healthy individuals, The aim of this study is to establish and validate the reference intervals of serum vitamin K1 (VK1) and vitamin K2 (VK2, specifically including menaquinone-4 (MK4) and menaquinone-7 (MK7)) levels in some healthy populations in Beijing. Serum VK1, MK4, and MK7 were firstly measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry in 434 subjects. The reference intervals for three indicators were established by calculating the data of 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles. Finally, preliminary clinical validation was conducted on 60 apparent healthy individuals undergoing physical examination. In the young, middle-aged, and elderly groups, the reference intervals of VK1 were 0.180 ng/mL ∼ 1.494 ng/mL, 0.247 ng/mL ∼ 1.446 ng/mL, and 0.167 ng/mL ∼ 1.445 ng/mL, respectively. The reference intervals of MK4 were 0.009 ng/mL ∼ 0.115 ng/mL, 0.002 ng/mL ∼ 0.103 ng/mL, and 0.003 ng/mL ∼ 0.106 ng/mL, respectively. The reference intervals of MK7 were 0.169 ng/mL ∼ 0.881 ng/mL, 0.238 ng/mL ∼ 0.936 ng/mL, and 0.213 ng/mL ∼ 1.012 ng/mL, respectively. The reference intervals had been validated by the samples of healthy individuals for physical examination. In conclusion, the reference intervals of VK established in this study with different age groups have certain clinical applicability, providing data support for further multicentre studies.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterised by chronic inflammation in joints. Obesity, stress, being women and dietary pattern are important in pathogenesis. The joint damage in RA is accelerated by oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to examine the serum total antioxidant level, nutritional status and Mediterranean diet adherence of adult women with RA. Thirty-five adult women RA patients and thirty-five healthy control participated in this study (45·4 ± 11·61 and 42·5 ± 8·50 years, respectively). Nutritional status, physical activity levels and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were questioned. Physicians assessed the disease activity score of patients with RA. Serum total antioxidant and oxidant status were analysed. The serum total antioxidant status of the control group was higher, whereas the oxidative stress index and total oxidant status were lower than that of the RA group. Dietary protein, fibre, EPA, retinol, Fe, Zn and total antioxidant intake in the RA group were lower than in the control group (P < 0·05). Individuals with higher fibre intake showed a significantly lower risk for RA after adjusting for potential confounding factors (OR = 0·845, 95 % CI = 0·773–0·923, P < 0·001). The mean physical activity level of the control group was higher than that of the RA group (1·59 ± 0·10 and 1·53 ± 0·13, respectively) (P = 0·01). In conclusion, serum antioxidant parameters and dietary antioxidant intake are decreased in patients with RA. Therefore, medical treatment for these patients should be supplemented with medical nutrition therapy to achieve optimal nutritional status.

Interest in studies examining the effect of temperament types on nutrition has recently increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between nine types of temperament, anthropometric measurements, and nutrition in adults. This study was conducted on 1317 individuals aged between 18 and 55 years. Descriptive information, dietary habits and anthropometric measurements of the participants were questioned. The Nine Types of Temperament Scale was administered to the individuals and food consumption records were obtained with a 24-hour retrospective reminder method. Type 2 scores of obese participants were higher than those of underweight and normal body weight; Type 8 scores of overweight participants were higher than those of normal body weight. Daily dietary intake of protein, riboflavin, folate, vitamins K, C, calcium, iron, and cholesterol were negatively associated with Type 1 score; protein, magnesium, iron, zinc intake, and water consumption were negatively associated with Type 2 score. Type 3 score was negatively associated with dietary CHO (%), dietary magnesium, iron, and zinc intake and positively associated with water consumption. The results of the study indicate significant relationships between temperament types, dietary habits, and anthropometric measures. In this context, considering temperament types when planning dietary patterns of individuals may be a new approach.

Knowledge of Ascophyllum nodosum extracts (ANEs) is still limited to avocado ‘Hass’ in the tropics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two ANEs application methods (foliar v. drench) at four different doses (0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 ml/l) on the physiological response of three different avocado stages (seedlings and young and adult trees). Foliar or drench ANEs applications were performed monthly for all plants for 16 weeks. The evaluated variables were recorded at 4 and 20 weeks after the start of treatment (WAT). The results showed that ANEs can be applied to the drench or foliar method at doses ≥5 ml/l in the different growth stages evaluated. In seedlings, foliar or drench ANEs applications increased total dry weight (34.5 and 57.9 g for 0 and ≥5 ml/l, respectively) and stomatal conductance (gs) (380 and 205 mmol/m2s for 0 and ≥5 ml/l, respectively) at 20 WAT. In young trees, both application methods also improved growing index (88.6 and 102 cm for 0 and ≥5 ml/l, respectively) and gs (516 and 636 mmol/m2s for 0 and ≥5 ml/l, respectively) at the last sampling point. Adult trees showed that foliar or drench applications at higher doses also caused an increase in fruit yield (3.4 and 8.7 kg/tree for 0 and ≥5 ml/l, respectively) at 20 WAT. In conclusion, the use of foliar and soil ANEs applications at higher doses (≥5 ml/l) can be considered for integrated crop management of ‘Hass’ avocado.

Bariatric surgery has significantly increased globally as an effective treatment for severe obesity. Nutritional deficits are common among candidates for bariatric surgery, and follow-up of nutritional status is critically needed for post-surgery healthcare management. This observational prospective study was conducted at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh. Samples were collected pre- and post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), with the visit intervals divided into four visits: pre-surgery (0M), 3 months (3M), 6 months (6M) and 12 months (12M). Food intake and eating patterns significantly changed during the first year (P < 0·001). The mean energy intake at 3M post-surgery was 738·3 kcal, significantly lower than the pre-surgery energy intake of 2059 kcal. Then, it increased gradually at 6M and 12M to reach 1069 kcal (P < 0·00). The intake of Fe, vitamin B12 and vitamin D was below the dietary reference intake recommendations, as indicated by the 24-hour dietary recall. The prevalence of 25 (OH) vitamin D deficiency improved significantly from pre- to post-surgery (P < 0·001). Vitamin B12 deficiency was less reported pre-LSG and improved steadily towards a sufficient post-surgery status. However, 35·7 % of participants were deficient in Fe status, with 28·6% being female at higher levels than males. While protein supplementation decreased significantly over the 12M follow-up, the use of vitamin supplements dramatically increased at 3 and 6M before declining at 12M. Fe and vitamin B12 were the most popular supplements after vitamin D. This study confirms the necessity for individualised dietary plans and close monitoring of candidates’ nutritional status before and after bariatric surgery.

While previous studies have identified a relationship between dietary intake and the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the influence of overall nutritional status on NAFLD development has not been thoroughly investigated. This study sought to explore the association between different nutritional status indicators and NAFLD among the older adults. Nutritional status was evaluated using controlling nutritional status (CONUT), prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and nutritional risk index (GNRI), while NAFLD was identified based on a controlled attenuation parameter ≥ 285 dB/m, measured using transient elastography. The analysis included multivariate regression, receiver operating characteristic analysis, eXtreme Gradient Boosting and subgroup analysis to investigate the relationships between nutritional status indices and NAFLD. The study enrolled 1409 participants for the main analysis, with an NAFLD prevalence of 44·7 %. After accounting for potential confounders, a positive association between PNI and NAFLD was observed. Participants in the third and fourth quartiles of PNI showed increased odds of NAFLD compared with the lowest quartile (Q3: OR = 1·45, 95 % CI (1·03, 2·05); Q4: OR = 2·27, 95 % CI (1·59, 3·24)). Similarly, higher GNRI quartiles were significantly associated with greater odds of NAFLD (Q4 v. Q1: aOR = 1·84; 95 % CI (1·28, 2·65)). Conversely, higher CONUT values were linked to a reduced prevalence of NAFLD (OR = 0·65, 95 % CI (0·48, 0·87)). This study highlights that suboptimal nutritional status, indicating overnutrition as evaluated by PNI, GNRI and CONUT, is positively linked with the risk of NAFLD in individuals aged 50 years and above.

The lifestyle of the population has undergone significant changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have influenced alterations in dietary habits and overall well-being among workers. This study aimed to evaluate healthy eating practices and their relationship with the workers’ quality of life and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional investigation involving workers in the city of Curitiba, southern Brazil. The study was conducted through the application of an online questionnaire. The data were evaluated using non-parametric tests and fitting a logistic regression model. A total of 123 workers participated in the study, most of them male (53.2%), aged between 31 and 40 years (42.2%), with a predominance of workers with postgraduate degrees (62.6%, n = 77), and the majority of workers (68.2%, n = 84) were performing their professional activities remotely for at least one day during the week, and 73.2% (n = 90). It was observed that 52.8% had excellent healthy eating practices, and the older their age and the greater the practice of physical activity (time and frequency), the better the workers’ healthy eating practices. When assessing quality of life, the lowest average score for healthy eating practices was in the domain of social relationships. A direct relationship of older age, social relationships, and the practice of physical activity with the best individuals’ healthy eating practices was detected. Considering that remote work continues to be adopted post-pandemic, evaluating the dietary practices, physical activity, and quality of life of workers is necessary to understand this new labour phenomenon.

The aim of this study is to assess nutritional status and associated factors among infants and young children aged 6–23 months in Yeka sub-city, Ethiopia, 2021. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in selected health centres found in the Yeka sub-city from May 2021 to July 2021. In total, 396 systematically selected infants and young children aged 6–23 months attended the selected health centres were included in the study. Data were collected by using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. A multinomial logistic regression model was used.

The overall magnitude of undernutrition and overnutrition among infants and young children were 24.7% and 5.5%, respectively. Dietary diversity score (DDS) ((adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 5.65; 95% CI = 2.301, 10.87; P value = 0.003), minimum meal frequency (MMF) (AOR = 5.435; 95% CI = 2.097, 11.09; P value = 0.0052), and diarrhoea (AOR = 2.52; 95% CI = 1.007, 6.310; P value = 0.002) were statistically significantly associated factors for nutritional status among infants and young children. Malnutrition (undernutrition and overnutrition) is a public health problem among infants and young children in Yeka sub-city, Ethiopia. DDS, MMF, and diarrhoeal disease were associated with higher odds of undernutrition.

Early nutritional and growth experiences can impact development, metabolic function, and reproductive outcomes in adulthood, influencing health trajectories in the next generation. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis regulates growth, metabolism, and energetic investment, but whether it plays a role in the pathway linking maternal experience with offspring prenatal development is unclear. To test this, we investigated patterns of maternal developmental weight gain (a proxy of early nutrition), young adult energy stores, age, and parity as predictors of biomarkers of the pregnancy IGF axis (n = 36) using data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey in Metro Cebu, Philippines. We analyzed maternal conditional weight measures at 2, 8, and 22 years of age and leptin at age 22 (a marker of body fat/energy stores) in relation to free IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in mid/late pregnancy (mean age = 27). Maternal IGF axis measures were also assessed as predictors of offspring fetal growth. Maternal age, parity, and age 22 leptin were associated with pregnancy free IGF-1, offspring birth weight, and offspring skinfold thickness. We find that free IGF-1 levels in pregnancy are more closely related to nutritional status in early adulthood than to preadult developmental nutrition and demonstrate significant effects of young adult leptin on offspring fetal fat mass deposition. We suggest that the previously documented finding that maternal developmental nutrition predicts offspring birth size likely operates through pathways other than the maternal IGF axis, which reflects more recent energy status.

Optimal diet and nutrition is vital for military readiness, performance and recovery. Previous research on military diets has primarily focused on the nutritional composition of field/combat rations and dietary intake during deployment. There is accumulating research exploring the usual free-living dietary intake and nutritional status of defence members in garrison (i.e. military bases on which personnel are stationed). However, no comprehensive review has been conducted to assess the overall dietary quality of defence members internationally. Therefore, this review assessed the diets of military populations against national nutritional guidelines and Military Dietary Reference Intakes (MDRI). A systematic literature review of original research was conducted. CINAHL, Medline (EBSCO), Scopus (Elsevier), PubMed and AMED databases were searched up to the 20/02/2023. A total of thirty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. The overall quality of included studies was high, with a low risk of bias. The diet quality scores indicate poor to fair diet quality among defence members. Defence members display low intakes of fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, seafood, plant protein and nuts and high intakes of added sugars, trans fat and processed meat. Results also indicated suboptimal intake of fibre, essential fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin E, folate, Mg, Zn and iodine. This may lead to reduced performance, increased risk of chronic diseases and mental health disorders. More research is needed to assess the long-term consequences of poor diet quality in defence members. These results require the attention of policymakers to ensure that military education and food environment is supportive of healthy eating.

Lack of nutrition knowledge and poor dietary practices have profound adverse implications on nutritional status particularly among displaced children. Evidence of the effectiveness of nutrition education interventions in improving the nutritional status of internally displaced schoolchildren in Cameroon is scarce. The study objective was to assess the effects of nutrition education on the nutritional status of internally displaced schoolchildren in the West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon. A pre-test-post-test randomised experimental study design was used with an experimental and control group of 160 children from ten primary schools and their caregivers. Anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical signs of malnutrition, dietary, and health status of the children were evaluated, and the caregiver’s nutrition knowledge was assessed in both groups at baseline and end-line with the aid of standard anthropometric and biochemical equipment and recorded in pretested questionnaires. Nutrition education was carried out only with the caregivers of children in the test group. In the test group, significant beneficial outcomes were noticed only for Bitot’s spot (p = 0.047), pallor (0.025), frequency of consumption of fruits (p = 0.002) and vegetables (p = 0.036), caregiver’s nutrition knowledge (p = 0.000), all health-seeking practices of the children (p < 0.05) except immunisation (p = 0.957). No significant change was seen in any of the parameters studied among the participants in the control group. Nutrition education alone was not effective in improving the nutritional status of the children and should be implemented together with other food-based nutrition interventions to improve the nutritional status of internally displaced schoolchildren in the West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon.

Despite the global decrease over the last two decades, stunting, also called ‘chronic malnutrition’, remains a public health issue affecting almost 150 million children under the age of 5 years globally. Defined by height-for-age, stunting is the consequence of poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation. Programmes and policies target undernutrition globally, and humanitarian and development actors invest great efforts to prevent stunting. This study uses multivariate analysis to examine the impact of financial assistance on the reduction of stunting in a refugee context, focusing on Syrian refugee children under the age of 5 years in Türkiye. Using a unique dataset, the 2018 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey Syrian Migrant Sample (2018 TDHS-SR), the findings indicate that financial assistance significantly reduces the incidence of stunting among refugee children under the control of economic, mother and children, environmental, health-related and nutritional and breastfeeding characteristics. However, having household members generate income is found to be another stronger predictor to reduce stunting. The paper also argues that the nutritional well-being of refugee children might improve if forced migration occurs towards a stable host country/region. In addition, adaptation over time also seems to have a positive influence.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between leptin and adiponectin gene polymorphisms, circulating levels of leptin and adiponectin, adiposity and clinical markers in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). This cross-sectional study was conducted with 102 adults and elderly MDS patients and 102 age- and sex-matched controls. Clinical characteristics, co-morbidities, anthropometric data, laboratory evaluation and genetic analysis (polymorphisms −2548G > A/rs7799039 of the LEP gene and +276G > T/rs1501299 of the ADIPOQ gene) were investigated. Serum leptin was higher and adiponectin lower in MDS when compared with controls. There was a significant positive correlation between serum leptin levels and BMI (r = 0·264, P = 0·025), waist circumference (r = 0·235, P = 0·047), body fat percentage (BF %) (r = 0·373, P = 0·001) and the fat mass index (FMI) (r = 0·371, P < 0·001). A lower mean adiponectin was found among patients with high BF %, higher visceral adiposity index and metabolic syndrome. A significant association was found between the AA genotype (mutant) of the LEP polymorphism rs7799039 and male sex and blast excess (≥ 5 %). In addition, a significant association was observed between the TT genotype (mutant) of the ADIPOQ rs1501299 polymorphism and Fe overload. These results demonstrate the importance of a comprehensive and systematic evaluation in patients with MDS in order to identify and control negative factors not related to the disease at an early stage.