A narrative review on dietary components and patterns and age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most prevalent eye diseases among the ageing population worldwide. It is a leading cause of blindness in individuals over 55, particularly in industrialised Western countries. The prevalence of AMD increases with age, and genetic factors and environmental influences are believed to contribute to its development. Among the environmental factors, diet plays a significant role in AMD. This review explores the association between dietary components, dietary patterns and AMD. Various nutrients, non-nutrient substances and dietary models that have the potential to counteract oxidative stress and inflammation, which are underlying mechanisms of AMD, are discussed. Consuming fruits, vegetables, fish and seafood, whole grains, olive oil, nuts and low-glycaemic-index foods has been highlighted as beneficial for reducing the risk of AMD. Adhering to the Mediterranean diet, which encompasses these elements, can be recommended as a dietary pattern for AMD. Furthermore, the modulation of the gut microbiota through dietary interventions and probiotics has shown promise in managing AMD.

The Effect of Maternal High-Fat Diet on Adipose Tissue Histology and Lipid Metabolism-Related Genes Expression in Offspring Rats.

The developing fetus is dependent on the maternal nutritional environment. This study was conducted to determine the effects of a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) applied during pregnancy and/or lactation on the expression levels of some lipid-related genes in rat models. Half of the pregnant rats (n: 6) were fed an HFD (energy from fat: 45%), while the other half (n: 6) were fed a control diet (CD) (energy from fat, 7.7%) during the pregnancy period. During lactation, dams in both groups were divided into two subgroups, with half fed the CD and the other half fed the HFD. Thus, four groups were obtained: CD-CD, CD-HFD, HFD-CD, and HFD-HFD. At the end of lactation, all mothers and half of the offspring were sacrificed. The remaining offspring were fed a CD for five weeks. The average birth weight of the CD group offspring was found to be lower than that of the HFD group (p < 0.05). The amount of adipose tissue was highest in CD-HFD (p < 0.05), while gene expression levels were similar between groups (p > 0.05), and the most degenerative histological changes were observed in the eight-week HFD-HFD (p < 0.05). This study suggests that maternal HFD during pregnancy and lactation may increase adiposity in offspring rats, especially during the weaning period.

Effect of inositol and its derivatives on diabetes: a systematic review.

A growing body of research has investigated the association between inositol and diabetes. The purpose of this review is to report through a systematic way the current scientific evidence relating potential benefits of inositol isomers on diabetes/gestational diabetes. The screening of the studies published last decade was performed in 4 databases (Pubmed-Web of Science-The Cochrane Library-Lilacs). Among the 1640 studies identified in the search, only 26 studies had sufficient data to be included in the systematic review. The available literature suggests that inositol seems to be provide improvements in fasting blood glucose and other biochemical results, which are among the most important parameters in diabetic individuals. Although there are some studies demonstrating that inositol may be effective in prevention and treatment of diabetes/gestational diabetes, conduction of studies with larger sample and longer follow-up duration is required for it to be represented as an effective strategy in management of diabetes.

Are eating behaviors related with by body mass index, gender and age?

The present study was carried out with parents of 520 healthy children between the ages of 2-12 and their parents who were referred to the diet polyclinic of a hospital in Ankara. The data were collected through personal interviews. The interviews included identifying the characteristics of the child and his/her parents, anthropometric measurements, questions investigating eating status, and the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire. According to the body mass index-Z scores, there were differences between subgroups of food responsiveness, emotional overeating, enjoyment of food, food fussiness, and slowness in eating. The gender-based desire to drink score was, on average, higher in boys. No gender-based differences were found in other subgroups, whereas the scores in the food fussiness and slowness in eating and emotional undereating were higher in the preschool group when analyzed by age. In conclusion, eating behaviors of overweight and obese children differ from those of normal and underweight children.

The Relationship Between Female Reproductive Functions and Vitamin D.

Nonclassical target organs recently defined for vitamin D, a major regulator of calcium phosphorus homeostasis and bone health, include reproductive ones. This compilation study focuses on the potential effects of vitamin D on female reproductive functions. Vitamin D receptor enzymes that metabolize vitamin D are expressed in both central and peripheral reproductive organs. Most studies suggest that vitamin D may be directly or indirectly related to gonadal functions. Vitamin D's effects on reproductive functions may be indirectly related to diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine leiomyomas, and endometriosis. In case of vitamin D deficiency during infertility treatment, vitamin D supplementation can be recommended especially for women who have PCOS, insulin resistance, or low anti-Mullerian hormone levels. Supplementation, however, should take into account possible toxic effects of high-dose vitamin D. To be able to recommend measuring vitamin D as a routine screening test and to better understand the effects of vitamin D and its supplementation on female reproductive functions, larger randomized controlled prospective studies are needed.

Assessment of dietary calcium intake of university students: a pilot study in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to adapt the rapid assessment method (RAM) and International Osteoporosis Foundation Food Frequency Questionnaire (IOF FFQ) tools, used for the assessment of daily calcium intake in university students, and to compare the data obtained using 24-h recall (24-HR) data. There was a moderate positive correlation between the RAM and IOF. PURPOSE/INTRODUCTION: Calcium is an essential mineral that plays vital roles in metabolism and it is very important to accurately assess the amount of calcium intake on the diet. It was aimed to assess the daily calcium intake of university students by two different food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) developed specifically for evaluating calcium intake, and 24-h recall method. METHOD: The study was conducted with a total of 183 female university students aged 18-31. In the study, a questionnaire including sociodemographic information, a calcium calculator, IOF FFQ, prepared in seven different languages, and RAM was applied. In addition, 1-day food consumption records were obtained using 24-HR method. RESULTS: The daily average calcium intakes of individuals according to two different food frequency questionnaires (RAM FFQ and IOF FFQ) and 24-h food consumption records are respectively 1594.2 ± 810.9, 897.9 ± 368.4, and 605.6 ± 278.3 mg. When the daily average calcium intake was compared with the other two methods, RAM was found to be statistically higher (p < 0.001). There was a moderate positive correlation between the RAM and IOF FFQ methods (Pearson r = 0.528, p < 0.01) and the intra-class correlation coefficient between these two methods was found to be significant and moderate (ICC r = 0.452, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In terms of protecting and improving health, it is important to make suggestions using fast and short tools to ensure adequate calcium intake from young age. It is thought that FFQs are the most appropriate methods in assessing daily calcium intake for this study group because it is observed that the list of foods and the amount of portions in FFQs reduce the problem of remembering at 24-h method to a great extent.