Prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity among Syrian refugees in Türkiye.

BACKGROUND: Although Türkiye (Turkey) hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees, studies on food insecurity are limited. This study examined the prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity among Syrian refugees living in Istanbul, which has the highest number of refugees in Türkiye. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Syrian refugees in Istanbul between September 2021 and March 2022. The main income earners of 103 households were interviewed by a research dietitian, with the assistance of an Arabic speaking interpreter through hour-long face-to-face. Data on sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, nationality, marital status, educational status, the family income, the major source of family income, and the number of family members living in the household etc.) and household food insecurity status were collected. Household food insecurity status was assessed with the eighteen-item Household Food Security Survey Module. RESULTS: The household food insecurity rate was 90.3%, and those of adults and children were 88.4% and 84.8%, respectively. It was observed that family income level was significantly associated with food insecurity. A one-unit increase in monthly income increased food security by 0.02 times (p < 0.001). The number of employed refugees in the food security group was higher than that in the food insecurity group (p = 0.018). A significant difference was found in the rate of occupation type of the major income earner between the groups (p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: High rates of food insecurity, particularly severe food insecurity, were found among Syrian refugees living in Istanbul. While more research is warranted to explore the root causes and efficacy of the current support system, it requires the immediate attention of policymakers at the national and international levels to implement effective policies and interventions.

Association between dental caries and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, dietary intake, and body mass index in children.

BACKGROUND: Children with healthier nutritional status are less likely to develop severe caries than those with a high-sugar content diet. Studies evaluating dental caries and nutritional status in school-age children have generally focused on dietary intake, diet quality, or anthropometric measures, and the number of studies evaluating them together is limited. OBJECTIVE: It was aimed to evaluate the relationship between dental caries adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD), dietary intake, and Body Mass Index (BMI) in school-age children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted with 300 healthy children (52.0% boys, 48.0% girls) aged between 6 and 12 years. The data collection forms included sociodemographic characteristics, oral health practices of children, Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (KIDMED), and food consumption records. Anthropometric measurements (body weight and height) of the children were taken. Dental examinations were performed by a pediatric dentist. RESULTS: While the DMFT mean score of the children was 1.7 ± 2.09, the mean dft score was 2.9 ± 3.29. The mean of KIDMED scores was 5.9 ± 3.32. DMFT and dft scores decreased statistically as maternal education increased (p < 0.05). DMFT and dft scores were not statistically different between BMI groups according to gender and age (p > 0.05). DMFT scores differed statistically between KIDMED groups (p < 0.05). This difference was between low-optimal and low-improvement-needed groups. While there was a low negative correlation (r=-0.169) between calcium intake and DMFT score, a low positive correlation was found between glucose (r = 0.172) and fructose (r = 0.149) intake and dft score (p < 0.05). In regression analysis, while the children's age related DMFT scores positively, maternal education and KIDMED scores related DMFT scores negatively. Also, children's age and maternal education related dft scores negatively. CONCLUSION: In this study, adherence to the MD rather than nutrients was found to be important in dental caries. Also maternal education level was also found to be a determinant factor in dental caries in children. DMFT and dft did not differ between BMI groups.Further studies should be conducted to assess the impact of the MD on dental caries in children to develop dietary interventions for preventative purposes.

Food insecurity, Mediterranean diet adherence, and psychosocial health among university students in Türkiye.

The aim was to examine the relationship between food insecurity and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, academic achievement, depression, anxiety, and stress among university students. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 2039 university students studying in Türkiye. Sixty-eight point two per cent of the students were food insecure. Food security (FS) scores were negatively associated with adherence to the MD and academic achievement, and positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress scores. A 1-unit increase in FS score resulted in a statistically significant increase of 0.458, 0.468, and 0.400 units in depression, anxiety, and stress scores, respectively, and a significant decrease of 0.140 units in the MD adherence screener score. Food insecurity among university students in Türkiye is very common, and students with food insecurity have low adherence to the MD and low academic achievement and high depression, anxiety, and stress scores. Financial support as well as financial and food literacy provided to students play an important role in managing food insecurity.

Association of Serum Irisin Levels with Body Composition, Metabolic Profile, Leptin, and Adiponectin Levels in Lean and Obese Children.

Background and Objectives: Irisin is an adipo-myokine with potential metabolic effects in the body, and its association with childhood obesity is still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum irisin levels and anthropometric parameters, body composition, metabolic profiles, leptin, and adiponectin in obese and normal-weight children. Methods: The study sample consisted of a total of 80 children aged 6-10, including 44 obese children (BMI ≥ 97th percentile) and 36 normal-weight children. Anthropometric parameters were measured. Body composition was determined with the use of the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) method. Metabolic profiles, as well as irisin, leptin, and adiponectin levels, were analyzed. Results: Anthropometric parameters and body composition were found to be significantly different between the obese and normal-weight groups (p < 0.05). Fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and leptin levels were found to be significantly higher in the obese group, while the normal-weight group had significantly higher HDL cholesterol and adiponectin levels (p < 0.05). Serum irisin levels did not differ between the obese and normal-weight groups, or based on sex, vitamin D levels, and insulin resistance status. There was also no statistically significant correlation between serum irisin levels and anthropometric parameters, metabolic profile, leptin, and adiponectin. Conclusions: The study concluded that the obese children who participated in this study had high leptin levels and low adiponectin levels, with no significant difference in the irisin levels between the groups. More comprehensive clinical studies are needed to investigate the relationship between irisin and adipokines in children.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q-13): short-form of EDE-Q.

BACKGROUND: The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is a frequently used scale to evaluate eating behaviors and attitudes. In recent years, its use has increased due to the fact that the use of short forms is more practical. The aim of this study was to validate the short Turkish form of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) including 13 items. METHODS: The study included 924 adults at a mean age of 30.3 ± 10.93 years. EDEQ-13 was translated and adapted to Turkish according to the Beaton Guidelines. The Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Body Appreciation Scale (BAS) were used to analyze their relationships to EDE-Q-13. RESULTS: In this study, the rate of the total variance explained by the factors of EDE-Q-13 according to the Explanatory Factor Analysis (EFA) results of the scale was 83.54%. The Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was 0.89, and the Cronbach's alpha values of the 5 subscales were calculated in the range of 0.75-0.94. The criterion validity analysis showed an acceptable correlation between EDE-Q-13 and EAT-26, SWLS, and BAS. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed that the model had fit values that were acceptable or good. CONCLUSION: Both EFA and CFA results showed that it is appropriate to use the Turkish EDE-Q-13. EDE-Q-13 was significantly correlated with eating disturbances, body appreciation, and life satisfaction. In conclusion, the Turkish version of EDE-Q-13 possesses high levels of validity and reliability.

The rate of eating disorders has been increasing in recent years. Although there are many scales in the evaluation of eating disorders, one of the most frequently used scales is the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). In recent years, its use has increased due to the fact that the use of short forms is more practical. The aim of this study was to validate the short Turkish form of EDE-Q. The study included 924 adults. Our results showed that it is appropriate to use the Turkish EDE-Q-13. EDE-Q-13 was significantly correlated with eating disturbances, body appreciation, and life satisfaction. In conclusion, the Turkish version of EDE-Q-13 possesses high levels of validity and reliability.

Does maternal diet affect infantile colic?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal diet on infantile colic without any interventions or food restrictions. METHODS: Thirty colicky and 29 non-colicky infants were included in this prospective study. Mother's diet and baby crying time were recorded for 1 week by mothers; nutritionist classified contents of mother's diet and compared the diet of mother in colicky and non-colicky infants. RESULTS: It was found that mothers of non-colicky infants consumed significantly more grapes and lemons than mothers of colicky infants (p = 0.044). The crying time was moderately negatively correlated with the percentage of protein in the maternal diet (R = -0.45, p = 0.01) and the presence of potatoes in the maternal diet (R = -0.38, p = 0.034) and positively correlated with the maternal consumption of walnut (R = 0.38, p = 0.034), banana (R = 0.44, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Removing bananas from the maternal diet may reduce colic. The consumption of a protein-rich maternal diet, grapes, lemons and potatoes by breastfeeding mothers may protect infants from colic.

Clothing preference affects vitamin D status of young women.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with several chronic diseases, which include cardiovascular, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Several factors such as exposure to sunlight, skin color, dietary habits, and cultural factors affect serum vitamin D levels. We hypothesized that serum vitamin D levels in young women are associated with clothing styles and investigated this via a cross-sectional study that included 100 female students at Istanbul Medipol University. Our study used a questionnaire in order to collect demographic information. Serum calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone levels were determined via standard laboratory tests. We deployed bioelectrical impedance analysis to measure body composition, and we then determined the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and total body fat values. The mean age was 20.9 ± 2.1 years. Subjects' data were divided into 2 groups based on their clothing styles: covered (Muslim style clothing) and uncovered. Muslim style clothing, which covers the whole body but leaves the face and hands exposed, was worn by 40.0% of the undergraduate students. The mean BMI (in kilograms per meter squared) of the subjects was 23.0 ± 3.6. The BMI value for the covered students was 24.0 ± 4.0, and that for the uncovered students was 22.3 ± 3.1. Of the subjects, 28.0% had a BMI of at least 25 kg/m(2) (overweight). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (in nanograms per milliliter), parathyroid hormone (in picograms per milliliter), alkaline phosphatase (in units per liter), and calcium levels (in milligrams per deciliter) were 21.1 ± 6.7, 27.5 ± 9.2, 65.9 ± 10.9, and 9.0 ± 0.2 for covered students, respectively, and 29.7 ± 3.1, 24.3 ± 6.1, 62.8 ± 13.2, and 9.0 ± 0.4, respectively, for uncovered students. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiencies was 55.0% for covered and 20.0% for uncovered students. The vitamin D status was found to be statistically significant and had a negative correlation with the duration of Islamic dressing (P < .05, r = -0.334). We concluded that the vitamin D levels of young women are associated with clothing style, and the age at which a female begins wearing Muslim style clothing is related.

A Cross-Sectional Study: Nutritional Polyamines in Frequently Consumed Foods of the Turkish Population.

Putrescine, spermidine and spermine are the most abundant polycationic natural amines found in nearly all organisms. They are involved in regulation of gene expression, translation, cell proliferation and differentiation. They can be supplied by the endogenous synthesis inside the cell or by the intake from exogenous sources. There is a growing body of literature associated with the effects of bioactive amines on health and diseases, but limited information about polyamine content in foods is available. In the present study, the polyamine content of frequently consumed foods in a typical Turkish diet was estimated for adults, including tea, bread and yoghurt. The estimation of daily intake was defined as 93,057 nmol/day putrescine, 33,122 nmol/day spermidine, 13,685 nmol/day spermine. The contribution of foods to daily intake was: dairy products (47.32%), vegetables and grains (21.09%) and wheat products (12.75%).