Association between breakfast consumption, breakfast quality, mental health and quality of life in Turkish adolescents: A high school-based cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to determine the frequency of breakfast consumption and breakfast quality among adolescents and to evaluate the relationships between breakfast consumption, breakfast quality, mental health, and health-related quality of life. This cross-sectional study included 449 students from 17 high schools between December 2022 and May 2023. A face-to-face questionnaire measuring the frequency of breakfast consumption, Mediterranean diet quality index (KIDMED), health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN), and depression, anxiety and stress scales (DASS-21) was performed. Of the students, 54.1% skipped breakfast 2 or more times a week and 75.9% had poor breakfast quality. There were significant differences in breakfast quality classification according to the frequency of breakfast consumption (p = 0.003). Breakfast consumption ≤1 time/week or 2-5 times/week was associated with depression, anxiety and low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. No relationship was observed between breakfast quality and stress, depression or anxiety (p = 0.620, p = 0.586, p = 0.539, respectively) or between breakfast quality and the KIDSCREEN-27 subscales (p > 0.05). However, those eating poor-quality breakfasts had better results in physical wellbeing (p = 0.022), psychological wellbeing (p = 0.024), autonomy and parent relations (p = 0.017) than breakfast-skippers and also scored lower for depression, stress and anxiety (all p < 0.001). In conclusion, the frequency of breakfast consumption had a stronger association with reduced symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety, as well as improvements in all dimensions of health-related quality of life, compared to the quality of breakfast consumed. Given the association of breakfast consumption with mental health outcomes in adolescents, our findings are of great importance, especially to parents, clinicians and nutritional educators.

The Association between BMI and Body Weight Perception among Children in Turkey: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: There is a complex relationship between body mass index (BMI) and body weight perception. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between BMI and body weight perception among middle-aged children. Methods: This study was cross-sectional, and conducted among 333 children (9-11 yr) from the largest public school in Istanbul, Turkey between Oct 2019 and Jan 2020. BMI was calculated as weight divided by height squared (kg/m2). Body weight perception was determined using a photograph figure rating scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0. Results: Overall, 325 children (mean age 10.01 ± 0.99 yr) completed the study. According to the BMI classification, 8.6% of children were severely underweight, 4.9% underweight, 68.0% normal weight, 8.3% overweight, and 10.2% obese. However, 38.8% of the children perceived themselves as overweight, 21.2% as underweight, 20.3% as normal, 10.3% as overweight, and 9.4% as obese. 59.1% of children underestimated their current body weight. On the other hand, 14.2% of children overestimated their current body weight. There were statistical differences between body weight perception and BMI (P<0.001). Conclusion: There was a discrepancy between body weight perception and BMI among middle-aged children. More than half of the children tend to underestimate their actual body weight. Therefore, evaluating the nutritional status of children and learning which body type children perceive can guide the preparation of individual nutrition programs.

Public interest in weight loss and diet-related topics in Europe: an infodemiology study of Google trends data from 2004-2022.

Obesity is one of the largest health issues in Europe, and media can significantly impact obesity-related habits. This study aimed to determine the trends of public interest in weight loss, physical activity, diet, nutrition, healthy diet, healthy nutrition, optimum nutrition, healthy food, and a combination of weight loss + diet-related topics in Europe, using Google Trends data from 2004 to 2022. Denmark was the most interested in weight loss topics, whereas Ukraine was the least interested. The mean relative search volume (RSV) of "Weight loss + Optimum nutrition" was the most frequent (80.65%), followed by "Weight loss + Physical activity" (78.66%). Searches for "Weight loss" + diet-related topics increased in most European countries according to Jonckheere-Terpstra trend analysis from 2004 to 2022, with searches generally declining in December but increasing in January. Our findings could help scientists and practitioners develop and select strategies, particularly during times of high public interest.

Added sugars and non-nutritive sweeteners in the food supply: Are they a threat for consumers?

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Excess sugar intake can cause chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Thus, limiting the intake of sugar in the diet is an important preventive measure. Food manufacturers have considered non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) as an alternative to sugars. To date, there has been no systematic monitoring of the types of added sugars and NNS in Turkey's food supply. The aim of this study identified the added sugars and NNS in packaged foods and beverages that were available in supermarkets across Turkey. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to December 2020. Three supermarkets in Turkey were chosen for this study. RESULTS: Of the 2514 packaged foods and beverages analyzed, 1647 (65.5%) contained added sugars or NNS. Out of 1647 products, 9.7% contained both added sugars and NNS; 86.5% only added sugars whereas 3.8% had only NNS. The most used added sugar was white sugar in all food groups (50.6%-100%) while the most used NNS was sorbitol (28.4%). CONCLUSION: The use of added sugars and NNS in Turkey's food supply was found to be high, and white sugar being the most used sweetener in products available in the food supply. Therefore, it may be important to start monitoring the prevalence of products containing added sugars and NNS due to their negative health effects.

Polyphenols in the prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: An update of preclinical and clinical studies.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most urgent problems to be solved. To date, only a lifestyle modification related to diet and physical activity is considered for these patients. Polyphenols are a group of plant natural products that when regularly consumed has been related to a reduction in the risk of several metabolic disorders associated with NAFLD. In this study, we aimed to present an overview of the relationship between polyphenols and NAFLD with current approaches. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive literature search for articles on polyphenols and NAFLD published in English between January 2018 to August 2020. Keywords included in this review: "Phenolic" OR "Polyphenol" AND "Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease". The editorials, communications and conference abstracts were excluded. RESULTS: Different polyphenols decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokines in both serum and liver that contribute to a decrease in fatty liver dysfunction. Additionally, polyphenols may improve the regulation of adipokines and prevent hepatic steatosis. According to human clinical studies, polyphenols are promising for NAFLD patients and associated diseases that lead to NAFLD. CONCLUSION: Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that various polyphenols could prevent steatosis and its progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, as well as ameliorate NAFLD. However, more clinical studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Assessment of nutritional status, body composition and blood biochemical parameters of patients following sleeve gastrectomy: 6 months follow up.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Today, Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has recently become the most common bariatric procedure among various bariatric surgical procedures due to its advantages. The aim of this study is to investigate nutritional status, body composition and biochemical parameters following SG. METHODS: This was a prospective study, the subjects were patients who underwent SG at a special obesity clinic in Istanbul, Turkey, between 01.05.2017 and 01.11.2017. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the participants was 42.15 ± 4.84 kg/m2 for men and 41.44 ± 4.34 kg/m2 for women, preoperatively. Nutritional status, some anthropometric measurements and blood sampling were taken at each visit. Data were collected and analyzed for the present study at the following periods: pre-operation (pre-op), 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 47 SG patients (20 men, 27 women) were evaluated. The mean BMI was 30.23 ± 3.56 kg/m2 for men and 30.35 ± 4.36 kg/m2 for women after 6 months and the amount of excess weight loss (EWL) increased in the 3 months (p < .001). Mean energy, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1, niacin, vitamin B12, folate, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorus and iodine were above the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) recommendations. A significant association was found between protein intake and fat free mass loss in both genders after SG at 6 months (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Nutrition deficiencies are common for patients after SG. Therefore, it is important to routinely monitor these patients with a professional team.

The relationship between polyphenols and miRNAs: A novel therapeutic strategy for metabolic associated fatty liver disease.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a public health problem that is increasingly recognized, currently affecting up to a quarter of the world's adult population. Although a biopsy is the current gold standard to diagnose MAFLD, there are potentially serious complications, making it inadequate. Thus far, noninvasive methods have not been able to determine the stage and the subtype of MAFLD. The development and prognosis of MAFLD are modulated by epigenetic factors, including microRNAs (miRNAs), which may be potential biomarkers for MAFLD. Polyphenols, found in many fruits and vegetables, may be useful, as they alter gene expression with epigenetic factors, such as miRNAs. This review presents an overview of the relationship between polyphenols and miRNAs in MAFLD. The literature suggests that miRNAs could be used as a diagnostic method for MAFLD, especially miRNA-122 and miRNA-34a. However, though it has been demonstrated that polyphenols may contribute to improving MAFLD, to our knowledge, no study to date has shown the relationship between polyphenols and miRNAs in MAFLD. The exact mechanisms of polyphenols on miRNAs in MAFLD remain unclear. Future studies may provide hope for diet therapy for MAFLD patients as well as the development of polyphenol-related foods or drugs that target miRNAs to treat MAFLD.

Coincidence of Incomplete Pentalogy of Cantrell and Meningomyelocele in a Dizygotic Twin Pregnancy.

Pentalogy of Cantrell is an extremely rare and lethal syndrome. Ectopia cordis is frequently found in fetuses with POC but not required for incomplete forms. Likewise, meningomyelocele is a relatively uncommon neural tube defect affecting central nervous system and associated with neurological problems. Herein, we presented a woman with dizygotic twin pregnancy having coincidence of incomplete POC and MMC in each individual fetus, which has never been reported previously.