Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism

Consumption of a Western diet is an important risk factor for several chronic diseases including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but its effect on the xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme activities in the liver has been studied incompletely. In this study, male LDLr^−/−ApoB^100/100 mice were fed with Western diet (WD) or a standard diet for five months to reveal the effects on drug metabolism such as cytochrome P450 (CYP) oxidation and conjugation activities in the liver. Hepatic steatosis, lobular inflammation, and early fibrosis were observed in WD fed mice, but not in chow diet control mice. When compared to the controls, the WD-fed mice had significantly decreased protein-normalized CYP probe activities of 7-ethoxyresorufinO-deethylation (52%), coumarin 7-hydroxylation (26%), 7-hydroxylation of 3-(3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxycoumarin (70%), 7-hydroxylation of 3-(4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-6-methoxycoumarin (78%), 7-hydroxylation of 3-(3-methoxyphenyl)coumarin (81%), and pentoxyresorufin O-depentylation (66%). Increased activity was seen significantly in sulfonation of 3-(4-methylphenyl)-7-hydroxycoumarin (289%) and cytosol catechol O-methyltranferase (COMT, 148%) in the WD group when compared to the controls. In conclusion, the WD-induced steatosis in male LDLr^−/−ApoB^100/100 mice was associated with decreased CYP oxidation reactions but had no clear effects on conjugation reactions of glucuronidation, sulfonation, and cytosolic catechol O-methylation. Consequently, the WD may decrease the metabolic elimination of drugs compared to healthier low-fat diets.

Background. Childhood obesity is an important public health crisis worldwide. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been demonstrated to play a role in controlling energy homeostasis and cardiovascular regulation. Objectives. To examine brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and anthropometric-cardiometabolic and hematological parameters in obese and nonobese children and to determine whether two BDNF gene polymorphisms (G196A and C270T) are linked to BDNF levels, obesity, and anthropometric-cardiometabolic and hematological parameters among Thai children. Methods. This case-control study included an analysis of 469 Thai children: 279 healthy nonobese and 190 obese children. Anthropometric-cardiometabolic and hematological variables and BDNF levels were measured. Genotyping of BDNF G196A and C270T was performed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Results. Children in the obese group had significantly higher white blood cell counts and some cardiometabolic parameters. Although the difference in BDNF level between the nonobese and obese groups was not significant, BDNF level was significantly positively correlated with hematological and cardiometabolic parameters, including blood pressure, triglycerides, and triglycerides and the glucose index. The BDNF G196A polymorphism in children was only associated with decreased systolic blood pressure , while the BDNF C270T polymorphism was found not to be related to BDNF levels, obesity, or other parameters after adjusting for potential covariates. Conclusions. These findings in Thai children suggest that obesity is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk factors, but not with BDNF levels or the two BDNF polymorphisms studied, while the BDNF G196A polymorphism is a beneficial marker for controlling blood pressure among Thai children.

Introduction. Food taste and flavour affect food choice and acceptance, which are essential to maintain good health and quality of life. Reduced circulating zinc levels have been shown to adversely affect the taste, but the efficacy of zinc supplementation to treat disorders of taste remains unclear. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to examine the efficacy of zinc supplementation in the treatment of taste disorders. Methods. We searched four electronic bibliographical databases: Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Ovid AMAD, and PubMed. Article bibliographies were also searched, which yielded additional relevant studies. There were no restrictions on the publication date to facilitate the collection and identification of all available and relevant articles published before 7 February 2021. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the PRISMA Statement. This review was registered at PROSPERO and given the identification number CRD42021228461. Results. In total, we included 12 randomized controlled trials with 938 subjects. The intervention includes zinc (sulfate, gluconate, picolinate, polaprezinc, and acetate), and the pooled results of the meta-analysis of subjects with idiopathic and zinc-deficient taste disorder indicate that improvements in taste disorder occurred more frequently in the experimental group compared to the control group (RR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.64, ). Zinc supplementation appears to confer a greater improvement in taste perception amongst those with chronic renal disease using zinc acetate (overall RR = 26.69, 95% CI = 5.52–129.06, ). The doses are equivalent to 17 mg–86.7 mg of elemental zinc for three to six months. Conclusion. Zinc supplementation is an effective treatment for taste disorders in patients with zinc deficiency, idiopathic taste disorders, and in patients with taste disorders induced by chronic renal failure when given in high doses ranging from 68 to 86.7 mg/d for up to six months.

Child malnutrition persists in low-resource countries such as Pakistan, indicating an urgent need for interventions and policies aimed to address this critical population health issue. The World Health Organization Global Target 2025 includes the reduction of malnourishment in the form of stunting, wasting, and low weight. This study aims to examine the prevalence of factors associated with three measures of child malnutrition, i.e., stunting, wasting, and low weight in Pakistan. This study uses a secondary data analysis design based on data from Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (2017-18) that used a two-stage cluster sampling approach. National level data covering urban and rural areas were used for this study consisting of 4,226 children less than 5 years of age. Univariate and multivariable analyses using logistic regression models were conducted. Over 23% of the children were underweight, 8.0% suffered wasting, and 37.7% were stunted. Children with small size at birth (<45.7 cm), those who were average in size (45.7 to 60 cm) at birth were less likely to be stunted (AOR, 0.4890) and underweight (AOR, 0.538). Children with large size at birth (>60 cm) were also less likely to be stunted (AOR, 0.288) and underweight (AOR, 0.538). Children who consumed fresh milk were less likely to be classified as wasted (AOR, 0.524) than those children who did not consume fresh milk. The children in high- and middle-economic status families were less likely to be stunted, underweight, or wasted. Children of mothers who had secondary and higher education were less likely to be stunted (AOR, 0.584) and were less likely to be underweight (AOR, 0.668) than illiterate mothers’ children. Children of working mothers were less likely to be wasted compared to children of nonworking mothers (AOR, 0.287). Maternal BMI is also inversely associated with being underweight because overweight and obese mothers were less likely to have underweight children (AOR, 0.585). Our findings reflect a need to design targeted public health policies and community-based education that emphasize the mother’s education on nutrition health and provide socioeconomic resources that enable mothers to provide dietary needs that prevent malnutrition.

Background. Psychiatric disorders have been a challenge for public health and will bring economic problems to individuals and healthcare systems in the future. One of the important factors that could affect these disorders is diet. Objective. In the current study with a cross-sectional design, we investigated the association of Paleolithic and Mediterranean diets with psychological disorders in a sample of adult women. Methods. Participants were 435 adult women between 20 and 50 years old that refer to healthcare centers in the south of Tehran, Iran. The diet scores were created by the response to a valid and reliable semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and the psychological profile was determined by response to the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was applied to compute the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results. After adjusted for potential confounders, it is evident that participants in the highest Paleolithic diet tertile had lower odds of depression (OR = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.37: ), anxiety (OR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.45: ), and stress (OR = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.32; ) in comparison to the lowest tertile. Furthermore, those in the third tertile of the Mediterranean diet score were at lower risk of depression (OR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.36; ), anxiety (OR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.38; ), and stress (OR = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.39; ) compared with those in the first tertile. Conclusion. The result of the current study suggests that greater adherence to Paleolithic and Mediterranean dietary patterns may be related with a decreased risk of psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress.

The elderly population is increasing worldwide. Dietary habits play a crucial role in prolonging life and preventing diseases. This cross-sectional study sought to investigate the dietary habits of the elderly in the Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region of Ghana and further ascertain the factors that constitute nutritional challenges among this group. A mixed method approach was used for the study. A questionnaire and focus group discussion guide were used to solicit data from study participants. A total of 97 participants made up of 59 males and 38 females participated in the study. Data on food habits reveal that staple food consumption especially those grown within the study area is common. Rice (34.1%), game meat (47.1%), banana (63.9%), and garden eggs (27.8%) were the commonly consumed foods by frequency. Mood (41.2%) and stress (24.8%) were identified as the most predominant determinants of food habits. Poly medication, toothache and loss, immobility, and financial and technological challenges were amongst the nutritional challenges mentioned by the elderly in this study. Results from the focus group discussion revealed high nutrition knowledge among the elderly through factors such as financial constraints that were mentioned as a barrier to the translation of this knowledge into practice. Strengthening of existing interventional programmes such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty and social interventions is needed to improve the dietary habits and nutritional intakes of the elderly.