Evaluation of Aflatoxins Occurrence and Exposure in Cereal-Based Baby Foods: An Update Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The first stages of human life, which include the fetal period, infancy, and early childhood, are the most critical for human growth and development. This is the most vulnerable phase to health challenges due to the immature immune system and rapid development. Mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, patulin, fumonisins, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol are secondary metabolites secreted by various fungal species, primarily Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Alternaria. Aflatoxins are one of the major mycotoxins produced in cereals and cereal-based foods by several species of Aspergillus, mainly Aspergillus flavus. In this context, this review provides a brief overview of the occurrence, exposure, legal regulations, and health effects of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2, and M1) in cereal-based baby foods and breast milk. RECENT FINDINGS: Human aflatoxin exposure in utero and through breast milk, infant formulas, cereals, and cereal-based foods has been linked to various health consequences, including adverse birth outcomes, impaired growth and development, immune system suppression, and hepatic dysfunction. Recent evidence suggests that especially infants and children are more susceptible to aflatoxins due to their lower body weight, lowered capacity to detoxify harmful substances, more restrictive diet, immature metabolism and elimination, and faster rates of growth and development. It is essential for both food safety and infant and child health that aflatoxins in cereal and cereal-based products are precisely detected, detoxified, and managed.

Gender-Affirming Nutrition: An Overview of Eating Disorders in the Transgender Population.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Transgender individuals are vulnerable to many nutrition-related conditions, especially eating disorders due to gender dysphoria. This review aims to summarize the current literature on eating disorders in transgender individuals. The issues that should be considered in nutrition care for the transgender population are discussed regarding public health. RECENT FINDINGS: Transgender individuals can exhibit disordered eating behaviors to overcome the stress they experience due to stigma, discrimination, social exclusion, and abuse. Recent studies showed that disordered eating and clinical eating disorders are more prevalent among transgender than cisgender people. It is very important for a multidisciplinary team working in the clinic to understand the epidemiology, etiology, diagnostic criteria, and treatment of eating disorders in the transgender population. However, multidisciplinary nutritional care is limited due to the lack of transgender-specific nutrition guidelines. It is safe to say that adhering to a generally healthy nutritional pattern and using standardized nutrition guidelines. We recommend that health professionals working with patients/clients with eating disorders receive continuing education in transgender health, be empowering and inclusive, address patients/clients with their gender identity nouns and pronouns, and develop nutritional treatment plans that are not gender-specific. Eating disorders are a significant public health problem in the transgender population. Therefore, clinical screening and early intervention are necessary to identify and treat eating disorders in transgender people. Eating disorders in the transgender population should be monitored routinely, and gender-affirming care should be provided as well as treatment of eating disorders.

Investigating Bioaccessibility of Advanced Glycation Product Precursors in Gluten-Free Foods Using In Vitro Gastrointestinal System.

Background and Objectives: Gluten-free products have been produced as part of medical therapy and have gained popularity among individuals seeking weight loss or healthier dietary options. Assessing the potential risks associated with these products is essential in optimizing their compositions and developing new dietetic approaches. This study aimed to determine the glyoxal (GO) and methylglyoxal (MGO) contents in gluten-free bread, biscuits, and cookies and to examine their bioaccessibility using an in vitro gastrointestinal model. Materials and Methods: A total of 26 gluten-free and 19 gluten-containing (control) products were analyzed for their GO and MGO levels utilizing a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) device. Results: Post-digestion, the GO and MGO values increased significantly across all food groups compared with pre-digestion values (p < 0.05), and the bioaccessibility exceeded 100%. Specifically, gluten-free bread exhibited higher post-digestion GO and MGO values than the control group (p < 0.05). Conversely, gluten-containing biscuits and cookies had higher post-digestion GO and MGO values compared to gluten-free products (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The detection of precursors to advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in gluten-free products has drawn attention to the potential health risks associated with their consumption. Therefore, reevaluation of the formulations and technologies used in these products and the introduction of new strategies are crucial in mitigating AGE content.

A Little Pepper-Upper? Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Studies on Capsaicinoids, Capsinoids, and Exercise Performance.

Capsaicinoids and capsinoids are bioactive compounds mostly found in peppers. Although preclinical studies have reported that these compounds can improve exercise performance due to transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1)-mediated thermogenesis, sympathetic modulation, and releasing calcium, it is still unclear how they affect exercise performance in humans as ergogenic supplements. Conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guide 2020, this systematic review examined the ergogenic effect of capsaicinoids and capsinoids on exercise performance in healthy adults. A total of 19 randomized placebo-controlled trials were included in the study. Studies were accessed by searching five databases (PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library). The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool. According to the study results, 10 studies examining the effect of capsaicinoid and capsinoid supplements on exercise performance reported positive effects. Also, the effect of capsaicinoids and capsinoids on exercise performance is more pronounced in resistance training. This difference, which varies according to the type of exercise, may be due to the correlation between capsaicin transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 and insulin-like growth factor-1.

Emotional and intuitive eating: an emerging approach to eating behaviours related to obesity.

Emotional and intuitive eating are associated with obesity. In the present study, it was aimed to evaluate the relationship between intuitive eating and emotional eating behaviours in adults with anthropometric measurements of obesity-related disease risk and gender. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist, hip and neck circumferences were taken. Emotional Eater Questionnaire and Intuitive Eating Scale-2 were used for the assessment of eating behaviour. A total of 3742 adult individuals (56⋅8 % (n 2125) female and (n 1617) male) were participated voluntarily. The total score and subscales of EEQ were higher in females than males (P < 0⋅001). The scores of the IES-2 subscales and the total score were higher in males than females (P < 0⋅05). In metabolic risk classification according to waist and neck circumference, EEQ scale scores (except type of food) were higher in the metabolic risk group, while IES-2 (except body-food congruence in neck circumference) scores were higher in the non-risk group (P < 0⋅05). While there was a positive correlation between EEQ and body weight, BMI, waist circumference, waist-height ratio, a negative correlation was found between age and waist-hip ratio. There was a negative correlation between IES-2 and body weight, BMI, waist-height ratio, waist-hip ratio. In addition, a negative correlation was found between IES-2 and EEQ. Intuitive eating and emotional eating differ by gender. Anthropometric measures and metabolic disease risk is associated with emotional eating and intuitive eating. Interventions to increase intuitive and decreasing emotional eating behaviour can be effective in preventing both obesity and obesity-related diseases.

Nutritional Epigenetics and Phytochemicals in Cancer Formation.

Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics are two concepts in the area of nutritional genomics. Epigenetics is a new discipline with significant potential in the prevention and management of certain carcinomas and diseases. Epigenetics consists of DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNAs, and telomerase activity. Epigenetic-based mechanisms act on the inhibition of cancer cells by modulating enzymes such as DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase, as well as non-coding RNAs. Phytochemicals are natural bioactive components of plant origin that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic effects on various diseases, especially cancer. The epigenetic diet is a nutritional model based on the consumption of various phytochemicals such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate, morin, caffeic acid phenyl ester, apigenin, genistein, curcumin, resveratrol, and sulforaphane. Phytochemicals exert their effects on cancer-based by reducing cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis and increasing cell apoptosis. Simultaneously, it has functions such as reducing oncogenes that have effects on cancer etiology and increasing tumor suppressor genes.Key teaching pointsCancer is a chronic disease with a high mortality rate, in which various genetic and environmental factors are involved in its etiology.Protooncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and DNA repair genes are among the gene groups that form the basis of cancer and genetic structure.The bidirectional interaction between nutrition and the human genome has been effective in the emergence of the concepts of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics.Epigenetic diet is a diet based on the consumption of foods such as soy, grapes, blueberries, turmeric, cruciferous vegetables, and green tea, which induce epigenetic mechanisms that protect against cancer and aging.

Functional Constipation in Elderly and Related Determinant Risk Factors: Malnutrition and Dietary Intake.

AIM: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between FC and physical activity, dietary intake and malnutrition in the elderly. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 883 adults aged >65 years from nursing homes and community health centers in Turkey. Constipation status was evaluated according to Rome IV criteria and Bristol Stool Form Scale. Dietary intake was assessed using a food consumption record (24-hour food recall). The dietary energy and nutrients were analyzed using the "Nutrition Information Systems Package Program". The nutritional status of participants was evaluated using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) test. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ, short form) was used to assess physical activity status. RESULTS: Among the 883 participants, 29.6% were classified into the FC group (32.2% of females, 25.8% of males). The FC group had significantly lower total energy, fluid, water, protein, carbohydrate, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, total fiber, and fiber (g)/1000 kcal intake than the non-FC group (p < 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that total dietary fiber intake was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of FC (OR: 0.98, 95% Cl: 0.96-0.99). According to MNA, participants at risk of malnutrition (OR: 5.21, 95% Cl: 3.09-9.77) and malnourished participants (OR: 3.03, 95% Cl: 1.62-5.68) had a greater likelihood of FC compared with normal participants. Participants in the middle lower quartile of water intake (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.42-0.95) had a decreased likelihood of FC compared with participants in the lowest quartile. CONCLUSION: FC is a common gastrointestinal disorder among the elderly in Turkey. Low dietary fiber intake, low water intake and malnutrition were important risk factors associated with FC in the elderly.

Mediterranean meal favorably effects postprandial oxidative stress response compared with a Western meal in healthy women.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are underlying factors in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases. The postprandial state is characterized by low-grade oxidative and inflammatory responses, but the impact of different dietary patterns on these responses is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate postprandial oxidative and inflammatory responses to Mediterranean diet (MED) and Western diet (WD) meals. In a randomised crossover design, eleven healthy women, aged between 19-45 years with a body mass index of 20.0-24.9 kg/m2, consumed two different isocaloric meals: MED and WD. Blood samples were collected at fasting and 2, 3, 4 h postprandially and analyzed for oxidative [total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), total thiol, native thiol, malondialdehyde (MDA)] and inflammatory [high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, IL-23, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)] markers. MED meal intake resulted in increases in TAS (0.05±0.02 mmol/L; p=0.017), total thiol (23.00±7.69 µmol/L; p=0.013) and native thiol (12.82±4.94 µmol/L; p=0.027), while a decrease in MDA (-0.17±0.06 nmol/L; p=0.022) at 2 h. On the other hand, TAS reduced significantly overall (p=0.005) after WD meal intake. There was a significant increase after WD meal intake for IL-6 (1.39±0.49 pg/mL; p=0.017), IL-17 (4.30±1.50 pg/mL; p=0.017), IL-23 (8.38±3.51 pg/mL; p=0.038) at 4 h. However, serum hs-CRP, TNF-α and NF-κB levels were not changed significantly by meal intake. The results indicate that MED meal induces favorable effects on oxidative stress, while WD meal partially increases inflammation in daily life.

The Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Nutritional Status and Anxiety Levels in Turkish Young Adults.

Background: The pandemic called "Coronavirus Disease 2019" (COVID-19), which first appeared in China, then spread to the whole world, has had negative consequences in many areas, especially in health. The long-term quarantine process caused by the pandemic and the experienced stress had a great impact on nutritional habits. Aim: In this study, it was aimed to determine the change in anxiety levels and eating habits of young adults after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The data were obtained through an online questionnaire between April and July 2020. In the questionnaire, the general and health information of the individuals, their nutritional habits, and anthropometric measurements (height and body weight) were questioned. In addition, the food frequency questionnaire form and Beck Anxiety Inventory were applied. Results: A total of 823 (174 males and 649 females) participants were included in the study. The median ages of males and females were 27.0 (18.0) and 26.0 (8.0), respectively. According to the results of the food frequency questionnaire; it was found that among females, the consumption of egg, cheese, milk, yogurt, pickles, fruit, onion, garlic, lemon, salad, legumes, pastry, sweets, red meat, turmeric, and herbal tea were increased significantly in the post-pandemic period; and the consumption of milk, yogurt, garlic, and lemon significantly increased in males. It was also found that the anxiety levels of the females increased statistically significantly in the post-pandemic period. Conclusion: It was determined that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were statistically significant changes in the food intake patterns and anxiety levels of the participants. It is thought that the results obtained from this study may be a guide for further studies to determine the nutritional habits in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is the nuclear factor kappa-b (NF-κB) pathway and inflammatory status associated with colorectal cancer?

BACKGROUND: Although genetic predisposition has a role in the etiology of colorectal cancer, there are many other factors that affect its development. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the NF-κB pathway, inflammatory status and dietary antioxidant capacity in individuals with colorectal cancer. METHODS: The study was carried out with 40 male subjects diagnosed with colorectal cancer aged between 39-65, years and a control group of the same number of healthy men. Subjects in the case and control groups were subdivided according to body mass index (BMI), as normal (BMI 20-24.9 kg/m2) or overweight/obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m2). RESULTS: At the end of the study, NF-κB and interleukin-22 levels were higher in the case group, but no significant difference was found between the groups. Interleukin-23 and 8-Hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels in the case group classified as overweight/obese according to BMI were significantly higher than in the control group (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Considering diet antioxidant capacity, it was higher in individuals in the control group than in the case group. However, there was no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory status and reduced dietary antioxidant capacity are risk factors in the development of colorectal cancer.

The effects of Mediterranean diet on hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in adolescents with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common liver disease in children and adolescents. The optimal dietary strategy to improve hepatic stetatosis and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in adolescents is unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Mediterranean diet (MD) versus low-fat diet (LFD) on hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in adolescents with obesity and NAFLD. METHODS: Adolescents diagnosed with NAFLD between the ages of 11-18 years were randomized to either a MD or conventional LFD (control diet) for 12 weeks. Dietary status, anthropometry, body composition, and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Hepatic steatosis was determined by ultrasonography. RESULTS: A total of 44 participants completed the study. At the end of the study, severity of hepatic steatosis, serum transaminase levels, and insulin resistance decreased significantly in both groups with no significant differences between groups except for aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The amount of decrease in AST levels in the MD group was greater than the LFD group (p < 0.05). In the MD group, serum total antioxidant capacity, paraoxanase-1, and glutathione peroxidase levels increased (p < 0.05); it did not change in the LFD group compared to baseline (p > 0.05). C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels decreased only in the MD group (p = 0.008), interleukine-6 decreased only in the LFD group (p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Consumption of MD and LFD for 12 weeks in adolescents with obesity and NAFLD reduced BMI, fat mass, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance, improved high transaminase levels, and had positive effects on inflammation and oxidative stress. Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. NCT04845373.

Overview of nutritional approach in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: COVID-19 update.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the newly discovered SARS-CoV-2. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a high-risk procedure. The novelty of COVID-19 has created more uncertainty during all phases of HSCT. It is thought that HSCT patients taking immunosuppressive agents are more likely to contract COVID-19 than healthy individuals are. Appropriate care precautions should be taken with patients undergoing HSCT to minimize the risk of COVID-19, and appropriate treatment methods must be followed in patients infected with COVID-19. Malnutrition has become a significant problem in HSCT patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The causes of malnutrition in HSCT patients are multifactorial. However, the most important reason is the decrease in energy and nutrient intake. The HSCT procedure can lead to many complications such as dysgeusia, mucositis, diarrhea, constipation, xerostomia and vomiting/nausea. Improving the nutritional status of HSCT patients by managing each of these special complications with an appropriate nutritional approach is essential for successful engraftment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the specific complications affecting the nutritional status of HSCT patients and their nutritional approach during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluation of hydration status during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study of Turkish young adults.

Adequate hydration is an essential component of health at every stage of life. Although many factors such as age, gender, physical activity, drug use, and illness affect hydration status, it is vital to maintain water balance, especially in infectious diseases. This study was conducted to estimate the hydration status of young adults living in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. The total water intake (TWI) and total water loss of the individuals were determined using the Water Balance Questionnaire (WBQ), which consists of questions about physical activity status, frequency of food and beverage consumption, water consumption, and water loss with urine and feces. The TWI of men and women was found to be 4,776.1 and 4,777.3 mL/day, respectively (p > 0.05). It was determined that 29% of the total water was obtained from drinking water, 49% from other beverages, and 22% from food. A positive net water balance was found in all body mass index (BMI) groups, men, and women. The net water balance was statistically lower in men (2,230.6 mL) than women (2,783.8 mL) (p < 0.05). As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, studies should be done on hydration status in the more balanced populations in terms of BMI and age groups.

Medical nutritional therapy for renal transplantation in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nutritional therapy is very important at renal transplantation. Nutrition has become more vital for transplantation patients owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Inadequate nutrition can negatively affect the immune system. For this reason, adequate protein and energy intake should be provided to the patients. Also, overconsumption of saturated fat, sugar, and refined carbohydrates can both negatively affect the immune system and trigger chronic diseases in transplantation patients. In addition, vitamins and minerals should be monitored and inadequacy should be prevented due to immunomodulatory effects. Applying nutritional therapy suitable for the symptoms of renal transplantation patients and preventing comorbidities may reduce the risk and severity of COVID-19 infection.

Risk Factors for Constipation in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim: The objective of this study was to determine associations between physical activity, dietary fiber intake, water and fluid intake, and constipation as well as other possible risk factors for constipation in adults.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 4561 (1812 male and 2749 female) adults, aged between 18-65 years, living in Ankara, Turkey. Participants having three or fewer bowel movements per week were considered constipated. Dietary fiber and fluid intake data were ascertained from a 62-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was used to evaluate participant physical activity.Results: Of the total cohort, 16.6% were diagnosed with constipation (13.6% males, 18.5% females). Logistic regression analysis showed a significantly greater risk of constipation in participants with female gender, advancing age, being obese. Participants who were moderately active (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.62-0.91) and active (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.59-0.90) had a decreased likelihood of constipation, when compared with inactive participants (p < 0.05). Participants in the middle upper quartile for water intake (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.57-0.88), had a decreased likelihood of constipation, when compared with participants in the lowest quartile. Participants in the middle upper quartile (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.58-0.92) and the highest quartile for dietary fiber intake (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.52-0.84), had a decreased likelihood of constipation, when compared with participants in the lowest quartile (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Constipation is common in the Turkish adult population. Insufficient physical activity, decreasing fiber and water intake, obesity, advancing age and female gender were associated with increased constipation risks. Combining regular physical activity and increasing fiber and water intake may protect from constipation, and relieve constipation symptoms.

The effect of dietary salt restriction on hypertension in peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To investigate the effect of dietary salt restriction on blood pressure levels, total sodium removal, and hydration status of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one stable PD patients who consulted a renal dietitian monthly for dietary recommendations, including restricted salt intake <5 g/day, and education about hypertension and hypervolemia were included in this study. Baseline and third month clinical and laboratory findings, bioelectrical impedance analysis results, and urinary and peritoneal sodium removal values were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 47.6 years and the mean time on PD was 39.6 months. The mean total sodium removal decreased slightly from 139.4 ± 69.1 to 136.2 ± 64.8 mmol/day (P > 0.05) for the whole sample, and from 164.3 ± 70.9 to 154.2 ± 72.3 mmol/day (P > 0.05) for the hypertensive subgroup (n: 17). Systolic blood pressure (from 134.3 ± 20.1 to 127.2 ± 19.5 mmHg, P: 0.01), diastolic blood pressure (from 83.2 ± 12.0 to 77.4 ± 10.5 mmHg, P: 0.01) and total body water (from 39.2 ± 10.9 to 38.3 ± 9.3 L, P: 0.04) decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that even a little reduction in daily dietary sodium intake caused significant decreases in blood pressure levels and fluid overload.

Plasma orexin-A and ghrelin levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Interaction with nutritional status and body composition.

Orexin-A and ghrelin are two important polypeptides that stimulate food intake, however, there is a lack of sufficient information concerning their plasma levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between plasma orexin-A and ghrelin levels with food consumption and body composition in patients with stable phase COPD. In total, 40 patients (age, 44-80 years; male, 31; female 9) who were in the stable phase of COPD were included in the study. Blood samples for plasma orexin-A and ghrelin analysis were collected after 8-12 h of fasting; certain anthropometric measurements were obtained and a 24-h dietary recall was recorded. The mean plasma orexin-A levels in the male and female patients were 1.3±0.37 and 1.4±0.13 ng/ml, respectively, while the mean plasma ghrelin levels were 25.9±7.31 and 27.3±8.54 ng/ml, respectively. No significant correlation was observed between the body mass index and plasma orexin-A and ghrelin levels or between the plasma ghrelin levels and dietary nutrient intake (P>0.05). The plasma orexin-A levels were demonstrated to be higher in patients with a higher dietary total fibre intake (r=0.303, P=0.022). A similar correlation was observed between plasma orexin-A levels and dietary intake of soluble (r=0.033, P=0.029) and insoluble (r=0.335, P=0.024) fibre, as well as between the daily consumption of calcium and the levels of plasma orexin-A (r=0.065, P=0.046). Therefore, the results of the present study indicated that a positive correlation existed between dietary nutrient intake and plasma orexin-A levels in patients with COPD.

Comparison of energy balance-related behaviours and measures of body composition between Turkish adolescents in Turkey and Turkish immigrant adolescents in the Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influences of migration to a Western country on obesity and related risk factors by comparing measures of body composition and energy balance-related behaviours between Turkish adolescents in Turkey (TR-TR) and adolescents from Turkish immigrant ethnicity in the Netherlands (TR-NL). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey or baseline intervention data from six Dutch school-based studies and one Turkish study. SETTING: Primary and secondary schools. SUBJECTS: A total of 915 (49 % girls; mean age 13·1 (sd 0·8) years) TR-TR adolescents and 433 (51 % girls; mean age 11·7 (sd 1·3) years) TR-NL adolescents were included. Outcome measures were self-reported sugar-containing beverage consumption, fruit and vegetable intake, screen time, physical activity, measured body height and weight, BMI, waist and hip circumferences, and skinfold thicknesses. RESULTS: Our data showed that more TR-NL adolescents were overweight (31 % v. 26 %) and obese (9 % v. 6 %) and had significantly higher mean BMI (21·1 v. 20·0 kg/m2), waist circumference (72·2 v. 71·3 cm) and suprailiac skinfold thickness (19·8 v. 13·1 mm) than TR-TR adolescents. TR-NL adolescents reported significantly higher sugar-containing beverage consumption (1173 v. 115 ml/d), less fruit and vegetable intake (295 v. 647 g/d), less screen time (253 v. 467 min/d) and higher physical activity levels (61 v. 27 min/d) than TR-TR adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Immigrant adolescents in the Netherlands were more often overweight and had a less favourable dietary pattern than their peers in Turkey, while their physical activity and screen time patterns were more favourable. These results suggest that adolescents from Turkish immigrant ethnicity in the Netherlands have adopted lifestyles towards the host culture.

Daily dietary energy and macronutrient intake and anthropometric measurements of the peritoneal dialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: This study was planned to investigate the relation between dietary macronutrient status and anthropometric measurements in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 28 clinically stable patients were enrolled in this study. All patients were taken a dietary therapy according to the guidelines of the American Journal of Kidney Foundation for 12 weeks. The anthropometric measurements were taken by bioelectrical impedance analyzer. The daily macronutrient intakes of the patients were calculated by the food consumption records. RESULTS: The mean age was 48.3 ± 13.10 years [56.3 ± 7.41 years for males (n = 14) and 40.3 ± 12.84 years for females (n = 14)]. There were significant changes in fat percentage (%), total body water (TBW; %, L), extracellular water (ECW; %, L), basal metabolic rate over body weight (BMR/BW), and body fat mass index (BMFI) in males (p < 0.05), but there was no change in females (p > 0.05). The daily dietary energy and protein intakes were under the recommended level in the study period. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing PD frequently have low intakes of protein and energy. It is recommended that individuals undergoing PD periodically maintain 3-day dietary records followed by dietary interviews conducted by a dietitian.

Relationship between dietary mineral intake and blood pressure (BP) in the elderly in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between daily dietary mineral (Na, K, Ca and Mg) intake and BP in the elderly. This study was conducted on 390 elderly volunteers (≥ 65 years). Subjects were randomly selected from the general population of Ankara, Turkey. Anthropometric measurements, lipid profiles, and mean systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) of all the participants were measured. To determine the mineral intake of the participants, food consumption was measured with a 24-h dietary recall. The 49.3% of participants were found to be hypertensive, 25.1% to be pre-hypertensive and 25.6% were normotensive according to the JNC-7 Guidelines, except for daily Mg and Na intake, the energy, macronutrient and micronutrient intake of groups were not significantly different (p>0.05). A significant inverse correlation between daily Ca intake and SBP was found in the pre-hypertensive group when age and gender adjusted regression analyses were performed (B=-0.006, p<0.05). Na intake and Na/K ratio were directly associated with SBP in the hypertensive group. In conclusion, SBP was found to be most related to dietary Na and Ca intake, and Na-to-K ratio in the elderly population.