Influence of Food Habits and Participation in a National Extracurricular Athletics Program on Body Weight within a Pair-Matched Sample of Polish Adolescents after One Year of Intervention-#goathletics Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the physical activity level and commitment in adolescents, which has resulted in a body weight increase, and the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that this negative trend must be now counteracted. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of food habits and participation in a national extracurricular athletics program (Athletics for All) on body weight within a pair-matched sample of Polish adolescents after one year of intervention. The #goathletics Study was conducted in a population of Polish adolescents within two pair-matched groups: 506 adolescents aged 10-14, including 281 female and 225 male adolescents, regularly participating in Athletics for All program for at least 9 months (one school year) (intervention group), and a pair-matched control group (matched taking into account city, gender, and age). The #goathletics Study included the assessment of the body weight, which was conducted based on the growth reference charts for Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist circumference to verify central fatness. Athletics for All participation and food habits were verified as determinants of body weight, while food habits were assessed using the validated Adolescents' Food Habits Checklist (AFHC). While compared the intervention group and control group, statistically significant differences were observed for body weight, BMI, and waist circumference, both for crude and relative values, with adolescents participating in the Athletics for All program presenting a lower risk of excessive body weight and central fatness (p < 0.05), while, compared to sub-groups stratified by AFHC score, no statistically significant differences in general anthropometric characteristics were observed (p > 0.05). While the body weight centile, height centile, BMI centile and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were assessed as the resultant variables, it was revealed that participation in the Athletics for All program is the only influencing factor in multi-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) for body weight centile (F = 21.44; p < 0.0001) and BMI centile (F = 47.98; p < 0.0001), but for height centile and WHtR, none of the assessed factors influenced these variables. It was concluded that regularly participating in the Athletics for All program for at least 9 months was the only determinant of a lower risk of excessive body weight in adolescents, with declared food habits and gender not being significant.

Influence of Enteral Nutrition on Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer and Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer Patients within a Pair-Matched Sample.

Patients with cancers of the head and neck and upper gastrointestinal tract are particularly susceptible to malnutrition, which worsens both their prognosis and quality of life and may result in the need for enteral or parenteral nutrition. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of enteral nutrition on the quality of life in a paired sample. This study included 50 patients with cancer in two paired subgroups: with enteral nutrition (studied group) and without enteral nutrition (matched group). This study was based on self-reports collected with the EORTC QLQ C30 questionnaire and retrospective analysis of medical records. The analysis revealed that weight loss, group type, and age were the primary factors influencing patients' quality of life. Compared with all cancer patients and the general Polish population, the scores of patients in both groups were below reference values for functional scales and exceeded reference values or were similar for fatigue and vomiting/nausea. Patients who received enteral nutrition more frequently scored lower on the functional scales and higher on the symptomatic scales than the control group. These findings emphasize the complex relationship between cancer, nutritional status, and quality of life.

Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Emotional Eating Scale Adapted for Children and Adolescents (EES-C) Results in Girls: Polish Adolescents' COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study.

Stress related to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused substantial changes in eating behaviors, and may have been associated with emotional eating, especially in female individuals. The aim of the present study was to analyze the association between stress perceived during the COVID-19 pandemic and emotional eating in girls, within the third phase of the Polish Adolescents' COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study. A nationwide sample of 818 Polish female adolescents, aged 15-20, was gathered. The adolescents were recruited to the study based on a random quota sampling procedure. Using a computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) survey, participants filled out the Emotional Eating Scale Adapted for Children and Adolescents (EES-C) to assess the urge to cope with negative emotions by eating, and the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ) to assess perceived stress. Additionally, the data concerning body mass, height, as well as body mass change during the COVID-19 pandemic were verified. The groups most susceptible to emotional eating were excessive body mass female adolescents, those who gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic and those experiencing high stress levels while facing negative emotions. In order to plan effective therapeutic interventions dealing with the issue of emotional eating, both psychological therapy and dietary strategy tailored to the individual should be considered for the indicated susceptible groups.

Emotional Overeating during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Polish Adolescents' COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study.

Emotional overeating is the most frequently noted type of emotional eating, being commonly associated with increased consumption of energy-dense products, as well as excessive body mass, and weight gain. Even though a number of studies assessed emotional overeating during the COVID-19 pandemic in adult populations, studies of children and adolescents are scarce. The aim of the present study was to assess emotional overeating background, including consumption in response to six emotions (anxiety, sadness, loneliness, tiredness, anger, and happiness), in the population of Polish adolescents within the PLACE-19 Study during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PLACE-19 Study is a national Polish population-based study of adolescents gathered upon recruitment based on a random quota sampling of secondary schools, conducted in a population of 1126 students (818 females and 308 males, a median of age 17.0 and 16.5 years, respectively). Emotional overeating was assessed while using the Emotional Overeating Questionnaire (EOQ), and as additional factors, the following were assessed: gender, body mass, body mass change during the COVID-19 pandemic, and declared tempting food products. Female participants declared a higher frequency of overeating in response to feelings of anxiety, sadness, loneliness, and happiness, and were characterized by a higher total score than male participants, while p ≤ 0.05 was interpreted as a statistical significance. Obese participants declared a higher frequency of overeating in response to feelings of sadness, and loneliness than normal weight participants. Participants gaining weight declared a higher frequency of overeating in response to feelings of anxiety, sadness, loneliness, tiredness, and anger, and were characterized by a higher total score than participants losing weight or maintaining a stable weight, while participants gaining weight declared a higher frequency of overeating in response to feelings of happiness than participants losing weight. Participants declaring both sweet and salty products as tempting declared a higher frequency of overeating in response to feelings of anxiety, and sadness than participants declaring no tempting products; participants declaring both sweet and salty products declared a higher frequency of overeating in response to feelings of tiredness than participants declaring only salty products and those declaring no tempting products, as well as declared a higher frequency of overeating in response to feelings of happiness than participants declaring only sweet products, and those declaring no tempting products; participants declaring sweet products declared a higher frequency of overeating in response to feelings of anger than participants declaring no tempting products, while participants declaring both sweet and salty products declared a higher frequency of overeating in response to feelings of loneliness, and were characterized by a higher total score than all other respondents. The sub-groups with the highest frequency of emotional overeating were the female respondents, obese participants, those gaining weight, and those declaring both sweet and salty products as tempting, while among the emotions most often causing emotional overeating, there were sadness and loneliness.

Analysis of the Nutritional Value of Diets and Food Choices in Polish Female Ulcerative Colitis Individuals Compared with a Pair-Matched Control Sample.

Ulcerative colitis patients often attribute their symptoms to specific dietary products. Therefore, even though there are no specific dietary recommendations, these patients commonly have dietary restrictions, often with no consultation from their physician or dietitian, as they believe that they may be beneficial for them. The aim of the study was to analyze the nutritional value of diets and food choices in Polish female ulcerative colitis individuals, in comparison with a pair-matched control sample. The study was conducted on a group of 44 Polish female ulcerative colitis individuals being in remission and 44 individuals within a pair-matched control sample, matched by their age and concurrent diseases, excluding those resulting from ulcerative colitis. The analysis of the diet was based on the self-reported data, including 3-day dietary records (to assess the intake of nutrients and food products), as well as the simple open-ended question about food products excluded from their diet. It was stated that Polish female ulcerative colitis individuals were characterized by a lower energy value of diet (p = 0.0043), accompanied by the higher proportion of total protein (p = 0.0128) than the pair-matched control sample. As a result of a lower energy value for ulcerative colitis individuals, the intake of numerous nutrients was also lower (p < 0.05); however, after recalculation per 1000 kcal, ulcerative colitis individuals were characterized by higher total protein (p = 0.0121), starch (p = 0.0009), and vitamin B6 intake (p = 0.0319), as well as lower alcohol intake (p = 0.0464). Similarly, as a result of a lower energy value for ulcerative colitis individuals, the intake of numerous foods was also lower (p < 0.05); however, after recalculation per 1000 kcal, ulcerative colitis individuals were characterized by higher meat (p = 0.0058) and potatoes intake (p = 0.0052), as well as lower legumes (p = 0.0301), chocolate sweets (p = 0.0165), and alcoholic beverages intake (p = 0.0062). For chocolate sweets (p = 0.0134) and alcoholic beverages (p = 0.0091), ulcerative colitis individuals were characterized by a higher frequency of declaration of dietary exclusion. At the same time, ulcerative colitis individuals were characterized by a lower frequency of meeting the recommended intake for magnesium (p = 0.0005), iron (p = 0.0189), vitamin E (p = 0.0389), and vitamin B1 (p = 0.0032). It was concluded that even in remission, there is a risk of inadequate consumption, not meeting the recommended intake, and nutritional deficiencies in the population of female ulcerative colitis patients.

Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Depression in Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs).

Vitamin D is a nutrient potentially beneficial in the treatment of depression. The study aimed to carry out a systematic review of the studies assessing the influence of vitamin D supplementation on depression within Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). The systematic review was prepared on the basis of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42020155779). The peer-reviewed studies available within PubMed or Web of Science databases until September 2021 were taken into account. The number of screened records was 8514, and 8 records were included. Two independent researchers conducted screening, including, reporting, and risk of bias assessment using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. The included studies presented a population of patients with major depressive disorders or general depression, as well as bipolar depression or postpartum depression. The majority of included studies were conducted for 8 weeks or 12 weeks, while one study was conducted for 6 months. Within the large number of included studies, a daily dose of 1500 IU, 1600 IU, or 2800 IU was applied, while within some studies, a vitamin D dose of 50,000 IU was applied weekly or biweekly. Among applied psychological measures of depression, there were various tools. In spite of the fact that the majority of included studies (five studies) supported the positive effect of vitamin D supplementation for the psychological measure of depression, for three studies the positive influence was not supported. A medium risk of bias was indicated for six studies, while a high risk of bias was defined for only two studies, due to deviations from the intended interventions and in measurement of the outcome, as well as for one study, also arising from the randomization process and due to missing outcome data. Based on conducted assessment, it should be emphasized that there are only four studies supporting the positive influence of vitamin D supplementation for the psychological measure of depression of the medium risk of bias, while two studies of a medium risk of bias did not support it. Taking this into account, the conducted systematic review is not a strong confirmation of the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of depression.

Supplementation of Vitamin D and Mental Health in Adults with Respiratory System Diseases: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Vitamin D is indicated to be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of both respiratory health and mental health problems, while mental health issues are a common consequence of diseases of the respiratory system. The aim of the presented systematic review was to gather available evidence regarding the influence of the supplementation of vitamin D on mental health in adults with respiratory system diseases obtained within randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The systematic review was conducted on the basis of the PubMed and Web of Science databases in agreement with the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), while being registered within the database of the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42020155779). A total of 8514 studies published before September 2021 were screened and 5 RCTs were included, which were assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Screening, inclusion, reporting, and assessment were conducted by two researchers independently. The studies focused on the assessment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but also increased susceptibility to respiratory tract infections, pulmonary tuberculosis, and bronchial asthma. The studies were conducted for various periods of time-from 2 months to a year-while the dose of vitamin D applied was also diverse-from 4000 IU applied daily, to 100,000 IU applied weekly, or monthly. The psychological measures applied within the studies allowed the assessment, mainly, of quality of life, but also well-being, and depression. For the majority of studies, some concerns regarding risk of bias were defined, resulting from the randomization process and selection of reported results; however, for one study, the risk was even defined as high. Within the included studies, three studies confirmed a beneficial effect of vitamin D (including those with a high risk of bias), but two studies did not confirm it. Taking into account the evidence gathered, in spite of a positive influence of vitamin D on mental health in individuals with increased susceptibility to respiratory tract infections and bronchial asthma, the conducted systematic review is not a strong confirmation of the beneficial effect of the supplementation of vitamin D on mental health in adults with respiratory system diseases.

Analysis of the Nutritional Value of the Diets Presented in Women's and Sports Magazines before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

For consumers, among the most important sources of information related to nutrition are popular journals and magazines, including women's and sports, but the diets presented there may lead to unhealthy weight-control behaviors. The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional value of regular and low-calorie diets presented in Polish women's and sports magazines before and during COVID-19 pandemic. The study was based on two popular Polish magazines­one women's magazine and one sports magazine, which regularly present various types of diets. The nutritional value of all the diets published from January 2014 to May 2022 was analyzed. The total number of included single-day menus was n = 119, while for analysis they were stratified based on: type of magazine (published in the women's magazine n = 41 and in the sports magazine n = 78), year of publication (before the COVID-19 pandemic n = 78 and during n = 41), and type of diet (regular n = 61 and low-calorie n = 58). The analysis included the energy value and nutritional value. For the type of magazine, the diets published in the sports magazine were characterized by a higher intake of fat (p < 0.0001 for intake in grams and in % of energy) and calcium (p = 0.0330), whereas the diets published in the women's magazine were characterized by a higher intake of carbohydrates (p = 0.0226 for intake in grams, and p = 0.0002 for intake in % of energy) and fiber (p = 0.0163). For the year of publication, the diets published during the COVID-19 pandemic were characterized by a higher intake of protein (p = 0.0166 for intake in grams), sodium (p = 0.0465), calcium (p < 0.0001), vitamin D (p = 0.0197), vitamin B6 (p = 0.0207), and vitamin B12 (p = 0.0277), whereas the diets published before the COVID-19 pandemic were characterized by a higher intake of carbohydrates (p = 0.0243 for intake in % of energy). For the type of diet, the regular diets were characterized by a higher energy value (p = 0.0020), as well as by a higher intake of fat (p = 0.0162 for intake in grams), carbohydrates (p = 0.0390 for intake in grams), mono- and oligosaccharides (p = 0.0084 for intake in % of energy), fiber (p < 0.0001), magnesium (p = 0.0323), iron (p = 0.0307), and vitamin B6 (p = 0.0204). The nutritional value of the diets presented in the Polish women's and sports magazines was not justified by the type of magazine or type of diet, associated with the target group, which may cause the following of improperly balanced diets. However, the changes in the typical nutritional value of diets presented in the Polish women's and sports magazines during the COVID-19 pandemic were justified by some specific needs for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Effectiveness of Dietary Interventions in Prevention and Treatment of Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Pregnant women are among the population groups most vulnerable to the development of anemia, as the overall iron requirement during pregnancy is significantly higher than in non-pregnant women. The aim of the systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of dietary interventions in the prevention and treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in pregnant women based on randomized-controlled trials. The systematic review was based on the PRISMA guidelines and is registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42021261235). The search was conducted within PubMed and Web of Science databases for the period until June 2021. The included randomized controlled trials presented effectiveness of dietary interventions in prevention and treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in pregnant women. From the total number of 7825 screened records, the final number of seven studies were included in the systematic review. The procedure of screening, inclusion, reporting, and assessment of the risk of bias while using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials was conducted by two independent researchers. The studies included in the systematic review were conducted in populations of anemic pregnant women, or mixed populations of anemic and non-anemic pregnant women. The interventions described within the studies were associated with including fortified products, regular products, or dietary counselling. They were based on providing an increased amount of iron, providing an increased amount of multiple nutrients, or general counselling only, while effectiveness was compared with effectiveness of the placebo, supplementation, or control group. The study duration was diversified from a few weeks to half a year or longer. The major biochemical measure assessed within the included studies was hemoglobin. All applied dietary interventions, based on providing increased amount of iron, providing increased amount of multiple nutrients, or general counselling only, were effective. The majority of included studies were assessed as ones of a medium risk of bias. For some studies a high risk of bias was indicated, which resulted from a risk of bias arising from the randomization process, due to deviations from the intended interventions, and in selection of the reported result. Considering this fact, more randomized controlled trials should be planned and conducted in a rigorous manner to confirm the formulated observations of effectiveness of the studied interventions based on providing an increased amount of iron, providing an increased amount of multiple nutrients, or general counselling only.

Effectiveness of Dietary Interventions to Treat Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Women: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Iron-deficiency anemia is the most frequent nutritional deficiency, with women of reproductive age being particularly at risk of its development. The aim of the systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of dietary interventions to treat iron-deficiency anemia in women based on the randomized controlled trials. The systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42021261235). The searching procedure was based on PubMed and Web of Science databases, while it covered records published until June 2021. It included all randomized controlled trials assessing effectiveness of various dietary interventions on treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in women of childbearing age. The total number of 7825 records were screened, while 14 of them were finally included in the systematic review. The studies were screened, included, and reported, and the risk of bias was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials by two independent researchers. The included studies compared the effectiveness of various dietary interventions with supplementation, placebo, control, or any other dietary intervention, while the assessed dietary interventions were based either on increasing iron supply and/or on increasing its absorption (by increasing vitamin C or vitamin D or decreasing phytate intake). The duration of applied intervention was diversified from 3 months or less, through 4 or 5 months, to half of a year or more. Among the assessed biochemical measures, the following were analyzed in majority of studies: hemoglobin, ferritin, transferrin receptor, hematocrit, and transferrin. The majority of included studies supported the influence of dietary interventions on the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia, as the applied dietary intervention was not effective in only three studies. The majority of included studies were assessed as characterized by medium risk of bias, while the overall risk was high for only four studies, which resulted from the randomization process, deviations from the intended interventions, and selection of the reported result. The majority of included studies were conducted for increasing iron supply and/or increasing vitamin C supply; however, only for the interventions including increasing iron supply and simultaneously increasing its absorption by vitamin C supply were all results confirmed effective. Vitamin D also seems to be an effective dietary treatment, but further studies are necessary to confirm the observations. Considering this fact, dietary interventions recommended for anemic female patients should include increased intake of iron and vitamin C.

Analysis of Self-Regulation of Eating Behaviors within Polish Adolescents' COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study.

The self-regulation of eating behaviors (suppression of behavioral short-term impulse to consume food products in the interest of pursuing long-term weight goals), has been an important determinant for adopting a healthy lifestyle in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic in adults, but there have been no such studies conducted in the population of adolescents in this period. The aim of the presented study is to analyze self-regulation of eating behaviors in the population-based sample of Polish adolescents within the Polish Adolescents' COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study. The Self-Regulation of Eating Behavior Questionnaire (SREBQ) was used to assess self-regulation of eating behaviors in the studied population of 1126 Polish adolescents (818 females and 308 males), aged 15−20, recruited based on a random quota sampling within a national sample. Based on the screening questions of the SREBQ, 145 individuals were excluded from the analysis. The participants of the study were categorized based on their gender, body mass index, body mass index change during the COVID-19 pandemic, and food products declared as tempting. The major factors associated with SREBQ score were body mass index change and tempting food products. The respondents losing weight during the COVID-19 pandemic were characterized by a higher SREBQ score than those maintaining stable body mass or gaining weight (3.4 vs. 3.2 vs. 3.2; p = 0.0001). The respondents declaring both sweet and salty food products as tempting were characterized by a lower SREBQ score than those declaring only sweet, only salty, or declaring no tempting products (3.2 vs. 3.4 vs. 3.4 vs. 3.4; p < 0.0001). The major factors associated with SREBQ categories were gender, body mass index change, and tempting food products. A higher share of respondents characterized by a high self-regulation of eating behaviors was observed for males than for females (27.4% vs. 18.8%; p = 0.0142); for respondents losing weight during the COVID-19 pandemic than for respondents gaining weight (25.9% vs. 15.5%; p = 0.0423); as well as for respondents declaring no tempting products than those declaring both sweet and salty food products (38.3% vs. 18.2%; p < 0.0001). It was concluded that the self-regulation of eating behaviors in adolescents is closely associated with food products perceived as tempting by them, as well as with gender. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the low self-regulation of eating behaviors was a significant determinant of the body mass gain. Taking this into account, female adolescents characterized by a low self-regulation of eating behaviors especially should be subjected to a dedicated intervention program to prevent overweight and obesity.

Food Neophobia, Familiarity with French Cuisine, Body Mass, and Restaurant Food Choices in a Sample of Polish Women.

Food neophobia, a condition characterized by a reluctance or avoidance of unknown foods and meals, may influence food choice, and is also associated with body mass and familiarity with food items. This study aimed to analyze the associations between food neophobia, familiarity with French cuisine, body mass, and French restaurant menu food choices in a sample of 203 young Polish women. The Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) method was used in the study. The food choice questionnaire used for assessment was based on a model French restaurant menu, with dishes planned using a 2 × 2 factorial design for the components of neophobic potential (unfamiliar to Polish consumers) and animal-based components. Food neophobia, familiarity with French cuisine, and body mass were considered independent variables. The food neophobia scale (FNS) developed by Pliner and Hobden was used to assess food neophobia among respondents. The results showed an association between food neophobia and familiarity with French cuisine and French restaurant menu food choices (p ≤ 0.05), but no association with body mass was observed (p > 0.05). The respondents with a high level of food neophobia chose dishes with neophobic components (for soups and desserts) less often compared to those with a low neophobia level, and in the absence of such an association, they chose dishes with animal-based components (for starters and main courses) less often (p ≤ 0.05). The respondents who declared that they were familiar with French cuisine chose dishes with animal-based components (for starters and desserts) more often than those with no familiarity, but a reverse association was observed for soups (p ≤ 0.05). Based on the findings of the study, it may be concluded that food neophobia and familiarity with French cuisine may be important determinants of food choice within a French restaurant menu. The study did not show any association between body mass and the choice of dishes from the model French restaurant menu. The findings suggest that the presence of unfamiliar and animal-based ingredients may reduce the frequency of choosing specific dishes within a French restaurant menu, which may reduce the diversity of individuals' diets.

Body Mass and Emotional Eating: Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ) in the Polish Adolescents' COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study.

Stress caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may lead to emotional eating which may have a negative impact on the weight status. This study aimed to analyze the association between emotional eating and body mass, as well as changes in body mass during the COVID-19 pandemic, within the Polish Adolescents' COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study. A total of 1126 Polish adolescents, aged 15-20, were included. A random quota sampling was performed within a national sample, and emotional eating was assessed using Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ). Based on the declared height and weight before and during the pandemic, the respondents were categorized according to their body mass (malnourished, normal weight, overweight, obese) and changes in body mass during the COVID-19 pandemic (lost weight, no body mass change, gained weight). Higher EEQ scores were achieved by female respondents compared with males (p < 0.0001), respondents who stated that they gained weight during the pandemic compared with those who stated either weight loss or no body mass change (p < 0.0001), and overweight and obese respondents compared with those who had normal weight and who were malnourished (p < 0.0001). A higher share of emotional eaters and very emotional eaters was found among female respondents, respondents stating weight gain during the pandemic, and overweight and obese respondents, compared with the other ones (p < 0.0001). Based on the findings, it may be concluded that among Polish adolescents gender, body mass, and body mass change during the COVID-19 pandemic are the major determinants of emotional eating behaviors and that female individuals, obese individuals, and those gaining weight are especially vulnerable to emotional eating behaviors. The results of the study suggest that the issue of emotional eating should be addressed in general public health policy and appropriate education should be provided to vulnerable groups such as female and obese adolescents.

Fruit and Vegetable Dietary Patterns and Mental Health in Women: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Mental health may be influenced by some dietary patterns. Among common elements of beneficial patterns is high fruit and vegetable intake. However, no systematic review has been conducted to date, to our knowledge, that has assessed the influence of fruit and vegetable dietary patterns on a broad spectrum of mental health. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review, using the PRISMA guidelines, of the observational studies analyzing the association between the dietary pattern of fruit and vegetables and the broad aspects of mental health in adult women. DATA SOURCES: The databases PubMed and Web of Science were searched, and additional manual search for observational peer-reviewed studies was conducted for studies published until June 2019. DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 5911 studies were extracted and verified based on title and abstract for the inclusion criteria. All procedures were conducted independently by 2 researchers. The final number of included studies was 30. The review was structured around the type of observed outcome. DATA ANALYSIS: The included studies had defined habitual intake associated with dietary patterns with the intake of specific fruit and/or vegetables, and/or fruit or vegetable products (eg, juices), as well as any aspect of the broad spectrum of general mental health. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess bias. The observed association was not stated in all the included studies; some of them revealed a reverse relationship, but only for the vegetarian/vegan diet. A vegetarian diet may be characterized by high consumption of fruits and vegetables, but it sometimes may not be properly balanced, due to excluded products. This may be the reason of observed situation. CONCLUSIONS: A general positive influence was observed for the dietary patterns characterized by high consumption of fruit and vegetables and of fruit or vegetable products by women. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42019138148.

Quality of Life of Cancer Patients Receiving Enteral Nutrition: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Most studies confirm the beneficial effects of enteral nutrition on the quality of life, but some studies indicate an inverse association and its detrimental impacts. However, there are insufficient data on the effects of enteral nutrition on the quality of life of cancer patients. This systematic review aimed to describe the influence of applied enteral nutrition on the quality of life of cancer patients, based on the results of randomized controlled trials. It was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42021261226) and conducted based on the PRISMA guidelines. The searching procedure was conducted using the PubMed and Web of Science databases, as well as Cochrane Library, and it included studies published until June 2021. It was conducted to select randomized controlled trials assessing the influence of enteral nutrition (compared with the other model of nutrition) on the quality of life of cancer patients. A general number of 761 records were screened and a final number of 16 studies were included in the systematic review. The studies were included and assessed by two independent researchers, while the risk of bias was analyzed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Studies compared patients treated with and without enteral nutrition, patients treated with various methods of enteral nutrition or with enteral diets of various content, as well as patients treated with enteral and parenteral nutrition. Within the included studies, the majority were conducted in patients with cancers located in various parts of the body, or diverse areas within the gastrointestinal system, while some studies were conducted in specific populations of patients with a defined cancer location-esophagus, stomach, or ovary. The duration of applied enteral nutrition within the included studies was diversified-from two weeks or less to half a year or even more. The vast majority of studies used well-known and validated tools to assess the quality of life, either developed for a specific group of head/neck, esophagus/stomach, and ovary cancer patients or developed for more general patient populations. Most studies concerning patients treated with and without enteral nutrition supported applying enteral nutrition, which was concluded in seven studies out of ten (including four studies with a low risk of bias). The other important observations to be emphasized-formulated based on the studies with a low risk of bias-presented the role of oral supportive nutrition guided by a dietitian, as well as the beneficial role of enteral and parenteral nutrition, combined. In spite of a relatively low number of randomized controlled trials assessing the influence of enteral nutrition on the quality of life of cancer patients, which should be considered as a limitation, the results were promising. Most studies supported the positive influence of enteral nutrition on the quality of life, either assessed based on the psychological measures of the quality of life or by considering the other potential determinants (e.g., malnutrition, complications, etc.). Taking this into account, enteral nutrition should be applied whenever possible, both to prevent and treat malnutrition in cancer patients. However, considering the limited number of studies conducted so far, further research conducted in homogenic populations of patients is necessary.

Vitamin D Supplementation and Mental Health in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Systematic Review.

Vitamin D has a promising role in multiple sclerosis (MS) management, and it has been found to be beneficial for patients' mental health, which is reduced in MS patients. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to assess the influence of vitamin D supplementation on mental health in MS patients. The systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42020155779) and it was conducted on the basis of the PRISMA guidelines. The search procedure was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science databases and it included studies published up until September 2021. Six studies were included in the systematic review. The risk of bias was analyzed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Within the included studies, there were two studies randomized against placebo and four other prospective studies. The studies presented vitamin D interventions randomized against placebo or not randomized, while supplementation was applied for various durations-from 4 weeks to 12 months, or the studies compared patients who applied vitamin D supplementation and those who did not apply it and verified the effect of the supplementation after a number of years. The mental health outcomes that were assessed included quality of life, depression/depressive symptoms, and fatigue as an additional element. The majority of studies supported the positive influence of vitamin D on the mental health of MS patients, including the study characterized as having the highest quality (randomized against placebo with the highest NOS score). All the studies that assessed the quality of life indicated the positive influence of vitamin D while the studies that did not find a positive influence of vitamin D were conducted for depression/depressive symptoms. In spite of the fact that only a small number of studies have been conducted so far, and only two studies were randomized against a placebo, some conclusions may be formulated. The systematic review allowed us to conclude that there may be a positive effect of vitamin D supplementation in MS patients, which was stated in all of the studies analyzing quality of life, as well as in one study analyzing depressive symptoms. Considering that vitamin D deficiency is common in MS patients, and the potential positive influence of supplementation on the quality of life, supplementation should be applied at least in doses that cover the recommended intake.

Association between Vitamin D Supplementation and Mental Health in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review.

Vitamin D is considered to be a crucial factor that influences symptoms of depression, negative emotions, and quality of life, but to date, no systematic review has been conducted with regard to its effect on other domains of mental health. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of vitamin D supplementation on mental health in healthy adults. The systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42020155779) and performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science databases and included intervention studies published until October 2019. The human studies were included if the supplementation regimen involved the administration of a specified dosage of vitamin D to an adult sample. A total of 7613 records were screened and assessed independently by two researchers, based on their title, abstract, and full text sequentially. Finally, 14 studies were included, and their risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The studies were included if they presented the results of various doses of vitamin D, compared the supplementation results with the placebo effect, compared the outcome with no supplementation, or observed effect of specific dose applied. The assessed mental health outcomes mainly included depressive symptoms, or depression, well-being, quality of life, mood, general mental component, and anxiety, but single studies also included other parameters such as distress, impression of improvement, and fear of falling and flourishing. The results of the majority of studies did not confirm a positive influence of vitamin D supplementation. None of the high-quality studies (assessed using NOS), which evaluated outcomes other than depression, supported the hypothesis that vitamin D supplementation effectively ameliorates mental health issues, while they present conflicting evidence for depression. Some studies indicated that supplementation should be combined with physical activity to provide effective results, and that supplementation is less effective than vitamin D supply from food sources. The included studies were conducted in diverse populations and followed various doses and intervals of administration, so the results may be incomparable, which should be considered as a limitation. The conducted systematic review did not provide strong evidence for a positive effect of vitamin D supplementation on mental health in healthy adults.

Influence of Vitamin D Supplementation on Mental Health in Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review.

Diabetes is associated with a number of mental health consequences, including enhanced risk of depression and anxiety, as well as decreased quality of life, and vitamin D deficiency is considered to be one of the factors that influence these outcomes in diabetic patients. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature presenting the data regarding the influence of vitamin D supplementation on mental health in diabetic adults. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (Registration number CRD42020155779). A systematic search of the PubMed and Web of Science databases was performed, and the intervention studies published until September 2021 were included in the review. The human studies were included if an adult sample of diabetic individuals received vitamin D supplementation during the intervention and its effect on any mental health aspect was assessed, but studies presenting the influence of combined supplementation of multiple nutrients were excluded. After removing duplicate records, a total of 8514 publications were screened and assessed independently by two researchers, based on their title, abstract, and full text. Finally, six studies were included in the current systematic review, and the risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The included studies analyzed the influence of a specific dose of vitamin D, or different doses of vitamin D, or compared the results of supplementation with a specific dose of vitamin D against the placebo group. The supplementation was performed for at least 12 weeks. The mental health outcomes analyzed in these studies included health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, stress, and general mental health status of adult diabetic patients. The results of the majority of the studies confirmed the positive influence of vitamin D supplementation on the mental health of diabetic individuals. Those studies that analyzed the influence of vitamin D supplementation on depression and anxiety established the beneficial effect of the vitamin. In some studies, the influence of vitamin D supplementation on the health-related quality of life was not considered unless combined with mindfulness training. However, it must be emphasized that different dosage regimens and intervention periods were followed in the reviewed studies, and only a small number of studies were randomized against placebo, which should be considered as a limitation of the present study. The findings of the conducted systematic review demonstrated the positive influence of vitamin D supplementation on the mental health of diabetic patients, which was proved for anxiety and depression, but in the case of health-related quality of life, the positive effect was observed only when the intervention included mindfulness training. These outcomes suggest that supplementation should be recommended to improve the vitamin D status and the mental health of patients in this group.

Vitamin D Supplementation and Mental Health in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients: A Systematic Review.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are associated with decreased quality of life and mental health problems. Among various approaches to supportive therapy that aims to improve mental health in affected individuals, vitamin D supplementation is considered to be an effective method which may also be beneficial in alleviating the symptoms during the course of IBDs and IBS. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature presenting the data regarding the influence of vitamin D supplementation on mental health in adults with inflammatory and functional bowel diseases, including IBDs and IBS. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (Registration number CRD42020155779). A systematic search of the PubMed and Web of Science databases was performed, and the intervention studies published until September 2021 were included. The human studies eligible to be included in the review should have described any intervention involving vitamin D as a supplement in a group of adult patients suffering from IBDs and/or IBS and should have assessed any component of mental health, but studies presenting the effects of combined supplementation of multiple nutrients were excluded. After eliminating the duplicates, a total of 8514 records were screened and assessed independently by two researchers. Further evaluation was carried out on the basis of title, abstract, and full text. Finally, 10 studies (four for IBDs and six for IBS) were selected for the current systematic review, and their quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The studies analyzed the influence of various doses of vitamin D on bowel diseases, compared the results of vitamin D supplementation with placebo, or administered specific doses of vitamin D to obtain the required level in the blood. Supplementation was performed for at least 6 weeks. The analyzed mental health outcomes mainly included disease-specific quality of life/quality of life, anxiety, and depression. The majority of studies (including high-quality ones) confirmed the positive effect of vitamin D supplementation on the mental health of IBD and IBS patients, which was proven by all research works evaluating anxiety and depression and by the majority of research works evaluating quality of life. Although the studies followed different dosage regimens and supplementation protocols, the positive influence of vitamin D on mental health was found to be consistent. The number of studies on patients suffering from ulcerative colitis and the availability of trials randomized against the placebo group was low in the current review, which is considered to be a limitation of the present study and could also reflect the final outcome of the analysis. The conducted systematic review established the positive effect of vitamin D supplementation on the mental health of IBD and IBS patients, but this result requires further investigation, particularly in relation to other mental health outcomes.

Body Composition Results of Caucasian Young Normal Body Mass Women in the Follicular Proliferative Phase, Measured for the Different Positions of Limbs.

The bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) became a standardized technique for assessing body composition, but many factors affect the reproducibility of measurement, including body and limbs position. In spite of the fact that it is recommended for patient to be in a supine position, with arms abducted at least 30° and legs abducted at approximately 45°, a lot of authors conduct their measurements with arms and legs of patients separated to not touch the body but not strictly following the recommendations. Taking this into account, the aim of the study was to analyze the body composition results of Caucasian young normal body mass women in the follicular proliferative phase, measured for the different positions of limbs in order to compare the results obtained in the recommended position (with arms abducted at least 30° and legs abducted at approximately 45°) and in the commonly used position (not following strictly the recommendations). The study was conducted in a homogenous group of 100 adult females under the age of 30 years using BIA 101/ASE with the Bodygram Pro software and its equations by Akern Srl, Firenze, Italy, based on the measurement recommendations. The measurements were conducted (1) in a recommended position of arms abducted at least 30° and legs abducted at approximately 45° and (2) with arms spread and legs separated to not touch the body to compare the body composition assessment (fat mass, fat-free mass, body cell mass, muscle mass, water content, extracellular water content, and intracellular water content). It was stated that the results obtained for various positions of limbs were positively correlated (p < 0.0001; R > 0.5). At the same time, the statistically significant differences dependent on the position were observed for the calculated results of body cell mass (lower results for the recommended position for the results observed in kg and % of body mass; p = 0.0165 and p = 0.0075, respectively) and muscle mass (lower results for the recommended position for the results observed in kg and % of body mass; p = 0.0025 and p = 0.0011, respectively), as well as extracellular and intracellular water (higher % of total body water for the extracellular water and lower for intracellular water; p = 0.0049 and p = 0.0115, respectively), resulting from the measured resistance and reactance values. For all listed comparisons of significantly differing variables, weighted κ statistics indicated moderate agreement (values of 0.41-0.60), and the Bland-Altman plot analysis indicated no agreement (Bland-Altman index of >5%). While compared with the reference values, the major differences were observed for extracellular/intracellular water content, as, while applying a method with arms and legs separated to not touch the body (not recommended position), the extracellular water content was underestimated for 31% and intracellular water content was overestimated for 28% of participants. It may be concluded that the recommended body position of arms abducted at least 30° and legs abducted at approximately 45° should be chosen to ensure the reliability of the BIA measurements, as, while the recommendations of a body position are not followed, the results obtained may be misleading and may not reflect the actual body composition.