The effect of nutritional interventions reducing oxidative stress on behavioural and gastrointestinal problems in autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although the exact cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is a neurodevelopmental disorder, is not known, it is thought that environmental factors are also effective in addition to genetic risk factors. Studies are showing an increase in oxidative stress markers and a decrease in some antioxidant enzymes in individuals with autism. This study aims to try to explain the effect of nutritional interventions that reduce oxidative stress on behavioural and gastrointestinal problems in ASD based on a literature review. METHODS: All relevant studies from 2000 to 2021 were identified through a systematic search in the PubMed and Web of Science databases by using key search terms. A systematic search of the electronic databases resulted in a total of 3235 potential articles, and data were extracted from 24 studies. RESULTS: There were 9 clinical trials and 15 animal studies. Most studies find statistically significant results for nutritional supplementation compared with placebo ASD symptoms. CONCLUSION: Most studies on the interventions of nutritional supplements that reduce oxidative stress in individuals with ASD have found improving effects on ASD symptoms, and no serious side effects have been observed. However, more interventional studies are needed to determine the precise effects of oxidative stress-reducing nutritional supplementation.

The Effect of Bigorexia Nervosa on Eating Attitudes and Physical Activity: A Study on University Students.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between physical activity, eating attitude, and bigorexia nervosa among university students. Method: A questionnaire form consisting of sociodemographic characteristics, eating habits, the Eating Attitude Scale (EAT-40), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Muscle Appearance Satisfaction Scale (MASS) was conducted on undergraduate students at Üsküdar University. Results: There were 1006 students who participated in this study with a mean age of 22.58 ± 2.87 years. The median "muscle appearance satisfaction" score of the obese students was statistically higher than the normal weight and underweight students. The median score for "Obesity Anxiety" was statistically higher in underweight students than in obese ones. A one-unit increase in IPAQ scores was related to an elevation of 24.9% in the MASS and a decrease of 17.9% in the EAT-40 scores, while a one-unit increase in MASS scores was related to a reduction of 12.5% in the EAT-40 scores. Conclusion: Eating attitude is associated with bigorexia nervosa, and as MASS scores increase, EAT-40 scores decrease and as IPAQ scores increase, and EAT-40 scores decrease. In other words, as physical activity increases, muscle strength satisfaction elevates, and in parallel with this increase, a positive eating attitude improves.

The Effect of Chronotype on Addictive Eating Behavior and BMI among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of chronotype on addictive eating behavior and BMI in university students. A questionnaire on their sociodemographic characteristics and eating habits, as well as the three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ) and the morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ), were given to students at Üsküdar University. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS 26.0. This study included a total of 850 students, 46.8% of whom were male and 53.2% were female. The mean BMI was 22.94 ± 3.30 kg/m2. As the BMI values of students increased, there was a decrease of 25.6% in the TFEQ scores, regardless of gender (s = −0.256; p < 0.001), and an increase of 10.6% in their chronotype scores, meaning that the students tended to be morning types (s = 0.106; p < 0.01). A significantly negative, very weak correlation was found between the students' TFEQ and MEQ scores (s = −0.123; p < 0.001). The students' BMI (p < 0.01) and TFEQ scores (p < 0.001) were affected by their MEQ scores in a statistically significant way. It was found that each 1-point increase in the MEQ score led to a 4.0% increase in the BMI score and a 15.8% decrease in the TFEQ score. It was observed that the morning-type students tended to be obese in terms of their BMI, and these students demonstrated fewer addictive eating behaviors.