Dietary antioxidants and flavonoids intake, and their association with inflammation and oxidative stress parameters in asthmatic women: a case-control study.

Asthma is more prevalent and severe in women, especially after puberty. Studies suggest a potential link between dietary antioxidants, inflammation, and oxidative stress. This study aimed to compare the dietary intake of antioxidants in asthmatic and healthy women, evaluating their potential associations with inflammation and oxidative stress. This study analyzed 30 asthmatic and 30 healthy women's lung function, anthropometry, biochemical parameters, and dietary antioxidant intake using a 161-itemized semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Additionally, the study explored connections between serum inflammatory markers and oxidative stress indicators in relation to dietary intake of antioxidant nutrients and flavonoids. Asthmatic women exhibited higher serum IL-6 levels and lower total antioxidant status compared to healthy controls. Nevertheless, no significant differences were observed in dietary antioxidant micronutrient intake. Healthy controls demonstrated a notably higher intake of anthocyanidins compared to asthmatic women. Furthermore, the study identified a negative correlation between flavonol intake and serum total oxidant status, as well as between flavan-3-ols intake and serum oxidative stress index. Dietary differences in flavonoid and flavonoid-rich foods intake among asthmatic women may affect their serum IL-6 levels and oxidative stress. Promoting a diverse diet rich in flavonoids could benefit women with asthma by mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with sustainable nutrition and environmental footprints on higher educated individuals.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Med-Diet adherence with sustainable nutrition and environmental footprints in academicians. METHODS: The study involved 153 academicians aged 23-64 working in a university in Turkey. Data were collected through a questionnaire including socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale (MEDAS) and Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviours Scale (SHEBS). Carbon and water footprints were calculated. RESULTS: All sub-scales of SHEBS were higher in individuals who adhered to Med-Diet than those who did not (p<0.05). The carbon and water footprints of individuals with high adherence to the Med-Diet were lower than those of no adherence (p<0.05). Each 1-point increase in MEDAS score was associated with a 1-point increase in SHEBS score, a 0.15 CO2 eq/kg and a 0.001 m3/year decrease in the amount of carbon and water footprint of food. CONCLUSION: Higher adherence to the Med-Diet was associated with higher sustainable nutrition behaviours, and lower environmental footprints.

Is Neck Circumference Related to Other Anthropometric Measurements and Biochemical Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes?

Background Obesity is one of the leading risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist/hip ratio are anthropometric measurements used to diagnose obesity. In recent years, neck circumference, one of the anthropometric indicators used in assessing obesity, has come to the fore. This study investigates the relationship between neck circumference and other anthropometric measurements and specific biochemical parameters in T2DM. Methods Four hundred sixty-four individuals with type 2 diabetes were included in the study. Subjects' body weight, height, and other anthropometric measurements like circumferences of the waist, hip, and neck were measured. BMI, waist/hip, and waist/height ratio were calculated. The biochemical tests of the subjects in the previous month from the study were accessed from the hospital information system. The relationship between anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters with neck circumference was evaluated. Results The mean age of the subjects was 54.6±8.51 years. 56.2% were female and 43.8% were male, and the time from T2DM diagnosis was 9.9±7.49 years. Most male subjects were overweight (49.8%), and approximately one-third of the women were first-degree obese (33.0%). Body weight, BMI, waist, hip, and neck circumferences, and waist/hip and waist/height ratios were significantly higher in both male and female subjects in the neck circumference high-risk group than those in the low-risk group (p<0.05). In terms of biochemical parameters, fasting blood glucose and HbA1c values of men with neck circumference at risk were significantly higher than those in the low-risk group. Neck circumference measurements of the participants were positively correlated with body weight (r=0.543; p<0.001), height (r=0.260; p<0.001), waist circumference (r=0.562; p<0.001), hip circumference (r=0.293; p<0.001), BMI (r=0.366; p<0.001), waist/hip ratio (r=0.428, p<0.001), and waist/height ratio (r=0.393, p<0.001). Neck circumference had a low positive correlation with fasting blood glucose (r=0.165; p<0.001), HbA1c (r=0.281; p<0.001), and triglyceride (r=0.231; p<0.001) and a negative relationship with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=-0.118; p=0.001). When the relationship between neck circumference and biochemical parameters was examined, it was seen that this correlation was only in men. Conclusion Neck circumference measurement is a simple and reliable method and is not affected by external factors. It correlates with other anthropometric measurements and can be used as a good indicator of the distribution of upper subcutaneous adipose tissue in T2DM. However, more studies with larger samples are needed on this subject.

Is poor sleep quality related to disordered eating behavior and mental health among university students?

The role of sleep in eating behavior has received increasing attention in recent years. This paper aimed to determine the prevalence and associations between sleep quality and mental health, anthropometric measurements, and disordered eating in university students. This cross-sectional research was conducted among 568 students (78.7% women) aged 18-25 years. Students completed a survey including demographic information, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26), Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Anthropometric measurements were taken. Students were grouped based on poor (PSQI > 5) and good (PSQI ≤ 5) sleep quality. The students' average age was 20.32 ± 1.61 years. Additionally, 36.3% (n = 206) of the students had PSQI > 5, and these students had more frequent night eating syndrome (NES) and depressive symptoms. Students with PSQI > 5 had significantly higher total NEQ and BDI scores than students with PSQI ≤ 5. Significant positive correlations were found between sleep quality and its subscale scores with NEQ and BDI scores. When anthropometric measurements were evaluated according to gender, a significant difference was found between sleep quality and body mass index and waist/hip ratio in men only. There was a significant association between PSQI > 5 and NES after adjusting for age, sex, class standing, residency, smoking status, and alcohol consumption on logistic regression. Our results suggest that PSQI > 5 is a significant risk for the NES, but not other disordered eating behaviors or obesity. The relationship between sleep, depression, anthropometric measurements, and disordered eating should be further evaluated in future studies.