The association between food neophobia, bi-dimensional aspects of orthorexia, and anxiety among vegetarians and omnivores.

Vegetarianism is a growing trend, and food neophobia and orthorexia nervosa could act as barriers to achieving a healthy vegetarian diet. The aim of this study is to compare the levels of food neophobia, anxiety, and both healthy and pathological aspects of orthorexia among vegetarians and omnivores. Additionally, the study aims to identify the relationships between food neophobia, anxiety, and orthorexia. In this cross-sectional online survey, a total of 324 vegetarian and 455 omnivores adults participated. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related characteristics, the Food Neophobia Scale (FNS), the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorders-7 Scale. Vegetarians exhibited lower FNS scores (p < 0.001) and had higher healthy orthorexic scores (p < 0.001) than omnivores. There were no differences between groups for anxiety scores (p > 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that higher food neophobia (OR: 0.953, 95% CI:0.937-0.968) and TOS-OrNe scores (OR: 0.946, 95% CI: 0.901-0.993) were associated with lower odds of following a vegetarian diet. Conversely, higher TOS-HeOr scores (OR: 1.135, 95% CI:1.096-1.176) were linked to an increased likelihood of adopting a vegetarian diet. Furthermore, both FNS and GAD-7 scores showed negative correlations with TOS-HeOR (r = -0.124, p < 0.001 and r = -0.129 p < 0.001, respectively), and positive correlations with TOS-OrNe (r = 0.106, p < 0.001 and r = 0.146, p < 0.001). In conclusion, vegetarians exhibit lower levels of food neophobia and a greater interest in healthy eating than omnivores. Additionally, the distinct correlation between two dimensions of orthorexia and food neophobia and anxiety provides support for the two-dimensional nature of orthorexia.

A narrative review on food neophobia throughout the lifespan: relationships with dietary behaviours and interventions to reduce it.

Food neophobia is defined as the unwillingness to taste new foods and the avoidance of unfamiliar foods. This eating behaviour is a complex issue, and both genetic and environmental factors play a role in it. The aim of this review is to understand its relationships with dietary behaviours throughout the lifespan and to examine the impact of interventions on food neophobia. A literature search was performed using the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and ScienceDirect databases. As a result of the screening, a total of 139 studies, seven of which were intervention studies, were included in this review. According to current evidence, food neophobia is negatively associated with the acceptance of not only novel/unfamiliar foods but also familiar foods. Many studies have shown that food neophobia is negatively associated with the hedonics and consumption of core foods, especially vegetables and fruits. Individuals with higher levels of food neophobia are less familiar with many foods, but familiarity is a prominent motivator in food choices for these individuals. Therefore, it may be considered a barrier limiting diet quality and this trend is similar for both children and adults. However, food neophobia is not an unchangeable personality trait. Intervention studies have pointed out that educational programmes and food-related activities that increase familiarity and exposure to foods and create positive attitudes towards and positive experiences with foods can reduce food neophobia. The results highlight that people with high food neophobia need more support to improve their diets and the quality of dietary behaviour.

Probiotic kefir consumption improves serum apolipoprotein A1 levels in metabolic syndrome patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Metabolic syndrome has become a major health hazard of the modern world. Studies investigating the effects of traditional fermented foods on metabolic syndrome are limited. We hypothesized that regular kefir consumption could improve the anthropometrical measurements, glycemic control, lipid profile, blood pressure, and inflammatory status in patients with metabolic syndrome. Sixty-two participants were randomly assigned to receive either 180 mL/d probiotic kefir or unfermented milk for 12 weeks. Dietary intake, anthropometrical measurements, biochemical status, and blood pressure were assessed at baseline and the end of weeks 4, 8, and 12. Serum apolipoprotein A1 concentration increased by 3.4% in the kefir group, whereas it decreased by 2.4% in the milk group in 12 weeks (P = .03). A subgroup analysis for participants with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels >130 mg/dL showed that serum LDL-C and apolipoprotein B concentrations (7.6% and 5.4%, respectively) significantly decreased with kefir consumption compared with the baseline values at the 12th week (P < .05), but not compared with milk consumption (P > .05). Both milk and kefir consumption was associated with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared with the baseline (P < .05). The 12-weeks of kefir administration also decreased serum tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, interleukin 10, interferon-gamma, and homocysteine concentrations significantly (P < .05). In conclusion, regular dairy consumption as part of a well-balanced diet can provide favorable effects in the management of metabolic syndrome, and probiotic kefir may deserve a special interest among dairy products. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03966846).

Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Food Items Preferred by Adolescents under the Influence of Television Advertisements.

BACKGROUND: Food and beverage advertisements on television play a significant role in food preferences, especially among children and adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate foods and beverages advertised on television and purchased by adolescents or their families using the World Health Organization (WHO) nutrient profiling model. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 2,699 students (1380 males and 1319 females) aged 11-16 in Ankara, Turkey, in 2015. Socio-demographic characteristics, television-viewing habits, and the tendency to purchase foods and beverages under the influence of TV advertisements were recorded. The body weight and height were measured by the researchers. All reported food and beverage items (n  =  284) were evaluated and classified as permitted or not permitted to advertise, according to the WHO nutrient profile model (2015). RESULTS: The majority (69.8%) of students were underweight/normal weight, whereas 13.3% and 16.9% were classified as overweight and obese, respectively. A total of 69.6% of adolescents declared that they were influenced by food advertisements, and 66.4% bought those foods. The most purchased products included cakes and sweet biscuits (63.8%), chocolate and confectionery (44.9%), savory snacks (39.6%), and soft drinks (25.4%). Only 8.5% of all the advertised products (n  =  284) were permitted to be advertised, according to the WHO nutrient profile model (2015). Dairy products, meat products, grains, fruits and vegetables, soup, and some traditional Turkish foods (e.g., cig kofte and Turkish pizza) were permitted. The permitted products were preferred by only 13.6% of the adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Unhealthy foods are advertised on television for adolescents, and food advertisement management may be an essential strategy to provide healthy food choices.

Effects of Regular Kefir Consumption on Gut Microbiota in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Parallel-Group, Randomized, Controlled Study.

Several health-promoting effects of kefir have been suggested, however, there is limited evidence for its potential effect on gut microbiota in metabolic syndrome This study aimed to investigate the effects of regular kefir consumption on gut microbiota composition, and their relation with the components of metabolic syndrome. In a parallel-group, randomized, controlled clinical trial setting, patients with metabolic syndrome were randomized to receive 180 mL/day kefir (n = 12) or unfermented milk (n = 10) for 12 weeks. Anthropometrical measurements, blood samples, blood pressure measurements, and fecal samples were taken at the beginning and end of the study. Fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed a significant decrease by the intervention of kefir (p ≤ 0.05, for each). However, no significant difference was obtained between the kefir and unfermented milk groups (p > 0.05 for each). Gut microbiota analysis showed that regular kefir consumption resulted in a significant increase only in the relative abundance of Actinobacteria (p = 0.023). No significant change in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria or Verrucomicrobia by kefir consumption was obtained. Furthermore, the changes in the relative abundance of sub-phylum bacterial populations did not differ significantly between the groups (p > 0.05, for each). Kefir supplementation had favorable effects on some of the metabolic syndrome parameters, however, further investigation is needed to understand its effect on gut microbiota composition.