Inflammatory index score in children: its relationship with neophobia, dietary quality and anthropometric measurements.

The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between the Diet Inflammatory Index (DII) scores and dietary quality in children, which was measured by the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED), also neophobia scores and anthropometric measurements. This study was conducted in primary schools in Famagusta, Cyprus. A total of 300 children (150 girls, 150 boys) in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade were included in the study. The frequency of food consumption was measured to calculate the DII scores. Moreover, neophobia and KIDMED scores were obtained. The KIDMED score is a popular tool that is mostly used as a practical scale to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet among children. Additionally, anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, waist circumference, neck circumference) were collected. Finally, DII scores were compared with KIDMED scores, neophobia scores, and anthropometric measurements. Anthropometric measurements and body mass index (BMI) values were found to be significantly different (p < 0.05) based on the DII scores. Children with DII scores in the 1st quartile had significantly different anthropometric measurements compared to those who had scores in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles (p < 0.05). The DII scores of normal-weight children were higher than those of obese children. A significant negative correlation was observed between KIDMED scores and DII scores of the children (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between neophobia scores and DII scores (p < 0.05). Additionally, DII scores were correlated with dietary quality and anthropometric measurements (p < 0.05). The MD enhances the anti-inflammatory properties of the diet; it has clearly demonstrated positive effects on diet quality and anthropometric measurements. Furthermore, the MD is suggested to reduce the risk of chronic diseases as a result of improving DII scores at an early age.

Do nutritional habits and supplement use affect health-related quality of life during social isolation period in the community of North Cyprus?

The aim of study was to comprehensively investigate the effect of nutritional habits and supplement use on health-related quality of life during social isolation period. This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 418 participants (73.4% were women and 26.6% were men) participated in this study. Participants' demographic information, nutritional habits, and quality of life were questioned, and anthropometric measurements were obtained. A significant difference was found in the main meal skipping status of individuals by age group. The consumption of milk, yoghurt, ayran, legumes, cereal products other than bread, vegetables, fruits, oilseeds, and snack foods was similar in both periods. Furthermore, frequencies of multivitamins, multiminerals, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, iron, calcium, omega-3, and probiotics were similar during and before the pandemic. A significant difference was found in scores obtained on the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) by age group. There was a significant difference in the quality of life scores by body mass index (BMI) groups. It was concluded that quality of life decreased due to the increase in body weight during pandemic period. The social isolation period did not make a clear difference in the nutritional habits of individuals and the use of nutritional supplements. When the main meal skipping situations were evaluated within the scope of nutritional habits, those who did not skip their main meal received the highest score on the QOLS.

Maternal high fat diets: impacts on offspring obesity and epigenetic hypothalamic programming.

Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) during pregnancy is associated with rapid weight gain and fetal fat mass increase at an early stage. Also, HFD during pregnancy can cause the activation of proinflammatory cytokines. Maternal insulin resistance and inflammation lead to increased adipose tissue lipolysis, and also increased free fatty acid (FFA) intake during pregnancy (˃35% of energy from fat) cause a significant increase in FFA levels in the fetus. However, both maternal insulin resistance and HFD have detrimental effects on adiposity in early life. As a result of these metabolic alterations, excess fetal lipid exposure may affect fetal growth and development. On the other hand, increase in blood lipids and inflammation can adversely affect the development of the liver, adipose tissue, brain, skeletal muscle, and pancreas in the fetus, increasing the risk for metabolic disorders. In addition, maternal HFD is associated with changes in the hypothalamic regulation of body weight and energy homeostasis by altering the expression of the leptin receptor, POMC, and neuropeptide Y in the offspring, as well as altering methylation and gene expression of dopamine and opioid-related genes which cause changes in eating behavior. All these maternal metabolic and epigenetic changes may contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic through fetal metabolic programming. Dietary interventions, such as limiting dietary fat intake <35% with appropriate fatty acid intake during the gestation period are the most effective type of intervention to improve the maternal metabolic environment during pregnancy. Appropriate nutritional intake during pregnancy should be the principal goal in reducing the risks of obesity and metabolic disorders.

Neck circumference cut-off points for detecting overweight and obesity among school children in Northern Cyprus.

BACKGROUND: Neck circumference is one of the anthropometric parameters that is widely used in practical applications, clinical and epidemiological studies in children. It is aimed to determine the neck circumference cut-off points and to use them in the detection of overweight and obesity in children living in Northern Cyprus. SUBJECTS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2019 and January 2020, and covered a sample of 692 children (367 girls and 325 boys) aged 6-10 years attending primary schools in the Northern Cyprus. METHODS: Body weight, height, neck circumference, waist circumference, subscapular and triceps skinfold tickness were measured. BF% was calculated with Slaughter equations. World Health Organization BMI cut-off points for age and gender percentiles were used to categorize obesity. BMI, WHtR, NC, body fat were calculated. The Pearson Correlation co-efficient between NC and the other anhtropometric measurements were calculated. Receiver operating characteristics analysis, sensitivity, specificity, PV + ve PV- was used to determine the optimal NC cut-off points for identifying children with overweight and obesity. RESULTS: NC was a statistically significant positive and strong relationship with body weight, BMI, waist circumference and hip circumference (p < 0,005). NC cut-off values to define overweight and obesity were calculated as 26,9 cm in girls (AUC: 0,851, 95% CI: 0,811-0,891, sensitivity 70,50%, specificity 84,65%) and 27,9 cm in boys (AUC: 0,847, 95% CI: 0,805-0,888, sensitivity 76,4%, specificity 79,3%). The ROC curves accurately define overweight and obesity of the whole cohort regardless of age for both sexes of children. CONCLUSIONS: The cut-off points for neck circumference were found to be 27,9 cm for boys and 26,9 cm for girls in determining overweight and obesity in children aged 6-10 years. The NC cut-off points obtained in this study can be used to define overweight and obesity in children in epidemiological studies. It is considered to shed light on studies that will examine the relationship between neck circumference and diseases with more people in future studies.

Protective effects of a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern on obesity, abdominal obesity and large neck circumference in a cohort of Turkish children aged 6-9 years.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the association of the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED index) with neck circumference, obesity, and abdominal obesity in a national sample of Turkish children aged 6-9 years. It was hypothesized that the Mediterranean diet has beneficial effects on BMI and waist and neck circumferences in children. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: The study sample consisted of 900 children aged 6-9 years recruited from seven primary schools in Ünye District in Ordu, Turkey. Anthropometric data were collected. The KIDMED score was used to assess the children's adherence to the Mediterranean diet. RESULTS: Compared with girls, a higher percentage of boys were obese (27.9% vs 22.2%), and the KIDMED score differed between boys (4.89±2.0) and girls (5.27±2.48; p<0.05). Only 18.7% of children had optimal KIDMED scores, and 35.7% had poor KIDMED scores. Compared with boys and girls with medium and optimal KIDMED scores, boys and girls with poor KIDMED scores had higher body weight, height, BMI, and waist and neck circumferences (p<0.05). KIDMED scores of overweight boys and girls were higher than those of obese boys and girls (p<0.05). An inverse correlation was found between KIDMED scores and body weight, BMI, and waist and neck circumferences. CONCLUSIONS: The Mediterranean dietary pattern is significantly associated with improved anthropometric measurements in children. These results demonstrate that providing a diet similar to the Mediterranean diet can prevent obesity and related disorders in children.

Maternal Obesity, Maternal Overnutrition and Fetal Programming: Effects of Epigenetic Mechanisms on the Development of Metabolic Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Maternal obesity and maternal overnutrition, can lead to epigenetic alterations during pregnancy and these alterations can influence fetal and neonatal phenotype which increase the risk of metabolic disorders in later stages of life. OBJECTIVE: The effects of maternal obesity on fetal programming and potential mechanisms of maternal epigenetic regulation of gene expression which have persistent effects on fetal health and development were investigated. METHODS: Review of the literature was carried out in order to discuss the effects of maternal obesity and epigenetic mechanisms in fetal programming of metabolic disorders. All abstracts and full-text articles were examined and the most relevant articles were included in this review. RESULTS: Maternal obesity and maternal overnutrition during fetal period has important overall effects on long-term health. Maternal metabolic alterations during early stages of fetal development can lead to permanent changes in organ structures, cell numbers and metabolism. Epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation, histone modifications, microRNAs) play an important role in disease susceptibility in the later stages of human life. Maternal nutrition alter expression of hypothalamic genes which can increase fetal and neonatal energy intake. Epigenetic modifications may affect the increasing rate of obesity and other metabolic disorders worldwide since the impact of these changes can be passed through generations. CONCLUSION: Weight management before and during pregnancy, together with healthy nutritional intakes may improve the maternal metabolic environment, which can reduce the risks of fetal programming of metabolic diseases. Further evidence from long-term follow-up studies are needed in order to determine the role of maternal obesity on epigenetic mechanisms.

Evaluation of the physical activity level, nutrition quality, and depression in patients with metabolic syndrome: Comparative study.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex problem that contains risk factors related with obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and type-II diabetes. The incidence of MetS is increasing every year throughout the world.The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare physical activity levels, nutrition quality, and depression status of the individuals who are diagnosed with and without MetS.International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used. In addition, biochemical analysis and anthropometric measurements were also taken.According to IPAQ, 81.1% of the MetS group is inactive, 6.8% is active, and 5.1% is highly active, whereas 22.3% of the non-MetS group is inactive, 46.2% is active, and 31.5% is highly active. MEDAS was found to be lower in the MetS group. BDI levels were also determined high in the MetS group.Sedentary lifestyle, depression, and unhealthy nutrition habits are among the significant factors for the development of MetS. The knowledge levels of the people should be increased by developing national physical activity and nutrition guidelines.

Traditional Techniques Applied in Olive Oil Production Results in Lower Quality Products in Northern Cyprus.

OBJECTIVES: Olive oil production and its consumption is one of the traditional characteristics of Northern Cyprus. To date, no research has been conducted to analyze the quality of traditionally produced olive oil. Therefore, within this study, we aimed to analyze the olive oil produced within the island concomitant to the determination and comparison of its quality indices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The standard olive oil analysis techniques acknowledged by the IOOC and ISO were employed. Accordingly, the fatty acid content, peroxide level, total phenol content, the levels of carotenoids and chlorophyll, as well as status of oxidation were all tested concomitant to statistical analysis. RESULTS: In contrast to the regional belief and consideration, the results indicated that the olive oil produced locally is highly exposed to oxidation and therefore, it is of lower quality according to the ISO guidelines. CONCLUSION: The traditional techniques employed for the production, distribution, and storage of olive oil within Northern Cyprus must be re-evaluated and controlled to satisfy the current standards required and employed globally.

Do fatty acids affect fetal programming?

BACKGROUND: In this study discussed the primary and regulatory roles of fatty acids, and investigated the affects of fatty acids on metabolic programming. METHODS: Review of the literature was carried out on three electronic databases to assess the roles of fatty acids in metabolic programming. All abstracts and full-text articles were examined, and the most relevant articles were selected for screening and inclusion in this review. RESULTS: The mother's nutritional environment during fetal period has important effects on long term health. Fatty acids play a primary role in growth and development. Alterations in fatty acid intake in the fetal period may increase the risk of obesity and metabolic disorders in later life. Maternal fatty acid intakes during pregnancy and lactation are passed to the fetus and the newborn via the placenta and breast milk, respectively. Imbalances in fatty acid intake during the fetal period change the fatty acid composition of membrane phospholipids, which can cause structural and functional problems in cells. Additionally, the metabolic and neuroendocrine environments of the fetus and the newborn play key roles in the regulation of energy balance. CONCLUSIONS: Imbalances in fatty acid intake during pregnancy and lactation may result in permanent changes in appetite control, neuroendocrine function and energy metabolism in the fetus, leading to metabolic programming. Further studies are needed to determine the role of fatty acid intake in metabolic programming.