The effect of maternal period nutritional status on oro-sensorial fat perception and taste preference in rats.

CD36 and GPR120 play an important role in the perception and preference for fat-rich food consumption. We aimed to investigate the relationship between oro-gustatory perception of lipids, fatty taste preference, and maternal (Gestation + Lactation)-maturation period nutrition status in offspring Sprague-Dawley rats. In our study, mother rats were fed with control (C) or high-fat diets (HFD) during gestation (21 days) and lactation (21 days) periods. After weaning, the offspring were fed with control (C) or high-fat diets (HFD) during the maturation (120 days) period. Daily calorie intake and weekly body weight measurements were monitored. Two-bottle preference (TBPT) and licking tests measured the fat perceptions and preferences. Plasma levels of insulin, leptin, glucose, and triglyceride were measured. The protein and mRNA expressions of CD36 and GPR120 in the circumvallate papillae (CVP) were determined. The 48 h TBPT results revealed that maternal HFD-exposed offspring rats significantly preferred 2% rapeseed oil solution regardless of the type of maturation diet. According to the licking test, C/C group (C diet exposed group in maternal and maturation periods) offspring licked 0.1% oleic acid-containing water more than C/HFD (C diet exposed in maternal period and HFD exposed group in maturation period) and HFD/HFD group. (HFD exposed group in maternal and maturation periods) groups. Plasma insulin and leptin concentrations significantly increased in HFD/HFD groups compared to C/C group. CD36 protein expressions were significantly lower in HFD/HFD than C/HFD and HFD/C groups. GPR120 and GNAT3 mRNA expressions in HFD/C group were significantly higher than in C/HFD group. Our results suggest that HFD exposure during maternal and maturation period may play a role in fat perception/preference through oral lipid sensors.

Assessment of Nutritional Composition of Turkish Red Crescent Menus After the M7.8 and M7.6 Earthquakes in Kahramanmaras, Türkiye.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the nutritional content and quality of the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) menus delivered to earthquake victims after the 2023 earthquakes in Kahramanmaras, Türkiye. METHODS: The menus of general, search-rescue, diabetes, and celiac were obtained from the TRC following the magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.6 Kahramanmaras earthquakes. The nutrient content of the menus was evaluated with the Nutrient Rich Food (NRF20.3) score. In addition, the menus' energy, macronutrient, and micronutrient contents were compared with the dietary reference intake values of the Türkiye Dietary Guideline-2022, European Food Safety Authority, and Food and Drug Administration. RESULTS: The general menu was insufficient to meet the daily requirements of vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin C, calcium, and potassium for earthquake victims. The sodium, phosphorous, and omega-6/omega-3 ratios were much higher than the recommended intakes. The NRF20.3 score of the diabetes menu was significantly higher than the search-rescue and celiac menus (P < 0.05). The energy content of the search-rescue menu was significantly higher than that of other menus (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The several nutritional risks were determined in TRC menus for earthquake victims who suffered from the Kahramanmaras earthquakes. Several supplementation programs can be applied to the earthquake regions to obtain strength immunity and effectively challenge posttraumatic stress symptoms.

The Evaluation of Videos about Branched-Chain Amino Acids Supplements on YouTube™: A Multi-Approach Study.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are one of the most controversial ergogenic aids in terms of effectiveness and safety. This study aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of BCAA supplements related to English videos on YouTube™ and to synthesize with the sentiment-emotion analysis of comments on videos. The content analysis of the information on videos was evaluated with the use of DISCERN, Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, and Global Quality Score (GQS). In addition, word cloud and sentiment and emotional analysis of comments in videos were performed with the R package. As a result, the mean ± standard error values of DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS scores of all videos were 29.27 ± 1.97, 1.95 ± 0.12, and 2.13 ± 0.17, respectively. It was found that advertisement-free videos have a significantly higher DISCERN and GQS score than advertisement-included videos (p < 0.05). A moderately significant positive correlation was determined between DISCERN score of video content and the positive sentiment of video comments (rs: 0.400, p = 0.002). In conclusion, it was determined that BCAA-related YouTube™ videos have mostly very poor quality in terms of content and that videos with higher quality may receive positive comments from viewers according to the DISCERN instrument.

Dietary Supplement Use of Turkish Footballers: Differences by Sex and Competition Level.

This study aimed to evaluate the consumption of dietary supplements (DS) and to determine related topics in Turkish football players of different sexes and competition levels. A total of 117 footballers (79 males and 38 females) completed a specific survey regarding DS consumption in athletes. The type of DS ingested was classified based on the level of scientific evidence by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS): group A (high level of scientific evidence), group B (DS that could have a positive effect, but require more evidence), group C (evidence is against their use), and group D (prohibited substances). After a Kolmogorov−Smirnov test, a t-test or Mann−Whitney U test was performed for quantitative variables, while Pearson's chi-square and odds ratio (with the confidence interval) were performed for qualitative variables. Of the sample, 87.2% reported having consumed DS, with a higher consumption rate in males (males: 93.7%, females: 73.7%; p = 0.006; OR = 5.3 [1.7−16.8]) and professional players (professional: 98.2%, non-professional: 77.4%; p < 0.001; OR = 7.9 [1.2−52.3]). Males and professional players consume more sports foods (p < 0.001), performance supplements (p < 0.001), and total group A supplements (p < 0.001) compared to females and non-professionals. In addition, males consume more medical supplements (p = 0.012) and total group C supplements (p < 0.001) than female footballers. The most consumed DS were sports drinks (63.2%), magnesium (52.1%), vitamin C (51.3%), vitamin D (46.2%), caffeine (38.5%), sports bars (37.6%), whey protein (28.2%), meat protein (25.6%), vitamin E (24.8%), and omega-3 fatty acids (24.8%). The supplement consumption was higher in male and professional footballers. According to the AIS classification, there were significant differences in the consumption of sports foods, medical supplements, performance supplements, and the total number of group A and group C supplements according to sex, and there were significant differences in the consumption of sports foods, performance supplements, and the total number of group A supplements according to competition level.

"Stay at home with bakery products" can be public motto of quarantine days in the early period of COVID-19 outbreak: A nutritional infodemiology study.

AIMS: The aim of this retrospective infodemiological study is to investigate the public interest to the bakery products in the early period of coronavirus outbreak through Google Trends and open access data banks. METHODS: The category and regions were selected "food and drink", Turkey, Italy and Sweden, respectively. Keywords were searched in Turkish, Italian and Swedish language by Google Trends. Search spectrums were "1 February 2011-1 September 2020" and "1 February-1 September 2020" to determine the monthly and daily search queries, successively. Sweden was included into study as a control group because there was no strict implementation in the pandemic. Daily case number of coronavirus, stringency index, stay at home requirements value and relative search volume (RSV) scores about selected foods and coronavirus were synthesized. RESULTS: Search queries of "flour", "yeast", "dough" and "bread" were too higher in Turkey and Italy within the outbreak period, corresponding to previous years. The RSV score of bread was higher than vegetable, fruit, fish and meat in all countries, but search profiles were different. It has been determined the potential relationship between RSV scores about some bakery products and stringency index in Turkey and Italy. In addition, daily new case number of coronavirus and RSV score of coronavirus can be related to public interests to bakery products in Italy. Bakery products related top queries were usually about finding a recipe. CONCLUSION: Quarantine enforcement can cause the increased web-based search volume of the bakery products in the early period of COVID-19 outbreak. Understanding of search queries about food choices will help to effectively combat against coronavirus. According to followed data, the public should be informed about the outcomes of dietary habits in the quarantine regions.

The Popularity of the Biologically-Based Therapies During Coronavirus Pandemic Among the Google Users in the USA, UK, Germany, Italy and France.

OBJECT: The aim of this retrospective infodemiological study was to evaluate people's interests in biologically-based (B-B) complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies such as herbs, foods, and supplements during the coronavirus pandemic via analysis of Google search engine statistics. DESIGN & SETTINGS: The category, period, and regions selected in the Google Trends were "health," "15 January-15 May 2020," in the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, Italy, and France, respectively. The most commonly searched herbs, foods and supplements (n = 32) during the pandemic were determined from a pool of keywords (n = 1286) based on the terms' relative search volumes (RSVs) within the last five years. Correlation analyses were conducted to investigate associations between coronavirus-related parameters with each keyword's RSV for each country. Selected keywords (n = 25) were analyzed using the gtrendsR package in the R programming language; the ggplot2 package was used to visualize the data, the Prophet package was used to estimate the time series, and the dplyr package was used to create the data frame. RESULTS: Significantly strong positive correlations were identified between daily RSVs of the terms "black seed," "vitamin C," "zinc," and "quercetin," and search queries for "coronavirus" and "COVID-19" in the USA (Spearman's correlation coefficient > 0.8, p < 0.05), and between the RSVs of the terms "vitamin C" and "zinc," and daily search queries for "coronavirus" and/or "COVID-19" in the UK (Spearman's correlation coefficient > 0.8, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Google Trends can be a beneficial tool for following public interest in identifying outbreak-related misinformation, and scientific studies and statements from authorities and the media play a potential role in driving internet searches.

The association of fat preference with eating behavior and sex: Turkish version of the Fat Preference Questionnaire©.

The fat content of food may play a role in food preferences. Increased fat intake has a role in elevated body weight. Firstly, we aimed to establish the Turkish version of the Fat Preference Questionnaire© and secondly to evaluate the relevant factors with dietary fat preference including body mass index (BMI); sex; and subscales of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ). The study was conducted with 261 participants among the academic staff of Yeditepe University. The Fat Preference Questionnaire© and TFEQ were applied. After the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Fat Preference Questionnaire©, Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to reveal the relationship between the scores of the Fat Preference Questionnaire©, BMI, and the four subscales of TFEQ. Weakly or moderately correlated variables were selected to perform two sets of hierarchical regression analyses. Turkish version of the Fat Preference Questionnaire© had statistically acceptable validity and reliability. Fat preference did not correlate with BMI (p > .05). Women showed a lower preference for high-fat foods and a higher dietary fat restriction (p < .05). The two subscales of TFEQ, the Disinhibition of Eating Control and the Susceptibility to Hunger, contributed to explain the variances in fat preference and dietary fat restriction (ΔR 2 = .04, p < .05). Fat preference correlates with Disinhibition of Eating Control and Susceptibility to Hunger, while fat restriction correlates only with Disinhibition of Eating Control although none correlates with BMI. Turkish version of the Fat Preference Questionnaire© is a valid instrument for further studies.

Evaluation of body mass index and related lifestyle factors among 14-17-year-old Turkish adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: During adolescence, unhealthy body weight status is considered as a global concern as it may lead to adverse health consequences in adulthood, therefore evaluation of the risk factors is crucial. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of adolescents under the risk of being underweight, overweight, and obese among 14-17-year-old Turkish adolescents. In addition, we examined the association between unhealthy body weight categories and lifestyle factors. METHODS: This study was designed as cross-sectional study which included body weight status and associated parameters of 1561 adolescents aged between 14 and 17 who were registered 25 different high schools in Istanbul, Uskudar. Height and body weight of participants were measured and related factors were obtained through a questionnaire. Differences in distributions were analyzed using the Chi-square test and to control confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. As statistical significance limit of p<0.05 was determined. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) percentile analyses indicated that 3.6% of participants were underweight, 14.3% were overweight, and 13.8% were obese. We demonstrated that age, gender, and school types were statistically very significantly associated with BMI (p<0.001) and daily meal frequency, eating speed, and mealtime regularity were significantly related with BMI (p<0.05). In addition, according to multivariate analysis results, gender and school types were closely related with obesity among 14-17-year old Turkish adolescents. CONCLUSION: This study has been demonstrated that frequency of adolescent obesity in Istanbul, Turkey, has increased and obesity closely related to gender and type of school. Further educational and interventional studies should be organized in this region with consideration of relevant risk factors.

The effect of nutrient supplementation in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome-associated metabolic dysfunctions: A critical review

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is complex heterogeneous disorder that has several aspects in terms of pathology such as metabolic, endocrine, reproductive, and psychological. However, the etiology of PCOS remains poorly understood. Several studies suggest that insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism play a central role in the progression of PCOS pathophysiology. Therefore, common treatment strategies of PCOS are based on lifestyle modification, which include exercise, diet, and nutrient supplementation therapy. Recent studies have recommended some nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and vitamin-like nutrients for the therapy of PCOS because each has at least one functional property in PCOS-induced pathways. Therefore, it is claimed that the cause of PCOS could be vitamin or mineral deficiency. This review aims to provide a critical literature survey on nutritional supplementation for the treatment of PCOS-associated endocrine and metabolic dysfunctions and discuss the role of nutrients in the management of PCOS in view of the clinical trials and experimental studies.