Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism最新文献

{"title":"Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Nonpharmacological Interventions in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Current Insights and Future Directions.","authors":"Stefanie L Y Cheung, Leanne C Kenway","doi":"10.1155/jnme/4520019","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jnme/4520019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Irritable bowel syndrome, diagnosed using the ROME IV diagnostic criteria, is one of the most common dysfunctional disorders of the gastrointestinal system with a high global prevalence. Although symptom presentation is diverse, symptoms primarily manifest as abdominal pain, bloating, and alterations to bowel habits, negatively impacting quality of life but without an associated increase in mortality risk. Disruptions to the gut-brain axis, the bidirectional communication system between the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system, are hypothesised to be at the core of irritable bowel syndrome. Dysfunction may also be associated with stress and anxiety, as well as dietary factors, among other aspects related to physical and social environment, genetic predisposition and medical history. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome have also demonstrated increased vulnerability to neurotransmitter imbalances, with abnormalities associated with changes in gastrointestinal motility, low-grade inflammation and visceral pain. Moreover, chronic stress and anxiety may significantly exacerbate symptoms through the upregulation of cortisol secretion, disrupting the gut microbiome and elevating visceral sensitivity. While the gut microbiome maintains the integrity of the gut-brain axis and intestinal barrier, decreases in its diversity heighten susceptibility to intestinal inflammation. Although there is currently no known cure for irritable bowel syndrome, research supports stress management and behavioural therapies, a low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet, and probiotic supplementation as key interventions to alleviate symptoms. Additionally, faecal microbiota transplantation emerges as a promising intervention that addresses some of the limitations in current interventions. This literature review explores the pathophysiological mechanisms relating to irritable bowel syndrome, with insight into current interventions and future directions to directly address the underlying factors driving symptomology.</p>","PeriodicalId":16587,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism","volume":"2026 ","pages":"4520019"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12800576/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145989535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metabolic Alterations Associated With Diet and Hypertension in Rats.","authors":"Kristina Smoradkova, Mateusz Szudzik, Klaudia Maksymiuk, Emilia Samborowska, Adrian Drapala, Marcin Ufnal, Lenka Tomasova","doi":"10.1155/jnme/6248625","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jnme/6248625","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Unhealthy diet and hypertension constitute major risk factors for the development of cardiometabolic diseases. However, the direct effects of dietary components and high blood pressure on metabolic profiles remain poorly understood. We evaluated concentrations of amino acids and nutrients in the plasma and tissues of animal models subjected to high-fat and high-disaccharide diet without excessive caloric intake, in salt-resistant rats on high salt intake, in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and in angiotensin II-induced hypertensive rats. Using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, we identified changes in several analytes across models. We found that a high-fat diet increased tissue levels of methylglycines (betaine, sarcosine) and glycine, while high salt intake and hypertension were associated with a distinct reduction of methyl/glycine species and the accumulation of taurine in the tissues. We further observed tissue-specific alterations. For instance, alanine was decreased in the kidneys of rats on high salt and in hypertensive models. Beta-alanine was higher in the lung and renal cortex of rats on high salt, but lower in the cardiovascular system of hypertensive models. A high-sugar diet increased circulating levels of betaine and taurine, although its impact on tissues was less pronounced. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive evaluation of organic solutes in different animal models and highlights the diverse metabolic alterations associated with diet and hypertension. Further research is required to explore the significance of these findings and their potential implications for understanding disease mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":16587,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism","volume":"2026 ","pages":"6248625"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12767064/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145912032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Calafate (<i>Berberis microphylla</i>) Intake on Plasma Atherogenic Indices in Rats With High-Sucrose Diet-Induced Obesity.","authors":"Carla Guzmán-Pincheira, Gabriel Araujo-Silva, Raul Sánchez-Gutiérrez","doi":"10.1155/jnme/8845471","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jnme/8845471","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are multifactorial conditions strongly linked to elevated obesity rates and sedentary lifestyle; among the contributing mechanisms, alterations in lipid metabolism-particularly dyslipidemia-play a central role in their pathogenesis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of calafate (<i>Berberis microphylla</i>) supplementation on the lipid profile and atherogenic indices in rats with obesity induced by a high-sucrose diet. Sprague Dawley rats received a high-sucrose diet and were supplemented with 350 mg/kg/day of freeze-dried calafate for 10 weeks (BM group). Dietary intake, plasma glucose, lipid parameters, and cardiovascular risk indices were assessed. Compared to controls, calafate-supplemented rats showed a significant increase in HDL-c and total cholesterol, with the latter showing a 166% elevation. Additionally, calafate intake was associated with a marked decrease in the atherogenic index and the glucose-triglyceride index, suggesting an improvement in cardiovascular risk markers. These findings support the potential cardioprotective and antithrombotic properties of calafate, reinforcing its relevance as a functional food.</p>","PeriodicalId":16587,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism","volume":"2026 ","pages":"8845471"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12767074/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145911989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Visual Analysis of Hyperglycemia After Enteral Nutrition in Critically Ill Patients.","authors":"Rui Zhang, Jinxing Li, Bo Liu, Zhirong Gu, Hou Qiang Huang, Silin Zheng, Min Huang","doi":"10.1155/jnme/5558143","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jnme/5558143","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Enteral nutrition (EN) is one of the crucial methods in the comprehensive treatment of critically ill patients. However, among critically ill patients receiving EN, hyperglycemia is a common metabolic complication that can lead to adverse clinical outcomes for patients. Therefore, this study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliometric and visual analysis in this field.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The eligible publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) from 2000 to 2023. A bibliometric analysis was performed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 268 articles were analyzed. USA (<i>n</i> = 94) had the most contributions in this field. The leading institution was the Royal Adelaide Hospital (<i>n</i> = 15) from Australia. The Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition published the most (<i>n</i> = 29). Marianne J Chapman (<i>n</i> = 9) was the most frequently published author. Greet Van den Berghe, from Belgium, was the most co-cited author in this area. According to keyword cluster analysis, diet management is the most widely studied aspect in this field, and EN evaluation is the hotspot and frontier of research.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This is the first bibliometric study to comprehensively summarize the research progress and trend of hyperglycemia after EN in critically ill patients; it provides a valuable reference for researchers interested in this field.</p>","PeriodicalId":16587,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism","volume":"2025 ","pages":"5558143"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12767084/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145912034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intestinal ZIP8 Regulates Tissue Manganese Distribution and Modifies Manganese Overload in ZIP14 Deficiency.","authors":"Yuze Wu, Shannon McCabe, Ningning Zhao","doi":"10.1155/jnme/6717314","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jnme/6717314","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ZIP8 (SLC39A8) is a metal transporter known to facilitate the uptake of manganese, zinc, and iron, but its role in the intestinal epithelium remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the function of intestinal ZIP8 using intestine-specific <i>Zip8</i> knockout (<i>Zip8</i>-I-KO) mice and a manganese overload model by crossing <i>Zip8</i>-I-KO mice with <i>Zip</i>14^-/- mice to generate double knockout mice. We confirmed that ZIP8 is localized to the apical membrane of colonic Caco-2 cells, a widely used model for enterocytes. Deletion of intestinal ZIP8 did not affect blood manganese levels under basal conditions but led to significantly reduced manganese concentrations in the liver and bone, suggesting a role in tissue-level manganese distribution. In the ZIP14-deficient background, intestinal ZIP8 deletion resulted in a significant reduction of blood and brain manganese levels in female double knockout mice, while no changes were observed in males. Bone manganese remained elevated in all groups. These findings indicate that intestinal ZIP8 contributes to manganese absorption and distribution with its effects varying depending on sex and may serve as a modifier of manganese overload in ZIP14 deficiency.</p>","PeriodicalId":16587,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism","volume":"2025 ","pages":"6717314"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12698256/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145756940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of Protein, Zinc, and Vitamin A Maternal Intake With Preterm Birth, but Not With the Dietary Inflammatory Index.","authors":"Rima Irwinda, Lisa Novianti, Nadira Afida Kalisya","doi":"10.1155/jnme/5387274","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jnme/5387274","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Preterm birth is defined as any birth that occurs before 37 weeks of gestational age. National Basic Health Research 2018 shows that 29.5% of births are preterm in Indonesia. Preterm delivery is associated with various risk factors and etiologies, such as malnutrition, inflammations, infections, pathological uterine distention, stress, and environmental toxins. Maternal diet plays a significant role in regulating chronic inflammation. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and preterm birth, as well as measure the nutritional intake of pregnant women.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study included 365 pregnant women who showed signs of parturition at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital between June 2021 and July 2022. They were divided into two groups: preterm and term birth. Dietary information was collected using a food frequency questionnaire. Nutrisurvey v2007 was used to convert the data into precise nutritional intake using an Indonesian food database. The DII was calculated based on 26 food parameters, and the participants were divided into tertiles by their DII. The lowest tertile represented the most anti-inflammatory DII, while the highest represented the most proinflammatory DII.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Preterm births were significantly associated with socioeconomic status (odds ratio [OR] = 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.29-0.66, <i>p</i>=0.007), fewer antenatal visits (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.79-5.37, <i>p</i> < 0.001), inadequate intake of micronutrient supplements (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.19-0.96, <i>p</i>=0.035), vaginal bleeding (OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.13-5.79, <i>p</i>=0.020), maternal energy intake (<i>p</i> < 0.001), vitamin B₁₂ (<i>p</i>=0.031), and amino acids (<i>p</i>=0.036). Multivariate analysis showed that fewer antenatal visits (adjusted OR [aOR] = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.34-3.78, <i>p</i>=0.001), vaginal bleeding (aOR = 3.76, 95% CI = 1.51-9.33, <i>p</i>=0.004), contributed to preterm birth. Lower energy (<i>p</i>=0.009) and protein (<i>p</i>=0.015) intake were significantly associated with birth outcomes. Higher zinc (<i>p</i>=0.041) and vitamin A (<i>p</i>=0.006) intake significantly reduced the risk of preterm birth. The DII was not significantly correlated with preterm birth.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Lower antenatal visits, vaginal bleeding, higher energy, higher protein, lower zinc, and lower vitamin A intake were significantly associated with preterm birth. The DII was not significantly correlated with preterm birth.</p>","PeriodicalId":16587,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism","volume":"2025 ","pages":"5387274"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12685422/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145714712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the Interplay Between Vitamin D and Metabolic Parameters in Pediatric Obesity: Toward Early Biomarker Detection.","authors":"Valeria Calcaterra, Lucia Labati, Valentina Fabiano, Carla Colombo, Martina Loiodice, Daniele Ceruti, Gianvincenzo Zuccotti","doi":"10.1155/jnme/4055705","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jnme/4055705","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>It is still uncertain whether vitamin D deficiency is a cause, effect, or contributing element in childhood obesity and metabolic imbalance. This study combines univariate and multivariate analyses to investigate associations between vitamin D levels, metabolic parameters, and adiposity indices, with the goal of identifying potential patterns and biomarkers among highly interrelated variables.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed data from 285 children with obesity (mean age of 10.71 ± 2.69 years). Clinical, anthropometric, metabolic, and endocrinological parameters and vitamin D levels were assessed. A control group of 55 normal-weight children, comparable in age, was included. Both univariate and multivariate statistical approaches were applied.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between weight classes in multiple clinical and biochemical parameters, including atherogenic markers, adiposity indices, and insulin-resistance indicators (<i>p</i> < 0.001 for most). In comparisons based on vitamin D status, differences were particularly marked in body mass index (BMI), insulin, triglycerides, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) Index. Multivariate analysis identified weak but significant negative correlations between vitamin D and some clinical parameters (atherogenic coefficient, Triglyceride-Cholesterol Body Index, and HOMA-IR), with correlation coefficients ranging from -0.14 to -0.28. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that vitamin D and BMI are often positioned on opposite axes in biplots, supporting a negative correlation. Notably, the principal component (PC) 2, dominated by BMI and vitamin D, effectively distinguished weight groups based on insulin resistance and adiposity variables. No consistent associations were observed with sex or traditional atherogenic markers.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Vitamin D levels are significantly associated with key metabolic parameters, especially those related to insulin resistance and adiposity. Although no direct relationship was observed with classical atherogenic markers, multivariate analysis suggests possible indirect links mediated by excess adiposity. These findings support the potential role of vitamin D as a marker of metabolic health. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether improving vitamin D status can enhance insulin sensitivity and reduce metabolic risk in children with obesity.</p>","PeriodicalId":16587,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism","volume":"2025 ","pages":"4055705"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12682453/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145708242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Eating Habits, Physical Activity and Nutritional Status Among Kenyatta University Students.","authors":"Joseph Mburu Ndung'u, Joseph Kobia, Judith Waudo","doi":"10.1155/jnme/9951472","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jnme/9951472","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Obesity has become a global health crisis, with prevalence nearly tripling since 1975. In 2016, approximately 39% of adults worldwide were overweight or obese. Lifestyle factors, such as dietary habits and physical activity levels, significantly contribute to this alarming trend. This study aimed to assess the eating habits, physical activity levels and nutritional status of university students.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional analytical study. The study was conducted among 249 students from 17 schools within the university, selected using a multistage stratified sampling technique. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study participants were aged between 18 and 31 years. The findings revealed that 79.9% of students exhibited a mixture of both healthy and unhealthy eating habits, whereas 8% and 12% demonstrated unhealthy and healthy eating habits, respectively. A higher percentage of females (70%) had more nutritious eating habits compared to males. Overall, 75.9% of students were classified as physically inactive. A higher proportion of females (61%) were physically inactive compared to males (39%). In comparison, 49.8% reported sitting for eight or more hours per day, indicating a sedentary lifestyle that further contributes to health risks. Based on BMI, 8.4% of students were underweight, 67.5% were within the normal range, 16.5% were overweight and 7.6% were obese. However, based on waist circumference, 21.7% exhibited abdominal obesity. Furthermore, females had significantly higher BMI and waist circumference values. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between BMI and age, year of study and meal source. Waist circumference was significantly associated with sex, year of study and residence status. Additionally, a significant relationship was observed between residential status and eating habits, and the daily consumption of fast food was significantly associated with BMI.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>It is imperative to consider gender-specific interventions to address physical inactivity, obesity and abdominal obesity among university students. Future research should utilise objective methods to assess physical activity levels for a more comprehensive understanding of student health.</p>","PeriodicalId":16587,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism","volume":"2025 ","pages":"9951472"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12681413/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145701072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative Effect of Cardamom (<i>Elettaria cardamomum</i>) and Clove (<i>Syzygium aromaticum</i>) on Body Weight and Nutritional Status in Obese Experimental Animals.","authors":"El-Sayed H Bakr, Raneem Waleed Mahboob, Dalia Saleh Al-Zahrani, Lojain Osama Sedyou, Manar Osama Msri, Areej A Almuraee, Ziad T Kishmira, Mohammad A Althubiti, Khalid Waleed Mahboob","doi":"10.1155/jnme/8894025","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jnme/8894025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Obesity is a serious health concern associated with many diseases. Studies have found that medicinal herbs have potential leads to treatment. Therefore, clove and cardamom extracts are known to have a positive effect on obesity management and reducing obesity-related risks.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study aimed to compare the effect of cardamom (<i>Elettaria cardamomum</i>) and clove (<i>Syzygium aromaticum</i>) on the body weight and nutritional status of obese experimental animals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty male Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into four groups (five rats each) as follows; The first was the negative control group, the second was the positive control group (obese rats), the third group was obese with oral administration of 1 mg/kg b.wt. of cardamom alcoholic extract, and the fourth group was obese with oral administration of 1 mg/kg b.wt. of clove alcoholic extract. At the end of the experiment (28 days), rats were mercy sacrificed; the body weight gain, food intake, and feed efficiency ratio were measured; and TC, TG, HDL, LDL and VLDL were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Rats treated with cardamom and clove extracts showed a significant decrease in body weight gain compared to the positive control group, with a higher significant reduction in cardamom, in addition, for enhancing nutritional status.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Cardamom and clove improve the body weight and nutritional status, as well as improve food intake and feed efficiency ratio, showing a higher effect of the cardamom extract.</p>","PeriodicalId":16587,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism","volume":"2025 ","pages":"8894025"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12672068/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145668771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Healthcare-Seeking Behavioural Practices Among Pregnant Women in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria.","authors":"Y O Adebayo, O B Akinsanya, O T Lasabi, R O Adeoye, A M Ademola","doi":"10.1155/jnme/9956172","DOIUrl":"10.1155/jnme/9956172","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Maternal mortality is a global health concern, particularly in developing nations, such as Nigeria. Pregnant women face health challenges and complications, necessitating prompt attention to understand healthcare-seeking behaviours to improve maternal health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To assess the healthcare-seeking behavioural practices among pregnant women in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at five selected primary healthcare centres in the Odeda Local Government Area. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20.0 for descriptive statistics, such as frequencies, percentages and chi-square tests to explore the association between sociodemographic characteristics and healthcare-seeking behaviours.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most respondents (94%) were married, with an average age of 27 years. Approximately 48.5% had a secondary education, while 42.5% had tertiary education. A significant number of respondents (78%) were knowledgeable about danger signs during pregnancy, such as vaginal bleeding, high fever and reduced foetal movement. Regarding healthcare-seeking practices, 54.5% of the respondents sought healthcare at hospitals or clinics when they experienced pregnancy complications. However, 18% resorted to praying first, and 22% informed their husbands before taking further action. The decision to seek care was influenced primarily by husbands in 53% of the cases.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Sociodemographic factors, such as age of the respondents, gestational age and marital status, influence healthcare-seeking behaviour among pregnant women in the Odeda Local Government Area. Although there is a high knowledge of pregnancy danger signs, timely healthcare actions are needed to reduce maternal mortality rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":16587,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism","volume":"2025 ","pages":"9956172"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12672060/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145668878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}