BMC Nutrition最新文献

{"title":"Investigation of the causal relationship of saturated fat acids on heart stroke: evidence from two-sample Mendelian randomization.","authors":"Danial Habibi, Iman Hamraz, Farshad Teymoori, Amir Hesam Saeidian, Hanifeh Mirtavoos-Mahyari, Qumars Kasnavi, Alireza Soleymani Taloubaghi, Homayoon Masoudi, Fereidoun Azizi, Maryam Sadat Daneshpour, Mehdi Hedayati, Mahdi Akbarzadeh, Marjan Mansourian","doi":"10.1186/s40795-025-01094-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-025-01094-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>We conducted the Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal relationship between serum saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and the risk of heart stroke (HS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The MRC-IEU Consortium provided summary statistics datasets related to SFAs, encompassing 64,979 individuals of European descent. Genetic variants associated with HF were identified using a GWAS dataset comprising 461,880 participants (cases = 7,055, controls = 454,825) of European descent from the UK Biobank. Generalized summary Mendelian Randomization (GSMR) assessed the potential association. Additionally, we performed a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (TSMR). The odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was indicated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The GSMR results suggested no significant between SFA and HS [OR = 1.002, 95% CI: 0.995, 1.009; P-value = 0.752]. TSMR revealed [ORIVW = 1.005, 95% CI: 0.998, 1.012; P-value = 0.169]. MR Egger (Q = 6.14, Q_pvalue = 0.292), IVW (Q = 6.24, Q_pvalue = 0.396; I2 = 18.7%) for heterogeneity test, and Egger intercept = 1.14 × e-4, p-value = 0.792 for pleiotropy test were performed. These findings remained consistent across various Mendelian Randomization methods, including IVW [OR = 1.005, 95% CI: 0.99-1.01, p-value = 0.169], Simple median [OR = 1.009, 95% CI: 0.99-1.02, p-value = 0.08], MR-Egger [OR = 1.001, 95% CI: 0.97-1.03, p-value = 0.97], Robust Adjusted Profile Score [OR = 1.005, 95% CI: 0.99-1.01, p-value = 0.167], MR-Lasso [OR = 1.005, 95% CI: 0.99-1.01, p-value = 0.169], Constrained maximum likelihood (MR-cML) [OR = 1.006, 95% CI: 0.99-1.01, p-value = 0.168], Weighted mode [OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.99-1.02, p-value = 0.279], Maximum-likelihood method [OR = 1.005, 95% CI: 0.99-1.01, p-value = 0.158].</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our MR study did not yield convincing evidence supporting the association of SFAs with HF risk. Future studies should focus on alternative approaches to investigate this association.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":"11 1","pages":"116"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12218826/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144545178","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":"Can kids identify unprocessed fruit as healthier than an ultra-processed sugar-sweetened beverage? Functional versus self-reported nutrition knowledge and dietary intake among youth from six countries: findings from the International Food Policy Study.","authors":"Liza Boyar, Christine M White, Lana Vanderlee, Jasmin Bhawra, David Hammond","doi":"10.1186/s40795-025-01109-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-025-01109-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with a range of poor dietary and health outcomes. Although lower nutrition knowledge is associated with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods, few studies have directly compared nutrition knowledge among youth from countries with different food environments and nutrition policies. This study examined whether youth could identify differences in nutritional quality between a commonly consumed ultra-processed and unprocessed food.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cross-sectional surveys were conducted with youth aged 10-17 (n = 12,489) from Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, United Kingdom (UK), and United States (US) as part of the 2020 International Food Policy Study. Participants were shown images of two products in random order, corresponding to \"unprocessed or minimally processed\" (apple) and \"ultra-processed\" (apple fruit drink) foods under NOVA classification system, and asked to rate the healthiness of each. Respondents who rated the apple higher than the apple fruit drink were assigned a \"correct\" score. Regression models examined differences in \"correct\" responses by country, perceived nutrition knowledge, perceived diet healthiness, intake of fruits/vegetables, and intake of less healthy foods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mexican (96.5%) and Chilean (94.3%) youth were most likely to correctly identify the unprocessed apple as \"healthier\" than the ultra-processed apple fruit drink, whereas US youth were the least likely (79.6%, p < 0.001 for all). Perceived nutrition knowledge was inversely associated with correct scores (p < 0.001). Youth who reported the highest (AOR: 0.43, p < 0.001) and lowest (AOR: 0.57, p < 0.05) categories of perceived diet healthiness had the lowest odds of correct responses. Higher intake of both less healthy foods (AOR: 0.70, p < 0.001) and fruits/vegetables (AOR: 0.87, p < 0.001) were associated with lower odds of correct responses.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Across countries, 5-20% of youth were unable to correctly identify an unprocessed fruit as 'healthier' than an ultra-processed fruit drink, with notable country differences. Further research is needed to examine differences for a broader range of foods and levels of processing. Education campaigns should ensure that young people have basic knowledge about the relative dietary quality of commonly consumed foods, particularly in the US. Discrepancies between perceived and objective nutrition knowledge additionally highlight the need for objective measures of knowledge to be included in assessments.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":"11 1","pages":"115"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12220526/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144545177","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 relationship between dietary patterns and health-related quality of life among Iranian adult population: Tehran lipid and glucose study.","authors":"Mahdieh Niknam, Somayeh Hosseinpour-Niazi, Sara Jalali-Farahani, Parisa Amiri, Parvin Mirmiran, Firoozeh Hosseini-Esfahani, Elaheh Ainy, Fereidoun Azizi","doi":"10.1186/s40795-025-01103-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-025-01103-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The current study aims to investigate the association between dietary patterns and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a large Iranian adult population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted using the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) data. Data from 5711 adults (53.0% female) collected by trained interviewers were analyzed. For assessments of dietary intakes and HRQoL, the 147-item semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and Short-Form 12-Item Health Survey version 2 (SF-12v2) were used, respectively. The physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores of HRQoL were calculated using the appropriate scoring algorithms. Dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis. General linear models were used to assess the association between dietary patterns and HRQoL scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two dietary patterns, labeled as healthy and western, were identified. In men, the median (interquartile range (IQR)) of PCS and MCS were 51.4 (47.2-55.0) and 52.2 (44.2-58.2), respectively. For women, the median (IQR) of PCS and MCS were 48.9 (42.6-53.7) and 47.7 (39.6-55.2), respectively. Significant increasing trends in MCS scores were observed in both men and women across tertiles of healthy dietary pattern. For PCS scores, a significant increasing trend was noted only in women. The Western dietary pattern was not significantly associated with either PCS or MCS in women. However, in men, a significant decreasing trend in MCS scores was observed across tertiles of the Western dietary pattern.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The present study suggests a more beneficial effect of healthy dietary pattern on women's HRQoL. On the other hand, in men, the healthy dietary pattern is positively associated with the mental dimension of HRQoL, whereas the Western dietary pattern is negatively linked to the mental dimension of HRQoL.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":"11 1","pages":"114"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12150552/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144259072","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":"Dose-dependent effect of coconut oil supplementation on obesity indices: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of clinical trials.","authors":"Zahra Gaeini, Zahra Bahadoran, Hanieh Malmir, Parvin Mirmiran","doi":"10.1186/s40795-025-01090-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-025-01090-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Coconut oil has been suggested as a potential dietary intervention for weight management. However, the evidence regarding the effects of coconut oil supplementation on anthropometric measures (body weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)) remains inconclusive.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>we aimed to assess the overall effect of coconut oil supplementation on these anthropometric parameters and explore potential sources of heterogeneity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We comprehensively searched electronic databases using appropriate keywords. We included 15 studies with the following criteria: (1) clinical trials in adults, with parallel or cross-over design, (2) evaluated the effect of coconut oil on body weight, BMI or WC, (3) compared the effect of a specific dose of coconut oil against a coconut oil-free diet or other types of oils, (4) considered the change in anthropometric parameters as the primary or one of the secondary outcomes, (5) provided mean and standard deviation (SD) of change in anthropometric parameters across study arms, (6) reported the number of participants in each study arm.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The trials included 620 participants and assessed the effects of coconut oil supplementation on body weight, BMI and WC. Our meta-analysis revealed statistically significant effects of coconut oil supplementation on weight and BMI, with mean differences of 0.04 kg (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.08 kg) and 0.01 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.00 to 0.02). However, the effects were not clinically meaningful. There was no significant effect of coconut oil on WC. Subgroup analyses suggested that the duration of the intervention may influence the effect of coconut oil on body weight. In the sensitivity analysis, we found that the result of one study influenced the associations between coconut oil supplementation and weight or BMI.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overall, our findings suggest no clinically significant effects of coconut oil supplementation on weight loss. Further research is needed to clarify the issue.</p><p><strong>Systematic review registration: </strong>PROSPERO CRD420251031291.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":"11 1","pages":"113"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12142848/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144249987","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":"Prevalence and associated risk factors of overweight and obesity among adolescent population of India: a scoping review.","authors":"Arpita Panda, Jayashree Parida, Susangita Jena, Swati Sukalyani Behera, Abinash Pradhan, Prasanna Kumar Patra, Sanghamitra Pati, Harpreet Kaur, Subhendu Kumar Acharya","doi":"10.1186/s40795-025-01088-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-025-01088-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Adolescent obesity and overweight is a global epidemic, resulting in severe health problems such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. With the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity among Indian adolescents, it is crucial to examine the existing status of research/evidence and the gaps in research. Therefore, the present scoping review was conducted to map the evidence on the prevalence of adolescent obesity/overweight in India and associated major risk factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study followed Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) scoping review framework and Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers Manual (2015) recommendations. We undertook the literature search in electronically available databases using specific mesh terms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 93 studies that met the standard inclusion criteria. The prevalence of overweight ranged from 1.25 to 35.8% (male: 2.6-28.1%; female: 2.7-44.5%), while obesity ranged from 0.3 to 24.6% (male: 1-19.7%; female: 0.3-32.8%). Research activity peaked between 2011 and 2020, with the highest number of publications in 2015 (n = 13). Most studies were conducted in southern states (31%), followed by eastern (16%), western (15%), and northern (12.9%) regions. A significant proportion were urban-based (70.9%) and institution-based (77.4%). Among major key risk factors, insufficient physical activity was examined in 36.5% of studies, high-calorie dietary habits in 44% of the studies, higher socioeconomic status was reported in 36.5% of studies. Additionally, 26.8% of studies explored the impact of factors like urban living, private school attendance and increased screen time as associated factors of weight gain among adolescents. Other identified factors included 12.9% reporting using vehicles for school transportation, 8.6% noting shorter sleep duration, and 17.2% recognizing a family-history of overweight and obesity as contributing factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The review provides a comprehensive overview of adolescent obesity and overweight in the Indian context while highlighting critical research gaps for future exploration. Most studies are cross-sectional and quantitative, underscoring the need for longitudinal and qualitative research. There is a lack of studies on gender-specific risk factors, community-based perspectives, and vulnerable populations such as slum-dwelling adolescents and school dropouts. Addressing these gaps will be essential for generating robust evidence to inform and implement effective, evidence-based policies and interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":"11 1","pages":"110"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139068/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144235453","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":"Experiences with healthy eating among individuals with opioid dependence: insights from a dietary assessment.","authors":"Mohammed Khalid Al-Shibli, Lars Thore Fadnes, Hege Berg Henriksen, Elaheh Javadi Arjmand, Lise Margrete Thomassen, Torgeir Gilje Lid, Siv-Elin Leirvåg Carlsen","doi":"10.1186/s40795-025-01106-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-025-01106-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>People with substance use disorders often have unhealthy diets, including a limited intake of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, individuals with substance use disorders experience a significantly higher burden of physical and mental health conditions compared to the general population. Poor diets may contribute to this, but few studies have explored how these dietary habits could be improved. Therefore, our objective is to investigate the experiences with healthy eating among individuals with opioid dependence.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We employed a qualitative design and recruited twelve patients undergoing opioid agonist therapy in Bergen. All participants were interviewed using a qualitative interview guide focused on experiences with healthy eating. Additionally, we conducted a dietary assessment using the DIGIKOST-FFQ tool, which was administered twice. Participants were then informed about how their diets aligned with the Norwegian dietary recommendations, and we interviewed them about their experiences with this information. Data analysis was carried out using systematic text condensation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings show that many participants recognized the potential health benefits of healthy eating and how these were negatively impacted by their substance use. Even if many participants recognized the potential health benefits of healthy eating and how these were negatively impacted by their substance use, they had mixed reactions to receiving personalized dietary feedback. They expressed a need for support from the healthcare system to help improving their diets.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings suggest that individuals with substance use disorders are interested in changing their diets but lack the skills to do so. While receiving personalized feedback may be effective for some, it would likely need to be combined with other interventions to improve their overall health.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":"11 1","pages":"111"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139190/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144235452","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":"Coexisting predictors for undernutrition indices among under-five children in West Africa: application of a multilevel multivariate ordinal logistic regression model.","authors":"Abebew Aklog Asmare, Awoke Seyoum Tegegne, Denekew Bitew Belay, Yitateku Adugna Agmas","doi":"10.1186/s40795-025-01099-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-025-01099-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":"11 1","pages":"112"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139311/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144235451","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 sociodemographic factors and television food advertisements with junk food consumption among a sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Magura district, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey.","authors":"Shammy Akter, Md Hasan Al Banna, Justice Kanor Tetteh, Trisha Mallick, Bably Sabina Azhar, Joytun Nahar, Masuma Chowdhury, Addah Graham Gilbert Wilfred, Sumaia Sahrin","doi":"10.1186/s40795-025-01101-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-025-01101-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this study was to examine the association of sociodemographic factors and television advertisements with junk food consumption among adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Bangladesh.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 326 adolescent-parent pairs from secondary education establishments at Magura municipal areas of Bangladesh. A validated structured survey questionnaire was utilized. Socio-demographic details, junk consumption frequency and types of information sought from food packages were asked from the adolescents. The outcome of this study was assessed using a single question (≤ 1 time, 2-3 times or > 3 times): How many times a week do you usually eat junk foods? Parents' concerns about the television advertisements for children' food products also assessed. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Almost half of the participated adolescents (48.16%) reported they consumed junk food > 3 times a week. Our study found that adolescent boys [Odds ratio, OR _adjusted=3.45; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.60, 7.43] and those who studied in class eight [OR _adjusted=5.78; 95% CI = 1.33, 25.17] had a higher probability of consuming junk food > 3 times a week compared to their respective counterparts. Participants whose mothers had tertiary education were less likely to consume junk food > 3 times [OR _adjusted=0.28; 95%CI = 0.02, 0.23] a week than their counterparts. Additionally, adolescents' junk food consumption frequency was significantly associated with their parental concern regarding the timing of television advertisements and the advertisements of unhealthy food products when children watch television.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Several sociodemographic factors, such as adolescent's gender, study class, mother's education and occupation, and parental concerns regarding television advertisements were found to be associated with increased junk food consumption frequency. Policymakers and nutrition experts may use these data to modify food labelling and television commercial rules in order to develop family-oriented interventions to improve diet quality and health indicators.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":"11 1","pages":"109"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12135569/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144227003","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":"Perceived motivators and barriers to consuming a plant-based diet: a qualitative research study.","authors":"Jiaqi Yang, Lauren Bernard, Audrey Ting, Valerie K Sullivan, Casey M Rebholz","doi":"10.1186/s40795-025-01100-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-025-01100-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Following a plant-based diet is associated with reduced risk of cardiometabolic diseases and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, the determinants of plant-based diet adoption in the United States remain poorly understood.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Our study aimed to identify motivators and barriers to following a plant-based diet in Baltimore-area vegan and vegetarian communities.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted in person or via videoconference during July and August 2023. Men and women, white and non-white adult participants (n = 12), who were either currently consuming a plant-based diet or interested in starting to consume a plant-based diet, were recruited from Baltimore-area communities. Thematic analysis was performed using verbatim transcripts and coded with NVivo R1 (2020) (version 1.7.1).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Six key themes related to motivators and barriers to consuming a plant-based diet were: 1. personal factors and cultural beliefs; 2. social influences; 3. consumption of plant-based diets at home and away from home; 4. challenges in awareness and access; 5. perceptions of meat and dairy alternatives; and 6. external facilitators. Beliefs driving dietary adoption were related to animal welfare, environmental concerns, health, and culture. Influences from loved ones played an important role in shaping dietary choices. Barriers included a lack of inclusiveness, insufficient education on nutritional quality and food preparation skills, and limited availability of plant-based products. Meat and dairy alternatives were common components of plant-based diets and helped with diet transition, though nutritional quality was a concern. Facilitators included improved access to affordable, healthy foods, recipes, and support from others.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Findings can inform strategies for promoting plant-based diets by supporting individuals to overcome social challenges, providing nutrition-related information and education, and improving access to affordable, high-quality plant-based products and meat alternatives.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":"11 1","pages":"108"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12131402/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144209802","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":"The influence of the food environment on diet quality: Insights from an extensive household survey in Ethiopia, focusing on women of reproductive age.","authors":"Andinet Abera Hailu, Stephen Thornhill, Masresha Tessema, Alebel Bayrau Weldesilassie, Edward Lahiff","doi":"10.1186/s40795-025-01097-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-025-01097-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Undernutrition is a significant challenge in Ethiopia, where limited dietary diversity and widespread micronutrient deficiencies affect millions, especially women of reproductive age. Although much research has explored dietary gaps and practices, the impact of the food environment (FE) on diet quality remains understudied. This study examines how FE factors influence dietary quality, using a food systems approach to inform sustainable nutrition policies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey of 1,828 households was utilized to assess women's dietary quality using Poisson regression, with food environment (FE) components and socioeconomic variables predicting four indicators: women's diet diversity score (WDDS), fruit and vegetable score (FVS), global dietary quality score (GDQS), and household diet diversity score (HDDS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Dietary diversity was low, with fewer than 20% of women meeting the minimum recommendation; however, improvement was observed with higher quality food environments (FE). Starchy staples dominated consumption across all FE, while pulses and dark green leafy vegetables increased in households with medium and high FE. Low household dietary diversity (average 6.23) and a GDQS of 20.7 (far below the maximum of 49) indicate widespread deficiency. Poisson regression (adjusted for socioeconomic covariates) showed that a high FE score significantly predicted better diet quality compared to a low FE score: 27% higher WDDS (exp(β) = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.22-1.32, p < 0.001), 43% higher FVS (exp(β) = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.33-1.54, p < 0.001), 5% higher GDQS (exp(β) = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.08, p < 0.001), and 48% higher HDDS (exp(β) = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.43-1.54, p < 0.001). The results demonstrate consistent and significant associations between higher food environment (FE) scores and improved diet quality across all four dietary metrics.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study demonstrates the critical influence of food environments-encompassing market food diversity, physical access (e.g., food availability), economic access (e.g., affordability), and supportive infrastructure (e.g., roads, transportation, financial services)-on improving dietary quality among Ethiopian women and household food security. High food prices, socioeconomic disparities, and regional variations limit access to nutrient-rich foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, animal-sourced products), particularly for low-income households. To enhance dietary quality and health outcomes, policymakers should prioritize interventions that expand diverse food markets, strengthen rural infrastructure (roads, transportation), and improve affordability through targeted economic support and price stabilization, ensuring equitable access to nutritious foods.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":"11 1","pages":"107"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12128275/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144209803","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}