BMC Nutrition最新文献

{"title":"The effects of a novel combination of a probiotic supplement (L. rhamnosus GG, L. acidophilus, and L. casei) with a weight gain intervention on body composition, appetite, gut permeability, oxidative stress, and inflammation in underweight adults: study protocol for a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Alireza Hatami, Maryam Ahmadi-Khorram, Asma Afshari, Aliyeh Ghannadzadeh Yazdi, Ali Jafarzadeh Esfehani, Lida Jarahi, Mohammad Masoumvand, Elena Philippou, Mohsen Nematy","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01403-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01403-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Undernutrition, characterized by insufficient energy and protein intake and/or malabsorption, leads to adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Addressing Undernutrition is complex, requiring adequate dietary intake and consideration of the gut microbiota, which is crucial for nutrient absorption and metabolism. Probiotics have shown potential in restoring the gut microbiota balance, enhancing nutrient absorption, and improving growth and immune function. The proposed double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the effects of a novel probiotic combination in conjunction with a weight gain intervention on body composition, appetite, gut permeability, oxidative stress, and inflammation in severely underweight adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A double-blind, randomized controlled trial in which 100 underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m²) adults will be recruited and randomly assigned to receive either a probiotic combination (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus casei) or an identical placebo alongside a weight gain dietary intervention providing an additional 500 kcal/day for eight weeks will be performed. The primary endpoint will be the difference in body mass index (BMI), calculated as weight/height² (kg/m²), between the two groups. The secondary endpoints include (1) body composition evaluated by bioelectrical impedance, (2) appetite evaluated via a visual analog scale, (3) gut permeability assessed by the serum zonulin concentration, (4) oxidative stress evaluated by the serum concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and inflammation assessed via the C-reactive protein (CRP) level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), (5) bowel function assessed via the Bristol stool chart, and (6) dietary intake evaluated via 24-h dietary recall.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study outlines a comprehensive approach to investigating the impact of probiotics in combination with dietary intervention on multiple health parameters in underweight adults. The results of this trial will contribute to further ways of managing malnutrition.</p><p><strong>Ethics and dissemination: </strong>This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Research Vice-Chancellor at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (IR.MUMS.MEDICAL.REC.1401.589) (IR.MUMS.MEDICAL.REC.1402.057). All participants will be asked to complete the consent form at the beginning of the study. The results will be actively disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION {2A AND 2B}: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20230310057667N1 (Issue date 30 March 2023), https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/69130 .</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13378002/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148377216","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":"\"Well, these are deeply rooted customs\": a qualitative study on nutritional practices among postpartum mothers in Oaxaca, Mexico.","authors":"Marian Marian, Ramona L Pérez","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01414-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01414-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Maternal nutrition during the postpartum period is a critical time for mothers as they recover from pregnancy and delivery and continue to support their infant through breastfeeding. As Mexico goes through a nutrition transition away from traditional, home-prepared meals to more processed foods, it is unknown what the current dietary choices of women are after pregnancy.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to explore the nutritional practices of women in Southern Mexico during the postpartum period.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study, guided by the Ecological Systems Theory and the Intersectionality Framework, was conducted involving 25 low-income women with children under the age of five in the cities of Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico. Data were collected through in-depth interviews between June and December 2023. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim in Spanish, coded, and analyzed using NVivo R1 following a grounded theory approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three main themes emerged: (i) maternal diet after a C-section, (ii) food practices during the breastfeeding period, and (iii) nutrition supplements after the delivery. These findings reveal that compared to women who deliver vaginally and are not advised on a specific diet during the postnatal recovery, women who deliver via C-section usually have a selective diet, based on recommendations from health providers and family members. Their diet consists mainly of fruit, vegetables, and broths with a restriction from consuming seafood and pork. A common traditional hot beverage, Atole, was frequently consumed by postnatal women to increase their milk supply. Iron and folic acid were nutritional supplements mostly consumed during the postnatal period by women with a greater need to replenish nutrients lost during childbirth or the postnatal period.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlighted the significance of understanding the nutritional habits that postnatal women in Puerto Escondido and Oaxaca City practice, as they are driven by customs and focus on the recovery of the mother and the development of the baby. These findings could be used to inform culturally relevant policies. Still, as postnatal care continues to be understudied in Mexico, future research is needed to identify any gaps in the nutrition of the mothers during puerperium.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591846/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148362726","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":"Food is the Best Medicine (FBM): design and baseline findings from a multi-arm randomized controlled trial among food-insecure postpartum mothers in Texas.","authors":"Aida Nielsen, Alexis Falzone, Christopher Reyes, Elizabeth Polinard, Victoria Threadgould, Nalini Ranjit, Martha Diaz Marin, Alejandra Gonzalez, Maria Tello, Andrea Abel, Joi Chevalier, Alicia Fischweicher, Alexandra van den Berg","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01406-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01406-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Food is Medicine (FIM) interventions, which connect health-supporting food programs with healthcare systems, demonstrate substantial clinical and economic benefits. However, few FIM studies have focused on the health of postpartum mothers, a population facing unique vulnerabilities during a critical period. Food is the Best Medicine (FBM) is an 8-week, home-delivery-based FIM intervention targeting postpartum mothers experiencing food insecurity. Developed through partnerships between healthcare providers and community-based organizations, the FBM intervention integrates food delivery with supportive services. Here, we describe the research design and present baseline findings of a study evaluating the impacts of supplementing the FBM intervention with different sustainability-enhancing modalities.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Food is the Best Medicine (FBM) study was a three-arm randomized controlled trial conducted in Central Texas. Food-insecure postpartum mothers (n = 150) were randomized to receive: (1) FBM-Standard (8-week food delivery), (2) FBM-CHW (standard delivery plus Community Health Worker (CHW) support), or (3) FBM-Virtual (standard delivery plus online educational platform). Primary planned outcome measures included food security and fruit, vegetables, and whole grain intake. Secondary planned outcome measures included nutrition security, breastfeeding rates, mental health, financial stress, and cooking behaviors. Baseline data were collected via telephone or online surveys prior to randomization.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants were predominantly Hispanic (71%) and Spanish-speaking (79%), with a mean household income of $20,620 (SD = $18,190). Most lived in households with multiple children (74%), in which the number of children and adults ranged from 1 to 15 and 1 to 9, respectively, and had limited formal education (38% without a high school diploma). Marital status was not collected. At baseline, 89% were food insecure. Depression screening indicated mental health concerns in 13% of participants. The 10-item Dietary Screener Questionnaire was used to assess fruit and vegetable intake. Mean fruit and vegetable consumption was 3.9 cups daily, but consumption of whole-grain bread and cooked whole grains was low, at about once a week.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The FBM study uses a multi-component, randomized design to evaluate variations of a FIM intervention among food-insecure postpartum mothers. The intervention incorporates food delivery, CHW support, and virtual education components. Ongoing analyses will assess the potential of these approaches to improve food security and related maternal health outcomes in the postpartum period.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06428578 (registered May 20, 2024).</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591843/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148354045","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 assessment of the intake of NOVA food groups among Jordanian adults.","authors":"Lana M Agraib, Buthaina Alkhatib, Asem Taher Shawabkeh, Ahmad Suleiman Aslaih","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01397-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01397-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are becoming increasingly common in diets worldwide, raising growing concerns about their negative impacts on both human health and the environment.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess the contribution of unprocessed or minimally processed foods (UMPFs), UPFs, processed culinary ingredients (PCIs), and processed foods (PFs) to the daily energy intake among Jordanian adults.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted involving a convenience sample of 537 Jordanian adults (19-64 years), who were assessed for dietary intake using a validated Arabic food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Food items were classified according to the NOVA system, and energy contributions from UMPFs, PCIs, PFs, and UPFs were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among participants, UPFs were the main source of energy (51.93%), followed by UMPFs (31.05%), PCIs (9.32%), and PFs (7.74%). Males had higher total energy intake and consumed more UPFs and PFs than females, while females consumed more UMPFs. Higher UMPF intake was associated with older age, female sex, and higher BMI, whereas higher UPF intake was linked to younger age, male sex, and lower BMI. No significant differences in PCI or PF intake were found by sex or demographics.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlight clear sex- and age-related differences in dietary patterns, particularly in the consumption of UPF and UMPF. Over half of the energy comes from UPF in the overall sample, especially among males and younger individuals, raising nutritional concerns and underscoring the need for targeted public health strategies to promote healthier food choices.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591726/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148340555","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":"Evaluation of a culturally tailored lifestyle intervention among Pasifika: a feasibility study.","authors":"Elizabeth Palu, David Simmons, Kate McBride, Haider Mannan, Freya MacMillan","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01388-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01388-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pasifika, migrant populations from Oceania in Australia, experience high prevalence of diabetes and obesity. Lifestyle interventions targeted at weight loss have shown beneficial effects in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). To identify a weight loss component for a broader lifestyle clinical trial a study testing feasibility, acceptability and sustainability of a culturally tailored lifestyle intervention was delivered in Sydney, Australia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study is a before-and-after single-arm feasibility study informed by a combined socio-ecological model and the newly developed Cultural and Sustainability Assessment of Intervention (CSAI) framework. Participants were adults from a Samoan church community who volunteered and provided consent. The intervention was a weight loss challenge delivered over 12-week sessions using 12 lifestyle messages targeting physical activity and healthy eating habits with an additional message on planning and tracking goals. Implementation was delivered by a peer-support and volunteer structure. The primary outcome was change in weight (kg) with secondary outcomes of change in physical activity and dietary behaviour and HbA1c, amongst others. Lead by the community, the intervention was repeated at 12-months.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was sustained engagement in the intervention, with low attrition rates (5.2%) and low resource requirements. At baseline, n = 36/51 (71%); 34 completed pre-post measurements at 12 weeks. Significant reductions were found in primary outcomes of reduced (median difference [IQR]) weight = -3.4[6.7]kg, p = 0.01; BMI = -1.1[2.3] kg/m2, p = 0.002; and body fat (BF) = -3.5[6.9]%, p = 0.03. Secondary outcome improvements included increased physical activity (≥ 3 days vigorous exercise weekly) (χ² = 3.61, p < 0.001), and reduced sitting times (χ² = 7.69, p = 0.003). Those attending ≥ 8 sessions demonstrated greater overall changes in clinical outcomes. At 12-months, a repeat of the intervention resulted in mean 4.8 kg (SD ± 6.05), p = 0.002 weight loss. Community reported acceptance of the tailored intervention as culturally relevant with the support structure as crucial for implementation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Results of this single-armed study indicate feasibility of the 12-week competition-based WLC to elicit weight loss in a minority population, such as Pasifika. Community response attested to acceptance and viability of the support structure. Opportunities exist to revise materials and use the CSAI to design culturally appropriate and tailored interventions to better engage Pasifika and minority populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13595771/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148340522","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":"Effects of an infant formula containing a whey protein concentrate on feeding tolerance and markers of intestinal immune defense in Chinese infants.","authors":"Ying Wang, Min Liu, Shaillay Kumar Dogra, Karine Vidal, Jean-Philippe Godin, Noura Darwish, Xiaona Wei, Lucas Reymond, Qiaoji Li, Jie Dong, Aikaterini Themis Vyllioti, Jodi Bettler, Elaine Kennedy, Keqing Wang, Qiangrong Zhai, Jonathan O'Regan, Tinu Mary Samuel, Wei Cai","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01395-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01395-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Human milk (HM) bioactive components can have immune modulatory functions, impact the gut microbiome, and may result in functional benefits when added to infant formula (IF). In this single-arm, prospective, intervention study, we tested the effectiveness of an IF with a whey protein concentrate co-enriched in α-lactalbumin, milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), and Sn-2 palmitate resulting in protein and lipid profiles observed in HM. The outcomes tested were feeding tolerance, Bifidobacteria abundance, and intestinal and immune health of Chinese infants.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Predominantly formula-fed (FF) and breastfed (BF) infants were enrolled between 3 and 28 days and assigned to the FF (N = 60) or BF (N = 60) group, per their feeding practice, for 6 weeks. The primary endpoint was Infant Gastrointestinal Symptom Questionnaire (IGSQ) index score assessed using a validated IGSQ-13 questionnaire after 6 weeks of intervention; non-inferiority of FF vs BF was tested. Secondary endpoints included fecal Bifidobacteria abundance assessed using shotgun metagenomics sequencing; fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; fecal markers of immune response, inflammation, intestinal barrier integrity (secretory immunoglobulin A sIgA), cytokines, calprotectin, α1 antitrypsin, lipocalin-2) assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; stool consistency assessed using gastrointestinal (GI) diary; anthropometric assessments; quality of life; physician reported adverse events; and use of medications.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Good GI tolerance was observed in both groups at V2 (mean ± SD IGSQ score FF: 19.9 ± 7.4; BF: 16.8 ± 4.2); difference of means 1.35 [95% CI: -1.312, 4.012]). After 6 weeks, Bifidobacterium genus relative abundance was not significantly different between the groups. Total SCFAs were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the FF versus BF group, driven by increased levels of valeric and propanoic acids (p < 0.05 for both). The IGSQ domain scores, stool consistency, fecal markers of immunity, inflammation, and intestinal barrier integrity (except lipocalin-2 which was significantly higher in BF vs FF), anthropometric Z-scores, common illnesses, antibiotic use, and adverse events were not significantly different between groups at week 6.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results support the effectiveness of this tested infant formula in supporting good GI tolerance, growth, specific intestinal and immune health markers, and Bifidobacteria abundance similar to that of the BF group.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>NCT04880083 (2021-05-06).</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591888/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148340514","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":"Evaluation of the association between nutrition knowledge and nutritional status among public and private upper primary school pupils.","authors":"Juliana Nyasordzi, Prisca Dufie Boakye, David Adedia, Jonathan Annan-Asare, Alice Koryo-Dabrah, Eunice Berko Nartey, Daniel Mensah","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01410-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01410-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>To promote appropriate dietary habits, nutrition knowledge is essential at an early age, as well as providing a healthy food environment. This study evaluated nutrition knowledge and its relation to the nutritional status of upper primary school pupils from public and private basic schools.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 388 randomly selected upper primary school pupils, 210 from public and 178 from private schools in Ho. A questionnaire was administered to collect data on socio-demographics, nutrition knowledge, diet history, and nutritional status. Nutrition knowledge was assessed with multiple-choice questions. Correct responses were aggregated for each pupil. Anthropometric measurements were taken to assess pupils' nutritional status. Dietary intake was assessed by a 24-h recall to determine dietary diversity. Ordinal regression was used to examine the association between nutrition knowledge and ordered nutritional status in SPSS version 26.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Private school pupils had a higher nutrition knowledge score (20.8 ± 3.6) than public school pupils (15.0 ± 3.5). Undernutrition was higher among public school pupils, whilst overnutrition was higher among private school pupils. A total of 36 private school pupils (20.2%) had a waist circumference-for-age > 85th percentile, compared to 7 public school pupils (3.3%). A high level of nutritional knowledge was associated with a marginal, non-significant reduction in the likelihood of a pupil falling into elevated BMI and waist circumference categories across both school types.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Nutrition knowledge was higher among private school pupils than their public school counterparts. Stratification by nutrition status among both groups revealed a distinct divergence: undernutrition was more prevalent in public schools, whereas overnutrition predominated in private schools. Additionally, high nutrition knowledge marginally reduced the risk of falling into high BMI and waist circumference categories, but the difference was not statistically significant. To address the suboptimal nutritional status observed across both school sectors, targeted interventions such as shifting nutrition knowledge from purely theoretical form to an experiential type, behavior focused health education at an early age are required. While nutrition knowledge remains foundational, optimizing a child's nutritional status also requires a multi-factorial approach that targets home and school food environments, physical activity levels, portion control, and socio-economic constraints.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591672/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148333554","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":"Classification and statistical analysis of the nutritional value of commercially available breads in Romania.","authors":"Katalin Bodor, Zsolt Bodor","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01303-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01303-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bread is one of the most fundamental and widely consumed staple foods, therefore, a detailed analysis and comparison of the nutritional value of commercially available bread products can provides valuable insights for both consumers and producers.In this study, the nutritional compositions of 60 bread products from wholesalers operating on the Romanian market was evaluated. A comparative analysis was carried based on the energy, macronutrient, and salt content within the product category. On average, bread contained 1026 kJ/100 g energy, derived from 2.52 g of fat, 44.46 g of carbohydrates, and 9 g of protein. The average fiber and salt contents of the analyzed bread samples were 9 g and 1.25 g/100 g, respectively. For classification of the bread samples and the statistical evaluation of the data, hierarchical cluster analyses and descriptive statistics methods were applied.The nutritional composition of commercially available breads in Romania showed significant variation in energy, fiber, fat, and salt content depending on bread type and formulation. Potato bread had the lowest energy and fat content, while white and specialty breads exhibited higher energy or fat levels, and whole-grain breads provided the highest dietary fiber content.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13613827/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319507","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 association between malnutrition awareness and social factors in community-dwelling older adults in the Northern Netherlands: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Lynn Huisman, Harriët Jager-Wittenaar, Martine J Sealy","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01407-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01407-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malnutrition is a prevalent and serious problem among community-dwelling older adults and is associated with adverse health outcomes, including functional limitations, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality. Awareness of malnutrition and its early signs is essential for timely recognition and prevention. However, quantitative evidence on malnutrition awareness and its social factors among older adults remains limited. This study aimed to determine the degree of malnutrition awareness in community-dwelling older adults and to explore its association with social, demographic, and health factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted among community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 65 years in the Northern Netherlands. Participants completed a paper or digital questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of the MAS and additional items assessing social, demographic and health factors. Malnutrition awareness was assessed with the Malnutrition Awareness Scale (MAS; scale from 0 to 22). Associations with social, demographic, and health factors were examined using univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 216 participants were included (57% female). The median [interquartile range] MAS score was 16 [14-18], indicating that approximately half of participants demonstrated relatively high malnutrition awareness. In multivariate analyses, a larger social network (B = 0.12; p = 0.004) and female gender (B = 0.99; p = 0.036) were significantly associated with higher MAS scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The majority of the community-dwelling older adults scored in the upper range of the scale of malnutrition awareness. Larger social networks and female gender are associated with higher malnutrition awareness scores, underscoring the importance of social context in shaping malnutrition awareness. Public health initiatives are advised to focus on strengthening social networks and also to increase knowledge and cues about malnutrition, as these factors may be associated to the degree of malnutrition awareness.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591913/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319523","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 between oral food processing ability and nutritional status of older adults based on factor analysis.","authors":"Jingru Gao, Xiaoqing Wu, Yong Chen, Xingxiang Yang, Qian Yu, Feng Zhong, Tianlin Gao","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01411-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01411-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The potential association between oral food processing ability and nutritional status in the older adults aged 75 years and above has been poorly investigated. Thus, this study is based on factor analysis to explore the relationship between the two aspects of older adults with different genders.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The nutritional status was assessed by the Short-form Mini-Nutritional Assessment and body composition measurement. Oral food processing ability was evaluated by subjective questionnaires (10-item Eating Assessment Tool and Chewing Function Questionnaire) and specific objective experiments for the detection of bite force, tongue pressure, lip sealing pressure, swallowing function, taste, and salivation. The dimensionality of the collected data was reduced through factor analysis, and we performed both descriptive and differential analyses of the resulting factors. Correlation and regression analysis were carried out to uncover the potential connections between oral food processing ability and nutritional status in older adults.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five factors extracted are salivary secretion, masticatory level, food guiding, taste function, and swallowing ability. The masticatory level and food guiding factor are significantly associated with malnutrition in an L-shaped dose-response relationship after adjustment for potential confounding factors. With the improvement of the masticatory level and food guiding, the risk of malnutrition decreases rapidly within the low-level range. Once the ability reaches a certain threshold, the risk of malnutrition tends to stabilize. Elevated taste thresholds and impaired swallowing function are positively correlated with the occurrence of malnutrition. Moreover, the masticatory level is the more important influencing factor in the elderly male group. In females, the impact of the other three factors (food guiding, taste function, and swallowing ability) on nutritional status is worth further exploring.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The main related factors for nutritional status among older adults include chewing, food guiding, taste, and swallowing function, but there are significant differences between males and females. Formulating oral health care measures based on different genders has important implications for reducing the risk of malnutrition.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13551965/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148309800","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}