BMC Nutrition最新文献

{"title":"Nutritional status of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer in Tanzania.","authors":"Li Zhang, Chacha J Mwita, Ghada A Soliman, Dativa F Mushi, Germana Leyna, Amr S Soliman, Esther M Nkuba","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01323-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01323-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cervical cancer is the most common cancer affecting Tanzanian women. The nutritional status of patients with cervical cancer may influence cervical cancer outcomes. However, no information is available regarding the nutritional status of the Tanzanian cervical cancer patients. Therefore, we evaluated the nutritional status of patients with cervical cancer treated at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) in Tanzania.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional study of 184 newly diagnosed patients with cervical cancer seen at the oncology clinic of ORCI from May to September 2023. Assessment of the nutritional status was based on the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) scores. The overall nutritional status was evaluated using nutritional blood biomarkers, food intake frequency, a categorical rating indicating the level of malnourishment, and a triage recommendation. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to predict nutritional status based on demographic and clinical variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the total patient population, 39.1% reported consuming less food after diagnosis, especially cereals, dark leafy green vegetables, orange vegetables, other vegetables, as well as oils and fats. The majority (84.8%) of patients required nutritional intervention based on their nutritional status. Almost half (48%) of patients with early-stage cervical cancer (stages I, II) and 78% of patients with late-stage cervical cancer (Stage III, IV), showed moderate or severe malnutrition. The risk of malnutrition was significantly higher in patients with late-stage vs. early-stage cancer (8.0 ± 1.4 vs. 5.9 ± 0.8; p = 0.0173). Similarly, patients with late-stages had higher mean levels of white blood cells (late vs. early: 9.0 ± 1.1 vs. 7.6 ± 0.6; p = 0.0216), platelets (396.3 ± 39.4 vs. 347.5 ± 23.9; p = 0.0399), the ratio of platelet to neutrophil count (101.7 ± 13.8 vs. 82.3 ± 1.6; p = 0.0294), and the liver function test, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzyme (31.9 ± 5.9 vs. 24.5 ± 2.0; p = 0.0201). Late-stage patients were predicted to have a worse nutritional status (late vs. early: mean = 7.8 vs. 6.0, p = 0.04), after adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Further adjustments by smoking, alcohol use and physical activity did not affect the model.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Nutritional status of patients with late-stage cervical cancer in Tanzania should be prioritized during the management of patients with cervical cancer, especially for late-stage patients. This study may have translational value for other low-income countries facing challenges in cancer management, poverty, and food security.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13463930/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148151728","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":"Feasibility of the new dry taste assessment method TASENS in older adults: a pilot study in two European countries.","authors":"Vít Blanař, Jan Pospíchal, Doris Eglseer, Marie Chrástecká, Pavlína Brothánková, Jan Vodička, Silvia Bauer","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01381-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01381-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite existing studies, there is no consensus on standardised methods for taste assessment, and existing liquid methods have not been sufficiently proven to be accurate for older adults. Therefore, the study aims to conduct a pilot study on the feasibility of the new dry taste assessment method (TASENS) in older hospital patients and to gain initial insight into the association between taste alterations and malnutrition.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quantitative cross-sectional pilot study was carried out. The pilot study was conducted with 54 hospital patients from the Czech Republic and Austria with a median age of 77 years. The TASENS method was used to assess taste alterations, and nutritional status was evaluated using the MNA-SF. Feasibility was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. The study adheres to the STROBE guidelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All participants found the duration of the assessment acceptable and the instructions clear, with the procedure being easy for most (96.3%). In Austria, 68% agreed that the assessment was practical, while in the Czech Republic, 48.3% agreed. Patients correctly identified an average of 68.3% of the tastes. The rate of correctly identified tastes was highest in participants with normal nutritional status (AT 67.6%; CZ 73.6%) and lowest in malnourished patients (AT 58.3%; CZ 65.6%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This pilot study identified the TASENS method to be a feasible tool for assessing taste alterations in older populations. Based on our data, approximately one-third of the patients had taste alterations, and people who had taste alterations were also more likely to have malnutrition.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13465136/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148151705","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":"Hydro-climatic anomalies and livelihoods associated with thinness among children and adolescents in Mount Meru, Tanzania.","authors":"Silvia Ceppi, Naelijwa Mshanga, Angela Mkindi, Manuela Straneo, Monica Pirani","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01368-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-026-01368-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>School-aged children and adolescents face significant nutritional challenges in sub-Saharan Africa yet remain understudied compared to under-five populations. Climate variability increasingly threatens food security in rural communities, but evidence on climate-nutrition relationships beyond early childhood is limited. We investigated associations between hydro-climatic anomalies, livelihood strategies, demographic characteristics, and thinness among school-aged children and adolescents on the slopes and surrounding plains of Mount Meru, northern Tanzania.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analysed five waves of anthropometric data from 26,009 records of children and adolescents aged 6-18 years attending 18 public primary schools in the Mount Meru ecosystem between 2010 and 2015. Thinness was defined as BMI-for-age Z-score < -2 using the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2007 growth references. Bayesian logistic mixed-effects models were used with school-level and temporal random effects to examine associations of thinness with sex, age, dominant livelihood (farming, agropastoralism, pastoralism), and standardized anomalies in precipitation, evapotranspiration, and land-surface temperature.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall thinness prevalence ranged from 61.2% in 2010 to 72.7% in 2015. Girls had lower odds of undernutrition than boys (odds ratio [OR]: 0.58, 95% credible interval [CrI]: 0.54-0.61), but age-sex interactions revealed complex developmental patterns. Girls showed peak vulnerability at age 12 years followed by sharp decline, while boys demonstrated more sustained risk through mid-adolescence. Children and adolescents from pastoralist communities had substantially higher undernutrition odds compared to farming communities (OR: 2.21, 95%CrI: 1.31-3.50). Above-normal precipitation was protective (OR: 0.34, 95% CrI: 0.20-0.54), while elevated evapotranspiration increased the odds of thinness (OR: 2.18, 95%CrI: 1.41-3.24).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The odds of thinness among school-age children and adolescents vary substantially by livelihood strategy and respond dynamically to hydro-climatic anomalies. Age- and sex-specific vulnerability patterns reveal critical windows requiring targeted interventions. Evapotranspiration emerged as a particularly informative climate indicator for nutritional surveillance. These findings support integrating climate monitoring into school-based nutrition programs and developing livelihood-specific adaptation strategies for climate-vulnerable communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148144715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between prognostic nutritional index and mortality in patients with sepsis-associated delirium: a retrospective cohort study using the MIMIC-IV database.","authors":"Sijia Liu, Zimeng Zhu, Zhize Yu, Yuxiu Liu, Zhiling Gao","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01376-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01376-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Patients with sepsis-associated delirium (SAD) exhibit poor prognosis and elevated mortality risk. As a comprehensive indicator reflecting nutritional status and inflammatory responses, the prognostic significance of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in patients with SAD has not been fully elucidated. This investigation aimed to examine the relationship between PNI values and all-cause mortality risk in SAD patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis of data from SAD patients in the MIMIC-IV database was conducted, with 28-day all-cause mortality as the primary endpoint. Additional assessments included 90-day, 365-day, in-hospital, and ICU mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves, the log-rank test, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the relationship between PNI and prognosis. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the results. Moreover, RCS models were employed to assess the presence of a linear relationship between PNI and mortality risk.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysis incorporated 5394 patients diagnosed with SAD. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the survival curves of the four PNI groups were significantly separated (P<0.001), indicating a positive correlation between PNI levels and survival probability, while lower PNI levels suggested an increased risk of mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that when PNI was considered as a categorical variable (quartiles), patients in the highest PNI group (Q4) had a 42% significant decrease in 28-day mortality risk compared to the lowest PNI group (Q1) (HR=0.58, 95% CI: 0.48-0.69). Protective associations were consistently observed for 90-day, 365-day, in-hospital, and ICU mortality, with all P-values less than 0.001. RCS analysis indicated a notable non-linear \"L\"-shaped association between PNI and mortality risk across all endpoints (P for nonlinear <0.001), showing a steep decline in mortality risk as PNI increased below 35.7645, followed by a stabilization of the protective effect beyond that threshold.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PNI is an indicator that has an impact on patients with SAD. It can reduce their short-term and long-term mortality rates and exhibits a significant threshold effect. A PNI value <35.7645 may serve as a key clinical cutoff to identify high-risk patients with SAD and guide the initiation of nutritional interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13440218/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148144988","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":"Changes in food literacy following a one-week experiential culinary education intervention in school-age children.","authors":"Karissa Jeha, Coralie Vincent, Isabelle Giroux","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01374-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01374-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Food literacy is a multidimensional construct encompassing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed food choices and support healthy eating. Food literacy education is important for fostering lifelong positive eating behaviours. However, evidence on intensive experiential, culinary education interventions for school-aged children remains limited. The objective of this study was to assess changes in food literacy skills following a one-week experiential culinary education intervention among school-aged children attending a university-based culinary summer camp.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A theory-informed, child-centered culinary intervention was developed using a competency-based framework to support structured skill development. A single-arm, baseline-to-endpoint study design was used to evaluate change in food literacy skills among children aged 8-12 attending a one-week culinary summer camp. Food literacy skills were assessed using an observational scoring rubric informed by a competency framework and the Experiential Learning Theory, measuring six domains: autonomy, ease and safety, measuring, hygiene, working with others, and confidence. Each domain was scored on a 12-point scale, with higher scores indicating greater skill proficiency. Paired-samples t-tests were conducted to evaluate changes. Effect sizes (Cohen's dz) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eighty-eight children participated in the culinary intervention. Significant improvements were observed across all six food literacy domains following the intervention (p< .001). Mean score increases ranged from 1.46 to 2.47 points, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large (dz = 0.62-1.36), indicating meaningful improvements in observed food literacy skills over the one-week period. Improvements were particularly notable for the ease and safety, measuring, and confidence domains.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This intensive experiential culinary education intervention was associated with significant improvements in food literacy skills among school-aged children. These findings support the potential of immersive, skills-based food literacy programs and highlight the value of experiential learning approaches for supporting children's food literacy development.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13425972/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148057374","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":"Dietary folate education versus once-weekly iron folic acid supplementation for improving folate status in reproductive-aged women: a quasi-experimental study.","authors":"Kannatcha Sroypechr, Carol Hutchinson, Warapone Satheannoppakao, Mathuros Tipayamongkholgul","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01375-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01375-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The folate status of women of reproductive age (WRA) in Thailand is suboptimal for reducing risk of neural tube defects (NTD). This research aimed to compare the effect of dietary folate education based on the health belief model and once-weekly iron folic acid (IFA) supplementation on folate status.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a pre-post-test 12-week quasi-experimental study with three groups: (1.) dietary folate education program (30-min, once-weekly), (2.) 2.8 mg folic acid + 60 mg iron (IFA supplement, once-weekly), or (3.) comparison group (no intervention). Participants were WRA recruited from three factories. Knowledge, perceptions (susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers), self-efficacy, and cues to action in relation to folate and NTD, together with dietary folate intake, and red blood cell (RBC) folate concentration were evaluated at pretest (week 0) and post-test (week 13). The generalized estimated equation was used to analyze within-group and between-group differences at post-test, after adjusting for covariates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-three, 25, and 18 participants completed the study in the dietary folate education, IFA supplementation and comparison groups, respectively. Perceived barriers remained unchanged in the folate education group at post-test, and the mean (95% CI) increase in dietary folate intake from pretest to post-test in the folate education group was only 53.0 µg/day, after adjustment for covariates. The change in RBC folate concentration at post-test in the folate education and comparison groups did not differ (-23.1 (-29.8, 67.5) nmol/L; p = 0.307). In contrast, the IFA supplementation group showed an increase in RBC folate concentration from pretest to post-test that was 49.2 (2.7, 95.6) nmol/L greater than the comparison group (p = 0.038).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Folate status did not improve after a dietary folate education program for 12-weeks, which could have been partly because of the intervention's limitations. Future education programs may consider a longer intervention duration and larger sample size. Reducing perceived barriers may also facilitate behavior change. Once-weekly IFA supplementation (2.8 mg folic acid per week) for 12 weeks might contribute to an improvement in folate status in non-pregnant women in a real-world setting. However, the findings should be interpretated with caution in view of study limitations.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>ISRCTN13360510 Registered 26/11/2025 Retrospectively registered.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13411094/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148035623","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":"Body fat percentage and factors associated with cholesterol levels among patients at healthy choice clinic in Kathmandu, Nepal: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Ayush Adhikari, Rubina Karki, George Chikondi Samu","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01378-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01378-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The study of body composition and its correlation with lipid profiles are significant markers for the cardiovascular risk factors of the urban Nepali population. This study is an attempt to evaluate the percentage of body fat and determine the parameters that influence the cholesterol levels in the patients attending at Healthy Choice Clinic, Kathmandu, Nepal.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 106 adult patients of Healthy Choice Clinic aged 18 years and above. Their socio-demographic profile, lifestyle and dietary practice were sourced through structured interview questionnaire. Body Mass Index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and percentage of body fat were measured through Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). For total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, LDL and VLDL assessment, blood sample was taken through laboratory tests. Chi-square and fisher's exact test were used for correlation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The statistical prevalence showed that the overweight and obese respondent was 51.9%, and 21.7% obese. In addition, about 86.8% respondents had significant abdominal obesity with high waist to hip ratio (WHR). Of which, alcohol intake significantly correlated with high total cholesterol level among other respondents (p = 0.044). The body mass index (BMl) was significant with total cholesterol level (p = 0.022). The body mass index (BMI), WHR, and body fat percentage were all significantly correlated with high triglycerides (p = 0.019, p = 0.004, p = 0.011; respectively). Regular exercise significantly correlates with reduced very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). No significant association was reported between cholesterol and fat percentage and WHR and most of the dietary variables.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although we could not find a strong correlation between body fat percentage (BFP) and cholesterol levels, BMI and central obesity indicators can provide valuable correlation with CV risk relating to dyslipidemia. Physical activity is shown to have a protective effect against dyslipidemia. These results can support the significance of a detailed clinical assessment with anthropometric measurements and lifestyle history to identify and manage patients with risk factors for CV disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13348882/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148044109","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":"Impact of nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions on dietary diversity and selected nutritional outcomes among vulnerable populations in Ethiopia: a systematic review.","authors":"Kassahun Ayele, Meron Demisew, Daniel Asfaw Kitessa, Habtamu Fekadu Gemede","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01373-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01373-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malnutrition continues to be a significant public health issue in Ethiopia, disproportionately affecting children under five years of age, pregnant and lactating women, and low-income households. Nutrition-sensitive agricultural (NSA) interventions are agricultural strategies specifically designed to enhance nutrition by improving food availability, access, and dietary quality in a population. These interventions have been increasingly advocated to address the root causes of malnutrition. However, their effectiveness in enhancing dietary diversity and nutritional outcomes in Ethiopia has not yet been systematically assessed. This review aimed to evaluate the effects of NSA interventions on dietary diversity and nutritional status among vulnerable populations in Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted to identify studies published between January 2015 and March 2025. Eligible studies included experimental, quasi-experimental, and observational (primarily cross-sectional) designs that evaluated NSA interventions and reported dietary and nutritional outcomes. Study selection, data extraction, and reporting were performed according to the PRISMA guidelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this review, ten studies were analyzed. Most of these studies indicated improvements in dietary diversity among women and children following NSA interventions, with statistically significant increases in dietary diversity scores or the proportion of households that achieved minimum dietary diversity. However, evidence regarding anthropometric outcomes in children remains inconsistent across studies. Integrated interventions that combine agriculture, nutrition education, and behavior change communication generally demonstrate stronger positive effects than single-component interventions. The magnitude of the impact varied based on the duration, intensity, and context of the intervention. Common challenges in implementation include limited infrastructure, weak market linkages, and resource constraints.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although NSA interventions consistently enhance dietary diversity among vulnerable populations in Ethiopia, their impact on anthropometric nutritional outcomes remains uncertain. Although integrated, multi-sectoral approaches seem more promising, the overall strength of the evidence is limited by the heterogeneity of the studies included. Future interventions should focus on context-specific, long-term strategies and bolster the implementation systems to improve nutritional outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13410855/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017770","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":"Awareness and knowledge of vitamin D deficiency among Palestinian adults recruited online: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Hamsa Saad, Beesan Sarahna, Haneen A Melhem, Nardeen Hamad, Hala H Abdo, Dua R Brash, Hadil Salahiddin, Elaf Abubaker, Sara Jaber, Fatima Attar, Salahaldeen Deeb, Alhareth M Amro","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01371-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01371-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vitamin D deficiency remains a major public health concern in the Middle East and North Africa despite abundant sunlight. The public's understanding of vitamin D sources, risk factors, and preventive practices may influence recognition and prevention of deficiency, yet data from Palestine remain limited. This study assessed awareness and knowledge of vitamin D deficiency among Palestinian adults recruited online and examined whether knowledge differed according to sociodemographic characteristics and vitamin D-related experiences.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An analytical online cross-sectional study was conducted among Palestinian adults using an adapted Arabic self-administered questionnaire distributed through social media between November and December 2025. The instrument assessed sociodemographic characteristics, vitamin D-related experiences, and knowledge across benefits, sources/determinants, and toxicity domains. Knowledge scores ranged from 0 to 14, and scores greater than 7 were classified as adequate knowledge, consistent with the source instrument. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariable logistic regression were performed using SPSS version 25.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 756 respondents were included (mean age 27.5 ± 9.9 years; 79.1% female). The mean knowledge score was 10.21 ± 2.25, and 88.8% of participants were classified as having adequate knowledge. Correct responses were highest for skeletal benefits and the role of sun exposure in vitamin D production. Lower correct response rates were observed for items related to vitamin D toxicity, vegetarian-related risk, and the effect of darker skin pigmentation on deficiency risk. Higher mean knowledge scores were observed among males, single participants, participants without children, and those who had undergone vitamin D testing or had taken supplements. However, no independent predictors of adequate knowledge were identified in the adjusted logistic regression model.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Palestinian adults in this online non-probability sample demonstrated a generally high level of vitamin D knowledge, particularly regarding bone health and sun exposure. However, important gaps persisted in specific domains, especially toxicity and less commonly recognized risk factors. Because the sample was recruited online and was disproportionately female and highly educated, the findings should be interpreted as descriptive of this sampled group rather than representative of all Palestinian adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13412032/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017690","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 risk of dietary multiple micronutrient inadequacies is widespread and geographically varied in Malawi.","authors":"Gareth Osman, Elaine L Ferguson, Lucia Segovia de la Revilla, Liberty Mlambo, Louise E Ander, Edward J M Joy, Tinna Ng'ong'ola-Manani, Alexander A Kalimbira","doi":"10.1186/s40795-026-01369-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40795-026-01369-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In resource-constrained settings, routine assessment of micronutrient deficiencies is often limited to a small set of priority nutrients due to the high cost and complexity of biomarker-based surveys. The objective of this study was to estimate the risk of inadequate apparent intake for 15 micronutrients in Malawi, disaggregated by wealth group and geographic location, using Household Consumption and Expenditure Survey (HCES) data.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used food consumption data from Malawi's Fifth Integrated Household Survey (2019/20), matched with relevant food composition tables, to estimate apparent daily intake per adult female equivalent (AFE) - the reference individual used to apply micronutrient requirement cut-offs for 15 micronutrients: vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, and minerals Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Se, and Zn. Intake estimates were compared against Harmonized Average Requirement values using a fixed cut-point method for all micronutrients except Fe, for which the full probability approach was applied.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nationally, inadequacy was widespread, with 12 of the 15 assessed micronutrients showing prevalence above 20%. These included vitamins A, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, C, and E, and minerals Ca, Fe, Se, and Zn. Vitamin B2 and Ca had the highest inadequacy rates, both exceeding 87%. Inadequacies were most pronounced in central region districts and among poorer, rural households. Diets dominated by cereals and limited food diversity contributed to these patterns. Geographic disparities were evident, with some districts facing substantially higher risks than others.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The risk of dietary micronutrient inadequacies is widespread and geographically varied in Malawi. Expanding routine public health surveillance to include a wider range of micronutrients is essential for guiding targeted interventions and improving public health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":36422,"journal":{"name":"BMC Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13412303/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017748","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}