{"title":"Clinical and mechanistic evidence on metabolic effects of oat β-glucan, rice bran, and unripe banana flour: a systematic review with mechanism-informed synthesis.","authors":"Alfina Nur Isyrofi, Widya Rahmawati, Xu-Feng Huang, Yuanyi Xie, Warangkana Srichamnong, Dian Handayani","doi":"10.1017/jns.2026.10127","DOIUrl":"10.1017/jns.2026.10127","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dietary fibre improves metabolic health, yet comparative evidence across different fibre sources remains unclear. This systematic review evaluates metabolic effects of oat β-glucan, rice bran, <i>and</i> unripe banana flour in adults, assessing glycaemic, lipid, and mechanistic effects, synthesising their physiological pathways across distinct fibre types (viscosity-driven, phytochemical-mediated, and resistant starch fermentation mechanisms). Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched up to June 2025. A total of 602 records were identified, and after removing 146 duplicates, 456 were screened. Forty-four full texts were assessed, and 15 studies were included. Risk of bias was evaluated using RoB 2.0 and Newcastle-Ottawa. Outcomes included glycaemic markers, insulin response, lipid profile, blood pressure, body composition, and mechanistic biomarkers. Studies (<i>n</i> = 15; sample sizes 10-154; durations 3 days-12 weeks) demonstrated heterogeneous dosing and formulations. <i>Oat β-glucan</i> consistently improved postprandial glucose, insulin AUC, and LDL-C, with modest effects on waist circumference and blood pressure. <i>Rice bran improved blood lipids consistently, while glycaemic effects were mixed</i>. <i>UBF resistant starch was associated with reduction in fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, and body weight, although findings are based on small, short-duration trials</i>. However, variability in study design and limited mechanistic assessments restricted cross-fibre synthesis. The available evidence suggests modest improvements in glycaemic and lipid outcomes. Differences in responsiveness likely reflect variations in fibre structure, viscosity, and fermentability, suggesting complementary physiological pathways. Standardised dosing, longer interventions, and mechanistic biomarkers - including SCFA profiles, incretin response, and bile acid signalling - are needed to clarify inter-individual variability and guide fibre-based interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":47536,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutritional Science","volume":"15 ","pages":"e63"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13439028/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148680502","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}
Eleftheria Panagiotou, Eleni Andreou, Stella A Nicolaou
{"title":"The impact of Mediterranean diet adherence on allergic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Eleftheria Panagiotou, Eleni Andreou, Stella A Nicolaou","doi":"10.1017/jns.2026.10125","DOIUrl":"10.1017/jns.2026.10125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Allergies are a growing public health concern worldwide. This meta-analysis investigated the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the occurrence/severity of respiratory allergic conditions. Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and EBSCO) were searched for studies published up to April 2024. Eligible studies reported OR with 95% CI for asthma, wheezing (respiratory symptom associated with allergic airway disease), rhinitis, or eczema. Food allergy was evaluated only qualitatively due to insufficient data. The risk of bias was assessed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute tool, and random-effects models were applied to account for heterogeneity. A total of twenty-three studies involving 111,583 participants met the inclusion criteria. Individual studies could contribute to more than one condition-specific analysis if they reported outcomes for multiple allergic conditions. Pooled analyses demonstrated a significant protective effect of MD against asthma (<i>n</i> = 11, log OR: -0.18; 95% CI: -0.34, -0.02), wheezing (<i>n</i> = 6, log OR: -0.29; 95% CI: -0.56, -0.03), and rhinitis (log OR: -0.54; 95% CI: -1.00, -0.08), with stronger effects in Mediterranean populations. No significant association was observed with eczema (pooled log OR: 0.09; 95% CI: -0.02, 0.20). Heterogeneity was moderate across analyses. Publication bias was evaluated using forest plots and Egger's test. These findings suggest that MD adherence was associated with lower odds of asthma, wheezing, and rhinitis, but does not influence eczema risk. Further longitudinal studies with standardised methodologies are needed to confirm causality. Promoting MD adherence may offer a valuable population-level strategy for allergy prevention. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO-CRD42023408724.</p>","PeriodicalId":47536,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutritional Science","volume":"15 ","pages":"e61"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13434062/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148674435","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}
Konstantinos Prokopidis, Brendon Stubbs, Nicola Veronese, Stefano Cacciatore, Paolo Piaggi, Carla M Prado, John A Batsis, Mathias Schlögl
{"title":"Protein intake, physical activity, and skeletal muscle outcomes in middle-aged adults: an observational study from the US.","authors":"Konstantinos Prokopidis, Brendon Stubbs, Nicola Veronese, Stefano Cacciatore, Paolo Piaggi, Carla M Prado, John A Batsis, Mathias Schlögl","doi":"10.1017/jns.2026.10124","DOIUrl":"10.1017/jns.2026.10124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sarcopenia, the age-related decline in muscle mass and strength is a growing challenge for older adults. This study investigates whether meeting the WHO physical activity guidelines (150-300 min/week of moderate or 75 min/week of vigorous exercise) with higher protein intake, based on the RDA, is associated with appendicular lean soft tissue index (ALSTI) and handgrip strength (HGS) in adults living in the United States aged 40-59 years. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2020 included 2540 adults aged ≥40 years. Physical activity (moderate/vigorous) was self-reported, while higher protein intake was assessed via two 24-hour recalls (>0.8 g/kg/bodyweight). Linear regressions, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, race, education, comorbidities, and energy-adjusted protein intake were used to assess associations with ALSTI and HGS. In fully adjusted models, vigorous activity with higher protein intake (47.1 ± 5.6 years) was associated with ALSTI only after adjustments for age, sex, BMI, race, education (<i>β</i> = 0.37, SE 0.17, <i>p</i> = 0.047; mean baseline: 8.56 ± 1.67 kg/m<sup>2</sup>). No associations were found in the fully adjusted model for ALSTI (<i>p</i> = 0.31), and across all models for HGS (mean baseline: 43.6 ± 10.1 kg). Moderate activity with higher protein intake was not associated with HGS or ALSTI across adjusted models. Meeting vigorous or moderate-intensity activity guidelines with higher than the RDA protein intake was not associated with ALSTI or HGS in middle-aged US adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":47536,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutritional Science","volume":"15 ","pages":"e60"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13434054/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148674432","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}
Hinke H Haisma, Barnali Chakraborty, Muhammad Dhansay, Zaina Mchome, Sridhar Venkatapuram, Sepideh Yousefzadeh, Rolando Manuel Gonzales Martinez
{"title":"Beyond single metrics: a multidimensional approach to child growth and development-a decade-long review of an IUNS task force (2013-2024).","authors":"Hinke H Haisma, Barnali Chakraborty, Muhammad Dhansay, Zaina Mchome, Sridhar Venkatapuram, Sepideh Yousefzadeh, Rolando Manuel Gonzales Martinez","doi":"10.1017/jns.2026.10085","DOIUrl":"10.1017/jns.2026.10085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Children's growth extends beyond gains in height and weight: it includes non-physical achievements. This paper reviews the research conducted by the International Union for Nutritional Sciences Task Force 'Towards a Multidimensional Approach to Child Growth', which developed a Multidimensional Index of Child Growth (MICG) framed within a capability- and human-rights- based conceptualisation of child growth across interconnected dimensions, including physical health, love and care, mental wellbeing, participation, autonomy, mobility, and safety. Qualitative research in Bangladesh and southeastern Tanzania informed the operationalisation of the MICG, showing that caregivers understand child growth as a multidimensional capability set distributed across children, caregivers, and households. Quantitatively, we prototyped the MICG using Young Lives Survey data from Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam. The MICG reveals patterns of deprivation not captured by anthropometric indicators alone, such as compounded shortfalls in education, mobility, and mental wellbeing among rural girls in Peru, despite similar physical growth profiles. Regression and quantile analyses indicate that community participation in the design of WASH programmes is associated with higher multidimensional achievements, particularly among the most deprived children. To bridge observed achievements and unrealised potential, we extend the MICG using a Bayesian stochastic-frontier approach to estimate context-specific capability distributions and identify children at risk of being left behind. Finally, we propose a spiderweb growth chart for monitoring multidimensional child growth, complementing WHO anthropometric charts. Overall, the MICG offers an equity-sensitive tool for evaluating nutrition interventions, strengthening child growth surveillance, and advancing the Sustainable Development Goal commitment to leave no child behind.</p>","PeriodicalId":47536,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutritional Science","volume":"15 ","pages":"e57"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13369259/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148457430","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}
Jacques Delarue, Sandro Dernini, Elliot M Berry, Barbara Burlingame, María Marcela González-Gross, Roberto Capone, Yari Vecchio, Furio Brighenti, Antonia Trichopoulou
{"title":"A voluntary code of conduct for promoting adherence to the Mediterranean diet: rationale and propositions.","authors":"Jacques Delarue, Sandro Dernini, Elliot M Berry, Barbara Burlingame, María Marcela González-Gross, Roberto Capone, Yari Vecchio, Furio Brighenti, Antonia Trichopoulou","doi":"10.1017/jns.2026.10079","DOIUrl":"10.1017/jns.2026.10079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Throughout the Mediterranean region, adherence to the Mediterranean diet is decreasing especially among young people. The Mediterranean diet is the most studied dietary pattern with proven health benefits, especially regarding the prevention of non-communicable diseases at a time when their incidence is increasing worldwide. It has also been recognized as a sustainable diet model with multiple interdependent benefits on social, cultural, environmental, and economic dimensions. Faced with the challenge of promoting adherence to the Mediterranean diet, a Joint Med Diet Task Force of CIHEAM, FENS, and IUNS was formed to set the path for reversing the erosion of the Mediterranean diet heritage, by promoting its benefits, as a way of living, as defined by UNESCO. In this paper, the rationale and propositions of the Joint Task Force are described for the development of a voluntary code of conduct for promoting the adherence of the Mediterranean diet, and sustainable diets <i>per se</i>, addressed to all interested stakeholders and rights holders, linking food consumption and production, toward sustainable food systems transformation in the Mediterranean and beyond.</p>","PeriodicalId":47536,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutritional Science","volume":"15 ","pages":"e55"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13372733/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148473123","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}
Omar Ramos-Lopez, John C Mathers, Baukje de Roos, María Elizabeth Tejero Barrera, Marie Löf, Sarah E E Berry, J Alfredo Martinez
{"title":"Advancing personalised and precision nutrition.","authors":"Omar Ramos-Lopez, John C Mathers, Baukje de Roos, María Elizabeth Tejero Barrera, Marie Löf, Sarah E E Berry, J Alfredo Martinez","doi":"10.1017/jns.2026.10084","DOIUrl":"10.1017/jns.2026.10084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This document presents some advances in personalised and precision nutrition that were addressed in the IUNS-ICN 2025 Congress at August 2025 including the role of biomarkers in personalised and precision nutrition research, personalised and precision nutrition approaches to routine health care services, implications for public health, personalised and precision nutrition around the world, machine learning and precision nutrition, and personalised dietary guidelines alongside population-based policies.</p>","PeriodicalId":47536,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutritional Science","volume":"15 ","pages":"e56"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13369253/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148457507","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}
Nevena Ivanović, Sara Dobani, Holly R Neill, Richard J Webb, Alison M Gallagher
{"title":"30 years of ENLP: developing nutrition leaders for positive change - lessons learnt and ways forward.","authors":"Nevena Ivanović, Sara Dobani, Holly R Neill, Richard J Webb, Alison M Gallagher","doi":"10.1017/jns.2026.10092","DOIUrl":"10.1017/jns.2026.10092","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Launched in 1994, the European Nutrition Leadership Platform (ENLP) has evolved over three decades into a unique and internationally recognised initiative for the development of leadership skills in the field of nutrition and public health. Through its two training programmes, the ENLP Essentials programme, designed primarily for early-career professionals and emerging leaders in nutrition, food science, and health, and the ENLP Advanced programme, tailored to mid-career and senior professionals seeking to enhance their leadership capacity, equips participants with scientific communication and interpersonal skills while fostering resilience, authenticity, and cross-sector collaboration. With more than 1000 graduates, many of whom now hold leading positions in academia, industry, government, and non-governmental organisations, the programme has proven its impact on professional development and the nutrition landscape. At IUNS-ICN 2025 in Paris, the ENLP celebrated its 30<sup>th</sup> anniversary and emphasised that leadership in the nutrition sector is best defined by authenticity, caring, resilience, and shared values. In the coming decades, the programme will continue to focus on inclusivity, adaptability, and vision, demonstrating that investing in people is the most powerful lever for improving nutrition and public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":47536,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutritional Science","volume":"15 ","pages":"e58"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13369249/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148457462","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":"Precision nutrition in Asian populations: a Multi-omics review of mechanisms, biomarkers, and implementation pathways.","authors":"Minjoo Kim","doi":"10.1017/jns.2026.10110","DOIUrl":"10.1017/jns.2026.10110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The rapid expansion of omics technologies has created new opportunities to understand inter-individual variations in metabolic responses to diet. Such advances are particularly relevant for Asian populations, which exhibit distinct metabolic characteristics, including increased visceral adiposity, reduced β-cell reserves, and heightened susceptibility to type 2 diabetes at lower BMI levels, compared to Western populations. This review synthesizes the current evidence on metabolomic and genomic biomarkers associated with metabolic health in Asians and outlines the mechanistic pathways through which diet influences these biomarkers. Metabolomic signatures, such as lysophosphatidylcholines, micronutrient-derived metabolites, amino acid profiles, and oxidative stress indicators, have demonstrated strong potential for the early detection of metabolic dysfunction. In addition, carbohydrate-related markers of glycemic excursions, microbiome-derived metabolites, and diet-responsive fatty acid profiles may help capture the heterogeneity in postprandial regulation and diet responsiveness. Genetic variants enriched in Asian populations, including <i>TMEM182</i>- and <i>NPC1L1</i>-related polymorphisms, further modulate lipid metabolism, adipogenesis, and glycemic regulation. We also highlighted <i>β</i>-cell and nutrient-handling loci (e.g. <i>KCNQ1</i>, <i>TCF7L2</i>, S<i>LC30A8</i>, <i>FUT2/6</i>, <i>BCMO1</i>, and <i>FADS1/2</i>) as mechanistic anchors for biologically stratified dietary personalization. We discuss nutrient-metabolite interactions - particularly those involving dietary fibre and legumes - within culturally patterned Asian diets and highlight culturally consistent dietary strategies supported by multi-omics evidence. Finally, we propose a translational framework for implementing precision nutrition in Asia, emphasizing analytical standardization, clinician training, digital health integration, and equity considerations. Together, these insights underscore the potential of multi-omics approaches to inform individualized dietary recommendations and improve metabolic health across diverse Asian populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":47536,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutritional Science","volume":"15 ","pages":"e59"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13369258/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148457550","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}
Shirin Macias, Ali Yilmaz, Joseph Kirma, Sarah E Moore, Michelle C McKinley, Pascal P McKeown, Jayne V Woodside, Stewart F Graham, Brian D Green
{"title":"Identification of blood biomarkers of a healthy dietary pattern as facilitated by cluster analysis in patients from the MEDDINI study: a pilot randomised trial.","authors":"Shirin Macias, Ali Yilmaz, Joseph Kirma, Sarah E Moore, Michelle C McKinley, Pascal P McKeown, Jayne V Woodside, Stewart F Graham, Brian D Green","doi":"10.1017/jns.2026.10115","DOIUrl":"10.1017/jns.2026.10115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dietary biomarkers may help objectively assessing dietary pattern adherence. This study performed <i>K</i>-means clustering analysis on quantitative food diary data from a dietary intervention study. Standardised dietary data (134 food diaries) from 57 participants were <i>K</i>-means clustered stepwise until fully optimised and cross-validated. The primary endpoint was to develop distinct dietary clusters and to evaluate the performanceof 90 plasma metabolites. The secondary endpoint was to analyse the biomarker-food groups relationships from those distinct dietary patterns. The final two cluster models comprised of 6 specific food types. Cluster 1 included participants with higher intake of fruit and vegetables, legumes, fish and whole grain cereals, and lower intake of meat and sweet foods than Cluster 2. Ten plasma metabolites significantly differed between the clusters (<i>p</i> < 0.05; q < 0.05) with reasonable biomarker performance (receiver operating characteristic (ROC): 0.64-0.72). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), α-linolenic acid, citric acid and vitamin C were significantly higher in Cluster 1, whereas adrenic acid, osbond acid, cholesterol, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) and triglycerides were higher in Cluster 2. Five additional metabolites also showed significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.02; q < 0.11) and were included: palmitic acid, tyrosine, β-carotene, α-carotene and betaine. The DHA-to-Osbond acid ratio was an optimal indicator distinguishing healthy from unhealthy dietary patterns (ROC: 0.78). Combining clustering and metabolite profiling methods effectively identifies biomarkers of particular dietary patterns and highlights several robust food-metabolite correlations.</p>","PeriodicalId":47536,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutritional Science","volume":"15 ","pages":"e52"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13369256/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148457477","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}
Leena Mohammad Ahmad, Nour Amin Elsahoryi, Omar Alhaj, Ola Al-Maseimi, Ahmad Al Athamneh, Fatena F Afaneh, Hana'a Khalaf, Ayman D Alsheikh, Qutaibah K Fraihat
{"title":"Gluten contamination in commercially available gluten-free products in Jordan: a cross-sectional market surveillance study with public health implications.","authors":"Leena Mohammad Ahmad, Nour Amin Elsahoryi, Omar Alhaj, Ola Al-Maseimi, Ahmad Al Athamneh, Fatena F Afaneh, Hana'a Khalaf, Ayman D Alsheikh, Qutaibah K Fraihat","doi":"10.1017/jns.2026.10120","DOIUrl":"10.1017/jns.2026.10120","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This cross-sectional based market surveillance study examined the level of gluten contamination in commercially manufactured products labelled 'gluten-free' in Jordan and compared the results to the globally recognised 20 mg/kg gluten safety limit for people with coeliac disease and other gluten-related disorders. From August 2022 to November 2024, 182 goods from 25 different food categories were tested in retail locations in Jordan's main governorates. A validated monoclonal-based antibody-sandwich ELISA was used to determine the levels of gluten concentration, and a 95% CI was used to describe the prevalence of contamination. Overall, 47 of 182 products (25.8%; 95% CI: 19.7-32.6%) exceeded 20 mg/kg gluten. With maximum concentrations of 395.8 mg/kg, the highest non-compliance was found in rice-based goods (66.7%), milk products (50.0), and cookies (42.9). On the other hand, with the fact that several categories had rather small sample sizes, no violations were found in any of them. Jordan had a higher rate of contamination than a number of other places, including Europe (0.5%), India (10.8% of packaged items marketed as gluten-free), and Mexico (17.4%). The findings highlight clinically relevant issues with the quality of gluten-free products and support further monitoring, manufacturing supervision, and regulatory actions to better protect customers who depend on strict gluten avoidance guidelines.</p>","PeriodicalId":47536,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutritional Science","volume":"15 ","pages":"e54"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13369250/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148457437","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}