Macronutrient Intake in Adults Diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome: Using the Health Examinee (HEXA) Cohort

Macronutrient intake is important in the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to evaluate total energy and macronutrient intake of participants diagnosed with MetS at recruitment of the health examinees (HEXA) cohort, considering the plant and animal sources of each macronutrient. We included 130,423 participants aged 40–69 years for analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated to evaluate the intake of macronutrients stratified by gender. Energy and macronutrient intake were estimated by linking food frequency questionnaire data to the Korean food composition database, and were calculated separately for plant and animal foods. Low energy (men: OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92–0.98; women: OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99), and fat intake (men: OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.90–0.96; women: OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.77–0.83) were observed. Only postmenopausal women had lower intake of total energy (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92–0.97), whereas low fat intake was observed in all women (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.77–0.83). For carbohydrate intake, the OR were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.08–1.22) and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.08–1.27) among women in their 50s and 60s, respectively. Protein intake was low (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.86–0.95; and OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82–0.94) among women in their 50s and 60s, respectively. High intake of plant carbohydrates in women (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.12–1.20), and plant protein in both genders (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05–1.13) were observed, but low intake of total energy, fat, and animal-source carbohydrates in both genders was also observed. Fat intake was low regardless of food source. In conclusion, high consumption of plant-source macronutrients, and low consumption of animal-source macronutrients was observed in Korean adults diagnosed with MetS. Attention should be directed to plant sources of carbohydrates and proteins when designing population interventions for metabolic syndrome reduction in Korea.     

Association between Lebanese Mediterranean Diet and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Lebanese Older Adults—A Preliminary Study

Discrepancies in the characteristics of the food components of a Mediterranean diet exist based on the country of origin. In Lebanon, a traditional Mediterranean diet emphasizes the high intakes of fruits (including dried), vegetables, burghol, and dairy products. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between adherence to the Lebanese Mediterranean diet (LMD) and frailty among older adults in Lebanon. A total of 112 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years were recruited. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected through face-to-face interviews. A 61-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect dietary intake data, and adherence to LMD was calculated. Physical frailty was defined by the presence of three out of the five criterion: weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, and low activity. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between LMD adherence and frailty while adjusting for several confounders. The participants’ mean age was 73 ± 12.8 and 65% were females. Sixteen (14.3%) individuals were identified as frail. Frail individuals were significantly older (p = 0.001), depressed (p < 0.001), at risk of cognitive impairment (p = 0.006), and reported polypharmacy (p = 0.003). No significant association was found between LMD adherence and frailty in fully adjusted models (OR = 0.195; 95% CI: 0.033–1.154; p = 0.071 when categorical and OR = 0.856; 95% CI: 0.668–1.097; p = 0.218 when continuous). We also performed additional analyses with a modified frailty index where house chores were not considered as part of leisure activities of the physical activity criterion. The results showed that a higher LMD adherence was associated with a significantly decreased frailty prevalence (OR = 0.123, 95% CI: 0.022–0.676, p = 0.016 when categorical and OR = 0.773, 95% CI 0.608–0.983, p = 0.036). Larger, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the relationship between the adherence to the Lebanese Mediterranean diet and frailty in Lebanese older adults.     

Association of Frailty Status and Dietary Patterns in a Nationally Representative Sample of United States Adults with Olfactory Dysfunction

Background: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a strong, independent predictor of frailty and mortality risk. This study evaluated the association of dietary patterns and frailty status in older adults with OD. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Dietary patterns (DPs) characteristic of OD were derived using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Multiple logistic regressions adjusted for demographics and frailty risk factors assessed the association of DPs with two frailty metrics: the frailty index (FI) and physical frailty (PF). Results: EFA yielded six distinct DPs in persons with OD. The protein/selenium (OR 0.82 [95% CI 0.74–0.92], p = 0.041) and β-carotene/vitamin A DPs (OR 0.76 [95% CI 0.66–0.88], p = 0.028) were independently associated with frailty by FI. Only the protein/selenium DP (OR 0.82 [95% CI 0.74–0.92], p = 0.036) was associated with frailty by PF. No DPs were associated with either frailty measure in normosmic persons. Conclusions: Dietary patterns high in protein/selenium and β-carotene/vitamin A are associated with lower frailty prevalence in adults with OD. While the relationship between OD and frailty is likely multifaceted, these findings suggest that dietary patterns are uniquely associated with frailty in older adults with OD.     

Association of Carbohydrate and Fat Intake with Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Can Be Modified by Physical Activity and Physical Environment in Ecuadorian Adults: The ENSANUT-ECU Study

The associations of lifestyle and environment with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease have recently resulted in increased attention in research. This study aimed to examine interactive associations among carbohydrate and fat intake, physical environment (i.e., elevation and humidity), lifestyle, and MetS among Ecuadorian adults. We used data from the Ecuador National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 (ENSANUT-ECU), with a total of 6023 participants aged 20 to 60 years included in this study. Logistic regression was used to determine the association of status of carbohydrate and fat intake, low-carbohydrate high-fat diet (LCHF) and medium-carbohydrate and fat (MCF) diet with MetS, where the high-carbohydrate low-fat (HCLF) diet was used as a reference. Women with LCHF and MCF diets showed lower prevalence of increased blood pressure (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.19–0.59; OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.32–0.79, respectively). Women with MCF diet also showed lower prevalence of elevated fasting glucose (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.37–0.91). Moreover, there were negative associations between MetS and reduced HDL cholesterol in women with MCF diet residing in low relative humidity (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.45–0.98) and in women with LCHF diet residing at a high elevation (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.16–0.86). Additionally, higher prevalence of increased waist circumference was observed in men with both MFC and LCHF diets who were physically inactive (OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.12–3.20; OR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.19–4.60, respectively) and residing in high relative humidity (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.08–2.89; OR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.32–5.28, respectively). Our findings suggest that LCHF intake is associated with lower blood pressure, while MCF intake is associated with lower blood pressure and fasting glucose in Ecuadorian women. Furthermore, the associations of carbohydrate and fat intake with prevalence of MetS can be modified by physical activity, relative humidity, and elevation. The obtained outcomes may provide useful information for health programs focusing on dietary intake and lifestyle according to physical environment of the population to promote health and prevent metabolic diseases.     

Animal Protein Intake Is Positively Associated with Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors in Middle-Aged Korean Men

Few studies have examined the relationship of protein intake by food source with metabolic syndrome in Korean adults, even though animal food intake has increased. This study examined the association between plant and animal protein intake and metabolic syndrome among middle-aged Korean adults. A total of 13,485 subjects aged 30–64 years were selected from the 2013–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Protein intake was assessed using 24-h dietary recall data and divided into quintiles. Men had a higher percentage of energy intake from animal protein (7.4%) than plant protein (6.9%). Men in the highest quintile group of animal protein intake had a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.00–1.70), reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.07–1.90), and elevated fasting glucose (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.01–1.74), after adjusting for covariates. Furthermore, stronger associations of animal protein intake with abdominal obesity were shown in men who consumed less than estimated energy requirements (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.11–2.31). Plant protein intake was negatively associated with increased blood pressure in men. Neither animal nor plant protein intakes were significantly associated with any of the metabolic syndrome risk factors in women. The results imply that lower animal protein intake may be a beneficial factor for metabolic syndrome management in middle-aged Korean men.     

Factors Associated with Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Adolescents Living in Sicily,Southern Italy

The present study aimed to examine the factors associated with increased Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence among a sample of Italian adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1135 students (13–16 years) attending 13 secondary schools of Sicily, southern Italy. Validated instruments were used for dietary assessment and the KIDMED score to assess adolescents’ adherence to the MD. A higher adherence to the MD was associated with high socioeconomic status (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.53, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.03–2.26) and high physical activity (OR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.02–1.70), whereas lower adherence was associated with living in an urban environment (OR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.44–0.97) and being obese (OR 0.59, 95% CI: 0.37–0.94). The adolescents’ KIDMED scores were inversely associated with adolescents’ intake of sweets, fast foods, fried foods, and sugary drinks, and directly with fruit, vegetables, pasta, fish, and cheese intakes. Urban-living adolescents were less likely to eat fruit and more prone to consume meat, sugary drinks, and fast food than rural-living adolescents. The latter were more likely to eat sweets and snacks. A general poor quality of food consumption in Italian adolescents away from the MD was reported, especially among those living in urban areas.     

Associated Factors of Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

(1) Background: To review the associated factors of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults. (2) Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and four Chinese electronic databases were searched for observational studies that reported the associated factors of sarcopenia from inception to August 2021. Two researchers independently selected the literature, evaluated their quality, and extracted relevant data. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for each associated factors of sarcopenia using random-effects/fixed-effects models. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plot and the Eggers test. We performed statistical analysis using Stata 15.0 software. (3) Results: A total of 68 studies comprising 98,502 cases were included. Sociodemographic associated factors of sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults included age (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.10–1.13), marital status (singled, divorced, or widowed) (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.08–2.28), disability for activities of daily living (ADL) (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.15–1.92), and underweight (OR = 3.78, 95% CI: 2.55–5.60). Behavioral associated factors included smoking (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.10–1.21), physical inactivity (OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.48–2.01), malnutrition/malnutrition risk (OR = 2.99, 95% CI: 2.40–3.72), long (OR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.37–3.86) and short (OR = 3.32, 95% CI: 1.86–5.93) sleeping time, and living alone (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.00–2.40). Disease-related associated factors included diabetes (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.18–1.66), cognitive impairment (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.05–2.51), heart diseases (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.00–1.30), respiratory diseases (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.09–1.36), osteopenia/osteoporosis (OR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.63–4.57), osteoarthritis (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.23–1.44), depression (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.17–1.83), falls (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.14–1.44), anorexia (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.14–1.96), and anemia (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.06–1.82). However, it remained unknown whether gender (female: OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.80–1.51; male: OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 0.96–2.34), overweight/obesity (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.17–0.44), drinking (OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.84–1.01), hypertension (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.84–1.14), hyperlipidemia (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.89–1.47), stroke (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 0.69–4.17), cancer (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.85–0.92), pain (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.98–1.20), liver disease (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.85–0.91), and kidney disease (OR = 2.52, 95% CI: 0.19–33.30) were associated with sarcopenia. (4) Conclusions: There are many sociodemographic, behavioral, and disease-related associated factors of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults. Our view provides evidence for the early identification of high-risk individuals and the development of relevant interventions to prevent sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults.     

The Combined Effects of Dietary Diversity and Frailty on Mortality in Older Taiwanese People

Objective: To assess the prospective association between frailty and dietary diversity on mortality. Method: This prospective cohort study used the 2005–2008 Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (N = 330; age ≥ 65 years) and this was linked to the Death Registry where we used the data that was recorded up to 31 January 2020. Dietary intake information was assessed using a 24-h dietary recall and food-frequency questionnaire, which were calculated a dietary diversity score (DDS; range, 0–6) and food consumption frequency. Assessment of frailty phenotypes was based on FRAIL scale which was proposed by the International Academy on Nutrition and Aging. Results: Frail older adults had a higher risk of all-cause mortality when they were compared to those with robust physiologies (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.13–6.52). Frailty and a lower DDS were associated with a higher risk of mortality (joint adjusted HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.11–4.75) which, compared with a robust physiology and higher DDS, were associated with a lower risk of mortality. Conclusions: Frailty and a lower DDS were associated with a higher mortality. Prefrailty and frailty with a higher DDS were associated with a lower risk of mortality when compared with those with prefrailty and frailty and a lower DDS. These results suggest that eating a wide variety of foods might reduce the risk of mortality in older adults with prefrailty and frailty.     

Sex and Diet-Related Disparities in Low Handgrip Strength among Young and Middle-Aged Koreans: Findings Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2014 to 2017

“Possible sarcopenia” may be defined as a low muscle strength assessed by handgrip strength (HGS) by sex. We examined the sex-specific association between low handgrip strength (LGS) and dietary factors for the prevention of sarcopenia in young and middle-aged Koreans. We used data from the 2014–2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 11,635 Korean adults with LGS and normal handgrip strength (NGS). The relationship between dietary factors, e.g., nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns, and HGS was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analyses. In men, the LGS group had a higher proportion of energy from carbohydrates and a lower proportion of energy from proteins than the NGS group. The LGS group had lower protein, niacin, phosphorus, and iron densities in their diet than the NGS group. The odds of having LGS increased as intake of vitamin B1 (odds ratio (OR) 2.916, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.265–6.719), niacin (OR 2.286, 95% CI 1.095–4.774), phosphorus (OR 2.731, 95% CI 1.036–7.199), and iron (OR 2.591, 95% CI 1.102–6.088) decreased. In women with LGS, the odds of insufficient protein intake (OR 1.976, 95% CI 1.248–3.127) was significantly higher. This study suggests that adequate intake of protein, vitamin B1, niacin, phosphorus, and iron is beneficial for maintaining HGS.     

Dietary Composition and Its Association with Newly Diagnosed Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Insulin Resistance

Dietary modification is essential for treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, the dietary components are less well defined. We enrolled 252 adults with no history of liver disease and excessive alcohol use to evaluate the relationship between macronutrients and NAFLD and insulin resistance. Participants took photographs of their meals and documented their food intake in a food diary for seven consecutive days. A dietitian estimated the type and portion size of food items and analyzed nutrients with INMUCAL-Nutrients software. Later, participants underwent transient elastography to diagnose NAFLD and blood tests to measure insulin resistance using the homeostasis model. Total energy intake and the proportion of carbohydrate, fat, and protein consumption did not differ between participants with NAFLD (n = 41) and those without NAFLD (n = 211). Using multiple logistic regression analysis, daily intake of protein < 1.0 g/kg (OR: 3.66, 95% CI: 1.41–9.52) and full-fat dairy product ≥ 50 g (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.18–0.99) were associated with NAFLD. Insulin resistance was associated with a daily intake of protein < 1.0 g/kg (OR: 3.09, 95% CI: 1.59–6.05), full-fat dairy product ≥ 50 g (OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.25–0.82), and dietary fiber ≥ 8 g (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.22–0.74). Our data show that a low protein intake increases the odds for NAFLD and insulin resistance. Contrarily, a high intake of full-fat dairy products and dietary fiber has been associated with a potential protective effect against NAFLD and insulin resistance.     

Dietary Intake and the Neighbourhood Environment in the BC Generations Project

Poor diet is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases including cancer. Understanding broader contextual factors that influence dietary intake is important for making tangible progress towards improving diet at the population level. This study investigated neighbourhood social and built environment factors and fruit and vegetable intake among ~28,000 adults aged 35–69 years within the BC Generations Project. Daily fruit and vegetable intake was categorized according to guidelines (≥5 servings/day vs. <5 servings/day). Geospatial characteristics included walkability, greenness, marginalization, and material and social deprivation, reflecting access to goods and amenities and social relationships. Generalized, linear mixed-effect models adjusted for sociodemographic factors and lifestyle variables were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs). Participants living in neighbourhoods with greater material deprivation (e.g., OR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.70–0.86 for very high material deprivation) and very high social deprivation (OR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.82–0.99) were less likely to meet recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption relative to those living in areas with very low material deprivation and very low social deprivation, respectively. Relative to participants living in areas with very low greenness, participants living in neighbourhoods with high (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.01–1.20) to very high (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.01–1.21) greenness were more likely to meet recommendations for fruits and vegetables. These findings highlight the complexity of dietary intake which may be shaped by multiple neighbourhood characteristics.     

Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods Increases the Likelihood of Having Obesity in Korean Women

This study aimed to determine the association between consumption of ultra-processed foods and obesity among Korean adults. We used the data of 7364 participants (men 3219, women 4145) aged 19–64 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 2016–2018. Food items were classified using the NOVA food classification system, depending on the extent and purpose of food processing: (1) unprocessed or minimally processed foods, (2) processed culinary ingredients, (3) processed foods, and (4) ultra-processed foods. Consumption of ultra-processed foods accounted for 26.8% of the total energy intake. After adjusting for potential confounders including sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, subjects with the highest consumption of ultra-processed foods (fourth quartile of % energy intake from ultra-processed foods) had 0.61 kg/m² higher body mass index (BMI; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23–0.99, p-trend 0.0047), 1.34 cm higher waist circumference (WC; 95% CI 0.35–2.34, p-trend 0.0146), 51% higher odds of being obese (BMI > 25 kg/m²; odds ratio [OR] 1.51, 95% CI 1.14–1.99, p-trend 0.0037), and 64% higher odds of abdominal obesity (men: WC ≥ 90 cm, women: WC ≥ 85 cm; OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.24–2.16, p-trend 0.0004) than those with the lowest consumption (first quartile) among women. However, no association was found in men. These findings provide evidence that high consumption of ultra-processed foods is positively associated with obesity in Korean women. Further studies with a large-scale cohort or intervention trial are needed to identify the mechanism of associations between consumption of ultra-processed foods and health-related outcomes including obesity in Korea.     

The Relationship between Food Security Status and Sleep Disturbance among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in an Indonesian Population

Background: The relationship between food insecurity and the experience of sleep disturbance has received little attention among researchers, although food insecurity is associated with poor physical and mental health globally. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between food security status and sleep disturbance among adults 20–64 years old. Methods: The study’s population-based sample included 20,212 Indonesian adults who participated in the fifth wave of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS5) in 2014. Dietary intake data, gathered using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), were used to assess the food security status. Sleep disturbance was assessed using the 10-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) questionnaire. We used multiple linear and logistic regression models to test the study hypothesis. Results: A higher likelihood of experiencing sleep disturbance was recorded in people aged older than 56 years (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.17–2.72, p = 0.007), people with depressive symptoms (OR = 3.57, 95% CI: 2.77–4.61, p < 0.001), and food-insecure people (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.02–1.70, p = 0.036). A lower likelihood of experiencing sleep disturbance was recorded in people with low educational attainment (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.30–0.57, p < 0.001). Sleep disturbance was dependent on the food consumption groups and food security status among men (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Sleep disturbance may be affected by the food-insecure status of adults, and later, may lead to serious health outcomes.     

Dairy Product Intake and Long-Term Risk for Frailty among French Elderly Community Dwellers

Dairy products (DP) are part of a food group that may contribute to the prevention of physical frailty. We aimed to investigate DP exposure, including total DP, milk, fresh DP and cheese, and their cross-sectional and prospective associations with physical frailty in community-dwelling older adults. The cross-sectional analysis was carried out on 1490 participants from the Three-City Bordeaux cohort. The 10-year frailty risk was examined in 823 initially non-frail participants. A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess DP exposure. Physical frailty was defined as the presence of at least 3 out of 5 criteria of the frailty phenotype: weight loss, exhaustion, slowness, weakness, and low physical activity. Among others, diet quality and protein intake were considered as confounders. The baseline mean age of participants was 74.1 y and 61% were females. Frailty prevalence and incidence were 4.2% and 18.2%, respectively. No significant associations were observed between consumption of total DP or DP sub-types and frailty prevalence or incidence (OR = 1.40, 95%CI 0.65–3.01 and OR = 1.75, 95%CI 0.42–1.32, for a total DP consumption >4 times/d, respectively). Despite the absence of beneficial associations of higher DP consumption on frailty, older adults are encouraged to follow the national recommendations regarding DP.     

Frailty Severity and Cognitive Impairment Associated with Dietary Diversity in Older Adults in Taiwan

This study aims to investigate whether frailty severity in conjunction with cognitive function, termed as” cognitive frailty”, is associated with dietary diversity in older adults. This cross-sectional study used the data from the 2014–2016 Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (N = 1115; age ≥ 65 years). Dietary intake was assessed using a 24 h dietary recall and food-frequency questionnaire, and dietary diversity score (DDS; range, 0–6) and food intake frequency were calculated. The presence of frailty phenotypes was determined using the FRAIL scale, which was proposed by the International Association of Nutrition and Aging, and cognitive function was assessed using the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. The prevalence of cognitive frailty (FRAIL scale score ≥ 3 and MMSE score ≤ 26) was 4.2%. A higher consumption frequency of dairy products, whole grains, vegetables, fruit, fish and seafood, nuts, tea, and coffee, as well as lower pickled vegetable, was inversely associated with cognitive frailty. Those with prefrailty or frailty and lower DDS demonstrated a higher cognitive impairment risk (adjust odds ratio (OR) = 2.15, 95% confidence interval = 1.21–3.83) than those without frailty and higher DDS. Older adults with cognitive prefrailty or cognitive frailty were associated with lower DDS, and frailty with lower DDS was associated with worsening cognitive function.     

Consumption of Yoghurt and Other Dairy Products and Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Iran: The IROPICAN Study

Background: There is evidence of an inverse association between yoghurt intake and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed at investigating the association between the intake of yoghurt and other dairy foods consumed in Iran and CRC risk. Methods: Our analysis included 4070 subjects within the IROPICAN (Iran Study of Opium and Cancer) study. Detailed information was collected by the use of validated questionnaires. We estimated adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between the intake of total dairy products, and, separately, of yoghurt, milk, cheese, kashk, dough, cream, ice cream, and other milk products, and CRC using unconditional logistic regression analyses. The intake was categorized in tertiles. Results: Overall, we analyzed 865 cases and 3205 controls. Total dairy products intake was not associated with CRC. The OR for one tertile increase (OR_T) in yoghurt intake was 0.97 (95% CI 0.87–1.08) for CRC and 0.66 (95% CI 0.52–0.84) for proximal colon cancer. Cream intake was associated with CRC (OR_T3 = 1.33, 95% CI 1.08–1.64), colon (OR_T3 = 1.37, 95% CI 1.03–1.81), and proximal cancer (OR_T3 = 1.29, 95% CI 1.04–1.61). The OR of distal colon cancer for ice cream intake was 0.59 (95% CI 0.43–0.82). Other dairy products were not associated with CRC risk.     

Convenience Food Options and Adequacy of Nutrient Intake among School Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in the family food environment, resulting in more families relying on convenience food options. This study aimed to investigate diet quality by convenience food options (namely instant, frozen, and take-out foods) among Japanese school children during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the relationship between the frequency of consumption of convenience food options and nutritional status of the school children. The participants (671 children, 10–14 years old) were chosen to form a nationally representative sample of the Japanese population. Using questionnaires completed by the participants’ guardians, information was collected on the frequency of instant, frozen, and take-out food consumption. Habitual food and nutrient intake were collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire, completed by the children with help from their guardian(s). “Frequent” consumption was defined as consumption of instant, frozen, and/or take-out foods on more than 5 days per week. Using 19 nutrients and their respective dietary reference intake (DRI) values, an index was created to label each child’s nutrient intake as “Adequate”, “Inadequate”, “Excess”, or “Deficient.” Compared to children with non-frequent consumption, school children with frequent instant food consumption had significantly higher rates of inadequate nutrient intake (risk ratio (RR) = 3.0 [95% CI: 1.6–5.6]) and excess nutrient intake (RR = 2.3 [95% CI: 1.3–4.2]), while school children with frequent take-out food consumption had significantly higher rates of inadequate nutrient intake (RR = 2.1 [95% CI: 1.3–3.3]). There were no significant differences for children with frequent frozen-food intake. These associations did not change when adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Our results suggest that the frequent consumption of instant or take-out foods among school children results in non-adequate nutritional intake.     

Dietary Patterns and Risk Factors of Frailty in Lebanese Older Adults

Factors associated with frailty, particularly dietary patterns, are not fully understood in Mediterranean countries. This study aimed to investigate the association of data-driven dietary patterns with frailty prevalence in older Lebanese adults. We conducted a cross-sectional national study that included 352 participants above 60 years of age. Sociodemographic and health-related data were collected. Food frequency questionnaires were used to elaborate dietary patterns via the K-mean cluster analysis method. Frailty that accounted for 15% of the sample was twice as much in women (20%) than men (10%). Identified dietary patterns included a Westernized-type dietary pattern (WDP), a high intake/Mediterranean-type dietary pattern (HI-MEDDP), and a moderate intake/Mediterranean-type dietary pattern (MOD-MEDDP). In the multivariate analysis, age, waist to height ratio, polypharmacy, age-related conditions, and WDP were independently associated with frailty. In comparison to MOD-MEDDP, and after adjusting for covariates, adopting a WDP was strongly associated with a higher frailty prevalence in men (OR = 6.63, 95% (CI) (1.82–24.21) and in women (OR = 11.54, 95% (CI) (2.02–65.85). In conclusion, MOD-MEDDP was associated with the least prevalence of frailty, and WDP had the strongest association with frailty in this sample. In the Mediterranean sample, a diet far from the traditional one appears as the key deleterious determinant of frailty.     

Association between Emotional Eating and Frequency of Unhealthy Food Consumption among Taiwanese Adolescents

Emotional eating is one factor that increases the consumption of unhealthy food. This study aimed to investigate the association between emotional eating and frequencies of consuming fast food, high-fat snacks, processed meat products, dessert foods, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in adolescents. The baseline survey data (2015) from the Taiwan Adolescent to Adult Longitudinal Study (TAALS) were fitted into multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for sex, school type, Body Mass Index (BMI), eating while doing something, nutrition label reading, skipping breakfast, smoking, binge drinking, sedentary lifestyle, physical activity, peer and school support, and parental education level. Among the 18,461 participants (48.5% male and 51.5% female), those exhibiting emotional eating were more likely to consume fast food (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.40, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 2.18–2.64), high-fat snacks (OR = 2.30, 95% CI: 2.12–2.49), processed meat products (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.78–2.08), dessert foods (OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 2.31–2.69), and sugar-sweetened beverages (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.70–1.98). Factors that were positively associated with unhealthy food consumption included eating while doing other activities, binge drinking, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle. Among all the covariates, nutrition label reading was the only factor that was inversely associated with frequent unhealthy food consumption. Sex and school type may moderate the effect of emotional eating on the frequent consumption of specific unhealthy food groups. In conclusion, adolescents with high emotional eating were more likely to report frequent consumption of unhealthy foods in Taiwan. Our findings showed that male participants appeared to consume fast foods, high-fat snacks, processed meat, and SSBs more often and dessert foods less often than females. Future longitudinal studies are recommended for understanding the causal relationship between emotional eating and unhealthy food consumption.     

Dietary Pattern Accompanied with a High Food Variety Score Is Negatively Associated with Frailty in Older Adults

Proper nutrition is a modifiable factor in preventing frailty. This study was conducted to identify the association between dietary patterns and frailty in the older adult population. The cross-sectional analysis was performed on 4632 subjects aged ≥65 years enrolled in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2014–2018. Food variety score (FVS) was defined as the number of foods items consumed over a day. Three dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis: “white rice and salted vegetables,” “vegetables, oils, and fish,” and “noodles and meat.” The higher “white rice and salted vegetables” pattern score was related to significantly lower FVS, whereas higher “vegetables, oils, and fish” and “noodles and meat” pattern scores were associated with a higher FVS. Participants with higher FVS showed a low risk of frailty (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval, CI) = 0.44 (0.31–0.61), p-trend = 0.0001) than those with lower FVS. Moreover, the “vegetables, oils, and fish” pattern score was significantly associated with a low risk of frailty (OR (95% CI) = 0.55 (0.40–0.75), p-trend = 0.0002). These results suggested that consuming a dietary pattern based on vegetables, oils, and fish with high FVS might ameliorate frailty in older adults.