Dietetics, Volume 2, Issue 2 (June 2023) – 5 articles

This study shows the effect of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids via perilla oil intake on gut microbiota and constipation. Eight sedentary females participated in a nonrandomized placebo-controlled pilot study consisting of eight-week perilla oil (OIL) and placebo (PLA) intervention phases. There was a 10-month washout period between phases. All participants received 9 g of perilla oil-containing jelly in the OIL phase, and a placebo jelly in the PLA phase. Gut microbiota, α-diversity, and constipation scores were measured pre- and post-intervention in both phases. The α-diversity, an important indicator of gut microbiota diversity, was significantly increased post-intervention (4.5 ± 0.1) compared to pre-intervention (3.8 ± 0.3) in the OIL only (p = 0.021). Notably, the level of α-diversity was maintained even after the washout period of 10 months. Butyrate-producing bacteria, Lachnospiraceae (%), did not change in the OIL but were significantly reduced post-intervention (15.1 ± 4.8) compared to pre-intervention (20.1 ± 7.0) in the PLA (p = 0.040). In addition, the constipation scores were significantly or tended to be reduced during the OIL phase only (p < 0.05, p < 0.1). In conclusion, an eight-week perilla oil supplementation may enhance and establish the diversity of gut microbiota, which may relieve constipation. Full article

The beneficial effects of a Mediterranean diet are due to the numerous active compounds in the food and, particularly, the high concentration of compounds with synergistically acting antioxidant properties. Resveratrol, a stilbenoid nonflavonoid phenol, is an antioxidant that is naturally produced by numerous plants as a defensive agent in response to attacks from pathogens, such as bacteria and fungi. Resveratrol has several effects on human health, including on the lipid profile, where it primarily downregulates the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, reducing the synthesis of cholesterol. Resveratrol also increases the expression of LDL receptors in the liver, contributing to the reduction in the LDL-cholesterol levels. This short narrative review, based on relevant articles written in English from a PubMed search, using the keywords “resveratrol”, “atherosclerosis”, “cardiovascular disease”, and “Mediterranean Diet“, focuses on the possible effects of this molecule on cardiovascular disease, lipid metabolism, and atherosclerosis. Full article

Being overweight or obese is a public health problem. This work evaluated a food and nutrition education (FNE) intervention to reduce overweight status among schoolchildren in four schools in the West Panama Province. This was a quasi-experimental before-and-after study that implemented a 34-week FNE intervention through workshops with didactic material to 403 children between 8 and 13 years old. A knowledge and attitude survey was used as an evaluation tool before and after the FNE intervention. The prevalence of excess weight (40%) did not reduce after the intervention. The zBMI at the beginning was 0.57 (1.29) for girls and 0.70 (1.36) for boys, and at the final evaluation was 0.57 (1.28) for girls and 0.67 (1.33) for boys. No significant differences were observed between the point of evaluation and sex. No differences were reported in the median level of attitude, although higher levels of knowledge were reported in students of both sexes. The FNE in schoolchildren can be effective in acquiring knowledge and maintaining a positive attitude towards food, but more research is needed to address nutritional status. Although the intervention had no impact on nutritional status, the FNE facilitated the adoption of skills and competencies in schoolchildren. The success of the implementation of the study highlighted the feasibility of replicating the FNE interventions on a larger scale to contribute positively to the multi-level and sectoral public policy Study Without Hunger in Panama. Full article

Recent evidence suggests a link between Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and eating disorders, an emerging complex bidirectional association. Indeed, the overlap of symptoms and signs can lead to delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of both conditions, but also the fear of food-induced symptoms, commonly observed in patients with IBD, determines dietary restrictions which in predisposed individuals may induce an overt eating disorder. ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and anorexia nervosa are the eating disorders more frequently reported, while disordered eating and orthorexia nervosa are emerging conditions. Disease worsening due to refusal of therapies in patients with anorexia is also a matter of concern and an increased awareness of the possible association of these conditions by gastroenterologists and dietitians is strongly warranted in order for patients to receive the appropriate counseling. Full article

Sleep quality (duration, efficiency, and latency) is directly associated with human health. An interventional study reported that the time of dinner influenced sleep latency, suggesting that it may also be associated with other sleep quality indices under free-living conditions. Therefore, we cross-sectionally examined the association between the time from dinner to bedtime (TDB) and sleep quality indices under free-living conditions in the young Japanese population. Based on the TDB, 264 participants were separated into three quantiles (T1, ≤3.79 h; T2, 3.80–4.94 h; T3, ≥4.95 h from dinner to bedtime). The T1 (mean ± standard error; 26.4 ± 2.2 min, p = 0.081) and T2 groups (30.8 ± 2.2 min, p = 0.001) showed longer sleep latency compared to the T3 group (19.6 ± 2.2 min), after adjusting for confounding factors. Sleep efficiency in the T1 group (77.5 ± 1.6%) tended to be greater than in the T3 group (72.1 ± 1.6%, p = 0.061), whereas sleep efficiency in the T2 group was not significantly different (77.0 ± 1.6%) from that in the T1 group. Therefore, shortened TDB was associated with prolonged sleep latency in free-living conditions. Meal timing, especially dinner, should be considered along with other sleep hygiene measures to improve human health. Full article