Nutrition
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Exposure to artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, during childhood and adolescence has been increasing in recent years. However, the safe use of aspartame has been questioned owing to its potentially harmful effects on the developing brain. The aim of this study was to test whether the chronic consumption of aspartame during adolescence leads to a depressive-like phenotype and to investigate the possible mechanisms underlying these behavioral changes. ⋯ The findings revealed that repeated aspartame intake during adolescence is associated with a depressive-like phenotype and changes in brain plasticity. Interestingly, males appear to be more vulnerable to the adverse neurometabolic effects of aspartame than females, demonstrating a sexually dimorphic response. The present results highlighted the importance of understanding the effects caused by the constant use of this artificial sweetener in sensitive periods of development and contribute to regulation of its safe use.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between preoperative nutritional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with gastrointestinal cancer who were admitted for elective surgical treatment. ⋯ Malnutrition, assessed by various tools, was associated with poor HRQoL of surgical patients with gastrointestinal cancer.
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Obesity has been identified as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases. However, dietary treatment of obesity is far from being a closed issue. Therefore, it is critical to identify the most appropriate obesity management approaches. The aim of this review was to summarize the effects, potentialities, and limitations of nutritional interventions aimed at managing obesity in primary and secondary health care settings, highlighting the most effective strategies and theories. ⋯ Most trials presented better weight loss results with the association of calorie restrictions and theory-based interventions delivered by dietitians or psychologists. We identified the need to develop interventions in other contexts, such as low- and middle-income countries; further trials comparing a theory- versus not-theory-driven intervention; group-based versus individually based intervention; and intervention using or not using technology.
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Disease-related malnutrition (DRM) in hospitalized patients is known to have significant negative impact on clinical outcomes. Meanwhile, DRM in gastroenterology outpatients is scarcely investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of unintentional weight loss (UWL) and reduced food intake (RFI) as contributors to the risk of DRM in outpatients. Furthermore, the aim was to investigate if UWL may be used as initial screening for DRM, based on the correlation between UWL and RFI. ⋯ One in four outpatients experienced UWL to an extent that may have a significant negative impact on clinical outcome. A firm correlation was found between UWL and RFI. Thus, based on this superficial study, UWL may be used as initial screening for protein-energy malnutrition in the medical and surgery gastroenterology outpatient setting. The impact on clinical outcome and of early nutritional intervention in these settings need to be investigated.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the role of breakfast consumption and breakfast size on daily energy, nutrient intakes, and diet quality. ⋯ These findings indicate that obtaining a higher proportion of daily EI from breakfast may result in more favorable dietary profiles and lower daily EI. Further research is needed to confirm this.