Nutrition
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The roles of gut microorganisms in cancer are diverse. Studies on metagenomics and bioinformatics have documented diverse microbial etiology in different tumors. Evidence supports that a commensal microbiome could provide a promising strategy to treat and prevent cancer through interference in several biologic processes, such as host cell survival and death, host immune function, inflammation, oncogenic signaling, and several hormone receptor signaling and detoxification pathways. ⋯ Thus, an interplay of gut microorganisms with their fatty acid metabolites and the endocannabinoid system play an important role in the development, progression, immunomodulation, and chemoresistance of cancer. In this review, we highlight aspects of the current knowledge of and interactions between the microbiome with fatty acids and the host endocannabinoid system. We also document their effect on host immunomodulation and chemoresistance, and discuss how these insights might translate into future development of microbiome-targeted therapeutic interventions.
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This study analyzes the impact of malnutrition on infant mortality and life expectancy in a sample of 36 African countries during the 2003 to 2018 period. The economic implications of malnutrition are examined through the vicious cycle of poverty, malnutrition, low productivity, and further malnutrition. It was hypothesized that malnutrition at infancy contributes to high mortality and leads to lower labor productivity in adults through the reduction of their life span, because more and more skilled laborers leave sooner. ⋯ The results show a mitigated impact of malnutrition on life expectancy. Also, growth in the gross domestic product significantly reduced the infant mortality rate, but any increase in income per capita was not followed by a reduction of death in children. Thus, it is recommended 1) to strengthen the entire health system and infrastructure, 2) to promote nutritional training programs, and 3) to reinforce the fight against infectious diseases that mostly affect children.
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Historically, fat mass has been considered to have significant influence on human body energy homeostasis through its indirect relationship with appetite control. However, over the past decade, there has been a surge of evidence supporting the potential role of fat-free mass (FFM) in appetite control, and thus the regulatory involvement of FFM in appetite-related measures. Yet, the underlying biological mechanisms that explain the role of FFM in tonic/episodic appetite regulation remain unclear. ⋯ Overall, available evidence suggests the appetite stimulating hormone, ghrelin, has an inverse relationship with FFM. The relationship between FFM and the appetite suppression hormones, peptide tyrosine-tyrosine and glucagon-like peptide-1, has been relatively unexplored. The evidence presented in this review should encourage researchers, clinicians, and health professionals to consider investigating FFM maintenance as a suitable strategy during weight loss for improvements in appetite control.
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Individuals with cancer may be motivated to make lifestyle changes and informed dietary choices, but are exposed to conflicting and erroneous nutrition information, particularly from online and social media sources. Changes to dietary choices that stem from a diagnosis of cancer are not fully understood. Thus, we conducted a narrative review to summarize the literature focused on dietary choices after a cancer diagnosis, and highlighted influential factors. ⋯ These changes align with the recommendations for cancer prevention but were implemented after diagnosis, and may not meet nutrition guidelines for patients with cancer. Age and time since diagnosis were among the influential factors that affected these postdiagnosis changes. Data on dietary changes implemented after a diagnosis of varying cancer types in the North American population are lacking, and would provide practitioners with an enhanced understanding of patient information needs and reasons for dietary choices.
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Stunting is a major global public health problem, associated with physical and cognitive impairments. Spatial variations in childhood stunting were observed due to changes in contextual variables from area to area, implying that geography is a crucial component in the development of strategies against childhood stunting. However, to our knowledge, there are no up-to-date studies on the distribution of childhood stunting and its determinants in Ethiopia. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the spatial distribution and determinants of stunting among children aged <5 y in Ethiopia. ⋯ Stunting significantly varies across Ethiopia, with the highest prevalence in Northern Ethiopia. Older age, poor family wealth, maternal illiteracy, and community illiteracy level were the significant determinants of stunting in children aged <5 y in this study. Policymakers should design interventions to reduce stunting among children aged <5 y through accessing education for women and applying economic empowerment strategies in the hot spot areas.