Nutrition
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Malnutrition is common in liver cirrhosis and is associated with increased rates of complications, hospitalization, and mortality. There are no consensus guidelines for malnutrition assessment in liver cirrhosis and a large number of clinicians do not routinely assess for malnutrition in patients with liver cirrhosis. This review explores the tools available for assessment of malnutrition in patients with liver cirrhosis, including nutritional screening protocols, anthropometric tools, biochemical tools, techniques analyzing body composition and functional assessments. ⋯ Complementing this Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis can be utilized to assess body composition for the diagnosis of malnutrition. Biochemical markers have thus far failed to show a correlation with malnutrition. While hand grip strength is useful for detecting sarcopenia, a common complication of malnutrition, further evidence is required to validate its correlation with malnutrition.
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Childhood stunting remains a significant public health issue in India, affecting approximately 35% of children under 5. Despite extensive research, existing prediction models often fail to incorporate diverse data sources and address the complex interplay of socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental factors. This study bridges this gap by employing machine learning methods to predict stunting at the household level, using data from the National Family Health Survey combined with satellite-driven datasets. ⋯ These findings underline the importance of comprehensive interventions that not only address socioeconomic inequities but also consider environmental factors, such as climate and vegetation, to effectively combat childhood stunting in India.
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Review
Fad diets for non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients: Can "the miracle diet" be a threat?
In the pursuit of an effortless "miracle cure", there has been a significant increase in the proliferation of fad diets. These diets generally exclude a food group or macronutrients and may also restrict energy intake; they become popular quickly but often lack substantial scientific evidence to support their efficacy and safety. ⋯ Most fad diets are generally restrictive in carbohydrates, high in protein, or unbalanced and have low energy intake, which can harm patients with early stages of chronic kidney damage (CKD) who need a low-protein diet with adequate energy intake. This narrative review discusses the risk of fad diet prescriptions for non-dialysis CKD patients.