Dietary patterns among children and adolescents in Germany consuming vegetarian, vegan or omnivore diets: results of the VeChi Youth Study.

Purpose: To identify dietary patterns of vegetarian, vegan and omnivore children and adolescents in Germany and to examine associations with nutrient intake.

Methods: First, three principal component analyses based on 17-22 food groups were used to identify dietary patterns among vegetarians (n = 145, 3-day weighed dietary records), vegans (n = 110) and omnivores (n = 135) from the cross-sectional Vegetarian and Vegan Children and Youth (VeChi Youth) Study (2017-2019, 6-18 years, 57% girls). Secondly, these patterns were correlated (Spearman correlations) with energy and nutrient intakes.

[Nutrition and fasting].

Background: Patients with rheumatic diseases often enquire about the options for nutritional therapy. Nutritional factors have been empirically described that are associated with the occurrence of inflammatory rheumatic diseases or flare-ups or improved disease states. A growing number of epidemiological and clinical studies deal with the evaluation of nutrition and dietary restriction in rheumatology.

Twenty-Four Hour Glucose Profiles and Glycemic Variability during Intermittent Religious Dry Fasting and Time-Restricted Eating in Subjects without Diabetes: A Preliminary Study.

Intermittent religious fasting increases the risk of hypo- and hyperglycemia in individuals with diabetes, but its impact on those without diabetes has been poorly investigated. The aim of this preliminary study was to examine the effects of religious Bahá'í fasting (BF) on glycemic control and variability and compare these effects with time-restricted eating (TRE). In a three-arm randomized controlled trial, 16 subjects without diabetes were assigned to a BF, TRE, or control group.

Fasting in Science and Clinics: A Report on Proceedings from the International Scientific Symposium and Conference on Fasting in Berlin (June 2023).

Background: A fasting conference and scientific symposium on fasting were held in Berlin in June 2023. Researchers and clinicians from around the world shared new findings, clinical insights, and work in progress during a 3-day program.

Summary: Different fasting regimens, including prolonged, short-term, intermittent fasting, and time-restricted eating were discussed for preventive and therapeutic settings.

Spermidine is essential for fasting-mediated autophagy and longevity.

Caloric restriction and intermittent fasting prolong the lifespan and healthspan of model organisms and improve human health. The natural polyamine spermidine has been similarly linked to autophagy enhancement, geroprotection and reduced incidence of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases across species borders. Here, we asked whether the cellular and physiological consequences of caloric restriction and fasting depend on polyamine metabolism.

International consensus on fasting terminology.

Although fasting is increasingly applied for disease prevention and treatment, consensus on terminology is lacking. Using Delphi methodology, an international, multidisciplinary panel of researchers and clinicians standardized definitions of various fasting approaches in humans. Five online surveys and a live online conference were conducted with 38 experts, 25 of whom completed all 5 surveys.

Wellness or medicine? Use and perception of Ayurveda in Germany: data from an online-representative cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Ayurveda, South Asia's largest and most relevant system of Traditional Medicine, holds a legal status akin to conventional Western medicine in India and elsewhere. There is an almost complete lack of data on the use of Ayurveda in Germany. The aim of this study was to investigate Ayurveda's utilization patterns, entry points, and factors influencing its use and the perception of Ayurveda among the German population.

Effects of Prolonged Medical Fasting during an Inpatient, Multimodal, Nature-Based Treatment on Pain, Physical Function, and Psychometric Parameters in Patients with Fibromyalgia: An Observational Study.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a common chronic pain disorder and often occurs as a concomitant disease in rheumatological diseases. Managing FMS takes a complex approach and often involves various non-pharmacological therapies. Fasting interventions have not been in the focus of research until recently, but preliminary data have shown effects on short- and medium-term pain as well as on physical and psychosomatic outcomes in different chronic pain disorders.

Use and acceptance of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine in Germany-an online representative cross-sectional study.

Background: Older representative surveys show that Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) is used by about 60% of the German population. However, no data exists for the current nationwide situation. The main aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the current use and acceptance of TCIM in Germany.

The impact of cineole treatment timing on common cold duration and symptoms: Non-randomized exploratory clinical trial.

Introduction: Common cold (CC) symptoms arise from an inflammatory response treatable with cineole and generally peak within two days, which complicates research implementation. We therefore explored the benefits of early cineole administration with enrolment of participants prior to CC onset.

Methods: Out of 522 adults enrolled in our phase IV, open-label, non-randomized, exploratory clinical trial (EudraCT No.

InterVFast-effectiveness and acceptance of intermittent fasting in cardiac rehabilitation patients: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Research on intermittent fasting has shown that it can improve a variety of health outcomes, including blood sugar control, blood lipid levels and blood pressure. Only few studies document longer periods of fasting, especially in rehabilitation participants. Cardiac inpatient rehabilitation follows a multidisciplinary approach including change of health behaviour to reduce patients' risk of future cardiovascular events.

Patients' perspectives on prescription cannabinoid therapies: a cross-sectional, exploratory, anonymous, one-time web-based survey among German patients.

Introduction: Since cannabinoids were partially legalized as prescription medicines in Germany in 2017, they are mostly used when conventional therapies do not suffice. Ambiguities remain regarding use, benefits and risks. This web-based survey explored the perspectives of patients whose experiences are not well enough known to date.

Meditation-Based Lifestyle Modification in Mild-to-Moderate Depression: Outcomes and Moderation Effects of Spirituality.

Understanding the relevance of religion or spirituality (R/S) in the treatment of mental disorders is central to clinical and academic psychiatry. In this secondary analysis, associations of R/S with depression were investigated with respect to a new second-generation mindfulness-based intervention, the Meditation-Based Lifestyle Modification (MBLM) program. Different aspects of spirituality, spiritual coping, and spiritual engagement were assessed in 81 patients with a diagnosis of mild-to-moderate depression.

Effects of an Online Meditation Course on Quality of Life and Positive Emotions: A Prospective Observational Study (EXPANSION Study).

Several meditation interventions showed positive effects on physical and mental health. The aim of this study is a first evaluation of the (within-group) effects of a 21-day online meditation course of the "expansion method." For this exploratory observational study, parameters were assessed at baseline, at 1 month, and at a 3-month follow-up.

Effects of an Integrative Day Care Clinic Program with a Focus on Nature Therapy in a Hospital Park Setting on Quality of Life in Oncological Patients-A Non-Randomized Controlled Study.

Cancer often causes long-term physical and psychological impairments. Lifestyle modification and nature-based interventions (NBIs) can have a positive impact on patients' quality of life (QOL). This participants-blinded, non-randomized controlled study assessed parameters at weeks 0, 12, and 24, including, as a primary endpoint, QOL in cancer patients on the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) at week 12.

Protocol for a multicentre cross-sectional, longitudinal ambulatory clinical trial in rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson's disease patients analysing the relation between the gut microbiome, fasting and immune status in Germany (ExpoBiome).

Introduction: Chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease (PD) have recently been associated with a decreased diversity in the gut microbiome, emerging as key driver of various diseases. The specific interactions between gut-borne microorganisms and host pathophysiology remain largely unclear. The microbiome can be modulated by interventions comprising nutrition.

[Fasting - a potent modern therapy].

Therapeutic fasting has found its way into modern medicine in the last decade through a multitude of experimental work and animal studies as well as increasing clinical research. It is a procedure with a tradition dating back thousands of years and thus comes with a variety of different practices. What they all have in common, is the reduction of daily food intake for a limited period of time.

Intestinal Microbiota Reduction Followed by Fasting Discloses Microbial Triggering of Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovitis is dominated by monocytes/macrophages with inflammatory patterns resembling microbial stimulation. In search of triggers, we reduced the intestinal microbiome in 20 RA patients (open label study DRKS00014097) by bowel cleansing and 7-day fasting (≤250 kcal/day) and performed immune monitoring and microbiome sequencing. Patients with metabolic syndrome ( = 10) served as a non-inflammatory control group.

Effects of Prolonged Fasting during Inpatient Multimodal Treatment on Pain and Functional Parameters in Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Exploratory Observational Study.

Preliminary clinical data suggest that pain reduction through fasting may be effective for different diagnoses. This uncontrolled observational clinical study examined the effects of prolonged modified fasting on pain and functional parameters in hip and knee osteoarthritis. Patients admitted to the inpatient department of Internal Medicine and Nature-based Therapies of the Immanuel Hospital Berlin between February 2018 and December 2020 answered questionnaires at the beginning and end of inpatient treatment, as well as at 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge.

How Does Meditation-Based Lifestyle Modification Affect Pain Intensity, Pain Self-Efficacy, and Quality of Life in Chronic Pain Patients? An Experimental Single-Case Study.

Introduction: Chronic pain is a growing worldwide health problem and complementary and integrative therapy options are becoming increasingly important. Multi-component yoga interventions represent such an integrative therapy approach with a promising body of evidence.

Methods: The present study employed an experimental single-case multiple-baseline design.

[Recommendations of the committee on complementary medicine and nutrition in ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy, nutrition and Mediterranean diet].

Methods of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are appealing for many patients with rheumatic diseases. The scientific data are currently characterized by a large number of publications that stand in contrast to a remarkable shortage of valid clinical studies. The applications of CAM procedures are situated in an area of conflict between efforts for an evidence-based medicine and high-quality therapeutic concepts on the one hand and ill-founded or even dubious offers on the other hand.