Dietary Phytic Acid, Dephytinization, and Phytase Supplementation Alter Trace Element Bioavailability-A Narrative Review of Human Interventions.

Background: Phytic acid is abundant in plant-based diets and acts as a micronutrient inhibitor for humans and non-ruminant animals. Phytases are enzymes that break down phytic acid, releasing micronutrients and enhancing their bioavailability, particularly iron and zinc. Deficiencies in iron and zinc are significant public health problems, especially among populations with disease-associated malnutrition or those in developing countries consuming phytic acid-rich diets.

Longitudinal changes in preschoolers' adiposity indicators according to compliance with 24-hour movement behavior guidelines: results from the ToyBox-study.

Background: There is a lack of studies evaluating longitudinal changes in adiposity indicators and the association with 24-hour movement behavior guidelines in preschoolers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate associations between changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) z-scores, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio, and compliance with the 24-hour movement behavior guidelines in three- to six-year-old children from a European sample.

Methods: In total, data from a European sample of 719 preschoolers (50.

Growth and gut comfort of healthy term infants exclusively fed with a partially hydrolysed protein-based infant formula: a randomized controlled double-blind trial.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate growth and gut comfort of healthy infants fed with a partially hydrolysed cow's milk protein-based infant formula (pHF) compared to a standard intact cow's milk protein-based formula (IPF).

Methods: A double-blind, multi-center, randomized, controlled trial was performed. Healthy full-term, exclusively formula-fed infants ( = 345), aged ≤28 days were allocated to consume either a pHF ( = 173) or an IPF ( = 172) until the age of 17 weeks.

Longitudinal associations between food parenting practices and dietary intake in preschool children: The ToyBox Study.

Introduction: Food Parenting Practices (FPPs) include the practices parents use in the act of feeding their children, which may further influence their health.

Objectives: To assess associations between changes in FPPs (permissiveness, food availability, guided choices, water encouragement, rules and limits and the use of food as reward) over 1 year and dietary intake (water, energy-dense/nutrient-poor and nutrient-dense foods) at follow-up in 4- to 6-year-old preschool-aged children.

Methods: Longitudinal data from the control group of the ToyBox study, a cluster-randomized controlled intervention study, was used (NCT02116296).

The Effect of Shift Working on Dietary Patterns of Healthcare Practitioners during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Health professionals' working schedules often do not allow them to follow a balanced way of life, and the nature of their work can affect their weight and eating habits. The aim of the present study is to shed some light on the impact of night shift working on the dietary practices of healthcare practitioners in Greece. This was a cross-sectional study.

Probiotics Supplementation during Pregnancy: Can They Exert Potential Beneficial Effects against Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes beyond Gestational Diabetes Mellitus?

Background: Probiotics, as supplements or food ingredients, are considered to exert promising healthy effects when administered in adequate quantity. Probiotics' healthy effects are related with the prevention of many diseases, as well as decreasing symptom severity. Currently, the most available data concerning their potential health effects are associated with metabolic disorders, including gestational diabetes mellitus.

Chrononutrition in the Prevention and Management of Metabolic Disorders: A Literature Review.

Background: The concept of time-restricted eating (TRE) or time-restricted feeding (TRF) promotes daily periods of feeding and fasting to determine whole-body physiology. Chronic misalignment of circadian rhythms or chrono-disruption is related to an increased risk of diverse metabolic disorders. The progression of non-communicable diseases seems to be affected by the timing of meals.

Determinants of lifestyle and body weight status among breast cancer survivors with overweight/obesity and perspectives towards the development of weight loss interventions: a qualitative study with health professionals from Greece.

The current study assessed the views and attitudes of health professionals (HPs) regarding factors associated with energy balance-related health behaviours and weight management in breast cancer survivors (BCS) with overweight and obesity. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 21 HPs (oncologists, dietitians- nutritionists, physical education instructors, mental health professionals, and nurses) from Attica and Thessaly. Thematic analysis was used to analyse and present the data.

Αssessment of Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status of Former Opioid Users Undergoing Detoxification Process.

Rationale: Opioid dependence is often associated with impaired nutritional status, weight changes, nutritional deficiencies, and increased sugar consumption. Scientific quantified data on the dietary habits and intake of such patients are sparse.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study.

Addressing a Growing Crisis: Exploring Novel Insights and Solutions in Research on Nutrition and Childhood and Adolescent Obesity.

Given the escalating global prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it is consequently crucial to address childhood obesity by promoting lifestyle adjustments, as exemplified in the World Health Organization's Package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease Interventions for Primary Healthcare [...

Physicians' Words, Patients' Response: The Role of Healthcare Counselling in Enhancing Beneficial Lifestyle Modifications for Patients with Cardiometabolic Disorders: The IACT Cross-Sectional Study.

: Preventive cardiology aims to educate patients about risk factors and the importance of mitigating them through lifestyle adjustments and medications. However, long-term adherence to recommended interventions remains a significant challenge. This study explores how physician counselling contributes to successful behavior changes in various aspects of lifestyle.

Barriers and facilitators of healthy lifestyle and perspectives towards the development of weight loss programmes. Focus groups with post-treatment breast cancer survivors in Greece.

The present study aimed to identify the factors that prohibit or enable breast cancer survivors from adopting a healthy lifestyle, as well as to record patients' suggestions towards developing a weight-loss lifestyle intervention. Twenty-three breast cancer survivors participated in four online, semi-structured focus groups in Greece. All discussions were video-recorded and transcribed verbatim.

The Level of Adherence to the ESPEN Guidelines for Energy and Protein Intake Prospectively Influences Weight Loss and Nutritional Status in Patients with Cancer.

Nutrition therapy aims to prevent weight loss and its health consequences in patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to assess Greek patients' adherence to the ESPEN guidelines for oncology patients and its prospective effect on their body weight (BW) and nutritional status. In total, 152 patients with cancer were recruited from the Attikon University Hospital, Greece, and provided data in 2019 (baseline) and 2020 (follow-up) (drop-out rate = 28.

Exploring Patient Beliefs and Medication Adherence in the Mediterranean Context: A Cross-Sectional Study in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases and Cardiometabolic Disorders in Greece-The IACT-Study.

Background: Evidence has shown that poor adherence to vascular medications contributes to a considerable proportion of all cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and mortality. The aim of the present work was to examine patients' beliefs/views that affect their level of adherence to the assigned medical treatment in the context of a multi-center study in Greece.

Methods: Between July 2022 and April 2023, 1988 patients (1180 females) with established cardiovascular disease or relevant cardiometabolic disorders were chosen from seven medical centers in Greece.

The body mass index increases the genetic risk scores' ability to predict risk of hepatic damage in European adolescents: The HELENA study.

Background: Hepatic disorders are often complex and multifactorial, modulated by genetic and environmental determinants. During the last years, the hepatic disease has been progressively established from early stages in life. The use of genetic risk scores (GRS) to predict the genetic susceptibility to a particular phenotype among youth has gained interest in recent years.

Longitudinal associations between diet quality, sedentary behaviours and physical activity and risk of overweight and obesity in preschool children: The ToyBox-study.

Background: Lifestyle behaviours related to diet and physical activity are associated with increased risk of obesity and evidence suggests that associations might be stronger when a synergetic effect is examined.

Objective: To examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between diet, screen time (ST) and step recommendations and risk of overweight and obesity in European preschoolers participating in the ToyBox-study.

Methods: In this cluster-randomized clinical trial, 718 children (51.

Development of a Functional Acceptable Diabetic and Plant-Based Snack Bar Using Mushroom () Powder.

Consumers' growing concern about health and well-being has led to increased interest in functional foods. This research aims to evaluate the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of a functional plant-based (PB) snack bar enriched with powder. The snack bar formulations exhibited a wide range of flavor and textural characteristics.

Assessment of Diet Quality in Children and Adolescents with Overweight or Obesity in Greece.

The adoption of healthy nutritional habits constitutes one of the most important determinants of healthy growth and development in childhood. Few studies in Greece have examined children's diet quality using diet indices. The present study aimed to assess the diet quality of a large cohort of children and adolescents with overweight or obesity.

Depression and Anxiety Mediate the Associations between Nutritional Status, Functional Capacity, and Quality of Life in Patients with Cancer.

Cancer patients are at risk of malnutrition, which influences their functional status, mental health (MH), and quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to examine the associations between nutritional status, functional capacity, and aspects of QoL in cancer patients, as well as the potential mediating role of depression and anxiety in these associations. Patients with various types of cancer ( = 152) were recruited from the Attikon University Hospital, Greece.

Changes in body weight and body composition during the menstrual cycle.

Objectives: The general perception is that menstrual cycle is a factor related to body weight and body composition fluctuations in women. The lack of a standardized methodology of the so far conducted studies has led to controversial results. The aim of the current study is to identify if there are any changes in body weight and body composition during the menstrual cycle.

GATEKEEPER's Strategy for the Multinational Large-Scale Piloting of an eHealth Platform: Tutorial on How to Identify Relevant Settings and Use Cases.

Background: The World Health Organization's strategy toward healthy aging fosters person-centered integrated care sustained by eHealth systems. However, there is a need for standardized frameworks or platforms accommodating and interconnecting multiple of these systems while ensuring secure, relevant, fair, trust-based data sharing and use. The H2020 project GATEKEEPER aims to implement and test an open-source, European, standard-based, interoperable, and secure framework serving broad populations of aging citizens with heterogeneous health needs.

Cardiometabolic Patient-Related Factors Influencing the Adherence to Lifestyle Changes and Overall Treatment: A Review of the Recent Literature.

It is well acknowledged that most of the modifiable risk factors for Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) can be averted through lifestyle modifications beyond medication adherence. This review aims to critically evaluate the cardiometabolic (CM) patient-related factors that influence the adherence to lifestyle changes studied alone and/or in combination with medication. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed articles from 2000 to 2023 retrieved 379 articles.

Relative validity of the Planetary Health Diet Index by comparison with usual nutrient intakes, plasma food consumption biomarkers, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among European adolescents: the HELENA study.

Purpose: The EAT-Lancet Commission proposed an evidence-based global reference diet to improve human health within planetary boundaries. Recently, the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) was developed based on the EAT-Lancet recommendations and validated among Brazilian adults. However, the relative validity of the PHDI in adolescents has yet to be assessed.

Identifying the effective behaviour change techniques in nutrition and physical activity interventions for the treatment of overweight/obesity in post-treatment breast cancer survivors: a systematic review.

Purpose: Updated evidence for the treatment of obesity in cancer survivors includes behavioural lifestyle interventions underpinning at least one theoretical framework. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of theory-based lifestyle interventions for the treatment of overweight/obesity in breast cancer survivors and to report effective behavioural change techniques (BCTs) and components used in these interventions.

Methods: Four databases were searched for RCTs published between database inception and July 2022.