Publications by authors named "L N Sibeko"

Article Synopsis
  • Gut microbiota significantly affects gut health, but its role in diseases like breast cancer is less understood, especially how early-life gut dysbiosis might contribute to tumor development later on.
  • In a study with female mice, those fed a high-fat diet during a critical growth period showed notable changes in their gut microbiome and subsequent disruption in mammary tissue markers, indicating potential links to breast cancer risk.
  • The findings suggest that a high-fat diet during early life alters gut microbiome diversity and is associated with metabolic and inflammatory changes in the mammary environment, potentially influencing breast cancer development.
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Background: Children's nutrition in Africa, especially among those displaced by conflicts, is a critical global health concern. Adequate nutrition is pivotal for children's well-being and development, yet those affected by displacement confront distinctive challenges. This scoping review seeks to enhance our current knowledge, filling gaps in understanding nutritional and associated health risks within this vulnerable population.

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Background: Breastfeeding and human milk have well-documented health benefits for newborn infants, particularly those who are sick. However, breastfeeding rates and human milk feeding among infants in neonatal intensive units (NICU) in Thailand are still low; thus, breastfeeding promotion and support are required for Thai mothers of premature infants. Newly graduated nurses can play a critical role within the healthcare support system and can have a significant impact on improving breastfeeding practices in the NICU.

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Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) increases risk for morbidity and mortality. Food-based approaches offer one strategy to improve vitamin A status. This systematic review assessed evidence of the effects of food-based approaches on the vitamin A status of women and children under 5 y.

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Objective: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) has serious public health consequences including morbidity and mortality for populations in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially for children under 5 years and pregnant women. LMICs are at greater risk of VAD, in part due to low levels of consumption of vitamin A-rich foods most of which are plant-based, such as orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP), with lower bioavailability than animal sources of the vitamin A. Food-based approaches such as biofortification of OFSP, including promoting the consumption of vitamin A-rich biofortified staple crops, has been shown to be potentially effective in improving the status of vitamin A and other micronutrients.

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