Classification of Megathyrsus Maximus Accessions Grown in the Colombian Dry Tropical Forest by Nutritional Assessment During Contrasting Seasons

The diversity and use of tropical forages for cattle feeding are the protagonists in livestock systems. The production and nutritional quality of forages represent a strategy of continuous research in animal feeding to help mitigate the environmental impact generated by tropical livestock. The objective of this study was to classify the nutritional behavior in contrasting seasons and the relationship with agronomic traits of a collection of 129 CIAT (Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical) accessions of Megathyrsus Maximus established in the Colombian dry tropics. By means of the near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) technique, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were determined under rainy and dry seasons as fixed effects. We measured plant height, dry matter biomass (DMB) and flowering in field. Aspects such as plant height and DMB did not show correlation with nutritional aspects, whereas flowering was correlated with the content of structural carbohydrates. Despite genotype and precipitation affecting nutritional value, there is relative nutritional steadiness in NDF, ADF, and IVDMD between seasons for some accessions. According to the cluster analysis carried out for each season, it was evidenced that from the total collection, 51.2% of the accessions during the dry season and 19.4% of the accessions during the rainy season were classified with a better nutritional profile, thus, showing a higher number of materials with better nutritional behavior in the dry season. Both the genotypic characteristics of M. maximus and environmental conditions during contrasting seasons are factors that might influence the variability of the nutritional content, productive parameters, and flowering. Additionally, fodder material classification under Hotelling's T-squared test and Nutritional Classification Index suggests accessions that might be promising for resilient nutritional quality and adequate DMB, which proves that M. maximus could become an alternative for animal feeding and sustainable livestock production during critical dry periods in tropical agroecosystems.

Evaluating Knowledge and Stages of Nutritional Behavior Change in Diabetic Patients Covered by Comprehensive Health Service Centers in Ghayenat City in 2020

Background: Diabetes is one of the most common chronic and non-communicable metabolic diseases and one of the major public health problems. Lifestyle and diet are remarkable factors in controlling diabetes. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge and stages of nutritional behavior change in diabetic patients. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, a simple random sampling method was used to select 330 diabetic patients covered by comprehensive health service centers in Ghayenat city, South Khorasan Province, Iran. The research instrument addressed the participants’ demographic information, knowledge, and stages of nutritional behavior change in diabetic patients. The ordinal logistic regression was used to examine factors affecting behavior change. In this regard, the significance level was set to be P < 0.05. Results: The participants’ mean age was 57.86 ± 11.72 years, and 63.7% of the patients were female. The mean score of knowledge was 15.73 ± 2.61, and 52.8, 16.9, 8.9, 11.3, and 10.1 percent of the participants were in the maintenance, action, preparation, contemplation, and pre-contemplation stages. The ordinal Logistic regression model revealed that the main factors affecting behavior change were knowledge, level of income, and a family member with diabetes (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Given that about two-thirds of diabetic patients take no training course on diabetes, that above forty percent of these individuals have no proper knowledge about the disease, and that half of the patients are in the pre-maintenance stages of behavior change, holding a training course is of paramount importance for patients.

Factors influencing the nutritional behavior of Syrian migrants in Germany — results of a qualitative study

Background Syrian migrants represent the third-largest group of foreigners in Germany and are therefore potential users of health promotion initiatives, including nutrition programs. It is little known how (healthy) nutrition is understood and implemented by this group and which factors influence their experiences related to food and eating in the host country. Thus, this study aimed to explore the importance of (healthy) nutrition, facilitators, and barriers of a preferred diet; nutritional changes in relation to the country of origin; and how nutrition may change with increasing length of stay. Methods Thirty semi-structured qualitative interviews with Syrian migrants (male = 16, female = 14, 18–35 years, length of stay 10–68 months) were conducted in 2018. Seventeen migrants could be followed-up after 12 months and were interviewed in 2019 again and were asked for changes in their nutritional behavior. Interviews were conducted in German, English, or Arabic, transcribed and translated into English if necessary. For analysis, an abbreviated version of the Grounded Theory was used. Results We identified six overarching themes that described influencing factors on a favored diet in Germany over the course of stay: (1) managing everyday life; (2) intercultural contact with local residents; (3) social context of cooking and eating; (4) ambiguity toward Arabic food; (5) mistrust toward certain types of food; and (6) influence of postmigration stressors. In general, the importance of nutrition is high among Syrian migrants. However, daily stressors, the lack of practical knowledge of how to cook favored dishes, and food insecurity in the new food environment make it difficult to obtain a preferred diet. With increasing stay, many developed a higher awareness of healthy eating, mainly due to a new independence or influences from the social environment in Germany. Conclusion Results highlight the need for health promotion interventions to be more responsive to the specific needs of Syrian migrants, including nutrition. Syrian migrants differ in their capabilities, needs, and aims, and they should be addressed differently by health professionals, social services or migrant specific services. Future research should continue to focus on the living conditions of Syrian migrants and its influence on nutrition.

Hypercholesterolemia — as a marker of the study of nutritional behaviour in the elderly population

Исследование пищевого поведения (ПП) взрослого населения и оценка роли гиперхолестеринемии (ГХС) как маркера в выявлении его изъянов проведены в городе Баку на базе 3 городских поликлиник (пациенты), сопряженных с ними 3 средних школ и 5 детских садов (родители детей), а также 12 торговых объектов и офисов (работники). Состояние ПП определяли при помощи опросника DEВQ, в который включили блоки вопросов относительно количества и объема употребленных продуктов питания. Данные по их калорийности были взяты из «Большого справочника пищевых продуктов и блюд» (Москва, 2020). Обработано 1386 полностью заполненных анкет, у всех анкетированных исследовали портативной тест-системой «Accutrend Plus» кровь на ГХС. Статистическая обработка полученных результатов проведена с помощью критерия Стьюдента. Выявлена коррелятивная связь между калорийностью пищи и содержанием холестерина в крови (ґ = 0,82 ± 0,01) у 76,4 ± 2,4% анкетированных с нормальным уровнем холестерина в крови. Калорийность пищи не превышала 2250 ккал/сутки. При калорийности свыше 2500 ккал/сутки содержание холестерина в крови у анкетированных превышало 7,8 ммоль/л. Оказалось, что ПП у многих анкетированных характеризуется высококалорийным питанием и сопровождается ГХС. Норма калорийности пищи местной популяции населения не должна превышать 2250 ккал/сутки. ГХС может быть использована как маркер при выявлении изъянов в ПП населения. The study of the status of nutritional behaviour in the elderly population and assess the role of hypercholesterolemia as a marker in identifying its defects. The research was conducted in 3 city polyclinics, 3 secondary schools and 5 kindergartens, as well as 12 shopping centers and offices in Baku. The state of nutritional behavior was determined through DEBQ questionnaire. This questionnaire included questions about the amount and quantity of consumed food. 1386 fully completed questionnaires were formed, blood was taken from all participants in the questionnaire using «Accutrend Plus» portable device and checked for cholesterol. It was found that there is a correlation between the caloric content of food and the amount of cholesterol in the blood (ґ = 0,82 ± 0.01). In 76,2 ± 2,4% of the participants, in normal level of cholesterol in blood (< 5,0 mmol/l) caloric content of food did not exceed 2250 kcal/day. Cholesterol levels were higher than 7,8 mmol/l at levels above 2500 kcal/day. In the majority of the participants nutritional behavior is characterized by high calorie and is accompanied by an increase in blood cholesterol. The norm of food calories in the local population should not exceed 2250 kcal/day. Hypercholesterolemia can be used as a marker in the study of nutritional behavior defects.

HUBUNGAN JENIS KELAMIN DENGAN KEBIASAAN MEROKOK, CUCI TANGAN DAN PERILAKU GIZI DI MASA PANDEMI COVID 19

Background: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by corona virus. Smokers are the most vulnerable group form Covid-1. Dirty hands can spread disease by providing entry to pathogens, bacteria, or viruses. Handwashing could be effective and efficient prevention to prevent covid-19 infection.Objective: To determine the relationship between gender and smoking habits, handwashing and nutritional behavior among respondents.Methods: A descriptive-analytic study with a cross-sectional design. Respondents were 966 people who lived in Bengkulu Province. Data collection was carried out by online questionnaire which were distributed through WhatsApp media. Data analysis used the chi-square test.Results: There were significant relationship between gender and smoking habits (p = 0.003), gender and handwashing (p = 0.000), gender and nutritional behavior related with fresh food consumptions (p = 0.026). There were no relationship between gender and nutritional behavior related to preserved/instant foods consumption (p = 0.463), nutritional behavior and fruit-vegetable consumption habits (p = 0.090).Conclusion: There is a relationship between gender and smoking and handwashing habits.

And yet Again: Having Breakfast Is Positively Associated with Lower BMI and Healthier General Eating Behavior in Schoolchildren

Given the high prevalence of childhood overweight, school-based programs aiming at nutritional behavior may be a good starting point for community-based interventions. Therefore, we investigated associations between school-related meal patterns and weight status in 1215 schoolchildren. Anthropometry was performed on-site in schools. Children reported their meal habits, and parents provided family-related information via questionnaires. Associations between nutritional behavior and weight status were estimated using hierarchical linear and logistic regression. Analyses were adjusted for age, socio–economic status, school type, migration background, and parental weight status. Having breakfast was associated with a lower BMI-SDS (βadj = −0.51, p = 0.004) and a lower risk of being overweight (ORadj = 0.30, p = 0.009), while having two breakfasts resulting in stronger associations (BMI-SDS: βadj = −0.66, p < 0.001; risk of overweight: ORadj = 0.22, p = 0.001). Likewise, children who regularly skipped breakfast on school days showed stronger associations (BMI-SDS: β = 0.49, p < 0.001; risk of overweight: OR = 3.29, p < 0.001) than children who skipped breakfast only occasionally (BMI-SDS: β = 0.43, p < 0.001; risk of overweight: OR = 2.72, p = 0.032). The associations persisted after controlling for parental SES and weight status. Therefore, our data confirm the school setting as a suitable starting point for community-based interventions and may underline the necessity of national programs providing free breakfast and lunch to children.