bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants of appetite in the first year of life: Results from a prospective study of infants
Authors: Demetriou C A , Singhal A , Lanigan J , Iacovides P , Yiangou P , Hileti D 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Childhood obesity, a growing public health problem, was shown to be associated with appetite traits (ATs) in infancy but little research exists on the determinants of early appetite. We aimed to examine the association between parental, pregnancy and infant variables on ATs during the first year of life. We followed up 450 healthy term infants assessing Enjoyment of Food (EF), Food Responsiveness (FR), Satiety Responsiveness (SR) and Slowness in Eating (SE), using the Baby (at 2-4 weeks (wk) & 6m) and the Child (at 12m) Eating Behaviour Questionnaires. Associations between parental sociodemographic and lifestyle, pregnancy, infant feeding and anthropometric factors, and these ATs were investigated. Multivariable linear regression models were built for each AT, incorporating statistically significant variables from minimally adjusted models (sex, gestational age, and ethnicity).
Results primarily focus on ATs at 2-4wks, as later ATs were largely influenced by these values. Higher father’s BMI (β = 0.013, p = 0.022) was associated with increased EF at 2-4wks. Later gestational age (β = 0.106, p = 0.032), and gestational diabetes (β = 0.538, p = 0.002) were associated with higher FR 2-4wk while mixed feeding compared to exclusively breast feeding (β =-0.281, p = 0.013) with lower FR 2-4wk. Female sex (β = 0.174, p = 0.009) was positively, while gestational age (β=-0.076, 0.022), father’s educational attainment (β=-0.199, p = 0.003), father habitual smoking (β=-0.167, p = 0.020) and 4wk WFA z-score (β = 0.087, p = 0.037) were negatively associated with SR 2-4wk. Lastly, higher 4wk WFA z-score (β=-0.151, p = 0.012) and bottle feeding (β=-0.378, p = 0.003) were associated with decreased SE 2-4wk. Acknowledging that a causal association cannot be established in an observational study, this data suggests that parental lifestyle and pregnancy factors could influence infant ATs and hence risk of later obesity, highlighting the importance of preconception health in mitigating the problem of childhood obesity.

Key messages
• Appetite traits in early infancy are influenced by infant feeding and anthropometric variables, but also by parental and pregnancy characteristics.
• The importance of preconception health is paramount in mitigating the problem of childhood obesity.
Impact of MaNu dietary counselling on Oxidative Stress and Gestational Weight Gain during pregnancy
Authors: El Sherbiny S , Bellisario V , Ghelli F , Lenta E , Dalla Costa C , Bono R 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

According to the WHO guidelines, to counteract the excessive weight gain during pregnancy and to mitigate the increase in oxidative stress (OS) which naturally increases during pregnancy, a healthy lifestyle and a correct diet are crucial as preventive measures to promote health. The MaNu project was conceived precisely to control these factors through dietary counselling. We expect that pregnant women who voluntarily undergo an educational program consisting of specific and accurate dietary advice will be able to emphasize weight control and contain the increase in OS. Our randomized controlled trial (RCT) has a parallel group design and takes place in the Obstetrics and Clinical Nutrition Departments of Michele and Pietro Ferrero Hospital (Verduno, north-western Italy), where physiological pregnant women are enrolled between 12-17 gestational weeks (GWs). The educational intervention takes place between 12-24 GWs. Dietary habits were collected with a questionnaire and urine samples were analysed to quantify the OS using 15-F2t-isoprostane, malondialdehyde and total antioxidant power. The descriptive analyses are based on paired t-tests. Preliminary analyses on 76 women who completed two out of three time points (T0 and T1) indicate that, of women who received the intervention, 35% experienced excessive weight gain (based on guidelines), compared to 39% shown by controls. Following the counselling, the 15-F2t-isoprostane decreased significantly (mean T0=5.1 ng/ml vs. mean T1=3.5 ng/ml, p = 0.02). Concerning nutrient intake, a statistically significant reduction in sugar consumption has been found in the intervention group (mean T0=92.2 g vs. mean T1=83.3 g, p = 0.03). Conversely, no correlations have been detected between OS and the main pro and anti-oxidant macronutrients. Although promising, our findings need further verification since the RCT is still ongoing, and it is imperative to attain the anticipated sample size before drawing any definitive conclusions.

Key messages
• Dietary counselling during pregnancy should be implemented as a preventive strategy used to counteract potential pregnancy complications and ensure the well-being of both the mother and the baby.
• Healthy diet is essential to control the increase in oxidative stress levels during pregnancy and to prevent excessive weight gain, factors that can lead to the onset of pregnancy complications.
Influence of vegetable knowledge in preschooler’s vegetable consumption: Veggies4myHeart project
Authors: Novo R , Edra J , Vieito L , Lages M , Guarino M P , Simões Dias S , Braga-Pontes C 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Vegetable consumption among children is below recommended. Food rejection, especially vegetables, is common in preschool-aged children. Impoverished food knowledge is associated with this rejection. The Veggies4myHeart project aims to promote vegetable consumption and knowledge among preschoolers’. This study assesses the project’s effectiveness in increasing vegetable knowledge and consumption and whether increased knowledge influences vegetable consumption.

Methods
Veggies4myHeart is a prospective longitudinal study with children 2-6 years old attending preschools. Two preschools participated in a five-week intervention in the 2023/24 academic year. A distinctive pedagogical tool was tested in each preschool: a storybook and a digital game. Knowledge and vegetable consumption were assessed before and after the intervention. Knowledge was evaluated through a questionnaire with taxonomic categorization. Consumption was assessed by recording the portions of eight vegetables (carrot, lettuce, red cabbage, cucumber, tomato, onion, beetroot, and red bell pepper). Wilcoxon test was applied to compare vegetable knowledge and consumption before and after the intervention. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine the association between knowledge and vegetable consumption before and after the intervention.

Results
98 children (55.1% female, mean age 4.15 ± 0.868 years) participated. Statistically significant increases in both knowledge and total vegetable consumption were observed post-intervention in both preschools (p &lt; 0.001). A moderate correlation of 0.412 (p = 0.013) in the storybook group post-intervention suggests that increased knowledge may contribute to increased vegetable consumption.

Conclusions
This study demonstrates the potential of the Veggies4myHeart project as an effective strategy to promote knowledge about vegetables among preschool children, highlighting the critical role of educational interventions in promoting healthier dietary patterns.

Key messages
• To increase vegetable knowledge may lead to higher consumption in preschool children.
• Veggies4myHeart demonstrated its effectiveness as an educational project for preschool children.
Lunchbox content and dietary outcomes of Dutch primary school children explored by sociodemographics
Authors: Wargers A , Jansen W 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Most children fail to meet recommended guidelines for a healthy diet. Children living in low socioeconomic areas are less likely to have healthy eating behaviours. In this study we investigated the food Dutch primary school children bring from home, and their dietary, health and school related outcomes explored by sociodemographics.

Methods
5 primary schools, with high deprivation scores and a high percentage of overweight, have been included in this study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06058325). With observations in September 2023 we mapped the content of lunchboxes, including snacks, of children. Questionnaires for all parents and children in grade 5-8 focused on dietary and health outcomes of children and perceived class factors. Preliminary baseline data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Exploratory analyses will be conducted to show differences by sociodemographics (e.g. age, sex, parental financial stress).

Results
297 lunchboxes were observed, 98.7% contained sandwiches, half being brown bread. Most children brought fruit from home for either lunch or morning snack, 13.8% not at all. 21.9% brought vegetables. 135 children completed the questionnaire: 43.0% boys, mean age 9.3 years old (SD 1.12). Children ate fruit and vegetables on an average of 5.9 (SD 1.69) and 4.9 (SD 2.23) days a week. Whereas 80% of children eats fruit every day at school, only 20% of children eats vegetables every day at school. Most children perceived their health as good (89.3%) and felt happy (89.6%). On a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), they rated concentration, social climate and comfort in class an average of 3.8 (SD 1.05), 4.3 (SD 1.07) and 4.3 (SD 0.92) respectively.

Conclusions
Lunchboxes of Dutch primary school children mainly contain sandwiches. Whereas most children eat fruit at school, the majority of children do not eat vegetables at school. A healthy school lunch might increase vegetable consumption of children and could affect health and school related outcomes.

Key messages
• Most Dutch primary school children eat sandwiches during lunch at school, but in half of the cases this is not brown bread as recommended by nutritional guidelines.
• Most Dutch primary school children bring fruit to eat as snack or lunch, but no vegetables to eat at school. The majority also self-reported the lack of eating vegetables at school on a daily basis.
Double-sided effect of selenium on blood lipids: A dose-response meta-analysis
Authors: Urbano T , Vinceti M , Fiore G , Wise L A , Filippini T 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Selenium, a trace element with both nutritional and toxicological properties, has been suggested to increase cardiovascular risk, particularly concerning diabetes and blood pressure levels. However, the impact of selenium exposure on the risk of dyslipidemia remains uncertain. This meta-analysis explored the shape of the relation between selenium exposure and its effects on lipid profiles in the most relevant experimental human studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Materials and methods
The review was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022380432). Through a bibliographic search conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, we identified RCTs investigating the impact of selenium supplementation on lipid profile. We then compared the results between intervention and control groups and, whenever possible, evaluated the non-linear relationship using a dose-response approach.

Results
We could include 26 RCTs involving different populations, i.e. healthy individuals, pregnant women, and subjects with health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer’s dementia. Study endpoints were levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides. Our dose-response analysis indicated that selenium supplementation exceeding 200 µg/day adversely affected total cholesterol, HDL, and triglyceride levels. Hence, a threshold for such a detrimental effect of selenium was observed on total and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while opposite and inconsistent results emerged for levels below 200 µg/day and for LDL-cholesterol. Blood selenium levels at the end of the studies were positively associated with adverse effects on all endpoints.

Conclusions
This first dose-response meta-analysis of the effects of selenium on blood lipids highlights the potentially adverse effects of this trace element, in the amount and the chemical forms used in the trials.

Key messages
• Elevated selenium levels correlated with adverse effects on lipid profile.
• Selenium doses exceeding 200 µg/day showed adverse effects on total and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels.
Evaluation of front-of-pack labeling’s impact on unhealthy food consumption in Israeli households
Authors: Samuel H , Katz E , Maoz Breuer R , Blaychfeld Magnazi M , Fliss Isakov N , Endevelt R 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
In 2020, Israel introduced front-of-pack labeling (FOPL), marking unhealthy foods high in sugar/salt/saturated fat in red and Mediterranean diet-conforming foods in green, aiming to facilitate healthy choices through clear nutrition information.

Methods
Two cross-sectional telephone surveys assessed food purchasing, red/green food consumption frequency, label exposure, and perceived impact before labeling (944 households, 2019) and 3 years post-implementation (500 households, 2023).

Results
Over 90% of respondents in 2023 reported seeing red labels on packages. Nearly 70% checked for red labels when shopping, vs. only 48% who examined the full Nutrition Facts panel on the back of the package. 60% reported preferring unlabeled alternatives within unhealthy categories. Although 50% reported that compared to the period before the labeling, they purchased fewer red-labeled products, a significant decrease in purchasing rates between timepoints was found only for 2 out of 11 unhealthy food categories-sugary drinks (which during 2022 were also taxed by sugar content) and salty snacks. At both timepoints, rates of purchasing and consumption frequency of unhealthy foods were higher among households with children, compared to other households. Multivariate analysis showed that having children under 18, lower education and bigger household size predicted a higher overall unhealthy consumption score. Red label checking was associated with better scores.

Conclusions
FOPL raised awareness and shows potential for reducing unhealthy consumption, especially when combined with policies like sugar taxation. Their impact on reducing purchases of nutritionally valueless foods (snacks/sugary drinks) is highly valuable. However, red-labeled food consumption remained high among households with children, a strong predictor of higher unhealthy consumption scores. Continued label promotion, child-targeted interventions, and product reformulation incentives are recommended.

Key messages
• FOPL shows potential of enhancing healthy choices especially when combined with supportive policies.
• Results regarding households with children highlight the need for continued promotion, child-targeted interventions, and product reformulation incentives for impacting long-term habits.
Nutrition of children up to one year of age what public health topic
Authors: Zemanová M , Mičíková L , Petráková A , Hujová A , Váverková B , Puhlová E , Vostrý M , Cmorej P , Lulková M , Rothová M 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Nutrition is one of the most important factors for a person that affects the quality and length of life. Nutrition has a fundamental influence on the maintenance of health or the development of disease and participates in the correct growth and development of an individual. Nutrition is especially important in the early stages of life, when a child’s organism develops dramatically. Mothers have the greatest influence on a child’s nutrition, and therefore it is advisable to educate them appropriately and also educate them early, from child birth or before. And early nutrition is provided through breastfeeding.

Objectives
To improve the knowledge of healthcare workers in the field of breastfeeding and nutrition of children up to one year of age. To strengthen the breastfeeding skills of mothers. To motivate healthcare workers to educate mothers in maternity wards and GP offices.

Results
Using a questionnaire, we analyzed the knowledge of 716 mothers of children under two years of age. 91 % of female respondents knew that the child should be breastfed according to his/her needs. Only 66 % of women were educated and informed about the importance and technique of breastfeeding. Educational material was prepared and distributed for midwives, nurses and doctors on breastfeeding and feeding children up to one year of age.

Conclusions
The level of awareness of health professionals about breastfeeding and nutrition is still insufficient. There is a need to continue to educate and support healthcare workers in this area and to motivate them in providing information to mothers.

Key messages
• Breastfeeding and feeding children up to one year of age are important for a child’s health.
• The advisory activity of healthcare workers is key to improving public health. Health workers should help mothers not only with advice but also with practical help with breastfeeding.
Revealed and stated preferences for sharing of patient-reported data in Austria
Authors: Drexler S 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objectives
Routine collection of health data is essential for creating sustainable, efficient, and equitable health systems. While administrative health data are collected automatically, successful routine collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) depends on voluntary participation. The aim of this study is to investigate how to increase participation in routine patient-reported data collection.

Methods
This mixed methods study used representative survey data from the Austrian population aged 18-70 (N = 1260) and 15 semi-structured narrative interviews with citizens and health data experts collected in 2024. Survey respondents were shown examples of PREMs and PROMs and indicated their willingness to share them, depending on the recipient and purpose. Interviewees answered the same questions while providing insight into their decision-making process, which was analyzed using thematic analysis. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to assess differences in willingness to share across recipients and data collection purposes.

Results
Survey respondents were more willing to share PREMs than PROMs (“rather yes” vs. “rather no”, p &lt; 0.001). One explanation given in the interviews is that PROMs are more personal and convey sensitive information. In terms of sharing PROMs, people were most likely to share with their GP (81%) and least likely to share with private companies (7%). Facilitators for sharing identified in the interviews were improving personal care and the health system, while barriers were use for profit generation and fear of negative consequences for the person sharing.

Conclusions
The results suggest handling the collection of PROMs demands greater caution compared to PREMs. Furthermore, clearly communicating personal and societal benefits arising from the collection and analysis of self-reported health data may increase participation in routine self-reported health data collection.

Key messages
• The collection of self-reported health data depends on voluntary participation. Clearly communicating personal and societal benefits of sharing self-reported data can motivate participation.
• Self-reported data collection is essential for sustainable and efficient health systems. Compared to PREMs, people are more reluctant to share PROMs because they contain sensitive information.
Primary clinics achieving regular follow-up of patients: Teamwork aspects among healthcare staff
Authors: Khazen M , Golan Cohen A , Rose AJR 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Backgrounds
Studies have shown that more temporally regular primary care visits, or visits more evenly spaced in time, are associated with improved patient outcomes. However, no study has examined what clinic staff can do to encourage greater temporal regularity (TR). We aimed to understand factors related to healthcare staff dynamics that contribute to higher TR for adults with chronic conditions.

Methods
The study is part of a two-stage mixed methods project. In the first stage, we ranked clinics according to their TR level. In this qualitative stage, we interviewed staff at 6 clinics with extremely high TR (regular follow-up with primary care physician, or PCP), and 6 clinics with extremely low TR. Interviews were conducted with 15 PCPs, 12 nurses, 15 administrative staff, and 4 pharmacists between July 2022- September 2023. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using Atlas qualitative analysis software.

Findings
Themes emerged regarding best ways to promote regular follow-up of patients with chronic conditions. Strategies included having a defined system to reach out to no-show patients, having routine staff meetings to discuss no-shows, adapting workflow to meet the needs of challenging patients, dealing with bureaucracy on patients’ behalf, informal channels of communication with patients, and consulting social workers more often. Relational aspects among staff members at high TR clinics emphasized flat as opposed to hierarchical relationships, as well as high levels of teamwork.

Conclusions
Teamwork between staff members in primary care settings can contribute to more proactive care delivery, with greater potential to prevent long-term complications. The findings suggest that a high-functioning multidisciplinary care team that focuses on creating the right sorts of interactions and teamwork among staff members, and uses proactive strategies to help engage patients, can contribute to more temporally regular care and thus improved outcomes.

Key messages
• Stronger teamwork and flat relationships between staff members in primary care settings can result in proactive medicine and developing strategies that improve patients’ regular follow-ups.
• Programs focusing on how medical staff utilize their dynamics/relations to improve health outcomes and how doctors’ role align with the staff, can facilitate regular follow-ups of challenging patients.