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Rock musician Mikko von Hertzen speaks with Dental Nursing about his position as a psoriasis and oral health advocate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a significant portion of the population adopting veganism and conflicting views among nutrition professionals regarding the necessity of vitamin B12 supplementation, this review aims to explore existing studies evaluating interventions through food supplementation. It focuses on the impact of vitamin B12 deficiency across different demographics. The present study seeks to understand how research has addressed the relationship between the rise in veganism and vitamin B12 deficiency over the past decade. A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA flow diagram. Studies from 2010 to 2023 were identified using Boolean operators and key terms in electronic databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EBSCO (Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts, and Academic Search Complete). Out of 217 articles identified, 70 studies were included. The topical analysis categorized the studies into three groups: those associating vitamin B12 deficiency with diseases (n = 14), those analyzing the dietary habits of vegetarian individuals (vegan or not) without a specific focus on vitamin B12 (n = 49), and those addressing food guides and nutrition institution positions (n = 7). The authors concluded that vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent among vegans due to limited consumption of animal products. For vegetarians, supplementation is an efficient means of treating and preventing deficiency; a daily dose of 50 to 100 micrograms is advised. There are still significant gaps in the research, nevertheless, such as the absence of randomized controlled trials evaluating various forms or dosages of vitamin B12 among vegetarians and the requirement for more information and awareness of the vitamin’s significance in vegan diets.

Abstract Background A vegetarian diet is a popular alternative to the casual diet - it is considered healthy, and was proven to positively affect cardiovascular health. The Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) progression is a major issue in the healthcare system, and constitutes a leading cause of death for 1.5% of the global population. The objective of this systematic review was to investigate the potential impact of a vegetarian diet on kidney function in CKD patients. Method Our systematic review focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compared the effects of a vegetarian diet (experimental) and a standard omnivore diet (comparator) in terms of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in CKD patients. Inclusion criteria were based on PICO elements, with two researchers involved in browsing the Cochrane and Pubmed search engines. The investigation was performed using the PRISMA 2020 Checklist and PRISMA 2020 flow diagram. The search terms included: ‘vegetarian diet’ AND ‘nephropathy’, ‘eGFR’, ‘albuminuria’, ‘chronic kidney disease’. Bias assessment was performed using RoB 2 tool to determine the validity of the data collected from studies. Results Four RCTs with a total of 346 participants were included in the presented systematic review. Two largest RCTs reported an increase in eGFR following a change to a vegetarian diet (p = 0.01 and p = 0.001). Another two found no significant differences between the experimental and control groups, also these trials were associated with a high risk of bias in terms of missing data outcome and the randomization process. Conclusions The findings collected in this systematic review suggest that a vegetarian diet improves renal filtration function in CKD patients. Therefore, it seems essential to conduct further research involving the impact of the diet on the progression of CKD.

Summary: Vegetarianism is defined as a dietary pattern that is based on abstaining from the consumption of animal products. According to this dietary pattern processed foods have been considered unhealthy, and the consumption of raw plant-based diets and un-processed foods has been encouraged, however, these effects have not been fully proven and there are contradictions. The aim of the current study was to conduct a systematic literature review of the available evidence to assess and investigate the effects of a raw vegetarian diet with a review of clinical trial studies. The literature search to find related studies were performed through three scientific databases, including PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar with related keywords. Based on our findings from the literature, a raw vegan diet with more than 90% raw food cannot be recommended for a long time due to micronutrient deficiencies as well as related complications. In order to investigate possible advantages and disadvantages, it seems well-designed clinical trials are necessary to clarify these effects.

Abstract Background Like many developed nations, the prevalence of both older people and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Singapore is rising. This demographic shift predisposes the population to greater risks of both frailty and its complications that can be further aggravated by vitamin B12 deficiency —a highly prevalent associated variable that is potentially modifiable. Indeed, B12 deficiency adversely impacts the neuro-cognitive, haematological, and even the immune systems; jeopardizing our aspirations for successful aging. Despite this, many patients with T2DM in primary care remain unscreened due to a lack of clear guidelines for regular B12 screening. We therefore investigated the determinants of B12 deficiency in community-dwelling patients with T2DM, with the aim of profiling patients most in need of B12-deficiency screening. Methods B12 deficiency was evaluated using a retrospective cross-sectional cohort of 592 primary-care patients with T2DM, recruited from 2008 to 2011 from a Polyclinic in Singapore. Results B12 deficiency (serum B12 < 150 pmol/L) was present in 164 (27.7%) patients and was associated with a higher “metformin daily dose” (OR = 2.79; 95% CI, 2.22–3.48, P < 0.001); “age ≥ 80 years” (OR = 2.86; 95% CI, 1.31–6.25, P = 0.008); “vegetarianism” (OR = 21.61; 95% CI, 4.47–104.44, P < 0.001); and “folate deficiency” (OR = 2.04; 95% CI, 1.27–3.28, P = 0.003). Conversely, “Prescribed B12 supplementation” was associated with a lower odds of B12 deficiency (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.22–0.61, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.803 (95% CI: 0.765–0.842). “Metformin daily dose” correlated interchangeably with “Metformin 1-year cumulative dose” (r = 0.960; P < 0.01), and also associated linearly with “duration of diabetes” (B = 0.113, P < 0.0001). Independent of the duration of T2DM, 29.3% of the B12-deficient patients needed > 1 screening test before the detection of B12 deficiency. Conclusions Primary-care screening for B12 deficiency should be part of the annual laboratory review of patients with T2DM regardless of the duration of T2DM —especially when they are prescribed ≥ 1.5 g/day of metformin; ≥ 80 years old; vegetarian; and not prescribed B12 supplementation. Concurrent evaluation for associated folate (vitamin B9) deficiency is essential when addressing T2DM-associated B12 deficiencies. Current “Metformin daily dose” is an accurate proxy of both cumulative metformin exposure and duration of T2DM.

Abstract Background In recent years, there has been great interest in the dietary practices of vegetarians in addition to an increasing awareness of the potential benefits of vegetarian diets. However, there are insufficient data on the spread of vegetarianism in Arab countries. The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge and attitudes about vegetarianism and associated factors in the Saudi population and to understand the reasons for its growing prevalence. Method This is a cross-sectional study began in May 2020 and ended in September 2020. Researchers distributed the questionnaire electronically through social media. Data were collected electronically and exported to Excel by the researchers .The electronic questionnaire comprised three sections: sociodemographic questions, reasons for following a vegetarian diet, and beliefs and knowledge about vegetarianism. Results There were 3,035 responses, of which 80.2% of respondents were female and 19.8% were male. Participant were aged 18–65. Vegetarians represented 37.5% (15.7% semivegetarians, 8.1% pescovegetarians, 64.3% lacto-ovo-vegetarians, and 11.3% vegans), and the rest were nonvegetarians. The majority of the vegetarian participants (92.9%) had a low vegetarianism knowledge level. Health issues, followed by ethical and environmental concerns, were the most common motivators for adopting a vegetarian diet; these reasons were cited by 72.5%, 59.3%, and 47.9% of participants, respectively. Factors associated with increased vegetarianism were engaging in exercise for half an hour to two hours, while factors associated with decreased vegetarianism were male, aged 51–64 years, being married, having a higher education, working in the health sector, being a housewife, and having an income between 5,000 and 10,000 SR/month. Conclusion Vegetarianism appears to be a growing phenomenon among the Saudi population. Increased awareness of health issues and the desire to live a healthy lifestyle might be the strongest motives. This study offers an opportunity to better understand vegetarianism in Saudi Arabia along with the possibility of expanding vegetarian food choices for the general public.

Frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables in the daily diet may alleviate the risk of developing chronic diseases. Daucus carota L. (carrot), Beta vulgaris L. (beetroot) Phyllanthus emblica L. (amla), and Lycopersicon esculentum M (tomatoes) are traditionally consumed functional foods that contain a high concentration of antioxidants, ascorbic acid, polyphenols, and numerous phytochemicals. This study assessed how three distinct preparation methods affect the phenolic, flavonoid, carotenoid, and ascorbic acid contents, antioxidant level, and cytotoxicity of the combined fruit extract. The fruit samples were taken in the ratio of carrot (6): beetroot (2): tomato (1.5): amla (0.5) and processed into a lyophilized slurry (LS) extract, lyophilized juice (LJ) extract, and hot-air oven-dried (HAO) extract samples. The sample extracts were assessed for their phytoconstituent concentrations and antioxidant and cytotoxic potential. The total phenolic content in LS, LJ, and HAO extracts was 171.20 ± 0.02, 120.73 ± 0.02, and 72.05 ± 0.01 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g, respectively and the total flavonoid content was 23.635 ± 0.003, 20.754 ± 0.005, and 18.635 ± 0.005 mg quercetin equivalent/100 g, respectively. Similarly, total ascorbic acid content, carotenoids, and antioxidant potential were higher in the LS and LJ extracts than in HAO. Overall, the LS extract had a substantially higher concentration of phytochemicals and antioxidants, as well as higher cytotoxic potential, compared to the LJ and HAO extracts. The LS extract was tested in the MKN-45 human gastric cancer cell line to demonstrate its effective antioxidant potential and cytotoxicity. Hence, lyophilization (freezing) based techniques are more effective than heat-based techniques in preserving the phytoconstituents and their antioxidant and cytotoxic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoimmune thyroid diseases are on the rise worldwide, and such a rapid increase is mainly driven by environmental factors related to changed lifestyles in "modern" societies. In this context, diet seems to play a crucial role. An unhealthy high-energy diet, rich in animal fat and proteins, salt and refined sugars (the so-called "Western diet") negatively influences the risk of autoimmunity by altering the immune balance and the gut microbiota composition, enhancing oxidative stress and promoting inflammation. In contrast, the Mediterranean diet represents a unique model of healthy eating, characterized by a high intake of food from vegetable sources, a low consumption of saturated fats in favor of unsaturated fats (mainly, olive oil), a moderate consumption of fish (typically, the small oily fishes) and dairy products, as well as a moderate consumption of wine at meals, and a low intake of meat. Thanks to its nutritional components, the Mediterranean Diet positively influences immune system function, gut microbiota composition, and redox homeostasis, exerting anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. The present review was aimed at exploring the existing knowledge on the correlations between dietary habits and thyroid autoimmunity, to evaluate the role of the Mediterranean diet as a protective model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy dietary patterns are associated with lower inflammation and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and adherence can be measured using diet quality scores. Inflammation is traditionally measured with C-reactive protein (hsCRP), however there is interest in novel pro-inflammatory markers platelet-activating factor (PAF) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) that are specifically involved in endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between PAF, Lp-PLA2, hsCRP, and six diet scores. One hundred adults (49 ± 13 years, 31% male) with variable CVD risk were recruited. Fasting PAF, Lp-PLA2 and hsCRP and usual dietary intake were measured. Adherence to Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Dairy-adjusted DASH, Vegetarian Lifestyle Index, Healthy Eating Index for Australians (HEIFA), Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) and PREDIMED-Plus (erMedDiet) scores were calculated. Correlations and multiple regressions were performed. hsCRP, but not PAF, independently correlated with several diet scores. Lp-PLA2 independently correlated with Vegetarian Lifestyle Index only in unadjusted models. A one-point increase in adherence to the DASH Index, the Dairy-adjusted DASH Index and the Vegetarian Lifestyle Index was associated with a 30%, 30%, and 33% reduction in hsCRP levels, respectively. Smaller effects were seen with the other diet scores with a one-point increase in adherence resulting in a 19%, 22% and 16% reduction in hsCRP with HEIFA, MEDAS, erMedDiet scores, respectively. The lack of stronger associations between the novel markers of inflammation and diet scores may be due to confounding by COVID-19 infection and vaccination programs, which prevents any firm conclusion on the relationship between PAF, Lp-PLA2 and healthy dietary patterns. Future research should aim to examine the relationship with these novel markers and healthy dietary patterns in a non-pandemic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study aimed to explore vegan mothers' experiences and decision-making processes when feeding their children (up to 3 years old). We conducted a qualitative photo-elicitation interview study in the United Kingdom. Eight vegan mothers provided 5 photographs of food choices they had made for their children and completed online photo-elicitation interviews to discuss these images. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five themes were developed: role modeling eating behavior, shared decision-making, nutritional guidance for vegan parents, fear of judgment for being vegan, and desire for convenience. Findings illustrate the complexity of the decision-making process and highlight the need for targeted resources for vegan parents. There is a need for awareness raising and training for health care professionals and the development of vegan-specific child-feeding resources to facilitate the provision of evidence-based nutritional guidance for vegan parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutritional support often focuses on cooking and food skills such as food selection, recipe planning and meal preparation. Individuals with greater cooking and food skills confidence have previously displayed higher diet quality scores and lower intakes of overall calories, saturated fat and sugar. Despite this, the cooking and food skills of team sport athletes have yet to be investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between cooking and food skills confidence and athletes' demographic characteristics. A validated measure for the assessment of cooking and food skills confidence was distributed via an online survey. Participants were required to rate their confidence on a Likert scale (1 "very poor" – 7 "very good") for 14 items related to cooking skills and 19 items for food skills. Food engagement, general health interest and self‐reported fruit and vegetable consumption as a measure of diet quality were also measured. The survey was completed by 266 team sport athletes (male: 150, female: 116, age: 24.8 ± 6.1 years). Group differences were explored using t‐tests and ANOVA and associations were evaluated using Spearman's correlation and hierarchical multiple regressions. Athletes' total cooking and food skills confidence was 62.7 ± 17.4 (64.0 ± 17.8%) and 83.8 ± 20.1 (63.0 ± 15.1%), respectively. Females reported greater confidence in both cooking (+20.3%, p < 0.01) and food skills (+9.2%, p < 0.01). Hierarchical multiple regressions explained 48.8% of the variance in cooking skills confidence and 44% of the variance in food skills confidence with gender, previous culinary training, cooking learning stage, general health interest and food engagement all remaining significant in the cooking skills confidence model and cooking frequency, previous culinary training, general health interest and food engagement remaining significant in the food skills confidence model. Male team sport athletes may benefit the most from educational interventions designed to increase cooking and food skills confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legacy media contribute to gendered depictions of culinary themes by associating meat with masculinity, influencing social realities. The current research examines whether similar gendered representations can be found on social media, reinforcing gendered patterns in food consumption. Using content analysis, we examine how men and women tweet about the (non-)consumption of meat. Results confirm gender stereotypes: men tweet more about meat and are more likely to hold negative attitudes toward vegetarianism and veganism. These expressions may reinforce gendered meat consumption patterns, where men continue to choose meat over more healthy and sustainable options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the turn of the twentieth century, Lizzy Lind-af-Hageby (1878–1963), of Jönköping, left Stockholm to pursue a career as a writer, public speaker, and organiser together with her partner and colleague Leisa Schartau. In the UK, and the USA, Lizzy Lind-af-Hageby became renowned as an outspoken opponent of vivisection, supporter of pacifism, vegetarianism, and humanitarian social politics, and for having written the first biography of August Strindberg in English. In February 1914 after a highly publicised legal case in the UK – in which Lind-af-Hageby acted in her own defence – she spoke at the Queen's Hall in London on four occasions on the overarching theme of problems of the women's movement. The speech series placed Lizzy Lind-af-Hageby at the centre of the women's rights and suffrage debate, highlighting the impact of her public-speaking persona, and showing her to be a modern critic of the prevailing gender-biased society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this essay, I combine ecofeminism, critical animal studies, and vegan studies to analyse the depictions of dinosaurs in a vegan picturebook, Robert Neubecker's Linus the Vegetarian T. Rex. Because picturebook dinosaurs, like the titular Linus, can mobilize the intense "conceptual interest" in dinosaurs found among young children, I argue that a co-reading of Linus can help initiate conversations and facilitate learning about difficult "adult" concepts, such as evolution, extinction, and the Anthropocene, in children primarily but not limited to ages four to six. As compared to largely anthropocentric mainstream children's literature, a vegan picturebook like Linus can also intervene in early childhood education before children are socialized into dominant anthroparchal ideologies that normalize the consumption of animals and contribute to global warming; moreover, it can promote positive attitudes toward science and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. Due to its ambiguous and openended messaging, as well as its imaginative approach of enlivening dinosaur fossils at a natural history museum, Neubecker's Linus arguably encourages an ethical stance toward living nonhuman animals and thus offers a blueprint for "a picturebook for the Anthropocene": challenging the more obviously reductive instrumentalist depiction of dinosaurs in mainstream children's literature; raising awareness about the climate crisis by promoting veganism and vegetarianism while also interrogating gendered assumptions about plant-eating; and combating sexist and adultist attitudes toward science education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: This paper aims to assess the existence of significant differences between two dietary regimes (omnivorous vs. semi-vegetarian) with reference to some oxidative stress markers (SOD, GPx, TRxR, GR, AGEs, and AOPPs) using non-parametric combination methodology based on a permutation test. (2) Methods: At the endocrinology unit of Messina University Hospital, two hundred subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their dietary habits. None were under any pharmacological treatment. Using the NPC test, all comparisons were performed stratifying patients according to gender, age (≤40 or >40 years), BMI (normal weight vs. overweight), physical activity (sedentary vs. active lifestyle), TSH, FT4 levels in quartiles, and diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. We evaluated differences in oxidative stress parameters in relation to two examined dietary regimes (omnivorous vs. semi-vegetarian). (3) Results: The antioxidant parameters GPx and TRxR were significantly lower in subjects with an omnivorous diet than in semi-vegetarians, particularly in females, both age groups, subjects with normal weight, those not affected by Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and both the sedentary and active lifestyle groups. Finally, the AGE and AOPP markers were significantly lower in semi-vegetarians. (4) Conclusion: Thanks to the NPC methodology, we can state that dietary patterns exert a significant influence on some oxidative stress parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetarians have less hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity, hence possibly lower risk of congestive heart failure (HF). We studied associations between vegetarian diets and echocardiographic markers of stage B HF. In a cross-sectional study, dietary pattern was ascertained by a validated FFQ. Echocardiograms were interpreted using standardised criteria. Participants were free-living subjects in Southern California who were older Adventist Health Study-2 cohort members. After exclusions, 133 subjects aged >60 years were enrolled. Their mean age was 72·7 (sd 8·7) years, 48·1 % were female, 32 % were African American and 71 % were vegetarian. Non-vegetarians had higher body weight (80·3 (sd 15·17) kg v. 71·3 (sd 16·2), P < 0·005), body surface area (1·92 (sd 0·24) m2 v. 1·81 (sd 0·22) m2, P = 0·01) and prevalence of hypertension (63 % v. 47 %, P = 0·10). Adjusting for age, sex, race and physical activity, it is found that vegetarians had greater echocardiographic mitral annular e' velocity (a measure of left ventricular (LV) relaxation) 7·44 v. 6·48 (non-vegetarian) cm/s (P = 0·011) and a yet greater contrast when vegans (7·66 cm/s, P = 0·011) were the group of interest. The ratio mid-to-late-diastolic mitral flow velocity (E/A) was also higher in vegans compared with non-vegetarians (1·02 and 0·84, respectively, P = 0·008). Mediation analyses suggested these associations may be partly related to higher blood pressures and BMI in the non-vegetarians. We conclude that vegetarians, especially vegans, appear to have better LV relaxation and fewer diastolic abnormalities than others. As dietary exposure is modifiable, one may speculate pending further investigation about the potential for reduction of stage B HF and later mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While the benefits of adopting a more plant-based diet for sustainability and animal welfare are clear, its long-term health impacts, including the impact on cognitive ageing, are limited studied. Therefore, we investigated the associations between plant-based diet adherence and cognitive ageing. Methods: Data from a previous intervention study involving community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 65 years were analysed at baseline (n = 658) and after 2-year follow-up (n = 314). Global and domain-specific cognitive functioning were assessed at both timepoints. Overall, healthful and unhealthful plant-based dietary indices were calculated from a 190-item food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate-adjusted linear regression models were applied to test for associations. Results: After full-adjustment, higher overall adherence to a plant-based diet was not associated with global cognitive function (difference in Z-score, tertile 1 versus 3 [95% CI]: 0.04 [− 0.05, 0.13] p = 0.40) or cognitive change (− 0.04 [− 0.11, 0.04], p = 0.35). Similarly, healthful and unhealthful plant-based diet indices were not associated with cognitive functioning (respectively p = 0.48; p = 0.87) or change (respectively p = 0.21, p = 0.33). Interestingly, we observed fish consumption to influence the association between plant-based diet adherence and cognitive functioning (p-interaction = 0.01), with only individuals with a fish consumption of ≥ 0.93 portion/week benefitting from better overall plant-based diet adherence (β per 10-point increment [95% CI]: 0.12 [0.03, 0.21] p = 0.01). Conclusion: We did not demonstrate associations of a more plant-based diet with cognitive ageing. However, possibly such association exists in a subpopulation with higher fish intake. This would be in line with earlier observations that diets rich in plant foods and fish, such as the Mediterranean diet, may be beneficial for cognitive ageing. Trial registration: Registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00696514) on June 12, 2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect proteins have been proposed for human and animal food production. Safeguarding the health status of insects in mass rearing allows to obtain high‐quality products and to avoid severe economic losses due to entomopathogens. Therefore, new strategies for preserving insect health must be implemented. Modulation of the insect immune system through the diet is one such strategy. We evaluated gene expression of two antimicrobial peptides (one defensin and one cecropin) in Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) reared on different diets. Analyses were performed on prepupae and 10‐day‐old larvae reared on cereal‐ and municipal organic waste‐based diets and on only prepupae reared on a cereal‐based diet supplemented with sunflower, corn, or soybean oil. The inclusion of sunflower oil at different points in the cereal‐based diet was also evaluated. Moreover, diet‐driven differences in the inhibitory activity of the hemolymph were tested against Escherichia coli DH5α and Micrococcus yunnanensis HI55 using diffusion assays in solid media. Results showed that a municipal organic waste‐based diet produced a significant overexpression of antimicrobial peptides only in prepupae. Inclusion of vegetable oils caused an upregulation of at least one peptide, except for the corn oil. Higher expression of both genes was observed when sunflower oil was added 5 days before pupation. All hemolymph samples showed an inhibitory activity against bacteria colonies. Our results suggest that municipal organic waste‐based diet and vegetable oil‐added diet may successfully impact the immune system of H. illucens. Such alternatives may also exist for other species of economic interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Death occupies a pivotal place in J.M. Coetzee's oeuvre. In this essay, death is situated both as an event and an idea in the Jesus trilogy. It is argued that Coetzee privileges agencies of circumlocution, namely disguise and prettification, in his treatment of death. Emphasis is placed on human as well as non-human deaths in the trilogy. By the deployment of identical agencies for the deaths, Coetzee demonstrates his thrust on vegetarianism and new materialism. Taking a cue from his fictional memoirs and his real life, what is discussed is how his personal encounters with death may have influenced his style of narrating death. This article argues that Coetzee's approach oscillates between the thoughts of Heidegger and Secomb. The trope of death, moreover, is not confined to the content but is embedded in the narratorial framework in a manner that defies narratorial control. Furthermore, light is shed upon the imminence of death as well as the significance of new life, which define and delineate Coetzee's late style. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A large-scale national cohort aiming at investigating the health status and determinants in the general population is essential for high-quality public health research and regulatory decision-making. We present the protocol and first results of the pilot phase to a Swiss national cohort aiming at establishing the study procedures, evaluating feasibility, and assessing participation and willingness to participate. Methods: The pilot phase 2020/21 included 3 components recruited via different channels: a population-based cross-sectional study targeting the adult population (20–69 years) of the Vaud and Bern cantons via personal invitation, a sub-study on selenium in a convenience sample of vegans and vegetarians via non-personal invitation in vegan/vegetarian networks, and a self-selected sample via news promotion (restricted protocol). Along with a participatory approach and participation, we tested the study procedures including online questionnaires, onsite health examination, food intake, physical activity assessments and biosample collection following high-quality standards. Results: The population-based study and the selenium sub-study had 638 (participation rate: 14%) and 109 participants, respectively, both with an over-representation of women. Of altogether 1349 recruited participants over 90% expressed interest in participating to a national health study, over 75% to contribute to medicine progress and help improving others' health, whereas about one third expressed concerns over data protection and data misuse. Conclusions: Publicly accessible high-quality public health data and human biomonitoring samples were collected. There is high interest of the general population in taking part in a national cohort on health. Challenges reside in achieving a higher participation rate and external validity. For project management clear governance is key. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

in this meta-analysis, we examined the quantitative relation between meat consumption or avoidance, depression, and anxiety. in June 2020, we searched five online databases for primary studies examining differences in depression and anxiety between meat abstainers and meat consumers that offered a clear (dichotomous) distinction between these groups. Twenty studies met the selection criteria representing 171,802 participants with 157,778 meat consumers and 13,259 meat abstainers. we calculated the magnitude of the effect between meat consumers and meat abstainers with bias correction (Hedges's g effect size) where higher and positive scores reflect better outcomes for meat consumers. Meat consumption was associated with lower depression (Hedges's g = 0.216, 95% Ci [0.14 to 0.30], p < .001) and lower anxiety (g = 0.17, 95% Ci [0.03 to 0.31], p = .02) compared to meat abstention. Compared to vegans, meat consumers experienced both lower depression (g = 0.26, 95% Ci [0.01 to 0.51], p = .041) and anxiety (g = 0.15, 95% Ci [-0.40 to 0.69], p = .598). Sex did not modify these relations. Study quality explained 58% and 76% of between-studies heterogeneity in depression and anxiety, respectively. The analysis also showed that the more rigorous the study, the more positive and consistent the relation between meat consumption and better mental health. The current body of evidence precludes causal and temporal inferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous leafy vegetables are used mainly for human consumption since they provide health promoting phytonutrients and bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, flavonoids, minerals and vitamins. However, the phytonutrients and bioactive compounds in the leaves of these vegetables vary widely both quantitatively and qualitatively due to genetic and environmental factors. This study determined the diversity, molecular size variation and the relationships between the minerals and nutrients. Four common leafy vegetables and one standard were used in the study. The mean iron and manganese leaf content was 279.44 mg/kg DW and 247.86 mg/kg DW, respectively. The total phenolic content ranged between 0.37 and 0.50 mg GAE/g. Nineteen different bioactive compounds, varying widely in molecular size, were detected in the four common leafy vegetables. Jute mallow leaves contained only two bioactive molecules which included quercetin-3′-glucoside. None of the eight quercetin-related derivatives that were present among the leafy vegetables were detected in Swiss chard. In cowpea, 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity was four-fold higher than in pumpkin and Swiss chard leaves. These results demonstrated that the common leafy vegetables varied widely in mineral composition and bioactive compounds, suggesting that a combination of these vegetables in the human diet can provide a wider range of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to test the PERVAL scale by consumers of vegetarian food concerning the perceived value and to verify its influence on satisfaction and loyalty. A survey was conducted through social media and 484 responses were obtained. The data were analyzed using multivariate statistical techniques and structural equation modeling. The results indicate that the PERVAL scale has nomological validity and that the perceived value is formed quality, price, emotional and social values. The perceived value influences the satisfaction (R2 = 64%) and loyalty (R2 = 45%) of consumers of vegetarian food but consumer satisfaction did not have a statistically significant impact on their loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a critical and sensitive period of life, a fundamental stage of development, and special attention must be paid to the quality of food. Healthy eating habits at adolescence can be an important factor for healthy eating habits later in life. OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency and knowledge of fruit and vegetable consumption among adolescents in Ain Temouchent (Western Algeria). METHODS: A study was conducted from February 1 to April 30, 2022. 103 adolescents responded to the questionnaire. The participants were boys (n = 48) and girls (n = 55) aged 12 to 18 years from two educational levels (middle school and high school). RESULTS: Adolescents surveyed had a mean BMI equal to 23.2 (kg/m2), considered overweight. The frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption it does not differ between girls and boys (p > 0.05). The consumption of fruits and vegetables was below recommended levels. The evaluation showed that most adolescents do not have a good knowledge of food composition and are not interested in fruits and vegetables in their daily diet (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that adolescents consume few fruits and vegetables, and they have little knowledge of the value of fruits and vegetables in their daily diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green cabbage, water spinach, and spinach are important vegetables in the diet of the Ambonese communities, so the vegetables have economic value and contribute to the inflation of Ambon City. The main obstacle for optimizing leafy vegetables in urban farming of Ambon City in Ambon Bay neighborhood is excess water during the rainy season which possibly induces plant diseases and reduces the yield. The purpose of this study was to verify the 11-year weather of Ambon Bay; and the adaptation of vegetable farmers in Ambon City to the change of rainy season as well as precipitation in the study location The research was conducted using a qualitative descriptive method based on interviews with farmers supported by climate data for 11 years. This study explains that the rainfall was variable during 10 years; In 2010-2013 and 2017-2020, the annual rainfall was 3.950-5.264, while in 2014-2016 it ranged from 2.017-2.995 mm. Farmers adapt to high rainfall by installing plastic rain shelters, shortening the planting distance from 20 cm to 10 cm, and changing the planting calendar. However, in general growers install rain shelters during vegetable cultivation in the wet season resulting in high productivity of leafy vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What did Western Christian missionaries eat in China and why, for the most part, was it not Chinese food? This study focuses on two groups of missionaries and their foodways - the Portuguese Jesuits (Catholics) based in Macau between the 16th and 17th centuries, and the British and American Protestants in Hong Kong and Shanghai in the 19th and early 20th centuries - and aims to reveal what they ate, what they refused to eat, and why. While examining ideological and cultural factors that modelled the diet of Christian missionaries, this study also analyzes Western ideas, perceptions, and phobias regarding Chinese food. While the Jesuits did have some religious concerns when approaching Chinese cuisine, they, for the most part, embraced it. The Protestants, on the other hand, who arrived much later and during the peak of Western domination in China, acted from a position of power and rejected local food on cultural and ideological grounds as inferior, unhygienic, and potentially poisonous. The early missionaries came to "sell" Christianity and were willing to negotiate their way with Chinese cuisine and culture, "christening" some aspects of them and adopting them as their own. In the age of imperialism, on the other hand, Christian missionaries intended to "civilize" the Chinese by imposing on them both their religious beliefs and their lifestyle, including their foodways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of "alternative proteins," a field comprised of both plant-based animal product alternatives and the nascent field of cellular agriculture (eg, cultivated meat), has become a flashpoint for contemporary food system debate. This article introduces the "alternative protein ideological circle" as a framework for understanding the nature of this contestation, as well as the key stakeholder groups who animate the landscape. It argues that perspectives on alternative proteins coalesce around 2 primary ideological poles: (1) meat attachment or carnism, the extent to which people believe or do not believe that eating animals is a natural, normal, and necessary part of contemporary life; and (2) sociotechnical imaginaries, divided between techno-optimistic "wizards" and technoskeptical "prophets." From there, 4 key stakeholder groups emerge: (1) the "high-tech vegans" (techno-optimists with low levels of carnism); (2) the "ecomodernists" (technooptimists with high levels of carnism); (3) the "good foodies" (technoskeptics with low levels of carnism); and (4) the "carnivore traditionalists" (technoskeptics with high levels of carnism). The article offers illustrative examples of these groups, drawing from popularmedia and advocacy. It concludes with reflections on the implications of this framework for nutrition research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this term paper is to investigate the extent to which Covid-19 has influenced the gastronomy and food sector regarding fresh food counters and the to-go assortment in terms of vegetarian and vegan offerings. An extensive literature and internet research was conducted for this thesis. In addition, this included a study of vegan- and vegetarian-friendly food offerings in ten different randomly selected restaurants in the city of Trier, Germany. The results show that on average a good selection of vegetarian dishes (33.6%) and a small selection of vegan dishes (11.8%) can be found in the individual restaurants. The trend towards a plant-based diet has been evident for years but accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic as society began to doubt the safety precautions of the meat industry and awareness of animal, environmental and health issues increased. This has led to many restaurants and food retailers expanding their range of vegetarian and vegan options to meet this demand. More and more vegan products can also be found in food retail, and the range of vegan alternative products in the to-go area or at fresh food counters for actual meat, sausage, cheese and fish products is expanding, as can be seen at pioneer REWE Group, for example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuisines are never neutral, innocent concoctions, but products of dominant ideologies and power structures. This paper explores culinary codes advanced by popular Hindi cookbooks from the early twentieth century to see how they re-define the kitchen and the culinary world of urban, middle-class Hindu families. Focusing especially on Pak Chandrika, a cookbook published from Allahabad in 1926, the paper argues that these Hindi cookbooks contributed to the residual ground – especially in relation to the intimate, the everyday and the comestible – that potentially fed into the emergent nationalism in early twentieth century north India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of General Medicine & Health Sciences / Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu is the property of Witold Chodzki Institute of Rural Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Copyright of Agroalimentaria is the property of Alejandro Antonio Gutierrez Socorro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)