The role of nutritional status in the relationship between diabetes and health-related quality of life

Physiological Functions of the By-Products of Passion Fruit: Processing, Characteristics and Their Applications in Food Product Development

The by-products of passion fruit are typically discarded during processing, contributing to resource waste and environmental harm. These residues are rich in dietary fiber and polyphenols, compounds linked to health benefits, including blood sugar regulation, improved lipid profiles, gut microbiome balance, and weight management. Beyond their nutritional value, these by-products possess dual functional roles in food systems: their bioactive components act as natural fortifiers and health-promoting agents. Recent studies indicate they can enhance food quality by improving water retention and texture while serving as prebiotics to promote beneficial gut bacteria growth. This dual functionality supports both food innovation and metabolic health, particularly in reducing post-meal blood sugar spikes. To advance research and industry applications, this review synthesizes recent findings on the nutritional properties of passion fruit by-products and their use in food products such as dairy, pasta, and meat. The analysis aims to guide the sustainable utilization of these underrated resources and expand their role in functional food development.

International dietary quality index and its association with diabetes in RaNCD cohort study

Diabetes and its complications pose a significant threat to global health. Various factors contribute to the development of diabetes, with diet being an important trigger. The Dietary Quality Index-International (DQI-I) serves as an indicator of changes in diet and its association with chronic diseases, including diabetes. The aim of this study is to examine the association between DQI-I and diabetes in adults. Data from the first phase of the Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease Cohort Study (RaNCD) were used for this cross-sectional study. The study included individuals from western Iran aged between 35 and 65 years. The DQI-I was used to assess diet quality and the essential aspects of a healthy diet. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to compare DQI-I total score and diabetes. A total of 7,079 individuals were included, including 608 diabetic and 6,471 healthy individuals. The mean DQI-I score was 60.51 ± 8.47 in healthy individuals and 63.12 ± 8.64 in diabetics. The odds of developing diabetes were higher in individuals with a higher DQI-I (adjusted odds ratio: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.30-1.73). The variety was 13.43 ± 4.47 in diabetics and 12.59 ± 4.79 in healthy individuals. Adequacy was 33.23 ± 3.71 in diabetics and 33.79 ± 3.37 in healthy individuals. Moderation was 13.27 ± 6.05 in diabetics and 11.79 ± 5.47 in healthy individuals. The overall balance was 2.88 ± 2.21 in the healthy group and 2.61 ± 2.13 in the diabetics. The macronutrient ratio was 2.15 ± 1.88 in the healthy group and 2.04 ± 1.84 in the diabetics. The fatty acid ratio was 0.72 ± 1.29 in the healthy group and 0.56 ± 1.17 in the diabetic group. The overall balance score was higher in the healthy subjects. The DQI-I total score was higher in diabetics, indicating a positive association between diabetes and the DQI-I. Therefore, the importance of continuous dietary management and education of diabetic patients should be emphasized.

How quality of life is measured in studies of nutritional intervention: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Nutrition care can positively affect multiple aspects of patient's health; outcomes are commonly evaluated on the basis of their impact on a patient's (i) illness-specific conditions and (ii) health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Our systematic review examined how HRQoL was measured in studies of nutritional interventions. To help future researchers select appropriate Quality of Life Questionnaires (QoLQ), we identified commonly-used instruments and their uses across populations in different regions, of different ages, and with different diseases.

METHODS

We searched EMCare, EMBASE, and Medline databases for studies that had HRQoL and nutrition intervention terms in the title, the abstract, or the MeSH term classifications "quality of life" and any of "nutrition therapy", "diet therapy", or "dietary supplements" and identified 1,113 studies for possible inclusion.We then reviewed titles, abstracts, and full texts to identify studies for final inclusion.

RESULTS

Our review of titles, abstracts, and full texts resulted in the inclusion of 116 relevant studies in our final analysis. Our review identified 14 general and 25 disease-specific QoLQ. The most-used general QoLQ were the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) in 27 studies and EuroQol 5-Dimension, (EQ-5D) in 26 studies. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ), a cancer-specific QoLQ, was the most frequently used disease-specific QoLQ (28 studies). Disease-specific QoLQ were also identified for nutrition-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and dysphagia. Sixteen studies used multiple QoLQ, of which eight studies included both general and disease-specific measures of HRQoL. The most studied diseases were cancer (36 studies) and malnutrition (24 studies). There were few studies focused on specific age-group populations, with only 38 studies (33%) focused on adults 65 years and older and only 4 studies focused on pediatric patients. Regional variation in QoLQ use was observed, with EQ-5D used more frequently in Europe and SF-36 more commonly used in North America.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of QoLQ to measure HRQoL is well established in the literature; both general and disease-specific instruments are now available for use. We advise further studies to examine potential benefits of using both general and disease-specific QoLQ to better understand the impact of nutritional interventions on HRQoL.