Decoding Early Childhood Caries: A Comprehensive Review Navigating the Impact of Evolving Dietary Trends in Preschoolers

This comprehensive review delves into the intricate relationship between evolving dietary trends in preschoolers and the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC). The investigation meticulously analyzes ECC epidemiology, etiology, and preventive strategies. The review unveils the multifaceted nature of ECC, highlighting microbial, dietary, and environmental factors contributing to its development. Significantly, the study explores the global prevalence of ECC and its substantial implications for the overall health, nutrition, and development of preschool-aged children. The implications for public health and policy are deliberated, advocating for targeted interventions and collaborative efforts among healthcare professionals, policymakers, educators, and parents. The conclusion presents a compelling call to action, urging collective engagement to mitigate the impact of ECC and prioritize the well-being of preschoolers. This review offers valuable insights for healthcare professionals, policymakers, educators, and parents to inform evidence-based strategies for addressing ECC and promoting early childhood oral health.

Dietary trends and obesity in Saudi Arabia

Introduction

Dietary habits in Saudi Arabia have been shifting toward the Western diet, which is high in fat, salt, and sugar, leading to a high obesity rate. Different dietary strategies such as the Ketogenic Diet (KD), Intermittent Fasting (IF), Gluten Free Diet (GFD), and Calorie Restriction Diet (CRD) have shown an influential role in weight loss. This study aimed to compare trending diets and correlate different types of diet with obesity and lifestyle among adults in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed on Saudis and non-Saudis over 18 years old. We used convenience sampling, an online questionnaire distributed via social media channels, including WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Twitter. SPSS 28 software was applied for data analysis. The chi-square test was used to determine associations between different variables. Statistical significance was considered at a value of p less than 0.05.

Results

Most participants were females residing in the Eastern and Central regions of Saudi Arabia. Although most do not follow any dietary plan, they exhibited acceptable exercise and lifestyle. The minority of the study population followed different types of diet plans, such as KD, IF, and GFD. The purpose of most of the participants who have used these strategies was for weight loss but failed to sustain the dietary plan for more than 1 month.

Conclusion

Obesity remains a challenging issue in Saudi Arabia. Adherence to dietary regimes could help in controlling obesity. Increasing the awareness of the benefits of each dietary plan for health, choosing the appropriate one, and sustaining a balanced nutrition pattern.

Adherence to Federal Dietary Recommendations for Total Fruit Consumption and the Intake of Underconsumed Nutrients: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015 to 2018

BACKGROUND

A persistent gap exists between U.S. consumers' actual fruit consumption and Federal dietary recommendations for fruit. Individuals who most deviate from recommendations may be at greater risk of underconsuming some nutrients.

OBJECTIVE

We investigate how widely total fruit consumption varies across adult consumers and whether those who most deviate from recommendations also consume less vitamins A and C, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has identified each of these nutrients as being underconsumed by the U.S. population in general.

METHODS

Data used were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2015-16 and 2017-18 cycles. For 9,832 adults (age > 18), we compared their total fruit consumption to recommendations for their age and sex. We also calculated 2015 Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015) scores. Component scores for Total Fruit and Whole Fruit were subtracted from total HEI-2015 scores to measure adherence with dietary recommendations outside of the fruit group. Two-way and 3-way contingency tables were then used to measure the association between adherence to fruit recommendations and the intake of underconsumed nutrients before and after controlling for adherence to other food group recommendations, respectively.

RESULTS

About two-thirds of adults eat less than half the recommended amount of fruit on any given day. Those who routinely unconsume fruit may be at greater risk of underconsuming potassium and vitamin C. Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin A consumption do not show a consistent relationship with fruit intake relative to recommendations after controlling for diet quality outside the fruit group.

CONCLUSIONS

There is much variation across the U.S. population in fruit consumption relative to recommendations. The present study suggests that individuals who deviate the most are at a particularly increased risk of underconsuming vitamin C and potassium.

A European perspective on "clean eating": Commentary on Negowetti et al. (2021)

Negowetti et al. (2021) have provided insightful perspectives on the public health implications of the labeling of "clean" dietary products in the United States through a scoping review, along with feasible strategies to counteract the risks of this trend. Although the European Union has already fairly strict regulations about declaration of ingredients and health claims regarding food that makes it almost impossible to label food products as "clean," the clean eating trend is alive and expanding in Europe, and usage of expressions such as "clean" or "pure" in other ways than on the label may convey similar messages that cannot be regulated by law. Increased regulation, legislation, and information through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as suggested by Negowetti et al. (2021) is a welcome contribution and will certainly help to prevent some misinformation. However, labels are just one battle field in addressing misleading expressions and trends. Scientists should enter the relevant fields (e.g., Internet, TV, and social media) to a higher extent and provide solid, pedagogical and simple facts, and guidelines to vaccinate people against current and upcoming misleading dietary trends.

Dietary Potassium Intake Remains Low and Sodium Intake Remains High, and Most Sodium is Derived from Home Food Preparation for Chinese Adults, 1991-2015 Trends

BACKGROUND

Intervention strategies to reduce sodium intake and increase potassium intake may decrease blood pressure; however, most are focused on reducing sodium in processed food globally.

OBJECTIVES

We attempt to fill important gaps in understanding the dynamics of these dietary determinants of hypertension in China.

METHODS

We used data on 29,926 adults aged ≥20 y between 1991 and 2015 from an ongoing cohort, the China Health and Nutrition Survey. We collected detailed diet data with use of weighing methods with 3 consecutive 24-h recalls. With panel data random-effects models, we analyzed factors associated with sodium and potassium intakes and sodium to potassium (Na/K) ratios.

RESULTS

Sodium intake decreased from 6.3 g/d in 1991 to 4.1 g/d in 2015, still twice the tolerable upper intake recommended by the WHO. Potassium intake was 1.7 g/d in 1991 and 1.5 g/d in 2015, below half that recommended by the WHO. The Na/K ratio decreased from 4.1 (ratios in g) in 1991 to 3.1 in 2015, 5 times the recommendation of the WHO. More than two-thirds (67%) of sodium intake was from salt added during food preparation, with 8.8% from processed foods in 2015, up from 5.0% in 1991. The most at-risk populations lived in China's central region and rural areas, were middle aged, had lower educations, or were farmers.

CONCLUSIONS

Sodium intake is very high across all regions in China. As part of sodium reduction efforts, China should target people living in the central region and adults aged above 60 whose sodium intakes are much higher. Strategies to decrease sodium intake and increase potassium intake should be different from those applied in the Western world where the major source is processed food. Reduced sodium higher potassium salts should become a major policy initiative in China.

Analysis of dietary trends in Chinese adolescents from 1991 to 2011

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To examine temporal trends in dietary energy, fat, carbohydrate, protein, sodium and potassium intake of Chinese adolescents aged 12 - 17 years by sex and urbanicity, using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

Individual level, consecutive 3 - day 24-hour recalls were analyzed from survey years 1991 (n=504), 2000 (n=665), and 2011 (n=267) from nine provinces representing a range of geography, economic development, and health indicators in China. Linear multivariable regression models were conducted to predict mean intakes of energy, macronutrients, sodium, and potassium. Models were adjusted for age, per capita income, parental education, region, and family size.

RESULTS

From 1991 to 2011, total energy consumption decreased among both sexes and all urbanicity groups (p<0.05). Sodium intake decreased in all sex and urbanicity groups except the high urbanicity group, which was the only group to show significant change in potassium intake (p<0.05). Sodium-potassium ratios decreased overall and across both sexes (p<0.05). However, the major observed shift was a structural change from carbohydrates to fat and protein. Both sexes showed decrease in carbohydrate-derived energy (p<0.05). Proportion of fat-derived energy increased in female adolescents. Proportion of protein-derived energy increased in male adolescents, as well as in the low and high urbanicity groups (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This suggests Chinese adolescents are transitioning to a low carbohydrate diet. Urbanicity appears to play a role in sodium, potassium and protein intake. Improvements of sodiumpotassium ratios are primarily due to decreased sodium intake and require further reduction efforts.

Flexitarian Diets and Health: A Review of the Evidence-Based Literature

A flexitarian or semi-vegetarian diet (SVD) is one that is primarily vegetarian with the occasional inclusion of meat or fish. Of late, there appears to be an increasing movement toward this practice. There has not been a recent update on these diets from a health perspective. Using the National Centre for Biotechnology Information PubMed database, a search was made for all studies published between 2000 and 2016 that met defined inclusion criteria. A total of 25 studies were located with 12 focusing on body weight and diet quality. There was emerging evidence suggestive of benefits for body weight, improved markers of metabolic health, blood pressure, and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. SVD may also have a role to play in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease. Given that there is a higher tendency for females to be flexitarian yet males are more likely to overconsume meat, there is a clear need to communicate the potential health benefits of these diets to males.

Home cooking trends and dietary illness: nutritional compliance of recipes in a Swedish food magazine 1970-2010

AIMS

To investigate the trends in nutritional compliance of recipes from a Swedish food magazine to offer a perspective on the effects of home cooking on public health.

METHODS

The nutritional content of 654 recipes from magazine issues published in 1970, 1980, 2000, and 2010 were collected. The recipes were analyzed for macronutrient energy contribution, sodium content, and composition.

RESULTS

The recipes were in poor agreement with nutritional recommendations (excessive fat, protein, and sodium and insufficient carbohydrate and fiber content). Significant changes between 1970 and 2010 were the increased calorific contribution of fat (from 38 to 46%) and the reduced contribution of proteins (from 27 to 21%). The calorific contribution from spreads, cheese, bread, and fruit and vegetables have increased significantly, whereas the contribution from meat has decreased significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

The poor nutritional compliance identified in this work indicates that consumers using the recipes as norms for home cooking risk following an unhealthy diet. This might have adverse effects on public health. However, the recipes have not become less compliant over time and therefore the data do not show an adverse trend in these norms.