Women's health: optimal nutrition throughout the lifecycle

Cardiovascular Disease and the Mediterranean Diet: Insights into Sex-Specific Responses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality and disease burden in women globally. A healthy diet is important for the prevention of CVD. Research has consistently favoured the Mediterranean diet as a cardio-protective diet. Several studies have evaluated associations between the Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular outcomes, including traditional risk factors like hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity. In addition, consistent evidence suggests that the components of the Mediterranean diet have a synergistic effect on cardiovascular risk due to its anti-inflammatory profile and microbiome effects. While the benefits of the Mediterranean diet are well-established, health advice and dietary guidelines have been built on largely male-dominant studies. Few studies have investigated the beneficial associations of the Mediterranean diet in sex-specific populations, including those with non-traditional risk factors that are specific to women, for instance polycystic ovarian syndrome and high-risk pregnancies, or more prevalent in women, such as chronic inflammatory diseases. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence regarding the Mediterranean diet in women in relation to cardiovascular health outcomes.

Exploring dietary perception, beliefs and practices among pregnant adolescents, their husbands and healthcare providers in West Arsi, Central Ethiopia: a phenomenological study

BACKGROUND

The two most physically active stages of life, pregnancy and adolescence, put the pregnant adolescent under a lot of stress. Adolescence is a crucial era in women's nutrition that is frequently overlooked.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore dietary perceptions, beliefs and practices among pregnant Adolescents in West Arsi, Central Ethiopia.

DESIGN

A qualitative method, specifically, a phenomenological research design, was carried out from February to March 2023.

SETTINGS

This study was conducted in the West Arsi zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, in four randomly selected districts.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty participants, 12 pregnant adolescents, 8 husbands of pregnant adolescents and 10 healthcare providers were purposefully selected and participated.

METHODS

In-depth and key informant interviews were conducted. To create relevant codes, subthemes and themes, ATLAS.ti V.7.1 software was used. An inductive qualitative data analysis approach was used. The results were presented using respondents' clear verbatim and thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The findings were organised into four major themes: (1) low nutritional awareness, (2) poor dietary practice, (3) barriers to good dietary practice and (4) facilitators for good dietary practice. A low perceived severity (one's belief of the seriousness) of undernutrition and low perceived benefits (one's belief of the benefits) of balanced nutrition have been reported. A monotonous diet (one type food usually cereal based), no change in dietary practices during pregnancy, and low intake of animal food sources (meat, egg and milk) were found under dietary practices. One of the most striking findings to emerge from this study is the Alliance for Development (AFD), the former Women Development Army, which can be a great facilitator of good dietary practice. Husbands' involvement in nutrition education and specific nutrition training for healthcare providers are the other facilitators identified in this study. The lack of nutrition education, misconceptions and economic problems are barriers to dietary practices.

CONCLUSION

This study found a low nutritional awareness and poor dietary practices. Further experimental studies are recommended to assess whether AFD is capable of delivering effective nutrition interventions that improve dietary practice of pregnant.

Advancing nutrition science to meet evolving global health needs

Populations in crisis!A global overview of health challenges and policy efforts within the scope of current nutrition issues, from persistent forms of undernutrition, including micronutrient deficiency, to diet-related chronic diseases. Nutrition science has evolved from a therapeutic and prevention emphasis to include a focus on diets and food systems. Working and consensus definitions are needed, as well as guidance related to healthy diets and the emerging issues that require further research and consensus building. Between nutrient deficiency and chronic disease, nutrition has evolved from focusing exclusively on the extremes of overt nutrient deficiency and chronic disease prevention, to equipping bodies with the ability to cope with physiologic, metabolic, and psychological stress. Just what is 'optimal nutrition', is that a valid public health goal, and what terminology is being provided by the nutrition science community? Nutrition research on 'healthspan', resilience, and intrinsic capacity may provide evidence to support optimal nutrition. Finally, experts provide views on ongoing challenges of achieving consensus or acceptance of the various definitions and interventions for health promotion, and how these can inform government health policies.Nutrition topics that receive particular focus in these proceedings include choline, NAD-replenishment in neurodegenerative diseases, and xanthophyll carotenoids. Choline is a crucial nutrient essential for cellular metabolism, requiring consumption from foods or supplements due to inadequate endogenous synthesis. Maternal choline intake is vital for fetal and infant development to prevent neural tube defects. Neurodegenerative diseases pose a growing health challenge, lacking effective therapies. Nutrition, including NAD-replenishing nutrients, might aid prevention. Emerging research indicates xanthophyll carotenoids enhance vision and cognition, potentially impacting age-related diseases.

Effect of adolescent female fertility and healthcare spending on maternal and neonatal mortality in low resource setting of South Asia

BACKGROUND

Maternal and neonatal mortality is high in South Asia. Recent studies have identified factors such as adolescent female fertility, healthcare spending is reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of adolescent female fertility and healthcare spending on maternal and neonatal mortality in South Asian countries.

METHODS

A retrospective panel study design was used, a total of 8 South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) data from World development indicator 1990-2020 considered for analysis. Descriptive statistical method was used for summary. The effect of adolescent female fertility and healthcare spending on maternal and neonatal mortality were analysed using fixed and random effect regression with multiple imputation.

FINDINGS

Adolescent female fertility, maternal, and neonatal mortality is very high in the aforementioned countries, and considerably varies among countries. A significant relationship between the maternal mortality and healthcare spending, neonatal mortality and adolescent female fertility was observed. We found neonatal and maternal mortality are more likely to decrease depends on healthcare spending. Healthcare spending has a significantly negative effect on neonatal mortality (- 0.182, 95% CI: [- 0.295 to -.069]; P-value < 0.01) and maternal mortality (- 0.169, 95% CI: [- 0.243 to - 0.028]; P-value < 0.05). A change in 1 % increases in healthcare spending should decrease by 0.182 neonatal mortality per 1000 live births and maternal mortality by 0.169 per 100,000 live births.

CONCLUSIONS

In south Asian countries, increasing healthcare spending and decreasing adolescent female fertility may contribute to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. In addition, number of service providers such as physicians supplied contributed to the decline of neonatal mortality. These findings have important implications for future improvement of healthcare spending in maternal and neonatal health programs.