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Murakami K, Shinozaki N, Kimoto N, Onodera H, Oono F, McCaffrey TA, Livingstone MBE, Okuhara T, Matsumoto M, Katagiri R, Ota E, Chiba T, Nishida Y, Sasaki S. Web-Based Content on Diet and Nutrition Written in Japanese: Infodemiology Study Based on Google Trends and Google Search. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e47101. [PMID: 37971794 PMCID: PMC10690527 DOI: 10.2196/47101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The increased availability of content of uncertain integrity obtained through the internet is a major concern. To date, however, there has been no comprehensive scrutiny of the fitness-for-purpose of web-based content on diet and nutrition. OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional study aims to describe diet- and nutrition-related web-based content written in Japanese, identified via a systematic extraction strategy using Google Trends and Google Search. METHODS We first identified keywords relevant for extracting web-based content (eg, blogs) on diet and nutrition written in Japanese using Google Trends. This process included identification of 638 seed terms, identification of approximately 1500 pairs of related queries (top) and search terms, the top 10% of which were extracted to identify 160 relevant pairs of related queries (top) and search terms, and identification of 107 keywords for search. We then extracted relevant web-based content using Google Search. RESULTS The content (N=1703) examined here was extracted following a search based on 107 keywords. The most common themes included food and beverages (390/1703, 22.9%), weight management (366/1703, 21.49%), health benefits (261/1703, 15.33%), and healthy eating (235/1703, 13.8%). The main disseminators were information technology companies and mass media (474/1703, 27.83%), food manufacturers (246/1703, 14.45%), other (236/1703, 13.86%), and medical institutions (214/1703, 12.57%). Less than half of the content (790/1703, 46.39%) clearly indicated the involvement of editors or writers. More than half of the content (983/1703, 57.72%) was accompanied by one or more types of advertisement. The proportion of content with any type of citation reference was 40.05% (682/1703). The themes and disseminators of content were significantly associated with the involvement of editors or writers, accompaniment with advertisement, and citation of reference. In particular, content focusing on weight management was more likely to clearly indicate the involvement of editors or writers (212/366, 57.9%) and to be accompanied by advertisement (273/366, 74.6%), but less likely to have references cited (128/366, 35%). Content from medical institutions was less likely to have citation references (62/214, 29%). CONCLUSIONS This study highlights concerns regarding the authorship, conflicts of interest (advertising), and the scientific credibility of web-based diet- and nutrition-related information written in Japanese. Nutrition professionals and experts should take these findings seriously because exposure to nutritional information that lacks context or seems contradictory can lead to confusion and backlash among consumers. However, more research is needed to draw firm conclusions about the accuracy and quality of web-based diet- and nutrition-related content and whether similar results can be obtained in other major mass media or social media outlets and even other languages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Murakami
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nana Shinozaki
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nana Kimoto
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroko Onodera
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumi Oono
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tracy A McCaffrey
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - M Barbara E Livingstone
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, United Kingdom
| | - Tsuyoshi Okuhara
- Department of Health Communication, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mai Matsumoto
- Department of Nutritional Epidemiology and Shokuiku, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryoko Katagiri
- Department of Nutritional Epidemiology and Shokuiku, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Erika Ota
- Global Health Nursing, Graduate School of Nursing Science, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan
- Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Chiba
- Department of Food Function and Labeling, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Nishida
- Department of Biostatistics, M&D Data Science Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Sasaki
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Alsaffar H, Habeb A, Hamza RT, Deeb A. Monitoring Haematocrit in Paediatric Patients Receiving Testosterone Therapy in Arab Countries. Cureus 2021; 13:e17618. [PMID: 34646669 PMCID: PMC8483389 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Testosterone is the main agent used to induce puberty in boys in Arab countries. It is recommended to monitor haematocrit before and during androgen replacement. However, data from single centre studies indicated that this recommendation is rarely practiced by paediatricians compared to adult physicians. The aim of this study is to evaluate the monitoring of haematocrit of patients on Testosterone therapy by paediatric endocrinologists practicing in Arab countries. Methods A cross-sectional study using an online survey that was sent to all members of the Arab Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ASPED), who they practice in all Arab countries. The study was carried out between July and October 2019. Ethical approval was granted by ASPED council in May 2019 (MRE2019-02Q). Results One hundred four physicians responded to the survey from 17 countries. 81/104 (77.8%) answered the question about Testosterone monitoring (42 paediatric endocrinologists, 11 general paediatrician consultants with interest in endocrine, 16 specialists, four fellows and eight residents). Of the 81 responders 18 clinicians (22.2%) thought of monitoring the haematocrit; 15 (18.5%) thought no laboratory monitoring is needed at all. Conclusion The survey indicated that most paediatric endocrinologists in Arab countries do not monitor haematocrit in patients on testosterone replacement and majority are not aware that secondary erythrocytosis can result from androgen therapy. Raising the awareness on monitoring haematocrit during androgen replacement therapy is needed especially when reaching the adult dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussain Alsaffar
- Child Health Department - Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, OMN
| | - Abdelhadi Habeb
- Paediatric Department, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of National Guard, Madinah, SAU
| | - Rasha T Hamza
- Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EGY
| | - Asma Deeb
- Paediatric Endocrinology Department, Shaikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, ARE
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Sex, Energy, Well-Being and Low Testosterone: An Exploratory Survey of U.S. Men's Experiences on Prescription Testosterone. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16183261. [PMID: 31491933 PMCID: PMC6765788 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16183261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Prescription testosterone sales in the United States have skyrocketed in the last two decades due to an aging population, direct-to-consumer advertising, and prescriber views of the benefits and risks to testosterone, among other factors. However, few studies have attempted to directly examine patient experiences on prescription testosterone therapy. The present exploratory study involved an online self-report survey of U.S. testosterone patients who were at least 21 years of age. The primary focus was on patient perspectives concerning motivations leading to the initiation of testosterone therapy and the perceived effects of treatment. Responses to open-ended questions drew upon a coding scheme incorporating both inductive and deductive approaches, influenced by the clinical, male life history theory, and behavioral endocrinology literature. Results indicated that the most frequent reasons men gave for taking prescription testosterone were low testosterone (37.1%), well-being (35.2%), energy (28.7%), libido (21.9%), and social energy (19.4%); older men claimed libido as a motivation for testosterone initiation more frequently than younger men (p < 0.001). Men most frequently claimed testosterone improved their energy (52.3%), libido (41.9%), and muscle (28.5%). Results are interpreted in the context of medical, life history theoretical and behavioral endocrinology approaches, including an emphasis on sex and energy.
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Clemesha CG, Thaker H, Samplaski MK. 'Testosterone Boosting' Supplements Composition and Claims Are not Supported by the Academic Literature. World J Mens Health 2019; 38:115-122. [PMID: 31385468 PMCID: PMC6920068 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.190043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Men take testosterone (T) boosting supplements to naturally improve T levels. We evaluated the composition and advertised claims of “T boosting” supplements, and supporting published evidence. Materials and Methods Fifty “T booster” supplements were evaluated for active ingredients and product claims, discovered via Google search. PubMed was reviewed for any literature supporting the claims, followed by review of Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) and upper tolerable intake level (UL) for each component. Results Ninety percent of supplements claimed to “boost T”, 50% “improve libido”, and 48% “feel stronger”. One-hundred nine unique components were found, with a mean number of 8.3 per product. On PubMed, 24.8% of supplements had data showing an increase in T with supplementation, 10.1% had data showing a decrease in T, and 18.3% had data showing no change in T. No data were found on 61.5% of supplements on their effect on T. Supplements contained a median 1,291% of the RDA for vitamin B12, 807.6% for vitamin B6, 272% of zinc, 200% of vitamin B5, and 187.5% of vitamin B3. Thirteen products exceeded the US Food and Drug Administration UL of ingredients (zinc, vitamin B3, and magnesium). Conclusions Ninety percent of “T booster” supplements claimed to boost T. However, only 24.8% of these had data to support these claims. A total of 10.1% contained components with data suggesting a negative effect on T. Many had supra-therapeutic doses of vitamins and minerals, occasionally over the UL. Patients should be informed that “T booster” supplements may not have ingredients to support their claims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase G Clemesha
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hatim Thaker
- Institute of Urology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Mary K Samplaski
- Institute of Urology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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