BackgroundSaudi Arabia has passed through lifestyle changes toward unhealthy dietary patterns such as high fast food consumption. Adolescents and young adults, particularly girls, are the main groups exposed to and affected by these adverse eating behaviors.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the trends of fast food consumption among adolescent and young adult Saudi girls living in Riyadh, and to compare between them.DesignIn a cross-sectional survey, 127 adolescent Saudi girls (13–18 years) and 69 young adult Saudi girls (19–29 years) were randomly recruited to participate in this study. Weight, height, waist circumference, and hip circumference were measured using standardized methods. Twenty-four-hour diet recall and a face-to-face interview food questionnaire were performed.ResultsMost of the participants had adequate intake of protein, riboflavin, iron, and sodium, but exhibited low intake for several other nutrients. Among study participants, 95.4% consume restaurants’ fast food and 79.1% eat fast food at least once weekly. Burgers and carbonated soft drinks were the main kinds of fast food meals and beverages usually eaten by girls. Adolescent girls who usually ate large portion sizes of fast food had significantly higher mean waist circumference and hip circumference. Participants eat fast food primarily for enjoying the delicious taste, followed by convenience. Restaurants’ hygiene and safety standards were the main concern regarding fast food for 62.2% of girls. Finally, international restaurants were preferable by participants to buy fast food compared with local restaurants (70.9% vs. 29.1%).ConclusionOur findings provide evidence on the high prevalence of fast food consumption among Saudi girls, suggesting an urgent need for community-based nutrition interventions that consider the trends of fast food consumption and targeted eating behaviors of adolescent and young adult girls.

Context Ellagic acid (EA) is used in traditional medicine to treated hyperlipidaemia. Objective This study examined if AMPK mediates the anti-steatotic effect of ellagic acid (EA) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus in rats. Materials and methods Adult male Wistar rats (130 ± 10 g) were divided into 6 groups ( n = 8 rats/group) as control, control + EA, control + EA + CC an AMPK inhibitor), T1DM, T1DM + EA, and T1DM + EA + CC. The treatments with EA (50 mg/kg/orally) and CC (200 ng/rat/i.p.) were given the desired groups for 12 weeks, daily. Results In T1DM-rats, EA reduced fasting glucose levels (44.8%), increased fasting insulin levels (92.8%), prevented hepatic lipid accumulation, and decreased hepatic and serum levels of total triglycerides (54% & 61%), cholesterol (57% & 48%), and free fatty acids (40% & 37%). It also reduced hepatic levels of ROS (62%), MDA (52%), TNF-α (62%), and IL-6 (57.2%) and the nuclear activity of NF-κB p65 (54%) but increased the nuclear activity of Nrf-2 (4-fold) and levels of GSH (107%) and SOD (87%). Besides, EA reduced downregulated SREBP1 (35%), SREBP2 (34%), ACC-1 (36%), FAS (38%), and HMG-CoAR (49%) but stimulated mRNA levels of PPARα (1.7-fold) and CPT1a (1.8-fold), CPT1b (2.9-fold), and p-AMPK (4-fold). All these events were prevented by the co-administration of CC. Discussion and conclusions These findings encourage the use of EA to treat hepatic disorders, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Further in vivo and in vitro studies are needed to validate its potential in clinical medicine.

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The dietary supplement market in Saudi Arabia is growing alongside the number of Saudis consuming dietary supplements. It is therefore increasingly important for healthcare personnel to understand the consumption rate of dietary supplements, whether they are used wisely, and the know-how concerning their use and dosage. The purpose of this study was to clarify the overall awareness of dietary supplement consumption among female students of Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Using a descriptive approach, data were collected from 759 female students (mean age = 22.1 ± 1.7 years) via an electronic survey. All participants reported having consumed dietary supplements at some point, and 32.3% were taking them at the time of the survey. They took supplements primarily for aesthetic reasons (e.g., hair and skin health) and preferred purchasing supplements at pharmacies. Nearly all (89.9%) participants could define supplements correctly, and 43.6% reported that supplements improved health. More than half the sample believed that supplements are safe. While a large proportion of participants correctly identified the recommended number of daily servings of fruits and vegetables, relatively few actually consumed that recommended amount. More than one-third of participants consumed more than one type of supplement simultaneously, and more than half reported that they would use supplements when necessary in the future. The results of this study suggest a need for long-term studies on the consumption of nutritional supplements among Saudis and its impact on health.