Comparative Study Regarding the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Eating Habits of Two Groups—The Romanian Children and Adolescents Living in Nord-West of Romania and Their Romanian Counterparts Living in Italy

Pira, Costanza; Trapani, Gianfranco; Fadda, M.; Finocchiaro, Concetta; Bertino, Enrico; Coscia, Alessandra; Ciocan, Catalina; Cuciureanu, Magdalena; Hegheș, Simona-Codruța; Vranceanu, Maria; Miere, Doina; Filip, Lorena

doi:10.3390/foods10092045

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(48 reference statements)

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“…Regarding the distribution of meals, we found statistically significant differences between girls and boys who did not eat breakfast (22.85 vs. 13.6%). These results are similar to other studies in the literature that revealed that Romanian pupils tended to skip breakfast [ 31 , 32 ]. Previous research has evidenced that childhood obesity is associated with lifestyle factors, such as lack of sleep, excess screen time, skipping breakfast, and a lower frequency of family meals [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Adolescents’ Lifestyle Determinants in Relation to Their Nutritional Status during COVID-19 Pandemic Distance Learning in the North-Western Part of Romania—A Cross-Sectional Study

Nasui,

Ungur,

Nasui

et al. 2023

Children

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Several studies have examined how the lockdown restrictions enforced to halt the spread of COVID-19 have affected adults’ movement behaviors; however, there is limited information regarding the effects on youth. This study aimed to report on the lifestyle habits of adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic remote learning and explore associations between the participants’ bodyweight and lifestyle behaviors. We used a cross-sectional study applied to 285 students studying in the gymnasium. The response rate was 74.21%. They completed an online questionnaire regarding lifestyle, eating habits, and nutritional status (assessed by the Body Mass Index—BMI). The study was conducted in January–February 2021. The percentage of overweight and obese was higher among boys (p = 0.001). The mean sleep duration was 8.12 (SD:1.284) hours per night, and was higher in boys than in girls. The respondents met the physical activity (PA) recommendation for their age, based mainly on unorganized PA. The screen time was 4–6 h or more for the majority of the respondents. Dietary habits included a high consumption of comfort food, like cereals, sweets, soft drinks, snacks, and fried food, but a lower consumption of vegetables and fast food. The regression analyses showed that the BMI was correlated with the BMI of the parents and the number of hours spent in front of the computers in free time. The study identified behavioral and environmental factors that can be modified with effective strategies to reduce overweight and obesity among school students and to promote a healthy lifestyle.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Adolescents’ Lifestyle Determinants in Relation to Their Nutritional Status during COVID-19 Pandemic Distance Learning in the North-Western Part of Romania—A Cross-Sectional Study

Nasui,

Ungur,

Nasui

et al. 2023

Children

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“…In Romania, recent attention to nutrition, driven by the alarming rise in obesity rates, emphasises healthy eating behaviours, which are crucial in a child's upbringing and are influenced by economic possibilities and the family's level of education [37].…”

Section: Eating Habits and Nutritional Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Status of Healthy Choices, Attitudes and Health Education of Children and Young People in Romania—A Literature Review

Roșioară,

Năsui,

Ciuciuc

et al. 2024

Medicina

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Background and Objectives: This study aims to assess the health status and factors influencing healthy choices among children and young people in Romania, as well as the efficacy of related health education programs. Through understanding these dynamics, the study seeks to provide insights that can shape targeted interventions, policies, and educational strategies to improve this demographic’s overall health and well-being. Materials and Methods: For this study, we performed a literature review of original published papers on the health status, healthy habits, health education, predisposition to making healthy choices in the future, and accessibility to the paediatric health system of Romanian children and young people, as well as the effects of different types of educational interventions on this demographic in Romania. Results: The prevalence of dental caries is high in Romania. In terms of eating habits and nutritional status, a worrying proportion of children are overweight or obese, which can lead to a variety of future physical and psychological problems. In terms of physical activity, few adolescents demonstrate regular fitness practices. Romania presents an increase in alcohol and tobacco consumption among adolescents. The mental health of students has become a pressing public health concern, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of social networks is linked to mental health issues among young people. Romania still has one of the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases and faces a high incidence of cervical cancer, with a mortality rate three times higher than the EU average. High rates of teenage pregnancies are linked to limited information about sexuality and a lack of access to family planning at a young age. There are large discrepancies in the accessibility of medical services between urban and rural areas. Conclusions: Romania faces significant obstacles to providing high-quality healthcare to children and young people. Improving nutrition, immunisation rates, and access to medical services represent essential areas for enhancing the health of children and young people in Romania.

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“…The remaining fraction of EGCG transits from the small to the large intestine, where it undergoes metabolism by local microbiota, leading to the formation of various catechin ring-fission products [ 229 ]. These latter metabolites can be excreted into urine or reabsorbed into the systemic circulation and further act as bioactives [ 230 , 231 ]. Anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects have been reported for catechin ring-fission metabolites, suggesting that these compounds may actually contribute to some of the health benefits attributed to EGCG [ 224 ].…”

Section: Nutraceuticalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Anticancer Potential of Plant-Derived Nutraceuticals via the Modulation of Gene Expression

Vranceanu

Galimberti

Banc

et al. 2022

Plants

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Current studies show that approximately one-third of all cancer-related deaths are linked to diet and several cancer forms are preventable with balanced nutrition, due to dietary compounds being able to reverse epigenetic abnormalities. An appropriate diet in cancer patients can lead to changes in gene expression and enhance the efficacy of therapy. It has been demonstrated that nutraceuticals can act as powerful antioxidants at the cellular level as well as anticarcinogenic agents. This review is focused on the best studies on worldwide-available plant-derived nutraceuticals: curcumin, resveratrol, sulforaphane, indole-3-carbinol, quercetin, astaxanthin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and lycopene. These compounds have an enhanced effect on epigenetic changes such as histone modification via HDAC (histone deacetylase), HAT (histone acetyltransferase) inhibition, DNMT (DNA methyltransferase) inhibition, and non-coding RNA expression. All of these nutraceuticals are reported to positively modulate the epigenome, reducing cancer incidence. Furthermore, the current review addresses the issue of the low bioavailability of nutraceuticals and how to overcome the drawbacks related to their oral administration. Understanding the mechanisms by which nutraceuticals influence gene expression will allow their incorporation into an “epigenetic diet” that could be further capitalized on in the therapy of cancer.

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Comparative Study Regarding the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Eating Habits of Two Groups—The Romanian Children and Adolescents Living in Nord-West of Romania and Their Romanian Counterparts Living in Italy

Cited by 5 publications

References 42 publications

Adolescents’ Lifestyle Determinants in Relation to Their Nutritional Status during COVID-19 Pandemic Distance Learning in the North-Western Part of Romania—A Cross-Sectional Study

Adolescents’ Lifestyle Determinants in Relation to Their Nutritional Status during COVID-19 Pandemic Distance Learning in the North-Western Part of Romania—A Cross-Sectional Study

Status of Healthy Choices, Attitudes and Health Education of Children and Young People in Romania—A Literature Review

The Anticancer Potential of Plant-Derived Nutraceuticals via the Modulation of Gene Expression

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