Online First

▪ Keyword : constipation, agar, konjac, fiber-rich snacks, nursing home

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Constipation is a common condition among the elderly in nursing homes, partly due to a low fiber intake. This study utilized agar and konjac, both rich sources of dietary fiber, to develop fiber-rich snacks aimed at increasing fiber intake among the elderly. Methods and Study Design: This 3-week cross-over study was conducted among 20 elderly residents with constipation at Tuyet Thai Nursing Home, Vietnam (11 women, mean age 77 years; 9 men, mean age 79 years). Participants were divided into two groups receiving either control or fiber-rich snacks in alternating weeks, with a washout week in between. Two snacks were provided each day - control snacks made with tapioca and gelatin and intervention snacks in which part of the tapioca was replaced with konjac (...

▪ Keyword : resistant starch, gut health, gut microbiome, metabolic health, Asia–Pacific diets

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Metabolic diseases are rising rapidly across the Asia–Pacific region as traditional diets are displaced by refined, low-fibre foods. Resistant starch (RS) is a fermentable dietary component that modulates gut microbial activity and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, representing a promising strategy for metabolic and gut health. However, responses to RS vary according to dose, RS type, and individual context. Methods and Study Design: This narrative review synthesised evidence from animal and human studies on RS classification, food sources, microbial interactions, and metabolic regulation. We evaluated how responses differ by dose, RS type, baseline microbiome composition, metabolic phenotype, and habitual diet, with particular atten...

▪ Keyword : malignancy, nutrition support, home exercise, psychological intervention, body composition

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Patients with malignancy often have a poor prognosis and dismal quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate whether a combined nutrition, exercise, and psychological intervention could improve these outcomes. Methods and Study Design: In an open-label, randomized controlled trial at the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University (Oct 2021–Jun 2022), 90 patients were assigned (1:1) to a treatment group receiving 6-month cyclic combined assessments and interventions, or a control group receiving assessments only. Body composition, hand grip strength (HGS), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and quality of life were compared at baseline and 6 months. Data were analyzed using SPSS 2...

▪ Keyword : gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational weight gain, small for gestational age, large for gestational age, birth outcomes

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The gestational weight gain (GWG) range during mid-to-late pregnancy associated with the lowest combined risk of adverse birth outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains unclear. This study aims to examine the associations between GWG and adverse birth outcomes among women with GDM. Methods and Study Design: This study included a cohort of 1,673 pregnant women with GDM. GWG was defined as weight gain from pre-pregnancy to a measurement between 24 and 32 gestational weeks, residualized for gestational age and standardized as z-scores. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess associations between GWG z-scores (per 1-SD increase and categories: <-1, -1 to 1 [reference], and >1) and small for gestational age (SGA), lar...