Issue 4

▪ Keyword : plant-based diets, phytochemicals, vegetarian, non-communicable disease

▪ Content : In an era where dietary choices are increasingly linked to long-term health outcomes and global wellness trends, The Science of Plant-Based Diets in Human Health emerges as a timely, meticulously researched, and structurally com-prehensive guide that demystifies the complex relationship between plant-centric eating and human well-being. Comprising 17 thoughtfully organized chapters, this book moves beyond popular dietary fads to ground its analysis in peer-reviewed scientific research, clinical evidence, and nutritional biochemistry, making it an indispensable re-source for nutritionists, healthcare professionals, researchers, and informed general readers seeking evidence-based insights into plant-based eating.

▪ Keyword : artificial intelligence

▪ Content : Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology with substantial potential to support scientific research. Scientific communities across various disciplines are actively exploring its capabilities, including its application in scien-tific writing, peer review, and editorial processes. However, the inappropriate use of AI may lead to academic miscon-duct and compromise research integrity. To promote the responsible and ethical use of AI by authors, reviewers, and editors, APJCN has developed these guidelines. The guidelines are based on widely accepted ethical principles within the scientific publishing community. Given the rapid evolution of generative AI technologies, these guidelines may be up-dated and revised as necessary.

▪ 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 di-ets are displaced by refined, low-fibre foods. Resistant starch (RS) is a fermentable dietary component that modu-lates gut microbial activity and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, representing a promising strategy for met-abolic 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 classifica-tion, 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 attention to trad...

▪ Keyword : anemia, bioavailability, dietary intake, gut microbiota, iron deficiency anemia

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the most prevalent micronutrient disorders worldwide. Recent work suggests that dysbiosis may not simply be a consequence of low iron status but may ac-tively contribute to impaired absorption. This narrative review synthesizes the evidence on gut microbiota patterns in IDA across age groups, examines the mechanistic links between dysbiosis and iron metabolism, and identifies the potential roles of microbiota-related dietary and therapeutic strategies. Methods and Study Design: This narrative review used a selective, theory-driven approach, based on targeted searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sci-ence (2005–2026), to synthesize heterogeneous human, experimental, and mechanistic evidence on gut microbiota–iron inte...

▪ Keyword : nutritional risk, malnutrition, hospitalized patients, prevalence, disease-related malnutrition

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Disease-related malnutrition (DRM) mandates routine screening in many nations to ensure quality care as nutritional status often deteriorates during hospitalization. This study aimed to establish tool-specific prevalence benchmarks at admission and discharge, investigate sources of heterogeneity and evaluate diag-nostic yields of one-step versus two-step GLIM approaches. Methods and Study Design: A systematic search of Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL was conducted for cross-sectional studies on nutritional status published between 1 January 2018 and 30 Nov 2025 (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023480467). Eli-gible studies were pooled in a meta-analysis of proportions using a random-effects model.

▪ Keyword : omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, asthma or wheezing, early-life, meta-analysis, dose-response relationship

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Asthma, a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by wheezing, imposes a substantial global health burden on children. Given the potential of early-life omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3 PUFA) supplementation—as an anti-inflammatory intervention—to prevent childhood asthma and wheez-ing, this meta-analysis aims to clarify its efficacy and investigate dose-dependency. Methods and Study Design: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Three reviewers independently evaluated the studies, extracted data, and assessed bias using the Jadad scale. The outcomes included the risk of asthma/wheezing: pooled odds rati-os (ORs) wer...

▪ Keyword : Vitamin D, cardiovascular disease, cardiometabolic risk factors, systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Vitamin D has been proposed to influence several cardiometabolic risk factors; however, evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and recent meta-analyses remains inconsistent regard-ing the magnitude of these effects. This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on lipid profile, blood pressure, and glycaemic parameters, and explored whether age and baseline serum vitamin D concen-trations modified these associations. Methods and Study Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs was conducted to compare oral vitamin D supplementation with placebo in adults. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched systematically. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Pooled effect...

▪ 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 compo-sition, 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 an-alyzed using SPSS...

▪ 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 : oral nutrition supplements, nutritional support, malnutrition, colorectal cancer, chemotherapy

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) on chemotherapy tolerance and long-term survival outcomes in postoperative colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods and Study Design: This study was a secondary analysis based on a randomized controlled trial, and patients undergoing chemotherapy after hospital discharge were included. Patients in the ONS group received dietary advice as well as ONS for three months, while the control group received only dietary advice. Clinical characteristics and nutritional indicators were collected at baseline and three months after hospital discharge to assess nutritional status.

▪ Keyword : dietary oxidative balance score, dietary inflammatory index, fracture, oxidative stress, inflammation, NHANES

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The Dietary Oxidative Balance Score (DOBS) and Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) reflect dietary oxidative and inflammatory status. This study investigated their associations with the prevalence of wrist, hip, and spine fractures. Methods and Study Design: DOBS and DII were scored based on 16 and 28 dietary factors, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to assess the associations of DOBS and DII with the prevalence of wrist, hip, and spine fractures. Temporal trends of DOBS and DII and their associations with fracture trends were also analyzed, with subgroup analyses for robustness.

▪ Keyword : malignant tumors, opportunistic sarcopenia, nomogram prediction model, screening, inflammatory index

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish a predictive model for opportunistic sarcopenia applicable to Chinese cancer patients, so as to quickly detect the occurrence of this condition and provide a basis for early clinical intervention. Methods and Study Design: A total of 522 malignant tumor patients admitted to the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from October 2017 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Opportunistic sarcopenia was diagnosed by L3 SMI. Twelve variables were collected; risk factors were screened and modeled via univariate and multivariate regression in R Studio, and continuous variable cutoff points were determined by SPSS. A nomogram was constructed and validated with clinical decision and calibration curves.

▪ Keyword : critical care, indirect calorimetry, resting energy expenditure, nutritional support, clinical prognosis

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Assessing the resting energy expenditure (REE) of critically ill patients is essential for individual nutritional programs. We hypothesized that different evaluated ways for REE can be compared, and REE may be associated with disease severity and clinical prognosis. This study aimed to compare the differences between measured resting energy expenditure (m-REE) by indirect calorimetry and values estimated by predictive equations in critically ill patients, and to explore the correlations between REE and inflammatory status or clinical prognosis. Methods and Study Design: The patients in intensive care unit (ICU) were categorized based on APACHE II scores.

▪ Keyword : obesity, type 2 diabetes, diet quality, biochemical parameters

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is closely associated with obesity and metabolic disturbances. Although diet quality has been linked to metabolic outcomes, its role relative to adiposity remains un-clear. This study aimed to evaluate differences in biochemical parameters across body mass index (BMI) categories and examine relationships between diet quality and biochemical markers. Methods and Study Design: This cross-sectional study included 150 individuals with T2DM aged 46–60 years attending an endocrinology outpatient clinic between September 2023 and May 2024. Participants were classified as being of normal weight, overweight, or obese based on BMI. Diet quality was assessed using three-day food consumption records and calculated using the Healthy Eatin...

▪ 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) re-mains 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.

▪ Keyword : pregnancy-associated hypertension, adiposity, dietary nutrition, maternal health, visceral fat

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Pregnancy-associated hypertension (PAH) is a prevalent complication during preg-nancy. Maternal obesity is a known risk factor for PAH. As nutrition is a key modifiable driver of obesity and met-abolic health, this study aimed to evaluate whether early-pregnancy abdominal fat thickness and nutrient intake are associated with the development of PAH. Methods and Study Design: A prospective cohort study was conducted including pregnant women during 9 to 13+6 weeks of gestation. The abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were measured by ultrasound. Daily intake of key nutrients was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The primary outcome was development of PAH, encompassing gestation-al hypertension an...

▪ Keyword : dietary patterns, toddlers, factor analysis, allergic diseases, birth cohort

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Early-life diet may influence immune development and the risk of allergic diseases. This study investigated associations between dietary patterns at 24 months of age and allergic diseases in Korean toddlers. Methods and Study Design: In this cross-sectional study, 433 toddlers from the Korean Mothers and Children’s Environmental Health (MOCEH) cohort were included. Dietary intake was assessed using two non-consecutive 24-hour recalls.

▪ Keyword : fats, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, hyperuricemia

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Diet is a modifiable factor influencing serum uric acid levels, but evidence on the associations between dietary fat composition and hyperuricemia (HUA) remains limited. This study ex-amined the relationships between the proportion of energy from total fat and specific dietary fatty acids and the risk of HUA among Chinese adults.