Dietary fiber intake in children remains below recommendations, and short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) prebiotic fibers may help close this gap. This clinical trial assessed gastrointestinal tolerance to two substantial scFOS doses in healthy school-aged children with low fiber intake. In a randomized parallel-group design, 78 children aged 6-12 y consumed 10 or 20 g/d scFOS (Actilight®) for 7 d following a 7-d baseline period. Gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded daily using a 4-point Likert scale (0: none; 3: severe). Stool frequency and consistency (Bristol Stool Scale) and well-being scores were also assessed. Analyses considered age (6-9 vs. 10-12 y) and sex. Flatulence mean scores slightly increased at both doses (+0.23 at 10 g/d; +0.31 at 20 g/d; P < 0.001), and abdominal discomfort rose with 20 g/d (+0.19 in week 2 vs. week 1; P < 0.001), while remaining mild. All other symptoms stayed <1 (mild). Stool frequency enhanced at 20 g/d (+1.19; P < 0.05), keeping within normal limits. Stool consistency increased in both groups (+0.2 and +0.71; P < 0.05), with a dose-dependent shift toward softer stools but remaining in the expected range (types 3-4). However, 12.8% of children were more sensitive to 20 g/d with declared diarrhea. Overall well-being remained high (>8/10), and no serious adverse events occurred. In conclusion, scFOS up to 20 g/d is well tolerated in children, supporting its use to enhance fiber intake. While generally mild, effects at 20 g/d in a small sensitive subgroup highlight inter-individual variability and support gradual introduction to improve tolerance.

Texture critically drives food acceptance or rejection, with oral processing varying widely among individuals and influencing dynamic perception and bolus formation. Adaptive strategies like tongue-palate squeezing often replace chewing in populations with masticatory or swallowing challenges (e.g., tooth loss, sarcopenia, xerostomia), yet their impact on texture perception, muscle activity, and bolus properties remain poorly evaluated, particularly in comparison to traditional chewing. This study compared chewing versus squeezing effects on texture perception, processing parameters (oro-exposure, muscle activity, salivation), and bolus properties using mashed potato (MP) enriched with psyllium (MP-psyllium) or xanthan (MP-xanthan). Twenty-six participants processed samples via chewing or squeezing until they were ready to swallow. Sensory evaluation covered textural (hardness, stickiness, cohesion) and hedonic (taste, texture, overall liking) properties. Electromyography measured masticatory muscle activity and chewing duration. Boluses were collected for saliva and texture analysis. Squeezing increased MP-psyllium hardness ratings (by 26%) and reduced MP-xanthan cohesiveness (by 45%). It prolonged oro-sensory exposure (by 22-31%), halved masseter and temporalis activity, and decreased salivation during MP-xanthan processing. Liking remained moderate (∼6/9). Both strategies softened boluses, but squeezed versions were harder or less cohesive than chewed. Oral processing strategies differentially modulate perception via sensory feedback, ensuring viscoelastic boluses for swallowing. Squeezing highlights tongue tactile sensitivity and compensatory prolonged exposure. These findings underscore texture-modified diets tailored to individual oro-sensory strategies. Rehabilitation for patients with chewing and swallowing disorders should be tailored to their specific oro-sensory processing needs.

A healthy lifestyle and diet may improve outcomes of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), potentially through reducing systemic inflammation. Therefore, this study investigated the association of a post-diagnosis Lifestyle (LIS) and Dietary Inflammation Score (DIS), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) with the risks of NMIBC recurrence and progression. Patients with newly diagnosed NMIBC between 2014 and 2021 were recruited for the prospective multi-center cohort UroLife. Lifestyle (n = 1334) and/or diet (n = 1306) were self-reported at 3 months post-diagnosis using lifestyle and food frequency questionnaires. The LIS and DIS were calculated to capture the inflammatory potential of lifestyle and diet; higher scores indicate more pro-inflammatory exposures. Plasma hsCRP was measured at 3 months postdiagnosis. The association of LIS and DIS with hsCRP was ascertained in multivariable linear regression models. The association of the LIS, DIS, and hsCRP with risks of first or multiple recurrence(s), and stage and/or grade progression was assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Over a median follow-up time of 4.7 years, 466 patients had at least one recurrence, and 155 had progression. Each 1-point increment in LIS and DIS was associated with a 43% (95% CI 29%-58%) and 6% (95% CI 3%-10%) increase in hsCRP, respectively. Higher LIS, DIS, and hsCRP were not associated with risks of first or multiple recurrence(s), and progression. In conclusion, a pro-inflammatory lifestyle and diet, and systemic inflammation, as measured by hsCRP, were not associated with NMIBC outcomes in our cohort. Yet, contributions from specific inflammatory processes or other biomarkers cannot be excluded.