The rapid clinical uptake of incretin-based antiobesity pharmacotherapies has reinforced appetite regulation as a core therapeutic target. However, real-world implementation is often constrained by cost, access, tolerability, and patient preferences, sustaining demand for complementary, lower-cost strategies that may support appetite control and adherence to lifestyle interventions. This review synthesizes mechanistic and clinical evidence on natural strategies intended to suppress appetite as adjuncts to obesity management, integrating homeostatic and hedonic appetite regulation with gut-brain signaling. A structured search of major biomedical databases from inception to June 2025 was conducted, and evidence was synthesized qualitatively by intervention type. Mechanistic and preclinical findings were used to contextualize human data. Across natural strategies, biologic plausibility is common, but the human evidence base remains fragmented and heterogeneous in intervention definition, outcome measurement, and follow-up duration. Reported effects are generally small to modest and short term, with inconsistent links to objective intake measures and durable clinical outcomes. Safety and tolerability profiles vary across approaches, and product or formulation variability, limited long-term data, and inconsistent quality reporting frequently constrain interpretation and generalizability. Overall, natural strategies for appetite suppression may be considered biologically plausible adjuncts, but current evidence supports cautious integration rather than stand-alone use. Future studies should prioritize standardized appetite measurement, objective intake assessments, longer follow-up, and rigorous reporting of safety, tolerability, and product quality to enable clinically actionable guidance.

Globally, there are differences in the way oats are regulated-particularly regarding the food labeling when oats are called gluten-free, with the potential to impact people who have celiac disease or related conditions. The potential cross-contact of oats with wheat, rye, and barley during processing is a concern for people with gluten-related disorders. This study examined selected international regulations governing gluten-free foods, the regulatory treatment of oats, and the requirements for declaring oats as an ingredient on gluten-free food labels. A comparative review of key regulatory frameworks was undertaken, including the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization-Codex Alimentarius Standard, and regulations from the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU), the United States, Canada, and Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). All of the listed jurisdictions, with the exception of ANZ, define gluten-free foods as foods containing less than 20 mg gluten/kg food (20 ppm) (in the United States), or less than or equal to 20 ppm. In ANZ, a gluten-free food must not contain detectable gluten or oats, which prohibits oats from being labeled as gluten-free. The United States alone classifies oats as not containing gluten. The regulations of many countries are based on the premise that oats processed with minimizing of gluten cross-contact are safe for most individuals with celiac disease, but stipulate that oats are only permitted to be labeled gluten-free if they contain <20 ppm (in the United States) or ≤20 ppm gluten (in the remaining listed jurisdictions with the exception of ANZ). The current ANZ labeling regulations are not aligned with other international regulations, and emerging clinical evidence suggests it may be timely and impactful to re-evaluate the regulatory definitions of oats, such that individuals can safely identify products suitable for their medical requirements.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) now contribute a substantial share of total energy intake. A growing body of evidence has linked UPF consumption to adverse health outcomes, but existing umbrella reviews are mainly restricted to studies published before mid-2023 and have seldom rigorously examined the shape of dose-response relationships, evaluating both linearity and nonlinearity. The aim of this study was to synthesize updated meta-analytic evidence on associations between UPF consumption and major health outcomes in children and adults. A narrative umbrella review synthesized meta-analyses of studies published through December 9, 2025. Outcomes included obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cognition, mental health (anxiety and depression), dental health, cancer, and all-cause mortality. For each outcome, a lead meta-analysis was selected by comprehensiveness, recency, and methodological quality (separately for children and adults when feasible). Methodological quality was assessed using a ROBIS (Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Systematic Reviews)-adapted tool. Certainty of evidence was rated with GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Twelve lead meta-analyses (mainly from observational studies) covering 13 outcomes were identified (4/13 in children). Across all but 1 outcome, higher (vs lower) UPF consumption was associated with increased risk (see graphical abstract). Dose-response evidence indicated a 10% higher risk per 10% increase in UPF intake for T2D, a curvilinear risk increase for CCVDs, and no significant association for NAFLD; for other outcomes, rigorous dose-response analyses were lacking. Certainty of evidence was high for 1 outcome, moderate for 6, and low for 6 other outcomes. This updated umbrella review confirmed harmful associations of UPFs with multiple health outcomes, and added insights on children's health, cognition, dental health, CCVDs, and dose-response. Despite remaining methodological gaps (including observational-based and nonrigorous dose-response analyses), current evidence supports population-wide strategies to reduce UPF intake. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD420251230427.

The first 3 years of life represent a critical period for shaping long-term health patterns, with day care centers offering strategic settings for implementing early nutritional interventions. This scoping review aimed to analyze existing guidelines and recommendations for food provision in day care centers, identifying common principles, existing gaps, and inconsistencies. Searches were performed in Google Scholar and on the official websites of national/regional health ministries from December 2024 to January 2025, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist. Twenty-nine official documents from 17 countries were included from the gray literature. Findings revealed wide heterogeneity in age ranges, portion sizes, and recommended food frequencies. Most guidelines recommend the daily inclusion of breast milk, meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. There was broad consensus on limiting added sugars and salt. Nonetheless, several gaps were identified: Common inclusion of red and processed meat, insufficient emphasis on fish and plant-based protein sources, underpromotion of whole grains, and some permissiveness toward fruit juices and ultraprocessed foods. Also, quantitative recommendations were often incomplete, and few guidelines addressed vegetarian diets and texture progression. The review highlights the urgent need for harmonized, evidence-based, and contextually nutritional guidelines tailored to day care centers. Standardized frameworks could improve food provision quality, contribute to healthier eating habits in early childhood, and support long-term benefits for public health outcomes. This scoping review is registered in the Open Science Framework (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/CWG8E).

Sarcopenia, the age-related progressive decline of muscle mass and function, poses a severe public health challenge closely linked to metabolic disorders and reduced mobility. Time-restricted feeding or eating (TRF/TRE), which refers to confining daily food intake to a specific window regardless of specific caloric or nutrient requirements, has emerged as a pro8mising dietary strategy to regulate metabolism and delay aging. In this review, recent evidence is synthesized on TRF/TRE's regulation of muscle mass and function, and its potential as a nonpharmacological intervention for muscle aging is evaluated. A targeted literature search was conducted in PubMed. Retrieved articles were manually screened, and those highly relevant to the effects of TRF/TRE on skeletal muscle mass, function, and any underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms (such as circadian rhythm regulation, autophagy, and mitochondrial function) were included. The impact of TRF/TRE on muscle health is heterogeneous. Standalone TRF/TRE promotes fat loss; however, younger adults are particularly susceptible to lean mass attrition without concurrent exercise, whereas older cohorts show greater resilience. Combining TRF/TRE with resistance training or supplementation effectively counteracts this catabolic risk, preserving muscle integrity and function. Mechanistically, TRF/TRE mitigates muscle aging by reinforcing circadian rhythms, enhancing mitochondrial function, activating autophagy, reducing chronic inflammation, remodeling the gut microbiota, and regulating AMPK and mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling pathways. Although TRE holds broad application prospects as a nonpharmacological intervention, its successful clinical translation requires personalized strategies tailored to individual factors like age, sex, baseline metabolic phenotypes, and physical activity levels. Future research and clinical applications should focus on optimizing individualized parameters, including determining precise age-specific time windows, ensuring adequate protein timing, and combining TRE with resistance training and nutritional supplementation to effectively prevent and treat muscle aging.

Global consumption of muscle foods (a tissue-based classification; eg, meat, fish, and poultry) is expected to rise in the coming decades, intensifying debates about the roles of these foods in health, disease, and environmental sustainability. From a nutritional perspective, foods, including muscle foods, are often discussed on the basis of their nutritional composition and expected medium- and long-term health effects, without considering the acute role of muscle foods in postprandial metabolism and how these effects can translate into long-term health outcomes. The present evidence-based narrative review synthesizes the current knowledge on how acute consumption of muscle foods influences postprandial metabolism and the implications for health and dietary recommendations. First, we analyzed global consumption trends and the environmental impacts of muscle foods using a nutrient density score (NDS) and greenhouse gas emission rates. Next, we reviewed human clinical studies examining postprandial responses, including glycemic, lipemic, aminoacidemic, and incretin responses to different muscle foods, considering the roles of digestibility, amino acid composition, and cooking methods. Evidence indicates that fish intake generally promotes more favorable postprandial metabolic profiles, including lower glycemic excursions and enhanced insulin sensitivity, whereas red meat intake tends to stimulate higher postprandial incretin secretion, likely reflecting differences in digestion kinetics and amino acid bioaccessibility. These findings highlight the importance of considering the impact of food systems on planetary health and the need to better understand the effects of muscle foods on postprandial metabolism as a crucial step towards dietary recommendations that considers environmental sustainability and human health.

Gastrointestinal cancers are among the most prevalent malignancies globally, with postoperative malnutrition representing a substantial associated complication. Immunonutrition modulates patient immune and inflammatory responses through the pharmacological activity of supraphysiological doses. The intestinal microecology, comprising the gastrointestinal anatomy, endothelial secretions, and gut microbiota with its metabolic products, is fundamental for host defense against internal and external challenges. Consequently, it plays a crucial role in immunonutritional therapy for gastrointestinal cancers. In this review, we summarize changes in the intestinal microecology of patients with gastrointestinal tumor as reported in the recent literature, discuss the effects of various immunonutritional approaches on patients, and evaluate the benefits of perioperative supplementation. We also emphasize the clinical concept of effectively treating gastrointestinal cancers by regulating the intestinal microecology through immunonutritional supplements.

This narrative review integrates evidence from nutritional, metabolic, and neuroscientific research to examine whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may represent a metabolically responsive molecular mediator linking fasting-induced metabolic adaptations with neuroplasticity and systemic metabolic regulation, and to discuss potential neurophysiological and clinical implications. Diet-related metabolic states are increasingly recognized as modulators of cognitive function and brain health. Fasting-based nutritional interventions may influence cognitive and metabolic disorders by promoting metabolic flexibility and engaging neuroplastic mechanisms. Among candidate mediators, BDNF has emerged as a key integrative signal at the intersection of metabolism, stress adaptation, and synaptic plasticity, with pleiotropic functions extending across central and peripheral systems; however, its regulation by fasting and interpretation as a biomarker in humans remains incompletely understood. Relevant experimental and clinical literature was synthesized to examine fasting-induced metabolic adaptations, BDNF regulation, and neuroplastic outcomes. Experimental evidence indicates fasting-related metabolic states engage cellular energy-sensing and stress-resistance pathways and are associated with enhanced neuroplasticity, partly mediated by BDNF-dependent mechanisms. In contrast, human findings remain limited and heterogeneous. Intermittent fasting interventions have been associated with inconsistent changes in circulating BDNF concentrations, influenced by baseline metabolic phenotype, inflammatory status, stress regulation, and methodological factors. Changes in circulating BDNF may reflect broader psychometabolic and inflammatory adaptations rather than direct induction of central neurotrophic signaling. Systems-level correlates of fasting-related metabolic adaptation and BDNF dynamics may be detectable using noninvasive neurophysiological approaches, such as electroencephalography, although direct causal links remain insufficiently established. Evidence positions BDNF as a context-dependent, metabolically responsive molecular bridge linking fasting-induced metabolic adaptations with neuroplastic potential, rather than a unidirectional marker of brain plasticity. Human data suggest fasting-related changes should be interpreted within broader metabolic and stress-related contexts. Well-controlled longitudinal studies integrating metabolic and neurobiological outcomes are needed to assess sustained brain health benefits.

This study aimed to map and analyze eating self-efficacy scales, identifying their characteristics, application contexts, psychometric quality, and gaps in the literature. A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. The search was conducted in the EMBASE, PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, LILACS, and Scopus databases, with no restriction on language or publication period. Studies that validated eating self-efficacy scales or performed cross-cultural adaptations of these instruments were included. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted the data. Data extraction and appraisal followed the characteristics of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and the content validity criteria established by the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN). Forty-six studies were included, comprising 27 original scales, 19 adapted scales, and 1 additional original scale indirectly identified in a selected study. Forty-six studies were included (encompassing 28 original and 19 adapted scales). Internal consistency was generally high (α or Ω = 0.73-0.97), and the instruments were found to be feasible for self-administration. The cross-cultural adaptations highlighted the need for methodological and linguistic adjustments in order to ensure the validity of the instruments in different populations. However, interpretability was limited, with few scales reporting normative data or thresholds. Content validity was the weakest domain-most instruments lacked concept elicitation, cognitive interviewing, or expert evaluation. Only 2 scales met the COSMIN criteria for positive content validity. This review demonstrated that eating self-efficacy scales are relevant tools for assessing dimensions of eating behavior and guiding interventions. Mapping 46 instruments provided a useful synthesis for researchers and professionals when selecting appropriate measures. However, important methodological gaps remain, particularly regarding content validity. Future advances should prioritize more robust methodological procedures, with clear conceptual grounding and systematic evaluation steps, to enhance the psychometric quality and clinical utility of the available scales.

To survive, some populations depend on "animal-sourced foods" and "oils and fats," yet humans thrive on low-fat, whole-food, vegan nutrition-that is, they are healthier, more disease resistant, and have longer life and health spans. Vegan nutrition is little reflected in national food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs), which are increasingly informed by politico-corporate interests, and variable interests of national food guide advisors. A composite of FBDGs informs the 6 food groups of the United Nations/Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization-endorsed Healthy Diet Basket (HDB). The HDB is used as a healthy diet standard and food security index and reported to be a valid global standard consistent with all aspects of a healthy diet and pillars of sustainability and low environmental impact. Yet, when compared with whole-food vegan nutrition, these claims are unsupported. Thus, the HDB version 2.0 warrants being aligned only with science with elimination of 2 of its 6 food groups-namely, "animal-sourced foods" and "oils and fats"-and shoring up the other 4 groups-namely, starchy foods; vegetables; fruits; and legumes, nuts and seeds. This commentary serves as an urgent call to action by unbiased, global food policymakers, nutrition science communities, and health professionals to translate only evidence-based research when constructing unbiased FBDGs.