Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs), such as FABP4 (aP2, A‐FABP), are essential for cellular lipid regulation, membrane–protein interactions, and the modulation of metabolic and inflammatory pathways. FABP4, primarily expressed in adipocytes, monocytes, and macrophages, is integrated into signaling networks that influence immune responses and insulin activity. It has been linked to obesity, inflammation, lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Inhibition of FABP4 is emerging as a promising strategy for treating obesity‐related conditions, particularly insulin resistance and diabetes. Elevated FABP4 levels in individuals with a BMI above 30 underscore its association with obesity. Furthermore, FABP4 levels are higher not only in the tissues but also in the blood, promoting the onset and development of various cancers. Understanding its broader role reveals involvement in the mechanisms underlying metabolic syndrome, contributing to various metabolic and inflammatory responses. While blocking FABP4 offers an alternative therapeutic approach, a comprehensive understanding of potential side effects is crucial before clinical use. This review aims to provide concise insights into FABP4, elucidating its mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications in obesity and associated disorders, contributing to innovative interventions against metabolic syndrome and obesity.

Objective:Bisphenol A (BPA) is a known endocrine disruptor and free BPA will interact with estrogen. BPA is also fat soluble and will therefore contaminate breast milk. The European Food Safety Authority has set a limit for temporary tolerable daily intake of 4 μg/kg body weight/day in breastfeeding infants. The aim of this study was to measure human milk BPA concentrations in Turkish women and thus exclusively breastfed infants’ exposure to BPA.Methods:Healthy, postnatal, exclusively breastfeeding women were recruited and breast milk samples were collected. Free BPA concentration was analyzed in the milk samples using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Participants’ demographic characteristics and nutritional habits were investigated through face-to-face interviews using a detailed questionnaire.Results:Eighty women participated. Median milk free BPA level was 0.63 μg/L. There was no statistically significant association between maternal body mass index, birth type, parity, infant birth week, infant birth weight, and human milk BPA concentration. Nevertheless, there was a significant association between human milk BPA level and consumption of fast-food and carbonated drinks (p=0.022 and p=0.018, respectively). Exclusively breastfed infants’ mean BPA exposure was 0.0099±0.0079 μg/kg bw/day. There was a moderate negative significant correlation between infant BPA exposure and infant current body weight (r=0.327, p=0.003).Conclusion:BPA exposure in exclusively breastfed infants was within accepted limits and the current dietary exposure level of infants in this cohort was safe.

Quality of life (QoL) is a key indicator of well-being in older adults (OAs) and several factors, including nutrition, physical fitness, and dwelling place, can influence QoL. OA residing in institutional settings, such as nursing homes (NH), often can exhibit different QoL outcomes, nutrition status and physical fitness compared to those living independently in age-in-place (AIP) environments. This study seeks to compare the QoL, and physical activity levels of OA residing in NH with those AIP and to evaluate their dietary quality. This cross-sectional study included a total of 400 voluntary OAs, residing either in Narlıdere Nursing Home and Aged Care Rehabilitation Centre (n = 200) or aging in place (n = 200) in İzmir, Turkey. Participants were recruited between May 2023 and December 2023. Data collection involved face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire that covered demographic and anthropometric measurements, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Older People’s Quality of Life (OPQOL-brief), Physical Fitness and Exercise Activity Levels of Older Adults Scale (PFES), and a 24-hour dietary recall. Nutritional status was further assessed using the Healthy Eating Index for Older Adults (HEI-OA). Mean age of OAs was 77.8 ± 6.5 years and BMI was 25.8 ± 3.9 kg/m². HEI scores were not differed between groups (NH: 42.8 ± 8.1, AIP: 42.2 ± 11.0, p < 0.542), but AIP residents had lower poor diet quality (NH: 40.4 ± 5.9, AIP: 37.5 ± 7.9, p < 0.001). NH residence had higher OPQOL scores (NH: 54.8 ± 7.8, AIP: 47.6 ± 10.4, p < 0.001), and higher MNA scores (NH: 25.6 ± 2.7, AIP: 22.4 ± 5.5, p < 0.001). NH group had lower PFES scores, indicating reduced physical fitness compared to AIP participants (NH: 67.3 ± 6.3, AIP: 74.7 ± 7.7, p < 0.001). Nutrient intake analysis revealed that NH residents consumed more daily water, protein, and micronutrients than AIP participants, with statistically significant differences in protein, MUFA, and SFA intake (p < 0.001). A significant relationship between MNA and QoL total score in NH (r = 0.157, p = 0.027) and AIP (r = 0.619, p < 0.001) was found. The findings of this study revealed the potential influence of nutritional status on QoL, in enhancing QoL outcomes.

Amaç: Kötü uyku kalitesi, yeme bozuklukları ve sağlıksız yeme davranışları riskinin artmasıyla ilişkilendirilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, uyku kalitesi ve yeme bozuklukları arasındaki potansiyel ilişkiyi araştırmaktır. Bireyler ve Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı, gözlemsel ve kesitsel tipte olan bu araştırma, 18-25 yaş arası 357 (84 erkek; 273 kadın) üniversite öğrencisi ile yapılmıştır. Kronik ve psikiyatrik hastalık tanısı almış olmak, hamile ve emziren olmak, uyku düzenini etkileyen ilaçlar kullanmak, vardiyalı çalışanlar ve anketi doldurmamak dışlama kriterleri olarak belirlenmiştir. Anket, Pittsburgh Uyku Kalitesi İndeksi (PSQI), Üç faktörlü yeme anketi (TFEQ-21), Rezzy Yeme Bozuklukları Ölçeği (REZZY), antropometrik ölçümler, demografik özellikler ve beslenme alışkanlıkları olmak üzere altı bölümden oluşmaktadır. Bulgular: Kötü uyku kalitesi prevalansı %63 olarak bulunmuş ve cinsiyetler arasında uyku kalitesi açısından anlamlı fark bulunmamıştır (p=0.769). Toplam TFEQ-21 (p=0.02), REZZY (p<0.001) puanları ile uyku kalitesi arasında anlamlı ilişki belirlenmiştir. Uyku kalitesi kötü olan öğrencilerde kontrolsüz yeme davranışı daha yüksek bulunmuştur (p<0.05). Yaş, beden kütle indeksi (kg/m2) ve sigara kullanımının uyku kalitesinin anlamlı belirleyicileri olmadığı saptanmıştır. Bununla birlikte, yeme bozukluğu davranışına eğilimi olan (olasılık oranı [OO]: 2.338, %95 güven aralığı [GA]: 1.444-3.785, p=0.001) ve duygusal yeme davranışı eğilimi olan (OO: 1.575, %95 GA: 1.022-2.427, p=0.040) bireylerde uyku kalitesinin düşük olması sonucunda yeme bozuklukları riskinin anlamlı olarak daha yüksek olduğu saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Uyku kalitesi kötü olan öğrencilerin, uyku kalitesi iyi olanlara göre daha yüksek düzeyde kontrolsüz yeme davranışı ve sağlıksız yeme tutumlarına sahip oldukları görülmüştür.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the link between food neophobia and two dimensions of orthorexia in women. This cross-sectional study of 985 women aged 18 years and over was conducted using face-to-face questionnaires. Women who had a disability, had a chronic disease, or were pregnant or breastfeeding were excluded. Participants provided information on their sociodemographic details (age and educational level) and frequency of physical activity. Orthorexic tendencies were assessed using the Teruel Orthorexia Scale. The women’s attitude towards trying new foods was assessed using the Food Neophobia Scale. A total of 337 participants (34.2%) were neophilic, 322 participants (32.7%) were neutral, and 326 participants (33.1%) were neophobic. There was no correlation between food neophobia scores and either age or body mass index. However, food neophobia was positively correlated with healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa (p < 0.05). The mean individual scores for orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia according to the Teruel Orthorexia Scale were 11.45 ± 3.91 and 20.04 ± 4.31, respectively. The results indicate that individuals with orthorexia nervosa have higher food neophobia scores, reflecting a greater reluctance to try unfamiliar foods, whereas individuals with healthy orthorexia do not show significant differences in food neophobia tendencies. This distinction highlights the importance of distinguishing between pathological and non-pathological eating behaviors when addressing dietary concerns.