The world is currently struggling to face the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), and many countries have imposed lockdowns and recommended quarantine to limit both the spread of the virus and overwhelming demands for medical care. Direct implications include the disruption of work routines, boredom, depression, increased calorie consumption, and other similar harmful effects. The present narrative review article briefly analyzes the preliminary effects of the quarantine lifestyle from the standpoint of dietary habits. In six different databases, we searched for original articles up to 10 August 2020, assessing eating habits among populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and recorded any change in the intake of major food categories, as well as changes in body weight. The research strategy yielded 364 articles, from which we selected 12 articles that fitted our goal. Our preliminary findings revealed a sharp rise of carbohydrates sources consumption, especially those with a high glycemic index (i.e., homemade pizza, bread, cake, and pastries), as well as more frequent snacks. A high consumption of fruits and vegetables, and protein sources, particularly pulses, was also recorded, although there was no clear peak of increase in the latter. Data concerning the consumption of junk foods lacked consistency, while there was a decreased alcohol intake and fresh fish/seafood consumption. As a possible connection, people gained body weight. Therefore, in the realistic perspective of a continuing global health emergency situation, timely preventive measures are needed to counteract obesity-related behaviors in the long-term, so as to prevent further health complications.

Background. Fatty liver index (FLI) is a non-invasive tool used to stratify the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in population studies; whether it can be used to exclude or diagnose this disorder is unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of NAFLD in each FLI class and the performance of FLI in detecting NAFLD. Methods. Four databases were searched until January 2021 (CRD42021231367). Original articles included were those reporting the performance of FLI and adopting ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance as a reference standard. The numbers of subjects with NAFLD in FLI classes <30, 30–60, and ≥60, and the numbers of subjects classified as true/false positive/negative when adopting 30 and 60 as cut-offs were extracted. A random-effects model was used for pooling data. Results. Ten studies were included, evaluating 27,221 subjects without secondary causes of fatty liver disease. The prevalence of NAFLD in the three FLI classes was 14%, 42%, and 67%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, likelihood ratio for positive results, likelihood ratio for negative results, and diagnostic odds ratio were 81%, 65%, 53%, 84%, 2.3, 0.3, and 7.8 for the lower cut-off and 44%, 90%, 67%, 76%, 4.3, 0.6, and 7.3 for the higher cut-off, respectively. A similar performance was generally found in studies adopting ultrasound versus other imaging modalities. Conclusions. FLI showed an adequate performance in stratifying the risk of NAFLD. However, it showed only weak evidence of a discriminatory performance in excluding or diagnosing this disorder.

The thyroid gland requires iodine to synthesize thyroid hormones, and iodine deficiency results in the inadequate production of thyroxine and related thyroid, metabolic, developmental, and reproductive disorders. Iodine requirements are higher in infants, children, and during pregnancy and lactation than in adult men and non-pregnant women. Iodine is available in a wide range of foods and water and is susceptible to almost complete gastric and duodenal absorption as an iodide ion. A healthy diet usually provides a daily iodine consumption not exceeding 50% of the recommended intake. Iodine supplementation is usually necessary to prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs), especially in endemic areas. The community-based strategy of iodine fortification in salt has eradicated IDDs, such as endemic goiter and cretinism, in countries providing adequate measures of iodine prophylaxis over several decades in the 20th century. Iodized salt is the cornerstone of iodine prophylaxis in endemic areas, and the continuous monitoring of community iodine intake and its related clinical outcomes is essential. Despite the relevant improvement in clinical outcomes, subclinical iodine deficiency persists even in Western Europe, especially among girls and women, being an issue in certain physiological conditions, such as pregnancy and lactation, and in people consuming unbalanced vegetable-based or salt-restricted diets. Detailed strategies to implement iodine intake (supplementation) could be considered for specific population groups when iodized salt alone is insufficient to provide adequate requirements.

Malabsorptive disorders are closely associated with micronutrient deficiencies. In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), trace element deficiencies pose a clinical burden from disease onset throughout its course, contributing to morbidity and poor quality of life. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of zinc deficiency in IBD. Literature screening was performed on six electronic databases until 1 May 2022. Two independent investigators assessed the 152 retrieved articles for inclusion criteria, met by only nine, that included 17 prevalence entries for Crohn’s disease (CD) (n = 9) and ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 8). No exclusion criteria were applied to language, deficiency cut-offs, population age, general health status, country, or study setting (cohort or cross-sectional). The prevalence of zinc deficiency in blood was scored positive if due to a single disease, not cumulative factors. Zinc deficiency prevalence across selected studies showed higher values in CD than in UC. Pooled analyses by the IBD subgroup showed a total population of 1677 with CD, for an overall mean zinc deficiency prevalence of 54% and 95% confidence intervals (CI) ranging from 0.51 to 0.56, versus 41% (95%CI 0.38–0.45) in the UC population (n = 806). The overall prevalence at meta-analysis was estimated at 50% (95%CI 0.48–0.52), but with high heterogeneity, I² = 96%. The funnel plot analysis failed to show any evidence of publication bias. The risk of bias across selected studies was moderate to low. In IBD contexts, one of two patients suffers from zinc deficiency. Mismanagement of micronutrient deficiencies plays a role in inflammation trajectories and related cross-pathways. Clinicians in the field are advised to list zinc among trace elements to be monitored in serum.

Over the last two years, many countries have enforced confinement to limit both the spread of COVID-19 and the demand for medical care. Confinement has resulted in a disruption of work routines, boredom, depression, and changes in eating habits, among them consumption of coffee and tea. Following six databases, we examined articles tracking consumption of these beverages. Out of 472 articles, including 23 beverage entries, 13 matched our criteria. While no clear trend in coffee consumption during the coronavirus pandemic emerged (7 of 13 studies indicated an increase, accounting for 53.8%), tea consumption clearly increased (70% versus 30%). Considering the global health emergency continuum, more research is needed to better understand the paths underlying food choices and the ways those changes may influence health outcomes, including those related to COVID-19 disease.

Age related hearing loss (ARHL) affects about one third of the elderly population. It is suggested that the senescence of the hair cells could be modulated by inflammation. Thus, intake of anti- and pro-inflammatory foods is of high interest. Methods: From the MICOL study population, 734 participants were selected that participated in the 2013 to 2018 examination including hearing ability and from which past data collected in 2005/2008 was available. ARHL status was determined and compared cross-sectionally and retrospectively according to clinical and lifestyle data including food and micronutrient intake. Results: ARHL status was associated with higher age but not with education, smoking, relative weight (BMI), and clinical-chemical blood markers in the crossectional and retrospective analyses. Higher intake of fruit juices among ARHL-participants was seen cross-sectionally, and of sugary foods, high-caloric drinks, beer, and spirits retrospectively. No difference was found for the other 26 food groups and for dietary micronutrients with the exception of past vitamin A, which was higher among normal hearing subjects. Conclusions: Pro-inflammatory foods with a high-sugar content and also beer and spirits were found to be assocated with positive ARHL-status, but not anti-inflammatory foods. Diet could be a candidate for lifestyle advice for the prevention of ARHL.