Background: The potential positive interaction between intermittent fasting (IF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on cognitive function has been widely discussed. This systematic review tried to assess the efficacy of interventions with different IF regimens on BDNF levels and their association with cognitive functions in humans. Interventions with different forms of IF such as caloric restriction (CR), alternate-day fasting (ADF), time-restricted eating (TRE), and the Ramadan model of intermittent fasting (RIF) were targeted. Methods: A systematic review was conducted for experimental and observational studies on healthy people and patients with diseases published in EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases from January 2000 to December 2023. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statements (PRISMA) for writing this review. Results: Sixteen research works conducted on healthy people and patients with metabolic disorders met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. Five studies showed a significant increase in BDNF after the intervention, while five studies reported a significant decrease in BDNF levels, and the other six studies showed no significant changes in BDNF levels due to IF regimens. Moreover, five studies examined the RIF protocol, of which, three studies showed a significant reduction, while two showed a significant increase in BDNF levels, along with an improvement in cognitive function after RIF. Conclusions: The current findings suggest that IF has varying effects on BDNF levels and cognitive functions in healthy, overweight/obese individuals and patients with metabolic conditions. However, few human studies have shown that IF increases BDNF levels, with controversial results. In humans, IF has yet to be fully investigated in terms of its long-term effect on BDNF and cognitive functions. Large-scale, well-controlled studies with high-quality data are warranted to elucidate the impact of the IF regimens on BDNF levels and cognitive functions.

Background. Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence is rising, and it is a leading cause of mortality, with greater death rates pronounced in developing countries, including Jordan. Understanding knowledge and awareness of etiologic factors, unhealthy lifestyles, and dietary patterns is crucial for combating ailments. Hence, this study is aimed at investigating the level of knowledge and awareness of CRC-related risk factors, practices, and possible associations of studied variables among young Jordanians. Methodology. A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted using an online self-reported assessment of anthropometrics, knowledge, awareness, and dietary and lifestyle practices toward CRC and its related risk factors. Results. A study of 795 Jordanian university students found that 93.8 were Jordanians, 73.0 were female, aged 18-24, and single. Most participants were from medical and science schools (69.4). The vast majority (about 84) were found to have good knowledge and awareness of CRC and its risk factors, but this was not reflected in their dietary practices. There are significant differences in physical activity, smoking, vegetable consumption, and serving sizes of red meat and processed meats between the sexes. Academic study specialties significantly impact knowledge and awareness. Conclusion. The study reveals that while young Jordanian university students have good knowledge and awareness about CRC and its risk factors, these levels are not reflected in their dietary behaviors and food choices for CRC prevention, highlighting the need for national programs to improve these practices, particularly in the younger population.

Our objective is to assess the relationship between meal timing, frequency, sleep quality, and diet quality (DQ) among university students engaged in ...

Background and Aims: Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) involves significant shifts in sleep patterns and circadian rhythms that may affect neurological health. This study aimed to evaluate changes in neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive functions in relation to sleep quality among healthy adults observing RIF. Methods: We recruited healthy adults from various regions in Jordan for this prospective cohort study. We used validated self-report questionnaires to assess mental health and sleep parameters. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9, respectively. We measured resilience using the 10-item Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire (NMRQ), and the Neuro-QoL (cognitive functions domain) assessed memory and attention. We assessed sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). We administered all tools before (BR) and at the end of Ramadan (DR) to track changes in symptom severity and functional status. Results: A total of 723 healthy adults (mean age: 28.82 ± 12.04 years) completed both assessments. A paradoxical divergence emerged between mood and sleep parameters: mean scores for depression (PHQ-9: 8.65 to 7.70) and anxiety (GAD-7: 6.75 to 5.65; both p = 0.0001) improved significantly, with a higher proportion of participants reporting minimal symptoms during Ramadan. Conversely, overall sleep quality (PSQI) deteriorated markedly, with the percentage of participants classified as having “good sleep quality” dropping from 66.4% to 34.9% (p = 0.0001). While sleep latency and sleep disturbances improved slightly, subjective sleep quality and sleep duration worsened significantly (p ≤ 0.01). Additionally, Neuro-QoL cognitive scores decreased from 30.60 to 28.97 (p = 0.0001), whereas total resilience scores remained stable (p = 0.897). Conclusions: RIF is associated with significant improvements in depression and anxiety scores despite a concurrent deterioration in overall sleep quality and duration. While these findings suggest a favorable impact on subjective mental well-being, the observational design precludes establishing causal relationships. This paradoxical interplay between fasting-induced mood enhancements and sleep disruptions highlights the need for future prospective studies utilizing objective measurement tools.