Food insecurity is a public health problem as it affects a wide array of individuals in the population. It can be characterized by food deprivation, lack of essential nutrition, lack of dietary education, lack of adequate storage conditions, poor absorption, and poor overall nutrition. The relationship between food insecurity and micronutrient deficiency requires more effort to deepen and discuss the relationship. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between food insecurity and micronutrient deficiency in adults. The research was conducted according to PRISMA using the Medline/Pubmed, Lilacs/BVS, Embase, Web of Science, and Cinahl databases. Studies carried out with male and female adults were included, which investigated the correlation or association between food insecurity and the nutritional status of micronutrients. There were no publication year, country, or language restrictions. A total of 1148 articles were found, and 18 of these were included, carried out mainly on the American continent and with women. The most evaluated micronutrients were iron and vitamin A. Food insecurity was associated with nutrient deficiency in 89% (n = 16) of the studies. As a result of the meta-analysis, it was observed that there is a greater chance of anemia and low levels of ferritin among food insecure individuals. It is concluded that food insecurity is associated with micronutrient deficiency. Understanding these problems allows the creation of public policies capable of contributing to changes. Protocol registration: This review was registered on the PROSPERO-International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database—CRD42021257443.

Household food insecurity (HFI) during childhood is associated with poor dietary diversity and malnutrition, placing children's growth at risk. Children with growth disorders, such as stunting, are more likely to have poor cognition and educational performance, lower economic status, and an increased risk of nutrition‐related chronic diseases in adulthood. Our study aimed to systematically review and conduct a meta‐analysis of cohort studies investigating the association between HFI and stunting in children aged 0−59 months. Peer‐reviewed and grey literature were systematically searched in electronic databases with no language or date restrictions. Two reviewers independently assessed the studies for pre‐established eligibility criteria. Data were extracted using a standard protocol. Random‐effects meta‐analysis models were used, and I² > 40% indicated high heterogeneity across studies. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system to assess the quality of the evidence. Nine cohort studies comprising 46,300 children were included. Approximately 80% (n = 7) of the studies found a positive association between HFI and stunting. Pooled odds ratio was 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87−1.14; I²: 76.14%). The pooled hazard ratio between moderate and severe HFI and stunting was 1.02 (95% CI: 0.84−1.22; I²: 85.96%). Due to high heterogeneity, the quality of evidence was very low. Individual studies showed an association between HFI and stunting in children aged 0–59 months; however, this association was not sustained in the pooled analysis, possibly because of high heterogeneity across studies.

Anthocyanins are natural flavonoids, which belong to a group of polyphenols with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective activities. The aim of this systematic review is to answer the questions "What are the impacts of anthocyanins on inflammatory and oxidative mediators of NAFLD in vivo?" and "What are the possible molecular mechanisms involved in the effects of anthocyanins on NAFLD and hepatic steatosis?" The search was performed at PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases, and the risk of bias was assessed by the SYRCLE tool. The data analysis was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-three studies performed in animal models evaluating the effects of anthocyanins in inflammatory and oxidative stress mediators in NAFLD were included and evaluated. The anthocyanins demonstrated potential positive effects on inflammation and oxidative stress (OS), in addition to reduced hepatic steatosis. The main results identified were a reduction in TLR, NF-κB, MCP-1/CCL-2, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in addition to an improvement in antioxidant defense with an increase in Nrf2, SOD, GSH, GPx and CAT and a reduction in OS. The findings from this review provide insights for the development of future studies with anthocyanins on liver health and inflammatory and oxidative parameters. PROSPERO (CRD42024502710).

Anthocyanins, a class of polyphenolic compounds widely present in berries and tropical fruits, have been increasingly investigated for their role in gut-liver axis. This systematic review synthesized evidence from preclinical studies evaluating the effects of anthocyanin-rich fruits on inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as secondary outcomes related to liver and intestinal function. Searches for original articles were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. A total of 18 studies were selected. Overall, supplementation with anthocyanin-rich fruits reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GPx, CAT), and lowered lipid peroxidation (MDA). These primary outcomes were consistently associated with improvements in liver health, including decreased serum ALT and AST, reduced steatosis, and lower histological damage. At the intestinal level, anthocyanins increased the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin), reduced permeability, and promoted favorable microbial shifts, particularly an enrichment of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia muciniphila. The gut-liver axis emerged as a central mediator, contributing to systemic anti-inflammatory and metabolic benefits. Collectively, the findings highlight the potential of anthocyanin-rich fruits as dietary strategies to prevent or mitigate metabolic and inflammatory disorders through coordinated modulation of intestinal and hepatic pathways.

Brazilian berries-such as jabuticaba, açaí, camu-camu, acerola, and other native species-have attracted growing interest due to their richness in polyphenols (anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolic acids), vitamin C, dietary fiber, and other nutrients. Nevertheless, many of these fruits remain underexplored or poorly known in the scientific literature. This systematic review aimed to answer the following questions: "How does the consumption of Brazilian berries influence gut health in vivo?" and "What are the main mechanisms involved in this process?" A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases, following PRISMA guidelines. Fourteen studies were included, and the risk of bias was assessed using the SYRCLE tool. The main findings indicated improvements in gut microbiota balance, with increased populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and a reduction in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Beneficial effects were also observed on intestinal barrier integrity, including increased expression of Mucin-2 and Claudin-1, and maintenance of Zonula occludens-1 and Claudin-3 levels. An increased SCFA production, a reduction in intestinal inflammation, and modulation of oxidative stress were reported. These findings highlight the potential of Brazilian berries as allies in nutritional and therapeutic strategies aimed at promoting gut health. PROSPERO registration: CRD42024537558.