Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent intestinal inflammation. Its etiopathogenesis is driven by a series of events that disrupt the mucosal barrier, alter the healthy balance of intestinal microbiota, and abnormally stimulate intestinal immune responses. Therefore, numerous studies suggest the use of short-chain fatty acids and their immunomodulatory effects as a therapeutic approach in this disease. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize previous evidence on the relevance and therapeutic use of short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate, in the immune regulation of inflammatory bowel disease. This systematic review of articles linking inflammatory bowel disease with short-chain fatty acids was conducted according to the PRISMA-2020 guidelines. The Medline and the Web of Science databases were searched in August 2024. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklists. A total of 1460 articles were reviewed, of which, 29 met the inclusion criteria. Short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate, play a critical role in the regulation of intestinal inflammation and can be used as a strategy to increase the levels of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria for use in therapeutic approaches.

The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased dramatically all over the world in recent years. While obesity in adults can be easily measured using the BMI calculation, determining overweight and obesity in children is more controversial. The aim was to compare the three most used international classification systems (WHO 2007, CDC 2000 and Cole-IOTF) to determine overweight and obesity in infant and adolescent populations. We performed a systematic review in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines of articles comparing any of the three classification systems. The main findings were that the WHO 2007 criteria show the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the child and youth population. The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity was determined to be higher in boys than in girls in most studies, when analysing the classifications of the WHO 2007, CDC 2000 and Cole-IOTF together. However, there was a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in girls than in boys when only the CDC 2000 and Cole-IOTF criteria were considered. Both the results of the review and the great heterogeneity found in the meta-analysis show that it is necessary to unify the criteria for the classification of childhood overweight and obesity. International standards are insufficient for working with the current population. A working group should be created to address this issue and agree on the unification of a gold standard, taking into account the geographical region, the ethnic groups and the age groups of the child and youth population and above all, the secular growth.

Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed a baby in the first months of life. It is an option with a low environmental impact, as it is a natural and renewable food that does not pollute. It is the optimal food for the infant, with nutritional and immunological advantages that reduce the prevalence of pregnancy disorders and provide benefits for the infant, the mother, and the environment. Its premature abandonment may have medium- and long-term consequences, as the use of formula milk is much more polluting. A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was carried out between December 2020 and January 2021, involving 96 breastfeeding women. Sociodemographic and obstetric variables were collected. A validated Spanish version of the Breastfeeding Self-efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) was used. Factors that may lead to the early cessation of breastfeeding among the mothers that were studied are a high level of education, a lack of preparation for childbirth, a lack of security, a lack of confidence in preparation for childbirth, a lack of self-confidence, discomfort with breastfeeding in the presence of others, and a low level of maternal satisfaction. Married women and women whose partners support breastfeeding are significantly more satisfied with exclusive breastfeeding than single and divorced women. Adequate and protocolised care must be provided. Education and support for parents to allow for optimal breastfeeding and reduce the environmental impact of formula feeding is essential.

Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease that represents one of the main preventable causes of morbidity and mortality. This study analyzes how nutritional beliefs influence eating habits and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Spanish children and adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 35 educational centers in 12 Spanish provinces, with a sample of 1131 children and adolescents aged 6 to 14 years. Anthropometric and sociodemographic data were collected, and dietary habits were assessed by means of questionnaires. Statistical analyses were used to identify associations between dietary beliefs and body mass index. Results: In total, 29.5% of participants were overweight or obese. Two groups of beliefs were identified: healthier beliefs and less healthy beliefs. Children with less healthy dietary beliefs had a significantly higher BMI (22.16 kg/m²) compared to those with healthier beliefs (17.2 kg/m²). False nutritional beliefs, influenced by advertising and the family environment, contribute to overweight and obesity. Discussion: Dietary beliefs play a crucial role in determining eating habits and, therefore, the health of children. Nutrition education and public policies that promote healthy eating habits are essential to prevent childhood obesity. It is important to involve the family, the school, and the media in these efforts. Conclusions: Despite efforts, many children continue to hold erroneous nutritional beliefs that contribute to the rise in overweight and obesity. This study highlights the importance of addressing dietary beliefs and promoting appropriate nutrition education to prevent childhood obesity. It is recommended to implement educational strategies and public policies that regulate the advertising of unhealthy foods and promote healthy eating habits.

Dietary management is a cornerstone of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) care. However, a persistent disconnect remains between theoretical nutritional knowledge, what individuals are advised to eat, and the practical culinary skills required to translate these recommendations into daily practice. This gap is frequently compounded by socioeconomic constraints and cultural determinants. To map the available evidence on dietary knowledge, culinary skills, and food-related practices among people with DM, with particular attention to barriers and facilitators in daily-life setting. A scoping review was conducted following JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Major databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase) were searched for studies published between 2014 and 2025. Extracted variables were mapped deductively to the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), distinguishing self-care and dietary management (d5) from domestic-life competencies related to meal preparation (d6). Forty-six studies were included. The evidence base was heterogeneous and focused largely on dietary self-management, whereas comparatively few studies explicitly assessed instrumental cooking skills (n = 8). Across studies, structural barriers, particularly food insecurity and the cost and availability of healthier foods, frequently limited the feasibility of recommended diets. Skills-based interventions, including culinary medicine and hands-on cooking programs, were associated with improvements in culinary self-efficacy and, in some studies, clinically meaningful HbA1c reductions. Family dynamics, peer support, and culturally shaped practices (including religious observances) emerged as important determinants of adherence. Current diabetes education strategies risk achieving conceptual adequacy without practical applicability. Effective dietary management in DM requires a shift from predominantly prescriptive nutritional advice toward skills-based approaches grounded in Culinary Medicine. Future interventions should be culturally responsive and explicitly address environmental and social barriers in order to bridge the gap between clinical recommendations and real-world implementation.

Background and Objectives: Malnutrition and frailty affect 30–55% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients, yet formal nutritional screening remains inconsistently implemented in routine ICU admission workflows. The APACHE II score, the standard measure of acute physiological severity, does not capture pre-existing nutritional status or functional reserve. The Norton scale, routinely recorded by nursing staff for pressure-ulcer screening, could serve as a pragmatic proxy for the nutritional-functional axis. We assessed its independent prognostic value at admission for in-hospital and post-ICU mortality. Materials and Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 5775 consecutive adult patients admitted to a Spanish tertiary polyvalent ICU between 2012 and 2019, with APACHE II and Norton scores recorded at admission. The Norton was analysed as continuous and categorised (minimal >14, medium 13–14, high 10–12, very high 5–9). Discrimination was assessed by AUC and DeLong’s test, predictive improvement by IDI and NRI, and internal validity by bootstrap resampling (B = 200). Results: Hospital mortality was 12.8% (n = 738), rising from 7.7% in patients with minimal-risk Norton to 34.5% in very high risk. After adjustment for APACHE II, each additional Norton point reduced the odds of death by 7.7% (adjusted OR = 0.923; 95% CI 0.903–0.943). Adding the Norton to APACHE II improved discrimination (AUC 0.865 → 0.872; DeLong p = 0.003; IDI = 0.011; continuous NRI = 0.30). In the highest APACHE II quartile, the absolute mortality difference between minimal and very high Norton categories reached 23.2 percentage points. The Norton’s prognostic effect was approximately twice as large for post-ICU mortality (ΔAUC +0.011) as for overall in-hospital mortality (ΔAUC +0.006). Conclusions: The Norton scale at admission improves the prognostic capacity of APACHE II in critically ill patients, particularly for post-ICU mortality. Its widespread availability without additional patient-level data collection positions it as a pragmatic candidate for routine prognostic assessment and for guiding targeted nutritional screening.