Background: Food literacy is associated with sustainable food systems and encourages individuals to adopt healthy eating habits. However, there is no validated method that can be used to measure food literacy related to sustainable food systems of Turkish adults. This research aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish adaptation of the “Food Literacy (FOODLIT) Tool” for Turkish adults. Methods: The study involved 328 people aged 19 to 58 years. The FOODLIT-Tool is a five-point Likert-type scale consisting of 24 items and five factors (“culinary competencies”, “production and quality”, “selection and planning”, “environmentally safe” and “origin”). Results: The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was applied to assess internal consistency reliability, showing an excellent scale coefficient of 0.927. The model was evaluated with a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The findings of the CFA suggested that the fit indices were acceptable (χ²/df = 1.257, comparative fit index: 0.991, goodness-of-fit index: 0.977, normed fit index: 0.990 and root mean error of approximation: 0.028). Furthermore, there was a positive relationship between the FOODLIT-Tool score and the “Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale” (SHEB) score (r = 0.518, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study shows that the Turkish version of the FOODLIT-Tool integrated with sustainable food systems is a valid and reliable measurement tool for assessing the food literacy of Turkish adults.

This study examined the impact of nutrition education on chronotype, sleep quality, and dietary quality among university students. Participants included 317 students with nutrition education and 280 without. Data were collected through questionnaires assessing demographic characteristics, chronotype (using the Morning-Evening Questionnaire), sleep quality (via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and dietary habits. Anthropometric measurements and 24-hour food recalls were also recorded. Dietary quality was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2020, while dietary fat and carbohydrate quality were assessed with the Fat Quality Index (FQI) and Carbohydrate Quality Index (CQI), respectively. Results indicated that students who received nutrition education had significantly lower body weight, height, and waist circumference compared to those without. Of the students, 8.9% had a morning, 7% had an evening and the rest had an intermediate chronotype. HEI-2020, CQI, and FQI scores were significantly higher in the nutrition education group. Although no significant relationship was found between nutrition education and chronotype, improved dietary and sleep quality were observed in the group with education. This suggested that enhancing nutritional knowledge can positively impact health by improving dietary quality and sleep.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is common in the diets of humans and animals and often leads to adverse health effects. Propolis, with its strong antioxidant activity, can reduce oxidative stress and modulate gut microbiota composition. However, the underlying mechanism by which propolis alleviates AFB1‐induced intestinal barrier damage remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of oral propolis supplementation in AFB1‐exposed rats. Thirty‐two male Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control, AFB1, propolis, and AFB1+propolis. After 4 weeks, serum oxidative stress markers were examined, and gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Intestinal sections were processed by Hematoxylin & Eosin staining, and the expression level of tight junction proteins was assessed by immunostaining. Propolis supplementation in AFB1‐exposed rats tended to decrease oxidative stress, and it also restructured the gut microbiota by preventing a decrease in the relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Roseburia, and Phascolarctobacterium. Propolis restored intestinal permeability impaired by AFB1 by ameliorating intestinal morphological damage and increasing the expression levels of tight junction proteins. Propolis supplementation may contribute to the modulation of gut microbiota by alleviating oxidative stress and improving intestinal barrier damage in AFB1‐exposed rats.

AflatoxinB1 (AFB1) is a hepatotoxic mycotoxin whose bioactivation by cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes generates reactive metabolites that drive oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Propolis is a bee-derived product with antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. To investigate whether propolis supplementation attenuates AFB1-induced hepatic injury by modulating inflammatory mediators, Nrf2–HO-1 signaling, mitochondrial apoptosis, and CYP450 expression in rats, twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to four groups (n = 6): control, AFB1 (25 µg/kg/day), propolis (250 mg/kg/day), and AFB1 + propolis. Treatments were given by oral gavage for 28 days. Hepatic IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, Nrf2 and HO-1 levels were measured by ELISA. Histopathology was assessed on H&E-stained sections. Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2C19 and cytochrome P450 reductase expressions were evaluated immunohistochemically and quantified by ImageJ. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test. AFB1 significantly increased hepatic IL-1β and IL-6 and reduced Nrf2 levels, while propolis supplementation restored Nrf2, elevated HO-1 and significantly lowered IL-6 compared with AFB1 alone (p < 0.05). AFB1 induced marked hydropic degeneration, sinusoidal congestion, and mononuclear infiltration, alongside increased Bax and caspase-3 and decreased Bcl-2 expression; these changes were largely reversed in propolis-treated groups. AFB1 upregulated CYP1A2, CYP3A4 and cytochrome P450 reductase, whereas propolis co-treatment significantly suppressed their expression without affecting CYP2C19. Propolis supplementation attenuated AFB1-induced liver injury through coordinated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and metabolic regulatory effects, notably via restoration of Nrf2–HO-1 signaling and down-regulation of key CYP450 isoenzymes. Propolis may represent a promising natural dietary strategy against AFB1-associated hepatotoxicity, warranting further translational research.

Objective Hedonic hunger leads to the development of obesity by encouraging overeating and a consequent increase in energy intake. Mindful eating is predicted to help maintain a healthy weight by reducing hedonic hunger levels. This study aimed to examine the association between mindful eating, hedonic hunger, and obesity in adults living in Türkiye. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2023 using a face-to-face survey method among individuals aged 19-65 in Türkiye. Mindful eating was defined with the Mindful Eating Questionnaire. Higher scores on the scale indicate higher mindful eating. Hedonic hunger was determined using the Power of Food Scale. A higher Power of Food Scale score indicated a higher tendency towards hedonic hunger. Body weight, height, and waist circumference measurements were evaluated, and the body mass index was calculated. A 24-hour dietary recall was taken to determine the participants’ energy and nutrient intake. Results A total of 787 volunteers (mean age: 31.2±11.9 years) participated. A one-unit increase in Mindful Eating Questionnaire total score was associated with a 0.81-unit decrease in Power of Food Scale total score (p<0.001) and a 134.38 kcal decrease in energy intake (p<0.01). Higher Mindful Eating Questionnaire total scores were associated with lower odds of having risk/high risk of health according to waist circumference (p<0.001) and waist/height ratio (p<0.05) and associated with lower odds of being obese (p<0.001). Conclusion Higher mindful eating is inversely associated with hedonic hunger, energy intake, and obesity in adults. Mindful eating can be beneficial for altering hedonic hunger and energy intake, thereby reducing obesity.

Nutritional problems can be seen in children living separated from their families. This cross-sectional pilot study aimed to evaluate intuitive eating, diet quality, and nutritional status of children living separated from their families. A total of 55 adolescent girls aged 12–18 years participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical data, and 24-h dietary recall data were collected. The Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) and the Turkish version of the Healthy Lifestyle-Diet (HLD-TR) index were used. Participants were divided into two groups according to their scores on the diet quality index using the 50th percentile. Group 1 consisted of participants with a score of 25 points or less, and Group 2 consisted of participants with a score above 25 points. Waist circumference (72.0 (66–83), 65.0 (60–77)) was significantly higher in Group 1 (P < 0.05). IES–2 score (3.05 (2.85–3.40), 3.30 (3.12–3.90)) and two sub–factors; reliance in hunger and satiety cues (2.80 (1.80–3.40), 4.00 (2.60–4.60)) and body–food choice congruence (2.50 (2.00–3.50), 3.50 (3.00–4.50)) were higher in Group 2 (P < 0.05). After adjustment for body mass index, age, and energy intake, there was a significant positive correlation between IES-2 and HLD-TR scores (P = 0.029). In conclusion, it may be advantageous to resort to strategies that promote intuitive eating to reduce obesity and associated problems in this vulnerable group.