Herbal medicines, products and therapies are a subject of great public interest both nationally and worldwide. Use of herbal therapy is common among patients with diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine the consumption rate, duration and methods of herbs and alternative therapies used by the patients with diabetes in Kayseri, Turkey. This cross-sectional study was performed with 400 volunteer patients with diabetes. A face to face interview was conducted between January-May, 2003. The ratio of the herb used, herb species used, pattern of use, demographic characteristics of users and nonusers were determined. 25 % of the 400 respondent with diabetes reported herb use. There was a significant difference for Body Mass Index (BMI) of users and nonusers (X 2 =13.01, p<0.05). A positive correlation was found between herb use and educational levels (r=0.106, p<0.05). The herbs mostly used by the patients were nettle (28%), thyme (27%), parsley (12%) and jujuba (12%), respectively. The most common pattern of herb consumption was boiling the herbs and drinking the hot water extract (74%), this was followed by adding to foods (12%). Of 39% of the users self-reported that the herb decreased their blood glucose levels. Patients with diabetes tended to use herbs. They need to be educated by the health professionals.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a pseudocereal with rich nutritional composition, gluten free, and organoleptic. The primary aim of this study was to elucidate the possible protective roles of quinoa in glucose homeostasis in a model of cafeteria diet‐induced obesity. Male Wistar rats (3 weeks of age) were randomly allocated to be fed by; control chow (CON; n = 6), quinoa (QUI; n = 6), cafeteria (CAF; n = 6), or quinoa and cafeteria (CAFQ; n = 6) for 15 weeks. CAFQ resulted in decreased saturated fat, sugar, and sodium intake in comparison with CAF. Compared to CON, CAF increased body weight gain, plasma insulin, plasma glucose, decreased liver IRS‐1, AMPK mRNA expressions, and pancreatic β‐cell insulin immunoreactivity, and developed hepatocyte degeneration and microvesicular steatosis. Compared to CAF, QUI lowered body weight, plasma glucose, and plasma insulin, increased liver IRS‐1 and AMPK mRNA expressions, and pancreatic β‐cell insulin immunoreactivity. Compared to CAF, CAFQ lowered plasma glucose, increased liver IRS‐1 mRNA expressions, increased pancreatic β‐cell insulin immunoreactivity, and lowered hepatocyte degeneration and microvesicular steatosis. Dietary treatments did not influence IRS‐2, AKT2, and INSR mRNA expressions. HOMA‐IR, HOMA‐β, and QUICKI were also similar between groups. Restoration of insulin in CAFQ islets was as well as that of CON and QUI groups. In conclusion, as a functional food, quinoa may be useful in the prevention of obesity and associated metabolic outcomes such as glucose intolerance, disrupted pancreatic β‐cell function, hepatic insulin resistance, and lipid accumulation.

Background/Objectives: Malnutrition in older adults is both preventable and treatable, yet its detection and etiology remain complex. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition and various factors involved in the etiology of malnutrition in community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years and older. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years and older in a health center in Ağrı, Türkiye. The nutritional status of older adults was measured using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and a series of validated instruments, including the Standardized Mini Mental Examination (MMSE), body composition measurements (BIA), dietary intake records, and physical performance tests such as hand grip strength, chair stand, and Timed ‘Up & Go’ (TUG) Test. Statistical analyses included chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests for group comparisons and logistic regression to investigate independent factors associated with risk of malnutrition. Results: A total of 182 participants were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 72.1 ± 6.0 years. Of the participants, 59.3% were male. 1.6% of the participants were malnourished, and 25.3% were at risk of malnutrition. Perceived health status compared to peers (OR: 1.734, 95% CI: 1.256–2.392, p = 0.001), lower appetite status (OR: 1.942, 95% CI: 1.459–2.585, p < 0.001) and lower waist circumference (OR: 1.089, 95% CI: 1.040–1.140, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of malnutrition risk. Conclusions: The risk of malnutrition was higher among individuals with lower appetite, poorer self-perceived health status compared to peers, and smaller waist circumference. Reduced physical function and strength were also associated with an increased risk of malnutrition.