Background: Children with healthier nutritional status are less likely to develop severe caries than those with a high-sugar content diet. Studies evaluating dental caries and nutritional status in school-age children have generally focused on dietary intake, diet quality, or anthropometric measures, and the number of studies evaluating them together is limited. Objective: It was aimed to evaluate the relationship between dental caries adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD), dietary intake, and Body Mass Index (BMI) in school-age children. Materials and methods: This study was conducted with 300 healthy children (52.0% boys, 48.0% girls) aged between 6 and 12 years. The data collection forms included sociodemographic characteristics, oral health practices of children, Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (KIDMED), and food consumption records. Anthropometric measurements (body weight and height) of the children were taken. Dental examinations were performed by a pediatric dentist. Results: While the DMFT mean score of the children was 1.7 ± 2.09, the mean dft score was 2.9 ± 3.29. The mean of KIDMED scores was 5.9 ± 3.32. DMFT and dft scores decreased statistically as maternal education increased (p < 0.05). DMFT and dft scores were not statistically different between BMI groups according to gender and age (p > 0.05). DMFT scores differed statistically between KIDMED groups (p < 0.05). This difference was between low-optimal and low-improvement-needed groups. While there was a low negative correlation (r=-0.169) between calcium intake and DMFT score, a low positive correlation was found between glucose (r = 0.172) and fructose (r = 0.149) intake and dft score (p < 0.05). In regression analysis, while the children’s age related DMFT scores positively, maternal education and KIDMED scores related DMFT scores negatively. Also, children’s age and maternal education related dft scores negatively. Conclusion: In this study, adherence to the MD rather than nutrients was found to be important in dental caries. Also maternal education level was also found to be a determinant factor in dental caries in children. DMFT and dft did not differ between BMI groups.Further studies should be conducted to assess the impact of the MD on dental caries in children to develop dietary interventions for preventative purposes.

International students are at risk for food insecurity (FI), and it is believed that the COVID-19 pandemic has made this situation even worse. This study was conducted to determine the changes in the FI risk and dietary habits of international students receiving education in Türkiye during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study employed a cross-sectional design. The data were collected using an online form and included questions on demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, anthropometric measurements, and dietary habits. The 10-item Adult Food Security Survey Module was used to assess FI. The sample of the study included 451 international university students aged 18–36 years. The mean FI score of the participants before COVID-19 was 4.8 ± 2.95, and during the COVID-19 period was 5.2 ± 2.86 (p < 0.01). The prevalence of FI before the COVID-19 pandemic was 74.7%, which increased to 81.2% during the pandemic (p < 0.01). The prevalence of FI in participants from Africa (87.3%) was significantly greater than that in those from Asia (77.4%) and Europe (54.6%) (p < 0.05). The proportion of individuals whose fathers graduated from primary or middle school is higher in the FI group (21.6% and 14.2% respectively) (p < 0.05). It was determined that the healthy dietary habits of the participants who experienced FI during the COVID-19 pandemic and their habits of consuming red meat, chicken, or fish; milk and dairy products; vegetables; fruits; legumes; cereals; and dried nuts decreased more than did these habits among those with food security (p < 0.01). FI is highly prevalent among international students studying in Türkiye, and the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated this situation. Given that five years have passed since the pandemic, these findings highlight the persistent vulnerability of international students and underline the importance of preparing policies and support strategies to mitigate the impact of future crises on food security.

Bugün yaşantımızın her anında yer alan plastikler neredeyse tüm ürünlerin içerisinde bulunmaktadır. Plastik üretiminde yaygın bir şekilde kullanılan Bisfenol A (BFA), östrojeni taklit ederek endokrin bozucu gibi davranıp insan üreme sağlığı üzerinde olumsuz etkilere yol açmaktadır. Bu çalışma, BFA’nın üreme sağlığına olan potansiyel etkisini Pubmed veri tabanı kullanılarak bugüne kadar yayınlanan insan temelli çalışmaları inceleyip değerlendirmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. İncelenen literatür sonucunda BFA maruziyetinin ovaryan cevapta, in vitro fertilizasyon (IVF) ve fertilizasyon başarısında azalma, embriyo kalitesi ve sperm kalitesinde düşme, cinsiyet hormon konsantrasyonlarında değişme, erkek cinsel işlev bozukluğu, polikistik over sendromu (PCOS) ile ilişkili olabileceğini göstermektedir. Çalışmaların sonuçları değerlendirildiğinde, BFA maruziyetinin azaltılması (hazır ambalajlı ürünler, plastik kaplar vb. kullanımının azaltılması gibi) hastalıkların önlenmesinde koruyucu bir faktör olabilir. İnsan üreme sağlığı üzerindeki etki mekanizmalarını daha iyi anlamak ve erken aşamalardaki potansiyel üreme toksisitesini tespit etmek için ileri çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Adolescence is a critical stage for developing healthy eating habits, which directly affect academic performance, especially during exam periods when stress and mental workload increase. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutrition education program in improving adolescents’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding healthy nutrition during exam preparation. The study employed a single-group pre-test–post-test quasi-experimental design and was conducted in February 2025 at a private school in Tokat, Türkiye. Participants included 96 students (43.8% girls, 56.3% boys) from the 8th and 12th grades, with a mean age of 14.6 ± 1.92 years. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire, which included demographic questions, a 20-item nutrition education assessment, and the Nutrition Behavior Scale. The intervention consisted of a 45-minute dietitian-led session on nutrition during exam periods, focusing on adequate and balanced nutrition, hydration, portion control, and sleep quality. Findings revealed significant improvements after the intervention. The mean total score of the nutrition education assessment increased from 62.1 ± 10.98 to 73.8 ± 13.50 (p < 0.001), while the Nutrition Behavior Scale score rose from –2.9 ± 4.41 to 5.4 ± 6.99 (p < 0.001). Positive behavioral changes were observed in regular meal consumption, water intake, balanced breakfast habits, preference for healthy snacks, physical activity, and sleep routines. In conclusion, the program effectively enhanced adolescents’ awareness and adoption of healthier eating behaviors, highlighting the value of integrating structured nutrition education into school settings to promote both academic performance and long-term health.