(1) Objective: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children aged 6–14 years in Beijing, and to determine whether sedentary behavior is a risk factor. (2) Methods: Using a multistage stratified cluster random sampling method, 3460 students were selected for the Nutrition and Health Surveillance in Schoolchildren of Beijing (NHSSB). Data on children’s sedentary behavior time and MetS indicators were collected using the questionnaires, physical measurements, and laboratory tests. MetS was defined according to the CHN2012 criteria, and logistic regression analysis was used to compare the effects of different sedentary time on MetS and its components. (3) Results: The overall prevalence of MetS among children aged 6–14 in Beijing was 2.4%, and boys, suburban children, and older age were associated with a higher prevalence (χ² values were 3.947, 9.982, and 27.463, respectively; p < 0.05). In boys, the prevalence rates of abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, high triglycerides (TG), and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were higher in the high-level sedentary behavior group than those in the low-level sedentary behavior group (p < 0.05); and in girls, the prevalence rates of high TG, low HDL-C, and MetS were higher in the high-level sedentary behavior group than those in the low-level sedentary behavior group (p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, the multivariate logistic regression results showed that compared with children with low-level sedentary behavior, the risks of abdominal obesity and low HDL-C were higher in boys with high-level sedentary behavior (odds ratio (OR) 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–2.07, p = 0.011; OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.06–4.76, p = 0.034, respectively); while the risk of abdominal obesity was higher in girls with medium and high-level sedentary behavior (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.01–2.27, p = 0.043; OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.04–2.43, p = 0.032, respectively). (4) Conclusions: Higher sedentary behavior time was related to the higher risk of MetS components among children aged 6–14 in Beijing. Reducing sedentary behavior may be an important method for preventing metabolic diseases.

Background/Objectives: Dihydromyricetin (DHM), a flavonoid with abundant natural sources, potent bioactivity, and high safety, holds promise for translational applications, particularly in mitigating skin aging. However, its role and underlying mechanisms in counteracting skin aging induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs) remain unclear. Methods: Eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subcutaneously injected with 500 mg/kg D-galactose and administered DHM via gavage for 11 weeks. Additionally, senescent human skin fibroblasts (HFF-1) induced by AGEs were used for further investigation. Results: DHM treatment significantly alleviated D-galactose-induced skin aging in rats, with the most pronounced effects observed in the moderate-dose group (100 mg/kg). Compared to the aging group, DHM enhanced skin elasticity and preserved collagen levels. Moreover, DHM promoted cell proliferation in the skin. Further studies on AGE-induced senescent fibroblasts revealed that DHM markedly reduced multiple senescence-associated markers and stimulated cell proliferation by approximately a 1.5-fold increase. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that DHM upregulated genes related to the cell cycle and DNA repair while suppressing AGE-RAGE signaling and its downstream pathways. Notably, DHM downregulated AGER, the gene encoding the receptor for AGEs (RAGE). Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that DHM shares a binding site with other known RAGE inhibitors. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis further confirmed the high binding affinity of DHM to RAGE (K_D = 28.7 μM), which was stronger and more stable than that of FPS-ZM1 (K_D = 40.7 μM). Conclusions: DHM may attenuate glycation-induced skin aging in rats by functioning as a RAGE inhibitor, thereby suppressing AGE-RAGE signaling, delaying cellular senescence, and promoting cell proliferation.

Nutritional intervention is a basic way to prevent and treat diabetes mellitus. Appropriate whole grain intake daily is recommended. The study aimed to explore the feasibility of a kind of buckwheat–oat–pea composite flour (BOP, quality ratio of buckwheat:oats:peas = 6:1:1) as a stable food substitution and its underlying mechanisms. High-fat food (HFD) and streptozotocin injection were used to induce diabetes in rats, and buckwheat, oats, and three different doses of BOP were added to the HFD separately for diet intervention. The whole study lasted for 10 weeks, and the glucose tolerance test, lipids, liver injury, and gut microbiota were evaluated in the last week. The diabetic rat model was successfully induced. The BOP significantly changed the glucose and lipids metabolism, decreased liver injury, and changed the composition of the gut microbiota of diabetic rats. The outcomes of the current study revealed that BOP is a potential stable food substitution.