Several health-promoting effects of kefir have been suggested, however, there is limited evidence for its potential effect on gut microbiota in metabolic syndrome This study aimed to investigate the effects of regular kefir consumption on gut microbiota composition, and their relation with the components of metabolic syndrome. In a parallel-group, randomized, controlled clinical trial setting, patients with metabolic syndrome were randomized to receive 180 mL/day kefir (n = 12) or unfermented milk (n = 10) for 12 weeks. Anthropometrical measurements, blood samples, blood pressure measurements, and fecal samples were taken at the beginning and end of the study. Fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed a significant decrease by the intervention of kefir (p ≤ 0.05, for each). However, no significant difference was obtained between the kefir and unfermented milk groups (p > 0.05 for each). Gut microbiota analysis showed that regular kefir consumption resulted in a significant increase only in the relative abundance of Actinobacteria (p = 0.023). No significant change in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria or Verrucomicrobia by kefir consumption was obtained. Furthermore, the changes in the relative abundance of sub-phylum bacterial populations did not differ significantly between the groups (p > 0.05, for each). Kefir supplementation had favorable effects on some of the metabolic syndrome parameters, however, further investigation is needed to understand its effect on gut microbiota composition.

Fermente süt ürünleri arasında önemli bir yeri olan ve ülkemizde de geleneksel olarak tüketilen kefir, probiyotik özellikte birçok mikroorganizma içeren fonksiyonel bir içecektir. Kefir geleneksel olarak, bakterilerin ve mayaların simbiyotik olarak birlikte yaşadığı spesifik ve kompleks bir bileşime sahip olan kefir danelerinden üretilir. Kefirin mikrobiyal bileşimi ve besin ögesi örüntüsü kullanılan kültürün türü ve miktarı, kullanılan sütün cinsi, sütün bileşimi, kültür ortamı, fermantasyon süresi, fermantasyon sıcaklığı ve depolama koşullarına göre değişiklik göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc cinsi bakteriler ve asetik asit bakterileri kefirde en fazla bulunan bakteriler, Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces ve Candida cinsi mantarlar ise kefirde fazla bulunan mayalardır. Son yıllarda yapılan çalışmalar kefirin ve/veya kefirden izole edilen bakterilerin sağlık üzerine çeşitli yararları olduğuna işaret etmektedir. Çalışmalarda, kefirin antikarsinojenik, antimikrobiyal, anti-inflamatuvar ve antihipertansif etki gösterdiği, ayrıca sindirim sisteminin düzenlenmesinde, vücut ağırlığının denetiminde, lipit profilinin ve glisemik yanıtın kontrolünde yardımcı olabileceği gösterilmiştir. Bu derlemede, kefir ve kefir danesinin özellikleri, kefir üretimi, kefirin besin ögesi ve mikrobiyal bileşimi ile sağlık üzerine olan yararları ele alınmıştır.

Objective: Exercise dependence and eating disorders are growing up among university students. This study aimed to compare exercise dependence, eating attitude, and orthorexic tendencies between regular students and student athletes. Material and Methods: A total of 168 students, 66 of whom were athletes participated in this study. Participants completed Exercise Dependence Scale-21 (EDS-21), Eating Attitude Test-40 (EAT-40), and Orthorexia Nervosa-11 (ORTO-11) scales. Anthropometric measurements were performed by the researchers. The data were analyzed using the SPSS version 25 and the significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Results: While there were no students with exercise dependence among regular students, 10.6% of the student athletes were found to be exercise dependent (p<0.001). Orthorexic tendencies of student athletes were found to be higher (p=0.045). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of eating attitude disorder (p=0.253). The EDS-21 scores were moderately positively correlated with the orthorexic tendency (r=0.446) and the EAT-40 scores (r=0.397) (for each p<0.05). Sports experience was also associated with exercise dependence (r=0.363) and orthorexic tendency (r=0.195) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Student athletes, especially those with a longer sports experience are at higher risk of exercise dependence and have higher orthorexic tendencies compared to regular students. Health professionals who involve in the sports teams should be aware of these risks and monitor the students in terms of exercise dependence and orthorexia nervosa.

Weight bias, whether explicit or implicit, has a detrimental effect on the physiological and psychological well-being of individuals, thereby complicating obesity management, particularly in healthcare settings. The objective of this study was to examine weight bias among Turkish dietitians. A further aim was to investigate the effect of the patient’s weight status on the dietitian’s assessment and dietetic practice. This cross-sectional web-based study analyzed data from 411 Turkish dietitians. The participants completed a series of sociodemographic information, anthropometric measurements, and scales, including the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS) and Attitudes Toward Obese Persons Scale (ATOP). After completing the scales, the dietitians were randomly assigned to a case study on lactose intolerance via an online survey platform. All patient information was identical, except for the patient's weight and photography. The objective of the case study was to evaluate how the body weight of a patient who consulted a dietitian for a reason unrelated to the body weight affected professional practices. A total of 66.9% of dietitians exhibited fat phobia. While men had higher FPS scores than women (p = 0.022), dietitians with a family history of obesity (p = 0.032) had lower FPS scores. BMI was negatively associated with FPS scores (β = -0.036, p = 0.026). However, dietitians with a history of feeling overweight had higher FPS scores (p = 0.024). Dietitians' assessments of cases differed according to the patient’s body weight status. Although, there were no statistically significant differences in FPS and ATOP scores between dietitians assigned to cases with higher or lower body weight (p > 0.05 for each), those assessing the case with higher body weight rated patients’ nutritional (p = 0.025) and biochemical status (p < 0.001) as worse and were more inclined to recommend weight management strategies. The issue of fat phobia and weight bias represents a significant concern among dietitians, with notable impacts on their professional practice. It is therefore of crucial importance to address and resolve these issues within the context of dietetic education. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT06624111 (submitted 01/10/2024).