International Journal of Food and Nutritional Health

Exploring the Association between Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Depression among a Saudi Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

2026-01-20T07:40:25+00:00

Research has increasingly highlighted the protective effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on depressive symptoms. However, less research has been examining the importance of relationships within the specific context of Saudi Arabia. Study aim to examine the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and depression in Saudi adults. A total of 598 Saudi male and female adults residing in Jeddah,Saudi Arabia participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed an online questionnaire on fruits and vegetables consumption and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to evaluate the presence and severity of depressive symptoms. Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables is not regular, being vegetables are less consumed than fruits. Regular and frequent fruit consumption is associated with lower depression severity. Individuals who consume fruits sometimes or less frequently are more likely to experience higher depression severity. Regular vegetable consumption is associated with lower depression severity, while fresh vegetable consumption is not significantly associated with depression severity. Unfrequent and insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables seems to be related to depression among Saudi adults. Promoting fruit and vegetable intake could help to mitigating depression symptoms and reduce the risk of developing depression. Further investigations are needed to demonstrate a potential causal relationship.

Sociodemographic factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption among adolescents in urban Saudi Arabia

2026-01-20T08:04:31+00:00

Healthy eating practices and higher consumption of fruits and vegetables during childhood and adolescence are known to reduce the future risk of developing several health problems. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between sociodemographic factors and fruit and vegetable consumption scores among 104 adolescents aged 13–18 years in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Sociodemographic factors included age, gender, school type (private or public), body mass index of the adolescents and their parents, parents’ education level (high school or below, bachelor’s degree, or postgraduate), parents’ occupation (employed or unemployed), number of family members, and family income. Daily intake of fruits and vegetables was assessed using a short food frequency questionnaire, which included 18 and 22 questions on the frequency of consumption of different fruits and vegetables, respectively. Adolescents attending public school (p = 0.02) and those with large family size (p = 0.006) had significantly higher fruit intake score. Father’s obesity status tended to be positively related to vegetable consumption score. These significant factors were more observed among adolescents with normal body mass index (p < 0.05). Additionally, higher family income was significantly associated with higher vegetable consumption scores (p =0.02) only among adolescents with normal body mass index. Adolescents whose fathers had obesity consumed more vegetables (1.58±0.94) than those whose fathers’ body mass index was normal (1.16±0.81). Family was the main contributor to the quantity of fruits and vegetables consumed among urban Saudi adolescents.

Association of obesity with television and other screen viewing, physical activity and food intake among elementary school children in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

2026-01-20T08:13:20+00:00

The prevalence of childhood obesity has greatly increased worldwide. Television viewing and other devices with screens are among contributing factors for obesity. This study included 282 elementary school children aged 6–13 years attending public and private schools in Jeddah. A self-administered online questionnaire distributed among the schools to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, height, and weight, time spent on screens viewing, sleep duration and physical activity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 18.4% and 23.8%, respectively. Boys had a significantly higher risk of obesity (49.1%) than girls (37.6%) (P < 0.05). The majority of children had their own mobile phone (77.3%) and had their own tablet (56%). More than one-third of children spent 2–3 hours per day watching television and/or other devices. Children who played video games or watched videos 4 hours or more per day were more likely to be obese. Similarly, those who spent 4 hours or more per day using a mobile phone or tablet were more likely to be obese. Children who slept 6 hours or less were more likely to be obese. Children who exercised for 1 hour or less were less likely to be obese than those who never exercised. These findings call for the implementation of national programmes to reduce children’s use of electronic devices and improve lifestyle behaviours to reduce the prevalence of obesity among Saudi children.

Effect of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents on Phenolic Extraction Efficiency and Antioxidant Activity of Date Seeds Extract

2026-01-20T08:48:27+00:00

A single Natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) have emerged as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional toxic organic solvents, which offer enhanced extractability and bioavailability of bioactive compounds found in wasted date seeds. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of NADES efficiency on the antioxidant activity of extracted date seeds; The physiochemical properties of three prepared NADES based on L-proline as a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and different hydrogen bond donors (HBD) of glycerol, lactic acid, and citric acid were measured, then used to extract (1 g) of date seeds powder using ultrasound method, compared with conventional solvents (water and 70% ethanol). The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity, using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, of date seeds extracts were evaluated spectrophotometrically; The highest yield of TPC for date seeds extract was found in lactic and citric acids-based NADES (38.31 ± 0.06 and 30.44 ± 0.85 mg GAE/g dw, respectively), with also the highest antioxidant activity (90.96 ± 0.48 and 90.61 ± 0.16%, respectively) compared with other solvents; The results revealed that carboxylic acid-containing NADES enhanced effectiveness, which hold promise for polyphenols extraction from date seeds with distinct antioxidant activities. Further research is warranted to explore the potential bioactivities of NADES-based extraction processes.

From risk to enjoyable, safe swallowing: Current studies on the development of aerated food, liquid, and semi-gel structures for dysphagia management

2026-01-20T09:08:55+00:00

Dysphagia significantly affects quality of life, increasing risks of malnutrition, dehydration, aspiration pneumonia and long-term healthcare challenges. Traditional dietary interventions often modify food, liquid textures, but adherence can decline due to visually unappealing and unappetizing of dysphagia-friendly foods. Therefore, this review highlights the current trend of aerated (foamed, air bubbly) structures in food, liquid and semi-gel products designed for individuals with dysphagia to modified texture, sensory and swallowing experiences. This review summaries the incorporating air bubbles softening food texture, reducing choking hazards, and improving safety while consuming meals for dysphagic people. Additionally, air bubbles contribute to an improved sensory experience by enhancing mouthfeel, facilitating flavor release, achieving taste balance, and ensuring safety while also promoting healthier eating habits and overall well-being for individuals with dysphagia. Innovations in aerated structures play a crucial role in enhancing nutrition, improving palatability, and stimulating appetite. The implementation of such structures in products designed for individuals with dysphagia, requires collaboration among food scientists, nutrition experts, speech-language pathologists, and culinary specialists. However, there is a critical need for comprehensive clinical trials on aerated structures to understand their impact on swallowing dynamics and health outcomes, and to improve their development for enhancing safety, nutrition, and quality of life in affected populations.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Towards Vitamin D Deficiency During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

2026-01-20T09:17:10+00:00

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in bone health and various physiological functions, yet deficiency remains a global public health concern. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to vitamin D among adults in Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on gender differences and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 449 participants. Knowledge was as-sessed through nine questions, with scores ranging from 0 to 26. Attitudes were measured using three ques-tions. Participants were categorized into good or poor knowledge, attitude, and practice groups, and statistical analyses were conducted to examine associations with demographic factors. The mean knowledge score was 14.1 ± 3.9, while attitude and practice scores were low (1.2 ± 0.89 and 10.29 ± 3.86, respectively), indicating poor concern and behaviours related to vitamin D. Females showed greater knowledge and more health-related actions (e.g., supplement use, testing), whereas males reported better intake of vitamin D-rich foods (p < 0.001). Despite high knowledge, attitudes and practices need to improve across participants. most group differences in vitamin D-related KAP were not significant, except for citizenship, where non-Saudis showed better practices and slightly lower attitude scores than Saudis. The findings highlight the need for targeted public health initiatives to improve awareness of dietary sources, promote appropriate sun exposure, and en-courage proactive vitamin D supplementation and testing, particularly among groups at higher risk of defi-ciency.

Assessment of awareness and knowledge regarding gluten, gluten-free diet, and celiac disease among university students

2026-01-20T09:31:08+00:00

Lifelong adherence to a strict gluten-free diet is the only known treatment for celiac disease. This study aimed to assess the awareness and knowledge level of students at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia regarding gluten-free diet and celiac disease. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of 1136 bachelor's students from various academic fields, using a web-based questionnaire. Data collection included demographic characteristics, knowledge of gluten, gluten-free diet, and celiac disease, and their relationship. The majority of participants were females (94.2%) and aged between 18-20 years (46.83%). Findings indicated poor awareness of celiac disease, with 75.1% of students reporting they had never heard of celiac disease. In contrast, 75.4% of participants were familiar with a gluten-free diet. Approximately half of the participants (51.9%) showed poor knowledge of celiac disease, while only 25.8% had good knowledge. Regarding the gluten-free diet, 22.3% of participants exhibited moderate knowledge, while 36.8% had poor knowledge. Significant differences in knowledge about celiac disease and gluten-free diet were observed based on gender (P = 0.012 and 0.008, respectively) and academic field (P <0.001 for both). Regarding knowledge of the relationship between celiac disease and gluten-free diet, 47.2% of participants demonstrated moderate knowledge, with significant associations observed only with the academic field (P <0.001). The findings revealed a lack of knowledge about celiac disease and gluten-free diet among KAU students in Saudi Arabia. Developing and implementing nutritional education programs may enhance understanding of celiac disease and its association with a gluten-free diet.