The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research

Enhancing food security through scientific research in Algeria. A novel vision and unified national strategy

Bachir Benarba — 2024-09-14

In this viewpoint we present the Algerian approach adopted to achieve a useful collaboration between researchers and socioeconomic partners to ensure food security.

Physicochemical characteristics and nutritional value of safflower oil: A potential sustainable crop for Egypt

Walid S. Abd El-Baset — 2024-10-16

Background: The Increasing demand for sustainable and economical non-traditional edible oils, as alternatives to common oils is pivotal to bridge the edible oils gap, coupled with negative impacts of climate change on the agroecological settings for common oilseed crop productivity. Safflower, being one of the fast-growing medicinal oilseeds crops rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, known as the “king of linoleic acid”, exhibits resilience to adverse environmental conditions such as high temperatures, drought, salinity, and marginal environments.

Aims: This study aimed to comprehensively assess the physicochemical characteristics and lipid nutritional indices of safflower oil to validate its potential for expanded cultivation in Egypt.

Materials and Methods: Safflower oil was extracted from seeds of two spineless varieties cultivated in Egypt. The oil was subjected to proximate analysis, physicochemical characterization, fatty acid profile determination, and α-tocopherol content analysis. Additionally, a frying stability test was carried out for safflower oil and its blends with soybean oil in different ratios, monitoring changes in free fatty acid, peroxide value, and total polar compounds. Lipid nutritional indices were calculated to assess the oil’s health-promoting properties.

Results: Safflower oil exhibited similar proximate composition and physicochemical characteristics to sunflower oil. The fatty acid profile of safflower oil was comparable to sunflower oil, with a lower oleic acid content and a higher linoleic acid content. Furthermore, safflower oil demonstrated satisfactory stability during the frying process. Lipid nutritional indices calculated based on the fatty acid profile revealed that safflower oil is a valuable source of ω-6 fatty acids. The oil exhibited favorable values for atherogenicity index (AI), thrombogenic index (TI), hypocholesterolemic / hypercholesterolemic (HH), health-promoting index (HPI), and possessed strong antioxidant properties due to its high α-tocopherol content.

Conclusion: The findings of this study support the potential of safflower oil as a promising non-traditional edible oil, suitable for expanded cultivation in Egypt. Its favorable nutritional profile and stability make it a valuable addition to the dietary landscape.

Keywords: Carthamus tinctorius L., safflower oil, edible oil gap, lipid nutritional indices, frying stability, non-traditional edible oils.

Exploring the interplay between social media addiction, mindful eating, intuitive eating, orthorexia nervosa, and mental health in young adults

Hatice Merve Bayram — 2024-09-23

Background: Considering the reported negative effects of social media on mental health and the popularity of healthy eating movements on these platforms, a potential relationship between orthorexia nervosa (ON), intuitive eating, mindful eating, and social media addiction warrants investigation.

Aims: This study aimed to explore the complex relationship between social media addiction, mindful eating, intuitive eating, ON, depression, anxiety, and stress in young adults.

Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 303 students, in Istanbul, Türkiye, between December 2023 and May 2024. Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, Orthorexia Nervosa Questionnaire (ORTO-11), Intuitive Eating Scale – 2nd edition (IES-2), Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-Short Form (DASS-21), and Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS). Body weight and height information were self-reported. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0.

Results: Of the participants, 67.7% were at risk of ON. According to ON classification, IES-2 and SMAS scores of participants with the risk of ON were higher and statistically significantly different compared to the participants with no risk of ON (p < 0.001, and p = 0.047, respectively). The ORTO-11 showed a positive moderate correlation with IES-2 scores (r = 0.401, p < 0.01), however, it showed a negative weak correlation with MEQ (r = -0.362, p < 0.01). Additionally, there was a negative weak correlation with ORTO-11 and SMAS (r = -0.104, p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that all predictors were associated with the risk of ON. These variables predicted 13% of the variance.

Conclusion: The results suggest that modern social media may contribute to orthorexic symptoms, mindful and intuitive eating behaviors, and mental health outcomes.

Keywords: intuitive eating, mindful eating, orthorexia nervosa, social media addiction.

Sex and income level can be determinants for meat attachment behavior among Turkish university students

Eif Gunalan — 2024-12-08

Background: The Meat Attachment Questionnaire (MAQ) is a scale to measure the positive bond in meat consumption.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the validation and reliability of the Turkish version of the MAQ and to investigate its relationship with various variables such as sociodemographic properties, meat consumption, and sub-scales of the Green Eating Survey (GES).

Subjects and Methods: This study was carried out with the participation of 214 university students. MAQ, Food Frequency Questionnaire, and GES were applied to participants. Item analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient test/retest reliability, one-way ANOVA, Welch ANOVA, t-test, Pearson’s correlation, Tukey’s HSD, or Games-Howell Post Hoc tests were performed by SPSS (version 26) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied usage with lavaan R (version 0.6-13) and semPlot R (version 1.1.6) packages.

Results: All factor loadings were statistically significant, and high fit indices were obtained for the model tested in the second-order CFA model. (χ2/df=151,93/101=1.50; RMSEA = 0.05; SRMR=0.08; NFI=0.97; NNFI=0.99; CFI=0.99; GFI=0.98; AGFI=0.97). Hedonism, entitlement, dependence, and global scores were significantly higher in men (p<0.05). The entitlement score was significantly higher in the income<expenses group than in the income=expenses group (p<0.05). In addition, participants with higher red meat and poultry consumption had significantly higher hedonism, dependence, and global scores of MAQ (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The Turkish version of MAQ can be accepted as a reliable and valid scale among university students. Sex, income levels, and meat consumption can be determinants, while body mass index and green eating behavior can not directly affect MAQ scores.

Keywords: Green Eating, Meat, Reliability, Sustainability, Validity.

Regional and socio-demographic predictors of dietary proficiency of adolescent girls in Nigeria

Motunrayo Funke Olumakaiye — 2024-11-25

Background: Dietary behaviors of female adolescents are of increasing concern due to their critical role in determining long-term health outcomes.

Aims: This study aimed at investigating dietary proficiency of adolescent girls aged 10 – 19.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 2261 in-school female adolescents aged 10 – 19 years. Participants were selected using a multistage stratified random sampling procedure was used to select participants from three geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Two states were selected from three geopolitical zones in Nigeria: North-Central (Kogi and Niger States), South-East (Abia and Imo States), and South-West (Osun and Ondo States). A validated questionnaire was employed to collect data on sociodemographic variables, Dietary Diversity (DD), Nutrition Knowledge (NK), and Dietary Behavior (DB). These variables were combined to define Dietary Proficiency. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24. Chi-square test assessed regional associations, while logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of dietary proficiency (DP). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: Significant regional variations were observed in DD (χ2 = 36.069), NK (χ2 = 56.895), DB (χ2 = 176.52), and DP (χ2 = 40.551). Older girls residing in peri-urban location, from Igbo ethnic group, and moderately large household predicted a likelihood of higher DD with odd ratios exceeding 1. Larger household size (OR = 1.056, 95% CI = 0.813 – 1.373) predicted higher NK. Residing in South-East region (OR = 2.030, 95% CI = 1.640 – 2.513) and being in the mid-adolescent girls (14 – 16 years) (OR = 2.093, 95%CI=1.589 – 2.756) doubled the likelihood of high DB. Predictors of higher DP included older age (OR = 1.160, 95% CI = 0.923 –1.457) and residence in the South-East region (OR = 1.148, 95% CI = 0.883–1.49).

Conclusion: Regional and sociodemographic differences significantly influenced dietary proficiency among adolescent girls. Addressed these disparities through targeted nutrition education and awareness programs is crucial for promoting healthier dietary behaviors and improving overall dietary proficiency in this population.

Keywords: Dietary Factors, School Adolescent Female, Food Choices, Food Intake, Nigeria.