Pediatric kidney disease has a lower prevalence than other pediatric conditions and has a notably different etiology from kidney diseases occurring in adults. Furthermore, the pediatric population is unique in that they experience ongoing growth and development, distinguishing them from adult patients. Consequently, pediatric patients with kidney disease require a more specialized and meticulous nutritional management plan compared with adult patients. To address this need and promote optimal dietary practices for pediatric patients with kidney disease, pediatric nephrologists from the Korean Society of Pediatric Nephrology and nutritionists from the Korean Society of Clinical Nutrition have collaborated to formulate nutritional guidelines specifically tailored to Korean dietary patterns. These guidelines offer detailed, nutrient-specific recommendations regarding the consumption of energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium while providing practical, culturally relevant guidance intended to support both pediatric patients and their caregivers.

Objective

Food for special medical purpose (FSMP) has become essential in clinical nutrition care. However, comprehensive data on FSMP utilization practices among healthcare professionals in South Korea are limited. This study aimed to investigate perceptions, current practices, and needs regarding FSMP among healthcare professionals.
Methods
A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a cross-sectional survey of 417 healthcare professionals (47 physicians, 219 nurses, and 151 dietitians) from 90 institutions with focus group interviews of 24 Nutrition Support Team members from six institutions. Data were collected from May to October 2025.
Results
Substantial interphysician variability was observed in documentation for enteral formula prescriptions. Infusion rates were documented in 9.2% of the physician orders; feeding method was recorded in 14.1%. Across all professional groups, diarrhea was the most common reason for changing enteral formulas (36%–39%). In education related enteral formulas, 59.6% of the physicians expected dietitians to educate patients; however, this role was most commonly performed by nurses (59.8%). Dietitians prioritized hygiene (66.9%) and safety (64.2%) when selecting products, and 84.1% of the institutions were providing oral nutritional supplements.
Conclusion
These findings highlight the need for standardized prescription documentation, evidence-based feeding protocols, and clearly defined professional roles in multidisciplinary frameworks, to optimize FSMP utilization.

Objective

Cigarette smoking leads to oxidative stress and high cholesterolemia, which are key drivers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Whey is known for its antioxidant and hypolipidemic properties. This study investigated whether whey protein concentrate (WPC) and hydrolysate of WPC (HWPC) can alleviate CVD risk in South Korean smokers by lowering oxidative stress and blood lipids.
Methods
A total of 25 male smokers were screened, of which 18 eligible participants (72.0%), randomly assigned to either the WPC (n=9) or the HWPC (n=9) group, completed the 8-week intervention. Before (week 0, baseline) and after the intervention, participants visited the laboratory for blood collection and anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, waist circumference, body fat mass, nutritional intake). Blood samples were analyzed for plasma lipid profiles, plasma fat-soluble antioxidants, and leukocyte oxidative DNA damage using the comet assay.
Results
There were no significant differences in anthropometric measurements, dietary food intake, plasma conjugated dienes, total radical-trapping antioxidant potential, and erythrocytes’ glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in both WPC and HWPC groups. However, we observed a significant decrease in the tail moments of leukocytes, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, atherogenic index, and high coenzyme Q10 levels in both groups. In the WPC group, total cholesterol decreased, while plasma retinol, α-tocopherol, lycopene, α-carotene, and β-carotene increased.
Conclusion
WPC or HWPC significantly decreases blood cholesterol levels and oxidative DNA damage and increases plasma fat-soluble antioxidant levels. Thus, WPC or HWPC might be used as oral supplementation to lower the risk for CVD in South Korean male smokers.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the nutritional adequacy of vegetarian ready-to-eat convenience foods.
Methods
We examined 114 vegetarian and 414 nonvegetarian ready-to-eat products and compared their energy and nutrient contents to gain useful insights for consumers when making informed choices and for producers when developing nutritionally balanced vegetarian convenience foods.
Results
Compared with nonvegetarian products, vegetarian convenience foods had a significantly greater carbohydrate content per serving and significantly lower protein, sodium, and cholesterol contents. Although vegetarian gimbap was significantly more costly than the nonvegetarian gimbap, its cholesterol and saturated fat contents were significantly lower. Vegetarian rice balls had a significantly lower trans fat content than their nonvegetarian counterparts. Sandwiches in the vegetarian options had a significantly higher sugar content but had significantly lower protein and sodium contents than those in the nonvegetarian options. Vegetarian convenience foods did not meet one-third of the daily nutrient reference values for a single meal, similar to their nonvegetarian counterparts, but their sodium content exceeded the daily reference value. However, unlike the nonvegetarian options, the sodium content of vegetarian sandwiches did not exceed the daily value.
Conclusion
Vegetarian convenience foods contain higher levels of carbohydrates and sugars and lower levels of protein, sodium, and cholesterol than nonvegetarian convenience foods. Foods such as vegetarian gimbap, rice balls, and sandwiches do not provide sufficient energy or nutrients to meet the nutritional requirements for a single meal. Creating nutritionally balanced vegetarian convenience foods should be the focus when developing new vegetarian food products.

Objective

Propolis has been suggested as a complementary therapy for improving glycemic control and lipid metabolism. However, evidence from clinical trials remains inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to provide a clear and updated assessment of the effects of propolis supplementation on fasting blood sugar (FBS) and lipid profiles in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Methods
A comprehensive search was conducted on the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases through December 2024 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the impact of propolis supplementation on FBS and lipid parameters. Eligible data were pooled using a random-effects model, and weighted mean differences (WMDs) were calculated as pooled effect sizes.
Results
A total of 12 RCTs were included, encompassing 736 participants. Propolis supplementation significantly reduced FBS (WMD, −12.08 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval [CI], −19.13 to −5.04; P=0.001) and triglyceride (TG) levels (WMD, −25.40 mg/dL; 95% CI, −44.21 to −6.59; P=0.008) without significantly affecting the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that propolis supplementation may modestly improve glycemic control and reduce TG levels in individuals with T2DM and MetS. However, the limited number of available studies and relatively small sample sizes highlight the need for large, high-quality RCTs to verify these findings and clarify the metabolic effects of propolis.

Objective

Achieving glycemic control is essential in the prevention and management of metabolic disorders, with several dietary strategies having been proposed. Meal sequence, which is defined as the order of food consumption while maintaining the overall composition and intake, may attenuate postprandial glycemic responses. This systematic review aimed to assess the effects of meal sequences on postprandial glycemic responses in healthy adults and explore its potential as a preventive strategy for glycemic control.
Methods
Literature published between January 2015 and March 2025 in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, KoreaMed, and RISS was searched using the keywords “healthy adult,” “food order,” “meal sequence,” and “glucose response.”
Results
Among the 2,442 records identified, one randomized controlled trial, four randomized crossover studies, and one repeated-measures design with a total of 107 participants aged 20–36.7 years met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies reported that consuming vegetables, fruits, or protein-rich foods before carbohydrate-rich foods reduced postprandial glucose responses and incremental area under the curve compared with mixed or carbohydrate-first meals. These effects were also noted in randomized controlled trials and randomized crossover design.
Conclusion
Our findings indicate that adjusting the order of food consumption can effectively mitigate acute postprandial glucose responses in healthy individuals. Further large-scale and long-term randomized controlled trials across diverse populations and standardized protocols are warranted to strengthen the evidence base.

This case report describes the nutritional management and long-term outcomes of an adolescent undergoing bariatric surgery. A 13-year-old female patient with morbid obesity complicated by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) underwent sleeve gastrectomy in July 2021. The patient achieved significant weight loss, with a total weight loss of 43.3% and a body mass index reduction of 16.6 kg/m2 at 3 years post-surgery, which further increased to 18.6 kg/m2 by the fourth year. Remission of NASH, IGT, and PCOS was observed after 1 year. Postoperatively, vitamin D deficiency developed, whereas other biochemical parameters remained within normal reference ranges. Adherence to recommended nutritional supplementation was suboptimal; however, with continuous nutritional education and regular follow-up, the patient ultimately established and maintained a balanced dietary pattern. The case highlights the effectiveness of bariatric surgery in achieving sustained weight loss and improving obesity-related comorbidities in adolescents, while underscoring the critical role of continuous nutritional management, patient education, and individualized multidisciplinary care in supporting long-term postoperative success.

Diabetes has been well established as one of the deadliest chronic diseases globally. Currently, India is known as the diabetes capital of the world although this disease had been documented in the country for centuries. Current treatment strategies center around oral hypoglycemic drugs, insulin, and the standard ‘diabetic diet.’ Nonetheless, millions continued to suffer from this chronic disease and its multiple complications. We herein present a case involving a male patient suffering from diabetes for 20 years despite being on medications and a diabetic diet who finally achieved remission of diabetes and hypertension by removing carbohydrates and following a carnivore diet.