Asian Journal of Food Research and Nutrition

Gallbladder-related Symptoms, Awareness, and Dietary Counselling among Adults in East Champaran, Bihar: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study

Anil Kumar, Renu Rani Jaiswal — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Gallbladder disorders, particularly gallstone disease, are important gastrointestinal conditions influenced by demographic, metabolic, lifestyle, and dietary factors. Community-level information on gallbladder-related symptoms, awareness, and dietary counselling remains limited in several regions of India, including Bihar.

Objective: To assess gallbladder-related symptoms, selected socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics, awareness regarding dietary factors and gallbladder health, and receipt of dietary counselling among adults residing in East Champaran, Bihar.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 adults aged ≥18 years residing in East Champaran district, Bihar. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric characteristics, gallstone status, gallbladder-related symptoms, and awareness regarding dietary factors and gallbladder health. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data. Chi-square tests were used to examine associations between selected categorical variables, and multivariable logistic regression was performed for selected outcomes. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results: Among the 423 participants, 132 (31.2%) reported at least one assessed gallbladder-related symptom. Among symptomatic participants, indigestion after fatty meals (62.9%) and severe upper-right abdominal pain (59.1%) were the most frequently reported symptoms, followed by vomiting (35.6%), nausea (27.3%), and jaundice (26.5%). A previous diagnosis of gallstones was reported by 91 (21.5%) participants, of whom 59 (64.8%) reported ultrasound confirmation. Regarding awareness, 247 (58.4%) participants reported that food habits could affect gallbladder health, while 248 (58.6%) believed that reducing fatty-food consumption could reduce gallbladder-related problems. Overall, 199 (47.0%) participants reported having received dietary advice regarding gallbladder disease, whereas 224 (53.0%) had never received such advice. In multivariable analysis, previous gallstone diagnosis was strongly associated with reporting at least one gallbladder-related symptom (AOR=5.55, 95% CI: 3.31–9.31; p<0.001), while female sex was also associated with symptom reporting (AOR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.04–2.63; p=0.033). Awareness that food habits affect gallbladder health was independently associated with age (AOR=0.97 per year, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99; p=0.003), BMI (AOR=1.10 per kg/m², 95% CI: 1.03–1.17; p=0.006), and presence of at least one gallbladder-related symptom (AOR=3.17, 95% CI: 1.66–6.05; p<0.001).

Conclusion: Gallbladder-related symptoms were reported by a substantial proportion of participants, while more than half had never received dietary counselling regarding gallbladder disease. Symptom reporting and awareness of dietary factors were associated with selected participant characteristics. These findings highlight the importance of community-level health education, symptom awareness, and appropriate dietary counselling. Further studies using clinically verified gallstone status and representative sampling are warranted.

Functional and Proximate Properties of Enzymatic Protein-Derived Peptide Fractions from Cricket (Brachytrupes membranaceus) Protein Hydrolysates

F. A. Abdulsalam, A. T. Girgih, M. O. Eke — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aim: This study evaluated the proximate composition and functional properties of whole cricket protein meal (WCRIPM), defatted cricket protein meal (DCRIPM), and cricket protein hydrolysate (CRIPH) prepared from Brachytrupes membranaceus.

Study Design: A laboratory experiment compared the three cricket protein preparations.

Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted in the laboratories of the Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Food Technology and Human Ecology, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Crickets were harvested locally between April and July, and processing and analysis continued over the subsequent months.

Methodology: Whole cricket meal was prepared, defatted with acetone, and hydrolysed sequentially with pepsin and pancreatin. Proximate composition and selected functional properties were determined.

Results: Protein content increased from 61.0% in WCRIPM to 67.5% in DCRIPM and 79.9% in CRIPH, whereas fat content decreased from 16.9% to 1.40% and 1.30%, respectively. Water absorption capacity declined from 288.0% to 240.3%, oil absorption capacity from 235.4% to 180.2%, and bulk density from 0.63 to 0.48 g/cm³. Conversely, foaming capacity increased from 78.0% to 93.0%, foam stability from 83.0% to 97.0%, reconstitution index from 1.80 to 3.50 mL/g, and emulsifying capacity from 44.0% to 70.0%.

Conclusion: Defatting and enzymatic hydrolysis concentrated protein and altered functionality. The whole meal showed greater water- and oil-binding capacities, whereas CRIPH showed improved foaming, reconstitution, and emulsifying properties, indicating different potential food-formulation applications.

Assessment of Maternal Knowledge and Practices on Strategies for Reducing Malnutrition among Children (0–5 Years) in Umuahia North LGA, Abia State, Nigeria

Elekeh, Rosemary Ichita, Eze Zipporah Chinonyerem, Okonkwo Evelyn Ijeoma — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Malnutrition among children under five years of age remains a major public health challenge in developing countries, contributing significantly to childhood morbidity, mortality, impaired growth, and poor cognitive development. Despite various nutrition interventions, inadequate maternal knowledge, poor feeding practices, and limited access to nutritious foods continue to increase the burden of malnutrition among young children in many Nigerian communities.

Objective: This study examined strategies for reducing malnutrition among children aged 0–5 years in Umuagu Ohuhu, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the socio-economic characteristics of mothers, evaluated their knowledge of malnutrition, identified the perceived effects of malnutrition on child health, and determined effective strategies for reducing childhood malnutrition.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study. Data were collected from 384 mothers of children aged 0–5 years using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistical methods, including frequencies and percentages, were employed to analyse the data and present the findings.

Results: The findings revealed that the largest age group was 26–30 years; most respondents were married and had attained at least secondary school education. Regarding knowledge of malnutrition, 45.6% of respondents reported being only somewhat knowledgeable, while 50.8% correctly identified poor diet as the primary cause of malnutrition. The most commonly perceived effects of malnutrition were impaired cognitive development (55.5%) and delayed growth and physical development (40.4%). Respondents identified lack of knowledge about proper nutrition (64.3%), poor feeding practices (62.5%), and inadequate access to nutritious foods (58.3%) as the major contributors to childhood malnutrition within the community. Concerning intervention strategies, 50.0% of mothers considered nutrition education and counselling for mothers to be the most effective strategy for reducing malnutrition, while 32.8% recommended the provision of food supplements to vulnerable children.

Conclusion: The study demonstrated that although mothers were generally aware of the adverse consequences of childhood malnutrition, considerable gaps remain in their understanding of its causes and prevention. A sustainable reduction in malnutrition among children aged 0–5 years requires strengthened community-based nutrition education, improved infant and young child feeding practices, enhanced household food security, and increased access to affordable, nutritious foods.

Recommendations: The study recommends that government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and primary healthcare providers intensify community-based nutrition education programmes, strengthen maternal nutrition counselling services, improve access to food supplementation programmes, and implement policies that enhance household food security to reduce the burden of childhood malnutrition in Umuagu Ohuhu and similar communities.