Browsing by Author "Ulker, Izzet"

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Bibliometric and Visual Analysis of Research in Food Insecurity and Malnutrition
(Wiley, 2025) Ozer, Nurhayat Tugra; Ulker, Izzet
Aims Food insecurity (FI) is defined as a multifaceted condition encompassing limited or uncertain access to safe food, adequate availability, utilization, and stability of nutritionally appropriate foods-shaped by economic disadvantage, social inequities, climate shocks, and health crises like epidemics. It is particularly prevalent among vulnerable populations and directly drives malnutrition as well as other adverse health outcomes. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of research on FI and its linkage to malnutrition, identifying principal authors, scientific collaborations, and thematic trends.Methods A bibliometric analysis was conducted of 570 relevant articles indexed in Web of Science (1991-2024), focusing on original research examining the FI-malnutrition nexus. The R package programme, VOSviewer, and WOS analytical tools were employed for data extraction, network analysis, and visualization.Results The analysis revealed an annual growth rate of 8.87%, with publication output surging after 2009 and peaking in 2020 (55 articles). The USA dominated research production (n = 232 studies), yet 47.89% of studies involved international collaborations, primarily targeting low- and middle-income populations. The average citation rate was 28.0 per article, with thematic shifts toward HIV/AIDS (post-2009) and COVID-19 (post-2019) alongside persistent focus on poverty.Conclusions FI-malnutrition research is shaped by both structural drivers (poverty, inequality) and health crises (HIV, COVID-19). Despite geographic disparities in research leadership (Global North) versus study populations (Global South), the field shows strong cross-border collaboration-highlighting opportunities for more equitable partnerships.
The Effect of Childhood Experiences, Picky Eating, and Hedonic Hunger on Eating Addiction in University Students: Analyzed by Machine Learning Approach
(Wiley, 2025) Aydin, Muhammet Ali; Karabulutlu, Ceren; Ulker, Izzet; Yildiz, Metin
Objective: The purpose of this research was to ascertain how university students' eating addiction was impacted by their early experiences, picky eating, and hedonic hunger. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study involved 681 university students and was carried out between April and June 2024. A sociodemographic characteristics information form, Childhood Positive and Negative Experiences Scale, Picky Eating Scale, Yale Food Addiction Scale, and Power of Food Scale were utilized to collect data. G*Power 3.1, the SPSS 22 software, and the R programming language 4.1.3 were utilized in the study's analysis. Results: Hierarchical regression analysis produced a significant and applicable model for this investigation (F(4,676) = 61.193, p = 0.001). A total of 26.6% (R-2 = 0.266) of the variance in the degree of eating addiction was explained by the levels of Picky Eating, Negative Childhood Experiences, Positive Childhood Experiences, and Power of Food Scales. When the t-test results for the regression coefficient's significance were examined in the regression model, it was found that the level of "Eating Addiction" increased statistically in response to increases in the levels of Negative Childhood Experiences Scale (t = 7.699, p < 0.001), Picky Eating Scale (t = 6.625, p < 0.001), and Food Power Scale (t = 9.532, p < 0.001). Eating addiction was found to be unaffected by the degree of positive childhood experiences (p = -0.566). Hedonic hunger was found to be the most significant variable in predicting the eating addiction variable in the machine learning technique. Conclusion: In our study, childhood experiences, picky eating status, and hedonic hunger status were found to affect eating addiction. Longitudinal studies on eating addiction in young people are recommended.
Effects of Migration on Nutritional Habits: from Turkey to Germany
(Iranian Scientific Society Medical Entomology, 2024) Ulker, Izzet; Aydogdu, Nihal Gordes
Background: Dietary habits are influenced by environmental factors. Among these environmental factors are the place of residence, cultural characteristics, food accessibility, and economic status, which can all contribute to changes in the dietary pattern. Migration is another factor that can influence changes in the aspects mentioned above. We aimed to assess the dietary habits of individuals who have migrated from Turkey to Germany in comparison to those living in Turkey. Methods: In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, 254 individuals were enrolled with 102 individuals in Germany and 152 individuals in Turkey between April 2022 and July 2023. The data collection tools included Socio-demographic Characteristics Forms, Dietary Habits and Health Status Forms, and Food Consumption Frequency Forms. The data was collected online via Google Forms. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the consumption frequency of processed meats, meat and poultry, sweetened beverages, sugar, desserts and pastries, vegetables, fruits, eggs and grains, olive oil, sunflower oil, hazelnut oil, grains, dairy products, coffee, starch, and carbonated beverages between the two groups (P<0.05). Statistically significant differences were not found in terms of butter and tea consumption frequency. Conclusion: Overall, the study results have revealed significant differences in dietary habits between Turks living in Germany and those living in Turkey. The most noteworthy dimension of these differences is that individuals living in Turkey exhibit a stronger adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern, while those living in
Helicopter Parenting and Psychological Well-Being: Impact on Adolescents' Nutrition Attitudes
(Springer Nature, 2025) Ulker, Izzet; Aydin, Muhammet Ali; Karabulutlu, Ceren; Aydogdu, Nihal Gordes; Polat, Sevin; Camli, Ayse; Yildiz, Metin
Background This study aimed to examine the effect of helicopter parental attitude and psychological well-being level on Attitude towards nutrition in adolescent students. Methods This study was designed with the relational-cross-sectional-descriptive model and was conducted with 652 adolescent students studying in a province in eastern Turkey between 16.05 and 10.07 2024. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and G*Power 3.1 statistical package programs. Results Based on the results of Model 1, the Psychological Well-Being level explained 3.5% of the total variance in Attitude Towards Nutrition level (R-2=0.035, F(1,650) = 23.878, p = 0.001) and it was determined that the increase in Psychological Well-Being level significantly increased the attitude towards nutrition (t = 4.886, p < 0.001). In Model 2, Psychological Well-Being and Perceived Helicopter Parental Attitude-Mother variables together explained 12.2% of the total variance (R-2=0.122, F(2,649) = 44.912, p = 0.001), it was found that an increase in both variables led to a significant increase in nutrition attitude (Psychological Well-Being: t = 5.601, p < 0.001; Mother Attitude: t = 7.978, p < 0.001). In the results of Model 3, Psychological Well-Being and Perceived Helicopter Parental Attitude-Mother/Father variables explained 12.6% of the total variance (R-2=0.126, F(3,648) = 31.266, p = 0.001), Psychological Well-Being (t = 5.864, p < 0.001) and Mother Attitude (t = 5.416, p < 0.001) significantly affected the nutritional attitude, while the effect of Father Attitude was not significant (t = 1.900, p = 0.058). Conclusions In this study, it was found that Psychological Well-Being and Perceived Helicopter Parental Attitude (especially mother attitude) levels had significant effects on individuals' Attitudes Towards Nutrition. In addition, the strong effect of the mother's attitude on eating habits was noted, but it was determined that the father's attitude did not have a significant effect on this relationship.
A Novel Electrochemical Aflatoxin B1 Immunosensor Based on Gold Nanoparticle-Decorated Porous Graphene Nanoribbon and Ag Nanocube-Incorporated MoS2 Nanosheets
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2021) Karaman, Ceren; Karaman, Onur; Yola, Bahar Bankoglu; Ulker, Izzet; Atar, Necip; Yola, Mehmet Lutfi
The accurate and precisive monitoring of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which is one of the most hazardous mycotoxins, especially in agricultural products, is significant for human and environmental health. AFB1 generally contaminates agricultural products such as corn and feedstuff. In this paper, a novel electrochemical AFB1 immunosensor was constructed based on Ag nanocubes (AgNCs) incorporated trigonal metallic MoS2 nanosheets with 1T phase (AgNCs/1T-MoS2) as signal amplification and gold nanoparticles/porous graphene nanoribbon (AuNPs/PGNR) as an electrochemical sensor platform. First, the chronoamperometry method was implemented to provide electrodeposition of AuNPs on PGNR following chemical reduction of PGNR. Immobilization of the primer AFB1 antibody was performed via amino-gold affinity between primer antibody and AuNPs/PGNR composite. Subsequently, the conjugation of seconder antibody to AgNCs/1T-MoS2 was performed by strong pi-pi and electrostatic interactions. To describe the surface morphology and elemental composition of the prepared electrochemical AFB1 immunosensor, physicochemical characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques were used to evaluate the immunosensor's electrochemical performance. The developed electrochemical AFB1 immunosensor offered a good sensitivity with a detection limit (LOD) of 2.00 fg mL(-1). Finally, an electrochemical AFB1 immunosensor with satisfactory selectivity, stability and reusability was applied in wheat samples with high recovery.
Relationship Between Microbiota Awareness, Nutrition Literacy, and Health Literacy Among Adolescents
(TÜBİTAK Scientific & Technological Research Council Turkey, 2024) Ulker, Izzet; Aydin, Muhammet Ali; Yildiz, Metin; Gokcay, Gonul; Elkoca, Ayse; Yildirim, Mehmet Salih; Yilmaz, Dursun Alper
Background/aim: Microbiota awareness, nutritional literacy, and health literacy levels in adolescents have a significant impact on their health and well-being. This research was conducted to examine the relationship between microbiota awareness, nutrition literacy, and health literacy in adolescents. Material and methods: This research was structured with a descriptive-correlational design. The study population comprised adolescents aged 10-19 years, living in T & uuml;rkiye (n = 739), between June 2022 and February 2024. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0, G*Power 3.1, and R programming language 4.1.3. Results: The total effect of the health literacy variable on nutritional literacy was 0.2311, and this was statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval (CI) (p < 0.05). In terms of the health literacy variable, the direct effect of the nutrition literacy variable on the microbiota awareness variable was 0.2888, and this was statistically significant at the 95% CI (p < 0.05). In terms of the nutritional literacy variable, the direct effect of the health literacy variable on the microbiota awareness variable was 0.1707, and this was statistically significant at the 95% CI (p < 0.05). Nutrition literacy had a partial mediating role in the effect of health literacy on microbiota awareness (lower limit CI: 0.045; upper limit CI: 0.0894). The most accurate prediction of machine learning approaches to predict microbiota awareness was made with random forest with shapley additive explanations values, and the most important variable that should be in the model to predict the microbiota awareness variable was the nutrition literacy variable. Conclusion: Microbiota awareness increased as health literacy and nutrition literacy increased. In the machine learning approach prediction, the most important variables affecting microbiota awareness were health literacy and nutritional literacy. Longitudinal studies on microbiota awareness are recommended.