BACKGROUND: Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) plays a pivotal role in regulating metabolic homeostasis and appetite, which has been identified as a biomarker of nutritional syndromes, such as cachexia and anorexia. However, there is li...BACKGROUND: Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) plays a pivotal role in regulating metabolic homeostasis and appetite, which has been identified as a biomarker of nutritional syndromes, such as cachexia and anorexia. However, there is little evidence concerning its predictive/prognostic value in cirrhosis. We sought to assess the association between LCN2 and a spectrum of metrics reflecting malnutrition, functional decline, and prognostication. METHODS: A total of 279 decompensated cirrhosis patients were enrolled (median age: 64 y, 46.2% females). We assessed malnutrition risk, functional decline, and body composition using the RFH-NPT scale, frailty index, handgrip strength, and computed tomography-derived parameters, respectively. RESULTS: Our cohort was categorized into three groups according to the LCN2 tertile. Patients with the highest LCN2 tertile had more deteriorated disease severity and higher malnutrition risk. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that LCN2 was a significant predictor of malnutrition risk, as defined by RFH-NPT. Furthermore, patients in the highest LCN2 tertile exhibited poorer long-term survival (log-rank test: P < 0.001). Increased LCN2 levels were independently associated with 1-y all-cause mortality after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, CTP score, and malnutrition risk (HR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.04, 6.21, P = 0.042). After further adjusting for eGFR and excluding patients with severe renal dysfunction, these associations were attenuated to borderline significance, while the overall trends remained consistent. However, no obvious association was observed between LCN2 and other metrics concerning functional decline and body composition abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating LCN2 is associated with malnutrition risk and poor prognosis in decompensated cirrhosis patients. Although these associations are partly affected by renal function, LCN2 may still serve as a potential predictive/prognostic biomarker concerning early detection and prognostication, with possible incremental gains to the conventional assessment.
OBJECTIVES: Optimizing protein intake is crucial in critical care, but the specific role of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) from standard enteral nutrition (EN) in preserving respiratory muscle function is unclear. Th...OBJECTIVES: Optimizing protein intake is crucial in critical care, but the specific role of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) from standard enteral nutrition (EN) in preserving respiratory muscle function is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether estimated enteral BCAA delivery is independently associated with weaning outcomes in mechanically ventilated, hypoalbuminemic patients. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 198 adult ICU patients with hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin <30 g/L) requiring mechanical ventilation for >48 h. Daily BCAA intake (g/kg/d) from standard EN over the first 7 ICU days was calculated from formula amino acid profiles. The primary outcome was weaning failure, defined as failed spontaneous breathing trial, reintubation within 48 h, or death within 48 h of ventilation withdrawal. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were performed, adjusting for total protein and energy intake, disease severity, and other confounders. RESULTS: Higher mean daily BCAA intake was independently associated with lower weaning failure (adjusted odds ratio per 0.1 g/kg/day increase: 0.62; 95% confidence interval: 0.41-0.93). Compared to the lowest intake quartile (<0.18 g/kg/d), the highest quartile (≥0.31 g/kg/d) had significantly reduced weaning failure (16.3% vs. 42.9%). Restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a non-linear, l-shaped relationship, with the benefit plateauing above approximately 0.25 g/kg/d. CONCLUSION: Higher estimated enteral BCAA delivery is independently associated with successful weaning from mechanical ventilation in hypoalbuminemic critically ill patients. A potential threshold of 0.25 g/kg/d for BCAA intake warrants prospective investigation as a modifiable component of individualized nutrition therapy.
OBJECTIVES: To examine parents' perspectives on managing their children's vegan or vegetarian diets, with particular attention to how they access information about these diets, assess nutrient-related risks, and approach...OBJECTIVES: To examine parents' perspectives on managing their children's vegan or vegetarian diets, with particular attention to how they access information about these diets, assess nutrient-related risks, and approach blood testing, as well as their use of dietary supplements. METHODS: A mixed-method study was conducted in an explanatory, sequential design. The quantitative phase utilized data from the VeChi Diet Study, including parents of 275 vegan and vegetarian children aged 1 to 3 y. The questionnaire focused on their information-seeking behavior and the dietary supplementation of their vegan or vegetarian children. In the qualitative phase, a purposive subsample of 10 mothers was selected for in-depth interviews to explore parental practices in more detail. RESULTS: Parents of children adhering to a vegan (98.8%) or vegetarian (92.8%) diet reported educating themselves about the scientific evidence related to these dietary patterns. The primary sources of information for parents with vegan or vegetarian children were interest groups (92.1%, 72.1%), animal welfare/rights organizations (67.1%, 37.8%), specialist literature (68.9%, 54.1%), and internet sources (61.0%, 60.4%). Nearly all vegan children (97.6%) were given dietary supplements, whereas this applied to only 56.8% of vegetarian children. The majority of mothers of vegan children were highly conscientious and routinely monitored their children's blood parameters. They reported mixed experiences with pediatricians, whose views on vegan diets vary. CONCLUSION: Parents raising vegan or vegetarian children reported actively seeking nutritional information, variation in supplementation practices and mixed experiences with healthcare providers. This underscores the need for consistent, evidence-based guidance and structured monitoring.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), menopausal symptoms, quality of life, and cardiovascular disease risk awareness in women. METHODS: Data were collected from...OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), menopausal symptoms, quality of life, and cardiovascular disease risk awareness in women. METHODS: Data were collected from Türkiye women at premenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal stages (n = 702) through face-to-face interviews using a sociodemographic form, the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale (MEDAS), Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), Kupperman Index (KI), Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL), and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Awareness Assessment Questionnaire (CDRAAQ). Correlation and regression analyses were performed (P < 0.05). RESULTS: The mean age was 52.2 ± 8.3 years, with a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 26.5 ± 4.6 kg/m². Women with higher MD adherence had significantly lower BMI (P = 0.036). Greater adherence was associated with fewer psychological complaints (P = 0.019), lower KI scores (P = 0.041), and higher cardiovascular disease risk awareness (P = 0.001). Regression analyses showed that each one-point increase in MEDAS predicted reductions in BMI, psychological and total MRS scores, and KI scores, as well as increases in cardiovascular risk awareness (P < 0.001). No significant associations were found for somatic or urogenital symptoms, and MENQOL-heart attack/stroke risk. CONCLUSIONS: Higher adherence to MD was linked to lower BMI, milder menopausal symptoms, and improved awareness of cardiovascular risk, highlighting its potential role in promoting women's health during menopause.
Nutrition science continues to face periods of epistemic uncertainty, particularly when reductionist models fail to explain complex interactions between diet, lifestyle, and chronic disease. This narrative review aims to...Nutrition science continues to face periods of epistemic uncertainty, particularly when reductionist models fail to explain complex interactions between diet, lifestyle, and chronic disease. This narrative review aims to demonstrate how Georges Dujardin-Beaumetz in his work L'Hygiène alimentaire (1887) anticipates key concepts of modern clinical nutrition and evidence-based medicine, and to identify the conceptual continuities between 19th-century clinical thought and contemporary nutrition therapy. We analyzed how Dujardin-Beaumetz systematically framed nutrition as a therapeutic intervention, grounded in physiological reasoning and careful clinical observation. His approach anticipates many principles central to contemporary medical nutrition therapy: individualized dietary planning, integration of nutrition with systemic physiology, moderation in food intake, and the use of diet to influence metabolism, immune competence, and chronic disease risk. He emphasized protein metabolism, nitrogen balance, the pathological effects of overnutrition, and the modulation of gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases through diet. While lacking modern biochemical knowledge or formal trial methodology, his work embodies proto-evidence-based principles: observation, cause-and-effect reasoning, critical evaluation of interventions, and adjustment based on patient response. Revisiting L'Hygiène alimentaire highlights a conceptual continuity between 19th-century clinical reasoning and twenty-first-century practice. Understanding these early insights provides both historical context and practical guidance for modern clinicians, reinforcing the importance of integrative, physiologically informed, and patient-centered approaches to nutrition therapy.
INTRODUCTION: Patients hospitalized with respiratory diseases are at high risk of nutritional deterioration due to increased metabolic demands and systemic inflammation. When enteral nutrition is not feasible, parenteral...INTRODUCTION: Patients hospitalized with respiratory diseases are at high risk of nutritional deterioration due to increased metabolic demands and systemic inflammation. When enteral nutrition is not feasible, parenteral nutrition (PN) becomes necessary; however, evidence in respiratory referral centers remains limited. This study aimed to characterize the indications, timing, and clinical outcomes of PN, with emphasis on metabolic complications. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted in a tertiary respiratory referral hospital between September 2023 and December 2024. Adults (≥18 y) receiving PN for >2 d were included. Clinical characteristics, indications, timing of PN initiation, nutritional delivery, and metabolic complications were evaluated. PN-associated liver dysfunction and electrolyte disturbances were defined using standardized criteria. Descriptive statistics were applied. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were included (54.9% male; mean age 55.6 ± 15.8 y); 79.3% were at nutritional risk on admission. PN was initiated at a median of 4 (1-13) d, mainly due to gastrointestinal dysfunction and hemodynamic instability (31.7% each). Total PN predominated (82.9%), and 57.3% received combined enteral and parenteral nutrition. Nutritional delivery increased stepwise, reaching 31.9 kcal/kg/d and 1.5 g/kg/d of protein by day 7. Glycemic control remained stable, and triglycerides did not exceed critical thresholds. Hypokalemia was the most frequent electrolyte disturbance (36.1% at day 7), while phosphorus and magnesium remained stable. Liver enzyme elevations appeared more related to disease severity than PN. CONCLUSION: PN was frequently initiated in the context of gastrointestinal dysfunction and hemodynamic instability, often with delayed timing. A structured approach based on gradual nutrient delivery and close monitoring was associated with a low incidence of severe metabolic complications, underscoring the importance of individualized nutritional management.
BACKGROUND: Tirzepatide induces substantial weight loss, but real-world data on early body composition changes remain limited. METHODS: We evaluated short-term changes in body composition in 51 adults with obesity treate...BACKGROUND: Tirzepatide induces substantial weight loss, but real-world data on early body composition changes remain limited. METHODS: We evaluated short-term changes in body composition in 51 adults with obesity treated with tirzepatide for 12 weeks, using bioelectrical impedance analysis. RESULTS: Body weight decreased by 8.75 kg (-8.18%, P < 0.001), primarily driven by fat mass reduction (-6.87 kg, P < 0.001), with a smaller decrease in soft lean mass (-1.73 kg, P < 0.001). Despite this, the relative proportion of lean mass increased (+3.00 percentage points, P < 0.001), indicating preferential fat loss. Approximately 78% of total weight loss was attributable to fat mass. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that short-term tirzepatide therapy leads to favorable body composition changes, characterized by predominant fat loss and relative preservation of lean mass, supporting its metabolic benefit in real-world clinical practice.
OBJECTIVE: Determine the cut-offs for the phase angle (PhA) and standardized phase angle (SPhA) and evaluate their usefulness as survival predictors in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional...OBJECTIVE: Determine the cut-offs for the phase angle (PhA) and standardized phase angle (SPhA) and evaluate their usefulness as survival predictors in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted in a cohort of 140 HD patients, jointly evaluating clinical, nutritional, and body composition measurements. PhA and SPhA were measured using bioelectrical impedance. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to identify the optimal cutoff values for PhA and SPhA. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses assessed the ability of PhA and SPhA to predict 5-year overall survival. RESULTS: Of the 140 HD patients, 65 were male (46.5%), median age of 74 years (range, 58-91). Higher PhA was in survivors (4.55 ± 0.93) than in non-survivors (3.97 ± 0.99) (P < 0.002). The optimal PhA cutoff was 4° (sensitivity: 73.58%; specificity: 64.71%; AUC: 0.686), and for the SPhA was -1.89 (sensitivity: 75.47%; specificity: 64.71%; AUC: 0.654) (both, P < 0.001). The mortality rate for PhA was 24.3%. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 88.0%, 66.0%, and 57.0%, respectively. HD patients with SPhA values of at least -1.89 had an overall 5-year survival rate of 60.0% (P = 0.001). Cox-regression analysis demonstrated that PhA (HR:2.915, 95%CI: 1.561-5.444; P < 0.001) and SPhA (HR: 3.106, 95%CI: 1.655- 5.829; P < 0.001) were predictors of 5-year overall survival in HD. CONCLUSIONS: PhA and SPhA are clinically useful and predict 5-year survival in HD patients. The PhA cutoff of 4° and the SPhA cutoff of -1.89 were sensitive markers for detecting PEW in HD. SPhA may be a more effective nutritional predictor of overall survival than PhA alone. Further research is needed to validate the predictive value of SPhA.
OBJECTIVES: Functional constipation (FC) is prevalent worldwide and is an increasingly prominent problem among Chinese. Dietary modifications are recommended for FC, yet little is known about the impact of dietary divers...OBJECTIVES: Functional constipation (FC) is prevalent worldwide and is an increasingly prominent problem among Chinese. Dietary modifications are recommended for FC, yet little is known about the impact of dietary diversity and the relevance of the gut microbiota. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between dietary diversity and constipation symptoms and gut microbiota profiles among individuals with FC. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study among 250 participants with FC aged 18 to 70 y. Dietary intake was assessed using food frequency questionnaires. Dietary diversity score (DDS) was calculated based on the intake frequencies of food categories, ranging from 0 (low DDS) to 8 (high DDS). Gut microbiota was measured using a 16S ribosomal RNA amplification method. RESULTS: In our participants with FC, DDS was positively associated with bowel movement frequency (BMF) (P = 0.012 for trend). Among all of the genera evaluated (121 in total), the Ruminococcus torques group was inversely correlated with BMF (β = -0.901, P < 0.001, false discovery rate P = 0.022) and potentially correlated with DDS (β = -0.142, P = 0.029, false discovery rate P = 0.116). Additionally, the genera distribution of gut microbial enterotypes differed by DDS level and weekly BMF. CONCLUSIONS: In individuals with FC, high dietary diversity was associated with relief of constipation involving gut microbiota alterations.
OBJECTIVES: Hospital malnutrition remains a major yet underrecognized public health problem associated with adverse clinical outcomes. In Switzerland, national-level evidence on its epidemiology and management is limited...OBJECTIVES: Hospital malnutrition remains a major yet underrecognized public health problem associated with adverse clinical outcomes. In Switzerland, national-level evidence on its epidemiology and management is limited to data up to 2014. The aim of this study was to examine recent nationwide temporal trends, demographic and clinical determinants, clinical consequences, and management practices with regard to hospital malnutrition in Switzerland between 2012 and 2022. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the Swiss hospital discharge database (2012-2022), consisting of 12 195 344 adult hospitalizations, was performed. Multivariable logistic regression assessed available demographic and clinical factors, outcomes, and management indicators associated with malnutrition. RESULTS: The prevalence of documented hospital malnutrition demonstrated a nearly sixfold rise in the studied 10-y period, from 1.40% in 2012 to 8.14% in 2022. Older age (>90 y) (odds ratio [OR], 9.62, 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.37-9.88), female sex (OR, 1.26, 95% CI, 1.25-1.27), higher comorbidity burden (Charlson Comorbidity Index, >8, OR, 6.73, 95% CI, 6.68-6.79), and emergency admission (OR, 1.47, 95% CI, 1.46-1.48) were associated with malnutrition. Malnutrition was significantly associated with greater odds of intensive care unit admission (OR, 1.70, 95% CI, 1.68-1.71), in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.37, 95% CI, 1.35-1.39), and prolonged (>5 d) hospital stay (OR, 8.07, 95% CI, 8.00-8.14). Among malnourished patients, 61.9% received dietetic consultation. Dietetic consultation attenuated the association of malnutrition diagnosis and in-hospital mortality (unmatched sample OR, 0.86, 95% CI, 0.84-0.88, P < 0.001 versus propensity-matched sample OR, 0.81, 95% CI, 0.65-1.02, P > 0.05) but not of intensive care unit admission and long hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital malnutrition is increasingly documented in Switzerland and associated with worse in-hospital outcomes. Malnutrition management coverage remains suboptimal despite its potential benefits.
Obesity and its consequences have been a serious public health problem for many years, both in developing and developed countries. Due to the dangers associated with being overweight, the topic of diet is constantly one...Obesity and its consequences have been a serious public health problem for many years, both in developing and developed countries. Due to the dangers associated with being overweight, the topic of diet is constantly one of the most frequently discussed in society. Effective weight loss without feeling hunger and the yo-yo effect are among the most common phrases entered into search engines. Our work aimed to present three popular diets' biochemical basis and metabolic consequences, each based on consuming a different macronutrient. Additionally, our work explores the epigenetic impact of these diets, examining how changes in dietary patterns can influence gene expression and potentially lead to long-term health effects. This aspect is crucial in understanding the immediate metabolic responses and the lasting genetic modifications that can arise from adhering to these dietary regimes.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze differences in taste preferences and dietary characteristics in early childhood according to genetic polymorphisms in taste receptor genes. METHODS: This study is a secondary analysis of a randomize...OBJECTIVE: To analyze differences in taste preferences and dietary characteristics in early childhood according to genetic polymorphisms in taste receptor genes. METHODS: This study is a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial (ReBEC: RBR-229SCM; U1111-1226-9516) that enrolled infants at 5.5 mo of age and allocated them to different complementary feeding methods in Porto Alegre, Brazil. At 12 mo old, the Food Preferences Questionnaire (FPQ) was applied, and data on dietary characteristics were obtained. Between 12 and 35 mo of age, the Taste Acceptance Test (TAT) was conducted, and oral mucosa samples were collected for the analysis of polymorphisms in sweet and bitter taste receptor genes. Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used in data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 96 infants with available data for exposures and outcomes were included in the analysis. The duration of exclusive breastfeeding was associated with TAS1R3(rs35744813) (P = 0.039), TAS1R2(rs9701796) (P = 0.022), and the number of sweet taste-related polymorphisms (P = 0.013). In the FPQ, TAS1R3(rs35744813) was associated with a preference for sour-tasting foods (P = 0.040), and TAS2R16(rs846672) with a preference for umami-flavored foods (P = 0.042). In the TAT, bitter taste reactions were associated with TAS1R2(rs9701796) (P = 0.021), TAS1R3(rs307355) (P = 0.008), and the number of sweet taste-related polymorphisms (P = 0.037). In contrast, sour taste reactions were associated with the number of bitter taste-related polymorphisms (P = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: The study found that genetic polymorphisms were associated with infant food acceptance, leading to differences in food preferences. Future longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which genetic polymorphisms influence infant food acceptance.
BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) often require enteral nutrition, making the successful placement of nasoenteric tubes crucial for improving nutritional outcomes and recovery. OBJECTIVE:...BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) often require enteral nutrition, making the successful placement of nasoenteric tubes crucial for improving nutritional outcomes and recovery. OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study explored the clinical variables affecting the first-attempt success of blind bedside nasoenteric tube placement in patients in the ICU and Emergency ICU (EICU) between August 2020 and July 2022. METHODS: The tubes were placed using standardized protocols, and the placement was confirmed via radiographic imaging. In total, 622 patients were included in the study. The baseline demographics, including sex, age, and body mass index, did not differ between the successful and unsuccessful first-attempt groups. However, the successful group had higher nutritional risk scores (NRS2002), higher Glasgow Coma Scale scores, and lower mechanical ventilation and acute gastrointestinal injury rates (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified NRS2002 (continuous variable), mechanical ventilation, the placement period (morning vs. afternoon), and severe gastrointestinal injury as significant predictors of successful tube placement. Furthermore, a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression identified seven key variables. Multivariable logistic regression- and LASSO-based models were created using their respective key variables, both of which demonstrated moderate discrimination (areas under the curve = 0.735 and 0.751, respectively). The models were validated through calibration and decision curve analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the importance of optimizing tube placement protocols through a comprehensive assessment of clinical variables, which may increase success rates and improve patient outcomes. Future studies should focus on validating these models across larger populations and exploring personalized intervention strategies.
BACKGROUND: Breakfast skipping is socially patterned behavior prevalent among adolescents worldwide. OBJECTIVE: This study examined cross-national patterns of nondaily breakfast consumption (non-DBC) and its cumulative s...BACKGROUND: Breakfast skipping is socially patterned behavior prevalent among adolescents worldwide. OBJECTIVE: This study examined cross-national patterns of nondaily breakfast consumption (non-DBC) and its cumulative social determinants. METHODS: Data came from 148,722 adolescents (51.8% girls; mean age = 13.5 ± 1.64 years) from 2017/2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study across 38 countries. Random-effects meta-analysis estimated pooled prevalence, and generalized linear mixed models assessed associations with a Social Jeopardy Index capturing cumulative social disadvantage (i.e., gender; socioeconomic status; family structure; parental employment; and immigrant status). RESULTS: Overall, 30.6% (95% CI: 27.8-33.5), highest in Austria (46.0% 95% CI: 44.3-47.7) and lowest in the Netherlands (11.4% 95% CI: 10.5-12.4) of adolescents reported non-DBC, with substantial cross-national variation. Each additional point on the Social Jeopardy Index was associated with a 19% increase in non-DBC likelihood (OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.18-1.20), with a significant dose-response gradient across all Social Jeopardy Index levels (Cochran-Armitage Z = -43.6, P < 0.001). Adolescents experiencing higher cumulative social disadvantage show a higher likelihood of skipping breakfast across geographic regions. CONCLUSIONS: Breakfast skipping reflects cumulative social disadvantage rather than individual choice, underscoring the need for equity-oriented public health and school-based intervention strategies.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of exposure to childhood parental employment on food insecurity in adulthood in Ghana, using the three waves of the WHO SAGE longitudinal study. DESIGN: Longitudinal study SETTING AND PA...OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of exposure to childhood parental employment on food insecurity in adulthood in Ghana, using the three waves of the WHO SAGE longitudinal study. DESIGN: Longitudinal study SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Study participants were selected from the three waves of the World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO-SAGE) conducted in Ghana between 2007 and 2019. METHODS: Longitudinal analytical models with logistic regression were used to examine the association between childhood parental employment and adulthood food insecurity, and mediation analysis to examine the mediating role of social capital on the association. Childhood parental employment was assessed from father and mother employment status during childhood. Food insecurity was measured from experience of hunger and food insufficiency over the last 12 mo. RESULTS: Exposure to childhood parental employment significantly is associated with a reduction in hunger and food insufficiency in adulthood. The baseline estimates show that exposure to a mother's employment is associated with a decline in hunger and food insufficiency in adulthood by 14.7 and 16.2 percentage points, respectively. Also, exposure to a father's employment is associated with a reduced hunger and food insufficiency in adulthood by 16.4 and 17.6 percentage points, respectively. We also find evidence that the relationship between exposure to parental employment during childhood and food insecurity in adulthood is mediated by social capital. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The study draws attention to early interventions that support employment security among individuals, particularly parents, in accumulating resources and the formation of substantial social capital.