[Selenium and health]. / Selen og sundhed.

Selenium is an essential micronutrient. The average selenium intake in Danish adults is close to the recommended level of 40-50 mg/day. There is no scientific documentation showing that an increased selenium intake will result in disease prevention. However, a preventive effect on some cancers and hearth disease cannot be ruled out. Fortification of foods via increased selenium content in fertilizers is a possible way of increasing selenium intake. The tolerable upper intake level of 60 mg/day in children 1-3 years old must not be exceeded, which makes fortification difficult.

[Antioxidants and health]. / Antioxidanter og helbred.

The Danish Fitness and Nutrition Council has evaluated the basis for recommendations on the intake of antioxidants and has found limited basis for increasing the recommended intake levels for the antioxidants vitamin C and E. Evidence was insufficient to support recommendations for polyphenol or carotenoid supplementation. Supplementation with high doses of vitamin E and beta-carotene may present a health risk. A high intake of fruit and vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of lifestyle diseases, but there is no evidence that this association is due to an antioxidant effect.

[Should healthy people take a daily vitamin pill?]. / Har den daglige vitaminpille betydning for den raske befolknings sundhed?

About 50% of the Danish population take a daily multivitamin-mineral (MVM) supplement despite the demonstration that the dietary intake of vitamins and minerals is sufficient to cover the needs of most healthy Danes. This systematic review, which includes prospective studies of the significance of MVM in disease risk as well as in other somatic and mental functions in humans, does not find evidence of a beneficial effect of vitamin and mineral supplementation in the healthy Danish population.

[Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of ischemic heart disease]. / Øget indtag af grøntsager og frugt nedsaetter risikoen for iskaemisk hjertesygdom.

In Denmark it is recommended to eat 600 g of fruit and vegetables daily. This recommendation has to a large extent been derived from the demonstrated inverse association with the risk of certain major cancer diseases, while the focus with respect to prevention of ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been directed primarily towards a reduced intake of ''hard'' fats. This systematic review includes prospective studies which have examined the association between the intake of fruit and vegetables, as well as specific fruits and vegetables (e.g., nuts and pulses, which are considered to be fruits and vegetables in the Danish recommendations), and the risk of developing IHD. Only one controlled intervention study has been performed. This study came out with a negative result because the advice to increase intake was unsuccessful. In the eight published cohort studies, the overall finding was that the risk of developing IHD was reduced, in the scientifically well-conducted studies, by about 20%. Studies have generally found a dose-response effect, from low intakes to high intakes, up to about 800 g daily. Large cohort studies have shown convincing evidence that increased intake of nuts reduces the risk of IHD. With respect to other groups of fruits and vegetables, there is good but not sufficient scientific evidence that particularly pulses, but also the group of carotenoid-rich fruit and vegetables (such as tomatoes, leafy green vegetables, carrots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and many berries and fruits), reduces risk. In contrast, it is not possible to single out specific substances in fruit and vegetables as being beneficial. Based on the studies, it seems reasonable to recommend an increased intake of a mix of fruits and vegetables to reduce the risk of IHD. The maximum beneficial amount seems to be about 800 g per day.

[Is a high intake of fruits and vegetables related to a lowered risk of cerebrovascular disease?]. / Er højt indtag af grøntsager og frugt forbundet med nedsat risiko for cerebrovaskulaer sygdom?

The scientific evidence for a beneficial effect of an increased intake of fruits and vegetables rests on nine cohort studies. All cohort studies have shown a risk reduction in groups with high intakes of vegetables and/or fruits compared to groups with low intakes. The risk reduction has been about 30% in the scientifically best conducted studies. Further, many studies have demonstrated a dose-response association. It is not known if specific vegetables and fruits, or single nutrients alone, are particularly beneficial. A high intake of vegetables and fruits to reduce the risk of stroke should therefore be recommended.

An observational study of slimming behavior in Denmark in 1992 and 1998.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate how frequent weight-loss attempts are made, the methods used to achieve weight loss, and the extent to which the outcome is positive. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Two independent interviews were conducted in 1992 and in 1998, each with 1200 randomly selected adult subjects. Each survey was designed to ensure an equal distribution of age, gender, and geographical regions in Denmark. RESULTS: The proportion of subjects having attempted weight loss did not change from 1992 to 1998, although the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 1992 (overweight, 30%; obesity, 6%) to 1998 (overweight, 35%; obesity, 8%). Almost twice as many women (61%) than men (32%) had attempted weight loss (p < 0.0001). Slimming occurred more often in subjects <50 years (51%) than >50 years (39%) (p < 0.0001), although overweight and obesity were more frequent in the elderly. Over-the-counter diet pills or meal replacements were associated with a negative outcome of slimming treatment (p < 0.0001). DISCUSSION: Approximately half of all adult Danes have attempted weight loss, particularly women and individuals <50 years. This finding is inconsistent with the fact that overweight and obesity are more prevalent in men and in individuals >50 years. Changes in habitual diet and increased physical activity are the most prevalent modes of slimming, whereas the use of over-the-counter diet pills or meal replacements has decreased from 1992 to 1998. This development may have a positive impact on future body- weight-management strategies.