Dietary and serum lycopene levels in prostate cancer patients undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Tomato products, good sources of lycopene, may lower the incidence of prostate cancer, but data on the effectiveness of lycopene supplementation during radiation therapy are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the tolerance and acceptance of three different amounts (4, 8, or 12 oz) of tomato juice (TJ) and their effect on serum lycopene during radiotherapy in 20 men with localized prostate cancer. Participants were randomized into a control group or one of three intervention groups who consumed TJ daily during treatment. Dietary lycopene intake was estimated using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Diet History Questionnaire, and gastrointestinal tolerance of TJ was evaluated using the NCI Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program: Common Toxicity Criteria v 2.0. Serum and TJ lycopene levels were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. TJ was well tolerated without any gastrointestinal side effects, and increased serum lycopene levels were observed in the 8 and 12 oz groups from baseline to endpoint. No correlation between serum and dietary lycopene was detected. Despite no reported change in dietary intake, non-significant weight loss was observed in the control group but not the intervention group participants. A significant positive correlation between serum lycopene, weight, and body mass index, and a negative correlation between serum lycopene and piror nutritional supplement use was detected. Weight change should be monitored and evaluated during treatment. Larger clinical trials are needed to validate the use of TJ to increase serum/dietary lycopene intake and correlate with side effects during radiotherapy in men with prostate cancer.

A social marketing theory-based diet-education program for women ages 54 to 83 years improved dietary status.

Social Marketing Theory is a comprehensive approach of program development encompassing the needs and preferences of the intended audience. It was hypothesized a Social Marketing Theory-based, registered dietitian-led, in-home, cardiovascular disease-targeted diet-education program would improve the dietary status of community-residing older women. Using a randomized control group design, this 90-day program in two North Carolina counties included 58 women (30 control; 28 intervention) ages 54 to 83 years. Data were collected using the Mini Nutritional Assessment, three 3-day food records, and program evaluations. The intervention group received two individual registered dietitian-led in-home education sessions and the control group received education material mailings (Visits 2 and 3). Pretested education materials were used. Visits/mailings were scheduled 28 to 30 days apart. Variables measured included cardiovascular disease-related dietary practices and dietary status (Mini Nutritional Assessment). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired sample t tests, multivariant analyses, and independent t tests. Intervention and control Mini Nutritional Assessment scores improved (P=0.0001). Intervention subjects consumed more fiber than control (P=0.013) and reduced sodium intake (P=0.02). Controls reduced energy (P=0.01) and cholesterol intakes (P=0.029), likely because of the decreased food intake. The majority (n=51, 87.9%) rated the program as good to excellent and almost all (n=55, 94.8%) would recommend the program to a friend. The most popular features of the program were the individualized sessions (n=20, 34.5%) and diet analyses (n=11, 19%). These results suggest that cardiovascular disease diet-education materials utilizing Social Marketing Theory principles can lead to improved dietary status among community-residing older women.

Nutrition education improves morale and self-efficacy for middle-aged and older women.

This study aimed to improve dietary compliance, attitudes, morale, and self-efficacy for 58 community-residing women ages 54-83 years regarding heart healthy dietary practices using a randomized control group design in two North Carolina counties. Questionnaires administered prior to Visits 1 (Baseline) and 4 (Day 90) and three 3-day food records were completed within 1 week of Visit 1 and 28-30 days thereafter. Treatment included two individual counseling sessions using pre-tested materials: Controls received corresponding mailings. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance, correlations, and paired sample t-tests. Collective (total group) and control morale improved (p ≤ 0.01). The efficacy construct "ability to choose healthy foods" improved collectively (p < 0.0001). Compliance correlated (p ≤ 0.05) with the ability to follow special dietary regimens collectively and by group. Treatment Compliance correlated (p ≤ 0.03) with the ability to choose healthy foods and morale. No significant between group differences were noted. Tailored nutrition programs empowered older women regarding their nutritional health improve morale and self-efficacy. In-home or mailed education materials with follow-up may be equally effective with similar older women in other locations.

Needs and preference assessment for an in-home nutrition education program using social marketing theory.

Nutrition education programs for elder caregivers (CG) and their elder care recipients (CR) are important in preventing malnutrition. Using Social Marketing Theory, this study assessed the needs and preferences for nutrition education in elder CGs and their CRs in Guilford County, NC. Thirty-two pairs of community-residing elder CGs/CRs and three focus groups (FGs) participated. Health and diet questionnaires were administered to all CGs/CRs during in-home interviews. CGs/CRs and FGs evaluated nutrition education materials. Questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS v9. Ethnograph v5.0 was used to code the interviews regarding the education materials. The CGs were middle age (58.9 years), overweight (BMI = 28.8) Caucasian women. The CRs were old (79.4 years), overweight (BMI = 26.0) Caucasian women. Identified malnutrition risk factors of CGs and CRs included inadequate fluid and dietary intake, polypharmacy, and chronic disease. Identified nutrition needs and education preferences of CGs/CRs were similar. Perceived nutrition education preferences of the FGs did not reflect the interests of the CGs/CRs. This information is being used to revise the education materials and develop an in-home nutrition education program for CGs and CRs in Guilford County, NC.

A 2-year stage of change evaluation of dietary fat and fruit and vegetable intake behaviors of cardiac rehabilitation patients.

PURPOSE: To track the 2-year movement of cardiac rehabilitation patients through the stages of change for dietary fat reduction and increasing fruit and vegetable intake. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, longitudinal evaluation of a convenience sample of cardiac rehabilitation patients. SETTING: Department of Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, Greensboro, North Carolina. SUBJECTS: Subjects (n = 118) were predominately white, overweight, married men with a history of tobacco use. INTERVENTION: Group nutrition education sessions for 12 weeks. MEASURES: Stage of change assessments for dietary fat reduction and increasing fruit and vegetable intake were performed at the start (baseline), conclusion (3 months), and 2 years after cardiac rehabilitation. RESULTS: Baseline staging demonstrated patients' efforts to reduce dietary fat intake (preparation, 10.2%; action, 35.6%; maintenance, 47.5%). The assessment at 2 years staged 87.3% of the population in the maintenance stage. In contrast, the precontemplation (30.0%), contemplation (7.6%), and preparation (49.2%) stages dominated baseline staging for modifying fruit and vegetable intake. Patients in the precontemplation and contemplation stages increased to 58.5% at 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac rehabilitation patients are in different stages for two food behaviors linked to the same illness. Results support the appropriateness of nutrition education that emphasizes instrumental information for affecting fat reduction behaviors. Modifying fruit and vegetable intake behaviors is more appropriately addressed with noninstrumental interventions that emphasize health benefits and barriers to change.