Food (in)security in relation to nutrition (in)security in a national cross-sectional sample of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants: considerations of an emerging construct.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity, lack of access to sufficient food for an active, healthy life, is a persistent problem in the United States. Recently, nutrition security has emerged as a new concept. However, limited research exists examining how nutrition security relates to the established concept of food security. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed a recent metric of nutrition security and explored how well it describes the underlying construct among a sample of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. We examined the correlation between food and nutrition security and demographic predictors of joint food and nutrition security status. METHODS: We conducted a national, web-based survey (Qualtrics; 30 September-19 October, 2022) in English and Spanish of adults aged ≥18 y (n = 1454) who reported receiving SNAP benefits in the past 12 mo. We measured food security using the US Department of Agriculture 6-item Food Security Survey and assessed nutrition security using the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition Household Nutrition Security measure. We used multinominal logistic regression to examine demographic predictors of food and nutrition security. RESULTS: The majority (80.4%) of SNAP participants experienced food insecurity, and 59.1% reported experiencing nutrition insecurity. Food and nutrition security were moderately correlated (0.41); 55.6% of SNAP participants were both food and nutrition insecure, 3.5% were food secure but nutrition insecure, 24.8% were food insecure but nutrition secure, and 16.1% were both food and nutrition secure. Of SNAP participants, 24.8% reported experiencing food insecurity but not nutrition insecurity. Hispanic ethnicity and Southern residence were associated with joint food and nutrition insecurity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings raise questions about how nutrition security is conceptualized and measured and its added value beyond existing food security measurement scales. Further research is needed to understand differences in food and nutrition security experiences and risk factors and determine a validated definition and measure of nutrition security for future policy solutions.

[Vegetable-first eating habits are associated with a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment in elderly diabetic patients].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between vegetable-first eating habits and the cognitive function in elderly patients with diabetes. METHODS: The subjects were outpatients with diabetes ≥60 years old at Ise Red Cross Hospital. A self-administered dementia checklist was used to assess mild cognitive impairment and dementia. The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire on their vegetable-first eating habits and were classified into 4 groups: 0, 1, 2, and 3 times a day. The dependent variables were mild cognitive impairment and dementia, and the explanatory variable was vegetable-first eating habits (0 as a reference). RESULTS: In total, 358 patients were included in the analysis. The number of vegetable-first meals was 0 in 153 (42.7%), 1 in 48 (13.4%), 2 in 46 (12.8%), and 3 in 111 (31.1%) patients. The adjusted odds ratios for 1, 2, and 3 times of mild cognitive impairment were 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-1.94; P=0.680), 0.81 (95% CI, 0.32-2.00; P=0.653), and 0.37 (95% CI, 0.17-0.81; P=0.014), respectively. However, there was no significant association between vegetable-first eating habits and dementia. CONCLUSION: In elderly patients with diabetes, a vegetable-first eating habit at each meal was associated with a decreased risk of mild cognitive impairment.

Safe and efficient practice of parenteral nutrition in neonates and children aged 0-18 years - The role of licensed multi-chamber bags.

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is recognized as a complex high-risk therapy. Its practice is highly variable and frequently suboptimal in pediatric patients. Optimizing care requires evidence, consensus-based guidelines, audits of practice, and standardized strategies. Several pediatric scientific organizations, expert panels, and authorities have recently recommended that standardized PN should generally be used over individualized PN in the majority of pediatric patients including very low birth weight premature infants. In addition, PN admixtures produced and validated by a suitably qualified institution are recommended over locally produced PN. Licensed multi chamber bags are standardized PN bags that comply with Good Manufacturing Practice and high-quality standards for the finished product in the frame of their full manufacturing license. The purpose of this article is to review the practical aspects of PN and the evidence for using such multi-chamber bags in pediatric patients. It highlights the safety characteristics and the limitations of the different PN practices and provides some guidance for ensuring safe and efficient therapy in pediatric patients.

Dietary Flavonoid and Subclass Intakes are not Associated with Markers of Bone Health in U.S. Adults Age 50+ Years.

BACKGROUND: Dietary flavonoid intakes have been associated with improved markers of bone health in Chinese and Scottish cohorts, but little data exist in middle aged to older adults in the United States. OBJECTIVES: The objective of our research was to assess if dietary flavonoid intakes are associated with bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone area of the lumbar spine and femoral neck in a nationally representative population of middle aged to older U.S. adults. We further sought to investigate if relationships of the main flavonoid subgroups (i.e., anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavanones, flavones, flavonols, and isoflavones) exist, as a secondary objective. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from individuals aged 50+ years enrolled in the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used in our analyses (N = 2590). Weighted multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between quartiles of flavonoid intake and BMD, BMC, and bone area of the lumbar spine and femoral neck of participants. RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 63.4 ± 0.52 years and 64.1 ± 0.52 years for men and women, respectively. Average total flavonoid intake was 217 ± 19.4 mg/day and 306 ± 26.9 mg/day for men and women, respectively. Total flavonoid intakes were not significantly associated with BMD, BMC, or bone area of the femoral neck or lumbar spine in male or female participants. Flavonoid subclass intakes were also not consistently associated with improved markers of bone health. CONCLUSION: Although several limitations exist, this cross-sectional analysis of U.S. adults aged 50+ years provides contradictory evidence to the hypothesis that higher flavonoid and flavonoid subclass intakes beneficially impacts markers of bone health. Large prospective cohort investigations that better capture long-term dietary flavonoid intake and ascertain fractures the primary outcome, as well as randomized controlled trials, are needed to fully elucidate the effects flavonoids on bone health.

Social factors associated with changes in nutrition risk scores measured using SCREEN-8: data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Purpose: To examine the social network factors associated with changes in nutrition risk scores, measured by SCREEN-8, over three years, in community-dwelling Canadians aged 45 years and older, using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).Methods: Change in SCREEN-8 scores between the baseline and first follow-up waves of the CLSA was calculated by subtracting SCREEN-8 scores at follow-up from baseline scores. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the factors associated with change in SCREEN-8 score.Results: The mean SCREEN-8 score at baseline was 38.7 (SD = 6.4), and the mean SCREEN-8 score at follow-up was 37.9 (SD = 6.6). The mean change in SCREEN-8 score was -0.90 (SD = 5.99). Higher levels of social participation (participation in community activities) were associated with increases in SCREEN-8 scores between baseline and follow-up, three years later.Conclusions: Dietitians should be aware that individuals with low levels of social participation may be at risk for having their nutritional status decrease over time and consideration should be given to screening them proactively for nutrition risk. Dietitians can develop and support programs aimed at combining food with social participation.

Association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and pubertal timing: 6-14-year-old children and adolescents in the NHANES 2015-2016.

Background: The association between 25(OH)D and pubertal timing has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and pubertal timing in children. Methods: Participants aged 6-14 years who had available nutritional and serum sex hormone (total testosterone (TT) and estradiol (E2)) information (n =1318) were included. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the associations between 25(OH)D and sex steroid hormones among children in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015-2016. Puberty was indicated by high levels of steroid hormones (TT≥50 ng/dL in men, E2≥20 pg/ml in women) or menarche. Results: Serum 25(OH)D and pubertal status showed the same trend in both males and females. In the male population, the OR values of serum 25(OH)D between 50 and <75 and ≥75 nmol/L were 0.52 (0.25, 1.08) and 0.64 (0.23, 1.75), respectively, compared with serum 25(OH)D<50 nmol/L. The OR of serum 25(OH)D ≥50 nmol/L compared with <50 nmol/L was 0.54 (0.26, 1.10), and the P value was statistically significant (P=0.048). In the female population, when the serum 25(OH)D concentration was <50 nmol/L, the ORs corresponding to a serum 25(OH)D concentration between 50 and <75 and ≥75 nmol/L were 0.53 (0.29, 0.98) and 0.50 (0.19, 1.30), respectively. The OR of serum 25(OH)D≥50 nmol/L compared with <50 nmol/L was 0.52 (0.19, 0.96), and the P value was statistically significant (P=0.037). Conclusions: A lower 25(OH)D level was associated with earlier puberty in both girls and boys. There was a negative association between 25(OH)D concentrations and pubertal timing.

Managing cow's milk protein allergy during the 2022 formula shortage: decision-making among pediatric healthcare providers.

Introduction: Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) affects 2%-7% of infants and is managed with hypoallergenic formulas. The 2022 recalls of infant formulas due to factors including contamination led to specialty formula shortages, highlighting CMPA management challenges. Understanding healthcare providers' (HCPs) decision-making in transitioning to alternative formulas during shortages is crucial. Limited attention has been given to how pediatric physicians make these choices. Methods: This study utilized US HCPs' de-identified survey data to assess driving factors when switching extensively hydrolyzed formulas during shortages. Results: 104 eligible HCPs participated, including general pediatrics, pediatric allergy/immunology, and pediatric gastroenterology specialists. Safety, tolerability, and efficacy were identified as top factors for switching formulas. Formula 1 was considered well-tolerated, patient-accepted, and safe by all HCPs. Most expressed strong belief in Formula 1's safety and effectiveness. Discussion: Findings inform CMPA management during shortages, offering guidance to HCPs for suitable formula selection and enhanced infant care.

Clinical predictive value of the CRP-albumin-lymphocyte index for prognosis of critically ill patients with sepsis in intensive care unit: a retrospective single-center observational study.

Background: Sepsis is a complex syndrome characterized by physiological, pathological, and biochemical abnormalities caused by infection. Its development is influenced by factors such as inflammation, nutrition, and immune status. Therefore, we combined C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and lymphocyte, which could reflect above status, to be the CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index, and investigated its association with clinical prognosis of critically ill patients with sepsis. Methods: This retrospective observational study enrolled critically ill patients with sepsis who had an initial CRP, albumin, and lymphocyte data on the first day of ICU admission. All data were obtained from the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University. The patients were divided into quartiles (Q1-Q4) based on their CALLY index. The outcomes included 30-/60-day mortality and acute kidney injury (AKI) occurrence. The association between the CALLY index and these clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with sepsis was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 1,123 patients (63.0% male) were included in the study. The 30-day and 60-day mortality rates were found to be 28.1 and 33.4%, respectively, while the incidence of AKI was 45.6%. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant association between higher CALLY index and lower risk of 30-day and 60-day mortality (log-rank p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated that the CALLY index was independently associated with 30-day mortality [HR (95%CI): 0.965 (0.935-0.997); p = 0.030] and 60-day mortality [HR (95%CI): 0.969 (0.941-0.997); p = 0.032]. Additionally, the multivariate logistic regression model showed that the CALLY index served as an independent risk predictor for AKI occurrence [OR (95%CI): 0.982 (0.962-0.998); p = 0.033]. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated a significant association between the CALLY index and both 30-day and 60-day mortality, as well as the occurrence of AKI, in critically ill patients with sepsis. These findings suggested that the CALLY index may be a valuable tool in identifying sepsis patients who were at high risk for unfavorable outcomes.

Secular trends of dental caries and association with nutritional status: a retrospective analysis of 16,199 Chinese students from three successive national surveys from 2010 to 2019.

Introduction: The prevalence of dental caries (DC) among students in developing countries has increased at an alarming rate, and nutritional status has been shown to be associated with DC in children and adolescents with inconsistent conclusions. We aimed to understand the trends of DC prevalence in students aged 7, 9, 12, and 14 years and to explore the relationship between DC prevalence and nutritional status. Methods: We recruited 16,199 students aged 7, 9, 12, and 14 years in China by multi-stage, stratified, random sampling methods from 2010 to 2019. Permanent caries were measured using the Decay, Loss, and Filling (DMF) index and prevalence rate. Deciduous caries were measured using the decay, loss, and filling (dmf) index and prevalence rate. Nutritional status was assessed using body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin levels. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between nutritional status and the DC prevalence in children and adolescents, incorporating information concerning family-related factors. Results: The results indicated that DC prevalence increased from 39.75% in 2010 to 53.21% in 2019 in Henan province, with deciduous teeth and permanent teeth being 45.96 and 27.18%, respectively, in 2019. The total caries rate decreased with age (p < 0.05), and the caries rate of girls was higher than that of boys in 2019 (55.75% vs. 50.67%) (p < 0.001). The prevalence of dental caries among primary and secondary school students in areas with medium economic aggregate was the highest, followed by cities with the best economic development level, and cities with low economic levels have a lower prevalence of dental caries. The dental caries prevalence was negatively correlated with body mass index. In the fully adjusted model, underweight children had a higher caries prevalence (OR = 1.10, 95%CI: 0.86-1.41). Children with anemia had a higher prevalence of dental caries (OR = 1.18, 95%CI: 0.98-1.42). Conclusion: The DC prevalence of students in Henan Province was high, with a tendency to increase. Females, young individuals, and those with a higher economic level showed a positive correlation with the prevalence of caries. In the process of economic development, particular attention should be paid to early childhood caries prevention. Nutritional status should be taken seriously among children and adolescents, and the oral health system should be improved to keep pace with economic development.

Dietary supplement use among military personnel: international patterns and motivations for use.

Dietary supplements, products that contain one or more dietary ingredients, or their components, typically in a concentrated form, are often consumed for purported health and performance benefits. The frequency, forms and motivations for dietary supplement use may differ between civilian and military populations. The objective of this manuscript is to review patterns and trends in dietary supplement use in military personnel from the USA, France, the UK and Slovenia. Main findings indicate that dietary supplement use may be higher in military personnel as compared with civilian populations. Factors motivating dietary supplement use in military personnel include physical and cognitive performance, recovery, and the maintenance of body weight and composition, whereas civilian populations tend to be motivated by health and wellness. Commonly used dietary supplements in military populations, such as proteins and amino acids, may be associated with performance, body weight management and body composition. The relationship between dietary supplement use and the frequency and severity of adverse events, along with the potential benefits of dietary supplements, has not been carefully assessed in military populations and should be the focus of future studies.

Total magnesium intake and risk of frailty in older women.

BACKGROUND: An adequate magnesium intake might lower the risk of frailty through its role in muscle function. METHODS: We analysed data from 81 524 women aged ≥60 years participating in the Nurses' Health Study. Total magnesium intake was obtained from repeated food frequency questionnaires administered between 1984 and 2010 and self-reported information on supplementation. Frailty was defined as having at least three of the following five FRAIL scale criteria: fatigue, low strength, reduced aerobic capacity, having ≥5 chronic illnesses and weight loss ≥ 5%. The occurrence of frailty was assessed every 4 years from 1992 to 2018. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for lifestyle factors, medication use and dietary factors were used to assess the association between magnesium intake and frailty. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 16 years, we identified 15 477 incident cases of frailty. Women with a higher intake of total energy-adjusted magnesium had a decreased risk of frailty after adjustment for lifestyle factors, medication use and dietary factors. The relative risk (95% confidence interval) for Quintile 5 (Q5) versus Quintile 1 (Q1) was 0.88 (0.82, 0.94) (P-trend < 0.001). When only energy-adjusted magnesium from the diet was considered, the inverse association was stronger (Q5 vs. Q1: 0.68 [0.56, 0.82]; P-trend < 0.001). Those reaching the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of magnesium through diet had a 14% (9%, 19%) lower risk of frailty compared with those not meeting the RDA. CONCLUSIONS: Increased intake of foods rich in magnesium was associated with a decreased risk of frailty.

Metabolic disorder: the dark side of ovarian aging.

Ovarian aging plays an important role in the aging process of the whole body. It has been reported that metabolic disorder may significantly contribute to ovarian aging. This article highlights recent advances in metabolic regulation of ovarian aging and highlights key issues in the field.

Early diet and the risk of coeliac disease. An update 2024 position paper by the ESPGHAN special interest group on coeliac disease.

This position paper by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Special Interest Group on Coeliac Disease (SIG-CD) presents an update to the 2016 recommendations concerning early diet and the risk of coeliac disease (CD). This update adheres to the policy that mandates reviewing guidelines every 5 years, particularly when new data emerge. The 2024 statements and recommendations are essentially similar to the 2016 recommendations. Breastfeeding, whether any amount, exclusive, or of any duration, does not reduce the risk of developing CD. Introducing gluten into an infant's diet at any time between completed 4 months (≥17 weeks) and 12 months of age does not affect the cumulative incidence of CD, although earlier introduction may lead to earlier seroconversion and CD. In observational studies involving cohorts with a known risk for CD, consuming a high amount of gluten compared to a low amount during weaning and in the subsequent childhood years-specifically the first 2-3 years, and even up to 5 years in some studies-was associated with an increased risk for CD. However, the specific optimal amounts of gluten consumption remain undetermined due to insufficient evidence on safe thresholds, and the impact of restricting gluten in the diet of healthy children of unknown risk for CD is unknown. Thus, any recommendation on the gluten amount is currently unjustifiable for the general population and infants with known HLA risk types. There is no specific guidance on the type of gluten-containing foods to be introduced at weaning.

Association of oxidative balance score with Helicobacter pylori infection and mortality among US population.

BACKGROUND: Antioxidant and pro-oxidant dietary patterns and lifestyle changes have been considered to play a crucial role in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. We conducted this study to investigate the underlying association between oxidative balance score (OBS) and H. pylori infection in the US population. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2000), and included individuals with complete information about dietary intake and H. pylori serologic testing results. In the present study, we used multivariate logistic regression analysis, smoothed curve fitting, subgroup analyses, and Cox proportional hazards modeling based on demographic and clinical variables to examine the relationship between OBS and H. pylori infection. RESULTS: A total of 3413 individuals participated in our analysis with an average age of 32.31 years. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in the study population was 29.77%. By performing smooth curve fitting analysis, we observed an approximately linear relationship between OBS and H. pylori infection, indicating that lower OBS was associated with higher risk of H. pylori infection, especially in over 60 years of age and non-Hispanic white populations. All-cause mortality was also found lower in individuals with higher OBS levels. CONCLUSION: In the US population, increased levels of OBS were associated with a reduced risk of H. pylori infection and decreased all-cause mortality. More and further work is still needed to elucidate the precise mechanism of the association between OBS and H. pylori infection.

Prevalence and Association of Sarcopenia with Mortality in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the association of sarcopenia defined on computed tomography (CT) head and neck with survival in head and neck cancer patients. METHODS: Following a PROSPERO-registered protocol, two blinded reviewers extracted data and evaluated the quality of the included studies using the Quality In Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) framework. A meta-analysis was conducted using maximally adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with the random-effects model. Heterogeneity was measured using the I2 statistic and was investigated using meta-regression and subgroup analyses where appropriate. RESULTS: From 37 studies (11,181 participants), sarcopenia was associated with poorer overall survival (HR 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.81-2.45; p < 0.01), disease-free survival (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.38-2.24; p < 0.01), disease-specific survival (HR 2.65, 95% CI 1.80-3.90; p < 0.01), progression-free survival (HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.21-4.13; p < 0.01) and increased chemotherapy or radiotherapy toxicity (risk ratio 2.28, 95% CI 1.31-3.95; p < 0.01). The observed association between sarcopenia and overall survival remained significant across different locations of cancer, treatment modality, tumor stages and geographical region, and did not differ between univariate and multivariate HRs. Statistically significant correlations were observed between the C3 and L3 cross-sectional area, skeletal muscle mass, and skeletal muscle index. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with head and neck cancers, CT-defined sarcopenia was consistently associated with poorer survival and greater toxicity.

Nutrition Education in Psychiatry Residency Programs: A Call to Action.

The burden of disease attributable to mental health is expected to rise in the coming decades. Poor nutritional status is considered a modifiable risk factor for general mental health. In fact, nutrition interventions are now accepted as a core strategy in mental healthcare to combat physical health inequalities and life-expectancy gap in people with certain psychiatric disorders. However, most psychiatrists are not familiar with evidence for the potential therapeutic benefits of diet in psychiatric illness, and this may be related to sparse nutrition education for physicians. Thus, there is a need to integrate nutritional management in psychiatric practice, but there is a gap in medical education which would support this practice. Here, we discuss evidence for and challenges in (1) assessing diet quality in psychiatric illness (2) recommending improvements in diet quality and specific dietary patterns in psychiatric illness, and (3) recommending dietary supplements in psychiatric illness. This discussion serves as a call to develop nutrition curricula within psychiatry residency programs.

Milking system and diet's forage type impact on milk quality of Italian Holstein-Friesian.

Moving from conventional (CMS) to automatic (AMS) milking systems could impact milk quality. Moreover, the type and preservation methods of the forages used in the total mixed ration (TMR) (such as alfalfa hay -HTMR- or corn silage -STMR-) have been demonstrated to modify milk composition. Thus, this study investigated the effect of implementing AMS and different diet forage types on the quality of Italian Holstein-Friesian bulk milk. Milk samples (n = 168) were collected monthly from 21 commercial farms in northern Italy during a period of 8 mo. Farms were categorized into 4 groups according to their milking system (CMS vs AMS) and diet's forage type (HTMR vs STMR). Milk quality data were analyzed through the mixed procedure for repeated measurement of SAS with the milking system, diet's forage type, and sampling day as fixed effects. Milking through the AMS led to lower milk fat, freezing point and ß-lactoglobulin A, longer coagulation time, and higher K content, pH and ß-lactoglobulin B than CMS. Cows fed STMR produced milk with greater fat, protein, casein, Mg content, titratable acidity and ß-lactoglobulin A, while reduced curd firming time, freezing point and ß-lactoglobulin B than those fed with HTMR. In conclusion, milk quality is not only altered by the diet's forage type and characteristics but also by the milking system.

Assessing nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards breast cancer prevention among female students at the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer remains a complex disease and leading cause of cancer-related death in Nigerian women. Recently, the role of nutrition has been highlighted in the etiology of breast cancer. METHODS: The aim of this research was to evaluate the nutrition-related knowledge, attitude, and practices of female university students. We also investigated the correlation between their demographic characteristics and their knowledge and attitudes of the survey participants. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among female students at the Federal University of Oye (FUOYE), Nigeria. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires designed to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practices concerning cancer prevention. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20, and significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Out of the 402 students who received the questionnaire, 300 completed it. The average age of the participants was 21.26 years with a standard deviation of 2.68. There was generally limited knowledge regarding breast cancer risk factors, with 45% of participants citing family history as the most recognized risk factor. Overall, knowledge level was influenced by the participants' permanent place of residence and course of study. Attitudes towards the impact of maternal and paternal nutrition on breast cancer prevention were notably low. Additionally, less than half of the participants demonstrated good dietary practices. CONCLUSION: This study revealed low levels of nutrition-related knowledge concerning cancer prevention, accompanied by poor dietary habits among the participants. These results suggest a possible link between inadequate knowledge about breast cancer prevention and the observed poor dietary practices among the participants. The frequent consumption of unhealthy foods among the participants may be a pointer to higher risk of breast cancer in the future, emphasizing a need for health education targeted at this group.

The relationship between proportions of carbohydrate and fat intake and hyperglycemia risk in Chinese adults.

OBJECTIVE: To address the relationship between the proportions of carbohydrates and fat and hyperglycemia in the Chinese population. DESIGN: A cross-section research involving data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2009, and nutritional status and health indicators were mainly focused. SETTING: China. PARTICIPANTS: 8197 Chinese individuals aged over 16 years, including 1345 subjects had a low carbohydrate and high fat diet (LCHF), 3951 individuals had a medium proportion of carbohydrate and fat (MPCF) diet, 2660 participants had a high carbohydrate and low fat (HCLF) diet and 241 people had the very high carbohydrate and low fat (VHCLF) diet. RESULTS: Subjects with the HCLF diet were significantly associated with an increased risk of hyperglycemia (OR:1.142, 95%CI:1.022-1.276) when compared with the individuals with the MPCF diet. Meanwhile, people with a VHCLF diet had a higher risk of hyperglycemia (OR:1.829, 95%CI:1.377-2.429). In contrast, the association between participants with an LCHF diet and hyperglycemia was not significant (OR:1.082, 95%CI:0.942-1.243) with adjusting a series of confounding factors. Furthermore, people with a VHCLF diet were significantly associated with a higher risk of hyperglycemia in the major energy levels and social characteristics subgroup. CONCLUSION: We found the HCLF and VHCLF diets were significantly associated with a high risk of hyperglycemia. And, the association between LCHF diets and the risk of hyperglycemia was not significant.

Energy and nutrient intake by 11-13-year-old young adolescents attending private schools in Delhi, India.

There are no high-quality data on dietary behavior of adolescents in India. This study aimed to assess the intake of energy (E), macronutrients and selected micronutrients in a sample of 11-13-year-old schoolchildren in Delhi, India. Participants from private schools (n=10) recorded dietary intake using a 3-day food diary. Information was entered into the dietary assessment tool, Intake24, to ascertain portion size and convert data into nutrient intake through integrated food tables. Of the 514 consenting participants, 393 (76.4%) (169 girls, 224 boys) aged 11.4 (± 1.8) years completed the study. The median (interquartile range (IQR) daily E intake was 2580 (2139.3-2989.8) kcal [10.8 (9.0 -12.5) MJ] for girls, and 2941.5 (2466.7- 3599.3) kcal [12.3 (10.3- 15.2) MJ] for boys. The median (IQR) daily nutrient intakes for girls and boys respectively were: protein 64.6 (54.8-79.3) g, 74.4 (61.4; 89.4) g; carbohydrate 336.5 (285.3- 393.6) g, 379.6 (317.8-461.8) g; and saturated fat 45.6 (34.8-58.3) g, 54.6 (41.9-69.5) g. There were no significant between-gender differences in percent E from protein (10.2 (9.2 - 11.4)), or carbohydrate (52.4 (48.7- 56.7)). Girls obtained less percent E from saturated fat (16.1 (11.0-18.2) compared with boys 16.3 (14.2 - 19.1) (P<0.05). E from saturated fat was above Food and Agriculture Organization recommendations in >74% participants. The EAR for iron was achieved by < 40% of girls. In conclusion, strategies to optimize dietary intake of adolescents in India should focus on preventing excess intakes of E and saturated fat, and improving iron intake in girls.