Demographics and nutrition-related patient care encounters: a survey of physician assistants in Nebraska.

PURPOSE: To collect information regarding demographics, nutrition-related patient care encounters, and comfort levels in addressing nutrition-related problems in a population of physician assistants (PA) currently practicing in Nebraska. METHODS: A survey was developed by faculty members in the Medical Nutrition Education and Physician Assistant Education programs, School of Allied Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test. A P-value of < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The return rate of the survey was 70% (N = 266). A high percentage of PAs (86%) reported they often or occasionally encounter nutrition-related issues with patients. In contrast, only 27% of survey respondents felt "very comfortable" in addressing nutrition-related issues. Encountering nutrition issues often and having patients that ask questions about nutrition were significantly associated with a PA's comfort in addressing nutrition issues (P < .001 for both). CONCLUSION: PAs are very likely to encounter nutrition-related issues in their practice. Attention to nutrition-related topics in the PA curriculum and continuing education may be beneficial in increasing the comfort of PAs in addressing these issues.

Dietary intake data collection: challenges and limitations.

The purpose of this paper is to succinctly review the origin of US dietary surveys, the challenges and limitations of obtaining dietary intake data, the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990, the integrated US federal food survey, and the development of the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) automated multiple-pass method. The USDA has monitored the food consumption patterns of Americans since the late 1890 s. In 2002, the US Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA integrated their data collection efforts, with data now collected on a continuous basis. Two 24-hour dietary recalls are obtained using USDA's automated multiple-pass method. By combining their respective areas of expertise, the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services have increased research opportunities for scientists and provided data foundational for establishing programs and public policy.

Popcorn consumption and dietary and physiological parameters of US children and adults: analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002 dietary survey data.

Popcorn is a whole-grain food/snack that is included among foods recommended in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid to increase whole-grain consumption. The purpose of the present study was to use 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 24-hour dietary recall data to determine the average popcorn intake among Americans, and whether popcorn consumers exhibited different dietary intake patterns or physiological biomarkers of cardiovascular disease compared with popcorn non-consumers. Mean intake among consumers of popcorn was 38.8 g/day. Compared with non-consumers, popcorn consumers had approximately 250% higher (P<0.01) intake of whole grains (2.5 vs 0.70 servings/day) and approximately 22% higher (P<0.01) intake of fiber (18.1 vs 14.9 g/day). Small but significant differences (P<0.01) were also observed for intake of carbohydrate, magnesium (higher intake in popcorn consumers), protein, niacin, and folate (lower intake in popcorn consumers). In addition, popcorn consumers had a greater (P<0.01) intake of total grains and consumed fewer meat servings. Popcorn consumption was associated with increased intake of whole grains, dietary fiber, and certain other nutrients.

Dehydration and cognitive performance.

Human neuropsychology investigates brain-behavior relationships, using objective tools (neurological tests) to tie the biological and behavior aspects together. The use of neuropsychological assessment tools in assessing potential effects of dehydration is a natural progression of the scientific pursuit to understand the physical and mental ramifications of dehydration. It has long been known that dehydration negatively affects physical performance. Examining the effects of hydration status on cognitive function is a relatively new area of research, resulting in part from our increased understanding of hydration's impact on physical performance and advances in the discipline of cognitive neuropsychology. The available research in this area, albeit sparse, indicates that decrements in physical, visuomotor, psychomotor, and cognitive performance can occur when 2% or more of body weight is lost due to water restriction, heat, and/or physical exertion. Additional research is needed, especially studies designed to reduce, if not remove, the limitations of studies conducted to date.

Hydration: issues for the 21st century.

Historically, hydration research reflected critical issues of the day. War, illness, surviving a shipwreck or time in the dessert, supplying fall-out shelters, and space exploration drove hydration research in the first half of the 20th century. The fitness revolution of the 1970s spurred research on dehydration in physically active people and athletes. The 1990s introduced the "fluid/disease relationship." What will be the driving force behind hydration research in the 21st century? Where are the gaps in our knowledge? This review provides an overview of issues pertinent to determining future directions in hydration research.

The effect on hydration of two diets, one with and one without plain water.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect on hydration of two regimens, one that included drinking water as part of the dietary beverages and one that did not. METHODS: In healthy, sedentary subjects, two different diets were evaluated for their effect on hydration. Trial A provided plain water to drink as part of the beverages served. Trial B omitted plain water from the beverages served. Twenty-seven males, during two three-day confinement periods, consumed one of two diets in a random, crossover and counterbalanced fashion, while diet, physical activity and environment were controlled and monitored. Body weight and 24-hour urine volumes were measured. Pre- and post-trial urine samples and 24-hour urines were assayed for osmolality, specific gravity, chloride, sodium and potassium, and sodium/potassium ratio was calculated. Twenty-four hour creatinine levels were determined. RESULTS: No differences (p > 0.05) were found between trials for body weight or other indicators of hydration status measured. CONCLUSIONS: Inclusion of plain drinking water compared to exclusion of plain drinking water in the diet did not affect the markers of hydration used in this study.