Validation of the Healthy Eating Index with use of plasma biomarkers in a clinical sample of women.

BACKGROUND: The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is a 100-point analytic scoring tool used to measure compliance with dietary recommendations and guidelines. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to calculate HEI scores for a sample of women and to link the HEI scores to plasma biomarkers of dietary exposure. DESIGN: Respondents were 340 women aged 21-80 y who were enrolled in a case-control study of diet and breast cancer. The sample included 172 patients with newly diagnosed cancer (case subjects), 149 cancer-free control subjects, and 19 women at high risk of breast cancer. Dietary intake assessment was based on 3-d food records. HEI scores were calculated for all respondents. Venous blood was collected for measurements of plasma carotenoids, vitamin C, and folate. CONCLUSIONS: Higher HEI scores were associated most strongly with greater dietary variety (r = 0.71), higher intakes of fruit (r = 0.57), and lower intakes of fat and saturated fat. HEI scores were also associated with higher intakes of energy, carbohydrates, fiber, folate, and vitamin C. Higher HEI scores were associated with higher plasma concentrations of alpha-carotene (r = 0.40), beta-carotene (r = 0.28), beta-cryptoxanthin (r = 0.41), lutein (r = 0.23), and vitamin C (r = 0.26) after age and vitamin supplement use were controlled for in a regression model. There was a further association between HEI scores and socioeconomic variables. Women with higher HEI scores were more likely to be older, married, and better educated and to have higher household incomes.

Genetic taste markers and preferences for vegetables and fruit of female breast care patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore links between genetic responsiveness to the bitter taste of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and self-reported preferences for vegetables and fruit of female breast care patients. METHODS: PROP tasting was defined by detection thresholds and by perceived bitterness and hedonic ratings for PROP solutions. Nontasters, medium tasters, and supertasters were identified by their PROP thresholds and by the ratio of perceived bitterness of PROP to the perceived saltiness of sodium chloride solutions. Subjects rated preferences for vegetables and fruit using 9-point category scales. SUBJECTS/SETTING: A clinical sample of 170 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and 156 cancer-free control subjects were recruited from the University of Michigan Breast Care Center. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Principal components factor analysis, one-way analyses of variance, and Pearson correlations and chi 2 tests were used to analyze taste and food preference data. RESULTS: Genetic responsiveness to PROP was associated with lower acceptance of cruciferous and selected green and raw vegetables (P < .05). Women who reported disliking such foods were medium tasters or supertasters of PROP. Preference ratings for fruit were unrelated to PROP taster status. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Women who are PROP tasters may be less likely to comply with dietary strategies for cancer prevention that emphasize consumption of cruciferous vegetables and bitter salad greens. Alternatively, PROP-sensitive women may seek to reduce bitter taste by adding fat, sugar, or salt.

Age and food preferences influence dietary intakes of breast care patients.

Identifying major influences on food choice is an important component of nutrition intervention research. Sensitivity to the bitter taste of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and self-reported preferences for meats, fats, vegetables, and fruit were examined in 329 female breast care patients. Intakes of fat, saturated fat, fiber, folate, and vitamin C, established using 4-day food diaries, were the chief health outcome variables. The strongest predictor of food preferences was age. Preferences were linked to food intakes. Older women consumed less energy and saturated fat and more dietary fiber and vitamin C than did younger women. Age-related decline in taste sensitivity to PROP was associated with increased liking for bitter cruciferous vegetables. Age-associated changes in food preferences and eating habits have implications for the dietary approach to cancer prevention and control.

A rapid and reliable method for extraction and assay of tricyclic antidepressant drugs in serum or plasma.

Because of their narrow therapeutic ranges and differing patient tolerances, the monitoring of tricyclic antidepressants (TADs) commonly prescribed for control of endogenous depression is highly desirable for the satisfactory treatment of patients. The majority of methods for analysis of TADs require multiple extractions from plasma with organic solvents, accompanied by obligatory centrifugation steps. We describe a simple procedure for the rapid extraction of serum TADs, with high recovery of the analyte drugs. It involves sample preparation using Analytichem 'BOND-ELUT' C-2 reverse phase columns, and analysis by gas chromatography using a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. The method offers a quick, inexpensive and low-maintenance assay which is applicable to all the common tricyclic class drugs.

Postoperative epilepsy: a double-blind trial of phenytoin after craniotomy.

In a double-blind trial of phenytoin for the prevention of postoperative epilepsy in craniotomy patients, epilepsy was observed in 7.9% (8/101) of patients treated with phenytoin and in 16.7% (17/102) of those receiving placebo. Therapeutic drug levels were associated with a significant reduction in the frequency of epilepsy. Three-quarters of the fits occurred within a month of cranial surgery. High rates of epilepsy have been observed after cranial surgery in patients with meningioma, aneurysm, and head injury with or without intracranial clots, and routine prophylaxis with phenytoin would seem to be indicated in such patients.