More acidic dietary acid-base load is associated with reduced calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation in women but not in men: results from the EPIC-Norfolk cohort study

BACKGROUND: Dietary patterns that promote mild metabolic acidosis may have a negative effect on bone density. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relation between a measure of dietary acid-base load, potential renal acid load (PRAL), and calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) after adjustment for confounders and also compared the results with different estimates of acid-base load. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 14 563 men and women aged 42-82 y living in Norfolk, United Kingdom, in which measures of calcaneal BUA and dietary PRAL were estimated by using the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: A more acidic dietary intake (high PRAL) was significantly associated with lower calcaneal BUA in women but not in men; there was a difference of approximately 2% in BUA between the highest and lowest quintiles of PRAL, independent of age, body mass index, smoking habit, physical activity, diagnosed osteoporosis, and history of fracture, and (in women) hormone replacement therapy. No relation was observed between history of fracture or incident fracture and PRAL. Those with the greatest PRAL had higher intakes of meat, fish, eggs, and cereal and cereal products and lower intakes of fruit and vegetables, tea, and coffee. CONCLUSION: PRAL was inversely associated with bone ultrasound measures in women, but the magnitude of the association was relatively small compared with other known risk factors. Further longitudinal studies are required to establish whether, in the long term, these small effects are important in overall fracture risk in populations.     

Personality and dietary habits

BACKGROUND: The personality of healthy individuals has not been well studied in relation to health consciousness, dietary habits and actual food intake, simultaneously. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study the association between personality and dietary habits. DESIGN: Information on dietary habits, including taste preferences and the frequency of food consumption, was collected through a questionnaire from 76 male and 394 female students. The personality of students was determined by a modified NEO-FFI test. Health status, height, body weight, body fat percentage and blood pressure were measured by physical examination. Main outcome measures were personality scores as indicators of a healthy dietary pattern. RESULTS: Food intake was influenced by neuroticism (N), extraversion (E), openness (O) and agreeableness (A) of personality. Taste preferences and receptivity to dietary advice were also influenced by personality: the odds ratios (ORs) between the high and low tertiary points of the NEO-FFI scores for salty and sweet taste preferences were significantly higher in the group that scored high for neuroticism (N) (salty taste preference: OR = 2.25, NS in males and OR = 2.39, 95%CI = 1.16-4.93 in females; sweet taste preference: OR = 21.00, 95%CI = 2.40-183.99 in males and OR = 3.33, 95%CI = 1.61-6.91 in females). On the other hand, the groups with high scorer for O and A did not like salty tastes. The groups with high scores for A and C were receptive to dietary advice. High scores of each N, E, O, A, and C factor were characterized by distinguishable, dietary habits and lifestyle. For nutritional or health education, group classes are sufficient for high A and O. High C scorer displayed discrepancies between health consciousness and dietary habits, so intervention or a close follow-up by medical professionals would be necessary to improve the health of individuals in this group. High E scorer possessed a confident attitude towards their health, but they were not interested in developing healthy habits. High N scorer was adverse to receiving health information and learning healthy dietary habits. CONCLUSION: Personality determined by NEO-FFI test was related to dietary habits and health attitude. Effective health education methods must take the personality of the targeted individuals into consideration.     

Association of vitamin D receptor polymorphism with calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation in Korean postmenopausal women with low calcium intake

This study investigated the associations among vitamin D receptor (VDR) BsmI polymorphism, calcium intake and bone strength as indicated by the broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) measured by calcaneal quantitative ultrasound at the left calcaneus in community-dwelling subjects with a low calcium intake. The VDR BsmI polymorphism was analysed in 335 women older than 65 years residing in rural Asan, Korea. Calcium intake was assessed with a 2 d, 24 h recall method. The distribution of genotypes was similar to that reported in other Asian populations (92 % bb, 7 % Bb and 1 % BB). The calcaneal BUA was significantly higher (P = 0.013) in the bb genotype than in the Bb or BB genotype (Bb and BB genotypes were combined due to the small number of BB subjects) in a multiple regression model after adjusting for age, body weight, height, physical activity and nutritional factors. BUA was not significantly affected by the calcium intake regardless of the genotype, cross-sectionally. The energy-adjusted average calcium intake of this population was 439.6 mg/d (432.5 mg/d for bb and 522.3 mg/d for Bb or BB), and 96 % of the subjects had dietary intakes that were less than the recommended Dietary Reference Intake for Koreans (which for calcium is 800 mg/d for women older than 65 years). In summary, the BUA in older Korean women with a low calcium intake was significantly influenced by the VDR genotype but not by the calcium intake, cross-sectionally.     

Social determinants of dietary habits in Denmark

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there is an association between socioeconomic status and a healthy diet, taking the possible influence of other social variables such as age, gender, income and household composition into consideration. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Nationwide study in Denmark, 1995. SUBJECTS: Random sample from the civil registration system. A total of 852 men and 870 women aged 18-80 y participated, a response rate of 58%. INTERVENTIONS: A 7 day estimated dietary record was used to obtain information about the diet. Information about social background was gained through face-to-face interview. RESULTS: The intake of fruit and vegetables and the percentage energy (E%) from fat in the diet were significantly associated with the educational level of both men and women. For men with only basic schooling, the mean intake of vegetables and fat was 84 g/10 MJ and 41 E% respectively. Men with long higher education had a mean intake of 119 g/10 MJ of vegetables and 37 E% of fat. For women, the corresponding figures for the intake of vegetables and fat were 131 g/10 MJ and 38 E% and 175 g/10 MJ and 37 E%, respectively. For women, age, income and household composition were also significantly associated with the intake of fruit and vegetables. CONCLUSIONS: Education seems to be the most important social variable to explain social differences in dietary habits. Additional variables are needed to explain dietary habits of women. Differences are seen for both foods and nutrients. SPONSORSHIP: The data analysis was financially supported by the Health Insurance Fund.     

The dietary habits of doctors and teachers

A questionnaire was completed by 408 general practitioners and 385 secondary school teachers about their own dietary intake with response rates of 48% and 45% respectively. Over half of each group were of ideal weight and only 3% of the total were obese.
The group of general practitioners, reported that they ate significantly less fats and salt and significantly more fibre and polyunsaturated fats in their diet than the teachers. Teachers were significantly more likely to avoid food additives in their diet, 70% made an effort to avoid them compared to 47% of doctors.     

Acculturation and dietary habits of Korean Americans

This is the first study to investigate how food and nutrient intakes vary with the levels of acculturation of Korean Americans using a dietary assessment tool tested for validity and reliability. The respondents were Korean Americans (n 486) resident in the Greater New York metropolitan area, USA. They were divided into two groups according to the total score of acculturation: low- and high-acculturated groups. Using a food-frequency questionnaire and a modified Suinn-Lew Asian self-identity acculturation scale, differences in the frequencies of food items, food groups and nutrient intakes consumed were analysed by level of acculturation. The low-acculturated group tended to consume significantly more rice, mixed rice, soyabean paste chigae (pot stew), saengsun (fish) chigae, kimchi chigae, other fish broiled or baked, eggs, kimchi, spinach, persimmons, and white or brown sugar in coffee or tea. The high-acculturated group demonstrated a statistically greater tendency to consume bread, cereal, spaghetti, ham, green salad, sweetcorn, chocolate, candies and diet soft drinks. The more acculturated an individual, the more significant was the tendency to consume sweets. The more acculturated group had significantly (P<0.05) higher intakes of % energy from total fat, thiamin, vitamin E and folate, while the low-acculturated group consumed greater amounts of Na, niacin and dietary fibre. The information from the present study can be used to describe dietary habits according to various aspects of acculturation, and allows a better understanding of the dynamics of acculturation and dietary habits.     

Anthropometric measurements and dietary habits of schoolchildren in Qatar

INTRODUCTION: Very little is known about the anthropometric measurements and dietary habits of children in the Arabian Gulf in general, and in Qatar in particular. OBJECTIVES: To conduct anthropometrics measurements on schoolchildren in Qatar and to explore their dietary habits. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out, targeting 271 (124 male and 147 female) primary school students. RESULTS: Using the body mass index as the index of adiposity, 54.8% and 23.1% of Grade One male and female children were underweight, 3.2% and 8.8% were overweight, and 1.6% and 5.4% were obese, respectively. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were eaten by 65%, 86%, and 87% on a daily basis. Anthropometric measurements differed significantly (P < 0.05) between genders and the other children of the National Center for Health Statistics population. CONCLUSION: schoolchildren in Qatar may be considered as having less overweight and obesity occurrence than most children in the Gulf.     

Relationships between vegetarian dietary habits and daily well-being

ABSTRACT

The goal of the present study was to examine differences in the daily experiences of vegetarians and non-vegetarians. At the end of each day for two weeks, a convenience sample of American undergraduates described how they felt and how they thought about themselves that day, and they described the events that occurred to them that day. Multilevel modeling analyses (days nested within persons) found that vegetarians (individuals who avoided all meat and fish, n = 24) reported lower self-esteem, lower psychological adjustment, less meaning in life, and more negative moods than semi-vegetarians (individuals who ate some meat and/or fish, n = 56) and omnivores (individuals who did not restrict their intake of meat or fish, n = 323). Vegetarians also reported more negative social experiences than omnivores and semi-vegetarians. Although women were more likely than men to identify as vegetarians and semi-vegetarians, controlling for participant gender did not change the results of the analyses. The differences we found are consistent with other research that suggests that vegetarians are less psychologically well-adjusted than non-vegetarians. The implications of the present results for understanding relationships between dietary habits and well-being are discussed.     

饮食行为及饮食习惯对学龄前期儿童超重肥胖的影响

目的 了解苏州市工业园区学龄前期儿童超重肥胖的现状,探讨其中饮食相关因素,提供预防方法。方法 采用随机抽样的方法,在苏州工业园区斜塘街道所属于幼儿园随机抽取5所3～6岁儿童2 034名作为本次研究的调查现场,进行问卷调查和相关体格测量。结果 超重肥胖检出率为16.8%,进食膨化食品次数多(χ2=9.200,P<0.05)、喜欢看食品广告(χ2=13.069,P<0.05),尤其膨化食品和甜饮料广告(P<0.05)、临睡前进食主食和零食、食欲好、吃饭时间短、边看电视边吃零食(P均<0.05)为学龄前儿童超重肥胖的危险因素。结论 为儿童营造健康的饮食环境,培养儿童良好的饮食行为,可有效预防儿童超重肥胖的发生。     

Changes in food neophobia and dietary habits of international students

Background: International study is becoming more prevalent, yet aspects such as food neophobia often militate against visiting students consuming a nutritionally balanced diet. The present study aimed to evaluate the extent to which international post‐graduate students experience food neophobia, how this might vary by nationality and other demographic characteristics, and how acculturation might manifest itself in students’ dietary behaviour. Methods: International students (n = 228) attending a Masters course were invited to complete a validated food neophobia and dietary habits questionnaire during their first week at university. The questionnaire was subsequently re‐administered to the same students approximately 4 and 8 months later. Results: In total, 226 usable responses were analysed (124, 58 and 44, respectively) for the first, second and final data collection. Perhaps surprisingly, the overall food neophobia scores increased from an mean (SD) initial value of 27.95 (16.95) to 33.67 (33.67) after 3 months, although, when comparing European and Asian students, only the former were significantly different (P < 0.05). Both Asian and European students reported small but not significant changes in their eating habits, although, after 3 months, significantly (P = <0.05) fewer changes were reported. No significant changes were reported in students’ perceived healthiness of their diets either by nationality or over time. Conclusions: Understanding the complexities of food neophobia, other aspects of dietary change and at what point these changes might take place in the acculturation process when students arrive in the UK needs to be fully understood if a climate for positive learning is to be established.     

Nurturing healthy dietary habits among children and youth in Singapore

Healthy diet is a key tenet in the prevention of many chronic diseases. Nurturing healthy dietary habits is especially important in childhood as this is a critical period of growth and development. Furthermore, dietary habits are shaped from an early age with many of them forming even below the age of 5 years. Therefore, the importance of nurturing healthy dietary habits during a child's formative years cannot be underestimated. Reducing fat, salt and sugar intake and at the same time, advocating the consumption of adequate whole-grains, fruit and vegetables among the population remain the cornerstone of the Singapore Health Promotion Board's (HPB) key nutrition initiatives. To achieve this, HPB adopts a multi-pronged approach comprising various strategies to promote healthy eating among children and youth in Singapore. This article provides an overview of these strategies and the broad range of nutrition education efforts targeted at the young.     

Nutritional status and dietary habits of adolescent girls in Oman

Weight, height, and dietary patterns were obtained from 683 adolescent girls aged 11 to 18 years in five geographical regions of the Sultanate of Oman. Using body mass index (Wt/Ht²) of NHANESI as a reference for adolescence, the prevalence of under‐weight among these girls was relatively high (24%). However the nutritional status improved with age. Twelve percent of these girls were overweight or obese. Breakfast was frequently skipped (21%) by adolescent girls compared to lunch (6%) and supper (9.5%). Older (15–18 years) as well as overweight girls were more likely to skip breakfast than younger (11–14 years), normal and underweight girls. Nutritional status and age of girls were significantly associated with some foods consumed at main meals and snacking time. The pattern of skipping breakfast and the snacking habits of Omani adolescents was similar to that of their counterparts in Western communities. This suggests a change in dietary habits toward those practiced in Western communities, a change that may explain in part the steady rise in diet‐related chronic diseases in this country. It is imperative that nutrition intervention programmes should therefore consider such alteration in food habits.     

Population dietary habits and physical activity modification with age

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to analyse the relation between age and both dietary habits and leisure-time physical activity, and to determine nutrient inadequacy of aged groups in our population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: A random sample of the 25-74-y-old population of Gerona, Spain. SUBJECTS: A total of 838 men and 910 women were selected from among the general population according to the 1991 census. OUTCOME MEASURES: Analysis of dietary habits, including amount and type of alcohol consumption, and detailed evaluation of leisure-time physical activity. RESULTS: Nutrient densities of carbohydrates, vitamin B(1), vitamin B(12), vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, potassium, iron, magnesium, copper, and dietary fiber increased significantly (P<0.05) with age in both genders, whereas an inverse trend was observed for total fat, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, and sodium. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a direct association of healthy dietary habits, characterized through a composite dietary score, with age after adjusting for several confounders both in men and women (P<0.001). This score was composed of folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, dietary fibre, cholesterol, saturated fatty acids, and sodium. In all, 29 and 10% of male and female subjects aged 65-74 y, respectively, reported inadequate intakes of six or more of 16 nutrients. Total leisure-time physical activity increased with age in men (P<0.002), and was not different among female age groups. CONCLUSION: Dietary behaviours and levels of physical activity spent during leisure time indicate a healthy lifestyle of the aged men and women in the present population. Nutrient inadequacy observed in some aged men and women, however, deserves particular intervention of health-care programmes for this growing part of our society.     

Psychosocial factors and dietary habits associated with vegetable consumption

OBJECTIVE: We assessed scales of psychosocial factors and dietary habits related to vegetable consumption and examined associations of these scales with vegetable intake. METHODS: Data are from 838 adults who participated in a 1997 to 1998 Washington State random digital-dial survey designed to monitor attitudes and behavior related to cancer risk and prevention. Information was collected on psychosocial factors related to vegetable consumption, vegetable-related dietary habits, demographic (participant) characteristics, and vegetable intake. Factor analyses were used to identify the underlying dimensions in the psychosocial and dietary habits scales. Analyses of variance, linear regression, and Pearson's correlations examined associations among participant characteristics, psychosocial factors, dietary habits, and vegetable consumption. RESULTS: Factor analyses of the psychosocial scale suggested four coherent dimensions or subscales--importance of eating vegetables, health benefits, convenience and taste of raw vegetables, and taste of cooked vegetables--with good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.67-0.77). There were four subscales within the dietary habits scale--add vegetables to mixed dishes, include vegetables at lunch and dinner, eat raw vegetables, and eat salads--with fair internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.37-0.61). The psychosocial factors and dietary habits were strongly correlated (summary scales Pearson's r = 0.55), and after adjustment for participant characteristics, both scales were significantly and positively associated with vegetable intake (Pearson's r = 0.45 and 0.54, respectively, for summary scales; all Ps < 0.001). Further, the scales explained between 14% and 23% of the variance in vegetable intake. CONCLUSIONS: These scales of psychosocial factors and dietary habits related to vegetable consumption could be used to target intervention messages and evaluate intervention effects.     

Comparison of dietary habits in the urban and rural Croatian schoolchildren

Summary.Background: Post-war socio-economic changes in Croatia probably affected dietary habits, and dietary data about schoolchildren after the war are missing.Aims of the study: The aim of the study was to compare current nutrient intakes and dietary behavior between urban and rural schoolchildren in Croatia.Methods: A completely quantified Food Frequency Questionnaire was used. Subjects were 315 urban and 163 rural schoolchildren. Mean age was 12.5 and 12.6 years in the urban and rural area, respectively.Results: Consumption of fast food, soft drinks and alcohol was more prevalent and more linked with dietary behavior in the urban than in the rural area. In both living areas protein intake was excessive (in the urban area 38.1% of subjects and in the rural 36.2% of subjects had protein intake higher than 200% RDA). Under 75% RDA/DRI in both living areas was observed for vitamin D, folate, calcium and selenium. Micronutrient intakes negatively correlated with age in both living areas, but were more pronounced in the urban area.Conclusion: The urban sample had more adequate energy and nutrient intakes which is consistent with prewar findings.     

Relationships between finding of calcaneal quantitative ultrasound and lifestyle in Japanese college students

PURPOSE: The actual situation regarding the lifestyle of college students in Japan cannot be said to be healthy and future reduction of bone mass is a possible matter for concern. However, there have been only a few reports about the relationship between lifestyle during this period and bone mass, and especially none focusing on males not affected by female hormones. The purpose of this study was thus to investigate the relationship between bone mass and lifestyle in college students of both sexes. METHODS: Seven hundred and sixty-six college students of both genders were enrolled in this study as subjects and underwent calcaneal quantitative ultrasound with an AOS-100 device (ALOKA). At the same time physical factors, lifestyle and nutrition were also examined with laboratory findings. RESULTS: Physical factors such as stature, weight, body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat and gripping power were more strongly related to calcaneal quantitative ultrasound among females than in male students. Multiple regression analysis using calcaneal Osteo Sono-Assessment Index (OSI) as the dependent variable, and physical factors, lifestyle and nutrition, and laboratory findings as the independent variables, indicated that regular physical activity was strongly related to OSI in both sexes. The OSI in the alcohol-consuming group was significantly higher than that in the non alcohol-consuming group in males, and demonstrated a significant negative correlation with liver function markers, i.e. ALT (GPT) IU/l. CONCLUSION: It is very necessary to undertake daily physical activity for primary prevention of osteoporosis in both males and females. Bone mass in the alcohol-consuming group was here found to be significantly higher than that in the non alcohol-consuming group, but the study suggested that if the amount of alcohol consumed reaches an extent where liver function markers are affected, bone mass may decrease.