Dietary Intake Patterns of Low-Income Urban African-American Adolescents

Unhealthy eating increases risks for chronic disease. Few studies have examined the multifaceted aspects of dietary intake of low-income, urban African-American adolescents. This study aimed to describe dietary patterns including energy, nutrients, food groups, and diet quality and to identify areas to guide future interventions. Baseline data for a school-based obesity prevention study were collected from 382 African-American adolescents (10- to 14-year-olds) from four Chicago, IL, public schools in 2003. Diet was assessed using a 152-item food frequency questionnaire. Diet quality was measured using a modified version of the US Department of Agriculture Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and compared to published estimates for a nationwide sample. Participants reported high energy intakes and several unhealthy eating patterns: 58.6% consumed one or more servings of sweetened beverages per day and 15.7% consumed three or more servings per day; average fried food consumption was high (1.4 servings/day), 58.4% consumed one or more serving per day; and 75% consumed three or more three snacks per day. Only 49% of participants met the recommended three servings of dairy foods per day. Compared to a national, mostly white sample, participants had lower HEI scores (P<0.05); mean score was 66.0±12.8 (100=maximum HEI score) vs 70.3±13.0 in boys vs girls, one third had scores <60 (“needs improvement”) and only 15% scored >80 (“good”). This study reveals key areas of problematic dietary patterns for future interventions targeting low-income African-American adolescents, including frequent intakes of calorie-dense, low nutrient-rich foods, such as fried foods, snacks, and sweetened beverages.     

The relationships among socioeconomic status, fruit and vegetable intake, and alcohol consumption

Abstract Purpose . We examined the relationships among fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption, and socioeconomic status (SES). We hypothesized that fruit and vegetable consumption would be inversely associated with alcohol consumption and the relationship would differ by SES. Design . A cross-sectional analysis. Setting . Large, urban Midwestern county. Subjects . A unique, racially/ethnically diverse sample of 9959 adults (response rate: 66.3%). Measures . Fruit and vegetable intake was measured using two items that assessed servings per day. Alcohol consumption was measured in terms of volume of alcohol consumed and binge drinking. Individual measures of SES included education and household income. Analysis . Weighted multivariate linear and Poisson regression were used to estimate effects. Results . The relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and alcohol consumption varied by SES. Those with lower household incomes who consumed five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day were less likely to engage in binge drinking relative to those consuming zero to one servings of fruits and vegetables per day (risk ratio = .66; 95% confidence interval: .46, .95). No association was observed for higher-household-income individuals. Conclusion . We observed an inverse relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and alcohol intake in those with lower household incomes but not in those with higher household incomes. Results suggest that the relationship between diet and alcohol consumption may be more relevant in populations with more restricted economic choices. Results are, however, based on cross-sectional data.     

Three measures show high compliance in a soy intervention among premenopausal women

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate adherence to a soy-based diet among premenopausal women. DESIGN: First year of a 2-year, randomized dietary intervention. SUBJECTS: 220 healthy premenopausal women who reported low baseline soy intake. INTERVENTION: 5 counseling visits, 7 follow-up phone calls, and 12 group meetings. Main outcome measures Self-reported soy intake logs; food frequency questionnaires; repeated, randomly timed 24-hour recalls; and analysis of urinary isoflavone excretion by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Statistical analyses Frequency distributions, means, t tests, and mixed effects models. RESULTS: At baseline, the 2 groups did not differ in dietary soy intake (P=.51) or urinary isoflavone excretion (P=.16). According to the 24-hour recalls and the food frequency questionnaires, the intervention group's estimated isoflavone intake increased more than 10 times compared with baseline and with the control group (P<.0001). During follow-up, urinary isoflavone excretion results showed no change in the control group, but a 6-fold increase for intervention subjects (P<.0001). Intake logs showed a strong preference for soymilk and tofu over the other foods and indicated that intervention participants consumed at least 12 servings of soy foods per week during 84 out of 100 follow-up contacts. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate a high level of compliance with the study regimen, which we attribute to the following strategies: repeated contact with the study subjects, personal relationships with the dietitians, wide choice of soy foods, easy access to soy foods at no cost, and recipes that allowed substitution of previously eaten foods with soy products.     

Underestimating a serving size may lead to increased food consumption when using Canada's Food Guide

It is unclear whether Canadians accurately estimate serving sizes and the number of servings in their diet as intended by Canada's Food Guide (CFG). The objective of this study was to determine if participants can accurately quantify the size of 1 serving and the number of servings consumed per day. White, Black, South Asian, and East Asian adults (n = 145) estimated the quantity of food that constituted 1 CFG serving, and used CFG to estimate the number of servings that they consumed from their 24-h dietary recall. Participants estimated 1 serving size of vegetables and fruit (+43%) and grains (+55%) to be larger than CFG serving sizes (p?≤ 0.05); meat alternatives (-33%) and cheese (-31%) to be smaller than a CFG serving size (p?≤ 0.05); and chicken, carrots, and milk servings accurately (p?> 0.05). Serving size estimates were positively correlated with the amount of food participants regularly consumed at 1 meal (p?< 0.001). From their food records, all ethnicities estimated that they consumed fewer servings of vegetables and fruit (-15%), grains (-28%), and meat and alternatives (-14%) than they actually consumed, and more servings of milk and alternatives (+26%, p?≤ 0.05) than they actually consumed. Consequently, 68% of participants believed they needed to increase consumption by greater than 200?kcal to meet CFG recommendations. In conclusion, estimating serving sizes to be larger than what is defined by CFG may inadvertently lead to estimating that fewer servings were consumed and overeating if Canadians follow CFG recommendations without guidance. Thus, revision to CFG or greater public education regarding the dietary guidelines is warranted.     

What Do Binge Drinkers Drink?: Implications for Alcohol Control Policy

BACKGROUND: Although binge drinking (drinking five or more drinks on an occasion) is an important public health problem, little is known about which beverage types are consumed by binge drinkers. This knowledge could guide prevention efforts because beer, wine, and liquor are taxed, marketed, and distributed differently. METHODS: Data from 14,150 adult binge drinkers who responded to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System binge-drinking module in 2003 and 2004 were analyzed. Information pertained to the amount of alcohol consumed during a binge drinker's most recent binge episode, including beverage-specific consumption. RESULTS: Overall, 74.4% of binge drinkers consumed beer exclusively or predominantly, and those who consumed at least some beer accounted for 80.5% of all binge alcohol consumption. By beverage type, beer accounted for 67.1%, liquor for 21.9%, and wine accounted for 10.9% of binge drinks consumed. Beer also accounted for most of the alcohol consumed by those at highest risk of causing or incurring alcohol-related harm, including people aged 18-20 years (67.0% of drinks were beer); those with three or more binge episodes per month (70.7%); those drinking eight or more drinks per binge episode (69.9%); those binging in public places (64.4%); and those who drove during or within 2 hours of binge drinking (67.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Beer accounted for two thirds of all alcohol consumed by binge drinkers and accounted for most alcohol consumed by those at greatest risk of causing or incurring alcohol-related harm. Lower excise taxes and relatively permissive sales and marketing practices for beer as compared with other beverage types may account for some of these findings. These findings suggest that equalizing alcohol control policies at more stringent levels would be an effective way to prevent excessive drinking.     

The contributions of weight problem perception,BMI, gender,mood, and smoking status to binge eating among college students

College student participants (N = 1063; 77.8% response rate) completed a web-based survey assessing demographics, depression, anxiety, body image, cigarette smoking, and weight history. Among overweight participants, 42.6% of those who believed they were overweight admitted to binge eating, while only 30.1% who did not feel overweight did so (p < .05). Among non-overweight participants, 43.2% of those who believed they were overweight admitted to binge eating, while only 32.9% of those who did not feel overweight did so (p < .05). Weight Problem Perception (WPP) mediated the contribution of BMI on binge eating outcomes, and WPP contributed significantly to the prediction of binge eating, beyond the risk conferred by established correlates of binge eating (e.g., gender, mood, and cigarette smoking). Results suggest that when assessing risk for binge eating, a one-question assessment of whether or not an individual believes s/he is overweight has significant predictive power. Findings are consistent with literature on the importance of the “fat self-schema” [Stein, K.F., & Corte, C. (2007). Identity impairment and the eating disorders: Content and organization of the self-concept in women with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. European Eating Disorders Review, 15 (1), 58–69] in disordered eating and theory implicating identity in the maintenance of addictive behavior [West, R.W. (2006). Theory of Addiction. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, Inc.]     

Correlates of soy food consumption in women at increased risk for breast cancer

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the present study were to examine sociodemographic correlates of soy food consumption among women at increased risk of breast cancer, describe factors influencing soy food consumption or nonconsumption, and identify women's sources of information about soy foods. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, self-report survey was used to assess frequency of and factors influencing soy food consumption. Soy food intake was reported for the past year. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Participants were 452 women with family histories of breast cancer who were enrolled in a cancer risk assessment program. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Comparisons between consumers and nonconsumers of soy foods were performed using multivariate logistic regression and chi(2) analyses. RESULTS: Thirty-two percent reported soy food consumption. Commonly consumed soy foods were vegetable burgers, tofu, and soymilk. Consumers of soy foods were more likely to have higher levels of education and report eating five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables. The primary reason for consumption of soy foods was eating a healthful diet, whereas insufficient knowledge about soy food preparation was the primary reason stated for nonconsumption. Both consumers and nonconsumers reported obtaining information about soy foods from magazines, friends, and newspapers. Consumers also indicated using the Internet to seek information. CONCLUSIONS: These findings contribute to our understanding of the level of soy intake among women at increased risk for breast cancer and highlight potential factors that may influence women's decisions regarding soy food consumption. Women, particularly in this vulnerable population, would benefit from clear messages regarding the health effects of soy.     

Anatomy of a binge: food environment and characteristics of nonpurge binge episodes

This secondary analysis prospectively examined nonpurge binge eating patterns in a naturalistic setting in 48 nonpurge binge eating women. Binge eating episodes were analyzed from 14-day food diaries to describe the binge and to determine how types of foods consumed and setting variables affected nonpurge binge eating women. Findings indicated that binge episodes occurred mostly during the lunch (27.1%) and dinner hours (45.8%) and on weekends (62.5%). Half of the binge episodes occurred in restaurants. The most common items consumed during binges were breads/pasta (64.6%), sweets (56.2%), high fat meat items (45.3%), and salty snacks (39.6%) while the predominant foods consumed during these binges were high fat meat items (29.2%), sweets (21.0%), and salty snacks (18.8%). Those who predominantly binged on sweets had significantly more binge days [t(46)=-2.8, p<.01]. Women who predominantly binged on fried meat had significantly higher body mass index (BMI) [t(46)=-2.8, p<.01]. A higher BMI was also associated with binging during meals rather than binging during snacks [t(46)=2.4, p<.05]. The results suggest that nonpurge binge eating patterns are more problematic during meal times.     

At-risk drinking among patients making routine primary care visits

BACKGROUND: Addressing non-alcoholic, at-risk patterns of alcohol consumption that are associated with increased morbidity and mortality is an important health care priority. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of at-risk drinkers in a population-based sample of adults with routine primary care visits. Methods: Three thousand four hundred thirty-nine patients with advance appointments in 23 primary care practices completed a health survey prior to their visit. At-risk drinking was defined as consuming an average of two or more drinks per day (chronic drinking), or two or more occasions of consuming five or more drinks in the past month (binge drinking), or, in the past month, one or more occasion of driving after consuming three or more drinks (drinking and driving). RESULTS: Prevalence was: 11% at-risk drinking; 63% light to moderate drinking; 26% abstinence. Abstainers differed from alcohol users on demographics (older, fewer Caucasian, lower income, more unemployed), other health behaviors (less exercise, lower rates of smoking, and marijuana and cocaine use), and family history of alcohol problems (lower). Abstainers also reported poorer physical and psychological health. Compared to light to moderate drinkers, at-risk drinkers were more likely to be male, unmarried, and to use other substances (tobacco, marijuana, and cocaine). Among at-risk drinkers, those with two or more risk factors were more likely male, consumed more alcohol per week, had higher AUDIT scores and were more motivated to change their drinking. Among those with only one risk factor, binge drinkers reported high rates of tobacco and marijuana use, relatively poor perceived health, and the highest proportion of negative consequences from drinking. CONCLUSIONS: At least 1 in 10 patients making routine primary care visits have drinking practices that place them at risk for negative consequences from drinking. Three drinking patterns that can be used to define at-risk drinking are relatively distinct.     

Diet and oral premalignancy in female south Indian tobacco and betel chewers: a case-control study

The diets of 158 tobacco/betel quid-chewing women diagnosed with oral premalignant lesions and 155 quid-chewing but lesion-free controls, frequency matched for age, tobacco/betel habits, and socioeconomic status, were assessed using a food frequency survey. Index scores generated from the food frequency survey indicated that the mean levels of consumption for foods of animal origin (p < 0.001), total vegetables and fruit (p = 0.001), vegetables alone (p = 0.006), fruits alone (p = 0.006), and green leafy vegetables (p = 0.015) were significantly lower in cases than in controls. The mean index score for cobalamin (vitamin B12) was lower in cases with a borderline significance (p = 0.05), whereas the indexes for folate and carotene were not significantly different. The analysis of index scores estimating the number of 100-g servings per week of foods of animal origin [meat, eggs, milk, curd (yogurt), fish] consumed revealed that women who ate fewer servings were more likely to have premalignant lesions than those who ate more animal foods [odds ratio (OR) 3.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.07-5.54, p = 0.001]. The risk for low consumption of vegetables was not as significant as that for foods of animal origin. However, those eating low levels of vegetables and low levels of foods of animal origin were at the greatest risk for lesions (OR 5.38, 95% CI 1.72-22.17, p < 0.05). In South Indian female tobacco/betel chewers, a diet deficient in foods of animal origin appears to be a more significant risk factor for oral premalignancy than is a diet deficient in fruits and vegetables.     

Peer Reviewed: Dietary Practices, Dining Out Behavior, and Physical Activity Correlates of Weight Loss Maintenance

Introduction

Loss of excess weight can improve blood lipids, insulin sensitivity, and blood pressure. However, data are scant on behavioral strategies related to maintenance of weight loss. We examined dietary practices, physical activity, and self-efficacy among adults self-reported to be successful at maintaining weight loss.

Methods

Using the 2004 Styles survey, a mailed survey of U.S. adults aged 18 years or older, we examined behaviors associated with weight loss maintenance among people who reported trying to lose weight. We analyzed data on number of daily fruit and vegetable servings, minutes per week of physical activity, dining out behavior, and confidence in one''s ability to engage in behavioral strategies. We conducted frequency and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results

More men (35.5%) than women (27.7%) were classified as successful weight loss maintainers. Compared with adults who reported eating at a fast-food restaurant two or more times per week, adults who reported not eating at fast-food restaurants were more successful at weight loss maintenance (odds ratio, 1.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–2.42). Compared with adults who consumed fewer than five fruit and vegetable servings per day and were sedentary, adults who consumed fewer than five fruit and vegetable servings per day and accrued 420 minutes or more per week of physical activity or consumed five or more fruit and vegetable servings and accrued 150 minutes or more per week of activity were more successful at weight loss maintenance.

Conclusion

The behavioral strategy of reducing consumption of fast foods could assist people in keeping weight off. The combined approach of consuming five or more fruit and vegetable servings per day and attaining 150 minutes or more per week of physical activity was a common strategy among adults successful at weight loss maintenance.     

Dietary Intake and Associated Body Weight in Canadian Undergraduate Students Enrolled in Nutrition Education

The primary purpose of this study was to describe dietary intakes among Canadian undergraduate students enrolled in an Introductory Nutrition course. A secondary objective was to determine food group servings associated with meeting more Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) of select nutrients and with a lower body mass index (BMI). Participants (n = 124, 20.7±3.2yrs) provided output from a 3-day dietary record and completed a physical activity/demographics questionnaire. Linear regression showed that the dietary intake associated with meeting the most DRIs included vegetables, fruits, protein foods, and dairy (p = 0.001). Protein foods were a positive predictor and fruit a negative predictor of BMI (p = 0.001 and p = 0.023 respectively). Males consumed more grains (p = 0.001), dairy (p = 0.04), protein foods (p < 0.001), empty calories (p = 0.007) and total calories than females (p < 0.001). A diet characterized by greater intake of vegetables, fruits, protein foods, and dairy was associated with a Canadian undergraduate population meeting the greatest number of nutrient requirements.     

Physical activity, food choice, and weight management goals and practices among US college students

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity and a healthy diet have been recommended to help reverse the increasing prevalence of overweight among adolescents and adults in the United States. METHODS: Data is from the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey. A representative sample of US undergraduate college students (n = 4609) were analyzed to examine associations of physical activity and food choice with weight management goals and practices. RESULTS: Based on self-reported height and weight, 35% of students were overweight or obese (body mass index > or = 25.0). Nearly half (46%) of all students reported they were trying to lose weight. Female students were less likely than male students to be overweight, but more likely to be trying to lose weight. Among female and male students, using logistic regression to control for demographics, trying to lose weight was associated with participation in vigorous physical activity and strengthening exercises, and consumption of < or = 2 servings/ day of high-fat foods. Female and male students who reported using exercise to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight were more likely than those who did not to participate in vigorous, strengthening, and moderate physical activity, and were more likely to eat > or = 5 servings/day of fruits and vegetables and < or = 2 servings/day of high-fat foods. Among students who were trying to lose weight, only 54% of females and 41% of males used both exercise and diet for weight control. CONCLUSION: Colleges should implement programs to increase student awareness of healthy weight management methods and the importance of physical activity combined with a healthy diet.     

Does Food Intake of Australian Toddlers 12–24 Months Align with Recommendations: Findings from the Australian Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (OzFITS) 2021

(1) Background: Food-based dietary guidelines promote population health and well-being through dietary patterns that reduce chronic disease risk while providing adequate energy and nutrients. In Australia, recommended dietary patterns based on servings per day from the five food groups—fruits, vegetables, cereals and grains, meats and alternatives, and dairy—have been developed for toddlers 1–2 years of age. However, no study has assessed the intake of the five food groups in this age group nationally. (2) Aim: To compare daily servings and the percentage of energy from the five food groups and discretionary foods in toddlers 1–2 years old to the Australian Dietary Guidelines. (3) Methods: Dietary intake was assessed using a one-day food record for 475 toddlers. (4) Results: Apart from fruit and dairy, servings of the five food groups were below the recommendations. Two-thirds of toddlers did not consume enough vegetables, and only 10% consumed the recommended number of servings for cereals and grains. On average, toddlers consumed only half the recommended servings of meat and alternatives. Nearly all toddlers (89%) consumed discretionary foods, which accounted for ~12% of total energy. Forty-five percent of toddlers received breastmilk. On average, breastfed toddlers consumed fewer servings from the five food groups than non-breastfed toddlers. Dairy contributed 20% of daily energy in all toddlers; however, this food group accounted for 13% in breastfed and 32% in non-breastfed toddlers on the day of the food record. (4) Conclusions: Compared to the recommendations, alignment with the servings of the five food group foods was not achieved by most toddlers, except for fruit and dairy. Discretionary foods may have displaced nutritious family foods. Consistent with Australian Infant Feeding Guidelines, many toddlers in this study continued to receive breastmilk but the recommended dietary patterns do not include breastmilk. Dietary modeling, including breastmilk as the primary milk source, is urgently needed, along with practical advice on incorporating breastmilk in a toddler’s diet while optimizing food consumption.     

A 2-year soy intervention in premenopausal women does not change mammographic densities

Soy consumption may be related to lower breast cancer risk as assessed by breast density. The aims of this 2-y trial were to examine the effects of soy foods and lifetime soy intake on mammographic density. After 220 premenopausal women were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group, the former group consumed 2 daily servings of soy foods equivalent to 50 mg of isoflavones and the latter consumed their regular diet. The respective dropout rates were 15.6 and 12.6%; adherence to the study regimen was high. We assessed lifetime soy intake with a questionnaire and measured breast density in screening mammograms obtained at baseline and at the end of the trial for 98 intervention and 103 control women using a computer-assisted method. None of the mammographic outcomes differed significantly by experimental group. The total area of the breast increased and the size of the dense areas decreased significantly over time in both groups. After 2 y, the mean percentage density had decreased by 2.8 and 4.1% in intervention and control women, respectively. Women who reported eating more soy during their lives had higher percentage densities than women whose diet included little soy; this difference was significant only in Caucasians. Lower soy intake during early life and higher soy intake during adulthood predicted a greater reduction in the percentage density during the study period. After 2 y of intervention, we observed no significant differences in mammographic densities by intervention status, but it appears that soy consumption throughout life may have some effect on breast density.     

Brief Telephone Intervention Increases Soy Intake in Peri- and Postmenopausal US Women: The Herbal Alternatives Trial (HALT)

Objective

Effective dietary intervention strategies that can be widely disseminated and have the potential for sustainable dietary modifications are needed. The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of a telephone-based soy intervention.

Design

A randomized controlled trial comparing self-reported intake and serum measures of soy during a 1-year dietary soy (Soy) to fruit and vegetable (Placebo) intervention conducted in two of five arms from the Herbal Alternatives Trial between May 2001 and September 2004.

Subjects/setting

One hundred sixty-three peri- and postmenopausal women (mean age=52 years) consuming self-selected diets in the Pacific Northwest, United States.

Intervention

Five telephone contacts with a registered dietitian during a 12-month intervention with the goal to increase soy food consumption to two servings daily.

Main outcome measures

Change from baseline in self-reported soy servings and serum isoflavone (daidzein and genistein) concentrations were estimated using analysis of variance and generalized estimating equations. Proportions of participants achieving the intervention goal were compared using χ² tests.

Results

Ninety-four percent (n=74) of participants in the Soy arm and 89% (n=75) in the Placebo arm completed the trial, and slightly more than one third (n=27) received five phone contacts. Mean (±standard deviation) intakes of soy were similar for the Soy and Placebo arms at baseline (0.6±1.0 vs 0.4±0.8 servings/day; P>0.05). At 12-month follow-up visit, mean±standard deviation servings of soy per day were 1.6±1.4 for the Soy intervention compared to 0.5±0.9 within the Placebo arm (P<0.001). There were concomitant increases in serum isoflavones at 3 and 6 months from baseline in the Soy arm only, with approximately twofold increases in both daidzein (mean=66.4 nmol/L, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 39.0 to 93.9 [mean 16.9 ng/mL, 95% CI: 9.9 to 23.8]) and genistein (mean=100.4 nmol/L, 95% CI: 60.9 to 139.9 [mean 27.1 ng/mL, 95% CI: 16.5 to 37.8]) concentrations. Mean weight changed by <1 kg during the 12-month period in each group and physical activity remained stable, suggesting that participants incorporated soy foods into their diet by substituting for nonsoy foods rather than adding them to their diet.

Conclusions

A brief telephone-based intervention with a focused message delivered by a registered dietitian is a feasible approach for encouraging targeted dietary changes, such as an increase in soy intake among peri- and postmenopausal women.     

Soy Food Intake Associated with Obesity and Hypertension in Children and Adolescents in Guangzhou,Southern China

The associations between soy food intake and cardio-metabolic risk factors in children remain unclear due to limited evidence. We aim to explore soy food intake and its association with the risks of obesity and hypertension in Chinese children and adolescents. A total of 10,536 children and adolescents aged 7–18 years (5125 boys and 5411 girls) were enrolled in a cross-sectional study in Guangzhou City, southern China. Data on demographic characteristics and dietary consumption were collected using self-reported questionnaires, and anthropometric characteristics were measured. Obesity, abdominal obesity, and hypertension were defined using Chinese criteria for children and adolescents. A multiple logistic regression model was applied to estimate the association between soy food intake and obesity and hypertension. Roughly 39.5% of the participants consumed soy food more than three times per week. The mean amounts of liquid and solid soy food intake were 0.35 ± 0.54 cups/day and 0.46 ± 0.63 servings/day, respectively. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) of hypertension among those with high liquid soy food intake and a high frequency of all soy food intake (more than three times/week) were 0.79 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.67–0.94), and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.70–0.97) compared to those with no intake. Additionally, the adjusted OR of obesity among those with high solid soy food intake and a high frequency of all soy food intake were 1.34 (95% CI, 1.09–1.63) and 1.30 (95% CI, 1.07–1.58), respectively. In conclusion, 39.5% of southern Chinese children and adolescents had high soy food intake (more than three times/week), which was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension and a greater prevalence of obesity.     

Older adults need guidance to meet nutritional recommendations

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the diet of healthy, free-living senior volunteers to the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) and Food Guide Pyramid recommendations. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional assessment of dietary habits, as measured using a standardized food frequency questionnaire, among 1,740 healthy Southwestern U.S. adults, aged 51 to 85 years. Assessment of independently-living volunteers to chemoprevention trials provides an efficient mechanism to profile typical dietary habits among the older adult population. RESULTS: Daily estimated macronutrient intakes exceeded recommended proportions of protein and fat. In contrast, more than 60% of this senior population reported dietary vitamin D, vitamin E, folate and calcium intakes below estimated average requirements (EAR). Based on the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations, fewer than 10% of the older adults consumed the recommended daily dairy and grain servings. More females than males consumed recommended vegetable (49% versus 40%) and fruit (53% versus 48%) servings (p < 0.05). More males consumed recommended grain (11% versus 7%) and protein (78% versus 73%) servings (p < 0.05) than females. CONCLUSIONS: Mean micronutrient intakes compared well with DRIs, although fewer than one-half of these older adults consumed recommended levels for vitamin D, vitamin E, folate, and calcium or daily food servings of dairy, grains, vegetables or fruits. Since the beneficial aspects of foods are not limited to essential nutrients, nutrition recommendations to older adults may be improved by emphasizing daily servings of nutrient-dense choices within the Food Pyramid.     

A prospective study of gastric and duodenal ulcer and its relation to smoking, alcohol, and diet.

The effects of environmental exposures on the development of gastric and duodenal ulcers were investigated in a prospective study of 7,624 American men of Japanese ancestry in Hawaii. After 149,291 person-years of observation, there were 280 incident cases of gastric ulcer and 149 incident cases of duodenal ulcer. The risk of both gastric and duodenal ulcers progressively increased with increasing pack-years of cigarette smoking. In contrast, alcohol intake was not associated with either type of ulcer. The risk of gastric ulcer was positively associated with the use of table salt/soy sauce, but there was no association with the consumption of other oriental foods. The risk of duodenal ulcer was inversely associated with western style diet around 1940 and with bread intake of two or more servings per day. The authors did not find any protective or adverse effect of milk and fruit consumption on peptic ulcer risk.     

Smoking,heavy drinking,and depression among U.S. middle-aged and older adults

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between smoking, heavy drinking and depression among U.S. middle-aged and older adults.MethodIndividual-level data came from 1992–2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Smoking was ascertained from self-reported cigarette smoking status at the time of interview. Heavy drinking was defined as one or more drinks per day on average or four or more drinks on any occasion in the past three months for women, and two or more drinks per day on average or four or more drinks on any occasion in the past three months for men. Depression was defined as scoring three and above on the eight-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Cox proportional hazards regressions were performed to examine the relationship between smoking, heavy drinking and depression.ResultsCompared to non-smokers, smokers free from depression and heavy drinking at baseline were 20% (95% confidence interval: 12–28%) and 34% (20–50%) more likely to develop depression and engage in heavy drinking during follow-up period, respectively. Compared to non-depressed participants, participants with depression who were nonsmokers and non-heavy drinkers at baseline were 41% (14–74%) and 18% (6–31%) more likely to smoke and engage in heavy drinking during follow-up, respectively. Compared to non-heavy drinkers, heavy drinkers who were nonsmokers at baseline were 60% (26–104%) more likely to smoke during follow-up.ConclusionHealth promotion programs in midlife and older age should be mindful of the associations between smoking, heavy drinking and depression in order to improve intervention effectiveness.