Effects of low doses of fish and milk proteins on glucose regulation and markers of insulin sensitivity in overweight adults: a randomised,double blind study

To examine whether supplementation with low doses of fish or milk proteins would affect glucose regulation and circulating lipid concentrations in overweight healthy adults. Ninety-three overweight adults were assigned to receive 2.5 g protein/day from herring (HER), salmon (SAL), cod (COD) or milk (CAS, a casein–whey mixture as positive control) as tablets for 8 weeks. Seventy-seven participants were included in the analyses. HER and SAL did not affect glucose and insulin concentrations. COD significantly reduced within-group changes in 90 and 120 min postprandial glucose concentrations but changes were not different from HER and SAL groups. CAS supplementation significantly reduced the area under the curve for glucose concentrations (− 7%), especially when compared to SAL group, and reduced postprandial insulin c-peptide concentration (− 23%). Reductions in acetoacetate (− 24%) and β-hydroxybutyrate (− 29%) serum concentrations in HER group were more prominent compared to SAL and COD groups, with no differences between fish protein groups for α-hydroxybutyrate. Serum concentrations of α-hydroxybutyrate (− 23%), acetoacetate (− 39%) and β-hydroxybutyrate (− 40%) were significantly reduced within CAS group, and the decreases were significantly more pronounced when compared to SAL group. Serum lipid concentrations were not altered in any of the intervention groups. Findings indicate that 2.5 g/day of proteins from fish or milk may be sufficient to improve glucose regulation in overweight adults. The effects were most pronounced after supplementation with proteins from cod, herring and milk, whereas salmon protein did not affect any of the measurements related to glucose regulation. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01641055.     

Trends in vigorous physical activity and TV watching of adolescents from 1986 to 2002 in seven European Countries

BACKGROUND: The aim is to study trends in physical activity and TV viewing in seven European countries in the period 1985-2002. METHODS: The data are collected through questionnaires in the survey 'Health Behaviour in School-aged Children. A WHO Cross-national study', using nationally representative samples of 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds. Between 1985/86 and 2001/02, a standard set of items was used to measure vigorous physical activity and TV watching in the study. Austria, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, and Wales used these measures in all surveys. RESULTS: Between 1985/86 and 2001/02, there was a slight increase in Finland in the proportions reporting vigorous physical activity 4 or more times a week, whereas as pattern of stability was observed for the other countries. Across all surveys and countries boys were more likely to report regular vigorous physical activity than girls. No clear pattern emerges when examining trends over time in TV watching. Boys reported spending more time watching TV than girls in all countries. The correlation between the two behaviours at the 1986 and 1998 measurement points was non-significant. CONCLUSION: The finding that boys were more likely to report regular vigorous physical activity and TV watching confirms results of previous studies. The present study of seven European countries generally indicates stability or a small increase in physical activity of boys and girls aged 11-15 from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s.     

A casein diet added isoflavone-enriched soy protein favorably affects biomarkers of steatohepatitis in obese Zucker rats

ObjectiveDietary supplementation of a soy protein enriched with isoflavones (HDI) has been shown to improve fatty liver in obese rats. The main objective of this study was to investigate whether HDI would influence the inflammatory status in livers of obese rats with fatty liver.MethodsMale obese Zucker fa/fa rats were fed casein (controls) or casein supplemented with HDI (containing 4.00 g of genistein and 4.50 g of daidzein per kilogram of diet) for 6 wk.ResultsThe HDI-fed rats had a markedly lower hepatic concentration of triacylglycerol when compared with controls. The decreased aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase ratio in plasma, together with lower circulating levels of alkaline phosphatase and bile acids after HDI feeding, implied an improved hepatitis. This was supported by decreased plasma and hepatic mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, lower plasma levels of interleukin-1β and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and an increased anti-inflammatory fatty acid index in plasma. HDI also seemed to protect the rats from oxidative damage, because the level of lipid peroxides in triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins after in vitro copper oxidation was lower for HDI-fed rats when compared with controls.ConclusionThese results show that isoflavone-enriched soy protein favorably affects biomarkers of hepatic inflammation in obese Zucker fa/fa rats with fatty liver. Thus, dietary soy proteins enriched in isoflavones may be a promising agent to improve steatohepatitis in patients.     

The role of the student: Salutogenic or pathogenic?

Associations between sense of coherence (SOC) and school-related resources (supportive school environment, adequate learning conditions) and stress (pressure of schoolwork, bored of school) were explored in a representative sample of 4116 Norwegian school adolescents, aged 11, 13 and 15 years. The students participated in the World Health Organization Cross-National Survey 'Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children 1997/98 (HBSC)'. Multiple linear regression analyses were applied. In unadjusted analyses, all resources and stress factors were significantly related to SOC. In analyses adjusted for all these factors, support from teacher was the only variable that did not remain significant. The strongest and most adverse association with SOC was seen in the relation with feeling pressured by schoolwork among both genders. The next strongest associations were found with support from peers and adequate expectations. In general, the associations with SOC were stronger among girls than boys, but a similar tendency was found for both genders. Implications for school health promotion are discussed.     

Country material distribution and adolescents' perceived health: multilevel study of adolescents in 27 countries

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of country material distribution on adolescents' perceptions of health. DESIGN: Cross sectional multilevel study. SETTING: Data were collected from the school based health behaviour in school aged children: WHO cross national study 1997/98, which includes students from 27 European and North American countries. PARTICIPANTS: 12 0381 students in year 6, 8, and 10 who were attending school classes on the day of data collection. MAIN RESULT: Adolescents in countries with a high dispersion of family affluence were more likely to have self rated poor health even after controlling for individual family level of affluence and family social resources. CONCLUSION: There are substantial inequalities in subjective health across European and North American countries related to the distribution of family material resources in these countries.     

Dietary soya protein concentrate enriched with isoflavones reduced fatty liver, increased hepatic fatty acid oxidation and decreased the hepatic mRNA level of VLDL receptor in obese Zucker rats

Casein-based diets containing a low (LDI) or high (HDI) dose of soya protein concentrate enriched with isoflavones were fed to obese Zucker rats for 6 weeks. HDI feeding, but not LDI feeding, reduced the fatty liver and decreased the plasma levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase. This was accompanied by increased activities of mitochondrial and peroxisomal beta-oxidation, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase in liver and increased triacylglycerol level in plasma. The decreased fatty liver and the increased plasma triacylglycerol level appeared not to be caused by an increased secretion of VLDL, as HDI decreased the hepatic mRNA levels of apo B and arylacetamide deacetylase. However, the gene expression of VLDL receptor was markedly decreased in liver, but unchanged in epididymal white adipose tissue and skeletal muscle of rats fed HDI, indicating that the liver may be the key organ for the reduced clearance of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins from plasma after HDI feeding. The n-3/n-6, 20:4n-6/18:2n-6 and (20:5n-3+22:6n-3)/18:3n-3 ratios were increased in liver triacylglycerol by HDI. The phospholipids in liver of rats fed HDI contained a low level of 20:4n-6 and a high level of 20:5n-3, favouring the production of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids. When obese Zucker rats were fed soya protein, this also resulted in reduced fatty liver, possibly through reduced clearance of VLDL by the liver. We conclude that the isoflavone-enriched soya concentrate as well as soya protein may be promising dietary supplements for treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver.     

Time trends in oral health behaviors among Norwegian adolescents: 1985-97

The purpose of this study was to investigate 1) the temporal changes in oral health behaviors and 2) the development of the distribution of oral health behaviors on the basis of socioeconomic factors among Norwegian adolescents from 1985 to 1997. Large-scale national surveys to assess smoking, intake of sweets, soft drink consumption, and toothbrushing among Norwegian adolescents were conducted in November 1985, 1989, 1993, and 1997. The surveys were part of the World Health Organisation (WHO) international study, Health Behaviour in School-aged Children. A total of 3955 (1985), 5037 (1989), 4952 (1993), and 5026 (1997)11-, 13-, and 15-year-old students completed anonymous questionnaires at school. The response rates varied from 79% to 90%. The results showed a strong increase in the percentages reporting ever smoking and daily intake of soft drinks and sweets with age from 11 to 15 years in each survey year. In 1997, at the age of 15 years, most students reported toothbrushing more than once a day (94% boys, 97% girls) and ever smoking (39% boys, 36% girls), whereas moderate proportions confirmed daily intake of soft drinks (28% boys, 19% girls). Comparison of the results across the survey years, from 1985 to 1997, showed an overall decrease in ever smoking (boys, 59% versus 39%; girls, 52% versus 36%) and toothbrushing more than once a day (boys, 95% versus 94%; girls, 99% versus 97%). Contemporary increases occurred with regard to daily soft drink consumption. Inequalities in ever smoking and daily soft drink consumption between socioeconomic status groups decreased and increased, respectively, from 1985 to 1997. The sex disparities observed in 1985, with boys being more likely than girls to report ever smoking and daily soft drink consumption, leveled off in 1997.     

The future of health promotion in schools goes through the strengthening of teacher training at a global level

Schools are considered to be settings for both health education and health promotion. But the core business of schools is actually focused on educational outcomes, not reducing health problems. In most countries, schools give low priority to health promotion, and school staffs, mainly teachers, are not aware of their role in health promotion. Studies show that teachers who have received health promotion training tend to be involved more frequently in health promotion projects and have a more comprehensive approach to health education. Pre-service and in-service staff training is then a main challenge. This is the reason why we have launched an initiative to join international forces to strengthen and advocate for teacher training in health promotion. The main goals are to develop research, affirm and reinforce the work done in teacher training in health promotion, support the institutes/colleges/universities in the provision of pre-service and in-service teacher training and stimulate international partnership work.     

Dietary proteins with high isoflavone content or low methionine-glycine and lysine-arginine ratios are hypocholesterolaemic and lower the plasma homocysteine level in male Zucker fa/fa rats

It has previously been demonstrated that soya protein, which contains isoflavones and low methionine-glycine and lysine-arginine ratios, has a hypocholesterolaemic effect. In the present study, the hypocholesterolaemic effects of an isoflavone-enriched casein diet (HDI) and a single-cell protein-based diet (SCP) devoid of isoflavones but with low methionine-glycine and lysine-arginine ratios were investigated in obese Zucker rats after 6 weeks of feeding. The control diet contained casein, which has high ratios of methionine-glycine and lysine-arginine. HDI and SCP feeding reduced the concentrations of total cholesterol and cholesteryl esters in plasma and liver, and changed the fatty acid composition of the hepatic cholesteryl esters. Faecal cholesterol and bile acid levels were markedly higher in SCP-fed rats than in controls, whereas HDI feeding had only minor effects. However, both HDI and SCP feeding increased the hepatic gene expression of cholesterol 7alpha hydroxylase. In contrast, the hepatic acyl-CoA synthetase and acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activities and the gene expression of the LDL receptor were increased by HDI, but not by SCP feeding. The present results suggested that the cholesterol-lowering effect of SCP was related to the enterohepatic circulation, whereas HDI seemed to lower the plasma cholesterol via the circulation. Plasma homocysteine level was reduced in rats fed HDI and SCP compared to rats fed casein. In summary, diets enriched in isoflavones or containing proteins with low methionine-glycine and lysine-arginine ratios lowered the plasma cholesterol and homocysteine levels, changing the plasma profile from atherogenic to cardioprotective.     

Diets containing salmon fillet delay development of high blood pressure and hyperfusion damage in kidneys in obese Zucker fa/fa rats

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular and chronic renal diseases, affecting more than 1 billion people. Fish intake is inversely correlated with the prevalence of hypertension in several, but not all, studies, and intake of fish oil and fish proteins has shown promising potential to delay development of high blood pressure in rats. The effects of baked and raw salmon fillet intake on blood pressure and renal function were investigated in obese Zucker fa/fa rats, which spontaneously develop hypertension with proteinuria and renal failure. Rats were fed diets containing baked or raw salmon fillet in an amount corresponding to 25% of total protein from salmon and 75% of protein from casein, or casein as the sole protein source (control group) for 4 weeks. Results show lower blood pressure and lower urine concentrations of albumin and cystatin C (relative to creatinine) in salmon diet groups when compared to control group. Morphological examinations revealed less prominent hyperfusion damage in podocytes from rats fed diets containing baked or raw salmon when compared to control rats. In conclusion, diets containing baked or raw salmon fillet delayed the development of hypertension and protected against podocyte damage in obese Zucker fa/fa rats.