Importance of seafood as nutrient source in the diet of Belgian adolescents

BACKGROUND: Regular seafood consumption is recommended in dietary guidelines. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of seafood as a nutrient source in adolescents' diet and the extent to which seafood consumption can increase the intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin D. METHODS: Consumption data recorded during seven consecutive days for 341 adolescents selected in Ghent (Belgium) were used to estimate the intake of vitamin D, linoleic (LA), alpha-linolenic (LNA), arachidonic (AA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosapentaenoic (DPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid. RESULTS: The adolescents consumed on average 3.21 microg/day vitamin D, 11.7 g/day LA and 1.4 g/day LNA. The mean intakes of AA, EPA, DPA and DHA were 83.2, 55.9, 18.4 and 111.4 mg/day respectively. The major source of vitamin D was fortified margarine. Fats and oils were the main sources for LA and LNA. The intake of AA was mainly contributed by meat, poultry and eggs. Fish and seafood contributed for 84.1%, 59.3% and 64.4% respectively for EPA, DPA and DHA. CONCLUSION: Flemish adolescents would benefit from increased seafood consumption, as this would lead to a higher intake of EPA and DHA as well as of vitamin D. Moreover, replacement of foods rich in saturated fat (SFA) by seafood products can help to reduce SFA intake.     

High-protein Weight-loss Diets: Are They Safe and Do They Work? A Review of the Experimental and Epidemiologic Data

Recommendations for increased consumption of protein are among the most common approaches of popular or fad diets. This review summarizes the effects of dietary protein on satiety, energy intake, thermogenesis, and weight loss, as well as its effect on a variety of health outcomes in adults. In short-term studies, dietary protein modulates energy intake via the sensation of satiety and increases total energy expenditure by increasing the thermic effect of feeding. Whereas these effects did not contribute to weight and fat loss in those studies in which energy intake was fixed, one ad libitum study does suggest that a high-protein diet results in a greater decrease in energy intake, and therefore greater weight and fat loss. In terms of safety, there is little long-term information on the health effects of high-protein diets. From the available data, however, it is evident that the consumption of protein greater than two to three times the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance contributes to urinary calcium loss and may, in the long term, predispose to bone loss. Caution with these diets is recommended in those individuals who may be predisposed to nephrolithiasis or kidney disease, and particularly in those with diabetes mellitus.     

Is dietary counselling effective in increasing dietary calcium,protein and energy intake in patients with osteoporotic fractures? A randomized controlled clinical trial

To determine the feasibility of increasing the calcium, protein and calorie intake of osteoporotic fracture patients by repeated dietary counselling delivered by a dietitian, a randomized controlled trial was conducted. Among 189 patients presenting with osteoporotic fractures to an Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department of a large regional hospital, 98 patients were randomized to the intervention group and 91 were randomized to the control group (with usual care). Intervention group received three sessions of dietary counselling with tailored made recommendations over a period of 4 months, while the control group only received dietary assessment and pamphlets on the prevention of osteoporosis. Almost all subjects in both intervention and control groups had calcium intake below the recommended level of 1000 mg at baseline. Half and 60% of subjects in both groups had total energy and protein intake below recommended levels respectively. The mean weights of control and intervention groups at baseline were 51.5 and 50.9 kg respectively, while the body mass index (BMI) were 22.6 (kg m(-2)) and 22.6 (kg m(-2)) respectively. After dietary intervention, significant increase of intake was seen in calcium intake (P = 0.0095 by t-test) in the intervention group. No significant increase was seen in protein or calorie intake. No significant change was observed in the body weight or BMI although there was a positive trend in the intervention group for all these parameters. We concluded that there was general malnutrition in Chinese elderly who presented with osteoporotic fractures. Dietary calcium could be increased by repeated professional dietary counselling. Future studies with longer duration and more objective clinical outcomes will be helpful to further demonstrate the long-term effects of dietary intervention on osteoporosis and other chronic diseases.     

Regulation of fluid intake in dogs following water deprivation

Whereas water loss in land living animals occurs continuously, water intake takes place discontinuously. At the normal operating set point of plasma osmolality, urine is more concentrated than plasma due to secretion of vasopressin. Thus animals operate around a state of mild dehydration. As water loss occurs, the severity of dehydration and thirst increase in intensity and at some point water intake occurs. Sufficient water is consumed to return plasma osmolality to the normal operating set point. Food intake and water balance are interdependent as food provides the osmoles which determine obligatory renal solute excretion. When dry food with the same osmotic content was substituted for canned food (water content 74%), dogs increased water intake from 24.2 +/- 4.3 to 62.2 +/- 8.8 ml/kg. Urine output and urine osmolality were unchanged, as under conditions of normal hydration, near maximal urine concentration is achieved. Changing water intake is the only available variable to maintain water balance. During water deprivation, the major renal mechanism appears to be natriuresis. In rehydration, satiety mechanisms ensure appropriate water intake and renal sodium conservation restores sodium balance.     

Determinants of dietary intake during childhood diarrhea and implications for appropriate nutritional therapy

Diarrheal diseases have a well recognized negative effect on children's growth, probably due in part to reduced dietary intake during illness. Previous studies have shown that the effects of diarrhea on dietary intake are greater among hospitalized children than among those observed in their homes. Breast milk intake does not change during diarrhea, however, so breast-fed children are less likely to reduce their total energy and nutrient intakes. Recent analyses of clinical studies found that acidosis and dehydration were most closely associated with reduced dietary intake of hospitalized patients. The implications of these and other studies for the dietary management of patients during and after diarrhea are discussed.     

Suppression of alcohol and saccharin preference in rats by a novel Ca2+ channel inhibitor,Goe 5438

The effect of the novel 1,4-dihydronaphthyridine Ca²⁺ channel inhibitor Goe 5438 (CI-951) on voluntary ethanol consumption was examined in selectively bred alcohol-preferring (P) rats in a free choice two bottle preference test versus water. Intraperitoneally injected Goe 5438 dose-dependently (5, 10 or 20 µmol/kg, twice daily) inhibited ethanol and increased water intake over the 24 h period (injection day). The drug decreased ethanol preference, originally above 90%, by 6%, 19% and 45% at respective doses, on the injection day. That inhibitory effect of the highest dose of Goe 5438 on ethanol preference remained significant also on days 2 and 3 after injections (–51% and –18%, respectively). Goe 5438, in the highest dose, also tended to decrease granulated chow consumption during the injection day only. To further test whether the inhibition of ethanol preference is secondary to decrease in reinforcing properties of ethanol and not due to interference with satiety mechanisms, we compared the effect of two higher doses (10 and 20 µmol/kg, intraperitoneally, twice daily) of Goe 5438 on spontaneous preference for a non-caloric 0.04% saccharin solution in Sprague-Dawley rats. We observed a dose-dependent suppression of preference (by 44% and 58%, respectively) during the injection day, but not the subsequent 24 h period. However, Goe 5438 also significantly alleviated food pellet intake on the injection day. In conclusion, Goe 5438 produces potent and long-lasting inhibition of voluntary ethanol consumption, which may be secondary to attenuation of reinforcing properties of ethanol. Additionally, this particular Ca²⁺ channel inhibitor appears to have mild anorectic properties which may be conducive to acute suppression of alcohol intake.     

Changing health status and health expectancies among older adults in China: Gender differences from 1992 to 2002

Numerous studies document improvements in health status and health expectancies among older adults over time. However, most evidence is from developed nations and gender differences in health trends are often inconsistent. It remains unknown whether changes in health in developing countries resemble Western trends or whether patterns of health improvement are unique to the country's epidemiologic transition and gender norms. Using two nationally representative samples of non-institutionalized adults in China aged 65 years and older, this study investigates gender differences in the improvements in disability, chronic disease prevalence, and self-rated health from 1992 to 2002. Results from multivariate logistic regression models show that all three indicators of health improved over the 10-year period, with the largest improvement in self-rated health. With the exception of disability, the health of women improved more than men. Using Sullivan's decomposition methods, we also show that active life expectancy, disease-free life expectancy, and healthy life expectancy increased over this decade and were patterned differently according to gender. Overall, the findings demonstrate that China experienced broad health improvements during its early stages of the epidemiologic transition and that these changes were not uniform by gender. We discuss the public health implications of the findings in the context of China's rapidly aging population.     

Breastmilk intake and growth in infants from two to ten months

Longitudinal measurements of breastmilk intake in 48 Cambridge infants showed that intake reached a peak of 824 g/24 h in boys and 741 g/24 h in girls in the third and fourth months, respectively. Regression analysis demonstrated that, in the early months, the infants' weight accounted for a major part of the variance in breastmilk intake. Infants in non-manual social classes received more breastmilk and started solids later than those in manual groups. In the early months weight gain showed a relative increase compared to growth standards, but later infancy was characterized by a progressive deceleration in weight and length gain. Adiposity, as measured by triceps skinfold thickness differed most markedly from growth charts and was only equivalent to the tenth standard centile at all ages. The lower skinfold thickness measurements are considered to be more appropriate to breastfed infants in general.     

The dietary intake of homeless males sleeping rough in Central London

Data concerning the food and beverage intake (including alcohol) of 79 males, aged 19–50 years, sleeping rough in Central London, who did not appear to be under the influence of drink, drugs or suffering from mental illness were collected by prompted 24-h recall and food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The source of food was noted and the subjects were asked about food availability and food needs. The group had intakes significantly lower than Dietary Reference Values (DRV) for the UK for energy, carbohydrate, non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), folate, zinc and magnesium. Significantly higher values were seen for protein, fat, vitamin B₁₂, calcium and iron. Alcohol intake was higher than that assumed to approximate current intakes of the UK population. Mean macronutrient intakes for the group were similar to means for British adult men (OPCS, 1990), only protein and NSP were significantly lower. The FFQ showed very low consumption/week of fruit, vegetables, salad, fruit juice and wholewheat/brown products. Organized charities provided the major source of food energy for the group as a whole. Self-supplied sources provided the major source of total energy. It is suggested that the group may benefit from an increase in dietary fibre and energy, with an increase in the proportion of energy supplied by carbohydrate and a reduction in energy from fat and alcohol. A varied supply of food and hot meals during weekends as well as during the week may benefit the group both aesthetically and nutritionally. It may be advisable to increase the supply of wholemeal/brown bread, fruits, vegetables and salad foods without decreasing the energy content of the food available.     

Inadequate oral intake in surgical patients: a rational indication for nutritional support

Seven days or more of inadequate oral intake (IOI) inevitably results in a deterioration in nutritional status. Despite this well-known fact, little information is available as to the frequency with which such periods of IOI occur in clinical practice. This study results from an audit of IOI in a gastroenterological unit over a 6-month period. The results demonstrate that 17% of patients sustained significant periods of IOI of 7 days or longer. This has important implications with regard to the provision of adjuvant nutritional support.