A role for glucose and insulin preprandial profiles to differentiate meals and snacks

A physiological distinction between eating occasions may help account for contradictory findings on the role of eating frequency in energy homeostasis. We assessed this issue using a midafternoon eating occasion known in France as the goûter that often consists of snack foods. Among the 24 male subjects, 8 habitually consumed four meals per day, i.e., were usual goûter eaters (GE) and 16 habitually took 3 meals per day, i.e., usual non-goûter non-snack eaters (NGNSE). All subjects were time blinded from lunchtime and had to request subsequent meals. Blood was continuously withdrawn and collected with a change of tube every 10 min until dinner request. During the session, 8 of the non-goûter eaters (NGE) were offered a snack 210 min after lunch and were designated as non-goûter snack eaters (NGSE) if they ate. Results showed that the goûter was preceded by high hunger scores and a linear decline in plasma glucose (−9.0±3.0%, P<.05) and insulin concentrations (−22.9±6.0%, P<.05). These profiles were not observed before the snack. The dinner of GE was requested later and was smaller compared to NGNSE, whereas the snack altered neither time of request nor energy intake (EI) at dinner. Among blood variables, leptin at the onset of eating was the only factor that was predictive of both intermeal interval and EI. The glucose and insulin profiles indicate that snacks should not be considered as meals in studies on the role of eating frequency in energy homeostasis.     

Frequency of Sweet and Salty Snack Food Consumption Is Associated with Higher Intakes of Overconsumed Nutrients and Weight-For-Length z Scores During Infancy and Toddlerhood

BackgroundCurrent dietary guidelines recommend avoiding foods and beverages with added sugars and higher sodium before age 2 years.ObjectiveThe aim was to describe daily snack food intake (frequency and total energy) and the associations with overconsumed nutrients (added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats) and child weight-for-length z scores.DesignA cross-sectional, secondary analysis of baseline data from an ongoing longitudinal intervention was conducted.Participants and settingA sample of 141 caregivers with infants (aged 9 to 11 months) and toddlers (aged 12 to 15 months) was recruited in Buffalo, NY, between 2017 and 2019.Main outcome measuresThree 24-hour dietary recalls were used to categorize 'sweet and salty snack foods' or 'commercial baby snack foods' based on the US Department of Agriculture What We Eat in America food group classifications and estimate nutrient intakes. Child recumbent length and weight were measured by trained researchers.Statistical analysisDaily frequency (times/day), energy (kcal/day), and overconsumed nutrients from snack food intake were calculated. Multivariable regression models examined associations between the frequency of and energy from snack food intake with overconsumed nutrients and child weight-for-length z scores.ResultsInfants consumed snack foods on average 1.2 times/day contributing 5.6% of total daily energy, 19.6% of added sugars, and 6.8% of sodium. Toddlers consumed snack foods on average 1.4 times/day contributing 8.9% of total daily energy, 40.0% of added sugars, and 7.2% of sodium. In adjusted models including all children, greater frequency of sweet and salty snack food intake, but not commercial baby snack foods, was associated with higher weight-for-length z scores.ConclusionsSnack foods are frequently consumed by infants and toddlers and contribute to the intake of overconsumed nutrients such as added sugars and sodium. Given the current guidelines to avoid added sugars and higher sodium before age 2 years, additional recommendations related to nutrient-dense snack intake may be beneficial.     

Association between eating time interval and frequency with ideal cardiovascular health: Results from a random sample Czech urban population

Background and Aims

The frequency and timing of meals may affect cardiovascular health (CVH) outcomes, but large-scale epidemiological studies are lacking. The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between eating time interval and frequency, and measures of ideal CVH in the Kardiovize Brno cohort study, a random urban sample population in Central Europe.

Impact of the Out-of-School Nutrition and Physical Activity (OSNAP) Group Randomized Controlled Trial on Children’s Food,Beverage, and Calorie Consumption among Snacks Served

Background

Afterschool interventions have been found to improve the nutritional quality of snacks served. However, there is limited evidence on how these interventions affect children’s snacking behaviors.

Consumption of a mid-morning snack improves memory but not attention in school children

Muthayya, S., T. Thomas, K. Srinivasan, K. Rao, A. V. Kurpad, J.-W. Van Klinken, G. Owen and E.A. de Bruin: Consumption of a mid-morning snack improves memory but not attention in school children. Physiol Behav 00(0) 000-000, 2006.--This study aimed to determine whether consumption of a mid-morning snack with appropriate energy compensation through a smaller breakfast or lunch, resulted in improved cognitive performance of 7-9 year old children with a low and high socioeconomic status (LSES and HSES, n=35 and 34 respectively). The children were each randomly assigned to three iso-caloric dietary interventions: control (standard breakfast, no snack and standard lunch), intervention A (small breakfast, snack, and standard lunch) and intervention B (standard breakfast, snack, and small lunch), using a cross-over design. The children were tested on three different days, each one week apart. Computerised tests of cognitive performance, consisting of memory, sustained attention and psychomotor speed, were performed during four sessions, i.e., prior to breakfast, after breakfast, after a mid-morning snack and after lunch. Having a mid-morning snack resulted in a smaller decline in immediate and delayed memory in LSES but not in HSES children. Having a snack did not influence sustained attention and psychomotor speed in either LSES or HSES children. This study shows that a more evenly distributed energy intake throughout the morning by consuming a mid-morning snack improves memory performance in school-age LSES children even when the total amount of energy consumed during the morning is not altered.     

Processed and Packed: How Refined Are the Foods That Children Bring to School for Snack and Lunch?

BackgroundIncreasing consumption of highly processed foods has been associated with adverse health outcomes among children. In the US, children consume up to half of their daily energy intake at school.ObjectivesWe sought to characterize foods that children bring from home to school according to processing level and to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based intervention, Great Taste Less Waste (GTLW), in reducing the proportion of energy brought from highly processed foods from home compared with control.DesignSecondary data analysis of a 7-month school-based, cluster-randomized trial.Participants/settingThird- and fourth-grade students (n = 502, mean age: 9.0 ± 0.62 years) at 10 public elementary schools in Eastern Massachusetts (school year 2012-2013).InterventionGTLW included a 22-lesson classroom curriculum, homework activities, monthly parent newsletters, a food shopping and packing guide for parents, food demonstrations, school-wide announcements, and a poster contest.Main outcome measuresThe energy content of foods brought to school was estimated from digital photographs, and foods were assigned to 1 of 3 processing levels (less processed or unprocessed, moderately processed, or highly processed) based on an established classification system.Statistical analyses performedThe percentage of energy brought from foods categorized into each processing level was calculated and compared pre- and postintervention using hierarchical linear models.ResultsMost of the food brought from home to school was highly processed (70% of food energy brought). Foods categorized as snack foods and desserts contributed the greatest percentage of total energy to the highly processed category at baseline and follow-up (72% and 69%, respectively). Energy from foods brought for snack tended to be more highly processed than those brought for lunch. No significant differences were observed from pre- to postintervention in the GTLW group compared with control for the percentage of energy brought from highly processed foods in adjusted models (β: −1.1, standard error: 2.2, P = .6) or any other processing level.ConclusionsHighly processed foods were prevalent in home-packed lunches and snacks, and these patterns persisted after a targeted intervention. Further research is needed to identify strategies to improve the healthfulness of foods brought from home to school.     

相同能量不同配方加餐对糖尿病患者餐后1小时血糖的影响

目的：探索相同能量不同配方加餐对糖尿病患者餐后1h血糖的影响。方法：将96例糖尿病患者随机分为四组,分别于早餐后2h给予四种能量相同的不同配方加餐,并对四组糖尿病患者试验前后的血糖值进行比较。结果：高纤饼干加餐后lh血糖与加餐前血糖比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,奶盐饼干、夹心饼干、营养代餐加餐后lh血糖与加餐前血糖比较差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：不同配方加餐对餐后1h血糖有不同影响,加餐中脂肪、纤维含量较高者加餐后血糖相对较好。     

宁波市休闲食品中食品添加剂使用状况分析

目的:了解宁波市休闲食品中食品添加剂使用状况。方法:对2009年-2010年3类休闲食品的9类食品添加剂使用情况进行分析。结果:合格率最高为糖果类(100%),其次是膨化食品类(92.2%),最低为蜜饯凉果类(48.1%)。不合格原因主要存在防腐剂和甜味剂的使用上。其中二氧化硫残留量是超标的最重要原因,其他分别是甜蜜素、苯甲酸、糖精钠、安赛蜜、胭脂红。结论:建议食品监管部门加强对休闲食品的食品添加剂过量、超范围使用管理。     

晋江市2011年小学周边小食品安全状况调查分析

目的了解晋江市2011年小学周边小食品的安全状况。方法理化项目按照国家标准GB 5009相关内容进行检测,微生物项目按照GB 4789相关内容进行检测,检测结果按照相应检验依据的标准要求和相关产品标准要求进行评价。结果抽检样品总合格率仅为35％。其中,环己基氨基磺酸钠的合格率最低,仅为40％;糖精钠和苯甲酸的合格率分别为90％和95％;酸价和过氧化值的合格率分别为85％和90％;菌落总数和大肠菌群的合格率分别为80％和90％。结论晋江市小学周边小食品安全状况非常严峻,相关单位须加大监督力度,完善监督体系。     

Developmental trajectories of attentional control in preschool males with fragile X syndrome

Attention problems are among the most impairing features associated with fragile X syndrome (FXS). However, few studies have examined behavioral development of inhibitory control in very young children with FXS. We examined attentional control in 3–6 year boys with FXS using both an experimental inhibitory control paradigm and parent-report of attention problems. Study 1 examined attentional control in FXS compared to comparison groups matched on chronological and mental age. To determine the stability of impairments over time in FXS, Study 2 examined patterns of developmental change in an expanded longitudinal sample. Across studies, males with FXS demonstrated persistent impairments in inhibitory control and parent-reported attention problems. Inhibitory control was related to, but not solely driven by, lower mental age. Although parent-rated attention problems remained stable across ages, inhibitory control improved with time. Children with more severe attention problems often displayed initially poorer inhibitory control. However, these trajectories also improved more rapidly with age. Our findings indicate that despite persistent deficits in attentional control in young children with FXS, multi-method assessment can be used to capture developmental growth that should be further supported through early, targeted intervention.