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Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Journal Prestige (SJR): 0.697

Citation Impact (citeScore): 2
Number of Followers: 13

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ISSN (Print) 0964-7058
Published by RMIT Publishing

[387 journals]

Volume 29 Issue 1 - Regulobiosis: A regulatory and food system-sensitive
role for fungal symbionts in human evolution and ecobiology
- Abstract: Zheng, Ju-Sheng; Wahlqvist, Mark L
  The role of microbiomes in human biology and health are being extensively investigated, yet how the fungal community or mycobiome contributes to an integral microbiome is unclear and probably underestimated. We review the roles of fungi from the perspectives of their functionality in human biology, their cross-kingdom talk with other human microbial organisms, their dependence on diet and their involvement in human health and diseases. We hypothesize that members of the fungal community may interact as necessary symbionts with members of other human microbiome communities, and play a key role in human biology, yet to be fully understood. We propose further that "regulobiosis", whereby fungi play a regulatory role in human ecobiology, is operative in humans as probably obtains in other forms of life. Fungally-dependent regulobiosis would characterise, at first, microbiomes which include, but are not limited to, bacteria, archaea, and viruses; then, their human host; and, next, provide ecological connectedness.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Consumption patterns of sweetened condensed milk in
the diet of young Indonesian children and its potential nutritional health
consequences
- Abstract: Juffrie, Mohammad; Sartika, Ratu Ayu Dewi; Sparringa, Roy Alexander; Wibowo, Lindawati; Lukito, Widjaja
  This critical review is intended to analyse the existing studies on the consumption patterns of sweetened condensed milk in the diet of young Indonesian children and its potential nutritional health consequences. Considering its limited nutritional value and high sugar content, sweetened condensed milk (SCM) should not be administered to young children (1-3 years old) with the goal of promoting their growth and development. However, such false practice has been reported in mostly urban studies among the underprivileged population. Conclusive scientific evidence is also still lacking regarding the health risks of long-term SCM consumption by young Indonesian children at early ages, as no study has focused on this specific topic. Nevertheless, inadequate understanding of SCM, its consumption patterns, and its long-term effects on health among young Indonesian children have been implicated in public confusion on the topic. Ongoing disparities that exist between regulation, industrial practices, and product advertisement have led to poor understanding in communities, which, to a considerable extent, has contributed to difficulties in segregating data on the consumption of SCM and its related products. Analogous to sugar-sweetened beverages, limited SCM consumption can be recommended when appropriately implemented with active monitoring and evaluation of product advertisements and product labeling, enforcement of regulations, and provision of effective customer education.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Benefit risk and cost ratios in sustainable food and
health policy: Changing and challenging trajectories
- Abstract: Wahlqvist, Mark L
  There is benefit, risk and cost in all that we do, but when it comes to food, we expect that it will benefit our health, be available, safe to eat and affordable. But as climate change and demographic shifts through displacement and ageing gather momentum, the emphases on each of benefit, risk and cost will alter. That we are ecological beings whose health and wellbeing are ecosystem-dependent, must now be the underpinning framework for risk management. Loss of natural environment and biodiversity represents reduced nutritional and health resilience, which will need to be factored in to risk assessment and management with climate change. This is proving a problematic risk communication challenge. Previously desirable food and food pattern recommendations will be tempered by substantial sustainability, availability, safety, affordability, equity and ethical considerations. Future workforces will need to ensure basic livelihoods (food, water, shelter, clothing, healthcare, education, communication, essential transport, resource management and effective governance) and with risk minimisation. Cost appraisal will have less to do with monetisation and more to do with resource management in accordance with equity and ethical principles. Communities could adopt Liveability Units (LU) for traceability and community-based transactions, as a currency for a more sustainable future, encouraging and enabling food and health system viability. Open source food and health systems, supported by LU matrix (bar code or QR) scanning with smartphones could be widely available for individual, household and community benefit, risk and cost management. The risk is remoteness from food's origins and megadata commercialisation.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Effect of early enteral nutrition on the incidence of
acute acalculous cholecystitis among trauma patients
- Abstract: Chang, Ye Rim; Yun, Jung Ho; Choi, Seok Ho; Jee, Ye Seob
  Background and Objectives: Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) often occurs in critically ill patients, especially in those that have experienced trauma, surgery, shock, and prolonged fasting. Early enteral nutrition has been shown to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality compared to other nutritional support strategies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of early enteral nutrition on the incidence of AAC among trauma patients.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Multi-strategy nutritional protocol was implemented in the intensive care unit (ICU) in 2016 for early enteral nutrition and proper nutritional support. The traumatized critically-ill patients without volitional intake who were admitted to ICU between 2015 and 2017 were included. Basic characteristics, duration of fasting, and the incidence of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) due to AAC were analyzed according to the year.
  
  Results: Enteral nutrition was indicated in 552 trauma patients (28.2%). The mean duration of fasting was shortened from 6.5 days in 2015 to 5.4 days in 2017 (p=0.202). The incidence of PC was significantly decreased from 2015 to 2017 [6/171 (3.5%) vs. 6/204 (2.9%) vs. 0/177 (0%), p=0.023]. The provision of central parenteral nutrition (p=0.001) and fasting over 7 days (p=0.014) proved to be a risk factor of AAC.
  
  Conclusions: This study showed that the incidence of PC due to AAC was decreased significantly after the implementation of a nutritional protocol among traumatized critically ill patients. Early enteral nutrition may be effective in reducing the AAC among trauma patients who are at high risk of AAC.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Thyroglobulin can be a functional biomarker of iodine
deficiency, thyroid nodules, and goiter in Chinese pregnant women
- Abstract: Gao, Min; Chen, Yanting; Zhang, Ying; Sun, Hao; Zhang, Qi; Chen, Wen; Wang, Wei; Tan, Long; Shen, Jun; Cheng, Yuangui; Zhang, Wanqi
  Background and Objectives: Thyroglobulin (Tg) is considered a sensitive indicator of iodine status for children and adults, but its usefulness for pregnant women is unknown. The aim of this study was attempting to explore the relationship between Tg and iodine status and the association between elevated Tg and thyroid diseases.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A total of 2163 pregnant women were recruited in this study. The ratio of urine iodine concentration and urine creatinine concentration (UI/Cr) was measured in spot urine samples. Serum thyroid hormones and thyroglobulin were measured. Thyroid nodules and thyroid volume were diagnosed by ultrasound.
  
  Results: The geometric mean of serum Tg was significantly higher in the UI/Cr 500 mug/g group (11.48 [2.35] mug/L) than in the 150-249 mug/g group (9.64 [2.32] mug/L). The generalized linear model analysis showed that Serum log(10) Tg concentration was much higher in the UI/Cr
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Prolonged preoperative fasting and prognosis in
critically ill gastrointestinal surgery patients
- Abstract: Zhou, Gang; Zhu, Fengxue; An, Youzhong; Qin, Lixia; Lv, Jie; Zhao, Xiujuan; Shen, Jiawei
  Background and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the influence of prolonged preoperative fasting on prognosis in elective surgery. Methods and Study
  
  Design: A retrospective, controlled study involving patients admitted to our surgical intensive care unit who underwent a gastrointestinal operation under general anesthesia. Patients were divided into regular preoperative fasting time (n=57) and prolonged preoperative fasting time (n=73) groups. Clinical data were collected including patients' demographics, intraoperative and postoperative operation time, volume of blood loss, intensive care unit stay, hospital stay, postoperative complications and other factors.
  
  Results: Patients in the regular preoperative fasting time group had less duration of mechanical ventilation support after surgery [245 (177, 450) min vs 315 (210, 812) min (p=0.021)] and the postoperative myocardial injuries (myocardial injury 2 cases vs 11 cases, p=0.038) and reoperation percentages (reoperation 0 cases vs 7 cases, p=0.044) were lower compared to the prolonged preoperative fasting time group. In addition, patients in the regular preoperative fasting time group presented with a significantly shorter period of postoperative fasting time [6.0 (5.0, 8.0) vs 8.0 (6.0, 13.0), p=0.005].
  
  Conclusions: Prolonged preoperative fasting time led to unfavorable outcomes after gastrointestinal operations. Thus, reducing preoperative fasting time is likely to accelerate postoperative recovery in gastrointestinal surgery patients.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Serum total iron-binding capacity and iron status in
patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease: A
cross-sectional study in Vietnam
- Abstract: Thang, Le Viet; Kien, Nguyen Trung; van Hung, Nguyen; Kien, Truong Quy; Dung, Nguyen Huu; Thu Huong, Nguyen Thi; Toan, Nguyen Duy; Toan, Pham Quoc; Vinh, Hoang Trung; Nghia, Vu Xuan; Usui, Tomoko
  Background and Objectives: We performed this study to evaluate serum iron and ferritin concentrations, serum total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and proportion of overall iron deficiency among patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD).
  
  Methods and Study Design: A hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 175 adult patients with stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) by using 51 healthy age-sex-matched Vietnamese adults as the control group. We next examined the prevalence of anemia and determined the serum iron and ferritin concentrations and TIBC. Anemia in CKD was defined as hemoglobin levels < 13 g/dL in men and < 12 g/dL in women. Transferrin saturation (TSAT, %) was calculated as (serum iron x 100)/TIBC. Functional iron deficiency was defined as serum ferritin > 100 ng/mL and TSAT < 20%, and absolute iron deficiency was defined as serum ferritin < 100 ng/mL and TSAT
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Effects of flaxseed supplementation on functional
constipation and quality of life in a Chinese population: A randomized
trial
- Abstract: Sun, Jianqin; Bai, Huijing; Ma, Jianxia; Zhang, Ruiyu; Xie, Hua; Zhang, Yanmei; Guo, Mingquan; Yao, Jianfeng
  Background and Objectives: This prospective, randomized, controlled study aimed to evaluate the effects of flaxseed supplementation on functional constipation and quality of life in adult men and women in China. Methods and Study Design: 90 subjects with functional constipation diagnosed by the Rome IV criteria were enrolled. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either 50 g/day flaxseed flour with meals (n=60) or 15 mL/day of a lactulose solution on an empty stomach (n=30) every morning for 4 weeks. Wexner constipation scores, stool consistency according to the Bristol Stool Form Scale, and bowel habits (frequency of bowel movements/week, the time spent on defecation) were the primary outcomes. The change in Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score was the secondary outcome. Results: After 4 weeks, the bowel habits in both groups were significantly improved. The median Wexner constipation score decreased from 14 to 6.5 in the flaxseed group (p < 0.001) and from 15 to 9 in the lactulose group (p < 0.001). The median defecation frequency per week increased significantly (2 to 7 for flaxseed and 2 to 6 for lactulose, p < 0.001 for both groups). The Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score decreased significantly (-1.34 and -0.66 for flaxseed and lactulose, respectively; p < 0.001 for both groups). Conclusions: Flaxseed flour is somewhat more effective at increasing defecation frequency than lactulose, improving bowel movements and promoting life quality of subjects with chronic functional constipation in the Chinese population.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Nutrition program selection in acute ischemic stroke
patients with GI hemorrhage
- Abstract: Zeng, Xiaoyan; Chen, Junhong; Sun, Zhihua; Zeng, Heng; Xue, Junyan; Zhang, Yingjie; Liu, Gang; Huang, Xiaojing
  Background and Objectives: The severity of neurologic impairment is significantly associated with gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effect of two nutritional interventions in acute ischemic stroke patients with GI hemorrhage.
  
  Methods and Study Design: We retrospectively studied consecutive ischemic stroke patients with GI hemorrhage from January 2014 to December 2018. They were stratified into two programs of nutritional therapy after GI hemorrhage: moderate feeding (more than 70% optimal caloric uptake, 50-100 mL/h) and trophic feeding (16-25% of the target energy expenditure, 25 kcal/kg per day, 10- 30 mL/h) with supplemental parenteral nutrition.
  
  Results: The group receiving moderate feeding included 30 patients, and the group receiving trophic feeding and supplemental parenteral nutrition included 32 patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the baseline characteristics of the patients. Mortality, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score at discharge, and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score 3 months after discharge were compared between the two groups. In the moderate feeding group, the overall mortality was significantly lower than in the trophic feeding and supplemental parenteral nutrition group (p < 0.05). Conscious state and neurological severity were assessed by the GCS score before discharge, and the score was higher in the moderate feeding group than in the other group (p < 0.05). The GOS score 3 months after discharge was higher in the moderate feeding group than in the trophic feeding and supplemental parenteral nutrition group (p < 0.05). These three items showed that moderate feeding led to a better prognosis: lower occurrence of mortality, higher GCS score at discharge, and higher GOS score 3 months after discharge.
  
  Conclusions: This study showed that moderate feeding had a much more profound effect on the outcomes than trophic feeding and supplemental parenteral nutrition, as it was associated with lower mortality, higher GCS score at discharge, and higher GOS score 3 months after discharge.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Late-night-dinner deteriorates postprandial glucose
and insulin whereas consuming dinner dividedly ameliorates them in
patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized crossover clinical trial
- Abstract: Imai, Saeko; Saito, Yuuk; Kajiyama, Shizuo; Nitta, Ayasa; Miyawaki, Takashi; Matsumoto, Shinya; Ozasa, Neiko; Kajiyama, Shintaro; Hashimoto, Yoshitaka; Fukui, Michiaki
  Background and Objectives: The aims of this study is to explore the acute effect of consuming dinner at different timing on postprandial glucose and hormone in patients with type 2 diabetes.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Eight patients (age 70.8+-1.9 years, HbA1c 7.6+-0.6 %, BMI 23.3+-3.2, mean+-SD) were randomly assigned in this crossover study. Patients consumed the test meals of dinner at 18:00 on the first day, and dinner at 21:00 or divided dinner (vegetable and rice at 18:00 and vegetable and the main dish at 21:00) on the second or third day. Postprandial glucose, insulin, glucagon, free fatty acid (FFA), active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and active glucose- dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) concentration after dinner were evaluated.
  
  Results: Both incremental area under the curve (IAUC) 2h for glucose and insulin were higher in dinner at 21:00 than those in dinner at 18:00 (IAUC glucose: 449+-83 vs 216+-43 mmol/L min, p < 0.01, IAUC insulin:772+-104 vs 527+-107 muU/mL min, p < 0.01, mean+-SEM). However, in divided dinner both IAUC 4h for glucose and insulin tended to be lower than those of dinner at 21:00 (IAUC glucose: 269+-76 mmol/L min, p=0.070, IAUC insulin: 552+-114 muU/mL min, p=0.070). IAUC of active GLP-1 and active GIP demonstrated no difference among different dinner regimen.
  
  Conclusions: Consuming late-night-dinner (21:00) deteriorates postprandial glucose and insulin compared with those of early-evening-dinner (18:00) whereas consuming dinner dividedly ameliorates them.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Socioeconomic correlates of adherence to mineral
intake recommendations among pregnant women in north China: Findings from
a cross-sectional study
- Abstract: Wang, Kaipeng; Xie, Ying; Wang, Dandan; Bishop, Nicholas J; Tooker, Erica M; Li, Zengning
  Background and Objectives: The purpose of the present study is to examine the socioeconomic correlates of adherence to minimum mineral intake recommended by the Chinese Dietary Guidelines during each trimester of pregnancy among Chinese women.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A total of 567 pregnant women with foetal age of 6 - 12 weeks were recruited from nine community health centres and three hospitals. Cross-sectional survey data were collected using structured interviews and questionnaires. Mineral intake was calculated from food consumption reported on 24-hour dietary reviews using the Chinese Food Composition Metrics. Logistic regression models were estimated to assess the relationship between sociodemographic factors and adherence to mineral intake recommendations for each trimester.
  
  Results: Significant predictors of adherence to mineral intake recommendations include: (1) age (zinc: OR=1.09, 'p' < 0.05; copper: OR=1.11, 'p' < 0.05), having bachelor's degree (copper: OR=2.23, 'p' < 0.05; phosphorus: OR=2.23, 'p' < 0.01), and household income >=5,000RMB (potassium: OR=2.51, p=5,000 RMB (zinc: OR=1.86, 'p' < 0.05) during the second trimester, and (3) husband/partner with associate degree or vocational school education (selenium: OR=3.26, 'p' < 0.01) and household income of 3,000-4,999 RMB (potassium: OR=1.71, 'p' < 0.05; zinc: OR=1.48, 'p' < 0.05) during the third trimester. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study that examines the relationship between socioeconomic factors and mineral intake among Chinese pregnant women at three trimesters. Findings highlight the importance of considering individuals' socioeconomic status to develop personalized interventions to prevent undernutrition among this population.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Clinical nutrition knowledge, attitude and practice of
medical interns in Shanghai: Contributory factors
- Abstract: Zong, Min; Chen, Yan-Qiu; Liu, Xia; Xie, Hua; Zhang, Mei-Fang; Sun, Jian-Qin
  Background and Objectives: To provide a questionnaire, with Shanghai medical interns as respondents, analyzing knowledge (K), attitude (A), and practice (P) in relation to clinical nutrition, and to explore factors that could affect KAP scores.
  
  Methods and Study Design: The cross- sectional study used 330 interns from Shanghai medical universities responding to general material data questionnaires and KAP questionnaires on clinical nutrition.
  
  Results: The mean KAP score was 210.26+-25.9 (X+-SD), and the score for each part of the KAP questionnaire was just within the threshold for qualified. Multivariate analysis showed that the factors influencing the proportion of excellent scores for K were preventive medicine major (OR=3.45, 'p' < 0.001), senior intern (OR=2.52, 'p'=0.002), and tertiary intern hospital (OR=2.31, 'p'=0.006). The only factor influencing the proportion of excellent scores for P was accessing nutritional information one to three times per week (OR=3.95, 'p'=0.011). Nutrition course had no relation to any scores of K, A, P.
  
  Conclusions: The mean scores of overall KAP and the individual K, A, P were all categorized as qualified. The P score was the lowest and only influenced by how frequently information was accessed. In summary, nutrition knowledge and regular practical training gained from intern hospital could be a better way to enable senior interns to quickly and competently address patient nutrition problems at the commencement of their careers.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - A community-based approach to lean body mass and
appendicular skeletal muscle mass prediction using body circumferences in
community-dwelling elderly in Taiwan
- Abstract: Chien, Kuei-Yu; Chen, Chiao-Nan; Chen, Shu-Chen; Wang, Hsiu-Hua; Zhou, Wen-Sheng; Chen, Lee-Hwa
  Background and Objectives: To develop and validate the prediction equations for lean body mass (LBM) and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) using body circumference measurements of community-dwelling adults older than 50 years old. Methods and Study
  
  Design: Four hundred and ninety-eight community-dwelling adults older than 50 years old were recruited for this study. Participants were randomly assigned to a development group (DG, n=332) and validation group (VG, n=166). Lean body mass and ASM were assessed using dualenergy x-ray absorptiometry along with the anthropometric parameters. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine the associations between ASM, LBM and anthropometric parameters in the DG. Prediction equations for LBM and ASM were established from DG data using multiple regression analyses. Paired t-test and Bland-Altman test were used to validate the equations in the VG.
  
  Results: Forearm circumference had the highest correlation with LBM and ASM. The developed prediction models were: LBM (kg) = 27.479 + 0.726 * weight (kg) - 3.383 * gender (male = 1, female = 2) - 0.672 * BMI + 0.514 * forearm circumference (cm) - 0.245 * hip circumference (cm)(r2=0.90); ASM (kg) = -4.287 + 0.202 * weight (kg) - 0.166 * hip circumference (cm) - 1.484 * gender (male = 1, female = 2) + 0.173 * calf circumference (cm) + 0.096 * height + 0.243 * forearm circumference (cm)(r2=0.85).
  
  Conclusions: Prediction equations using only a measuring tape provide accurate, inexpensive, practical methods to assess LBM and ASM in Asians older than 50 years old.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Economic value of nutritional support methods in
gastrointestinal cancer: A quantitative meta-analysis
- Abstract: Zhu, Mingwei; Chen, Wei; Jiang, Hua; Zhu, Sainan; Xu, Jingyong; Bao, Wenlei; Dang, Yan; Wang, Michael Yao-Hsien
  Background and Objectives: Multiple studies of the relative economic value of different nutritional support methods for patients with gastrointestinal cancer have provided inconsistent results.
  
  Methods and Study Design: The PUBMED and EMBASE databases were systematically searched through September 30, 2018to identify latent studies of the benefits of parenteral nutrition (PN), enteral nutrition (EN) or conventional intervention (CI) in gastrointestinal cancer patients. A fixed-effects model or random-effects model was applied depending on the heterogeneity of the studies. Statistical analysis was conducted using R software. A total of 728 studies were reviewed, and 21 studies published from 1998 to 2018 were included in the final analysis.
  
  Results: The results showed that the hospitalization expenditure of the EN group was 3938 RMB less than that of the PN group. Similarly, the EN group had a shorter length of hospitalization than the PN and CI groups. The infection rate was lower in the EN group (12%) than in the PN group (16%) and CI group (20%). Subgroup analysis showed that gastrointestinal cancer patients who received oral nutritional supplements had the lowest infection rate (11%) after surgery.
  
  Conclusions: EN, especially oral nutritional supplements, has a positive economic impact on patients with gastrointestinal cancer, based on reductions in the post-operative infection rate, length of hospitalization, and hospitalization expenditure.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Impaired glucose tolerance among adolescents with low
birth weight history: The Tanjungsari Cohort study in Indonesia
- Abstract: Permana, Hikmat; Bandiara, Ria; Usman, Stefanie Yuliana; Susandi, Evan; Diana, Aly; Arifin, Augusta YL; Alisjahbana, Bachti
  Background and Objectives: Diabetes prevalence has been increasing overtime in Indonesia along with its complications and morbidities. Diabetes prevention program is still a challenge. Previous study concluded poor intrauterine nutritional status, low birth weight (LBW), and nutrition status early in life were risk factors for impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or type 2 diabetes mellitus in adulthood. This study aimed to evaluate the association between both LBW and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) with IGT in adolescents.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Total of 536 subjects from Tanjungsari Cohort Study were included in this study. Subjects were in their early adolescence age (12-14 years). Anthropometric data were collected and IGT was determined by using 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose level, then it was assessed based on their birth weight and intrauterine nutri-tional status.
  
  Results: Subjects with LBW history were shorter, had lower body weight and body mass index (p < 0.05, respectively). The proportion of IGT is significantly higher among subject with LBW (RR 1.692 [1.079-2.653]). There was no difference on proportion of IGT among subjects with IUGR compared with subjects who were not IUGR or born preterm (p=0.286). Multiple regression analysis showed the effect of LBW remain independent after adjusted with sex and socioeconomic variables (RR 1.650 [1.054-2.584]).
  
  Conclusions: Significant association was found between LBW and IGT in comparison to those who were born with normal birth weight. Hence, diabetes should be prevented as early as possible, even since in the pregnancy.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Association between dairy consumption and prevalence
of obesity in adult population of Northeast China: An internet-based
cross-sectional study
- Abstract: Song, Xiaoyun; Li, Rui; Guo, Lin; Guo, Panpan; Zhang, Meng; Feng, Rennan
  Background and Objectives: Dairy has been shown to reduce the risk of obesity in many epidemiological studies. However, few studies have been fully conducted in China in this respect. We aimed to investigate the association between dairy consumption and prevalence of obesity in an adult Chinese population.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A cross-sectional study was performed in an adult population of 5598 in northeast China, aged >=18. Intakes of dairy products were obtained by internet-based dietary questionnaire for the Chinese (IDQC). The associations between total and individual dairy consumption and prevalence of overall and abdominal obesity were examined by logistic regression. Sex stratification was performed.
  
  Results: A total of 3871 participants, including 1700 men and 2171 women, were eligible for analysis. Men who consumed >=100 g/day of yogurt had lower risks of abdominal obesity (multivariate-adjusted OR=0.41; 95% CI: 0.24-0.70) than men who did not consume yogurt. Women who consumed >=200 g/day of milk had lower risks of overall obesity (multivariate-adjusted OR=0.47; 95% CI: 0.24-0.91) than women who did not consume milk.
  
  Conclusions: Increased dairy consumption was associated with lower risk of obesity in adult population in northeast China. Further studies are needed to confirm these observational findings and explain the observed gender-specific difference.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - The association of blood pressure with estimated
urinary sodium, potassium excretion and their ratio in hypertensive,
normotensive, and hypotensive Chinese adults
- Abstract: Li, Ying; Yin, Lu; Peng, Yaguang; Liu, Xiaoyun; Cao, Xia; Wang, Yaqin; Yang, Pingting; Li, Xiaohui; Chen, Zhiheng
  Background and Objectives: Low sodium and high potassium intake is reported to be a risk of hypertension. However, it is uncertain whether these associations can be generalized to those without hypertension. This study is to evaluate the associations of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively) with estimated urinary sodium excretion (eUNaE), estimated urinary potassium excretion (eUKE) and their ratio (Na/K ratio) among hypertensive, normotensive, and hypotensive Chinese individuals.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A large institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Third Xiangya Hospital, Changsha between August 2017 and November 2018. Spot urine samples were collected to test urinary sodium, potassium, and creatinine excretions for each participant. The Kawasaki formula was used to estimate 24-hour urinary sodium and potassium excretions.
  
  Results: A total of 26,363 eligible subjects were used to analyze the associations of blood pressure with eUNaE, eUKE, and their ratio. 27.3% (n=7,201) of participants were diagnosed with hypertension, 5.4% (n=1,427) were diagnosed with hypotension, and the remaining of 17,735 participants were normotensive. A significant increase in SBP and DBP was related to the Na/K ratio increase in hypertensive and normotensive subgroups (all 'ptrend' < 0.01), but the association was not significant for DBP among hypotensive individuals ('ptrend' 0.58). Stronger associations of SBP with the Na/K ratio were observed in older people ('pinteraction' < 0.01) and females ('pinteraction' < 0.0001), but the same trend was not observed for DBP ('pinteraction'= 0.10 and 0.88, respectively).
  
  Conclusions: High potassium and low sodium intake were further confirmed to reduce blood pressure in hypotensive, normotensive, and hypertensive individuals.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Physical activity and sedentary behaviour during
- Abstract: van Ha, Anh Vo; Zhao, Yun; Pham, Ngoc Minh; Nguyen, Cong Luat; Chu, Tan Khac; Binns, Colin W; Lee, Andy H
  Background and Objectives: Gestational weight gain is known to impact maternal and child health outcomes. Energy intake and energy expenditure are major components of clinical nutrition in relation to weight gain during pregnancy. The study was to determine the association of physical activity and sitting time during pregnancy with gestational weight gain in Vietnamese women.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A multicentre prospective cohort study was conducted in Vietnam from 2015 to 2017. A total of 1873 women with a singleton pregnancy were included. Physical activity and sitting exposures during pregnancy were determined using an interviewer-administered validated questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was performed to assess physical activity and sitting time in relation to gestational weight gain, adjusting for the confounding effects of maternal characteristics and total energy intake during pregnancy.
  
  Results: The mean weight gain was 12.9 (Standard deviation 4.1) kg throughout pregnancy. Pregnant women with prolonged sitting time gained an average of 0.6 kg more weight ('p'=0.016 for highest versus lowest tertiles). Conversely, women who were physically active, in terms of having higher tertiles of total physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous-intensity, household/ caregiving activities, and occupational physical activity, experienced significantly less gestational weight gain ('p' < 0.05 for highest versus lowest tertiles).
  
  Conclusions: Inverse associations were found between gestational weight gain and physical activity (i.e. intensities and several domains), whereas gestational weight gain tended to increase with longer sitting time. Therefore, being physically active and less sedentary is important to regulate weight gain during pregnancy.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Reduced crying and favourable stool characteristics in
Chinese infants fed milk fat-based formula
- Abstract: Sheng, Xiao Yang; Buthmanaban, Vanitha; Vonk, Marlotte Marianne; Feitsma, Anouk Leonie; Parikh, Panam
  Background and Objectives: Chinese infants consuming four different commercially-available infant formulas were evaluated on gut comfort and stool consistency parameters.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Gut comfort characteristics were evaluated during a 7-day cross-sectional observational study in 409 healthy, term, exclusively formula-fed infants via questionnaires and fecal parameters.
  
  Results: The stool consistency and color scores were different between the infants consuming one of the four commercially-available infant formulas including different fat sources, i.e. one milk fat-based (IF1), two structured vegetable fat blend-based (IF2 and IF4) and one palm oil-free vegetable fat blend-based (IF3). The scoring pattern showed more 'soft-formed' stools for IF1- consuming infants compared to infants consuming IF2, IF3 or IF4. In addition, a lower amount of green feces was observed in combination with an increase in golden-colored feces for IF1-consuming infants compared to the other groups. Furthermore, IF1-consuming infants reported less fussy/crying time during the night and less gut discomfort. Infants consuming milk fat-based IF1 showed significantly lower fatty acid soaps compared to palmoil free IF3-fed infants.
  
  Conclusions: Infants consuming milk fat-based IF1 experienced less gut discomfort compared to infants consuming other commercially-available infant formula. Lower fecal fatty acid soap levels, fussy/crying time during the night and gut discomfort were observed. These findings contribute to the current understanding of the association between lipid structure and gut comfort parameters. However, the suggested benefits noted cannot be fully linked to the effect of fat blend differences since formulas differ in ingredient-sourcing and processing. Future research should confirm the added benefit of milk fat-based infant formulas to improve gut comfort parameters.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Association between food liking and the dietary
quality in Australian young adults
- Abstract: Wanich, Uracha; Riddell, Lynn; Cicerale, Sara; Mohebbi, Mohammadreza; Sayompark, Dhoungsiri; Liem, Djin Gie; Keast, Russell SJ
  Background and Objectives: An individual's liking for food maybe associated with food consumption. This study investigates the association between food liking and dietary quality in Australian young adults.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Food liking and food frequency data were collected via an online Food Liking Questionnaire (FLQ) and Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Food liking scores were calculated for groupings of foods. FFQ Food intake data was used to calculate diet quality using a 13 item Dietary Guideline Index (DGI). The relationship between food liking and DGI was assessed using linear regression models and the difference was assessed using an independent sample t-test and One-way ANOVA.
  
  Results: Data were available from n=2,535 participants (BMI=24 (SD 3.74), age=21.9 (SD 5.05) years, female=77.1%). Liking for grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, plant-based protein, was weakly positively associated with diet quality. Liking for animal-based protein, fat and oil, sweet food, and salty food, was weakly negatively associated with diet quality. Liking for grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, plant-based protein and healthy foods increased across increasing DGI tertiles, and liking for animal-based protein, fat and oil, sweet food, salty food and discretionary foods decreased across increasing DGI tertiles.
  
  Conclusions: The results were logical with increased liking for healthy or discretionary foods linked with increased consumption of those foods. The results reinforce the strategy to introduce a variety of healthy food groups early in life to initiate flavour-nutrient learning and increase liking for healthy foods.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Double burden of malnutrition in urbanized settled
Tibetan communities on the Tibetan plateau
- Abstract: Peng, Wen; Wang, Shulin; Han, Shuang; Su, Xiaodong; Zhao, Lei
  Background and Objectives: A previous pilot study revealed stunted children and obese adults in urbanized settled Tibetan communities. A survey with a representative population in selected communities was conducted to test the preliminary findings.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A cross-sectional study on the nutritional status involving 504 children (244 boys and 260 girls, 5-16 y) and 927 adults (422 men and 505 women, 18-90 y) was conducted in communities, with anthropometric parameters measured. The z-scores for height-for-age (HAZ) and BMI-for-age (BAZ) in children were calculated according to WHO 2007 reference.
  
  Results: The children showed a double burden of both under- and over-nutrition. The prevalence of under-nutrition in children was high - stunting (HAZ < -2) 10.7%, underweight (BAZ < -2) 9.5%, combined prevalence of stunting and underweight 19.4%. The rate of over-nutrition was also alarming - obesity 12.7% (BAZ > 2). The mean value of HAZ (- 0.45+-1.41) was lower than, whereas that of BAZ (0.05+-1.76) was comparable to, the WHO reference. No significant differences were found in under- or over-nutrition between genders. Specifically, 8.9% of children demonstrated both short stature (HAZ < -1) and overweight (BAZ > 1). By contrast, community adults showed almost a one-way direction tilted towards over-nutrition - overweight 61.4% (BMI >=24 kg/m2), obesity 30.1% (BMI >=28 kg/m2), and central obesity 62.0% (waist circumference, men >=85 cm, women >=80 cm). Women were marginally more likely to be obese than men ('p'=0.061).
  
  Conclusions: The co-existence of under- and over-nutrition in the community may have reflected the suboptimal early life nutrition and the obesogenic environment afterwards. Potential determinants need to be explored for future interventions.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Dietary diversity and all-cause mortality among
Chinese adults aged 65 or older: A community-based cohort study
- Abstract: Tao, Liyuan; Xie, Zheng; Huang, Tao
  Background and Objectives: To evaluate the association between dietary diversity and all-cause mortality in older adults.
  
  Methods and Study Design: 17,949 community-based elderly participants aged >=65 years in China were included in this cohort study. The baseline consumption frequencies of nine food groups (meat, vegetables, fish, eggs, fruits, legumes, milk, tea, and nuts) were recorded, and the dietary diversity score (0-9) was calculated. Survival status and death date were collected during follow-up. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to assess the association between dietary diversity and all-cause mortality.
  
  Results: We identified 8445 death events over 57,685 person-years of follow-up. Compared with participants in the lowest dietary diversity score group (score 0-1), higher dietary diversity scores were associated with lower mortality risk in univariate models. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants in the higher dietary diversity score group had a 9%-30% lower risk in all-cause mortality ('p' trend < 0.001) compared with those in the lowest dietary diversity score group. The inverse relationship between dietary diversity score and all-cause mortality was also significant in four food groups (vegetables, fish, fruits, and nuts). Similar results were observed in sensitivity analyses.
  
  Conclusions: Our study showed that dietary diversity was inversely associated with all-cause mortality in the Chinese elderly, especially in the oldest old and men. Therefore, increasing dietary diversity may reduce mortality rates in the older population, and tailored interventions for improving dietary diversity are required to benefit health and survival in them.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Vitamin D and liver cancer risk: A meta-analysis of
prospective studies
- Abstract: Guo, Xiao-Fei; Zhao, Ting; Han, Jian-min; Li, Shan; Li, Duo
  Background and Objectives: The association between circulating vitamin D and liver cancer risk has been controversial on the basis of epidemiological studies. The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate this association with prospective studies.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A systematic literature search was implemented in PubMed and Scopus databases up to June 2019. Using a random-effects model, the multivariate-adjusted relative risks (RRs) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled for the highest versus lowest category. Trend estimation was conducted with a two-stage dose-response meta-analysis.
  
  Results: Six independent prospective studies (992 liver cancer events and 60,811 participants) were included for data synthesis. The summary estimate showed that a higher circulating vitamin D was associated with lower risk of liver cancer (Summary RR=0.78; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.95; I2=53.6%, p=0.035). Dose-response analysis indicated that liver cancer was associated with 8% (95% CI: 0.89, 0.95) lower risk with a 10 nmol/L increment of circulating vitamin D concentration.
  
  Conclusions: The present study provides substantial evidence that a higher concentration of circulating vitamin D would have conferred protection against liver cancer.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Leisure-time physical activity and milk intake
synergistically reduce the risk of pathoglycemia: A cross-sectional study
in adults in Beijing, China
- Abstract: Na, Xiaona; Zhu, Zhu; Chen, Yangyang; He, Haizhen; Zhou, Guirong; Zhou, Jing; Zhang, Ting; Zhuang, Guoliang; Liu, Aiping
  Background and Objectives: To evaluate the synergistic and individual associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) intensity and the frequency of milk intake in adulthood with newly diagnosed pathoglycemia. Pathoglycemia comprised impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
  
  Methods and Study Design: This cross-sectional study of 3977 adults was conducted in Mentougou District, Beijing, China. After excluding ineligible individuals or those with missing data, 2977 participants were included in the final analysis. Data on LTPA, milk intake, and other demographic characteristics were obtained through previously designed questionnaires. Newly diagnosed pathoglycemia was determined based on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration.
  
  Results: Among all participants, 21.4% had newly diagnosed pathoglycemia, 9.9% engaged in moderate to vigorous leisure-time physical activity (MVLTPA), and 63.7% drank milk more than once weekly. Relative to those who engaged in low-intensity LTPA and drank milk less than once weekly, those who engaged in MVLTPA (OR: 0.584, 95%CI: 0.410-0.810) and drank milk more than once weekly (OR: 0.734, 95% CI: 0.614-0.878) had a lower risk of pathoglycemia; this association was greater when both variables interacted (OR: 0.446, 95% CI: 0.287-0.669).
  
  Conclusions: MVLTPA and enough frequency of milk intake synergistically decreased the risk of pathoglycemia. A future interventional study including both factors should be performed.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 29 Issue 1 - Reproducibility and construct validity of a food
frequency questionnaire for assessing dietary intake in rural and urban
Asian Indian adults
- Abstract: Sudha, Vasudevan; Anjana, Ranjit Mohan; Vijayalakshmi, Parthasarathy; Lakshmipriya, Nagarajan; Kalpana, Natarajan; Gayathri, Rajagopal; Priyadarshini, Rahavan Durga; Malini, Hutgikar Madhav; Chandrasekaran, Anitha; Mohan, Deepa; Raj, Sekar Sathish; Parthiban, Kumar; Ramakrishnan, Rajappan; Geetha, Gunasekaran; Krishnaswamy, Kamala; Unnikrishnan, Ranjit; Mohan, Viswanathan
  Background and Objectives: To evaluate the reproducibility and construct validity of the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation FFQ (MDRF-FFQ) with biomarkers for its use in epidemiological settings in India.
  
  Methods and Study Design: The MDRF-FFQ was administered to 500 participants representing rural and urban areas of 10 Indian states, twice at an interval of 12 months. Reproducibility was assessed using intra cluster correlation coefficients (ICC). Construct validity of carbohydrate and fat intake was assessed using baseline serum lipids by regression analysis.
  
  Results: Reproducibility as measured by ICC was 0.50-0.77 for saturated fatty acids (SFA) and energy in urban and 0.61-0.72 for protein and SFA in rural areas. The ICC for food groups was 0.53-0.77 for whole grains, fruits and vegetables in urban and 0.50-0.89 for animal foods and whole grains in rural areas. After adjusting for potential confounders, carbohydrate intake was positively associated with serum triglycerides (TG) (beta [SE]: +2.3 [0.72] mg/dL; p=0.002) and inversely with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) (beta [SE]:-0.48 [0.12], 'p' < 0.001), while dietary fat and SFA (% Energy) were positively associated with HDL, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol and inversely with TG.
  
  Conclusions: The MDRF-FFQ can be considered as a reliable and valid tool to measure the long-term dietary exposure in respect of macronutrient intakes in Indian populations despite diverse dietary practices.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 5 May 2020 16:07:36 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Genetic and epigenetic regulation of BHMT is
associated with folate therapy efficacy in hyperhomocysteinaemia
- Abstract: Li, Dankang; Yang, Jiao; Zhao, Qinglin; Zhang, Chengda; Ren, Bingnan; Yue, Limin; Du, Binghui; Godfrey, Opolot; Huang, Xiaowen; Zhang, Weidong
  Background and Objectives: Hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy) is an independent risk factors for several disorders, including cardiovascular disease. The understanding of the relationship among genetic, epigenetic and the efficacy of folate therapy for HHcy remain unclear. This study aim to investigate whether betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and DNA methylation are related to the efficacy of folate therapy for HHcy and whether BHMT DNA methylation mediates the SNP-folate therapy efficacy association.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A total of 638 patients with HHcy were involved in this prospective cohort study. Logistic and linear regression was used to explore associations among SNPs, DNA methylation, and folate therapy efficacy. Finally, mediation analysis was performed to investigate whether DNA methylation of BHMT mediates the association between SNPs and folate therapy efficacy.
  
  Results: BHMT rs3733890 was significantly associated with folate therapy efficacy (p
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Metabolic syndrome and risks of carotid
atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events in community-based older adults
in China
- Abstract: Wang, Chunxiu; Fang, Xianghua; Wu, Xiaoguang; Hua, Yang; Zhang, Zhongying; Gu, Xiang; Tang, Zhe; Guan, Shaochen; Liu, Hongjun; Liu, Beibei; Ji, Xunming
  Background and Objectives: Previous studies on the importance of metabolic syndrome (MS) as a cardiovascular risk factor had not focused on older Chinese adults. The present study analyzed the association of MS with carotid atherosclerosis and the risk of cardiovascular events in Chinese adults.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Data of a representative cohort study with 5-year follow-up were used. Community-dwelling people (n=1257) aged >=55 years without cardiovascular disease (CVD) at baseline were followed up from 2009 to 2014. MS was defined based on the Chinese Diabetes Society criteria under the Chinese Medical Association. Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the associations of MS with atherosclerosis and CVD events, with adjustment for confounding factors.
  
  Results: In a multivariate logistic regression model with adjustment, MS was closely related to common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) (1.62; 95% CI: 1.19-2.21) and carotid plaque presence (1.38; 95% CI: 1.01-1.89), but not with carotid artery stenosis. At the end of the 5-year follow- up, compared with subjects without MS, hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the different risks in subjects with MS were 1.86 (1.02-3.29) for myocardial infarction (MI), 1.39 (1.01-2.05) for stroke, 1.52 (1.02- 2.37) for CVD death, and 1.13 (0.62-2.58) for total death, after adjusting for age, gender, smoking, drinking, physical activity, uric acid, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, dietary factors and carotid atherosclerosis status.
  
  Conclusions: MS was significantly associated with IMT and the presence of carotid plaque and with positively increased risks of MI, stroke, and CVD mortality independent of CVD risk factors in older Chinese adults.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Associations of dietary diversity with allergic
diseases in Japanese workers: A cross-sectional study
- Abstract: Nakamoto, Mariko; Omine, Mariko; Yun, Yuna; Shuto, Emi; Nakamoto, Akiko; Hata, Akiko; Aki, Nanako; Shikama, Yosuke; Bando, Yukiko; Ichihara, Takako; Minamigawa, Takako; Tamura, Ayako; Kuwamura, Yumi; Funaki, Makoto; Sakai, Tohru
  Background and objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the associations of dietary diversity with prevalences of allergic diseases. Methods and study design: The participants were 1,317 men and women aged 20 to 63 years who were living in tokushima prefecture, Japan during the period 2012-2013. We obtained anthropometric data and information on lifestyle characteristics and current medical histories of allergic diseases using a self-administered questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and dietary diversity was determined using the quantitative index for dietary diversity (quantidd). The ors and 95% cis for each of the allergic diseases with a 1 standard deviation (sd) increase in the quantidd score were estimated, controlling for age, family history of allergic diseases, education, smoking, drinking, physical activity, energy intake and bmi. Results: Higher dietary diversity showed significant inverse dose-response relationships with allergic diseases and allergic rhinitis in women. Multivariate-adjusted ors (95% ci) for allergic diseases and allergic rhinitis with 1 sd increase in the quantidd score were 0.77 (95% ci: 0.60-0.98, 'p'=0.037) and 0.69 (95% ci: 0.53-0.90, 'p'=0.007), respectively, in women. There were no significant associations between dietary diversity and allergic diseases in men. Conclusions: The results indicate that there is an inverse association between higher dietary diversity and allergic rhinitis in Japanese female workers.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Salt intake assessed by spot urine on physical
examination in Hunan, China
- Abstract: Yang, Pingting; Chen, Zhiheng; Yin, Lu; Peng, Yaguang; Li, Xiaohui; Cao, Xia; Wang, Yaqin; Yang, Saiqi; Zhu, Xiaoling; He, Xue; Liu, Xuelian; Li, Ying
  Background and Objectives: Excessive salt intake is a major public health problem in several countries, especially in China. However, few people are aware of their salt intake. The purpose of this study is to carry out salt intake test in routine physical examination, and to explore the salt intake of different populations and their correlation with diet.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Spot urine sample was collected to test urinary sodium and creatinine excretions for each participant recruited from physical examinations at the Third Xiangya Hospital. The Tanaka formula was used to estimate 24-h urinary sodium excretion, which reflects salt intake. In addition to physical and laboratory examination, information including personal details, health-related habits, and selfreported disease histories was obtained from the National Physical Examination Questionnaire.
  
  Results: In total, 26,406 people completed the salt intake evaluation. After data cleansing, the average salt intake was 8.39+-1.80 g/d. Male, middle-aged, overweight and obese, hypertensive, and dyslipidaemic populations, as well as those with non-cardiovascular diseases were more likely to have excessive salt intake. Dietary sources had an effect on salt intake. Salt intake was lower in those who consumed more milk and fruit (both p and p trend
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Nutritional potential of underutilized food crops to
improve diet quality of young children in food insecure prone areas of
Madura Island, Indonesia
- Abstract: Andrias, Dini Ririn; Fahmida, Umi; Adi, Annis Catur
  Background and Objectives: Attention is currently given to the nutrition potential of underutilized food crops; however, only few studies have focused on this potential for young children. We investigate the nutrient composition of selected underutilized food crops in Bangkalan District, Madura Island, Indonesia, to determine its potential in meeting the nutritional needs of young children during the complementary feeding period.
  
  Methods and Study Design: We obtained data on the availability of underutilized food crops from a cross-sectional study conducted in 2014 in Bangkalan District, Indonesia, and nutrient composition primarily from the Indonesian Food Composition Database. We considered underutilized food crops to hold nutritional potential if they contributed at least 15% per 100 g edible portion recommended nutrient intake for children aged 6-11 months and 12-23 months or 5% recommended nutrient intake per 100 kcal for iron, zinc, calcium, niacin and folate.
  
  Results: We identified nutritionally potential underutilized food crops from several food groups, including Sorghum bicolor, Canna edulis, Colocasia esculenta (the starchy roots and leaves), Plectranthus rotundifolius, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, Moringa oleifera (the leaves and pods), Limonia acidissima, and Benincasa hispida-all of which can be utilized for formulating the complementary feeding diet of young children.
  
  Conclusions: In a food insecure area where malnutrition is prevalent, underutilized food crops have potential to improve the nutrient intake of young children in their complementary feeding period. These should be promoted through the creation of acceptable recipes and formulation of complementary feeding recommendations, which include these underutilized nutrient-dense crops.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Relationship of sociodemographic and anthropometric
characteristics, and nutrient and food intakes with osteoarthritis
prevalence in elderly subjects with controlled dyslipidaemia: A
cross-sectional study
- Abstract: Jeong, Youngseok; Lee, Si-woo; Kim, Yeonjoon; Kim, Kyuhwan; Seo, Unkyo; Bae, Kwang-Ho
  Background and Objectives: Several studies have suggested that abnormal levels of serum cholesterol may be a major risk factor for osteoarthritis. However, no studies have been conducted to prevent osteoarthritis under controlled conditions of serum cholesterol. This study aimed to examine the relationship of sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, and nutrient and food intakes with osteoarthritis prevalence in Korean elderly subjects with controlled dyslipidaemia.
  
  Methods and Study Design: This study included 314 subjects aged >=65 years who were diagnosed and treated for dyslipidaemia (data from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2016). Among them, 108 were also diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Sociodemographic, health, and nutritional data were analysed.
  
  Results: Osteoarthritis prevalence was higher in females, higher-educated subjects, unmarried subjects, non-smokers, and subjects with high body mass index (p
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - The association between parental weight status and
risk of hypertension in children aged 6 to 12 years
- Abstract: Lu, Liping; Chen, Cheng; Xun, Pengcheng; Wang, Jialu; Wan, Yanping; He, Ka
  Background and Objectives: Parents may play important roles in the regulation of children's weight status and consequently the development of childhood hypertension. Thus, this study aimed to examine parental weight status, as a marker of parents' diet and lifestyle, in relation to risk of hypertension in their children. Methods and Study Design: A total of 1,949 children aged 6 to 12 years (1,012 girls, 52%) and their parents were included. Information on demographics, anthropometrics, lifestyle, diet, and medical history were obtained from the participants and their parents through self-administered questionnaires. Childhood hypertension and elevated blood pressure were defined as SBP and/or DBP >=95th and >=90th age- and gender-specific percentile, respectively. Parental overweight was defined as BMI >=24.0 kg/m2. Results: The prevalence of childhood hypertension was 8.4%, with no significant gender difference (p=0.36). Parents' weight status, especially maternal, was associated with childhood hypertension. After adjustment for potential confounders, children with two parents being overweight were two times more likely to have hypertension as compared with children who had both parents being of normal weight [multivariable-adjusted odds ratio=2.09; 95% confidence interval: (1.26, 3.46)]. After further adjustment for children's body mass index, the observed association was substantially attenuated and became statistically non-significant. Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that parental weight status is associated with the prevalence of hypertension in children presumably through influencing children's weight. Further studies are needed to establish causal inference. This study highlights the importance of parental lifestyle in children's health.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Postpartum anemia is a neglected public health issue
in China: A cross-sectional study
- Abstract: Zhao, Ai; Zhang, Jian; Wu, Wei; Wang, Peiyu; Zhang, Yumei
  Background and Objectives: Anemia impairs the health and wellbeing of women and increases the risk of maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes. The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of postpartum anemia among urban lactating women; investigate the predictors of anemia and explore the potential health effects on lactating performance.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Multi-stage sampling methods were used to recruit 495 lactating women from 3 cities of China. Blood and breast milk samples were collected to analyze hemoglobin levels and iron content, respectively. The intakes and sources of iron-rich food and nutrients were investigated based on Food Frequency Questionnaire and 24 h dietary recall.
  
  Results: The overall prevalence of postpartum anemia was 32.7%; no cases of severe anemia were encountered. Women who living in Guangzhou had a significant higher anemia prevalence. Regards to dietary intake, the amount of iron intake was generally good with a high proportion of heme iron. The animal sources ratio was 23.0%. Total iron intake and the sources of iron were not associated with anemia. Vitamin C intake was significantly higher in non-anemic women (Median (25th, 75 th) was (72.6 (38.4, 130.0) mg/d)) than anemic women (54.7 (30.7, 111.3) mg/d). Other nutrient enhancers were not associated with anemia. There were no significant differences in the iron content of breast milk between women with and without anemia (r=0.047, 'p'=0.302).
  
  Conclusions: Postpartum anemia is common in urban Chinese women. A combination of interventions, including managing antenatal anemia and correcting inappropriate dietary habits will help to prevent postpartum anemia.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Colostral and mature breast milk protein compositional
determinants in Qingdao, Wuhan and Hohhot: maternal food culture, vaginal
delivery and neonatal gender
- Abstract: Liu, Biao; Gu, Fangjie; Ye, Wenhui; Ren, Yiping; Guo, Shuntang
  Background and Objectives: Breast milk proteins are essential to infants as they provide nutrition and protection. This study evaluated multiple factors that might influence breast milk proteins to identify the determinants that lead to inter-individual and longitudinal differences.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Five major breast milk proteins (beta-casein, alpha-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, serum albumin and K-casein) from breast milk samples collected from 55 mothers in three cities (Hohhot, Wuhan and Qingdao) in China were analyzed using a validated ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Various factors were statistically evaluated for their associations with breast milk proteins: mother's age, parity, delivery mode, infant gender and infant birthweight.
  
  Results: Although decreased in concentrations, the proportions of beta-casein and alpha-lactalbumin increased from colostrum (33.8% and 26.8%) to mature milk (40.3% and 31.6%), respectively. Mothers of older age were found to produce a lower concentration of total protein. Compared with vaginal delivery, caesarean section was associated with lower concentrations of κ-casein, lactoferrin and beta-casein in mature milk. Infant gender influenced breast milk proteins in colostrum: mothers who delivered a girl tended to produce more K-casein, lactoferrin and total protein. Furthermore, regional differences were found, and mothers from Hohhot produced significantly higher concentrations of alpha-lactalbumin and lactoferrin than those from Qingdao and Wuhan. This regional difference might be linked to the different dietary patterns of these mothers among cities.
  
  Conclusions: Our study deepens the understanding of breast milk protein dynamics in Chinese population and provides evidence on potential determinants, which can serve as guidance for infant nutrition optimization.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Citrus fruit intake and the risk of nasopharyngeal
carcinoma
- Abstract: Feng, Xin-Xin; Wang, Ming-Xu; Li, Ming; Tang, Xiao; Jiang, Hong; Wang, Rui; Ma, Le; Yin, Yue; Wu, Chang-Rui
  Background and Objectives: Citrus fruit are suggested to be associated with reduced risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but findings from epidemiologic studies have been inconsistent. We aimed to synthesize the association by conducting a meta-analysis of existing evidence.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Databases including Medline, EMBASE, Web of science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for eligible studies up to March 2019 using a series comprehensive searching terms. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of citrus fruit intake with NPC risk from each study were extracted to calculate a pooled association estimate with its 95% confidence interval (CI).
  
  Results: Nine studies totaling 3304 cases and 3850 controls were included in this analysis. Citrus fruit intake was significantly associated with reduced risk of NPC (OR: 0.72, 95% CI 0.58-0.91, p=0.005). In addition, this association tended to be stronger in Chinese (OR: 0.67, 95% CI 0.54-0.84, p
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Association between serum copper and heart failure: A
meta-analysis
- Abstract: Huang, Lei; Shen, Ronghuan; Huang, Longfei; Yu, Jing; Rong, Hao
  Background and Objectives: Copper dyshomeostasis can lead to many diseases, including cardiovascular disease. However, there are conflicting reports on the relationship between serum copper and heart failure (HF). To explore the relationship between serum copper levels and HF by performing a meta-analysis.
  
  Methods and Study Design: The PubMed and ScienceDirect databases until June 2019 were searched for reports on the association between serum copper levels and HF.
  
  Results: A total of thirteen studies including 1504 subjects were chosen for the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis indicated that patients with HF had higher serum copper than the control subjects [standardized mean difference (SMD), 0.982; 95% confidence interval (CI), (0.679, 1.285)]. Subgroup analysis stratified by different geographic locations found that HF patients had higher copper than the control subjects in Asia and Europe [Asia: SMD, 0.948 and 95% CI, (0.569, 1.327); Europe: SMD, 1.275 and 95% CI, (0.633, 1.917)], but not in America [America: SMD, 0.637 and 95% CI, (-0.109, 1.383)]. Additionally, subgroup analysis revealed that patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) [SMD, 1.171; 95% CI, (0.717, 1.624)], idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) [SMD, 0.569; 95% CI, (0.097, 1.042)] and other types of HF [SMD, 1.152; 95% CI, (0.594, 1.710)] all had higher copper levels than controls. Further subgroup analysis stratified by Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) scores also found higher serum copper in patients with HF than controls within each subgroup.
  
  Conclusions: Our meta-analysis identified a significant association between high serum copper and HF.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Dietary intakes of fruits and vegetables and lung
cancer risk in participants with different smoking status: A meta-analysis
of prospective cohort studies
- Abstract: Yang, Ting; Wang, Chong; Li, Shan; Guo, Xiao-Fei; Li, Duo
  Background and Objectives: The results from epidemiological studies are controversial between vegetable and fruit consumption and lung cancer risk in participants with different smoking status. The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate these associations with prospective cohort studies. Meanwhile, the potential dose-response relationship was evaluated.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Relevant studies were identified with PubMed and Scopus databases up to June 2019. Multivariate-adjusted relative risks for the highest versus the lowest category and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by using a random-effects model. The dose-response relationship was examined by using restricted cubic spline regression model.
  
  Results: Eight prospective studies were included for data synthesis. The summary estimates indicated that higher vegetable and fruit intake was significantly associated with lower risk of lung cancer in participants with current smokers (RR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.73, 0.95; I2=25.2%). No significant association was found in former smokers (RR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.88, 1.07; I2=15.0%) and never smokers (RR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.74, 1.11; I2=6.6%). Dose-response analysis showed that 100 g/day increment of vegetable and fruit intake was associated with a 2% reduction in lung cancer risk among current smokers (95% CI: 0.97, 0.99).
  
  Conclusions: The present meta-analysis provides significant evidence of an inverse association between vegetable and fruit intake and lung cancer risk in current smokers.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Higher serum magnesium concentration is associated
with lower hearing thresholds and risk of hearing loss among a Chinese
population
- Abstract: Cao, Yifei; Zhuang, Yizhen; Li, Chenhui; Ren, Ying; Wu, Yinyin; Wang, Xiu; Wang, Fei; Ma, Haiyan; Yang, Lei; Xu, Liangwen
  Background and Objectives: Hearing loss is a sensory impairment caused by genetic and environmental factors. Previous epidemiological studies of magnesium intake and hearing loss have yielded conflicting results.
  
  Methods and Study Design: We investigated the association between serum magnesium concentrations and hearing loss in a population from the Zhejiang region of China. A cross-sectional study of 3,267 participants aged 18 years and older from five hospitals was conducted from October 2016 to May 2018. An audiometric examination was conducted, and hearing thresholds were computed as pure-tone averages (PTAs) at speech (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) and high frequencies (3, 4, and 6 kHz). Magnesium concentrations were measured using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.
  
  Results: A linear regression analysis revealed a negative association between magnesium levels and hearing losses from lower to high PTAs. After the adjustment of potential confounders, participants in the highest magnesium quartile had a lower PTA (quartile 4: -1.89%; 95% confidence interval (CI: -3.07 to -0.701); 'p'=0.022) and high PTA (quartile 4: -3.05%; 95% CI: -4.64 to -1.46; 'p'=0.005) than those in the lowest quartile. A logistic regression analysis showed a dose-dependent reduction in the odds of high frequency hearing loss across magnesium quartiles. In model 3, after adjusting for all potential confounders, participants with the highest magnesium quartiles had a 54.0% (OR: 0.460; 95% CI: 0.339-0.587) reduction in the odds of high-frequency hearing loss.
  
  Conclusions: Higher whole blood levels of magnesium in this population were associated with lower hearing thresholds and risk of hearing loss.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Effect of green tea consumption on human brain
function in resting-state functional MRI
- Abstract: Wang, Hui; Sun, Wei; Chang, Yan; Wu, Zhenzhou; Xu, Yajie; Wang, Erlei; Wang, Lei; Yi, Peiwei
  Background and Objectives: Green tea is reported to have wide benefits on psychological states and cognitive functions. Studies that focus on the underlying neural mechanisms of green tea are limited to its single composition while people usually benefit from green tea water that contains various composition. In this study, we examined the human brain activity changes after drinking natural green tea by using regional homogeneity and functional connectivity based on the resting-state functional MRI technique.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Fifteen healthy volunteers participated in two imaging sessions: a control (water) session and a green tea session, each session comprised a predrinking, drinking, and postdrinking section, during the drinking section, the subject consumed 200 mL of green tea infusion or water in 3 to 5 minutes. Then the post-tea and post-water imaging data were selected for regional homogeneity and functional connectivity analysis.
  
  Results: Our results revealed that, compared with the control group, the green tea group exhibited an increased regional homogeneity in the frontal, parietal, and occipital areas of the brain, decreased regional homogeneity values in the left cuneus and left lingual gyrus, mainly a decreased functional connectivity in the default mode network, somatosensory, visual cortex, and parieto-frontal areas and enhanced functional connectivity in brain regions associated with memory.
  
  Conclusions: This result indicates that green tea consumption impacts the brain activity during resting state.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Association between serum ferritin and non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease among middle-aged and elderly Chinese with normal
weight
- Abstract: You, Guoju; Ding, Jie; Shen, Jingli; Wang, Yan; Sun, Yongye
  Background and Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in normal-weight population is becoming an important health issue. This study aimed to assess the association between serum ferritin (SF) and NAFLD among middle-aged and elderly Chinese with normal weight.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A total of 2029 Chinese adults aged 35-70 years with normal weight were involved in this cross-sectional study. General information, lifestyle factors and laboratory characteristics were collected. The concentrations of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and SF were recorded. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was applied to assess predictive performance of SF for NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the associations of SF with NAFLD and elevated ALT.
  
  Results: Compared with controls, subjects with NAFLD had higher SF concentrations (p
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Effect of exercise therapy combined with
branched-chain amino acid supplementation on muscle strength in elderly
women after total hip arthroplasty: A randomized controlled trial
- Abstract: Ikeda, Takashi; Matsunaga, Yuki; Kanbara, Masanori; Kamono, Arinori; Masuda, Tadashi; Watanabe, Minoru; Nakanishi, Ryosuke; Jinno, Tetsuya
  Background and Objectives: Many patients develop a prolonged decrease of muscle strength after total hip arthroplasty (THA) despite their reconstructed hip joint. Physical exercise combined with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation has been reported to improve muscle strength in elderly persons with sarcopenia. However, the effect of BCAA supplementation in patients after THA is unknown. This study examined the effects of BCAA supplementation combined with exercise therapy on the improvement of physical function in elderly patients after THA.
  
  Methods and Study Design: The subjects were 31 elderly women who underwent THA. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: BCAA (n=18) and control (n=13). The combined therapy was carried out for one month after THA. For the exercise intervention, a 3-set physical exercise program was conducted. For the nutritional intervention, the participants consumed 3.4 g of BCAA supplement or 1.2 g of starch immediately after the exercise intervention.
  
  Results: BCAA supplementation combined with muscle strengthening exercises had a significant effect on knee extension strength of the contralateral side and on upper arm cross-sectional area. The improvement ratio of knee extension strength before and after intervention on the operated side was also significantly higher in the BCAA group.
  
  Conclusions: BCAA supplementation is effective for patients to improve the strength of some muscles when combined with physical exercises, but hip abductor muscle strength of the operated leg did not improve. A future study is needed to determine the efficacy of this combined therapy for hip abductor muscle strength.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - A randomized controlled trial of preoperative
carbohydrate drinks on postoperative walking capacity in elective
colorectal surgery
- Abstract: Wongyingsinn, Mingkwan; Luangchan, Soraya; Tungsongsawat, Sawinee; Trakarnsanga, Attaporn; Lohsiriwat, Varut
  Background and Objectives: Routine overnight fasting may increase the risk of postoperative complications and delay postoperative recovery. Oral carbohydrate drinks have been shown to reduce glucose utilization and postoperative negative nitrogen balance while preserving muscle mass and strength. This randomized controlled trial aimed to examine whether preoperative oral carbohydrate drinks can enhance postoperative physical recovery in patients undergoing major colorectal surgery.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Seventy patients were randomly assigned to receive either a 12.5% oral carbohydrate drink or pure water. Patients in both groups received 800- mL of one of the drinks on the evening before surgery, and another 400-mL drink on the morning of the operative day. The primary outcomes were the distances covered in 2-minute-walk tests at 24, 48 and 72-hours and 6- minute walk tests at 7-10 days postoperatively. The secondary outcomes were the postoperative serum insulin and glucose concentrations, nitrogen balance, duration of hospital stay, and the patient satisfaction scores.
  
  Results: There were no significant differences in the characteristics of the two patients-groups. The postoperative 2-minute and 6-minute walk test distances, serum insulin and glucose concentrations of both groups were not statistically different. Patients receiving carbohydrate drink had more positive nitrogen balance than the control group. The duration of hospital stay and patient satisfaction scores were similar for both-groups.
  
  Conclusions: There were no statistically significant differences in the postoperative walking capacities of patients receiving a carbohydrate drink or pure water; only the nitrogen balance on postoperative day 3 was higher for patients receiving the carbohydrate drink.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Recovery of 'Lactobacillus casei' strain Shirota (LcS)
from faeces with 14 days of fermented milk supplementation in healthy
Australian adults
- Abstract: Cox, Amanda J; Makino, Hiroshi; Cripps, Allan W; West, Nicholas P
  Background and Objectives: A key measure for classifying bacteria as a probiotic is the ability to survive gastric transport and be recoverable in faeces. The aim of this study was to determine whether Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) could be recovered in the faeces of healthy young Australian adults following ingestion of a fermented milk drink.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A cohort of 25 healthy individuals (male/female: 14/11; age: 29.3+-6.6 years; BMI: 25.3+-2.7 kg/m2, mean+-SD) ingested one 65 ml bottle of fermented milk containing 6.5 109 LcS live cells daily for 14 days. Participants provided a faecal sample at day 0, day 7 (mid-supplementation), day 14 (end of supplementation) and 14 days after cessation of the supplement (day 28) for assessment of the number of viable LcS via microbial culture on selective media with confirmation using a colony-direct polymerase chain reaction and species-specific primers.
  
  Results: The supplement was well tolerated by participants. No LcS colonies were recovered from participants prior to ingestion of the fermented milk drink. All participants had recoverable LcS colonies at day 7 and day 14, with a mean recovery of 6.5+-1.1 and 6.4+-1.1 log10 CFU/g of faeces (mean+-SD) at each time point respectively. LcS was detectable in only one sample at 14 days following the cessation of supplementation.
  
  Conclusions: Live LcS is recoverable in faeces from healthy Australian adults following daily ingestion of a fermented milk drink.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Probiotics in preventing and treating
chemotherapy-induced diarrhea: A meta-analysis
- Abstract: Lu, Dongxue; Yan, Jing; Liu, Feng; Ding, Pinpin; Chen, Bingyu; Lu, Yin; Sun, Zhiguang
  Background and Objectives: To systematically assess the safety and effectiveness of probiotics in preventing and treating chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID), so as to provide the evidence-based evidence for clinical practice.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Electronic databases, including EMbase, Cochrane Library, pubMed, CNKI, VIP, CBM, and Wanfang databases, were retrieved to search for the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CIDs among patients with malignant tumors treated with probiotics as of March 2019. Later, the Rev Man 5.3 statistical software was employed to extract data and assess the quality of the identified literature for meta-analysis.
  
  Results: Finally, 13 RCTs involving a total of 1024 patients were included into the current meta-analysis. Results of this meta-analysis showed that the addition of probiotics to conventional symptomatic treatment could evidently reduce the total diarrhea rate in patients with cancer [RR=0.47, 95% CI (0.35, 0.63), p
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Vitamin D and depression: Mechanisms, determination
and application
- Abstract: Geng, Chunmei; Shaikh, Abdul Sami; Han, Wenxiu; Chen, Dan; Guo, Yujin; Jiang, Pei
  Depression is the most common debilitating psychiatric disease, the pathological mechanisms of which are associated with multiple aspects of neural function. While recent evidence has consistently suggested that a suboptimal vitamin D status is frequently observed in patients with depression, the results concerning whether vitamin D insufficiency is a causal factor of depression or is secondary to depressive behavior are conflicting; additionally, the lack of consistency of the method of vitamin D determination between labs has further worsened this confusion. Herein, we reviewed the neuroactivities of vitamin D that may be associated with depression and the current studies and clinical investigations to provide a full overview on the use of vitamin D in the treatment and prevention of depression.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding is
beneficial in patients with advanced dementia
- Abstract: Rakici, Halil; Ayvaz, Muhammed Ali
  Background and Objectives: We aimed to show the long-term results of patients who received percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes and to evaluate the usefulness of this method in advanced dementia patients, which is considered to be of controversial benefit in the literature. Therefore, we compared three groups of patients: advanced dementia patients fed via PEG, stroke patients fed via PEG and advanced dementia patients not fed via PEG.
  
  Methods and Study Design: In total, 305 files of patients who underwent PEG implantation were screened retrospectively, and 283 were analyzed. A total of 93 advanced dementia patients who were not fed via PEG were included as the control group, and the PEG-fed group was compared in terms of mortality and CRP levels with the advanced dementia control group not fed via PEG.
  
  Results: The median length of PEG stay was 9 months. In total, 49 (17.5%) patients developed complications. Mortality (p=0.0002) and CRP levels (p=0.01) were statistically significant in the advanced dementia group not fed via PEG. The group with stroke and the dementia patients were analyzed regarding length of PEG stay, complications and mortality. The length of PEG stay, rate of complications and mortality in the stroke group were not found to be statistically significant in comparison to the dementia group.
  
  Conclusions: Mortality and CRP levels were statistically significantly higher in the advanced dementia group not fed via PEG. The mortality and rate of complications in the dementia group were similar to those in the stroke group. Feeding with PEG-tubes is a proper and preferable method for advanced dementia patients.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Docosahexaenoic acid and the brain - what is its
role'
- Abstract: Sinclair, Andrew James
  Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a 22-carbon omega 3 PUFA highly enriched in the neuronal cell membranes and rod outer segment membranes. When DHA is depleted from these cell membranes it is replaced nearly quantitatively by a 22-carbon omega 6 PUFA, docosapentaenoic acid, which has similar, but less potent, biophysical and physiological properties to DHA. It is speculated that omega 6-docosapentaenoic acid is a buffer to prevent the possible catastrophic effects of DHA depletion on brain and visual function. The primary insult from the loss of DHA from cell membrane glycerophospholipids, and replacement by omega 6-docosapentaenoic acid, is on the flexibility/compression of the membrane lipids which affects the optimal function of integral membrane proteins (receptors, voltage-gated ion channels and enzymes). This leads to effects on second messenger systems, and subsequently affects neurotransmitter concentrations due to 'weakened' signals from the initiating receptors. Remembering there are more than 80 billion neurones and many times more synaptic connections between neurons, a very small loss of "efficiency" in signal due to altered properties of membrane proteins would likely result in meaningful changes in brain and visual function. Additionally, impairment of neurotransmission could be due, in part, to sub-optimal brain energy metabolism (glucose entry into the brain), which is significantly reduced in omega 3 deficiency. Many studies report that dietary omega 3 deficiency results in changes in learning, coping with stress, behavioural changes, and responses in visual function. It is thus concluded that DHA is an essential fatty acid for optimal neuronal function.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Early intervention with supplemental parenteral
nutrition reduces the incidence of granulocytopenia-related infections in
patients with lung cancer: A retrospective cohort study
- Abstract: Qi, Xiaoguang; Qi, Chunyan; Wu, Tao; Qin, Boyu; Hu, Yi
  Background and Objectives: The optimal timing for initiating supplemental parenteral nutrition in chemotherapy- induced severe granulocytopenia in patients with lung cancer remains uncertain.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A retrospective study was conducted among patients with lung cancer from February 2016 to June 2018. In total, 182 eligible patients were included and divided into 2 groups according to the time of supplemental parenteral nutrition intervention: early initiation (within 72 hours of development of granulocytopenia) and late initiation (over 72 hours). The primary outcomes of the study were bacterial infection and fungal infection, and the secondary outcomes were duration of absolute neutrophil count less than 1.0 109 cells/L, length of hospital stay, mortality rate, and rate of chemotherapy (4 cycles) completion.
  
  Results: The incidence rates of bacterial infection and fungal infection were significantly lower among patients who received supplemental parenteral nutrition early than among patients who received it late. No significant difference in mortality was observed between the groups. In addition, compared with late supplemental parenteral nutrition, early supplemental parenteral nutrition was associated with a higher rate of completion of 4 chemotherapy cycles and shorter hospital stays and leukocyte recovery periods in our cohort. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the subgroup of patients with an NRS-2002 score of 2 benefited from early supplemental parenteral nutrition.
  
  Conclusions: Early supplemental parenteral nutrition after chemotherapy-induced severe granulocytopenia could reduce the risk of infection, improve the likelihood of chemotherapy completion, and shorten hospital stays and leukocyte recovery times.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Advances and gaps in recommendations for adequate
water intake in China
- Abstract: Zhang, Na; Du, Songming; Yang, Yuexin; Ma, Guansheng
  Water is essential for life survival and development. It plays a pivotal role in metabolic function, modulates normal osmotic pressure, maintains the electrolyte balance, and regulates body temperature. Adequate water intake is necessary for optimal hydration - both excessive and insufficient water consumption can have adverse effects on health. Water requirements among people vary based on various factors such as gender, age, physical activity, dietary factors, ambient temperature, and renal concentrating capacity. In recent years, water intake guidelines have been developed in some countries and by some organisations. Even in China, it is important to develop such guidelines considering specific dietary habits, height of people, and environmental factors. In 2013, guidelines for adequate water intake were developed in China, but the scope was somewhat limited; there are still specific challenges in formulating such recommendations. Future water-related studies should focus on surveying water intake among infants and toddlers, older adults, and pregnant and lactating women. Moreover, additional studies should be conducted to elucidate water intake among adults and adolescents in different regions and seasons, and the association between water intake and related diseases should also be investigated. It is imperative to transform the results of scientific research into action plans for water-related health education so as to inform and evaluate pertinent public health programmes.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 4 - Associations between iron status and insulin
resistance in Chinese children and adolescents: Findings from the China
health and nutrition survey
- Abstract: Wei, Junxiang; Luo, Xiaoqin; Zhou, Sirui; He, Xin; Zheng, Jinge; Sun, Xiaomin; Cui, Wei
  Background and Objectives: Iron homeostasis abnormalities are associated with insulin resistance (IR), but studies on such associations in children and adolescents are limited and have contrasting results. The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between indicators of iron status and IR, and assesse if there are sex disparities in these associations.
  
  Methods and Study Design: We selected data of 689 children and adolescents (367 boys and 322 girls) aged 6-18 years in the analysis. Serum ferritin, transferrin, and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels were determined. The level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was assessed using highperformance liquid chromatography. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to indicate the status of insulin resistance. Stepwise and multivariate logistic regression analyses were computed to evaluate associations between iron status and glucose parameters.
  
  Results: The prevalence of IR (HOMAIR >3.16) and high HbA1c (HbA1c >=5.7%) were 29.8% and 16.4%, respectively. Serum transferrin and sTfR were significant associated with HbA1c (p
  PubDate: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 20:27:16 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Auscultation-assisted bedside postpyloric placement of
feeding tube in critically ill patients: A prospective, observational
study
- Abstract: Xiao, Jianguo; Mao, Zhi; Hua, Ming; Chen, Tengfei; Liu, Hui; Hu, Pan; Tang, Sheng; Kang, Hongjun; Zhou, Feihu
  Background and Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of auscultation-assisted bedside postpyloric feeding tube (ABPFT) placement in early enteral nutritional support for critically ill patients.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A prospective observational study was conducted and 92 critically ill patients who met the inclusion criteria undergoing ABPFT placement after the intravenous injection of 10 mg of metoclopramide were included. Abdominal X-ray was performed to confirm the location of the catheter tip. End points investigated were the success rate of tube placement, rate of jejunal tube placement, duration of the procedure, length of insertion, and number of attempts. Operational-related adverse events or complications were also documented and evaluated.
  
  Results: The total success rate of postpyloric feeding tube implantation was 97.8% (90/92), among which, 89.1% (82/92) of the tubes were placed proximal to the jejunum. The first-attempt success rate was 91.3% (84/92) and the mean attempt per individual patient was 1.11+-0.38 times. The mean operation time was 28.6+-17.7 minutes, and the mean insertion length of tube was 106+-9.6 cm. A total of 27 adverse events occurred in 19.6% (18/92) patients and there was no serious adverse events or complications during the study period.
  
  Conclusions: Assistance by auscultation can significantly improve the success rate of nasal feeding tube placement. This simple, safe and fast approach is feasible for the application among health practitioners in the intensive care unit.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Effects of an individualized nutrition intervention on
the respiratory quotient of patients with liver failure
- Abstract: Liu, Xing; Kong, Ming; Hua, Xin; Yang, Yinchuan; Xu, Manman; Bi, Yanzhen; Li, Lu; Duan, Zhongping; Chen, Yu
  Background and Objectives: Malnutrition and energy metabolism disorders are characterized by a low respiratory quotient in patients with liver failure and often lead to poor prognosis. Therefore, early nutrition interventions are crucial for patients with liver failure to ameliorate abnormal metabolic status and malnutrition. This study explored the effect of an individualized nutrition intervention on the respiratory quotient of patients with liver failure.
  
  Methods and Study Design: An individualized 2-week nutrition intervention was conducted on patients with nutritional risk caused by liver failure according to patient resting energy expenditure. Patients were separated into two groups for further analysis according to whether their energy intake reached 1.2 times their resting energy expenditure.
  
  Results: Fifty-two patients with nutritional risk caused by liver failure were enrolled. Their average respiratory quotient was 0.79 (0.76-0.84) at the baseline. Patients with an energy intake of >=1.2 times their resting energy expenditure had a higher respiratory quotient and lower scores on the model for end-stage liver disease and Child-Pugh test than those with an energy intake of =1.2 times the patient's resting energy expenditure can effectively improve the respiratory quotient and reduce disease severity in patients with nutritional risk caused by liver failure.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Effect of micronutrient pack on micronutrient status
and antioxidant capacities among institutional older adults in Shanghai,
China
- Abstract: Ren, Qian; Xie, Hua; Chen, Yan-Qiu; Wu, Cai-Fang; Li, Huo; Lu, Yun-Wei; Lin, Na; Li, Xun; Yuan, Wei; Yang, Yun-Hua; Jin, Hang-Mei; Sun, Jian-Qin
  Background and Objectives: Older adults are at increased risk of micronutrient deficiency, disrupting the balance of oxidation/antioxidation system and leading to serious health burdens. This study aimed to investigate the effect of micronutrient pack on micronutrient status and oxidative/antioxidative biomarkers in institutional older adults.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Subjects aged 65-100 years were randomly assigned to either intervention group or control group (n=49 each), providing a package of micronutrient pack or placebo daily for three months. The concentrations of micronutrients, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected both at baseline and at the end of the study.
  
  Results: The changes in concentrations of serum folate (21.1+-1.6 vs 0.6+-0.5 nmol/L), vitamin B-1 (3.4+-0.4 vs -0.2+-0.3 nmol/L), vitamin B-2 (11.5+-3.3 vs 2.3+-1.4 nmol/L), vitamin B-12 (128.8+-34.8 vs 13.3+-16.0 pmol/L), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (17.8+-1.3 vs -0.8+-0.5 ng/mL) and plasma zinc (0.6+-1.8 vs -9.6+-1.9 mumol/L) over 3-months were significantly increased in the intervention group compared with the control group (all 'p'
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Effect of oral nutritional supplementation on the
post-discharge nutritional status and quality of life of gastrointestinal
cancer patients after surgery: A multi-center study
- Abstract: Zh, Ming-Wei; Yang, Xin; Xiu, Dian-Rong; Yang, Yong; Li, Guo-Xin; Hu, Wei-Guo; Wang, Zhi-Gang; Cui, Hong-Yuan; Wei, Jun-Min
  Background and Objectives: To evaluate the effect of oral nutritional supplementation (ONS) on the post-discharge nutritional status and quality of life (QoL) of gastrointestinal cancer patients after surgery.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A multi-center study was conducted on gastrointestinal cancer patients who received surgical treatment from 2013-2015. All patients were screened using the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) to assess nutritional risk. Patients with nutritional risk were randomized into two groups: patients in the study group (n=55) were given dietary guidance and ONS, control group (n=59) received only dietary guidance. Anthropometric measurements, nutrition-related laboratory tests, and gastrointestinal function scores were also collected and analyzed using Student's t test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). In addition, the EQ-5D was used to evaluate patients' QoL.
  
  Results: Compared with baseline measurements, the body weight of patients in the study group increased by 1.35+-0.53 kg and 1.35+-0.73 kg at 60 and 90 days, which were significantly higher than those in the control group (-1.01+-0.54 kg, and -1.60+-0.81 kg at 60 and 90 days). The results from ANOVA showed that only weight and BMI differed significantly between the study and control groups and also between different measurement times ('p'
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Prognostic significance of preoperative skeletal
muscle status in patients with gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy
- Abstract: Hu, Chun-Lei; Jin, Xing-Han; Yuan, Zhi-Dong; Xiong, Shao-Wei; Zhang, Lin; Hou, Jia-Ning; Ao, Sheng; Wu, Jian-Long; Shi, Han-Ping; Ji, Jia-Fu; Lyv, Guo-Qing
  Background and Objectives: The association between skeletal muscle status and gastric cancer (GC) prognosis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of the skeletal muscle index (SMI) on overall survival (OS) in GC patients after radical gastrectomy.
  
  Methods and Study Design: We divided 178 patients into four groups: adult men, adult women, elderly men and elderly women. The SMI, calculated using CT images, of patients was graded using cutoff values of group-specific tertiles. Age, body mass index, SMI grade, Charlson comorbidity index, surgical method (total vs distal gastrectomy), tumor stage, and histological type and differentiation were included in Cox regression models to assess the primary outcome parameter of OS. A new prognostic score for 3- year OS was established by combining the SMI grade and tumor stage, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to determine its predictive reliability.
  
  Results: For groups with high, medium, and low SMI grades, the 3-year OS rates were 94.04, 79.08 and 59.09% and 86.09, 70.11 and 49.11% ('p'˂0.001) in patients undergoing distal and total gastrectomy, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, low SMI (hazard ratio (HR) 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14-2.9), advanced stage (HR 2.89, 95% CI 1.43-5.83), and total gastrectomy (HR 1.69, 95% CI 0.95-3.01) were independent risk factors for OS ('p'˂0.010). The areas under the ROC curves for the prognostic score were 0.77 (range 0.61-0.93) and 0.76 (range 0.65-0.86) in patients undergoing distal and total gastrectomy, respectively.
  
  Conclusions: The preoperative SMI was an independent prognostic factor for long-term survival in GC patients after radical gastrectomy.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Effect of palm oil consumption on plasma lipid
concentrations related to cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and
meta-analysis
- Abstract: Wang, Fengling; Zhao, Dacheng; Yang, Yuexin; Zhang, Lishi
  Background and Objectives: The precise association between palm oil consumption and lipid-related cardiovascular disease risk remains unclear. A systematic review was thus performed to assess whether palm oil consumption has a negative effect on plasma lipid-related cardiovascular disease marker levels.
  
  Methods and Study Design: In June 2018, the electronic bibliographic databases PubMed, EMBASE (Ovid), the Cochrane Library (Ovid) and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched and a total of 11 eligible dietary intervention articles involving 961 volunteers were selected. Both random and fixed effect models were used to calculate pooled weighted mean differences (WMD).
  
  Results: A total of 11 articles involving 547 participants met the inclusion criteria. The pooled analysis revealed that palm oil increased the concentration of High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD: 0.15 mmol/L; p
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Bridging the gap between research and practice for
nutrition support after pelvic exenteration surgery
- Abstract: Hogan, Sophie; Solomon, Michael; Rangan, Anna; Carey, Sharon
  Background and Objectives: Current best practice for postoperative feeding in surgical patients is well established, however implementation of evidence-based practice comes with many challenges. A common barrier is surgeon adherence to guidelines and the reasons behind this are not well understood. Pelvic exenteration surgery is a complex surgery and postoperative feeding methods in this patient cohort vary significantly from patient to patient. The aim of this study was to identify barriers and enablers for surgeons to implement evidence based feeding methods after pelvic exenteration surgery and provide practical strategies for non-surgeon healthcare workers to improve compliance.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A qualitative study was conducted by performing semi-structured interviews with 12 Consultant Surgeons at hospitals in Australia and New Zealand with dedicated pelvic exenteration services. Deductive and inductive thematic analysis was performed in line with the Theoretical Domains Framework and Behaviour Change Wheel model to identify relevant domains, themes and intervention functions.
  
  Results: Culture was identified as an overarching theme that influenced postoperative feeding practices, surgeon behaviours and sub-themes. Identified sub-themes included motivation, relationships and expectations, environment and 'moving forward'. Motivations to use different types of feeding routes postoperatively varied across hospitals. Relationships, surgeons' expectations and the environment all influenced the way in which patients were fed postoperatively. Practical strategies were identified to assist non-surgeon healthcare workers achieve positive change moving forward with postoperative feeding.
  
  Conclusions: Practical strategies to promote enablers and reduce barriers are required to bring about positive change and align practice with the evidence.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Diet and lipid-lowering drug use among people with
dyslipidemia in Korea
- Abstract: Kwan, Yeol Yang; Yong, Chul Soon; Choi, Hye Duck; Kim, Jong Oh
  Background and Objectives: Obesity and diet contribute to the development of hypercholesterolemia; therefore, controlling blood lipid concentration through diet is essential. To understand the role of diet in controlling blood lipid concentration, we evaluated the food and nutrient intakes, anthropometry, and blood lipid concentrations of adults with dyslipidemia with or without lipid-lowering drug use.
  
  Methods and Study Design: For this cross-sectional study, three-year data were obtained from the 6th-7th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015-2017). Patients with dyslipidemia were categorized as users (1,734) or nonusers (856) of lipid-lowering drugs.
  
  Results: Age, education level, marital status, self-reported health status, hypertension, diabetes, and alcohol intake were significantly different between users and nonusers (p
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Riceberry rice puddings: Rice-based low glycemic
dysphagia diets
- Abstract: Suttireung, Prangtip; Winuprasith, Thunnalin; Srichamnong, Warangkana; Paemuang, Wannaporn; Phonyiam, Tawaree; Trachootham, Dunyaporn
  Background and Objectives: Swallowing difficulty and diabetes mellitus are common in the elderly. However, texture-modified foods suitable for blood sugar control are scarce. This study was aimed to identify texture, glycemic indices (GIs) and postprandial responses of original and high-fiber Riceberry rice puddings.
  
  Methods and Study Design: International Dysphagia Diet Standard Initiative (IDDSI)'s methods were used to determine texture. 'In vitro' digestion was performed for estimating glycemic indices. A randomized cross-over controlled trial was conducted in twelve healthy volunteers. Original pudding, high-fiber pudding and white bread containing 40 g carbohydrate each were assigned in random sequence with twelve-day wash-out intervals. Plasma glucose concentrations were measured at 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min after food intake. Individual GIs of puddings were calculated.
  
  Results: Original and high-fiber puddings were classified as IDDSI level 3 (liquidized) and 4 (pureed), respectively. The 'in vitro' estimated GIs were 51 for original and 48 for high-fiber puddings. Clinical trial showed rapid kinetics (peaked at 30 min) but lower postprandial responses of both puddings, compared to white bread (peaked at 60 min). The adjusted GIs for original and high-fiber puddings were not significantly different (at 41+-7.60 and 36+-6.40, respectively).
  
  Conclusions: Addition of fiber to the original pudding changed physical properties but not significantly reduced the GI. Original and high-fiber Riceberry rice puddings could be low-GI dysphagia diets, which may be useful for step-wise swallowing practice from IDDSI level 3 to 4 for those who also required blood sugar control.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Cord serum vitamin D in a South China birth cohort
- Abstract: Zhang, Joy Y; Wang, Jing; Hu, Shunping; Chen, Danyang; Lu, Qinsheng; Wei, Ru; Tan, Meizhen; Lash, Gendie E
  Background and Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with many adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels (
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations are positively
associated with blood pressure and hypertension risk in older adults: A
retrospective cross-sectional study, Sharpeville, South Africa
- Abstract: Jamshidi-Naeini, Yasaman; Bavil, Ali Khodayari; Egal, Abdulkadir; Oldewage-Theron, Wilna
  Background and Objectives: We aimed to determine the association between Hemoglobin (Hb) and ferritin with blood pressure (BP) and risk of hypertension (HTN) among elderly South African adults in four time points over a period of 10 years.
  
  Methods and Study Design: We used the data source from the Sharpeville Project conducted among the elderly in Sharpeville, South Africa (SA). A total of 275 subjects from the 2004 data source were included. Among these, data were available for 251, 114, and 81 subjects in 2007, 2012, and 2014 respectively. Confounding factors included age, BMI, sodium intake, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and serum total cholesterol. Linear and logistic regressions were used to investigate the Hb and ferritin associations with BP and HTN risk.
  
  Results: Mean age in 2004, 2007, 2012, and 2014 was 72.8+-8.66, 75.8+-7.28, 80.2+-9.54, and 83.2+-8.98 respectively. In the unadjusted model, systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), after 132.2 and 83.6 mmHg, increased by 0.57 and 0.72 mmHg respectively for each increment increase in Hb. In the adjusted model, slope coefficients remained statistically significant. Adjusted OR (95% CI) for the highest quartile of Hb (Q4) compared to the first quartile (Q1) in 2004 ('p'
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Relationship between carbohydrate intake and risk
factors for cardiovascular disease in Chinese adults: Data from the China
Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS)
- Abstract: Ma, Yan; Su, Chang; Wang, Huijun; Wang, Zhihong; Liang, Hui; Zhang, Bing
  Background and Objectives: It is well known that dietary factors affect the development of cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the associations between carbohydrate intake and cardiovascular disease risk factors using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, 2009.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A total of 6,648 Chinese adults aged 18-60 were divided into five groups based on carbohydrate intake (% of energy). Mixed-effect linear regression models were used to estimate the risk factors in relation to carbohydrate intake, and mixed-effect logistic regression models were used to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  
  Results: When age was adjusted, carbohydrate intake was negatively correlated with total cholesterol and triglycerides in men and total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women. However, there were positive associations of carbohydrate intake with waist circumference, body mass index, and blood pressure in women. After additional adjustment for urbanicity index, income, physical activity, education, alcohol and smoking, and dietary intake, the 5th quintile of carbohydrate intake reduced the risk for high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women (OR=0.73, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.99) compared with the 1st quintile. However, the top quintile of carbohydrate intake increased the risk for impaired glucose tolerance in men (OR=2.08, 95% CI: 1.04, 4.16) compared with the lowest quintile after adjusting for all confounders.
  
  Conclusions: Higher-carbohydrate diets may associate with risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Moderate carbohydrate intake is recommended for daily consumption. These results suggest that improving dietary patterns may be an important approach to the prevention of cardiovascular disease in Chinese adults.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Major dietary patterns and their relationship to
obesity among urbanized adult Tibetan pastoralists
- Abstract: Peng, Wen; Liu, Yongnian; Liu, Yan; Zhao, Hong; Chen, Hongru
  Background and Objectives: This study investigated major dietary patterns and their relationship to obesity among urbanized Tibetan pastoralists.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Using a cross-sectional design, this study assessed 782 urbanized Tibetan pastoralists aged 18-84 y. A food frequency questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were conducted in 2018. Principal component analysis was used to identify dietary patterns. Logistic regression was applied to compare the risks for overweight (BMI >=24 kg/m2), obesity (BMI >=28 kg/m2), and central obesity (waist circumference >=80 cm for women and >=85 cm for men) across quintiles of dietary pattern scores after controlling for gender, age, education, medical insurance, smoking status, alcohol consumption and physical activity.
  
  Results: This study identified three major dietary patterns: an urban pattern characterized by high intake of vegetables, tubers/roots, and refined carbohydrates; a western pattern characterized by sugary drinks, snacks, and desserts; and a pastoral pattern characterized by 'tsamba' (roasted Tibetan barley), Tibetan cheese, and buttered/milk tea. Subjects in the highest quintile of urban pattern scores were more likely to be overweight (OR=2.58, 95% CI 1.48-4.49) ('p'-for-trend=0.001), obese (2.94, 1.57-5.49) ('p'-for-trend=0.001), and centrally obese (1.94, 1.12-3.36) ('p'-for-trend=0.019) compared to those in the lowest quintile with confounders controlled. The western dietary pattern was positively associated with overweight ('p'-for-trend=0.037). No clear association was observed for the pastoral dietary pattern.
  
  Conclusions: Urban and western dietary patterns independently predict the likelihood of being overweight. Improved nutrition education may contribute to healthier eating behaviors, thus reducing or preventing obesity.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - The contribution of milks and formulae to
micronutrient intake in 1-3 years old children in urban China: A
simulation study
- Abstract: Li, Tao; You, Jialu; Pean, Josephine; Lluch, Anne; Eussen, Simone; Delaere, Fabien; Bindels, Jacques G; Dai, Yaohua
  Background and Objectives: A recent dietary survey in 5 big cities in China provided information on various milk options consumed by 1-3 years old children. To investigate the nutritional role of these milks (young-child formula (YCF), cow's milk, others), simulation analyses based on this survey were performed.
  
  Methods and Study Design: We studied daily intakes of calcium, iron, zinc, vitamins A, B-1, B-2, C and E and compared these to the Chinese DRIs. In Scenario 1, consumption of cow's milk, kid's milk and/or soy milk was replaced with matching amounts of YCF (n=66 children). In Scenario 2, where 348 children exclusively consumed YCF, YCF was replaced with matching amounts of cow's milk.
  
  Results: Scenario 1 revealed significant increases in total dietary intakes of iron, vitamins A, B-1, C and E upon substitution of the various milks with YCF. The proportions of children not meeting the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for these nutrients dropped from 29, 26, 61, 53 and 54 % to 12, 11, 50, 27 and 24%, respectively. In Scenario 2, the hypothetical substitution of YCF by cow's milk increased the proportions of children not meeting the EAR for these nutrients, calcium and zinc from 11, 6, 49, 15, 28, 42, and 8 to 45, 24, 78, 69, 59, 44, and 20, respectively. Execution of Scenario 2 in subgroups of 1-2- and 2-3 years old children revealed similar results.
  
  Conclusions: YCF may help to reduce the risk of insufficient intake of several key micronutrients for toddlers, independent of age.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Association of blood eosinophilia and vitamin D
insufficiency in young infants with cow milk allergy
- Abstract: Li, Jingwen; Mei, Xiaoli; Cai, Xinyi; Zhuo, Yujie; Zhang, Lanfang; Guo, Hongmei; Yang, Guang
  Background and Objectives: Cow milk allergy is the most common food allergic disease in young infants and vitamin D has a critical role in regulating intestinal inflammation.
  
  Methods and Study Design: To determine roles of vitamin D in cow milk allergy, fifty-six young infants with cow milk allergy were enrolled. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), total and specific IgE, circulating regulatory T lymphocytes, and blood eosinophil counts were determined.
  
  Results: The serum 25OHD in cow milk allergy and age-matched infants were similar (68.3+-38.9 nmol/L versus 72.9+-33.1 nmol/L, 'p'>0.05), 71% Cow milk allergy infants (40/56) had serum 25OHD lower than 75 nmol/L compared to 66% (37/56) in the controls. The cow milk allergy infants with 25OHD lower than 75 nmol/L had persistent blood eosinophilia and delayed resolution of symptoms after cow milk elimination compared to those with 25OHD above 75 nmol/L (odd ratio 3.7, 95% CI 1.1-12.6, 'p'
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Egg intake in extremely undernourished Chinese women
during reproductive age and subsequent nonfatal perimenopausal coronary
events
- Abstract: Liu, Ruihong; Li, Dongzhi; Ding, Lijie; Liu, Yanxun; Sun, Xiubin; Xue, Fuzhong
  Background and Objectives: Chinese women in rural areas who are currently >=55 years old have experienced extreme undernutrition during their childbearing age. Their specific experiences provided us with a natural quasi-experimental field for assessing the effects of consuming eggs to obtain nutrients during the childbearing period on preventing nonfatal coronary events (NCE) during the postmenopausal period in the framework of life course epidemiology.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A population-based matched case-control design for NCE was conducted in Yiyuan County, Shandong Province, China. In this study, 462 women with NCE (cases; onset age >=55 years) were included from the Active Surveillance System for Chronic Diseases, and 462 age-matched women without NCE and stroke (controls) from the same village were included. Conditional logistic model analysis was used to determine the association between egg intake and NCE during the postmenopausal period in 3 specific life-periods, namely age 18 to 49 years (childbearing period), age 50 years to NCE onset (perimenopausal and postmenopausal period), and age 18 years to NCE onset (total period).
  
  Results: We found that >=12 eggs vs. 0 egg intake per month under extreme undernutrition status during childbearing period exhibited a strong preventive effect against NCE during the postmenopausal period (OR=0.588, 95% CI=0.358-0.964). The window of protective effect was in the age 28 to 49 years, suggesting a critical period model of life course epidemiology.
  
  Conclusions: Egg intake under extreme undernutrition status during the childbearing period plays a critical role in preventing NCE during the postmenopausal period.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Infant feeding practices in relation to iron status
and other possible nutritional deficiencies in Pathumthani, Thailand
- Abstract: Thaweekul, Patcharapa; Surapolchai, Pacharapan; Sinlapamongkolkul, Phakatip
  Background and Objectives: Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide and usually leads to impaired neurodevelopment. Appropriate introduction of complementary foods is mandatory for all infants to prevent iron insufficiency. We aimed to demonstrate feeding behaviors in relation to infant iron status and also identify potential concomitant nutrient inadequacies.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study of infants 6-12 months old was performed at the Well Baby Clinic at Thammasat University Hospital, Pathumthani. Demographic data, feeding practices and nutritional status were obtained. Dietary intake was evaluated using general and food frequency questionnaires. Blood samples for complete blood count and iron studies were investigated.
  
  Results: We enrolled 206 infants (mean age 8.55+-2.1 months). Prevalence of ID and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was 34.0% and 25.7%, respectively. In multivariable ordinal continuation ratio logistic regression analysis for risk of iron depletion severity among the 3 groups (normal, ID and IDA infants), we found a stepwise increase in odds ratios for iron depletion with lower family income, longer duration of breastfeeding, delayed introduction of meat, and lower dietary iron intake. IDA infants had significantly lower intakes of energy, protein, fat and various micronutrients, compared to those with normal iron status.
  
  Conclusions: Infants with ID may have low intakes of other nutrients due to reduced complementary food intake. Nutritional education for appropriate feeding practices should be provided to prevent ID and other possible micronutrient deficiencies.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Identifying appropriate pre-pregnancy body mass index
classification to improve pregnancy outcomes in women of childbearing age
in Beijing, China: A retrospective cohort study
- Abstract: Zhao, Rui-Fen; Zhou, Li; Zhang, Wei-Yuan
  Background and Objectives: This study explored the appropriate classification of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) in women of childbearing age in Beijing, China.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Women with singleton pregnancies at more than 28 gestational weeks were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the pre-pregnancy BMI (kg/m2), these patients were divided into 7 groups: =18.5-22.9, >=23-23.9, >=24-24.9, >=25-27.9, >=28-29.9, and >=30. Pregnancy adverse outcomes, including gestational hypertension with or without preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, initial cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage, macrosomia, large-for-gestational age infant and so on were recorded. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the uncorrected and corrected odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, with the >=18.5-22.9 group serving as a reference.
  
  Results: A total of 11,136 pregnant women were analyzed. Incidences of above mentioned six adverse outcomes were greater in women with higher pre-pregnancy BMI. The risks of the abovementioned six adverse outcomes were increased significantly among the >=23-23.9, >=24-24.9, >=25-27.9 groups and substantially higher in the >=28-29.9, >=30 groups after correction. =18.5-22.9 kg/m2, with the cutoff value for overweight status being >=23.0 kg/m2 and the cutoff value for obesity being >=28.0 kg/m2.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Dietary diversity offsets the adverse mortality risk
among older indigenous Taiwanese
- Abstract: Liu, Cheng-Kang; Huang, Yi-Chen; Lo, Yuan-Ting C; Wahlqvist, Mark L; Lee, Meei-Shyuan
  Background and Objectives: The extent to which health and survival inequality between indigenous and nonindigenous older Taiwanese is associated with diet is uncertain.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Participants from the Elderly Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (1999-2000) formed this cohort. Dietary information was collected by 24-hr recall and simplified food frequency questionnaire. Dietary quality was assessed by dietary diversity score (DDS, 0-6). Annual medical service utilization and expenditure were derived from National Health Insurance claims until 2006. Survivorship was ascertained from the National Death Registry until 2008. Cox proportional- hazards models were used to determine the association between aboriginality and mortality in conjunction with dietary diversity.
  
  Results: Indigenes (n=156) compared with nonindigenes (n=1182) significantly differed in socio-demography, behaviors and chronic disease prevalences. For up to 8 years, indigenes had a higher mortality rate (46.2% vs 33.6%, 'p'=0.003). Indigenes' nutrient intakes were less for polyunsaturated fat, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals (but more sodium); food intakes more for meat, with less cooking oil, dairy products and fruits; and a lower DDS, (3.61 vs 4.54). They had a 41% higher mortality risk (HR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.09-1.81, 'p'=0.008). Control for demographic variables did not change the findings. However, the increase in HR was substantially attenuated by the inclusion of DDS (HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 0.88-1.49, 'p'=0.316). There was no significant interaction between aboriginality and DDS on mortality ('p'=0.673).
  
  Conclusions: Older indigenous Taiwanese have a higher mortality risk than their majority counterparts. Irrespective of aboriginality, the more diverse diet is associated with a lower risk of mortality.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and individual
metabolic abnormalities in China, 2002-2012
- Abstract: He, Yuna; Li, Yanping; Bai, Guoyin; Zhang, Jian; Fang, Yuehui; Zhao, Liyun; Zhao, Wenhua; Yang, Xiaoguang; Ding, Gangqiang
  Background and Objectives: The purpose of our study was to estimate the national prevalence of metabolic syndrome, its individual components and its changes in the past decade.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Two national-representative cross-sectional surveys: the China National Nutrition and Health Survey 2002 (CNNHS 2002) and the Chinese National Nutrition and Health Surveillance 2010-2012 (CNNHS 2010-2012). A total of 48,235 and 104,098 participants aged 18 years or older who had completed data on physical examination, blood lipids, and fasting glucose tests from CNNHS 2002 and CNNHS 2010-2012, respectively, were included in current study.
  
  Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Chinese adults increased from 9.5% (95% confident interval [CI]: 9.2%-9.7%) in 2002 to 18.7% (18.3%-19.1%) in 2010-2012, corresponding to an estimated 83.6 million adults in 2002 and 189 million adults in 2010-2012 living with metabolic syndrome in China. The increment was more than doubled among young, rural residents and those from poor households. Abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, high triglycerides, low HDL-C, and elevated blood pressure were found in 18.9% (18.5%-19.3%), 6.4% (6.2%-6.7%), 13.8% (13.5%-14.2%), 19.3% (18.9%-19.7%), and 34.0% (33.5%-34.5%) of adults in 2002, respectively, which was 25.8% (25.3%-26.2%), 16.2% (15.8%-16.5%), 23.7% (23.3%-24.2%), 32.6% (32.0%-33.1%), and 34.4% (33.9%-34.9%), respectively, in 2010-2012.
  
  Conclusions: Based on two nationally representative surveys, our results indicated that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is widespread and increasing in China.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Ageing affects the association between serum
25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and cardiorespiratory fitness in
middle-aged and elderly men
- Abstract: Sun, Xiaomin; Tanisawa, Kumpei; Ito, Tomoko; Oshima, Satomi; Higuchi, Mitsuru; Cao, Zhen-Bo
  Background and Objectives: The studies investigated the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are few, and the results are controversial. We aim to evaluate the association of serum 25(OH)D concentrations with CRF in adults, and assess whether the associations vary with ageing.
  
  Methods and Study Design: The study included 78 middle-aged (30-64 years) and 83 elderly (65-79 years) Japanese men. Hand grip strength and leg extension power were measured using hand grip and leg dynamometers, respectively. CRF was measured via a maximal graded exercise test and quantified as the peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). Fasting serum 25(OH)D concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay.
  
  Results: Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were positively related to hand grip strength (r=0.331, 'p'
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Relationship between retinol and risk of diabetic
retinopathy: A case-control study
- Abstract: Zhang, ChunMei; Li, Kelei; Zhang, Jiayu; Kuang, Xiaotong; Liu, Chunxiao; Deng, Qingxue; Li, Duo
  Background and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between retinol and risk of diabetic retinopathy in Chinese adults.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Eighty-six subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 40 healthy subjects (healthy comparison group, HCG) were recruited in Beijing Luhe Hospital. Of the 86 T2DM subjects, 43 subjects were diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy (DRG), and 43 subjects had no retinopathy (DNRG).
  
  Results: Dietary intake of retinol (p
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Diet quality score and survival rate in patients with
colorectal cancer
- Abstract: Sun, Hongru; Liu, Yupeng; Huang, Hao; Li, Dapeng; Zhao, Yashuang
  Background and Objectives: Results regarding associations between specific-food and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) are limited and inconsistent, and few studies have examined this issue in Asian population. This study examined the association between diet and prognosis of CRC, and developed a diet quality score for prognosis of CRC.
  
  Methods and Study Design: 352 participants who provided completed dietary information were recruited during 2004 to 2014, and there are 154 death case documented with 10-year follow-up. Cox regression models were used to examine associations between food groups and survival rate, and to develop the diet quality score for prognosis of CRC.
  
  Results: Intake of whole grain, fruit and coffee consumption habitus were associated with higher survival rate (HR 0.56 [95% CI 0.35, 0.89] for whole grain; HR 0.62 [95% CI 0.40, 0.97] for fruit; HR 0.46 [95% CI 0.24, 0.87] for coffee), whereas intake of red meat and frequency of grilled food were associated with lower survival rate (HR 1.68 [95% CI 1.08, 2.61] for red meat; HR 1.78 [95% CI 1.05, 3.02] for grilled food). The overall diet quality based on these nutritional factors was negatively associated with survival rate (HR 1.60 [95% CI 1.07, 2.39] with adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking, drinking, energy intake, UICC stage, chemotherapy, postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy, tumor size, carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels.
  
  Conclusions: Whole grain, fruit, red meat, coffee consumption habitus and frequency of grilled food were significantly associated with survival rate in Chinese population. The diet quality score may be useful for Chinese healthcare providers to advise patients on the optimal diet.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - The relationship between culture, food liking, and
body mass index in Australian and Thai young adults
- Abstract: Wanich, Uracha; Riddell, Lynn; Cicerale, Sara; Mohebbi, Mohammadreza; Sayompark, Dhoungsiri; Liem, Djin Gie; Keast, Russell SJ
  Background and Objectives: An individual's liking of food may be associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) due to its subsequent impact on food consumption. This study investigates the association between food liking and BMI in young adults from Australia and Thailand.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Food liking data were collected via a validated online Food Liking Questionnaire (FLQ). Food liking scores were calculated for overall liking of groupings of foods: grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, animal protein, plant-based protein, fat and oil, sweet food, salty food, and alcohol. The relationship between food liking and BMI (calculated from self-reported height and weight) was assessed using linear regression models including country and gender, and mean differences were assessed using independent sample t-test.
  
  Results: Data were available from n=4,173 participants (BMI=22.25 (SD 4.18), age=20.6 (SD 4.22) years, female=71.6%, Thai=52.5%). There were significant differences of food liking between countries for all of food groups ('p'
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 3 - Sugars and sweeteners: Science, innovations, and
consumer guidance for Asia
- Abstract: Drewnowski, Adam; Tappy, Luc; Forde, Ciaran G; McCrickerd, Keri; Tee, E Siong; Chan, Pauline; Amin, Latifah; Trinidad, Trinidad P; Amarra, Maria Sofia
  Background and Objectives: Rising obesity in Southeast Asia, one consequence of economic growth, has been linked to a rising consumption of energy from added sugars. This symposium, organized by ILSI Southeast Asia, explored regional issues related to dietary sugars and health and identified ways in which these issues could be addressed by regional regulatory agencies, food producers, and the consumer.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Papers on the following topics were presented: 1) current scientific evidence on the effects of sugars and non-caloric sweeteners on body weight, health, and eating behaviors; 2) innovations by food producers to reduce sugar consumption in the region; 3) regional dietary surveillance of sugar consumption and suggestions for consumer guidance. A panel discussion explored effective approaches to promote healthy eating in the region.
  
  Results: Excessive consumption of energy in the form of added sugars can have adverse consequences on diet quality, lipid profiles, and health. There is a need for better surveillance of total and added sugars intakes in selected Southeast Asian countries. Among feasible alternatives to corn sweeteners (high fructose corn syrup) and cane sugar are indigenous sweeteners with low glycemic index (e.g., coconut sap sugar). Their health benefits should be examined and regional sugar consumption tracked in detail. Product reformulation to develop palatable lower calorie alternatives that are accepted by consumers continues to be a challenge for industry and regulatory agencies.
  
  Conclusions: Public-private collaborations to develop healthy products and effective communication strategies can facilitate consumer acceptance and adoption of healthier foods.
  
  PubDate: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:08:53 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Addressing nutritional requirements of ageing
consumers in Asia - recommendations from an expert workshop
- Abstract: Ong, Sherlin; Woo, Jean; Parikh, Panam; Chan, Ruth; Sun, Jianqin; Chan, Yoke Mun; Wee, Shiou-Liang; Nghiem, Nguyet Thu; Thang, Pham; Setiati, Siti; Huang, Yi-Chen; Wahlqvist, Mark L; Bos, Rolf; de Groot, Lisette CPGM
  The number of older persons in Asia is expected to triple by 2050. Ageing is associated with non-communicable chronic diseases, malnutrition, and geriatric syndromes, which influences the burden on the cost related to healthcare, health outcomes, and the quality of life. Experts in the field of older adult nutrition from Asia, Australia, and Europe were invited to participate in a two-day workshop to review the available data, current policies and programs for the ageing population in different countries of Asia to identify the gaps in knowledge and to develop recommendations for action. In Asia, most of the data pertaining to health status, nutritional status, and nutrient intake of the older persons were mainly obtained by conducting studies in nursing homes or hospitals and small cohort studies. There were limited country-specific data on this population. Moreover, the available data pertaining to different countries were difficult to compare due to differences in the reporting format and reference values used. Although nutrition initiatives and policies were realized and public education was conducted to support the older persons, most of these efforts targeted the general population rather than the older persons population segment. In healthcare management, a higher amount of education is required pertaining to the knowledge of nutritional requirements and appropriate feeding of the older persons to reduce underfeeding and its consequences. The expert group recommended the use of a systematic approach for reviewing data pertaining to different countries, initiatives, and programs to further evaluate the available data to underpin future research.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Nutrition support for critically ill patients in
China: Role of the pharmacist
- Abstract: Zhou, Xin; Qiu, Feng; Wan, Dong; Sun, Shusen; Yao, Gaoqiong; Liu, Yu; Li, Juan
  Background and Objectives: The participation of a nutrition support pharmacist (NSP) in a multidisciplinary team (MDT) for patients receiving nutrition support therapy (NST) may lead to more favourable outcomes and fewer complications and adverse events. However, few studies have demonstrated the role of NSPs in MDTs in China. To investigate pharmacy interventions and physician acceptance of these interventions for patients receiving NST in an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods and Study Design: A prospective study over a 12-month period was conducted in an ICU at an academic hospital in China. Interventions were documented and divided into the following categories: indication of NST, parenteral nutrition (PN) prescription and delivery, enteral nutrition (EN) route and formulation, fluids and electrolytes, laboratory test monitoring, nutritional supplements, and other medication-related problems. Data regarding the intervention categories, timing, acceptance rates, and methods of communication to discuss pharmacy interventions were collected.
  
  Results: In total, 247 interventions for 120 patients were identified. The overall acceptance rate of interventions was 85.0% (210/247), and more than half of the interventions (143, 57.9%) were performed during daily follow-up. The most common intervention categories were PN prescription and delivery (81/247, 32.8%), EN route and formula (33/247, 13.4%), indication of NST (33/247, 13.4%), and nutritional supplements (30/247, 12.1%). The most accepted intervention category was PN prescription and delivery (79/81, 97.5%), and the most common method of communication was oral communication during MDT rounds (201/247, 81.4%).
  
  Conclusions: This study demonstrated the unique perspectives offered and importance of having pharmacists as members of MDTs.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Bioavailability and incorporation of nonheme iron from
a representative Chinese diet in young urban Chinese women
- Abstract: Yang, Lichen; Ren, Tongxiang; Zhang, Yuhui; Huang, Zhengwu; Wang, Zhilin; Gou, Lingyan; Wang, Jun; Piao, Jianhua; Yang, Xiaoguang
  Background and Objectives: This study assessed the bioavailability and biological incorporation of nonheme iron from staple food diets in healthy young urban Chinese women and determined the relevant effects of typical regional patterns of staple foods in South and North China.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Twenty-two young urban Chinese women aged 20-23 years were enrolled and randomly allocated to two groups, with rice (rice group) and steamed buns (steamed buns group) as the staple food, respectively. Each participant received three meals daily containing approximately 3.25 mg of stable 57FeSO4 for 2 consecutive days, along with daily intravenous injection of approximately 2.0 mg of 58FeSO4. Nonheme iron absorption and infused iron incorporation rates were assayed.
  
  Results: In all participants, the rice group, and the buns group, nonheme iron intake was 7.2+-1.6, 5.9+-0.6, and 8.4+-1.2 mg, respectively; mean 57FeSO4 absorption rate was 22.2%+-9.6%, 22.2%+-10.6%, and 22.2%+-8.9%, respectively; and the mean infused 58FeSO4 incorporation rate was 91.6%+-8.2%, 93%+-7.3%, and 90%+-9.1%, respectively. No substantial differences existed in the nonheme iron intakes and the 57FeSO4 absorption and 58FeSO4 incorporation rates between the rice and buns groups (all p>0.05).
  
  Conclusions: The bioavailability and incorporation rates of nonheme iron from representative comprehensive Chinese diets in healthy young urban Chinese women were evaluated. Our results can facilitate the establishment of dietary reference intake for iron in Chinese women.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Pretreatment nutritional risk as a prognostic factor
in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or
chemoradiotherapy
- Abstract: Liu, Weixin; Gao, Li; Huang, Xiaodong; Luo, Jingwei; Zhang, Shiping; Wang, Kai; Qu, Yuan; Xiao, Jianping; Xu, Guozhen; Li, Yexiong; Yi, Junlin
  Background and Objectives: Head and neck cancer patients often experience nutritional deterioration, which decreases their treatment tolerance and is associated with poor outcomes. We analyzed nutritional status in head and neck cancer patients before and during treatment, and its impact on clinical outcomes.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Between January 2009 and April 2012, 336 head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy were prospectively entered into the study. The Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) assessment was used to evaluate their nutritional status.
  
  Results: A total of 227 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 109 patients with head and neck cancers were analyzed. The proportion of patients receiving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy at nutritional risk was 61.3%, with 11.9% at risk before treatment and 49.4% developing risk during treatment. In multivariate analysis, nutritional risk before treatment was associated with T stage for the two groups. Risk was significantly higher in patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy during treatment for nasopharygeal carcinoma patients. The prognosis of pretreatment nutritional risk patients was worse than those becoming at risk during treatment and those without nutritional risk (3-year overall survival 62.9% vs 81.7% vs 80.6%, 'p'=0.026; 3-year disease-free survival 64.8% vs 84.5% vs 84.4%, 'p'=0.019).
  
  Conclusions: The incidence of nutritional risk is high in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, especially during treatment. Pretreatment nutritional risk evaluated using the NRS 2002 can predict patient prognosis.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - The impact of daily use of an enteral feeding
checklist on clinical outcomes in shock patients: A retrospective cohort
study
- Abstract: Mao, Zhi; Yu, Qing; Liu, Chao; Hu, Pan; Hu, Xin; Pan, Liang; Kang, Hongjun; Zhou, Feihu
  Background and Objectives: The optimal delivery of enteral nutrition in shock patients has an important prognostic clinical value; thus, checklists for standardizing enteral nutrition should be developed. This study examined whether the use of an enteral feeding checklist can improve enteral nutrition in shock patients.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. A multidisciplinary working group developed an enteral feeding checklist. Information on patients' demographics, checklist items, and clinical outcomes was collected.
  
  Results: In total, 148 patients were included. The checklist was used for 35 patients but not for the remaining 113 patients. Patients in the checklist group received enteral nutrition earlier (2.6 vs 4.6 days, 'p'=0.017) and had a lower mechanical ventilation rate (62.9% vs 85.0%, 'p'=0.004). The checklist group had shorter intensive care unit stay (mean 17.3 vs 25.7 days, p=0.043). No significant differences were observed in 28- and 90- day mortality, mechanical ventilation duration, and intolerance to enteral nutrition.
  
  Conclusions: The use of an enteral feeding checklist in shock patients was associated with earlier enteral nutrition delivery and decreased intensive care unit stay.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Barriers to enteral feeding of critically ill adults
in Korea
- Abstract: Chang, Sun Ju; Kim, Hyunjung
  Background and Objectives: Evaluating barriers to provision of enteral nutrition in intensive care units and planning an appropriate intervention can improve nutritional nursing practice in these units. This study aimed to develop a Korean version of the Barriers to Enterally Feeding Critically Ill Patients Questionnaire (BEFIP-K) and to explore the barriers to enteral feeding of critically ill patients in Korea.
  
  Methods and Study Design: The 24- item BEFIP-K was developed according to the process laid down by the World Health Organization. Its psychometric properties were assessed, including acceptability; validity, which included content validity and construct validity; and reliability, which consisted of internal consistency and item-total correlation, using data from 207 critical care nurses in four tertiary hospitals in South Korea.
  
  Results: The calculated content validity indices for each item were from 0.88 to 1.00. As for the exploratory factor analysis, 24 items were loaded on five domains, accounting for 56.9% of the total variance. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the total scale was 0.913 and the coefficients for item-total correlation analyses ranged from 0.469 to 0.694. The total BEFIP-K score was 32.1, with a range from 18.5 to 45.4.
  
  Conclusions: The findings support that the BEFIP-K is a feasible, valid instrument for assessing barriers to provision of enteral nutrition.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Oat porridge consumption alleviates markers of
inflammation and oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic adults
- Abstract: Pavadhgul, Patcharanee; Bumrungpert, Akkarach; Harjani, Yashna; Kurilich, Anne
  Background and Objectives: Oats contain antioxidant phytochemicals that may help reduce inflammation as well as oxidative stress. In this study we aimed to investigate the effect of oat porridge consumption on inflammatory marker levels and oxidative stress in Thai adults with high blood lipid levels.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A randomized crossover study was conducted. Hypercholesterolemic adults were randomly assigned to a 4-week daily consumption of oat or rice porridge. After 4 weeks, they were switched to alternate intervention arms for 4 weeks. At baseline, before and after each intervention period, inflammatory markers including hsCRP, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and MCP-1 and antioxidant status markers including ORAC, FRAP, and MDA of all subjects were measured.
  
  Results: Compared to baseline, levels of hsCRP, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha were significantly decreased after oat porridge consumption (mean change: -0.6+-0.9 mg/L, -26.9+-27.6 pg/mL, -56.3+-27.6 pg/mL, and - 9.7+-11.6 pg/mL, p
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Impact of nutritional status on length of stay and
hospital costs among patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in
Thailand
- Abstract: Bhirommuang, Nuttapimon; Komindr, Surat; Jayanama, Kulapong
  Background and Objectives: Malnutrition has high prevalence among hospitalized patients but goes unrecognized in many patients. Early detection of malnutrition using an effective screening tool is required. This study aimed to examine the effects of nutritional status determined by the Nutrition Alert Form (NAF) and its individual sections on length of stay (LOS) and hospital costs in hospitalized patients, to investigate their associated factors, and to determine hospital malnutrition prevalence.
  
  Methods and Study Design: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 2,906 hospitalized patients aged >=15 years in Ramathibodi Hospital between January and September 2016. At admission, nutritional status was screened using NAF. Nutrition status was defined as: NAF-A (normal/mild malnutrition; scores of 0-5), NAF-B (moderate malnutrition; 6-10), and NAF-C (severe malnutrition; >=11). Information regarding LOS and hospital costs during patients' hospitalization was also collected.
  
  Results: The prevalence of malnutrition was 15.3%. After adjusting for age, sex and primary diagnosis, we found significantly longer LOS and higher hospital costs among those with NAF-B and NAF-C, in comparison with patients having NAF-A. The highest increase in LOS was in male patients aged >=60 years with NAF-C. The highest increase in LOS and hospital costs was associated with higher scores for functional capacity.
  
  Conclusions: Higher levels of malnutrition screened using the NAF were significantly associated with longer LOS and higher hospital costs. Older adult patients had the highest risk of being malnourished and developing negative consequences. A prospective study of nutritional support by a nutrition care team is underway.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Fish and meat intakes and prevalence of anemia among
the Japanese elderly
- Abstract: Imai, Eri; Nakade, Makiko
  Background and Objectives: Information about an association between animal food intakes and risk of anemia is still limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between fish and meat intake and anemia risk in the Japanese elderly.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A nationally representative sample of 6,469 aged 65 years and over was obtained from pooled data of annual National Health and Nutritional Survey in Japan during 2002-2011. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin concentrations
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Consumption of black food decreases the risk of
abdominal obesity in Korean women
- Abstract: Chung, Sangwon; Chung, Min-Yu; Choi, Hyo-Kyoung; Park, Jae Ho; Hwang, Jin-Taek
  Background and Objectives: The association between black-colored foods (black foods) such as black beans, known for their high antioxidant capacity, and the prevention of metabolic diseases has been explored, but not in a large population. Therefore, this study examined relationships between the consumption of black foods and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Data from 9,499 40-65-year old subjects (3,675 men and 5,824 women) from the 2010-2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used in the analysis. Black food consumption was estimated using 24-h dietary recall data, and analyses were performed according to black food consumer and non-consumer groups.
  
  Results: The average total consumption of black foods was higher in women than men. The total black food consumer group in women had a 24% reduced risk of abdominal obesity than the non-consumer group (p=0.007). Furthermore, waist circumference decreased significantly with an increase in total black food consumption in women. High consumption of total black foods and black beans reduced the risk of abdominal obesity by 26% (p for trend=0.012) and 29% (p for trend=0.003) compared with no consumption. No risk factors for metabolic syndrome were associated with black food consumption in men.
  
  Conclusions: In conclusion, black foods, including black beans, may have beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome components, especially abdominal obesity.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Food-based recommendations for Minangkabau women of
reproductive age with dyslipidemia
- Abstract: Fahmida, Umi; Djuwita, Ratna; Abdullah, Murdani; Witjaksono, Fiastuti
  Background and Objectives: Considering the impact of unfavorable dietary practices on inadequate nutrient intake, this cross-sectional study aimed to explore dietary practices, including problem nutrients, and develop local food-based recommendations (FBRs) to improve the intake of problem nutrients among women of reproductive age (WoRA) with dyslipidemia in Minangkabau, Indonesia.
  
  Methods and Study Design: The study was conducted in the Padang township inhabited mostly by the Minangkabau tribe. Accordingly, 74 WoRA with dyslipidemia completed the study. Two replicate 24-h recalls and a 5-day food record were used to assess food consumption patterns. Then, linear programming (LP) analysis using three modules of the WHO Optifood software was employed to identify problem nutrients and develop FBRs.
  
  Results: Median (5th and 95th percentiles) weekly consumption frequencies for grain; meat, fish, and eggs; and added fat were 18 (14-27), 11 (6-16), and 15 (7-30), while those for fruits and vegetables were 2 (0-11) and 7 (2-16), respectively. Based on the aforementioned food pattern, PUFA (both n-3 and n-6 fatty acids), dietary fiber, iron, and zinc were identified as typical problem nutrients. The final FBR emphasized on incorporating locally available nutrient-dense foods, as well as food groups and sub-groups, which would improve the intake of problem nutrients.
  
  Conclusions: Minangkabau WoRA have dietary practices that predispose them to dyslipidemia. Moreover, the LP approach is a sensitive tool for identifying nutrient-dense foods that could potentially improve problem nutrient intake, as well as those that need to be limited in the final FBR.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Subcutaneous and visceral fat volumes measured by MRI
and their relationships with nutrient intakes among adults
- Abstract: Tayyem, Reema F; Al-Radaideh, Ali M; Hammad, Shatha S; Al-Hajaj, Sabal; Allehdan, Sabika S; Agraib, Lana M; Al-Fayomi, Kholoud I; Malkawi, Amer A; Hijjawi, Nawal S
  Background and Objectives: Types and amounts of nutrients may influence the volume of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). This study targeted to investigate the relationship between SAT and VAT volumes and macro- and micronutrients intake among adults.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Data were collected via a private face-to-face interview, in which diet history was obtained using validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The different fat volumes were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning.
  
  Results: Participants with the lowest VAT volume had the highest intake of saturated fats, monounsaturated fatty acids and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (p
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Low riboflavin intake is associated with
cardiometabolic risks in Korean women
- Abstract: Shin, Woo-Young; Kim, Jung-Ha
  Background and Objectives: Metabolic syndrome is a leading global public health concern. Nutritional approaches are important for preventing and managing cardiometabolic risks, including metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to examine the potential association between riboflavin intake and cardiometabolic risks according to sex among Koreans.
  
  Methods and Study Design: We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2016, a nationwide cross-sectional survey that assesses the health and nutritional status of the Korean population. A total of 6,062 individuals aged >=19 years were included. The nutrition survey was performed using 24-h dietary recall.
  
  Results: A significant association was observed between low riboflavin intake with only increased HDL-cholesterol (OR 1.362, 95% CI 1.017-1.824, p=0.038) among metabolic syndrome and its components in men, whereas insufficient riboflavin intake was positively associated with hypertension (OR 1.352, 95% CI 1.085-1.685, p=0.007), diabetes (OR 1.493, 95% CI 1.137-1.959, p=0.004) and metabolic syndrome (OR 1.289, 95% CI 1.014-1.640, p=0.038) in women after adjusting for the other covariates. For post-menopausal women, central obesity was also correlated with insufficient riboflavin intake (OR 1.315, 95% CI 1.019-1.696, p=0.035).
  
  Conclusions: Insufficient riboflavin intake may contribute to development of cardiometabolic disorder, particularly in women. It was also found that riboflavin may have different influences on its risks in women according to menopausal status. This study highlighted the importance of public policies targeted at these sex-specific groups for reducing cardiometabolic risks.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Duration of periconceptional folic acid
supplementation and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus
- Abstract: Huang, Lili; Yu, Xiaoling; Li, Li; Chen, Yuanhua; Yang, Yuanyuan; Yang, Yuying; Hu, Yan; Zhao, Yangyang; Tang, Haishan; Xu, Dexiang; Zhao, Mei
  Background and Objectives: Increased consumption of folic acid is prevalent, raising concerns about possible adverse effects. This prospective study aimed to explore the associations between the duration of folic acid supplementation and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Chinese women.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A total of 326 pregnant women were prospectively included for detailed information on folic acid supplementation during pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy, lipid profiles at 16-18 weeks, and subsequent GDM diagnosis at 24-28 weeks. Associations among folic acid supplementation, lipid profiles, and risk of GDM were analyzed using linear and logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounders.
  
  Results: The incidence of GDM in participants was 10.1%. We observed a U-shape relation between duration of folic acid supplementation and risk of GDM. Women who did not take folic acid and took folic acid for >90 days had a higher incidence of GDM compared to those who took folic acid for 90 days with taking folic acid for
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Socioeconomic disparity in the diet quality of
pregnant women in Northwest China
- Abstract: Li, Shanshan; Lei, Fangliang; Zhang, Ruo; Liu, Danmeng; Qu, Pengfei; Cheng, Yue; Liu, Xin; Chen, Fangyao; Dang, Shaonong; Yan, Hong
  Background and Objectives: Few studies have described the socioeconomic disparity of dietary quality in Northwest China. The present study aimed to evaluate the diet quality of pregnant women in Shaanxi province of Northwest China by using the Diet Balance Index for Pregnancy (DBI-P) and explored the relationships with socioeconomic status (SES).
  
  Methods and Study Design: A cross-sectional analysis of data from 7,630 women who were pregnant during 2012-2013 was performed. Dietary intake during the whole pregnancy was assessed by FFQ within 12 months (median, 3 months; 10th-90th percentile, 0-7 months) after delivery. Diet quality evaluated by the DBI-P was related to socioeconomic factors.
  
  Results: Most women had insufficient consumption of vegetables (72.27%), dairy (89.58%), meat (82.07%), fish and shrimp (92.23%), eggs (62.54%), and dietary variety (97.92%). 67.76% of women had excessive intake of grains, and 87.77% and 69.79% of participants had surplus consumption of edible oil and salt respectively. Women with higher education, occupation and household wealth index (HWI) consumed more vegetables, fruit, dairy, soybean and nuts, meat, fish and shrimp, eggs, edible oil, alcohol and dietary variety but less grains and salt. After adjusting for confounders, education, occupation and HWI were negatively associated with the level of inadequate dietary intake. Conversely, individuals with medium HWI had higher level of excessive dietary intake compared to low HWI groups.
  
  Conclusions: The diet quality of pregnant women in Northwest China was associated with SES. Socioeconomic disparities in diet quality should be considered when planning nutrition interventions for pregnant women.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Breast milk selenocystine as a biomarker for selenium
intake in lactating women at differential geographical deficiency risk in
China
- Abstract: He, Meng-Jie; Zhang, Shuang-Qing; Liu, Liping; Han, Feng; Chai, Yingjuan; Zhang, Jie; Wang, Shijin; Wang, Qin; Liu, Yiqun; Sun, Licui; Lu, Jiaxi; Yang, Qiu; Huang, Linghe; Huang, Zhen-Wu
  Background and Objectives: A reliable biomarker for optimal selenium (Se) intake in lactating women is not currently available.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Daily dietary Se intake in lactating women was calculated from a 24-hour meal record survey for over 3 days. Se levels in plasma and breast milk were measured through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Plasma selenoprotein P 1 levels and glutathione peroxidase 3 activity were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze proteinaceous Se species in enzymatically digested breast milk.
  
  Results: Dietary Se intakes of lactating women from Liangshan, Beijing, and Enshi were 41.6+-21.2 ng/d, 51.1+-22.6 ng/d, and 615+-178 ng/d, respectively (p
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Composition requirements of follow-up formula for
6-12-month-old infants: Recommendations of a Chinese expert group
- Abstract: Han, Junhua; Kang, Lingling; Liang, Dong; Li, Huzhong; Su, Yixiang; Zhang, Yumei; Yang, Yuexin
  Background and Objectives: The Chinese national standard of formula for 6-12-month-old infants (GB 10767- 2010) requires review and revision because it does not correspond to current scientific knowledge and data. The aim of this paper was to summarize the formula composition recommended for 6-12-month-old infants by a Chinese expert group.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Formula composition recommendations for 6-12-month-old infants were devised by a Chinese expert group based on a detailed systematic review, which included nutrient intake, nutrient content of Chinese women's breast milk, and the latest adequate intake and tolerable upper intake levels, also referencing the Codex Alimentarius recommendations and those of other countries and considering the practice in products on the market.
  
  Results: Compared with current standards, it was recommended that most compositional requirements be modified, including decreasing the maximum energy density from 85 to 75 kcal/100 mL, decreasing the protein content in milk-based formula from 2.9-5.0 g/100 kcal to 1.8-3.5 g/100 kcal, increasing the minimum content of lipids from 2.9 g/100 kcal to 3.5 g/100 kcal, providing the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals (including vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12， niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, vitamin C, biotin, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and iodine), and changing the content of optional components such as taurine, docosahexaenoic acid, and arachidonic acid.
  
  Conclusions: These nutrient standard modifications based on recent evidence are expected to enhance feeding practices and further guarantee the health of 6-12-month-old infants in China.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Iodine nutritional status and prevalence of goitre
among school going children: A cross-sectional study to assess progress
- Abstract: Bali, Surya; Nayak, Pritish Kumar
  Background and Objectives: Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) has been a major public health challenge for the Indian subcontinent over many years. Our study was conducted in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh, an iodine deficiency disorders-endemic district, with the objective to estimate total goitre rate and iodine nutrition status.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A cross-sectional study with 30 cluster sampling was conducted between June to July 2016 among school-going children in the age group of 6-12 years. Ninety children from each school (30x90=2700) were selected for the assessment of Goitre. Total 540 salt samples and 270 urine samples were collected to estimate salt iodine content from their house-hold and urine iodine excretion (UIE) respectively. A total of 150 households and 30 shopkeepers were interviewed to understand the awareness level for salt iodization.
  
  Results: Goitre rate in Tikamgarh district was 1.9% with prevalence of grade I and II was 1.7% and 0.2% respectively. The median UIE level was 200 mcg/L. The 20% the population had iodine deficiency, 28.9% population had adequate iodine nutrition and 51.1% population had either more than adequate level of iodine. The 72.4% of the population consume adequately iodized salt (>=15 ppm).
  
  Conclusions: Our study concludes that Tikamgarh district is non-endemic for IDDs against the earlier classification as an IDD-endemic district. About 20% population has 'iodine deficiency' and approximately 51.1% population has 'more than adequate iodine intake'. We recommend stringent programme monitoring, undertake periodic assessment of IDD and explore manifestations of excess iodine intake (>=300 mcg/L) such as Iodine-induced hyperthyroidism in future.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Food frequency questionnaire reproducibility for
middle-aged and elderly Japanese
- Abstract: Maruyama, Koutatsu; Ikeda, Ai; Ishihara, Junko; Takachi, Ribeka; Sawada, Norie; Shimazu, Taichi; Nakamura, Kazutoshi; Tanaka, Junta; Yamaji, Taiki; Iwasaki, Motoki; Iso, Hiroyasu; Tsugane, Shoichiro
  Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the reproducibility of a self-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) originally developed for the Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study (JPHC study) and modified for use in the Next Generation (JPHC-NEXT) study.
  
  Methods and Study Design: Participants included 98 men and 142 women aged 40-74 years from the five areas included in the JPHCNEXT protocol. In November 2012, participants were recruited and asked to complete the first nutrition survey. The second nutrition survey was completed after 1 year.
  
  Results: We estimated daily energy as well as 53 nutrient and 29 food group intakes using the FFQ. To assess reproducibility, we calculated Spearman correlation coefficients between both FFQs, which showed mostly intermediate-to-high values. Median (range) correlation coefficients and quartile distribution in the same and adjacent categories for energy-adjusted nutrient intakes were 0.55 (0.42-0.84) and 84.7% (76.5%-98.0%) in men and 0.54 (0.35-0.80) and 84.5% (76.1%-94.4%) in women. The respective values for energy-adjusted food group intakes in men and women were also mostly intermediate to high: 0.54 (0.39-0.79) and 83.7% (75.5%-90.8%) in men and 0.57 (0.40-0.83) and 84.5% (77.5%-93.7%) in women.
  
  Conclusions: The FFQ developed for the JPHC-NEXT study has reasonable reproducibility. Because this FFQ has also been validated in a previous study, it can be considered a useful dietary assessment tool to examine associations between dietary consumption and lifestyle-related diseases.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Increased coffee, tea, or other sugar-sweetened
beverage consumption in adolescents is associated with less satisfactory
dietary quality, body fatness and serum uric acid profiles over the past
18 years in Taiwan
- Abstract: Shih, Ya-Hui; Wu, Hsin-Chuan; Pan, Wen-Harn; Chang, Hsing-Yi
  Background and Objectives: Taiwan has a high density of convenience stores and beverage shops, which makes sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) very accessible to teenagers. This study examined the changes and the association between SSBs and biomarkers and nutrient intake, for teenagers over the course of 18 years using a national representative sample.
  
  Methods and Study Design: This cross-sectional study used data from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT). Complete data for teenagers aged 13 to 19 years including a 24-hour dietary recall, anthropometric and clinical measurements, and SSBs from two periods were analyzed (1993-1996: N=1820; 2010-2011: N=2513). SAS callable SUDAAN was used for statistical analysis, adjusting for the sampling scheme. Log transformation was used for non-normal variables before linear models were used. Coffee or tea and SSB (excluding tea or coffee) consumers were categorized as non-drinkers, low (below), or high (above) consumers based on median intake during 1993-1996.
  
  Results: Intake of coffee or tea increased significantly in the 18 years of this study (p
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Young adult vegetarians in Shanghai have comparable
bone health to omnivores despite lower serum 25(OH) vitamin D in vegans: A
cross-sectional study
- Abstract: Xie, Luyao; Wang, Bian; Cui, Xueying; Tang, Qingya; Cai, Wei; Shen, Xiuhua
  Background and Objectives: The association between a vegetarian diet and bone mineral density (BMD) remains unclear, particularly in young adults. This study was designed to compare the bone health status of young vegetarians and omnivores in Shanghai, China.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A total of 246 vegetarians (following a vegan or lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet for at least 1 year) and 246 age- and sex-matched omnivores were recruited among young adult residents of Shanghai, China. The ultrasound bone mineral density analyser CM-200 was employed to measure calcaneus mineral densities, and blood samples were collected to determine serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D status. Intakes of protein, calcium and vitamin D were assessed by the 24-hour dietary recall method.
  
  Results: The average age of the vegetarians was 32.7+-6.5 years, 83.3% of whom were female; 71.3% of the participants had been vegetarians for no more than 5 years. After adjusting for some potential cofounding factors, the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of vegans (15.0+-13.4 mug/L) was significantly lower than that of omnivores (17.6+-8.8 mug/L, p
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Serum potassium and handgrip strength as predictors of
sleep quality among hemodialysis patients in Malaysia
- Abstract: Ling Ling, Lina; Chan, Yoke Mun; Daud, Zulfitri 'Azuan Mat
  Background and Objectives: Poor sleep quality is prevalent among hemodialysis (HD) patients and leads to adverse health outcomes. This study investigated the association of nutritional parameters with sleep quality among Malaysian HD patients.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 184 Malaysian HD patients. Anthropometric measurements and handgrip strength (HGS) were obtained using standardized protocols. Relevant biochemical indicators were retrieved from patients' medical records. Nutritional status was assessed using the dialysis malnutrition score. The sleep quality of patients was determined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire on both dialysis and non-dialysis days.
  
  Results: Slightly more than half of the HD patients were poor sleepers, with approximately two-third of them having a sleep duration of
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Activity energy expenditure, screen time and dietary
habits relative to gender among Saudi youth: Interactions of gender with
obesity status and selected lifestyle behaviours
- Abstract: Al-Hazzaa, Hazzaa M; Albawardi, Nada M
  Background and Objectives: Lifestyle-related risks are linked to several non-communicable diseases, with enormous global mortality and economic cost. Women in Saudi Arabia are faced with high prevalence of obesity, inactivity and sedentary behaviours. This study examined the interaction effects of gender with obesity status and lifestyle behaviours among Saudi adolescents.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A total of 2888 adolescents (1500 females) aged 15-19 years were randomly selected from secondary schools in three major cities in Saudi Arabia, using a multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured and physical activity (PA), screen time, sleep duration and dietary habits were assessed using a validated questionnaire. ANCOVA and multivariate tests were used while controlling for age.
  
  Results: A number of lifestyle behaviours displayed significant gender effects, with some selected variables having multiple interaction effects. Total activity energy expenditure and sum of vigorous-intensity PA showed significant interaction effects between gender and obesity status, whereas sum of moderate activity energy expenditure, non-leisure-time PA and sleep duration exhibited significant interaction effects between gender and screen time. Vegetable intake showed significant three-way interaction effects between gender, waist/height ratio and screen time.
  
  Conclusions: The presence of several lifestyle behavioural risks, including physical inactivity, sedentary behaviours and some dietary habits was confirmed. The high inactivity level and screen time represents a double burden on the health of young Saudi females. Future studies must address the psycho-social, cultural and environmental determinants associated with healthy lifestyle relative to gender and initiate novel interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - Metabolic dynamics in critically injured patients: A
prospective cohort study integrated with 1H NMR metabolomics
- Abstract: Zhou, Yubo; Wang, Kai; Zeng, Jun; Li, Wei; Peng, Jin; Zhou, Zhiyuan; Deng, Pengchi; Sun, Mingwei; Yang, Hao; Li, Shijun; Lu, Charles Damien; Jiang, Hua
  Background and Objectives: By combining the techniques of metabolomics and computational biology, this research aims to explore the mechanism of metabolic dynamics in critically injured patients and develop a new early warning method for mortality.
  
  Methods and Study Design: A prospective cohort study was conducted, group plasma samples of critically injured patients were collected for 1H-NMR metabolomics analysis. The data was processed with partial least squares regression, to explore the role of enzyme-gene network regulatory mechanism in critically injured metabolic network regulation and to build a quantitative prediction model for early warning of fast death.
  
  Results: In total, 60 patients were enrolled. There were significant differences in plasma metabolome between the surviving patients and the deceased ones. Compared to the surviving patients, 112 enzymes and genes regulating the 6 key metabolic marker disturbances of neopterin, corticosterone, 3-methylhistidine, homocysteine, Serine, tyrosine, prostaglandin E2, tryptophan, testosterone and estriol, were observed in the plasmas of deceased ones. Among patients of different injury stages, there were significant differences in plasma metabolome. Progressing from T0 to T50 stages of injury, increased levels of neopterin, corticosterone, prostaglandin E2, tryptophan and testosterone, together with decreased levels of homocysteine, and estriol, were observed. Eventually, the quantitative prediction model of death warning was established. Cross-validation results showed that the predictive effect was good (RMSE=0.18408, R2=0.87 p=0.036).
  
  Conclusions: Metabolomics approaches can be used to quantify the metabolic dynamics of patients with critically injuries and to predict death of critically injured patients by plasma 1H-NMR metabolomics.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT
Volume 28 Issue 2 - The innovation of functional foods in Asia: IFFA 2018
- Abstract: Chumphukam, Orada; Chaiwangyen, Wittaya; Sivamaruthi, Bhagavathi Sundaram; Chaiyasut, Chaiyavat; Natakankitkul, Surapol; Kangwan, Napapan; Tantipaiboonwong, Payungsak; Tipsuwan, Wachiraporn; Promnoi, Kanokarn; Lapinee, Chaipat; Singsai, Kanathip; Pintha, Komsak; Wattanatorn, Wiboon; Sanguansermsri, Mondhon; Suttajit, Maitree
  Functional foods (FF) are commonly consumed by Asians, and this trend has increased in recent years. Despite the reported health benefits of FF, it is necessary scrutiny and updates of the underpinning research are important. The first international conference on functional food innovation in Asia (IFFA 2018) took place on January 22nd- 24th, 2018, at the University of Phayao, Thailand. Domestic and international speakers, researchers, nutritionists, dieticians, research scholars and students shared their knowledge and experience in FF research. Key features were the potential beneficial roles of FF in health and disease, the current situation with FF in Asia and innovative trends. The IFFA 2018 involved 2 keynote speakers, 34 invited speakers and 10 sessions. About 250 people from across Asia participated. Key themes, discussions, innovative opportunities, and future directions to link research in academia with health-directed applications as FF are summarised.
  
  PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:42:41 GMT