Cow’s Milk Allergy (CMA) is one of the most common food allergies presented during infancy and childhood. The diagnosis and management of CMA is a complex task. First and foremost, CMA is manifested by a variety of symptoms classified by their type of mediation (either IgE and/or non-IgE responses), organ systems involved, and the onset of the reaction. Second, although several guidelines for the management of CMA have been published worldwide, they differ in their recommendations. To our knowledge, no global consensus exists for the management of the different symptoms associated with CMA. This review provides a table to compare three widely accepted published guidelines to enable the reader to easily navigate and compare the nutritional recommendations to be followed depending on the symptomatology. This review is intended to represent a practical tool to assess the nutritional recommendations for the management of CMA.
Background: Complementary foods are foods intended for consumption by infants and young children to supplement then replace their milk diet. Compliance with labeling and nutritional composition standards conditions their nutritional quality. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the compliance level of Cereal-based Complementary Foods (CCFs) marketed in the city of Yaounde to related standards. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 125 mothers in 2 hospitals of Yaounde using probabilistic cluster sampling. The labelings and nutritional compositions of the most consumed CCFs coded as “ASC O”, “ASC I”, “ASC E” and “ASC A”, were compared to Codex Alimentarius standards at an acceptability threshold of 80%. Results: The labeling standards were 95.24%, 93.48%, 89.68% and 59.34% compliant for “ASC O”, “ASC I”, “ASC E” and “ASC A” respectively, 52.5%, 73.75%, 83. 75% and 35% for nutritional composition standards. 90% of these CCFs complied with labeling standards, while only 26% with nutritional composition standards. Conclusion: CCFs in Yaounde have as main defects: incomplete labels, labels with errors and falsities, protein and mineral deficiencies. Their producers, controllers, and buyers should respectively improve, control and seek their good quality for the well-being and good health of infants and young children.
Background:Despite the known health benefits of dairy products, their daily consumption continues to decline in many populations, particularly in pre-adolescents and adolescents.Objective:The primary objective of the cluster randomized controlled trial was to assess whether a school-based intervention enhanced with a web-based component, known as WhyDairy? was more effective than a standardized dairy education program at changing: (i) knowledge of dairy products, (ii) intentions to consume dairy products, and (iii) dietary intake of dairy products.Methods:Grade 7 students (n=175) in 10 Southwestern Ontario schools were randomized by the school, into intervention or control. Intervention schools received the WhyDairy? intervention with a website component while control schools received a DFO education program. Intervention schools were further randomized to receive follow-up contact, through monthly emails, or no follow-up contact. A questionnaire, consisting of three surveys (knowledge, FFQ, and intention), was delivered at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up.Results:All groups significantly increased their knowledge post-intervention but only intervention schools with follow-up email contact maintained this positive change in knowledge. No groups saw significant changes in dietary behaviour. The email campaign was successful in reaching parents but did not result in high engagement or changes in student outcomes.Conclusion:The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of a school-based intervention enhanced with a web-based component in changing student knowledge regarding dairy products and the engagement of the website during the intervention period. Future work should consider longer durations to see changes in dietary behaviour and more targeted approaches during follow-up periods.
Results from epidemiologic studies are controversial with respect to the relation between total dietary fat consumption and breast cancer risk; there is more general agreement that a high-fat diet is associated with aggressive prostate cancer. Recent epidemiologic investigations and laboratory experimentation with animal models suggest that relatively high intakes of long-chain n-3 fatty acids, and n-9 fatty acids present in olive oil, reduce breast cancer risk by mechanisms that may involve modification of the biosynthesis of eicosanoids from n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Although there is only limited support for the hypothesis that total fat intake affects breast cancer risk, there is experimental evidence that n-6 fatty acids, again via eicosanoid production, may enhance breast cancer invasion and metastasis; n-3 fatty acids may exert a suppressive effect. Although studies of prostate cancer are less advanced, the indication is that a high fat intake promotes the emergence of the metastatic phenotype; further research is required to establish the roles of the various classes of fatty acids but it does appear that the long-chain n-3 fatty acids may also retard prostate cancer progression.
Background: The impact of oral nutritional supplementations (ONS) is not well-elucidated in children with stunting. Objective: The aim is to evaluate the effect of ONS on growth in Vietnamese children with stunting. Methods: This 6-month, prospective, single-arm trial evaluated 121 children aged 24–48 months with stunting (height-for-age z-score [HAZ] < -2) and low weight-for-height z-score (WHZ < -1) in Vietnam. Children consumed ONS twice daily. The outcomes included the change in HAZ, WHZ, and weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) from baseline to 3- and 6 months; change in height and weight from baseline to 3- and 6 months; and the prevalence of stunting, wasting (WHZ < -2 SD), and underweight (WAZ < -2 SD) at 6 months. We also examined factors associated with a change in HAZ over the intervention period. Results: The mean age was 34.7 months and 49% were male. Height and weight increased from baseline to 3- and 6-months (p<0.0001). There was a significant increase in median HAZ (0.25 units), WHZ (0.72 units), and WAZ (0.65 units) from baseline to 6 months (p<0.0001). Notably, approximately 40% of children recovered from stunting at 6 months (p<0.0001). The prevalence of wasting and underweight status were also significantly lower at 6 months (p=0.0310 and p<0.0001, respectively) relative to the baseline. Lower HAZ and younger age at baseline were significantly associated with higher linear growth at 6 months. Conclusion: ONS helped improve linear and ponderal growth and reduce the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight status in stunted children at risk of wasting.
Background: Adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet is associated with an extensive list of health benefits for people both with and without a disease. Objective: The objective of this study was to develop/modify a questionnaire to investigate the current adherence to a Mediterranean-style dietary eating pattern amongst the New Zealand male population, and to assess the association between perceived barriers to change and behaviours. Methods: The development of this questionnaire was based upon a modified 14-point validated Mediterranean diet adherence screener (PREDiMED) and included an additional section wherein we explored the reasons behind men’s food choices and barriers to healthy eating. Questionnaires were analysed from 295 men. Descriptive analyses were used to determine major barriers to change. Results: The modification of the PREDiMED questionnaire resulted in a 23 question questionnaire encompassing adherence, demographics and barriers to change. We found that 90.8% of respondents had either low or intermediate adherence to a Mediterranean style diet. Significant associations also existed between adherence and smoking ( p =0.003), age ( p < 0.01) and opinion of the importance of healthy eating ( p < 0.01). We found participants felt the ‘major’ barrier to consume a healthy diet, to be a busy lifestyle, and the most common influencer of food choices was people. Conclusion: Through identifying how New Zealand men consume food and how they consider their barriers to change, we can better direct policy to aid changes in behaviour and integrate the Mediterranean style diet to complement the New Zealand food culture.
Introduction: Obesity, a disease characterized by an excess of adipose tissue, is a worldwide issue of growing interest in public health. Methods: The multifactorial etiology and pathogenesis of obesity strongly orient the scientific community in considering it as a chronic disease without an effective therapy that works for all patients affected by this clinical condition. This leads to a proliferation of non-scientific and dangerous treatment proposals and fake news. The Dietetic and Clinical Nutrition Unit at Bolzano Hospital in Italy has adopted a new strategy based on transparency to optimize time for the first visit and particularly to increase patients’ knowledge and motivation. Results: This new strategy provides a preliminary consultation between patients who ask for a nutritional examination and a clinical team composed of a clinician, a dietician and a psychologist. We discuss the preliminary results obtained during the period between February 2010 and March 2016.
Background: Although BMI (body mass index) has been widely used to determine whether an individual is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese, its clinical usefulness for obesity study has been called into question because it does not specifically describe body fat content and distribution and has limited relevance to central obesity, which is most relevant to health risks. Although imaging techniques are used to determine central obesity, they are expensive and are thus not used in a routine physical examination of patients in medical offices. Objective: Developing an easy-to-use ABOI (Abdominal Obesity index) to measure central obesity during a physical examination. Methods: ABOI is an index utilized to assess central obesity of patients. To determine ABOI, two measurements are taken from the torso; the outer circumference of the thoracic segment, C1, at the xiphoid process and the outer circumference of the abdominal segment, C2, at the point of largest girth. The volume of the abdominal segment is divided by the volume of the thoracic segment to derive ABOI (V2/V1 = [C2]2/[C1]2). Thus, ABOI is the square of the ratio of the circumference of the abdominal segment to the circumference of the thoracic segment of the torso. Moreover, the ABOI does not concern total body weight, body height, or body shape (e.g. “apple-shaped” or “pear-shaped” body types). Instead, ABOI specifically highlights central obesity. We randomly recruited 282 subjects, ages 20-90 years, at a community health service center in Beijing, China, and determined their ABOI and BMI values. Results: The mean (standard deviation) BMI for the female and male subjects is, respectively, 24.24 kg/m2 (3.35) and 24.86 kg/m2 (3.25). For ABOI, mean (standard deviation) is 1.17 (0.16) and 1.01 (0.13) for females and males, respectively. There is no strict relationship between ABOI and BMI in the context of obesity as defined by high BMI values, and ABOI appears to be a more specific measure of central obesity than BMI. Conclusion: ABOI is a useful and distinct independent measurement of central obesity, and ABOI (possibly in combination with the waist-to-height ratio) appears to be a more specific way to assess central obesity during a physical examination.
Background/Aims:The aims of this study were to: 1) investigate the specific metabolomic effects of single macro nutrients in cold exposed rats; and 2) Using centrality analysis ascertain the correlations between these metabolomic parameter measurements.Methods:Fifty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups and individually housed under cold climatic conditions. Rats were either cold exposed fasted (negative control) or fed with the following commercially available single macronutrients: casein, POLYCOSE® and safflower oil; the positive control diets included all macronutrients. Samples from the plasma, liver and pancreas were collected and 33 different parameters were determined.Results:The primary correlation found between pancreatic hormones and the variables as measured, showed significant positive connections between centrality network node members. Heatmap analysis showed that the macronutrients fed have very differing effects on the metabolomics measured,i.e.casein has a high Heatmap Index on plasma corticosterone while POLYCOSE® and fat had a minimal impact.Conclusion:The cold exposed fasted animal model, in which nutrient catabolism is near maximal, serves as a useful “in vivo” tool for studying the relationships among the nutrients, hormones and digestive enzymes under cold stress conditions; feed intake, liver glucose, and small intestinal amylase hold a high position in centrality mapping and are highly imbedded in the metabolomic networks. For example, this model shed light on the relations amoung hormone and enzyme contents of duodenal pancreas, gastric+splenic pancreas and enzyme activities in small intestinal contents. These findings can be applied to optimizing feeding of animals under cold stress.
Purpose:To evaluate changes in serum fatty acids, metabolic profile and inflammation markers after a dietary intervention of 15g of walnuts and 15g of almonds for 8 weeks in obese subjects,Patients and Methods:We studied a total of 48 sedentary obese grade I subjects (13 men and 35 women). Anthropometric measures, body composition, serum glucose, lipid profile, insulin, lipocalina-2, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), adiponectin, and fatty acids profile were analyzed at the baseline and after dietary intervention.Results:The adiponectin (30.4%, p = 0.007), and lipocalin-2 concentrations (17.9%, p = 0.014), and total Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) percentage (1.6% p = 0.040) significantly increased after the intervention; particularly the eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid percentages were increased marginally. A significant decrease in saturated fatty acids levels (3%, p = 0.001), in particular the C:14, C:16, in total cholesterol (6.7%, p = 0.01), LDL (11.4%, p = 0.002) levels, and in all adiposity measures (weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, BMI and fat mass, p < 0.0001) was found. The effect size was large for all adiposity measures, except for BMI as well as for adiponectin which was moderate.Conclusion:The intake of almonds and walnuts to short-time may improve significantly the metabolic profile and decrease adiposity.
Background:Selenium is an essential micronutrient for the human body because it is needed for the synthesis of selenoproteins, which have various biological functions. As a result, selenium deficiency associated with diets and/or environments manifests in different disease states such as epilepsy, multiminicore disease and cardiovascular injury which in some cases is a presage of cardiomyopathy.Objective:This objective was to review published cases and identify selenium-responsive cardiomyopathy due to selenium deficiency by various factors.Methods:Published case reports in English were identified and extracted from PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Science Direct Library.Results:28 case reports met inclusion criteria out of an initial 189 articles.Conclusion:Acquired selenium deficiency is a causative factor for the development of cardiomyopathy in patients under different conditions, and treatment of these patients with selenium is effective in normalizing cardiac function or reducing cardiac dysfunction. Thus, it is important to include selenium deficiency as a possible cause of cardiomyopathy for diagnosis and treatment purposes.
Over the last decade, a new condition, which occurs in the presence of both sarcopenia and obesity, has been termed “sarcopenic obesity”. The term describes the coexistence of obesity, defined as the increase in body fat mass deposition, and sarcopenia, defined as the reduction in lean mass and muscle strength. However, many uncertainties still surround the condition of sarcopenic obesity in terms of its definition, the adverse short- and long-term health effects (i.e., medical disease, psychosocial functioning, quality of life and mortality) and its clinical management. The aim of this short communication is to emphasize some crucial aspects that future research should take into account in order to avoid bias and misinterpretations and to underline that the study of sarcopenic obesity should be considered a scientific and clinical priority, as reported by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO).
As we know nutrients are necessary for the development and proper functioning of the human organism. Bioavailabilities of nutrients are the major concern rather than the supply of an adequate amount of nutrients in the diet. Many of the researches have been shown that the consumption of probiotics along with dairy foods buffers the acidity of the stomach and increases the bacterial survival rate into the intestine. A dairy product with probiotics also provides many of essential nutrients, including protein and calcium. From all the necessary nutrients the calcium having a major role in the human body including the development of bone and teeth are also regulating enzymes and many more. Calcium is the most essential nutrient, about 99% of calcium found in teeth and bone in the body and only 1% is found in serum. A numbers of researches have shown that adequate amount of calcium intake leads to reduce risk of fracture, Osteoporosis and Hypoglycaemia and diabetes in some population. Many of the researches suggested that the Probiotics having a significant role in improvement of calcium uptake and absorption, hence the present review gives information about the relationship of probiotics and calcium, ensuring higher bioavailability of calcium and promising a better bone health. Here, the review study showed a significant role of probiotics in calcium absorption and thus the bioavailabilities. Moreover, it is focused on glimpse of various studies and in-vitro models associated with the phenomena of calcium absorption and uptake.
Background: Despite the known health benefits of dairy products, their daily consumption continues to decline, particularly in pre-adolescents and adolescents. It is therefore of interest to develop effective strategies to increase dairy intake and education in this population. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of the web-based component of a school-based dairy nutrition intervention called WhyDairy?. Through analysis of popular website content, traversal paths and timing of website access, we aimed to investigate how students used this website and to identify areas of improvement for future research. Method: Grade 7 students (n=115) in 10 Southwestern Ontario schools received the WhyDairy? intervention, which included three classroom visits and a website that could be voluntarily accessed. Website use data was collected using Google Analytics. The intervention delivered to control schools did not have a website component and is therefore not described in this report. Results: The website was voluntarily accessed by 33.6% of students participating in the intervention. Almost 70% of website visits occurred within two days following a classroom visit. Popular content included games and interactive pages. While there was moderate engagement with the website during the intervention period, there was poor engagement during the follow-up period. Conclusion: The utilization of the WhyDairy? website represents students’ interest in independently furthering their knowledge and student engagement with a web-based component of a dairy nutrition intervention. Future work should investigate students’ motivations for accessing the website and how to encourage prolonged website use.
Background: The increased rate of population aging in Japan has led to an increase in the incidence of osteoarthritis (OA). Chondroitin sulfate has been reported to reduce the pain and swelling associated with OA and to improve knee function. Objective: We evaluated the safety and effects of oral chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides on knee function in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled parallel group comparison study of healthy Japanese subjects with knee joint pain. Methods: Subjects were randomly divided into test and placebo groups and given either active-test capsules containing 100 mg of chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides or placebo capsules daily for 8 weeks. The Japanese Knee Osteoarthritis Measure (JKOM), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), blood and physical examinations, and medical interviews were performed at weeks 0, 4, and 8, and the locomotive syndrome risk test was performed at weeks 0 and 8 during the test intake period. Results: The JKOM scores did not significantly differ between the test groups. However, among subjects with worse VAS scores, those in the active test group had significantly lower JKOM scores at 8 weeks, compared to those in the placebo group. Moreover, chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharide treatment tended to improve the subjects' scores on the stand-up test, which evaluates the risk of locomotive syndrome. Furthermore, no abnormal changes or severe adverse events were observed during physical or blood examinations or medical interviews. Conclusion: Our results suggest that chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides improve knee pain and are safe for 8-week intake.
Obesity is a serious health problem, officially recognized by The American Medical Association (AMA) as a disease associated with several medical [1] and psychosocial comorbidities [2].Its prevalence is increasing worldwide in adolescents and adults of both genders [3].In recent decades, it has doubled in more than 70 countries, and is continuously increasing in most others.Particularly worrisome, however, is the finding that it has approximately tripled in children and young adults in developing and middle-income societies, for example Brazil and China.Indeed, the early onset of obesity is likely to translate into a high cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high rate of mortality [3].Although in Western society this has prompted international guidelines to recommend a wide range of weight-loss interventions [4], most of these are known to be effective only in the short-term.In fact, weight regain is extremely common in patients with obesity who have intentionally lost weight, and almost 80% of patients are estimated to return to their baseline weight within five years of follow-up.This phenomenon has been termed as "weight cycling" [5], and in the new millennium there has been great interest in studying its effects in humans [6].Such research has however produced inconsistent findings, especially in terms of its adverse effects on health in obesity.Although there is a commonly held belief among the general population and some clinicians that weight cycling has a potential to predispose to future weight regain and provoke adverse effects on health [7], this has, by no means been demonstrated conclusively, and the effects of weight cycling on body composition, resting energy expenditure, and cardiovascular and metabolic status, for example, still remain to be explored [8,9].
Infant and young child feeding practices have substantial consequences for the growth, development, and survival of children. Children should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life and thereafter continue to breastfeed for 2 years or longer. Children are vulnerable to malnutrition thus nutrition and health status of the confined children is of interest. The purpose of this study was to establish feeding practices of children 0-59 months incarcerated with their mothers in selected women’s prisons in Kenya. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on an exhaustive sample of 202 children and 193 mothers, drawn from a sample of eight out of the 35 women prisons in Kenya. Data collection tools included: a structured researcher-administered questionnaire for mothers and children. Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 69.4%; continued breastfeeding at 1 and 2 years year (88.5%; 52.2%). The mean Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was 3.52 ± 1.04 foods groups out of 7 groups with 53.3% having attained the minimum DDS and 86.5% of breastfed children having attained the minimum frequency meal consumption. About half of the children (48.6%) attained the minimum acceptable diet. In terms of nutritional status, 21.4% of the children were stunted, 3.8% wasted and 7.5% were underweight. Dietary practices were associated with underweight; not attaining the minimum dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet was associated with underweight (p = 0.012; p = 0.014); Illness 2 weeks prior to the study was correlated with underweight (p=0.012). Feeding practices significantly influenced nutritional status among children accompanying incarcerated mothers in prisons in Kenya.
The purpose of this systematic review was to ascertain the current state of science regarding the use of turmeric and its pigment curcumin in individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). A summary of qualitative and quantitative evidence specific to the effect of curcumin on AD is presented in this article. The purpose of the review was to evaluate and summarize findings related to this body of research. Findings indicated a positive correlation between administration of turmeric and improvement AD symptoms; however, long-term benefits need to be researched. Also, experimental research with older adults with mild, moderate, and severe AD should be conducted to determine whether or not turmeric and curcumin improve cognition, depression, and agitation. Specific methodological issues that need to be considered are the dosage and purity of turmeric and curcumin, administration frequency, determination of a suitable placebo, and duration of testing.
Fatty acid profiling has become a very useful and effective tool in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of several diseases with cardiovascular disease being particularly important. In order to arrive at accurate conclusions that would help promote the health of individuals plagued by such diseases, not only excellent laboratory methods are required, but also very important monitoring responses to treatment. Improvements in methods of fatty acid profiling in biological systems regarding safety of extraction, precision and time for analysis are valuable. The ω-3 index (a measure of the amount of eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA, in Red Blood Cell membranes expressed as the percent of total fatty acids) is of growing interest because it has been reported to provide prognostic information regarding the risk for heart diseases. Sodium methoxide has been widely used for the determination of ω -3 fatty acids in food samples. This study demonstrates that sodium methoxide can be used effectively in RBC fatty acid profiling and determination of the ω-3 index. Briefly, the fatty acid profiles and ω-3 index of red blood cell samples were analyzed and results compared using three different methods: a two- step extraction and methylation method described by Hara and Radin, a single step extraction and methylation method described by Harriset al.and the sodium methoxide method.Our results revealed that there were no statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between the three methods for the representative fatty acids, [16:0 (p = 0.10), 18:0 (p=0.40), 18:1(ω9) (p = 0.29), 18:2(ω6) (p = 0.95), 18:3(ω3) (p = 0.50), 20:5(ω3) (p=0.56), 22:6(ω3) (p = 0.06)] and ω-3 index (p = 0.11) except for 20:4(ω6), (P = 0.02). In conclusion, we show that sodium methoxide can be used effectively in a one-step extraction and methylation procedure for high throughput analysis of fatty acids in red blood cell membranes. It is rapid (10 minute extraction and methylation), simple, safer than and as accurate as other commonly reported methods.
Background: Relevant literature indicate that more than 0.8 g starch/kg body weight from compounded feed composed of different starch sources induces disproportionate glycaemic and insulinaemic responses in horses. Objective: It should be investigated whether crushed oats, barley and maize also cause a disproportionate increase in plasma glucose and insulin when fed as the only concentrate in quantities equal to and above 0.8 g starch/kg body weight. Method: Four mares received hay plus oats, barley and maize, respectively, in quantities equal to 0.8, 1.0 and 2.0 g starch/kg body weight. At the test days, chewing parameters were detected and blood sampled before and 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after the concentrate meal. Plasma glucose and insulin were measured and areas under the curve were calculated. Results: Maize was ingested particularly slowly (dry matter basis; P < 0.05), but glycaemic and insulinaemic responses were particularly low (starch basis; P < 0.05). In general, the glycaemic responses were highest with 1 g starch/kg body weight (P < 0.05). The quantity of starch had no effect on the insulinaemic response (P > 0.05). A defined increase in plasma glucose induced the highest insulinaemic response with oat grains. Conclusion: Oats and barley are ingested faster and induce higher glycaemic and insulinaemic responses than maize. Until 120 min postprandial, elevated quantities of starch from these grains seem to induce no disproportionate or at least linear increase of plasma glucose and insulin. The insulinaemic response to a defined increase of plasma glucose is particularly pronounced with oats.
