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dr emma derbyshire phd Rnutr (public health) nutritional insight Ltd
soCio-eConomiC gaps in Diet quality
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Variations in diet quality between socioeconomic (SE) groups can lead to unequal differences in health. An analysis of data from the 2008 to 2011 National Diet and Nutrition Survey has looked at this in more detail.
Data from 1,491 adults aged 19 years and over was used. SE status was determined using household income, occupational social class and highest educational qualification. Significant differences were found for three food groups. Higher SE groups ate up to: 1) 128 grams per day more vegetables, 2) 26 grams per day less red and processed meat and 3) less non-milk extrinsic sugars (2.6% points). Higher SE groups were also 2.4 to 4.0 times more likely to eat oily fish.
Overall, analysis of data from this survey shows the importance of aligning dietary patterns across SE groups. Further public health guidance is needed, along with interventions targeting lower SE groups.
For more information, see: Maguire ER and Monsivais P et al (2015). British Journal of Nutrition Vol 113 (1), pg181-189.
While some studies have found that childcare in general may be related to childhood obesity, few have looked at how childcare in infancy could affect this. As we see here, such research has now been carried out in Denmark.
A total of 27,821 infants born to mothers who took part in the Danish National Birth Cohort study and were registered on the Childcare Database (a record of childcare use) were recruited. The number of days spent in childcare from birth to 12 months was collected and body mass index (using z-scores for infants) measured at 12 months.
It was found that 63.7 percent attended childcare during this period. A 30-day increment of childcare was associated with a significantly higher body mass index z-score and increased likelihood of being overweight at 12 months of age.
In summary, it seems that childcare in the first year of life may contribute to higher weight in infancy. Taking this on board it seems that childcare settings, e.g. nurseries and child minders, are important targets for obesity prevention.
For more information, see: Neelon SE et al (2015). International Journal of Obesity Vol 39, pg33-38.
measuring HyDration status
Being adequately hydrated is important for cognitive (mental) and physical well-being. There is growing interest in the role that hydration has to play in health, yet data is often excluded from large population studies. Now, a new paper looks into the best ways to measure this.
Authors concluded that past methods have tended to be quick, inexpensive and lacking in technical expertise. For example, changes in body weight and urine colour while easy to measure, are not particularly accurate. Blood plasma osmolality (water content) is somewhat more reliable, but requires venepuncture which is not suitable for some study populations such as children.
Urine sampling and analysis was regarded at the best method as this is non-invasive and cost-effective. In particular, urine osmolality and urine specific gravity can be measured from urine samples. These are both good markers of hydration status and suitable for use in large studies.
For more information, see: Baron S et al (2015). British Journal of Nutrition Vol 113 (1), pg147-58.
dr emma derbyshire is a freelance nutritionist and former senior academic. her interests include pregnancy and public health. www.nutritionalinsight.co.uk hello@nutritionalinsight.co.uk
target CHilDCare settings For oBesity preVention?
Reduced levels of iron in the brain have been linked to impaired cognition and certain neurodegenerative diseases. New research looks into this further.
The cohort study recruited 1,063 older participants (mean age 72.7 years) who were born in 1936. Dietary intakes were assessed using a food-frequency questionnaire, blood samples taken and brain imaging carried out.
Findings showed that 72.8 percent of the study population had iron deposits in the brain, with 70.6 percent of the sample having deposits within the basal ganglia part of the brain. Mean iron intakes were 11.7mg but not associated with brain iron deposits, although calorie intake was significantly associated with ferritin levels (an iron storage protein).
Overall, study findings point towards iron (as ferritin) correlating with brain iron; but randomised trials are now needed.
A second study has looked inti the iron-binding effects of beta-glucan; a dietary fibre renowned for its cholesterol-lowering effects. Using a process known as the ‘Fenton reaction’, scientists found that at pH 4.7 iron formed complexes with both oat (most strongly) and barley beta-glucan. These results indicate that oat beta-glucans could reduce iron bioavailability, though human trials need to test this further.
For more information, see: Del C Valdes HM et al (2015). J Nutr Health Ageing Vol 19(1), pg64-91 and Faure AM et al (2015). Carbohydr Polym 115: 739-43. We are delighted to announce a new presentation for Pro-Cal shot® which will be available in a 120ml plastic bottle. This pack size has the benefits of being easy to transport, convenient to use with less wastage. The new 120ml presentation will be available in strawberry and neutral flavours, please contact your local Vitaflo® representative for more information or visit www.vitaflo.co.uk.
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Past studies have shown that women who develop diabetes in pregnancy are more likely to have lower blood selenium levels. Now, a new meta-analysis paper has pooled results and looked further into this.
The new paper analysed data from six observational studies comprised of 147 women with pregnancy (gestational) diabetes and 360 women without the condition and with normal blood sugar levels.
Results showed that blood serum selenium levels were significantly lower in women with pregnancy diabetes compared with women without it. This was particularly the case in the second and third trimesters, though the association was not significant in the second trimester.
These are interesting and important findings highlighting that women with diabetes in pregnancy have lower selenium status. More work now needs to be carried out to determine why.
For more information, see: Askari G et al (2015). J Trace Elem Med Biol Vol 29, pg195-201.
