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Dr emma Derbyshire phD Rnutr (public health) nutritional insight ltd

prOtein and Children’S health

High protein diets have been linked to childhood obesity, although for adults some health benefits have been seen, e.g. possible satiety effects. Now, a new review of 56 studies has looked into links between protein and health in the under 18s.

Data extracted from 56 studies did not find any significant links between protein intakes and insulin sensitivity or blood lipids. Some studies found associations between higher protein intakes and lower blood pressure, although the evidence was not strong. Four of the studies looked at animal protein intakes and health, but findings were inconsistent.

Overall, there could be a trend towards reduced blood pressure with higher protein intakes, but better designed studies are needed controlling rigorously for confounders. Possible mechanisms of action also need to be investigated.

For more information see Voortman T and Vitezova A et al (2015). British Journal of Nutrition, 113(03), pg 383-402. Nearly every aspect of human development is laid down in early childhood. This includes nutritional exposures before, during and after pregnancy, all of which have lifelong effects on the health and wellbeing of the next generation.

A new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood, which includes contributions from Nutritional Insight Ltd, discusses and makes recommendations in relation to aspects of maternal nutrition, infant nutrition, early years following weaning, childhood obesity and the education and training needs of health and education professionals.

Points such as the need to establish anti-obesity strategies from infancy, target micronutrient deficiencies, e.g. vitamin D in childhood and train health visitors in nutrition are discussed.

For more information see: www. nutritional-insight.co.uk/publications/ (click on the Early Years’ Report image).

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

lateSt On tea and health

Tea is renowned for its health and wellbeing benefits, with two new studies looking into this further.

One study tested whether green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) could help to improve energy metabolism in patients with multiple sclerosis, as muscle weakness and fatigue are common symptoms.

Eighteen patients with MS symptoms took part in a double-blind randomised trial, taking either EGCG (600mg per day) or a placebo for 12 weeks with a four-week washout period in between. Metabolic responses were measured at rest and during 40 minutes of exercise.

Results showed that EGCG provided over 12-weeks improved muscle metabolism during moderate exercise for men (energy expenditure after eating was lower and carbohydrate oxidation more stable), but not amongst women, possibly due to hormonal differences.

A second study looked into tea (and coffee) drinking in relation to endometrial cancer risk. The study pooled data from 560,356 subjects who had taken part in the UK Million Women Study and a meta-analysis was also carried out on the results.

Overall, it was found that there was no significant association between tea consumption and endometrial cancer risk, although a weak association was found for coffee.

For more information see: Merinio J et al. (2015) The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 101(3), pg440-448 and Owen Yang TY et al (2015) The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 101(3), pg570-78.

Folate in the diet is found naturally in certain foods and is also provided from certain fortified foods and supplements. A new report, using data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey now provides a valuable source of information about blood folate levels in the UK.

The report includes data from 1,769 adults and 902 children who provided blood samples. Using these, serum total folate, red blood cell folate and free (unmetabolised) folate were measured.

Around one-fifth of boys and girls aged 11 to 18 years had serum total folate levels below cut-offs used to indicate deficiency (below 10nmol/L). Equally, 22 percent of women aged 16 to 24 years, 18 percent of those aged 25 to 34 years and 13 percent of those aged 35 to 49 years were also deficient. Overall, it can be seen that folate deficiency is still a problem in the UK as this has wider implications in relation to infant health and if teenagers or women of childbearing age should fall pregnant. For more information see: Public Health England (2015) National diet and nutrition survey supplementary report: Blood folate. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/nationaldiet-and-nutrition-survey-supplementary-report-blood-folate

SOdium and health

It is well known that we need to cut-back on our sodium intakes. This is mainly due to high intakes being linked to high blood pressure; a risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Now, a new study has looked into this further.

Scientists from the PREDIMED study measured sodium intakes using a food-frequency questionnaire amongst subjects (n=3,982) at high risk of CV disease. Sodium intakes were then categorised into low, intermediate or high, with changes in sodium intake recorded after one and three years.

Results showed that sodium intakes of less than 2.3 grams per day were associated with reduced mortality risk. For those whose sodium intakes increased after one year, this was associated with a 72 percent higher risk of CV problems.

Overall, findings indicate that people at high risk of CV disease could benefit from reducing daily sodium intakes, ideally to less than 2.3 grams. Combining this with a Mediterraneanstyle diet could also help to support heart health. Further studies are now needed to see if similar results are reported.

For more information see: Merinio J et al (2015) The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 101(3), pg440-448.

Sleep and weight management

Sleep is central to health and well-being. Modern day stresses, however, such as irregular working hours and general worries can lead to poor quality or insufficient sleep. Given that 42 percent of UK adults are now overweight and more than 25 percent are obese, a new review has looked into links between sleep and body weight.

From the studies identified, it was found that encouraging people to sleep for six to nine hours daily, ideally seven to eight hours, and to reflect on their sleep quality could go some way towards helping to regulate body weight.

Interestingly, short night-time sleep also seems to be related to body weight in children. Data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort has shown that obesity risk was significantly higher for children sleeping less than 9.4 hours each night, going to bed later than 9pm (at age five years) or waking before 6.30am.

On the whole, promoting earlier and longer sleep durations could be a potential means of regulating body weight in both children and adults. The importance of this now needs to be communicated alongside messages to eat a healthy balanced diet and keep active.

For more information see: Ruxton CHS and Derbyshire EJ (2015) Complete Nutrition, 15(1), pg12-14 and Scharf RJ and DeBoer MD (2015) Pediatric Obesity 10(2), pg141-8.