ORCID Profile
0000-0002-0688-2134
Current Organisation
Deakin University
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 08-01-2015
DOI: 10.1017/S000711451400378X
Abstract: Excessive sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption has been associated with overweight and obesity. Caffeine is a common additive to SSB, and through dependence effects, it has the potential to promote the consumption of caffeine-containing foods. The objective of the present study was to assess the influence that caffeine has on the consumption of SSB. Participants ( n 99) were blindly assigned to either a caffeinated SSB (C-SSB) or a non-caffeinated SSB (NC-SSB) group. Following randomisation, all participants completed a 9 d flavour-conditioning paradigm. They then completed a 28 d ad libitum intake intervention where they consumed as much or as little of C-SSB or NC-SSB as desired. The amount consumed (ml) was recorded daily, 4 d diet diaries were collected and liking of SSB was assessed at the start and end of the intervention. Participants ( n 50) consuming the C-SSB had a daily SSB intake of 419 ( sd 298) ml (785 ( sd 559) kJ/d) over the 28 d intervention, significantly more than participants ( n 49) consuming the NC-SSB (273 ( sd 278) ml/d, 512 ( sd 521) kJ/d) ( P 0·001). A trained flavour panel ( n 30) found no difference in flavour between the C-SSB and NC-SSB ( P ·05). However, participants who consumed the C-SSB liked the SSB more than those who consumed the NC-SSB (6·3 v. 6·0 on a nine-point hedonic scale, P = 0·022). The addition of low concentrations of caffeine to the SSB significantly increases the consumption of the SSB. Regulating caffeine as a food additive may be an effective strategy to decrease the consumption of nutrient-poor high-energy foods and beverages.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-12-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1750-3841.2010.01939.X
Abstract: Excessive sodium (Na) intake has been linked to development of hypertension and related pathologies. In this study, we assessed if the sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration in a prototypical food influences the liking and intake of that food. In study 1, detection and recognition thresholds for NaCl were assessed, and perceived salt intensity and liking for hash browns of varying sodium concentrations (40 mg, 120 mg, 170 mg, and 220 mg Na/100 g) were compared in a lab setting. In study 2, detection and recognition thresholds for NaCl were assessed in a lab setting, and lunches consisting of hash browns, basic salad, and beverages were consumed freely in a dining setting on 4 separate occasions. Intake and liking ratings for hash browns were recorded after the lunch. In both studies, detection and recognition thresholds for NaCl were not associated with perceived saltiness, liking, or intake of hash browns. Liking and perceived salt taste intensity of hash browns were correlated (r = 0.547 P < 0.01), and in study 1 the 220 mg sodium hash brown was most liked (P 50%) of sodium content of food were achievable with only minor decrease in liking and no effect on consumption of the food.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2007
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2006.11.003
Abstract: Over 60% of soft-drinks sold in the United States contain caffeine, a mildly addictive psycho-active chemical, as a flavor additive. Using sweeteners as controls, we assessed whether caffeine has flavor activity in a cola soft-drink. A forced-choice triangle discrimination methodology was used to determine detection thresholds of caffeine in sweeteners and a cola beverage. The subjects (n=30, 28 female, 23+/-4 years old) were trained tasters and completed over 1600 discrimination tests during the study. The mean detection thresholds for caffeine in the sweet solutions were: 0.333+/-0.1mM sucrose 0.467+/-0.29 mM aspartame 0.462+/-0.3mM sucralose, well below the concentration in common cola beverages (0.55-0.67 mM). A fixed concentration of caffeine, corresponding to the concentration of caffeine in a common cola beverage (0.67 mM) was added to the sweeteners and a non-caffeinated cola beverage. Subjects could distinguish between caffeinated and non-caffeinated sweeteners (p<0.001), but all subjects failed to distinguish between caffeinated and non-caffeinated cola beverage (p=1.0). Caffeine has no flavor activity in soft-drinks yet will induce a physiologic and psychologic desire to consume the drink.
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Date: 2013
Abstract: To determine the association among dietary salt, fluid, and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and weight status in a nationally representative s le of Australian children aged 2 to 16 years. Cross-sectional data from the 2007 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Consumption of dietary salt, fluid, and SSB was determined via two 24-hour dietary recalls. BMI was calculated from recorded height and weight. Regression analysis was used to assess the association between salt, fluid, SSB consumption, and weight status. Of the 4283 participants, 62% reported consuming SSBs. Older children and those of lower socioeconomic status (SES) were more likely to consume SSBs (both Ps & .001). Dietary salt intake was positively associated with fluid consumption (r = 0.42, P & .001) each additional 1 g/d of salt was associated with a 46 g/d greater intake of fluid, adjusted for age, gender, BMI, and SES (P & .001). In those consuming SSBs (n = 2571), salt intake was positively associated with SSB consumption (r = 0.35, P & .001) each additional 1 g/d of salt was associated with a 17 g/d greater intake of SSB, adjusted for age, gender, SES, and energy (P & .001). Participants who consumed more than 1 serving (≥250 g) of SSB were 26% more likely to be overweight/obese (odds ratio: 1.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–1.53). Dietary salt intake predicted total fluid consumption and SSB consumption within consumers of SSBs. Furthermore, SSB consumption was associated with obesity risk. In addition to the known benefits of lowering blood pressure, salt reduction strategies may be useful in childhood obesity prevention efforts.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-07-2013
DOI: 10.1111/TRF.12347
Abstract: The aim was to assess iron status and dietary iron intake in a s le of premenopausal female regular and new blood donors. Premenopausal women blood donors were invited to participate. Blood s les were analyzed for serum ferritin and hemoglobin. An iron checklist assessed dietary iron intake. Donors were classified as regular donors or new donors. Twenty-one new donors (mean [SD] age, 28.6 [6.0] years body mass index [BMI], 25.6 [4.5] kg/m(2) ) and 172 regular donors (mean age, 29.4 [5.5] years BMI, 24.7 [3.8] kg/m(2) ) participated. Fifty percent of regular donors and 24% of new donors had depleted iron stores (serum ferritin <15 μg/L difference p = 0.036). Dietary iron intake was higher in regular donors (mean [SE], 12.6 [0.7] mg/day) compared to new donors (9.9 [0.4] mg/day p = 0.006). Eighty-five percent of regular donors and 79% of new donors met the estimated average requirement for iron. Despite the fact that most of these donors had an adequate dietary iron intake, more than half of the blood donors had depleted iron stores. Increasing dietary iron intake through supplements and/or dietary means is expected to be necessary to maintain adequate iron status in this group.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 26-01-2016
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114515005243
Abstract: Emerging evidence indicates that dietary Na may be linked to obesity however it is unclear whether this relationship is independent of energy intake (EI). The aim of this study was to assess the association between Na intake and measures of adiposity, including BMI z score, weight category and waist:height ratio (WHtR), in a s le of Australian schoolchildren. This was a cross-sectional study of schoolchildren aged 4–12 years. Na intake was assessed via one 24-h urine collection. BMI was converted to age- and sex-specific z scores, and WHtR was used to define abdominal obesity. In children aged ≥8 years, EI was determined via one 24-h dietary recall. Of the 666 children with valid urine s les 55 % were male (average age 9·3 ( sd 1·8) years). In adjusted models an additional 17 mmol/d of Na was associated with a 0·10 higher BMI z score (95 % CI 0·07, 0·13), a 23 % (OR 1·23 95 % CI 1·16, 1·31) greater risk of being overweight/obese and a 15 % (OR 1·15 95 % CI 1·09, 1·23) greater risk of being centrally obese. In the subs le of 8–12-year-old children ( n 458), adjustment for EI did not markedly alter the associations between Na and adiposity outcomes. Using a robust measure of daily Na intake we found a positive association between Na intake and obesity risk in Australian schoolchildren, which could not be explained by total energy consumption. To determine whether this is a causal relationship, longitudinal studies, with high-quality measures of Na and EI, are required.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 18-07-2013
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980013001924
Abstract: To determine the diet quality of a group of young adults and explore its associations with two food-related behaviours (involvement in meal preparation and consumption of commercially prepared meals). Cross-sectional study of young adults. S le characteristics, food-related behaviours and dietary intake were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire including an FFQ. Diet quality was measured using the fifteen-item Dietary Guideline Index (DGI) designed to assess adherence to Australian dietary guidelines. One-way ANOVA, t tests and multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the relationships between DGI scores, s le characteristics and food-related behaviours. University students enrolled in an undergraduate nutrition class, Melbourne, Australia. Students ( n 309) aged 18–36 years. The DGI score was normally distributed, with a mean score of 93·4 ( sd 17·1) points (range 51·9–127·4 points), out of a possible score of 150 points. In multivariate analyses adjusted for age, sex, nationality, BMI and maternal education, cooking meals for oneself was positively associated with DGI score ( β = 0·15 95 % CI 1·15, 10·03 P = 0·01) frequency of takeaway and frequency of convenience meal consumption were inversely associated with DGI score ( β = −0·21 95 % CI −9·96, −2·32 P = 0·002 and β = −0·16 95 % CI −7·40, −0·97 P 0·01, respectively). Cooking meals for oneself was linked to higher diet quality among young adults, while consumption of commercially prepared meals was associated with poorer diet quality. Maintaining education programmes that promote cooking skills within young adults has the potential to improve DGI scores.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2006
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2006.03.160
Abstract: The freshman year of college is a period of heightened risk for weight gain. This study examined measures of restrained eating, disinhibition, and emotional eating as predictors of weight gain during the freshman year. Using Lowe's multi-factorial model of dieting, it also examined three different types of dieting as predictors of weight gain. Sixty-nine females were assessed at three points during the school year. Weight gain during the freshman year averaged 2.1 kg. None of the traditional self-report measures of restraint, disinhibition, or emotional eating were predictive of weight gain. However, both a history of weight loss dieting and weight suppression (discrepancy between highest weight ever and current weight) predicted greater weight gain, and these effects appeared to be largely independent of one another. In iduals who said they were currently dieting to lose weight gained twice as much (5.0 kg) as former dieters (2.5 kg) and three times as much as never dieters (1.6 kg), but the import of this finding was unclear because there was only a small number of current dieters (N = 7). Overall the results indicate that specific subtypes of dieting predicts weight gain during the freshman year better than more global measures of restraint or overeating.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2009
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 09-10-2020
DOI: 10.3390/NU12103078
Abstract: The degree to which foods are liked or disliked is associated with dietary intake and health behaviours. However, most food liking research has focused on single foods and nutrients and few studies have examined associations with demographics and health behaviours. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association between food liking and socio-demographics, health behaviours, diet quality and body mass index (BMI) in a s le of young Australian adults. Data from 1728 undergraduate students (21.8 (standard deviation [SD] 6.0) years 76% female) were used. Food liking scores and a diet quality index (Dietary Guideline Index, DGI) were estimated from a Food Liking Questionnaire and Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), respectively. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to assess the association between food liking and correlates. Young adults with higher liking for encouraged core foods were older, female, did their own food shopping, consumed less packaged foods and had better diet quality. Higher liking for discretionary foods and beverages was associated with less healthy behaviours, such as smoking, higher BMI and lower diet quality. These results suggest that food liking measures may offer an appropriate methodology for understanding influences on young adults’ food choices, adding to the body of literature investigating the potential for food liking scores to assess diet–disease relationships.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 28-09-2011
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114510003673
Abstract: The average reported dietary Na intake of children in Australia is high: 2694 mg/d (9–13 years). No data exist describing food sources of Na in Australian children's diets and potential impact of Na reduction targets for processed foods. The aim of the present study was to determine sources of dietary Na in a nationally representative s le of Australian children aged 2–16 years and to assess the impact of application of the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) Na reduction targets on Na intake. Na intake and use of discretionary salt (note: conversion of salt to Na, 1 g of NaCl (salt) = 390 mg Na) were assessed from 24-h dietary recall in 4487 children participating in the Australian 2007 Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Greatest contributors to Na intake across all ages were cereals and cereal-based products/dishes (43 %), including bread (13 %) and breakfast cereals (4 %). Other moderate sources were meat, poultry products (16 %), including processed meats (8 %) and sausages (3 %) milk products/dishes (11 %) and savoury sauces and condiments (7 %). Between 37 and 42 % reported that the person who prepares their meal adds salt when cooking and between 11 and 39 % added salt at the table. Those over the age of 9 years were more likely to report adding salt at the table (χ 2 199·5, df 6, P 0·001). Attainment of the UK FSA Na reduction targets, within the present food supply, would result in a 20 % reduction in daily Na intake in children aged 2–16 years. Incremental reductions of this magnitude over a period of years could significantly reduce the Na intake of this group and further reductions could be achieved by reducing discretionary salt use.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 28-09-2015
DOI: 10.2196/MHEALTH.4300
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2016.03.015
Abstract: The 'taste of food' plays an important role in food choice. Furthermore, foods high in fat, sugar and salt are highly palatable and associated with increased food consumption. Research exploring taste importance on dietary choice, behaviour and intake is limited, particularly in young adults. Therefore, in this study a total of 1306 Australian university students completed questionnaires assessing dietary behaviors (such as how important taste was on food choice) and frequency of food consumption over the prior month. Diet quality was also assessed using a dietary guideline index. Participants had a mean age of 20 ± 5 years, Body Mass Index (BMI) of 22 ± 3 kg/m(2), 79% were female and 84% Australian. Taste was rated as being a very or extremely important factor for food choice by 82% of participants. Participants who rated taste as highly important, had a poorer diet quality (p = 0.001) and were more likely to consume less fruit (p = 0.03) and vegetables (p = 0.05). Furthermore, they were significantly more likely to consume foods high in fat, sugar and salt, including chocolate and confectionary, cakes and puddings, sweet pastries, biscuits, meat pies, pizza, hot chips, potato chips, takeaway meals, soft drink, cordial and fruit juice (p = 0.001-0.02). They were also more likely to consider avoiding adding salt to cooking (p = 0.02) and adding sugar to tea or coffee (p = 0.01) as less important for health. These findings suggest that the importance in iduals place on taste plays an important role in influencing food choice, dietary behaviors and intake.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2008
DOI: 10.1038/OBY.2008.270
Abstract: Failure to maintain weight losses in lifestyle change programs continues to be a major problem and warrants investigation of innovative approaches to weight control. The goal of this study was to compare two novel group interventions, both aimed at improving weight loss maintenance, with a control group. A total of 103 women lost weight on a meal replacement-supplemented diet and were then randomized to one of three conditions for the 14-week maintenance phase: cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) CBT with an enhanced food monitoring accuracy (EFMA) program or these two interventions plus a reduced energy density eating (REDE) program. Assessments were conducted periodically through an 18-month postintervention. Outcome measures included weight and self-reported dietary intake. Data were analyzed using completers only as well as baseline-carried-forward imputation. Participants lost an average of 7.6 +/- 2.6 kg during the weight loss phase and 1.8 +/- 2.3 kg during the maintenance phase. Results do not suggest that the EFMA intervention was successful in improving food monitoring accuracy. The REDE group decreased the energy density (ED) of their diets more so than the other two groups. However, neither the REDE nor the EFMA condition showed any advantage in weight loss maintenance. All groups regained weight between 6- and 18-month follow-ups. Although no incremental weight maintenance benefit was observed in the EFMA or EFMA + REDE groups, the improvement in the ED of the REDE group's diet, if shown to be sustainable in future studies, could have weight maintenance benefits.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 13-08-2013
DOI: 10.3390/NU5083184
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 14-11-2014
DOI: 10.3390/NU6115117
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 20-04-2015
DOI: 10.3390/NU7042983
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-07-2011
Abstract: Caffeine is a mildly addictive psychoactive chemical and controversial additive to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). The objective of this study is to assess if removal of caffeine from SSBs allows co-removal of sucrose (energy) without affecting flavour of SSBs, and if removal of caffeine could potentially affect population weight gain. The research comprised of three studies study 1 used three-alternate forced choice and paired comparison tests to establish detection thresholds for caffeine in water and sucrose solution (subjects, n=63), and to determine if caffeine suppressed sweetness. Study 2 (subjects, n=30) examined the proportion of sucrose that could be co-removed with caffeine from SSBs without affecting the flavour of the SSBs. Study 3 applied validated coefficients to estimate the impact on the weight of the United States population if there was no caffeine in SSBs. Detection threshold for caffeine in water was higher (1.09 ± 0.08 mM) than the detection threshold for caffeine in sucrose solution (0.49 ± 0.04 mM), and a paired comparison test revealed caffeine significantly reduced the sweetness of sucrose (P<0.001). Removing caffeine from SSBs allowed co-removal of 10.3% sucrose without affecting flavour of the SSBs, equating to 116 kJ per 500 ml serving. The effect of this on body weight in adults and children would be 0.600 and 0.142 kg, which are equivalent to 2.08 and 1.10 years of observed existing trends in weight gain, respectively. These data suggest the extra energy in SSBs as a result of caffeine's effect on sweetness may be associated with adult and child weight gain.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 15-01-2015
DOI: 10.2196/RESPROT.3994
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 09-2009
DOI: 10.1017/S136898000800459X
Abstract: Nutrient Reference Values (NRV) are evidence-based benchmarks for assessing the dietary adequacy of in iduals and population groups as well as informing public health nutrition policies and programmes. The present paper presents the findings of an analysis of the views of submitters to a draft document associated with the development of the 2006 NRV for Australia and New Zealand. The aim of the study was to explore how these views were reflected in the policy-making process and final policy document. The information necessary to fulfil this aim required access to stakeholder submissions to the NRV development process and this necessitated exploiting the provisions of the Commonwealth of Australia’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1982. We understand that the present research represents the first time that an FOI request seeking information about a National Health and Medical Research Council food and nutrition policy process has been made and therefore is novel in its approach to public health nutrition policy analysis. The analysis of stakeholder submissions identified that stakeholders had particular concerns about the conduct of the review process and the future application of the nutrient values to policy and programmes. There is a lack of evidence that the majority of stakeholder comments were addressed in the final NRV document. Although these findings cannot be interpreted to assess the validity or otherwise of the set nutrient values, they do raise questions about the process for their development and the adequacy of the final document to reflect the views of key stakeholders.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1753-6405.2011.00754.X
Abstract: To investigate the iodine status of Melbourne adults in 1992-94 and 2007-08, and to assess dietary iodine intake to enable comparison with recommended Nutrient Reference Values. A cross-sectional study utilising 24-hr urine s les collected at two time points in a random s le of the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. Two hundred and fifty seven adults (128 males, 129 females) in 1992-94, with a mean age of 56 years, and 265 adults (132 males, 133 females) in 2007-08, with a mean age of 68 years, were assessed, all being Melbourne residents. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was determined and daily urinary iodine excretion and daily iodine intake were assessed. In 1992-94, the median UIC was 27 μg/L and 84% had UIC <50 μg/L. The median daily iodine intake was 51 μg/d, and 83% of participants had dietary iodine intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement of 100 μg/d. In 2007-08, the median UIC was 49 μg/L, 51% had UIC <50 μg/L and the median daily iodine intake was 98 μg/d, with 52% of intakes below the EAR. Melbourne adults were moderately iodine deficient in 1992-94, and borderline moderately deficient in 2007-08. While iodine status appears to have improved, it remains below an adequate level for much of the adult population of Victoria. Adequate monitoring is fundamental to assess whether the mandatory use of iodised salt in bread is effective in reducing iodine deficiency across all population groups.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2016.07.018
Abstract: Indian adolescents' over reliance on foods such as nutrient-poor snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages and take-away foods puts them at significant risk of obesity and several diet-related chronic diseases. Therefore, the factors that influence their dietary behaviours need to be better understood in order to develop effective nutrition promotion strategies. The purpose of this qualitative inquiry was to investigate adolescents', parents', teachers', and school principals' perceptions of the main influences on adolescent eating behaviours. Fifteen adolescents aged 14-15 years, 15 parents, 12 teachers and 10 principals from 10 private English-speaking schools in Kolkata, India, participated in semi-structured interviews. The digitally-recorded conversations were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. The 52 interviews revealed a number of factors that may influence adolescents' eating habits including parent and peer influences, home and school food environments, and the mass media. Emerging evidence suggests that future health and nutrition promotion interventions need to target the different influences on Indian teenagers' food consumption.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-09-2016
DOI: 10.3390/NU8090540
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-01-2015
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 05-02-2015
DOI: 10.3390/NU7021094
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 19-07-2018
Abstract: School food environments and policies can play a pivotal role in inculcating healthy food habits among young people. This cross-sectional survey explored teachers’ and parents’ views of the role of school food environments and policies in promoting healthy food consumption among Indian adolescents. Thirty-two teachers and 280 parents from five private, English-speaking, secondary schools in Kolkata, India took part in a short questionnaire survey which included closed and open answer questions. Descriptive and chi-square analyses were performed to compare the responses of parents and teachers. Thematic data analysis underpinned by Template Analysis Technique was employed to examine the qualitative responses. The easy availability and accessibility of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, the limited availability of nutritious foods, the absence of written food policies, and inflated prices of nutritious foods were reported as problems in the Indian school food environment. However, the respondents also noted that schools restricted the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages and adopted hygienic food practices. Novel ideas for creating healthy school food environments and effective school canteen policies were also captured during the survey. These findings point to the need to create effective school food policies in Indian secondary schools to help adolescents eat healthily at school. Future research is required to test the feasibility of the implementation of school food policies.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 30-08-2017
DOI: 10.3390/NU9090961
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 11-12-2018
DOI: 10.3390/NU10121957
Abstract: Food liking can be directly measured in specialised sensory testing facilities however, this method is not feasible for large population s les. The aim of the study was to compare a Food Liking Questionnaire (FLQ) against lab-based sensory testing in two countries. The study was conducted with 70 Australian and Thai participants (35 Australian, 35 Thai, mean (SD) age 19 (3.01) years, 51% men). Participants completed a FLQ (consisting of 73 food items Australia, 89 Thai) and then, after tasting the food, rated their liking of a selection of 10 commercially available food items using a nine-point hedonic scale. Both tasks were completed on the same day and were repeated one week later. The reliability of and a comparison between methods was determined using Intra-Class Correlation Coefficients (ICC), and the difference was assessed using an independent s le t-test. The results indicate that the test-retest reliability of FLQ and the laboratory-based liking assessment range was moderate (0.40–0.59) to excellent (0.75–1.00). There were significant differences for the FLQ and the laboratory-based liking assessment between countries for three food items: soft drink, instant vegetable soup, and broccoli (p 0.01). However, the data produced from the FLQ reflects the laboratory-based liking assessment. Therefore, it provides representative liking data in large population-based studies including cross-cultural studies.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-07-2002
Abstract: To determine the minimum effective dose of folic acid required to appreciably increase serum folate and to produce a significant reduction in plasma total homocysteine (tHcy). Double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled intervention trial. Community-based project in a New Zealand city. Seventy free living men and women with tHcy> or =10 micromol/l. Mean age (range) was 58 (29-90) y. Daily consumption over 4 weeks of 20 g breakfast cereal either unfortified (placebo) or fortified with 100, 200 or 300 microg folic acid. Dietary intake was determined by weighed diet records and consumption of commercially fortified products was avoided. Plasma tHcy and serum folate concentrations. Average serum folate concentrations (95% CI) increased significantly in the treatment groups relative to the control group by 28(9-51)%, 60(37-87)% and 79(51-114)% for supplementation with 100, 200 and 300 microg folic acid, respectively. A reduction in tHcy was observed, being 16(8-22)%, 12(4-18)% and 17(9-24)% in the three treatment groups, respectively. A regular intake of as little as 100 microg folic acid per day was sufficient to lower tHcy in persons at the upper end of the normal range for tHcy. Low-level fortification may also be appropriate for lowering the risk of neural tube defects given that, when aggregated from all sources, the total intake of folic acid may be sufficiently high to adequately improve the folate status of young women.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2014.08.006
Abstract: Overall the diets of Australian schoolchildren are suboptimal, but differences in nutrient and food intake on school versus non-school days have not been assessed. The aim of this study was to examine differences in nutrient and core and non-core food intake on school days versus non-school days in Australian schoolchildren aged 6-16 years. Cross-sectional analysis of the 2007 Australian Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Dietary intake was assessed via one 24-h dietary recall. A school day was defined as Monday-Friday, a non-school day included Saturday, Sunday and public/school holidays. Independent t-tests and χ(2) tests were used to assess differences in continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Multiple linear and logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. Forty-eight per cent of recalls were completed on a non-school day. On non-school days primary schoolchildren aged 6-11 years (n = 1334) and secondary schoolchildren aged 12-16 years (n = 1362) had significantly higher absolute intakes of sugars, total fat and saturated fat (all P < 0.05). In addition the energy density of foods consumed was greater (P < 0.001), but there was no difference in the energy density of fluids. The sodium density of the diet did not differ across day types. On non-school days, total core food intake was ~30% higher and children were more likely to consume sugar-sweetened beverages, fried potatoes and take-away pizzas and burgers (all P < 0.05). Important differences in the intake of sugar, total fat, and saturated fat and noncore foods exist on non-school days compared to school days in Australian schoolchildren. To improve the diets of schoolchildren there is scope for strategies that target non-school day eating practices.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2011.02.010
Abstract: The influence of living arrangements and nationality on nutrient intakes and food habits and beliefs were explored in young adults. Two hundred and thirty-two participants (20.4±2.8 years) completed a food questionnaire and two 24-h food records. Sixty-nine percent were living at home, and 72% described their nationality as Australian. Most participants performed their own food preparation (84%) those living away from home were significantly more likely to purchase and prepare their meals than those living at home, and no differences were observed between nationalities. The importance of healthy eating behaviours was recognised by over 80% of participants, with no differences observed between living arrangements or nationalities. Those living away from home and those who identified themselves as Australian consumed significantly more alcoholic drinks than those living at home and non-Australians. Eighty-four percent perceived their diets as healthy, however high saturated fat (13.4±3.9% energy) and sodium (2382±1166mg) and low fibre (23±9g) diets were consumed. Overall, few differences were observed between nationalities indicating assimilation of food cultures. Future interventions need to address the disconnect between nutrition knowledge and behaviour, irrespective of living arrangements and need to be appropriate for a range of nationalities.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-12-2012
DOI: 10.1111/J.1750-3841.2011.02473.X
Abstract: In idual differences in taste perception may influence dietary habits, nutritional status, and ultimately nutrition-related chronic disease risk. In idual differences in sweetness intensity perception and the relationship between perceived sweetness intensity, food behaviors, and dietary intake was investigated in 85 adults. Subjects (body mass index [BMI]= 21 ± 3, 21 ± 4 y) completed a food and diet questionnaire, food variety survey, 2 24-h food records, and a perceived sweetness intensity measurement using the general labeled magnitude scale (gLMS). There was interin idual variation in perceived sweetness intensity (0 to 34 gLMS units, mean 10 ± 7). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no difference between perceived sweetness intensity and degree of importance placed on not adding sugar to tea or coffee (P = 0.2) and the degree of importance placed on avoiding sugar-sweetened or fizzy drinks (P = 1.0). Independent t-test analysis revealed no significant association between perceived sweetness intensity and the food variety measure for sugar and confectionary intake (P = 0.6) and selected fruit and vegetable intake (P = 0.1 to 0.9). One-way ANOVA also demonstrated no difference between tertiles of sweetness intensity and BMI (P = 0.1), age (P = 0.3), and food variety score (P = 0.5). No correlation was observed with regards to perceived sweetness intensity and mean total energy (kJ) intake (r = 0.05, P = 0.7), percent energy from total fat, saturated fat, protein, carbohydrate, and grams of fiber (r =-0.1 to 0.1, P = 0.2 to 0.8) and also for intake of the micronutrients: folate, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc (r = 0.1 to 0.2, P = 0.1 to 0.4). Only modest correlations were observed between sodium (r = 0.3, P < 0.05), vitamin C (r = 0.3, P < 0.05), and potassium (r = 0.2, P < 0.0) intake and perceived sweetness intensity. Overall, perceived sweetness intensity does not appear to play a role in food behaviors relating to sugar consumption and dietary intake in adults.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 06-2018
No related grants have been discovered for Lynn Riddell.