ORCID Profile
0000-0002-0686-8471
Current Organisation
James Cook University
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Publisher: Springer New York
Date: 2011
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-05-1970
DOI: 10.1111/JHN.12330
Abstract: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with adverse maternal-child health outcomes. Managing energy intake and GWG versus optimising nutrient intake can be challenging. The present study aimed to examine the relationships between dietary portion size, GWG and nutrient intakes during pregnancy. It is hypothesised that, after adjustment for potential confounders, portion size would be positively associated with both GWG and nutrient intakes during pregnancy. Prospective data were obtained for 179 Australian women from the Women and Their Children's Health Study. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used at 18-24 and 36-40 weeks of gestation to quantify diet and portion size during the previous 3 months of pregnancy. Nutrient intakes were compared with Australian Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs). GWG was measured up to 36 weeks and compared with the Institute of Medicine weight gain recommendations (WtAdh). In multivariate regression models, portion size factor (PSF) was positively associated with GWG in women with high socio-economic status (SES β = 0.20, P = 0.04) and those with an overweight/obese pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) (β = 0.28, P = 0.04). PSF uniquely accounted for 8.2% and 3.7% of the variability in GWG for women with high SES and overweight/obese pre-pregnancy BMIs, respectively. Nutrient intakes and PSF were similar regardless of WtAdh. Women achieved NRVs for calcium and zinc in all PSF categories. Most of the women with large PSF still failed to achieve the NRVs for folate (95.7%), iron (89.6%) and fibre (85.5%). All women require advice on quality food choices during pregnancy to optimise health outcomes. Targeting portion size alone is insufficient to manage GWG but may prove to be a valuable tool in pregnant women of high SES and/or those who are overweight/obese pre-pregnancy.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.MEHY.2016.10.029
Abstract: The treatment and prevention of migraine within the last decade has become largely pharmacological. While there is little doubt that the advent of drugs (e.g. triptans) has helped many migraine sufferers to lead a normal life, there is still little knowledge with respect to the factors responsible for precipitating a migraine attack. Evidence from biochemical and behavioural studies from a number of disciplines is integrated to put forward the proposal that migraine is part of a cascade of events, which together act to protect the organism when confronted by a metabolic challenge.
Publisher: Canadian Science Publishing
Date: 12-2010
DOI: 10.1139/Y10-092
Abstract: The aim in the present study was to assess the effect of small-moderate red wine ingestion on the level of serum insulin and plasma glucose when nutritional status is varied. Twenty nondiabetic males (19–22 years) participated in the study. In the fasting trial, all participants underwent a 6 h fast prior to consuming 4 standard units of red wine (40 g alcohol) or the equivalent amount of placebo as dealcoholized wine (containing .5% alcohol, 0% resveratrol) over a 135 min period. Alternatively, in the feeding trial, participants consumed food for 45 min prior to ingesting 4 standard units of red wine (40 g alcohol) or placebo over 135 min. Serum insulin and plasma glucose were assessed at regular 45 min intervals during all trials. The results showed a significant decrease in the level of serum insulin and no significant change in plasma glucose concentration in the fasting trial. Alternatively, a significant alcohol-induced decrease in plasma glucose and no change in serum insulin occurred when red wine alone was consumed after food. It was concluded that red wine can alter the glucose–insulin relationship and ingesting red wine alone (without food) should not be encouraged in nondiabetic in iduals.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.PHYSBEH.2015.02.022
Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of sucrose on biomarkers of energy metabolism and utilization in migrainous men and women. A total of 20 participants (7=Migraine (female), 5=Migraine (male), 8=Non-migraine control) submitted to an oral sucrose tolerance test (OSTT), which required them to fast for 15 h overnight and then ingest 75 g sucrose dissolved in 175 g water at 9 AM the next morning. Blood s ling for the assessment of serum insulin, serum cortisol and plasma glucose was conducted upon arrival at 0900 h and then at regular 15-min intervals across a 150-min period. Comparison of insulin sensitivity indexes that rely on fasting glucose and insulin data failed to find evidence of insulin resistance in migraineurs or controls. Prior to sucrose consumption the level of fasting serum cortisol at 0-min on average was significantly higher in migraineurs. However, no significant group differences in the level of fasting serum insulin and plasma glucose at 0-min were noted. Following sucrose consumption: the level of serum insulin was significantly higher in female migraineurs the level of serum cortisol was significantly higher in male migraineurs glucose/insulin (G/I) ratio was significantly higher in male migraineurs at 135-min and 150-min insulin/cortisol (I/C) ratio was significantly different with the I/C ratio lower in male migraineurs and higher in female migraineurs area under the curve (AUC) insulin was significantly different across groups with AUC insulin lower in male migraineurs and higher in female migraineurs and AUC cortisol was significantly higher in male migraineurs. It was concluded that the effect of sucrose on biomarkers of energy metabolism and utilization in male and female migraineurs is not the same. Therefore, the factors underlying migraine pathogenesis in men and women may also be different.
Publisher: InTech
Date: 21-11-2012
DOI: 10.5772/51436
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 06-2016
DOI: 10.1017/S1352465816000187
Abstract: Background : Psychosocial distress can contribute to avoidance, refusal, or discontinuation of cancer treatment, which could impact recovery and survival. Aims : The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a community based psychosocial program on alleviating mood disturbance in breast cancer survivors at different stages of their breast cancer journey. Method : A total of 37 women participated in an 8-week psychosocial program at their local community centre. The weekly 3-hour program was delivered in a small group format. Program components included health education, behavioural training, cognitive behavioural therapy, art therapy and stress-management. Questionnaires aimed at assessing psychiatric morbidity and mood adjustment were administered at the beginning of the program (Pre) and at the completion of the program (Post). Results : Group data revealed a significant reduction in psychiatric morbidity and improved psychological adjustment. When participants were ided into degree of psychiatric morbidity (mild, moderate, severe, very severe) a significant reduction in the reporting of anxiety symptoms in the mild, moderate, severe and very severe groups was reported depression symptoms in the severe and very severe groups were noted, and anger, confusion and somatic symptoms in the mild group were noted. The level of activity was also significantly improved in the very severe group. Conclusions : A structured community based psychosocial program is beneficial to women struggling to come to terms with the emotional consequences of breast cancer at all stages of recovery.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2010.09.007
Abstract: Early work has highlighted that a large percentage of migraineurs may have an altered glucidic methabolis due to carbohydrate-induced hyperinsulinism. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of sucrose on biomarkers of energy metabolism and utilization in migraineous females. A total of 16 participants (8 = Migraine, 8 = Non-migraine) at the mid-point of their menstrual cycle underwent a 15-h fast prior to ingesting 75 g sucrose dissolved in 175 g water. Blood s ling for the assessment of serum insulin, serum cortisol and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and plasma glucose was conducted upon arrival at 09:00 h and then at regular 15-min intervals across a 150-min experimental period. The results showed a significant alteration in serum insulin and plasma glucose following sucrose ingestion in the migraine and non-migraine groups. In addition, significant group differences were observed in the level of serum insulin, serum DHEAS, and the cortisol:DHEAS ratio with migraine participants on average recording a higher sucrose-induced serum insulin level and lower DHEAS level and cortisol:DHEAS ratio when group data was compared. It was concluded that while sucrose consumption may potentiate serum insulin in migraineurs this does not result in the development of sucrose-induced hypoglycemia in migraine or non-migraine participants.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.PBB.2009.05.004
Abstract: There is an increasing evidence that long-term alcohol intake can promote damage to most of the body's major organs. However, regular consumption of a small-moderate amount of alcohol is often recommended as being beneficial to health and of concern is that the effect of ingesting commercially available alcohol products on steroid hormone synthesis under variable nutritional conditions has not been thoroughly investigated. Many in iduals consume alcohol alone prior to a meal and the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of consuming a small-moderate amount of commercially available alcohol on the level of salivary cortisol and salivary dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) before and after a meal. A total of 24 males aged 19-22 years participated in the current investigation. The experimental procedure required participants to fast for 6 h before being asked to ingest either 40 g alcohol in the form of red wine (n=8), low alcohol and high beer (n=8), white wine (n=8) or the equivalent amount of placebo over a 135-min period before consuming food for 45-min. The level of blood alcohol, salivary cortisol and salivary DHEAS was assessed upon arrival and then at regular 45-min intervals during the 180-min experimental period. The results showed that the consumption of alcohol and placebo can significantly lower the level of salivary cortisol. However, the effect of consuming a small-moderate amount of commercially available alcohol on the level of salivary DHEAS was dependent on the nutritional content of the beverage with red wine promoting no change, white wine promoting a significant decrease, and beer having a variable effect on salivary DHEAS concentration when compared to placebo. It was concluded that the effect of commercially available alcohol on the HPA axis is not the same for all alcohol products and both the nutritional status of participants and the nutritional content of the alcoholic beverage being administered should be taken into consideration when investigating the effect of alcohol on the HPA axis.
No related grants have been discovered for Anna Kokavec.