November 5, 2009
$1 Million Grant To Study ‘Fat Taxes,’ Diet, Obesity, Received By UIC
August 20, 2009
Intakes of plain water, moisture in foods and beverages, and total water in the adult US population–nutritional, meal pattern, and body weight correlates: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999-2006 [Nutritional epidemiology and public health]
Background: There is a surprising paucity of studies that have systematically examined the correlates of water intake in the US population.
Objective: The objective was to examine the association of contributors of water intake with dietary characteristics, meal consumption, and body weight in the US population.
Design: We used 24-h dietary recall data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004 (n = 12,283) and the NHANES 2005–2006 (n = 4112) to examine the independent association of intakes of plain water, beverage moisture, food moisture, and total water with sociodemographic factors, dietary characteristics (energy, nutrients, diet quality, and energy density), and meal patterns (number of eating episodes, mention of breakfast or snack) by using multiple regression methods.
Results: In 2005–2006, American adults reported consuming 3.18 L of total water within the previous 24 h (in 1999–2004, estimated total water intake was 3.35 L), with plain water and beverages contributing 33% and 48% of the total, respectively. Plain water intake was unrelated to the intake of energy and body mass index but was positively related to dietary fiber and inversely related to beverages, sugars, and the energy density of foods; these associations were in the opposite direction for beverage moisture intake. Total water intake was inversely related to energy from fat and energy density but positively related to dietary fiber, caffeine, alcohol, and diet quality. The number of eating episodes predicted higher beverage and food moisture and total water intakes. A higher body mass index predicted higher intakes of beverage moisture and total water.
Conclusion: Various contributors of total water intake differed in their association with dietary characteristics and body weight in the adult US population.
August 6, 2009
New Index Offers First Science-Based Definition of Nutrient Density
August 5, 2009
Nutrient-Rich Foods Index Aims To Reshape Nutrition Education
June 19, 2009
[Aging] Dietary screening tool identifies nutritional risk in older adults
Background: No rapid methods exist for screening overall dietary intakes in older adults.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a scoring system for a diet screening tool to identify nutritional risk in community-dwelling older adults.
Design: This cross-sectional study in older adults (n = 204) who reside in rural areas examined nutrition status by using an in-person interview, biochemical measures, and four 24-h recalls that included the use of dietary supplements.
Results: The dietary screening tool was able to characterize 3 levels of nutritional risk: at risk, possible risk, and not at risk. Individuals classified as at nutritional risk had significantly lower indicators of diet quality (Healthy Eating Index and Mean Adequacy Ratio) and intakes of protein, most micronutrients, dietary fiber, fruit, and vegetables. The at-risk group had higher intakes of fats and oils and refined grains. The at-risk group also had the lowest serum vitamin B-12, folate, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin concentrations. The not-at-nutritional-risk group had significantly higher lycopene and β-carotene and lower homocysteine and methylmalonic acid concentrations.
Conclusion: The dietary screening tool is a simple and practical tool that can help to detect nutritional risk in older adults.