12 research outputs found
A Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Diet Intervention Investigating University Student Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
No full textBackground. Young adults on university campuses report having diet-related chronic diseases. University students are prevalent sugar-sweetened beverage consumers and often surpass added sugar recommendations. The high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages poorly influences their health. Students also report not meeting the dietary recommendations for fruits and vegetables even though they are important food groups to negate several diseases due to their vitamin and phytochemical profile. Objective. This study assessed the effects of a sugar-sweetened beverage-restricted diet intervention on university students' fruit and vegetable consumption while assessing their vitamin C and carotenoid intake. This study also aimed to evaluate the fruit and vegetable intake among sugar-sweetened beverage consumers and non-consumers. Methodology. Food records were used to measure sugar-sweetened beverage removal compliance, fruit and vegetable consumption, vitamin C, and carotenoid intake. An additional analysis of a diet recall from a national database was also conducted. Results. Restricting sugar-sweetened beverages didn't change fruit and vegetable (cup equivalents) intake, vitamin C (milligrams) intake, or carotenoid (micrograms) intake post-4-week diet intervention. After reviewing national data (NHANES), there was a significant difference in the carotenoids consumed between sugar-sweetened beverage consumers and non-consumers. Overall, consumers' intake was significantly less carotenoids than non-consumers. Conclusion. The findings of this research are important because they give insight into the dietary patterns of sugary beverage consumers. Adherence to fruit and vegetable recommendations may improve if more nutrition interventions target sugar-sweetened beverage intake
The impact of low and no-caloric sweeteners on glucose absorption, incretin secretion and glucose tolerance
No full textThe consumption of non-nutritive, low or no-calorie sweeteners (LCS) is increasing globally. Previously thought to be physiologically inert, there is a growing body of evidence that LCS not only provide a sweet taste but may also elicit metabolic effects in the gastrointestinal tract. This review provides a brief overview of the chemical and receptor-binding properties and effects on chemosensation of different LCS but focuses on the extent to which LCS stimulates glucose transport, incretin and insulin secretion, and effects on glucose tolerance. Aspartame and sucralose both bind to a similar region of the sweet receptor. For sucralose, the data are contradictory regarding effects on glucose tolerance in humans and may depend on the food or beverage matrix and the duration of administration, as suggested by longer-term rodent studies. For aspartame, there are fewer data. On the other hand, acesulfame-potassium (Ace-K) and saccharin have similar binding characteristics to each other but, while Ace-K may increase incretin secretion and glucose responses in humans, there are no data on saccharin except in rats, which show impaired glucose tolerance after chronic administration. Additional research, particularly of the effects of chronic consumption, is needed to provide concrete evidence for beneficial or detrimental effects of LCS on blood glucose regulation in humans.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author
Diet Quality and Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease among South Asians in Alberta
No full textSouth Asians have a higher prevalence of early onset cardiovascular disease risk compared with other populations. Dietary intake is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Dietary patterns in immigrants and successive generations of South Asians settled in Western countries undergo adaptions. Little is known about the dietary intake of South Asians in Alberta, thus the objective of the present study was to describe the dietary patterns among South Asians and their risks for cardiovascular diseases. A retrospective analysis of data collected from 140 South Asian adults participating in the Albertaâ s Tomorrow Project was conducted. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was used an indicator of overall diet quality and adherence to dietary recommendations made by Health Canada. Central obesity (70%), hypercholesterolemia (27%) and hypertension (14%) were predominant health conditions observed in the study participants. About 56% and 44% of participants obtained moderate and poor HEI scores, respectively. The diet quality of the majority of participants was inadequate to meet macro and micronutrient intake recommendations. The high prevalence of poor/moderate diet quality and pre-existing chronic health conditions across all BMI groups is a cause for concern in this population.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author
Perceived Barriers Regarding Dietary Intake and Physical Activity Among Hispanic Families in Pomona, California Post COVID-19
No full textStudies show that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help prevent the diseases that affect the Hispanic population, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. The research question that we were trying to answer was what were the barriers parents experienced regarding nutrition and physical activity. Our study population is composed of Hispanic families of school-aged children in Pomona, California. Using a focused ethnography design. We conducted 5 focus groups via Zoom in the Spring of 2022 with two sets of parents, N=38 (Cohort A = 33, Cohort B=5). Each focus group session lasted 60-90 minutes. The sessions were conducted by a native Spanish speaker using an interview guide of 35 questions. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using inductive and deductive analysis and Quirkos software. The first of three themes to emerge concerning barriers regarding dietary intake in families was evident by the food preferences between the parents and their children, the consumer acculturation theory. The second theme that emerged from the research, as a barrier to both diet and physical activity, came from their environment. The third theme that emerged from the data was the misconceptions about eating novel fruits and vegetables. The level of acculturation plays an important role in Hispanic families. The role of the health educator is to encourage the cultural traditions that promote health while helping new immigrant families cope with the challenges of adapting to a new environment. When creating obesity interventions, three behavioral frameworks are vital: the family systems theory, the integrated social-cognitive theory, and the consumer acculturation theory
Barriers and Mitigating Strategies to Healthcare Access in Indigenous Communities of Canada: A Narrative Review
No full textThe objective of this review is to document contemporary barriers to accessing healthcare faced by Indigenous people of Canada and approaches taken to mitigate these concerns. A narrative review of the literature was conducted. Barriers to healthcare access and mitigating strategies were aligned into three categories: proximal, intermediate, and distal barriers. Proximal barriers include geography, education attainment, and negative bias among healthcare professionals resulting in a lack of or inadequate immediate care in Indigenous communities. Intermediate barriers comprise of employment and income inequities and health education systems that are not accessible to Indigenous people. Distal barriers include colonialism, racism and social exclusion, resulting in limited involvement of Indigenous people in policy making and planning to address community healthcare needs. Several mitigation strategies initiated across Canada to address the inequitable health concerns include allocation of financial support for infrastructure development in Indigenous communities, increases in Indigenous education and employment, development of culturally sensitive education and medical systems and involvement of Indigenous communities and elders in the policy-making system. Indigenous people in Canada face systemic/policy barriers to equitable healthcare access. Addressing these barriers by strengthening services and building capacity within communities while integrating input from Indigenous communities is essential to improve accessibility
A Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Randomized Control Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Pure Prairie Living Program in Type 2 Diabetes Participants
No full textThe primary objective of this randomized control trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Pure Prairie Living Program (PPLP) in a primary care setting. Adults with type 2 diabetes were randomized into intervention (PPLP, n = 25) and wait-listed controls (CON, n = 24). The PPLP group participated in education sessions. The intervention yielded no significant within-group changes in HbA1c at three-month (−0.04 (−0.27 to 0.17) and −0.15 (−0.38 to 0.08)) or six-month (−0.09 (−0.41 to 0.22) and 0.06 (−0.26 to 0.38)) follow ups in either CON or PPLP groups, respectively. Dietary adherence scores improved in the PPLP group (p < 0.05) at three and six months but were not different in the between-group comparison. No changes in diabetes self-efficacy scores were detected. In the qualitative analysis, participants described the program as clear and easy to understand. Knowledge acquired influenced their everyday decision making but participants faced barriers that prevented them from fully applying what they learned. Healthcare professionals enjoyed delivering the program but described the “back-stage” workload as detrimental. In conclusion, while some positive effects of the PPLP intervention were observed, they were not comparable to those previously attained by our group in an academic setting or to what the guidelines recommend, which reflects the challenge of translating lifestyle intervention to real-world settings
Estimation of choline intake from 24 h dietary intake recalls and contribution of egg and milk consumption to intake among pregnant and lactating women in Alberta
No full textDespite recommendations for higher choline intakes during pregnancy and lactation, there is limited research regarding maternal intake during these important periods. In the present study, we estimated dietary choline intake during pregnancy and lactation in a population of Albertan women and the contribution of egg and milk consumption to intake. Dietary intake data were collected from the first 600 women enrolled in a prospective cohort study carried out in Alberta, Canada. During the first and/or second trimester, the third trimester and 3 months postpartum, 24 h dietary intake recall data were collected. A database was constructed including foods consumed by the cohort and used to estimate dietary choline intake. The mean total choline intake value during pregnancy was 347 (sd 149) mg/d, with 23 % of the participants meeting the adequate intake (AI) recommendation. During lactation, the mean total choline intake value was 346 (sd 151) mg/d, with 10 % of the participants meeting the AI recommendation. Phosphatidylcholine was the form of choline consumed in the highest proportion and the main dietary sources of choline were dairy products, eggs and meat. Women who consumed at least one egg in a 24 h period had higher (P< 0·001) total choline intake and were eight times more likely (95 % CI 5·2, 12·6) to meet choline intake recommendations compared with those who did not consume eggs during pregnancy. Women who reported consuming ≥ 500 ml of milk in a 24 h period were 2·8 times more likely (95 % CI 1·7, 4·8) to meet daily choline intake recommendations compared with those consuming < 250 ml of milk/d during pregnancy. Choline intake is below the recommendation levels in this population and the promotion of both egg and milk consumption may assist in meeting the daily choline intake recommendations
Maternal Pre-Pregnancy BMI and Gestational Weight Gain Are Associated with Preschool Children’s Neuropsychological Outcomes in the APrON Cohort
No full textThis study examined the associations between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain (GWG) and children’s neuropsychological outcomes at 3 to 5 years of age. A total of 379 women and their children from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study participated. Covariate-adjusted robust regressions examined associations between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG class, interaction terms, and child outcomes. Each unit increase in maternal BMI was linked to a 0.48-point decrement (95% CI: −0.75 to −0.21) in children’s Full Scale IQ. Higher pre-pregnancy BMI was related to poorer performance on the other intelligence indexes (B = −0.35 to −0.47, 95% CIs: −0.75, −0.02) and lower performance on measures of language (B = −0.08 to −0.09, 95% CIs: −0.16, −0.02), motor skills (B = −0.08 to −0.11, 95% CIs: −0.18, −0.01), and executive function (B = −0.09 to −0.16, 95% CIs: −0.26, −0.01). GWG below the recommended range was associated with a 4.04-point decrement (95% CI: 7.89, −0.11) in Full Scale IQ, but better performance on a spatial working memory test (B = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.52). GWG above the recommended range was associated with lower language (B = −0.79, 95% CI: −1.52, −0.06) and memory scores (B = −0.93, 95% CI: −1.64, −0.22). Interactions were found between pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG on measures of intelligence and executive function. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG are related to children’s performance in various neuropsychological domains and may interact to predict outcomes. Optimizing maternal health and weight prior to conception and during pregnancy may enhance children’s neuropsychological outcomes
Determinants of Maternal and Infant Omega-3 Status at 3 Months Postpartum: Findings from the APrON Longitudinal Cohort Study
No full textOmega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are important dietary components for maternal and infant health during pregnancy and lactation. This study investigated determinants of maternal and infant LCPUFAs status at three months postpartum and the relationship between maternal serum, mother's milk, and infant LCPUFAs. This cross-sectional study included mothers (n=1481) and their offspring (n=526) at three months postpartum from the APrON cohort. Maternal dietary intake (24-hour recall), blood samples from mothers and infants, and maternal milk were collected. Fatty acid composition (relative % of total fatty acids) was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Linear regression analyses explored associations between diet, sociodemographic factors, and fatty acid status. In a multivariable-adjusted analysis, maternal total dietary intake (supplement + food) was positively associated with the percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, standardized(S) ß=0.394; ß=0.394; 95% CI: 0.192, 0.558;
