Of interest from the journals.

Alcohol

Sierksma A, van der Gaag MS, Kluft C, Hendriks HFJ. Moderate alcohol consumption reduces plasma C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels; a randomized, diet-controlled intervention study. EurJ Clin Nutr 2002;56:1130-6

This study indicates that consumption of three or four glasses of beer for three weeks decreased the concentrations of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. This suggests one mechanism for the protective effects of alcohol in relation to cardiovascular disease.

Arthritis

Roubenoff R, Walsmith J, Lundgren N, Snydman L, Dolnikowski GJ, Roberts S. Low physical activity reduces total energy expenditure in women with rheumatoid arthritis: implications for dietary intake recommendations. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:774-9

A study of 20 women with rheumatoid arthritis and 20 controls indicated that overall energy expenditure was decreased in those with arthritis because of decreased physical activity.

Calcium

Galan P, Arnaud MJ, Czernichow S, Delabroise A-M, Preziosi P, Bertrais S et al. Contribution of mineral waters to dietary calcium and magnesium intake on a French adult population. J Am Diet Assoc 2002;102:1658-62

This French study of 240 men and 424 women indicated that mineral water consumption could improve overall calcium and magnesium intakes and may be useful in those with a dislike of dairy products.

Carbohydrates

Anderson GH, Catherine NLA, Woodend DM, Wolever TMS. Inverse association between the effect of carbohydrates on blood glucose and subsequent short-term food intake in young men. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:1023-30

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of carbohydrate preloads of differing glycaemic index on subsequent food intake and blood glucose. Carbohydrates with a high glycaemic index suppressed subjective appetite and food intake but those with low glycaemic index did not.

Cardiovascular disease

Hankey CR, Lean MEJ, Lowe CDO, Rumley A, Woodward M. Effects of moderate weight loss on anginal symptoms and indices of coagulation and ftbrinolysis in overweight patients with angina pectoris. Eur J Clin Nutr 2002;56:1039-45

A decrease of four percent in body weight was associated with decrease in episodes of angina and fall in plasma cholesterol as well as factor VII activity and red cell aggregation.

Cardiovascular nutrition

Cardiac Rehabilitation Guidelines Project Group for the New Zealand Guidelines Group and the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand. Cardiac rehabilitation guidelines. Evidence summary: Nutrition management. J N Z Diet Assoc 2002;56:79-86

This is a summary based on the evidence-based best practice guidelines for cardiac rehabilitation produced in New Zealand.

Carotenoids 

Ford ES, Gillespie C, Ballew C, Sowell A, Mannino DM. Serum carotenoid concentrations in US children and adolescents. Am J Clin Nutr 2002:76:818-27

Data from NHANES III were used to examine serum carotenoid concentrations and are proposed as reference values.

Diet and cancer

Harnack L, Nicodemus K, Jacobs Jr DR, Folsom AR. An evaluation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in relation to cancer occurrence. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:889-96

Data from 34 708 post-menopausal women was examined. A significant trend in decreased cancer risk was found as adherence to dietary guidelines improved.

Dietary methodology

Thompson FE, Subar AF, Smith AF, Midthune D, Radimer KL, Kahle LL et al. Fruit and vegetable assessment: Performance of 2 new short instruments and a food frequency questionnaire. J Am Diet Assoc 2002;102;1764-72

Two screening tools to assess intake of fruit and vegetables were compared to results with four 24-hour recalls and a food frequency questionnaire in 462 adults.

Fructose 

Elliott SS, Keim NL, Stern JS, Teff K, Havel PJ. Fructose, weight gain, and the insulin resistance syndrome. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:911-22

This review explores the effects of fructose consumption on the development of obesity and features of the metabolic syndrome. Fructose induces insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinaemia, hypertriacylglycerolemia and hypertension in animal models but more research is needed regarding effects in humans.

Infant feeding

Little H, Cert PG. The management of gastro-oesophageal reflux in preterm low birth weight infants. J N Z Diet Assoc 2002;56:71-8

This is a review looking at reflux in preterm, low birth weight infants and those less than three months.

Isoflavones 

Bloedon LT, Jeffcoat AR, Lopaczynski W, Schell MJ, Black TM, Dix KJ, et al. Safety and pharmacokinetics of purified soy isoflavones: single-dose administration to postmenopausal women. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:1126-37

Twenty-four healthy post-menopausal women ingested one or two purified isoflavone preparations at differing doses. A single dose at amounts that exceeded normal dietary intake had minimal clinical toxicity.

Kidney stones

Ke[beta]ler T, Jansen B, Hesse A. Effect of blackourrant-, cranberry- and plum juice consumption on risk factors associated with kidney stone formation. Eur J Clin Nutr 2002;56:1020-3

This study indicates that blackcurrant juice may be helpful in uric acid stone disease and cranberry juice in brushite and struvite stones.

Lignans

Vanharanta M, Mursu J, Nurmi T, Voutilainen S, Rissanen TH, Salonen R et al. Phloem fortification in rye bread elevates serum enterolactone level. Eur J Clin Nutr 2002;56:952-7

In a randomised double-blind trial 75 men consumed 70 g of bread daily for four weeks. The bread had either high, low or no phloem powder added. Phloem powder was shown to increase serum enterolactone.

Lipids

Freese RM, Alfthan G, Jauhiainen M, Basu S, Erlund I, Salminen I, et al. High intakes of vegetables, berries, and apples combined with a high intake of linoleic or oleic acid only slightly affect markers of lipid peroxidation and lipoprotein metabolism in healthy subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:950-60

Seventy-seven adults were assigned to receive one of four diets rich in either linoleic or oleic acid and with either a high or low content of vegetables, berries and apples for six weeks. However, no differences in lipid peroxidation or lipoprotein metabolism were observed.

Mediterranean diet

Su Q, Rowley KG, Itsiopoulos C, O'Dea K. Identification and quantitation of major carotenoids in selected components of the Mediterranean diet: green leafy vegetables, figs and olive oil. Eur J Clin Nutr 2002;56:1149-54

This study concerned the sources and content of carotenoids in the diet of Greek migrants to Melbourne.

n-3 fatty acids

Woodman RJ, Mon TA, Burke V, Puddey IB, Watts GF, Beilin LJ. Effects of purified eicosapentacnoic and docosahexaenoic acids on glycemic control, blood pressure, and serum lipids in type 2 diabetic patients with treated hypertension. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:1007-15

This study from Western Australia examines the effects of purified eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid on insulin sensitivity, stimulated insulin secretion, lipids and blood pressure in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes. While beneficial effects were shown for blood lipids, short-term glycaemic control worsened.

Obesity

Rolls BJ, Morris EL, Roe LS. Portion size of food affects energy intake in normal-weight and overweight men and women. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:1207-13

A study in 51 men and women served the same lunch but in four different serve sizes on different occasions indicated that larger servings led to increased energy intake.

Zhu SK, Wang ZM, Heshka S, Heo M, Faith MS, Heyms-field SB. Waist circumference and obesity-associated risk factors among whites in the third National Health Nutrition Examination Survey: clinical action thresholds. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:743-9

This study identified the odds ratios for cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors that correspond to BMIs of 25 and 30 for men and women and the waist circumferences that correspond. For men the values were 90 and 100cm and 83 and 93 cm for women.

Obesity and fat replacers

Bray GA, Lovejoy IC, Most-Windhauser M, Smith SR, Volaufova J, Denkins Y, et al. A 9-mo randomized clinical trial comparing fat-substituted and fat-reduced diets in healthy obese men: the Ole Study. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:928-34

Forty-five overweight men were assigned to one of three diets--control, low-fat or fat substituted (oelestra). Replacement of dietary fat reduced body weight and total body fat compared to the other two diets.

Obesity in children

Wang Y, Wang JQ. A comparison of international references for the assessment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity in different populations. Eur J Clin Nutr 2002;56: 973-82

This cross-sectional comparison of overweight and obesity using three different references in each of three populations indicates the estimate of overweight is similar but is different for obesity.

Phytoestrogens 

Liggins J, Mulligan A, Runswick S, Bingham SA. Daidzein and genistein content of cereals. Eur J Clin Nutr 2002;56:961-6

Seventy-five cereals and three soy flours commonly eaten in Europe were analysed.

Professional practice

Key trends affecting the dietetics profession and the American Dietetic Association. J Am Diet Assoc 2002;102:S1819-39

This supplement reports on the findings of an environment scan by the American Dietetic Association to support strategic planning.

Challenges include: forces changing the food system; changes in health care; competition from 'non-dietitians'; the need for dietary messages to be relevant for all cultures; dealing with obesity; and food and diet to be seen in its global context.

Recommended nutrient intakes

Trumbo P. Schlicker S, Yates AA, Poos M. Dietary reference intakes for energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein and amino acids. J Am Diet Assoc 2002;102: 1621-30

This article highlights the main recommendations of the Food and Nutrition Board of the USA.

Taste

Turnbull B, Matisoo-Smith E. Taste sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil predicts acceptance of bitter-tasting spinach in 3-6-y-old children. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:l101-5

This study from Auckland examined sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil in young children and found sensitivity was related to a dislike of raw spinach.

Vitamin D

Lehtonen-Veromaa MKM, Mottonen TT, Nuotio IO, Irjala KMA, Leino AE, Viikari JSA. Vitamin D and attainment of peak bone mass among prepubertal Finnish girls: a 3-y prospective study. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:1446-53

The relationship between vitamin D status and accrual of bone mineral density was studied in 171 girls aged nine to 15 years. Those with hypovitaminosis D were at risk of not reaching maximum peak bone mass.