The association between nutrition and physical activity knowledge and weight status of primary school educators

The purpose of this study was to investigate primary school educators’ health status, knowledge, perceptions and behaviour regarding nutrition and physical activity.Thus, nutrition and physical activity knowledge, attitudes,  behaviour and risk factors for the development of non-communicable diseases of 155 educators were assessed in a  cross-sectional survey. Height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and random glucose levels were  measured. Twenty percent of the sample had normal weight (body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) &lt; 25), 27.7% were  overweight (BMI 25 to < 30) and 52.3% were obese (BMI < 30). Most of the participants were younger than 45  years (54.2%), females 78.1%, resided in urban areas (50.3%), with high blood pressure ( 140/90 mmHg:  50.3%), and were inactive (48.7%) with a high waist circumference (&gt; 82 cm: 57.4%). Educators’ nutrition and  physical activity knowledge was poor. Sixty-nine percent of educators incorrectly believed that eating starchy foods  causes weight gain and only 15% knew that one should eat five or more fruit and/or vegetables per day. Aspects of poor nutritional knowledge, misconceptions regarding actual body weight status, and challenges in changing health behaviours, emerged as issues which need to be addressed among educators. Educators’ high risk for developing chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) may impact on educator absenteeism and subsequently on school  functioning. The aspects of poor nutrition and physical activity knowledge along with educators’ high risk for NCD development may be particularly significant not merely in relation to their personal health but also the learners they teach.Keywords: body weight, educators, health, knowledge, non-communicable diseases, nutrition, perceptions, physical activity, primary schools, risk factor

The effect of soy isoflavone on bone mineral density in postmenopausal Taiwanese women with bone loss: a 2-year randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

[[abstract]]The treatment of 300-mg/day isoflavones (aglycone equivalents) (172.5 mg genistein+127.5 mg daidzein) for 2 years failed to prevent lumbar spine and total proximal femur bone mineral density (BMD) from declining as compared with the placebo group in a randomized, double-blind, two-arm designed study enrolling 431 postmenopausal women 45–65 years old. Introduction This study evaluated the effects of soy isoflavones on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women. Methods Four hundred and thirty-one women, aged 45–65 years, orally consumed 300-mg/day isoflavones (aglycone equivalents) or a placebo for 2 years in a parallel group, randomized, double-blind, two-armstudy. Each participant also ingested 600 mg of calcium and 125 IU of vitamin D3 per day. The BMD of the lumbar spine and total proximal femur were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and every half-year thereafter. Serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, urinary N-telopeptide of type 1 collagen/creatinine, and other safety assessments were examined regularly. Results Two hundred out of 217 subjects in the isoflavone group and 199 out of 214 cases in placebo group completed the treatment. Serum concentrations of isoflavone metabolites, genistein and daidzein, of the intervention group were remarkably elevated following intake of isoflavones (p< 0.001). However, differences in the mean percentage changes of BMD throughout the treatment period were not statistically significant (lumbar spine, p=0.42; total femur, p=0.39) between the isoflavone and placebo groups, according to the generalized estimating equation (GEE) method. A significant time trend of bone loss was observed at both sites as assessed by the GEE method following repeated measurement of BMD (p<0.001). Differences in bone marker levels were not significant between the two treatment groups

A systematic review of dietary, nutritional, and physical activity interventions for the prevention of prostate cancer progression and mortality

PURPOSE: Given the long-term, although potentially fatal, nature of prostate cancer, there is increasing observational evidence for the reduction in disease progression and mortality through changes in lifestyle factors. METHODS: We systematically reviewed dietary, nutritional, and physical activity randomized interventions aimed at modifying prostate cancer progression and disease-specific mortality, including a detailed assessment of risk of bias and methodological quality. RESULTS: Forty-four randomized controlled trials of lifestyle interventions, with prostate cancer progression or mortality outcomes, were identified. Substantial heterogeneity of the data prevented a meta-analysis. The included trials involved 3,418 prostate cancer patients, median 64 men per trial, from 13 countries. A trial of a nutritional supplement of pomegranate seed, green tea, broccoli, and turmeric; a trial comparing flaxseed, low-fat diet, flaxseed, and low-fat diet versus usual diet; and a trial supplementing soy, lycopene, selenium, and coenzyme Q10, all demonstrated beneficial effects. These trials were also assessed as having low risk of bias and high methodological quality (as were seven other trials with no evidence of benefit). The remaining trials were either underpowered, at high or unclear risk of bias, inadequately reported, of short duration or measured surrogate outcomes of unproven relationship to mortality or disease progression, which precluded any benefits reported being reliable. CONCLUSION: Large, well-designed randomized trials with clinical endpoints are recommended for lifestyle modification interventions. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10552-015-0659-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Non-infectious diseases pose an economic threat to healthcare

No country can afford the economic burden placed on its health system by the rise in non-communicable diseases not even the rich ones proclaimed Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi at the launch of the results of the South African National Health and Nutrition Survey (SANHANES-I). He was referring to the rise in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes among South Africans. Demetre Labadarios, Olive Shisana and Lucinda Dalais explain further.

Phytoestrogens - Health significance and the food industry

Analyses of new high phytoestrogen foods indicate that there is significant variation between food products as well as variation within the same product. If food companies are to use phytoestrogen concentration as a marketing strategy, a quality control program for regular isoflavone analysis is warranted