Food composition database development for between country comparisons

Nutritional assessment by diet analysis is a two-stepped process consisting of evaluation of food consumption, and conversion of food into nutrient intake by using a food composition database, which lists the mean nutritional values for a given food portion. Most reports in the literature focus on minimizing errors in estimation of food consumption but the selection of a specific food composition table used in nutrient estimation is also a source of errors. We are conducting a large prospective study internationally and need to compare diet, assessed by food frequency questionnaires, in a comparable manner between different countries. We have prepared a multi-country food composition database for nutrient estimation in all the countries participating in our study. The nutrient database is primarily based on the USDA food composition database, modified appropriately with reference to local food composition tables, and supplemented with recipes of locally eaten mixed dishes. By doing so we have ensured that the units of measurement, method of selection of foods for testing, and assays used for nutrient estimation are consistent and as current as possible, and yet have taken into account some local variations. Using this common metric for nutrient assessment will reduce differential errors in nutrient estimation and improve the validity of between-country comparisons

Weight changes and lifestyle behaviors in women after breast cancer diagnosis: a cross-sectional study

Background: Weight gain rather than weight loss often occurs after breast cancer diagnosis despite breast cancer survivors frequently reported making healthful lifestyle changes. This study describes the prevalence and magnitude of changes in weight before and after breast cancer diagnosis and examines lifestyle behaviors of breast cancer survivors with stable weight, weight gain or weight loss. Methods. Respondents were 368 women with breast cancer characterized by stages I, II and III. All were recruited from hospitals or breast cancer support groups and had completed conventional treatment. Current weight and height were measured while weight at cancer diagnosis and 1 year before diagnosis were self-reported. Weight change was calculated as the difference between current weight and weight a year preceding breast cancer diagnosis. A 24-hour diet recall and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire assessed dietary intake and physical activity, respectively. Differences in lifestyle behaviors among weight change groups were examined using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Results: Mean weight change from a year preceding diagnosis to study entry was 2.73 kg (95% CI: 1.90-3.55). Most women (63.3%) experienced weight gain rather than weight loss (36.7%) with a higher percentage (47.8%) having at least 5% weight gain (47.8%) rather than weight loss (22%), respectively. Compared to other weight change groups, women in >10% weight gain group had the lowest fruit and vegetable servings (1.58 servings/day; 95% CI: 1.36-1.82) and highest servings of dairy products (0.41 servings/day; 95% CI: 0.30-0.52). Conclusions: Weight gain was evident in this sample of women after breast cancer diagnosis. Information on magnitude of weight change after breast cancer diagnosis and lifestyle behaviors of breast cancer survivors with varying degrees of weight change could facilitate the development and targeting of effective intervention strategies to achieve healthy weight and optimal health for better survival

Efeito dos métodos de cocção sobre a composição química e perfil lipídico de filés de Tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus 1757) Effects of cooking method on chemical composition and fat profile of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1757) fillets

No presente trabalho foi avaliado o efeito de métodos de cocção na composição química, teor de colesterol e totais de ácidos graxos de filés de Tilápias do Nilo. Os tratamentos foram cozimento em água (CA), fritura em óleo de soja (FO), assado em forno elétrico (FE), assado em forno microondas (MO), e um grupo testemunha (filés crus). O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, cada tratamento com 7 peixes e a unidade experimental foi um peixe (2 filés). Houve aumento (P<0,05) na matéria seca, quando os filés preparados (CA, FE, MO, e FO com médias de 23,27 %; 25,44 %; 31,93 % e 33,44 %, respectivamente) foram comparados com os crus (20,61 %). Os filés FO apresentaram lipídeos totais mais elevados (P<0,05) (17,36 %), que os demais tratamentos CA, FE, MO e Crus (6,94 %; 9,80 %; 8,66 % e 5,92 %, respectivamente). Os métodos de cocção aumentaram (P<0,05) o colesterol dos filés (46,89; 46,46; 54,78 e 57,28 mg 100g-1 para CA, FE, FO e MO, respectivamente) com relação aos crus (33,00 mg/100g). Os filés FO (P<0,05) apresentaram menores totais de ácidos graxos saturados e monoinsaturados e mostraram maior percentual de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados, quando comparados aos demais grupos. O cozimento aumenta a matéria seca, resultado da perda de água dos filés e aumento na concentração dos demais constituintes. O tratamento frito em óleo causa uma incorporação do meio (óleo de fritura) aos filés e aumenta os lipídeos totais, alterando o perfil de ácidos graxos dos filés de peixes fritos.<br>In this work, the effects of different cooking methods of Nile tilapia fillets on their chemical composition, cholesterol content and total fatty acids, were studied. Cooking methods evaluated were water boiling (WB), frying in soybean oil (SO), broiling in an electric oven (EO), cooking in a microwave oven (MO) and a control group (raw fillets). The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design, with the fish (two fillets/fish) considered as the experimental unit, and seven experimental units were used per treatment. Dry matter increased (P<0.05) in cooked fillets (23.27 % WB, 25.44 % EO, 31.93 % MO and 33.44 % SO) when compared with raw fillets (20.61 %). Total lipids were higher (P<0.05) in SO fillets (17.36 %), than in all the other treatments (6.94 % WB, 9.80 % EO, 8.66 % MO and 5.92 % raw fillets). All cooking methods increased (P<0.05) cholesterol content of the fillets (46.89 mg/100g WB, 46.46 mg/100g EO, 54.78 mg/100g SO and 57.28 mg 100g-1 MO) when compared with raw fillets (33.00 mg/100 g). Relative to all the other treatments, FO fillets had (P<0.05) lower values for saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, and a higher percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Overall, water boiling results in an increase in dry matter due to water loss in the cooking process, with higher concentration of the remaining constituents. Cooking by oil frying leads to the incorporation of oil in the fillets, with an increase in total lipids and a change of the fatty acid profile in fried fish

Vitamin A intake and factors influencing it amongst children and caretakers in Kosrae, Micronesia

A cross-sectional study was undertaken in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia to assess preschool children and caretaker dietary intake of vitamin A (VA) (including provitamin A carotenoids) and other nutrients contributing to VA status and to investigate relationships between VA intake and factors affecting dietary intake. Ethnography, food sample analysis, two dietary assessment methods (7-day food frequency questionnaire and quantitative 24-hour recall for three nonconsecutive days) administered by trained interviewers to a random sample group, and cultivar difference specification (yellow-fleshed versus white-fleshed bananas) contributed to the richness of the study. Vitamin A intake was low, approximately half of the estimated requirements for children (n = 65) and caretakers (n = 65), whereas protein intake was high. There were no clear significant relationships associated with gender, caretaker education, caretaker occupation, and socio-economic status with VA intake, indicating that a broad-based intervention over all population segments is needed to change dietary behavior, The ethnographic approach was critical for survey instrument development and data analysis