Ascophyllum nodosum enriched bread reduces subsequent energy intake with no effect on post-prandial glucose and cholesterol in healthy, overweight males. A pilot study.

The consumption of seaweed isolates (such as alginate) has been shown to successfully reduce energy intake and modulate glycaemic and cholesterolaemic responses. To date, the effect of adding whole seaweed to bread has not been widely investigated. This study aims to investigate the acceptability of Ascophyllum nodosum enriched bread, and measure its effect on energy intake and nutrient absorption in overweight, healthy males. Results from the acceptability study, (79 untrained sensory panellists) indicated that it is acceptable to incorporate seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) into a staple food such as bread when up to 20g are added to a 400g wholemeal loaf. A single blind cross over trial (n=12 males, aged 40.1±12.5 years; BMI 30.8±4.4 kg/m2) was used to compare energy intake and nutrient uptake after a breakfast meal using the enriched bread against the control bread. Consumption of the enriched bread led to a significant reduction (16.4%) in energy intake at a test meal 4 hours after breakfast. Differences between treatment arms for area under the curve, peak values, and time of peak for blood glucose and cholesterol were not significant. Further investigation of potential mechanisms of action is warranted

The potential health benefits of seaweed and seaweed extract

Edible seaweeds have historically been consumed by coastal populations across the globe. Today, seaweed is still part of the habitual diet in many Asian countries. Seaweed consumption also appears to be growing in popularity in Western cultures, due both to the influx of Asian cuisine as well as notional health benefits associated with consumption. Isolates of seaweeds (particularly viscous polysaccharides) are used in an increasing number of food applications in order to improve product acceptability and extend shelf-life. Epidemiological evidence suggests regular seaweed consumption may protect against a range of diseases of modernity. The addition of seaweed and seaweed isolates to foods has already shown potential to enhance satiety and reduce the postprandial absorption rates of glucose and lipids in acute human feeding studies, highlighting their potential use in the development of anti-obesity foods. As seaweeds and seaweed isolates have the potential to both benefit health and improve food acceptability, seaweeds and seaweed isolates offer exciting potential as ingredients in the development of new food products. This review will outline the evidence from human and experimental studies that suggests consumption of seaweeds and seaweed isolates may impact on health (both positively and negatively). Finally, this review will highlight current gaps in knowledge in this area and what future strategies should be adopted for maximising seaweed's potential food uses

Dietary seaweed and human health

Seaweed as an ingredient is growing in popularity largely due to its perceived health-giving properties supported by findings from epidemiological studies. Increased seaweed consumption has been linked to reduced risk of various diseases however there is a paucity of evidence for health benefits derived from robust randomised controlled trials (RCT). Emerging data from short-term RCT involving seaweed isolates are promising. Further investigation of seaweed as a wholefood ingredient is warranted. This review aims to highlight the food uses and potential health benefits of seaweeds

Weight loss is coupled with improvements to affective state in obese participants engaged in behavior change therapy based on incremental, self-selected “Small Changes”

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a group behavior change intervention involving self-selected, contextualized, and mediated goal setting on anthropometric, affective, and dietary markers of health. It was hypothesized that the intervention would elicit changes consistent with accepted health recommendations for obese individuals. A rolling program of 12-week “Small Changes” interventions during 24 months recruited 71 participants; each program accommodated 10 to 13 adults (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2). Fifty-eight participants completed Small Changes. Repeated measures were made at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. Anthropometric measures included height and weight (to calculate BMI), body composition, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Affective state was monitored using relevant validated questionnaires. Dietary assessment used 3-day household measures food diaries with Schofield equations to monitor underreporting. Relevant blood measures were recorded throughout. Across the measurement period, Small Changes elicited a significant reduction in body weight (baseline, 102.95 ± 15.47 vs 12 weeks 100.09 ± 16.01 kg, P < .0005), coupled with associated significant improvements in BMI, body fat percentage, and waist circumference measures. There were additional significant positive changes in measures of affective state including general well-being (baseline, 58.92 ± 21.22 vs 12 weeks 78.04 ± 14.60, P < .0005) and total mood disturbance (baseline, 31.19 ± 34.03 vs 12 weeks 2.67 ± 24.96, P < .0005). Dietary changes that occurred were largely consistent with evidenced-based recommendations for weight management and included significant reductions in total energy intake and in fat and saturated fat as a proportion of energy. The Small Changes approach can elicit a range of health-orientated benefits for obese participants, and although further work is needed to ascertain the longevity of such effects, the outcomes from Small Changes are likely to help inform health professionals when framing the future of weight management. Long-term follow-up of Small Changes is warranted

An acute bout of cycling does not induce compensatory responses in pre-menopausal women not using hormonal contraceptives

There is a clear need to improve understanding of the effects of physical activity and exercise on appetite control. Therefore, the acute and short-term effects (three days) of a single bout of cycling on energy intake and energy expenditure were examined in women not using hormonal contraceptives. Sixteen active (n = 8) and inactive (n = 8) healthy pre-menopausal women completed a randomised crossover design study with two conditions (exercise and control). The exercise day involved cycling for 1 h (50% of maximum oxygen uptake) and resting for 2 h, whilst the control day comprised 3 h of rest. On each experimental day participants arrived at the laboratory fasted, consumed a standardised breakfast and an ad libitum pasta lunch. Food diaries and combined heart rate-accelerometer monitors were used to assess free-living food intake and energy expenditure, respectively, over the subsequent three days. There were no main effects or condition (exercise vs control) by group (active vs inactive) interaction for absolute energy intake (P &gt; 0.05) at the ad libitum laboratory lunch meal, but there was a condition effect for relative energy intake (P = 0.004, ηp2 = 0.46) that was lower in the exercise condition (1417 ± 926 kJ vs. 2120 ± 923 kJ). Furthermore, post-breakfast satiety was higher in the active than in the inactive group (P = 0.005, ηp2 = 0.44). There were no main effects or interactions (P &gt; 0.05) for mean daily energy intake, but both active and inactive groups consumed less energy from protein (14 ± 3% vs. 16 ± 4%, P = 0.016, ηp2 = 0.37) and more from carbohydrate (53 ± 5% vs. 49 ± 7%, P = 0.031, ηp2 = 0.31) following the exercise condition. This study suggests that an acute bout of cycling does not induce compensatory responses in active and inactive women not using hormonal contraceptives, while the stronger satiety response to the standardised breakfast meal in active individuals adds to the growing literature that physical activity helps improve the sensitivity of short-term appetite control

Effects of an acute bout of aerobic exercise on immediate and subsequent three-day food intake and energy expenditure in active and inactive pre-menopausal women taking oral contraceptives

. Effects of an acute bout of aerobic exercise on immediate and subsequent three-day food intake and energy expenditure in active and inactive premenopausal women taking oral contraceptives. Appetite, 89 (1), [183][184][185][186][187][188][189][190][191]. Copyright and re-use policy Abstract (314 words) 30 This study examined the effects of an acute bout of exercise of low-intensity on food 31 intake and energy expenditure over four days in women taking oral contraceptives. 32 Twenty healthy, active (n=10) and inactive (n=10) pre-menopausal women taking oral 33 contraceptives completed two conditions (exercise and control), in a randomised, 34 crossover fashion. The exercise experimental day involved cycling for one hour at an 35 intensity equivalent to 50% of maximum oxygen uptake and two hours of rest. The 36 control condition comprised three hours of rest. Participants arrived at the laboratory 37 fasted overnight; breakfast was standardised and an ad libitum pasta lunch was 38 consumed on each experimental day. Participants kept a food diary to measure food 39 intake and wore an Actiheart to measure energy expenditure for the remainder of the 40 experimental days and over the subsequent 3 days. There was a condition effect for 41 absolute energy intake (exercise vs. control: 3363 ± 668 kJ vs. 3035 ± 752 kJ; p = 42 0.033, d = 0.49) and relative energy intake (exercise vs. control: 2019 ± 746 kJ vs. 43 2710 ± 712 kJ; p &lt; 0.001, d = -1.00) at the ad libitum lunch. There were no significant 44 differences in energy intake over the four days in active participants and there was a 45 suppression of energy intake on the first day after the exercise experimental day 46 compared with the same day of the control condition in inactive participants (mean 47 -3 -difference = -1974 kJ; 95% CI -1048 to -2900 kJ, p = 0.002, d = -0.89). There was a 48 group effect (p = 0.001, d = 1.63) for free-living energy expenditure, indicating that 49 active participants expended more energy than inactive participants during this period. 50 However, there were no compensatory changes in daily physical activity energy 51 expenditure. These results support the use of low-intensity aerobic exercise as a 52 method to induce a short-term negative energy balance in inactive women taking oral 53 contraceptives. 54 5

Generation of thirst: a critical review of dehydration amongst older adults living in residential care

Dehydration is common amongst older adults and exacerbated in residential care. Herein we summarise the reported prevalence of dehydration in this sub-population group and evaluate the associated risks before reviewing interventions designed to improve hydration. Heterogeneity in methods to assess dehydration inhibits interpretation of both prevalence and intervention studies (primarily small randomised control trials and case-control observational studies). The estimated prevalence of dehydration amongst older adults in residential care is 20-38%, with further increased prevalence of inadequate fluid intake, leading to increased urological, gastrointestinal, circulatory and neurological disorders or, in extreme cases, death. Multi-component interventions that include changes to drinks, vessels, placement and drinking opportunity alongside staff training and support are most effective in tackling dehydration in residential care. The detection and prevention of dehydration is crucial and a practical, population-specific reference standard for adequate fluid intake is warranted. Future research should prioritise interventions that are individualised to residents’ needs according to dehydration typology. Ongoing investment in the care sector should address staff-to-resident ratios and enhance staff training on the detection and prevention of dehydration