Carbohydrate Knowledge Observed to be Low in Vietnamese Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: To assess carbohydrate knowledge of Vietnamese women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and explore factors associated with carbohydrate knowledge. Methods: Vietnamese women (n = 100) with GDM completed an online questionnaire about self-efficacy in managing blood glucose, the habit of regularly self-monitoring blood glucose activities at home, and an adapted culturally tailored carbohydrate quiz for the target population. Results: Participants (30 ± 4 years) answered on average 51% of the carbohydrate knowledge questions correctly, showing most difficulty in identifying honey, milk, and orange juice as carbohydrate sources. Only 46% of participants correctly identified carbohydrate content on nutrition labels, and 58% practice self-monitoring blood glucose activities at home. Carbohydrate knowledge was positively associated with self-efficacy in blood glucose management (r2 = 0.101, P = 0.003) and practicing self-monitoring blood glucose (r2 = 0.064, P = 0.013). Conclusions and Implications: There is a need to provide nutrition education about carbohydrate knowledge and blood glucose control to Vietnamese women to manage GDM

Impact of COVID-19 on health risk behaviors in northern California: A cross-sectional survey

The COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive, unevenly impacting health behaviors in different geographical regions and population groups. We examined how COVID-19 affected perceived changes in physical activity, sleep, and diet and the impact of socio-demographic variables on a calculated health risk behavior score. In this cross-sectional study, 505 residents of northern California completed a web-based survey from August to November of 2020. Chi-square and multivariable linear regression analyses examined the association between socio-demographic variables and the health risk behavior score. Approximately 84 % of respondents experienced at least one unfavorable behavior change after the pandemic, with 49.5 % indicating a reduction in physical activity, 29.7 % a decrease in sleep, 33.1 % an increase in sugary snack consumption, and 29.3 % a decrease in fruit and vegetable intake. Multivariate analyses indicated a higher health risk behavior score (less favorable) for females compared to males (male beta = -0.815, p \u3c 0.0001) and Hispanics compared to Whites (Hispanics beta = 0.396, p = 0.033). The negative changes in health behavior observed in females could be attributed to a higher reduction in fruit and vegetable consumption, and a larger increase in sugary and salty snacks when compared to males. A higher reduction in exercise, sleep, and fruit and vegetable intake were the main drivers of the unfavorable results seen for Hispanics when compared to Whites. Findings highlight the detrimental behavioral changes during the COVID-19 pandemic and the disproportionate impact on Hispanics and women. These results are valuable to policymakers to identify ways to support those most affected by the pandemic and its potential long-term effects

Food Insecurity and Food Access during COVID-19 in the San Francisco Bay Area

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic impacted socio-economic stability and food systems in the U.S. and worldwide. To better understand food access challenges and needs of those significantly impacted by the pandemic, an online survey was distributed in the San Francisco Bay Area from August to November of 2020. A total of 726 participants completed the survey who were recruited through paid Facebook ads and community partners outreach. This report features key results from the survey regarding changes in food security rates, food access challenges, and coping strategies used during the pandemic. Some of the key findings include: 1) There was a 63% increase (from 20 to 33%) in food insecurity since the pandemic started, with Hispanics, households with children, and those experiencing any job disruption most disproportionately affected, 2) More than 1 in 5 respondents newly started using food assistance since the pandemic; use of food pantries was the most common, with its use doubling since prior to the pandemic, and 3) Financial support and improving trust in the safety of stores, food, and delivery services were identified as helpful strategies to meet food needs

Effects of lemon or cinnamon essential oil vapor on physicochemical properties of strawberries during storage

Recently, consumers have gained an interest in natural and minimally processed foods, inciting the food industry to consider using of natural products as preservatives. Strawberries are a widely consumed fruit but are also highly perishable. Therefore, in this study, the physicochemical properties of strawberries (Fragaria×ananassa) were evaluated after a 12-h treatment with lemon essential oil (Citrus×limon) or cinnamon essential oil (Cinnamomum cassia) vapor during storage at 22°C for 4 days in an accelerated shelf-life study and 4°C for 18 days in a validation study. Weight loss was blunted in fruit treated with oil vapor during the first days of storage (p \u3c 0.05). Lemon essential oil delayed fruit darkening (p \u3c 0.05) but reduced the firmness of strawberries (p \u3c 0.05). Strawberries treated with cinnamon essential oil had a higher concentration of reducing sugars (p \u3c 0.05), and a decrease of 16.7% visible decay, although the difference was insignificant. Oil vapor treatment did not alter the pH, organic acid content, or soluble solid content during storage compared to the control. Since lemon and cinnamon essential oils have well-documented antimicrobial properties, they may be suitable for the natural preservation of fruit. This study provides new information on using essential oil vapor treatment to preserve fruits, and potentially decrease fruit loss and waste

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Prevalent Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background & Aims Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients alter their dietary behaviors to reduce disease-related symptoms, avoid feared food triggers, and control inflammation. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), evaluate risk factors, and examine the association with risk of malnutrition in patients with IBD. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited adult patients with IBD from an ambulatory clinic. ARFID risk was measured using the Nine-Item ARFID Screen. Nutritional risk was measured with the Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between clinical characteristics and a positive ARFID risk screen. Patient demographics, disease characteristics, and medical history were abstracted from medical records. Results Of the 161 participants (Crohn’s disease, 45.3%; ulcerative colitis, 51.6%; IBD-unclassified, 3.1%), 28 (17%) had a positive ARFID risk score (≥24). Most participants (92%) reported avoiding 1 or more foods while having active symptoms, and 74% continued to avoid 1 or more foods even in the absence of symptoms. Active symptoms (odds ratio, 5.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.91–15.01) and inflammation (odds ratio, 3.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–10.29) were significantly associated with positive ARFID risk. Patients with a positive ARFID risk screen were significantly more likely to be at risk for malnutrition (60.7% vs 15.8%; P \u3c .01). Conclusions Avoidant eating behaviors are common in IBD patients, even when in clinical remission. Patients who exhibit active symptoms and/or inflammation should be screened for ARFID risk, with referrals to registered dietitians to help monitor and address disordered eating behaviors and malnutrition risk

A Multi-Site Analysis of the Prevalence of Food Insecurity in the United States, before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic profoundly affected food systems including food security. Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted food security is important to provide support and identify long-term impacts and needs. Objective: The National Food Access and COVID research Team (NFACT) was formed to assess food security over different US study sites throughout the pandemic, using common instruments and measurements. This study presents results from 18 study sites across 15 states and nationally over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A validated survey instrument was developed and implemented in whole or part through an online survey of adults across the sites throughout the first year of the pandemic, representing 22 separate surveys. Sampling methods for each study site were convenience, representative, or high-risk targeted. Food security was measured using the USDA 6-item module. Food security prevalence was analyzed using ANOVA by sampling method to assess statistically significant differences. Results: Respondents (n = 27,168) indicate higher prevalence of food insecurity (low or very low food security) since the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with before the pandemic. In nearly all study sites, there is a higher prevalence of food insecurity among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), households with children, and those with job disruptions. The findings demonstrate lingering food insecurity, with high prevalence over time in sites with repeat cross-sectional surveys. There are no statistically significant differences between convenience and representative surveys, but a statistically higher prevalence of food insecurity among high-risk compared with convenience surveys. Conclusions: This comprehensive study demonstrates a higher prevalence of food insecurity in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts were prevalent for certain demographic groups, and most pronounced for surveys targeting high-risk populations. Results especially document the continued high levels of food insecurity, as well as the variability in estimates due to the survey implementation method

Food Insecurity Prevalence Across Diverse Sites During COVID-19: A Year of Comprehensive Data

Key Findings NFACT includes 18 study sites in 15 states as well as a national poll, collectively representing a sample size of more than 26,000 people. Some sites have implemented multiple survey rounds, here we report results from 22 separate surveys conducted during the year since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. 18 out of 19 surveys in 14 sites with data for before and since the pandemic began found an increase in food insecurity since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to before the pandemic. In nearly all surveys (18/19) that measured food insecurity both before and during the pandemic, more Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) were classified as food insecure during the pandemic as compared to before it began. Prevalence of food insecurity for BIPOC respondents was higher than the overall population in the majority of surveys (19/20) sampling a general population. In almost all surveys (21/22), the prevalence of food insecurity for households with children was higher than the overall prevalence of food insecurity. Food insecurity prevalence was higher for households experiencing a negative job impact during the pandemic (i.e. job loss, furlough, reduction in hours) in nearly all surveys and study sites (21/22). Food insecurity prevalence in most sites was significantly higher before COVID-19 than estimates from that time period. Reporting a percent change between pre and during COVID-19 prevalence may provide additional information about the rate of change in food insecurity since the start of the pandemic, which absolute prevalence of food insecurity may not capture. Results highlight consistent trends in food insecurity outcomes since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, across diverse study sites, methodological approaches, and time

A Comparative Analysis of the Water Use and Nutritional Value for California Commodities

To create a more sustainable food system, this study analyzed the water use and nutritional data for California commodities. The data were separated into quadrants based on median scores, with results that include a list of commodities lower in agricultural water use while being higher in nutritional value. Because the agricultural sector is the dominant water user, there is an opportunity here to influence growers, consumers and policymakers to choose and support the growth of foods that would reduce water consumption while still providing beneficial nutrients. The goal of this paper is to educate the public on this important issue

Egg Intake and Dietary Quality among Overweight and Obese Mexican-American Postpartum Women

Despite their low cost and high nutrient density, the contribution of eggs to nutrient intake and dietary quality among Mexican-American postpartum women has not been evaluated. Nutrient intake and dietary quality, as assessed by the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010), were measured in habitually sedentary overweight/obese (body mass index (BMI) = 29.7 ± 3.5 kg/m2) Mexican-American postpartum women (28 ± 6 years) and compared between egg consumers (n = 82; any egg intake reported in at least one of three 24-h dietary recalls) and non-consumers (n = 57). Egg consumers had greater intake of energy (+808 kJ (193 kcal) or 14%; p = 0.033), protein (+9 g or 17%; p = 0.031), total fat (+9 g or 19%; p = 0.039), monounsaturated fat (+4 g or 24%; p = 0.020), and several micronutrients than non-consumers. Regarding HEI-2010 scores, egg consumers had a greater total protein foods score than non-consumers (4.7 ± 0.7 vs. 4.3 ± 1.0; p = 0.004), and trends for greater total fruit (2.4 ± 1.8 vs. 1.9 ± 1.7; p = 0.070) and the total composite HEI-2010 score (56.4 ± 12.6 vs. 52.3 ± 14.4; p = 0.082). Findings suggest that egg intake could contribute to greater nutrient intake and improved dietary quality among postpartum Mexican-American women. Because of greater energy intake among egg consumers, recommendations for overweight/obese individuals should include avoiding excessive energy intake and incorporating eggs to a nutrient-dense, fiber-rich dietary pattern

Is a lower dose of vitamin D supplementation enough to increase 25(OH)D status in a sunny country?

Calcium and vitamin D are essential nutrients for bone metabolism Vitamin D can either be obtained from dietary sources or cutaneous synthesis. The study was conducted in subtropic weather; therefore, some might believe that the levels of solar radiation would be sufficient in this area. To evaluate calcium and vitamin D supplementation in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis living in a sunny country. A 3-month controlled clinical trial with 64 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, mean age 62 +/- A 8 years. They were randomly assigned to either the supplement group, who received 1,200 mg of calcium carbonate and 400 IU (10 mu g) of vitamin D(3,) or the control group. Dietary intake assessment was performed, bone mineral density and body composition were measured, and biochemical markers of bone metabolism were analyzed. Considering all participants at baseline, serum vitamin D was under 75 nmol/l in 91.4% of the participants. The concentration of serum 25(OH)D increased significantly (p = 0.023) after 3 months of supplementation from 46.67 +/- A 13.97 to 59.47 +/- A 17.50 nmol/l. However, the dose given was limited in effect, and 86.2% of the supplement group did not reach optimal levels of 25(OH)D. Parathyroid hormone was elevated in 22.4% of the study group. After the intervention period, mean parathyroid hormone tended to decrease in the supplement group (p = 0.063). The dose given (400 IU/day) was not enough to achieve 25(OH)D concentration, considered optimal for bone health.CNPq[401883/2005-1]CAPE