Combined effects of gamma irradiation and blanching process on acrylamide content in fried potato strips

Potato tubers were irradiated in 60Co gamma station at different doses in order to investigate the effect of gamma irradiation on acrylamide formation in fried potato strips. Acrylamide content due to the irradiation treatment was reduced by 20–54% compared to a control after frying the irradiated tubers. While apply a blanching process, using warm tap water, to potato strips before frying has decreased acrylamide by 61%. A combination of gamma irradiation and a blanching process, which was applied in this work, showed a maximum decrease in acrylamide formation to reach 78% in fried potatoes

Brachial artery pulse pressure and common carotid artery diameter: mutually independent associations with mortality in subjects with a recent history of impaired glucose tolerance

BACKGROUND: Decreased large artery function, as reflected by increased brachial artery pulse pressure and increased carotid artery diameter and stiffness, may contribute to the increased mortality risk that is observed in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. We therefore investigated the association between brachial artery pulse pressure and carotid artery diameter and stiffness, which are estimates of central artery stiffness and arterial remodelling, respectively, and mortality in subjects with a recent history of impaired glucose tolerance. DESIGN: A prospective, population-based cohort study. We measured brachial artery pulse pressure by oscillometric blood pressure measurements, and common carotid artery diameter and distensibility and compliance coefficients by ultrasound in 140 subjects with a recent history of impaired glucose tolerance. During a median 6.6-year follow-up, 16 subjects died. RESULTS: Brachial artery pulse pressure and common carotid artery diameter were positively related to all-cause mortality [hazard ratios per standard deviation, 1.7 (1.2-2.5) and 2.1 (1.3-3.3), respectively]. Results were similar after adjustment for gender, age, waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index, total cholesterol concentration, pre-existent cardiovascular disease, and hypertension, and after additional mutual adjustment. Common carotid artery distensibility and compliance coefficients were not statistically significantly associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Among subjects with a recent history of impaired glucose tolerance, brachial artery pulse pressure and common carotid artery diameter are independently associated with mortality risk. Stiffness of the central arteries may explain the association between pulse pressure and mortality risk. The association between carotid diameter and mortality risk is more likely to reflect arterial remodelling in response to atherosclerosis than that in response to increased local stiffness

Regional and social differences concerning overweight, participation in health check-ups and vaccination. Analysis of data from a whole birth cohort of 6-year old children in a prosperous German city

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies on health inequalities still focus mostly on adults. Research about social disparities and health in children is slowly increasing, also in Germany, but these studies are mostly restricted to individual social variables derived from the parents to determine social class. This paper analyses the data of the medical check-up prior to school enrolment to determine differences concerning overweight, participation in health check-ups and immunization; it includes individual social variables but also regional variables describing the social environment of the children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The dataset includes 9,353 children who started school in 2004 in Munich, Germany. Three dependent variables are included (i.e. overweight, health check-ups, vaccinations). The individual level social variables are: children's sex, mother tongue of the parents, Kindergarten visit. On the small scale school district level, two regional social variables could be included as well, i.e. percentage of single-parent households, percentage of households with low educational level. Associations are assessed by cross tables and regression analyses. The regional level variables are included by multilevel analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The analyses indicate that there is a large variation between the school districts concerning the three dependent variables, and that there is no district with very 'problematic values' for all three of them (i.e. high percentage of overweight, low levels of health check-ups and vaccinations). Throughout the bivariate and multivariate analyses, the mother tongue of the children's parents shows the most pronounced association with these dependent variables; i.e. children growing up in non-German-speaking families tend to be more overweight and don't visit preventive check-ups as often as children of German-speaking parents. An opposite association can be seen concerning vaccinations. Regional level influences are present as well, but they are rather small when the individual level social variables are controlled for.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The dataset of the medical check-up prior to school enrolment offers a great opportunity for public health research, as it comprises a whole age cohort. The number and scope of variables is quite limited, though. On one hand, it includes only few variables on health or health related risks. On the other, it would be important to have more information from the region where the children live, e.g. the availability of community and health care services for parents and children, social networks of families with children, areas where children can play outside, traffic noise and air pollution. Despite these shortcomings, the need for specific interventions can already be derived from the data analyzed here, e.g. programs to reduce overweight in children should focus on parents with a mother tongue other than German.</p

Energy and macronutrient intake and dietary pattern among school children in Bahrain: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Obesity is increasing in Bahrain and there is lack of information on the energy and macronutrient intake of children. The objective of this research was to study the energy and macronutrient intake as well as food frequency pattern of Bahraini school children. Methods This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on Bahraini school boys and girls aged 6-18 years from all the 11 populated regions of the country. Data on food intake consisted of a 24-hour dietary recall and was obtained by interviewing a sub-sample of the study population. Information was also obtained through a self-administered questionnaire for the entire sample on the weekly frequency of food items that were grouped into 7 categories based on similarity of nutrient profiles. Dietary analysis was performed using the Nutritionist 5 (First Data Bank Version 1.6 1998). Results While the average energy intake of students was close to the Estimated Average Requirements of the UK Reference standards, protein intake substantially exceeded the Reference Nutrient Intake values as did daily sugar consumption. Dietary fiber fell short of the Dietary Recommended Values (UK) and 36%-50% students exceeded the Energy % limits for total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. The Polyunsaturated: Saturated fat ratio remained at an unacceptable level of 0.6 for girls and boys. While sweets, snacks and regular soda drinks were popular, milk, fruits and vegetables were not commonly consumed. Conclusions High sugar consumption, low intake of dietary fiber and high energy % of saturated fat and dietary cholesterol by many Bahraini children, is likely to increase their risk of obesity and cardiovascular diseases in later life. Nutrition education programs in schools should emphasize the importance of healthy balanced diets for growth and health maintenance of children as well as dietary prevention of diseases.</p

Recent changes in sociodemographic characteristics, dietary behaviors and clinical parameters of adults receiving food assistance in France

In 2004-2005, a survey carried out on food recipients in France revealed an alarming nutritional situation. In 2011-2012, and using a protocol similar to that of 2004-2005, our objective was to update the description of sociodemographic characteristics, dietary behaviors and clinical parameters of food assistance recipients and to analyze changes since 2004-2005.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe