204 research outputs found

    Public health strategies to reduce sugar intake in the UK: An exploration of public perceptions using digital spaces

    Get PDF
    Objective: To explore UK public perceptions of children's sugar consumption, Public Health England's Change4Life Sugar Smart app and the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, using solicited and unsolicited digital data. Methods: Data from three digital spaces were used as follows: (1) an online questionnaire advertised on parenting forums; (2) posts to UK online parenting forums; and (3) English language Tweets from Twitter. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data using content and inductive thematic analysis. Results: Data were (study 1) 184 questionnaire participants; (study 2) 412 forum posts; and (study 3) 618 Tweets. In study 1, 94.0% (n = 173) agreed that children in the UK consumed too much sugar and this had a negative health effect (98.4%, n = 181). Environments (n = 135, 73.4%), media/advertising (n = 112, 60.9%) and parents (n = 107, 58.2%) were all reported as barriers to changing children's sugar intake. In study 2, more posts were negative towards the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (n = 189, 45.9%) than positive (n = 145, 35.2%), and themes about the inability of the Levy to affect sugar consumption in children and childhood obesity emerged. Other themes related to distrust of the government, food industry and retailers. In study 3, the Sugar Smart app was viewed positively (n = 474, 76.7%) with its function associated solely with identification of sugar content. Conclusions: Participants accepted the necessity of sugar reduction in children, but recognised the complexity of behaviour change. Public health activities were not always perceived as effective strategies for health promotion. There was some distrust in government, public health officials and the food industry. A less simplistic approach to sugar reduction and more credible sources of information may, therefore, be welcomed by the public

    EFSA NDA Panel (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies), 2013. Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to increasing maternal folate status by supplemental folate intake and reduced risk of neural tube defects pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

    Get PDF
    Following an application from Rank Nutrition Ltd, submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of the United Kingdom, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to increasing maternal folate status by supplemental folate intake and reduced risk of neural tube defects. The Panel considers that the food constituent, supplemental folate, which is the subject of the claim, is sufficiently characterised. Increasing maternal folate status by supplemental folate intake is a beneficial physiological effect in the context of reducing the risk of neural tube defects. In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that the association between low maternal folate intakes and an increased risk of neural tube defects is well established, and that a recent systematic review showed an effect of maternal folic acid intakes on the risk of neural tube defects. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between increasing maternal folate status by supplemental folate intake and a reduced risk of neural tube defects

    The reduction of faecal calprotectin during exclusive enteral nutrition is lost rapidly after food re-introduction

    Get PDF
    Background: Faecal calprotectin decreases during exclusive enteral nutrition in children with active Crohn's disease. It is unknown how faecal calprotectin changes during food re‐introduction and the influence of maintenance enteral nutrition. Aims: To study changes to faecal calprotectin during exclusive enteral nutrition and at food reintroduction, and explore associations with maintenance enteral nutrition. Methods: Children with Crohn's disease were followed during exclusive enteral nutrition and during food‐reintroduction. Faecal calprotectin was measured before, at 33 and 54 days of exclusive enteral nutrition, and at 17, 52 and 72 days after food‐reintroduction. Maintenance enteral nutrition use was recorded with estimated weight food diaries. Data are presented with medians and Q1:Q3. Results: Sixty‐six patients started exclusive enteral nutrition and 41 (62%) achieved clinical remission (weighted paediatric Crohn's disease activity index <12.5). Baseline faecal calprotectin (mg/kg) decreased after 4 and 8 weeks of exclusive enteral nutrition (Start: 1433 [Q1: 946, Q3: 1820] vs 33 days: 844 [314, 1438] vs 54 days: 453 [165, 1100]; P < .001). Within 17 days of food reintroduction, faecal calprotectin increased to 953 [Q1: 519, Q3: 1611] and by 52 days to 1094 [660, 1625] (both P < .02). Fifteen of 41 (37%) children in remission used maintenance enteral nutrition (333 kcal or 18% of energy intake). At 17 days of food reintroduction, faecal calprotectin was lower in maintenance enteral nutrition users than non‐users (651 [Q1: 271, Q3: 1781] vs 1238 [749, 2102], P = .049) and correlated inversely with maintenance enteral nutrition volume (rho: −0.573, P = .041), kcals (rho: −0.584, P = .036) and % energy intake (rho: −0.649, P = .016). Maintenance enteral nutrition use was not associated with longer periods of remission (P = .7). Faecal calprotectin at the end of exclusive enteral nutrition did not predict length of remission. Conclusions: The effect of exclusive enteral nutrition on faecal calprotectin is diminished early during food reintroduction. Maintenance enteral nutrition at ~18% of energy intake is associated with a lower faecal calprotectin at the early phase of food reintroduction but is ineffective in maintaining longer term remission

    Anthocyanins do not influence long-chain n-3 fatty acid status:Studies in cells, rodents and humans

    Get PDF
    Increased tissue status of the long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is associated with cardiovascular and cognitive benefits. Limited epidemiological and animal data suggest that flavonoids, and specifically anthocyanins, may increase EPA and DHA levels, potentially by increasing their synthesis from the shorter-chain n-3 PUFA, α-linolenic acid. Using complimentary cell, rodent and human studies we investigated the impact of anthocyanins and anthocyanin-rich foods/extracts on plasma and tissue EPA and DHA levels and on the expression of fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2), which represents the rate limiting enzymes in EPA and DHA synthesis. In experiment 1, rats were fed a standard diet containing either palm oil or rapeseed oil supplemented with pure anthocyanins for 8 weeks. Retrospective fatty acid analysis was conducted on plasma samples collected from a human randomized controlled trial where participants consumed an elderberry extract for 12 weeks (experiment 2). HepG2 cells were cultured with α-linolenic acid with or without select anthocyanins and their in vivo metabolites for 24 h and 48 h (experiment 3). The fatty acid composition of the cell membranes, plasma and liver tissues were analyzed by gas chromatography. Anthocyanins and anthocyanin-rich food intake had no significant impact on EPA or DHA status or FADS2 gene expression in any model system. These data indicate little impact of dietary anthocyanins on n-3 PUFA distribution and suggest that the increasingly recognized benefits of anthocyanins are unlikely to be the result of a beneficial impact on tissue fatty acid status

    Contemporary South African Urbanization Dynamics

    Get PDF
    Abstract The paper provides an overview of urbanization patterns and trends in the current era in South Africa, focusing in particular on the key dynamics and driving forces underlying migration and urbanization. It considers overall demographic trends with regard to migration and urbanization, and points to some of the difficulties with data, and with the analysis of trends and patterns. The paper explores the changing rural context and dynamics, and some of the significant processes in this context: large-scale displacement of black people off farms, the impact of land reform, and conditions in the former homeland areas. Circular migration continues to be an important way in which households in rural areas survive, but some are unable to move, and are falling out of these networks. International migration—the consequence of both conditions in the home country and the draw of the South African economy— is another significant process fuelling mainly urban growth. The paper demonstrates the importance of cities in terms of economic growth and employment, and thus their attractiveness to migrants. Continuing migration to cities is of course a challenge fo

    Irregular meal pattern-effects on energy expenditure, metabolism and appetite regulation: a randomized controlled trial in healthy normal-weight women

    Get PDF
    Background: Obesity is increasing in parallel with greater all-day food availability. The latter may promote meal irregularity, dysregulation of the energy balance, and poor metabolic health. Objective: We investigated the effect of meal irregularity on the thermic effect of food (TEF), lipid concentrations, carbohydrate metabolism, subjective appetite, and gut hormones in healthy women. Design: Eleven normal-weight women (18–40 y of age) were recruited in a randomized crossover trial with two 14-d isoenergetic diet periods (identical foods provided and free living) that were separated by a 14-d habitual diet washout period. In period 1, participants followed a regular meal pattern (6 meals/d) or an irregular meal pattern (3–9 meals/d), and in period 2, the alternative meal pattern was followed. Before and after each period, when participants were fasting and for 3 h after intake of a test drink, measurements were taken of energy expenditure, circulating glucose, lipids (fasting only), insulin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and ghrelin. An ad libitum test meal was offered. Subjective appetite ratings were assessed while fasting, after the test drink, after the ad libitum meal, and during the intervention. Continuous interstitial glucose monitoring was undertaken for 3 consecutive days during each intervention, and the ambulatory activity pattern was recorded (ambulatory energy expenditure estimation). Results: Regularity was associated with a greater TEF (P , 0.05) and a lower incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for glucose after intake of the test drink (over 3 h) and, for some identical meals, during the 2 interventions (over 90 min) (day 7: after breakfast; day 9: after lunch and dinner). There was no difference between treatments for the test-drink gut hormone response. A time effect was noted for fasting GLP-1, fasting PYY, PYY responses, and hunger-rating responses to the test drink (P ˂ 0.05). Lower hunger and higher fullness ratings were seen premeal and postmeal during the regular period while subjects were free living. Conclusion: Meal regularity appears to be associated with greater TEF and lower glucose responses, which may favor weight management and metabolic health. This trial was registered at clinical trials.gov as NCT02052076
    • 

    corecore