Nutrition and Iron Status of 1-Year Olds following a Revision in Infant Dietary Recommendations

A previous study showed low iron status in 12-month-old Icelandic infants associated most strongly with cow's milk intake and growth. Infant dietary recommendations were revised in 2003. This study investigated nutrition and iron status in a new infant cohort. Subjects/Methods. Randomly selected infants were prospectively investigated for diet, anthropometry, and iron status (n = 110–141). Results. Breastfeeding initiation rate was 98%; 38% of 5-month olds were exclusively and 20% of 12-month olds partially breastfed. Formula was given to 21% of 6-month olds and 64% of 12-month olds, but cow's milk to 2.5% and 54.4% of 6- and 12-month olds, respectively. Iron depletion (serum ferritin < 12 μg/L) affected 5.8%, 1.4% were also iron deficient (MCV < 74 fl), and none were anemic (Hb < 105 g/l). Iron status associated negatively with growth and breastfeeding duration and positively with meat and formula intake at 9–12 months, but not with cow's milk. Conclusion. Improved iron status might be explained by a shift from cow's milk to formula in the diet of Icelandic 6–12-month olds. Dietary changes altered associations between foods and iron status

Lower Intake of Saturated Fatty Acids Is Associated with Improved Lipid Profile in a 6-Year-Old Nationally Representative Population.

To access publisher's full text version of this article, please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field or click on the hyperlink at the top of the page marked DownloadTo strengthen the organization of new national dietary surveys and interventions in childhood, our aim was to study macronutrient intake and blood lipid profile at 6 years of age by comparing results from two earlier population-based cohorts. Subjects were n = 131 and n = 162 in the years 2001-2002 and 2011-2012, respectively. Three-day weighed food records were used to estimate diet and calculate nutrient intake. Total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol were measured in serum and LDL-cholesterol was calculated. The average intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and trans FA was lower in 2011-2012 than 2001-2002 (13.3E% vs. 14.7E%, p &lt; 0.001, and 0.8E% vs. 1.4E%, p &lt; 0.001, respectively), replaced by a higher intake of unsaturated fatty acids. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were significantly lower in 2011-2012 than 2001-2002 (4.6 vs. 4.4 mmol/L, p = 0.003 and 2.8 vs. 2.5 mmol/L, p &lt; 0.001, respectively). In a multiple linear regression model, one E% increase in SFA intake was related to a 0.03 mmol/L increase in LDL cholesterol (p = 0.04). A lower intake of saturated and trans fatty acids, replaced by unsaturated fatty acids, may have contributed to an improved lipid profile in a healthy 6-year-old population. Biological data for analysis of blood lipids are important in national dietary surveys in healthy children to monitor important health outcomes of interventions

Fruit and vegetable intake in a sample of 11-year-old children in 9 European countries: The pro children cross-sectional survey

Background/Aims: An adequate fruit and vegetable intake provides essential nutrients and nutritive compounds and is considered an important part of a healthy lifestyle. No simple instrument has been available for the assessment of fruit and vegetable intake as well as its determinants in school-aged children applicable in different European countries. Within the Pro Children Project, such an instrument has been developed. This paper describes the cross-sectional survey in 11-year-olds in 9 countries. Methods: The cross-sectional survey used nationally, and in 2 countries regionally, representative samples of schools and classes. The questionnaires, including a precoded 24-hour recall component and a food frequency part, were completed in the classroom. Data were treated using common syntax files for portion sizes and for merging of vegetable types into four subgroups. Results: The results show that the fruit and vegetable intake in amounts and choice were highly diverse in the 9 participating countries. Vegetable intake was in general lower than fruit intake, boys consumed less fruit and vegetables than girls did. The highest total intake according to the 24-hour recall was found in Austria and Portugal, the lowest in Spain and Iceland. Conclusion: The fruit and vegetable intake in 11-year-old children was in all countries far from reaching population goals and food-based dietary guidelines on national and international levels. Copyrigh

Does eating family meals and having the television on during dinner correlate with overweight? A sub-study of the PRO GREENS project, looking at children from nine European countries.

European Commission’s Programme of Community Action in the Field of Public Health 2003–2008 (Original Contract No. 007324) The Research Fund of the University of Iceland, Axson Johnson Foundation in Sweden, JuhoVainio Foundation in FinlandFamily meals have been negatively associated with overweight in children, while television (TV) viewing during meals has been associated with a poorer diet. The aim of the present study was to assess the association of eating family breakfast and dinner, and having a TV on during dinner, with overweight in nine European countries and whether these associations differed between Northern and Southern & Eastern Europe.Cross-sectional data. Schoolchildren reported family meals and TV viewing. BMI was based on parental reports on height and weight of their children. Cut-off points for overweight by the International Obesity Task Force were used. Logistic regressions were performed adjusted by age, gender and parental education.Schools in Northern European (Sweden, the Netherlands, Iceland, Germany and Finland) and Southern & Eastern European (Portugal, Greece, Bulgaria and Slovenia) countries, participating in the PRO GREENS project.Children aged 10-12 years in (n 6316).In the sample, 21 % of the children were overweight, from 35 % in Greece to 10 % in the Netherlands. Only a few associations were found between family meals and TV viewing during dinner with overweight in the nine countries. Northern European children, compared with other regions, were significantly more likely to be overweight if they had fewer family breakfasts and more often viewed TV during dinner.The associations between family meals and TV viewing during dinner with overweight were few and showed significance only in Northern Europe. Differences in foods consumed during family meals and in health-related lifestyles between Northern and Southern & Eastern Europe may explain these discrepancies.1 Folkhälsan Research Center, Paasikivenkatu 4, 00250 Helsinki, Finland. 23 Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 34 Unit for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland & Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. 45 EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research and the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 56 Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Unit for International Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural Nutrition, Environmental Sciences and Home Economics, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany. 67Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. 78 Department of Social Medicine, Preventive Medicine & Nutrition Clinic, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. 810 National Education Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 911 National Center for Public Health Protection, Sofia, Bulgaria

Meals, Microbiota and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents (MMM-Study) : A protocol for an observational longitudinal case-control study

Funding Information: This manuscript was partially funded by grant European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, grant GEMMA 825033 as well as by the University of Iceland Research Fund and The Landspitali University Hospital Scientific Fund. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Asbjornsdottir et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Recent studies indicate that the interplay between diet, intestinal microbiota composition, and intestinal permeability can impact mental health. More than 10% of children and adolescents in Iceland suffer from mental disorders, and rates of psychotropics use are very high. The aim of this novel observational longitudinal case-control study, “Meals, Microbiota and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents (MMM-Study)” is to contribute to the promotion of treatment options for children and adolescents diagnosed with mental disorders through identification of patterns that may affect the symptoms. All children and adolescents, 5-15 years referred to the outpatient clinic of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at The National University Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland, for one year (n≈150) will be invited to participate. There are two control groups, i.e., sex-matched children from the same postal area (n≈150) and same parent siblings (full siblings) in the same household close in age +/- 3 years (n<150). A three-day food diary, rating scales for mental health, and multiple questionnaires will be completed. Biosamples (fecal-, urine-, saliva-, blood samples, and buccal swab) will be collected and used for 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of the oral and gut microbiome, measurements of serum factors, quantification of urine metabolites and host genotype, respectively. For longitudinal follow-up, data collection will be repeated after three years in the same groups. Integrative analysis of diet, gut microbiota, intestinal permeability, serum metabolites, and mental health will be conducted applying bioinformatics and systems biology approaches. Extensive population-based data of this quality has not been collected before, with collection repeated in three years' time, contributing to the high scientific value. The MMM-study follows the “Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology” (STROBE) guidelines. Approval has been obtained from the Icelandic National Bioethics Committee, and the study is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov. The study will contribute to an improved understanding of the links between diet, gut microbiota and mental health in children through good quality study design by collecting information on multiple components, and a longitudinal approach. Furthermore, the study creates knowledge on possibilities for targeted and more personalized dietary and lifestyle interventions in subgroups.Peer reviewe

Patterns in sedentary and exercise behaviors and associations with overweight in 9–14-year-old boys and girls - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Before starting interventions addressing energy-balance related behaviors, knowledge is needed about the prevalence of sedentary behaviors and low physical exercise, their interrelationships, possible gender differences. Therefore this study aimed to describe gender differences in sedentary and physical exercise behaviors and their association with overweight status in children from nine European countries. Additionally, to identify clusters of children sharing the same pattern regarding sedentary and physical exercise behavior and compare these groups regarding overweight status. METHODS: Cross-sectional study among 11-year-old children in nine countries (n = 12538). Self-administered questionnaires assessed the time spent on TV viewing during dinner and during the day, PC use and on physical exercise. The parents reported children's weight and height. Descriptive statistics, cluster analyses, and logistic regression analyses were used for data analyses. RESULTS: Boys spent more time on sedentary behaviors but also more on physical exercise than girls. High TV viewing and low exercise behavior independently increased the risk of being overweight. Based on the behaviors, five clusters were identified. Among boys, clear associations with being overweight were found, with the most unhealthy behavior pattern having the highest risks of being overweight. Among girls, high TV viewers and high PC users had increased risk of being overweight. In girls sedentary behaviors seemed more important than physical exercise with regard to overweight status. CONCLUSION: Despite selective non-response on BMI and reliance on self-reports, the associations between clusters and overweight in boys were clear, and differences between boys and girls regarding the behaviors and risks for overweight are noteworthy. These differences need to be considered when developing tailored intervention strategies for prevention of overweight

Anthropometric predictors of serum fasting insulin in 9- and 15-year-old children and adolescents

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldBACKGROUND AND AIM: As the prevalence of overweight and obesity increases, the risk of insulin resistance rises. The aim was to study the association between anthropometric measurements and fasting insulin concentration in a population-based sample of 9- and 15-year-old children and adolescents. METHODS AND RESULTS: Subjects were randomly selected 9- and 15-year-old pupils (n=262) in a cross-sectional, population-based study. Weight and height, waist, hip and mid-arm-circumference and subcutaneous skinfolds were measured using standard procedures. Fasting insulin was measured. In general the mean anthropometric measurements increased across insulin quartiles. Higher fasting insulin concentration was seen in overweight children and adolescents than in those of normal weight (8.3+/-4.4 vs. 4.9+/-3.6 mmol/L and 11.0+/-4.4 vs. 9.0+/-4.2 mmol/L in 9- and 15 year-olds, respectively). The odds ratio for having insulin in the highest quartile (age and gender-specific) was, when compared with the lowest quartile, 7.2 (95% CI 3.0-17.2) for body mass index and 6.9 (2.8-16.7) for waist circumference. Other measurements of body fatness were less predictive. About 14-20% of children defined as being of normal weight had high fasting insulin values, i.e., were in the highest quartile of fasting insulin. CONCLUSIONS: Body fatness is positively related to fasting insulin concentration in 9- and 15-year-old children. A large number of normal-weight individuals with high fasting insulin concentration was observed, and these children could be at increased risk of weight gain, compared with normal-weight individuals with normal fasting insulin concentration

Association between 24-hour urine sodium and potassium excretion and diet quality in six-year-old children: a cross sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Limited data is available on sodium (Na) and potassium (K) intake in young children estimated by 24 hour (24h) excretion in urine. The aim was to assess 24h urinary excretion of Na and K in six-year-old children and its relationship with diet quality.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study population was a subsample of a national dietary survey, including six-year-old children living in the greater Reykjavik area (n=76). Three day weighed food records were used to estimate diet quality. Diet quality was defined as adherence to the Icelandic food based dietary guidelines. Na and K excretion was analyzed from 24h urine collections. PABA check was used to validate completeness of urine collections. The associations between Na and K excretion and diet quality were estimated by linear regression, adjusting for gender and energy intake.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Valid urine collections and diet registrations were provided by 58 children. Na and K excretion was, mean (SD), 1.64 (0.54) g Na/24h (approx. 4.1 g salt/24h) and 1.22 (0.43) g K/24h. In covariate adjusted models Na excretion decreased by 0.16 g Na/24h (95% CI: 0.31, 0.06) per 1-unit increase in diet quality score (score range: 1–4) while K excretion was increased by 0.18 g K/24h (95% CI: 0.06, 0.29).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Na intake, estimated by 24h urinary excretion was on average higher than recommended. Increased diet quality was associated with lower Na excretion and higher K excretion in six-year-old children.</p

Welcome to Birdsville sign with the town of Birdsville in the background, Queensland, 1964 [transparency] /

Mould spots. Scratches.; Part of The Reverend Andrew Leslie McKay collection of photographs relating to Inland Australia, 1950-1976.; These two women also appear in PIC/9193/300, 301, 303, 316, 320, and 323, and are possibly Sister Struck and Sister Preston. Information from the Diaries of Rev. Les McKay - MS9856.; Also available in an electronic version via the internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4181246; Collection donated by Mrs Lyn McKay, widow of Reverend Les McKay, through their daughter Dr. Judith McKay