Changes in health risk profile after a 5-months dietary intervention focusing on increased intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grain bread among young male adults

The consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grain bread and subsequently the intake of folate among young men is generally low. Low concentrations of folate, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 have been related to an elevated concentration of total homocysteine in plasma (p-tHcy) which is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this project was to investigate the health risk profile of young male adults from different socio-economic groups, and possible changes in this profile after a dietary intervention with focus on an increased intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grain bread. The effect of the dietary intervention was studied with a special focus on changes in dietary intake of B-vitamins and changes in the concentration of p-tHcy and related metabolites. In addition, weight, height and serum lipids were measured before and after the intervention. In order to interpret the data on folate intake in the dietary intervention study, another objective was to study the retention of folates in foods after treatment commonly used in Norwegian military messes. The dietary intervention study with duration of 5 months included 541 male recruits from the Norwegian National Guard, Værnes and 209 male recruits from the Norwegian Army, Heggelia. A combination of strategies was used in order to increase the intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grain bread during the intervention period, including nutrition information and increased availability of these food items. The baseline results of the dietary intervention study demonstrated a high prevalence of overweight/obesity (34.8%) and low physical fitness among young male adults (Paper I). The baseline data also showed that a total of 24.8% of the young men had p-tHcy concentration >15 μmol/l (Paper II). On the other hand, serum lipid concentrations were within the normal range among most (98.8%) of the young men participating in the study (Paper I). This study also showed that paternal education was inversely associated with BMI and the concentration of total cholesterol and LDL. In addition, this study showed that fathers with higher education have a positive influence on young male adults’ behaviour pattern and subsequently a positive effect on BMI and lipid profiles. On the other hand, the educational level of the mothers was not related to any of the selected health parameters in young male adults. An inverse relationship between the running performance and the concentration of triacylglycerol was shown. Furthermore, men with low BMI (both high and low fitness) had a better lipid profile than those with high BMI/low fitness. Men with high BMI/high fitness had a better lipid profile than those with high BMI/low fitness. Our results indicate that young men, especially those with low parental education and high BMI, should be considered as an important target group for health promotion efforts. The dietary intervention resulted in a significant increase in the total consumption of vegetables, fruits, berries and juice (FV; +24%) and of whole grain bread (+29%) among the young male adults (Paper III). In accordance with these findings, the estimated total intake of dietary fibre and folate, as well as the relative contribution of folate intake from vegetables, fruits and whole grain bread, increased significantly during the study period. The dietary intervention also resulted in a significantly reduction in the concentration of p-tHcy (-10%), cysteine (p-cys; -6%) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN; -11%), and an increased concentration of vitamin B2 (+23%) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD; +10%). The change in p-tHcy concentration was inversely related to the serum concentration of folate and positively related to the concentration of p-cys and FMN in plasma (Paper II). Further, a significant association was found between an estimated increase in dietary intake of folate from bread and a decrease in p-tHcy concentration (Paper III). The retention of folates was measured in vegetables after processing methods commonly used in the Norwegian military messes, including boiling, steam boiling, sous-vide, oven-baking, microwaving and blanching of vegetables (Paper IV). Only blanching of peas, boiling of potatoes and oven-baking of unpeeled potatoes caused a significant reduction in folate content. Further, this study showed that there were no significant losses of folates after subsequent storage and reheating of vegetables. When estimating the intake of folate during the intervention period, losses of folate due to blanching of vegetables was taken into consideration. The other methods of processing that caused significant reduction in folate content were rarely used during the intervention period. Thus, it is not likely that the reported intake on folate during the dietary intervention study is overestimated due to losses of folates after processing. In conclusion, the results from the present study demonstrated that a 5-months dietary intervention with focus on increased intake of vegetables, fruits and whole grain bread had favourable effect on the concentration of p-tHcy and its metabolites

Risky Lives? Self-Directed Violence and Violence From Others Among Young People Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET)

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The Association between Dietary Habits, Substance Use, and Mental Distress among Adults in Southern Norway: A Cross-Sectional Study among 28,047 Adults from the General Population.

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Time trends (1995-2006) in dietary habits among adolescents in relation to The Norwegian School Fruit Scheme: The HUNT study

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Association between physical activity, sedentary time, participation in organized activities, social support, sleep problems and mental distress among adults in Southern Norway: a cross-sectional study among 28,047 adults from the general population

Abstract: Background: Identifcation of modifable factors associated with poor mental health is crucial to develop targeted and efective intervention strategies for prevention of mental distress and illness in the general population. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the association between low level of leisure-time physical activity, high sedentary time, low participation in organized activities, low social support, sleep problems, and mental distress in a large sample of Norwegian adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was completed by 28,047 adults (≥18 years old) in southern Norway by flling out an online self-report questionnaire. Multivariable binary logistic regression models, stratifed according to gender and adjusted for age and perceived fnancial situation, were used to examine possible associations between unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, participation in organized activities, social support, and mental distress. Results: Our results showed an increased odds of having mental distress among men reporting low leisure-time physical activity (OR: 1.18; 95%CI: 1.03–1.37), high sedentary time (1.32; 1.16–1.51), low involvement in organized activities (1.43; 1.25–1.64), low social support (2.55; 2.18–2.99), and sleep problems (7.29; 6.35–8.37) compared to the rest of the male population. For women, the results showed increased odds of mental distress among those reporting high sedentary time (1.25; 1.11–1.39), low involvement in organized activities (1.60; 1.42–1.80), low social support (2.71; 2.39–3.06), and sleep problems (5.78; 5.15–6.50) compared to the rest of the female population. For both men and women, results also indicated that mental distress was increased among younger adults and among those reporting fnancial difculties compared to the rest of the population. Conclusion: Our results showed an association between unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, low participation in organized activities, low social support and mental distress, and that the strength of the association varied substantially. These fndings provide increased knowledge about the relationship between modifable lifestyle factors and mental health which should have implications for future public health eforts.publishedVersio

Do young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) have more health problems than their peers? A cross-sectional study among Norwegian adolescents

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Lifestyle habits and depressive symptoms in Norwegian adolescents: a national crosssectional study

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Consumption of meat and dairy substitute products amongst vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians

Background: An increasing number of people adhere to plant-based diets, and the market for plant-based meat and dairy substitute products has been expanding rapidly.Objective: To examine total intake of macronutrients and salt in a sample of Norwegian vegans, vege-tarians and pescatarians; the consumption frequency of plant-based meat and dairy substitutes and raw ingredients used in these products; and the contribution to total macronutrient and salt intake from these products.Design: A cross-sectional design using single 24-h dietary recall to assess the intake of macronutrients, salt and substitute products that the participants (n = 158 Norway residents [age 18–60 years]: vegans [n = 83]; vegetarians [n = 47]; pescatarians [n = 28]) consumed. The chi-square test with pairwise comparisons and the Kruskal-Wallis test with post hoc test were used to compare differences between diet groups. Macronutrient and salt intake were assessed relative to the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR).Results: Dietary macronutrient intake fell within NNR recommendations, with a favourable distribution of fatty acids and high levels of dietary fibre. Most of the vegans (90%), vegetarians (68%) and pesca-tarians (64%) consumed meat or dairy substitutes. The main raw ingredient in the substitute products was soy, followed by oats and peas. Overall, substitute products contributed to 12% of total energy and 16% of total salt intake. The substitute products contributed to higher saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake amongst vegans (27% of total SFA intake) compared with vegetarians (10%) and pescatarians (8%). Moreover, substitute products contributed to higher protein intake in vegans (19%) compared with pes-catarians (7%).Conclusion: Most participants consumed meat or dairy substitute products, suggesting that these products are included regularly in Norwegian plant-based diets. Furthermore, substitute products may contribute to dietary fat, SFA and protein intake amongst vegans.publishedVersio

Associations between parenting and substance use, meal pattern and food choices: A cross-sectional survey of 13,269 Norwegian adolescents

Identifying factors that affect adolescent lifestyle behaviors is essential in order to develop effective generic prevention approaches. This study aimed to investigate the association between parental monitoring, parental emotional support, parental-adolescent conflict and adolescent substance use, meal pattern and food choices. The study included data from 13,269 Norwegian adolescents aged 13–16 years collected in 2016. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for gender, age and parental education were applied. Results show that low parental monitoring was associated with increased substance use (Odds ratios (OR) ranging from 2.8; 95% Confidence intervals (CI) 2.1–3.6 to OR 3.8; 95% CI, 2.7–5.3) and irregular meal patterns (1.7; 1.3–2.1 to 2.6; 2.1–3.3), low fish intake (1.3;1.0–1.7), and high intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, diet beverages and energy drinks (1.4;1.1–1.7 to 2.1;1.6–2.8). Low parental emotional support was associated with increased substance use (1.8;1.5–2.1 to 2.5;1.9–3.2), irregular meal patterns (2.0; 1.8–2.3 to 2.1;1.9–2.3), low intake of vegetables, fruits and fish (1.3; 1.1–1.5 to 1.5; 1.3–1.7) and high intake of salty snacks, candy, cakes, sugar-sweetened beverages, diet beverages and energy drinks (1.4; 1.2–1.6 to 2.1;1.7–2.5). Finally, high parent-adolescent conflict was associated with increased substance use (2.3; 2.0–2.7 to 2.7; 2.3–3.1), irregular meal patterns (1.6 ;1.5–1.8 to 1.9;1.7–2.1), low intake of fruits and fish (1.3; 1.1–1.5 to 1.5; 1.3–1.7) and high intake of salty snacks, candy, cakes, sugar-sweetened beverages, diet beverages and energy drinks (1.5; 1.3–1.7 to 2.1; 1.8–2.5). Overall, parenting was associated with a range of lifestyle outcomes among adolescents. Family-strengthening interventions may have an impact on multiple public health domains

Changes in food habits amongst Norwegian adolescents in 2016 and 2019 according to gender and socioeconomic status

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