Sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain in children and adults: a systematic review from 2013 to 2015 and a comparison with previous studies

Objective: Partly inconsistent findings from previous reviews have fueled discussions on the impact of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) on obesity development. The aim was to systematically review the recent evidence in children and adults. Methods: Data were retrieved from the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane library for the period January 2013 to October 2015. A systematic review of prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) relating SSBs to weight measures was conducted. Results: 30 publications met the inclusion criteria. Prospective cohort studies (96%; n = 26) showed a positive association between consumption of SSBs and weight/BMI in adults and children (n = 242,352), and only one cohort study in children showed no association. Findings from three RCTs in children demonstrated that SSB consumption had an effect on BMI/BMI z-score. The one RCT in adults showed no significant effect of the intervention. 63% of the studies were of good, 30% of medium quality, and none was funded by industry. Conclusion: Recent evidence suggests that SSB consumption is positively associated with or has an effect on obesity indices in children and adults. By combining the already published evidence with the new one, we conclude that public health policies should aim to reduce the consumption of SSBs and encourage healthy alternatives such as water. (c) 2017 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger GmbH, Freibur

Wiener klinische Wochenschrift / Changes in health parameters in older lay volunteers who delivered a lifestyle-based program to frail older people at home

Objective To measure health effects in lay volunteers who made home visits consisting of social interaction, nutritional and physical exercise interventions to pre-frail and frail older people (trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01991639). Methods After baseline, participants were followed-up at 12 (V1) and 24 (V2) weeks. A one-repetition maximum (1-RPM) and handgrip were measured with the Concept2®DYNO and a dynamometer. The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly was used to assess physical activity, and Food Frequency Questionnaire and the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener for nutrition. Additionally, quality of life (QoL) was measured with the World Health Organization (WHO) quality of life brief questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were performed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results Handgrip values significantly increased from 32.147.94kg to 33.696.72kg at V1 and 34.366.96kg at V2. The 1RPM on the leg press showed a significant increase from 72.4725.37kg to 78.1223.77 kg and 80.8527.99kg, respectively. We observed a significant decrease of protein intake from 0.380.26g/kgBW/day to 0.320.19g/kgBW/day and 0.260.16 g/kgBW/day, respectively. There were no changes in physical activity, QoL and anthropometric measurements. Conclusion The findings indicate that projects involving aging healthy volunteers may have additional limited health benefits.(VLID)360170

Geriatrics & Gerontology International / Behavior changes by a buddystyle intervention including physical training, and nutritional and social support

Aim Previous research suggests that multicomponent interventions including physical training, and nutritional and social support are required to improve a person's behavior. As a prespecified secondary outcome, this analysis aimed to ascertain whether a “buddystyle” intervention could produce physical activity and nutritional behavior changes in older adults. Methods A 12week, homebased, randomized controlled trial was carried out with 80 older persons, who were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 39), including physical training and nutritional support, and a control group (n = 41). Trained nonprofessional volunteers visited the participants at home twice a week. Physical activity and nutritional behavior were assessed through validated questionnaires. Results In total, 36 participants in the intervention group and 26 participants in the control group completed the final questionnaire. The intervention group showed significant improvements in physical activity behavior, such as light sport activity ( = 9.13, 95% CI 0.9017.37 min/day; P = 0.030), muscle strength exercise ( = 68.18, 95% CI 46.4589.91 min/week; P < 0.001) and overall activities ( = 0.69, 95% CI 0.211.18 h/day; P = 0.006), compared with the control group. Nutritional behavior improvements for the intervention group were observed in the consumption of legumes/nuts ( = 0.18, 95% CI 0.000.35 portions/day; P = 0.047) and fluids ( = 0.48, 95% CI 0.010.98 portions/day; P = 0.050), relative to controls. Conclusions A “buddystyle” program in older adults living at home can produce effective physical activity changes and, to a lesser extent, changes in dietary behavior, and has the potential to be efficient and feasible.(VLID)510166

Sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain in children and adults: a systematic review from 2013 to 2015 and a comparison with previous studies

Objective: Partly inconsistent findings from previous reviews have fueled discussions on the impact of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) on obesity development. The aim was to systematically review the recent evidence in children and adults. Methods: Data were retrieved from the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane library for the period January 2013 to October 2015. A systematic review of prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) relating SSBs to weight measures was conducted. Results: 30 publications met the inclusion criteria. Prospective cohort studies (96%; n = 26) showed a positive association between consumption of SSBs and weight/BMI in adults and children (n = 242,352), and only one cohort study in children showed no association. Findings from three RCTs in children demonstrated that SSB consumption had an effect on BMI/BMI z-score. The one RCT in adults showed no significant effect of the intervention. 63% of the studies were of good, 30% of medium quality, and none was funded by industry. Conclusion: Recent evidence suggests that SSB consumption is positively associated with or has an effect on obesity indices in children and adults. By combining the already published evidence with the new one, we conclude that public health policies should aim to reduce the consumption of SSBs and encourage healthy alternatives such as water. (c) 2017 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger GmbH, Freibur

Circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of breast cancer : a nested case-control study

Introduction: Experimental evidence suggests a protective role for circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) in breast cancer development, but the results of epidemiological studies have been inconsistent. Methods: We conducted a case-control study nested within two prospective cohorts, the New York University Women's Health Study and the Northern Sweden Mammary Screening Cohort. Blood samples were collected at enrollment, and women were followed up for breast cancer ascertainment. In total, 1,585 incident breast cancer cases were individually-matched to 2,940 controls. Of these subjects, 678 cases and 1,208 controls contributed two repeat blood samples, at least one year apart. Circulating levels of 25(OH) D were measured, and multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression. Results: No association was observed between circulating levels of 25(OH) D and overall breast cancer risk (multivariate-adjusted model OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.76-1.16 for the highest vs. lowest quintile, ptrend = 0.30). The temporal reliability of 25(OH)D measured in repeat blood samples was high (intraclass correlation coefficients for season-adjusted 25(OH) D &gt; 0.70). An inverse association between 25(OH) D levels and breast cancer risk was observed among women who were = 45 years of age (ORQ5-Q1 = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.30-0.79, ptrend = 0.01) or premenopausal at enrollment (ORQ5-Q1 = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.48-0.92, ptrend = 0.03). Conclusions: Circulating 25(OH) D levels were not associated with breast cancer risk overall, although we could not exclude the possibility of a protective effect in younger women. Recommendations regarding vitamin D supplementation should be based on considerations other than breast cancer prevention