The infant feeding activity and nutrition trial (INFANT) an early intervention to prevent childhood obesity : cluster-randomised controlled trial

Background : Multiple factors combine to support a compelling case for interventions that target the development of obesity-promoting behaviours (poor diet, low physical activity and high sedentary behaviour) from their inception. These factors include the rapidly increasing prevalence of fatness throughout childhood, the instigation of obesity-promoting behaviours in infancy, and the tracking of these behaviours from childhood through to adolescence and adulthood. The Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (INFANT) aims to determine the effectiveness of an early childhood obesity prevention intervention delivered to first-time parents. The intervention, conducted with parents over the infant\u27s first 18 months of life, will use existing social networks (first-time parent\u27s groups) and an anticipatory guidance framework focusing on parenting skills which support the development of positive diet and physical activity behaviours, and reduced sedentary behaviours in infancy.Methods/Design : This cluster-randomised controlled trial, with first-time parent groups as the unit of randomisation, will be conducted with a sample of 600 first-time parents and their newborn children who attend the first-time parents\u27 group at Maternal and Child Health Centres. Using a two-stage sampling process, local government areas in Victoria, Australia will be randomly selected at the first stage. At the second stage, a proportional sample of first-time parent groups within selected local government areas will be randomly selected and invited to participate. Informed consent will be obtained and groups will then be randomly allocated to the intervention or control group.Discussion : The early years hold promise as a time in which obesity prevention may be most effective. To our knowledge this will be the first randomised trial internationally to demonstrate whether an early health promotion program delivered to first-time parents in their existing social groups promotes healthy eating, physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviours. If proven to be effective, INFANT may protect children from the development of obesity and its associated social and economic costs.<br /

Dietary Supplements: The New Herbalism

The passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994 made the use of supplements more acceptable in the U.S., increasing demand for botanicals to use in health care and maintenance. These botanicals, primarily medicinal and aromatic plants, currently represent about 25% of the dietary supplement market in the U.S. Although much of the market for botanicals traditionally has been met through collection of plants in the wild, enhanced cultivation of several species will be essential to bring standardized, quality plant materials into the marketplace

Dietary Supplements: The New Herbalism

The passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994 made the use of supplements more acceptable in the U.S., increasing demand for botanicals to use in health care and maintenance. These botanicals, primarily medicinal and aromatic plants, currently represent about 25% of the dietary supplement market in the U.S. Although much of the market for botanicals traditionally has been met through collection of plants in the wild, enhanced cultivation of several species will be essential to bring standardized, quality plant materials into the marketplace

Effect of light quality on growth and essential oil composition in rosemary

Red and far-red light that influence plant morphology and phenology may play an important role in modulate essential oil production of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). In a study on the growth, development, and essential oil production of rosemary growing in a glasshouse, the addition of end-of-day light treatment with red (660 nm) and far-red (730 nm) light had significant effects on the content and constituents of essential oil as compared with control plants not exposed to light treatments. Potted rosemary seedlings (10 – 13 cm tall) exposed to red or far-red light for 3 h beginning 15 min before sunset for 28 days varied in levels of limonene, bornyl acetate, α-cedrene, neril acetate, α-pinene, camphene, p-cymene, α-terpinolene, and geranyl acetate production as compared with controls. Far-red light promoted and red light inhibited the synthesis of -pinene, camphene, and p-cymene. Red light promoted the synthesis of limonene and bornyl acetate, -cedrene, and neryl acetate. Far-red light increased and red light decreased oil production as compared with non-lighted control. Both red and far-red light treatments induced plant growth variations with both red and far-red treated seedlings exposed to end-of-day light were taller than controls. The far-red light treatment significantly increased internode length as compared with the control