Volume 28 Issue 1

▪ Content : There is conclusive evidence to demonstrate the role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in human development and growth, vision, and cell membrane fluidity (membrane order). N-3 PUFA also con-tribute to human health maintenance through correction of arrhythmias, inhibition of platelet aggregation and prolongation of clotting time, lowering blood pressure, lowering serum triglycerides and plasma homocyste-ine, being anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory, being cardio-protective, increasing insulin sensitivity in Asians, and decreasing the risk of breast and colorectal cancers. This understanding of a wide spectrum of biological effects attributable to n-3 PUFA has been unsettled by a systematic review of randomized clinical intervention trials (RCTs) which has reported ...

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Data suggest that genetic factors are associated with BMI. The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene modulates adipogenesis through alternative splicing and m6A demethylation. Individuals with FTO rs9939609 gene polymorphism have a preference for energy-dense foods. This study investigates the relationship between FTO rs9939609 and obesity and preference for dietary fat intake among selected Indonesian adults. Methods and Study Design: A total of 40 non-obese and 40 obese participants aged 19–59 living in Jakarta were recruited. Body composition measurements included body weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, and body fat mass.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: To examine the association between the frequency of soy products consump-tion and type 2 diabetes or impaired fasting glucose. Methods and Study Design: A cross-sectional study of 3,314 subjects aged 18-79 years was conducted in Beijing, China in 2016. Consumption of soy products was assessed by a validated food-frequency questionnaire and examined with type 2 diabetes or impaired fasting glucose risk using multiple logistic regression.

▪ Content : growing body of research interest. Given dietary intakes, along with BMI, are substantial contributors to dis-ease burden, this study aimed to investigate prospective changes in dietary patterns and nutrient intakes in a sample of mid to late-life women over 14 years. Methods and Study Design: Participants were from the Women’s Healthy Ageing Project (WHAP); a longitudinal cohort of Australian-born women within the Mel-bourne metropolitan area. 173 participants were included in this analysis, their mean age in 1998 was 55 years (range 51-62) and in 2012 was 70 years (range 66-76).

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: β-Carotene-15,15’-oxygenase (BCO1) is a key enzyme involved in carotenoid metabolism and has been linked with the development of coronary atherosclerosis. This study investigated the association between BCO1 polymorphisms and the risk of coronary atherosclerosis in dyslipidemia par-ticipants, and analyzed the influence of personal behaviors on coronary atherosclerosis. Methods and Study Design: A nested case-control study was conducted from 2013 to 2016 in which 1359 dyslipidemia partici-pants were recruited.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The need for updated competencies for nutrition scientists in Australia was identified. The aim of this paper is to describe the process of revising of these competencies for undergradu-ate nutrition science degrees in Australia. Methods and Study Design: An iterative multiple methods ap-proach comprising three stages was undertaken: 1. Scoping study of existing competencies; 2. Exploratory survey; and, 3. Modified Delphi process (2 rounds) involving 128 nutrition experts from industry, communi-ty, government and academia.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Consumption of salt exceeds dietary guidelines for many countries around the world, despite efforts to increase awareness of the potential cardiovascular health risks. Emerging evidence, primarily from rodent models, indicates that high salt intake may also impair aspects of cognitive function. To our knowledge, here we provide the first review of the effects of salt on cognition. To review literature on the effects of high-salt diets on cognitive measures across human and non-human animal research to generate targeted questions for future studies. Methods and Study Design: Non-systematic literature review of studies manipulating (in rodents) or measuring (in humans) salt intake and assessing performance on cognitive measures.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: To analyze the potential of fatty liver index (FLI) and several obesity indices and to explore which index is best for predicting nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Chinese post-menopausal women. Methods and Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 680 Chinese postmenopausal women. NAFLD was defined as a hepatic steatosis observed on liver ultrasonography in the absence of a second cause. Odds ratio and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) between hepatic stea-tosis and FLI as well as different obesity indices were evaluated by Binary Logistic regression model.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Pectin-containing liquid enteral nutrition (PCLEN) contains pectin, which be-comes solid in the stomach and therefore mitigates vomiting and diarrhea. Its efficacy for use in critical care medicine was evaluated. Methods and Study Design: We used liquid enteral nutrition (LEN) (traditional LEN (TLEN)) as the primary LEN at the emergency and critical care center. We adopted PCLEN as the primary LEN from 2014.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The relationship between eating rate (ER) and increased risk of obesity in rela-tion to body mass index (BMI, i.e., total body fat) and waist circumference (WC, i.e., abdominal fat) has not been fully examined. Considering gender differences, we identified unknown confounding factors (CFs) for each risk, and then assessed the two actual obesity risks, adjusting for the CFs. Methods and Study Design: Using a questionnaire, we collected data for ER (slow, normal as “reference,” and fast) and related factors and measured BMI and WC for 3,393 men and 2,495 women.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Although appropriate nutrition management could improve rehabilitation out-comes, more than 40 % of patients in a convalescent rehabilitation ward (CRW) suffer from malnutrition. The study was undertaken to investigate whether adequate nutrition for each patient in a CRW could be esti-mated based on motor scores on the Functional Independence Measure (FIM-M). Methods and Study Design: In 218 patients in our CRW, both basal energy expenditure (BEE) on admission and average energy intake (EI) for 2 weeks were calculated, and EI was divided by BEE to estimate the activity index (e-AI).

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Obesity is a state that results from excessive energy consumption, and obese people often have micronutrient deficiencies. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with thiamin deficiency in obese Thai children. Methods and Study Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University during 2014 to 2017. Children aged 7-15 years old with exogenous obesity were recruited.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Malnutrition is a public health problem especially among the Pacific Small Is-land developing nations. This study assessed malnutrition with dietary intakes in households of South Tarawa, Kiribati, a West Pacific Island Nation State. Methods and Study Design: A cross-sectional community-based study design was used. One hundred and sixty-one households were selected from Betio, Bikenibeu and Teaorereke towns using a systematic random sampling method.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: In Australia, two public health measures were introduced between 2009 and 2010 to reduce iodine deficiency. However there has been a shortage of information regarding their effec-tiveness and the ongoing prevalence of iodine deficiency in Australia. The primary aim of this study was to assess the extent to which these public health measures have reduced rates of iodine deficiency among preg-nant and lactating women. Methods and Study Design: A review was conducted to identify all studies pub-lished since January 2010 that quantitatively measured the iodine status of pregnant and/or lactating women in Australia.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Sarcopenia and frailty result in loss of function and independence. Sarcopenia may be a risk factor for frailty; however, risk factors for sarcopenia with frailty, and associated incidence of falls and poor quality of life remain unclear. We investigated the clinical characteristics and relevant factors for sarcopenia with frailty in older community-dwelling Japanese. Methods and Study Design: This cross-sectional study included 331 Japanese community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Limited information is available on how weight loss intervention programs af-fect skeletal muscle mass especially in trunk. Methods and Study Design: A total of 235 overweight Japa-nese men and women aged 40-64 years with a body mass index of 28.0 to 44.8 kg/m2 participated in this randomized controlled intervention study. They were randomly divided into a lifestyle intervention group and control group. Before and after the one-year lifestyle intervention for weight loss an abdominal trans-verse image was acquired by computed tomography. The cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of visceral fat, subcu-taneous fat, and skeletal muscle of rectus abdominis, abdominal oblique, iliopsoas, and erector spinae muscle were calculated.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between eating speed and fat accumulation in Japanese non-obese adults. Methods and Study Design: In total, 381 non-obese par-ticipants aged 35–74 years underwent a health checkup including fat distribution. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging to quantify visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA). Infor-mation on eating speed was obtained using a self-administrated questionnaire.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Lactation is a time of increased nutritional requirements for mothers, and inad-equate nutrient intake may have a detrimental effect on a woman’s nutritional status. To investigate the die-tary intake of two groups of women in Shanghai during the traditional confinement period. Methods and Study Design: Two groups of women (1) a community dwelling sample (n=92); (2) residents in a Maternity Care Centre (MCC) (n=30), kept a prospective dietary record which was complemented by photographing.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Undernutrition in vascular surgery patients has a significant impact on clinical outcomes. This observational study aimed to investigate the nutritional status of a heterogeneous sample of vascular surgery inpatients and to determine the prevalence of nutritional risk, malnutrition (including nutri-ent deficiencies) and sarcopenia. Methods and Study Design: All participants were screened for risk of mal-nutrition using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and assessed using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). Micronutrient status was examined via plasma/serum samples.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: More than 20% of pregnant Japanese women regularly skip breakfast, thereby resulting in a low intake of several nutrients that are required for fetal development and prevention of preg-nancy complications. However, whether skipping breakfast affects circulating levels of these nutrients re-mains unclear. We investigated whether skipping breakfast during pregnancy was associated with decreases in dietary intake and circulating and urinary levels of several nutrients, including fatty acids and vitamins. Methods and Study Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital in Tokyo, Ja-pan, between June and October 2010.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Information on dietary exposure to sulfites as preservative in consumer is needed as a scientific base for food safety policy making. The objective of this research was to conduct die-tary exposure assessment to sulfites in consumer by using deterministic method. Methods and Study Design: The scope of work were identification of food products containing sulfites, determination of food consump-tion data from individual food consumption survey report 2014, determination of sulfites concentration in food, and calculation of sulfites exposure.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: The safety and tolerability of hydrolysed cow’s milk protein-based formulas, particularly partially hydrolysed formulas (pHFs), in children with cow’s milk allergy (CMA) remain poorly understood. We evaluated the tolerability of hydrolysed cow’s milk-based formulas in children with CMA. Methods and Study Design: A three-period double-blind crossover evaluation compared the allergic tolerance against three dietary cow’s milk-based formulas: extensively hydrolysed cow’s milk formula (eHF), pHF, and regular cow’s milk formula (rCMF).

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Accurately assessing energy expenditure (EE) of people with different body weight is essential to facilitate weight management intervention. The aim of this study was to measure basal energy expenditure (BEE), resting energy expenditure (REE) and to explore the true 1 MET value for young Chinese adults with different body weight. Methods and Study Design: A total of 251 young Chinese adults were divided into three groups: the normal weight group, the overweight group and the obese group. Their BEE, REE and 1MET value were measured by Cortex Metamax 3B (MM3B).

▪ Content : however, long-term PN may induce PN-associated cholestasis (PNAC). This study aims to evaluate the effect of cyclic PN in the prevention and improvement of PNAC in newborns requiring long-term PN. Methods and Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients admitted at the Seoul National Uni-versity Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit between October 2010 and September 2015 and re-ferred to the nutrition support team with total parenteral nutrition for more than 14 days. The primary out-come was the incidence of PNAC.

▪ Content : Background and Objectives: Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) and melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) genes associated with obesity have been identified through Genome-wide Association Studies. However, no multiple loci interaction studies have been conducted in the Chinese population. This study investigated whether the combined effects of FTO and MC4R increase the risk of obesity in children and adolescents liv-ing in Northwest China. Methods and Study Design: A total of 370 subjects (170 overweight/obese and 200 normal BMI subjects according to the Working Group on Obesity in China criteria) were enrolled using the random sampling method.