Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association
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Phytochemicals are natural non-nutritive bioactive compounds found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, as well as other plant foods. In the present study, we assessed the dietary phytochemical index (PI) in relation to cardiometabolic risk factors among Iranian adults. ⋯ Higher intakes of phytochemical-rich foods are associated with a lower risk of abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridaemia as the main cardiometabolic risk factors.
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Enteral nutrition formulas enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) may modulate inflammatory processes and improve outcomes in mechanically-ventilated patients with respiratory failure. The present study aimed to determine whether there were differences in nutritional indices (protein intake, energy intake, fat intake) and outcomes [days on mechanical ventilation, days in the intensive care unit (ICU)] between mechanically-ventilated subjects who received a standard pulmonary enteral formula compared to those who received an EPA/GLA enriched pulmonary enteral formula. ⋯ The use of a specialised pulmonary enteral formulation did not result in any statistically significant effects on ICU days and hours on mechanical ventilation. Subjects who were on the specialised formula did receive more enteral formula volume and more total energy intake, which may be clinically important. Further clinical studies are needed to address the impact that a specialised pulmonary enteral formula has on ICU stay and ventilator hours.
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There is a lack of data in Greece on trends in food intake according to weight status and physical activity (PA), despite the high prevalence of obesity. The present study aimed to examine differences in these parameters among first-grade children from Crete, Greece, over a 15-year period. ⋯ Several differences in food intake were observed among first-grade children of Crete between 1992/93 and 2006/07, as characterised by significant increases in the consumption of dairy products and snacks and a decrease in the intake of cereals, among both sexes. Future school-based interventions in this population should emphasise the need to increase fruit/vegetable, unrefined cereal and legume consumption.
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Multicenter Study
Training community practitioners to work more effectively with parents to prevent childhood obesity: the impact of HENRY upon Children's Centres and their staff.
One in four children in England is overweight/obese upon starting school. HENRY (Health Exercise Nutrition for the Really Young) offers a novel, preventive approach to this problem by training practitioners to work more effectively with the parents of preschool children around obesity and lifestyle issues. The programme is being delivered to all Sure Start Children's Centres (the UK government initiative providing family support and childcare in disadvantaged areas) in Leeds, UK. ⋯ The findings suggest that positive and lasting lifestyle effects can be achieved by brief training courses involving Children's Centre staff teams. Both staff and attendant families appear to benefit. The effect on levels of preschool obesity across the city once HENRY has extended to the remaining Centres is yet to be seen.