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P J Robson

Publications and source records attributed to P J Robson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

The North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey: survey design and methodology.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this survey was to establish a database of habitual food and drink consumption in a representative sample of Irish adults aged 18-64 years. DESIGN: A cross-sectional food consumption survey was carried out. Food intake data were collected using a 7-day estimated food diary. Anthropometric data included measurements of weight, height, waist and hip circumferences and body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Questionnaire data included assessments of health, lifestyle and socio-demographic status, levels of physical activity, attitudes to diet and health and restrained eating. SETTING: Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland between 1997 and 1999. RESULTS: In total, 1379 adults aged 18-64 years participated in the survey and completed the 7-day food diary. This paper gives details of the methods used to carry out the survey. Sampling, respondent recruitment, dietary assessment, collection of anthropometric and questionnaire data and data management and analysis are described. CONCLUSION: The North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey is unique in being the first food consumption survey ever to be carried out in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland concurrently using the same methodology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

An evaluation of energy intakes and the ratio of energy intake to estimated basal metabolic rate (EI/BMRest) in the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To examine energy intakes (EI), their ratio to estimated basal metabolic rate (BMR(est) and the contribution of food groups to energy intake in the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey. DESIGN AND SETTING: Random sample of adults from the populations of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Food intake data were collected using a 7-day food diary. Body weight and height were measured and EI/BMR(est) was calculated from reported energy intake and estimated basal metabolic rate. Dieting practices were assessed as part of a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean energy intake in men was 11.0 MJ and in women was 7.6 MJ, which is comparable to reported energy intakes in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland over a decade ago. Mean EI/BMR(est) was 1.38. This increased to 1.42 after the exclusion of dieters and those who were unwell, but still remained less than the established cut-off of 1.53. EI/BMR(est) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in men than in women and decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing BMI in both sexes. The four food groups that contributed 50% of energy in men and women were meat and meat products, breads and rolls, potatoes and potato products, and biscuits, cakes, pastries and puddings. CONCLUSIONS: Energy intakes have not changed remarkably in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland in the last 10 years, but the mean EI/BMR(est) of 1.38 suggests that energy underreporting occurred. EI/BMR(est) was lower in women and in the overweight/obese. Additional multivariate analysis of the data is needed to identify more clearly subgroups of the population reporting lower than expected energy intakes and to evaluate the effect of low energy reporting on the consumption of various foods and food groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Macronutrient intakes and food sources in Irish adults: findings of the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To describe macronutrient intakes and food sources of the adult population in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and to assess adherence of this population to current dietary recommendations. DESIGN: A cross-sectional food consumption survey collected food intake data using a 7-day food diary. SETTING: Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland between October 1997 and October 1999. SUBJECTS: One thousand three hundred and seventy-nine adults aged 18-64 years (662 males and 717 females). RESULTS: Mean daily energy intakes in men were 11 MJ per day, 15.5% was derived from protein, 34.8% from fat, 43.5% from carbohydrate and 5.9% from alcohol. Corresponding figures for women were 7.6 MJ per day, 15.6%, 35.6%, 45.1% and 3.5%. When alcohol energy was excluded the contribution of fat and carbohydrate to energy did not differ between men and women. When compared with existing dietary recommendations, 93% of men and 86% of women had protein intakes above the Population Reference Intake. Two approaches were used to assess adherence to the fat and carbohydrate dietary recommendations: (1) the proportion of individuals in the population attaining these dietary targets and (2) the proportion of the population that was included in a 'compliers' group which had a group mean equal to these dietary targets. Thirty-three per cent of men and 34% of women met the target of 35% of food energy from fat and 78% of men and 80% of women comprised the 'compliers' group having a group mean of 35% of food energy from fat. Twenty-three per cent of men and 27% of women met the target of 50% of food energy from carbohydrate and 56% of men and 62% of women made up the 'compliers' group. Meat and meat products were the main source of fat (23%) and protein (37%), and bread and rolls (25%) were the main source of carbohydrate. CONCLUSION: A reduction in dietary fat intake remains an important public health issue in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. An increase in carbohydrate intake and attention to the rise in alcohol intake is also warranted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey: the dietary fibre intake of Irish adults.

OBJECTIVE: Mean daily intakes of dietary fibre (DF, Southgate) and non-starch polysaccharide (NSP, Englyst) are estimated in a representative sample of adults aged 18-64 years in Ireland. The contribution of food groups to DF and NSP intake is reported and fibre intakes are compared with dietary recommendations and with intakes in some European countries. DESIGN: Food consumption was estimated using 7-day food diaries for a representative sample (n=1379); 662 men, 717 women) of 18-64 year old adults in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland selected from the electoral register. DF and NSP intakes were estimated from tables of food composition. RESULTS: The mean daily intake of DF in the total sample was 20.2 g (standard deviation (SD) 7.8) [23.2 g (SD 8.5) in men, 17.4 g (SD 5.9) in women] or 2.24 g MJ(-1) (SD 0.7) [2.16 g MJ(-1) (SD 0.7) in men, 2.33 g MJ(-1) (SD 0.7) in women]. Mean daily intake of NSP was 14.8 g (SD 6.2) [16.7 g (SD 6.8) in men, 13.0 g (SD 5.0) in women] or 1.65 g MJ(-1) (SD 0.6) [1.56 g MJ(-1) (SD 0.6) in men, 1.74 g MJ(-1) (SD 0.6) in women]. The main food groups that contributed to mean daily intake of DF (NSP) in the sample were breads 31% (23%), potatoes 19% (23%), and vegetables 17% (19%). Absolute intakes of DF and NSP were higher (P<0.001) in men than women; however, women overall consumed more (P<0.001) fibre-dense diets than men. Women aged 18-35 years consumed less (P<0.01) DF and NSP (g) than women aged 36-64 years. Both men and women aged 18-35 years consumed less (P<0.01) fibre-dense diets than men and women aged 36-64 years. The NSP intake was below the nutritional goal of 18 g day(-1) in 77% of adults and below the minimum of the recommended range (12 g day(-1) in 37% of the total sample. Compliance (i.e. the maximum number of individuals whose collective mean daily intake corresponded to the population goal) with the (UK) population goal for an average intake of 18 g day(-1) NSP was achieved by a greater proportion of the population (63%) than compliance with the (German) dietary fibre recommendation of 30 g day(-1) (27%) or the (Nordic) recommendation of 3 g MJ(-1) day(-1) (33%). CONCLUSION: DF (NSP) intakes were lower than dietary recommendations in a substantial proportion of the population. This is likely to contribute to impaired bowel function and constipation, which in turn may contribute to increased risk of chronic gastrointestinal disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey: vitamin intakes in 18-64-year-old adults.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate vitamin intakes and assess the contribution of different food groups to vitamin intakes in adults aged 18-64 years in Ireland as estimated in the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey. Intakes are reported for retinol, carotene, total vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, pre-formed niacin, total niacin equivalents, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, biotin, pantothenate and vitamin C. The adequacy of vitamin intakes in the population and the risk of occurrence of excessive vitamin intakes are also assessed. DESIGN: Food consumption was estimated using a 7-day food diary for a representative sample (n=1379; 662 men and 717 women) of 18-64-year-old adults in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland selected randomly from the electoral register. Vitamin intakes were estimated using tables of food composition. RESULTS: In general, the percentage of the population with vitamin intakes below the average requirement (AR) was low. Mean daily intake of total vitamin A was below the AR in 20.2% and 16.6% of men and women, respectively, and mean daily intake of riboflavin was below the AR in 12.5% and 20.6% of men and women, respectively. Mean daily folate intakes were below the AR for folate in 11.2% and 6.6% of women aged 18-35 years and 36-50 years, respectively. Only 2.2% of women aged 18-35 years and 5.2% of women aged 36-50 years achieved the recommended folate intake of 600 microg day(-1) for women of reproductive age for the prevention of neural tube defects. A high proportion of the population has a low dietary vitamin D intake and is largely dependent on sunlight exposure to maintain adequate vitamin D status. Except for pre-formed niacin, the 95th percentile intake of vitamins did not exceed the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for any group and was much less than the UL for most vitamins. Although 20.8% of men and 6.3% of women exceeded the UL for pre-formed niacin (which is 35 mg, based on nicotinic-acid-induced flushing), the large contribution of meat and fish to the intake of niacin (as nicotinamide) suggests that the risk of overexposure to nicotinic acid is much lower than this and is probably solely related to supplement use. A small proportion of men (4.0%) and women (1.2%) aged 51-64 years had retinol intakes that exceeded the UL (3000 microg) and while the 95th percentile intake of women in the 18-50 year age group was well below the UL, 1.5% of 18-35-year-old and 2.4% of 36-50-year-old women had mean daily retinol intakes above the UL. About 2.0% of women had intakes of vitamin B6 that exceeded the UL (25 mg). There were significant differences by age and sex in nutrient densities of vitamin intakes between men and women and between age groups, which may be explained by differences in consumption of particular food groups as well as different patterns of supplement use. CONCLUSION: Nutritional adequacy of the population for most vitamins was good. Folate intake in women of childbearing age is not meeting current recommendations for the prevention of neural tube defects. The public health significance of the relatively high proportion of men and women with inadequate intakes of vitamin A and riboflavin and with low dietary intakes of vitamin D is unclear and should be investigated further. With the possible exception of niacin (flushing) and vitamin B6 (neuropathy), there appears to be little risk of the occurrence of adverse effects due to excessive consumption of vitamins in this population, based on current dietary practices.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey: mineral intakes in 18-64-year-old adults.

OBJECTIVE: To measure mineral intakes and the contribution of different food groups to mineral intakes in adults aged 18-64 years in Ireland. Intakes are reported for Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Cu and Zn. The adequacy of mineral intakes in the population and the risk of occurrence of excessive intakes are also assessed. DESIGN: Food consumption was estimated using a 7-day food diary for a representative sample (n=1379; 662 men, 717 women) of 18-64-year-old adults in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland selected randomly from the electoral register. Mineral intakes (Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Cu and Zn) were estimated using tables of food composition. RESULTS: Mean nutrient density of intakes was higher for women than men for Ca and Fe and increased with age for all minerals, except Ca for men and Fe for women. Meat and meat products were the major contributor to mean daily intakes of Zn (38%), P (23%), Fe (18%), Cu (15%) and Mg (13%); dairy products (milk, yoghurt and cheese) to Ca (44%), P (22%), Zn (14%) and Mg (11%); bread and rolls to Fe (21%), Cu (18%), Ca and Mg (17%), Zn (13%) and P (12%); potatoes and potato products to Cu (16%), Mg (14%) and Fe (10%); and breakfast cereals to Fe (13%). In women of all ages nutritional supplements contributed 7.6%, 4.4%, 3.6% and 2.2% of mean daily intake of Fe, Zn, Cu and Ca, respectively, while in men of all ages, nutritional supplements contributed 2.7%, 2.3%, 1.7% and 0.6%, respectively, to mean daily intakes of Fe, Zn, Cu and Ca. Adequacy of minerals intakes in population groups was assessed using the average requirement (AR) as a cut-off value. A significant prevalence of intakes below the AR was observed for Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn but not P. A higher proportion of women than men had intakes below the AR for all minerals. Almost 50% of 18-50-year-old females had intakes below the AR for Fe, while 23%, 23% and 15% of women of all ages had intakes below the AR for Ca, Cu and Zn, respectively. For men of all ages, 11%, 8% and 13% had intakes below the AR for Ca, Cu and Zn, respectively. There appears to be little risk of excessive intake of Ca, Mg, P, Cu or Zn in any age/sex category. However, 2.9% of women of all ages had intakes above the tolerable upper intake level for Fe (45 mg) due to supplement use. CONCLUSION: Almost 50% of women aged 18-50 years had Fe intakes below the AR and relatively high proportions of women of all ages had intakes below the AR for Ca, Cu and Zn. With the possible exception of iron intake from supplements in women, there appears to be little risk of excessive intake of minerals in the adult population. Meat and meat products, dairy products (milk, cheese and yoghurt), bread and rolls, potatoes and potato products and breakfast cereals are important sources of minerals; nutritional supplements make only a small contribution to mineral intakes in the population as a whole but may contribute significantly to intakes among supplement users.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The efficacy and safety of nutritional supplement use in a representative sample of adults in the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the current use of nutritional supplements and their contribution to micronutrient intakes in a representative sample of Irish adults, to evaluate the impact of supplement use on the adequacy of micronutrient intakes and to assess the risk to supplement users of exceeding tolerable upper intake levels (UL). STUDY DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Food intake data were collected in 1379 (662 male and 717 female) randomly selected Irish adults aged 18 to 64 years using a 7-day food diary. The current use of nutritional supplements was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire and respondents entered each supplement as it was consumed into the food diary. RESULTS: Twenty-three per cent of respondents regularly used nutritional supplements. Twice as many women used supplements as men. The intakes of micronutrients were significantly higher (P<0.001) in supplement users than in non-users. Micronutrient intakes from food sources were similar in male users and non-users of supplements, but were significantly higher (P<0.01) in female users, by 3 to 13%, for Fe, Mg, Mn, vitamins C and E and niacin than in non-users. The percentage of female users between 18 and 50 years who had mean Fe intakes below the average requirement (AR) (10 mg) decreased from 50 to 25 when the contribution from supplements was included. The use of supplements reduced the percentage of men who had mean intakes below the AR for Zn from 19 to 13, for riboflavin from 14 to 6 and for vitamin A from 20 to 5, and reduced the percentage of women with intakes below the AR for Ca from 23 to 16 and for riboflavin from 23 to 14. Twenty-one women out of 80 aged between 18 and 50 years, who consumed supplemental folate, achieved the intake of 600 microg recommended to prevent neural tube defects. Twenty-two per cent of the women who took iron and 15% of the women who took vitamin B6 in supplemental form had mean daily intakes that exceeded that UL for these nutrients. Supplement users did not exceed the UL for the other micronutrients. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation appears to be beneficial in promoting adequate intakes of some micronutrients, particularly Fe and folate in women aged 18-50 years and vitamin A in men. There appears to be little risk to supplement users of experiencing adverse side effects due to excessive intakes of micronutrients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Analyses of the anthropometric data from the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain measured anthropometric data for weight, height and other parameters not previously measured in the Irish population such as waist and hip circumferences and body composition. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. Weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference and body composition were measured according to standard procedures. SETTING: Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, 1997-1999. SUBJECTS: Random representative sample of 1379 adults aged 18-64 years. RESULTS: With the exception of body fat, all anthropometric values were significantly higher for men than women (P<0.001). All measurements were significantly higher in the 36-50-year-old age group compared with 18-35 year olds. Height was the exception, which decreased significantly with age (P<0.05). Weight, height and body mass index (BMI) have increased in Ireland since last measured in 1988 and in 1990. Over the last decade, obesity has increased in men 2.5 fold from 8% to 20% and in women by 1.25 fold from 13% to 16%. Significantly more women have a normal BMI than men (50.4% vs. 33.3%; P<0.05). Cut-off points for a high waist circumference and high waist-to-hip ratio identified 47% and 33% of the population, respectively, to be at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Social class did not have any significant effect on mean BMI. Location of residence influenced BMI but not in any consistent manner. Ex-smokers had a significantly higher BMI than non-smokers and smokers (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A revision of current recommendations for combating obesity is warranted to improve the health of the Irish population. Further research is needed to identify the factors that have contributed to the dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity in men over the last decade and have resulted in a higher prevalence of obesity in men than in women.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2001

Physical activity patterns in a nationally representative sample of adults in Ireland.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate habitual levels of physical activity in a nationally representative sample of adults in Ireland. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire. Usual levels of work, recreational and household activities were evaluated in relation to anthropometric, demographic and socio-economic characteristics. The amount and intensity of all activities were quantified by assigning metabolic equivalents (METS) to each activity. SETTING: Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, 1997-1999. SUBJECTS: Random sample of 1379 adults aged 18-64 years. RESULTS: Men were approximately twice as active in work and recreational activity (139.7 +/- 83.9 METS) as women (68.5 +/- 49.8 METS; P<0.001) but women were three times more active in household tasks (65.9 +/- 58.7 METS vs. 22.6 +/- 24.6 METS; P<0.001). Overall levels of physical activity declined with increasing age, particularly leisure activity in men. In women the decline in work activity was offset by spending more time in household pursuits. Twenty-five per cent of the subjects were extremely overweight (body mass index (BMI>28 kg m(-2)) or obese (BMI >30 kg m (-2)). Fewer obese subjects reported higher levels of work and leisure activities. However, a higher percentage of obese women reported participation in the higher levels of household activities. Participation rates in recreational activities were low. Walking was the most important leisure activity of both men (41%) and women (60%). In terms of hours per week spent in vigorous physical activity, men were more active than women, professional and skilled non-manual women were more active than women in other social classes, and younger subjects (aged 18-35 years) were more active than older subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The holistic approach used in the assessment of physical activity in this study has revealed important and subtle differences in the activity patterns of men and women. Failure to fully characterise the respective activity patterns of men and women could lead to ill-informed public health policy aimed at promoting and sustaining lifetime habits of physical activity. The results suggest that simple population-focused programmes to promote physical activity are unlikely to offer the same chance of long-term success as more sensitive and individualised strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Attitudes towards and beliefs about nutrition and health among a random sample of adults in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

OBJECTIVES: For effective healthy eating promotion, it is necessary to understand the attitudes towards and beliefs about nutrition of the general public. The objective of this study was to provide data on attitudes towards eating a healthy diet and the perceived need to alter eating habits from a random sample of adults in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland, using a self-administered questionnaire. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey using a self-administered attitudinal questionnaire on beliefs and attitudes to healthy eating. SETTING: The survey was carried out between October 1997 and October 1999 in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland. SUBJECTS: A randomly selected sample of 1256 adults from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland completed the attitudinal questionnaire. RESULTS: A majority of subjects (62%) perceived that they make conscious efforts to eat a healthy diet either most of the time or quite often, while just over half (52%) agreed that they do not need to make changes to their diet as it is healthy enough. Subjects most likely to make conscious efforts to try to eat a healthy diet were females, older subjects (51-64 years) and those with the highest intakes of fruit and vegetables and lowest quartile of fat (% food energy). When self-assessed adequacy of fruit and vegetables was examined, two-thirds of the total sample felt they ate too little fruit while just one-third felt they ate too little vegetables. CONCLUSION: Results of the present study, in general, revealed good agreement between attitude and behaviour with respect to healthy eating. This suggests that people appear to be reasonably accurate at evaluating their own diet in terms of how healthy it is. In terms of the two food groups examined in this study, some optimistic bias was evident for vegetables but not for fruit. It may be useful therefore to assess attitudes and beliefs about healthy eating by way of examining attitudes to such food groups individually.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Measurement of dietary intake in children.

When children and adolescents are the target population in dietary surveys many different respondent and observer considerations surface. The cognitive abilities required to self-report food intake include an adequately developed concept of time, a good memory and attention span, and a knowledge of the names of foods. From the age of 8 years there is a rapid increase in the ability of children to self-report food intake. However, while cognitive abilities should be fully developed by adolescence, issues of motivation and body image may hinder willingness to report. Ten validation studies of energy intake data have demonstrated that mis-reporting, usually in the direction of under-reporting, is likely. Patterns of under-reporting vary with age, and are influenced by weight status and the dietary survey method used. Furthermore, evidence for the existence of subject-specific responding in dietary assessment challenges the assumption that repeated measurements of dietary intake will eventually obtain valid data. Unfortunately, the ability to detect mis-reporters, by comparison with presumed energy requirements, is limited unless detailed activity information is available to allow the energy intake of each subject to be evaluated individually. In addition, high variability in nutrient intakes implies that, if intakes are valid, prolonged dietary recording will be required to rank children correctly for distribution analysis. Future research should focus on refining dietary survey methods to make them more sensitive to different ages and cognitive abilities. The development of improved techniques for identification of mis-reporters and investigation of the issue of differential reporting of foods should also be given priority.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

An evaluation of food photographs as a tool for quantifying food and nutrient intakes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the errors incurred by young adults using single portion size colour food photographs to quantify foods and nutrients consumed at six meals on two non-consecutive days. DESIGN: Breakfast menus remained the same for the 2 days; but lunch and dinner menus varied. The amounts of food eaten by individuals were determined by weighing individual serving dishes pre- and post-consumption. The day after eating, all foods consumed were quantified in terms of fractions or multiples of the amounts shown in the food photographs. SUBJECTS: Thirty adult volunteers (15 male, 15 female), aged 18-36 years, completed the protocol for day one; 27 (90%) completed day two. RESULTS: Some foods were more difficult to quantify accurately than others. The largest error range was -38. 9% to +284.6% (cheese), whereas the smallest errors were incurred for juice (-21.5% to +34.6%, day one). All subjects who consumed muesli (day one) overestimated (+3.7% to +113.7%). No other foods were consistently over- or underestimated. For foods consumed at breakfast by the same subjects on both days, individual estimation errors were inconsistent in magnitude and/or direction. At the group level, most nutrients were estimated to within +/-10% of intake; exceptions were thiamin (+10.5%, day one) and vitamin E (-10.1%, day one; -15.3%, day two). Between 63% and 80% of subjects were correctly classified into tertiles on the basis of estimated intakes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite some large food quantification errors, single portion size food photographs were effective when used to estimate nutrient intakes at the group level. It remains to be established whether, under the conditions used in this study, more photographs per food would improve estimates of nutrient intake at the individual level.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The effect of low-dose fish oil supplementation on serum growth factors in healthy humans.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of low-dose fish oil supplementation on specific growth factors, purported to play a central role in lesion formation, and also on the total growth factor activity of serum, as assessed by the induction of DNA synthesis in cultured human arterial smooth muscle cells. DESIGN: Randomized placebo-controlled double-blind intervention study. SETTING: Free-living population. SUBJECTS: Sixty-three healthy volunteers, 37 males and 26 females. INTERVENTIONS: Four treatment regimes with subjects receiving 0, 0.3,0.6 or 0.9 g/day of n-3 PUFA for an 8 week period. Blood samples were taken at baseline and following the 8 week intervention. All samples were analysed in batch following completion of the study. RESULTS: Consumption of fish oil had no effect on serum platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), or transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) concentration. Furthermore, fish oil supplementation did not alter the total growth factor activity of serum. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that low-dose fish oil supplementation, equivalent to about two portions of fatty fish per week and providing less than 1 g n-3 PUFA/day, does not alter the levels of the major serum growth factors and does not modify total serum growth factor activity in healthy human volunteers. SPONSORSHIP: European Union shared cost project (FAIR-CT-95-0085).

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption and blood antioxidants in the Caerphilly cohort of older men.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the number of portions of fruit and vegetables consumed daily by a large representative sample of older men, and to determine how blood antioxidant (vitamins E, A and carotenoids) concentrations vary with fruit and vegetable consumption. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of free-living men. SUBJECTS: Men aged 55-69 y (dietary data, n=1957; blood data, n=1874) participating in Phase III (1989-1993) of the Caerphilly and Speedwell Collaborative Heart Disease Studies. METHODS: Dietary data were obtained by semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire and blood samples were analysed for antioxidant vitamins. Men were subdivided into groups on the basis of portions per day of fruit and vegetables. Within these sub-groups, mean and 95% ranges of intakes and of blood antioxidant levels were obtained. Log transformations were performed where appropriate. RESULTS: Only 4.3% of the men met the recommended target of five portions, while 33.3% of the men consumed one or fewer portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Those men who consumed the poorest diets with respect to fruit and vegetable intakes were more likely to be from lower socio-economic classes, drink more alcohol and be current smokers. Fruit and vegetable intake reflected plasma concentrations of antioxidants, which showed a dose-response relationship to frequency of consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Older men in the UK consume much less fruit and vegetables than current recommendations. Major difficulties are likely to be encountered in trying to meet a dietary target that is clearly much higher than the fruit and vegetable consumption of large sections of the older population in the UK. SPONSORSHIP: This work was supported by the Medical Research Council.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Short-term effects of yoghurt containing a novel fat emulsion on energy and macronutrient intakes in non-obese subjects.

BACKGROUND: The satiating properties of fat remain poorly understood, particularly with reference to its physicochemical characteristics. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the short-term effects of consumption of yoghurt containing either a novel fat emulsion or normal milk fat, on the energy and macronutrient intakes of non-obese subjects. DESIGN: Two double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject crossover studies were conducted three months apart. Twenty-nine (15 F, 14 M) and thirty (16 F, 14 M) subjects participated in Study 1 and Study 2 respectively. In each study, subjects were given in random order, 7 days apart, either a 200g portion of a test (5g of a novel fat emulsion + 1 g milk fat) or control (6g milk fat) yoghurt at 1300 h. At 4h post-consumption subjects were given ad libitum access to a range of foods. Amounts of food consumed by individuals were determined by pre- and post-covert weighing of individual serving dishes. RESULTS: Mean energy intakes were significantly lower after the test yoghurt compared with the control yoghurt in Study 1 (6.4 vs 7.6 MJ; P< 0.001), Study 2 (6.9 vs 7.9 MJ; P<0.001), and for both studies combined (6.7 vs 7.7 MJ; P<0.001). The corresponding fat intakes in Study 1, Study 2 and in the combined studies were all significantly reduced (P< 0.001). Protein and carbohydrate intakes were also significantly reduced in Study 1 (P< 0.05), Study 2 (P< 0.01), and for the combined studies (P< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the physicochemical characteristics of small amounts of dietary fat affect short-term satiety.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Energy expenditure by heart rate in children: an evaluation of calibration techniques.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of applying seven calibration equations (CE) in the estimation of free-living total energy expenditure (TEE) over 2-3 d in seven boys (mean +/- SD age 9.4+/-0.4 yr) by the Flex heart rate (HR) method. METHODS: HR and oxygen consumption were measured simultaneously for eight activities (lying, sitting, standing, arm-reaching exercise, a stooping-and-twisting exercise, stepping, treadmill walking/running, and cycle ergometry) carried out in sequence. CE were derived from various combinations of activities. Flex HRs were identified for each CE. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in TEE estimates [range (mean +/- SD); 6.65+/-0.72 to 7.27+/-0.89 MJ x d(-1)] derived from any of the CE. Mean daytime HR ranged from 86+/-4 to 122+/-15 beats x min(-1), and 82-98% of recorded daytime HR was < or = 140 beats x min(-1). As a result, within-subject CV in TEE from each of the CE ranged from 2.2% to 8.9%. Mean between-subject Flex HR ranged from 94+/-8 to 111+/-8 beats x min(-1). No significant differences were observed in corresponding TEE estimates. However, mean activity energy expenditure (AEE) ranged from 2.10+/-1.18 MJ x d(-1) (based on Flex HR 111+/-8 beats-min(-1)) to 3.55+/-1.44 MJ x d(-1) (based on Flex HR 94+/-8 beats x min(-1); NS). The corresponding estimates of resting energy expenditure (REE) were 1.89+/-0.82 MJ x d(-1) (Flex HR 111+/-8 beats-min(-1)) and 1.05+/-0.60 MJ x d(-1) (Flex HR 94+/-8 beats x min(-1)). Only the differences between the minimum and maximum estimates of REE were significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Unduly lengthy and complex calibration procedures for the estimation of Flex HR TEE may not be justified in most cases, particularly in sedentary children.

Calibration↗
PubMed2000

Effect of oral glutamine supplementation on human neutrophil lipopolysaccharide-stimulated degranulation following prolonged exercise.

Recent studies have shown that neutrophils can utilize glutamine and that glutamine supplementation can improve neutrophil function in postoperative and burn patients. The present study investigated the influence of oral glutamine supplementation on stimulated neutrophil degranulation and oxidative burst activity following prolonged exercise. Subjects, 7 well-trained men, reported to the laboratory following an overnight fast and cycled for 2 hrs at 60% VO2max on two occasions a week apart. They were randomly assigned to either a glutamine or placebo treatment. For both trials, subjects consumed a sugar-free lemon drink at 15-min intervals until 90 minutes, then a lemon flavored glutamine drink (GLN) or sugar-free lemon drink (PLA) was consumed at 15-min intervals for the remaining exercise and the 2-hr recovery period. Venous blood samples were taken pre-, during, and postexercise. Glutamine supplementation had no effect on the magnitude of postexercise leukocytosis, the plasma elastase concentration following exercise (which increased in both trials), or the plasma elastase release in response to bacterial stimulation (which fell in both trials). Neutrophil function assessed by oxidative burst activity of isolated cells did not change following exercise in either trial. These findings therefore suggest that the fall in plasma glutamine concentration does not account for the decrease in neutrophil function (degranulation response) following prolonged exercise.

Administration, Oral↗