Evening Meal Research Articles

Hydration kinetics and 10-km outdoor running performance following 75% versus 150% between bout fluid replacement

Current American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines recommend replacing 150% of sweat losses between training bouts separated by ≤12 hours, but little evidence exists concerning the implications of this strategy for runners. Participants (n = 13) in this study replaced 75% (1637 ± 372 mL) or 150% (3099 ± 850 mL) of sweat losses following an outdoor evening run (∼75 minutes; Wet-bulb-globe temperature (WBGT) = ∼27°C) and consumed a standardised evening meal and breakfast before completing an outdoor (WBGT = ∼23°C) 10-km time-trial the following morning. Urine was collected between runs and urine specific gravity (USG) was assessed pre-run. Significant differences were found in pre-run body mass (75% = 69.6 ± 9.2; 150% = 70.1 ± 9.3 kg; P = 0.02) and USG (75% = 1.026 ± 0.005; 150% = 1.014 ± 0.007; P < 0.001). Heart rate during 10-km run (168 ± 14 versus 168 ± 12 beats min−1) and post-run intestinal temperature (39.08 ± 0.52 versus 39.00 ± 0.70 °C) did not differ for 75% and 150%, respectively, despite an ∼3% performance improvement (75% = 47.28 ± 6.64; 150% = 45.93 ± 6.04 minutes; P = 0.001) due to a faster pace in the second half of the run with 150% replacement. Session rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was lower (P = 0.02) during 150% (7.5 ± 1.3) versus 75% (8.4 ± 0.9). Reluctant drinkers potentially hinder training quality between evening and morning runs in the heat, but copious urine production and difficulty in consuming recommended fluid volumes suggest fluid replacement <150% may be more ideal.

Portion sizes for children are predicted by parental characteristics and the amounts parents serve themselves

Children's energy intakes are influenced by the portions they are served. Factors influencing the amounts adults offer children are not well described. We assessed whether the amounts that were served to and consumed by children at meals were related to amounts that parents served themselves. In this repeated-measures, cross-sectional observational study, 145 parents and their preschoolers (82 Hispanic, 57 African American, 6 unidentified) were recruited from Head Start settings in Houston, TX. The amounts served to and consumed by children and parents during 3 at-home evening meals were measured and analyzed. We assessed children's and parents' heights and weights, and body mass indexes (BMIs) were calculated. Associations between portions served for parents and children and between amounts served to and consumed by children were evaluated. Multiple linear regression was used to determine whether maternal characteristics (race-ethnicity, sociodemographic factors, and caregivers' BMIs) predicted the amounts caregivers served to children. The amounts that parents served themselves were significantly associated with the amounts that they served to their children (r = 0.51, P < 0.0001). Multiple regression analysis showed that African American parents (compared with Hispanics) served more food to themselves and to their children (P < 0.01, R² = 6.9%) and that employed (compared with unemployed) parents served more food to their children (P = 0.025, R² = 3.3%). The amounts served to children were strongly associated with the amounts children consumed (r = 0.88, P < 0.0001). When parents served more to themselves, they also served more to their children (P < 0.001). These findings underscore the strong relation between portions offered by caregivers and the amounts children consume at a meal and suggest that factors unrelated to the child (such as the amount a parent serves himself or herself) are important predictors of children's consumption. Efforts aimed at improving parents' recognition of developmentally appropriate portions for young children could be useful for future obesity-prevention efforts.

Effect of eating frequency on evening meal energy intake (120.4)

Little experimental research has examined the effect of eating frequency (EF) on energy intake. This study tested two EF prescriptions, MEAL and GRAZE, on energy intake during an ad lib evening meal. Twelve, healthy, normal‐weight, unrestrained, regularly active participants (22.7 +/‐ 4.2 yrs, 22.4 +/‐ 1.0 kg/m2, 58.3% female, 83.3% white) completed two, counterbalanced, EF conditions. Participants were given identical types and amounts of food to eat prior to an evening meal, providing 60% of estimated energy needs. All provided food was consumed between 7 am and 5 pm, in two bouts (MEAL) and in five bouts (GRAZE). Energy consumed during an ad lib 30‐min evening meal was determined by measuring the weight of food eaten. Hunger and fullness were measured by 100 mm visual analogue scales prior to and after the meal. A repeated measures ANOVA, controlling for condition order and objectively measured moderate‐to vigorous‐intensity physical activity, found MEAL ate less meal energy than GRAZE (839.1 +/‐ 290.0 kcal vs. 875.2 +/‐ 277.1 kcal, p &lt; 0.01). Hunger was lower after than before the meal (62.1 +/‐ 18.5 mm vs. 9.8 +/‐ 8.4 mm, p &lt; 0.05), with no condition difference. No difference in fullness in pre‐ and post‐meal measures or by condition occurred. Eating less frequently, as compared to more frequently, produced lower evening meal intake, with no differences in hunger and fullness ratings. Reduced evening meal consumption may be a consequence of reduced food cue exposure earlier in the day.Grant Funding Source: Supported by University of Tennessee

Consumers' interest in learning about cooking: the influence of age, gender and education

AbstractGeneral and governmental interest in cooking has increased recently. In part this may be because the acquisition of food preparation skills may make individuals less dependent on processed foods and reduce risks of overweight and obesity. However, little research has been conducted on consumers' interests in learning about cooking. Therefore in 2012 an online survey was conducted in Australia among 1023 adult food preparers with the aim of determining what and how they wanted to learn to cook. Questions were asked about interest in learning about cooking‐related topics, specific main meals and cooking techniques, preferred ways to learn, and their demographic characteristics. Frequency and cross‐tabulation analyses were used to compare the responses across demographic categories, and content and correspondence analyses were used to analyse meal preferences and age‐related differences. The findings show that 71% of the sample wanted to learn more about cooking. Respondents wanted to learn to cook a wide range of evening meals, especially ethnic dishes (e.g. Chinese, Thai, Italian, ‘Asian’). Most preferred to learn from television (68%), newspapers and magazines (41%), although attendance at cooking classes (34%), YouTube (27%) and special newsletters (24%) were also popular. There were few, weak associations between interest in cooking and the respondents' demographic characteristics. The findings are discussed in relation to the common problems faced by all domestic food preparers and the major opportunities to communicate about cooking.

Irregular consumption of energy intake in meals is associated with a higher cardiometabolic risk in adults of a British birth cohort

A potential risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases is irregular or inconsistent eating, however, research on this topic is scarce. We aimed to study associations between irregular consumption of energy intake in meals and cardiometabolic risk factors. Dietary intake data were derived from 5-day estimated diet diaries of 1768 participants of the National Survey of Health and Development. Energy intakes during predefined meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, between meals) and daily totals were analyzed using a score for irregularity based on the deviation from the 5-day mean energy intake. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for having the metabolic syndrome or one of its components. Models were adjusted for sex, physical activity, socioeconomic status, marital status and smoking. Irregularity scores of energy intake ranged from 0-160 and were highest for between meals. An increased risk of the metabolic syndrome was associated with more irregular energy intake during breakfast (OR=1.34 (0.99, 1.81); P trend=0.04) and between meals (OR=1.36 (1.01, 1.85); P trend=0.04). Moreover, increased waist circumference was associated with irregular energy intake during breakfast (OR=1.90 (1.47, 2.45); P trend <0.01), evening meal (OR=1.36 (1.06, 1.75); P trend=0.02) and daily total (OR=1.34 (1.04, 1.72); P trend=0.01). No significant associations were found for the other components of the metabolic syndrome. Individuals with a more irregular intake of energy, especially during breakfast and between meals, appeared to have an increased cardiometabolic risk.

Prevalence of and risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a non-obese Japanese population, 2011–2012

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in non-obese subjects is not rare in Japan, but it has not been clearly described. To clarify its prevalence and risk factors, we investigated the clinical characteristics of NAFLD in non-obese subjects in comparison with NAFLD in obese subjects in the Japanese general population. A cross-sectional study was performed with 5433 subjects who received health checkups from 2011 to 2012. Subjects consuming more than 20 g of alcohol per day and those with autoimmune liver disease, viral hepatitis, uncontrolled biliary disease and insufficient data were excluded. Subjects with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m(2) were considered obese, and subjects with a BMI <25 kg/m(2) were considered non-obese. A total of 3271 subjects were enrolled. The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 24.6%: 68.5% in obese subjects and 15.2% in non-obese subjects. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that ≥10 kg of weight gain since the age of 20 was significantly associated with NAFLD in non-obese subjects of both genders, and eating an evening meal within 2 h before going to bed 3 days or more per week and drinking <20 g of alcohol per day were negatively associated in non-obese females. Metabolic factors such as waist circumference and triglycerides were predictors of NAFLD in non-obese subjects, and body fat percentage was a predictor in non-obese males. Lifestyle as well as metabolic factors may play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, even in the non-obese Japanese population.

Cute But Relaxed: Ten Years of Rilakkuma in Precarious Japan

Cute But Relaxed: Ten Years of Rilakkuma in Precarious Japan

Evaluating the Performance of a Novel Embedded Closed-loop System.

The objective was to assess the reliability of a novel automated closed-loop glucose control system developed within the AP@home consortium in adults with type 1 diabetes. Eight adults with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy (3 men; ages 40.5 ± 14.3 years; HbA1c 8.2 ± 0.8%) participated in an open-label, single-center, single-arm, 12-hour overnight study performed at the clinical research facility. A standardized evening meal (80 g CHO) accompanied by prandial insulin boluses were given at 19:00 followed by an optional snack of 15 g at 22:00 without insulin bolus. Automated closed-loop glucose control was started at 19:00 and continued until 07:00 the next day. Basal insulin delivery (Accu-Chek Spirit, Roche) was automatically adjusted by Cambridge model predictive control algorithm, running on a purpose-built embedded device, based on real-time continuous glucose monitor readings (Dexcom G4 Platinum). Closed-loop system was operational as intended over 99% of the time. Overnight plasma glucose levels (22:00 to 07:00) were within the target range (3.9 to 8.0 mmol/l) for 75.4% (37.5, 92.9) of the time without any time spent in hypoglycemia (<3.9 mmol/l). Mean overnight glucose was 7.8 ± 1.3 mmol/l. For the entire 12-hour closed-loop period (19:00 until 07:00) plasma glucose levels were within the target range (3.9 to 10.0 mmol/l) for 84.4% (63.3, 100) of time. There were no adverse events noted during the trial. We observed a high degree of reliability of the automated closed-loop system. The time spent in target glucose level overnight was comparable to results of previously published studies. Further developments to miniaturize the system for home studies are warranted.

Effect of licorice flavonoid oil on visceral fat in obese subjects in the United States

Abdominal obesity, or accumulation of visceral fat, is mainly associated with the onset of metabolic syndrome. Licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) consisting of licorice hydrophobic polyphenols in mediumchain triglycerides (MCT) is a new functional food ingredient effective in preventing metabolic syndrome. We have demonstrated significant effects of LFO on reduction of total body fat and visceral fat together with body weight in overweight Japanese subjects. Obesity is a more serious problem in Western countries such as Europe and the United States compared to Japan. We hypothesized that LFO could also work for abdominally obese people in Western countries. We therefore tested the effects of 300 mg LFO concentrate solution taken once daily with evening meals for up to 12 weeks in obese adult male and female subjects in the United States. Results showed that visceral fat, as measured by an abdominal CT scan, waist circumference measurements and waist-to-hip ratio significantly decreased in subjects in the LFO group compared to the placebo group at Week 12. The side-effect profile of LFO was indistinguishable from placebo. Moreover, no adverse trends or toxicologically meaningful differences in haematology and chemistry test results, vital signs or physical examinations were observed that were attributable to LFO. These results indicate that LFO is a safe food ingredient for preventing metabolic syndrome not only in Japan but also in Western countries such as Europe and the United States.

Alcohol and Cardiovascular Health: The Dose Makes the Poison…or the Remedy

Habitual light to moderate alcohol intake (up to 1 drink per day for women and 1 or 2 drinks per day for men) is associated with decreased risks for total mortality, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, and stroke. However, higher levels of alcohol consumption are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Indeed, behind only smoking and obesity, excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of premature death in the United States. Heavy alcohol use (1) is one of the most common causes of reversible hypertension, (2) accounts for about one-third of all cases of nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, (3) is a frequent cause of atrial fibrillation, and (4) markedly increases risks of stroke-both ischemic and hemorrhagic. The risk-to-benefit ratio of drinking appears higher in younger individuals, who also have higher rates of excessive or binge drinking and more frequently have adverse consequences of acute intoxication (for example, accidents, violence, and social strife). In fact, among males aged 15 to 59 years, alcohol abuse is the leading risk factor for premature death. Of the various drinking patterns, daily low- to moderate-dose alcohol intake, ideally red wine before or during the evening meal, is associated with the strongest reduction in adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Health care professionals should not recommend alcohol to nondrinkers because of the paucity of randomized outcome data and the potential for problem drinking even among individuals at apparently low risk. The findings in this review were based on a literature search of PubMed for the 15-year period 1997 through 2012 using the search terms alcohol, ethanol, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, stroke, and mortality. Studies were considered if they were deemed to be of high quality, objective, and methodologically sound.

Rivaroxaban use following bariatric surgery

The recent case report by Dr. Mahlmann et al. [1] describing the pharmacokinetics of rivaroxaban in a bariatric surgery patient is a welcome addition to the literature. However, we feel it necessary to clarify the statement made regarding the ‘‘high bioavailability’’ of rivaroxaban and express caution regarding the use of this agent in postoperative bariatric surgery patients. The bioavailability of rivaroxaban depends on the dose and also the presence of food. Studies have shown that rivaroxaban doses up to 10 mg have high bioavailability. However, higher doses, which are employed for the prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation and the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE), have poor bioavailability (*66 % for a 20 mg dose) [2, 3]. In pharmacokinetic studies, the bioavailability of higher doses is markedly improved (C80 %) when taken with food [2]. For this reason, the rivaroxaban prescribing information states that it should be taken ‘‘with food’’ for the atrial fibrillation and VTE treatment indications [4]. ‘‘With food’’ is a rather vague description with interpretations ranging from ‘‘take with a small snack’’ to ‘‘take with a full meal.’’ In the ROCKET–AF trial, patients were instructed to take their dose with their evening meal, but no specific calorie or size requirements were specified [5]. In the VTE treatment studies, patients were instructed to take their doses with meals with no further specifications [6, 7]. In the previously mentioned pharmacokinetic studies, ‘‘with food’’ was specifically a large meal of approximately 1,000 kcal [2]. While it is doubtful that subjects receiving rivaroxaban in clinical trials took their doses with such a large caloric intake, it seems reasonable to presume their doses were taken with standard meals and that their caloric intake was essentially normal (*1,800–2,500 kcal per day in the USA) [8]. Venous thromboembolism is a cause of morbidity and mortality after gastric bypass surgery and obesity increases the risk of atrial fibrillation [9, 10]. The relative ease of rivaroxaban compared to traditional agents may make it an attractive option for patients experiencing these events after bariatric surgery. To our knowledge, there are no clinical trial data to support the use of rivaroxaban for these indications specifically in bariatric surgery patients. Although the report by Mahlmann et al. [1] and a previous study that suggests that rivaroxaban is not influenced by extremes of weight [11] offers some reassurance, other factors must be considered before rivaroxaban is used in these patients. Specifically, we believe that patients who are in the early postoperative period after bariatric surgery should not receive rivaroxaban for either the atrial fibrillation or VTE treatment indications due to the low caloric intake (*500 calories per day) that is characteristic of the diets that these patients are placed on postoperatively [12]. In Dr. Mahlmann’s report [1], rivaroxaban was started several months after bariatric surgery and thus this patient’s caloric intake would likely have been much closer to normal relative to the postoperative period. Since the minimum amount of food required ensuring adequate absorption of rivaroxaban has not been determined, it is quite plausible that the low calorie consumption of the postoperative gastric bypass patient is insufficient to support adequate rivaroxaban absorption. Furthermore, Z. Thomas (&) Y. Bareket W. Bennett Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601, USA e-mail: zthomas@rci.rutgers.edu

A comparison of parental views of their pre-school children’s ‘healthy’ versus ‘unhealthy’ diets. A qualitative study

Despite recommended dietary guidelines, recent population surveys have recorded low fruit and vegetable and high non-core food consumption by Australian children. Young children rely on parents or primary carers to provide their diets; therefore pre-school age is an optimal time to promote and encourage healthy child eating behaviours. Identified contributing factors to a child’s eating behaviour and diet in the home environment include parenting style, parent feeding practices and attitudes, parent nutrition knowledge, and home food availability. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore perceptions, perceived influences, facilitators and barriers when providing healthy foods for young children via focus groups with parents of children with ‘healthy’ versus ‘unhealthy’ diets. Thematic analysis identified similarities across both groups including an intention to provide healthy food for their children with most parents involving their child in some level of meal preparation and most families dining together for the evening meal. Main points of difference included parents in the ‘healthy’ group having more partner support in relation to child diet, a willingness to say ‘no’ without wavering, and considering their child’s daily physical activity when deciding appropriate food options. A majority of parents in the ‘unhealthy’ group attempted to disguise vegetables and healthy foods for their child and reported experiencing increased levels of stress regarding their child’s fussy eating.

Altered regional homogeneity and efficient response inhibition in restrained eaters

Restrained eaters (REs) characterized by less efficient response inhibition are at risk for future onset of binge eating and bulimic pathology. Previous imaging studies investigating REs have been based on task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and little is known about resting-state neural activity underlying restrained eating. To illuminate this issue, we investigated resting-state fMRI differences between REs (n=22) and unrestrained eaters (UREs) (n=30) using regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis, which measures the temporal synchronization of spontaneous fluctuations. Samples were equated on body mass index (BMI) and caloric deprivation levels (i.e., 14±2.1h since last evening meal) before undergoing fMRI. Correlation analyses were performed between the ReHo index of identified regions and response inhibition based on stop-signal reaction time (SSRT) within each sample. Compared with UREs, REs showed more ReHo in brain regions associated with food reward (i.e., orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC)), attention (i.e., lingual gyrus, cuneus, inferior parietal lobule) and somatosensory functioning (i.e., paracentral lobule, anterior insula). In addition, ReHo values for the left dlPFC and left anterior insula, respectively, were negatively and positively correlated with SSRT among REs but not UREs. In concert with previous studies, these results suggest altered local synchronization may help to explain why dieting to maintain or lose weight often fails or increases risk for binge eating among REs.

Mealtime, Temporal, and Daily Variability of the Human Urinary and Plasma Metabolomes in a Tightly Controlled Environment

While metabolomics has tremendous potential for diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target discovery, its utility may be diminished by the variability that occurs due to environmental exposures including diet and the influences of the human circadian rhythm. For successful translation of metabolomics findings into the clinical setting, it is necessary to exhaustively define the sources of metabolome variation. To address these issues and to measure the variability of urinary and plasma metabolomes throughout the day, we have undertaken a comprehensive inpatient study in which we have performed non-targeted metabolomics analysis of blood and urine in 26 volunteers (13 healthy subjects with no known disease and 13 healthy subjects with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease not taking medication). These individuals were evaluated in a clinical research facility on two separate occasions, over three days, while on a standardized, weight-based diet. Subjects provided pre- and post-prandial blood and urine samples at the same time of day, and all samples were analyzed by “fast lane” LC-MS-based global metabolomics. The largest source of variability in blood and urine metabolomes was attributable to technical issues such as sample preparation and analysis, and less variability was due to biological variables, meals, and time of day. Higher metabolome variability was observed after the morning as compared to the evening meal, yet day-to-day variability was minimal and urine metabolome variability was greater than that of blood. Thus we suggest that blood and urine are suitable biofluids for metabolomics studies, though nontargeted mass spectrometry alone may not offer sufficient precision to reveal subtle changes in the metabolome. Additional targeted analyses may be needed to support the data from nontargeted mass spectrometric analyses. In light of these findings, future metabolomics studies should consider these sources of variability to allow for appropriate metabolomics testing and reliable clinical translation of metabolomics data.

An investigation of the effects of a hand washing intervention on health outcomes and school absence using a randomised trial in Indian urban communities

To evaluate how an intervention, which combined hand washing promotion aimed at 5-year-olds with provision of free soap, affected illnesses among the children and their families and children's school absenteeism. We monitored illnesses, including diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections (ARIs), school absences and soap consumption for 41 weeks in 70 low-income communities in Mumbai, India (35 communities per arm). Outcomes from 847 intervention households (containing 847 5-year-olds and 4863 subjects in total) and 833 control households (containing 833 5-year-olds and 4812 subjects) were modelled using negative binomial regression. Intervention group 5-year-olds had fewer episodes of diarrhoea (-25%, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = -37%, -2%), ARIs (-15%, 95% CI = -30%, -8%), school absences due to illnesses (-27%, 95% CI = -41%, -18%) and eye infections (-46%, 95% CI = -58%, -31%). Further, there were fewer episodes of diarrhoea and ARIs in the intervention group for 'whole families' (-31%, 95% CI = -37%, -5%; and -14%, 95% CI = -23%, -6%, respectively), 6- to 15-year-olds (-30%, 95% CI = -39%, -7%; and -15%, 95% CI = -24%, -6%) and under 5 s (-32%, 95% CI = -41%, -4%; and -20%, 95% CI = -29%, -8%). Direct-contact hand washing interventions aimed at younger school-aged children can affect the health of the whole family. These may be scalable through public-private partnerships and classroom-based campaigns. Further work is required to understand the conditions under which health benefits are transferred and the mechanisms for transference.

成人の朝食欠食の規定要因に関する分析

We analyzed the factors involved in some Japanese adults missing breakfast. We focused on the differences in the response rates by age and used weights. We also drew a path diagram and analyzed the factors using an ordered logistic regression.Our results indicate that four factors play a role in adults missing breakfast: (1) the evening meal hour, (2) lack of time for having breakfast, (3) lack of interest in the role of nutrition in maintaining good health, and (4) living alone.

The Risk of Severe Hypoglycemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Starting Insulin Therapy with Premixed Insulin Analogues Taken Twice Daily: An Observational Study in Turkish Patients

Abs tract Purpose: To assess the risk of severe hypoglycemia in Turkish patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) starting insulin therapy with premixed insulin analogues alone or in combination with oral antihyperglycemic medications. Material and Method: Data from a subset of Turkish patients who participated in a 1-year, multinational, multicenter, prospective observational study were evaluated. Insulin treatment was initiated using commonly prescribed premixed regimens: insulin lispro mixture 25/75 (25% insulin lispro, 75% insulin lispro protamine suspension) or biphasic insulin aspart 30/70 (30% insulin aspart, 70% insulin aspart protamine suspension) twice daily. Results: Of the 154 patients treated, 61 (39.6%) were male with a mean age of 56 years and a T2DM duration of 8.9 years. Twelve patients (7.8%) experienced ≥1 episode of severe hypoglycemia, but all recovered. The severe hypoglycemic rate was 0.14 episodes/patient-year. The mean glycated hemoglobin decreased by 2.7% (10.4% to 7.8%) and fasting plasma glucose by 115.9 mg/dL (265.3 mg/dL to 157.6 mg/dL) (p<0.0001). Self-monitored blood glucose (2-hour post morning meal) decreased by 163.3 mg/dL (327.0 mg/dL to 216.2 mg/dL; p<0.0001). Self-monitored blood glucose level was low, particularly at the 2-hour post evening meal. Body mass index increased by 1.4 kg/m, and total daily insulin dose by 4.2 IU. Discussion: In Turkish patients with T2DM, initiation of premixed insulin analogues during routine clinical care significantly improves glycemic control during the first year of treatment, but comes with a risk for severe hypoglycemia. Improvements in physician and patient education within the Turkish population regarding hypoglycemia management may be of benefit. Turk Jem 2013; 17: 83-8

Development of a gastric retentive system as a sustained-release formulation of pranlukast hydrate and its subsequent in vivo verification in human studies

Pranlukast hydrate was demonstrated in a human site-of-absorption study to have extremely poor absorption properties in the lower gastrointestinal tract. The ratios of AUC0-24 in the distal small bowel and colon compared to stomach delivery were approximately 1/7 and 1/70, respectively. As a consequence, a gastroretentive double-layered tablet formulation (gastric swelling system; GSS), consisting of a swelling layer and a drug release layer, was developed for once-daily dosing. To study the gastric retention of the optimized GSS, an in vivo gamma scintigraphic study was carried out in nine healthy volunteers. The transit profiles demonstrated that the GSS was retained in the stomach for more than 10h. The plasma profile was prolonged, especially following administration after an evening meal. The human data validated the design concept and suggest that GSS could be a promising approach for the development of sustained-release formulation for drugs with a limited absorption window in the upper small bowel.

Impact of Vegetable Preparation Method and Taste-Test on Vegetable Preference for First Grade Children in the United States

How children rate vegetables may be influenced by the preparation method. The primary objective of this study was for first grade students to be involved in a cooking demonstration and to taste and rate vegetables raw and cooked. First grade children of two classes (N= 52: 18 boys and 34 girls (approximately half Hispanic) that had assented and had signed parental consent participated in the study. The degree of liking a particular vegetable was recorded by the students using a hedonic scale of five commonly eaten vegetables tasted first raw (pre-demonstration) and then cooked (post-demonstration). A food habit questionnaire was filled out by parents to evaluate their mealtime practices and beliefs about their child’s eating habits. Paired sample t-tests revealed significant differences in preferences for vegetables in their raw and cooked states. Several mealtime characteristics were significantly associated with children’s vegetable preferences. Parents who reported being satisfied with how often the family eats evening meals together were more likely to report that their child eats adequate vegetables for their health (p=0.026). Parents who stated that they were satisfied with their child’s eating habits were more likely to report that their child was trying new foods (p&lt;.001). Cooking demonstrations by nutrition professionals may be an important strategy that can be used by parents and teachers to promote vegetable intake. It is important that nutrition professionals provide guidance to encourage consumption of vegetables for parents so that they can model the behavior of healthy food consumption to their children.

Further evidence for a second meal cognitive effect. Evening meal glycaemic index manipulations are associated with cognitive performance in the evening and the next day

Consumption of low glycaemic index (GI) foods at breakfast has been associated with cognitive benefits over the morning. However, the effects of evening meal GI manipulations on cognitive performance remain unexplored. The aims of the research were to investigate cognitive performance in the evening, and to replicate a previous finding that the GI of an evening meal is associated with cognitive performance the next morning following a standard breakfast, even after an overnight fast. Twenty-three healthy adults (16 females, 7 males) mean age 21.5 years (s.d. 2.4) consumed high GI (GI 83) and low GI (GI 28) evening meals matched for energy and macronutrients in a counterbalanced order following a cross-over, single-blind design. Memory, psychomotor skill and executive function were assessed 45 min post evening meal consumption and the next morning 15 min post consumption of a high GI breakfast (GI 88). Improved memory performance in the evening was associated with the low GI evening meal, whereas, improved memory performance the next day was associated with the high GI evening meal. This indicates that the cognitive effects of GI manipulations may differ in the acute postprandial phase relative to longer postprandial periods such as following a subsequent meal. Moreover, these findings provide further evidence for a second meal cognitive effect, indicating that an overnight fast may not be sufficient to control for any confounding effects of previous nutritional intake.