Low Milk Intake Research Articles

Frequency of food group consumption and risk of allergic disease and sensitization in schoolchildren in urban and rural China.

Diet is a potential determinant of allergic diseases. To examine in schoolchildren the association between food intake and allergic diseases and determine whether there is effect of environment - rural vs. urban. A questionnaire survey was performed in 11 473 children aged 7-12 years in 20 schools from urban Guangzhou and rural Shaoguan, China. A nested case-control group, 402 from Guangzhou and 349 from Shaoguan, was recruited. Food ingestion frequency data were collected. Serum-specific IgE to 34 food and airborne allergens was determined. Associations between food ingestion frequency and clinical outcomes were sought by logistic analyses. The prevalence of self-reported asthma (6.6% vs. 2.5%), rhinitis (23.2% vs. 5.3%) and eczema (34.1% vs. 25.9%) was significantly higher in Guangzhou subjects compared to Shaoguan, whereas prevalence of food hypersensitivity (9.7% vs. 9.2%) and food allergy (4.0% vs. 3.5%) was not significantly different. In this case-control study, seafood and fruits were two major food groups causing food hypersensitivity. Urban children consumed more milk, egg, chocolate, fruits, vegetable and cereals compared to rural children. Significantly higher percentage of Guangzhou children was sensitized to egg and milk, whereas more Shaoguan children were sensitized to seafood, nuts and seeds, fruit, vegetables, legumes and cereals. High consumption of milk (OR 2.604, 95 CI% 1.569-4.322, P < 0.001) and vegetables (OR 0.382, 95% CI 0.180-0.809, P = 0.012) were positively and reversely associated with asthma, respectively. Difference in prevalence of asthma but not food allergy was observed. Diets of schoolchildren are affected by disease-related modification and country's urbanization. High vegetable intake and low milk intake might protect against asthma.

Food consumption rated by quality index diet (IQD) in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Conclusion IQD, referenced by 24HR and applied as a tool for nutritional assessment showed that the diet was considered inadequate or in need of adjustment in half of the pregnant population evaluated. These inadequacies were related to low intake of vegetables and milk and milk products. These Results indicate the need to prioritize educational prenatal, to encourage the consumption of vegetables and dairy products among these pregnant women with GDM.

Social support and dairy products intake among adolescents: a study from Iran

BackgroundAdequate daily milk and dairy products intake seems to an important for adolescents’ health. This study aimed to identify the high-risk group adolescents who did not meet the recommended daily serving milk and dairy products and indeed to find out associated factors relating to their nutrition behaviors.MethodsThis cross sectional study was carried out on 7th grade students, in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan province, Iran. An anonymous self–administrated questionnaire including items on perceived social support, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors was administered. In addition a valid food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) measuring daily milk products serving intake as a main outcome measure was completed for each respondent. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine the association between milk and dairy products consumption and independents variables.ResultsIn all 402 students (51.5 % female) participated in the study. The mean age of students was 12.9 (SD = 0.49) years. The average daily intake of milk and dairy products was 1.64 (SD = 0.78) servings per day. Overall 14.2 % of adolescents (18.8 % of girls, and 9.2 % of boys, p = 0.006) reported consumption of the recommended daily milk and dairy products serving per day. The results indicated that gender boys (OR for boys = 2.41, 95 % CI = 1.25–4.67), mother age (OR for age group 40–55 years = 2.52, 95 % CI = 1.18–5.38), poor perceived emotional family support, (OR = 1.10, 95 % CI = 1.05–3.61), and poor perceived practical family support (OR = 2.04, 95 % CI = 1.18–4.17) were the most significant contributing factors to low level milk and dairy products intake in adolescents.ConclusionThe findings indicated that adolescents did not take the recommended daily amount of milk and dairy products and this appeared to be strongly related to low perceived family support. To achieve the recommended daily milk and dairy products serving consumption, family involvements in any programs that specifically address emotional and practical support for promoting daily milk and dairy products intake among adolescents are suggested.

Dyslipidemia patterns are differentially associated with dietary factors

Dyslipidemia, a strong predictor of cardiovascular diseases, is prevalent among Korean adults, but little is known about the associations between overall lipid profiles and dietary factors. We identified dyslipidemia patterns among lipid indicators and examined dietary factors associated with dyslipidemia patterns in Korean adults. Subjects in this cross-sectional study were recruited from the Family Medicine Division or the Health Examination Center of the general hospital in Seoul between 2010 and 2012. Measurements of biochemical and dietary variables repeated three times were collected from a total of 138 subjects at 3- to 4-month intervals when the subjects visited the hospital. Dietary intake data were obtained using 24-hrecalls. In order to estimate typical values for biochemical and dietary variables, the averages of repeated measures for each subject were calculated. To identify dyslipidemia patterns, factor analysis was used based on total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC). Two dyslipidemia patterns, (1) TC & LDLC and (2) TG & HDLC, were identified. Dietary fat and cholesterol intakes were positively associated with the TC & LDLC pattern score, but not associated with the TG & HDLC pattern score. The TG & HDLC pattern was significantly associated with low intakes of calcium, potassium, milk and dairy products. Two dyslipidemia patterns were associated with dietary factors in Korean adults. Further studies should investigate specific dietary recommendations according to lipid profiles in the prevention and management of dyslipidemia in Korea.

Urinary calcium levels in women treated with calcium and vitamin D supplements

Objective: The principal aim of the study was to evaluate the calcium levels in urine in those women in treatment with calcium and vitamin D Supplements. Other objectives were to determine the association between urinary calcium levels and calcium and vitamin D ingested doses, and the relationship between the daily intake and calcium levels in urine. Methods: To achieve these objectives we determinate the calcium levels in urine collected for 24h in those women with treatment with calcium and vitamin D supplements during the last year (57 women since April 2014–December 2014). The variables measured were: age, urinary Calcium levels in urine collected for 24h (measured in mg/dl) doses of calcium and vitamin D supplements that women are taking per day, daily intake of milk (nulle: 0 UU/day; low: 1 UU/day; moderate: 2 UU/day; high: 3 UU/day or more). Results: The mean age in women included in this study was 66 with a range between 46 and 88. The 14.3% of women that are taking calcium and vitamin D supplements had a urinary calcium levels inurinegreater than250mg. The2.6%ofwomen in treatment with calcium and vitamin D supplements were taking more than 1000mg of elemental calcium per day and the 69.6%of them were taking more than 800 UU/day. We did not find significantly differences between the urinary calcium levels and the doses of calcium and/or vitamin D that these women were taking in supplements. The 51.8%of women included in this study had a nulle or low daily intake of milk and only the 1.8%of them had a high daily intake.We did not find significantly differences between the calcium levels in urine (24h) and daily intake. Conclusions: Only a very low percentage of women in treatmentwith calcium and/or vitaminD supplements had pathological urinary calcium levels (≥250mg/dl) after a year. We did not find that a higher intake of calcium and vitamin D supplements were correlated with elevated urinary calcium levels.

Nutritional profile and obesity: results from a random-sample population-based study in Córdoba, Argentina.

Obesity is a chronic, heterogeneous, multifactorial disease, which has sharply increased in prevalence in both developed and developing countries. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of obesity and to identify socio-demographic risk factors associated with it, with special emphasis on diet. Nutritional status, demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and food consumption patterns derived from a Food Frequency Questionnaire were investigated. Exhaustive exploratory analyses were performed in order to describe dietary patterns, and logistic regression models were used for odds ratio estimation. The study included 4328 subjects, over 18 years old and resident in Cordoba city. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 34 and 17 %, respectively, with 60 % in men and 45 % in women of BMI ≥ 25. Obesity risk factors were high intake of sodium, refined grains, starchy vegetables, and snacks. A lower risk of overweight and obesity was associated with an adequate, moderate intake of meats, eggs, alcoholic beverages, sugar and sweets, milk, yogurt, and pulses. A high intake of snacks, refined grains, starchy vegetables and sodium and low intake of yogurt, milk, pulses, and whole grains seem to be associated with the emergence and high prevalence of obesity in Cordoba, Argentina.

Risk factors for the development of hypokalemia in neonatal diarrheic calves.

BackgroundNeonatal diarrheic calves have a clear negative potassium balance because of intestinal losses and decreased milk intake but in the presence of acidemia, they usually show normokalemic or hyperkalemic plasma concentrations.ObjectivesTo assess whether marked hypokalemia occurs in response to the correction of acidemia and dehydration and to identify factors that are associated with this condition.AnimalsEighty‐three calves with a clinical diagnosis of neonatal diarrhea.MethodsProspective cohort study. Calves were treated according to a clinical protocol using an oral electrolyte solution and commercially available packages of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate, 0.9% saline and 40% dextrose infusion solutions.ResultsThe proportion of hypokalemic calves after 24 hours of treatment (19.3%) was twice as great as it was on admission to the hospital. Plasma K+ after 24 hours of treatment was not significantly correlated to venous blood pH values at the same time but positively correlated to venous blood pH values on admission (r = 0.51, P < .001). Base excess on admission (Odds ratio [OR] = 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70–0.94), duration of diarrhea (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.05–1.80), milk intake during hospitalization (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.37–0.79) and plasma sodium concentrations after 24 hours (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.01–1.25) were identified to be independently associated (P < .05) with a hypokalemic state after 24 hours of treatment.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceFindings of this study suggest that marked depletion of body potassium stores is evident in diarrheic calves that suffered from marked metabolic acidosis, have a low milk intake and a long history of diarrhea.

Energy drink consumption is associated with unhealthy dietary behaviours among college youth.

Energy drink consumption has been associated with a variety of health risk behaviours, yet little research has explored the relationship between energy drinks and dietary behaviours of emerging adults. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between energy drink consumption and dietary behaviours among energy drink users and non-users within a sample of college youth. College freshmen (n = 585, m age = 18.7 years; 47% non-Hispanic White, 20.9% Hispanic, 25.5% Asian, 2.7% non-Hispanic Black and 4.4% other; 56% female), at a large, southwest university self-reported their energy drink consumption in the past week and a variety of dietary behaviours, including past week soda, diet soda, pre-packaged salty snacks, pre-packaged sweet snacks, fast food, restaurant food, frozen food, fruits, vegetables, milk and breakfast consumption. Linear regression analyses were run to determine associations between energy drink consumption and dietary behaviour among users and non-users of energy drinks. Analyses controlled for gender, race/ethnicity and body mass index (BMI). Overall, 17.5% of students had consumed energy drinks in the past week. Energy drink users were more likely to be male, White and have a greater BMI. Students also reported low past week intake of fruits, vegetables, milk and breakfast. Past week energy drink consumption was associated with increased soda and frozen meal consumption. Given a rapidly expanding energy drink market, future dietary interventions among college youth may want to consider the implications of energy drinks, as results of this study suggest consumption of these beverages is associated with unhealthy dietary behaviours and a greater BMI.

Dairy Product Consumption in French Children in 2010

Dairy food consumption is important for children as it contributes to the intake of key nutrients, especially calcium. The aim of the present paper is to provide an overview of dairy products consumption for French children, according to age, sex and type of dairy products. Adequacy of dairy and calcium intakes in line with French national guidelines “3 portions of dairy products per day” were also evaluated. Data were extracted and analyzed from the CCAF—Comportementet Consommations Alimentairesen France-study. Seven-day questionnaires were administered to free-living individuals from autumn 2009 to summer 2010. Subjects were children (n = 1171) aged 3 - 17 years. Dairy products contributed substantially to the intake of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, vitamin B2 and vitamin B12. A general decrease in DP consumption has been observed since 2003. This is most notably due to a lower milk intake which is not compensated by increased cheese or fresh dairy products. Most of children (67%), and up to 73% of adolescents (15 - 17 y), did not reach the recommended “3 servings of dairy products per day”. Twenty percent of children from the age of 6 and nearly 2/3 of female adolescents did not reach their estimated average requirement for calcium. The overview of French dairy food consumption during childhood, of particular Public Health concern, emphasizes the need to encourage dairy consumption and particularly milk consumption at breakfast in order to maintain a nutrient adequacy in children and adolescents.

Low intake of calcium and vitamin D, but not zinc, iron or vitamin A, is associated with stunting in 2- to 5-year-old children

ObjectivesThis cross-sectional study examined the nutritional factors associated with the high levels of stunting in 2- to 5-y-old children in an impoverished South African setting where liver is frequently eaten and vitamin A deficiency known to be absent. MethodsChildren's dietary intake was assessed by a single 24-h recall. Heights and weights were measured and information was obtained on breast-feeding history, the child's habitual milk intake, as well as substance use by the mother during pregnancy (n = 150). ResultsThe overall prevalence of stunting was 36.9% (CI 29.2, 44.6) and increased with age, being 49% in the 4- to 5-y-old age category. Birth weight correlated significantly with height-for-age z-scores (HAZ; r = 0.250, P = 0.003), and was lower in children whose mothers smoked and used alcohol during pregnancy than in children whose mothers abstained (P < 0.0001). Median intake of energy, carbohydrate and protein was adequate. Median intake for all micronutrients was at least 90% of the estimated average requirement, except for calcium, vitamin D and vitamin E, which was 21%, 15%, and 32%, respectively. Intake of fat, calcium, phosphorous, vitamin D, riboflavin, and vitamin B12 (nutrients that typically occur in milk) was significantly lower in stunted than in non-stunted children (P < 0.05). When excluding children with low birth weight, intake of calcium, vitamin D, and riboflavin were still significantly lower (P < 0.05). HAZ was higher in children who habitually drank milk compared to those who did not (P = 0.003). ConclusionsInadequate calcium and vitamin D intake, presumably because of low intake of milk after weaning, may have contributed to stunting in this population.

Pattern of beverage intake and milk and dairy products sufficiency among high-school students in Kuwait

High consumption of soft drinks has been associated with lower intakes of milk and calcium-rich foods and higher body mass index (BMI). This study aimed to explore the pattern of beverage intake among Kuwaiti high-school students. A questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning beverages and milk and dairy products intake was completed by 190 Kuwaiti students aged 16-18 years and BMI was calculated for 181 of them. Intake of sweetened carbonated beverages and to a lesser extent packaged fruit juices affected the sufficiency of milk and dairy products intake among the sample of high-school students in Kuwait. Although BMI was not related to milk and dairy insufficiency, more of the overweight and obese students displayed incorrect practices. Nutritional education of high-school students on the importance of milk and dairy products as well as the hazards of excess sweetened carbonated beverages and packaged juice is recommended to prevent the obesity epidemic prevailing in Kuwait.

A dietary pattern rich in lignans, quercetin and resveratrol decreases the risk of oesophageal cancer.

Dietary lignans, quercetin and resveratrol have oestrogenic properties, and animal studies suggest that they synergistically decrease cancer risk. A protective effect of lignans on the development of oesophageal cancer in humans has recently been demonstrated, and the present study aimed to test whether these three phytochemicals synergistically decrease the risk of oesophageal cancer. Data from a Swedish nationwide population-based case-control study that recruited 181 cases of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), 158 cases of oesophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCC), 255 cases of gastro-oesophageal junctional adenocarcinoma (JAC) and 806 controls were analysed. Exposure data were collected through face-to-face interviews and questionnaires. The intake of lignans, quercetin and resveratrol was assessed using a sixty-three-item FFQ. Reduced-rank regression was used to assess a dietary pattern, and a simplified dietary pattern score was categorised into quintiles on the basis of the distribution among the control subjects. Unconditional multivariable logistic regression provided OR with 95% CI, adjusted for all the potential risk factors. A dietary pattern rich in lignans, quercetin and resveratrol was mainly characterised by a high intake of tea, wine, lettuce, mixed vegetables, tomatoes, and whole-grain bread and a low intake of milk. There were dose-dependent associations between simplified dietary pattern scores and all types of oesophageal cancer (all P for trend < 0.05). On comparing the highest quintiles with the lowest, the adjusted OR were found to be 0.24 (95% CI 0.12, 0.49) for OAC, 0.31 (95% CI 0.15, 0.65) for OSCC, and 0.49 (95% CI 0.28, 0.84) for JAC. The results of the present study indicate that a dietary pattern characterised by the intake of lignans, quercetin and resveratrol may play a protective role in the development of oesophageal cancer in the Swedish population.

Associations between milk intake and activity in the first days of a calf's life and later growth and health

We examined whether calves’ milk intake and activity in the days after birth predict later growth and the risk of illness. Female Holstein calves (n=130) were housed in individual pens where they were allowed ad libitum milk from birth to 5 days of age. Daily milk intakes were recorded and accelerometers attached to the calves measured time spent standing and lying down. After 5 days, calves were housed in group pens with four to nine calves per group and allowed 12L/day of milk and ad libitum hay and starter from automated feeders. Calves were weighed at birth (birth weight=BW) and at 28 days of age and health status was determined daily. Digestible energy (DE) intakes were calculated from feed intakes. During days 2–4, there were large differences among calves in the amount of milk consumed, which ranged from 7.3% BW/day (2.4L/day) to 30.5% BW/day (12L/day) with a median of 16.3% BW/day (6.7L/day). Twenty-one calves were treated for illness from days 6 to 28. These calves had lower milk intakes on days 2, 3 and 4 than calves that remained healthy (P<0.05). For the calves that did not become ill, milk intake on day 4 was correlated (r=0.29; P<0.01) with ADG from days 0 to 28 and correlated (r=0.33; P=0.03) with the residual body weight on day 28 (when birth weight and digestible energy intakes from days 5 to 28 were accounted for using multiple regression). Time spent standing from days 2 to 4 varied between calves but was not correlated with BW, milk intake during days 2–4, or weight gains to day 28 (P>0.10). Very young calves can drink large quantities of milk, and the calves that drink the largest amounts in the first days of life have greater long-term growth rates and are less likely to become ill. Milk intake may be a better sign of early calf vigour than activity levels.

Milk and Protein Intake by Pregnant Women Affects Growth of Foetus

The study assessed the effects of the daily intake of milk and protein by pregnant women on foetal growth and determined the growth pattern and velocity of growth. A total of 504 ultrasound observations from 156 respondents were collected following a cross-sectional design in the last trimester of pregnancy; majority of them were in the last month of pregnancy. De facto and purposive sampling was done, and direct interviews of affluent pregnant women were conducted. Kruskal-Wallis test shows that majority of the respondents had tendency to consume 155.65 to 465.17 mL of milk per day, resulting in better and higher foetal growth. Most respondents consumed about 50-70 g of protein per day, and the foetal growth measurements, such as abdomen-circumference, femur length, biparietal diameter, and head-circumference, on an average, were higher in the same group. Quadratic regression model exhibited that all the traits of growth pattern in Model 1 (low milk and protein intake) appeared to have more mode of decline, in contrast to Model 2 (more milk and protein intake), which shows better growth. In addition, velocity of growth pattern was obtained through the first derivative of quadratic regression of growth pattern. Moreover, 95% confidence interval calculated for regression line slope of Model 1 and Model 2 showed that the estimation point (2 B2) of Model 1 does not lay into 95% CI of Model 2; so, statistical significance assorted and also the same trend conversely hold for Model 2. The rate of growth was highly influenced by maternal milk and protein intake. These findings suggest that contribution of common nutrients or other nutritional factors present in milk and protein promote the growth of foetus.

Dairy calves’ adaptation to group housing with automated feeders

Group housing of dairy calves with automated milk feeders has likely welfare and labour saving advantages but delays in the calves adapting to the feeding system may reduce these advantages. We examined factors that influence calves’ adaptation to the feeders. In Exp. 1, 77 Holstein calves were reared in individual “baby” pens with free access to milk from a teat attached to a bucket for 5–6d after birth. Milk intakes and weight gains were recorded and accelerometers measured the time spent standing. After 6d, the calves were introduced to group pens with automated feeders. Latency to the first voluntary milk ingestion, milk intakes and weight gains were recorded. In the group pens, approx. 70% of calves ingested milk during the first voluntary visit to the milk feeder, but a large variation was found in the latency to the first voluntary ingestion of milk (10–240h). Milk intakes were significantly lower on the first day in the group pen than in the baby pens (P<0.001) and milk intake over 14d in the group pens was negatively correlated with the latency to the first voluntary milk intake in the group pen (r=−0.29, P=0.02). Latency to the first voluntary milk intake in the group pen was negatively correlated with body weight at introduction to the group pen (r=−0.25, P=0.05) and the duration of standing in the baby pen (r=−0.30, P=0.02). In Exp. 2, 55 Holstein calves were housed for 8–14d after birth either individually in single baby pens or as pairs in double baby pens (with milk supplied ad libitum through teats attached to buckets) and then transferred to group pens (as in Exp. 1). There were no differences between calves housed in single or double baby pens on the latency to first voluntary milk intake after group housing (P>0.10). The latency to first voluntary milk ingestion in the group pens was negatively correlated with milk intake over 6d in the group pens (r=−0.38, P=0.03). When data from the two experiments were combined, latency to the first milk intake in the group pens was negatively correlated with age at time of introduction to the group pens (r=−0.23, P=0.009) and duration of standing in the baby pens (r=−0.21, P=0.02). There are large differences between calves in how quickly they learn to use automated milk feeders and a delay in learning to use the feeder is associated with lower milk intakes over 1–2 weeks. Pair housing immediately after birth did not help. Younger calves at the time of introduction are more likely to take longer to adapt than older calves but many 6d old calves adapt quickly, especially those that show high vigour in the first week after birth.

Evaluation of the dietary pattern of patients with type 2 diabetes in Northern Jordan: An inconvenient truth!

This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the dietary profile of patients with type 2 diabetes in northern Jordan. 750 patients aged between 22 and 84 years were recruited from the endocrinology clinics at King Abdulla University Hospital in northern Jordan. Dietary assessment was performed using valid semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Glycosylated hemoglobin, height, body weight and waist circumference were measured. Both, males and females, failed to meet the recommended target of glycosylated hemoglobin, BMI, and waist circumference. Patients reported high intakes of fruits (~4.5 servings/day) and grains (~17 servings/day); enough intakes of vegetables (~4 servings/day) and low intakes of milk (~1.5 servings/day), meat and beans (~1 serving/day). High intakes of fiber, simple sugar and sodium were observed. Macronutrient contribution to daily caloric consumption was 65 % from carbohydrates, 13 % protein, and 29 % fat (distributed as 8 % from saturated fat, 14 % from monounsaturated fat, and 3.5 % from polyunsaturated fat). In conclusion, the dietary profile for diabetic patients in Jordan failed to meet the recommendations in several aspects including, high consumption of carbohydrates, sugar, and sodium; and low intake of PUFA.

Intake of milk, but not total dairy, yogurt, or cheese, is negatively associated with the clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents

Epidemiologic studies have reported an inverse association between dairy product consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults, but this relation is relatively unexplored in adolescents. We hypothesized that a higher dairy product intake is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk factor clustering in adolescents. To test this hypothesis, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 494 adolescents aged 15 to 18 years from the Azorean Archipelago, Portugal. We measured fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, body fat, and cardiorespiratory fitness. We also calculated homeostatic model assessment and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio. For each one of these variables, a z score was computed using age and sex. A cardiometabolic risk score (CMRS) was constructed by summing up the z scores of all individual risk factors. High risk was considered to exist when an individual had at least 1 SD from this score. Diet was evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire, and the intake of total dairy (included milk, yogurt, and cheese), milk, yogurt, and cheese was categorized as low (equal to or below the median of the total sample) or “appropriate” (above the median of the total sample).The association between dairy product intake and CMRS was evaluated using separate logistic regression, and the results were adjusted for confounders. Adolescents with high milk intake had lower CMRS, compared with those with low intake (10.6% vs 18.1%, P = .018). Adolescents with appropriate milk intake were less likely to have high CMRS than those with low milk intake (odds ratio, 0.531; 95% confidence interval, 0.302-0.931). No association was found between CMRS and total dairy, yogurt, and cheese intake. Only milk intake seems to be inversely related to CMRS in adolescents.

Hip fracture risk assessment: artificial neural network outperforms conditional logistic regression in an age- and sex-matched case control study

BackgroundOsteoporotic hip fractures with a significant morbidity and excess mortality among the elderly have imposed huge health and economic burdens on societies worldwide. In this age- and sex-matched case control study, we examined the risk factors of hip fractures and assessed the fracture risk by conditional logistic regression (CLR) and ensemble artificial neural network (ANN). The performances of these two classifiers were compared.MethodsThe study population consisted of 217 pairs (149 women and 68 men) of fractures and controls with an age older than 60 years. All the participants were interviewed with the same standardized questionnaire including questions on 66 risk factors in 12 categories. Univariate CLR analysis was initially conducted to examine the unadjusted odds ratio of all potential risk factors. The significant risk factors were then tested by multivariate analyses. For fracture risk assessment, the participants were randomly divided into modeling and testing datasets for 10-fold cross validation analyses. The predicting models built by CLR and ANN in modeling datasets were applied to testing datasets for generalization study. The performances, including discrimination and calibration, were compared with non-parametric Wilcoxon tests.ResultsIn univariate CLR analyses, 16 variables achieved significant level, and six of them remained significant in multivariate analyses, including low T score, low BMI, low MMSE score, milk intake, walking difficulty, and significant fall at home. For discrimination, ANN outperformed CLR in both 16- and 6-variable analyses in modeling and testing datasets (p?<?0.005). For calibration, ANN outperformed CLR only in 16-variable analyses in modeling and testing datasets (p?=?0.013 and 0.047, respectively).ConclusionsThe risk factors of hip fracture are more personal than environmental. With adequate model construction, ANN may outperform CLR in both discrimination and calibration. ANN seems to have not been developed to its full potential and efforts should be made to improve its performance.

Diets of drinkers on drinking and nondrinking days: NHANES 2003–2008

Alcohol may affect dietary intake. However, little is known about diets on drinking days in the US population. We determined whether the diets of drinkers differ on drinking compared with nondrinking days. Data were from the 2003-2008 NHANES Mobile Examination Center interview. We identified 1864 current drinkers (1126 men and 738 women) who completed two 24-h dietary recalls, one of which was on a drinking day and the other of which was on a nondrinking day. Sex-specific repeated-measures analyses that were adjusted for dietary recall order and recall day of the week were used to compare within-individual differences in energy, nutrient, and food-group intakes. Analyses were weighted to produce representative estimates. On their drinking (compared with nondrinking) days, men consumed an excess 168 nonalcohol kcal (P < 0.01), which was reflected in higher intakes of nutrients including total protein (P < 0.001), total fat (P < 0.01), saturated fat (P < 0.01), monounsaturated fat (P < 0.01), potassium (P < 0.001), and sodium (P < 0.05). Men also had higher intakes of food groups including meat (P < 0.001), white potatoes (P < 0.05), and discretionary oil and solid fat (P < 0.05) and lower intakes of total fruit (P < 0.05) and milk (P < 0.05). Women did not consume excess nonalcohol kilocalories but had higher intakes of total fat (P < 0.05), monounsaturated fat (P < 0.05), polyunsaturated fat (P < 0.05), potassium (P < 0.01), and discretionary oil and solid fat (P < 0.05) and lower intakes of milk (P < 0.01) and milk products (P < 0.01). These mostly moderate drinkers had poorer diets on drinking days. Same-day associations between alcohol and diet could be useful targets for public health efforts to improve dietary intake.

Iodine status in schoolchildren living in northeast italy:the importance of iodized-salt use and milk consumption

The aims of the study were: (i) to determine iodine status of schoolchildren living in northeast Italy; (ii) to assess dietary habits and iodine status and (iii) to investigate the level of knowledge concerning iodine sufficiency and ways to ameliorate iodine status. One thousand three hundred seventy-five consecutive 12-13 year-old completed questionnaires collecting demographic data and information about the use of iodized salt and food frequency habits. Iodine concentration in urine samples (UIC) and in commercially available milk samples has been measured. The median UIC was found to be 81 μg/l (95% confidence interval (CI) 74-87); 40% of the subjects had an UIC of ≥ 100 μg/l. Iodine deficiency was prevalent in subjects living in hilly areas. Median iodine concentration in milk was 264 μg/l. Only the combined use of iodized salt plus daily milk normalized UIC, resulting into a median value of 108 μg/l. A logistic regression model confirmed independent associations between low UIC and low intake of milk, use of non-iodized salt and geographical location (P<0.0001). Only 45% of the subjects were aware of the importance of iodine. Northeast Italy is still characterized by mild iodine deficiency. An adequate iodine status was achieved only when iodized salt was combined with daily milk intake. The national iodine prophylaxis program has led to greater consumption of iodized salt and, it is now used in 60-70% of the Italian households. The low level of awareness highlights the need for public programs to promote knowledge and efforts to improve iodine status.