Exercised and health Physical exercise is good for us, and is said to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer of the colon. It is curious that in any list of reduced risk whatever the pre disposing element is , cancer of the colon is on the list.Walking even at…
Read moreIn the Brit Journal of Nutrition ( 2007, 97, 1049-1050 ) there is an interesting review by Poppitt on the cholesterol lowering properties of soluble oat fibre and β-glucans. The potential for a reduction in cardiovascular risk with a high intake of dietary fibre was originally suggested by Ancel Keys and colleagues in the Journal…
Read moreIn poor countries , some 1.2 billion people are infected by roundworms, more than 700 million by hookworm or whipworm. This high prevalence has much to do with the disposal of faecal material.The burden on physical and cognitive development in children is substantial. Anaemia is also a problem. 15-25% of anaemia in East Africa is…
Read moreFood fortificationIn the British Journal of Nutrition there is a commentary and an article on the benefits of this in Ireland.Micronutrient malnutrition is a prime cause of ill health, iron , zinc and vitamin A and D , vitamin C and Vitamin B2 being prime examples.Obviously a sufficient healthy diet is the answer which is…
Read moreThere is great attachment to biological modelling. When it works it is great but many have fallen by the way sideHall in Brit J of Nutrition 2007, 97, 1059-63 ( Body fat and free fat mass inter-relationships :Forbes theory revisited. Twenty years ago Forbes suggested that body fat mass and fat free mass are in…
Read moreThe popular use of epidemiology in nutrition requires that the tools used are accurate. If conclusions are drawn for associations between dietary intake and other variables the whole study is flawed when the results are incorrect.Estimating under-reporting of energy intake in dietary surveys using an individualised methodRennie et al British Journal of Nutrition , 2007,…
Read moreThe role of some nutrients in metabolism is explained by their anti-oxidant influence on the molecular biological framework of the cell. This very useful series of reviewsIn Nature 2007, vol 447, pp 923-958give an insight into the systems which antioxidants might be protecting. A really good read. Replication and protection of telomeres R.E. Verdun SJ.Karlseder…
Read moreThe role of raised total plasma homocysteine concentrations and cardiovascular disease is not proving to be as clear cut as originally hoped. Whilst raised total plasma homocysteine concentrations are associated with cardiovascular disease in observational studies, clinical trials have not realised these expectations, raising the possibility that raised total plasma homocysteine concentrations are innocent bystanders.Several…
Read moreThis is strictly not nutrition but the concepts are very relevant to nutrition and important slowly evolving disease conditions.Black et al looked at the use of Once yearly infusions of zoledronic acid for the treatment of postmenopansal osteoporosis. N Engl Med. 2007:356:1809-22Oral bisphosphonates help prevent fractures in postmenopausal women, but they can be inconvenient to…
Read moreOsteoporosis is a major public health problem through its association with age-related fractures. Bone mineral density (BMD) is an important determinant of fracture risk, with an approximate doubling of fracture risk for every 1 SD reduction in BMD. Low bone mineral density is also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in postmenopausal women,…
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