The value of growth monitoring in infants is discussed at length in an important review by Ashworth et al (2008) Maternal & Child Nutrition vol 4 pp 86-117The rationale for growth monitoring and promotion is almost self evident, but is it?. The concerns are based on low participation rates, poor health worker performance and inadequacies…
Read moreMany studies have shown that a Mediterranean diet has a role in prevention of cardiovascular disease, and some suggest that it could also protect against diabetes. Protective characteristics include a high intake of fibre, a high intake of vegetable fat, a low intake of trans fatty acids, a moderate intake of alcohol, and the abundant…
Read moreThere is no doubt that obesity is a real community problem. An elegant study of Swedish Army Conscripts gives further evidence of the change in fitness in a progressive country. Neovius et al( 2008 ) Shift in the composition of obesity in young adult men in Sweden over a third of a century International Journal…
Read moreThis paper Andersen et al ( 2008 ) Pakistani immigrant children and adults in Denmark have severely low vitamin D status Eur J Clin Nutr 62: 625-634is an important paper in that here is further underlining of th need to monitor the health of immigrants . Especially in this case where the climate is so…
Read moreThis is very important review by Stanga et al on the refeeding of very sick patients. Worsening the problem is not a good stategy. Stanga et al ( 2008) (2008) Nutrition in clinical practice—the refeeding syndrome: illustrative cases and guidelines for prevention and treatmentEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition 62, 687–694; The Refeeding syndrome is a…
Read moreWhen I was taught anatomy, we the heirs of the EB Jamieson tradition were left in no doubt that muscles, nerves, arteries and veins occupied fixed positions in the body. Once transplantation became common this was shown not to be the case. There were variables eg two renal arteries.Similarly biochemistry has been taught as a…
Read moreThe balance between nature and nurture and the development of disease is complex. Nutrition clearly has a major role in the health of an individual.However infections are another major factor.An article in Nature Kaufmann 2008, Deadly combination Nature vol 453 p 295-6describes that not only does the genetic make up of the individual dictate vulnerability…
Read moreOne of the best programmes on the BBC is Melvyn Braggs In our Time. Full of knowledge and wisdom. There is also a wonderful newsletter that comes from his broadcast.This programe on 29th May talks of chaos theory, of great relevance to biology.Marcus du Sautoy pointed out that probability comes into play when picking numbers…
Read moreTwo factors contribute to an increase in fat mass: the number of fat cells and how much fat each of these cells stores (their volume). Spalding and colleagues studied the dynamics of fat-cell number in some 700 adults, both lean and obese, and combined their data with previous observations in children and adolescents.Irrespective of weight,…
Read moreThis book discusses a familiar them. That the World cannot sustain increasing numbers. That the food will run out.The present crisis in fuel is maybe a fore taste. Who knows but this book is worth looking at. The End of Foodby Paul RobertsHoughton Mifflin,Paul Roberts writes “On nearly every level, we are reaching the end…
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