Nutrition Newsletter
FALL 1999
I hope that all of you had a healthy, fun, and productive summer. I'm back to providing the Nutrition newsletter on my own since Mark Tamplin resigned. I'll include Food safety information in each newsletter to keep you updated. Happy Fall!Linda B. Bobroff, Ph.D., R.D., LD/N, Food and Nutrition
The bizarre audiotape, Dead Doctors Don't Lie continues to have repercussions around the globe. Although facts discrediting Joel Wallach's lies have been widely disseminated on the Internet and in media reports, we [NCAHF] are still being contacted by people who are hearing the Dead Doctors Don't Lie tape for the first time.The most recent contribution to the body of counter information is offered by Donald Davis, PhD, of the University of Texas at Austin. Davis located "Senate Document 264" cited by Wallach as evidence that 99% of Americans are deficient in minerals. It turns out that the "document" is nothing more than the reprinting of a highly speculative article about a passing fad written by a Florida farmer in June, 1936, issue of Cosmopolitan magazine as requested by Florida's Senator Fletcher. Fletcher died 16 days after requesting that the government printing office reprint the article.Davis presented his findings in the November, 1997 Townsend Letter. Davis contacted NCAHF in January [1998] and reported that Wallach was continuing to promote this erroneous document as fact on at least 40 radio stations throughout the nation. NCAHF has received inquires from abroad about Wallach's audiotape, asking for information on its veracity. Wallach's lies appear to have become a modern, urban legend.Reprinted with permission from: NCAHF Newsletter, 21(1), Jan.-Feb. 1998.http://www.ncahf.org/newslett/nl21-1.html
[Also see article on Page 10.]Pycnogenol, a product derived from pine bark, has been touted as a miracle medicine for several years. The name is the registered trademark of a British company.Reliable information on its real value has been difficult to get because the published literature has been generated largely by people with an interest in its financial success. There seems to be no dispute that the substance has antioxidant effects, but the significance of this is uncertain. The FDA says that there is no evidence that Pycnogenol is effective against any disease.Reprinted with permission from: NCAHF Newsletter, 21(1), Jan.-Feb. 1998.http://www.ncahf.org/newslett/nl21-1.html
According to promotional literature, Calorad is made from hydrolyzed cow collagen. Collagen is not a complete protein. Total reliance upon this type of protein can be disastrous.In the late 1970s, a book called The last Chance Diet, written by Robert Linn, DO, promoted and popularized the use of liquid protein as a weight loss aid. The liquid protein involved was hydrolyzed cow collagen. Many people died while on the diet which led to a national uproar at the time.If a person were to use such products in a limited way, and had a source of complete protein in his/her diet, he/she would probably be all right. Calorad appears to be another weight loss aid that works as long as one follows the food intake restrictions associated with it. When one can no longer stand the restrictions, however, the weight comes creeping back.In our opinion, Calorad should be viewed as another dubious product with the added potential for serious protein malnutrition if relied upon totally.Reprinted with permission from: NCAHF Newsletter, 21(1), Jan.-Feb. 1998.http://www.ncahf.org/newslett/nl21-1.html
DHEA proponent and author of DHEA: A Practical Guide, by Dr. Ray Sahelian, says that he has become aware of a few cases in which DHEA users have developed cardiac arrhythmia at dosages of 25 and 50 mg. Although case histories do not establish a direct relationship, Sahelian is urging health food stores not to reorder 50 mg bottles, and perhaps to even discontinue the 25 mg size until more information is available.Source: NNFA Today October 1997, p. 8.MORE ON THE BUTTER VERSUS MARGARINE DEBATE
Margarines have the ability to lower both total and LDL serum cholesterol. At the same time, they can also lower beneficial HDL. In fact, a recent study found that stick margarine, in comparison to vegetable oil, softer margarines and shortening, may be worse than butter when it comes to the overall impact on serum cholesterol levels. This finding has led to recent headlines such as "Study Rates Stick Margarine as Unhealthiest" and "Margarine Can Be Just as Harmful as Butter, If Not Worse." So once again, we are faced with the question, "should people switch back to butter?"A closer look at the study, as well as updated information on margarine, suggests not. The study involved 18 women and 18 men. They ate six different diets in random order for 35 days, with each diet containing one of the following types of fat: soybean oil, semiliquid margarine, soft margarine, shortening, stick margarine or butter. Not surprisingly, the softer fats, which are low in both trans fatty acids and saturated fat, had the most beneficial impact on serum cholesterol levels. So rather than switch back to butter, the author says their results suggest "that both the general public and patients with hyper-cholesterolemia should be encouraged to use vegetable oil in its natural state or after minimal hydrogenation and to use products made from this type of oil."In response to the study, the National Association of Margarine Manufacturers (NAMM) issued a report noting that margarine products have been dramatically reduced in total fat, saturated fat and trans fat over the past decade. They say the study did not use products representative of today's stick margarine products. NAMM also notes that margarine's contribution of trans fat is minuscule. "Recent research indicates that trans fat represents only 2.6% of the average daily diet (5.3 grams per day) from all sources. Of that, today's margarine contributes less than 1 gram of trans fat, a mere eight calories- which is insignificant in a typical 2,000 calorie diet." More information on the report is available at:Some health professionals are concerned that the message from recent studies on trans fats might send consumers back to butter, which has high amounts of saturated fat, "just to avoid a small amount of trans fat."For more on trans fatty acids, see the fact sheet "Questions and Answers about Trans Fats" from the International Food Information Council Foundation. An updated copy is available on the web at:http://www.ific.org/publications/qa/transqa.cfm
ReferencesLichtenstein, A.H., et al. Effects of different forms of dietary hydrogenated fats on serum lipoprotein cholesterol levels. NEJM, 340:1993-40, 1999.Food Regulation Weekly, July 5, 1999.National Association of Margarine Manufacturers release, June 23, 1999.Reuters, June 24, 1999.Time, July 19, 1999.Source: DNS Alert, Cornell CES, July/August 1999.[Also see article on Page 9.]While the government is taking steps to improve the safety of eggs, a recent report suggests that eating eggs may not be as risky from a health standpoint as previously thought. The decade long study tracked the egg consumption of more than 100,000 men and women based on self reports. Egg consumption data were then compared with health data on the study participants. The researchers found that up to one egg a day is unlikely to impact the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke among healthy people. This is one of the few studies to examine directly the relationship of egg consumption with the risk of heart disease.The researchers looked at other factors that might influence the results. For example, egg consumption was positively associated with smoking and lower physical activity and a generally unhealthy eating pattern in men. Men and women who ate eggs were more likely to eat bacon, and men were more likely also to consume whole milk, red meat, and bread, and less likely to consume skimmed milk, chicken, vegetables and fruits. Even after considering these factors, there was still no significant association between egg consumption and risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.There was one subgroup of people in the study who showed a possible adverse relationship between egg consumption and coronary heart disease. Those with diabetes were at somewhat higher risk. The authors aren't sure of the reason for this, but suggest it may be related to abnormal cholesterol transport among patients with diabetes.Although the study contained a large number of subjects (over 37,000 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and over 80,000 women from the Nurses' Health Study), some have questioned the results because the egg consumption data were based on responses to a mailed questionnaire. This method of data collection does not allow one to know exactly how much cholesterol the subjects were consuming.In any case, this single study has not led to major revisions in any set of dietary guidelines. In fact the American Heart Association, in cooperation with several other professional organizations, just issued the Unified Dietary Guidelines which say dietary cholesterol should be limited to 300 mg or less each day. Keep in mind that one egg contains about 215 mg of cholesterol, so an egg a day can still be included within the 300 mg limit.ReferenceHu, F.B., et al., A prospective study of egg con-sumption and risk of cardiovascular disease in men and women. JAMA. 281:1387-1394, 1999.Source: DNS Alert, Cornell CES, July/August 1999.WHOLE GRAIN INTAKE AND DEATH RATES IN OLDER WOMEN
A recent study looked at the effect on mortality of eating whole grains. The Iowa Women's health Study included 38,740 Iowa women, aged 55 to 69 years. A food frequency questionnaire was used to obtain data on grain intake.Median whole grain intake quintiles ranged from a median of 0.2 to more than 3 servings per day. Women with higher intakes had healthier lifestyles and less baseline disease. The total death rate and the death rate for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other causes combined decreased in increasing quintiles. Rates of total mortality, but not cardiovascular disease mortality, were higher among those who frequently consumed refined grain foods.Refined grains contributed more than 20% of energy intake, and whole grains contributed only 1%. The authors suggest that substitution of whole grain foods for those with refined grain may reduce chronic disease risk in the United States.Source: Am J of Public Health, 1999;89:322-329.GERBER WILL NOT USE PRODUCE TREATED WITH PESTICIDES
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Gerber announced that they will bar genetically-modified crops from their products and shift to organically-grown crops. They will accept only corn and soy flour products grown without any pesticides or chemical fertilizers. They have also promised to try to use only organic, pesticide-free ingredients in their products. Gerber is a leading producer of baby food. They produce 5.5 million jars of baby food per day and have an annual worldwide sales of $1 billion.An interesting twist to this story is that Gerber is a subsidiary of one of the world's major producers of pesticides and genetically-engineered crops. Gerber stated that their decision was not an admission of any dangers in its baby food from pesticides or bioengineering. They have been under pressure from Greenpeace to make these changes.H.J. Heinz and Company and Healthy Times Foods have made similar changes in their product lines recently.Visit Chemically Speaking on the Web at:Source: Chemically Speaking, September 1999.ARE PLASTIC BABY BOTTLES UNSAFE?
The "Baby Alert" article in the May '99 Consumer Reports has fueled quite a debate. The article alleges that when infant formula is heated in polycarbonate (clear hard plastic) baby bottles, bisphenol-A leaches into the formula. The article goes on to suggest that exposure to bisphenol-A has been demonstrated to adversely affect the health of animals tested in studies conducted at the University of Missouri, Columbia, by Dr. Fredrick vom Saal. Based on testing in their own labs, the authors of the Consumer Reports' article reported "that a typical baby who drank formula sterilized by heating in the bottle would be exposed to a bisphenol-A dose of about 4 percent of an amount that had adversely affected test animals in studies by Frederick vom Saal." The article recommends that consumers dispose of all clear, shiny plastic baby bottles, unless the manufacturer tells you they're not made of polycarbonate.A Closer LookGeorge Pauli, director of the division of product policy at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said the agency is following the low dose issue closely and has seen no reason to take any actions. Regarding the bisphenol-A issue, he said, "It is troubling that people who appear in good faith to replicate (the vom Saal study) haven't been able to replicate those findings. When you have larger studies intended to replicate a smaller study, and when you do not see the effects, it certainly casts doubt on relying on one study and ignoring the larger ones."Pauli said, "with baby bottles, we haven't been able to detect bisphenol-A if we use reasonable extraction techniques." Bisphenol-A leaches from polycarbonate baby bottles only under exaggerated conditions. "If you heat a bottle with heat and liquid long enough, you can reverse the polymerization to a certain extent (causing bisphenol-A to migrate). Pauli notes that testing conditions used by Consumers Union, which included boiling the bottles with formula for 30 minutes, were not realistic.Accepted guidelines for sterilizing infant bottles call for sterilizing the bottles separate from the formula and, if necessary, sterilizing the water used in making the formula, but not the formula itself. Further, the recommendation to sterilize water and bottles is for infants under 3 months of age. After 3 months, unless otherwise indicated by a health care provider, bottles and water used for preparing infant formula do not require sterilization. It is well known that hot formula should not be fed to infants as it can lead to serious burns. Pauli's comment that Consumers Union used unreasonable and exaggerated conditions is correct; it could also be dangerous if formula made in this manner was fed to an infant. The other question consumers may ask is what if the formula is warmed in the bottle in a microwave oven, would this lead to bisphenol-A being leached into the formula? Because of the potential for hot spots, heating infant formula in a microwave oven is not recommended practice. Infants have been seriously burned while being fed liquids warmed in microwave ovens.Bottom LineFDA has evaluated food contact uses of bisphenol-A in a thorough manner, and concludes its use is safe. In other words, don't throw out the plastic baby bottles.Sources: 1) "Baby alert. New findings about plastics," Consumer Reports, May 1999, pp. 28-29. 2) "Infant Nutrition and Feeding. A Reference Handbook for Nutrition and Health Counselors in the WIC and CSF Programs," USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, 1993. 3) "FDA Unimpressed by Low Dose Claims," Endocrine/Estrogen letter, Vol. 5, No. 10 (106), May 20, 1999. 4) Statement from the American Plastics Council Regarding Consumer Reports "Baby Alert," May 1999.INFANT FORMULA RECALL
Mead Johnson Nutritionals is recalling 7,000 cases of infant formula after a labeling error resulted in at least one can of an adult nutritional supplement being mislabeled as the formula. Company officials said the 8-ounce can labeled as ProSobee infant formula actually contained the nutritional supplement Vanilla Sustacal which contains milk).The containers of ProSobee are sold in 4-pack fiberboard cartons. The batch being recalled is coded 1NOV99/PROSOB/AKN13 and was shipped to stores late last year.Consumers with questions about the recall can call the Mead Johnson Customer Resources Center at 1-888-587-7275.Source: The Food Allergy Network, June 7, 1999.NEW FOOD LABELING & HANDLING RULES PROPOSED FOR SHELL EGGS
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced three new measures to help prevent illnesses caused by contaminated eggs.
The FDA is proposing to require safe handling statements on labels of shell eggs to warn consumers about the risk of illness caused by Salmonella enteritidis. The FDA's proposed handling instructions will contain the following statement on each carton of eggs:SAFE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS: Eggs may contain harmful bacteria known to cause serious illness, especially in children, the elderly and persons with weakened immune systems. For your protection: Keep eggs refrigerated; cook eggs until yolks are firm; and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly.
In addition, for the first time there will be a uniform federal requirement that all eggs and egg products packed for consumers be refrigerated at 45 degrees or below. Beginning August 27, 1999, this rule applies to FSIS-regulated warehouses and other distribution locations that store shell eggs packed into containers destined for consumers, including transport vehicles. The rule also has been proposed for retail establishments governed by FDA. These include supermarkets, restaurants, delis, caterers, vending operations, hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. A joint FDA-FSIS risk assessment found that refrigeration makes it more difficult for Salmonella enteridis to grow.Finally, the President's Council on Food Safety will develop by November 1 a strategic plan to further improve the safety of shell eggs and processed egg products. The strategic plan will address the issue of controlling pathogens and will suggest further steps to help better coordinate egg safety from the farm to the table.Source: HHS Media Release, July 1, 1999.FDA ISSUES WARNING ABOUT SUN ORCHARD UNPASTEURIZED ORANGE JUICE BRAND PRODUCTS
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a nationwide warning to consumers against drinking unpasteurized orange juice products, both frozen and liquid, distributed under a variety of brand names by Sun orchard Inc. of Tempe, Arizona, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella muenchen, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Long-term complications can include reactive arthritis.The company has already issued a warning and undertaken a recall of the affected product. However, because of continuing reports of illness related to this product, the FDA also has issued a warning.The product comes in a variety of forms distributed to retail stores, restaurants and other dining institutions. The product sold in retail stores comes in clear plastic gallon, half-gallon, quart, pint, 12 ounce and half-pint containers. The fresh, unpasteurized orange juice has an "enjoy by date of July 7, 1999," or earlier stamped on the side. The products are identified on the labels as freshly squeezed or fresh orange juice. The following labels are involved: Sun orchard, Earls and Joey tomato's, Viola, Trader Joe's Aloha, Zupan, Markon, and Sysco.Also recalled is Fresh Margarita Mix with Fresh Orange Juice in half-gallon containers, labeled Condensed Margarita Mix, Sun orchard Inc., Tempe, AZ "Enjoy by Date 8/5/99 or earlier."In addition to these liquid retail products, a frozen form of the unpasteurized juice was sold under the brand name Vareva especially to restaurants, food services and other institutions. Therefore, the FDA recommends that consumers check their freezers for the recalled product and inquire about the source of any unpasteurized orange juice they may be served at a restaurant or other dining facility.The potential for contamination was noted after several individuals in Pacific northwest became ill after drinking the juice. Subsequent investigation confirmed the presence of Salmonella muenchen.Sun Orchard has stopped production of unpasteurized orange juice and is currently pasteurizing all of its juice products. Consumers who have purchased un-pasteurized orange juice labeled with any of the above-listed trade names are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (206) 780-8042 or (212) 213-7012.Source: FDA media Release, July 10, 1999.UNSUBSTANTIATED ASPARTAME ALARMEarlier this year an e-mail blitz left many questioning the safety of Aspartame. Nancy Markle's article linked many disease states to aspartame. The list of disease included Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, and Desert Storm Syndrome. Ms. Markle did not divulge her full name or credentials. She did mention that she spoke on this topic during the World Environmental Conference.
As expected, many articles were submitted to "set the record straight." Obviously Monsanto responded and, in summary, stated none of the symptoms Ms. Markle and her "sources" have attributed to aspartame havee been substantiated in any clinical scientific studies. Others, not affiliated with Monsanto, presented similar rebuttals.David Squillacote, M.D., Senior Medical Advisor for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, was asked to look into the allegations raised by Ms. Markle and report on them. Dr. Squillacote's summary found the series of allegations by Ms. Markle almost totally without foundation. They are rabidly inaccurate and scandalously misinformative. He found no basis for alarm about aspartame, but would recommend (based on one study) those patients being treated for depression let their physicians know they are using aspartame. He noted that one small study (which has not been repeated) did find some worsening of depression when depressed patients took large doses of aspartame. Dr. Squillacote also recommends that patients who have a documented, evaluated adverse reaction to aspartame should avoid its use.FDA approved the use of aspartame (in 1981 for use in powdered mixes and as a tabletop sweetener; in 1996 for use in all foods and beverages) and stands behind its original approval decision. However, the Agency remains ready to act if credible scientific evidence is presented to it--as would be the case for any product approved by FDA.Sources: 1) The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Aspartame (NutraSweet): No Danger, "The Inappropriate and Unsubstantiated Alarm Over Aspartame," David Squuillacote, MD, January 12, 1999. 2 http://www.nationalmssociety.org/headlines-aspartame.asp ) FDA Talk Paper, FDA Statement on Aspartame, Nov. 18, 1996. 3) Fact and Fiction, Correcting Internet Myths About NutraSweet, Monsanto Company.Other AbstractsBREASTFEEDING REDUCES PREVALENCE
OF OBESITY IN CHILDREN
ESTIMATED INTAKES OF TRANS FATTY ACIDS
There have been a number of media reports about possible harmful effects of trans fatty acids. These fatty acids are found naturally in animal products. They are also produced when oils are hydrogenated. Reports of the estimated intake of trans fatty acids vary from 2.6 grams/day to 12.8 grams/day.This study used food intake data from the 1989-1991 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII). The trans fatty acid content of food was calculated from a USDA database compiled to estimate the trans fatty acid intake of the representative US population.Trans fatty acid intakes were estimated for each of 11,258 subjects in the CSFII data who completed both a 24-hour recall and a 2-day food record.The mean percentage of energy ingested as trans fatty acids was 2.6% and the mean percentage of total fat ingested as trans fatty acids was 7.4%. Across all age and gender groups examined, estimates ranged from 2.6% to 2.8% and 7.1% to 7.9%, respectively. These estimates are on the lower side, and indicate that consumption of trans fatty acids may be less of a concern than previously thought.Reference: J Am Diet Assoc. 1999;99:166ECHINACEA AND IMMUNE FUNCTION
Echinacea, an herbal cold remedy used for centuries, does, in fact, stimulate the immune system, a University of Florida researcher has found.In the first clinical study of the popular herb's effects on healthy men, UF nutritional scientist Susan Percival found that Echinacea stimulated white blood cells, which fight infection.Dr. Percival now will expand and repeat her preliminary study with the goal of one day submitting a full-scale study proposal to the National Institutes of Health.For centuries, Echinacea, commonly known as purple coneflower, has been used by cold sufferers who believed it would reduce the severity and duration of colds because it boosts the immune system. But until now there has been little scientific evidence that it worked in people.In her preliminary study, Percival gave 10 healthy, college-age men an Echinacea supplement for four days, taking measurements of immunity on day one and day four. In just four days, she found a stimulation of the immune system in the form of a three-fold increase in the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria.She cautions that her findings do not support the practice of taking Echinacea regularly, in the absence of cold symptoms."When people are told it boosts the immune system, they believe it should be consumed at all times," Percival said. "But a stimulated immune system produces a lot of free radicals, and we know from other research that free radicals are not a good thing. We want the free radicals to kill micro-organisms, but we don't want free radicals being produced all the time because they will damage healthy tissues.""Because we don't have the scientific studies, we don't understand yet the mechanism of how Echinacea works," Percival said. "So it's important that consumers understand Echinacea should not be taken chronically. It would do more harm than good, taken regularly. Echinacea is only really going to be helpful at the first sign of symptoms of illness."The boom in popularity of herbal and botanical remedies began in 1994, when Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in response to consumer demand. The law allowed dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs and botanicals to be marketed without federal pre-market safety and efficacy evaluations. The labels cannot make claims about a disease, but they can claim to "enhance" or "boost" a bodily function.With the market flooded with herbs and botanicals making claims, the NIH has emphasized research to determine if the substances do what they claim to do."Echinacea has been alleged to help cure the common cold. People have felt that it shortens the duration of colds, makes them have fewer, milder symptoms of illness, so it's a natural herb for me to study," Percival said. "But Echinacea is only one of thousands of botanicals that should be studied."Consumers wanted the 1994 law because they wanted unrestricted access to herbs and botanicals. The popular supplements give consumers the option of maintaining their own health, without doctor visits or prescriptions. The manufacturers, when asked, must supply studies to back their claims. But so many manufacturers use anecdotal or case studies, some from overseas, that the NIH decided to support controlled U.S. experiments, Percival said."Echinacea is a plant, an herb. It is very complex. It has all kinds of chemicals, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. There are thousands of things in this one herb that could be enhancing immune function."That's the important thing to find out, the mechanism by which these changes occur," Percival said. "We don't know yet. We just know that it happens."Source: Newsline UF/IFAS, Summer, 1999.NEUROPSYCHOLOGIC AND NEUROPHYSIOLOGIC EFFECTS OF ASPARTAME
Large daily doses of aspartame had no neuropsychologic, neurophysiologic, or behavioral effects in healthy young adults. Forty-eight volunteers avoided use of aspartame for 1 month. They then drank sodas and took capsules that contained placebo (no sweetener), aspartame (45 or 15 mg/kg body weight), or sucrose for 20 days each in random order. Neuropsychologic and laboratory testing was done on days 10 and 20 of each treatment period to evaluate acute and chronic effects.Plasma phenylalanine concentration increased significantly when subjects received aspartame. Phenylalanine is an amino acid found in food proteins, and a breakdown product of aspartame. The researchers found no differences among treatments in neurophysiologic function, adverse experiences, plasma amino acids (except phenylalanine), insulin, glucose or electro-encephalogram.Neuropsychologic function (evaluated using standardized tests of mood, attention span, memory, learning ability, motor responses, and behavior); adverse experiences (head-ache, fatigue, nausea, acne, irritability, poor cognition, emotionality, poor appetite, and sleeplessness); plasma levels of amino acids (except phenylalanine), insulin, and glucose; and electroencephalogram results did not differ significantly between treatments on days 10 or 20.Reference: J Am Dietetic Assoc: 1998;68, 237.BODY COMPOSITION AND DISABILITY IN OLDER ADULTS
Body fat level is an independent predictor of mobility-related disability in older men and women. The relationship between body composition (fat mass and fat-free mass, assessed using bioelectrical impedance) and self-reported, mobility-related disability (difficulty walking or climbing stairs) was examined in 2,714 women and 2,095 men (aged 65 to 100 years) who participated in the Cardiovascular Health Study.At baseline (1989 to 1990), disability was reported by 26.5% of women and 16.9% of men. Those with a higher fat mass were 2 to 3 times more likely to have a disability at baseline. Among subjects who did not report disability at baseline, 20.3% of women and 14.8% of men reported disability 3 years later. Fat mass at baseline was positively related to disability 3 years later. Interestingly, disability was not related to age, physical activity level, chronic disease, or other potential confounding variables.Source: J. Am Dietetic Assoc. 1999;99(2).SERUM VITAMIN E
Data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) suggest that many U.S. adults have low serum alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) levels. This may place them at increased risk of chronic diseases that are associated with low levels of this antioxidant.A recent review of data from NHANES III indicates that close to 16,300 U.S. adults 18 years or older (27%) had low serum vitamin E concentrations. This was defined as less than 20 micromoles per liter. Researchers found that 26% of the Whites, 41% of the African Americans, 28% of the Mexican Americans, and 32% of other participants had this low blood level of vitamin E.It is significant that African Americans had the lowest vitamin E concentrations of all racial and ethnic groups. This is true especially because African Americans are at high risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and cancer. African Americans may benefit from increasing their intake of vitamin E.Source: Am J Epidemiol 1999;150:290-300.For Your Information
NEW HUNGER STATISTICS RELEASED BY USDA
New data recently released by the USDA in its Advance Report on Household Food Security in the United States, 1995-1998, suggests that despite the strength of the national economy, hunger remains a serious problem for a sizeable number of Americans. This study, which will be followed by two longer final reports later this year, provides preliminary information on national rates of food insecurity and hunger for the period 1995 to 1998. Some of the statistics contained in the report include:- In 1998, approximately 36 million people in 10.5 million households across the country experienced food insecurity, meaning that they did not have adequate access to enough food for a healthy, active life.
- 19.7% of children lived in food insecure households, up from 17.4% in 1995.
- Some households are at much greater risk of hunger than others. The prevalence of hunger was above average for households with children, especially those led by single women, minorities, and households with income below the poverty line.
For a summary analyses of the report's preliminary results, contact the Food Security Institute at the Center on Hunger and Poverty at:
(617) 627-3956 (Telephone)
(617) 627-3020 (Fax)
dseavey@infonet.tufts.edu (e-mail)
Source: The USDA national Hunger Clearinghouse, World Hunger Year, United States Department of Agriculture. 1-800-GLEAN-ITSCHOOL BREAKFAST JUMP START KIT
It's time help get children off to a healthy and nutritious start of the school year, and promoting the USDA's School Breakfast program in your community should be an integral part of that effort. Some 7.2 million children in 70,000 schools nationwide begin their day with free or reduced price school breakfast. This program not only provides a delicious start to the day, but it also helps to improve children's performance in school. Recent studies have proven that children who participate in the program have significantly higher standardized test scores than non-participants. However, there are a range of issues that prevent school districts from implementing the program, including transportation logistics and lack of high school participation. To help overcome these problems, a group of food service professionals, school principals, and other experts developed a School Breakfast Jump Start Kit to encourage participation in the program through a series of innovative strategies. This kit is now available to interested nutritionists, administrators, and food service directors who want to "jump start" into improved childhood nutrition through school breakfast. For general information about the School Breakfast program, check out the USDA Web site at:http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Breakfast/
To order a copy of the kit, contact the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Northeast Region Office of Public Affairs at (617) 371-0934.
Source: The USDA national Hunger Clearinghouse, World Hunger Year, United States Department of Agriculture. 1-800-GLEAN-ITNATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH®
ADA's National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics has selected Food & Fitness: Health for a Lifetime as the theme for National Nutrition Month® 2000 (NNM). This theme emphasizes the importance of proper nutrition and physical activity at every stage of life.Key messages in this year's campaign- Healthy eating fuels physical activity at every stage of life.
- Food and physical activity choices are personal.
- Food is a source of pleasure and good taste.
- Staying fit improves your chances for a higher quality of life.
- -improve your mood, reduce stress, and increase energy;
- -reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes;
- -help you look and feel your best;
- -give you strength and endurance to do things you want to do.
Chemical Sensitivity: The Truth About Environmental Illness takes a close look at the myths and facts related to multiple chemical sensitivity, candidiasis hypersensitivity, sick building syndrome, the Feingold Diet, Gulf War Syndrome, and false claims of mercury amalgam toxicity.The book is written by Stephen Barrett, MD, and Ronald Gots, MD, PhD. Available from NCAHF Books, PO Box 1747, Allentown, PA 18105. The price for NCAHF members is $25.90 ($26.80 US in Canada), postage included. The non-member is $28.50 ($29.40 US in Canada).
NUTRIENT DATA. . . AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!
Reliable nutrient data is a must for helping consumers make healthy food choices. Check out the Department of Agriculture's on-line searchable food composition database at ... http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Questions? Call the Nutrient Data Laboratory at (301) 504-0630, e-mail: ndlinfo@rbhnrc.usda.gov, or Fax (301) 504-0632.The database is also available on CD-ROM.Source: Agricultural Research Service 9/99.
