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British Journal of Sports Medicine Oct 2018
Topics: Athletic Injuries; Cost of Illness; Humans; Incidence; Sports; Sports Medicine; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 29899048
DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099208 -
The American Journal of Clinical... Jan 2022US individuals, particularly from low-income subpopulations, have very poor diet quality. Policies encouraging shifts from consuming unhealthy food towards healthy food...
BACKGROUND
US individuals, particularly from low-income subpopulations, have very poor diet quality. Policies encouraging shifts from consuming unhealthy food towards healthy food consumption are needed.
OBJECTIVES
We simulate the differential impacts of a national sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax and combinations of SSB taxes with fruit and vegetable (FV) subsidies targeted to low-income households on SSB and FV purchases of lower and higher SSB purchasers.
METHODS
We considered a 1-cent-per-ounce SSB tax and 2 FV subsidy rates of 30% and 50% and used longitudinal grocery purchase data for 79,044 urban/semiurban US households from 2010-2014 Nielsen Homescan data. We used demand elasticities for lower and higher SSB purchasers, estimated via longitudinal quantile regression, to simulate policies' differential effects.
RESULTS
Higher-SSB-purchasing households made larger reductions (per adult equivalent) in SSB purchases than lower SSB purchasers due to the tax (e.g., 4.4 oz/day at SSB purchase percentile 90 compared with 0.5 oz/day at percentile 25; P < 0.05). Our analyses by household income indicated low-income households would make larger reductions than higher-income households at all SSB purchase levels. Targeted FV subsidies induced similar, but nutritionally insignificant, increases in FV purchases of low-income households, regardless of their SSB purchase levels. Subsidies, however, were effective in mitigating the tax burdens. All low-income households experienced a net financial gain when the tax was combined with a 50% FV subsidy, but net gains were smaller among higher SSB purchasers. Further, low-income households with children gained smaller net financial benefits than households without children and incurred net financial losses under a 30% subsidy rate.
CONCLUSIONS
SSB taxes can effectively reduce SSB consumption. FV subsidies would increase FV purchases, but nutritionally meaningful increases are limited due to low purchase levels before policy implementation. Expanding taxes beyond SSBs, providing larger FV subsidies, or offering subsidies beyond FVs, particularly for low-income households with children, may be more effective.
Topics: Adult; Computer Simulation; Consumer Behavior; Diet, Healthy; Family Characteristics; Female; Food Assistance; Fruit; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Poverty; Sugar-Sweetened Beverages; Supermarkets; Taxes; United States; Vegetables
PubMed: 34610088
DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab330 -
Preventive Medicine Reports Feb 2022This is the first real-world study to examine the association between a voluntary 16-ounce (oz) portion-size cap on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) at a sporting arena...
This is the first real-world study to examine the association between a voluntary 16-ounce (oz) portion-size cap on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) at a sporting arena on volume of SSBs and food calories purchased and consumed during basketball games. Cross-sectional survey data from adults exiting a Brooklyn, NY, USA arena (Barclays, n = 464) with a 16-oz portion-size restriction and a Manhattan, NY, USA arena with no portion-size restriction (Madison Square Garden, control, n = 295) after the portion cap policy was put in place from March through June 2014 were analyzed. Linear regression models adjusting for sex, age, BMI, ethnicity, race, marital status, education, and income were used to compare the two arenas during the post-implementation period. The survey response rate was 45.9% and equivalent between venues. Among all arena goers, participants at Barclays purchased significantly fewer SSB oz (-2.24 oz, 95% CI [-3.95, -0.53], p = .010) and consumed significantly fewer SSB oz (-2.34 oz, 95% CI[-4.01, -0.68], p = .006) compared with MSG after adjusting for covariates. Among those buying at least one SSB, Barclays' participants purchased on average 11.03 fewer SSB oz. (95% CI = [4.86, 17.21], p < .001) and consumed 12.10 fewer SSB oz (95% CI = [5.78, 18.42], p < .001). There were no statistically significant differences between arenas in food calories and event satisfaction. In addition, no one reported not ordering a drink due to small size. An SSB portion-size cap was associated with purchasing and consuming fewer SSB oz. without evidence of decreasing satisfaction with the event experience.
PubMed: 35127348
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101661 -
Public Health Nutrition Jun 2021To describe prenatal and postpartum consumption of water, cows' milk, 100 % juice and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) among women enrolled in the Special Supplemental...
OBJECTIVE
To describe prenatal and postpartum consumption of water, cows' milk, 100 % juice and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) among women enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programme in New York City (NYC) and to identify correlates of SSB intake in this population.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional data were collected from structured questionnaires that included validated beverage frequency questionnaires with the assistance of container samples. The association of maternal and household factors and non-SSB consumption with habitual daily energetic (kJ (kcal)) intake from SSB was assessed by using multivariable median regression.
SETTING
WIC programme in NYC, NY. Data were collected in 2017.
PARTICIPANTS
388 pregnant or postpartum women (infant aged <2 years) from the NYC First 1000 Days Study.
RESULTS
Median age was 28 years (interquartile range (IQR) 24-34); 94·1 % were Hispanic/Latina, and 31·4 % were pregnant. Overall, 87·7 % of pregnant and 89·1% of postpartum women consumed SSB ≥ once weekly, contributing to a median daily energetic intake of 410 kJ (98 kcal) (IQR (113-904 kJ) 27-216) and 464 kJ (111 kcal) (IQR (163-1013 kJ) 39-242), respectively. In adjusted analyses, only consumption of 100 % juice was associated with greater median energetic intake from SSB (adjusted β for each additional ounce = 13; 95% CI 8, 31 (3·2; 95 % CI 2·0, 7·3).
CONCLUSIONS
Among pregnant and postpartum women in WIC-enrolled families, interventions to reduce SSB consumption should include reduction of 100 % juice consumption as a co-target of the intervention.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Beverages; Cattle; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Milk; Poverty; Pregnancy; Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
PubMed: 33087210
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980020003390 -
Neurosurgical Focus: Video Apr 2020
PubMed: 36284790
DOI: 10.3171/2020.4.FocusVid.2019 -
Journal of Chromatography. B,... Sep 2023The recent increase in peptidomimetic-based medications and the growing interest in peptide hormones has brought new attention to the quantification of peptides for...
The recent increase in peptidomimetic-based medications and the growing interest in peptide hormones has brought new attention to the quantification of peptides for diagnostic purposes. Indeed, the circulating concentrations of peptide hormones in the blood provide a snapshot of the state of the body and could eventually lead to detecting a particular health condition. Although extremely useful, the quantification of such molecules, preferably by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, might be quite tricky. First, peptides are subjected to hydrolysis, oxidation, and other post-translational modifications, and, most importantly, they are substrates of specific and nonspecific proteases in biological matrixes. All these events might continue after sampling, changing the peptide hormone concentrations. Second, because they include positively and negatively charged groups and hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues, they interact with their environment; these interactions might lead to a local change in the measured concentrations. A phenomenon such as nonspecific adsorption to lab glassware or materials has often a tremendous effect on the concentration and needs to be controlled with particular care. Finally, the circulating levels of peptides might be low (pico- or femtomolar range), increasing the impact of the aforementioned effects and inducing the need for highly sensitive instruments and well-optimized methods. Thus, despite the extreme diversity of these peptides and their matrixes, there is a common challenge for all the assays: the need to keep concentrations unchanged from sampling to analysis. While significant efforts are often placed on optimizing the analysis, few studies consider in depth the impact of pre-analytical steps on the results. By working through practical examples, this solution-oriented tutorial review addresses typical pre-analytical challenges encountered during the development of a peptide assay from the standpoint of a clinical laboratory. We provide tips and tricks to avoid pitfalls as well as strategies to guide all new developments. Our ultimate goal is to increase pre-analytical awareness to ensure that newly developed peptide assays produce robust and accurate results.
Topics: Chromatography, Liquid; Mass Spectrometry; Peptide Hormones
PubMed: 37832388
DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2023.123904 -
Maternal & Child Nutrition Jul 2017A cross-sectional examination of the accuracy of volume markers on infant feeding bottles available for sale in Australia between December 2013 and February 2014 was...
A cross-sectional examination of the accuracy of volume markers on infant feeding bottles available for sale in Australia between December 2013 and February 2014 was carried out. Ninety-one bottles representing 28 different brands were examined. Eighty-eight bottles were hard sided. Volumes in these bottles were marked in a combination of milliliters and ounces. Thirty-six (41%) bottles claimed compliance with the European standard EN14350, five (6%) with non-existent Australian standards, and forty-seven (54%) bottles had no standard claim. Nineteen bottles (22%) had at least one measured marking outside the tolerance of EN14350. Bottles claiming compliance with EN14350 were not less likely to have inaccurate markings than those that made no claim. More expensive bottles did not have fewer inaccurate markings. Three bottles were disposable liner systems and had particularly large volume inaccuracies (up to 43% outside the marked volume). Inaccurate volume markers on infant feeding bottles are a previously neglected but potentially important source of error in the reconstitution of infant formula. Over-concentrated and under-concentrated infant formula can cause serious illness or malnutrition. Over-concentrated infant formula may contribute to obesity. Bottles with inaccurate volume markers are unfit for purpose; disposable liner bottles are particularly poor in this regard and should be prohibited from having volume markers on the bottle casing. To avoid individual or public harms, well-enforced standards are needed. Guidance for parents, carers, and health professionals is needed to ensure that infant formula is accurately reconstituted.
Topics: Australia; Bottle Feeding; Cross-Sectional Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 27730750
DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12388 -
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Nov 2019Five U.S. states have proposed policies to require health warnings on sugar-sweetened beverages, but warnings' effects on actual purchase behavior remain uncertain. This... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
INTRODUCTION
Five U.S. states have proposed policies to require health warnings on sugar-sweetened beverages, but warnings' effects on actual purchase behavior remain uncertain. This study evaluated the impact of sugar-sweetened beverage health warnings on sugar-sweetened beverage purchases.
STUDY DESIGN
Participants completed one study visit to a life-sized replica of a convenience store in North Carolina. Participants chose six items (two beverages, two foods, and two household products). One item was randomly selected for them to purchase and take home. Participants also completed a questionnaire. Researchers collected data in 2018 and conducted analyses in 2019.
SETTING/PARTICIPANTS
Participants were a demographically diverse convenience sample of 400 adult sugar-sweetened beverage consumers (usual consumption ≥12 ounces/week).
INTERVENTION
Research staff randomly assigned participants to a health warning arm (sugar-sweetened beverages in the store displayed a front-of-package health warning) or a control arm (sugar-sweetened beverages displayed a control label).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The primary trial outcome was sugar-sweetened beverage calories purchased. Secondary outcomes included reactions to trial labels (e.g., negative emotions) and sugar-sweetened beverage perceptions and attitudes (e.g., healthfulness).
RESULTS
All 400 participants completed the trial and were included in analyses. Health warning arm participants were less likely to be Hispanic and to have overweight/obesity than control arm participants. In intent-to-treat analyses adjusting for Hispanic ethnicity and overweight/obesity, health warnings led to lower sugar-sweetened beverage purchases (adjusted difference, -31.4 calories; 95% CI= -57.9, -5.0). Unadjusted analyses yielded similar results (difference, -32.9 calories; 95% CI= -58.9, -7.0). Compared with the control label, sugar-sweetened beverage health warnings also led to higher intentions to limit sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and elicited more attention, negative emotions, thinking about the harms of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, and anticipated social interactions. Trial arms did not differ on perceptions of sugar-sweetened beverages' added sugar content, healthfulness, appeal/coolness, or disease risk.
CONCLUSIONS
Brief exposure to health warnings reduced sugar-sweetened beverage purchases in this naturalistic RCT. Sugar-sweetened beverage health warning policies could discourage sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT03511937.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Choice Behavior; Consumer Behavior; Dietary Sugars; Energy Intake; Female; Food Labeling; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; North Carolina; Overweight; Policy; Sugar-Sweetened Beverages; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Young Adult
PubMed: 31586510
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.06.019 -
Public Health Nutrition Aug 2021The objective of the current study was to identify factors across the socio-ecological model (SEM) associated with adolescents' sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the current study was to identify factors across the socio-ecological model (SEM) associated with adolescents' sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake.
DESIGN
This cross-sectional study surveyed adolescents using previously validated instruments. Analyses included descriptive statistics, ANOVA tests and stepwise nonlinear regression models (i.e., two-part models) adjusted to be cluster robust. Guided by SEM, a four-step model was used to identify factors associated with adolescent SSB intake - step 1: demographics (i.e., age, gender), step 2: intrapersonal (i.e., theory of planned behaviour (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, behavioural intentions), health literacy, media literacy, public health literacy), step 3: interpersonal (i.e., caregiver's SSB behaviours, caregiver's SSB rules) and step 4: environmental (i.e., home SSB availability) level variables.
SETTING
Eight middle schools across four rural southwest Virginia counties in Appalachia.
PARTICIPANTS
Seven hundred ninety seventh grade students (55·4 % female, 44·6 % males, mean age 12 (sd 0·5) years).
RESULTS
Mean SSB intake was 36·3 (sd 42·5) fluid ounces or 433·4 (sd 493·6) calories per day. In the final step of the regression model, seven variables significantly explained adolescent's SSB consumption: behavioural intention (P < 0·05), affective attitude (P < 0·05), perceived behavioural control (P < 0·05), health literacy (P < 0·001), caregiver behaviours (P < 0·05), caregiver rules (P < 0·05) and home availability (P < 0·001).
CONCLUSIONS
SSB intake among adolescents in rural Appalachia was nearly three times above national mean. Home environment was the strongest predictor of adolescent SSB intake, followed by caregiver rules, caregiver behaviours and health literacy. Future interventions targeting these factors may provide the greatest opportunity to improve adolescent SSB intake.
Topics: Adolescent; Appalachian Region; Beverages; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Male; Schools; Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
PubMed: 33427154
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980021000069 -
Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Feb 2020Observational and clinical trial evidence suggests an inverse association of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with coronary artery disease (CAD) mortality, although...
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Observational and clinical trial evidence suggests an inverse association of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with coronary artery disease (CAD) mortality, although relationships with non-fatal CAD and stroke are less clear. We investigated whether omega-3 fatty acid supplement use and fish intake were associated with incident non-fatal CAD and ischemic stroke among US Veterans.
METHODS
The Million Veteran Program (MVP) is an ongoing nation-wide longitudinal cohort study of US Veterans with self-reported survey, biospecimen, and electronic health record data. Regular use of omega-3 supplements (yes/no) and frequency of fish intake within the past year were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations of omega-3 supplement use and fish intake with incident non-fatal CAD and ischemic stroke, defined from electronic health records using validated algorithms. Multivariable models included demographics, body mass index, education, smoking status, alcohol intake, and exercise frequency.
RESULTS
Among 197,761 participants with food frequency data (mean age: 66 ± 12 years, 92% men), 21% regularly took omega-3 supplements and median fish intake was 1 (3-5 ounce) serving/week. Over a median follow-up of 2.9 years for non-fatal CAD and 3.3 years for non-fatal ischemic stroke, we observed 6265 and 4042 incident cases of non-fatal CAD and non-fatal ischemic stroke, respectively. Omega-3 fatty acid supplement use was independently associated with a lower risk of non-fatal ischemic stroke [HR (95% CI): 0.88 (0.81, 0.95)] but not non-fatal CAD [0.99 (0.93, 1.06)]. Fish intake was not independently associated with non-fatal CAD [1.01 (0.94, 1.09) for 1-3 servings/month, 1.03 (0.98, 1.11) for 1 serving/week, 1.02 (0.93, 1.11) for 2-4 servings/week, and 1.15 (0.98, 1.35) for ≥5 servings/week, reference = <1 serving/month, linear p-trend = 0.09] or non-fatal ischemic stroke [0.92 (0.84, 1.00) for 1-3 servings/month, 0.93 (0.85, 1.02) for 1 serving/week, 0.96 (0.86, 1.07) for 2-4 servings/week, and 1.13 (0.93-1.38) for ≥5 servings/week, linear p-trend = 0.16].
CONCLUSIONS
Neither omega-3 supplement use, nor fish intake, was associated with non-fatal CAD among US Veterans. While omega-3 supplement use was associated with lower risk of non-fatal ischemic stroke, fish intake was not. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm whether omega-3 supplementation is protective against ischemic stroke in a US population.
Topics: Aged; Cohort Studies; Coronary Artery Disease; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Female; Humans; Ischemic Stroke; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Seafood; Self Report; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Veterans
PubMed: 30914216
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2019.03.005