Eleanor A. Young

Utilizing a 24-Hour Dietary Recall and Culturally Specific Diabetes Education in Mexican Americans With Diabetes

Two objectives were established for this study: 1) to assess the impact of a culturally specific, intensive diabetes education program on dietary patterns, and 2) to assess nutrient consumption relative to the Recommended Dietary Allowances. The study population consisted of elderly Mexican Americans with diabetes living in Harlingen and Brownsville, Texas. The experimental group (n=78) participated in an intense, 2-hour nutrition education session, while the control group (n=74) did not. The education session was conducted for groups of eight subjects via videotapes and interactive discussion. All groups experienced significant weight loss except the women in the experimental group. After the education program, however, the experimental women had increased the percentage of calories consumed daily from carbohydrate. Mean calcium consumption was substantially less than the RDA in all groups, and inadequate amounts of ascorbic acid and vitamin A often were consumed. Intensive, frequent, long-term follow-up appears essential for more sustained results.

Stimulation of mucosal growth by gastric and ileal infusion of single amino acids in parenterally nourished rats.

The effect on the intestinal mucosa of continuously infusing single amino acids, glycine, valine and histidine into the stomach and ileum was compared with saline and an amino acid mixture (AA) in rats fed to parenteral nutrition. After gastric infusion, glycine did not differ from saline, valine increased mucosa in the proximal segments and histidine alone increased mucosa in the proximal bowel equal to AA. After ileal infusion, all amino acids increased mucosa in the ileum. Valine and histidine, but not glycine, increased mucosa in the remote proximal small bowel. Therefore, regional differences occur in mucosal growth response to single amino acids.

Position of the American dietetic association: Nutrition — an essential component of medical education

Abstract The public is increasingly nutrition conscious and actively seeks reliable sources of nutrition education. Physicians with appropriate training in nutrition can and should be a powerful force in providing accurate nutrition information and quality health care. As physician educators, dietetics professionals can facilitate this outcome. Appropriate use of nutrition resources and professionals will efficiently and effectively maintain or improve the nutritional status of the public and, ultimately, the health of our nation.

Role of magnesium in regulation of lung function

Magnesium and calcium play multiple dynamic roles in pulmonary structure and function. When magnesium is deficient, the action of calcium is enhanced. In contrast, an excess of magnesium blocks calcium. These interactions are important to the respiratory patient because the intracellular influx of calcium causes bronchial smooth-muscle contraction. The possibility exists that magnesium deficiency contributes to pulmonary complications. During the past few years, there has been an increase in calcium consumption in the US population but little change in magnesium intake, which has caused an imbalance in the calcium:magnesium ratio. Although serum levels are used to assess magnesium deficiency, cells can be deficient despite normal serum values. These findings indicate that pulmonary patients should be monitored routinely for magnesium deficiency.

Nutrition, Aging, and the Aged

Nutrition plays a significant modulating role in the aging process and is an important component in the health care of the elderly. While considerable study of the nutritional needs of the elderly has been accomplished in recent years, we are as yet very limited in our knowledge and understanding of the nutrient requirements of the elderly, the methodology for assessing nutritional status, and the impact of disease on the nutritional status of the elderly. Clearly, the dynamic interrelationships of nutrition, aging, and the aged emerge as pressing and important aspects of modern medicine. To probe into the intricacies of these relationships is a monumental challenge. This challenge will certainly accelerate in the future.

Gastrointestinal Response to Nutrient Variation of Defined Formula Diets

The gastrointestinal response to oral alimentation of low residue commercial defined formula diets or a rat liquid formula was studied. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (220-250 g) were fed isocaloric amounts (73 kcal/day) of Vivonex (V), Vivonex HN (VHN), Flexical (F), Vital (Vit), or a control Casein diet 116EC (C). Nitrogen (N) retention was calculated from N intake minus N excretion/day. After 2 weeks, rats were killed and the liver, pancreas, and small bowel removed and weighed. Pancreatic amylase activity (U g) and liver lipid were measured. The bowel was divided into eight equal segments, and mucosal weight, DNA, and protein concentration per centimeter were measured. Despite isocaloric feeding, body weight gain was lower in V and VHN groups, and higher in F and Vit groups compared to the C. Amylase specific activity was increased in V, VHN, and F groups, while the liver lipid was increased in the V and VHN groups when compared to C animals. The most proximal intestinal segment weight, mucosal weight, protein and DNA of V, VHN, and Vit groups were less than C animals, while distal segments were similar. F animals showed greater intestinal mass than C rats. These studies indicate statistically significant differences in gastrointestinal response as a result of nutrient variation of defined formula diets.

Metabolism of Parenteral Glucose Oligosaccharides in Man

Low molecular weight oligosaccharides of glucose may be utilized as a calorie source when given intravenously. Preliminary safety studies included the parenteral infusion of four healthy subjects with a solution of glucose oligosaccharides at a rate of 0.5 mg/kg/min for 1, 2, or 3 hours. Approximately 100% of the oligosaccharides was retained with only trace amounts of the glucose oligosaccharides recovered in the urine. In further studies, 12 healthy males, ages 22-31, were infused with a 10% solution of glucose oligosaccharides containing 25 μCi [U-14C]glucose oligosaccharides/liter at a rate of 2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg/min for 12 hours with or without insulin (0.12 unit/g oligosaccharides) given subcutaneously in 3 equi-divided doses. Four additional subjects received cold oligosaccharides at a rate of 1.75 mg/kg/min without insulin. Eighty percent of the glucose oligosaccharides consisted of 2 to 8 glucose chain lengths. Blood glucose and oligosaccharide glucose concentrations and 14CO2 were measured hourly. ...

Integration of nutrition in medical education

Summary There is increasing awareness that every practicing physician should have a sound knowledge of the role that nutrition plays in all areas of medicine. This report summarizes efforts at the University of Texas Health Science Center to incorporate nutrition into the medical curriculum. Keys to success include: a united effort of administration, faculty and students; financial support; and a dynamic and relevant approach in curriculum planning.