Gael Mearns

Preventing vitamin B12 deficiency in South Asian women of childbearing age: a randomised controlled trial comparing an oral vitamin B12 supplement with B12 dietary advice

Background/objectives:To examine the effectiveness, acceptability and sustainability of interventions to reduce vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency in South Asian women before conception.Subjects/methods:A 6-month randomised controlled trial conducted in Auckland, New Zealand. Participants (62 South Asian women, 18–50 years old) were stratified by dietary practices, then randomised to three treatment groups: B12 Supplement (oral cyanocobalamin 6 μg/day) (n=21), Placebo (n=21), or B12 Dietary Advice (n=20). Primary outcome measures were changes in B12 biomarkers (serum B12 and holotranscobalamin (holoTC)) at 6 months. Dietary B12 intake was estimated from a B12 food-specific frequency questionnaire (B12FFQ). Intention-to-treat analysis was applied using ‘last observation carried forward’ method. Changes in B12 biomarkers by treatment were compared using analysis of variance. Pearson’s correlations tested relationships between dietary B12 intake and B12 biomarkers.Results:At baseline, 48% of women tested as insufficient or deficient in serum B12 (<222 pmol/l) and 51% as insufficient or deficient in holoTC (<45 pmol/l). B12 status was moderately correlated with dietary B12 intake (r=0.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.3–0.7)) and 44% of women reported insufficient dietary intake (<2.4 μg/day). B12 Supplement was the only treatment group to record a significant increase in B12 biomarkers over 6 months: serum B12 by 30% (95% CI (11–48%)) and holoTC by 42% (12–72%).Conclusions:The prevalence of B12 insufficiency among Auckland South Asian women is high and moderately correlated with inadequate intake of foods that contain B12. Cyanocobalamin supplementation (6 μg/day) was associated with improved B12 biomarkers, with a potential to improve preconception B12 status in South Asian women.

Evaluation of the Nutritional Knowledge of Undergraduate Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND Obesity is prevalent in health care workers, but it is unknown whether a lack of nutritional knowledge contributes to this. This study measured the nutrition knowledge of undergraduate nursing students to identify knowledge gaps that could be addressed through nutrition teaching in an updated undergraduate nursing curriculum. METHOD Undergraduate nursing students (N = 197) completed a nutrition knowledge survey with questions on demographics, body composition, nutrition labels, food packaging claims, and healthy food-purchasing choices. RESULTS Mean overall nutritional knowledge scores were low, but overall scores were higher for students who had received nutrition teaching (60.5% versus 52.5%; F[1, 187] = 7.2, p < 0.001). Improvements in nutrition knowledge were consistent across all ethnic groups, and no effects of age were observed. CONCLUSION To sufficiently prepare nurses for their public health role in obesity prevention, more nutrition education is needed in undergraduate nursing education programs, with emphasis on ethnic-specific educational requirements.

Health and Nutritional Literacy of New Zealand Nursing Students

BACKGROUND The published literature suggests that RNs are more overweight and obese than the general population. This research investigates associations between nutrition literacy, anthropometry measures, and nutritional biomarkers in an undergraduate nursing student population. METHOD Year-one nursing students from two tertiary education institutions in New Zealand were invited to participate in an observational, convenience sample study. Data collection from participants (N = 103) included a nutrition literacy questionnaire, anthropometry measures, and blood lipid, glucose, and HbA1c concentrations. RESULTS Approximately 51% of participants were either overweight or obese, which is a similar prevalence to the New Zealand demographic-matched population. Mean body mass index was 26.7 ± 6.3 kg/m2 and body fat was 29% ± 8.3%. The mean literacy score was 56.7% ± 13.2%. The literacy score was inversely associated with anthropometry measures and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and positively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS Nutrition literacy had a statistically significant influence on anthropometry and lipid measures. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(1):43-48.].

Sugar content of supermarket beverages commonly consumed by children in New Zealand

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Added sugar and sodium levels in New Zealand processed fruit and vegetable-based products: Processed fruit and vegetable products

AIM Fruit and vegetables are strongly promoted because of the nutrients they provide; many processed products contain added sugar and sodium. The present study aims to quantify the sugar and sodium content of pre-packaged fruit and vegetable-based products that are available in New Zealand supermarkets. METHODS Nutrition Information Panel data were collected from non-frozen, processed fruit and vegetable products in New Zealand supermarkets (including soups, sauces, jams and spreads, pickles, chutneys and dips, and canned/bottled fruit and vegetables) where fruit and/or vegetables were the majority ingredient(s). RESULTS With the exception of canned/bottled vegetables, more than 60% of products contained added sugar. Per serve, the median sugar content was highest in canned/bottled fruit (17.8 g). More than 75% of soups, vegetable-based sauces, pickles/chutneys and canned/bottled vegetables contained added sodium, with soups (722 mg) recording the highest median values per serve. CONCLUSIONS Consumers need to be aware that although they are encouraged to eat a diet high in fruit and vegetables, there may be large quantities of added sugar and sodium in manufactured fruit and vegetable products that can have significant negative impacts on their health. Government health promotion campaigns encouraging the consumption of fruit and vegetables should be careful to target fresh, frozen and home-prepared foods, and work on educating the public about the lower nutritional quality associated with most processed fruit and vegetable products.

Screening for inadequate dietary vitamin B-12 intake in South Asian women using a nutrient-specific, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES A high prevalence of vitamin B-12 (B-12) deficiency among young women of South Asian origin predisposes to significant health risks for these women and their future offspring. Vegetarian or low-meat based dietary practices contribute to B-12 deficiency. This study validated a nutrient-specific, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (B12FFQ), developed to estimate dietary B-12 intake in South Asian women. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN The B12FFQ was developed, then tested in 60 apparently healthy South Asian women aged 18-50 years, living in Auckland, New Zealand. Participants recalled the frequency and quantity of vitamin B-12-containing foods consumed in the preceding three months. Pearsons correlations measured the associations between dietary B-12 intake and B-12 biomarkers (serum B-12 and holotranscobalamin [holoTC]). Likelihood of B12 insufficiency was calculated for vegetarian and non-vegetarian dietary practices. RESULTS The B12FFQ was a valid measure of dietary B-12 intake - supported by moderate positive associations with serum B-12 (r=0.50, p<0.001, 95% CI [0.28, 0.67]) and holoTC (r=0.55, p<0.001, 95% CI [0.34, 0.71]). A dietary B-12 intake of less than 2.4 µg/day increased the likelihood of serum B-12 (X2 (1)=11.79, p=0.001) or holoTC (X2 (1)=6.33, p=0.012) insufficiency. A dietary B-12 intake of less than the recommended dietary allowance (2.4 µg/day), occurred in 61% (n=20/33) of participants with vegetarian and 22% (n=6/27) with non- vegetarian dietary practices. CONCLUSIONS The B12FFQ provides a valid estimate of dietary B-12 intake. This easily administered food frequency questionnaire has the potential to identify low dietary B-12 intake as a contributor to B-12 depletion or deficiency.