Hazel Metz Fox

Urea as a dietary supplement for humans.

Use of urea as a nonprotein supplement in the feeding of beef cattle and other ruminant animals is a technique of practical application. Urea has also been used in human feeding studies. Its early employment was that of an added source of amino nitrogen in studies designed to determine minimum requirements of the essential amino acid. Later studies suggested that its inclusion in diet containing sub-optimal amounts of protein supplied by various food product could result in the establishment of apparent improvement in protein nutriture. Other studies indicate that urea is not unique in this ability but is only one of many possible sources of amino nitrogen and is actually one of the least effective. Known and potential hazzards definitely prohibit the use of urea supplements to food products other than in research or clinical laboratories at the present time.

Comparative Protein Quality as Measured by Human and Small Animal Bioassays of Three Lines of Winter Wheat

Incomplete information on factors contributing to apparent protein quality and to value of food products as sources of protein and how these factors interact necessitate the use of bioassay procedures. Ideally bioassay procedures should be done using the animal species for which the protein is intended. Practical considerations dictate the use of small animal bioassay rather than human bioassays for routine use in protein product evaluation. To be of real value for routine use in protein product evaluation. To be of real value for assays of food products designed for human use, animal bioassays must accurately predict human performance. Surprisingly little information is available on this topic. In the current project three Nebraska winter wheats of similar genetic backgrounds were evaluated for protein value and for value of the wheats as sources of proteins. Chemical, weanling mouse, adult human and growing human bioassay techniques were employed. Rankings of the grains were similar regardless of species used for protein quality evaluations. Similar rankings were found regardless of species used for protein quality/quantity evaluations. However, ranking varied between methods designed to evaluate protein quality and those designed to measure protein quality/quantity interrelationships. The results stress the importance of matching appropriate methodology with information desired. In a latter project, wheats of dissimilar genetic background were not as uniformily evaluated. This suggests that other factors known to affect protein quality and value were more variable in these wheats.

Strategies to improve nutrition knowledge and food behavior of mothers

Abstract We compared sender-oriented nutrition messages, based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, with receiver-oriented messages, based on specific nutrition orientations. Mothers from four states participated and were classified into three types according to their nutrition orientations. Nutrition knowledge, food shopping practices, and 24-hour food intakes were measured before and after receipt of the nutrition messages. The sender-oriented nutrition messages resulted in greater knowledge and behavior changes than receiver-oriented messages. Analysis of postintervention results for experimental mothers within and among states showed that differences in dietary quality scores, intakes of selected nutrients, and food shopping scores varied according to state of residence and not according to nutrition orientation.

Nutrition orientations of working mothers in the north central region

Nutrition educators have often assumed that if accurate and clearly presented information were available, people would act on this knowledge in a rational manner. However, when such programs have not elicited expected responses from the audiences, nutrition educators might find that they have failed to identify and to address the concerns and needs of intended audiences (1). Using marketing strategies for audience segmentation, Baird and Schutz (2) found different food and nutrition attitudes and behaviors associated with various ethnic groups within a sample of low-income homemakers. Fleming and Brown (1) noted that mothers with young children had different concerns about food and nutrition than did mothers with older children. We undertook an exploratory study to examine the nutrition attitudes and concerns of employed mothers who had young children. We sought to determine whether the group represented a single audience or whether definable subgroups existed. The presence of subgroups might suggest the need for several different nutrition education approaches when attempting to reach even such an apparently homogeneous group as working mothers of young children.

A nutrition workshop for home economics teachers

Summary A three-week nutrition workshop for home economics teachers was sponsored jointly by the Food and Nutrition and Home Economics Education faculty at the University of Nebraska. The purpose of the workshop was to integrate new nutrition knowledge with possibilities for application in the classroom. One of the major focuses of the workshop was providing food experiences in relation to the nutrition concepts presented in class. Getting people to enjoy foods was considered to be as important as giving them nutrition information. The workshop proved successful in that the teachers rated the activities highly and in turn offered similar experiences in their own classrooms.

Lipid utilization of human adults as affected by dietary bran supplementation

Abstract Twenty-one adult men and women participated in two studies to compare the effects of selected brans on the utilization of dietary fat. Fecal fat excretion was measured as well as total weight of feces. Blood serumcholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids were determined. Results indicated that fecal fat excretion tended to increase with bran supplementation of diets. Wheat bran had a greater effect than did either rice or corn bran. No statistically significant changes in blood lipids were associated with the various types of fiber. However, serum lipids of subjects were substantially lower when subjects received the experimental diets than when they were consuming their self-selected diets prior to the start of the study. The experimental diet was moderately low in fat and very low in cholesterol. The effectiveness of added bran in influencing lipid utilization may vary with the kinds of bran employed and also with the total amount of dietary fat or other dietary parameters.

A Nutrition Education Workshop for Managers of Nutrition Centers for the Elderly Utilizing Videotaped Simulations for Assessment

As funds become increasingly scarce, an effective nutrition education method which reaches large numbers of elderly individuals is appropriate. A nutrition workshop was provided for 30 managers of government-sponsored nutrition centers for the elderly in a 5-county area. The workshop curriculum, determined after interests of both center managers and participants at the nutrition centers were assessed, was presented in a packet of materials to each workshop attendee and supplemented with explanations and demonstrations. A pre- and post-test evaluation instrument, which included videotaped simulations of typical nutritional situations encountered with elderly persons at the centers, was used to measure attitudes and knowledge before and after the workshop. As a result of the workshop, knowledge increased significantly as measured by the test instrument and 75% of the managers reported use of materials and ideas during the 5 months following the workshop.As funds become increasingly scarce, an effective nutrition education method which reaches large numbers of elderly individuals is appropriate. A nutrition works op was provided for 30 managers of government-sponsored nutrition centers for the elderly in a 5-county area. The workshop curriculum, determined after interests of both center managers and participants at the nutrition centers were assessed, was presented in a packet of materials to each workshop attendee and supplemented with explanations and demonstrations. A pre- and post-test evaluation instrument, which included videotaped simulations of typical nutritional situations encountered with elderly persons at the centers, was used to measure attitudes and knowledge before and after the workshop. As a result of the workshop, knowledge increased significantly as measured by the test instrument and 75% of the managers reported use of materials and ideas during the 5 months following the workshop.

Factors associated with breast-feeding duration

Abstract A telephone survey of 45 WIC mothers was conducted to identify factors related to breastfeeding duration. Mothers who breastfed longer than 2 months were compared with those who were not breastfeeding at 2 months postpartum. Factors associated with increased breastfeeding duration were: having previous breastfeeding experience and a positive attitude toward breastfeeding, having agreement with the decision to breastfeed from the babys father and help in the home from best friends and obtaining breastfeeding information from hospital nurses and classes and films. Mothers who breastfed longer than 2 months introduced formula during the third month while mothers who breastfed less than 2 months introduced formula during the first month. Inadequate milk supply was the reason for stopping breastfeeding given most often by mothers who breastfed longer than 2 months; whereas, nipple discomfort was the reason given most often by mothers who were not breastfeeding at 2 months postpartum.