Helen A. Guthrie

Characterizing nutrient intakes of adolescents by sociodemographic factors.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to provide a description of the current dietary intake of a large sample of U.S. adolescents and to identify sociodemographic risk factors for nutrient intakes that did not meet recommended levels. METHODS The 1987-88 USDA Nationwide Food Consumption Survey was used to assess the nutrient intake of 933 adolescents aged 11 to 18 years. Analysis of covariance was used to determine the effect of the following on the nutrient intakes of males and females: household income and size, race, geographic region, degree of urbanization, and head of household status. Subject age was entered as a control variable. RESULTS Vitamin A, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and zinc were the nutrients most often consumed below recommended levels. In addition the females consumed low levels of phosphorus and iron. Percent calories from total fat and saturated fat and mean sodium intakes were above recommended levels for the majority of the sample. Females were more likely to meet cholesterol recommendations than males. Race and region affected the most nutrient intake variables. For the females, living in the south was a significant predictor for low intakes of several essential vitamins and minerals. CONCLUSIONS On average, the adolescents consumed diets that were low in several essential vitamins and minerals and high in some nutrients related to increased incidence of chronic disease. There were groups of teens who had dietary patterns that placed them at especially high risk, in particular the black and Southern females.

Severe undernutrition in early infancy and behavior in rehabilitated albino rats

Abstract To determine the effect of undernutrition in early life on behavior in mature rats, albino pups were nursed in litters of 16 by an undernourished dam and weaned to a diet of 3% casein for a total of 3, 5, 7 or 9 weeks of severe undernutrition before being rehabilitated on a diet of 18% casein. From 16–18 weeks male animals were subjected to behavioral tests. Undernourished rats were more active ( p p p

Fatty acid patterns of human milk.

An analysis of the fatty acid content of 110 early morning samples of breast milk from 26 mothers shows a shift in the fatty acid pattern toward higher values for C 18:2 fatty acids than those reported previously. This shift has paralleled an increase in the use of vegetable oils and an increase in the P/S ratio of the American diet. The fatty acid pattern varied from day to day only for C 18:1. There were no significant variations among morning, midday, and evening values for samples provided by eight mothers.

Interrelationships between dietary iron and tissue zinc and copper levels and serum lipids in rats.

Summary The effects of maternal iron restriction during pregnancy and lactation on serum lipids and tissue zinc and copper levels in rat pups were studied. Feeding diets containing 5 ppm iron to maternal rats produced hyperlipidemia and a decreased ratio of zinc/copper in livers and spleens of 18-day-old pups. Significant correlations were found between zinc/copper ratio in pups and serum triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids.

Modification of vegetable-eating behavior in preschool children

Summary Variation of method of preparation and behavior modification were investigated as two methods of increasing the frequency with which preschool children ate cooked vegetables rich in vitamin A or ascorbic acid. While variation of method of preparation had no significant effect on vegetable intake, the use of token reinforcement to modify vegetable-eating behavior proved effective. The token reinforcement system in which the child was given an immediate reward (a gummed sticker in this study) after eating a specified amount of vegetable was thought to be responsible for an increase in the mean intake and the frequency with which the children tasted cooked vegetables.

The Cholesterol Content of Human Milk: A Variable Constituent among Women and within the Same Woman

can Academy of Pediatrics 1,2 deems that the evidence of long-term effects is insufficient to restrict cholesterol intake during infancy. Moreover, there is concern that such a change may have detrimental consequences. Some animal studies suggest that a low cholesterol intake during infancy may be associated with diminished ability to handle a cholesterol challenge and to regulate plasma cholesterol levels in later life.3-5 A number

The Resurgence of Natural Child Feeding: A Study of 129 Middle Class Mothers in a College Community

By contrast to these American data, 89 per cent of Philippine mothers were breast feeding~ as were equally high percentages in some European Catii3trles.’ Indeed, a majority of the world’s babies are fed this way. In a British hospital, where patients were urged strongly to breast feed, some 83 per cent of mothers attempted this method four days after delivery and by two weeks the percentage who were continuing was still 60. After one month 60 per cent of mothers from professional classes while only 3£1 per cent from families of unskilled workers were breast feed-

Identification of index nutrients for dietary assessment

Abstract In order to identify a smaller number of nutrients than generally used to assess dietary adequacy, we examined the interrelationships among the micronutrients. We constructed a profile of adult food intake from data from the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (NFCS) and converted this to a nutrient profile using a data base complete for 15 nutrients. By performing a factor analysis of nutrients in this profile we were able to identify four distinct nutrient factors. We then selected the best index nutrient from each factor. A combination of the four index nutrients — iron, vitamin B-6, calcium, and vitamin A—assured comparable intakes of the six additional nutrients — magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin C, riboflavin, vitamin B-12, and thiamin — in more than 90% of records from 3980 adult respondents in the NFCS.

Early termination of breastfeeding among Philippine urban poor.

The research objective was to identify factors that caused mothers to terminate breastfeeding prematurely, i.e., before the infant reached his or her 1st birthday. Nursing for at least 1 year was a minimum goal of health authorities in the area of this research. The study was conducted in 2 urban poor areas and in 2 fringe squatter settlements of Cebu City, a metropolitan area of 500,000 people in the central Philippines. The data were collected by 2 women field workers. The 130 participants, who were within 3 months of delivery, pre- or postpartum were recruited in 1979. They were visited in their homes once a month by the worker who weighed the mother and the baby, inquired about their diets, and recorded breastfeeding experiences and plans. Special attention was given to any problems the mothers were having that might interfere with continued nursing. Other than encouraging mothers to use the local health center, workers did not intervene to support breastfeeding. The mothers were followed for at least the crucial 1st 6 months. Many were followed for a year or more. Of those who agreed to participate prior to delivery, and who composed 1/3 of the total group, some 95% initiated breastfeeding. Of the 3 who did not, 2 tried to nurse but gave up when the newborn showed persistent diarrhea. Between 10-20% of babies were on a mixed diet of breast and bottle feeding, some beginning as early as the 1st month when mothers returned to part-time work. Other mothers, feeling that the babies were not getting enough to eat, added bottles regularly. This pattern did not necessarily lead to the early termination of breastfeeding. With the exception of 2 instances when mothers decided that their babies were big enough to get along without breast milk, the mothers were forced by circumstances as they perceived them to wean the child. Almost all the terminations were abrupt, with the mother continuing to have an adequate supply of milk. The insufficient milk situation reported by 9 mothers is an exception. In most cases, stopping was a crisis, because the mothers felt that to continue would endanger the child while to stop would sacrifice the benefits of breastfeeding. The major reasons for early termination are discussed: diarrhea, insufficient milk, returning to work, mother sick or pregnant, infant refuses the breast or is not growing, and milk is salty or not good.

Maintenance and termination of breast feeding in rural and urban Philippine communities.

Three samples of Filipino mothers from urban and rural settings with at least 1 baby less than 2 years of age were interviewed. There was a unanimous preference for breastfeeding. About 90% succeeded in starting breastfeeding and at least half continued until the baby was at least 1 year old. Those who failed cited no milk or insufficient milk, or that the mother had an acute or chronic illness at the time of delivery, as reasons for termination of breastfeeding. Others found breastfeeding too painful to continue, and some became pregnant within 3 months of delivery. At 1 year of age, the child was considered old enough to take the same food as the family, and nursing was not encouraged. Another pregnancy was the most common cause for termination at almost every age interval. Folk beliefs and practices also contributed to unnecessary weaning from breastfeeding.