Jean Bowering

Comparing the cost of a thrifty food plan market basket in three areas of New York state

Abstract Research by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and others has shown that food prices in the U.S. vary widely, yet food stamp benefits are the same throughout the country. To examine the impact of local prices on the food-buying power of food stamp recipients, a market basket based on the USDAs Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), upon which food stamp allotments are based, was priced in selected areas of New York State in late May–June and late September–October of 1989. In both survey periods, the mean market basket costs in supermarkets varied from 93% of the current USDA TFP cost in an upstate urban county (Onondaga County), to near 96% of the USDA cost in rural Tioga County, to near 104% in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. Costs in smaller stores ranged from 107 to 111% of the USDA TFP cost. In June 1989, a household receiving the maximum food stamp allotment would fall from 4 to about 12% short of the resources needed to buy the market basket in the supermarkets sampled in Tioga County and Brooklyn, and at least 17% short in the smaller stores in all three areas. Results indicate that in New York State, local food costs higher than national average costs can contribute to food insecurity. Recommendations are made regarding policies to improve the food security of low income consumers.

Pyridoxine and magnesium status of women with premenstrual syndrome

Abstract Pyridoxine and magnesium status of nine women with premenstrual syndrome was compared with that of ten asymptomatic women. Three-day food intake records were analyzed for selected nutrients in both the pre- and postmenstrual phases. Plasma magnesium was the measure of magnesium status, while plasma pyridoxal phosphate and erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase stimulation were used to evaluate pyridoxine status. Average magnesium intake was significantly higher among controls in the premenstrual phase, but there was no significant difference in plasma magnesium levels between the two groups. Pyridoxine intakes did not differ significantly between groups during either phase of the menstrual cycle, and both groups showed adequate pyridoxine status according to biochemical measures. A significant positive correlation was found between aspartate aminotransferase stimulation and ratings of both anxiety related symptoms (p=0.078) and fluid retention symptoms (p=0.0001).

The need for emergency food: Poverty problems and policy responses

Abstract Many factors account for the continuing need for emergency food by large numbers of low income households in the United States, and nutritionists could benefit from a fuller knowledge of these factors. This paper reports on a study of 267 clients using the emergency food system in New York State. Clients were surveyed primarily in food pantries in three regions of the state to identify their sources and amounts of income, expenditures for food and other necessities, and use of food programs. The median income was 77% of the poverty level, and median expenditures for housing and food were 52% and 24% of income, respectively. Food stamps, school meal programs and commodity foods were heavily used by respondents but senior meal programs were not. Background information and issues regarding the poverty level, housing, and food stamps are presented to assist nutritionists to more fully understand the causes of food insecurity and to become more involved in its amelioration.

Role of EFNEP aides in improving diets of pregnant women

Summary The East Harlem Nutrition Education Program provided pregnant women with counseling by a clinic nutritionist plus, in some instances, assistance from paraprofessional EFNEP aides. The study was conducted among low-income women attending an obstetrics clinic at Metropolitan Hospital in New York City. The womens diets were initially low in calcium, vitamin C, iron and energy and improved with program participation. Women with aide assistance in addition to clinic counseling generally showed greater dietary improvement than those with counseling alone and especially increased their intakes of milk, fruits and vegetables. A more positive response to aide intervention was seen among Puerto Rican women than among black American or Haitian women. The difficulties encountered in assessing the effectiveness of an aide intervention program in a heterogeneous urban community are discussed.

Evaluating 24-hour dietary recalls

Summary Twenty-four hour recalls obtained by a nutritionist in an obstetrics clinic were evaluated according to several procedures based either on nutrient content estimates or food group composition. Highly significant correlations were obtained among the following indices of dietary adequacy: number of nutrients meeting two-thirds of the RDA, Total Food Group Score and Total Energy Intake. Each of these indices was effective in monitoring changes occurring with clinic counseling and paraprofessional aide intervention. When careful consideration was given to the role of different food groups in the diets of two ethnic groups, Puerto Ricans and black Americans, the intake of either milk or fruit and vegetables offered additional sensitive measures of dietary change in response to nutrition education.

Effect of calcium supplementation on bone mineral density in female athletes

Abstract Females engaged in athletic activities frequently select to follow severe dietary restrictions, depriving their bodies of essential nutrients such as calcium in an effort to achieve some idealized body shape. Calcium poor diets are associated with stress fractures in the athlete and a rising prevalence in osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to determine if calcium supplementation would enhance bone mineral density (BMD) in young (18–22 year old) female athletes. In this double blind study, thirty athletes from Division I and Division III teams were randomized to calcium supplementation (N = 17) and placebo (N = 13) groups. Treatment subjects were given tablets containing 1000 mg. elemental calcium for one year. Six BMD sites (lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, trochanter, Wards Triangle and radius) were assessed at baseline and 6 and 12 months utilizing the Hologic QDR 1000W scanner. Treatment groups were compared with respect to BMD and changes in BMD at baseline and 6 and 12 month intervals utilizing two way ANOVAs. The relationship between primary and secondary efficacy variables were investigated using Pearson and Spearman Rank Correlations. The impact of calcium supplementation on BMD was investigated using ANCOVA with average calcium intake serving as the covariate. No significant differences in BMD or changes in BMD between treatment groups were observed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Mean reported compliance was 64 ± 4.8% for the calcium supplementation (CS) group and 73 ± 6.3% for the placebo group. Compliance data suggest that the CS group failed to consume the prescribed 1000 mg. daily intake of calcium. Furthermore, subjects in the placebo group reported a higher intake of calcium when compared with the CS group. Lumbar spine BMD increased in the CS group and remained stable in the placebo group. While significant differences in BMD were not achieved with calcium supplementation in these young athletes, study results reflect some benefit to BMD from higher calcium intakes. The potential cost-benefit of decreasing the prevalence of low bone mass in American women supports the need for further calcium supplementation studies in young females.

Compliance and attitude scores of hypercholesterolemics on fat-modified and oat bran supplemented diets

Abstract This study measured dietary compliance and attitudes of 68 hypercholesterolemic men and women who were randomly assigned to one of the following diet regimens: (1) low fat, low cholesterol diet; (2) low fat, low cholesterol diet + 50 g/day oat bran; (3) 50 g/day oat bran supplemented diet; and (4) 42.5 g/day processed oat bran supplemented diet (ready-to-eat cereal with an increased β-glucan content). Attitudinal and compliance scores were the most positive for those on the processed oat bran, followed by those on fat-modified regimens, while subjects on the unprocessed bran scored their diet regimen the most negatively. Dietary compliance decreased significantly over the 12-week study period for the fat-modified groups, compared with the adherence to the bran-supplemented regimens for which compliance did not appreciably decline. The fat-modified lifestyle, however, was reported as much more likely to diffuse throughout the family than the use of oat supplements, despite encouragement and provision of additional bran earmarked for this purpose. These findings support past research that the addition of a food to the diet is met with less resistance than food restriction, if the added food is familiar, convenient and palatable.

Folacin in diets of puerto rican and black women in relation to food practices

Summary An investigation of the folacin content of typical diets of Puerto Rican and Black women was stimulated by reports of a high incidence of megaloblastic anemia of pregnancy due to folacin deficiency among Puerto Rican women in New York City. Typical meals were prepared by EFNEP homemakers and analyzed microbiologically. The effect of cooking time on the folacin content of kidney beans was also evaluated in the laboratory and a questionnaire concerning food preparation methods administered. The folacin content of both Black and Puerto Rican diets appeared adequate, little folacin was lost from kidney beans after the second hour of cooking, and food preparation methods reported were generally conducive to preservation of folacin. It is suggested that cultural habits alone cannot be blamed for reported folacin deficiency among this population and that familiarity with the food habits of others should come before nutrition recommendations are made. Suggested food habit modifications for this population to achieve a higher folacin intake are given.

Effect of calcium supplementation on bone mineral density in women athletes

EFFECT OF CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTATION ON BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN WOMEN ATHLETES. K.M. Rourke, M.S., R.D., RN., J. Bowering, Ph.D., RD., P.R Turkki, Ph.D., RD., College for Human Development, Syracuse University Females engaged in athletic activities frequently select to follow severe dietary restrictions, depriving their bodies of essential nutrients such as calcium in an effort to achieve some idealized body shape. Calcium poor diets are associated with stress fractures in the athlete and a rising prevalence in osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to determine if calcium supplementation would enhance bone mineral density (BMD) in young (18-22 yr. old) female athletes. In this double blind, placebo-controlled study, thirty athletes (16 cross country runners and 14 swimmers) were randomized to calcium treatment (N=17) and placebo (n=13) groups. Treatment subjects were given tablets containing 1000 mg. elemental calcium for one year. Six BMD sites (lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, trochanter, Wards Triangle, and radius) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months utilizing the Hologic QDR 100W scanner. Treatment groups were compared with respect to BMD and changes between baseline and 6 and 12 month intervals utilizing two way ANOVAs. Interrelationships between variables were investigated using Pearson and Spearman Rank Correlations. The impact of calcium supplementation on BMD was investigated using ANCOVA with average calcium intake, with calcium treatment (CT) serving as the covariate. No significant differences in BMD between treatment groups were observed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Changes in BMD over time were not significant between treatment groups. Mean reported compliance was 64 ± 4.8% for the CT group and 73 ± 6.3% for the placebo group. Compliance data suggest that the CT group failed to consume the prescribed 1000 mg daily intake of calcium. Furthermore, subjects in the placebo group reported a higher intake of calcium and vitamin D when compared with the CT group. Radial BMD, thought to partially reflect long term calcium intake, remained stable in the CT group but declined in the placebo group at 6 months and remained low for the duration of the study. A higher dietary calcium intake was associated with less lumbar spine BMD loss in the calcium treatment group. Significant Pearson correlation coefficients were also found between Wards Triangle BMD and calcium intake. While significant differences in BMD were not achieved with calcium supplementation in these young athletes, study results do reflect some benefit to BMD from higher calcium intakes. The potential cost benefit of decreasing the prevalence of low bone mass in American women supports the need for further calcium supplementation studies in young females.

Contribution of fortification and supplement use to interindividual variation in nutrient intakes of women

Abstract Nutrient intake data obtained from 3-day diet records were used to compare means and coefficients of variation (CVs) between 46 women classified as high users of fortified foods and 68 women designated as low fortifiers. Greater use of fortified foods was not associated with larger CVs for total nutrient intake, but the CVs associated specifically with the portion of a nutrient added to the diet through fortification were significantly greater. This contrasts with substantial increases in both mean values and CVs when vitamin and mineral supplement use was included in estimates of total nutrient intake.