Julie Syrette

Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and risk of depressive symptoms in adolescents

Background: Previous randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA) are beneficial in reducing symptoms of depression. However, there is limited evidence regarding the influence of dietary n‐3 PUFA intake on mood in adolescents drawn from population studies. Objective: In the present investigation, we examined the relationship between dietary n‐3 PUFA intake on depression symptomatology in a large prospective pregnancy cohort followed for 17 years. Methods: Adolescents enrolled in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire to assess dietary fatty acid intake, as well as other dietary factors at age 14 and a fasting blood sample was taken. Participants also completed the Beck Depression Inventory for Youth (BDI‐Y) at age 14 (N = 1,407) and at age 17 (N = 995). Results: An inverse relationship was observed between intake of both saturated fat and of n‐3 PUFA at age 14 and BDI‐Y scores at both 14 and 17 years of age. However, after adjusting for energy (kJ) intake and other lifestyle confounders, the relationships were no longer significant. Conclusions: Associations previously reported between n3 PUFA and depressive symptoms may be due to collinearity with other dietary and lifestyle factors. Depression and Anxiety, 2011.

Comparative analysis of two FFQ

OBJECTIVE To examine the utility of a shorter FFQ compared with a longer FFQ, both of which are commonly used in Australia. DESIGN Comparative study. SETTING Community setting. SUBJECTS One hundred and fifty-nine men (mean 55 (sem 7) years) screened for participation in an intervention study completed both the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation FFQ and the Cancer Council of Victoria FFQ. Agreement between both questionnaires was assessed according to Bland-Altman plots and limits of agreement (LOA) and ordinary least products regression to test for the presence of fixed and proportional bias. RESULTS There was good relative agreement between the methods for energy and macronutrients (Pearsons correlation coefficients: energy r = 0.7, protein r = 0.6, fat r = 0.8, carbohydrate r = 0.7, alcohol r = 0.8; P < 0.01). Mean group-level agreement for the majority of nutrients (70 %) fell between 80 % and 110 %. According to the criteria used (maximum LOA was 50-200 % and no significant proportional bias), there was acceptable agreement between the FFQ for energy and total saturated and monounsaturated fat, but not for protein, carbohydrate and fibre. Micronutrients that did not meet the agreement criteria including calcium, iron, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and folate. When the data were analysed according to quintiles, the majority of subjects were either in exactly the same quintile or within one quintile for most nutrients, and 1-2 % were grossly misclassified by three or four quintiles. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that there is sufficient agreement between the instruments for group-level comparisons in men, but they are not interchangeable for estimation of individual intakes.

Zinc and magnesium status of australian adults

Abstract A national random survey of Australian adults showed that the daily intakes ofzinc and magnesium in the population were marginal with the diets of 67% of men and 85% of women being below the RDA for zinc, and those of 50% of men and 39% of women, below the RDA for magnesium. There were few differences across state of residence, metropolitan or country, age gender or occupational status and where such differences did exist, these were related almost entirely to differences in total food or energy intake. The major source of zinc in the diets of participants were steak, bread, milk, cheeses, minced meat and breakfast cereals and, for magnesium, bread, milk, breakfast cereals, bananas and beer (in men). Biochemical assessments were also made on a random sample of the South Australian population whose sociodemographic and dietary profile matched closely that of the national sample. Measures of plasma and urinary zinc and magnesium, appeared to confirm a high level of risk for magnesium but not for zinc. Interpretation of these data are however difficult because of uncertainty about plasma magnesium standards and, for zinc, the ability of plasma measures, alone, to detect marginal deficiencies.

Consumption of beef/veal/lamb in Australian children: Intake, nutrient contribution and comparison with other meat, poultry and fish categories

Aim To describe reported consumption of meat for children using the 2007 Australian National Childrens Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Methods One-day, weighted data are described for consumption of meat, poultry and fish consumed as ‘cuts’ and from mixed dishes. Data are presented for all children by age groups (2–3 years, 4–8 years, 9–13years, 14–16 years) and gender. Trimming practices, time and place of consumption, and nutrient contributions are described. Results Ninety per cent of children reported consuming meat, poultry or fish on the day surveyed. Reported mean consumption of all beef/veal/lamb, pork/ham/bacon, poultry and fish ranged from 52 g in 2 to 3-year-old boys to 161 g in 14 to 16-year-old boys; and was lower in 9 to 16-year-olds girls; 98 g. Mean reported consumption of beef/veal/lamb was 21–64 g for boys and 23–36 g for girls, depending on age group. For meals where the meat, poultry or fish were identified individually, meals with beef/veal/lamb contained more vegetables (159 g) than pork/ham/bacon (50 g) and poultry (110 g). The beef/veal/lamb was fully (20%) or semi-trimmed (58%), and 49% of minced beef/veal/lamb was lean. Sixty-eight per cent of respondents reported eating poultry with the skin removed. Across all age groups, beef/veal/lamb in cuts and mixed dishes contributed 4% of total energy, 6% of total fat, 5% of saturated fat, 46% of haem iron, 18% of zinc and 21% of long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake. Conclusions These findings help to inform evidence-based individual or population-level recommendations.

Dietary profile of Vietnamese migrant women in South Australia

Abstract A survey was undertaken to assess the current dietary habits of Vietnamese migrant womenin South Australia, changes they had made to their diets since migrating, food preferences and attitudes to food. The survey showed that the women still retained a largely traditional diet which was low in fat and refined sugars, but high in complex carbohydrate. The diet was, however, marginal for a number of micronutrients, particularly calcium and vitamin E. Migration had resulted in an increased usage of food items such as dairy products, red meat, bread and fruit but less usage of traditional foods such as seafood, fish, rice and green-leafy vegetables. food preferences were found to correlate highly with the perceived healthiness of foods. Foods which were particularly disliked, and considered to be of little value in terms of health, were lamb, meat pies, breakfast cereals and chocolate. Length of residence and occupation were the major determinants of variation in nutrient intake but age was the major determinant of the range of dietary changes and of certain food preferences.

Changes in Food Intake in Australia: Comparing the 1995 and 2011 National Nutrition Survey Results Disaggregated into Basic Foods

As nations seek to address obesity and diet-related chronic disease, understanding shifts in food intake over time is an imperative. However, quantifying intake of basic foods is not straightforward because of the diversity of raw and cooked wholefoods, processed foods and mixed dishes actually consumed. In this study, data from the Australian national nutrition surveys of 1995 and 2011, each involving more than 12,000 individuals and covering more than 4500 separate foods, were coherently disaggregated into basic foods, with cooking and processing factors applied where necessary. Although Australians are generally not eating in a manner consistent with national dietary guidelines, there have been several positive changes. Australians are eating more whole fruit, a greater diversity of vegetables, more beans, peas and pulses, less refined sugar, and they have increased their preference for brown and wholegrain cereals. Adult Australians have also increased their intake of nuts and seeds. Fruit juice consumption markedly declined, especially for younger Australians. Cocoa consumption increased and shifts in dairy product intake were mixed, reflecting one of several important differences between age and gender cohorts. This study sets the context for more detailed research at the level of specific foods to understand individual and household differences.

Australia’s nutritional food balance: situation, outlook and policy implications

Australia is a food trading nation with a complex food system. Change can have important implications for rural communities, employment, trade, public health nutrition and food security. This study compares Australian food intake scenarios to 2050 with linear projections for Australian agricultural production. The study is distinguished by its nutritional perspective, characterising food balance in terms of basic foods rather than food energy or macronutrients, as well as its systems perspective, taking into account the transformations that occur in food processing and cooking, livestock feed requirements, as well as supply chain and kitchen losses. With Australia’s population projected to increase from around 23 million in 2015 to 37.5 million in 2050, substantial increases in domestic food supply will be required. Although the situation and outlook differ for each commodity, in most respects demand is projected to increase at a greater rate than local production. This suggests that the Australian food system is on a trajectory toward reduced net food exports and increased dependence on imports. This will have implications for Australia’s role in the global food system and presents a change in some of the determinants of national food security. The trajectory of the food system also appears to be at odds with the massive public health challenges associated with diet related disease. These and other implications of an enlarging and increasingly international food system are discussed.

Short communication: a food-systems approach to assessing dairy product waste.

Concern about world population increase, food security, and the environmental burdens of food production have made food-waste reduction a social and environmental priority. In this context, the quantification of dairy product waste is especially difficult due to the varied means of disposal, by solid and liquid waste streams, and due to inclusion as an ingredient in many processed foods. In this study, food intake data from the Australian National Nutrition Survey (>13,000 participants; >4,500 food items) were disaggregated into basic foods and total national dairy product intake was expressed in whole-milk equivalents. This result was compared with total domestic milk supply, indicating a level of waste of 29% for dairy products in the Australian food system. With national food-waste reduction targets becoming increasingly common, reliable estimates of food waste at the national scale are important for goal setting, baseline reporting, and performance monitoring. For this purpose, the systems approach to assessing food waste demonstrated in this project is deemed to have advantages over other common methods of food-waste assessment, such as bin audits, waste diaries, and surveys.

Consumption of beef/veal/lamb in Australian children: Intake, nutrient contribution and comparison with other meat, poultry and fish categories: Meat, poultry and fish consumption in Australian children

Aim To describe reported consumption of meat for children using the 2007 Australian National Childrens Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Methods One-day, weighted data are described for consumption of meat, poultry and fish consumed as ‘cuts’ and from mixed dishes. Data are presented for all children by age groups (2–3 years, 4–8 years, 9–13years, 14–16 years) and gender. Trimming practices, time and place of consumption, and nutrient contributions are described. Results Ninety per cent of children reported consuming meat, poultry or fish on the day surveyed. Reported mean consumption of all beef/veal/lamb, pork/ham/bacon, poultry and fish ranged from 52 g in 2 to 3-year-old boys to 161 g in 14 to 16-year-old boys; and was lower in 9 to 16-year-olds girls; 98 g. Mean reported consumption of beef/veal/lamb was 21–64 g for boys and 23–36 g for girls, depending on age group. For meals where the meat, poultry or fish were identified individually, meals with beef/veal/lamb contained more vegetables (159 g) than pork/ham/bacon (50 g) and poultry (110 g). The beef/veal/lamb was fully (20%) or semi-trimmed (58%), and 49% of minced beef/veal/lamb was lean. Sixty-eight per cent of respondents reported eating poultry with the skin removed. Across all age groups, beef/veal/lamb in cuts and mixed dishes contributed 4% of total energy, 6% of total fat, 5% of saturated fat, 46% of haem iron, 18% of zinc and 21% of long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake. Conclusions These findings help to inform evidence-based individual or population-level recommendations.

Framing information about colorectal cancer screening and fecal occult blood testing - impact on screening atttudes and behavior

Stress management prolongs life for CHD patients : a randomized clinical trial assessing the effects of group intervention on all cause mortality, recurrent cardiovascular disease, and quality of life