Kathryn A. Greaves

Validity of self-reported energy intake in lean and obese young women, using two nutrient databases, compared with total energy expenditure assessed by doubly labeled water

Objective: To compare self-reported total energy intake (TEI) estimated using two databases with total energy expenditure (TEE) measured by doubly labeled water in physically active lean and sedentary obese young women, and to compare reporting accuracy between the two subject groups.Design: A cross-sectional study in which dietary intakes of women trained in diet-recording procedures were analyzed using the Minnesota Nutrition Data System (NDS; versions 2.4/6A/21, 2.6/6A/23 and 2.6/8.A/23) and Nutritionist III (N3; version 7.0) software. Reporting accuracy was determined by comparison of average TEI assessed by an 8 day estimated diet record with average TEE for the same period.Results: Reported TEI differed from TEE for both groups irrespective of nutrient database (P<0.01). Measured TEE was 11.10±2.54 and 11.96±1.21 MJ for lean and obese subjects, respectively. Reported TEI, using either database, did not differ between groups. For lean women, TEI calculated by NDS was 7.66±1.73 MJ and by N3 was 8.44±1.59 MJ. Corresponding TEI for obese women were 7.46±2.17 MJ from NDS and 7.34±2.27 MJ from N3. Lean women under-reported by 23% (N3) and 30% (NDS), and obese women under-reported by 39% (N3) and 38% (NDS). Regardless of database, lean women reported higher carbohydrate intakes, and obese women reported higher total fat and individual fatty acid intakes. Higher energy intakes from mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids were estimated by NDS than by N3 in both groups of women (P≤0.05).Conclusions: Both physically active lean and sedentary obese women under-reported TEI regardless of database, although the magnitude of under-reporting may be influenced by the database for the lean women.Sponsorship: USDA Hatch Project award (ARZT-136528-H-23-111) to LB Houtkooper and WH Howell.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 940–950

Soy Protein With Isoflavones, but not an Isoflavone-Rich Supplement, Improves Arterial Low-Density Lipoprotein Metabolism and Atherogenesis

Objective—We sought to determine if arterial LDL metabolism contributes to the decreased atherosclerosis seen with soy and if isolated isoflavones would have similar effects. Methods and Results—Ovariectomized monkeys were fed an atherogenic diet for 20 weeks with a protein source of (1) casein/lactalbumin (CAS, n=20), (2) soy protein isolate (SOY, n=20), or (3) casein/lactalbumin with isolated soy isoflavones (ISO, n=17). Plasma lipoprotein concentrations were improved with SOY but not ISO. Arterial LDL metabolism was characterized with one subset (n=12/group) injected with dual-labeled tyramine-cellobiose (TC)-LDL (125I-TC-131I-LDL) 24 hours before necropsy to determine LDL degradation and accumulation, while another subset (n=8/group) was injected with 125I-TC-LDL 1 hour before necropsy to determine LDL permeability and delivery. Conclusions—Coronary artery LDL degradation was reduced by 50% (P =0.02) with SOY but not with ISO compared with CAS. Neither treatment altered arterial permeability. Reduced LDL degradation with SOY was due to decreased arterial LDL delivery (P =0.02). Carotid artery cholesterol ester was also decreased with SOY, but not with ISO. Plasma isoprostanes or plasma markers of inflammation did not differ among treatment groups. Thus, the decreased arterial LDL delivery and subsequent LDL degradation may explain, in part, the atheroprotective effects of soy.

Height, infant-feeding practices and cardiovascular functioning among 3 or 4 year old children in three ethnic groups

Barker recently hypothesized that factors affecting prenatal and infant growth are related to adult blood pressure and CVD mortality. Predictions from Barkers hypothesis in regard to infant feeding were tested among a sample of 3 or 4 year old children. The relationship of infant-feeding characteristics (duration of breast-feeding, times of introduction of high fat, high carbohydrate, high potassium foods and table salt) to indicators of cardiovascular functioning (resting blood pressures and heart rates, and heart rate response to graded activity) while controlling for anthropometric (height, sum of seven skinfolds, BMI) and demographic (ethnicity, gender, social status) characteristics revealed that infant-feeding practices were not related to CV functioning in the predicted directions among this sample of 3 or 4 year old children. Furthermore, the positive relationship between height and systolic blood pressure was inconsistent with the Barker hypothesis.

Effects of Mammalian and Plant Estrogens on Lipoprotein Metabolism and Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in both pre- and postmenopausal women in Western societies. Both natural and surgical menopause are associated with increased risk of CHD (1), although estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) reduces the risk of CHD by about 50% in postmenopausal women (2–4) and the amount of atherosclerosis by about 50% in animal models (5–8). Even though there is overwhelming evidence that estrogen monotherapy markedly reduces the risk of CHD in postmenopausal women, the effects of estrogen/progestin regimens on CHD risk are less clear. A progestin is added to the ERT regimen to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer, and this may detract from estrogen’s beneficial effects. For example, numerous observational studies as well as meta-analyses (2,4) have concluded that ERT reduces risk of CHD. Reports from the Nurses Health Study (9) found similar reductions in CHD risk with ERT and combined estrogen/progestin treatment (HRT); however, a report of the first randomized, blinded, secondary prevention trial the Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study (HERS)—found no significant differences between CHD events in the placebo group compared with a group treated with combined, continuous estrogen/progestin (conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) (10).