Taste sensitivity to NaCl is associated with liking of salty foods and BMI

Background – It is widely acknowledged that sodium is consumed in excess in most developed countries. Sodium (Na) consumption has been a target of public health interventions in recent years due to its link to numerous adverse health affects such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. While much of the current research is directed at strategies to reduce sodium in foods and the diet, little is known about the factors which determine salt consumption and preference. Currently, there is no research relating NaCl taste sensitivity and liking of food, or if NaCl taste sensitivity may manifest in changes in BMI.
Objective – Establish whether a relationship exists between NaCl taste sensitivity, preference for salty foods and BMI.
Design – Taste sensitivity to NaCl was determined for 119 subjects (104 female) according to the procedure laid out by “ISO 3972:1991 – Method of investigating sensitivity of taste”. In a separate session subjects rated their liking of generic biscuit with 2 levels of added NaCl [low (2.9g/100g) & high (19.1g/100g)] using the 9-point hedonic scale. BMI was calculated from self reported height and weight data collected. Spearman’s rank order correlation was used to determine whether an association existed between NaCl taste sensitivity, preference for salty foods and BMI.
Outcomes – A significant positive correlation was found between BMI and NaCl taste sensitivity (r=0.204, p<0.05). In addition there was a significant positive correlation between BMI and liking of low NaCl biscuits (r=0.267, p<0.01). No significant associations were identified between the high NaCl cracker and NaCl taste sensitivity or BMI. A paired t-test showed there was no significant difference in liking of the low and commercial NaCl crackers (p=0.078).
Conclusion – This study revealed that individuals with a higher BMI have a greater liking of low NaCl biscuits, and this may be due to their increased NaCl taste sensitivity. The results suggest that NaCl taste sensitivity may be a factor in foods consumed by an individual which in turn may influence weight status.

The effect pf diary foods on CHD: a systematic review of prospective cohort studies

There is interest in the degree to which fats in dairy foods contribute to CHD. We undertook a systematic review to investigate the effect of dairy  consumption on CHD using prospective cohort studies. A systematic search of electronic databases identified studies relating dairy food intake in adulthood to episodes or death from CHD, IHD and myocardial infarction. Included studies were assessed for quality based on study methodology, validity of dietary assessment, success of follow-up, standardised  assessment of CHD, IHD or myocardial infarction end points and  appropriateness of statistical adjustment. Data from twelve cohorts involving >280 000 subjects were included. Most studies had follow-up of >80 %, adjusted statistically for three or more confounders and used standard criteria to determine end points. About half the studies used a validated FFQ, administered the FFQ more than once or had follow-up of >20 years. Fewer than half the studies involved subjects representative of the general population. Four of the twelve cohorts found no association between dairy intake and CHD. Eight studies reported varying relationships between different dairy foods and CHD or differential associations based on race, sex or over time. Although dairy foods contribute to the SFA composition of the diet, this systematic review could find no consistent evidence that dairy food consumption is associated with a higher risk of CHD. This could be due to the limited sensitivity of the dietary assessment methods to detect an effect of a single food in a mixed diet on complex clinical outcomes.

Having a baby in the new land : a qualitative exploration of the experiences of Asian migrants in rural Tasmania, Australia

Introduction: Australia is a land of cultural diversity. Cultural differences in maternity care may result in conflict between migrants and healthcare providers, especially when migrants have minimal English language knowledge. The aim of the study was to investigate Asian migrant women’s child-birth experiences in a rural Australian context.

Method: The study consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted with 10 Asian migrant women living in rural Tasmania to explore their childbirth experiences and the barriers they faced in accessing maternal care in the new land. The data were analysed using grounded theory and three main categories were identified: ‘migrants with traditional practices in the new land’, ‘support and postnatal experiences’ and ‘barriers to accessing maternal care’.

Results: The findings revealed that Asian migrants in Tasmania faced language and cultural barriers when dealing with the new healthcare system. Because some Asian migrants retain traditional views and practices for maternity care, confusion and conflicting expectations may occur. Family and community play an important role in supporting migrant women through their maternity care.

Conclusions: Providing interpreting services, social support for migrant women and improving the cross-cultural training for healthcare providers were recommended to improve available maternal care services.

My baby body : a qualitative insight into women's body-related experiences and mood during pregnancy and the postpartum

An inductive qualitative approach was employed to explore women's experiences of their body and mood during pregnancy and the postpartum. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 perinatal women (n at late pregnancy=10; n in the early postpartum period=10). While most of the sample reported adapting positively to body changes experienced during pregnancy, the postpartum period was often associated with body dissatisfaction. Women reported several events unique to pregnancy which helped them cope positively with bodily changes (e.g. increased perceived body functionality, new sense of meaning in life thus placing well-being of developing foetus above body aesthetics, perceptual experiences such as feeling baby kick, increased sense of social connectedness due to pregnancy body shape, and positive social commentary); however, these events no longer protected against body dissatisfaction post-birth. While women reported mood lability throughout the perinatal period, the postpartum was also a time of increased positive affect for most women, and overall most women did not associate body changes with their mood. Clinical implications of these findings included the need for education about normal postpartum body changes and their timing, and the development of more accurate measures of perinatal body image.

Minimising colonic fermentation of high fructan foods : using food processing techniques to reduce levels of fructans in onion and garlic

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional disorder of the bowel, affecting up to 15% of Australian adults. Dietary triggers need to be identified and controlled. Researchers have shown that short chain carbohydrates, fructans (high in onion and garlic) play a major role in triggering IBS symptoms. Current dietary management aims to limit the intake of fructans in the diet. Another approach may be to use simple food processing to reduce fructans in foods.

Objective: To investigate if pickling will reduce fructan levels in garlic and shallots, and if pickled garlic and shallots reduce colonic fermentation, and  abdominal symptoms in human volunteers.

Design: Fructan levels of the garlic and shallots were measured using the Megazyme fructan assay. 18 volunteers (13 healthy and 5 IBS) participated in a single blinded, randomised cross over study. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive a breakfast (potato and salmon patty) that was either high (unprocessed) or low (processed/pickled) in garlic and shallots. Breath hydrogen was measured every hour over a ten hour period, and abdominal symptoms were assessed using validated questionnaires.

Outcomes: Pickling over a 12 day period significantly reduced fructan levels in both garlic (p=.0.00) and shallots (p=0.00). Consumption of the low fructan breakfast resulted in significantly lower breath hydrogen (p=0.05), abdominal pain (p=0.032), and wind (p=0.04).

Conclusion: Pickling results in significantly lowered fructan levels in problem foods- shallots and garlic, and lowered colonic fermentation and abdominal symptoms in both healthy and IBS volunteers. This study provides another dietary strategy for dietetic counselling of patients with IBS.

Baby boomers and property busts

In the latter half of the 20th century the baby boom generation created an increased demand for many aspects of society including education, housing and medical services. Only now are the negative aspects resulting from this unique demand being fully considered. One of the most important issues is the impact on residential housing values which directly or indirectly affects most residents whether owning, buying or renting.
The relationship between the ageing of the baby boomers and housing values is a current topic of debate throughout the world. Particularly in the U.S.A. warnings have been sounded of a dramatic decrease in property values causing a property bust as the baby boomers move into the older generation.
This paper revisits the baby boom generation and discusses previous research in the worldwide debate concerning their impact on housing values. The status of the Australian baby boomers is examined and the future impact on residential house values in Australia is contemplated.

Assessing the intake of obesity-related foods and beverages in young children: comparison of a simple population survey with 24 hr-recall

Background: With an increasing focus on obesity prevention there is a need for simple, valid tools to assess dietary indicators that may be the targets of  intervention programs. The objective of this study was to determine the relative  validity of previous day dietary intake using a newly developed parent-proxy  questionnaire (EPAQ) for two to five year old children.

Methods: A convenience sample of participants (n = 90) recruited through preschools and the community in Geelong, Australia provided dietary data for their child via EPAQ and interviewer administered 24-hour dietary recall (24 hr-recall). Comparison of mean food and beverage group servings between the  EPAQ and 24 hr-recall was conducted and Spearman rank correlations were computed to examine the association between the two methods.

Results: Mean servings of food/beverage groups were comparable between methods for all groups except water, and significant correlations were found between the servings of food and beverages using the EPAQ and 24-hr recall methods (ranging from 0.57 to 0.88).

Conclusion: The EPAQ is a simple and useful population-level tool for  estimating the intake of obesity-related foods and beverages in children aged two to five years. When compared with 24-hour recall data, the EPAQ produced an acceptable level of relative validity and this short survey has application for population monitoring and the evaluation of population-based obesity prevention interventions for young children.