The benefits of breakfast cereal consumption: a systematic review of the evidence base.

There have been no comprehensive reviews of the relation of breakfast cereal consumption to nutrition and health. This systematic review of all articles on breakfast cereals to October 2013 in the Scopus and Medline databases identified 232 articles with outcomes related to nutrient intake, weight, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, digestive health, dental and mental health, and cognition. Sufficient evidence was available to develop 21 summary evidence statements, ranked from A (can be trusted to guide practice) to D (weak and must be applied with caution).

Nutrition status of primary care patients with depression and anxiety.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutrition status of people referred to a nutrition and physical activity program for the management of mental health in general practice. Patients currently being treated for depression and/or anxiety were referred by their GPs to a lifestyle intervention program. The nutrition status was assessed during a comprehensive assessment at the commencement of the program.

Evaluation of the evidence between consumption of refined grains and health outcomes.

This review evaluates the available evidence on the relationship between consumption of refined grains and health outcomes. A total of 135 relevant articles were identified from database searches of studies published between 2000 and 2010. The great majority found no associations between the intake of refined-grain foods and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weight gain, or overall mortality.

Validity of the BodyGem calorimeter and prediction equations for the assessment of resting energy expenditure in overweight and obese Saudi males.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of resting energy expenditure (REE) measurement in a sample of overweight and obese Saudi males, using the BodyGem device (BG) with whole room calorimetry (WRC) as a reference, and to evaluate the accuracy of predictive equations.

Methods: Thirty-eight subjects (mean +/- SD, age 26.8+/- 3.

Validation of an Australian electronic food frequency questionnaire to measure polyunsaturated fatty acid intake.

Objective: To develop and validate a simple non-invasive method that estimates the intakes of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in a healthy adult population.

Methods: A new electronic PUFA food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was validated by comparison with a 3-d weighed food record and blood biomarkers (erythrocytes and plasma) using the method of triads model and tested for reproducibility. Healthy subjects were recruited from the local Illawarra Region, New South Wales, Australia.

Performance of body mass index in predicting diabetes and hypertension in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Background And Objectives: Body mass index (BMI) is the most widely used measure to define obesity and predict its complications, such as diabetes and hypertension, but its accuracy and usefulness in Saudi subjects is unknown. This study aimed to assess the validity of standard BMI cut-point values in the Saudi population.

Subjects And Methods: 197 681 adults participated in a cross-sectional study to detect diabetes and hypertension in the Saudi Eastern province in 2004/2005, with blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, height and weight measurements taken.

Cereal grains, legumes, and weight management: a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence.

There is strong evidence that a diet high in whole grains is associated with lower body mass index, smaller waist circumference, and reduced risk of being overweight; that a diet high in whole grains and legumes can help reduce weight gain; and that significant weight loss is achievable with energy-controlled diets that are high in cereals and legumes. There is weak evidence that high intakes of refined grains may cause small increases in waist circumference in women. There is no evidence that low-carbohydrate diets that restrict cereal intakes offer long-term advantages for sustained weight loss.

Dietary validation of a new Australian food-frequency questionnaire that estimates long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Currently, there is no FFQ designed to capture the intakes of the long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFA. The objectives of this study were to validate a new LC n-3 PUFA FFQ by comparison with 3 d weighed food records (FR) and to determine its reproducibility assessed 4 to 6 weeks apart. Healthy male and female subjects (n 53) were recruited from Wollongong and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia.

Plant sterols as dietary adjuvants in the reduction of cardiovascular risk: theory and evidence.

Plant sterol-enriched foods are an effective dietary adjuvant in reducing cardiovascular risk by lowering total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in serum by up to approximately 15%. The mechanism of action of plant sterols is different from those of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A inhibitors (statins) and thus their effect is additive. Combining plant sterols with other dietary components known to reduce cholesterol in a portfolio approach has proven to be most effective for reduction of hypercholesterolemia and provide an alternative treatment option for clinicians.

Biomarker validation of a long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid food frequency questionnaire.

Long-chain omega-3 PUFA (LC n-3 PUFA) are beneficial for health. To date there is no specific food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess LC n-3 PUFA intakes. The objective of this study is to validate our newly developed FFQ by comparison with LC n-3 PUFA content of both red blood cells (RBC) and plasma, expressed as a percentage of total FA.

Health benefits of herbs and spices: the past, the present, the future.

Unlabelled: Herbs and spices have a traditional history of use, with strong roles in cultural heritage, and in the appreciation of food and its links to health. Demonstrating the benefits of foods by scientific means remains a challenge, particularly when compared with standards applied for assessing pharmaceutical agents. Pharmaceuticals are small-molecular-weight compounds consumed in a purified and concentrated form.

Attitudes and intentions toward purchasing novel foods enriched with omega-3 fatty acids.

Objective: To identify the nature, strength, and relative importance of influences on intentions to consume foods that are enriched with omega-3 fatty acids using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).

Design: A cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire.

Setting: Community-based residents living in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia.

Overweight consumers' salient beliefs on omega-3-enriched functional foods in Australia's Illawarra region.

Objective: To determine consumer salient beliefs toward functional foods enriched with omega-3 fatty acids.

Design: Focus group interviews with adult consumers using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a theoretical framework.

Setting: Community-based residents living in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia.

Plant sterol/stanol prescription is an effective treatment strategy for managing hypercholesterolemia in outpatient clinical practice.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of prescribing 2 g plant sterols/stanols per day as an addition to standard practice in a dietary outpatient clinic.

Design: A randomized parallel design of comparative 12-week interventions.

Subjects/setting: Patients referred by a general practitioner to a dietary outpatient clinic for the management of hyperlipidemia were eligible.