Nutrition Education and Practice in University Dental and Oral Health Programmes and Curricula: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Dentists and oral health practitioners have a potential role in supporting the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases. However, the extent to which university education prepares practitioners to provide nutrition care is unclear. This scoping review identifies and synthesises the evidence related to university-level nutrition education provided to dental and oral health students globally.

Targeted Approaches: Choosing Sodium Reduction Methods Based on Salt Usage Habits.

Dietary sodium (salt) reduction has been identified as a key public health intervention for reducing non-communicable diseases globally [...

Formula-led methods using first morning fasting spot urine to assess usual salt intake: a secondary analysis of PURE study data.

Objectives: Observational studies that assess the relationship between salt intake and long-term outcomes require a valid estimate of usual salt intake. The gold-standard measure in individuals is sodium excretion in multiple nonconsecutive 24-h urines. Multiple studies have demonstrated that random spot urine samples are not valid for estimating usual salt intake; however, some researchers believe that fasting morning spot urine samples produce a better measure of usual salt intake than random spot samples.

Experiences of healthcare practitioners providing nutrition care to people with cancer in New Zealand: A qualitative study.

To explore the perspectives and experiences of healthcare practitioners in providing nutrition care to people with cancer in New Zealand. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 New Zealand healthcare professionals (HCPs) practicing in specialist secondary and tertiary cancer care (both public and private) who had previously completed an online survey about nutrition in cancer care. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was undertaken.

Measuring Sodium from Discretionary Salt: Comparison of Methods.

(1) Background: The best method to assess discretionary salt intake in population surveys has not been established. (2) Methods: This secondary analysis compared three different methods of measuring sodium intake from discretionary salt in a convenience sample of 109 adults in New Zealand. Participants replaced their household salt with lithium-tagged salt provided by researchers over eight days.

Adjusting the Iodine Content of Iodized Salt to Meet the Recommended Intake for Females of Reproductive Age: A Simulation Study with a Reduced Sodium Scenario.

Background: The use of iodized salt is a key strategy to increase iodine intake worldwide. In many countries, including New Zealand, females of reproductive age are still at risk of being mildly iodine deficient.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the level of iodization of salt needed to ensure that females aged 18 to 40 y have an adequate intake of iodine in 2 scenarios: current discretionary salt intake and reduced discretionary salt intake.

Salt Substitutes-An Important Tool to Increase Potassium and Reduce Sodium Intakes?

Potassium is an essential mineral and is the main cation in intracellular fluid [...

Effectiveness of a Sodium-Reduction Smartphone App and Reduced-Sodium Salt to Lower Sodium Intake in Adults With Hypertension: Findings From the Salt Alternatives Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Even modest reductions in blood pressure (BP) can have an important impact on population-level morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. There are 2 promising approaches: the SaltSwitch smartphone app, which enables users to scan the bar code of a packaged food using their smartphone camera and receive an immediate, interpretive traffic light nutrition label on-screen alongside a list of healthier, lower-salt options in the same food category; and reduced-sodium salts (RSSs), which are an alternative to regular table salt that are lower in sodium and higher in potassium but have a similar mouthfeel, taste, and flavor.

Objective: Our aim was to determine whether a 12-week intervention with a sodium-reduction package comprising the SaltSwitch smartphone app and an RSS could reduce urinary sodium excretion in adults with high BP.

Comment on Hogas et al. Salt, Not Always a Cardiovascular Enemy? A Mini-Review and Modern Perspective. 2022, , 1175.

Hogas et al. recently published their perspective on dietary salt in a mini review [..

Incorporating a gender lens into nutrition and health-related policies in Fiji: analysis of policies and stakeholder perspectives.

Background: Gender equality, zero hunger and healthy lives and well-being for all, are three of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that underpin Fiji's National Development Plan. Work towards each of these goals contributes to the reduction of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). There are gender differences in NCD burden in Fiji.

Gender roles, generational changes and environmental challenges: an intersectional interpretation of perceptions on healthy diets among iTaukei women and men in Fiji.

Objective: To investigate perceptions of iTaukei Fijian women and men around diet and the ability to consume a healthy diet.

Design: Six focus groups were conducted with women and men separately. Six to ten women and men participated in each group.

Nutrition support in oncology care in Aotearoa New Zealand: current practice, and where to from here?

Aim: This research sought to identify and understand what nutrition-related information and support is available to people undergoing cancer treatment. We also sought the views on nutrition for cancer among providers of cancer care/support, and barriers/enablers to the provision of nutrition information/support.

Method: Data were collected using online surveys with New Zealand-based healthcare practitioners and support workers.