Publications by authors named "Valentine Yanchou-Njike"
Background: In our recently published study, including walnuts in the diets of adults with prediabetes led to overall improvement in diet quality. This report adds to those study findings by examining the food groups displaced during walnut inclusion in the diets of those adults with prediabetes.
Methods: Randomized, controlled, modified Latin square parallel design with 2 treatment arms.
In today's society, snacking contributes close to one-third of daily energy intake, with many snacks consisting of energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods. Choices made with regard to snacking are affected by a multitude of factors on individual, social, and environmental levels. Social norms, for example, that emphasize healthful eating are likely to increase the intake of nutrient-rich snacks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Despite their energy density, walnuts can be included in the diet without adverse effects on weight or body composition. The effect of habitual walnut intake on total calorie intake is not well studied. Effects on overall diet quality have not been reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To compare the effects of nut-based snack bars (NBSB) vs. prepackaged 200-kcal portions of typical conventional snack foods, when consumed over a 12-week period by a group of overweight adults.
Design: Randomized, single-blind parallel design with two treatment groups.
Background: Comprehensive, residential treatment for severe obesity in adolescents may be an alternative to bariatric surgery and more efficacious than outpatient treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a long-term cognitive-behavioral therapy-based immersion obesity treatment program for adolescents.
Methods: Twelve obese adolescents with BMIs above the 95th percentile completed a 14- to 18-week multicomponent intervention.
Background: Prevailing recommendations call for restricting intake of dietary cholesterol and eggs for those at risk of heart disease, despite accumulating evidence challenging this association. Our prior studies showed no short-term adverse effects of daily egg intake on cardiac risk factors in at-risk adults.
Objective: We conducted this study to determine effects of daily egg consumption in adults with established coronary artery disease (CAD).
The impact of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) on blood pressure (BP) has been debated, with some evidence suggesting that their increased intake is related to higher risk of developing hypertension. We conducted a systematic review exploring the relation between consumption of SSB and BP. A comprehensive search in 5 electronic databases along with a bibliography search was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Metabolic syndrome is a precursor of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Walnut ingestion has been shown to reduce CVD risk indices in diabetes. This randomized controlled crossover trial was performed to investigate the effects of daily walnut consumption on endothelial function and other biomarkers of cardiac risk in a population of overweight individuals with visceral adiposity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In a previous trial of massage for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, we demonstrated feasibility, safety and possible efficacy, with benefits that persisted at least 8 weeks beyond treatment termination.
Methods: We performed a RCT to identify the optimal dose of massage within an 8-week treatment regimen and to further examine durability of response. Participants were 125 adults with OA of the knee, randomized to one of four 8-week regimens of a standardized Swedish massage regimen (30 or 60 min weekly or biweekly) or to a Usual Care control.
Background: Chromium is an essential trace element and nutritional supplement that has garnered interest for use as a weight loss aid.
Objective: This trial assesses the effects of chromium picolinate supplementation, alone and combined with nutritional education, on weight loss in apparently healthy overweight adults.
Design: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 80 otherwise healthy, overweight adults assessed at baseline for central adiposity measured by computerized tomography.
Background: Studies of cocoa suggest an array of cardiovascular benefits; however, the effects of daily intake of sugar-free and sugar-sweetened cocoa beverages on endothelial function (EF) have yet to be established.
Methods: 44 adults (BMI 25-35 kg/m2) participated in a randomized, controlled, crossover trial. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment sequence: sugar-free cocoa beverage, sugar-sweetened cocoa beverage, and sugar-sweetened cocoa-free placebo.
Objective: To determine the effects of daily walnut consumption on endothelial function, cardiovascular biomarkers, and anthropometric measures in type 2 diabetic individuals.
Research Design And Methods: This study was a randomized, controlled, single-blind, crossover trial. Twenty-four participants with type 2 diabetes (mean age 58 years; 14 women and 10 men) were randomly assigned to one of the two possible sequence permutations to receive an ad libitum diet enriched with 56 g (366 kcal) walnuts/day and an ad libitum diet without walnuts for 8 weeks.
Aims: Comparison of supervised home-based exercise program as adjunctive therapy, with comprehensive disease management alone, on symptoms and quality of life in congestive heart failure patients.
Methods: 8 women and 11 men were enrolled in a randomized trial. The mean subject age was 69 (±4.
Type 2 diabetes is epidemic in the United States with greater incidence rates in African-American communities. Lifestyle interventions during the phase of insulin resistance mitigate cardiovascular risk and prevent diabetes. The primary aim of this study is to test the impact of a Community Health Advisor (CHA)-based diabetes prevention controlled intervention in urban African-American communities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Intravenous micronutrient therapy (IVMT), and specifically the Myers' Cocktail, is a popular approach for treating fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) among complementary and alternative medicine practitioners, but its efficacy is uncertain. This trial assessed the feasibility, safety, and provided insights into the efficacy of this therapy.
Design: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.
Background: Studies suggest cardioprotective benefits of dark chocolate containing cocoa.
Objective: This study examines the acute effects of solid dark chocolate and liquid cocoa intake on endothelial function and blood pressure in overweight adults.
Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind crossover trial of 45 healthy adults [mean age: 53 y; mean body mass index (in kg/m(2)): 30].
Background: Massage therapy is an attractive treatment option for osteoarthritis (OA), but its efficacy is uncertain. We conducted a randomized, controlled trial of massage therapy for OA of the knee.
Methods: Sixty-eight adults with radiographically confirmed OA of the knee were assigned either to treatment (twice-weekly sessions of standard Swedish massage in weeks 1-4 and once-weekly sessions in weeks 5-8) or to control (delayed intervention).
Purpose: To replicate results of a pilot smoking cessation study and demonstrate applicability to a worksite setting.
Methods: Smokers employed by a community hospital participated in an onsite smoking cessation program. Participants used an "impediment profiling" instrument to rate personal barriers to cessation and were assigned to between one and seven interventions.
The early treatment of hyperlipidemia in hospitalized patients confers potential benefit, yet total cholesterol is known to vary with acute illness, often delaying treatment decisions. A prospective study was conducted of 61 patients (mean age 57 years; 49% women) admitted to an acute care community hospital with various diagnoses with random nonfasting lipid profile measurements at admission, followed by second fasting lipid profile measurements on day 3 of hospitalization or upon discharge (whichever occurred first), and final fasting lipid profile measurements 4 weeks after discharge. All individual values of the lipid profile decreases at discharge, whereas the ratios of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to HDL did not change significantly.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To assess the effects of soy isoflavone protein concentrate and soy lecithin on endothelial function, measured as flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery in healthy postmenopausal women.
Design: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 25 participants (mean age, 61 years; body mass index, 25.46 kg/m2).
Objectives: The aim of this study was to carry out a preliminary trial evaluating the effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Design: This work was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Settings/location: This study was conducted in a private homeopathic clinic in the Seattle metropolitan area.
Context: Certain meditation practices may effectively address spiritual needs near end-of-life, an often overlooked aspect of quality of life (QOL). Among people subject to physical isolation, meditation benefits may be blunted unless physical contact is also addressed.
Objective: To evaluate independent and interactive effects of Metta meditation and massage on QOL in people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Background: Because of egg cholesterol content, reduction in egg consumption is generally recommended to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. Recently, however, evidence has been accumulating to suggest that dietary cholesterol is less relevant to cardiovascular risk than dietary saturated fat. This randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted to determine the effects of egg ingestion on endothelial function, a reliable index of cardiovascular risk.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine effects of oat and antioxidant vitamin (C 500 mg, E 400 IU) ingestion on endothelial function in overweight, dyslipidemic adults.
Design: Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial Intervention(s): Subjects (16 males > or = age 35; 14 postmenopausal females) were assigned, in random order, to oats (60 g oatmeal), vitamin E (400 IU) plus vitamin C (500 mg), the combination of oats and vitamins, or placebo, and underwent brachial artery reactivity scans (BARS) following a single dose of each treatment, and again following 6 weeks of daily ingestion, with 2-week washout periods. At each test, a provocation high-fat meal (50 g, predominantly saturated) was administered and subjects were scanned pre, and 3 hours post-ingestion.
Objectives: To examine the attitudes of patients with rhinosinusitis toward the availability of "back-up" antibiotics, and potential implications for antibiotic use rates.
Study Design And Setting: A survey that assessed actual and hypothetical antibiotic prescription patterns was administered to a convenience sample of patients treated for rhinosinusitis in one acute care facility between September 1 and December 1, 2001.
Results: Of 386 eligible patients, 114 completed the survey.