Weakness Status is Differentially Associated with Time to Diabetes in Americans.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations of (1) individual absolute and body size normalized weakness cut-points, and (2) the collective weakness classifications on time to diabetes in Americans.

Methods: We analyzed data from 9577 adults aged at least 50-years from the Health and Retirement Study. Diabetes diagnosis was self-reported.

Collective Weakness and Fluidity in Weakness Status Associated With Basic Self-Care Limitations in Older Americans.

Aims: To examine the associations of 1) absolute and normalized weakness cut-points, 2) collective weakness categories, and 3) changes in weakness status on future activities of daily living (ADL) limitations in older Americans.

Methods: The analytic sample included 11,656 participants aged ≥65-years from the 2006-2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. ADL were self-reported.

Prevalence and Trends of Basic Activities of Daily Living Limitations in Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States.

Background: Population-level surveillance of the prevalence and trends of basic self-care limitations will help to identify the magnitude of physical disablement in the rapidly growing older American demographic. We sought to evaluate the prevalence and trends of activities of daily living (ADL) limitations in the United States.

Methods: The analytic sample included 30,418 Americans aged ≥50 years from the 2006-2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study.

The Role of Different Weakness Cut-Points for Future Cognitive Impairment in Older Americans.

Objectives: New absolute and normalized handgrip strength (HGS) cut-points may not yield similar predictive value for cognitive performance. We sought to determine the associations of (1) each absolute and normalized weakness cut-point, and (2) compounding weakness on future cognitive impairment in older Americans.

Design: Longitudinal panel.

Examining the role of different weakness categories for mobility and future falls in older Americans.

Background: Recently developed absolute and body size normalized handgrip strength (HGS) cut-points could be used individually and collectively to predict mobility problems and falls.

Aims: We examined the associations of (1) each absolute and normalized weakness cut-point, (2) collective weakness categories, and (3) changes in weakness status on future falls in older Americans.

Methods: The analytic sample included 11,675 participants from the 2006-2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study.

The Prevalence and Trends of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Impairments in the United States from 2008-2018.

Background: Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) are neuropsychological-driven tasks that are linked to cognitive dysfunction. Examining population-based IADL deficits may reveal insights for the presence of these impairments in the United States.

Objective: This investigation sought to evaluate the prevalence and trends of IADL impairments in Americans.

Undiagnosed Dementia Is Associated with Poor Physical Function in Older Adults.

Background: Older adults with a cognitive impairment, including those not yet diagnosed, may have deficits in their physical function.

Objective: We sought to determine the associations of cognitive impairment consistent with dementia (CICD) diagnosis status on handgrip strength, gait speed, and functional disability in older adults.

Methods: The analytical sample included 8,383 adults aged ≥65-years without history of stroke, cancers, neurological conditions, or brain damage who participated in at least one-wave of the 2010-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study.

Flaxseed Effects on Inflammation Regulatory Gene Expressions in an Obese Animal Model.

Obesity is known to be partially influenced by low-grade inflammation caused by pro-inflammatory cytokines and excess adipose tissue. Flaxseed contains secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) that have been shown to prevent pro-inflammatory cytokine production and secretion. This study determined flaxseed effects on inflammation regulatory gene expressions and their relationships with weight gain in an obese animal model.

Handgrip Weakness and Asymmetry Independently Predict the Development of New Activity Limitations: Results from Analyses of Longitudinal Data from the US Health and Retirement Study.

Objectives: Examining strength asymmetries in assessments of muscle function may improve screenings for limitations in independent living tasks such as instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). We sought to determine the associations between handgrip strength (HGS) asymmetry and future IADL limitations in aging Americans.

Design: Longitudinal panel.

Does Nutrition Education with Fruit and Vegetable Supplementation Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Improve Anthropometrics of Overweight or Obese People of Varying Socioeconomic Status?

Fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake is inadequate and obesity is more prevalent among adults of lower socioeconomic status (SES) in the United States. The effect of nutrition education and F/V supplementation on F/V intake and anthropometrics of overweight or obese adults of varying SES was determined. F/V intake was not different between the nutrition education and F/V supplementation groups.

Flaxseed- and Buckwheat-Supplemented Diets Altered Enterobacteriaceae Diversity and Prevalence in the Cecum and Feces of Obese Mice.

Dietary intake may cause variable bacterial prevalence in the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae in the cecum and feces and its relationship to weight changes following flaxseed-, health-promoting compounds of flaxseed-, or buckwheat-supplemented diets. Seventy-two C57BL/6J male mice were randomly assigned to a diet group and fed for 8 weeks: high fat (45% kcal fat); 10% whole flaxseed (45% kcal fat); 6% defatted flaxseed (45% kcal fat); 4% flaxseed oil (45% kcal fat); 10% buckwheat (45% kcal fat); and low fat (16% kcal fat) diet groups.

Nutrition education effective in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among overweight and obese adults.

Despite the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption on weight and decreased risk for chronic disease, Americans' intake of fruits and vegetables is well below the recommended daily servings. While previous studies have assessed fruit and vegetable consumption and the influence of educational interventions on fruit and vegetable intake, no studies to date have examined the effects of nutrition education combined with provision of fruits and vegetables on changes in fruit and vegetable consumption among overweight and obese adults. The objectives of this study were to evaluate fruit and vegetable consumption patterns, including intake of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, provide education about benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables, expose participants to different varieties of fruits and vegetables, and improve fruit and vegetable consumption.

Plasma and electrolyte changes in exercising humans after ingestion of multiple boluses of pickle juice.

Context: Twenty-five percent of athletic trainers administer pickle juice (PJ) to treat cramping. Anecdotally, some clinicians provide multiple boluses of PJ during exercise but warn that repeated ingestion of PJ may cause hyperkalemia. To our knowledge, no researchers have examined the effect of ingesting multiple boluses of PJ on the same day or the effect of ingestion during exercise.

Grade III Liver Laceration in a Female Volleyball Player.

A 20-year-old female collegiate volleyball athlete (body mass, 74.8 kg; height, 177.8 cm), with no previous history of abdominal injury, dove for a ball during a match and was struck in the anterolateral abdominal region by a teammate's knee.

Decreased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages improved selected biomarkers of chronic disease risk among US adults: 1999 to 2010.

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) increased greatly from the late 1970s to the early part of this decade. Although recent data show that consumption of SSB may now be declining, consumption levels still remain much higher than recommended. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we assessed trends in intakes of SSB and levels of chronic disease biomarkers from 1999 to 2010 and examined the associations of SSB intake and biomarkers of chronic disease risk.

Few associations between income and fruit and vegetable consumption.

Objective: To examine the association between income and the consumption of fruits and vegetables using the poverty income ratio (PIR).

Design: Association between PIR and intake of fruits and vegetables combined. The PIR was divided into 5 groups ranging from < poverty threshold (PT) to ≥ 400% PT.

Few favorable associations between fruit and vegetable intake and biomarkers for chronic disease risk in American adults.

Using 24-hour dietary recall data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2006, the possible link between fruit and vegetable intake and chronic disease risk was assessed. C-reactive protein (CRP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol, and glycosylated hemoglobin were selected as biomarkers for chronic disease risk. It is hypothesized that individuals who consume more fruits and vegetables will have reduced chronic disease risk because of the healthful benefits of these foods.

Flaxseed supplementation improved insulin resistance in obese glucose intolerant people: a randomized crossover design.

Background: Obesity leads to an increase in inflammation and insulin resistance. This study determined antioxidant activity of flaxseed and its role in inflammation and insulin resistance in obese glucose intolerant people.

Methods: Using a randomized crossover design, nine obese glucose intolerant people consumed 40 g ground flaxseed or 40 g wheat bran daily for 12 weeks with a 4-week washout period.

Obesity and lifestyle in U.S. college students related to living arrangements.

The purpose of this paper is to determine if living arrangements influence dietary variety and other health behaviors among American college students. A generalized linear model was used to assess differences between students in various living arrangements. Results showed that off-campus students were more likely to be overweight/obese, consume more alcohol, and smoke than those who lived on-campus or with parents.

Differences in dietary patterns among college students according to body mass index.

Objective And Participants: The authors surveyed 557 undergraduate students aged 18-56 years to assess weight status, health behaviors, and dietary variety.

Methods: They used body mass index (BMI) to divide students into 4 weight categories: underweight (BMI < 19 kg/m2), healthy weight (19 kg/m2 to 24.99 kg/m2), over-weight (25 kg/m2 to 29.

Effects of chromium and copper depletion on lymphocyte reactivity to mitogens in diabetes-prone BHE/cdb rats.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure effects of chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) depletion on lymphocyte reactivity to mitogens in diabetes-prone BHE/cdb rats.

Methods: A 2 x 2 factorial research design was used, and 40 BHE/cdb rats were fed with Cr- and/or Cu-depleted diets or adequate Cr and/or Cu diets for 21 wk. Cr and Cu concentrations in diets and mineral concentrations of tissues of BHE/cdb rats were measured by using flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.