Composition of School Meals in Sweden, Finland, and Iceland: Official Guidelines and Comparison With Practice and Availability.

Background: Nutritious and attractive school meals can improve health equality and public health. Current official guidelines and recommendations on food and nutrient composition of school meals in 3 Nordic countries; Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, are described and compared with actual practice, ie, availability of foods and nutrients in served reference meals in 3 selected areas in each country.

Methods: A country comparison was made between official guidelines, and actual practice was studied in participating schools.

Dietary habits in adolescence and midlife and risk of breast cancer in older women.

Recent studies indicate that lifestyle factors in early life affect breast cancer risk. We therefore explored the association of high consumption of meat, milk, and whole grain products in adolescence and midlife, on breast cancer risk. We used data from the population based AGES-Reykjavik cohort (2002-2006), where 3,326 women with a mean age of 77 years (SD 6.

Risk for Arterial and Venous Thrombosis in Patients With Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are reported to be at increased risk for thrombotic events. However, no population-based study has estimated this excess risk compared with matched control participants.

Objective: To assess risk for arterial and venous thrombosis in patients with MPNs compared with matched control participants.

Early Life Residence, Fish Consumption, and Risk of Breast Cancer.

Little is known about fish intake throughout the life course and the risk of breast cancer. We used data on the first residence of 9,340 women born 1908 to 1935 in the Reykjavik Study as well as food frequency data for different periods of life from a subgroup of the cohort entering the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility (AGES)-Reykjavik Study ( = 2,882). During a mean follow-up of 27.

Iodine status in the Nordic countries - past and present.

Background: Adequate iodine nutrition is dependent on ground water content, seafood, and, as many countries use iodized cow fodder, dairy products. In most countries, salt fortification programs are needed to assure adequate iodine intake.

Objectives: The objectives are threefold: 1) to describe the past and present iodine situation in the Nordic countries, 2) to identify important gaps of knowledge, and 3) to highlight differences among the Nordic countries' iodine biomonitoring and fortification policies.

Ensuring Effective Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders.

Background: Programs initiated to prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) may not remain effective due to changes in government policies, commercial factors, and human behavior that may affect the efficacy of IDD prevention programs in unpredictable directions. Monitoring and outcome studies are needed to optimize the effectiveness of IDD prevention.

Summary: Although the need for monitoring is compelling, the current reality in Europe is less than optimal.

Cod liver oil consumption at different periods of life and bone mineral density in old age.

Cod liver oil is a traditional source of vitamin D in Iceland, and regular intake is recommended partly for the sake of bone health. However, the association between lifelong consumption of cod liver oil and bone mineral density (BMD) in old age is unclear. The present study attempted to assess the associations between intake of cod liver oil in adolescence, midlife, and old age, and hip BMD in old age, as well as associations between cod liver oil intake in old age and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration.

Risk and Cause of Death in Patients Diagnosed With Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in Sweden Between 1973 and 2005: A Population-Based Study.

Purpose: Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are associated with a shortened life expectancy. We assessed causes of death in patients with MPN and matched controls using both relative risks and absolute probabilities in the presence of competing risks.

Patients And Methods: From Swedish registries, we identified 9,285 patients with MPN and 35,769 matched controls.

Energy- and protein intake of surgical patients after the implementation of energy dense hospital menus.

Background And Aims: Malnutrition is common among hospitalized patients and is associated with negative health consequences. Oral nutrition supplements (ONS) have been used to improve nutritional status of malnourished patients. Considering the costs and the sometimes poor acceptance of ONS, the present study investigated the effects of changing hospital food composition on patients' energy- and protein intake.

Faster increase in body mass index between ages 8 and 13 is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Background And Aims: Excess childhood weight is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood. Whether this is mediated through adult body mass index (BMI) and associated risk factors such as metabolic derangements remains unclear. The aim was to examine whether childhood BMI velocity (Δkg m(-2) per year) was associated with adult CVD mortality and to examine how adult BMI and cardiometabolic risk factors contribute to the association.

Validation of a plate diagram sheet for estimation of energy and protein intake in hospitalized patients.

Background & Aims: Validation of simple methods for estimating energy and protein intakes in hospital wards are rarely reported in the literature. The aim was to validate a plate diagram sheet for estimation of energy and protein intakes of patients by comparison with weighed food records.

Methods: Subjects were inpatients at the Cardio Thoracic ward, Landspitali National University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland (N = 73).

Assessing validity of a short food frequency questionnaire on present dietary intake of elderly Icelanders.

Background: Few studies exist on the validity of food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) administered to elderly people. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of a short FFQ on present dietary intake, developed specially for the AGES-Reykjavik Study, which includes 5,764 elderly individuals. Assessing the validity of FFQs is essential before they are used in studies on diet-related disease risk and health outcomes.