Implications of WHO Guideline on Sugars for dental health professionals.

The burden of oral disease is high in populations across the world. This is because of high consumption of free sugars. The WHO Guideline on Sugars Intake for Adults and Children recommended limiting free sugars to no more than 5% energy intake to protect oral health throughout the life-course.

Altered renal sodium handling and risk of incident hypertension: Results of the Olivetti Heart Study.

Renal tubular sodium (Na) handling plays a key role in blood pressure (BP) regulation. Several cross-sectional studies reported a positive association between higher proximal tubule fractional reabsorption of Na and BP, but no prospective investigation has been reported of this possible association. Hence, the purpose of this study was to estimate the predictive role of renal Na handling on the risk of incident hypertension and the changes in BP occurring in the 8-year follow-up observation of a sample of initially normotensive men (The Olivetti Heart Study).

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials on the effects of potassium supplements on serum potassium and creatinine.

Objectives: High potassium intake could prevent stroke, but supplementation is considered hazardous. We assessed the effect of oral potassium supplementation on serum or plasma potassium levels and renal function.

Setting: We updated a systematic review of the effects of potassium supplementation in randomised clinical trials carried out worldwide, published in 2013, extending it to July 2015.

Geographic and socioeconomic variation of sodium and potassium intake in Italy: results from the MINISAL-GIRCSI programme.

Objectives: To assess geographic and socioeconomic gradients in sodium and potassium intake in Italy.

Setting: Cross-sectional survey in Italy.

Participants: 3857 men and women, aged 39-79 years, randomly sampled in 20 regions (as part of a National cardiovascular survey of 8714 men and women).

Socioeconomic inequality in salt intake in Britain 10 years after a national salt reduction programme.

Objectives: The impact of the national salt reduction programme in the UK on social inequalities is unknown. We examined spatial and socioeconomic variations in salt intake in the 2008-2011 British National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) and compared them with those before the programme in 2000-2001.

Setting: Cross-sectional survey in Great Britain.

Effect on caries of restricting sugars intake: systematic review to inform WHO guidelines.

A systematic review of studies in humans was conducted to update evidence on the association between the amount of sugars intake and dental caries and on the effect of restricting sugars intake to < 10% and < 5% energy (E) on caries to inform the updating of World Health Organization guidelines on sugars consumption. Data sources included MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and South African Department of Health. Eligible studies reported the absolute amount of sugars and dental caries, measured as prevalence, incidence, or severity.

Current salt reduction policies across gradients of inequality-adjusted human development in the WHO European region: minding the gaps.

Objective: To assess current salt reduction policies in countries of the WHO European Region against the backdrop of varying levels of human development adjusted for income, education and health (longevity) inequalities.

Design: Population-based, cross-sectional study, with data gathered through systematic review of relevant databases and supplementary information provided by WHO Nutrition Counterparts.

Setting: Member States of the WHO European Region.

Spatial variation of salt intake in Britain and association with socioeconomic status.

Objectives: To evaluate spatial effects of variation and social determinants of salt intake in Britain.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Great Britain.

Reference values for thyroid volume established by ultrasound in Polish schoolchildren.

Introduction: A frequency in excess of 5% of goitre in children is an approved WHO marker of iodine deficiency. As thyroid ultrasound remains the main method of thyroid volume (TV) assessment, the choice of adequate normative values is important for the proper interpretation of epidemiologic data. There is disagreement as to whether local or international normative values should be used.

Summary from the European Meeting of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nutrition, Kraków, 23-24 June 2010.

In June 2010, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, in co-operation with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition at the Department of Endocrinology, Jagiellonian University, Collegium Medicum, organized in Krakow the 1st Conference of the WHO European Collaborating Centres for Nutrition. Taking part were representatives of the WHO Regional Office for Europe Nutrition, Dr Joao Breda (Programme Manager - Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Programme) and representatives of the WHO Collaborating Centres for Nutrition from Denmark, Greece, Holland, the UK and Poland, as well as representatives of co-operating institutes from Portugal, Switzerland and the UK. The main objective of the meeting was to discuss the ongoing work of each Collaborating Centre and the development of a strategic plan for the coming years in the most important areas of interest: the prevention of obesity, type 2 diabetes and other NCD, nutrition and inequalities, capacity building in nutrition as well as micronutrient deficiencies (namely iodine deficiency).

Researching the impact of oral health on diet and nutritional status: methodological issues.

Objectives: Assessment of the impact of dental function on diet and nutritional status requires robust methodologies and a standardised approach to increase accuracy of results and to facilitate cross study comparisons. The objectives of this paper are: to report the outcomes of a consensus workshop that critically reviewed publications reporting on dietary methodologies in relation to the impact of oral health on nutrition; to highlight future directions for research and; to make recommendations for appropriate use of methodologies for future research.

Data: Data relevant to nutrition and dental status published from 1980 to 2005 in English were presented at the consensus workshop for discussion and appraisal.

Regular users of supermarkets in Greater Tunis have a slightly improved diet quality.

Despite the recent and rapid expansion of supermarkets in developing countries, their association with diet quality has been hardly studied. The study took place in Tunisia, where incidences of obesity and nutrition-related diseases are rising. The target population was households of the Greater Tunis area where supermarkets are mostly located.

Association of a summary index of child feeding with diet quality and growth of 6-23 months children in urban Madagascar.

Background/objectives: The assessment of child feeding practices has received renewed attention through the development of an infant and child feeding index (ICFI). However, the advantages and shortcomings of such a summary index are still not well known. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of ICFI as an analytical tool (1) by studying its association with complementary food energy intake and mean micronutrient density adequacy (MMDA) and (2) by testing whether ICFI and its components are associated with length-for-age z-score (LAZ) of 6-23 months children in urban Madagascar.

Influence of socio-economic and lifestyle factors on overweight and nutrition-related diseases among Tunisian migrants versus non-migrant Tunisians and French.

Background: Migrant studies in France revealed that Mediterranean migrant men have lower mortality and morbidity than local-born populations for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We studied overweight and NCDs among Tunisian migrants compared to the population of the host country and to the population of their country of origin. We also studied the potential influence of socio-economic and lifestyle factors on differential health status.

Diet quality of North African migrants in France partly explains their lower prevalence of diet-related chronic conditions relative to their native French peers.

Mediterranean migrant men living in France have lower mortality and morbidity than local-born populations for nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases (NR-NCD). We studied diet quality and its influence on NR-NCD in Tunisian migrants compared with 2 nonmigrant male groups: local-born French and nonmigrant Tunisians, using a retrospective cohort study. We performed quota sampling (n = 147) based on age and place of residence.

Has the first implementation phase of the Community Nutrition Project in urban Senegal had an impact?

Objective: We evaluated the impact of the Community Nutrition Project (CNP) of Senegal, West Africa on the population. In poor urban districts, the CNP provided underweight 6- to 35-mo-old children with growth monitoring/promotion and food supplementation, and education for mothers for a period of 6 mo.

Methods: A before/after intervention and intervention zone (IZ)/control zone (CZ) design was used to assess whether CNP had an impact 18 mo after it began in Diourbel.

Measuring dietary diversity in rural Burkina Faso: comparison of a 1-day and a 3-day dietary recall.

Objectives: To compare dietary diversity scores measured over a 1-day and a 3-day period, and to assess their relationships with socio-economic characteristics and the nutritional status of rural African women.

Design: A qualitative dietary recall allowed calculation of a dietary diversity score (DDS; number of food groups consumed out of a total of nine). Body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP) were used to assess the nutritional status of women.

Determinants of nutrition improvement in a large-scale urban project: a follow-up study of children participating in the Senegal Community Nutrition Project.

Objective: To study individual determinants of differential benefit from the Senegal Community Nutrition Project (CNP) by monitoring improvement in children's weight-for-age index (WA) or underweight status (WA < -2 Z-scores) during participation.

Design: A follow-up study using the CNP child monitoring data. Linear general models compared variations in WA according to 14 factors describing the beneficiaries and CNP services.

Dietary diversity scores and nutritional status of women change during the seasonal food shortage in rural Burkina Faso.

In developing countries, dietary diversity is usually assessed during a single yearly period and the effects of seasonal variations remain unknown. We studied these variations in women living in a Sahelian rural area (Burkina Faso). A representative sample of 550 women was surveyed at the beginning and at the end of the seasonal cereal shortage in April and September 2003, respectively.

Process evaluation of the Senegal-Community Nutrition Project: an adequacy assessment of a large scale urban project.

Objective: Although essential for understanding the reasons for success or failure of large scale nutritional interventions, process evaluation results are rarely reported. Our objective was to assess whether the process output objectives of the Community Nutrition Project (CNP) in Senegal, West Africa, were adequately met.

Methods: An adequacy assessment study based on monitoring data for individuals collected during the CNP was used to assess 'fidelity', 'extent' and 'reach' of participants recruitment and of the services provided.

Use of variety/diversity scores for diet quality measurement: relation with nutritional status of women in a rural area in Burkina Faso.

Objectives: To develop scores for food variety and diversity to assess the overall dietary quality in an African rural area; and to study their relationship with the nutritional status of women of childbearing age.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Sahelian rural area in the North-East Burkina Faso (West Africa).