Life Sciences Commons^™

Three Essays Evaluating Health Impacts Of The National School Lunch Program, Janet Peckham

All Dissertations

This research focuses on the health impacts of participation in the National School Lunch Program, a program providing free and reduced-cost lunches for income-eligible students and minimally subsidizing lunches for income-ineligible students. In the past decade, increasing incidence of childhood obesity, particularly among low-income individuals has drawn scrutiny over the NSLP's role in the health of student-aged children.

The first chapter introduces the reader to the NSLP, providing a history of the program since its inception at the turn of the 20th century and addressing current issues in the economic literature regarding health impacts of program participation. The second chapter …

Vitamin D Status And Bone Mineral Density In Triathletes, Michelle Konstantarakis

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purposes of this study were first to assess the vitamin D status and bone mineral density (BMD) in male and triathletes (N=15), female triathletes (N=13), and non-athletes (N=14), and to determine if circulating vitamin D was correlated with body composition, BMD, dietary calcium and vitamin D intake in triathletes. The second purpose was to determine if triathletes have a different level of serum vitamin D, body composition, BMD, dietary calcium and vitamin D intake then non-athletes. The third purpose was to determine if BMD was correlated with body composition (body mass, percent body fat, BMI) in triathletes.

Methods: …

Evaluation Of The Relationship Between Nutrition Knowledge And Disordered Eating Risk In Female Collegiate Athletes, Amy L. Miracle

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Involvement in collegiate sports among female athletes is at an all-time high with approximately 198,000 currently participating, (National Collegiate Athletic Association, 2012). With this increase in female participation in collegiate sports, the pressures of sport participation and academics lead some women to engage in harmful eating behaviors. These harmful eating behaviors may lead to the development of disordered eating (C. Johnson, Powers, & Dick, 1999; Quatromoni, 2008; Reel, SooHoo, Petrie, Greenleaf, & Carter, 2010; Reinking & Alexander, 2005). Many factors have been identified as contributing to the development of disordered eating but nutrition knowledge or lack thereof, has yet to …

Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse Improves 1.5 H Run Performance: Is There A Dose-Effect?, Benjamin F. Wright, Glen Davison

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 6(4) : 328-340, 2013. There is a substantial body of recent evidence showing ergogenic effects of carbohydrate (CHO) mouth rinsing on endurance performance. However, there is a lack of research on the dose-effect and the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two different concentrations (6% and 12% weight/volume, w/v) on 90 minute treadmill running performance. Seven active males took part in one familiarization trial and three experimental trials (90-minute self-paced performance trials). Solutions (placebo, 6% or 12% CHO-electrolyte solution, CHO-E) were rinsed in the mouth at the beginning, and at 15, …

Compositional Analysis Of Carbohydrates Of A Family Of Legumes, Arvind Raghothama, Bruce Hamaker

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Legumes, most commonly identified as beans or lentils, provide a good source of both protein and carbohydrates. Many legumes contain the polysaccharide arabinogalactans, classified as dietary fiber and have unique functional properties in foods. However, these, and other plant polysaccharides have not been well characterized. A preliminary collaborative study between Florida State University and the Whistler Center at Purdue indicated that isolated legume arabinogalactans appear to have high texturizing capability through formation of viscoelastic structures. Their soluble property may also present unique fiber nutritional trait. These properties of arabinogalactans and their variability among different legumes are yet to be analyzed. …

A Comparison Of The Impact Of A Heart-Healthy Diet Versus Paleolithic Nutrition On Hyperlipidemia In Adults, Robert Pastore

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Paleolithic nutrition can optimize serum lipids in adults with hyperlipidemia who have been on a heart-healthy diet based on the current recommendations by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the Academy) or the American Heart Association (AHA). Twenty subjects (10 male and 10 female) age 40 to 62 were selected based on the criteria of a diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia. Subjects were not taking any cholesterol lowering medication and had followed a calorie-controlled diet, based on either the dietary principles of the Academy or the AHA, for at least four months followed by a Paleolithic diet for four months. Multivariate analysis …

Quality Of Olive Oils Available Locally: Chemical, Sensory And Market Investigations, Madeleine M. Gould

Honors Theses and Capstones

Olive oil is a high quality food that comes at a high-quality price. Extra virgin olive oils are obtained through specific methods created to extract the highest quality oil. The world market of olive oil is rife with accusations of adulteration and false claims regarding quality. These are serious accusations, since adulteration results in lower quality oils. True extra virgin olive oils contain higher levels of beneficial compounds including antioxidant phenolic compounds. Specific mechanisms have been identified in which phenolic compounds in the olive oil matrix exhibit antioxidant activity contributing to the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease, among other …

Are Informal Carers And Community Care Workers Effective In Managing Malnutrition In The Older Adult Community? A Systematic Review Of Current Evidence, Skye Marshall, Judith Bauer, Sandra Capra, Elizabeth Isenring

Skye Marshall

Exercise Participation During Weight Loss On A High Protein – Low Carbohydrate Diet Plan In Females Aged 15-25 Years, Margaret Mobley-Meulman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Obese adults have an increased risk for serious health conditions including high blood pressure and cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and certain cancers (National Cancer Institute, 2012). Participation in exercise can help control weight, strengthen muscles and bones, and reduce the incidence of cardiac events, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancers, osteoporotic fractures, gallbladder disease, obesity, depression, anxiety, and delay mortality …

Health Claims And Food Advertising: Comparison Of Marketing And Nutrition Experts' Ratings Of Magazine Advertisements, Sandra C. Jones, Peter Williams, Linda C. Tapsell, Kelly L. Andrews

Sandra Jones

To determine the nature and differences in expert opinion from the fields of nutrition and marketing on the use of health claims in the 30 most frequently appearing Australian magazine food advertisements, a survey was conducted with 28 nutritionists and 21 marketing experts in Australia and New Zealand. The experts assessed the advertisements with respect to the accuracy of the nutrition claims, the tactics and intentions of the advertising strategy and the accessibility of the nutrition information to lay consumers. Of 28 advertisements where a claim was identified, for only one did more than 90% believe the claim to be …

Current State Of Food Security: Research, Education And Outreach In Burkina Universities, Mamoudou H. Dicko Prof.

Pr. Mamoudou H. DICKO, PhD

Burkina Faso is a Sahelian West African country. Current population is about 16 millions and 43.9 % live below the poverty line. Burkina Faso is classified as both a least developed country and a low-income, food-deficit country. The nutritional quality is poor (1830 against 2000 Kcal/person/day). Food insecurity affects 50 % of households, and is increasing in the urban areas. However, Burkina Faso is one of the country that respect the 2003 Maputo’s declaration’s call to invest at least 10 percent of the budget in agriculture, in order to increase agricultural production and attain food self-sufficiency. Several training programs dealing …

Interview With Kristine Garnero Obbink, Portland Public School, 2013 (Audio), Kristine Garnero Obbink

All Sustainability History Project Oral Histories

Interview of Kristine Garnero Obbink by Loraine Decker at 705 N. Killingsworth St., Portland, Oregon on May 14th, 2013.

The interview index is available for download.

Building A Foundation For Interprofessional-Education (Ipe) Between Dietetic Students And Dental Hygiene Students At East Tennessee State University (Etsu), Monique Richard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nutrition education is an integral part of dental education as well as a variety of other healthcare professions¹, but interprofessional education (IPE) between the fields of dietetics and dental hygiene is limited. The purpose of this pilot study was to define areas of opportunity to establish a foundation for the implementation of complimentary curriculum between the dietetics and dental hygiene programs at ETSU. A 76-question survey was developed and administered to dietetic interns (n=26), dental hygiene students (n=49), dietetic faculty (n=23), and dental hygiene faculty (n=19) at ETSU and Baylor College of Dentistry at Texas A&M Health Science …

Poor Knowledge And Practices Related To Iodine Nutrition During Pregnancy And Lactation In Australian Women: Pre-And Post-Iodine Fortification, Karen Charlton, Heather Yeatman, Catherine Lucas, Samantha Axford, Luke Gemming, Fiona Houweling, Alison Goodfellow, Gary Ma

Karen E. Charlton

A before-after review was undertaken to assess whether knowledge and practices related to iodine nutrition, supplementation and fortification has improved in Australian women since the introduction of mandatory iodine fortification in 2009. Surveys of pregnant (n = 139) and non-pregnant (n = 75) women in 2007-2008 are compared with surveys of pregnant (n = 147) and lactating women (n = 60) one to two years post-fortification in a regional area of New South Wales, Australia. A self-administered questionnaire was completed and dietary intake of iodine was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. A generally poor knowledge about the role …

Nutrition Screening: Time To Address The Skeletons In The Bedroom Closet As Well As Those In Hospitals, Karen E. Charlton

Karen E. Charlton

Ever since Dr Charles Butterworth's seminal article in 19741 on the widespread prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalised patients and its detrimental effect on recovery, attempts have been made to improve the detection of malnutrition through screening initiatives. However, despite compelling evidence that those who are either malnourished at admission or become malnourished during their hospital stay experience increased surgical complications, greater morbidity and increased length of hospital stay2,3 as well as higher rates of mortality at 12 months,4,5 malnutrition often remains undetected and untreated because it is not considered to be a clinical priority. Even overt signs of malnutrition are …

Food, Health And Nutrition: Where Does Chicken Fit?, Karen E. Charlton, Yasmine Probst, Linda C. Tapsell, Patrick J. Blackall

Karen E. Charlton

The link between diet and health is important, given the prevalence of diet related disease, including obesity, in the Australian population. Consumers need to be able to discriminate between foods based on the nutritional contribution of each to a healthy diet. They also need to be able to discriminate between foods in a broader context, considering issues such as food safety, how the food is produced and the environmental consequences of its production. This review outlines the position of chicken in the Australian diet from a health, consumer and environmental perspective. Chicken can contribute to a healthy eating pattern. It …

The “Green Eating” Project: A Pilot Intervention To Promote Sustainable And Healthy Eating In College Students, Kelleigh E. Eastman

Geoffrey Greene

The “Green Eating” Project: A Pilot Intervention to Promote Sustainable and Healthy Eating in College Students Kelleigh Eastman Sponsor: Geoffrey Greene, Nutrition and Dietetics A topic of interest that is growing in the general population is the idea of being sustainable, or “green”, and there is a rising awareness in sustainable practices involving food and the environment. Some of the “green” eating behaviors identified through my research included eating a plant-based (i.e. vegetarian or semi-vegetarian) diet, eating locally grown foods, eating organically grown foods, and eating foods that are labeled fair-trade. Frequently, these “green” eating behaviors are healthful eating behaviors …

Society Of The Quarter: Sustainable Agriculture Education Association, Madeleine K. Charney

Madeleine K. Charney

A expose of the organization's innovative educational approaches for sustainable agriculture through the development, application, and research of teaching and learning practices. Includes the history, past conferences, and plans for an open access curriculum library.

Nursing With Eating, Activity, And Supportive Environment (Ease) : Effects Of An Eight-Week Mentoring Program, April V. Lane Hartmann, Laura Van Winkle-Preston, Peggy Mancuso, Gayle Roux, Shannon Scott, Nancy M. Dimarco

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Each year, approximately 2.8 million adults die from complications related to obesity (World Health Organization, 2011). One in three adults aged 20 years or older is obese, and 6% are morbidly obese. This problem is increasing at an alarming rate in young adults, and 20.5% of college students are classified as being overweight based upon their body mass index (BMI) (Adderley-Kelly, 2007). The purpose of this study was to increase knowledge about evidence-based, effective interventions that will enable college-aged, pre-nursing students to attain physical and mental well-being. The participants (N=24) were freshman and sophomore pre-nursing majors who were randomized into …

The Impact Of Nutrition Education On Food Security Status And Food-Related Behaviors, Jamie A. Farrell

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Food insecure individuals do not always have access to adequate food for a healthy lifestyle and are at high risk of detrimental health outcomes. Researchers hypothesize that food insecurity leads to changes in dietary practices, including greater overall food purchase in times of adequate resources and purchase of low-cost, unhealthful foods when resources are constrained. Most measures of food insecurity do not measure changes in dietary practices and dietary quality. Research findings suggest education that provides alternative strategies to manage resources and improve dietary practices can improve food insecurity.

We assessed the relationship between 1) food security and ability to …

Nutritional Status In A Cohort Of Hemodialysis Patients Receiving Tocotrienol Supplementation, Rajeev Shahani

Wayne State University Theses

Kidney disease is defined by a loss of kidney function over time [1]. It is expressed in terms of glomerular filtration rate at five stages calculated by the MDRD formula [5]. The fifth stage (<15 mL/min/1.73m2) is designed as end stage renal disease requiring renal replacement therapy in the form of hemodialysis [5]. This requires the use of an artificial kidney (dialyzer) to filter out by-products from the blood for excretion [8]. The issue arises when toxin accumulation due to decreased renal function, dialytic factors such as incompatible dialyzer membranes reacting with blood, and co-morbid conditions such as infection or diabetes mellitus [3]. This increases inflammation within the body, leading to a negative nutrient/energy balance, resulting in a loss of body mass thereby increasing the mortality risk [10]. Tocotrienols (T3), a more potent and underutilized form of Vitamin E, are being administered to attenuate this increase in inflammation via supplementation in addition to food intake. In order to attend to this issue, the nutritional status was assessed utilizing three measures: examining nutrient intake profiles (while supplementation was taken into consideration), obtaining anthropometric findings of body mass index, and analyzing biochemical profiles of serum albumin and pro-inflammatory markers (i.e. IL-6). This data was obtained via a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study of 81 dialysis patients. At two times over the course of 16 weeks, blood collection for serum albumin and inflammatory markers was analyzed and dietary intake was assessed using 24-hour diet recalls and Nutritionist Pro software. Statistical analyses of paired t-tests and correlation studies revealed no significant differences between the two groups later showing no noticeable effect of T3 supplementation. Reasoning may be multifactorial such as underestimation of food intake, transcription of diet recalls may not be truly representative, or T3 supplements may not have had an effect on the nutritional statuses. It may be beneficial for patients to receive more extensive nutritional counseling as opposed to nutritional supplementation to ensure compliancy with recommended intakes.

Strengthening Vendor Standards In The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Are Healthier Foods Within Reach?, Mary E. Kennelly, Roni Neff, Lainie Rutkow

Journal of Health Care Law and Policy

No abstract provided.

Seaweed-Based Functional Foods, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam, Sabrina Cox

Books/Book Chapters/ Proceedings

Functional foods are foods that provide health benefits in addition to basic nutrition. They are categorized through identification, characterization, and evaluation of the health-promoting properties they present. New high-value nutrition and wellness products, manufactured by reformulation of existing products through development of nutraceutical or functional foods, present an exciting opportunity for the food industry worldwide. Many bioactive constituents to which a beneficial physiological function has been directly or indirectly attributed, originating mainly from plant extracts, have been incorporated in already existing food products or have been commercialized in the form of pharmaceutical products such as pills, capsules, solutions, and gels …

Malnutrition In Sickle Cell Anemia: Implications For Infection, Growth And Maturation, Hyacinth I. Hyacinth, Oluwatoyosi A. Adekeye, Christopher S. Yilgwan

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a genetic disease that affects mostly individuals of African and/or Hispanic descent, with the majority of cases in sub-Saharan Africa. Individuals with this disease show slowed growth, delayed sexual maturity, and poor immunologic function. These complications could partly be explained by the state of undernutrition associated with the disease. Proposed mechanism of undernutrition include protein hypermetabolism, decreased dietary intake possibly from interleukin-6-related appetite suppression, increased cardiac energy demand/expenditure, and increased red cell turnover. All the above mechanisms manifest as increased resting energy expenditure. Nutritional intervention utilizing single or multiple nutrient supplementation has led to improved …

2012 Wild Blueberry Project Reports, Dorothy J. Klimis-Zacas, Vivian Ch Wu, Frank A. Drummond, Judith A. Collins, Lee Beers, Eric Asare, Alex Bacjz, Kalyn Bickerman, Sara Bushmann, Shannon Chapin, Cyndy Loftin, Alison Dibble, Lois Berg Stack, Eric Venturini, Samuel Hanes, Aaron Hoshide, Matthew S. Jones, Brianne Looze, Seanna L. Annis, Caleb Slemmons, David E. Yarborough, Jennifer L. D'Appollonio, Tsutomu Ohno, Ellen Mallory, Hannah Griffin, Katie Mcphee

Wild Blueberry Research Reports

The 2012 edition of the Wild Blueberry Project Reports was prepared for the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine and the Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include:

1. Do wild blueberries alleviate risk factors related to the Metabolic Syndrome?

2. Development of effective intervention measures to maintain and improve food safety for wild blueberries

3. Control tactics for blueberry pest insects, 2012

4. Development and implementation of a wild blueberry thrips IPM program, 2012

5. IPM

6. Biology of blueberry and pest insects, 2012

7. Biology of beneficial insects and …

Bioinformatics Analysis Of Transcriptome Dynamics During Growth In Angus Cattle Longissimus Muscle, Sonia J. Moisa, Daniel W. Shike, Daniel E. Graugnard, Sandra L. Rodriquez-Zas, Robin E. Everts, Harris A. Lewin, Dan B. Faulkner, Larry L. Berger, Juan J. Loor

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Transcriptome dynamics in the longissimus muscle (LM) of young Angus cattle were evaluated at 0, 60, 120, and 220 days from early-weaning. Bioinformatic analysis was performed using the dynamic impact approach (DIA) by means of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) databases. Between 0 to 120 days (growing phase) most of the highly-impacted pathways (eg, ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, drug metabolism, cytochrome P450 and Retinol metabolism) were inhibited. The phase between 120 to 220 days (finishing phase) was characterized by the most striking differences with 3,784 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). …

The Mediating Role Of Dietary Patterns On The Relation Between Acculturation, Psychosocial Factors, And Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In The U.S. - Mexico Border, Ximena Burgos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Chronic diseases affect both, developed and developing countries around the world. In the U.S., cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death for all groups including Hispanics (Heron, 2009). Hispanics are disproportionally affected by CVD and experience risk factors at higher rates than non-Hispanic whites (Swenson, 2002). Although CVD are among the most expensive and widespread health problems, they are among the most preventable. Evidence shows that diet plays a very important role in the development of chronic diseases; current dietary changes are partially responsible for the increasing epidemic of chronic diseases worldwide. It is well established that the …

Self-Efficacy And Nutrition Knowledge Of Parents In Western Australia, Karen Lombardi

Theses : Honours

Background: Poor dietary choices and increasingly sedentary lifestyles mean childhood obesity is an increasing problem. Parents have the capacity to significantly affect the food choice of children; therefore by improving their self-efficacy, their nutrition knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, and by providing access to sound nutritional information, the health of children may be improved.

Purpose: This research sought to gather preliminary information required to inform the development of nutrition education materials for parents, which will parallel those currently under development for teaching children in schools as part of the Australian curriculum. Research has demonstrated that while educating children about healthy eating …

Understanding The Behavior And Attitude Of Professional Athletes In Saudi Arabia Toward Dietary Supplements, Sulaiman O. Aljaloud

Dissertations

A dietary supplement is defined as a product taken orally that contains a "dietary ingredient" (vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, enzymes, etc.), and is intended to supplement one's diet. Dietary supplements include plant extracts and concentrates from foods. Supplements help provide required nutrients to fulfill nutritional levels for daily training or competitive performance, and can help remedy nutritional deficiencies. Therefore, it is important that sports professionals have a thorough knowledge of these supplement products. However, athletes need to be informed about the use and possible benefits, side effects, and risks associated with the use of dietary supplements. Four objectives guided …

Economic Benefits Of Using Prebiotic And Probiotic Products As Supplements In Stimulation Feeds Administered To Bee Colonies, Silvia Patruica, Ioan Hutu

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Spring stimulation feeding of honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera carpatica) is a very important technique for the encouragement of productive foraging. In addition to improving bee health by creating favorable conditions for the development of a beneficial intestinal bacterial flora, the use of prebiotic and probiotic supplements in the feed promotes good colony development, thus increasing the forager population. This paper presents the results for the economic benefit measured following use of supplements with acidifying substances (acetic and lactic acids) and probiotic products (Enterobiotics and Enterolactis Plus), as well as the synergism between them. A total of 110 bee colonies were …