Nutrition Commons^™

Connecting Culturally And Spiritually To Healthy Eating: A Community Assessment With Native Hawaiians, Mary Frances Oneha, Joan Dodgson, Mabel Ho`Oipo Decambra, Carol Titcomb, Rachelle Enos, Sandie Morimoto-Ching

Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal

Many of the chronic illnesses disproportionately experienced by Native Hawaiians are directly related to poor diets and long-standing obesity beginning in childhood. We report on the findings of in-depth key informant interviews (N = 14) that took place in two Native Hawaiian communities as part of a larger, community-based participatory research study that included a community assessment through individual interviews and focused group discussions, and a pilot intervention targeting pregnant women, their infants, and families. Four categories emerged from the qualitative analysis of interview transcripts that described an understanding of “healthy eating”: family roles and responsibilities, aspects of community …

Sneaky Salt Contributes To High Blood Pressure, Rodney Richmond

College of Pharmacy Faculty Research ​and Publications

No abstract provided.

Narrative Review Of Vitamin D And Its Specific Impact On Balance Capacity In Older Adults, Ray Marks

Publications and Research

Introduction and Aims: Falls injuries among older adults, a widespread well-established contributor to high disability levels, excess morbidity and mortality rates, have many causes. This review examines the association between vitamin D levels and postural stability or balance control—a fairly consistent predictor of falls among older adults.

Materials and Method: All relevant English language peer reviewed research publications detailing the relationship between vitamin D levels and balance control among the elderly were sought. Key words included “Vitamin D and Balance or Postural Control.” Databases used were Academic Search Complete, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Results: Analysis showed no consistent …

Enhancing Vegetable Intake In Infants And Toddlers Through Parental Complementary Feeding Education, Sophia Testa

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research project investigated the outcomes of educating parents of infants between the ages of 6 months and 12 months on the importance of including vegetables in complementary feedings on the infant’s vegetable consumption. The efficiency of teaching was measured by comparing physical measurements and quantity of vegetables consumed by infants whose parents received education with the same data from infants whose parents did not receive education on inclusion of vegetable in complementary feedings. The results found contributed to Dr. Shreve’s research on childhood obesity in the Northwest Arkansas population and to the knowledge of parental education with regard to …

A Study Of Teacher Practices And Perspectives On Nutrition Education In Maine Elementary Schools, Alexandra J. Courtney

Honors College

The purpose of this study was to identify how multiple influencing factors on nutrition education, relating to professional development, teacher self-efficacy, teacher beliefs, program use, wellness policies, and environmental factors, influence the amount of time elementary educators spend teaching nutrition in their classrooms. The primary tool for data collection was a comprehensive survey developed using Qualtrics software. The survey was distributed to Maine superintendents and principals who were asked to pass the survey along to K-5 teachers. Out of 270 responses collected before the survey end date, 233 were used for statistical analyses. The factors that influenced time teaching nutrition …

Exploring The Connection Between Community Food Security Initiatives And Social-Cognitive Factors On Dietary Intake, Diana Cuy Castellanos, Josh Keller, Emma Majchrzak

Diana Cuy Castellanos

Food insecurity and poor dietary consumption continue to impact low-income populations in the U.S. However, communities are developing ways to address it at the local level. Community Food Security Initiatives (CFSI) focus on increasing a sustainable, healthy food supply and food system while addressing food insecurity and dietary quality within a community.

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) explore CFSIs in low-income areas in a metropolitan Midwest city and (2) examine the effects of the initiatives along with other social-cognitive factors on fruit and vegetable consumption in persons participating in local CFSIs.

This was a mixed-methods study. First, …

Habitual Coffee Consumption And Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes, Ischemic Heart Disease, Depression And Alzheimer’S Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study, Man Ki Kwok, Gabriel M. Leung, C. Mary Schooling

Publications and Research

Observationally, coffee is inversely associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), depression and Alzheimer’s disease, but not ischemic heart disease (IHD). Coffee features as possibly protective in the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Short-term trials suggest coffee has neutral effect on most glycemic traits, but raises lipids and adiponectin. To clarify we compared T2DM, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and IHD and its risk factors by genetically predicted coffee consumption using two-sample Mendelian randomization applied to large extensively genotyped case-control and cross-sectional studies. Childhood cognition was used as a negative control outcome. Genetically predicted coffee consumption was not associated with T2DM (odds …

Photovoice Of Obesity On Murray State University's Campus, Karley Wray, Melissa Godby

Scholars Week

The issue we decided to discuss on campus using Photovoice was obesity. Obesity is becoming a very big topic that we all need to start focusing on. Obesity is defined as having a BMI at or above 30. This is becoming more common with our cultural change. We are becoming more fast food eaters and are not exercising as much as we should. It is even getting worse on college campuses. We all knew of what was called the freshmen 15, but now it is becoming a four year 15. It is becoming more common for college students to become …

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency And Physical And Mental Health Until Adolescence, Man Ki Kwok, Gabriel M. Leung, C. Mary Schooling

Publications and Research

Background: To examine the association of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency with adolescent physical and mental health, as effects of G6PD deficiency on health are rarely reported.

Methods: In a population-representative Chinese birth cohort: ªChildren of 1997º (n = 8,327), we estimated the adjusted associations of G6PD deficiency with growth using generalized estimating equations, with pubertal onset using interval censored regression, with hospitalization using Cox proportional hazards regression and with size, blood pressure, pubertal maturation and mental health using linear regression with multiple imputation and inverse probability weighting.

Results: Among 5,520 screened adolescents (66% follow-up), 4.8% boys and 0.5% girls had …

Caloric Restriction Preserves Memory And Reduces Anxiety Of Aging Mice With Early Enhancement Of Neurovascular Functions, Ishita Parikh, Janet Guo, Kai-Hsiang Chuang, Yu Zhong, Ralf G. Rempe, Jared D. Hoffman, Rachel Armstrong, Björn Bauer, Anika M. S. Hartz, Ai-Ling Lin

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Neurovascular integrity plays an important role in protecting cognitive and mental health in aging. Lifestyle interventions that sustain neurovascular integrity may thus be critical on preserving brain functions in aging and reducing the risk for age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Here we show that caloric restriction (CR) had an early effect on neurovascular enhancements, and played a critical role in preserving vascular, cognitive and mental health in aging. In particular, we found that CR significantly enhanced cerebral blood flow (CBF) and blood-brain barrier function in young mice at 5-6 months of age. The neurovascular enhancements were associated with reduced mammalian target of …

Higher Unsaturated Fatty Acid Intake And Aerobic Training Are Related With Lower Intramyocellular Lipid In Older Adults, Hillary D. Mclean

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Title: Higher Unsaturated Fatty Acid Intake and Aerobic Training are Related to Lower Intramyocellular Lipid in Older Adults

¹Hillary McLean, ²Maja Redzic, and ³D. Travis Thomas

Department: ¹Department of Agriculture, ²Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, and ³Department of Clinical Sciences

Funding: R21AG046762-01A1, UL1TR000117, T32DK007778-16

Word Count: 298/300

Intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) is associated with metabolic dysfunction in aging. Exercise is known to influence IMCL accumulation and was recently observed to have a direct association with vitamin D status (25(OH)D) in our lab. In addition, we observed an inverse association between IMCL and dietary unsaturated …

Association Between Folate Levels And Preterm Birth In Tampa, Florida, Carolyn Heeraman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Preterm birth is one of the leading causes of perinatal mortality and morbidity and poses extensive economic liability. The rate of preterm births globally is approximately 11.1%, and in the US, the preterm birth rate has been estimated to be 12-13%. Folate and B₁₂ requirements increase during pregnancy as a result of increased cell division to accommodate maternal and fetal growth; inadequate levels can result in placental abnormalities and thus present implications for preterm birth.

Objective: To investigate the association between red blood cell (RBC) folate and B₁₂ concentrations with the risk of preterm birth.

Methods: Study …

Exploring The Connection Between Community Food Security Initiatives And Social-Cognitive Factors On Dietary Intake, Diana Cuy Castellanos, Josh Keller, Emma Majchrzak

Health and Sport Science Faculty Publications

Food insecurity and poor dietary consumption continue to impact low-income populations in the U.S. However, communities are developing ways to address it at the local level. Community Food Security Initiatives (CFSI) focus on increasing a sustainable, healthy food supply and food system while addressing food insecurity and dietary quality within a community.

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) explore CFSIs in low-income areas in a metropolitan Midwest city and (2) examine the effects of the initiatives along with other social-cognitive factors on fruit and vegetable consumption in persons participating in local CFSIs.

This was a mixed-methods study. First, …

Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone) Supplementation And Its Benefits In Cardiovascular Disease, Osteoporosis, And Cancer, Grant S. Buchanan, Md, Thomas Melvin, Brandon Merritt, Charles Bishop, Md, Franklin D. Shuler, Md, Phd

Franklin D. Shuler

Vitamin K is known to play an essential role in the coagulation cascade; however, a growing body of research has found that a subtype of this vitamin, vitamin K2 (menaquinone) may have a beneficial effect in osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. This purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of recent literature regarding menaquinone and its role in human health. This review discusses the physiology of menaquinone, its clinical benefits in cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer, and how it may interact with certain medications. The authors conclude that menaquinone supplementation has been shown to improve carboxylation of …

Improved Parental Dietary Quality Is Associated With Children’S Dietary Intake Through The Home Environment, Karen R. Flórez, A. S. Richardson, M. B. Ghosh-Dastidar, R. Beckman, C. Huang, L. Wagner, T. Dubowitz

Publications and Research

Background Improving access to supermarkets has been shown to improve some dietary outcomes, yet there is little evidence for such effects on children. Relatedly, there is a dearth of research assessing the impact of a structural change (i.e. supermarket in a former food desert) on the home environment and its relationship with children’s diet.

Objective Assess the relative impact of the home environment on children’s diet after the introduction of a new supermarket in a food desert.

Methods Among a randomly selected cohort of households living in a food desert, parental diet was assessed before and after the opening of …

Process Evaluation Of A Patient-Centred, Patientdirected, Group-Based Education Program For The Management Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Kate Odgers-Jewell, Elisabeth Isenring, Rae Thomas, Dianne P Reidlinger

Rae Thomas

Aim: The present study developed and evaluated a patient-centred, patient-directed, group-based education program for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Two frameworks, the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions and the RE-AIM framework were followed. Data to develop the intervention were sourced from scoping of the literature and formative evaluation. Program evaluation comprised analysis of primary recruitment of participants through general practitioners, baseline and end-point measures of anthropometry, four validated questionnaires, contemporaneous facilitator notes and telephone interviews with participants. Results: A total of 16 participants enrolled in the intervention. Post-intervention results were obtained …

Process Evaluation Of A Patient-Centred, Patientdirected, Group-Based Education Program For The Management Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Kate Odgers-Jewell, Elisabeth Isenring, Rae Thomas, Dianne P Reidlinger

Liz Isenring

Aim: The present study developed and evaluated a patient-centred, patient-directed, group-based education program for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Two frameworks, the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions and the RE-AIM framework were followed. Data to develop the intervention were sourced from scoping of the literature and formative evaluation. Program evaluation comprised analysis of primary recruitment of participants through general practitioners, baseline and end-point measures of anthropometry, four validated questionnaires, contemporaneous facilitator notes and telephone interviews with participants. Results: A total of 16 participants enrolled in the intervention. Post-intervention results were obtained …

School Policy, Food And Physical Activity Environment, And Childhood Obesity, Ruicui Liu

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of school food and physical activity environments on energy balance-related behaviors and Body Mass Index (BMI) and to simulate the effect of school-based nutrition and physical activity policies on childhood obesity prevention. Four models based on the Social Ecological Framework of childhood obesity were developed. Parameters of these models were calibrated and validated with empirical data derived from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 and the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Study. The correlation between observed and simulated BMI was 0.85 for 5th grade children …

Ua12/2/1 Healthy Living Guide, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Archives Records

Special magazine published by the College Heights Herald.

• Collins, Emma. Six Ways to Learn Healthy Eating in Your Dorm
• Austin, Emma. Preston Health & Activities Center Accommodates Users of Varied Abilities
• Henderson, Andrew. If Five Campus Restaurants Had Personality Types
• Burgess, Kelly. How to Make a Light & Fresh Quinoa Fruit Salad
• Carlson, Kylie. New Boxing Gym Swings into Bowling Green – BGKY Boxing
• Adams, Julia. Students Open Discussion on Mental Health
• Healthier Eating with a Meal Plan
• Kast, Monica. Gluten & Allergy Free Station to Open in Fresh – Dining Services
• Sims, Adam. Students Develop Personal Workout Routines
• Cole, …

Benefits Of A Flexitarian Diet: Educating College Students Of Lifestyle Approaches To Reduce The Risk Of Developing Breast And Prostate Cancer, Abbigail Pace

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Practicing the Flexitarian diet, a plant-based diet, in conjunction with physical activity can promote a lifestyle consistent with the American Cancer Society’s recommendations for reducing risks of breast and prostate cancer (American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention, 2015) College students were assessed on knowledge of the relationship between diet and cancer risk prior to and after accessing information on the American Institute of Cancer Research site or the WKU Flexitarian Pinterest Page. Participants were recruited from the National Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council memberships and the International students at Western Kentucky University. Participants completed a …

Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion, Rodney Richmond

College of Pharmacy Faculty Research ​and Publications

No abstract provided.

Household, Psychosocial, And Individual-Level Factors Associated With Fruit, Vegetable, And Fiber Intake Among Low-Income Urban African American Youth, Angela Trude, Anna Kharmats, Kristen Hurley, Elizabeth Steeves, Sameera A. Talegawkar, Joel Gittelson

Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Childhood obesity, one of the greatest challenges to public health, disproportionately affects low-income urban minority populations. Fruits and vegetables (FV) are nutrient dense foods that may be inversely associated with excessive weight gain. We aimed to identify the individual characteristic, psychosocial, and household factors influencing FV and fiber consumption in low-income African-American (AA) youth in Baltimore, MD.

Methods

Cross-sectional analysis of data collected from 285 low-income AA caregiver-youth (age range: 10–14 y) dyads participating in the baseline evaluation of the B’More Healthy Communities for Kids obesity prevention trial. The Kid's Block FFQ was used to estimate daily intakes of …

Influence Of Dietary Component Manipulation And Feed Management Strategies On Growth And Rumen Development Of Weaned Dairy Heifers, Tana Shea Dennis

Open Access Dissertations

Well-developed replacement heifers provide a central foundation for the continued success of the dairy industry. Emphasis on improving pre-weaned calf nutrition has predominated in the industry, but opportunities exist to improve post-weaning heifer nutrition and management. We aimed to evaluate common feed management strategies seen in the industry and their effects on growth, feed efficiency (G:F), and rumen development of calves from birth to 8 mo of age using pen- and individually-fed animal trials. Little information exists regarding post-weaning performance and rumen development of calves fed conventional or high planes of nutrition pre-weaning; therefore, we evaluated two milk replacer feeding …

Rice Consumption And Effects Of Rice Cake, Seolgitteok, On Human Health, Ellen Joy Pottgen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Within the United States type 2 diabetes is an ever growing health epidemic. The prevalence in the adult population has quadrupled over the past 30 years and is expected to continue on a similar path in the coming decades. While the cause of type 2 diabetes is multifactorial, it is considered to be an acquired condition related to environmental contributors including poor diet, obesity, and physical inactivity, which may be managed to alter the course or progression of the disease. Preventative or maintenance measures emphasize nutritional intervention strategies, including encouraging individuals to follow a nutrient-dense, high-fiber diet with ample whole-grains, …

3-Hydroxy Fatty Acid Induce Trophoblast And Hepatocyte Lipoapoptosis, Taylor Bruett, Taylor Heng, Sathish Kumar Natarajan

UCARE Research Products

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy (AFLP) is a very rare and fatal condition for both the mother and the unborn offspring accompanied by severe maternal liver dysfunction. AFLP usually develops during the third trimester of pregnancy with symptoms of liver disease. AFLP is associated with a mutation in the enzyme, long-chain 3-hydroxy acyl CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) which is involved in the mitochondrial beta-oxidation of fatty acids. Defective beta-oxidation of fatty acids results in the individual unable to metabolize fatty acids which then causes fatty infiltration in their organs, such as the liver. This interferes with normal function of the liver …

Farm-To-Preschool In East Tennessee: Evaluation Of A Small-Scale Farmer’S Market At A Childcare Center On Household Fruit And Vegetable Availability And Preschoolers’ Consumption Of Fruits And Vegetables, Jade Morgan Parry

Masters Theses

Background: Most preschool-aged children do not consume an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables (F&V). Accessibility to F&V and parental influence are important factors in determining fruit and vegetable consumption in preschool-aged children. The incorporation of farmer’s markets at childcare centers as part of a farm-to-preschool program provides an opportunity to increase access to F&V and engage parents in supporting positive changes in their children’s dietary behaviors. Gaps in the farm-to-preschool literature include a lack of well-designed intervention trials that include a control group and rigorous evaluation tools.

Methods: This was a pilot study with a quasi-experimental, pre-test, post-test …

Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone) Supplementation And Its Benefits In Cardiovascular Disease, Osteoporosis, And Cancer, Grant S. Buchanan, Md, Thomas Melvin, Brandon Merritt, Charles Bishop, Md, Franklin D. Shuler, Md, Phd

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Vitamin K is known to play an essential role in the coagulation cascade; however, a growing body of research has found that a subtype of this vitamin, vitamin K₂ (menaquinone) may have a beneficial effect in osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. This purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of recent literature regarding menaquinone and its role in human health. This review discusses the physiology of menaquinone, its clinical benefits in cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer, and how it may interact with certain medications. The authors conclude that menaquinone supplementation has been shown to improve carboxylation …

Macronutrients And The Risk Of Premenstrual Syndrome, Serena C. Houghton

Doctoral Dissertations

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects 8-20% of reproductive-aged women, impacting work, family, and social interactions. Limitations in available PMS treatments, including side effects and limited medication efficacy, indicate the need for improved prevention. Modifiable risk factors for prevention of PMS include dietary factors. Several micronutrients have been identified as risk factors, but there has been little evaluation of macronutrients. Thus, the research aim was to examine prospectively whether macronutrient consumption was associated with PMS development among a subset of women enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study II cohort. Chapter 1 evaluates the association of fat intake and PMS risk. Among 3,638 …

Breastfeeding: The Illusion Of Choice, Yeon Bai, Lauren Dinour

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Background

Breastfeeding is frequently described as a woman's decision, yet this choice is often illusionary owing to suboptimal social and structural supports. Despite the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) that requires all qualifying employers to provide mothers “reasonable” break time and a private, non-bathroom space to express breast milk, the majority of women in the United States still do not have access to both accommodations.

The Problem

At least three issues may be influencing this suboptimal implementation at workplaces: 1) federal law does not address lactation space functionality and accessibility, 2) federal law only …

Malnourished Older Adults With Informal Caregivers Admitted To Rural Rehabilitation Units Remain Malnourished During And After Rehabilitation: A Prospective Cohort Study Of Current Practice, Skye Marshall, Adrienne Young, Judith Bauer, Elizabeth Isenring

Skye Marshall

Understanding the nutritional journey older adults make from rehabilitation to home may help to engage and support the patient and their informal caregiver during this process. This study aimed to determine the change in nutritional status, physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) amongst malnourished older adults (≥65years) with informal caregivers admitted to rural rehabilitation and 12 weeks post-discharge to the community.