Nutrition Commons^™

Point-Of-Purchase Nutrition Information Influences Food-Purchasing Behaviors Of College Students: A Pilot Study, Marjorie Freedman, Rachel Conners

Faculty Publications

The goal of point-of-purchase (POP) nutrition information is to help consumers make informed, healthful choices. Despite limited evaluation, these population-based approaches are being advocated to replace traditional, more expensive, individual behavior-change strategies. Few studies have examined the effect of POP information on buying patterns of college students, a group with high obesity rates and poor eating habits. This quasi-experimental pilot project sought to determine whether the “Eat Smart” POP program affected food-purchasing habits of multiethnic college students shopping at an on-campus convenience store. Baseline sales data of foods in the cereal, soup, cracker, and bread categories were collected for 6 …

White Potatoes, Including French Fries, Contribute Shortfall Nutrients To Children's And Adolescents' Diets, Marjorie Freedman, Debra Keast

Faculty Publications

To test the hypothesis that white potatoes (WP), oven-baked fries (OBF), and french fries (FF) contribute important nutrients within energy needs to children's and adolescents' diets, secondary analysis of 24-hour dietary recall data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2006 was conducted. Potato content of survey foods was determined using US Department of Agriculture recipe databases (Standard Reference (SR)-Link files). Nutrient content of potatoes was determined by linking SR codes to US Department of Agriculture food composition data. Daily nutrient intakes from potatoes were determined by applying the composition database to respondent's recall data. Sample-weighted data were analyzed; …

Freshman Orientation Sessions Can Teach Incoming Students About Healthful Lifestyles, Marjorie Freedman, Jennifer Waldrop

Faculty Publications

Currently, 32% of college students are overweight or obese (body mass index ≥ 25),which is likely because many adolescents enter college with an elevated body mass index. Further, the transition from high school to college is associated with weight gain.On their own for the first time, freshmen have greater independence in all aspects of their lives. Increased independence, in turn, often results in changes in types of food and beverages consumed, and in overall eating and exercise patterns—changes that often affect weight gain. Although the popular media continues to perpetuate the “Freshman 15” myth, a recent meta-analysis reported freshmen gain, …

Point-Of-Selection Nutrition Information Influences Choice Of Portion Size In An All-You-Can-Eat University Dining Hall, Marjorie Freedman

Faculty Publications

There is limited information about point-of-selection nutrition information on food choices in all-you-can-eat university dining halls, where food cost is controlled. This pilot study examined effects of point-of-selection nutrition information (pictures of different portion sizes with corresponding nutrition information) on students' choice of French fries and salad dressing and portion size of French fries. Point-of-selection nutrition information significantly decreased percentage consuming “large” portions of French fries (p < 0.05) but had a limited effect on salad dressing choice. Surveys indicated that >99% of respondents (n = 359) recalled point-of-selection nutrition information; more females used point-of-selection nutrition information to determine portion size. Additional studies are needed to support these promising results.

Feasibility Of Re-Using Pete Soda Bottles To Exclude Oxygen During Storage Of Low Moisture Foods, Sarah Broderick, Michelle A. Lloyd, Lynn V. Ogden, Oscar A. Pike

Faculty Publications

Many consumers are beginning to store grain on their own creating a need for easy disinfestation methods that can be accomplished in the home. Oxygen deprivation has proven to be an effective method for grain disinfestation when kept below 1% for 12 days. Re-using PETE soda bottles is an easy way many consumers can store their grains. The purpose of this study was to determine if using oxygen absorber packets in used PETE soda bottles will keep the oxygen percent low enough to disinfest the grain stored in them. Experiments were carried out to determine how long oxygen absorber packets …

Can Grain Be Disinfested In 5-Gal Hdpe Buckets Containing Oxygen Absorber Packets?, Lynn V. Ogden, C. Griffin

Faculty Publications

Effective methods of grain disinfestation include freezing, the use of carbon dioxide gas, and the use of pesticides. Oxygen deprivation has also been shown to be an effective method of disinfestation when the oxygen content is held below 1% for at least 12 days (d). High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) 5 gallon (gal) buckets have become a popular and convenient storage container for dry foods such as wheat, rice and beans. Oxygen absorber packets are an effective way to remove the oxygen in high-barrier sealed containers to prolong the life of many of these foods. It is hypothesized that sealed HDPE …

Reducing Portion Size Reduces Food Intake And Plate Waste, Marjorie Freedman, Carolina Brochado

Faculty Publications

As portion size (PS) increases, so does food intake. The effect of decreasing PS on food intake in a nonlaboratory setting is unknown. This 5-week study sought to determine whether decreasing PS resulted in decreased intake of the same food, and if so, at what point further PS reductions might lack benefit. It also assessed effects of PS reduction on food production and waste in a university all-you-can-eat dining facility (DF). Subjects were primarily freshmen who regularly ate lunch at the DF, and self-selected French fries (FF) presented in individual paper bags, portioned originally at 88 g, and decreased ∼15 …

A “Healthy Pizza Kitchen” Nutrition Education Program At A Children's Health Museum, Marjorie Freedman

Faculty Publications

For nutrition education to be successful in changing behavior, schools, families, and communities must participate in or provide a variety of diverse, creative, accessible, and culturally appropriate programs. One venue for provision of nutrition education is a health and science education center that has exhibits and special programs not found in an average school. Establishing relationships with these organizations could greatly enhance a school health curriculum.1 Although nutrition information, displays, and programming are often found in these centers, studies examining whether provision of nutrition education in these venues increases knowledge or changes behavior are lacking. The purpose of this study, …

Impact Of After-School Nutrition Workshops In A Public Library Setting, Marjorie Freedman, Audrey Nickell

Faculty Publications

Objective: To determine if after-school nutrition workshops conducted in public libraries were related to lasting changes in food choice.Methods: “Snack Smart” workshops, based on Social Cognitive Theory, were conducted in 8 branch libraries (49 ethnically diverse children, ages 9 to 14) to assess changes in consumption of targeted food items by pretest, posttest, and follow-up food frequency questionnaires. Results were analyzed using the Friedman test for repeated measures and Wilcoxon signed rank test.Results: Intake of milk, vegetables, and water significantly increased at 3-week posttest (P < .05), but only water intake showed a significant change from pretest to follow-up 3 months later.Conclusions and Implications: This low-intensity program did not produce lasting behavior change, as measured by changes in food frequency at 3 months post- intervention. The study supports the need to critically evaluate out-of-school nutrition programs for lasting impact.

Early Childhood Feeding: Assessing Knowledge, Attitude, And Practices Of Multi-Ethnic Child-Care Providers, Marjorie Freedman, Karina Alvarez

Faculty Publications

Early childhood is a critical period for shaping and influencing feeding and lifestyle behaviors that have implications for future weight and health. With more women in the workforce, families have become reliant on child care. Thus, the child-feeding relationship has become a shared responsibility between the parent and child-care provider. Little is known about the impact of child-care providers on development of early childhood feeding behaviors and subsequent risk for obesity, especially in the Hispanic ethnic group. This research examined child-feeding attitudes, practices, and knowledge of multi-ethnic home-based and center-based child-care providers. Questionnaires were completed by a convenience sample of …

School Health Fairs Show Potential To Improve Short-Term Learning, Marjorie Freedman

Faculty Publications

School-based health fairs, that include a variety of informational and/or “fun” booths, are examples of Level 1 interventions designed to build awareness of a health or nutritional topic or problem.1 Designing, implementing, and evaluating a health fair requires considerable resources. Yet recent examination of their efficacy in increasing knowledge is limited.2, 3 and 4 No research has been conducted on preadolescents, a group whose patterns of behavior and food choices may affect their current and future health status. Currently, almost one third of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 are overweight or obese.5 Less than 10% of females and …

The Carboxyl-Terminal Segment Of Apolipoprotein A-V Undergoes A Lipid-Induced Conformational Change, Kasuen Mauldin, B. L. Lee, M. Oleszczuk, B. D. Sykes, R. O. Ryan

Faculty Publications

Apolipoprotein (apo) A-V is a 343-residue, multidomain protein that plays an important role in regulation of plasma triglyceride homeostasis. Primary sequence analysis revealed a unique tetraproline sequence (Pro293-Pro296) near the carboxyl terminus of the protein. A peptide corresponding to the 48-residue segment beyond the tetraproline motif was generated from a recombinant apoA-V precursor wherein Pro295 was replaced by Met. Cyanogen bromide cleavage of the precursor protein, followed by negative affinity chromatography, yielded a purified peptide. Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis verified that apoA-V(296-343) solubilizes phospholipid vesicles, forming a relatively heterogeneous population of reconstituted high-density lipoprotein with Stokes’ diameters>17 nm. At …

Implementing A Solid Waste Management Diversion Program In A Conventional Cook–Serve Hospital System: A Feasibility Study, Marjorie Freedman, Irene Franklin

Faculty Publications

Americans generate over 250 million tons of municipal solid waste (trash) each year, with institutional facilities such as hospitals accounting for up to 45% of this waste. Solid waste diversion, through recycling and composting, decreases the waste sent to landfills. The objective of this feasibility study was to implement an integrated solid waste diversion program at a conventional cook–serve kitchen for a 250-bed hospital. The waste diversion program resulted in 1390 pounds of organic matter and recycling being diverted from landfills over 5 days. It is estimated that the continuing program will reduce landfill waste by 51 tons annually.

Obesity And Food Choices Among Faculty And Staff At A Large Urban University, Marjorie Freedman, Rebecca Rubinstein

Faculty Publications

Objective: In order to address increasing health care costs associated with obesity, this study sought to determine prevalence of overweight and obesity and examine eating behaviors, food choices, health beliefs, and attitudes of university employees. Participants and Methods: An online survey was distributed to > 3,800 faculty and staff at a large public metropolitan university in Winter 2008. Results: Almost half (48%) of 806 respondents were classified as overweight or obese. Compared to those with normal weights, overweight and obese respondents consumed fewer fruits and vegetables (p < .05), were less confident in making healthful food choices (p < .001), and were more influenced by food choices available in on-campus dining facilities (p < .05). Conclusions: Obesity among university employees warrants attention. Because these employees have less self-efficacy and consume less healthful diets than their normal weight colleagues, universities need to improve on-campus access to healthful foods.

Development, Evaluation, And Validation Of Environmental Assessment Tools To Evaluate The College Nutrition Environment, Marjorie Freedman

Faculty Publications

Objective: To develop, evaluate, and validate 2 nutrition environment assessment tools (surveys), for specific use in combating overweight on college/university campuses.Participants and Methods: Invitations to complete surveys were e-mailed to food service and health center directors at 47 universities, Winter 2008. Overall response rate was 48%. Responses from the 39 individuals who completed tool evaluations at the end of each survey were analyzed. Follow-up interviews and site visits performed through Summer 2008 validated responses. Results: The majority of respondents (64%) indicated tools were effective at assessing their nutrition environments; 78% believed these types of assessment tools to be important to …

Beliefs And Attitudes Toward Vegetarian Lifestyle Across Generations, Peter Pribis, Rose C. Pencak, Tevni Grajales

Faculty Publications

The objective of the study was to examine whether reasons to adopt vegetarian lifestyle differ significantly among generations. Using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), we identified that 4% of the participants were vegans, 25% lacto-ovo-vegetarians, 4% pesco-vegetarians and 67% non-vegetarian. Younger people significantly agreed more with the moral reason and with the environmental reason. People ages 41-60 significantly agreed more with the health reason. There are significant differences across generations as to why people choose to live a vegetarian lifestyle. © 2010 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Nutrition Literacy Status And Preferred Nutrition Communication Channels Among Adults In The Lower Mississippi Delta, Jamie Zoellner, Carol L. Connell, Wendy Bounds, Lashaundrea Crook, M. Kathleen Yadrick

Faculty Publications

Introduction

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the nutrition literacy status of adults in the Lower Mississippi Delta.

Methods

Survey instruments included the Newest Vital Sign and an adapted version of the Health Information National Trends Survey. A proportional quota sampling plan was used to represent educational achievement of residents in the Delta region. Participants included 177 adults, primarily African Americans (81%). Descriptive statistics, X(2) analysis, analysis of variance, and multivariate analysis of covariance tests were used to examine survey data.

Results

Results indicated that 24% of participants had a high likelihood of limited nutrition literacy, 28% …

The Use And Perceptions Of Concept Mapping As A Learning Tool By Dietetic Internship Students And Preceptors, Elaine Fontenot Molaison, Kimberly Taylor, Dawn Erickson, Carol Connell

Faculty Publications

Critical thinking and problem solving skills are currently emphasis areas in the education of allied health professionals. Use of concept maps to teach these skills have been utilized primarily in nursing and medical education, but little has been published about their use in dietetics education. Therefore the purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential efficacy of concept mapping as a learning tool for nutrition assessment among dietetic interns and its acceptability by internship preceptors. Nineteen dietetic interns and 31 preceptors participated in a quasi-experimental pre-/post-design in which the concept mapping strategy was taught as a replacement for the …

Health Effects Of Vegan Diets, Winston J. Craig

Faculty Publications

Recently, vegetarian diets have experienced an increase in popularity. Avegetarian diet is associated with many health benefits because of its higher content of fiber, folic acid, vitamins C and E, potassium, magnesium, and many phytochemicals and a fat content that is more unsaturated. Compared with other vegetarian diets, vegan diets tend to contain less saturated fat and cholesterol and more dietary fiber. Vegans tend to be thinner, have lower serum cholesterol, and lower blood pressure, reducing their risk of heart disease. However, eliminating all animal products from the diet increases the risk of certain nutritional deficiencies. Micronutrients of special concern …

Optimization Of A Convective Air Flow Solar Food Dryer, Jonathan K. Russon, Michael L. Dunn, Frost M. Steele

Faculty Publications

A solar food dryer, previously developed for personal and small community use, was the object of this optimization study. Based on previous research of convective solar food dehydrators, several dryer parameters were identified for this study. Chimney height and dryer product load were two factors tested in a central composite experimental design. Dryer product load was found to produce a maximum efficiency of the dryer when fifteen product-filled trays were inserted in the dryer. Maximum efficiency was observed at the maximum chimney height tested. Post-optimization configuration compared with pre-optimization configuration resulted in a 40% increase in final dry product production …

Position Of The American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Diets, Winston J. Craig, Ann Reed Mangels

Faculty Publications

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes. A vegetarian diet is defined as one that does not include meat (including fowl) or seafood, or products containing those foods. This article reviews the current data related to key nutrients for vegetarians including protein, n-3 fatty acids, iron, …

Infant-Feeding Practices Of Low-Income Vietnamese American Women, Yashmi Mistry, Marjorie Freedman, Kathleen Sweeney, Clarie Hollenbeck

Faculty Publications

Healthy People 2010 breastfeeding goals include 50% exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months. In California, US, Santa Clara County Women, Infants, and Children (SCCWIC) data indicated Asian participants had low (5.6%) 6-month breastfeeding rates. To examine infant-feeding practices, Vietnamese breastfeeding peer counselors surveyed 133 Vietnamese SCCWIC participants (≥ 18 years old, nonpregnant, < 28 months postpartum) using a structured questionnaire regarding intentions, attitudes, and subjective norms toward breastfeeding. Results indicated that 75% initiated breastfeeding in the hospital (33% exclusively, 42% partially), and 25% exclusively formula fed. At survey time, 49% had terminated breastfeeding (average duration 4.4 months). Feeding intentions during pregnancy predicted feeding method used (P < .001). Most prenatal advice was from SCCWIC employees, friends, and doctors who supported breastfeeding. Most postnatal advice was from nurses who supported breastfeeding and bottle-feeding equally. Stronger control beliefs, peer counseling, and education were correlated with breastfeeding (P < .001). Improved postdelivery hospital advice may further increase breastfeeding initiation and duration.

Commercial Evaluation Of A Continuous Micronutrient Fortification Process For Nixtamal Tortillas, Michael L. Dunn, Sergio O. Serna-Saldivar, Diana Sanchez-Hernandez, Robert W. Griffin

Faculty Publications

The corn tortilla plays an integral role in the Mexican diet and is an ideal vehicle for micronutrient fortification. Approximately 60% of corn tortillas in Mexico are produced from nixtamal, with the remainder prepared from masa flour. A process for continuous fortification of nixtamal tortillas was evaluated in two commercial mills in Mexico. A commercial powder dosifier was used to add micronutrient premix containing iron, zinc, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin to nixtamal (1 g/kg) as it was milled. After training and preliminary sampling, mills produced fortified tortillas unassisted for four weeks. Masa flow rates over a four-day period …

Body Mass Index And Health Related Quality Of Life In Elementary School Children: A Pilot Study, Lei Zhang, Peter J. Fos, William D. Johnson, Vafa Kamali, Reagan G. Cox, Miguel A. Zuniga, Theresa Kittle

Faculty Publications

Background: We investigated the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) indicated by baseline health status in elementary school children. Methods: Data were obtained via parents whose children enrolled in an elementary school, kindergarten to fourth grade, in southern Mississippi in spring 2004. Parents completed the SF-10 for Children (TM), a brief 10-item questionnaire designed to measure children's HRQOL on a voluntary basis. Results: A total of 279 parents completed the questionnaires for their children. On average, physical and psychosocial summary scores, major indicators for HRQOL, were significantly higher among the elementary school children in …

Effect Of Iron Source On Color And Appearance Of Micronutrient-Fortified Corn Flour Tortillas, A. T. Richins, K. E. Burton, Heather F. Pahulu, Laura K. Jefferies, Michael L. Dunn

Faculty Publications

Iron deficiency anemia is a widespread occurrence. Consequently, iron is commonly added in cereal fortification programs. However, many iron sources cause undesirable sensory changes, especially color changes, in the food being fortified. This study evaluated the effect of different iron sources on CIE L*a*b* color values and sensory color perception in fortified corn tortillas. Corn masa flour was fortified with micronutrient premix containing vitamins, zinc, and one of eight iron compounds. Iron sources included ferrous fumarate (F), ferrous sulfate (S), ferric orthophosphate (OP), ferrous lactate (L), ferrous gluconate (G), ferric pyrophosphate (PP), sodium iron (III)-EDTA, and A-131 electrolytic iron (E), …

Enhanced Lipid Stability In Whole Wheat Flour By Lipase Inactivation And Antioxidant Retention, Devin J. Rose, Lynn V. Ogden, Michael L. Dunn, Oscar A. Pike

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of dry heat, steam, and microwave treatments in decreasing lipase activity, while retaining antioxidant activity, to stabilize whole wheat flour against lipid degradation during storage. Bran was heat-treated in 230-g batches using four levels (exposure times) for each of the three treatment methods. Lipase activity and antioxidant activity were quantified for all treatment combinations. None of the treatments significantly decreased antioxidant activity; the levels determined to be optimal, inasmuch as further heating did not significantly decrease lipase activity, were 25 min of dry heat, 60 sec of microwave (1000W), and …

The N-Terminus Of Apolipoprotein A-V Adopts A Helix-Bundle Molecular Architecture, Kasuen Wong, J. A. Beckstead, D. Lee, P. M.M. Weers, E. Guigard, C. M. Kay, R. O. Ryan

Faculty Publications

Previous studies of recombinant full-length human apolipoprotein A-V (apoA-V) provided evidence of the presence of two independently folded structural domains. Computer-assisted sequence analysis and limited proteolysis studies identified an N-terminal fragment as a candidate for one of the domains. C-Terminal truncation variants in this size range, apoA-V(1-146) and apoA-V(1-169), were expressed in Escherichia coli and isolated. Unlike full-length apoA-V or apoA-V(1-169), apoA-V(1-146) was soluble in neutral-pH buffer in the absence of lipid. Sedimentation equilibrium analysis yielded a weight-average molecular weight of 18811, indicating apoA-V(1-146) exists as a monomer in solution. Guanidine HCl denaturation experiments at pH 3.0 yielded a one-step …

Effect Of Micronutrient Fortification On Nutritional And Other Properties Of Nixtamal Tortillas, K. E. Burton, Frost M. Steele, Laura K. Jefferies, Oscar A. Pike, Michael L. Dunn

Faculty Publications

Nixtamalization is the process of steeping dried corn in hot water with calcium hydroxide (lime) with subsequent removal of all or most of the pericarp through washing. The resulting product is called nixtamal. Approximately 60% of corn tortillas in Mexico are produced from nixtamal, with the remainder prepared from nixtamalized corn flour. Nixtamal was fortified with micronutrient premix containing iron, zinc, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin. Premix composition followed a proposed Mexican regulation for corn flour fortification, adjusted for moisture. Effects of premix on masa adhesiveness, hardness, and pH, as well as tortilla sensory properties, stretchability, rollability, and color …

Regional Body Composition In College-Aged Caucasians From Anthropometric Measures, Robert T. Davidson, Cameron B. Ritchie

Faculty Publications

Quantitating fat and lean tissue in isolated body regions may be helpful or required in obesity and health-outcomes research. However, current methods of regional body composition measurement require specialized, expensive equipment such as that used in computed tomography or dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Simple body size or circumference measurement relationships to body composition have been developed but are limited to whole-body applications. We investigated relationships between body size measurements and regional body composition. Methods Using DEXA technology we determined the fat and lean tissue composition for six regions of the body in predominantly Caucasian, college-aged men (n = 32) …

Comparison Of A Low Carbohydrate And Low Fat Diet For Weight Maintenance In Overweight Or Obese Adults Enrolled In A Clinical Weight Management Program, James D. Lecheminant, Cheryl A. Gibson, Debra K. Sullivan, Sandra Hall, Rik Washburn, Mary C. Vernon, Chelsea Curry, Elizabeth Stewart, Eric C. Westman, Joseph E. Donnelly

Faculty Publications

Background: Recent evidence suggests that a low carbohydrate (LC) diet may be equally or more effective for short-term weight loss than a traditional low fat (LF) diet; however, less is known about how they compare for weight maintenance. The purpose of this study was to compare body weight (BW) for participants in a clinical weight management program, consuming a LC or LF weight maintenance diet for 6 months following weight loss. Methods: Fifty-five (29 low carbohydrate diet; 26 low fat diet) overweight/obese middle-aged adults completed a 9 month weight management program that included instruction for behavior, physical activity (PA), and …