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Wakayama R, Drewnowski A, Horimoto T, Saito Y, Yu T, Suzuki T, Takasugi S. Development and Validation of the Meiji Nutritional Profiling System (Meiji NPS) to Address Dietary Needs of Adults and Older Adults in Japan. Nutrients 2024; 16:936. [PMID: 38612970 PMCID: PMC11013258 DOI: 10.3390/nu16070936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This study introduces the Meiji Nutritional Profiling System (Meiji NPS), which was specifically designed to respond to age-related shifts in nutrient requirements among Japanese adults (<65 years old) and older adults (≥65 years old). Japan has one of the most aged societies in the world. The health issues of interest are malnutrition and lifestyle-related diseases among adults and frailty among older adults. Two versions of the NPS were developed based on nutrients to encourage (protein, dietary fibers, calcium, iron, and vitamin D), food groups to encourage (fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and dairy), and nutrients to limit (energy, saturated fatty acids, sugars, and salt equivalents). The Meiji NPS for older adults did not include iron or saturated fatty acids. The algorithms were based on the Nutrient-Rich Foods Index (NRF). The convergent validity between the Meiji NPS and the existing NPSs for the same foods was confirmed using Spearman's correlation coefficients (NRF: r = 0.67 for adults and r = 0.60 for older adults; Health Star Rating: r = 0.64 for adults and r = 0.61 for older adults). The Meiji NPS may be useful for nutritional evaluation and reformulation of food products, tailored to adults and older adults to ameliorate health issues in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Wakayama
- Meiji Co., Ltd., 2-2-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-9306, Japan; (T.H.); (T.Y.); (S.T.)
| | - Adam Drewnowski
- Center for Public Health Nutrition, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;
| | - Tomohito Horimoto
- Meiji Co., Ltd., 2-2-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-9306, Japan; (T.H.); (T.Y.); (S.T.)
| | - Yoshie Saito
- Meiji Co., Ltd., 2-2-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-9306, Japan; (T.H.); (T.Y.); (S.T.)
| | - Tao Yu
- Meiji Co., Ltd., 2-2-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-9306, Japan; (T.H.); (T.Y.); (S.T.)
| | - Takao Suzuki
- Institute for Gerontology, J. F. Oberlin University, 3758 Tokiwa, Machida, Tokyo 194-0294, Japan
| | - Satoshi Takasugi
- Meiji Co., Ltd., 2-2-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-9306, Japan; (T.H.); (T.Y.); (S.T.)
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Gupta PM, Madewell ZJ, Gannon BM, Grahn M, Akelo V, Onyango D, Mahtab S, Madhi SA, Giri J, Blau DM, Ramakrishnan U, Stein AD, Whitney CG, Young MF, Tanumihardjo SA, Suchdev PS. Hepatic Vitamin A Concentrations and Association with Infectious Causes of Child Death. J Pediatr 2024; 265:113816. [PMID: 37931699 PMCID: PMC10869935 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess postmortem vitamin A (VA) concentrations in children under 5 years of age and evaluate the association between VA deficiency (VAD) and infectious causes of death (CoD). STUDY DESIGN In this cross-sectional study from the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network, liver biopsies collected within 72 hours of death were analyzed from 405 stillbirths and children under 5 years in Kenya and South Africa. Total liver VA (TLVA) concentrations were quantified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography, and cutoffs of ≤0.1 μmol/g, >0.1 to <0.7 μmol/g, ≥0.7 to <1.0 μmol/g, and ≥1.0 μmol/g were used to define VAD, adequate VA status, high VA, and hypervitaminosis A, respectively. CoD were determined by expert panel review. RESULTS Among 366 liver samples with viable extraction, pooled prevalences of VAD, adequacy, high VA, and hypervitaminosis were 34.2%, 51.1%, 6.0%, and 8.7%, respectively. VAD was more common among neonates compared with stillbirths, infants, or children, and among those with low birthweight (LBW), underweight, or stunting (P < .05). When adjusting for site, age, and sex, there was no significant association of VAD with increased infectious CoD (OR 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9, 3.8, P = .073). In stratified analyses, VA deficient boys, but not girls, had an increased risk of infectious CoD (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3, 10.3, P = .013). CONCLUSIONS Definitive postmortem assessment of VA status identified both VAD and VA excess among children under 5 years of age in Kenya and South Africa. VAD in boys was associated with increased risk of infectious mortality. Our findings may inform a transition from universal VA supplementation (VAS) to targeted strategies in certain countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya M Gupta
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Zachary J Madewell
- Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Bryan M Gannon
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Michael Grahn
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Victor Akelo
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya, Kisumu, Kenya
| | | | - Sana Mahtab
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Shabir A Madhi
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Judith Giri
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Dianna M Blau
- Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Usha Ramakrishnan
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Aryeh D Stein
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Cynthia G Whitney
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Melissa F Young
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - Parminder S Suchdev
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA; Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
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Vats S, Sundquist K, Sundquist J, Zhang N, Wang X, Acosta S, Gottsäter A, Memon AA. Oxidative stress-related genetic variation and antioxidant vitamin intake in intact and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm: a Swedish population-based retrospective cohort study. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2024; 31:61-74. [PMID: 37665957 DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwad271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The aim of this study is to investigate how genetic variations in genes related to oxidative stress, intake of antioxidant vitamins, and any potential interactions between these factors affect the incidence of intact abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and its rupture (rAAA), accounting for sex differences where possible. METHODS AND RESULTS The present retrospective cohort study (n = 25 252) uses baseline single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and total antioxidant vitamin intake data from the large population-based, Malmö Diet and Cancer Study. Cumulative incidence of intact AAA was 1.6% and of rAAA 0.3% after a median follow-up of 24.3 years. A variant in NOX3 (rs3749930) was associated with higher rAAA risk in males [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 2.49; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36-4.35] and the overall population (aHR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.05-3.37). Higher intakes of antioxidant vitamins, riboflavin, and folate were associated with 20% and 19% reduced intact AAA incidence, respectively. Interestingly, the inverse associations between riboflavin and vitamin D intake with intact AAA incidence were stronger in the individuals carrying the NOX3 variant as compared with the wild-type recessive genotype, i.e. by 60% and 66%, respectively (P for interaction < 0.05). Higher riboflavin intake was associated with a 33% male-specific intact AAA risk reduction, while higher intake of vitamin B12 intake was associated with 55% female-specific intact AAA risk increase; both these associations were significantly modified by sex (P for interaction < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the role of oxidative stress genetic variations and antioxidant vitamin intake in AAA. Although a low AAA/rAAA sample size limited some analyses, especially in females, our findings highlight the need for future randomized controlled trials and mechanistic studies, to explore the potential benefits of antioxidant vitamins while accounting for genetic and sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakshi Vats
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Wallenberg Laboratory, 5th floor, Inga Marie Nilsson's gata 53, 214 28, Malmö, Sweden
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University/Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Kristina Sundquist
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University/Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Center for Community-Based Healthcare Research and Education (CoHRE), Department of Functional Pathology, School of Medicine, Shimane University, Matsue, Japan
| | - Jan Sundquist
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University/Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Center for Community-Based Healthcare Research and Education (CoHRE), Department of Functional Pathology, School of Medicine, Shimane University, Matsue, Japan
| | - Naiqi Zhang
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University/Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Xiao Wang
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University/Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Stefan Acosta
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Vascular Centre, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, S-205 02, Sweden
| | - Anders Gottsäter
- Vascular Centre, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, S-205 02, Sweden
| | - Ashfaque A Memon
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University/Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
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Haskell-Ramsay CF, Docherty S. Role of fruit and vegetables in sustaining healthy cognitive function: evidence and issues. Proc Nutr Soc 2023; 82:305-314. [PMID: 37092750 DOI: 10.1017/s0029665123002999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Modifiable lifestyle factors, such as improved nutrition, are crucial in maintaining cognitive health in older age. Fruit and vegetables represent healthy and sustainable sources of nutrients with the potential to prevent age-related cognitive decline. The aim of this review is to synthesise the available evidence, from epidemiological and randomised controlled trials (RCT), regarding the role of fruit and vegetables in sustaining healthy cognitive function. Epidemiological studies of combined fruit and vegetable intake suggest that increased consumption may sustain cognition in later life. The evidence appears to be stronger for an association between vegetables and cognition, particularly for green leafy and cruciferous vegetables. Specific benefits shown for berries, citrus fruits, avocado and nuts suggest fruit is worthy of further investigation in relation to cognition. Data from RCT indicate benefits to differing aspects of cognition following citrus and berry fruits, cocoa and peanuts, but the data are limited and there are a lack of studies exploring effects of vegetables. There is growing evidence for an association between fruit and vegetable intake and cognitive function, but this is not always consistent and the data from RCT are limited. Issues in previous research are highlighted, such as strict exclusion criteria, absence of baseline nutritional status data and lack of consideration of individual differences, which may explain the weaker findings from RCT. Inclusion of those most at risk for cognitive decline is recommended in future nutrition and cognition research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Docherty
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Markoulli M, Ahmad S, Arcot J, Arita R, Benitez-Del-Castillo J, Caffery B, Downie LE, Edwards K, Flanagan J, Labetoulle M, Misra SL, Mrugacz M, Singh S, Sheppard J, Vehof J, Versura P, Willcox MDP, Ziemanski J, Wolffsohn JS. TFOS Lifestyle: Impact of nutrition on the ocular surface. Ocul Surf 2023; 29:226-271. [PMID: 37100346 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Nutrients, required by human bodies to perform life-sustaining functions, are obtained from the diet. They are broadly classified into macronutrients (carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and water. All nutrients serve as a source of energy, provide structural support to the body and/or regulate the chemical processes of the body. Food and drinks also consist of non-nutrients that may be beneficial (e.g., antioxidants) or harmful (e.g., dyes or preservatives added to processed foods) to the body and the ocular surface. There is also a complex interplay between systemic disorders and an individual's nutritional status. Changes in the gut microbiome may lead to alterations at the ocular surface. Poor nutrition may exacerbate select systemic conditions. Similarly, certain systemic conditions may affect the uptake, processing and distribution of nutrients by the body. These disorders may lead to deficiencies in micro- and macro-nutrients that are important in maintaining ocular surface health. Medications used to treat these conditions may also cause ocular surface changes. The prevalence of nutrition-related chronic diseases is climbing worldwide. This report sought to review the evidence supporting the impact of nutrition on the ocular surface, either directly or as a consequence of the chronic diseases that result. To address a key question, a systematic review investigated the effects of intentional food restriction on ocular surface health; of the 25 included studies, most investigated Ramadan fasting (56%), followed by bariatric surgery (16%), anorexia nervosa (16%), but none were judged to be of high quality, with no randomized-controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Markoulli
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Sumayya Ahmad
- Icahn School of Medicine of Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jayashree Arcot
- Food and Health, School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | - Reiko Arita
- Department of Ophthalmology, Itoh Clinic, Saitama, Japan
| | | | | | - Laura E Downie
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katie Edwards
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Judith Flanagan
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia; Vision CRC, USA
| | - Marc Labetoulle
- Ophthalmology Department, Hospital Bicêtre, APHP, Paris-Saclay University, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; IDMIT (CEA-Paris Saclay-Inserm U1184), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Stuti L Misra
- Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Sumeer Singh
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - John Sheppard
- Virginia Eye Consultants, Norfolk, VA, USA; Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Jelle Vehof
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Section of Ophthalmology, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Ophthalmology, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway
| | - Piera Versura
- Cornea and Ocular Surface Analysis - Translation Research Laboratory, Ophthalmology Unit, DIMEC Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Italy; IRCCS AOU di Bologna Policlinico di Sant'Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mark D P Willcox
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jillian Ziemanski
- School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - James S Wolffsohn
- College of Health & Life Sciences, School of Optometry, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
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Garrabou G, García-García FJ, Presmanes RE, Feu M, Chiva-Blanch G. Relevance of sex-differenced analyses in bioenergetics and nutritional studies. Front Nutr 2022; 9:936929. [PMID: 36245509 PMCID: PMC9562369 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.936929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex-biased analyses still remain as one of the biggest limitations to obtain universal conclusions. In biomedicine, the majority of experimental analyses and a significant amount of patient-derived cohort studies exclusively included males. In nutritional and molecular medicine, sex-influence is also frequently underrated, even considering maternal-inherited organelles such as mitochondria. We herein illustrate with in-house original data examples of how sex influences mitochondrial homeostasis, review these topics and highlight the consequences of biasing scientific analyses excluding females as differentiated entities from males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glòria Garrabou
- Muscle Research and Mitochondrial Function Laboratory, Cellex-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Internal Medicine Department-Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Glòria Garrabou
| | - Francesc Josep García-García
- Muscle Research and Mitochondrial Function Laboratory, Cellex-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Internal Medicine Department-Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Elvira Presmanes
- Muscle Research and Mitochondrial Function Laboratory, Cellex-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Internal Medicine Department-Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Feu
- Muscle Research and Mitochondrial Function Laboratory, Cellex-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Internal Medicine Department-Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Chiva-Blanch
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute–IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Obesity and Nutrition Physiopathology (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Gemma Chiva-Blanch
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Jenkins R, Vamos EP, Mason KE, Daras K, Taylor-Robinson D, Bambra C, Millett C, Laverty AA. Local area public sector spending and nutritional anaemia hospital admissions in England: a longitudinal ecological study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e059739. [PMID: 36175095 PMCID: PMC9528630 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Reductions in local government spending may have impacts on diets and health which increase the risk of hospital admissions for nutritional anaemias. Mechanisms include potential impacts of changes to local authority (LA) services (eg, housing services) on personal resources and food access, availability and provision. We therefore investigated the association between changes in LA spending and nutritional anaemia-related hospital admissions. Specifically, we address whether greater cuts to LA spending were linked to increased hospital admissions for nutritional anaemias. DESIGN Longitudinal analysis of LA panel data using Poisson fixed effects regression models. SETTING 312 LAs in England (2005-2018). MAIN EXPOSURE Total LA service expenditure per capita per year. MAIN OUTCOME Principal and total nutritional anaemia hospital admissions, for all ages and stratified by age (0-14, 15-64, 65+ years). RESULTS LA service expenditure increased by 9% between 2005 and 2009 then decreased by 20% between 2010 and 2018. Total nutritional anaemia hospital admissions increased between 2005 and 2018 from 173 to 633 admissions per 100 000 population. A £100 higher LA service spending was associated with a 1.9% decrease in total nutritional anaemia hospital admissions (adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR): 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96 to 0.99). When stratified by age, this was seen only in adults. A £100 higher LA service spending was associated with a 2.6% decrease in total nutritional anaemia hospital admissions in the most deprived LAs (aIRR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95 to 1.0). CONCLUSION Increased LA spending was associated with reduced hospital admissions for nutritional anaemia. Austerity-related reductions had the opposite effect, increasing admissions, with greater impacts in more deprived areas. This adds further evidence to the potential negative impacts of austerity policies on health and health inequalities. Among other impacts, re-investing in LA services may prevent hospital admissions associated with nutritional anaemias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary Jenkins
- Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Campus; The Reynolds Building; St Dunstan's Road, London W6 8RP, UK
| | - Eszter P Vamos
- Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Campus; The Reynolds Building; St Dunstan's Road, London W6 8RP, UK
| | - Kate E Mason
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool; Waterhouse Building Block F, 2nd Floor, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Konstantinos Daras
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool; Waterhouse Building Block F, 2nd Floor, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - David Taylor-Robinson
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool; Waterhouse Building Block F, 2nd Floor, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Clare Bambra
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, NE1 4LE, UK
| | - Christopher Millett
- Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Campus; The Reynolds Building; St Dunstan's Road, London W6 8RP, UK
| | - Anthony A Laverty
- Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Campus; The Reynolds Building; St Dunstan's Road, London W6 8RP, UK
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Abstract
Micronutrient malnutrition, the deficiency of vitamins or minerals, impacts on physical and mental health, in clinical and general populations, across the life course. In older western populations the high prevalence and impact of micronutrient malnutrition is less well recognised. Low- and middle-income countries are experiencing the 'double burden of disease' where malnutrition coexists alongside the non-communicable diseases of aging, obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Held in December 2020, the Winter Conference of the Nutrition Society was designed to cover new areas of research and concern in micronutrient malnutrition across the life course. Common themes arising from the conference were: 1) The continuing high prevalence of micronutrient malnutrition across the life-course, in diverse populations, in high, middle and low-income countries. 2) That multiple deficiencies of micronutrients frequently exist. 3) The primary cause of deficiency is poor quality diets, of low diversity, low in micronutrient dense foods. 4) Clinical conditions, medications for common non-communicable diseases, and environmental conditions, interact with and exacerbate the effects of poor diet quality. 5) Understanding of the mechanistic effects of micronutrients is still emerging. 6) Micronutrients are necessary for maintaining immune function, which has importance for the COVID-19 epidemic. 7) Better biomarkers are needed detect and understand the effects of deficiency. 7) Dietary recommendations need to be updated regularly. Further research is needed in all these areas. Comprehensive public health and government approaches to ensure access and affordability of good quality foods to populations of all ages, particularly during the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, are crucial.
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Abstract
Policy decisions and the practice of public health nutrition need to be based on solid evidence, developed through rigorous research studies where objective measures are used and results that run counter to dogma are not dismissed but investigated. In recent years, enhancements in study designs, and methodologies for systematic reviews and meta-analysis, have improved the evidence-base for nutrition policy and practice. However, these still rely on a full appreciation of the strengths and limitations of the measures on which conclusions are drawn and on the thorough investigation of outcomes that do not fit expectations or prevailing convictions. The importance of ‘hard facts’ and ‘misfits’ in research designed to advance knowledge and improve public health nutrition is illustrated in this paper through a selection of studies from different stages in my research career, focused on the nutritional requirements of resource-poor populations in Africa and Asia.
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