scholarly journals On the importance of intraindividual variation in nutritional research

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 511-517
Author(s):  
O.F.A. Larsen ◽  
E. Claassen ◽  
R.J. Brummer
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Power ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Nutritional Intervention ◽  
Interindividual Variation ◽  
Intraindividual Variation ◽  
Potential Efficacy ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Study Participants

Nutritional intervention studies, like those with pre- and probiotics, are often hampered by low effect sizes, reducing the power to demonstrate potential efficacy. Here, we perform computer simulations of a hypothetical clinical trial using such an intervention in order to elucidate determining factors that can be influenced in order to optimise the statistical power. Our simulations demonstrate that steering the study population towards a low intraindividual variation dramatically improves statistical power. A more than 10-fold decrease of number-to-treat could be reached. Also, a careful balancing between the number of subjects and measurements per subject, in combination with possible stratification of the subjects into responders and non-responders, based on inherent intraindividual variation, improves the likelihood to reach statistically significant results. Our results also show that traditional dogmas, with respect to clinical trials, i.e. aiming at low interindividual variation and a high number (n) of study participants, should be re-evaluated in favour of reducing intraindividual variation. This reduction in intraindividual variation could be achieved by maintaining a steady lifestyle, including dietary habits among others, within the timeframe of the intervention study.

scholarly journals The Role of High-Resolution Analytical Techniques in the Development of Functional Foods

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 3220
Author(s):  
Álvaro Fernández-Ochoa ◽  
Francisco Javier Leyva-Jiménez ◽  
María De la Luz Cádiz-Gurrea ◽  
Sandra Pimentel-Moral ◽  
Antonio Segura-Carretero
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Nutritional Intervention ◽  
Bioactive Properties ◽  
Metabolic Reactions ◽  
Bioactive Potential ◽  
Endogenous Metabolites

The approaches based on high-resolution analytical techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance or mass spectrometry coupled to chromatographic techniques, have a determining role in several of the stages necessary for the development of functional foods. The analyses of botanical extracts rich in bioactive compounds is one of the fundamental steps in order to identify and quantify their phytochemical composition. However, the compounds characterized in the extracts are not always responsible for the bioactive properties because they generally undergo metabolic reactions before reaching the therapeutic targets. For this reason, analytical techniques are also applied to analyze biological samples to know the bioavailability, pharmacokinetics and/or metabolism of the compounds ingested by animal or human models in nutritional intervention studies. In addition, these studies have also been applied to determine changes of endogenous metabolites caused by prolonged intake of compounds with bioactive potential. This review aims to describe the main types and modes of application of high-resolution analytical techniques in all these steps for functional food development.

scholarly journals Differences in Adolescents’ Food Habits Checklist (AFHC) Scores before and during Pandemic in a Population-Based Sample: Polish Adolescents’ COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1663
Author(s):  
Dominika Skolmowska ◽  
Dominika Głąbska ◽  
Dominika Guzek
Keyword(s):  
Food Habits ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Lower Number ◽  
Grocery Shopping ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Eating Out ◽  
Quota Sampling ◽  
Total P ◽  
Consumption Habits

The COVID-19 pandemic is known to influence the dietary habits of adults, but results for adolescents in studies are ambiguous. The present work aimed to analyze the differences in the scores of the Adolescents’ Food Habits Checklist (AFHC) before and during the pandemic in the Polish Adolescents’ COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study population. The PLACE-19 Study was conducted during the pandemic among a population of 2448 students recruited from secondary schools in all regions of Poland using a random quota sampling. The participants were required to complete an AFHC consisting of 23 items pertaining to food purchase, preparation, and consumption habits. Current habits (during the pandemic) and previous habits were assessed and scored separately. The total (p = 0.001), purchase (p < 0.001), and consumption scores (p = 0.014) indicated that the AFHC scores during the pandemic were higher than before. For questions on purchase habits, a lower number of respondents reported eating in a restaurant, eating takeaway meals, having lunch away from home, or buying pastries, cakes or crisps. For questions on preparation habits, an greater number of respondents reported that they usually avoided eating fried food and tried to keep their overall sugar intake down, but fewer respondents said they tried to have low-fat desserts. For questions on consumption habits, a lower number of respondents reported that they usually ate a dessert or pudding if one were available and a larger number said they made sure to eat at least one serving of vegetables or salad a day and at least three servings of fruit most days. Based on the obtained results, it may be stated that although there was an increase in the AFHC scores during the pandemic, a similar share of respondents showed improved or worsened food habits, and a similar share changed their food habits from healthy to unhealthy and from unhealthy to healthy. At the same time, a majority of changes were associated with purchase habits, which were probably forced by lockdowns and the resultant restrictions in eating out or grocery shopping.

scholarly journals Study of prevalence of osteoporosis in males of above 40 years age group attending SMS Hospital, Jaipur

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 837
Author(s):  
Parwez Qureshi ◽  
R. C. Meena ◽  
Jakir Husain ◽  
Gaurav Deshwar ◽  
Vineet Maheshwari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Good Control ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
T Score ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Prevalence Of Osteoporosis

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Whenever osteoporosis is discussed, the focus is on women; men are far less likely to receive a diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteoporotic fracture because of considerable gaps in knowledge on male osteoporosis. The aim and objectives were to study the prevalence of osteoporosis in males of above 40 year age group attending SMS Hospital Jaipur &amp; to explore the influence of various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors on BMD.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Study Location: SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur. Study design: Hospital based cross sectional study. Study period: April 2015 to December 2016. Sample Size: 200. Work up: After taking ethical clearance and informed verbal consent, demographic and clinical details were noted along with S- calcium, Vitamin D and bone mineral density assessment. Osteoporosis was defined as T score ≤−2.5 bone mass −1 to −2.5 and normal as &gt;−1. Data thus collected was analysed with help of SPSS 22.0 through frequency, percentages, Mean, SD and ANOVA.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in the study population was 28.5% and 11.5%. Age wise maximum prevalence was in the age group 71-80 years (31.81%). Prevalence of osteoporosis was more among Muslim community 20.83%, more in low socio economic group (BPL). T score of study population was -0.3705±1.41. The mean BMI, S-Calcium, Vitamin D levels and T score values among osteopenic and osteoporotic patients were statistically highly significant when compared to patients without osteo-penic/porotic changes (p&lt;0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Osteoporosis is a silent killer and prevention is better than cure as prevention requires simple steps such as good dietary habits, active life style, good control of systemic disorders, reduced intake of tobacco and alcohol.</p>

scholarly journals Statistical Analysis of the Factors Affecting Academic Achievement of Undergraduate Students A Case Study of Faculty of Arts and Science Kufrah -Benghazi University

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-59
Author(s):  
Muna H. Ali
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Process Data ◽  
Family Learning ◽  
Arithmetic Means ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Difference Test

This study examined the factors affecting the academic achievement of undergraduate students at the faculty of Arts and Science Kufrah -Benghazi University as a case study. This study seeks to identify and analyze some determining factors that influence students' academic achievement in the study area. Four factors namely: psychological, family, learning facilities, and economic; were considered. The sample was randomly selected from the study population. A questionnaire was administered to 240 (90 males,150 females) students as a sample of this study. The responses of the students were analyzed to meet the objectives of the study using (SPSS) and displayed in forms and tables. After collecting the required data on the variables of the study, they were encoded to be entered into the computer to extract the statistical results. Statistical methods within the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) were used to process data obtained by the field study of the sample. To analyze the data mean difference test is used. Results of arithmetic means of the psychological, family, learning facilities, and economic factors were medium. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in the factors affecting academic achievement among the participants due to some demographic factors such as gender and marital status. following recommendations were made; provide proper learning facilities to the students and also improve the environment of the faculty. Furthermore, the students would perform well if they are properly guided by both their parents and teachers.

The Relationship Between Dietary Habits and Body-Mass Index Using the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria as the Sample

2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.O. Abidoye ◽  
L.A. Madueke ◽  
G.O. Abidoye
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Diastolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Blood Cholesterol ◽  
Consumption Pattern ◽  
Feeding Patterns ◽  
High Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Cholesterol Levels ◽  
Acceptable Range ◽  
Study Population

This was a cross sectional survey of selected sample of staff of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Lagos, conducted in July to August, 2000. Feeding patterns observed among the sampled population showed that most (74.4%) ate three meals while 11.2% ate more than three meals daily. However, lunch was the most common meal eaten away from home by most (59.0%) of the respondents. Most of the respondents were observed to substitute snacks for their lunch (84.3%). Their food consumption pattern revealed that 23.2% consumed cereals daily while only 5.6% of the respondents consumed fruits and only 10.9% affirmed to consuming vegetables daily. Consumption pattern of other foods revealed that 15.6% consumed dairy products daily, meat/fish was daily consumed by only 16.2% and only 10.0% consumed fats and oils daily in the meals. Gender was also observed to influence feeding patterns of the sampled population studied. Most of the men consumed more meals per day than females. Only 46.4% of all the respondents had BMI values within normal acceptable range. Most of the respondents that were underweight were men (91.4%). Blood pressure measurements revealed that most of them had normal systolic (78.3%) and diastolic blood pressure (81.8%). Though 3.9% had severely high systolic blood pressure and 0.7% had severely high diastolic blood pressure. Only 20.5% of the study population had acceptable blood cholesterol levels of which only 61.1% had BMI values within the normal acceptable range. Only 0.8% of the study population had very high blood cholesterol levels with majority of the population 72.7% on the borderline. It is recommended that health and nutrition education be mounted and that periodic anthropometric measurements be used to evaluate the risk of some non-communicable diseases.

scholarly journals Awareness Among Undergraduate Students of Mangalore City Regarding Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Questionnaire Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deeksha Das ◽  
Ramya Shenoy ◽  
Megha Mukherjee ◽  
Bhaskaran Unnikrishnan ◽  
Nikita Rungta
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Hand Washing ◽  
Questionnaire Study ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Imminent Threat ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Age Range ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACT Objectives: COVID-19 outbreak has surfaced as an imminent threat for the public health. Because India is a populous country, it is important for Indians to be aware of the basic modes of prevention that can diminish the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Aim: The present questionnaire study was carried out among the undergraduate students to assess the awareness regarding the spread and control of COVID-19. Methods: The questionnaire was circulated among the undergraduate students as a Google form. Results: The study included responses of 868 undergraduate students belonging to 2 university colleges. The majority of the participants were females (63%; n = 547) in the age range of 18-23 y. Approximately 98.3% (853) had awareness regarding COVID-19. Approximately 94.7% (822) were washing their hands after visiting public places, out of which only 90.6% (786) were aware of proper steps to be followed in hand washing. It was concluded that it is required to create awareness among 20.8% (181) of our study participants regarding the importance of hand washing to control COVID-19. Conclusions: Awareness regarding COVID-19 among study participants was good. However, a small part of the study population is required to be educated on proper steps to be followed in hand washing.

scholarly journals Putative Effects of Nutritive Polyphenols on Bone Metabolism In Vivo—Evidence from Human Studies

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Austermann ◽  
Natalie Baecker ◽  
Peter Stehle ◽  
Martina Heer
Keyword(s):  
Bone Turnover ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Habitual Diet ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Turnover Markers

For the prevention and treatment of bone loss related diseases, focus has been put on naturally derived substances such as polyphenols. Based on human intervention studies, this review gives an overview of the effects of dietary significant polyphenols (flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and stilbenes) on bone turnover. Literature research was conducted using PubMed database and articles published between 01/01/2008 and 31/12/2018 were included (last entry: 19/02/2019). Randomized controlled trials using oral polyphenol supplementation, either of isolated polyphenols or polyphenols-rich foods with healthy subjects or study populations with bone disorders were enclosed. Twenty articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria and the average study quality (mean Jadad score: 4.5) was above the pre-defined cut-off of 3.0. Evidence from these studies does not allow an explicit conclusion regarding the effects of dietary important polyphenols on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers. Differences in study population, habitual diet, lifestyle factors, applied polyphenols, used doses, and polyphenol bioavailability complicate the comparison of study outcomes.

Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Lin ◽  
Pochu Ho
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Population Number ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Location Study ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Study Intervention ◽  
Treatment Alternatives ◽  
Relapse Rates

This chapter provides a summary of the landmark Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial on major depressive disorder. The STAR*D trial was designed to address some basic questions about depression treatment. What are the outcomes and the remission rates for depression? What are the long-term outcomes, especially the relapse rates, for patients receiving sequential depression therapies? Starting with these questions, this chapter describes the basics of the STAR*D trial, including funding, study location, study population, number of study participants, study design, study intervention, follow-up, endpoints, results, and criticism and limitations. In addition, this chapter briefly reviews other relevant studies and information, discusses implications, and concludes with a relevant clinical case.

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