Validation of the National Health And Nutritional Survey (NHANES) single-item self-reported sleep duration against wrist-worn accelerometer

Purpose and methods This study aimed to validate the single-item sleep duration question used in the National Health And Nutritional Survey (NHANES), “How much sleep do you usually get at night on weekdays or workdays (hours)?”, against a wrist-worn accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X +) in waves 2011–2012 and 2013–2014 among an adult population aged 20 or above (n = 8,438, mean age 49.7, 48% male). Results The accelerometer-measured and self-reported sleep duration were 6.01 (SD 1.48) and 6.88 (SD 1.40) h/day, respectively, representing a 0.87 h/day of over-reporting (SD 1.90, p < 0.001). Such an over-reporting was observed in all subgroups, where the over-reporting ranged from 0.72 (those aged 41–50) to 1.13 h/day (those aged 71 or above). The correlation between accelerometer-measured and self-reported sleep duration was low (ρ = 0.14, p < 0.001). Conclusions The associations between sleep duration and other health outcomes identified using NHANES data should be further tested using more accurate and valid measures of sleep duration.

Outbreak of oral ulcers (glossitis) among the students of three central schools under Tsirang district Bhutan, 2018

Background Nutritional deficiencies are common worldwide and is most notable in low and middle income countries. In the early weeks of September 2018, oral sores mostly affecting the tongue were reported in three central schools under Tsirang district, Bhutan. A total of 204 students were affected in the three central schools. All the affected students have been assessed on the outbreak and nutritional survey was conducted in the three schools. Methods A total of 204 students who complained of different oral lesions in the affected three schools were screened by the dental surgeon for clinical assessment and administered questionnaire for nutritional assessment by the nutritionist. Twenty-one students randomly selected were sent for blood tests for micronutrient assays and complete blood count. 41 students were tested for Exfoliative cell cytology to test for fungal elements. The collected data was double entered and validated using Epi-Data version 3.1 and analysed using Stata 15 IC. The characteristics of the participants are presented as frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation (SD). Results Almost all the affected students in all the three schools had complaints of Burning Sensation (n = 158) followed by Pain (n = 153), Impaired Taste Sensation (n = 100) and Intolerance to Spicy Food (n = 95). Nutritional assessment analysis suggested schools not meeting the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for all components of Vitamin B complexes and Iron. Conclusion Clinical assessments and nutritional survey analysis found inadequate vitamin rich dietary intakes among all the three schools. Implementation of a strict school feeding program with a balanced diet has been suggested accordingly.

Outbreak of Oral Ulcers (Glossitis) Among the Students of three Central Schools under Tsirang District Bhutan, 2018

Background In the early weeks of September 2018, clusters of oral sores mostly affecting the tongue were reported in three central schools under Tsirang district, Bhutan. A total of 243 students were affected in total as aggregated by the schools in all three central schools. Almost all the affected students’ complaint of burning sensation of the mouth followed by redness depapillation of the tongue. All the affected students have been assessed on the outbreak and nutritional survey was conducted in the schools. Results: Almost all the affected students in all the three schools had complaints of Burning Sensation (n=158) followed by Pain (n=153), Impaired Taste Sensation (n=100) and Intolerance to Spicy Food (n=95). Other complaints such as Fissured Tongue and Depapillation of the dorsum of the tongue accounted to about 16.6% of the total affected students. Nutritional Survey on school diet revealed the school diet not meeting the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Vitamin B1 (Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic Acid), B6 (Pyridoxine), B9 (Folic Acid), B12 (Cyanocobalamin) and Iron. Conclusions: While some recommendations are provided, the strongest and most effective measures to prevent the outbreak is to improve the school diet with extended green fruits and vegetables in the school’s dietary menu. Laboratory investigation on the content of currently supplied fortified rice in the schools and the Hazard Analysis of the manufacturers of the fortified rice supplied to Bhutan is also suggested with importance.

Using nutritional survey data to inform the design of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in low-resource contexts: a cross-sectional analysis based on data from an adult Caribbean population

ObjectiveSugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes have been implemented widely. We aimed to use a pre-existing nutritional survey data to inform SSB tax design by assessing: (1) baseline consumption of SSBs and SSB-derived free sugars, (2) the percentage of SSB-derived free sugars that would be covered by a tax and (3) the extent to which a tax would differentiate between high-sugar SSBs and low-sugar SSBs. We evaluated these three considerations using pre-existing nutritional survey data in a developing economy setting.MethodsWe used data from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey in Barbados (2012–2013, prior to SSB tax implementation). Data were available on 334 adults (25–64 years) who completed two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. We estimated the prevalence of SSB consumption and its contribution to total energy intake, overall and stratified by taxable status. We assessed the percentage of SSB-derived free sugars subject to the tax and identified the consumption-weighted sugar concentration of SSBs, stratified by taxable status.FindingsAccounting for sampling probability, 88.8% of adults (95% CI 85.1 to 92.5) reported SSB consumption, with a geometric mean of 2.4 servings/day (±2 SD, 0.6, 9.2) among SSB consumers. Sixty percent (95% CI 54.6 to 65.4) of SSB-derived free sugars would be subject to the tax. The tax did not clearly differentiate between high-sugar beverages and low-sugar beverages.ConclusionGiven high SSB consumption, targeting SSBs was a sensible strategy in this setting. A substantial percentage of free sugars from SSBs were not covered by the tax, reducing possible health benefits. The considerations proposed here may help policymakers to design more effective SSB taxes.

Consumption and Use of Snail Limicolaria Flammea (Müller, 1774) in the City of Abidjan, Cote D’ivoire

The nutritional survey on the snail Limicolaria flammea (Müller, 1774) integrated several aspects and made it possible to understand in particular socio-demographic characteristics of populations surveyed, the knowledge of the snail Limicolaria flammea (according to municipalities visited), vernacular names, consumption parameters, associated uses and the conservation of the meat of this snail. It appears that 55.33% of respondents are women and 44.67% are men. The most important age group is between 20-34 years old. In this age group, 50.12% of people say they consume the snail Limicolaria flammea. Ethnic groups, Akan (55.73%), Krou (35.21%), Mande (6.26%), and foreigners (2.8%) are thus represented in this study and have expressed their opinions on the knowledge and consumption of this animal species. Vernacular names (23 vernacular names) are quite different from each other according to ethnic groups. Consumption parameters showed that the flesh of snail is used for food (65.65%). Also, the shell of snail is used for medical (29.25%), and aesthetic (8.95%). Diseases treated are pain (20.46%) and rheumatism (6.90%). Investigations have shown that 61.70% of consumers keep the snail's flesh fresh, 38.30% of them smoked. The storage time most observed by consumers (65.40%) is 1 to 4 days.

Investigation of processed meat consumption from the National Nutritional Survey menuCH and ecological data for colorectal cancer incidence in Switzerland

Processed meat (PM) has an important role in diet of the Swiss population, but increasingly regarded as a food group of concern due to epidemiological evidence for its association with colorectal cancer (CRC) and other chronic diseases. Data on CRC incidence for men and women and by region is available in Switzerland, but cannot be linked with PM intake.This secondary analysis aimed to describe PM consumption in Switzerland, using data from the National Nutritional Survey menuCH, to investigate associations between PM intake and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, and to examine CRC incidence in Switzerland for any similar regional patterns to PM consumption.Intakes of total PM and of categories ham, bacon, sausage and other PM types were described by means and standard errors (SEM). Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate associations between meat intake (total meat and PM, assessed separately, g/1000 kcal) and the following sociodemographic and lifestyle factors: sex, language-speaking region, age-category, nationality, education, gross household income, household status, smoking status, overall health status (self-reported), and currently following a weight-loss diet. Data were weighted for age, sex, marital status, major areas of Switzerland, nationality and household size, and for consumption data, also season and weekday.Results show PM was consumed by approximately 70% of the population with mean total intake of 42.7 (SEM 1.2 g/d). Sausage intake was highest with 16.8 g/day, followed by ham, other PM and bacon, 12.4, 10.6, and 2.0 g/day, respectively. Sex was significantly associated with total meat and PM intake; women consumed 10.1 g/1000 kcal less total meat [95% CI: -13.60; -6.64], and 4.70 g /1000 kcal less PM [95% CI: -6.73; -2.68] than men. For both variables, total meat and PM intake, positive associations were observed for overweight, obesity and current smoking; and negative associations observed for tertiary education and following a diet. The later was significant only for PM intake. The ecological data for CRC incidence revealed much higher rates for men than women, over 24 years; but the data shown by language region did not reveal any particular pattern.This study is the first to describe intakes of total and different PM types, based on national representative data. Positive associations between PM intake and smoking and obesity merit careful monitoring. More regular data collection by methods enabling separate quantification of meat and PM, as well as relevant health biomarkers are needed in future studies.