News Release

Highlights from the February 2007 Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Dietetic Association

Trends in Diet Quality for Heart Disease:
The quality of people's diets designed to prevent coronary heart disease has "moderately improved" over the last two decades, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 5,000 men and more than 6,000 women who took part in the Minnesota Heart Survey to measure whether the volunteers were eating according to American Heart Association dietary guidelines.

During the past two decades, the researchers found study participants improved their diets by eating more fruit, vegetables, total grains and whole grains; and less saturated fatty acid, trans fatty acid, total fat, cholesterol and alcohol.

However, the researchers found continuing "areas of concern" in the study participants' diets over two decades: "unfavorable" sodium and fish consumption and a "continuous deterioration" in overall "energy balance" -- in other words, consuming more calories than we burn.

"Results suggest that efforts to improve diet for (coronary heart disease) prevention should include a focus on moderating energy and sodium intake while encouraging increased consumption of fish," the researchers write.

Dairy Consumption among African-Americans Is Low:
African-Americans in all age groups are not meeting their daily recommendations for consumption of dairy products, according to researchers at the National Dairy Council.

The researchers studied diet information compiled from the 1994-96 and 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals and the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Findings show "African Americans in all age groups consume fewer mean servings per day of total dairy, milk, cheese and yogurt than non-African Americans, and have lower mean intakes of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus." In addition, young African-American women are not meeting their needs for phosphorus, and all African-Americans are not meeting standards for calcium and magnesium and the dairy recommendations from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The researchers conclude: "Dietary patterns that include adequate intake of dairy products dramatically enhance nutrient intake. Results of this analysis and others indicate a need for additional efforts to increase dairy consumption in African-American communities, in which less-than-recommended intakes of calcium and other essential nutrients is widespread."

The study was funded in part by the National Dairy Council.

Many Factors Influence Food Group Choices among Young Adults:
Socioeconomic, demographic and lifestyle factors all play a part in determining young adults' food choices, according to researchers from Baylor College of Medicine.

Study participants were 1,266 men and women between 20 and 38 years old living in a semirural setting in Louisiana and enrolled in the Bogalusa Heart Study. The participants filled out questionnaires describing what they ate as well as their income, education level, ethnicity and lifestyle, such as marital status and level of physical activity.

Results include:

  • Those with an income of greater than $45,000 ate fewer burgers and sandwiches than those who made less than that.
  • Consumption of cereals, breads, dairy products, fruits, 100-percent fruit juices and vegetables was higher among people with more than 12 years of education.
  • Married people ate more servings of snacks and desserts, but drank fewer alcoholic beverages.
  • Active individuals consumed more servings of fruits and 100-percent fruit juices and fewer servings of burgers and sandwiches.
  • African-American men and women consumed more servings of fruits and 100-percent fruit juices than European-American men and women.
  • European-American women consumed more servings of dairy products, vegetables and fats than African-American women.

The researchers conclude: "Public health research nutritionists and other food and nutrition professionals who encounter diverse populations need to consider the influence of income, education, sex, ethnicity, marital status, and physical activity on food consumption patterns when planning diets, nutrition education programs and interventions for young adults."

Additional research articles in the February Journal of the American Dietetic Association include:

  • "Food Preference Questionnaire as a Screening Tool for Assessing Dietary Risk of Cardiovascular Disease within Health Risk Appraisals (HRAS)"
  • "Validation of a Brief Dietary Assessment to Guide Counseling for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction in the Underserved"
  • "Older Adults in the Rural South are Not Meeting Healthy Eating Guidelines "
  • "Intake and Adipose Tissue Composition of Fatty Acids and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in a Male Portuguese Community Sample"
  • "The Puzzle of Dietary Fat Intake and Risk of Ischemic Stroke: A Brief Review of Epidemiologic Data."

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The February 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association contains articles and research studies you may find of interest. Below is a summary of some of this month's articles. For more information or to receive a copy of a Journal article, e-mail media@eatright.org.

The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition and dietetics.

With approximately 65,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. To locate a registered dietitian in your area, visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org.


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