Browsing by Subject "Nutrition"
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Item The Association Between Reported Dietary Β-Carotene Intakes, Serum β-Carotene, Anthropometric Factors, And Dietary Fat In United States Adults(2020-09) Crusan, AmbriaObesity prevalence continues to increase in the United States (US), therefore, understanding preventative measures is increasingly important for population health. The US has one the world’s highest rates of overweight and obesity with at least 70% of adults categorized as overweight or obese, with an increasing prevalence of morbid obesity. Obesity is of concern because increasing rates are positively correlated with multiple comorbidities. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend adults consume approximately 2 cups of fruits and 2.5 cups of vegetables daily, as research has tied consumption to a reduced risk for many chronic diseases. Presumably, these recommendations are made because low serum carotenoid status, a marker of fruit and vegetable intake, is associated with increased cardiometabolic disease risk. Investigating the associations between the carotenoid β-carotene (BC) and obesity are pivotal in understanding obesity as a diet-related condition. This work is the first to assess multiple factors that might influence the association between dietary BC and serum BC concentrations utilizing population-based data collected in the US. Secondary data analysis of the 2003-2006 NHANES dataset, which utilized cross-sectional survey methods to obtain a unique collection of nationally-representative, health- and nutrition-related data on non-institutionalized civilians in the US, was conducted. Weighted variables were created in SAS statistical software to accommodate the complex survey design. There is a normal distribution across sex, ethnicity, age, and body mass index (BMI), however, we natural log transformed serum BC concentrations, reported dietary BC, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and reported dietary lycopene due to skewing. Pearson correlation and partial correlation coefficients were used to assess variable correlation. Multivariable linear regression estimated relationships between serum BC concentrations and inflammation, reported dietary BC intake, BMI, total reported dietary fat intake, and total reported dietary fatty acid (FA) intakes. Notable associations were present between serum BC concentrations and BMI, hsCRP, reported dietary BC intakes, android body fat percentage, gynoid body fat percentage, saturated FAs, monounsaturated FAs, and polyunsaturated FAs. The findings of this project suggest a protective effect of increased serum BC concentrations against low-grade, systemic inflammation often associated with adipose tissue dysfunction present in obese individuals. The association present between serum BC and anthropometric factors related to higher adiposity, suggests individuals with an increased BMI and/or body fat percentage may have a greater risk of lower serum BC concentrations despite dietary BC intake. Additionally, dietary FA, polyunsaturated FA alpha-linolenic acid, is associated with increased BC in circulation. Moreover, the inverse association present between serum BC and other specific fatty acid classes suggests there may be multiple post-digestion factors affecting serum BC concentrations.Item Baseline traits as predictors of success in medical weight management(2015-05) Bayer, Lisa AnnBackground: Although there are current treatment plans for individuals who are seeking to lose a significant amount of weight, success rate are highly variable. Barriers to success include lack of attention to development of individualized weight loss plans, issues with lack of readiness to change or confidence to make a change, and pre-existing medical conditions and medications that inhibit weight loss. By understanding and addressing an individual's baseline characteristics there is the potential to create a more successful individualized weight loss program. Aim: To determine the relationship between baseline characteristics and subsequent weight loss in individuals at the University of Minnesota Adult Medical Weight Management clinic (MWM clinic). Materials/Subjects and Methods: Three-hundred fifty intake assessment forms from the MWM clinic were collected over a one and a half year time frame. Assessments were checked for completion based on answers of the Eating Habit (Table 1) and Eating Habit Frequency sections (Table 2), excluding any patient from further analysis if either section was not completed. The questions were split into 6 trait categories including preventive medical eating, disordered eating patterns, food insecurity, hunger disorder, emotional eating, and craving and binging. Later, craving and binging were split into binge eating and craving driven eating to determine the relationship between binging and craving. Data from a total of 219 patients were used for statistical analysis using SAS (version 9.3, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Results: Mean months of follow-up time for individuals with at least two visits (n = 84) was 4.05 ± 2.93 with significant difference seen between men (3.66 ± 1.95) and women (4.24 ± 3.29) (P = 0.040). Mean weight change per 30 days was -2.62 ± 4.05 (female: -2.13 ± 3.47; male: -3.65 ± 4.99) and the mean percent weight change per 30 days was -0.96 ± 1.46 (female: -0.82 ± 1.40; male: -1.26 ± 1.56). Success of 5% baseline body weight was seen in 42 (50%) and 10% in 23 (27%) of the population. Significant difference was seen between individuals who reported food insecurity compared to those who did not with change in weight per 30 days with individuals reporting food insecurity having a change in weight of -1.2 ± 0.8 pounds and those not reporting food insecurity having a change in weight of -3.5 ± 0.5 (P = 0.017). Percent change in weight per 30 days was seen to be significant between individuals with food insecurity (-0.36 ± 0.3) and those who did not report food insecurity (-1.3 ± 0.2) (P = 0.008). Highest odds ratios were seen in individual reporting food insecurity versus not and those reporting craving and binging versus not. Individuals who did not report food insecurity were 4.1 times more likely to reach 5% success (P = 0.010) and 5.6 times more likely to reach 10% success (P = 0.955). Patients that did not report craving and binging were 2.2 times more likely to reach 5% success (P = 0.306), and 3.7 times more likely to reach 10% success (P = 0.072). Conclusions: Individuals who self-reported food insecurity had significantly less weight loss per 30 days and percent weight change per 30 days compared to those who did not report food insecurity. Disordered eating (87%), craving driven eating (71%), and binge eating (82%) were the most common baseline traits seen in our patients. Women reported emotional eating more frequently than men (women: n = 42 (74%); men: n =14 (52%); P = 0.047). Hunger disorder was only reported in 59% (36 women and 14 men) of our study patients and was not statistically different between men and women. Presence of craving and binging was seen in 77% of females (n = 40) and 61% of males (n = 14) (P = 0.153). In conclusion, hunger driven eating was not as strongly reported in our obese population as some non-hunger related baseline traits including emotional eating and binging and craving driven eating. Food insecurity was negatively related to weight loss success, suggesting that low socioeconomic status remains a major barrier to successful weight loss.Item Bioimpedance spectroscopy for the estimation of fat-free mass in end-stage renal disease.(2011-05) Vine, Sara M.Abstract summary not availableItem Body composition, nutrient intake and MTHFR genotype in patients with peripheral arterial disease(2014-05) Brostow, Diana P.Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a progressive disease characterized by its impact on physical mobility, and a high rate of vascular comorbidities and events. Despite its inclusion in the same grouping of conditions as cardiovascular (CVD) and cerebrovascular diseases, PAD garners much less attention, both in a clinical setting and in research. There is a significant body of research on the roles of nutrition and lifestyle in CVD and stroke etiology, yet the equivalent data for PAD is sparse. The impact of nutrition and related factors on PAD is poorly understood, and in need of expansive clarification.Methods: We conducted a literature review of all available research on nutrition and body composition in PAD, and used our assessments to design a cross-sectional study of these variables in a sample of PAD patients. We created a conceptual model of how nutrition-related variables may be associated with various aspects of PAD severity, and examined these associations within recruited participants.Results: Participants diets' were characterized by relatively high intakes of fat, sugar and sodium, as well as by low or inadequate intakes of crucial micronutrients. Several dietary factors were found to be significantly associated with more severe physical or psychosocial PAD symptoms. The majority of participants were also overweight or obese, and total body weight and abdominal obesity were associated with worse scores on tests of PAD severity. Additionally, we encountered several key obstacles to identifying and recruiting patients for this study. Conclusions: Although our sample size was relatively small, there is evidence to suggest that there are nutrition-related factors that are associated with the severity of PAD patients' symptoms and overall quality of life. Recruitment methods are in need of revision to obtain larger, more statistically powered samples, and we have outlined potential approaches for doing so. Lastly, this study establishes a precedent for future studies to implement interventions in PAD patients using already-established vascular guidelines for nutrition.Item Changes in Resting Metabolic Rate and the Perception of Hunger and Satiety in Patients with Eating Disorders Throughout Residential Treatment(2010-01) Papadantonaki, ElpidaObjective: This prospective observational study examined changes in resting metabolic rate (RMR) and the perception of hunger and satiety in a group of patients with eating disorders receiving treatment in a residential setting. Methods: Seventeen women admitted at the Anna Westin House residential program, aged 18-41 (mean 27.2) years, were followed upon admission, each month of treatment and a post-discharge follow-up. RMR measurements were conducted via indirect calorimetry. Questionnaires were used to assess eating disorder diagnosis, as well as physical sensations, mood, and preoccupation with thoughts of food before and after meals. Results: Upon admission 5 subjects had anorexia nervosa, 3 bulimia nervosa and 9 eating disorder not otherwise specified. There was an increase in weight for the whole group between admission and discharge but no change in RMR. A positive correlation was noted between weight and RMR at admission and at discharge. The percentage of subjects reporting having no gastric feelings of hunger decreased between admission and discharge. At discharge, there was a decrease in the percentage of subjects who reported irritability, tenseness, depression and preoccupation with thoughts of food around meals. Conclusions: The results suggest a relationship between weight and RMR as well as a progression towards normalization of the perception of hunger and satiety throughout treatment. Further studies are needed to explore the trends observed in this study, their etiology and treatment implications.Item Child nutritional well-being in Ghana: an analysis of associated individual, household, and contextual health indicators and socioeconomic and biophysical environmental variables.(2011-08) Nikoi, Ebenezer Goodman AshieDepriving children of the nutrients needed for growth sets them up to fail in life. When children are well nourished and cared for, they are more likely to survive, thrive, and to meaningfully contribute to society. This study assesses the association of characteristics of individual children under age five in Ghana, their mothers, and their households—as well as socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the places where they live—with differential nutritional well-being. What distinguishes this study from most research on young children’s nutritional status in the Global South is its analysis of data for individual children, made possible by use of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), and assignation of district variables that capture characteristics of their places of residence to individual children as cases. This enables assessment of the relative explanatory role of variables that describe the socioeconomic and biophysical environments. This study implements a three-level multivariate logistic regression analysis with separate models for each of the nutritional outcome variables—height-for-age, weightfor- age and hemoglobin—at each level. Descriptive statistics summarize the prevalence of stunting, underweight, and hemoglobin and delineate frequencies and proportions for selected independent variables at each level. Further statistical analysis relies on chisquared (χ2) tests to determine significant bivariate associations. All significantly associated variables in the bivariate analysis are subjected to binary logistic regression analysis. The results of fixed effects are reported with odds ratios (ORs) along with confidence intervals for p<.05. The following variables were found to be significantly associated with at least one of the three nutritional outcomes in multivariate analyses at the child and district levels: child’s age, months of breastfeeding, fever, mother’s health status, prenatal care, mother’s occupation, mother’s ethnicity, household water supply, household wealth status, population density, percent literate (vs. illiterate) in district, percent in rural (vs. urban) locations, wealth status of district residents, and ecological zone of residence. As found in much previous research, mother’s education and occupation, father’s education and occupation, household size and structure, and sanitation were significantly associated with children’s nutritional status in bivariate analysis but not in multivariate analysis. After controlling for the characteristics of children, mothers and households, significant associastions with children’s nutritional status were found for population density, percentage of literate (vs. illiterate) residents in a district, wealth status of district residents, and residence in the Guinea Forest-Savanna Mosaic and Central African Mangrove ecological zones. Other significantly associated variables in the final models were the age of the child, months of breastfeeding, whether the child’s mother has health insurance and the wealth status of a child’s household. Notwithstanding the shortcomings of this study, its findings can potentially assist stakeholders by providing a better understanding of the diverse set of factors that influence children’s nutritional status and some explanation for differences in nutritional status among places within Ghana.Item Designing a Model Food Systems Graduate Degree Program(2022-07) Dryke, JessicaWe live in a Global Society where our business and cultures are connected across communities, countries, sectors, and disciplines. That means problems are more complex than can be addressed with a single tiered approach. In a society where communities are interconnected and interdependent across local and global markets, problems do not have simple solutions and fall under the category of wicked problems. These problems require evolving multidisciplinary collaboration across sectors, disciplines, and cultures to find solutions through continual adaptation to changes in society. Issues like food waste, food insecurity, sustainability and climate change are wicked problems that need multi-pronged approaches that appreciate multi-disciplinary problems. Since wicked problems occur on a systems scale, understanding the functionality of systems is imperative. Right now, there are few professionals trained in systems that can tackle these wicked problems within our food system. A shift in higher education over the years towards specialization, linear thinking, and reductionist approaches has not only contributed the shift away from systems understanding but has also contributed to a skills shortage gap in employees entering the workforce. The shortage includes skills such as communication, building collaborative relationships, systems thinking, problem solving, interdisciplinary work, and facilitation. This thesis is based on Participatory Action Research that combines action, practice, theory, and reflection to identify problems and potential solutions within the University of Minnesota graduate system. An anthropological approach used observations, qualitative data collection, and conversations with people of differing views to understand the issues within the current academic system from the perspective of fellow students, administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, and other professionals outside the university system. This methodology and write-up further recognize and support the value of the human influence on research design and interpretation while utilizing the first-person experience. This project highlights the need for training of food systems students and young professionals to support the relevancy and impact of the nutrition discipline, in recognition of the absence of nutrition and food science in food system discussions and activities, while advocating for multidisciplinary training through the creation of a model Food Systems Graduate degree program. This complementary approach allows reductionist thinking to confluence with systems thinking to promote more wholistic training for graduate students. This Graduate degree program further supports flexibility to promote self-efficacy and interest for students, cohort-based experiential learning, and expanded levels of mentorship beyond faculty-student interaction through alumni involvement. The all-encompassing contribution of human influence, different sectors, disciplines, culture, socio-economic, and political perspectives are essential to an inclusive, holistic, and comprehensive education program, based on systems approaches. The Twin Cities is rich in food-related resources to support this Food Systems Graduate degree program. The University of Minnesota has a unique opportunity to tackle the skills shortage gap along with the decline in student motivation, given the breadth, depth, and scope of the food system to gain student interest. To achieve this goal nutrition needs to be reinserted into the food system through dialogue and action by coherently connecting all three intellectual traditions of nutrition (Biological, behavioral, ecological) based on our food system, through situational analysis and design. The all-encompassing contribution of human influence, different sectors, disciplines, culture, socio-economic, and political perspectives are essential to an inclusive, holistic, and comprehensive education program, based on systems approaches.Item Dietary evaluation of low-oligosaccharide soybean meal in pigs(2012-10) Pangeni, Devi P.To evaluate the potential benefit of low oligosaccharide soybean meal (LOSBM) in the diets of early-weaned pigs, three experiments were performed by replacing conventional soybean meal (cSBM) with LOSBM. Low oligosaccharide soybean meal has a higher CP content than SBM. The interaction between LOSBM and the use of fishmeal and spray dried porcine plasma (FM/SDPP) was also evaluated during the nursery phase of the study. The objective of study 1 was to evaluate the effect of LOSBM on growth performance, viscosity of intestinal content, intestinal morphology, organ weights and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in early-weaned pigs during 14 d post weaning. Four phase 1 diets used were corn-SBM or corn-LOSBM with or without supplementation of FM/SDPP in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. There was no interaction between FM/SDPP and the sources of soybean meal for the parameters studied. Treatments had no effect on growth performance, organ weight and intestinal length. No effect of treatment was observed for ileal crypt depth, jejunal crypt depth and ileal villi height. However, jejunal villi height was greater (P = 0.01) in pigs with cSBM diet. Levels of BUN were higher (P = 0.01) in pigs fed LOSBM diet and replacing cSBM with LOSBM reduced (P = 0.01) the viscosity of intestinal content. The objective of study 2 was to determine the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of DM, energy, N, ADF and NDF by grower pigs fed corn-LOSBM and corn-SBM diets in two different adaptation periods (5d and 7d). Grower pigs cannulated at ileo-cecal junction were randomly allotted to one of two dietary treatments. Treatment 1 consisted of conventional corn-SBM diet and treatment 2 consisted of corn-LOSBM. Replacing SBM with LOSBM improved percent AID of DM (P < 0.01), energy (P < 0.01) and ADF (P < 0.01). Similarly pigs fed LOSBM had improved ATTD of DM (P < 0.01), energy (P < 0.01) and ADF (P < 0.01). Study 3 was conducted to determine the effect of replacing cSBM with LOSBM on growth performance and carcass characteristics of pigs from wean to finish. Dietary treatments were fed in 6 phases based on a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with 2 levels of FM/SDPP (none or phases 1 to 3) and 3 levels of LOSBM inclusion (none, phases 1 to 3, or phases 1 to 6). There was no interaction between FM/SDPP in nursery and LOSBM in any phase for ADG, ADFI or G:F. Replacing SBM with LOSBM resulted in gains in piglets feed efficiency (phase 1 and 2, P< 0.01) and piglets fed FM/SDPP had improved ADG (P < 0.01) and feed efficiency (P < 0.05) only in phase 2. Neither treatment factor affected live weight, carcass weight, fat or loin depth, percent lean, percent yield, grade or value. The early improvements did not affect overall performance from wean to finish, nor did they affect the final carcass characteristics. In summary, replacing cSBM with LOSBM did not affect the performance of the pigs. It seems that young pigs can better tolerate LOSBM as it decreased the viscosity of intestinal content. Improved ileal digestibility of nutrients in LOSBM in compared to cSBM may be beneficial for pigs. Key words:Item Dietary intake, attitudinal, and contextual differences by weight status in indulgent snacking occasions of midlife women(2014-12) Mishler, Elizabeth KathleenNational, cross-sectional data collected over the past 40 years indicate an increase in the average weight of midlife women (40-60 years). Recent trends for more frequent snacking and stress-related eating may increase risk for weight gain, which is associated with risk of chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to better understand indulgent snacking occasions among midlife women (n=414) and to evaluate if these occasions, including the attitudes and contextual environment surrounding them, differed by weight status (normal, overweight, or obese). Data collected as a part of a larger study included one-day food records and surveys to assess attitudes and contextual environment. This thesis project tested the hypothesis that both macro- and micro-nutrient intake and food group intakes would vary by weight status with normal weight women displaying healthier consumption characteristics compared to overweight and obese women; however, the observed patterns did not fit these expectations. Significant differences were observed between weight status groups for energy intake and several macro- and micro-nutrient intakes, but these differences did not correspond with differences in food group intakes. Normal weight women tried fewer weight maintenance strategies and had higher weight self-efficacy scores than overweight and obese women. Normal weight women were also more likely to have positive attitudes toward food in general, whereas obese women were more likely to have less healthy attitudes, using food as an escape from emotion or as a coping mechanism for boredom. In addition to food intake, the findings suggest that attitudes and motivations surrounding food may also be important with regard to achieving a healthy weight. Health care professionals should consider snacking habits, as well as motivations and attitudes related to food, when advising midlife women on weight status issues.Item Eating Healthfully(Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays (JOIE), 2016-07-19) Zimmerman, Ben GIdeas and/or diets for either normal weight maintenance or to lose weight are presented. Works by Michael Pollan, Mark Bittman, and Dr. Robert Atkins are mainly considered. Pollan describes and critiques the method of meat production by corn feeding of cattle in feedlots which has replaced meat produced from grass grazing animals. He lists criteria to use for choosing healthy food and why he became a vegetarian. His do’s and don’ts sum up some of his thinking. A dietary scheme of vegan before 6 PM and more typical food afterwards is how Bittman views a plan for both healthy eating and weight reduction. Samples of his recipes for both the vegan and afterward phases are outlined. Dr. Atkins’s sugar-restricted diet reported back in the late 1940s and early 1950s was extremely popular. He built a nutritional institute which early on made him a millionaire, but eventually went bankrupt. Bad publicity concerning his death and the realization that abolishing dietary sugar was unhealthful probably were responsible for his downfall. His diet is effective in causing significant weight loss, but in long term is considered unsound. My own reason for seeking a reduction in abdominal fat led to my limiting sugar for about one year. Indeed weight loss was achieved, but not noticeably in the abdominal area. Lastly, a husband and wife, the Bergs of LITTLE BEND HERITAGE FARM located in Minnesota, are producing heritage foods and listed the recipe for a very good one. Their Bean and Ham soup appealed to me. As it was easy to make with excellent results, I included the recipe here.Item The economics of food, nutrition, and poverty(2019-07) Rolando, DominiqueLow-income households around the United States experience difficulties with food insecurity wherein they struggle to secure enough food for all of their household members. This issue becomes even more complex when considering the nutritional makeup of the food that they are able to secure. This issue is of importance to public policy, especially given rising rates of diet-related diseases among low-income individuals. This thesis explores public policy efforts aimed at improving the consumption of healthy and nutritious foods for low-income individuals. In this dissertation I first investigate the impact of increasing the payout of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payouts on low-income participants’ consumption of different food groups. Secondly, I compare the simulated impact on fruits and vegetables purchases of increasing the food budget of low-income households to providing them a discount on fruits and vegetables. Finally, I evaluate the preferences of food pantry clients towards healthy modifications to their food.Item Effect of a rapidly fermentable fiber on satiety, food intake, and tolerance in healthy human subjects.(2010-05) Hess, Jennifer RoseEpidemiological studies strongly support the role of fiber in the control of obesity. Fiber is suggested to influence mechanisms of satiety and reduce energy intake. The postabsorptive fermentation of fiber in the large intestine may be linked to the satiating effects observed. The following work focuses on an intervention study using a rapidly fermentable fiber to examine this relationship. In this study we hypothesized that a short chain fructooligosaccharide (scFOS) would increase satiety and decrease energy intake at a subsequent meal with a dosedependent response. Additional aims were to determine its influence on 24-hour energy intake, gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance, and breath hydrogen response. Healthy men and women participated in this randomized double-blind, crossover study. On three separate occasions subjects consumed 0 g, 5 g, or 8 g of scFOS in a beverage and proceeded to use visual analogue scales (VAS) to rate satiety over four hours. Ad libitum energy intake was then assessed. Subjects later consumed a consistent dose in solid form. Energy intake over 24 hours, GI tolerance, and breath hydrogen measures were obtained. Contrary to our hypothesis no significant differences were observed in satiety or energy intakes. As expected, breath hydrogen response indicated significant fermentation within four hours of scFOS ingestion; however, this did not influence tolerance, as GI symptoms did not differ significantly between treatments. This study provides evidence that not all types of fiber significantly influence satiety. The physiological actions of one fiber type may not extend to others. It is important to increase the specificity with which health benefits are assigned to specific fiber types, and to conceptualize fiber as a complex group of substances with diverse actions rather than as a single nutritional entity.Item Effect of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) on cholesterol metabolism and xanthophylls bioavailability in rats(2014-11) Zhang, XuejiaoDried distillers grain with solubles (DDGS), a co-product generated from the fuel ethanol industry, contain the same nutrients found in corn, except for starch, which has been fermented to ethanol and carbon dioxide. The U.S. Fuel ethanol industry has experienced a rapid increase in production in the past decades with 5 million metric tons produced in 2000 to 42.5 million metric tons produced in 2013 [1]. Currently, DDGS is primarily used as a feed ingredient for livestock and poultry [2], and it has been recognized as an excellent source of energy, amino acids, water-soluble vitamins and minerals for poultry, swine . Considering its high concentration of nutrients, it may have a great potential value as an ingredient in human foods. Therefore we examined several potential human health benefits of DDGS. Specifically, the effect of feeding DDGS, as well as a corn bran fraction and DDGS soluble fraction, on liver cholesterol, total fat, oxidative stress and xanthophyll bioavailability in rats was examined. The results showed that diets containing DDGS and DDGS co-products decreased liver cholesterol, increased bile acids and total neutral sterol excretion, and promoted intestinal fermentation. However, there was no evidence that these products decreased oxidative stress. Due to lack of sensitivity in the methods used, we were unable to assess xanthophylls bioavailability.Item The effect of intake of whole grain and whole grain components on type 2 diabetes in rats.(2012-02) Youn, Moon YeonConsumption of whole grains has been associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes epidemiologically. However, studies of the effect of individual whole grains on the development of type 2 diabetes are lacking. The objective of this research was to examine the effect of consumption of whole grains and a processed whole grain component on type 2 diabetes in diabetic rats. The first study was designed to investigate the effect of various whole grains consumption on diabetic control and progression in an animal model of type II diabetes, the Goto-Kakisaki (GK) rat. In this study, whole grain consumption showed only slight improvements in glucose control and insulin resistance early in the progression of diabetes, improvements which were lost with time, and no improvement in a marker of oxidative stress. The slight effect of whole grain consumption on slowing the progression of type 2 diabetes may be due to poor bioavailability of nutrients and phytochemicals. Thus, it was hypothesized that consumption of a processed whole grain ingredient with increased bioavailability of nutrients and phytochemicals might improve the diabetic state. The purpose of the second study was to examine the effect of processed wheat bran consumption on metabolic parameters related to diabetes and obesity in an animal model of type 2 diabetes with obesity, the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat. The consumption of processed wheat bran had highly beneficial effects on the diabetic state, including decreasing the insulin response after a meal, decreasing visceral fat pad weight, insulin resistance, and plasma and liver cholesterol, and increasing bile acid excretion. The finding of correlations between ferulic acid, the major phenolic in wheat, in plasma and urine and metabolic parameters related to diabetes suggests that increased bioavailability of ferulic acid is responsible for the improvements seen in these parameters. In conclusion, whole grain intake provided a modestly beneficial effect on the development of type 2 diabetes. However, processing of a whole grain component, wheat bran, to increase the bioavailability of active compounds in the bran resulted in highly significant improvements in the diabetic state in an animal model of type 2 diabetes with obesity.Item The effects of aerobic exercise on premenopausal levels of endogenous sex hormones and urinary estrogen metabolism(2015-03) Smith, Alma JudithThe purpose of this doctoral project was to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on breast cancer risk biomarkers such as endogenous sex hormone levels and urinary estrogen metabolites in premenopausal women. In this study, 391 healthy, sedentary, young eumenorrheic women were randomized to either an exercise intervention of 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise five times a week for approximately 16 weeks (n = 212) or a usual-lifestyle sedentary control group (n = 179). Outcome measures were taken at baseline and follow-up.The study described in Chapter 2 evaluated changes in serum levels of estradiol, estrone sulfate, testosterone, progesterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) via radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. As expected, the intervention resulted in significant increases in aerobic fitness, lean body mass, and decreases in percent body fat in women in the exercise group. No significant changes in body weight were observed between or within groups. The major finding of this study was a significant decrease in progesterone in the exercise group, albeit this change was similar to that of the control group. The lack of significant changes in sex hormone or SHBG levels due to the intervention (without a concomitant weight change) between or within groups suggest this may not be a plausible mechanism by which physical activity decreases breast cancer risk in premenopausal women.The second study described in Chapter 3 measured changes in urinary levels of estrogens (estrone [E1], and estradiol [E2]), and ten estrogen metabolites via liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In addition, the ratios of 2-hydroxyestrone to 16α-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1/16α-OHE1) and 2-hydroxyestrone to 4-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1/4-OHE1) were calculated. Although no significant changes in urinary estrogens or their metabolites were found between groups, the 2-OHE1/16α-OHE1 ratio in exercisers increased significantly (P = 0.043) compared to the control group (P = 0.045), even after adjustment for baseline values.Collectively, the results of this doctoral project suggest the positive effects aerobic exercise allegedly has on premenopausal breast cancer risk may be mediated through hormonal mechanisms that involve changes in estrogen metabolism but not necessarily changes in endogenous sex hormone levels.Item Effects of green tea catechin extract on serum lipids in postmenopausal women: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial(2015-05) Rose, April Lynnbold>ABSTRACT Objective: Test the efficacy of a green tea catechin extract (GTE) to improve lipid profile in postmenopausal women. Methods: 886 women were enrolled and randomized to consume either 1200 mg of GTE (800 mg EGCG) or placebo, daily. Fasting serum samples were drawn for lipid panel at baseline, midpoint (month 6), and endpoint (month 12) of study for ananlysis. Results: After one year on treatment, total cholesterol (-4.6 mg/dL, P<.0001), LDL-C (-5.0 mg/dL, P<.0001), and non-HDL cholesterol (-4.4 mg/dL, P>.0001) were significantly reduced in the GTE group. The largest reductions in TC, LDL-C, and non-HDLC occurred in participants with baseline total cholesterol >200 mg/dL. HDL-C decreased slightly in the GTE group, both after 6 months on treatment (P=.0016), and overall (P=.0038). Conclusion: Daily supplementation of GTE at 1200 mg (800 mg EGCG) for one year significantly reduced levels of TC, LDL-C, and non-HDLC in a population of postmenopausal women.Item The effects of wheat class and processing on markets of colon cancer risk in carcinogen-treated rats.(2009-02) Islam, AjmilaA previous study in this laboratory found that hard red wheat is more effective than soft white wheat in reducing colon cancer risk, regardless of processing state, based on fewer aberrant crypt foci (ACF), a morphological marker of colon cancer risk. Here we examined the effect of wheat class (red vs. white) and processing (whole vs. refined) on reducing markers of colon cancer risk during the early and late promotion stage of colon cancer development. Rats adapted to a basal diet were treated twice with the colon-specific carcinogen, dimethylhydrazine (DMH). After the last dose of carcinogen, rats were divided into either the basal diet or the wheat flour-based diet groups. Both hard red and soft white wheat flour significantly reduced morphological markers such as ACF, and sialomucin producing ACF (SiM-ACF), an ACF with greater tumorigenic potential, compared to the basal diet. These reductions occurred equally with whole and refined wheat. Both hard red and soft white wheat diets significantly reduced a biochemical marker of risk, beta-catenin accumulated crypts (BCAC), compared to the basal diet, but hard red wheat did so to a greater degree. Only hard red wheat significantly reduced a marker of stem cells mutation, metallothionein positive crypts, compared to soft white wheat. Hard red wheat caused regression of ACF, suggesting it can reduce the risk level of colon cancer. Overall, hard red wheat reduced colon cancer risk more than soft white wheat, regardless of processing state. The differences between wheat flours were greater in the late promotion stage.Item Essays on the economics of food production and consumption in Vietnam.(2008-12) Vu, Linh HoangThis study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the economics of food production and consumption in Vietnam. Specifically, the study is comprised of five essays, covering several aspects of agriculture and food consumption in Vietnam. The first essay studies agricultural productivity growth in Vietnam, using province-level data. It concludes that total factor productivity (TFP) growth in agriculture contributed greatly to Vietnam's agricultural success after it adopted reform policies. However, TFP growth has slowed in recent years, despite significant output growth. The second essay examines the productive efficiency of rice farming households in Vietnam, using two methods, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with bootstrap and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). It points out that there is variation in efficiency estimates across regions in Vietnam. Moreover, technical efficiency is significantly influenced by primary education and regional factors. The third essay estimates household food demand parameters in Vietnam, based on a recent household survey conducted in 2006. The results indicate that that food consumption patterns in urban and rural areas, and across regions and income groups, are quite different. This implies that targeted food policies should be formulated based on the specific food demand patterns of those groups. Socio-economic factors such as household size and composition, as well as the age of the household's head and education, have sizeable and statistically significant effects on food consumption. The fourth essay focuses undernutrition and food security in Vietnam. The income elasticity of calorie consumption is estimated using both parametric and non-parametric regressions. The finding of positive and significant calorie-expenditure elasticity implies that income growth can alleviate undernutrition Finally, the fifth essay examines the impacts of rising food prices on poverty and welfare in Vietnam. Increases in food prices raise the real incomes of those selling food, but make net food purchasers worse off. Overall, the net impacts on an average Vietnamese household's welfare are positive. However, the benefits and costs are not evenly spread across the population, so some households are made better off while the others are worse off.Item An Evaluation of the Effects of School Policies on Child and Adolescent Health and Health-Related Behavior(2020-03) Berger, AaronSchool policies can potentially impact healthy youth development trajectories. This dissertation focused on evaluating two specific types of policies: 1) School district mandated start times for high schools, and 2) School food service policies that are mandated at the federal level. The first two manuscripts examine changes in health or health-related behaviors following a delay in high school start times. A cohort of students at five Minnesota high schools was followed over three years. All schools started at either 7:30am or 7:45am at the Baseline wave of data collection, when the students were in 9th grade. Beginning the year of 10th grade, and continuing through 11th grade, two of the schools delayed their start times by 50 and 65 minutes. In the first manuscript, I assessed if the delay in school start time that was implemented in two schools was associated with changes in adolescent depressed mood. Delaying school start time was not associated with changes in depressed mood score, high risk of depression, or incident high risk of depression, over two years of follow-up. The second manuscript assessed if school start time shifts affected physical activity levels, electronic screen time, or participation in organized sports or extracurricular activities. Later school start times were not associated with changes in any of these outcomes. The final manuscript evaluated whether a national school meal policy, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), affected children's dietary quality. I used a short dietary panel study to evaluate whether participation in school meals, or the dietary effects of school meals, changed during implementation of the HHFKA. I found that children reported the same percent of calories from school meals during HHFKA implementation, compared to the years before its passage. I found that the dietary benefits from school food increased substantially, compared to before HHFKA passage. Implementation of the HHFKA measurably improved average dietary quality of all US children. Understanding the effects of childhood programs and policies is important for setting children on a healthy life trajectory. The universal, compulsory nature of schools makes them a promising setting for a population approach to health promotion.Item Executive Review of the Stevia Food System(2023-06-02) Wibbens, Katie MStevia is an alternative sweetener that provides sweetness to foods without the caloric value of traditional sweeteners such as sucrose. With the rise of an obesity epidemic in the United States, industry is faced with increased pressure to make products with fewer calories, yet with the same or similar palatability as the original product. Alternative sweeteners such as stevia are used to add sweetness without adding calories since the body cannot use the stevia molecule for energy. The gradual introduction of these alternative sweeteners within the American food system could contribute toward greater availability of foods with less caloric density. To increase the feasibility of gradually incorporating alternative sweeteners into common foods traditionally made with sugar ingredients, this paper focuses on four main pillars within the Stevia food system: decreasing the cost of scaling production, improving product formulation, addressing flavor modification, and maintaining consumer acceptability. These four fundamental basic food system functions serve as a guide for scaling-up and gradually introducing non-caloric sweeteners as viable ingredients in traditionally sweetened food products. Addressing our pressing public health issues necessitates a gradual substitution with alternative sweeteners such as stevia. This gradual introduction requires a food systems approach addressing the barriers, challenges and opportunities within our food system while balancing consumer needs, wants, and desires.
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