To monitor the effectiveness of salt-reduction initiatives in processed foods and changes in Dutch iodine policy on Na and iodine intakes in Dutch adults between 2006 and 2010.

Two cross-sectional studies among adults, conducted in 2006 and 2010, using identical protocols. Participants collected single 24 h urine samples and completed two short questionnaires on food consumption and urine collection procedures. Daily intakes of salt, iodine, K and Na:K were estimated, based on the analysis of Na, K and iodine excreted in urine.

Doetinchem, the Netherlands.

Men and women aged 19 to 70 years were recruited through random sampling of the Doetinchem population and among participants of the Doetinchem Cohort Study (2006: n 317, mean age 48·9 years, 43 % men; 2010: n 342, mean age 46·2 years, 45 % men).

While median iodine intake was lower in 2010 (179 μg/d) compared with 2006 (257 μg/d; P < 0·0001), no difference in median salt intake was observed (8·7 g/d in 2006 v. 8·5 g/d in 2010, P = 0·70). In 2006, median K intake was 2·6 g/d v. 2·8 g/d in 2010 (P < 0·01). In this 4-year period, median Na:K improved from 2·4 in 2006 to 2·2 in 2010 (P < 0·001).

Despite initiatives to lower salt in processed foods, dietary salt intake in this population remains well above the recommended intake of 6 g/d. Iodine intake is still adequate, although a decline was observed between 2006 and 2010. This reduction is probably due to changes in iodine policy.

To examine changes in the prevalence of overweight and weight misperception among overweight Danes from 1995 to 2008, and to identify factors associated with weight misperception.

Cross-sectional studies, in which data on self-reported weight, height and self-perception of overweight status were obtained through face-to-face interviews. ‘Overweight’ includes obesity. Weight misperception was defined as overweight individuals who did not perceive themselves as overweight. The χ2 test was used to analyse changes over time and multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to identify factors associated with weight misperception.

The Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity in three periods: 1995, 2000–2004 and 2005–2008.

A random sample of 9623 Danes aged 15–75 years.

The prevalence of overweight increased in men and women from 1995 to 2005–2008 (from 35·1 % to 43·0 %, P < 0·001). Concurrently, there was a reduction in the proportion of overweight men (from 77·5 % to 71·4 %, P = 0·001) and women (from 54·8 % to 51·9 %, P = 0·24) who misperceived their weight. Factors associated with weight misperception were ‘never intend to eat healthily’ (men), high levels of leisure-time physical activity, ‘very good/excellent’ self-rated health and survey year (higher misperception in 2000–2004 than 2005–2008; P < 0·05).

The increase in overweight from 1995 to 2005–2008 was accompanied by a reduction in the proportion of overweight men misperceiving their weight. This may indicate that more men see overweight as a personally relevant health problem. Our findings also suggest that overweight individuals who are more physically active and have better self-rated health may not consider their excess weight a health problem.

Mandatory folic acid fortification of breads in New Zealand was put on hold in 2009. At this time, bread manufacturers were requested to adopt greater voluntary fortification and agreed to add folic acid to approximately one-third of their bread range. We sought to evaluate the impact of increased voluntary fortification of bread and the proposed mandatory fortification programme on folate intake adequacy of reproductive-age women.

Cross-sectional study conducted in 2008. Dietary data were collected using 3 d weighed food records and usual folate intakes were generated by modifying the food composition table as follows: (i) voluntary fortification of bread as of 2008 (six breads); (ii) increased voluntary fortification of bread as of 2011 (thirty-four breads); and (iii) mandatory fortification of all breads. The prevalence of inadequate folate intake was calculated for all three scenarios using the Estimated Average Requirement (320 μg dietary folate equivalents/d) cut-point method.

New Zealand.

Healthy non-pregnant women (n 125) aged 18–40 years.

Usual folate intake in 2008 was 362 μg dietary folate equivalents/d. Increased voluntary bread fortification led to a marginal increase in folate intakes (394 μg dietary folate equivalents/d) and a decline in inadequacy from 37 % to 29 %. Mandatory fortification resulted in an increase of 89 μg folic acid/d, which substantially shifted both the proportion of women with folic acid intakes above 100 μg/d and the distribution of overall folate intakes, producing a marked reduction in inadequacy to 5 %.

Increased voluntary bread fortification efforts are far inferior to mandatory fortification as a reliable public health intervention.

To identify whether there were differences in nutritional quality between organic and conventional ready-to-eat breakfast cereals of similar types, based on NuVal scores.

The current descriptive study analysed NuVal scores for 829 ready-to-eat breakfast cereals and eighteen different cereal types. ANOVA was used to compare the mean NuVal scores of 723 conventional cereals with those of 106 organic cereals.

Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (n 829) with NuVal scores.

Not applicable.

There was no significant difference in NuVal scores between conventional (mean 28·4 (sd 13·4)) and organic (mean 30·6 (sd 13·2)) cereal types.

Consumers who choose the organic version of a ready-to-eat breakfast cereal believing that nutritional quality is superior may not be making a valid assumption. Public health nutrition educators must help consumers understand that organic cereals are not necessarily more nutritious and their consumption could result in excessive intake of undesirable nutrients, such as fat, sugar and sodium.

To assess the relative validity and reproducibility of the quantitative FFQ used in the Tzu Chi Health Study (TCHS).

The reproducibility was evaluated by comparing the baseline FFQ with the 2-year follow-up FFQ. The validity was evaluated by comparing the baseline FFQ with 3 d dietary records and biomarkers (serum folate and vitamin B12). Median comparison, cross-classification and Spearman correlation with and without energy adjustment and deattenuation for day-to-day variation were assessed.

TCHS is a prospective cohort containing a high proportion of true vegetarians and part-time vegetarians (regularly consuming a vegetarian diet without completely avoiding meat).

Subsets of 103, seventy-eight and 1528 TCHS participants were included in the reproducibility, dietary record-validity and biomarker-validity studies, respectively.

Correlations assessing the reproducibility for repeat administrations of the FFQ were in the range of 0·46–0·65 for macronutrients and 0·35–0·67 for micronutrients; the average same quartile agreement was 40%. The correlation between FFQ and biomarkers was 0·41 for both vitamin B12 and folate. Moderate to good correlations between the baseline FFQ and dietary records were found for energy, protein, carbohydrate, saturated and monounsaturated fat, fibre, vitamin C, vitamin A, K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe and Zn (average crude correlation: 0·47 (range: 0·37–0·66); average energy-adjusted correlation: 0·43 (range: 0·38–0·55); average energy-adjusted deattenuated correlation: 0·50 (range: 0·44–0·66)) with same quartile agreement rate of 39% (range: 35–45%), while misclassification to the extreme quartile was rare (average: 4% (range: 0–6%)).

The FFQ is a reliable and valid tool to rank relative intake of major nutrients for TCHS participants.

To validate an FFQ to assess antioxidant intake in overweight postmenopausal women.

A seventy-four-item antioxidant 1-month FFQ was developed based on major antioxidant sources in the American diet. Forty overweight postmenopausal women participated in a 9-month observational study and completed four sets of FFQ and 7 d food record (7dFR) every 3 months. Twelve-hour fasting blood was collected for plasma antioxidant measurement at the first visit.

Connecticut, USA.

Forty overweight postmenopausal women.

Spearman correlation coefficients of 1-month antioxidant intake estimated from the first set of FFQ and 7dFR ranged from 0·34 to 0·87, except for γ-tocopherol. The proportion of participants categorized into the extremely opposite tertiles averaged 7 %. Significant correlations were observed for diet–plasma vitamin C, α-tocopherol and carotenoids (P < 0·05). No time effect was observed on the dietary antioxidant intakes estimated from four 7dFR and four FFQ. Dietary antioxidants estimated from averaged four 7dFR showed moderate to high correlation with those estimated from averaged four FFQ and from each FFQ collected every 3 months. Bland–Altman plots did not show any systematic bias. Averaged misclassifications were below 10 % between these two instruments.

These findings attested a reasonable validity and a good acceptance of this 1-month FFQ in assessing both short-term and long-term diverse antioxidant intakes in these overweight postmenopausal women. The use of this FFQ in associating antioxidant intake with disease risk needs further investigation.

To derive dietary patterns using principal components analysis from separate FFQ completed by mothers and their teenagers and to assess associations with nutrient intakes and sociodemographic variables.

Two distinct FFQ were completed by 13-year-olds and their mothers, with some overlap in the foods covered. A combined data set was obtained.

Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), Bristol, UK.

Teenagers (n 5334) with adequate dietary data.

Four patterns were obtained using principal components analysis: a ‘Traditional/health-conscious’ pattern, a ‘Processed’ pattern, a ‘Snacks/sugared drinks’ pattern and a ‘Vegetarian’ pattern. The ‘Traditional/health-conscious’ pattern was the most nutrient-rich, having high positive correlations with many nutrients. The ‘Processed’ and ‘Snacks/sugared drinks’ patterns showed little association with important nutrients but were positively associated with energy, fats and sugars. There were clear gender and sociodemographic differences across the patterns. Lower scores were seen on the ‘Traditional/health conscious’ and ‘Vegetarian’ patterns in males and in those with younger and less educated mothers. Higher scores were seen on the ‘Traditional/health-conscious’ and ‘Vegetarian’ patterns in girls and in those whose mothers had higher levels of education.

It is important to establish healthy eating patterns by the teenage years. However, this is a time when it is difficult to accurately establish dietary intake from a single source, since teenagers consume increasing amounts of foods outside the home. Further dietary pattern studies should focus on teenagers and the source of dietary data collection merits consideration.

To assess the reliability and relative validity of a diet index score derived from a Short Food Survey (SFS).

The thirty-eight-item SFS was designed to assess recent dietary intake of 4–11-year-olds to enable calculation of the Dietary Guideline Index for Children and Adolescents. Reliability was assessed based on two online administrations of the SFS, one week apart. Relative validity was assessed by comparing intakes derived from the SFS with those from the mean of three 24 h recalls. Intra-class correlations, Bland–Altman plots and estimated biases were assessed. Cohen's κ coefficients were used to determine the level of agreement between the two methods.

Adelaide, Australia.

Sixty-three parents reported on their children's intake (mean age 7·1 (sd 2·1) years).

The intra-class correlation for reliability ranged from 0·43 for dairy foods to 0·94 for beverages, and was 0·92 for total diet index score (all P < 0·01). The intra-class correlation for validity ranged from 0·04 for meat and alternatives to 0·41–0·44 for fruit, beverages and extra foods, and was 0·44 for the total diet index score. The SFS overestimated the mean diet index score by 16 %, and the bias was consistent across levels of compliance. The percentage agreement into tertiles of index scores was 84% between the administrations of the two SFS, but only 43 % when comparing the SFS with the mean of the recalls.

The SFS can provide a consistent estimate of overall compliance to dietary guidelines for children aged 4–11 years, but overestimated the total diet index score by 16 % across all levels of compliance.

Asians and Pacific Islanders have higher circulating serum ferritin (SF) compared with Caucasians but the clinical significance of this is unclear. There is a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Taiwanese Indigenous than Han Chinese. Genetically, Indigenous are related to Austronesians and account for 2 % of Taiwan's population. We tested the hypothesis that accumulation of Fe in the body contributes to the ethnic/racial disparities in MetS in Taiwan.

A population-based, cross-sectional study.

National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan and Penghu Island.

A total of 2638 healthy adults aged ≥19 years. Three ethnic groups were included.

Han Chinese and Indigenous people had comparable levels of SF. Austronesia origin was independently associated with MetS (OR = 2·61, 95 % CI 2·02, 3·36). After multiple adjustments, the odds for MetS (OR = 2·49, 95 % CI 1·15, 5·28) was significantly higher among Indigenous people in the highest SF tertile compared with those in the lowest tertile. Hakka and Penghu Islanders yielded the lowest risks (OR = 1·08, 95 % CI 0·44, 2·65 and OR = 1·21, 95 % CI 0·52, 2·78, respectively). Indigenous people in the highest SF tertile had increased risk for abnormal levels of fasting glucose (OR = 2·34, 95 % CI 1·27, 4·29), TAG (OR = 1·94, 95 % CI 1·11, 3·39) and HDL-cholesterol (OR = 2·10, 95 % CI 1·18, 3·73) than those in the lowest SF tertile.

Our results raise the possibility that ethnic/racial differences in body Fe store susceptibility may contribute to racial and geographic disparities in MetS.

Snacking has been related to increased prevalence of overweight among school-age children in cross-sectional studies. It is uncertain, however, whether snacking influences the development of adiposity over time.

We examined whether adherence to a snacking dietary pattern was associated with greater increases in children's BMI, subscapular:triceps skinfold thickness ratio and waist circumference over a median 2·5-year follow-up. Dietary patterns were identified through principal component analysis of an FFQ administered at recruitment in 2006. Anthropometric follow-up was conducted annually. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate rates of change in each indicator according to quartiles of adherence to the snacking pattern. We also examined change in BMI, subscapular:triceps skinfold thickness ratio and waist circumference in relation to intake of the food items in the snacking pattern.

Children (n 961) 5–12 years of age.

Public schools in Bogotá, Colombia.

After adjustment for age, sex, total energy intake and socio-economic status, children in the highest quartile of adherence to the snacking pattern had a 0·09 kg/m2 per year higher BMI gain than children in the lowest quartile (P trend = 0·05). A similar association was observed for mean change in subscapular:triceps skinfold thickness ratio (highest v. lowest quartile difference = 0·012/year; P = 0·03). Of the food items in the snacking pattern, soda intake was positively and significantly associated with change in BMI (P trend = 0·01) and waist circumference (P trend = 0·04) in multivariable analysis.

Our results indicate that snacking and soda intake are associated with development of adiposity in school-age children.

We investigated the association between full breast-feeding up to 6 months as well as partial breast-feeding after 6 months and maternal weight retention at 6, 18 and 36 months after delivery in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Cohort study. Information on exposure and outcome was collected by questionnaire.

Norway.

Women at 6 months (n 49 676), 18 months (n 27 187) and 36 months (n 17 343) postpartum.

Longer duration of full breast-feeding as well as partial breast-feeding was significantly related to lower weight retention at 6 months. At 18 months full breast-feeding (0–6 months) and partial breast-feeding for 12–18 months were significantly related to lower weight retention. At 36 months only full breast-feeding (0–6 months) was significantly related to lower weight retention. For each additional month of full breast-feeding, maternal weight was lowered by 0·50 kg/month at 6 months, 0·10 kg/month at 18 months and 0·14 kg/month at 36 months (adjusted for pre-pregnant BMI, pregnancy weight gain, age and parity). Partial breast-feeding resulted in 0·25 kg/month lower maternal weight at 6 months. Interactions were found between household income and full breast-feeding in relation to weight retention at 6, 18 and 36 months, indicating most benefit among women with low income.

The present study supports the hypothesis that full breast-feeding contributes to lower postpartum weight retention and shows that the effect is maintained for as long as 3 years postpartum.

The present study aimed to evaluate the independent associations between serum leptin concentration and dietary patterns in a Chinese population.

A cross-sectional study.

Data obtained from the 2006 wave of the China Health and Nutrition Survey in Jiangsu Province, China.

The sample contained 1061 Chinese adults (488 men and 573 women). BMI was calculated as a parameter of obesity. Factor analysis was used to derive dietary patterns. ANCOVA was performed to assess the associations between serum leptin concentration and the dietary patterns.

Four dietary patterns were derived: Western, High-wheat, Traditional and Hedonic. The Western pattern (rich in meat, milk and cake) was significantly associated with a higher level of serum leptin in men and women, both in an unadjusted model (both P for trend < 0·001) and after adjusting for sex, age, income, total energy intake, physical activity, smoking status and BMI (P for trend = 0·007 for men and P for trend < 0·001 for women). The other three dietary patterns were not significantly associated with serum leptin after adjustment. Sensitivity analysis showed there was an interaction between age and the Western pattern in relation to leptin level. An interaction also existed between current smoking status and the Western pattern.

Serum leptin concentration was positively associated with the Western dietary pattern in a Chinese population independent of BMI, energy intake and other factors.

Previous studies examining the role of single foods or nutrients in the aetiology of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) have produced inconsistent findings. Few studies have examined associations for dietary patterns, which may more accurately reflect patterns of consumption and the complexity of dietary intake. The objective of the present study was to examine whether dietary patterns identified by factor analysis were associated with NHL risk.

Case–control.

Population-based sample residing in Nebraska from 1999 to 2002.

A total of 336 cases and 460 controls.

Factor analysis identified two major dietary patterns: (i) a ‘Meat, Fat and Sweets’ dietary pattern characterized by high intakes of French fries, red meat, processed meat, pizza, salty snacks, sweets and desserts, and sweetened beverages; and (ii) a ‘Fruit, Vegetables and Starch’ dietary pattern characterized by high intakes of vegetables, fruit, fish, and cereals and starches. In multivariable logistic regression models, the ‘Meat, Fat and Sweets’ dietary pattern was associated with an increased risk of overall NHL (ORQ4v.Q1 = 3·6, 95 % CI 1·9, 6·8; Ptrend = 0·0004), follicular lymphoma (ORQ4v.Q1 = 3·1, 95 % CI 1·2, 8·0; Ptrend = 0·01), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (ORQ4v.Q1 = 3·2, 95 % CI 1·1, 9·0; Ptrend = 0·09) and marginal zone lymphoma (ORQ4v.Q1 = 8·2, 95 % CI 1·3, 51·2; Ptrend = 0·05). No association with overall or subtype-specific risk was detected for the ‘Fruit, Vegetables and Starch’ dietary pattern. No evidence of heterogeneity was detected across strata of age, sex, BMI, smoking status or alcohol consumption.

Our results suggest that a dietary pattern high in meats, fats and sweets may be associated with an increased risk of NHL.

Psychological distress, defined as symptoms of depression and anxiety, is an increasingly important public health issue in developing countries. Little is known about the extent to which adverse dietary factors are associated with psychological distress in South Asians. Our aim was to compare the associations of diet and psychological distress in men and women in Goa, India.

Cross-sectional study of consecutive attendees in nine urban and rural general practices in Goa, India in 2004–2005. All participants completed an FFQ on their dietary intake in a typical week. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), a WHO-validated screening instrument.

Consecutive attendees (n 1512; 601 men and 911 women) aged 30 to 75 years participated. Moderate and high scores of psychological distress were detected in significantly more women than men (eighty-eight men v. 264 women, unadjusted OR = 0·39; 95 % CI 0·29, 0·52). Those who ate one or more portions of fish weekly had nearly half the prevalence of distress in both sexes (women, OR = 0·52; 95 % CI 0·29, 0·91; men, OR = 0·50; 95 % CI 0·25, 0·99) and this was independent of age, marital status, education, income, religion and living alone.

Psychological distress is significantly lower with fish intake in both sexes. Further longitudinal work is needed to establish temporal relationships. Addressing psychological distress is becoming an increasingly significant public health priority in both high- and low-income countries.

To determine if children aged 1–6 years from non-Western immigrant families have lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels than children from Western-born families and examine which factors influence this relationship.

Cross-sectional study.

Toronto, Canada.

Healthy children (n 1540) recruited through the TARGet Kids! practice-based research network. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations of non-Western immigrants were compared with those of children from Western-born families. Children from non-Western immigrant families were defined as those born, or their parents were born, outside a Western country. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify factors which might influence this relationship.

Median age was 36 months, 51 % were male, 86 % had ‘light’ skin pigmentation, 55 % took vitamin D supplements, mean cow's milk intake was 1·8 cups/d and 27 % were non-Western immigrants. Median serum 25(OH)D concentration was 83 nmol/l, with 5 % having 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l. Univariable analysis revealed that non-Western immigrant children had serum 25(OH)D lower by 4 (95 % CI 1·3, 8·0) nmol/l (P = 0·006) and increased odds of 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l (OR = 1·9; 95 % CI 1·3, 2·9). After adjustment for known vitamin D determinants the observed difference attenuated to 0·04 (95 % CI −4·8, 4·8) nmol/l (P = 0·99), with higher cow's milk intake (P < 0·0001), vitamin D supplementation (P < 0·0001), summer season (P = 0·008) and increased age (P = 0·04) being statistically significant covariates. Vitamin D supplementation was the strongest explanatory factor of the observed difference.

There is an association between non-Western immigration and lower 25(OH)D in early childhood. This difference appears related to known vitamin D determinants, primarily vitamin D supplementation, representing opportunities for intervention.

To investigate the consumption of foods with voluntary fortification of vitamins and minerals (FVFVM) according to demographic, socio-economic and health characteristics.

A cross-sectional population-based study.

The investigated food groups were selected in two stages according to availability of food in the local market and prevalence of food consumption in a recent national survey. The research instruments included a questionnaire and a photographic catalogue. The FVFVM consumption covered a period of one week prior to the interview date. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata 12·0 statistical software package, considering the design effect and a hierarchical model. A multinomial logistic regression was applied to estimate the prevalence ratios. All tests were two-tailed, with a 5·0 % significance level.

Adults (≥20 years old) living in a southern city of Brazil.

Between February and June 2012, 2925 individuals were interviewed. Losses and refusals corresponded to 13·4 % of the sample. The overall prevalence of FVFVM consumption was 73·3 (95 % CI 71·7, 75·9) %. The total number of FVFVM reported exhibited a distribution with a median of two and a maximum of fifteen, inflated by the FVFVM categorized in the ‘juice’ group. The micronutrients most consumed were vitamin C, followed by Fe and thiamin. Young adults, females, those of higher socio-economic status and those who perceived their health positively were more likely to consume FVFVM.

Prevalence of FVFVM consumption in southern Brazil, occurring concurrently with the decline in consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods, and the way voluntary fortification is being employed trigger a warning sign to primary prevention.

To assess the association of diet-related practices and BMI with diet quality in rural adults aged ≥74 years.

Cross-sectional. Dietary quality was assessed by the twenty-five-item Dietary Screening Tool (DST). Diet-related practices were self-reported. Multivariate linear regression models were used to analyse associations of DST scores with BMI and diet-related practices after controlling for gender, age, education, smoking and self- v. proxy reporting.

Geisinger Rural Aging Study (GRAS) in Pennsylvania, USA.

A total of 4009 (1722 males, 2287 females; mean age 81·5 years) participants aged ≥74 years.

Individuals with BMI < 18·5 kg/m2 had a significantly lower DST score (mean 55·8, 95 % CI 52·9, 58·7) than those individuals with BMI = 18·5–24·9 kg/m2 (mean 60·7, 95 % CI 60·1, 61·5; P = 0·001). Older adults with higher, more favourable DST scores were significantly more likely to be food sufficient, report eating breakfast, have no chewing difficulties and report no decline in intake in the previous 6 months.

The DST may identify potential targets for improving diet quality in older adults including promotion of healthy BMI, breakfast consumption, improving dentition and identifying strategies to decrease concern about food sufficiency.

To investigate the association between current childhood nutritional status and current wheezing among pre-school children in rural Bangladesh.

Cross-sectional study.

Matlab region, rural Bangladesh.

Children (n 912) aged 4·5 years. Anthropometric measurements of the mothers and their children were taken during a 1-year period from December 2007 to November 2008. Current wheezing was identified using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Serum total IgE was measured by human IgE quantitative ELISA. IgE specific antibody to dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) was measured by the CAP-FEIA system (Phadia AB, Uppsala, Sweden).

Wheezing at 4·5 years old was significantly associated with stunting (OR = 1·58; 95 % CI 1·13, 2·22) and underweight (OR = 1·39; 95 % CI 1·00, 1·94). The association with stunting remained significant after adjustment for sex, birth weight, birth length, gestational age at birth, mother's parity, maternal BMI, family history of asthma, socio-economic status, season of birth and intervention trial arm (OR = 1·74; 95 % CI 1·19, 2·56).

Stunting was a significant risk factor for wheezing among rural Bangladeshi children. Further studies will be required to confirm the relationship between nutritional status and allergic illnesses in developing countries.

To investigate whether the recommended dietary intake of Ca in anaemic infants compromises the expected Hb response, via home fortification with a new Ca- and Fe-containing Sprinkles™ micronutrient powder (MNP).

A double-blind, randomized controlled, 2-month trial was conducted in Bangladesh. Infants were randomized to one of two MNP intervention groups containing Fe and other micronutrients, with or without Ca. Hb, anthropometrics and dietary intake were measured pre- and post-intervention while family demographics were collected at baseline.

Twenty-six rural villages in the Kaliganj sub-district of Gazipur, Bangladesh.

One hundred infants aged 6–11 months.

A significant increase in Hb (MNP, 13·3 (sd 12·6) g/l v. Ca-MNP, 7·6 (sd 11·6) g/l; P < 0·0001) was noted in infants from both groups. However, infants receiving MNP without Ca had a significantly higher end-point Hb concentration (P = 0·024) and rate of anaemia recovery (P = 0·008). Infants receiving MNP with Ca were more likely to remain anaemic (OR 3·2; 95 % CI 1·4, 7·5). Groups did not differ in dietary intake or demographic and anthropometric indicators.

Although both groups showed significant improvement in Hb status, the nutrient–nutrient interaction between Fe and Ca may have diminished the Hb response in infants receiving the Ca-containing MNP.

To investigate the association between macronutrient intake and type 2 diabetes risk in middle-aged Australian women.

A prospective cohort study, with 6 years (2002–2007) of follow up. Dietary intake was assessed with a validated FFQ. Relative risks with 95 % confidence intervals were used to examine risk associations.

Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, Australia.

Australian women (n 8370) from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health aged 45–50 years and free of type 2 diabetes at baseline.

After 6 years of follow-up, 311 women developed type 2 diabetes. After adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle and other dietary risk factors, MUFA, total n-3 PUFA, α-linolenic acid and total n-6 PUFA intakes were positively associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes. The relative risks for type 2 diabetes for the highest compared with the lowest quintiles were 1·64 (95 % CI 1·06, 2·54), P = 0·04 for MUFA; 1·55 (95 % CI 1·03, 2·32), P = 0·01 for n-3 PUFA; 1·84 (95 % CI 1·25, 2·71), P < 0·01 for α-linolenic acid; and 1·60 (95 % CI 1·03, 2·48), P = 0·04 for n-6 PUFA. Other dietary macronutrients were not significantly associated with diabetes risk.

The data indicate that consumption of MUFA, n-3 PUFA and n-6 PUFA may influence the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in women.