Copyright (c) 2013 California Polytechnic State University All rights reserved. http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp Recent documents in Food Science and Nutrition en-us Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:59:18 PST 3600 http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp/6 http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp/6 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:07:53 PST Amanda Torres http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp/5 http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp/5 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:31:49 PDT Hyperglycemia has long been recognized as a common occurrence in the critically ill, even without a history of diabetes. During times of stress or injury, normal glucose metabolism is altered because of changes in endocrine secretions and peripheral insulin resistance, resulting in stress hyperglycemia. Although hyperglycemia is a normal part of the stress response, it has recently been recognized to be associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, insulin therapy has been shown to decrease mortality and improve other patient outcomes. However, many questions remain unanswered concerning the efficacy of insulin therapy. It is still unclear how tight glucose control should be and which patient types benefit from the treatment. More research is needed before insulin therapy can be widely used.

]]> Laura E. Ridge http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp/4 http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp/4 Mon, 16 May 2011 16:50:33 PDT The unique structure of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their high concentration levels in the brain suggest PUFA availability plays a vital role in the development of human brains while in utero and in the first few months of life. Exactly how important PUFAs' role is in infant brain development is still unclear. It is known that the pregnant mother's PUFA consumption is the primary supply for the fetus; however pregnant women often decrease their fish intake, the richest PUFA food source, for fear of mercury exposure. Observational studies that looked at varying levels of maternal fish consumption generally found that children of mothers who consumed more fish scored higher on tests evaluating brain development. Experimental studies on the other hand had inconsistent results when looking for an association between maternal fish oil supplementation and infant mental development. This lack of a definitive conclusion suggests a need for further research to explain the reasoning for the differences in these results as well as to bridge the gap between the findings. A more thorough understanding is necessary in order to provide pregnant women with the best information and recommendations on what to eat during pregnancy.

]]> Jenna L. Haug http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp/3 http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp/3 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:44:28 PST The most effective method of sustainable weight loss in obese patients is bariatric surgery. However, micronutrient deficiencies that can result after bariatric surgery can cause health problems that may outweigh its benefits. Micronutrient deficiencies are most common in patients who undergo Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion with or without duodenal switch. The majority of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies studies showed significant prevalence rates in their patient populations. Most concluded that routine oral B12 supplementation was ineffective at resolving deficiency; very high oral doses (> 350 μg) or intramuscular injections of crystalline B12 were typically required. Studies of iron deficiency after bariatric surgery found high prevalence rates due to inadequate oral supplementation, which can lead to the need for parenteral supplementation. Calcium and vitamin D deficiency studies also showed high prevalence rates of deficiency, which is important to address as deficiency can result in metabolic bone disease. Overall, the need for lifelong supplementation and follow up, early detection of deficiencies, patient education, and more aggressive supplementation regiments were emphasized to increase quality of life in bariatric surgery patients. Future research in bariatric surgery studies should include long-term health outcomes, patient education on required supplementation, and more aggressive supplementation regimens.

]]> Ashlie Lewis http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp/2 http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp/2 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:56:54 PDT The primary goals of the school breakfast program are to reduce food-insecurity among low-income students and to decrease the growing habit of breakfast skipping. Consumption of school breakfast has been associated with improved health and academic performance. The purpose of this review was to investigate these alleged beneficial outcomes and to evaluate the program’s success in promoting accessibility and participation for all students. Results showed that children who ate a school breakfast were more likely to have a healthier BMI and a broader daily nutrient intake. Participation also helped students achieve higher math and reading grades. Their teachers reported improvements in behavior, mood, and cooperation. Other benefits included fewer truancies, tardiness, and visits to the nurse’s office. Research revealed that the program is underutilized when compared to participation of the national school lunch program. Eligible, food-insecure children are still not participating. In 2008, failure to reach national participation goals resulted in a loss of $561 million in federal child nutrition funding. Increasing participation can increase access to federal funding. Program modifications, such as providing a free breakfast in-class, are practical strategies to increase participation and extend the program benefits to all U.S. schoolchildren.

]]> Amber Ward http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp/1 http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fsnsp/1 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:15:34 PST Natalie Ohanessian