Legume Consumption Patterns in US Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 and Beans, Lentils, Peas (BLP) 2017 Survey.

Given the emerging health benefits of regular legume consumption, we hypothesized that the historically low legume consumption levels in US adults increased. We evaluated legume consumption patterns in US adults using cross-sectional data from the 2011-2012 and 2013-2014-year cycles of National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) and a 2017 cross-sectional, online survey of Oregon families named "Beans, Lentils, Peas (BLP) Survey". We also compared legume consumption patterns between consumers below US dietary recommendations for mature legumes (<37.5 g/day, marginal), below levels showing nutritional and disease-prevention benefits (37.5-87.49 g/day, recommended); and levels demonstrating nutritional and disease prevention benefits (≥87.5 g/day; beneficial). In NHANES, legume consumption remained low in US adults and declined from 2011 to 2014 (mature legumes: 12.8 to 8.3%; dry beans: 10.0 to 6.5%). In BLP, less than 5% consumed legumes daily; approximately one-third did not consume legumes during the last month. Marginal mature-legume consumers ate a limited variety of legumes (dry beans and green legumes on a weekly to monthly basis). Beneficial amount consumers ate mature legumes daily or every other day and included chickpeas, lentils and dry peas to their legume mix. Our data suggest that legume consumption declined in US adults, warranting improved communication about the benefits of regular legume consumption.

Successful use of secnidazole to manage a giardiosis outbreak in a shelter.

Giardia duodenalis is a common parasite in dogs in shelters where new introductions, including numerous juvenile individuals, are ongoing. A safe and effective single dose parasiticide is highly desirable for shelters experiencing disease caused by G. duodenalis (giardiosis). Secnidazole is an efficacious, low-cost medication used for the treatment of giardiosis in humans and has the advantage of requiring only a single oral dose. The aim of this study was to determine retrospectively the effectiveness of secnidazole on dogs of all ages during an outbreak of giardiosis in a shelter. Patients recruited into this retrospective study were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of adult dogs and weaned dogs (>10 weeks-of-age). Group B was comprised of puppies (<10 weeks-of-age). Giardiosis resolved in all 14 patients in Group A within 13 days following a single oral dose of secnidazole (30 mg/kg). There were no individuals with both gastrointestinal signs and a positive G. duodenalis antigen test at the time of the first and second follow-up examination. For the young puppies in Group B, giardiosis was reduced by 90% (9/10) within 22 days following two consecutive doses of secnidazole (30 mg/kg; 2 weeks apart). No adverse reactions were observed in any patients treated with secnidazole. Secnidazole is an effective and easily administered drug for the treatment of clinical canine giardiosis.