Food Insecurity Is Linked to Dietary Intake but Not Growth of Children in the Caribbean

ABSTRACT Objective: To examine food insecurity and its relationship with children's nutritional health. Methods: The data for the 390 children, aged 7-12 years and their caregivers, recruited from eight schools in Trinidad and seven schools in St. Kitts in 2013-2014 from a study dealing with food and nutrition security were used for this study. Food insecurity was assessed using the USDA's Household Food Security Survey Module, and 24-hour dietary recall of the children was assessed in home interviews. The children's height and weight were measured, and a capillary blood sample was collected at their schools. Results: Overall, 41.5% of the caregivers reported household food insecurity, with 15% of the children living in households with very low food security. Daily intakes of protein and zinc were higher among the children from the 'food secure' vs the 'food insecure' households (protein, 59.6 ± 31.5 g vs 50.9 ± 24.4 g, p = 0.003; zinc, 7.33 ± 5.02 mg vs 6.20 ± 3.47 mg, p = 0.004, respectively). There were no other differences in their dietary intake. The children's body mass index z-score, weight status and height-for-age z-score were not associated with their food security status, and there was no evidence of stunting in either group. Anaemia, however, was prevalent (30%) and higher among the children from the food insecure households (39% vs 23%; p = 0.002). Conclusion: Household food insecurity was was associated with lower intakes of some nutrients, and anaemia rates were higher among the children living in food insecure households but food insecurity was not related to the indicators of growth or weight status.

Quality of diet is associated with insulin resistance in the Cree (Eeyouch) indigenous population of northern Québec.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Indigenous people worldwide have a greater disease burden than their non-aboriginal counterparts with health challenges that include increased obesity and higher prevalence of diabetes. We investigate the relationships of dietary patterns with nutritional biomarkers, selected environmental contaminants and measures of insulin resistance in the Cree (Eeyouch) of northern Québec Canada. METHODS AND RESULTS: The cross-sectional 'Nituuchischaayihitaau Aschii: A Multi-Community Environment-and-Health Study in Eeyou Istchee' recruited 835 adult participants (≥18 y) from 7 communities in the James Bay region of northern Québec. The three dietary patterns identified by principal component analysis (PCA) were: inland and coastal patterns with loadings on traditional foods, and a junk food pattern with high-fat and high-sugar foods. We investigated dietary patterns scores (in quantiles) in relation with nutritional biomarkers, environmental contaminants, anthropometry, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance. Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) was used as surrogate markers of insulin resistance. ANCOVA ascertained relationships between dietary patterns relationship and outcomes. Greater scores for the traditional patterns were associated with higher levels of n-3 fatty acids, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (P trend <0.001). Higher scores for the junk food pattern were associated with lower levels of PCBs and Vitamin D, but higher fasting plasma insulin and HOMA-IR. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that poor diet quality accompanied greater insulin resistance. Impacts of diet quality on insulin resistance, as a sign of metabolism perturbation, deserve more attention in this indigenous population with high rates of obesity and diabetes.

Do implant overdentures improve dietary intake? A randomized clinical trial.

People wearing mandibular two-implant overdentures (IOD) chew food with less difficulty than those wearing conventional complete dentures (CD). However, there is still controversy over whether or not this results in better dietary intake. In this randomized clinical trials (RCT), the amounts of total dietary fiber (TDF), macronutrients, 9 micronutrients, and energy in diets consumed by persons with IOD and CD were compared. Male and female edentate patients ≥ 65 yrs (n = 255) were randomly divided into 2 groups and assigned to receive a maxillary CD and either a mandibular IOD or a CD. One year following prosthesis delivery, 217 participants (CD = 114, IOD = 103) reported the food and quantities they consumed to a registered dietician through a standard 24-hour dietary recall method. The mean and median values of TDF, macro- and micronutrients, and energy consumed by both groups were calculated and compared analytically. No significant between-group differences were found (ps > .05). Despite quality-of-life benefits from IODs, this adequately powered study reveals no evidence of nutritional advantages for independently living medically healthy edentate elders wearing two-implant mandibular overdentures over those wearing conventional complete dentures in their dietary intake at one year following prosthesis delivery.

Food habits of Canadians: comparison of intakes in adults and adolescents to Canada's food guide to healthy eating.

Over 25 years have elapsed since national food and nutrient intake data became available in Canada. Our goal was to describe present dietary intakes based on sociodemographic and 24-hour recall dietary interviews with adults and adolescents from households across the country. Within a multistage, stratified random sample of 80 enumeration areas, 1,543 randomly selected adults (aged 18-65) were enrolled in the study; 178 adolescents within the sampled households also participated. A comparison of food intake with Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating indicated that only males aged 13-34 met the minimum recommended intake levels for all four food groups. Mean milk products intake was below the minimum recommended level for all age groups of females and for men aged 35-65 years. Adolescent girls had low intakes of meat and alternatives. Daily grain product intakes were below five servings for women aged 50-65, as were vegetable and fruit intakes for women aged 18-40. Food choices from the "other foods" group contributed over 25% of energy and fat intake for all age and gender groups. These up-to-date data will be useful to dietitians, nutrition researchers, industry, and government in their efforts to promote Canadians' continued progress toward meeting food intake recommendations.

Food habits of Canadians: reduction in fat intake over a generation.

PURPOSE: A national survey of adult Canadians (n = 1,544) was recently undertaken (1997-1998) to monitor whether changes in dietary intake have occurred since the last Canadian dietary survey, conducted a generation ago (1970). METHODS: Individuals from randomly selected households from a stratified sample of 80 enumeration areas from five regions of Canada were interviewed by a dietitian at home for a 24-hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean dietary % energy from protein (16-18%), carbohydrate (50-56%) and fat (29-31%) was close to recommended levels in the different age-sex groups. Fat intake was reduced from previous surveys. Intakes of dairy products and fruits and vegetables are lower than recommended. Nutrient values at the 25th percentile of the nutrient distribution, were below recommended levels for calcium, folate, iron and zinc among women. CONCLUSION: Despite the growing problem of obesity, Canadians are eating less fat than a generation ago but intake of certain nutrients are still suboptimal.

High prevalence of obesity in low income and multiethnic schoolchildren: a diet and physical activity assessment.

The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of obesity and/or undernutrition and evaluate diet and activity patterns among schoolchildren from an ethnically diverse low income urban population. A cross-sectional survey of 498 children aged 9-12 y from 24 schools in low income multiethnic neighborhoods in Montreal, Canada was undertaken. Height, weight, dietary intake, physical activity record, and lifestyle and demographic characteristics were measured. There was no evidence of undernutrition because linear growth was appropriate for age, but 39.4% of children were overweight (>85th percentile NHANES II). Dietary fat intake was higher in children from single-parent families (P < 0.001) and those with mothers born in Canada. Intake of vitamins A, C, iron and folate was directly related to income sufficiency. Children who did more physical activity had significantly higher intakes of energy, calcium, iron, zinc and fiber but were not heavier. Dietary intake was systematically underreported among overweight children, i.e., their reported intakes did not meet calculated energy needs. This underreporting makes it difficult to attribute the accumulated energy imbalance to either energy intake or expenditure.