Perceived health-related self-efficacy associated with BMI in adults in a population-based survey.

BACKGROUND: The concept of ability to control personal behaviour in various environmental temptations is called self-efficacy. The high prevalence of obesity and overweight in Finland is the reason for studying the determinants of weight. The aim of the present study was to clarify the associations between body mass index and health-related self-efficacy (HSE), including food patterns, health behaviour and education. METHODS: A random sample of adults was invited to the cross-sectional FINRISK 2002 Study in six regions in Finland. Participants (n=7784) gave information on education, health behaviour, HSE and food consumption. Height and weight were measured in a health examination. The response rate was 60% for men and 71% for women. Six food patterns were identified by principal component analysis on the basis of food consumption. The scores from seven-item HSE was calculated and categorized into tertiles for the analysis. The associations of BMI with self-efficacy and exploratory variables were tested using general linear modelling in total population and by gender. RESULTS: A weak HSE was associated with a higher BMI after adjusting for age, education, food patterns and health behaviour. In addition, low education, infrequent PA and non-smoking were associated with the higher BMI, but the association of HSE and BMI remained in multivariate model. The associations of food patterns and BMI were small. The adverse association with BMI was observed for patterns with sweet and butter. CONCLUSION: The study supports the importance of self-control in weight management, which needs to be considered as an empowerment tool in health education.

Finnish Children Healthy Eating Index (FCHEI) and its associations with family and child characteristics in pre-school children.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to develop a Finnish Children Healthy Eating Index (FCHEI), to determine the relative validity of the index and to examine associations between the index and familial sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. DESIGN: Cross-sectional samples of children participating in a population-based birth cohort study in Finland. SETTING: Type I Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) Study cohort. SUBJECTS: Three-day food records from 1-year-old (n 455), 3-year-old (n 471) and 6-year-old (n 713) children were completed between 2003 and 2005. RESULTS: Validity of the FCHEI was assessed by studying the associations between the FCHEI and nutrient intakes of the children. Among all age groups, intakes of SFA and sugars decreased across increasing quartiles of the FCHEI while intakes of PUFA, dietary fibre, vitamin D and vitamin E increased. Among 3- and 6-year-olds, being cared for at home was associated with the lowest FCHEI quartile (diet that deviates most from the recommendations). The lowest FCHEI quartile was also associated with residence in a semi-urban area among the 3-year-olds and low maternal education and smoking during pregnancy among the 6-year-olds. CONCLUSIONS: The FCHEI serves as a valid indicator of the quality of Finnish children's diet. Public health programmes aimed at improving the dietary behaviours of pre-school aged children should aim to improve the quality of food served at home. Families with history of lower parental education, maternal smoking during pregnancy or non-urban place of residence may require special attention.

A diet following Finnish nutrition recommendations does not contribute to the current epidemic of obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, the general public opinion is that nutritional recommendations promote obesity rather than prevent it. We created the Recommended Finnish Diet Score (RFDS) that illustrates the Finnish nutrition recommendations and assessed whether this score is associated with BMI, waist circumference (WC) and body fat percentage (BF%). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study included two phases of the National FINRISK 2007 Study. Diet was assessed using a validated FFQ. Height, weight, WC and BF% were measured, and BMI values were calculated. The RFDS was developed based on the national nutrition recommendations. SETTING: A large representative sample of the Finnish population. SUBJECTS: Men (n 2190) and women (n 2530) aged 25-74 years. RESULTS: The RFDS was inversely associated with WC in men (OR = 0·48, 95 % CI 0·28, 0·81, P < 0·05) and BF% in both men (OR = 0·44, 95 % CI 0·24, 0·82, P-trend < 0·05) and women (OR = 0·63, 95 % CI 0·37, 1·08, P-trend < 0·05). The inverse association of RFDS and BF% appeared stronger among older age groups (men: OR = 0·21 CI 0·07, 0·64, P-trend < 0·01; women: OR = 0·56, 95 % CI 0·25, 1·27, P-trend < 0·05) and among women with normal BMI (OR = 0·62, 95 % CI 0·36, 1·09, P-trend < 0·05). The RFDS was not associated with BMI. CONCLUSIONS: A diet following nutrition recommendations is likely to help to maintain normal WC and BF%. These findings could be useful for dietary counselling and the prevention of obesity.

Fatty acids in serum and diet--a canonical correlation analysis among toddlers.

Fatty acid concentrations in blood are potential biomarkers of dietary fat intake, but methodological studies among children are scarce. The large number of fatty acids and their complex interrelationships pose a special challenge in research on fatty acids. Our target was to assess the interrelationships between the total fatty acid profiles in diet and serum of young children. The study subjects were healthy control children from the birth cohort of the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Study. A 3-day food record and a frozen serum sample were available from 135 children at the age of 1 year, from 133 at 2 years, and from 92 at 3 years. The relationship between dietary and serum fatty acid profiles was analysed using canonical correlation analysis. The consumption of fatty milk correlated positively with serum fatty acids, pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) at all ages. Correlations between dietary and serum eicosapentaenoic and/or docosahexaenoic acid were observed at 2 and 3 years of age. Serum linoleic acid was positively associated with the consumption of infant formula at the age of 1 year, and with the consumption of vegetable margarine at 2 and 3 years. The results indicate a high quality of the 3-day food records kept by parents and other caretakers of the children, and suitability of non-fasting, un-fractioned serum samples for total fatty acid analyses. The correlation between intake of milk fat and serum proportion of CLA is a novel finding.

Use of voluntarily fortified foods among adults in Finland.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the purchase and use of fortified foods, and to explore and compare background characteristics, food consumption and nutrient intakes among users and non-users of voluntarily fortified foods in Finland. DESIGN: A study based on the National FINDIET Survey 2007 (48 h recall), which included also a barcode-based product diary developed to assess the type, amount and users of voluntarily fortified foods. Logistic regression analysis was employed to investigate associations between background characteristics and the use of fortified foods. SETTING: Randomly chosen subgroup of 918 adult participants in the National FINDIET 2007 Survey. SUBJECTS: Men and women aged 25-64 years from five regions. RESULTS: The product group of voluntarily fortified foods purchased in the highest volume was yoghurts (44 % of the weight of all fortified food), followed by fruit drinks (36 %). The only characteristics independently associated with the use of voluntarily fortified foods were age (older people used them less commonly) and the consumption of fruit and vegetables (participants with the highest consumption used them more commonly). Users of fortified foods had higher consumption of yoghurt, juice drinks and ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (women only) than non-users, and lower consumption of boiled potatoes (men only). CONCLUSIONS: Use of voluntarily fortified foods is associated with high consumption of fruit and vegetables but not with other health-related behaviours. The use of voluntarily fortified foods does not seem to even out the differences in nutrient intake among Finnish adults.

Educational differences in the diet of Finnish adults and the associations between education and the determinants and facilitators of dietary fat quality.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to elucidate differences in adults' diet by education, and to analyse the associations between dietary facilitators, education and dietary fat quality. DESIGN: In all, one-third of subjects from the national FINRISK health survey were invited to participate in the FINDIET 2007 Survey. A 48 h dietary interview was used for dietary data and personal background data were collected by the health survey questionnaire. SETTING: Representative sample from five regions in Finland in spring 2007. SUBJECTS: A total of 1576 adults, participation rate 60 %. RESULTS: Oil used in cooking differed by education. Instead perception of cardiovascular risk, or the following of a cholesterol-lowering diet, were equal across all educational categories. The diet of men with low education contained less protein and carbohydrates, more fat and more SFA and MUFA than that of highly educated men. The diet of women with low education contained less PUFA, vitamin C and vitamin E than in the highly educated category. High education remained a significant determinant for the lower intake of SFA in men, and for the higher intake of PUFA in women, after adjusting for the determinants and facilitators of dietary behaviour and age. The lower intake of SFA was also associated with following a cholesterol-lowering diet in both genders. In addition to education, the intake of unsaturated fatty acids was determined by the oil used in cooking by women, and by frequent lunches served by caterers for men. CONCLUSIONS: In dietary behaviour, awareness and reporting of cholesterol-lowering diet seem to indicate a tendency to control the intake of saturated fat. Health messages are likely to enhance tools for increasing the intake of PUFA, in addition to reducing the intake of SFA.

Dietary survey methodology of FINDIET 2007 with a risk assessment perspective.

A cross-sectional survey, FINDIET 2007, was carried out in Finland. Food intake data was collected by a 48 h recall interview. Additional food intake data was collected by a repeated 3 d food diary, a barcode-based product diary, a food frequency questionnaire and by a supplementary questionnaire on rarely eaten foods. The purpose of the present paper is to describe the methodology of the national dietary survey and to discuss the particular implications for the applications of food consumption data in risk assessment. The food consumption data of the FINDIET 2007 survey can be used in food risk assessment, due thanks to flexible data processing of individual food consumption, and a risk assessment point of view was taken into account. However, international standardisation projects are needed in order to estimate comparable food intakes.

Diet composition of pregnant Finnish women: changes over time and across seasons.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the diet of a population of pregnant Finnish women over a period of 7 years, with special attention paid to seasonal fluctuations in food consumption and nutrient intake. DESIGN: A validated 181-item FFQ was applied retrospectively, after delivery, to assess the maternal diet during the 8th month of pregnancy. SETTING: Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Nutrition Study Cohort. SUBJECTS: The cohort comprised a total of 4880 women who had newly delivered during the years 1997-2004, with the offspring carrying increased genetic risk for type 1 diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: Over the study period, the proportion of energy derived from fat decreased while the intake from protein and carbohydrate increased. The intake of vitamin D increased from food sources. Seasonal variation was observed in the mean daily consumption of vegetables, fruits and berries and cereals. Intake of dietary fibre, total fat, MUFA, vitamins A, D, E and C, folate and iron also showed seasonal fluctuation. CONCLUSIONS: These results show an overall positive trend in the diet of pregnant Finnish women through the study years. However, there is still room for improvement, particularly in the types of dietary fats. Although food fortification with vitamin D since 2003 was reflected in the increased intake of vitamin D from foods, the mean intake levels still fell below the recommendations. Seasonal changes in food consumption were observed and related to corresponding fluctuations in nutrient intakes. The mean folate intake fell below the recommendation throughout the year.

Changes in the contribution of snacks to the daily energy intake of Finnish adults.

This study presents data on the contribution of eating occasions to the daily intakes of energy and nutrients. The 48-h dietary data of Finnish adults were gathered from two independent, population-based health surveys undertaken in 2002 and 2007. Snack-dominated and main-meal dominated eating patterns were defined as the habit of obtaining the majority of daily energy from snacks or from main meals. The snack-dominated eating pattern increased in adults from 2002 to 2007, significantly in men. Mostly, similar changes in daily nutrient intakes were observed between study years within eating patterns. Higher alcohol intake in men and higher sucrose intake and lower fibre intake in women were associated with the snack-dominated eating pattern. Due to instability in the snack-dominated eating pattern we conclude that main meals and snacks seem to be parallel ways of composing daily diet with only a few dietary differences.

Sucrose in the diet of 3-year-old Finnish children: sources, determinants and impact on food and nutrient intake.

The aim was to identify the important sources of added sucrose and determinants of high intake, and to evaluate what impact a high proportion of energy from added sucrose has on the intake of foods and nutrients. The subjects consisted of children invited to the nutrition study within the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention birth cohort and born in 2001 (n 846). Of these, 471 returned 3 d food records at 3 years of age. The average daily intake of added sucrose was 35 (sd 17) g (11.3 % of energy intake) and that of total sucrose was 41 (sd 18) g (13.3 % of energy intake). Sucrose added by manufacturers accounted for 82 %, naturally occurring sucrose for 15 % and sucrose added by consumers for 3 % of the total sucrose. Juice drinks, yoghurt/cultured milks, and chocolate and confectionery were the main contributors to added sucrose intake. Consumption of rye bread, porridge, fresh vegetables, cooked potatoes, skimmed milk, hard cheeses, margarine and fat spread as well as intake of most nutrients decreased across the quartiles of added sucrose (P < 0.05). Being cared for at home, having a father with a vocational school degree, having at least two siblings and a milk-restricted diet increased the risk for a high-sucrose diet. The study implied that a high proportion of added sucrose in the diet had mainly an unfavourable impact on the intake of recommended foods and key nutrients in Finnish children. The rationale for the recommendation to reduce the intake of refined sugars to ensure adequate intakes of nutrients seems reasonable.

Some similarities in dietary clusters of pre-school children and their mothers.

The diet of pre-school children is determined by the parents and carers. The aim of the present study was to describe dietary clusters of pre-school children and their mothers in Finland, and analyse the similarity of dietary clusters within child-mother pairs. The present study comprised the mothers (n 4862) whose child was recruited in the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Nutrition Study and the children belonging to selected, cross-sectional age groups of 1 year (n 719), 3 years (n 708) and 6 years (n 841). The dietary data were collected from children by 3-d food records and from mothers by a FFQ validated for pregnant women. The food consumption data were analysed for patterns by hierarchical cluster analysis. Three main dietary clusters were identified in children: 'healthy' and 'traditional' in all three age groups, and 'ready-to-eat baby foods' in 1-year-olds and 'fast foods, sweet' in the older children. Six main clusters were identified among the mothers who completed a FFQ for their diet during pregnancy. Some familial dependence between dietary clusters of mother-child pairs was observed in 6-year-old children but not in younger children. Younger age and lower educational level of the mother were associated with the cluster 'fast food, sweet' only at the age of 3 years. The diets of pre-school children vary by age and only a slight similarity within dietary clusters of mother-child pairs was observed.

Unhealthy dietary patterns are associated with weight gain during pregnancy among Finnish women.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether the dietary patterns of Finnish pregnant women are associated with their weight gain rate during pregnancy. DESIGN: A validated 181-item FFQ was applied retrospectively to assess the diet during the eighth month of pregnancy, and maternal height and maternal weight at first and last antenatal visits were recalled. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, parity and smoking of the pregnant women was obtained by a structured questionnaire and from the Finnish Birth Registry. Principal components analysis was used to identify dietary patterns that described the diet of pregnant women based on their food consumption profile. SETTING: Finland. SUBJECTS: Subjects consisted of 3360 women who had newly delivered in 1997-2002 and whose baby carried human leucocyte antigen-conferred susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in two university hospital regions, Oulu and Tampere, in Finland. RESULTS: Out of seven dietary patterns identified, the 'fast food' pattern was positively associated (beta = 0.010, se = 0.003, P = 0.004) and the 'alcohol and butter' pattern was inversely associated (beta = -0.010, se = 0.003, P < 0.0001) with weight gain rate (kg/week) during pregnancy after adjusting for potential dietary, perinatal and sociodemographic confounding factors. Both of the dietary pattern associations demonstrated dose dependency. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women should be guided to have a well-planned, balanced, healthy diet during pregnancy in order to avoid rapid gestational weight gain. The association between diet, health and maternal weight gain of the women who consumed alcohol during pregnancy should be studied further.

Nutrient intake and food use of Finnish conscripts in garrison, on leave, and in encampment conditions.

BACKGROUND: 80% of Finnish men fill their civic duty and complete military service. Conscripts' dietary habits have been studied limitedly. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine conscripts' nutrient intake and food use in garrison, on leave, and in encampment conditions. METHODS: This study examined volunteer conscripts in: (1) garrison and leave conditions (n=47) and (2) encampment conditions (n=31). Data were collected using food diaries. RESULTS: The proportion of energy derived from fat was 32.9% at garrison and 36.5% at encampment and on leave. Saturated fat constituted 12.5 energy % at garrison, 15.0 energy % at encampment, and 15.3 energy % on leave. Sucrose intake was high at encampment (17.7 energy %) and on leave (13.0 energy %). Salt, vitamin, and mineral intakes exceeded national recommendations in all conditions. Fiber intakes did not reach recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: At garrison and encampment, nutrient intakes reached recommendations. In free time, conscripts favored energy-rich nutrient-poor foods, which warrants intervening and dietary education.

Dietary intake and major food sources of polyphenols in Finnish adults.

Phenolic acids, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and ellagitannins are polyphenols that may have beneficial effects on human health and provide protection against chronic diseases. To date, limited data exist on quantitative intake of polyphenols. The aims of this study were to estimate the quantitative intakes of polyphenols by using analyzed concentrations together with individual food consumption records and to determine major dietary sources. Analyzed concentrations of phenolic acids, anthocyanidins, and other flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and ellagitannins (44 total polyphenol compounds) were entered into the national food composition database, Fineli. The absolute intakes of the polyphenols and the corresponding food sources were calculated on the basis of 48-h dietary recalls of 2007 Finnish adults. The mean total intake of polyphenols was 863 +/- 415 mg/d. Phenolic acids comprised the dominant group of polyphenols (75% of total intake) followed by proanthocyanidins (14%) and anthocyanidins and other flavonoids (10%). Due to their high consumption and high concentrations of phenolic acids, coffee and cereals were the main contributors to total polyphenol intake. Berries and berry products were the main source for anthocyanidins, ellagitannins, and proanthocyanidins, and fruits were the main source for flavonols, flavones, and flavanones. The results give additional support to the recommendations for a varied diet with fruits, berries, cereals, and vegetables.

Carotenoid Intake and Serum Concentration in Young Finnish Children and Their Relation with Fruit and Vegetable Consumption.

Fruit and vegetable intake has been associated with a reduced risk of many chronic diseases. These foods are the main dietary source of carotenoids. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations between dietary intake and serum concentrations of α- and ß-carotene in a sample of young Finnish children from the population-based birth cohort of the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) Study. The current analysis comprised 3-day food records and serum samples from 207 children aged 1, 2 and 3 years. Spearman and partial correlations, as well as a cross-classification analyses, were used to assess the relationship between dietary intake and the corresponding biomarkers. Serum concentrations of α- and ß-carotene were significantly higher among the 1-year-old compared to the 3-year-old children. Dietary intakes of α- and ß-carotene correlated significantly with their respective serum concentrations in all age groups, the association being highest at the age of 1 year (α-carotene r = 0.48; p < 0.001 and ß-carotene r = 0.47; p < 0.001), and lowest at the age of 3 years (α-carotene r = 0.44; p < 0.001 and ß-carotene r = 0.30; p < 0.001). A cross-classification showed that 72⁻81% of the participants were correctly classified to the same or adjacent quartile, when comparing the reported dietary intakes and the concentrations of the corresponding carotenoid in serum. The 3-day food record seems to be reasonably valid in the assessment of root vegetable consumption among young Finnish children. Root vegetables were the main dietary source of both carotenoids in all age groups. The high consumption of commercial baby foods among the 1-year-old children was reflected in the relatively high dietary intake and serum concentration of both carotenoids.

Quantitative risk assessment on the dietary exposure of Finnish children and adults to nitrite.

Nitrite intake from the consumption of cured meat and tap water was estimated for Finnish children of 1, 3 and 6 years as well as Finnish adults of 25-74 years. Nitrite content in the foods was measured by capillary electrophoresis, and was then used together with individual food consumption data from the FINDIET 2007 and DIPP studies in a stochastic exposure assessment by a Monte Carlo Risk Assessment (MCRA) program. Nitrite intake from additive sources and tap water was assessed, and more than every 10th child between the ages 3 and 6 years was estimated to have a nitrite intake exceeding the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of nitrite. The high exposure levels were caused by frequent consumption of large portions of sausages, up to 350 g day(-1) or 750 g in 3 days, among the children. Median nitrite intake from cured meat was 0.016, 0.040, 0.033 and 0.005 mg kg(-1) body weight day(-1) for children of 1, 3 and 6 years and adults, respectively. Bayesian estimation was employed to determine safe consumption levels of sausages and cold cuts for children, and these results gave rise to new national food consumption advice.

Arginine intake, blood pressure, and the incidence of acute coronary events in men: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that dietary supplementation of L-arginine, the precursor of nitric oxide, may protect arteries against atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that dietary arginine intake is associated with a decreased risk of acute coronary events in Finnish men aged 42-60 y. DESIGN: We investigated this association in a prospective cohort study of men who were free of prior coronary artery disease and who were examined in 1984-1989 in the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD). The dietary arginine intake of 1981 men was assessed by a 4-d food intake record during the baseline phase of the KIHD. RESULTS: Men in the highest quintile of dietary arginine intake (>or= 5691 mg/d) did not have a significantly lower risk of acute coronary events than did men in the 4 lower quintiles (relative risk after adjustment for potential coronary risk factors: 1.28; 95% CI: 0.85, 1.94). The covariates were age; examination years; body mass index; systolic blood pressure; serum total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol; serum triacylglycerols; urinary excretion of nicotine metabolites; maximal oxygen uptake in an exercise test; and alcohol intake. Splitting arginine intake into deciles or analyzing plant- and animal-derived arginine separately did not show any association between dietary arginine intake and the risk of acute coronary events. Arginine intake was also not consistently associated with blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Dietary arginine intake is not associated with the risk of acute coronary events in middle-aged men in eastern Finland.

Market basket study on dietary intake of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PBDEs in Finland.

We have measured the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD/F), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in 10 market baskets consisting of almost 4000 individual food samples representing 228 different food items, and also in the total diet basket. Lower bound concentrations of PCDD/Fs ranged between 0.0057 and 5.6 pg/g fresh weight in the market baskets and the corresponding values for PCBs from 39 to 25,000 pg/g. The fish basket contributed most to the concentrations of dioxins and PCBs, and also to concentrations of PBDEs in which the lower bound range was from 0.82 to 850 pg/g. We also assessed the average daily intakes of these substances by the Finnish adult population. The average daily intake of sum of PCDD/Fs and PCBs as WHO toxic equivalents was assessed to be 115 pg, which was 1.5 pg WHO-TEq/kg body weight using an average mean weight of 76 kg for the general population in Finland. The contribution of fish to the intake of PCDD/Fs was between 94% and 72%, depending on whether lower or upper bound concentrations were used. With respect to PCBs, the contribution of fish was 80%. The calculated intake of PBDEs of 44 ng/day was comparable to intake assessments from other countries. Fish also contributed most to the PBDE intake, but there was some other source of PBDEs that distinguishes the exposure to PBDEs from exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs. This additional source seemed to be found in the market basket that included beverages, spices, and sweets.

Tendency toward eveningness is associated with unhealthy dietary habits.

Subjects with higher preference for evening hours in daily activities (eveningness) have been repeatedly shown to practice adverse health behaviors as compared to those preferring morning hours (morningness). However, associations between chronotype and dietary intake have not been explored intensively. The authors explored whether the human chronotype is associated with food and nutrient intakes in a random sample of the population aged 25 to 74 yrs. The cross-sectional study included 4493 subjects from the National FINRISK 2007 Study. Chronotype was assessed using a shortened version of Horne and Östberg's Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Diet was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Associations between morningness-eveningness (ME) score and dietary intakes were analyzed by linear regression and difference between lowest (eveningness) and highest (morningness) ME score quintiles by Tukey's test. In the multivariable model, intakes of whole grain, rye, potatoes, and vegetables and roots decreased, whereas those of wine and chocolate increased with lower ME scores. Participants in the lowest ME score quintile consumed less fish (p < .001) and fruits (p = .025) and more chocolate (p = .001) and soft drinks (p = .015) compared to the highest quintile. No linear association was found between ME score and total energy intake. In regression analyses, intake of alcohol (as a percentage of total energy intake; E%) and sucrose (E%) increased, whereas intake of carbohydrates (E%), protein (E%), fiber, folic acid, and sodium decreased with lower ME scores. Furthermore, participants in the lowest ME score quintile ingested more fat (E%) (p < .001) and less vitamin D (p < .001) compared to the highest quintile, even though no linear trend between ME score and these nutrients emerged. In conclusion, these results support existing evidence that individuals with circadian preference toward eveningness have less healthy lifestyles, such as unfavorable dietary habits, than those with tendency toward morningness, which could put them at higher risk of several chronic diseases.

Food consumption and advanced ß cell autoimmunity in young children with HLA-conferred susceptibility to type 1 diabetes: a nested case-control design.

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the role of food consumption during childhood in the development of ß cell autoimmunity is scarce and fragmentary. OBJECTIVE: We set out to study the associations of longitudinal food consumption in children with the development of advanced ß cell autoimmunity. DESIGN: Children with advanced ß cell autoimmunity (n = 232) (ie, with repeated positivity for antibodies against islet cells) together with positivity for at least one of the other 3 antibodies analyzed or clinical type 1 diabetes were identified from a prospective birth cohort of 6069 infants with HLA-DQB1-conferred susceptibility to type 1 diabetes who were born in 1996-2004, with the longest follow-up to the age of 11 y. Repeated 3-d food records were completed by the families and daycare personnel. Diabetes-associated autoantibodies and diets were measured at 3-12-mo intervals. Four control subjects, who were matched for birth date, sex, area, and genetic risk, were randomly selected for each case. RESULTS: In the main food groups, only intakes of cow-milk products (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.10) and fruit and berry juices (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.12) were significantly, although marginally, associated with advanced ß cell autoimmunity. The consumption of fresh milk products and cow milk-based infant formulas was related to the endpoint, whereas no evidence was shown for consumption of sour milk products and cheese. The intake of fat from all milk products and protein from fresh milk products was associated with risk of advanced ß cell autoimmunity. CONCLUSION: Intakes of cow milk and fruit and berry juices could be related to the development of advanced ß cell autoimmunity. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as number NCT00223613.