Cost and Affordability of Diets Modelled on Current Eating Patterns and on Dietary Guidelines, for New Zealand Total Population, Maori and Pacific Households.

The affordability of diets modelled on the current (less healthy) diet compared to a healthy diet based on Dietary Guidelines was calculated for population groups in New Zealand. Diets using common foods were developed for a household of four for the total population, Maori and Pacific groups. Maori and Pacific nutrition expert panels ensured the diets were appropriate. Each current (less healthy) diet was based on eating patterns identified from national nutrition surveys. Food prices were collected from retail outlets. Only the current diets contained alcohol, takeaways and discretionary foods. The modelled healthy diet was cheaper than the current diet for the total population (3.5% difference) and Pacific households (4.5% difference) and similar in cost for Maori households (0.57% difference). When the diets were equivalent in energy, the healthy diet was more expensive than the current diet for all population groups (by 8.5% to 15.6%). For households on the minimum wage, the diets required 27% to 34% of household income, and if receiving income support, required 41⁻52% of household income. Expert panels were invaluable in guiding the process for specific populations. Both the modelled healthy and current diets are unaffordable for some households as a considerable portion of income was required to purchase either diet. Policies are required to improve food security by lowering the cost of healthy food or improving household income.

[Combination therapy with fluconazole and other QTc-prolonging drugs increase the QTc interval]. / Kombinationsbehandling med fluconazol og andre QTc-forlængende lægemidler forlænger QTc- intervallet.

Several drugs have a QTc-prolonging effect and are metabolized by CYP3A4. The combination of QTc-prolonging drugs may act additive of the QTc interval. The risk increases additionally by co-administration of a CYP3A4-inhibiting substrate. This case report describes an incident with QTc prolongation which was probably caused by an interaction induced by a combination of amiodarone, clarithromycin and the CYP3A4-inhibitor fluconazole.