Energy, nutrient and overall healthiness of processed packaged foods in Fiji, a comparison between 2018 and 2020.

In Fiji, packaged foods are becoming increasingly available. However, it is unknown if nutrition composition of these foods has changed. This study aims to assess changes in energy, nutrient content and healthiness of packaged foods by comparing data from five major supermarkets in Fiji in 2018 and 2020. Foods were categorised into 14 groups; nutrient composition information was extracted and healthiness assessed using Health Star Rating (HSR). Descriptive statistics and a separate matched products analysis was conducted summarising differences in nutrient content and HSR. There was limited evidence of change in the nutrient content of included products however, there was a small reduction in mean saturated fat in the snack food category (-1.0 g/100 g, 95% CI -1.6 to -0.4 g/100 g). The proportion of products considered healthy based on HSR, increased in the convenience foods category (28.4%, 95% CI 8.3 to 48.5) and decreased in non-alcoholic beverages (-35.2%, 95% CI -43.6 to -26.9). The mean HSR score increased in the fruit and vegetables category (0.1 (95% CI 0.1, 0.2)) and decreased for non-alcoholic beverages (-1.1 (-1.3, -0.9)) and the sauces, dressings, spreads, and dips category (-0.3 (-0.3, -0.2)). Strengthened monitoring of the food supply is needed to improve the healthiness of foods available.

Population Subgroups at Risk of Unhealthy Changes in Food and Beverage Consumption During COVID-19 Lockdowns.

BACKGROUND: Understanding health behaviour changes during the COVID-19 pandemic can assist in developing strategies to promote healthy lifestyles at such times. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine whether the frequency of consuming unhealthy foods and beverages changed during lockdown and whether certain population subgroups were more likely to make such changes. METHOD: An online survey was administered to a national sample of 4022 Australian adults (51% female, mean age 48 years). Generalised linear models with generalised estimating equations were used to identify whether demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, presence of children in the household, number of people in the household) and beliefs related to COVID-19 were associated with changes in the frequency of consuming alcohol, sweet snacks, salty snacks, and sugary beverages from pre to during lockdown. RESULTS: Overall, the frequency of consuming the four assessed unhealthy products did not change during lockdown. However, being male and having children at home were consistently associated with unhealthy changes, whereas believing that alcohol or unhealthy diets would exacerbate COVID-19 severity was linked to a decreased frequency of consuming these products respectively. Age, education, and living with more people were also associated with changes in the frequency of consuming some product categories. CONCLUSION: During lockdown, certain population subgroups appeared to be at increased risk of more frequent consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages. Believing certain consumption habits are linked to adverse health impacts of COVID was found to reduce frequency of consumption of related products, presenting a potential focus for future public health actions.

Changes in sodium levels in Australian packaged foods between 2014 and 2019: an interrupted time series analysis of the impact of the Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership's media advocacy strategy.

BACKGROUND: The Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership (VSRP) implemented a media advocacy strategy (intervention) to stimulate food manufacturers to reduce sodium levels across targeted Australian packaged foods between 2017 and 2019. This study assessed changes in sodium levels of targeted and non-targeted packaged foods during the intervention (2017 to 2019) compared to before the intervention (2014 to 2016) in Australia. METHODS: Annually collected branded-food composition data from 2014 to 2019 were used. Interrupted time series analyses was conducted to compare the trend in sodium levels in packaged foods during the intervention (2017-2019) to the trend in the pre-intervention period (2014-2016). The difference between these trends was derived to estimate the effect of the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 90,807 products were included in the analysis, of which 14,743 were targeted by the intervention. The difference in before and during intervention trends between targeted and non-targeted food categories was 2.59 mg/100 g (95% CI: -13.88 to 19.06). There was a difference in the pre-intervention slope (2014, 2015, 2016) and intervention slope (2017, 2018, 2019) for four of 17 targeted food categories. There was a decrease in sodium levels (mg/100 g) in one food category: frozen ready meals (-13.47; 95% CI: -25.40 to -1.53), and an increase in three categories: flat bread (20.46; 95% CI: 9.11 to 31.81), plain dry biscuits (24.53; 95% CI: 5.87 to 43.19), and bacon (44.54; 95% CI: 6.36 to 82.72). For the other 13 targeted categories, the difference in slopes crossed the line of null effect. CONCLUSIONS: The VSRP's media advocacy strategy did not result in a meaningful reduction in sodium levels of targeted packaged food products during the intervention years compared to trends in sodium levels before the intervention. Our study suggests media advocacy activities highlighting the differences in sodium levels in packaged food products and industry meetings alone are not sufficient to lower average sodium levels in packaged foods in the absence of government leadership and measurable sodium targets.

Outcomes of a state-wide salt reduction initiative in adults living in Victoria, Australia.

PURPOSE: To assess any effects of a state-wide sodium reduction intervention on sodium intake, sources of dietary sodium and discretionary salt use at a population level. METHODS: Data (24-h urinary sodium excretion, self-report survey, a 24-h dietary recall) were collected cross-sectionally at baseline (2016/2017) and follow-up (2020) from adults in Victoria, Australia. Intervention activities included consumer awareness advertising campaign, public debate generation via mass media, strengthening existing policy initiatives and supporting food innovation with industry. RESULTS: There were 339 participants at baseline and 211 at follow-up, with 144 and 90 of participants completing a 24-h dietary recall, respectively. There was no difference in adjusted 24-h urinary sodium excretion between baseline and follow-up (134 vs 131 mmol/24 h; p = 0.260). There were no differences in the percentage of participants adding salt during cooking (63% vs 68%; p = 0.244), adding salt at the table (34% vs 37%; p = 0.400) or regularly taking action to control salt/sodium intake (22% vs 21%; p = 0.793). There were large differences in the quantity of dietary sodium sourced from retail stores (57% vs 77%, p < 0.001), and less sodium was sourced from foods at fresh food markets (13% vs 2%; p ≤ 0.001) at follow-up. No large differences were apparent for foods with different levels of processing or for food groups. CONCLUSION: There was no clear population-level effect of the 4-year multi-component Victorian Salt Reduction Intervention on sodium intake with Victorian adults continuing to consume sodium above recommended levels. The findings indicate that more intensive and sustained efforts aiming at the retail and food industry with national level support are likely to be required to achieve a measurable improvement in sodium intake at a state level.

Food insecurity, COVID-19 and diets in Fiji - a cross-sectional survey of over 500 adults.

INTRODUCTION: Food insecurity is associated with inadequate nutrition and increased rates of chronic disease. The primary aim of this study was to assess self-reported food insecurity and the perceived impact of COVID-19 on food security, in two regional districts of Central Fiji, as part of a broader program of work on strengthening and monitoring food policy interventions. The secondary aim was to explore the relationship between food insecurity and salt, sugar and fruit and vegetable intake. METHODS: Seven hundred adults were randomly sampled from the Deuba and Waidamudamu districts of Viti Levu, Fiji. Interview administered surveys were conducted by trained research assistants with data collected electronically. Information was collected on demographics and health status, food security, the perceived impact of COVID-19 on food security, and dietary intake. Food insecurity was assessed using nine questions adapted from Fiji's 2014/5 national nutrition survey, measuring markers of food insecurity over the last 12 months. Additional questions were added to assess the perceived effect of COVID-19 on responses. To address the secondary aim, interview administered 24-hour diet recalls were conducted using Intake24 (a computerised dietary recall system) allowing the calculation of salt, sugar and fruit and vegetable intakes for each person. Weighted linear regression models were used to determine the relationship between food insecurity and salt, sugar and fruit and vegetable intake. RESULTS: 534 people participated in the survey (response rate 76%, 50.4% female, mean age 42 years). 75% (75.3%, 95% CI, 71.4 to 78.8%) of people reported experiencing food insecurity in the 12 months prior to the survey. Around one fifth of people reported running out of foods (16.8%, 13.9 to 20.2%), having to skip meals (19.3%, 16.2 to 22.9%), limiting variety of foods (19.0%, 15.9 to 22.5%), or feeling stressed due to lack of ability to meet food needs (19.5%, 16.4 to 23.0%). 67% (66.9%, 62.9 to 70.7%) reported becoming more food insecure and changing what they ate due to COVID-19. However, people also reported positive changes such as making a home garden (67.8%, 63.7 to 71.6%), growing fruit and vegetables (59.5%, 55.6 to 63.8%), or trying to eat healthier (14.7%, 12.0 to 18.0%). There were no significant associations between food insecurity and intakes of salt, sugar or fruit and vegetables. CONCLUSION: Participants reported high levels of food insecurity, exceeding recommendations for salt and sugar intake and not meeting fruit and vegetable recommendations, and becoming more food insecure due to COVID-19. Most participants reported making home gardens and/or growing fruit and vegetables in response to the pandemic. There is an opportunity for these activities to be fostered in addressing food insecurity in Fiji, with likely relevance to the Pacific region and other Small Island Developing States who face similar food insecurity challenges.

Evaluation of a state-wide intervention on salt intake in primary schoolchildren living in Victoria, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: In 2015, the Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership launched a 4-year multifaceted salt reduction intervention designed to reduce salt intake by 1 g/d in children and adults living in Victoria, Australia. Child-relevant intervention strategies included a consumer awareness campaign targeting parents and food industry engagement seeking to reduce salt levels in processed foods. This study aimed to assess trends in salt intake, dietary sources of salt and discretionary salt use in primary schoolchildren pre- and post-delivery of the intervention. DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional surveys were completed at baseline (2010-2013) and follow-up (2018-2019). Salt intake was measured via 24-h urinary Na excretion, discretionary salt use behaviours by self-report and sources of salt by 24-h dietary recall. Data were analysed with multivariable-adjusted regression models. SETTING: Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Children aged 4-12 years. RESULTS: Complete 24-h urine samples were collected from 666 children at baseline and 161 at follow-up. Mean salt intake remained unchanged from baseline (6·0; se 0·1 g/d) to follow-up (6·1; 0·4 g/d) (P = 0·36), and there were no clear differences in the food sources of salt and at both time points approximately 70 % of children exceeded Na intake recommendations. At follow-up, 14 % more parents (P = 0·001) reported adding salt during cooking, but child use of table salt and inclusion of a saltshaker on the table remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: These findings show no beneficial effect of the Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership intervention on children's salt intake. More intensive, sustained and coordinated efforts between state and federal stakeholders are required.

Agreement between 24-hour urine and 24-hour food recall in measuring salt intake in primary school children in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring salt consumption in children is essential for informing and implementing public health interventions to reduce children's salt intake. However, collection of 24-hour urines, considered as the most reliable approach, can be especially challenging to school children. This study aimed to assess the agreement between 24-hour urine (24hrU) and 24-hour food recall (24hrFR) in: (1) estimating salt intake in children; (2) classifying salt intakes above the recommended upper level set for children, and; (3) estimating change in mean salt intake over time. METHODS: This study utilised data from two cross-sectional surveys of school children aged 8 to 12 years living in the state of Victoria, Australia. A single 24hrU and 24hrFR were collected from each participant. Suspected inaccurate urine collections and implausible energy intakes were excluded based on pre-defined criteria. The agreement between the two methods was assessed using Bland-Altman methodology, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and the kappa statistic. The difference between the measured change in salt intake over time using 24hrU and 24hrFR was derived using mixed effects linear regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 588 participants provided a 24hrU and 24hrFR. Overall, there was no meaningful difference in mean estimated salt intake between the two methods (- 0.2 g/day, 95% CI - 0.5 to 0.1). The Bland-Altman plot showed wide 95% limits of agreement (- 7.2 to 6.8). The ICC between the two methods was 0.13 (95% CI 0.05 to 0.21). There was poor interrater reliability in terms of classifying salt intake above the recommended upper level for children, with an observed agreement of 63% and kappa statistic of 0.11. The change in mean salt intake over time was 0.2 g/day (- 0.4 to 0.7) based on 24hrU, and 0.5 g/day (- 0.0 to 1.1) based on 24hrFR, with a difference-in-differences of 0.4 g/day (- 0.3 to 1.1). CONCLUSIONS: 24hrFR appears to provide a reasonable estimate of mean salt intake as measured by 24hrU in Australian school children. However, similar to previous observations in adults, and of studies exploring other alternative methods for estimating salt intake, 24hrFR is a poor predictor of individual-level salt intake in children.

Implementing effective salt reduction programs and policies in low- and middle-income countries: learning from retrospective policy analysis in Argentina, Mongolia, South Africa and Vietnam.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the factors influencing the implementation of salt reduction interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). DESIGN: Retrospective policy analysis based on desk reviews of existing reports and semi-structured stakeholder interviews in four countries, using Walt and Gilson's 'Health Policy Triangle' to assess the role of context, content, process and actors on the implementation of salt policy. SETTING: Argentina, Mongolia, South Africa and Vietnam. PARTICIPANTS: Representatives from government, non-government, health, research and food industry organisations with the potential to influence salt reduction programmes. RESULTS: Global targets and regional consultations were viewed as important drivers of salt reduction interventions in Mongolia and Vietnam in contrast to local research and advocacy, and support from international experts, in Argentina and South Africa. All countries had population-level targets and written strategies with multiple interventions to reduce salt consumption. Engaging industry to reduce salt in foods was a priority in all countries: Mongolia and Vietnam were establishing voluntary programs, while Argentina and South Africa opted for legislation on salt levels in foods. Ministries of Health, the WHO and researchers were identified as critical players in all countries. Lack of funding and technical capacity/support, absence of reliable local data and changes in leadership were identified as barriers to effective implementation. No country had a comprehensive approach to surveillance or regulation for labelling, and mixed views were expressed about the potential benefits of low sodium salts. CONCLUSIONS: Effective scale-up of salt reduction programs in LMIC requires: (1) reliable local data about the main sources of salt; (2) collaborative multi-sectoral implementation; (3) stronger government leadership and regulatory processes and (4) adequate resources for implementation and monitoring.

Association Between Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract and In-Hospital Mortality in Intensive Care Unit Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: The effectiveness of selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) in critically ill adults receiving mechanical ventilation is uncertain. Objective: To determine whether SDD is associated with reduced risk of death in adults receiving mechanical ventilation in intensive care units (ICUs) compared with standard care. Data Sources: The primary search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases until September 2022. Study Selection: Randomized clinical trials including adults receiving mechanical ventilation in the ICU comparing SDD vs standard care or placebo. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data extraction and risk of bias assessments were performed in duplicate. The primary analysis was conducted using a bayesian framework. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was hospital mortality. Subgroups included SDD with an intravenous agent compared with SDD without an intravenous agent. There were 8 secondary outcomes including the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, ICU-acquired bacteremia, and the incidence of positive cultures of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Results: There were 32 randomized clinical trials including 24 389 participants in the analysis. The median age of participants in the included studies was 54 years (IQR, 44-60), and the median proportion of female trial participants was 33% (IQR, 25%-38%). Data from 30 trials including 24 034 participants contributed to the primary outcome. The pooled estimated risk ratio (RR) for mortality for SDD compared with standard care was 0.91 (95% credible interval [CrI], 0.82-0.99; I2 = 33.9%; moderate certainty) with a 99.3% posterior probability that SDD reduced hospital mortality. The beneficial association of SDD was evident in trials with an intravenous agent (RR, 0.84 [95% CrI, 0.74-0.94]), but not in trials without an intravenous agent (RR, 1.01 [95% CrI, 0.91-1.11]) (P value for the interaction between subgroups = .02). SDD was associated with reduced risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (RR, 0.44 [95% CrI, 0.36-0.54]) and ICU-acquired bacteremia (RR, 0.68 [95% CrI, 0.57-0.81]). Available data regarding the incidence of positive cultures of antimicrobial-resistant organisms were not amenable to pooling and were of very low certainty. Conclusions and Relevance: Among adults in the ICU treated with mechanical ventilation, the use of SDD compared with standard care or placebo was associated with lower hospital mortality. Evidence regarding the effect of SDD on antimicrobial resistance was of very low certainty.

Sodium and potassium intakes in the Kazakhstan population estimated using 24-h urinary excretion: evidence for national action.

PURPOSE: There is strong scientific evidence for reducing sodium and increasing potassium intake to the recommended levels to lower blood pressure and cardiovascular risk, but consumption levels in Kazakhstan are unknown. This study sought to estimate mean sodium and potassium intake using 24-h urine samples and describe dietary knowledge and behavior among adults in Kazakhstan. METHODS: In two cross-sectional surveys, the same multi-stage cluster sampling method was used to randomly select participants aged 25-64 years from Almaty City in 2015 and Kyzylorda in 2016. Complete 24-h urine samples were available for 478 participants; 294 in Almaty City and 184 in Kyzylorda (response rates 86% and 54%, respectively) and were weighted for the age and sex distribution of the two regions. RESULTS: Weighted mean 24-h urinary sodium excretion was 6782 mg/day (17.2 g salt) (95% CI 6507-7058) in both regions combined, and not significantly different between the regions (P = 0.660). 99% of adults in the two regions combined consumed above the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended sodium maximum of 2000 mg/day; however, only 15% of adults perceived that they consumed excess sodium. Weighted mean 24-h urinary potassium excretion was 2271 mg/day (95% CI 2151-2391) for the regions combined. CONCLUSION: Mean sodium consumption in Kazakhstan was more than triple the WHO's recommended maximum, and mean potassium consumption was below the recommended minimum. National efforts to lower sodium intake and increase potassium intake are needed and would likely prevent ample premature deaths and disease burden.

Are there socio-demographic differences in salt behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption in Australian adults? A nationally representative cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Diets low in fruit and vegetables and high in salt are among the top dietary risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Using a nationally representative sample of Australians, this study aimed to describe self-reported intake of fruit and vegetables, and knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to salt intake, and determine if there were socio-demographic differences between population subgroups. METHODS: A 2016 cross-sectional survey of Australian adults aged 18 years and over, which comprised 160 questions, including socio-demographic and health-related questions. Descriptive statistics (mean, 95% confidence interval, %) were calculated. Weighted-adjusted logistic regression models were used to determine if there were socio-demographic differences in salt behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption. RESULTS: A total of 1217 participants completed the survey (51% female). Less than 8% of participants reported consuming the recommended 2 or more serves of fruit and 5 or more serves of vegetables. Almost 60% of participants frequently added salt during cooking/meal preparation and 42% of respondents frequently placed a salt-shaker on the table at mealtimes. There were no consistent patterns between socio-demographic factors and measures of fruit and vegetable consumption and salt behaviours. Differences in at least one measure were found for sex, age, location, education level and weight category. CONCLUSIONS: There were no consistent patterns between socio-demographic factors and salt behaviours and fruit and vegetable intake. Less than recommended intakes of fruit and vegetables and frequent discretionary salt use are placing Australians at risk of diet-related NCDs. Broad population-based policies and programs to improve fruit and vegetable intake and salt behaviours are needed to improve Australian's diets.

Change in mean salt intake over time using 24-h urine versus overnight and spot urine samples: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the capacity of overnight and spot urine samples to estimate changes in mean salt intake over time. The objective of this review was to compare the estimates of change in mean population salt intake based on 24-h urine and overnight/spot urine samples. METHODS: Studies were systematically identified through searches of peer-reviewed databases (Medline, Embase, Global Health, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) and grey literature. Studies that reported estimates of mean salt intake for at least two time points based on both 24-h and overnight/spot urines were deemed eligible. The capacity of overnight/spot urine samples to estimate the change in mean salt intake was assessed both at the individual-study level and overall through random-effects meta-analyses. The level of heterogeneity was assessed through the I2 statistic. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore possible sources of heterogeneity, and check the robustness of the findings from the primary analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1244 records were identified, 50 were assessed as full text, and 14 studies met the criteria, capturing data on 7291 participants from seven countries. Nine and five studies collected overnight and spot urines, respectively. The comparison of the change in mean salt intake between 24-h and overnight/spot urines showed some inconsistencies at the individual study-level. The pooled mean change in salt intake was - 0.43 g/day (95% CI - 1.16 to 0.30; I2 = 95%) using 24-h urines, and - 0.22 g/day (- 0.65 to 0.20; I2 = 87%) using overnight/spot urines, with a pooled difference-in-differences between the two methods of 0.27 g/day (- 0.23 to 0.77; I2 = 89%). Subgroup analyses showed substantial heterogeneity for most subgroups. Sensitivity analyses did not change the effect observed in the primary analysis. CONCLUSION: The evidence for the capacity of overnight/spot urines to estimate changes in mean salt intake over time is uncertain. More research where overnight/spot urines are collected in parallel with 24-h urines is needed to enable a more in-depth evaluation of these alternative approaches to estimating change in mean salt intake.

Evaluation of sex differences in dietary behaviours and their relationship with cardiovascular risk factors: a cross-sectional study of nationally representative surveys in seven low- and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading causes of death for men and women in low-and-middle income countries (LMIC). The nutrition transition to diets high in salt, fat and sugar and low in fruit and vegetables, in parallel with increasing prevalence of diet-related CVD risk factors in LMICs, identifies the need for urgent action to reverse this trend. To aid identification of the most effective interventions it is crucial to understand whether there are sex differences in dietary behaviours related to CVD risk. METHODS: From a dataset of 46 nationally representative surveys, we included data from seven countries that had recorded the same dietary behaviour measurements in adults; Bhutan, Eswatini, Georgia, Guyana, Kenya, Nepal and St Vincent and the Grenadines (2013-2017). Three dietary behaviours were investigated: positive salt use behaviour (SUB), meeting fruit and vegetable (F&V) recommendations and use of vegetable oil rather than animal fats in cooking. Generalized linear models were used to investigate the association between dietary behaviours and waist circumference (WC) and undiagnosed and diagnosed hypertension and diabetes. Interaction terms between sex and dietary behaviour were added to test for sex differences. RESULTS: Twenty-four thousand three hundred thirty-two participants were included. More females than males reported positive SUB (31.3 vs. 27.2% p-value < 0.001), yet less met F&V recommendations (13.2 vs. 14.8%, p-value< 0.05). The prevalence of reporting all three dietary behaviours in a positive manner was 2.7%, varying by country, but not sex. Poor SUB was associated with a higher prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension for females (13.1% vs. 9.9%, p-value = 0.04), and a higher prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes for males (2.4% vs. 1.5%, p-value = 0.02). Meeting F&V recommendations was associated with a higher prevalence of high WC (24.4% vs 22.6%, p-value = 0.01), but was not associated with undiagnosed or diagnosed hypertension or diabetes. CONCLUSION: Interventions to increase F&V intake and positive SUBs in the included countries are urgently needed. Dietary behaviours were not notably different between sexes. However, our findings were limited by the small proportion of the population reporting positive dietary behaviours, and further research is required to understand whether associations with CVD risk factors and interactions by sex would change as the prevalence of positive behaviours increases.

Estimating mean population salt intake in Fiji and Samoa using spot urine samples.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing interest in finding less costly and burdensome alternatives to measuring population-level salt intake than 24-h urine collection, such as spot urine samples. However, little is known about their usefulness in developing countries like Fiji and Samoa. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capacity of spot urine samples to estimate mean population salt intake in Fiji and Samoa. METHODS: The study involved secondary analyses of urine data from cross-sectional surveys conducted in Fiji and Samoa between 2012 and 2016. Mean salt intake was estimated from spot urine samples using six equations, and compared with the measured salt intake from 24-h urine samples. Differences and agreement between the two methods were examined through paired samples t-test, intraclass correlation coefficient analysis, and Bland-Altman plots and analyses. RESULTS: A total of 414 participants from Fiji and 725 participants from Samoa were included. Unweighted mean salt intake based on 24-h urine collection was 10.58 g/day (95% CI 9.95 to 11.22) in Fiji and 7.09 g/day (95% CI 6.83 to 7.36) in Samoa. In both samples, the INTERSALT equation with potassium produced the closest salt intake estimate to the 24-h urine (difference of - 0.92 g/day, 95% CI - 1.67 to - 0.18 in the Fiji sample and + 1.53 g/day, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.77 in the Samoa sample). The presence of proportional bias was evident for all equations except for the Kawasaki equation. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that additional studies where both 24-h urine and spot urine samples are collected are needed to further assess whether methods based on spot urine samples can be confidently used to estimate mean population salt intake in Fiji and Samoa.

Iodine fortification of foods and condiments, other than salt, for preventing iodine deficiency disorders.

BACKGROUND: Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) affect close to 1.9 billion people worldwide, and are a major public health concern in many countries. Among children, iodine deficiency is the main cause of potentially preventable deficits of central nervous system development and impairment of cognitive function, as well as goitre and hypothyroidism in people of all ages. Salt iodisation is the preferred strategy for IDD prevention and control, however, in some instances where salt is not the major condiment, alternate vehicles for iodine fortification have been considered. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of fortifying foods, beverages, condiments, or seasonings other than salt with iodine alone or in conjunction with other micronutrients, on iodine status and health-related outcomes in all populations. SEARCH METHODS: Studies were identified through systematic searches of the following databases from their start date to January 2018: Cochrane Public Health Group Specialised Register; CENTRAL; MEDLINE; MEDLINE in Process; Embase; Web of Science; CINAHL; POPLINE; AGRICOLA; BIOSIS; Food Science and Technology Abstracts; OpenGrey; Bibliomap and TRoPHI; AGRIS; IBECS; Scielo; Global Index Medicus-AFRO and EMRO; LILACS; PAHO; WHOLIS; WPRO; IMSEAR; IndMED; and Native Health Research Database. We also searched reference list of relevant articles, conference proceedings, and databases of ongoing trials, and contacted experts and relevant organisations to identify any unpublished work. We applied no language or date restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies were eligible if they were randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials (RCT) with randomisation at either the individual or cluster level (including cross-over trials), non-randomised RCTs, or prospective observational studies with a control group, such as cohort studies, controlled before-and-after studies, and interrupted time series. We included studies that examined the effects of fortification of food, beverage, condiment, or seasoning with iodine alone, or in combination with other micronutrients versus the same unfortified food, or no intervention. We considered the following measures: death (all-cause), goitre, physical development, mental development, cognitive function and motor skill development, cretinism, hypothyroidism, adverse effects (any reported by trialists), urinary iodine concentration, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration, and serum thyroglobulin concentration. We included all populations, including pregnant women, from any country. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias of included studies.We used random-effects meta-analyses to combine data and generate an overall estimate of treatment effect, when more than one study examined the same outcome measure. The overall effect estimate was calculated as the mean difference (MD) or standardised mean difference (SMD) between the intervention group and the comparison group for continuous outcomes, and as odds ratio (OR) for dichotomous outcomes. We assessed the level of heterogeneity through the I² statistic. We conducted post-hoc subgroup analyses to explore possible sources of heterogeneity, and sensitivity analyses to check the robustness of the findings from the primary analyses. We assessed the quality of the evidence for each outcome using the GRADE framework.Where it was not possible to pool the results in a meta-analysis, we provided a narrative summary of the outcomes. MAIN RESULTS: Eleven studies met the criteria, providing 14 comparisons, and capturing data on 4317 participants. Seven studies were RCTs, three were cluster non-RCTs, and one was a randomised cross-over design. Seven studies were carried out among school children (N = 3636), three among women of reproductive age (N = 648), and one among infants (N = 33). The studies used diverse types of food as vehicle for iodine delivery: biscuits, milk, fish sauce, drinking water, yoghourt, fruit beverage, seasoning powder, and infant formula milk. Daily amounts of iodine provided ranged from 35 µg/day to 220 µg/day; trial duration ranged from 11 days to 48 weeks. Five studies examined the effect of iodine fortification alone, two against the same unfortified food, and three against no intervention. Six studies evaluated the effect of cofortification of iodine with other micronutrients versus the same food without iodine but with different levels of other micronutrients. We assessed one study to be at low risk of bias for all bias domains, three at low risk of bias for all domains apart from selective reporting, and seven at an overall rating of high risk of bias.No study assessed the primary outcomes of death, mental development, cognitive function, cretinism, or hypothyroidism, or secondary outcomes of TSH or serum thyroglobulin concentration. Two studies reported the effects on goitre, one on physical development measures, and one on adverse effects. All studies assessed urinary iodine concentration.The effects of iodine fortification compared to control on goitre prevalence (OR 1.60, 95% CI 0.60 to 4.31; 1 non-RCT, 83 participants; very low-quality evidence), and five physical development measures were uncertain (1 non-RCT, 83 participants; very low-quality evidence): weight (MD 0.23 kg, 95% CI -6.30 to 6.77); height (MD -0.66 cm, 95% CI -4.64 to 3.33); weight-for-age (MD 0.05, 95% CI -0.59 to 0.69); height-for-age (MD -0.30, 95% CI -0.75 to 0.15); and weight-for-height (MD -0.21, 95% CI -0.51 to 0.10). One study reported that there were no adverse events observed during the cross-over trial (low-quality evidence).Pooled results from RCTs showed that urinary iodine concentration significantly increased following iodine fortification (SMD 0.59, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.81; 6 RCTs, 2032 participants; moderate-quality evidence). This is equivalent to an increase of 38.32 µg/L (95% CI 24.03 to 52.61 µg/L). This effect was not observed in the meta-analysis of non-RCTs (SMD 0.25, 95% CI -0.16 to 0.66; 3 non-RCTs, 262 participants; very low-quality evidence). Sensitivity analyses did not change the effect observed in the primary analyses. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The evidence on the effect of iodine fortification of foods, beverages, condiments, or seasonings other than salt on reducing goitre, improving physical development measures, and any adverse effects is uncertain. However, our findings suggest that the intervention likely increases urinary iodine concentration. Additional, adequately powered, high-quality studies on the effects of iodine fortification of foods on these, and other important outcomes, as well as its efficacy and safety, are required.

Contribution of fat, sugar and salt to diets in the Pacific Islands: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Pacific Island countries are experiencing a high burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases; and consumption of fat, sugar and salt are important modifiable risk factors contributing to this. The present study systematically reviewed and summarized available literature on dietary intakes of fat, sugar and salt in the Pacific Islands. DESIGN: Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and GlobalHealth) were searched from 2005 to January 2018. Grey literature was also searched and key stakeholders were consulted for additional information. Study eligibility was assessed by two authors and quality was evaluated using a modified tool for assessing dietary intake studies. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies were included, twenty-two contained information on fat, seventeen on sugar and fourteen on salt. Dietary assessment methods varied widely and six different outcome measures for fat, sugar and salt intake - absolute intake, household expenditure, percentage contribution to energy intake, sources, availability and dietary behaviours - were used. Absolute intake of fat ranged from 25·4 g/d in Solomon Islands to 98·9 g/d in Guam, while salt intake ranged from 5·6 g/d in Kiribati to 10·3 g/d in Fiji. Only Guam reported on absolute sugar intake (47·3 g/d). Peer-reviewed research studies used higher-quality dietary assessment methods, while reports from national surveys had better participation rates but mostly utilized indirect methods to quantify intake. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the established and growing crisis of diet-related diseases in the Pacific, there is inadequate evidence about what Pacific Islanders are eating. Pacific Island countries need nutrition monitoring systems to fully understand the changing diets of Pacific Islanders and inform effective policy interventions.

Review of behaviour change interventions to reduce population salt intake.

BACKGROUND: Excess salt intake is a major cause of raised blood pressure-the leading risk factor for death and disability worldwide. Although behaviour change interventions such as awareness campaigns and health education programs are implemented to reduce salt intake, their effectiveness is unclear. This global systematic review investigates the impact of population-level behaviour change interventions that aim to reduce salt intake. METHODS: A search for published and grey literature was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Sage, Scopus, OpenGrey, Google Scholar and other relevant organizations' websites. Studies were included if 1) published between 2005 and 2015; 2) the education or awareness-raising interventions were aimed at the population or sub-population and 3) salt intake and/or salt-related behaviours were outcome measures. Study and intervention characteristics were extracted for the descriptive synthesis and study quality was assessed. RESULTS: Twenty two studies involving 41,448 participants were included. Most were conducted in high income countries (n = 16), targeting adults (n = 21) in the general population (n = 16). Behaviour change interventions were categorised as health education interventions (n = 14), public awareness campaigns (n = 4) and multi-component interventions (including both health education and awareness campaigns, n = 4). 19 of the 22 studies demonstrated significant reductions in estimated salt intake and/or improvement in salt-related behaviours. All studies showed high risk of bias in one or more domains. Of the 10 higher quality studies, 5 found a significant effect on salt intake or salt behaviours based on the more objective outcome assessment method. CONCLUSION: Based on moderate quality of evidence, population-level behaviour change interventions can improve salt-related behaviours and/or reduce salt intake. However, closer analysis of higher quality studies show inconsistent evidence of the effectiveness and limited effect sizes suggest the implementation of education and awareness-raising interventions alone are unlikely to be adequate in reducing population salt intake to the recommended levels. A framework which guides rigorous research and evaluation of population-level interventions in real-world settings would help understand and support more effective implementation of interventions to reduce salt intake.

Dietary salt intake in the Australian population.

OBJECTIVE: To update the estimate of mean salt intake for the Australian population made by the Australian Health Survey (AHS). DESIGN: A secondary analysis of the data collected in a cross-sectional survey was conducted. Estimates of salt intake were made in Lithgow using the 24 h diet recall methodology employed by the AHS as well as using 24 h urine collections. The data from the Lithgow sample were age- and sex-weighted, to provide estimates of daily salt intake for the Australian population based upon (i) the diet recall data and (ii) the 24 h urine samples. SETTING: Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia. SUBJECTS: Individuals aged ≥20 years residing in Lithgow and listed on the 2009 federal electoral roll. RESULTS: Mean (95 % CI) salt intake estimated from the 24 h diet recalls was 6·4 (6·2, 6·7) g/d for the Lithgow population compared with a corresponding figure of 6·2 g/d for the Australian population derived from the AHS. The corresponding estimate of salt intake for Lithgow adults based upon the 24 h urine collections was 9·0 (8·6, 9·4) g/d. When the age- and sex-specific estimates of salt intake obtained from the 24 h urine collections in the Lithgow sample were weighted using Australian census data, estimated salt intake for the Australian population was 9·0 (8·6, 9·5) g/d. Further adjustment for non-urinary Na excretion made the best estimate of daily salt intake for both Lithgow and Australia about 9·9 g/d. CONCLUSIONS: The dietary recall method used by the AHS likely substantially underestimated mean population salt consumption in Australia.

Bayesian Meta-Analysis of Health State Utility Values: A Tutorial with a Practical Application in Heart Failure.

Researchers incorporate health state utility values as inputs to inform economic models. However, for a particular health state or condition, multiple utility values derived from different studies typically exist and a single study is often insufficient to represent the best available source of utility needed to inform policy decisions. The purpose of this paper is to provide an introductory guidance for conducting Bayesian meta-analysis of health state utility values to generate a single parameter input for economic evaluation, using R. The tutorial is illustrated using data from a systematic review of health state utilities of patients with heart failure, with 21 studies that reported utilities measured using the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). Explanations, key considerations and suggested readings are provided for each step of the tutorial, adhering to a clear workflow for conducting Bayesian meta-analysis: (1) setting-up the data; (2) employing methods to impute missing standard deviations; (3) defining the priors; (4) fitting the model; (5) diagnosing model convergence; (6) interpreting the results; and (7) performing sensitivity analyses. The posterior distributions for the pooled effect size (i.e. mean health state utility) and between-study heterogeneity are discussed and interpreted in light of the data, priors and models used. We hope that this tutorial will foster interest in Bayesian methods and their applications in the meta-analysis of utilities.

Bayesian approach for meta-analyses in biomedical research: a scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The overarching aim of this scoping review is to describe and analyze the scope of use and reporting of Bayesian methods in meta-analyses in biomedical research. INTRODUCTION: The Bayesian approach provides a powerful and flexible framework for meta-analysis, particularly suited for dealing with complex, sparse, or heterogeneous data. Due to these advantages and its appeal, Bayesian methods have been increasingly used in many areas of biomedical research; however, their use in meta-analysis remains scarce. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will include studies that used Bayesian methods for meta-analysis of primary studies in biomedical research. METHODS: The proposed review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews will be searched to identify relevant full-text papers published since 2016 in English. No geographical restriction will be applied. Two reviewers will screen the articles and extract the data using a tool that will be pilot-tested and revised, as necessary. Analysis will involve frequency counts, narrative synthesis, and mapping concepts to propose an appropriate workflow. The details of the scoping review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guideline. REVIEW REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework https://osf.io/jenp4/.