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četvrtak, 15.04.2010.

British Nutrition Foundation Conference Addresses Consumer Confusion About Low Calorie Sweeteners, England

Evidence on the safety and health effects of low calorie sweeteners is being debated by leading experts at a British Nutrition Foundation (BNF)

conference, The Science of Low Calorie Sweeteners - Separating Fact from Fiction, in London today.

The results of research in over 2,000 adults, conducted by YouGov on behalf of BNF, has been launched at the conference, showing that although only 10% of adults think low calorie sweeteners were safe for everyone, 82% appear to regularly consume products that typically contain sweeteners. The research also shows that the majority of consumers view nutritionists, dietitians and other health professionals (26%), and the Food Standards Agency (21%), as the most reliable sources of information about food . The conference aims to provide these health professionals, as well as food and nutrition journalists, with information to enable them to educate consumers' choices effectively in relation to low calorie sweeteners.

Sara Stanner, Science Programme Manager at the BNF explained: "Our research shows that some consumers have questions about sweeteners and their role in the diet. It also indicates that health advisers are considered to be the most reliable source of information on food. Health professionals, armed with the facts, can help to get accurate information to consumers and dispel some of the myths."

The BNF conference line-up included eminent experts from across the field of nutrition and health. Prof Adam Drewnowski from the University of Washington Centre for Obesity Research, presented the science behind our innate desire for sweet tastes. He outlined evidence on the physiological and behavioural effects of low calorie sweeteners, which supply the sweet taste that we are programmed to prefer while not providing energy,

Dr France Bellisle, from the Faculty of Medicine at Universite Laval, Quebec, developed this theme, discussing the effects of low calorie sweeteners on appetite and satiety. Early reports on low calorie sweeteners suggested that providing a sweet taste without calories could actually stimulate appetite. However, studies that have tested this in humans have not borne out this theory.

Prof Nick Finer, from the Department of Medicine, University College London, outlined evidence for the effectiveness of low calorie sweeteners in weight control and diabetes. He emphasised the complex and contradictory nature of the literature relating to choice of low calorie sweeteners and their effect on body weight, and whether people who are overweight or obese are more likely to choose these products.

With regards to the safety of low calorie sweeteners, Prof Andrew Renwick, from the School of Medicine, University of Southampton, described the process of safety testing for low calorie sweeteners and how regulatory authorities decide on the acceptable daily intake figures governing the use of these products in foods and drinks.

The conference concluded with a panel discussion on the science behind the headlines, with questions from the audience being directed at panelists including Prof Tom Sanders from Kings College London, Catherine Collins of St George's Hospital NHS Trust, and Brigid McKevith of Cereal Partners UK, together with the aforementioned conference speakers.

Stanner concluded: "We hope that the conference will help to clarify the evidence so that health professionals can effectively help consumers make informed decisions about their use of low calorie sweeteners."

Notes

1.The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) conference The science of low calorie sweeteners - separating fact from fiction, is being held in London on the 15th April 2010. http://www.nutrition.org.uk/bnfevents/events/sweeteners

2.BNF was established over 40 years ago and exists to deliver authoritative, evidence-based information on food and nutrition in the context of health and lifestyle. The Foundation's work is conducted and communicated through a unique blend of nutrition science, education and media activities. BNF's strong governance is broad-based but weighted towards the academic community. BNF is a registered charity that attracts funding from a variety of sources, including contracts with the European Commission, national government departments and agencies; food producers and manufacturers, retailers and food service companies; grant providing bodies, trusts and other charities. Further details about our work, governance and funding can be found on our website (http://www.nutrition.org.uk) and in our Annual Reports.

3.The Foundation thanks Coca Cola Great Britain and Ireland, Tate & Lyle Sugars and McNeil Consumer Nutritionals for financial support that has enabled the cost of this event to delegates to be subsidised.

4.All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2017 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 23rd - 25th March 2010. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

Trying To Eradicate A Disease Is A Waste Of Money: Researcher

Eradicating smallpox was one of the greatest human accomplishments of the 20th century, but new research shows initiatives of this kind are

not as good a use of health dollars as people might think. McGill University Biologist Dr. Jonathan Davies explains that reducing the prevalence of diseases in areas most affected by them is a far more effective and efficient strategy than trying to eradicate them altogether, which is extremely difficult and costs billions of dollars. What's more, he said, new research shows that the most at-risk populations can be identified using just three variables.

A great diversity of local mammals and birds in a region, a large human population and ineffective disease control efforts point to a high-prevalence of disease. Climate plays a role in determining how many different kinds of diseases there are, but not how many people will suffer from them.

"Because disease is not restricted by political boundaries and local epidemics can rapidly transform into global pandemics, reducing prevalence in one part of the world will also benefit people everywhere," Davies explains. Recent flu outbreaks demonstrate how quickly diseases can spread to different parts of the world and the high cost of providing vaccines for millions of people. By targeting at-risk populations it might be possible to prevent global outbreaks and save money at the same time.

The research shows that efforts should be concentrated in countries with large populations, such as India and Pakistan, and areas where there is currently almost no spending on health care, such as Madagascar and much of eastern Africa.

In addition to the health benefits, the research team points out that disease affects human behaviour, the politics and political stability of countries, human fertility, global economies and more generally the course and dynamics of human history. The ramifications could be huge. "While it is clear that the distribution of diseases have, in the past, affected all aspects of human life, the degree to which these diseases will affect us in the future depends on the choices we make today in the global allocation of health-care dollars," Davies said.

Dr. Michael Gavin of Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and Dr. Robert Dunn and Nyeema Harris, of North Carolina State University, contributed equally to this research, which was published online by the Proceedings of the Royal Society: B on April 15, 2010.

2-Drug Combo Twice As Effective For Crohn's Disease Remission: Mayo Clinic Study

A study led by Mayo Clinic suggests remission from Crohn's disease may be more likely if patients get biologic therapy combined with immune-suppressing

drugs first instead of immune-suppressing drugs alone. The study, published in the April 15, 2010 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, found treatment of moderate to severe Crohn's disease with infliximab plus azathioprine allows more patients to achieve remission and mucosal healing than therapy with azathioprine alone.

"These study results are strong enough to change clinical practice," says William Sandborn, M.D., gastroenterologist and vice chair of the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester. "They have certainly changed mine."

The researchers in the international, multi-center SONIC (Study of Biologic and Immunomodulator Naive Patients in Crohn's Disease) study recruited 508 patients with Crohn's disease who were naive to immunomodulator drugs. The patients were then randomized to treatment: 169 infliximab monotherapy, 170 azathioprine monotherapy, or 169 infliximab plus azathioprine combination therapy. Patients underwent colonoscopies at baseline and again at week 26. Patients still in the trial at week 30 were given the option of continuing in a blinded extension trial for another 20 weeks.

Researchers found that 57 percent of patients who received combination therapy with infliximab and azathioprine achieved steroid-free remission after 26 weeks. This is compared to 44 percent of patients who achieved remission with infliximab monotherapy and 30 percent with azathioprine alone. Both the infliximab combination therapy and infliximab monotherapy groups were statistically superior to the azathioprine group. These results were durable through week 50 and overall results show comparable safety in the three groups.

Historically, patients with Crohn's disease have been treated sequentially with steroids, then azathioprine, then monoclonal antibodies such as infliximab. The study definitively demonstrates that infliximab-based strategies are more effective than azathioprine, explains Dr. Sandborn.

"Results of this study will provide doctors and their patients with more information on how to use these drugs most appropriately to most effectively treat Crohn's disease," says Dr. Sandborn. "For the first time, we have longer term outcome data on the advantages of combination therapy that will help guide our treatment of patients with Crohn's disease."

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that affects an estimated 500,000 people in the United States. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and diarrhea. Crohn's disease has no known medical cure. One common therapy used to manage the disease is a series of intravenous infusions of infliximab, which blocks tumor necrosis factor, an important cause of inflammation in Crohn's disease. Azathioprine is an orally administered, small molecule immunosuppressive which has a broad immunosuppressive effect.

Dr. Sandborn provided consulting services for Centocor Ortho Biotech during the course of this research and received no personal compensation. Mayo Clinic received reimbursement for the services provided by Dr. Sandborn.

Comparing Measurement Techniques To Better Assess Body Composition

Measuring body composition - the amount of fatty tissue, muscle tissue and bone present in the body - can provide valuable information

for determining an individual's overall health status. However, obtaining accurate measurements can be difficult and expensive, according to Steve Ball, University of Missouri Extension fitness specialist. Now, MU researchers are comparing measurement techniques to determine the most efficient and cost-effective method for assessing body composition.

"There are several field and laboratory techniques for measuring body composition, but few are accurate, comfortable, non-invasive and do not require a highly trained technician," said Ball, associate professor of exercise physiology in the College of Human Environmental Sciences. "The most accurate laboratory techniques are expensive, time-consuming and aren't accessible to many health practitioners and trainers. Methods that are inexpensive and easily available, such as skinfold testing, body mass index and bioelectrical impedance, aren't the most accurate."

Two of the most effective laboratory methods for assessing body composition are dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, pronounced 'dexa'), which is considered the 'gold standard'; and the Bod Pod, which measures air displacement and body volume. The 3-D body scanner, originally developed to measure clothing sizes, is a new method that might be a more cost-effective system to measure body fatness. No previous study has compared body composition measurements from the 3-D body scanner to DXA or the Bod Pod to determine its efficacy.

"Specifically, we want to evaluate the accuracy of the 3-D body scanner by comparing it to DXA and the Bod Pod," said Justin Ryder, a graduate student researcher in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. "The goal is to determine if the 3-D scanner can provide another tool for body composition assessment that is fast, accurate and non-invasive."

Understanding and accurately measuring body composition is important for fitness and health professionals, Ryder said. Accurate body measurements are needed to assess health risks and changes in body fat, determine ideal body weight, recommend diet and exercise changes, and monitor growth, development, maturation and age-related changes in body composition.

The results would benefit health professionals and individuals who are at risk for certain health issues, including heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes, conditions that are two to three times more prevalent in obese individuals, according to the National Institutes for Health.

Planning Sleep Schedules With Math Software Offers Benefit For Shift Workers, Astronauts

Shifting work schedules can wreak havoc on a person's ability to get enough sleep, resulting in poor performance on

the job.

Researchers funded by the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) have developed software that uses mathematical models to help astronauts and ground support personnel better adjust to shifting work and sleep schedules. Outside the space program, the software could help people who do shift or night work or who experience jet lag due to travel across time zones.

"The best methods that we know to help people operate at peak performance are first to ensure that they get adequate sleep, and second that their work schedules are designed to be aligned with the natural body clock," said project leader Dr. Elizabeth Klerman, associate team leader for NSBRI's Human Factors and Performance Team.

According to Klerman, a physician in the Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, the software has two components. The Circadian Performance Simulation Software (CPSS) uses complex mathematical formulas to predict how an individual will react to specific conditions. CPSS also allows users to interactively design a schedule, such as shifting sleep/wake to a different time, and predicts when they would be expected to perform well or poorly.

The second component, known as Shifter, then "prescribes" the optimal times in the schedule to use light to shift a person's circadian rhythm in order to improve performance at critical times during the schedule.

"If there is a mission event, such as a spacewalk, scheduled at one or two o'clock in the morning, what can we do to help the astronaut to be alert and functioning well at that time?" Klerman said. "Do we suggest a nap or caffeine? Do we shift their sleep/wake schedule? There are a variety of options that we would like to be able to provide."

Scientists know that an individual's performance and alertness are tightly regulated by several factors related to circadian rhythms and the sleep/wake cycle - length of time awake; the timing, intensity and wavelength of light; the amount of sleep the night before; and the body clock's perception of time. As a result, most people are not able to operate at peak job performance in the late night or early morning hours.

The situation for International Space Station astronauts is complicated by the fact that they often face schedules that are not uniform. A shift in scheduled sleep/wake time, due to an event such as docking, could be as much as eight or nine hours, with the transition taking place over a short period of time. "These dramatic shifts in schedule not only affect the body's ability to know what time it is, but also hinder the body's ability to give the appropriate signals to a person trying to wake up or go to sleep," Klerman said.

With the basic software program complete, the researchers are now working to individualize the model. They want to determine what personal data are needed in order to provide recommendations for individuals. Klerman said the information needed could be as simple as age, or it could require more complicated data.

The software can easily be adapted for use in many occupations. "This program may be helpful for anyone who has to work the night shift, rotating shifts or extended shifts," Klerman said. "It could also help international travelers effectively deal with jet lag."

Workers outside the space industry that could benefit directly are medical personnel, security or police officers, firefighters, those working in transportation such as long-haul truckers, and power plant operators. Klerman suggested that everyone could benefit indirectly from the modeling. "Our lives, including our safety, are impacted by those people who have jobs requiring shift work or extremely long hours and who may be at increased risk of accidents and errors affecting themselves or others," she said.

Klerman added that lack of sleep can affect more than a person's alertness and performance. It can impact overall health. Lack of sleep is associated with an increased risk of obesity, pre-diabetic conditions, reduced response to vaccines and changes in cardiovascular functions.

The mathematical modeling effort is one of several projects being conducted by NSBRI's Human Factors and Performance Team to improve sleep and scheduling of work shifts, as well as determining which specific types of lighting can improve alertness and performance during spaceflight.

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