UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
NUTRITION PERSPECTIVES
Volume 26, No. 3
May/June 2001
Researchers Report New Mechanism by Which HDL Protects
Arteries
Depression, Bone Mass, and Osteoporosis
USDA Launches New Information-Based Web Site on Food Safety
Research Programs
NIH Launches First Study to Examine Long-Term Effects of Weight
Loss and Exercise In Type 2 Diabetes
Making Sense of Health and Nutrition News
Fish 101: Health Benefits Explored
Physical Activity Trends, United States, 1990-1998
The American Medical Association Updates Position on Food
Biotechnology
Fruit Extract for PMS
Does Cranberry Juice Help Prevent Urinary Tract Infections?
Safely Storing Mother's Milk
Safety of Aristolochic Acid
Resources:
Junior Master Gardener Program Presents Leadership Roles for Kids
The UC Davis School Gardens Project
Fairing Well with Agriculture In Grades 4-12
Tips for Getting and Staying Fit
Calcium-Related Websites of Interest
Got Questions about Food Safety?
Obesity Conference Materials Available
RESEARCHERS REPORT NEW MECHANISM BY WHICH HDL
PROTECTS ARTERIES
Scientists have discovered that high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good
cholesterol," triggers a process that keeps arteries clean and flexible
(1). It's a discovery, researchers believe, that could lead to new strategies
to prevent or treat vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, commonly known
as hardening of the arteries.
"What we have found is that HDL is a robust stimulator of nitric oxide
production in endothelial cells, which are the thin layer of cells lining the
arterial wall," said Dr. Philip W. Shaul, professor of pediatrics and senior
author of the study.
Nitric oxide, he said, is a potent signaling molecule that keeps arteries clean
and flexible, thereby preventing them from clogging and constricting, processes
that restrict blood flow and lead to high blood pressure, strokes, and heart
attacks.
The study describes the mechanism by which HDL stimulates the enzyme responsible
for nitric oxide production. Researchers used cells and arteries from sheep
and genetically engineered mice, all of which have characteristics similar to
those of humans, Shaul said.
He cited these details of the study's major findings:
· One of the major protein components of HDL, apolipoprotein A-I, which is protective against atherosclerosis in humans, is crucial to stimulating nitric-oxide production.
· Another protein, known as scavenger receptor-BI, which enables the HDL particle to bind to the cell surface, is absolutely required for nitric-oxide production.
· The entire process is localized to microscopic pockets known as caveolae, located in the outer membranes of the endothelial cells that line the arterial wall.
"Our previous understanding has been that HDL serves as a taxi, a shuttle
system for cholesterol," Shaul said, "delivering it from peripheral
tissues, including blood vessels, to the liver and other organs where it is
starting material for steroid hormones or where it is excreted."
The current study, he said, reveals an entirely new mechanism by which HDL
provides even more benefits to vascular health.
"HDL is the most potent stimulator of nitric-oxide production that we
have found in the past decade," Shaul said. "What we're realizing
is that, not only is it a taxi, but that it hits the arterial walls, and it
causes a dramatic response by the arterial walls to produce nitric oxide."
He cited a previous study, reported last year, that showed that under abnormal
conditions, the HDL "taxi" can reverse its route to deliver cholesterol
to diseased endothelial cells. As a result, the cells remain capable of producing
nitric oxide (2).
"HDL is an incredibly intricate guardian of the arterial wall, and we
still have much to learn about it," Shaul said.
The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the
Lowe Foundation, the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, and the Perot Family Foundation.
References:
1. Yuhanna IS, Zhu Y, Cox BE, et al. High-density lipoprotein binding to scavenger
receptor-BI activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Nature Medicine; July
2001; 7(7):853-7.
2. Uittenbogaard A, Shaul PW, Yuhanna IS, Blair A, Smart EJ. High density lipoprotein
prevents oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced inhibition of endothelial
nitric-oxide synthase localization and activation in caveolae. J Biol Chem;
Apr 14, 2000; 275(15):11278-83.
Source: Press Release; The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, July 2, 2001.
DEPRESSION, BONE MASS, AND OSTEOPOROSIS
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has launched a new study of
women ages 21 to 45 who are suffering from major depression to find out whether
low bone mass is related to depression or the production of stress hormones,
such as cortisol. During a 12-month period, researchers will monitor bone loss
and the effects of depression and stress on physical health. The trial involves
6 visits to NIMH, where participants will receive a psychological evaluation,
a bone mineral density test, and measurements of stress hormones.
In a review of published research, NIMH-funded scientists report a strong association
between depression and osteoporosis. The literature suggests that depression
may be a significant risk factor for osteoporosis, a progressive decrease in
bone density that makes bones fragile and more likely to break. Low bone mineral
density (BMD), a major risk factor for fracture, is more common in depressed
people than in the general population.
"Using different data, all of the studies point to the same conclusion,"
said NIMH researcher and first author Giovanni Cizza, MD, PhD. "Depression
is not only a disease of the brain, but it also has long-term consequences for
other medical conditions, such as osteoporosis" (1).
Both the clinical trial and research review underscore the seriousness of depression,
a treatable illness that affects 5 to 9 percent of women and 1 to 2 percent
of men. Depression symptoms include loss of interest or pleasure in activities
that were once enjoyed, including: sex, fatigue, decreased energy, difficulty
concentrating, remembering, making decisions, insomnia, early-morning awakening,
or oversleeping; appetite and weight loss or overeating and weight gain, thoughts
of death or suicide, suicide attempts, restlessness, irritability, and persistent
symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders,
and chronic pain.
Although its causes are unclear, major depression is associated with hormonal
abnormalities that can lead to changes in tissue, such as bone. Research suggests
that higher cortisol levels, often found in depressed patients, may contribute
to bone loss and changes in body composition. Fragile bones and increased risk
of fracture are signs of osteoporosis. When one or more risk factors occur,
such as low BMD, family history, previous fracture, thinness, or smoking, a
clinical evaluation for osteoporosis is recommended. Identifying depression
as a risk factor would improve patient diagnosis and treatment.
In one study, evidence revealed that bone density at the lumbar spine was 15
percent lower in men and women older than 40 with major depression compared
to men and women who were not depressed (2). Factors such as smoking, a history
of excessive or inadequate exercise, or estrogen treatment did not affect the
study, implying that depression per se had an effect on bone mass.
Another study measured bone mineral density at the spine, hip, and radius in
22 pre-and 2 postmenopausal women with previous or current major depression
(3). The 24 controls were matched by age, menopausal status, race, and body
mass index. BMD was 6 percent lower at the spine and 14 percent lower at the
hip in the depressed women. No pre-menopausal women in the control group had
such a deficit.
The association between depression, BMD, falls, and risk of fracture was examined
in a study of 7,414 elderly women. Depression prevalence was 6 percent. Depressed
women were more likely to fall (70 percent versus 59 percent) and had more vertebral
(11 percent versus 5 percent) and non-vertebral (28 percent versus 21 percent)
fractures compared with controls. This research underlines depression as a risk
factor for osteoporotic fractures.
The relationship between osteoporosis and mental health was evaluated in a
sample of 102 middle-aged Portuguese women. Osteoporosis had a 47 percent prevalence,
and depression was significantly more common in women with osteoporosis than
in women without it (77 percent versus 54 percent). Women with the disorder
had depressive scores 25-35 percent higher than those with normal bone mass.
This study did not find a link between depressive symptoms and low BMD, suggesting
that only fully developed depression is a risk factor for osteoporosis.
In their summary, the researchers show a consistent association between depression
and osteoporosis, suggesting that depression is a substantial risk factor. Some
bone-loss studies combined actively depressed subjects with those who had a
previous diagnosis, so it is unknown whether current depression and past diagnoses
affect bone loss equally. With major depression as the threshold, most studies
revealed a clear association between depression and osteoporosis.
Cizza and colleagues concluded that a clinical evaluation of subjects with unexplained bone loss, especially premenopausal women and young or middle-aged men, should include an assessment of depression. Conversely, non-traumatic fractures in a depressed patient should alert the physician to the possibility of osteoporosis.
The current NIMH study will determine whether women with major depression
and normal BMD lose bone mass faster than women without depression and if the
drug alendronate (Fosamax) can maintain or increase bone mass in premenopausal
women with major depression and low bone mass. It is open to women 21 to 45
years old in treatment for major depression within the year and no history of
schizophrenia, bipolar or eating disorders, or suicide risk, and to healthy
control women with no history of major depression or major organ disease.
The trial will be conducted at the National Institute of Mental Health, 9000
Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892. For more information about the study
on women, depression, and osteoporosis call: 1-800-411-1222 or 301-496-5645,
e-mail prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov. or write
to Dr. Giovanni Cizza, Principle Investigator, NIH, Building 10, Room 2D 47,
10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is part of the National Institutes
of Health (NIH), the Federal Government's primary agency for biomedical and
behavioral research. NIH is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. For more information about NIMH and its research programs, visit
the NIMH Web site http://www.nimh.nih.gov/.
References:
1. Cizza G, Ravn P, Chrousos GP, Gold PW. Depression: a major, unrecognized
risk factor for osteoporosis? Trends Endocrinol Metab; 2001 July;12(5):198-203.
2. Schweiger U, Deuschle M, Korner A, et al. Low lumbar bone mineral density
in patients with major depression. Am J Psychiatry. 1994 Nov;151(11):1691-3.
3. Reginster JY, Deroisy R, Paul I, Hansenne M, Ansseau M. Depressive vulnerability
is not an independent risk factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Maturitas. 1999 Oct 24;33(2):133-7.
4. Whooley MA, Kip KE, Cauley JA, et al. Depression, falls, and risk of fracture
in older women. Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. Arch Intern
Med. 1999 Mar 8;159(5):484-90.
5. Coelho R, Silva C, Maia A, Prata J, Barros H. Bone mineral density and depression:
a community study in women. J Psychosom Res. 1999 Jan;46(1):29-35.
Source: NIH Press Release, June 29, 2001.
USDA LAUNCHES NEW INFORMATION-BASED WEB SITE ON
FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH PROGRAMS
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently launched a new Web site (http://www.nal.usda.gov/fsrio)
aimed at providing a database of food safety research projects to the research
community and the general public. The Web site provides detailed information
on food safety research projects, spending, and accomplishments by U.S. Federal
agencies, along with links to other important food safety research information.
"This Web site is a tool that researchers and policy makers can use to
examine research needs and priorities in food safety," said Agriculture
Secretary Ann M. Veneman. "The goal is to measure the progress of our food
safety research and continue efforts to educate the public about these important
issues."
The searchable database provides information on nearly 500 food safety research
projects dating from 1998 to the present including research done or funded by:
USDA Agricultural Research Service; USDA Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service; the Food Safety Consortium (researchers from the University
of Arkansas, Iowa State University, and Kansas State University); and the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration.
Also on the Web site are:
· program and planning information, as well as various food safety reports,
· food safety news and information, and
· more than 100 links to Web-based food safety research information provided by U.S. and foreign governments, and educational and professional organizations.
The new Web site was created by the Food Safety Research Information Office
at USDA's National Agricultural Library with information from related government
food safety agencies. The National Agricultural Library, part of the Agricultural
Research Service, is the world's largest and most accessible agricultural research
library, and the principal resource in the United States for information about
food, agriculture, and natural resources.
Press Release: USDA, July 2, 2001.
NIH LAUNCHES FIRST STUDY TO EXAMINE LONG-TERM EFFECTS
OF
WEIGHT LOSS AND EXERCISE IN TYPE 2 DIABETES
The first long-term study to look at the effects of weight loss in people with
type 2 diabetes was launched at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes
Association on June 25th. Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it is
the largest study on the effects of weight-loss interventions ever funded by
the NIH.
Named Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes), the multi-center, randomized
clinical trial will examine the effects of a lifestyle intervention program
designed to promote weight loss through reduced calorie intake and regular exercise
in approximately 5,000 volunteers. Look AHEAD will examine how the lifestyle
interventions affect heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular-related death in
people with type 2 diabetes, the disease most affected by overweight and obesity.
This program will be compared to a program involving diabetes support and education.
"More than 16 million Americans have diabetes, with some 800,000 new cases
diagnosed each year. If these dangerous trends continue, the impact on our nation's
health and medical care costs in future years will be overwhelming," said
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. "This study offers
an important opportunity to gain additional insight into effective ways to prevent
or reduce the health burden of diabetes."
People who are between 45 and 75 years of age, have type 2 diabetes and are
classified as overweight or obese (as defined by the study protocol) are eligible.
The study seeks equal numbers of men and women and expects that 33 percent of
the participants will come from ethnic minority groups. People who meet these
criteria and who wish to participate in the study should call (866) 55AHEAD
(552-4323) or visit www.LookAHEADstudy.org,
the study web site.
Those who qualify for Look AHEAD will be assigned at random to either its Lifestyle
Program or its Diabetes Support and Education Program. The Lifestyle Program
is an intensive diet and exercise program designed to help participants lose
at least 7 to 10 percent of their initial weight in the first year of the study.
Participants will be expected to adopt a program of regular exercise, primarily
walking, with a goal of 25 minutes per day. Instead of the lifestyle program,
a comparison group will be enrolled in the Diabetes Support and Education Program.
They will attend sessions on nutrition and physical activity and may attend
support groups with other people who have diabetes.
Individuals will be followed for up to 11.5 years. During this period, researchers
will track cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes control, the development of
complications, and general health and quality of life. "We have an enormous
opportunity to learn more about the role long-term weight loss can play in improving
the health of overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes," said Rena R.
Wing, Ph.D., co-chair of Look AHEAD. "We know short-term weight loss can
benefit overweight people with diabetes; we just don't have good data about
the long-term effects."
More than 50 percent of adults in America are considered overweight. The percent
of obese Americans has risen from 16 to 22 percent in the past 15 years. Although
the reasons are not well understood, overweight affects minorities disproportionately.
Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, largely
due to the number of Americans who are overweight or obese. According to the
American Diabetes Association, the incidence of diabetes among middle-aged people
40 to 74 years of age increased 38 percent between 1976 and 1994. Today, 80
percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. In addition,
type 2 diabetes is associated with a two- to fourfold risk of coronary artery
disease. Heart attacks and strokes are the leading causes of death in people
with type 2 diabetes.
"Obesity in America is a serious risk factor for a number of diseases
and conditions, diabetes especially," said F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, M.D., co-chair
of Look AHEAD. "This study will help us understand the effects of weight
loss on diabetes and many other disorders." Short-term weight loss has
been shown to have beneficial effects on diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
To date, there have been no randomized trials on the benefits of long-term weight
loss because of the difficulty of achieving and maintaining weight loss. The
study has a budget of more than $180 million. Wing is professor of psychiatry
and human behavior at Brown Medical School/Miriam Hospital, and director of
their Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center. She also maintains an appointment
as professor of psychiatry, psychology, and epidemiology at the University of
Pittsburgh. She serves on the National Task Force on Prevention and Treatment
of Obesity (under the NIDDK), and is an NIDDK Advisory Council member. Pi-Sunyer
is director of the Obesity Research Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital
Center in New York, and director of the NIDDK-funded New York Obesity and Nutrition
Research Center. Other federal sponsors of Look AHEAD include the National Heart,
Lung and Blood Institute; the National Institute of Nursing Research; the National
Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities; the Office of Research on
Women's Health; all of the NIH, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Source: NIH Press Release, June 25, 2001.
MAKING SENSE OF HEALTH AND NUTRITION NEWS
It seems that not a day goes by without the media reporting on some new health
or nutrition study. Whether it's television, radio, the daily newspaper, or
a monthly magazine, new scientific studies on food, nutrition, and health make
headlines. In general, having the availability of information on such an important
topic is a good thing: the more we know about our health, the better choices
we can make. On the other hand, with the abundance of health and nutrition information
swirling around us, much of it delivered in small bits and pieces, it can be
difficult for most of us to decide which pieces of information are accurate
and important for us and our particular health and nutrition situations.
News Bites Don't Warrant Behavior Changes
During television or radio reports on new scientific studies, it may be difficult
to evaluate what you're hearing because the reports are so short and often fail
to provide important facts and or place the information in an appropriate context.
In most cases, it is usually best to obtain further information before you act.
For example, if you saw a television report on the results of a new study that
indicated that eating 25 apples a day helped prevent cancer, you would not immediately
stock up on apples and start eating!
In addition, news bites such as those featured on the nightly news shows often
do not provide enough information for an informed decision. In fact, you could
ask many questions about a report like the one about eating apples mentioned
above. What type of study was it? Was it conducted with humans or animals? How
large was the study population, and how long did It last? Exactly how effective
was the apple-eating regimen?
Equally important is that, except in rare cases, the results of a single study
are not necessarily conclusive. Frequently, more studies are needed to confirm
those results. Therefore, until you have more complete information, either by
reading more about the subject, or form your physician or health professional,
look before you leap into changing diet or lifestyle.
Tips for Evaluating Science
Written reports of new health and nutrition studies are easier to evaluate
than television or radio reports because they usually present more information.
Consider the following when reading about new studies in a newspaper or magazine
article:
Study design
The way in which a study is organized and conducted can affect the results
and relevance to our everyday lives. A "preliminary" study offers
just the first glimpse at what may someday become a health recommendation, whereas
the results of a study that confirms the findings of many previous studies may
themselves be considered recommendations of sorts.
Furthermore, studies that show associations or relationships do not necessarily
indicate cause and effect (as in, "X is associated with a decreased risk
for Y"). Controlled studies, which test the effects of a specific treatment
on a condition, are the only type of study that can show cause and effect. Often,
the most relevant controlled experiments are clinical trials, which use human
volunteer subjects. The "gold standard" of clinical trials is the
double-blind, placebo-controlled study, in which the subjects are randomly assigned
to either the experimental group or the control group.
Funding source
In today's confrontational environment, research has sometimes been criticized
or its findings may be dismissed entirely because industry or some other interested
party has funded the research. To provide sources of funding information to
the public, most scientific journals require that this information be referenced
at the end of the paper. Funding information is important but should not be
the sole criterion for the evaluation of a scientific study.
Good scientific research is costly. This is because it is complicated, frequently
time-consuming, and involves numerous people (researchers, statisticians, etc.)
who are paid for their time and expertise. This is why governments, universities,
industry groups, or individual companies fund most nutrition and health research.
Whether funding comes from government, industry, health organizations, individuals,
or any other source, what is important is to view the merits of the study using
the yardstick of scientific standards.
Take the example of a food ingredient. The federal government requires that
companies that want to market new food ingredients must demonstrate the safety
and efficacy of their products through scientific research using guidance principles
established over the years jointly by government officials, academicians, and
industry scientists. Thus, the company must fund studies before the government
will even consider the new ingredient. If industry did not fund the research,
it would not be done at all and many new products would never reach the marketplace.
The other side of the funding "coin" is the researchers themselves.
Researchers have worked long and hard to obtain their academic and professional
credentials and standings. As members of the broader community, they would neither
risk the health of their family and friends nor would they risk losing their
credibility by publishing flawed biased conclusions. Moreover, academic institutions
where much research is carried out have policies in place that ensure that conflicts
of interest do not play a role in the science.
Finally, funding sources for studies are always disclosed in reputable journals
in which the studies are published, and media reports usually include this information
as well.
What is the bottom line? The funding source should be just one of many factors
that you consider when evaluating a scientific study, not the sole consideration.
The results of a good scientific study, a study that is well designed and properly
conducted, will stand on their own merit, regardless of who funded the research.
Context
Context pertains to the peripheral but relevant information needed to put a
study's results into perspective and make the information useful in real life.
In a word, it's the details. Because of the abbreviated nature of television
and radio news reports, contextual information is rarely included in coverage
of new health and nutrition studies. In the print media, context is frequently
presented at the end of the article, so that only the most persistent readers
will get all of the information they need to fully evaluate the credibility
of the study.
Examples of context in stories and articles on nutrition and health might include
the following: the amount of a food consumed or specifics about the dosage of
a supplement taken, the frequency of its consumption, details about the dosage
of a supplement taken, the frequency of its consumption, details about the study
population (gender, age, etc.), and information about risk-benefit trade-offs
as well as information on whether the study confirmed or contradicted previous
studies.
When the topic of a new scientific study seems to pertain to your life or those
of your family members, it's a good idea to try to gather as much information
about it as possible. The old adage, "if it sounds too good (or bad) to
be true, it probably is," applies to nutrition and food safety as well
as anything else. Getting the opinions of physician, a dietitian, or other health
professional, and then taking a common-sense approach to evaluating all the
information, will help you make an informed decision about whether the results
of a study should influence your behavior.
Source: Food Insight; January/February 2001; pp.4-5.
FISH 101: HEALTH BENEFITS EXPLORED
Research indicates that including a variety of fish in the diet is beneficial
in reducing the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease among women (1). Experts
say the health benefits associated with fish consumption far outweigh any associated
food-related risks. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently
issued an advisory to women who are pregnant or of childbearing age about the
consumption of larger predatory fish species, specifically, shark, swordfish,
tilefish, and king mackerel, due to the levels of methylmercury found in those
fish. Conversely, the advisory recommends 12 ounces of canned fish (which is
produced from smaller fish) per week can safely be consumed by this population.
The American Heart Association also suggests that "two fish serving per
week are recommended to confer cardio-protective effects."
Fish contain fat commonly known as omega-3's. Researchers suggest that omega-3's
reduce the risk of blood clotting or sticking to the artery walls, a condition
that could result in cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart attack, and stroke.
Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, professor of nutrition at The Pennsylvania State
University, reports, "In addition to the beneficial effects of fish consumption
on CVD risk in individuals with coronary disease, a dietary pattern that includes
fish and fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, lowers the risk of
CVD in men without diagnosed CVD or cancer. Fish is an important food in a healthful
dietary pattern." The benefits of a diet that comprises a variety of foods,
including fish, are greater than any health risk yet associated with some fish.
According to Edith Howard Hogan, RD, LD, spokesperson for The American Dietetic
Association, "canned tuna, salmon, and even sardines are an inexpensive
and widely available source of protein and omega-3's today."
Reference:
1. Iso H, Rexrode KM, Stampfer MJ, et al. Intake of fish and omega-3 fatty
acids and risk of stroke in women. Journal of the American Medical Association;
285(3); January 17, 2001; pp. 304-12.
Source: Food Insights; January/February; 2001; p. 6.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TRENDS, UNITED STATES, 1990-1998
Physical activity is associated with numerous health benefits (1), and increased
participation in various types of leisure-time physical activity had been encouraged
during the 1990s (2). To determine national estimates of leisure-time physical
activity during 1990-1998, data were obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System (BRFSS). The report summarizes the results of that analysis,
which indicate that leisure-time physical activity trends have remained unchanged.
BRFSS is a population-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of the civilian,
non-institutionalized US population aged ³ 18 years. Forty-three states
and the District of Columbia collected data about physical activity for 1990,
1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1998. Data were not collected by all states during
1993, 1995, and 1997. Respondents were asked about the frequency, duration,
and distance (as appropriate) of each activity. Responses were then classified
as one of 56 selected activities. Moderate activity was defined as any of the
56 selected activities, and vigorous activity was defined as aerobic physical
activity classified as vigorous-intensity based on estimated metabolic expenditure
(MET). To classify an activity as vigorous, it must be aerobic with an assigned
MET value (3) that is at least 60 percent of a person's maximal cardio-respiratory
capacity (MCC). MET values are determined using two regression equations for
MCC (4): one for men (METS60%MCC = [0.6 - 0.55 x age)] / 3.5) and one for women
(METS60%MCC = [0.6 x (48-0.37 x age)] / 3.5).
To have achieved recommended levels of physical activity, a person must have
reported engaging in moderate-intensity physical activity ³ 5 times per
week for ³ 30 minutes each time, vigorous-intensity physical activity ³3
times per week for ³ 20 minutes each time, or both during the preceding
month. Persons reporting some activity during the preceding month but not enough
to be classified as moderate or vigorous were classified as insufficient. Persons
classified as inactive reported no physical activity outside of their occupation
during the preceding month. Data were analyzed using SUDAAN to obtain prevalence
estimates for recommended levels of physical activity. All data were age adjusted
to the 2000 standard population.
The prevalence of those who engaged in recommended levels of activity increased
slightly from 24.3 percent in 1990 to 25.4 percent in 1998, and the prevalence
of those reporting no physical activity decreased from 45.0 percent in 1990
to 45.9 percent in 1998. Those reporting no physical activity decreased from
30.7 percent in 1990 to 28.7 percent in 1998. The components of recommended
activity remained relatively stable. This was reported by the Physical Activity
and Health Branch division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, and Cardiovascular
Health Branch Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; and an EIS Officer, CDC. The findings
in this report indicate that trends in physical activity remained stable during
1990-1998. Classifying persons according to their main pair of non-occupational
activities during the preceding month suggests that only approximately one fourth
of US adults meet recommended levels of physical activity.
During 1990-1998, the BRFSS formula for calculating vigorous intensity changed,
In 1992, vigorous intensity was calculated as 50 percent of MCC; before 1992,
it was calculated as 60 percent of MCC, the generally accepted threshold for
vigorous activity. The data reported here vary from previous calculated using
the same formula for vigorous intensity (60 percent MCC). Therefore, the slight
increase in vigorous physical activity that might have appeared after 1992 in
previous reports was attributed to differences in calculating vigorous physical
activity rather than actual increase among the population.
The findings in this report are subject to at least four limitations. First,
these data are self-reported and are subject to recall bias. Second, because
these data do not include information on non-leisure-time physical activities,
total activity may be underestimated. Third, only the two most common activities
the respondents engaged in during the preceding month are reported. Finally,
these data are limited by coverage- and non-response-related errors.
It is important to remember that moderate-intensity physical activity has substantial health benefits (1). Moderate-intensity activities include housework, childcare activities, occupational activity, or walking for transportation, which may be more prevalent among women and certain subgroups of the population. However, surveillance systems that primarily are based on sports-related vigorous activities may miss a substantial portion of this type of activity. Also, systems based on only two reported activities may miss less intense or moderate-intensity activities. Public health programs usually encourage participation in moderate-intensity rather than vigorous-intensity activities for sedentary persons. Surveillance systems should be updated so that a broader range of physical activities can be measured. A more extensive measurement system would enable determination of whether the trends in this report are an accurate reflection of physical activity trends in the United States.
References:
1. US Department of Health and Human Services. Physical activity and health:
report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, Georgia: US Department of Health and
Human Services, CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion, 1996.
2. US Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy people 2000, full report,
with commentary. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, 1991; DHHS publication no. (PHS) 91-50212.
3. Anisworth BE, Haskell WL, Whitt MC, et al. Compendium of physical activities:
an update of activity codes and MET intensities. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000;
9:S498-S516.
4. Pereria MA, Fitzgerald SJ, Gregg EW, et al. A collection of physical activity
questionnaires for health-related research. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1997; 29:S146-S52.
Source: JAMA; 285(14); April 11, 2001; p. 1835.
THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION UPDATES
POSITION ON FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY
During the December 2000 interim meeting of the American Medical Association
(AMA), physician delegates adopted a favorable position and list of recommendations
concerning crops and foods produced using biotechnology. The action followed
an AMA Council on Scientific Affairs review of numerous reports and journal
articles relating to agricultural and food biotechnology. The AMA found that
foods produced though biotechnology "are substantially equivalent to their
conventional counterparts," and stated that there is a lack of scientific
just-ification for special labeling of foods produced though biotechnology.
The AMA recommendations include having science-based federal regulation of agricultural
biotechnology and continued research of environmental impacts as well as the
safety assessment of such foods. They also recommended ongoing research and
development and for the government, industry, scientific and medical communities
to increase consumer education and access to unbiased information on agricultural
biotechnology. The report is expected to appear in the Journal of the American
Medical Association later this year.
Source: Food Insights; January/February; 2001; p. 6.
An extract from the fruit of the chaste tree, Vitex agnus castus, is an effective
treatment for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), according to researchers at the Institute
for Health Care and Science, Hüttenberg, Germany (1). The plant, which
contains iridoids and flavonids (in the fruit) and compounds with biochemical
similarity to sex hormones (in the leaves and flowers), has been used traditionally
to treat PMS symptoms. In the study, 170 women with PMS were randomly assigned
to receive a daily tablet containing Vitex agnus castus extract or a placebo
and evaluated for changes in symptoms (from baseline) after three menstrual
cycles. The investigators found that patients taking the extract experienced
significant improvement in five of the six self-assessment measures (irritability,
mood alteration, anger, headache, and breast fullness); other menstrual symptoms,
including bloating, remained unchanged by treatment.
Physicians' ratings (of overall severity of a woman's condition, global improvement
or deterioration, and overall assessment of risk or benefit) also indicated
that patients taking the fruit extract fared significantly better than those
given placebo. In addition, more than half the women taking the extract reported
a 50 percent or better reduction in self-assessed symptoms vs 24 percent of
the women given placebo. "This herbal remedy ought to be considered a therapeutic
option in women in whom a causal origin for this syndrome cannot be established,"
the researchers concluded.
Reference:
1. Schellenberg R. Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus
fruit extract: prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study. BMJ; 322;
2001; pp.134-137.
Source: JAMA; 285(6); February 14, 2001; p. 725.
DOES CRANBERRY JUICE HELP PREVENT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS?
Asymptomatic bacteriuria is common in elderly women, but this does not always
result in a urinary tract infection (UTI). Lack of estrogen appears to predispose
many postmenopausal women to recurrent urinary tract infections. Women who have
had recurrent infections before menopause are more prone to have these infections
after menopause (1).
Women sometimes consume cranberry juice and other cranberry products for prevention
or early treatment of UTIs. Until recently there has been little scientific
evidence to support this practice. Traditional thinking has held that cranberry
juice acidifies the urine and inhibits growth of some bacteria. Current nutritional
guidelines for patients with UTI suggest avoidance of coffee, alcohol, and spicy
foods (2).
Some recent research suggests that components of cranberry juice do help prevent
UTIs by interfering with bacterial adherence of E. coli, the bacteria most often
responsible for these infections (3). In addition, in a recent study that tested
a fivefold concentrate of cranberry juice on the growth of E. coli, the cranberry
juice concentrate had completely suppressed the growth of E. coli after 24 hours.
Active Ingredients
Cranberries contain two compounds that inhibit adherence of bacteria to the
bladder lining, fructose and a polymeric compound of unknown nature (4). Although
many juices contain fructose, cranberries and blueberries (which belong to the
same botanical family) are the only fruits known to contain this polymeric compound.
In the largest trial to study the in vivo effect of cranberries on bacteria
in the urinary tract, efficacy was seen only after four to eight weeks of continued
ingestion of 300 mL cranberry juice per day. The cranberry juice significantly
(by 42 percent) reduced the amount of bacteria present in the urine of elderly
women.
Will patients comply with nutritional guidelines that recommend drinking cranberry
juice for a long period of time to prevent recurrent UTIs? Research has been
limited, but results suggest that patients may not find this an acceptable prevention
strategy. Many subjects in past trials have just stopped drinking the juice.
References:
1. Stamm WE and Raz R. Factors contributing to susceptibility of postmenopausal
women to recurrent urinary tract infections. Clin Infect Dis; 1999; 28:723.
2. [Online] Urinary Tract Infections in Adults, www.niddk.nih.gov/health/urolog/pubs/utiadult/utiadult.htm.
3. Lee YL, Owens J, Thrupp L, Cesario TCDoes cranberry juice have antibacterial
activity? JAMA; 2000; 283:1691.
4. Zafriri D, Ofek I, Adar R, Pocino M, Sharon N. Inhibitory activity of cranberry
juice on adherence of type 1 and type P fimbriated Escherichia coli to eucaryotic
cells. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989 Jan;33(1):92-8. Antimicrob Agent Chomother;
1989; 33:92.
Source: Nutrition & the MD; 26(11); September 2000; pp. 5-6.
Pediatricians can reassure parents that refrigeration of breast milk for up
to 72 hours is safe, according to a review of effects of storage on antimicrobial
components of breast milk (1). Refrigeration and deep freezing have been associated
with enhanced bacteriostatic activities and reduced contaminant bacterial load
in expressed breast milk. Milk that is refrigerated or fresh frozen for up to
a month and then thawed has higher bacteriostatic activity than freshly collected
milk bacterial colony counts drop during storage as well. After refrigeration
for up to three days, the ability of colostrums to bind pathogenic bacteria
is enhanced by refrigeration for up to three days.
When milk contains ingredients, freezing is also beneficial. Freezing for at
least one day destroys cytomegalovirus shed into the milk. Free fatty acids
(FFA) produced by milk lipase during prolonged storage are cytolytic on intestinal
parasites, especially Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica, gram-positive
bacteria and yeast. In the laboratory, FFA disrupt the membrane of enveloped
viruses. These effects are greatest if the milk is initially cooled by refrigeration
to 4oC. Prolonged freezing and heating, however, may be deleterious. Milk stored
for more than a month at -20oC loses cell viability and bacteriostatic activity.
After heat sterilization, IgA and lactoferrin fall to undetectable levels and
lysozyme is progressively destroyed. Pasteuization also destroy the bacteriostatic
activity.
Noting that certain antimicrobial functions of milk are potentially enhanced
by storage, the author recommended refrigeration of milk for up to 72 hours,
freezing milk at -20oC for storage from 3 days to a month, and deep-freezing
at -70oC for milk kept more than a month.
Reference:
1. Ogundele MO. Techniques for the storage of human breast milk: implications
for anti-microbial functions and safety of stored milk. Eur J Pediatr; 2000
Nov; 159:798-797.
Source: AAP New;18(1); January 2001; p.3.
The FDA has alerted health care professionals to important safety information
about botanical products containing aristolochic acid, which are used as ingredients
in dietary supplements or sold as "traditional medicines."
A year ago, the agency informed health care professionals that consumption
of products with aristolochic acid resulted in several life-threatening adverse
events and urged manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements to ensure
that their products are free of this harmful ingredient.
Since then, there have been additional reports of serious adverse events involving
products containing aristolochic acid, including the following:
· A study in Belgium has found that among 39 patients with end-stage renal failure, 18 cases of urothelial tract carcinoma occurred. All analyzed tissue samples contained aristolochic acid-related DNA adducts.
· FDA laboratory analyses revealed the presence of aristolochic acid in certain botanical products and dietary supplements sold in the United States. Some of the products were labeled as Aristolochia (also called Virginia snakeroot) and as botanicals for which it is a likely substitute, eg, Stepania tetrandra, Clematis armandi, and Akebia extract.
· Two patients in the United States recently were reported to have developed end-stage renal disease in association with use of botanical preparations containing aristolochic acid.
The FDA urges health care professionals to review cases of unexplained renal
disease, particularly interstitial fibrosis associated with end-stage renal
disease, as well as cases of urothelial tract tumors, to determine whether these
patients used dietary supplements or "traditional medicines." Renal
disease or malignancies associated with use of botanical preparations should
be reported as soon as possible to the FDA's MedWatch program by phone: (800)
332-1088, or the Internet at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Additional information is available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%20~dms/ds-bot.html.
Source: JAMA; 285(21); June 6, 2001; p. 2705.
RESOURCES:
JUNIOR MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM PRESENTS
LEADERSHIP ROLES FOR KIDS
In the last several years, school gardens have grown in popularity as a tool
for teaching students about almost any topic under the sun, including agriculture.
Now a new benefit is emerging as a product of garden-based learning, leadership
skills.
The Junior Master Gardener (JMG) program, based on the highly successful Master
Gardener program for adults, is for youth of all ages. It plants students in
the role of mentor in a cross-age learning environment.
Young people are trained to use fun and inexpensive activities to teach horticulture
and environmental science concepts to others in school and community-based situations.
The program is designed to be flexible so students in different age groups,
grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12, can be trained appropriately. Training sessions,
being organized around the state, build on each other so that new and exciting
activities continue to be taught.
In addition to honing their horticultural, environmental, and nutritional knowledge,
the youngsters sharpen their critical thinking skills. They develop the ability
to identify community concerns and decide how they can take action to address
those concerns through individual group projects.
To organize a JMG program at a California site, request information from Susan
Gloeckler, JMG State Coordinator, 669 County Square Drive, Suite 100, Ventura,
CA 93003. Call 805/662-6943, or e-mail sygloeckler@ucdavis.edu.
Additional information is available at http://jmgkids.com.
Source: Cream of the Crop; 14(2); Spring 2001; p. 5.
THE UC DAVIS SCHOOL GARDENS PROJECT
Delaine Easton, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, has made it part
of her vision to see "a garden in every school" in the state of California.
The UC Davis Children's Garden Program share her enthusiasm. Gardens offer a
dynamic setting on campus for teaching many disciplines. They provide learning
opportunities for children with a broad range of backgrounds, abilities, and
learning styles. Furthermore, school gardens can help schools build their community
both on and off campus.
To help make this vision a reality, the UC Davis Children's Garden Program
is working with the Nutrition Services Division of the California Department
of Education to serve as a regional resource center for school gardens. The
UC Davis Children's Garden Program has provided tours for children in their
Ecological Garden for the last 14 years. They are using this experience and
garden site in their new effort. Offered to teachers, parents & volunteers
working with a school garden to enhance elementary school garden projects &
integrate them into the curriculum.
The "School Gardens Project" for 2001 involves the following:
· Workshop Series for School Gardens offered in Fall 2001.
· Developing a guide for using school gardens to teach and apply state standards.
· Working both within our region and across the state to develop a statewide network on this subject.
· Enhance your elementary school garden projects & integrate them into your curriculum.
· Learn the basics through discussion & hands-on activities.
· Receive: Activities for use in the garden or classroom, and
· 1 Unit continuing education credit available for attending four workshops, including gardens for good nutrition ($65 fee).
Choose from five workshops:
· Composting at School: Compost is critical to building soils! Learn the basics of aerobic and vermin-composting to recycle yard, garden, and food waste while creating great compost. Saturday, September 8th at 9:00 - 11:30 am.
· Garden Management Learn the basics of soil preparation, irrigation, and integrated pest management. Discover how to involve your students in managing the garden. Saturday, September 8th at 12:30 - 3:00 pm.
· Insects & Other Critters Search out and identify insects and other creatures living in the garden. Contemplate their important role in the garden ecosystem. learn exciting activities you can do at school to demonstrate their role while teaching science and math. Wednesday, September 19th at 3:30-6:00 pm.
· Gardens for Good Nutrition Explore the connections between nutrition and learning. Gardens increase the availability of fruits and vegetables at school and our awareness of good nutrition. Tuesday, October 2nd at 3:30-6:00 pm.
· School Gardens & State Standards School Gardens will not be sustainable if they add to your responsibilities. Learn how to use the school garden as a means of teaching or applying state standards for math, science, language arts, & social studies. Thursday, October 11th at 3:30-6:00 pm.
Attend any or all workshops! Pre-Registration Requested with a $10 per person per workshop fee. All workshops are to be held at the UC Davis Plant Science Teaching Center and Student Farm. If you are interested in attending the workshops, please register by mail. Enrollment is limited. Please also feel free to call or email with questions. Cynthia Havstad, Department of Pomology, (530) 752-7655 or e-mail her at: smhavstad@ucdavis.edu. Form More Information Contact Carol Hillhouse or Cynthia Havstad (530) 752-7655.
FAIRING WELL WITH AGRICULTURE IN GRADES 4-12
Every school year, there is the science fair, which means, every year, students
from kindergarten to high school are hunting for science fair project ideas.
USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has made that hunt easier with a
Web site that offers an agricultural spin to science fair projects.
Agriculture is not one of the official science fair categories, but it certainly
fits into many of the traditional groupings. Biology, botany, chemistry, environmental
sciences, nutrition, all cover areas that have room for interesting and educational
science fair projects involving agriculture.
Blending agriculture into a science fair is mainly a matter of seeing agriculture
as a science. Encouraging students to think of agriculture as a science is a
big step in understanding that farming is more than just working the soil.
The science project pages are part of ARS Sci4Kids, an intriguing and interactive
Web site aimed at presenting the latest in agricultural research. The site is
geared primarily for middle school students, although younger and older viewers
will find much of the site interesting. Sci4Kids, including the science fair
pages, is also available in Spanish.
A general "how to do a science project" section provides explanations
of research projects and shows the difference between scientific principles
and research. There is also a discussion of the steps involved in the scientific
process. This includes hypotheses, experimental design including the need for
controls, data collection, and conclusion. You can reach this site at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids//fair/story.htm.
Or you can reach it by clicking on the "more" button on the front
page of the Science for Kids Web site.
Suggestions for agriculture-related science projects, broken down under the
conventional science fair headings, are offered on a separate page at www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/ideasframe.htm.
To encourage students to check their own curiosity, many of the projects are
presented simply as questions. For example, under the chemistry category, find
out what happens when you grow sweet potatoes next to other plants. Do the neighboring
plants thrive or die?
The site also offers links to related scientific information. This also allows
different age groups to customize the project to an appropriate level of complexity.
The projects also include links to related scientific information.
Source: Cream of the Crop; 14(2); Spring 2001; p. 5.
TIPS FOR GETTING AND STAYING FIT
Want to exercise regularly but just can't seem to find a way to squeeze physical
activity into a busy schedule? Let baseball great Nolan Ryan give you tips on
how to do it right. Ryan's "Fitness Guide" is one of 10 publications
available free online from the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
(PCPFS). President Eisenhower founded PCPFS nearly 45 years ago to encourage
American children to lead healthy land physically fit lives. Today, the council
is still going strong and preaching its fitness message to Americans of all
ages.
On its Web site, www.fitness.gov, you
can check out brochures on numerous topics including:
· Exercise and weight control
· Fitness fundamentals
· Kids in action (fitness for children 2-6)
· Fitness for youth ages 6-17
· 10 tips to healthy eating and physical activity
And, of course, there is Ryan's guide, which advises that "You don't need
lots of time [to exercise], just take a look at "Gopher Cakes" and
the rest of the council's humorous public service videos, viewable on desktop
with a free downloadable player.
Source: FDA Consumer; May/June 2001; p. 34.
CALCIUM-RELATED WEBSITES OF INTEREST
· Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride (www.nap.edu/books/0309063507/html/index.html): Offers free access to the full text of the 1999 Dietary Reference Intakes from the Institute of Medicine. Hard copy can also be purchased online.
· NIH Consensus Statement on Osteoporosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Therapy (www.odp.od.nih.gov/consensus/cons/111/111_intro.htm): From here you can access the full text of the statement from this NIH consensus-development conference held in March 2000. A conference bibliography and recorded video-cast of the conference are also available.
· Clinical Essentials of Calcium and Skeletal Disorders (primarycare.medscape.com/PCI/calcium/public/calcium-about.html): Provides full text of this clinically oriented handbook by Leonard J. Deftos, MD, JD. Access is free but registration at Medscape (www.medscape.com) is required.
· The Calcium Information Resource (www.calciuminfo.com): Well-designed consumer-oriented site that provides a mix of basic and relatively in-depth information about calcium and how to achieve recommended daily intakes. Produced by Smith Kline Beecham, with a strong emphasis on the use of Tums as a source of calcium.
Source: Nutrition & the MD; 26(9); September 2000; p. 8.
GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT FOOD SAFETY?
Your probably have all sorts of questions about how to best prevent yourself
and your family from experiencing a foodborne illness. For answers, check out
FDA's "Consumer Advice" page at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/advice.html.
There, you'll learn the best way to clean kitchen counters, whether "slow
cooking" is safe, why some people shouldn't eat raw oysters, and how to
best handle take-home foods and leftovers. The site also contains useful information
about dietary supplements, food labeling, cosmetics, weight loss, women's health,
food irradiation, and bioengineered foods.
Source: FDA Consumer; May/June 2001; p. 34.
OBESITY CONFERENCE MATERIALS AVAILABLE
As many of you know, in March of this year, the Center for Weight and Health
and the California Department of Health Services co-hosted the California Childhood
Obesity Conference. Nearly 100 speakers gave presentations on a wide variety
of weight-related topics. Many of the speakers' presentation materials are now
posted on the Centers web site at http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/cwh/
under Materials and Resources. The materials can be viewed and downloaded using
the free Adobe Acrobat (downloadable from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html).
This list of materials will be updated if and when additional presentation materials
are received. Speaker materials that were submitted in hard copy only are not
posted on the web site.
Source: CNR Press Release, Center for Weight and Health, July 6, 2001.
UC DAVIS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT:
FACULTY POSITION: NUTRITION / SOCIAL MARKETING / CANCER PREVENTION
ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
The University of California, Davis, School of Medicine is recruiting for a
full-time academic position at the Assistant or Associate Adjunct Professor
level in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. The Department
of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (http://www-epm.ucdavis.edu/)
is a major research and teaching program. This position will also work collaboratively
with faculty researchers in the Department of Nutrition.
Requirements for this position are:
· Applicants must possess a doctoral degree in nutrition, epidemiology, behavioral science, communications, public health, medicine or a related field.
· Experience in intervention/health promotion programs and research related to public health nutrition and behavioral interventions is required.
· Experience working on community-based intervention nutrition studies or programs is highly desirable.
· The applicant should have the ability to form an interdisciplinary network of collaborators with expertise relevant to nutritional interventions for health promotion and cancer prevention.
· He/she should have the ability to work collaboratively with public health agencies, clinicians, community groups, media and other non-University groups concerned with nutrition and prevention/health promotion.
· A broad knowledge of nutritional science, behavioral issues in nutrition interventions, and an established track record of funding support and publication are necessary.
· Experience in project administration and fiscal management is desirable.
Responsibilities include:
· A leadership role in the Center for Advanced Studies in Nutrition and Social Marketing, conducting intervention studies in nutritional epidemiology, cancer prevention or behavior and nutrition, and development of prevention studies and programs focused on chronic disease.
· In addition, he/she will be expected to develop an independent research program relevant to nutrition and prevention, collaborate with other investigators on grants related to nutrition and/or behavioral change.
Teaching opportunities are:
· Development of a curriculum in prevention and nutrition and/or nutritional epidemiology,
· Assisting in training graduate students in epidemiology, nutrition, health behavior, or related fields,
· Teaching research methods in nutrition and behavior, nutrition and prevention, or on behavioral factors in health, and
· Providing continuing education to School of Medicine faculty regarding behavioral factors in health promotion, especially in nutrition.
Applications (a Curriculum Vitae and the names of five references) should be
sent to Marc Schenker, MD, MPH, Dept. of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine,
TB-168, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8638.
The position will be open until filled but not later than December 31, 2001.
The University of California, Davis, is an affirmative action/equal opportunity
employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of diversity
among its faculty and staff.
Source: Press Release; UC Davis Center for Advanced Studies in Nutrition and Social Marketing, June 27, 2001.
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Sheri Zidenberg-Cherr, PhD, Editor Department of Nutrition University of California Davis, CA 95616
NUTRITION PERSPECTIVES is prepared by Sheri Zidenberg-Cherr, PhD, Nutrition Specialist, Cristy Hathaway, and staff. It is designed to provide research-based information on ongoing nutrition and food-related programs. It is published bimonthly (six times annually) as a service of the University of California Cooperative Extension and the United States Department of Agriculture. Subscription to NUTRITION PERSPECTIVES is available from UC Cooperative Extension, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California. Cost is ten dollars ($10.00) for a one-year subscription. Subscriptions and questions or comments on articles may be addressed to: NUTRITION PERSPECTIVES, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-5270. Phone (916)752-3387; FAX, (916) 752-8905.
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