<p> Objective: While brief bouts of exercise improve cognitive function, more prolonged exercise can suppress attention and executive function. Dehydration and heat exposure are known contributors to these deficits, though the role of blood sugar changes during exercise in cognitive dysfunction is less understood at this time. The current study sought to clarify the independent contribution of blood glucose levels to cognitive function following demanding exercise. </p><p> Method: Healthy adult males (N= 10, age= 21.9 +/- 1.97 years) presented for two counterbalanced experimental trials in a 100 degrees F heated chamber. Each experimental trial consisted of BASELINE glucose and cognitive function assessments, as measured by the Logical Relations (LR) and Running Memory Continuous Performance Task (RMCPT) subtests of the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics- 4th Edition (ANAM4). Participants then completed 120 minutes of exercise on a cycle ergometer, with glucose and cognitive function measured POST-EXERCISE. Next, participants rehydrated with a zero-sugar or full-sugar sports beverage, with measures of glucose and cognitive function repeated immediately POST-REHYDRATION. Finally, after a 15-minute recovery period during which the participants rested while not permitted to drink, they completed experimental measures an additional time, at POST-RECOVERY. </p><p> Results: Physiological response to the experimental trials was similar across conditions. Participants demonstrated significantly reduced blood glucose levels (F(1,9)=16.93, p&lt;0.01) and lost an average of 2.57% of their body weight following exercise. Contrary to hypotheses, repeated measures ANOVA showed performance on LR did not change from BASELINE to POST-EXERCISE and actually declined from POST-EXERCISE to POST-REHYDRATION (F(1,9)=9.44, p=0.01). Performance on RMCPT improved from BASELINE to POST-EXERCISE (F(19)=5.43, p&lt;0.05) and the zero-sugar condition produced gains from POST-REHYDRATION to POST-RECOVERY (F(1,9)=6.45, p=0.03) relative to the full-sugar condition. </p><p> Conclusion: Contrary to past studies, cognitive function did not universally decline with strenuous exercise, despite reduced blood glucose levels. Performances on an attention measure increased following exercise and were unexpectedly better at POST-RECOVERY for the zero- versus the full-sugar condition. However, executive functioning was stable to POST-EXERCISE and declined following rehydration. The exact mechanisms responsible for this pattern of findings are unclear, but likely involve a combination of limited core temperature increase and dehydration level, reactivity to blood sugar fluctuations, and multiple possible variables not assessed in the current study such as neurotransmitter and blood lactate levels, brain temperature, physiological arousal, and task engagement. Future studies are needed to better understand the inconsistent findings across the literature, as a significant number of individuals engage in strenuous and prolonged exercise regularly, including those involved in service positions (i.e., military personnel and firefighters). Articulating the mechanisms at play in this phenomenon may increase safety and improve performance. </p>

<p> Alaska Native populations have undergone relatively rapid changes in nearly every aspect of life over the past half century. Overall lifestyles have shifted from subsistence-based to wage-based, from traditional to Western, and from self-sustainability to reliance on Outside sources. My research investigates the effects of these changes on health and well-being. The literature appears to lack concern for and documentation of Native peoples' perceptions of the changes in food systems and effects on their communities. Additionally, there is a lack of studies specific to Alaska Native individual perceptions of health and well-being. Therefore, my research aims to help identify social patterns regarding changes in the food that individuals and communities eat and possible effects the changes have on all aspects of health; it aims to help document how Alaska Native individuals and communities are adaptive and resilient; and it aims to honor, acknowledge, and highlight the personal perspectives and lived experiences of respondents and their views regarding food, health, and community well-being. </p><p> I conducted interviews with 20 Alaska Native participants in an effort to document their perspectives regarding these changes. Many themes emerged from the data related to subsistence, dependency, and adaptation. Alaska Natives have witnessed what Western researchers call a "nutritional transition." However, Alaska Native participants in my research describe this transition as akin to cultural genocide. Cut off from traditional hunting and fishing (both geographically and economically), Alaska Natives recognize the damage to individual and community health. Studies attribute rising rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and mental illness to the loss of culture attached to subsistence lifestyles and subsistence foods themselves. Alaska Natives report a decrease in cultural knowledge and traditional hunting skills being passed to the younger generations. Concern for the future of upcoming generations is a reoccurring theme, especially in regard to dependence on market foods. When asked what changes should be made, nearly all respondents emphasized education as the key to cultural sustainability and self-sufficiency. The changes sought include means and access to hunting and fishing. This is seen as the remedy for dependence on Outside resources. From a traditional Alaska Native perspective, food security cannot be satisfied with Western industrial products. </p><p> When considering Arctic community health and cultural sustainability, food security must be considered in both Western and Indigenous Ways. Control over local availability, accessibility, quality, and cultural appropriateness is imperative to Native well-being. Many participants point to differences in Western and Native definitions of what is acceptable nourishment. Imported processed products simply cannot fully meet the needs of Native people. Reasons cited for this claim include risky reliance on a corporate food system designed for profit with its inherent lack of culturally-appropriate, nutrient-dense, locally controlled options. Respondents are concerned that junk food offers dependable, affordable, available, and accessible calories, whereas traditional foods often are not as reliably accessible. Based on these findings, I named the concept of "nutritional colonialism." </p><p> Respondents expressed a desire to return to sustainable and self-sufficient subsistence diets with their cultural, emotional, social, spiritual, and physical benefits. Although they expressed concern regarding climate change and environmental pollutants, this did not diminish the significance of traditional foods for respondents.</p>

<p> This study describes the acculturation, dietary habits and health status indicators among first generation Filipino American immigrants and investigates the relationship among these variables. A non-experimental, quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional design (n=210) was used in the study. Acculturation was measured using the Short Acculturation Scale for Filipino Americans (ASASFA). Dietary pattern was measured using the Dietary Acculturation Questionnaire for Filipino Americans (DAQFA) and the Block's Short Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFQ). Health indicators included Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference and waist-hip ratio (WHR). Using the American guidelines, 36.6% women and 61.9% men were overweight or obese, 23.9% women and 19.7% men had increased waist circumference and 60.4% women and 67.1% men had increased WHR. Using Asian guidelines, overweight/obesity rates increased to 67.9% women and 86.9% men, increased waist circumference was 50.7% women and 50% men. Western dietary intake was significantly correlated with caloric intake (p&lt;.01), percent fat intake (p&lt;.05), BMI (p&lt;.01) and waist circumference (p&lt;.05). Caloric intake was significantly correlated with BMI (p&lt;.01) and waist circumference (p&lt;.01). Fat intake had a significant positive correlation with BMI (p&lt;.05). Filipino American immigrants have increased risks in diet-related chronic diseases including increased BMI, waist, WHR and increased fat intake. The results of this study provide health care providers with information on the importance of using appropriate anthropometric measurement guidelines in screening for health risks and the importance of dietary assessment and nutritional counselling in this population.</p>

We studied the consequences of providing rat dams with elevated levels of dietary fat during lactation on stress responses in the offspring at different stages of development. High-fat feeding increased total milk lipid levels, and led to increased lipid deposition and plasma leptin levels in pups. Ten-day-old neonates from high-fat fed mothers had reduced stress responsiveness compared to controls. In contrast, 35-day-old pups from mothers fed high-fat diets showed greater stress-induced ACTH secretion. These findings indicate that maternal diet has effects on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) responsiveness, which can persist after weaning to a normal rat chow diet. We also investigated macronutrient selection in the offspring, since differences in nutrient preferences may produce long-lasting consequences of lactational diet. However, our results did not support an involvement of maternal diet in postweaning nutrient selection. Furthermore, HPA stress responses were no longer related to maternal diet once offspring reached maturity.

Blue-green algae, historically consumed as a food source in certain native cultures, has more recently been promoted as a nutritional supplement for the general public. Several claims have been made regarding the consumption of blue-green algae. Such claims range from increased physical and mental energy to the treatment of neurological disorders and the enhancement of the immune system. / In order to determine whether the species of blue-green algae Aphanizomenon flos-aqua (AFA) has effects on immune cell circulation and function, 21 volunteers were involved in a crossover, double-blinded placebo-controlled study. Results reveal that two hours after AFA consumption, there was a generalized mobilization of lymphocytes and monocytes. This mobilization included increases in the CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell subsets, and of CD19+ B cells, in peripheral blood. In neither the CD4+ nor the CD8+ subsets however, were changes observed in the relative proportions of naive versus memory T cells. In addition, the relative proportions and absolute numbers of natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood were reduced after AFA consumption. This effect did not occur with polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells. / Using in vitro techniques to elucidate possible mechanisms of these in vivo observations, we have found that AFA binds to the L-selectin molecule on lymphocytes and PMNs. Furthermore, it does not directly activate lymphocytes, as evaluated by tyrosine phosphorylation, and by proliferative activity. Similarly, AFA does not induce reactive oxygen species formation in PMNs in vitro, and appears to slightly reduce the phagocytic activity of PMNs harvested from volunteers 2 hours post-consumption (ex-vivo). / Further studies are required to determine the components of AFA that are responsible for these phenomena. By altering the circulation of specific leukocyte subsets however, AFA represents a novel approach to modulating immune surveillance. Such an approach may have implications in the treatment and prevention of infection, cancer, and immunodeficiency states.

Increased understanding of dietary habits of Aboriginal children can contribute to improved nutrition education programs. To determine correlates of high soft drink intake, high fruit intake and high vegetable intake, Aboriginal children in grades 4-6 from two Kanien'keha:ka (Mohawk) communities completed classroom-administered questionnaires and participated in anthropometric measures and a run/walk fitness test. Independent correlates of high soft drink consumption identified by multivariate logistic regression included higher levels of television-watching, odds ratio [OR] 3.1, (95% confidence interval 1.5-6.4), and higher levels of physical activity, OR 3.0 (1.3-7.1) among girls, and increased video game-playing, OR 6.7 (1.8-25.5), and failing to meet the minimal fitness standard on the run/walk test, OR 2.2 (1.2-4.2), among boys. Independent correlates of high fruit consumption included each year of increasing age among boys OR 0.7 (0.5-1.0), and higher levels of physical activity among girls OR 4.0 (2.0-7.9) and boys OR 3.5 (1.5-7.7). Independent correlates of high vegetable intake included age among boys OR 0.7 (0.5-1.0), increased video game-playing among girls OR 4.5 (1.4-14.9), and higher levels of physical activity among girls OR 3.5 (1.5-7.7) and boys OR 2.8 (1.2-6.5). These findings suggest targets for interventions aimed at improving eating habits of Aboriginal children.

Proper nutrition can promote healthy aging by preventing disease and disability and thereby helping to maintain autonomy. Seniors are at risk of declining nutritional status as they age. We investigated medical, psychological, social and environmental characteristics as both predictors and correlates of elevated nutritional risk in community-dwelling seniors using data from a prospective study of 839 seniors aged 75 and over, in Montreal. At baseline, more than half (59%) of the participants were at elevated nutritional risk. Cross-sectional analyses supported the findings of previous research examining correlates of elevated nutritional risk. Longitudinal results showed that amongst those at low nutritional risk, only poor self-rated health was found to be a statistically significant predictor of elevated risk at 12-months (OR=3.30, p&lt;0.05). The findings of this research highlight the need for longitudinal studies in order to better understand and target nutritional risk in community-dwelling seniors.

Objective. To investigate the effect of dental status on nutritional status in oral cancer patients. Method. A prospective study design was initially conducted on a group of post-therapeutic oral cancer patients. However, the level of compliance was low, so to ensure fullest use of the data, analyses were performed assuming a cross-sectional study design. Nutritional, dental and clinical information were analyzed at two time periods: evaluation one was at 1-6 months, and evaluation two was at 7-12 months post-therapy. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between dental and nutritional status. Results. 44 subjects participated in evaluation one and 40 participated in evaluation two. Analyses showed that edentulism was a significant predictor for most nutritional indicators adjusting for age, gender, and C-reactive protein. Conclusion. Edentulous oral cancer patients demonstrated significantly poorer nutritional status than fully and partially dentate patients.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-05, Section: B, page: 2920. Adviser: Michael Murphy. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thèse (M.Sc.)--Université de Sherbrooke (Canada), 2008. / Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 1 février 2007). In ProQuest dissertations and theses. Publié aussi en version papier.