A pilot study was conducted to assess associations among nutritional status, addiction severity using the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS), and psychological profiles using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Twenty-two alcoholic individuals from Gateway Inc. of Tucson, Arizona, were assessed at day seven of detoxification and day 90 of rehabilitation. Subjects presented in good nutritional status with little anthropometric or biochemical indication of deficiency. The ADS indicated moderate to severe addiction. Initial MMPI scores were elevated in validity, psychopathic deviation, paranoia, and schizophrenia. At follow-up, subjects displayed significantly lower paranoia scale. Initial biochemical measurements indicated altered levels of liver enzymes. These improved significantly in returning subjects Initial diet recalls indicated deficient intakes of several vitamins and minerals. Follow-up showed improved diet intake in most nutrients. Few significant correlations were noted between diet intake and addiction severity. The data do provide, however, implications for nutrition intervention during the alcoholic rehabilitation process.

A comparative study was conducted to explore the behavioral and health factors that influence the food choices of Hispanic and Anglo young adult women. Data was collected from Hispanic and Anglo females in the state of Arizona using a self administered questionnaire developed for the NC 200 Regional Research Project. Subjects were matched by marital status, living arrangement, education, academic status, employment, income, and living area. Data analysis indicated more similarities than differences. The strongest food choice influences for Anglos were looks and taste. Very few significant influences were noted for the Hispanic population. In terms of cooking skills, Anglos felt less capable of preparing a meal than Hispanics. Only two significant differences were noted in the food consumption patterns between the groups. Although very few ethnic differences were found, these results should still be of interest to food processors, media, health care providers, and nutrition educators when addressing these populations.

Fat and fiber knowledge, belief, and dietary behavior of 75 registered dietitians (DR's) from the Southern Arizona Dietetic Association and 285 non-RD's from the Arizona population who completed the Western Regional-182's Far and Fiber survey were examined. Stepwise multiple regression model revealed those most likely to consume a diet low in fat and high in fiber were young to middle-aged married, well-educated, well-paid females. When competed with non-RD's, RD's were more willing to make appropriate dietary changes and more influenced by their health and weight concerns and by time factors. Further, RD's demonstrated higher knowledge levels, agreed less with belief statements, and practiced better dietary behavior. While a positive relationship was found between knowledge and behavior, negative relationships were discovered between knowledge and beliefs and behavior. RD knowledge and beliefs were significant predictors of dietary behavior. The RD status factor was a positive predictor of behavior and beliefs.

This study investigated the hypothesis that Native American women of the Southwest will have lower intakes of vitamins A, C, E, carotenes, and folate since Native American women in this region have a high incidence of cervical cancer. Three data sets of 24-hour recalls were collected from two different Native Americans tribes in Arizona to assess dietary intake. The results were not consistent in demonstrating that the nutrients implicated in cervical cancer are being consumed in inadequate quantities as had been expected. However, diet cannot be eliminated as a possible risk factor. Fruit and vegetable consumption may be related to reduced cervical cancer risk. Not only are fruits and vegetables sources of micronutrients associated with cervical cancer, they also have nonnutritive components that may be anticarcinogenic themselves or work synergistically with the micronutrients to prevent cancer. Therefore, micronutrient intake obtained specifically from fruit and vegetable sources needs to be assessed.

<p> Targeted nutrition therapy aimed at reducing inflammation through diet is highly underutilized in the standard treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Therefore, the purpose of this directed project was to develop a nutrition curriculum for patients diagnosed with IBD. Specifically, the curriculum consists of five 30-minute PowerPoint presentations with corresponding lesson plans and topic-specific activities and provides specific nutrition recommendations for reducing inflammation and maintaining remission of IBD. </p><p> An expert panel comprised of two registered dietitians and a patient with IBD reviewed the curriculum using the Formative Evaluation Survey. Overall, average scores from the survey were positive, indicating that the curriculum is appropriate and provides valuable information for the intended audience. For future evaluation of this curriculum&rsquo;s efficacy, a research project may be conducted that analyzes the effect of the curriculum nutrition recommendations on class participants&rsquo; disease status following implementation.</p>

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3440. Adviser: Manabu T. Nakamura. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-128) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

<p> This study investigated the effects of acute versus chronic beetroot supplementation on maximal exercise, resting blood pressure, nitrates, oxidative stress (TBARS), and antioxidant capacity (SOD) in the blood. Thirty participants were placed in one of three groups; consuming beetroot for 7 days (BR7), 1 day (BR1), or the Control. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and <i>t</i>-test (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). There were no changes in maximal exercise or blood pressure after supplementation. Nitrate levels increased significantly after 7 days of beetroot consumption (<i>p</i> = 0.04) but not after a single dose. Additionally, both a prolonged use and a single dose of beetroot supplementation increased antioxidant capacity (<i>p</i> = 0.02). Long term beetroot consumption minimized the normal exercise response in both nitrate levels and SOD activity. TBARS varied by group. This study suggests that the potential for increased lipid peroxidation associated with beetroot supplementation appeared to be mitigated by increased antioxidant capacity.</p>

The moral coloring of eating behavior in the contemporary U.S. reflects the value placed on taking charge of one's health through diet, exercise, and self-control. At the same moment that health promotion efforts focus on individual responsibility, the population is experiencing time famine, or a chronic shortage of time that does not allow people to live as they think they should. In this context, health behaviors such as exercise and a health-balanced diet may be compromised. Vitamin consumption is one way that individuals maintain a moral identity in the face of time pressure. Drawing on twenty open-ended interviews, this paper explores the multiple meanings vitamins have in the lives of vitamin users, including their role as food substitutes and productivity enhancers. Issues related to efficacy and the tension between biomedical sources of health information and localized "embodied" knowledge also receive attention.

The studies in this dissertation were primarily designed to (a) identify pretreatment dieting/weight history and psychosocial correlates of body habitus in overweight middle-age women; (b) identify prospective readiness profiles for 4-month weight loss; and (c) examine changes in psychosocial factors are their relationship with body habitus changes. Prior to, and after a 16-week behavioral intervention, subjects completed a comprehensive psychometric battery covering 30 distinct topics relevant to weight management. The cognitive-behavioral intervention involved 16 weekly meetings covering physical activity, healthy eating, cognitive-behavior strategies, and social support, targeting a rate of weight loss of about 0.5 kg/wk. Subjects were 112 overweight and obese women (age, 47.8 ± 4.4 yrs; BMI, 31.4 ± 3.9 kg/m2; body fat, 44.7 ± 5.6%). At baseline, body weight and fat were associated with worse quality of life and physical functioning and with a poorer body image. Mean weight and %fat losses among the 89 completers were -5.4 kg and -3.4%, respectively (P<0.001). More recent dieting attempts, recent weight losses (≥10 lb), more stringent weight outcome evaluations, higher impact of weight on quality of life, lower perceived vigor and self-motivation, higher body size dissatisfaction, and lower self-esteem predicted less weight loss and significantly distinguished responders from non-responders (P<0.05). A significant discriminant function analysis showed that about 62% of subjects could be correctly classified into their corresponding tertile of weight-loss success (most and least successful tertiles only). After the intervention, completers reported significant improvements in mood, body image, and self-concept, a decrease in impact of weight on quality of life, enhanced exercise self-efficacy and motivation, and less exercise perceived barriers. Subjects reported significant increases in eating restraint, decreases in overeating/bingeing, and reduced feelings of hunger, after the program. Four-month changes in physical functioning, eating-related variables (e.g. eating restraint), exercise intrinsic motivation, and self/body-concept were among the strongest process correlates of successful weight loss. In conclusion, psychosocial readiness profiles for weight loss were identified and can predict level of outcome with moderate success. A lifestyle weight reduction program can induce marked improvements in several dimensions of women's wellness and quality of life, many of which are associated with success in short-term weight management.