The purpose of this research was to determine selected nutritional practices of adult males. A survey instrument was developed to determine (a) what meals adult males ate and where these meals were eaten, (b) the level of activity of adult males in menu planning, food purchasing, and food preparation, (c) practices related to weight reduction, (d) practices related to nutrition of the family, and (e) selected demographic variables as related to nutritional practices. The survey instrument was administered to 156 adult males who were members of civic organizations in Sumner County, Tennessee. The subjects ranged in age from 24 to 89, and none were on medically prescribed diets. The collected data were analyzed using analysis of variance, multiple regression, Chi Square, crosstabulation, and Pearson product-moment correlation statistical techniques. Findings of this research study reinforce the need for nutrition education programs to be directed toward the adult male population. Over one half of the respondents considered themselves to be overweight. Perceived weight was significant at the .05 level with the frequency of planning and preparing meals by adult males. Respondents who thought of themselves as being average weight were more likely to participate in meal planning and preparation than were respondents that considered themselves overweight or underweight. Forty-three percent of the respondents prepared either breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Breakfast was the meal least likely to be eaten by adult males, but was the meal most often prepared by adult males. Dinner was the meal most likely to be eaten by adult males, the one most likely to be eaten at home, and the meal least likely to be prepared by adult males. Snacks were eaten by 73.9 percent of the respondents. Employment of the wife was significant at the .05 level with the adult male's participation in meal planning and preparation in meal planning and preparation for the family and where the adult male ate lunch. As the number of hours per week the wife worked increased, the participation of the male in meal planning and preparation increased. Slightly over one half of the respondents accepted responsibility for the nutrition education of their children. The amount of milk consumed and the taking and frequency of taking vitamins were significant at the .05 level with how often the subjects planned and prepared meals, purchased groceries, and which meals were eaten, and where these meals were eaten. As the amount of milk consumed increased and the taking and frequency of taking vitamins increased, participation in these activities increased and more meals were eaten at home. The results of this research study demonstrated that adult males actively participate in menu planning, food purchasing, and meal preparation for themselves and their families. Further research is needed to determine the type of nutrition education programs that would best target the adult male population.

The prevalence of hypertension in the U.S. and similar industrialized countries continues to rise. Millions of people are affected in America alone. Usual treatment includes a low sodium diet, weight loss if needed, and drug therapy. Some health providers also encourage stress management as an adjunct to therapy. These treatments have been shown to be effective but patient compliance continues to be poor. Past research has explored the relationships between dietary calcium and hypertension and has found that there is an interaction between blood calcium levels and high blood pressure. The research reported here was a test of the relationship between dietary calcium and hypertension. Using data gathered by the U.S. Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the author compared subjects (n=3854) on the basis of daily calcium intake and blood pressure levels. Findings supported previous research: high calcium intake was associated with lower blood pressure levels. Further study is needed before definite recommendations can be made. Discussion includes the implications for therapy, compliance, and treatment success.

Background: Body composition measures include fat mass (FM), fat free mass (FFM), and percent body fat (%BF), which are markers of health status and disease risk. Accurate body composition assessment is needed to evaluate an individual’s health and the efficacy of treatment strategies. Objective: Compare body composition estimates obtained from the Norland DXA, BodPod®, and iDXA before and after a 12-week exercise intervention. Subjects/setting: Overweight to obese (BMI 25–35 kg/m2) sedentary men and women (n=30) aged 18 to 40 years were recruited from central KY. Main outcome measure: Agreement in FM, FFM, and %BF between Norland DXA, iDXA, and BodPod®. Statistical analysis: Bland Altman plots evaluated mean bias and limits of agreement between iDXA vs Norland DXA, BodPod® vs Norland, and BodPod® vs iDXA. T-tests determined if each mean bias was different from zero. Results: Compared to the iDXA, Norland DXA overestimated BF% and FM at baseline and post intervention (P < 0.01), without differences in FFM (P > 0.05). The BodPod® underestimated BF% and FM and overestimated FFM compared to both DXA machines(all P < 0.01). Conclusion: The Norland and iDXA produce different measures of FM but similar measures of FFM. As well, the BodPod® measures FM and FFM differently than either DXA machine.

Abstract Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a long term metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. T2DM is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure, lower-limb amputation, and other complications that are costly to patients and the U.S. health care system. Lack of knowledge and underdeveloped skills for self-management of diabetes continues to be the biggest problem for patients with T2DM. Using a team approach and Rosswurm and Larrabee's (1999) conceptual model as a framework, the purpose of this doctorate of nursing practice quality improvement project was to develop an evidence-based initiative for diabetic self-management that included a practice guideline/protocol for patients, and an educational curriculum plan for staff members including a pretest/posttest. Two nurse practitioners who are specialists in diabetes served as content experts to evaluate the educational curriculum plan. A dichotomous 5-item evaluation revealed unanimous agreement that the objectives of the curriculum were met. The content experts validated each 15 pretest/posttest items using a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not relevant) to 4 (very relevant). The content validation index was equal to 1.00 showing each of the test items were very relevant. This project will promote positive social change by facilitating staff commitment to evidence-based practice which will impact the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of patients, families, and communities.

Polypharmacy, the simultaneous use of multiple drugs to treat a single ailment or condition, is a major health problem among the elderly population that contributes to adverse drug side events, health risks, hospital readmissions, morbidity, and mortality. Therefore, a staff education program geared toward reduction of such adverse drug events was implemented at a single site. The purpose of the project was to determine if the staff education program would increase knowledge of adverse drug events due to geriatric polypharmacy. The Orem theory provided the theoretical support for the project, and the Iowa model guided the evidence-based practice change process. Topics covered in the education program included medication safety, appropriate drug usage, medication interactions, and other use issues of commonly prescribed drugs for elderly patients. Twenty staff members from 1 assisted-living facility were recruited for the education intervention. Assessments of staff member knowledge were collected before and after the education intervention. Descriptive statistics were used to compare preintervention and postintervention knowledge. Scores on the pretest ranged from 10% to 50% correct on the 10 items, and posttest scores ranged from 40% to 70% correct on the same items. The project is expected to produce social change due to reduced incidence of geriatric polypharmacy and, ultimately, decreased adverse drug effects resulting in patient morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Dietary habits may have an impact on COPD through anti-inflammatory mechanisms. For this cross-sectional secondary data analysis study, the advanced model of the epidemiology triangle was used as a guide to assess the association between total daily flavonoid intake and COPD diagnosis, COPD severity, systemic inflammation, and comorbidity burden. Data from over 5,100 male and female participants aged 30 and older were obtained from the 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The prevalence of COPD was 5.2% according to spirometry data. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that a 1% increase in total daily flavonoid intake resulted in a 5.9% decrease (95% CI [0.940, 0.943]) in the odds of having COPD after controlling for age, BMI, dietary fiber intake, education level, gender, race/ethnicity, and smoking status. After controlling for the same variables, multiple linear regression analyses showed that a 1% increase in total daily flavonoid intake among those with COPD resulted in a .00001 (95% CI [.001, .002], p < .001) increase in the percentage of the predicted FEV1 and a 0.076% decrease in C-reactive protein (95% CI [ .078, -.074], p < .001). A one-way ANOVA showed that total daily flavonoid intake was significantly (p < .001) different for each comorbidity burden level, and those with 2 or 3 comorbid diseases had significantly (p < .001) lower flavonoid intake than those with 1 or no comorbid diseases. These findings expand the knowledge of this topic and may effect positive social change by informing public health policies and interventions that aim to reduce COPD prevalence, morbidity, and mortality.

This study investigated genetic predictions for amino acid biosynthesis and catabolism by Lactobacillus helveticus CNRZ 32, a commercial cheese flavor adjunct that reduces bitterness and intensifies flavor notes. Conversion of amino acids into volatile and nonvolatile flavor compounds by L. helveticus and other lactic acid bacteria in cheese is thought to represent the rate-limiting step in the development of mature cheese flavor and aroma. One of the primary mechanisms for amino acid breakdown by these microbes involves the reversible action of enzymes involved in biosynthetic pathways, so our group investigated the genetics of amino acid biosynthesis in L. helveticus CNRZ 32. Most lactic acid bacteria are auxotrophic for several amino acids, and phenotypic characterization of L. helveticus CNRZ 32 has shown this bacterium requires 14 amino acids. Reconstruction of amino acid biosynthetic pathways from a draft-quality (incomplete) genome sequence for L. helveticus CNRZ 32 showed generally good agreement between gene content and phenotypic amino acid requirements. One exception involved the requirement ofCNRZ 32 for Asp (or Asn) for growth, where predictions derived from the genome sequence suggested this strain may be able to synthesize Asp from citrate. This prediction was confirmed as Asp auxotrophy in L. helveticus CNRZ 32 could be alleviated by the addition of citrate to a chemically defined medium that lacked Asp and Asn. Genome analysis also predicted that L. helveticus CNRZ 32 possessed ornithine decarboxylase activity, and would therefore catalyze the conversion of ornithine to putrescine, a volatile biogenic amine. Putrescine production in cheese would be undesirable because this compound may impart a rotting flesh flavor and can also have adverse effects on human health. Experiments to confirm ornithine decarboxylase activity in L. helveticus CNRZ 32 using a special growth medium, thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatograph, or 13C nuclear magnetic resonance were unsuccessful, however, which indicated this bacterium does not contribute to putrescine production in cheese.

Three-day dietary records were analyzed for nutrient content and 24 hour urine samples were analyzed for calcium, phosphorous, total nitrogen, and free alpha-amino nitrogen for 210 elderly people. Dietaries and urine samples were collected twice, October and March at five month intervals, for each subject. Increases were found in both dietary intake and urinary components October to March. Based on a criteria of high dietary protein, low dietary calcium, high urinary nitrogen and low calcium, 23 subjects were selected as osteoporotic and and 25 were selected as non-osteoporotic. This method of prediction was not supported by radiological evaluations. Bone density and percent cortical area of the second metacarpal and the trabecular pattern of the femoral head were evaluated for each subject. A negative correlation of trabecular pattern with age indicated a general loss of bone with age. Decreased percent cortical area was the most consistent bone phenomena associated with osteoporosis. No significant difference was found between sexes in any of the radiological analysis. The osteoporotic condition is more closely associated with a loss of bone quantity than decreased bone quality. As yet, osteoporosis is not associated with specific nutrient(s) consumption or urinary excretion(s).

This study analyzed the memory retention of University of Kentucky Dietetic and Hospitality students as it relates to food safety and sanitation knowledge originally presented on the ServSafe® certification exam. Dietetic and hospitality students take the ServSafe® certification course during the sophomore year of their degree program, but they are responsible for the sanitation and food safety information throughout their entire program of undergraduate study. The final sample consisted of 25 participants, with 84% (n=21) in the Dietetics program and 16% (n=4) in the Hospitality, Management and Tourism program. The mean difference in total score, domain one, domain two, domain three, domain four and domain five were statistically significant with a p-value <0.05. Domain three was the domain students recalled the most with a difference of 16.52%. Domains four and five were recalled least by students with a difference of 35.8% and 35.65%. The information found in this study can be used in the Department of Dietetic and Human Nutrition (DHN) and the Department of Hospitality, Management and Tourism (HMT) to enhance the food sanitation knowledge of students throughout their courses.

Current health recommendations encourage weight loss for overweight and obese individuals. However, the importance of weight to health is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of weight loss on overall health in a sample of adults who have completed a 10 or 12 week weight loss intervention. The study sample included males and females (n =99) between the ages of 27 -64 years that had a BMI of 29-45 kg/m². The study design is a secondary data analysis of data from two different behavioral weight loss interventions. Both interventions prescribed a reduced calorie diet, increased physical activity, and self-monitoring of diet and physical activity. Of the 99 participants, 28 lost greater than 5% of baseline body weight and saw the most significant changes in waist circumference (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (p=0.004), diastolic blood pressure (p=0.002), and total cholesterol (p=0.001). This group experienced improvements in every lab value tested. More research with larger sample sizes and longer trial periods need to be done in order to strengthen the validity of the weight loss interventions.