| 1. |
- Ahlgren, Jennie, et al.
(author)
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Ethical considerations in relation to personalised nutrition : An overview of Work Package 5, with respect to ethics
- 2015
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The objectives of Food4Me work package 5 included a baseline assessment of the ethical and legal aspects of personalised nutrition at the start of the project in 2011, as well as a final assessment at the end of the project (2015), taking into account results achieved in other work packages. The initial assessment made a number of ethical issues visible, most of them relating to the consumer of personalised nutrition service. The results depicted in this publication indicate that many of the questions raised in relation to these issues remain unsolved, and in some cases they seem to be neglected in relation to the services offered by internet companies.
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| 2. |
- Arvidsson, Louise, et al.
(author)
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Fat, sugar and water intakes among families from the IDEFICS intervention and control groups: first observations from I.Family
- 2015
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In: Obesity Reviews. - : Wiley. - 1467-7881 .- 1467-789X. ; 16:Suppl. 2, s. 127-137
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundThe objective of this paper is to investigate differences in diets of families in intervention versus control communities 5years after the Identification and Prevention of Dietary- and Lifestyle-Induced Health Effects in Children and Infants intervention ended. MethodsAltogether, 4,691 families from the I.Family study with at least one participating parent and one child are included in this analysis. Diet quality indicators, defined as propensities to consume fat, sugar, water and fruit and vegetables, are calculated from a 59-item food frequency questionnaire. Multilevel linear models with random intercepts for study centre are used to determine whether mean diet indicators, calculated at the family level, differed as a function of previous exposure to the intervention. ResultsFamilies in the intervention communities reported a significantly lower sugar propensity (19.8% vs. 20.7% of total food items, p<0.01) and a higher water propensity (47.3% vs. 46.0% of total beverages, p<0.05) compared with families in the control communities, while fat and fruit and vegetables propensities were similar. No significant diet differences between intervention and control children were present at the Identification and Prevention of Dietary- and Lifestyle-Induced Health Effects in Children and Infants baseline. DiscussionThis result indicates better diet quality in intervention families, which was not present in children when their diets were assessed before the intervention, and gives some cause for optimism regarding the sustainability of some aspects of the diet intervention.
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| 3. |
- Malmborg, Julia, 1988-, et al.
(author)
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Health status, physical activity, and orthorexia nervosa : A comparison between exercise science students and business students
- 2017
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In: Appetite. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 0195-6663 .- 1095-8304. ; 109, s. 137-143
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Orthorexia nervosa is described as an exaggerated fixation on healthy food. It is unclear whether students in health-oriented academic programs, highly focused on physical exercise, are more prone to develop orthorexia nervosa than students in other educational areas. The aim was to compare health status, physical activity, and frequency of orthorexia nervosa between university students enrolled in an exercise science program (n = 118) or a business program (n = 89). The students completed the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and ORTO-15, which defines orthorexia nervosa as a sensitive and obsessive behavior towards healthy nutrition. The SF-36 showed that exercise science students scored worse than business students regarding bodily pain (72.8 vs. 82.5; p = 0.001), but better regarding general health (83.1 vs. 77.1; p = 0.006). Of 188 students, 144 (76.6%) had an ORTO-15 score indicating orthorexia nervosa, with a higher proportion in exercise science students than in business students (84.5% vs. 65.4%; p = 0.002). Orthorexia nervosa in combination with a high level of physical activity was most often seen in men in exercise science studies and less often in women in business studies (45.1% vs. 8.3%; p < 0.000). A high degree of self-reporting of pain and orthorexia nervosa in exercise science students may cause problems in the future, since they are expected to coach others in healthy living. Our findings may be valuable in the development of health-oriented academic programs and within student healthcare services. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd
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| 4. |
- Bärebring, Linnea, et al.
(author)
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Sociodemographic factors associated with dietary supplement use in early pregnancy in a Swedish cohort.
- 2018
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In: The British journal of nutrition. - 1475-2662. ; Jan;119:1, s. 90-95
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sociodemographic factors have been associated with dietary supplement use among pregnant women but few data exist in a Swedish population. This study aimed to identify factors associated with overall supplement use as well as use of folic acid, vitamin D and n-3 in early pregnancy. Women in the first trimester of pregnancy were included at registration to the antenatal care in 2013-2014 (n 2109). Information regarding supplement use as well as sociodemographic and anthropometric data were obtained from questionnaires and medical records. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between sociodemographic variables and supplement use. A total of 78 % of the participants reported using at least one dietary supplement in the first trimester. Folic acid supplement use was reported by 74 %, vitamin D supplement use by 43 % and n-3 supplement use by <5 %. Use of any type of supplement in early pregnancy was related to gestational age, parity, birthplace, education and employment. Folic acid supplement use was related to gestational age, parity, birthplace, income, education and employment. Vitamin D supplement use was related to gestational age, birthplace and education. In conclusion, in the first trimester of pregnancy, folic acid supplements were used by three in four women, while vitamin D supplements were used by less than half of the women. The results of this study show a socioeconomic disparity between supplement users and non-users which may have a negative impact on the health of future generations.
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| 5. |
- Eiben, G, et al.
(author)
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Secular trends in diet among elderly Swedes : cohort comparisons over three decades
- 2004
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In: Public Health Nutrition. - 1368-9800 .- 1475-2727. ; 7:5, s. 637-644
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare dietary practices among different birth cohorts of 70-year-old Swedes, who were examined between 1971 and 2000.Setting: Göteborg, Sweden.Design: Four population-based samples of 1360 70-year-olds, born in 1901, 1911, 1922 and 1930, have undergone health examinations and dietary assessments over a period of almost three decades. One-hour diet history (DH) interviews were conducted in 1971, 1981, 1992 and 2000 with a total of 758 women and 602 women. The formats and contents of the dietary examinations were similar over the years. Statistical analysis of linear trends was conducted, using year of examination as the independent variable, to detect secular trends in food and nutrient intakes across cohorts.Results: At the 2000 examination, the majority of 70-year-olds consumed nutritionally adequate diets. Later-born cohorts consumed more yoghurt, breakfast cereals, fruit, vegetables, chicken, rice and pasta than earlier-born cohorts. Consumption of low-fat spread and milk also increased, along with that of wine, light beer and candy. In contrast, potatoes, cakes and sugar were consumed less in 2000 than in 1971. The ratio of reported energy intake to estimated basal metabolic rate did not show any systematic trend over time in women, but showed a significant upward trend in men.Conclusions: The diet history method has captured changes in food selections in the elderly without changing in general format over three decades. Dietary quality has improved in a number of ways, and these findings in the elderly are consistent with national food consumption trends in the general population.
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| 6. |
- Bohman, Benjamin, et al.
(author)
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Infrequent attention to dietary and physical activity behaviours in conversations in Swedish child health services
- 2013
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In: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 102:5, s. 520-524
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: To investigate conversations between nurses and parents in Swedish child health services and to assess to what extent attention is directed towards dietary and physical activity behaviours in children.Methods: Twenty-three nurses audio-recorded one session each. Recordings were assessed and topics were classified according to predetermined categories.Results: The three most frequent topics of conversation concerned physical examinations of the child (30% of session time), talking to the child to establish or maintain contact and interest (15%), and development of language skills (12%). Dietary habits came on fourth place (10%), and physical activity ranked 14 (4%).Conclusion: Attention to dietary and physical activity behaviours in children is infrequent in Swedish child health services. Concern is raised about the efficacy of prevention efforts against childhood obesity.
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| 7. |
- Fondell, Elinor, et al.
(author)
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Adherence to the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations as a measure of a healthy diet and upper respiratory tract infection
- 2011
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In: Public Health Nutrition. - : CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS. - 1368-9800 .- 1475-2727. ; 14:5, s. 860-869
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The Nordic countries have published joint dietary recommendations, the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR), since 1980. We evaluated adherence to the NNR as a measure of a healthy diet and its potential association with self-reported upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Design: A prospective, population-based study with a follow-up period of 4 months. Dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative FFQ with ninety-six items, along with other lifestyle factors, at baseline. URTI was assessed every three weeks. A Poisson regression model was used to control for age, sex and other confounding factors. Setting: A middle-sized county in northern Sweden. Subjects: Swedish men and women (n 1509) aged 20-60 years. Results: The NNR include recommendations on macronutrient proportions, physical activity and intake of micronutrients, sodium, fibre and alcohol. We found that overall adherence to the NNR was moderately good. In addition, we found that high adherence to the NNR (>5.5 adherence points) was not associated with a lower risk of URTI (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.89, 95% CI 0.73, 1.08) compared with low adherence (<4.5 adherence points). When investigating individual components of the NNR, only high physical activity was associated with lower URTI risk (IRR=0.82, 95% CI 0.69, 0.97) whereas none of the dietary components were associated with risk of URTI. Conclusions: Overall adherence to the NNR was moderately good. Overall adherence to the NNR was not associated with URTI risk in our study. However, when investigating individual components of the NNR, we found that high physical activity was associated with lower URTI risk.
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| 8. |
- Holmberg, Christopher, 1984, et al.
(author)
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Adolescents' presentation of food in social media: an explorative study
- 2016
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In: Appetite. - : Elsevier BV. - 0195-6663 .- 1095-8304. ; 99, s. 121-129
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The study aimed to explore how adolescents communicate food images in a widely used social media image-sharing application. We examined how and in what context food was presented and the type of food items that were frequently portrayed by following a youth related hashtag on Instagram. The hashtag #14år (“14 years”) was used to find adolescent users on Instagram: these users public photo streams were then searched for food items they had shared with others. Food items were identified and categorized based on type of food and how the food items were presented. Most of the adolescent users (85%) shared images containing food items. A majority of the images (67.7%) depicted foods high in calories but low in nutrients. Almost half of these images were arranged as a still life with food brand names clearly exposed. Many of these images were influenced by major food marketing campaigns. Fruits and vegetables occurred in 21.8% of all images. This food group was frequently portrayed zoomed in with focus solely on the food, with a hashtag or caption expressing palatability. These images were often presented in the style of a cook book. Food was thus presented in varied ways. Adolescents themselves produced images copying food advertisements. This has clear health promotion implications since it becomes more challenging to monitor and tackle young people's exposure to marketing of unhealthy foods in these popular online networks because images are part of a lifestyle that the young people want to promote. Shared images contain personal recommendations, which mean that they may have a more powerful effect than commercial advertising.
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| 9. |
- Larsson, Ingrid, 1963, et al.
(author)
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Body composition through adult life : Swedish reference data on body composition
- 2015
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In: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0954-3007 .- 1476-5640. ; 69:7, s. 837-842
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background/Objectives:The prevalence of obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to30 kg/m2, differs between populations; however, there is a need for data on description on body composition in reference populations of different ages and from different countries. The objective of this study was to pool dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition reference data from population-based Swedish cohorts.Subjects/Methods:Four population-based cross-sectional cohort studies including 1424 adult Swedes were divided into five age groups (20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–61 and 75 years of age); BMI 24.6±3.9 kg/m2 were pooled. Body composition was measured with DXA.Results:The difference in BMI from the youngest to the oldest age group was 3.2 and 4.3 kg/m2 in men and women, respectively (P<0.001, both sexes), and fat mass (FM) was 9.9 and 9.1% higher in the oldest compared with the youngest men and women (P<0.001, both sexes). Fat-free mass (FFM) remained stable up to 60 years of age in men (P=0.83) and was lower at 75 years of age compared with the younger ages. In women, FFM was lower from age 60. From youngest to oldest age groups, height-adjusted FM differed from 4.6 to 7.8 kg/m2 in men and from 6.8 to 10.8 kg/m2 in women (P<0.001, both sexes).Conclusions:Our results provide reference data on body composition in Swedish populations. BMI and FM were higher among older age groups compared with the younger ones. FFM remained stable up to 60 years of age and was lower first among the 75 years of age.
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| 10. |
- Davide, Giacalone, et al.
(author)
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Health and quality of life in an aging population - Food and beyond
- 2016
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In: Food Quality and Preference. - : Elsevier BV. - 0950-3293 .- 1873-6343. ; 47, s. 166-170
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In Europe the percentage of citizens aged 65 and over is increasing at an unprecedented rate, and is expected to account for over 30% of the population by 2050. Coupled with an increase in life expectancy, this massive demographic change calls for a major effort to ensure quality of life in our older population. A thorough understanding of the elderly as food consumers, their nutritional needs, their food perception and preferences is increasingly needed.The role of food in healthy aging was a prominent theme at the 6th European Conference on Sensory and Consumer Research, which had quality of life across the life span as a focal point. This short paper is based on a workshop held at the EuroSense meeting, focusing on research from sensory and consumer scientists. The workshop featured contributions focusing on food-related perception, needs and behavior of the elderly, and aimed at demonstrating the relevance of sensory and consumer scientists in promoting food-related well-being in an aging population. The workshop contributions are here reviewed and summarized three main themes: nutritional needs, food perception and aging, and behavioral drivers of food consumption.
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| 11. |
- Hoppe, Michael, 1969, et al.
(author)
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Is cord blood hepcidin influenced by the low-grade acute-phase response occurring during delivery? : A small-scale longitudinal study
- 2019
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In: The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1476-7058 .- 1476-4954. ; 32:13, s. 2166-2172
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIM: To measure serum hepcidin in late pregnancy and in cord blood, and to analyze relationship between hepcidin, interleukin-6 and biomarkers of fetal iron status.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 15 uncomplicated singleton pregnancies were analyzed longitudinally in trimester 3 (T3) and at birth.RESULTS: In T3, S-ferritin (median 14 µg/L) and transferrin (median 4.0 g/L) indicated low iron status, whereas the median soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) was 4.0 mg/L, ie within the reference interval. Median T3 S-hepcidin was 7.8 ng/mL. Later on in cord blood, ferritin concentration (180 µg/L) were significantly higher, transferrin concentration (1.8 g/L) were significantly lower, and both sTfR (4.7 mg/L) and S-hepcidin concentrations (30.5 ng/mL) were significantly higher than maternal T3 concentrations. At the same time, cord blood interleukin-6 indicated an activated acute-phase reaction. In T3, after logarithmic transformation, there was a significant correlation between S-hepcidin and both S-ferritin (r = 0.691) and sTfR (r = -0.825). There was also a significant correlation between S-ferritin and both sTfR (r = -0.729) and transferrin (r = 0.549) in T3.CONCLUSIONS: Although S-ferritin, S-hepcidin, and sTfR were correlated during pregnancy, these relationships were not apparent in umbilical cord blood. Further, cord blood interleukin-6 indicated an activated acute-phase response, and sTfR, which is known to be unaffected by inflammation, indicated a low iron status in cord blood. Thus, instead of representing an enhanced iron status, the data appear to suggest that hepcidin and ferritin in cord blood may be influenced by the low-grade acute-phase response that occurs during delivery.
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| 12. |
- Korotkova, Marina, 1954, et al.
(author)
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Maternal dietary intake of essential fatty acids affects adipose tissue growth and leptin mRNA expression in suckling rat pups
- 2002
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In: Pediatric Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0031-3998 .- 1530-0447. ; 52:1, s. 78-84
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have previously shown that maternal intake of essential fatty acids during late gestation and lactation affects the level of serum leptin in pups. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary essential fatty acids on leptin content in the milk of rat dams and leptin expression in white adipose tissue of pups during the suckling period. During late gestation and throughout lactation, rats were fed a control or an essential fatty acid-deficient (EFAD) diet. Milk of the EFAD dams contained more saturated and less polyunsaturated fatty acids compared with the control dams. Milk leptin levels were higher in the EFAD dams than in the control dams at 3 wk of lactation. The weight of inguinal white adipose tissue depots and the serum leptin levels of the EFAD pups were significantly lower than in the control pups during the whole suckling period. In addition, semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis of leptin mRNA levels in inguinal white adipose tissue showed a reduction in the EFAD pups compared with the control pups at 3 wk of age. We conclude that maternal dietary essential fatty acid intake affects serum leptin levels in pups by regulating both the amount of adipose tissue and the leptin mRNA expression.
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| 13. |
- Kumar, Manish, 1982, et al.
(author)
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Gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with malnutrition and reduced plasma amino acid levels: Lessons from genome-scale metabolic modeling
- 2018
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In: Metabolic Engineering. - : Elsevier BV. - 1096-7176 .- 1096-7184. ; 49, s. 128-142
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Malnutrition is a severe non-communicable disease, which is prevalent in children from low-income countries. Recently, a number of metagenomics studies have illustrated associations between the altered gut microbiota and child malnutrition. However, these studies did not examine metabolic functions and interactions between individual species in the gut microbiota during health and malnutrition. Here, we applied genome-scale metabolic modeling to model the gut microbial species, which were selected from healthy and malnourished children from three countries. Our analysis showed reduced metabolite production capabilities in children from two lowincome countries compared with a high-income country. Additionally, the models were also used to predict the community-level metabolic potentials of gut microbes and the patterns of pairwise interactions among species. Hereby we found that due to bacterial interactions there may be reduced production of certain amino acids in malnourished children compared with healthy children from the same communities. To gain insight into alterations in the metabolism of malnourished (stunted) children, we also performed targeted plasma metabolic profiling in the first 2 years of life of 25 healthy and 25 stunted children. Plasma metabolic profiling further revealed that stunted children had reduced plasma levels of essential amino acids compared to healthy controls. Our analyses provide a framework for future efforts towards further characterization of gut microbial metabolic capabilities and their contribution to malnutrition.
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| 14. |
- Marklund, Matti, et al.
(author)
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Alkylresorcinol metabolites in urine correlate with the intake of whole grains and cereal fibre in free-living Swedish adults
- 2013
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In: British Journal of Nutrition. - Cambridge Journals. - 0007-1145 .- 1475-2662. ; 109:1, s. 129-136
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alkylresorcinols (AR) have been established as short/medium-term biomarkers for whole grain (WG) wheat and rye intake; and AR metabolites, 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and 3-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acid, have been suggested as complementary biomarkers to AR. The present study examined the medium-term reproducibility and relative validity of urinary AR metabolites as biomarkers for WG and cereal fibre intake. A total of sixty-six free-living Swedes completed 3 d weighed food records and provided single 24 h urine collections and morning urine spot samples on two occasions, 2–3 months apart. The medium-term reproducibility of urinary AR metabolites was moderate when assessed in 24 h collections and lower in creatinine (CR)-adjusted morning urine. Mean AR metabolite 24 h excretions correlated well with total WG (rs 0·31–0·52, P < 0·05) and cereal fibre (rs 0·46–0·58, P < 0·001) intake on both occasions. As expected, correlations with WG (rs 0·28–0·38, P < 0·05) and cereal fibre (rs 0·35–0·42, P < 0·01) were weaker for mean CR-adjusted AR metabolite concentrations in spot samples of morning urine, although the adjusted concentrations correlated well with 24 h urinary excretion (rs 0·69–0·73, P < 0·001). Adjustment for intra-individual variations substantially improved the correlations between intake and excretion. These findings suggest that urinary AR metabolites can successfully reflect the medium-term intake of WG and cereal fibre when adjusted for intra-individual variation in this population, where rye was the major contributor to high WG intake. The performance of urinary AR metabolites as medium-term biomarkers appears to be comparable to that of fasting plasma AR concentration in this population.
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| 15. |
- Norman, Åsa, et al.
(author)
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"Everyone can take photos." Feasibility and relative validity of phone photography-based assessment of children's diets - a mixed methods study.
- 2020
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In: Nutrition Journal. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2891. ; 19:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Dietary assessment methods that are user-friendly, simple, yet valid are of interest to both researchers and participants, particularly for use in disadvantaged settings, where language barriers and low levels of education are often present. We tested if parents taking photos of what children ate, using mobile phones, would be a feasible, acceptable method that could still provide information with adequate relative validity.METHODS: We used a mixed-methods design, with parents of 21 5- to 7-year-olds from disadvantaged areas in Sweden. Parents reported all dietary intake, during non-school hours, on three days (two weekdays) using a photo method (PM). The PM consisted of simple instructions and a fiduciary card, but no training, equipment or software. Text messages could be sent if necessary. As a reference method, parents completed three 24-h recalls (24HRs) with an interviewer each following day. The next week, parents completed a 9-item semi-FFQ regarding the preceding week. The outcomes were intakes (in dl) of 9 food groups, categorised as fruits and vegetables, energy-dense sweet/salty foods, and sweet drinks. Agreement with the reference 24HRs was assessed using correlations, median differences and Bland-Altman plots. Parents completed an open-ended questionnaire on barriers and facilitators. Data collectors provided complementary information. Qualitative data was analysed using qualitative manifest analysis.RESULTS: Nineteen parents (90%) provided complete data. The majority (n = 13) spoke Swedish as a second language, few (n = 4) were proficient. Compared to 24HRs, intakes measured by PM correlated well for all categories (Spearman's rho = 0.609-0.845). However, intakes were underreported, significantly so for fruits and vegetables; Bland-Altman plots indicated that the underestimation was fairly constant across intake levels. When the FFQ was compared to the 24HRs, parameters of agreement were generally inferior than for the PM. Parents found the PM a positive experience, primarily facilitated by its simplicity and familiarity. Barriers, mainly related to time and logistics, can inform further methodological refinements.CONCLUSIONS: The PM was an acceptable and feasible way to measure children's diet outside of school hours in this population of parents from disadvantaged areas. While the absolute validity should be evaluated further, this relatively simple method has potential for assessing intakes of well-defined foods at group level.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Tham, Wilhelm, 1951-, et al.
(author)
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More than one variant of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from each of two human cases of invasive listeriosis
- 2007
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In: Epidemiology and Infection. - 0950-2688 .- 1469-4409. ; 135:5, s. 854-856
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Two variants of Listeria monocytogenes were isolated from blood cultures from each of two patients with listeriosis. Each variant displayed a two-band difference in DNA profile from the other by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Although this difference in profile is insufficient to distinguish clearly between the variants, the possibility of co-infection with different strains of L. monocytogenes needs to be considered. We suggest that more than one colony should be selected for molecular typing to aid interpretation during investigation of the sources and routes of Listeria infection.
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Khamzeh, Arsham, et al.
(author)
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High levels of short-chain fatty acids secreted by Candida albicans hyphae induce neutrophil chemotaxis via free fatty acid receptor 2
- 2024
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In: Journal of Leukocyte Biology. - : Oxford University Press. - 1938-3673 .- 0741-5400. ; 115:3, s. 536-546
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Candida albicans belongs to our commensal mucosal flora and in immune-competent individuals in the absence of epithelial damage, this fungus is well tolerated and controlled by our immune defense. However, C. albicans is an opportunistic microorganism that can cause different forms of infections, ranging from superficial to life-threatening systemic infections. C. albicans is polymorphic and switches between different phenotypes (e.g. from yeast form to hyphal form). C. albicans hyphae are invasive and can grow into tissues to eventually reach circulation. During fungal infections, neutrophils in particular play a critical role for the defense, but how neutrophils are directed toward the invasive forms of fungi is less well understood. We set out to investigate possible neutrophil chemoattractants released by C. albicans into culture supernatants. We found that cell-free culture supernatants from the hyphal form of C. albicans induced both neutrophil chemotaxis and concomitant intracellular calcium transients. Size separation and hydrophobic sorting of supernatants indicated small hydrophilic factors as responsible for the activity. Further analysis showed that the culture supernatants contained high levels of short-chain fatty acids with higher levels from hyphae as compared to yeast. Short-chain fatty acids are known neutrophil chemoattractants acting via the neutrophil free fatty acid receptor 2. In line with this, the calcium signaling in neutrophils induced by hyphae culture supernatants was blocked by a free fatty acid receptor 2 antagonist and potently increased in the presence of a positive allosteric modulator. Our data imply that short-chain fatty acids may act as a recruitment signal whereby neutrophils can detect C. albicans hyphae.
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| 20. |
- Lindqvist, Helen, 1977, et al.
(author)
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Urine Metabolite Profiles and Nutrient Intake Based on 4-Day Weighed Food Diary in Habitual Vegans, Vegetarians, and Omnivores
- 2021
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In: Journal of Nutrition. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-3166 .- 1541-6100. ; 151:1, s. 30-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ABSTRACT Background: Increasing interest in diets excluding meat and other products of animal origin emphasizes the importance of objective and reliable methods to measure dietary exposure, to evaluate associations and causation between diet and health, and to quantify nutrient intakes in different diets. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate if NMR analysis of urine samples can serve as an objective method to discriminate vegan, vegetarian with or without fish, and omnivore diets. A secondary aim was to assess the influence of dietary nutrient intake on the metabolomics results. Methods: Healthy individuals (43 men and 75 women, age 19–57 y) complying with habitual vegan (n = 42), vegetarian (n = 25), vegetarian + fish (n = 13), or omnivore (n = 38) diets were enrolled. Data were collected on clinical phenotype and lifestyle including a 4-d weighed food diary. Urine was analyzed for metabolites by NMR spectroscopy and data normalized using probabilistic quotient normalization and Pareto-scaled before multivariate analysis. Before orthogonal projections to latent structures with discriminant analysis, participants were assigned as meat consumers or nonmeat consumers (vegans and vegetarians), vegans or nonvegans (omnivores, vegetarian, and vegetarian + fish). Results: The main results showed that it was possible to discriminate meat and nonmeat consumers (91% correctly classified), but discrimination between vegans and nonvegans was less rigorous (75% correctly classified). Secondary outcomes showed that reported intake of protein was higher in omnivores, and saturated fat lower and fiber higher in vegans, compared with the other groups. Discriminating metabolites were mainly related to differences in protein intake. Conclusions: NMR urine metabolomics appears suitable to objectively identify and predict habitual intake of meat in healthy individuals, but results should be interpreted with caution because not only food groups but also specific foods contribute to the patterns. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02039609. J Nutr 2020;00:1–10.
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| 21. |
- Ostberg, Anna-Lena, et al.
(author)
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Group treatment of obesity in primary care practice : A qualitative study of patients' perspectives
- 2011
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : Sage Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 39:1, s. 98-105
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims: To explore patients' experiences of very low calorie diet (VLCD) and subsequent corset treatment of obesity in a primary care setting, and to explore their perceptions of factors influencing weight control. Methods: In western Sweden, five focus group sessions were carried out. The main themes for the discussions were the informants' perceptions of the treatment they had received and their experiences of living with obesity. The analysis was based on the Grounded Theory methodology. Results: The outcomes reflect obese individuals' struggle to handle the demands of their life situation and to recognize their own resources. The core category generated was labelled "Achieving a balance in life and adjusting one's identity". Three categories related to the process of weight reduction were identified: living with obesity, reducing weight and developing self-management. The group treatment with VLCD was positively perceived by the participants, but the corset treatment was considered to be of less value. Conclusions: Maintenance after weight reduction was demanding and the findings indicate a need for extended support. For some individuals the corset treatment could be a psychological support. Follow-up after weight reduction programmes should focus on long-term self-help strategies.
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| 22. |
- Backman, Ellen, MSc, 1981-
(author)
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Ordinary mealtimes under extraordinary circumstances : Routines and rituals of nutrition, feeding and eating in children with a gastrostomy and their families
- 2021
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The aim of this thesis is to explore routines and rituals related to feeding, eating, and mealtimes in families that have a child with a gastrostomy tube (G-tube), from the perspectives of healthcare professionals, the children, and their parents. The thesis is based on four empirical studies. Study I is a longitudinal, quantitative study with the aim to describe children with developmental or acquired disorders receiving a G-tube, and to compare characteristics, contacts with healthcare professionals, and longitudinal eating outcomes. Findings from Study I demonstrated that children with developmental disorders needed G-tube feeding for longer than children with acquired disorders. Children with developmental disorders were also younger at G-tube placement, and had more multidisciplinary healthcare. These findings led to the subsequent studies focused specifically on children with developmental disorders. Study II applies mixed methods and explores everyday life, health care, and intervention goals during the first year following G-tube placement through the documentation in medical records. In Studies III and IV, the experiences of family mealtimes for children with a G-tube and their parents are collected through individual interviews that are analysed qualitatively. Triangulation of methods, participants, researchers, and data across the four studies is applied to search for confirmation between findings, as well as to identify areas of discrepancy. Ecocultural theory, the WHO framework ICF, and the concept of participation form the conceptual framework of the thesis. Taken together, findings from the studies describe how the main experiences of feeding, eating, and mealtime relate to specific impairments of the child, the collective value attached to family mealtimes, and the parental responsibility to harmonise competing interests and conflicts among family members and/or healthcare professionals. This thesis extends previous research by focusing on the ecocultural context of the child in combination with a dimensional understanding of health. The findings shed light on measures taken by the families themselves to adjust to and handle their daily lives, as well as spell out areas where more support is needed. Furthermore, this thesis suggests that an expanded focus on children’s participation in everyday mealtimes, and in the healthcare follow-up of G-tube feeding, is important in enhancing intervention outcomes.
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| 23. |
- Holmberg, Christopher, 1984, et al.
(author)
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Empowering aspects for healthy food and physical activity habits : adolescents’ experiences of a school-based intervention in a disadvantaged urban community
- 2018
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In: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. - Abingdon : Taylor & Francis. - 1748-2623 .- 1748-2631. ; 13:sup1: Equal Health
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose:This study aimed to describe adolescents’ experiences of participating in a health-promoting school-based intervention regarding food and physical activity, with a focus on empowering aspects. Method:The school was located in a urban disadvantaged community in Sweden, characterized by poorer self-reported health and lower life expectancy than the municipality average. Focus group interviews with adolescents (29 girls, 20 boys, 14–15 years) and their teachers (n = 4) were conducted two years after intervention. Data were categorized using qualitative content analysis. Results: A theme was generated, intersecting with all the categories: Gaining control over one’s health: deciding, trying, and practicing together, in new ways, using reflective tools. The adolescents appreciated influencing the components of the intervention and collaborating with peers in active learning activities such as practicing sports and preparing meals. They also reported acquiring new health information, that trying new activities was inspiring, and the use of pedometers and photo-food diaries helped them reflect on their health behaviours. The adolescents’ experiences were also echoed by their teachers. Conclusions: To facilitate empowerment and stimulate learning, health-promotion interventions targeting adolescents could enable active learning activities in groups, by using visualizing tools to facilitate self-reflection, and allowing adolescents to influence intervention activities.
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| 24. |
- Arvidsson, Daniel, 1974, et al.
(author)
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Re-examination of accelerometer data processing and calibration for the assessment of physical activity intensity.
- 2019
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0905-7188 .- 1600-0838. ; 29:10, s. 1442-1452
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This review reexamines use of accelerometer and oxygen uptake data for assessment of activity intensity. Accelerometers capture mechanical work, while oxygen uptake captures the energy cost of this work. Frequency filtering needs to be considered when processing acceleration data. A too restrictive filter attenuates the acceleration signal for walking and, to a higher degree, for running. This measurement error affects shorter (children) more than taller (adults) individuals due to their higher movement frequency. Less restrictive filtering includes more movement related signals and provide measures that better capture mechanical work, but may include more noise. An optimal filter cut-point is determined where most relevant acceleration signals are included. Further, accelerometer placement affects what part of mechanical work being captured. While the waist placement captures total mechanical work and therefore contributes to measures of activity intensity equivalent by age and stature, the thigh and wrist placements capture more internal work and do not provide equivalent measures. Value calibration of accelerometer measures is usually performed using measured oxygen uptake with the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) as reference measure of activity intensity. However, the use of MET is not stringent and is not a measure of activity intensity equivalent by age and stature. A candidate measure is the mass-specific net oxygen uptake, VO2 net (VO2 tot - VO2 stand). To improve measurement of physical activity intensity using accelerometers, research developments are suggested concerning processing of accelerometer data, use of energy expenditure as reference for activity intensity, and calibration procedure with absolute versus relative intensity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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| 25. |
- Andreae, Christina, 1969-, et al.
(author)
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Changes in Appetite During the Heart Failure Trajectory and Association With Fatigue, Depressive Symptoms, and Quality of Life
- 2021
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In: Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0889-4655 .- 1550-5049. ; 36:6, s. 539-545
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Decreased appetite can contribute to malnutrition in patients with heart failure (HF). Little is known about the trajectory of appetite over time in patients with HF and the factors associated with decreased appetite after discharge from the hospital.OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to investigate changes in appetite over time and explore how fatigue, depressive symptoms, and quality of life are associated with decreased appetite.METHODS: Data from the multicenter randomized Coordinating study evaluating Outcomes of Advising and Counseling in Heart Failure were used. Logistic regression and mixed-effects logistic regression were used to investigate changes in appetite over time and to explore the relationship between appetite and fatigue, depressive symptoms, and quality of life.RESULTS: A total of 734 patients with HF (mean age, 69 years) were included. Decreased appetite was present at all follow-up measurements; however, decreased appetite was significantly lower at the 1-month (odds ratio [OR], 0.43; confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.63), 6-month (OR, 0.31; CI, 0.20-0.47), 12-month (OR, 0.22; CI, 0.14-0.34), and 18-month (OR, 0.24; CI, 0.15-0.37) follow-ups compared with baseline. Decreased appetite was associated with fatigue (OR, 3.09; CI, 1.98-4.84), depressive symptoms (OR, 1.76; CI, 1.35-2.29), and low quality of life (OR, 1.01; CI, 1.01-1.02) across all measurement points adjusted for covariates.CONCLUSIONS: Appetite improved after discharge; however, at all time points, at least 22% of patients reported decreased appetite. Fatigue, depressive symptoms, and low quality of life are factors associated with decreased appetite. Decreased appetite is a long-standing problem in that it does not disappear spontaneously after an acute HF deterioration.
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