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A randomized double-blind placebo controlled study design was used to assess the effects of flaxseed lignan complex supplementation during exercise training on a metabolic syndrome composite score and osteoporosis risk in older adults. A total of 100 subjects (>=50 years) were randomized to receive flaxseed lignan (543 mg·day-1 in a 4050 mg complex) or placebo while completing a 6 month walking program (30-60 min·day-1, 5-6 days·week-1). Fasting serum glucose, triacylglycerol (TAG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α were measured every 2 months, while body composition, bone mineral density, and resting blood pressure were assessed at baseline and at 6 months. A composite Z score of 6 risk factors for metabolic syndrome (fasting glucose, HDL cholesterol, TAG, abdominal adiposity, blood pressure, and inflammatory cytokines) was calculated at baseline and at 6 months. Men taking placebo increased metabolic syndrome composite Z score (p < 0.05), but there were no changes in the other groups. A significant group × sex × time interaction was noted for TAG (p = 0.017) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.046), with men taking flaxseed lignan decreasing diastolic blood pressure relative to men taking placebo, and men taking placebo increasing TAG relative to men taking flax lignan. There were no differences between groups for change in bone measures, body composition, lipoproteins, or cytokines. Males taking the flaxseed lignan complex reduced metabolic syndrome score relative to men taking placebo, but a similar trend was not seen in females. Flaxseed lignan had no effect on bone mineral density or content, body composition, lipoproteins, glucose, or inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective.: The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of three different communication technologies for collection of health outcomes from farm households. Methods.: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in central Saskatchewan, Canada in 2006. The 94 farms completing the baseline questionnaire were randomly assigned to follow-up by regular mail (n =30), computer telephony (n =32), or their choice of regular mail, computer telephony, or e-mail follow-up (n =32). The primary endpoints were absolute differences in the proportions of farms using the assigned method to provide follow-up data, 2 months post-recruitment. Results.: Of the total study population, 51 (54.3%) provided follow-up information. Farms in the regular mail arm were more likely to submit follow-up data than farms in the other arms (27/30 regular mail vs. 23/32 choice vs. 2/32 computer telephony). The differences in proportions between the computer telephony and other study arms were highly significant (e.g., absolute difference between regular mail and computer telephony 83.7% [95% CI: 70.1%, 97.3%; p <0.001]). Conclusion.: The optimal method for health outcome data collection from farm households in our study is regular mail. Despite their novelty and attractiveness, caution is warranted when adopting modern communication technologies in population health research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]