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Abstract Background In developing countries, overweight prevalence is increasing while underweight prevalence is still high. This situation is known as the double nutrition burden. Both underweight and overweight are related to increased risk of chronic non-communicable diseases, reduced well-being and quality of life. This study aims to compare the prevalence of overweight and underweight among Vietnamese adults in 2000 and 2005. Methods The study was based on two nationally representative surveys, the National Nutrition Survey 2000 (14,452 subjects) and the National Adult Obesity Survey 2005 (17,213 subjects). Adults aged 25-64 years were sampled to be nationally representative. Multiple multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association of underweight and overweight with socio-economic indicators. Results The distribution of BMI across the population and population groups indicated a shift towards higher BMI levels in 2005 as compared to 2000. The nationwide prevalence of overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) was 6.6% and 0.4% respectively in 2005, almost twice the rates of 2000 (3.5% and 0.2%). Using the Asian BMI cut-off of 23 kg/m2 the overweight prevalence was 16.3% in 2005 and 11.7% in 2000. In contrast, the underweight prevalence (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) of 20.9% in 2005 was lower than the rate of 25.0% in 2000. Women were more likely to be both underweight and overweight as compared to men in both 2000 and 2005. Urban residents were more likely to be overweight and less likely to be underweight as compared to rural residents in both years. The shifts from underweight to overweight were clearer among the higher food expenditure levels. Conclusions The double nutrition burden was clearly present in Vietnam. The distribution of BMI across the population groups generally indicated a shift towards higher BMI levels in 2005 as compared to 2000. The prevalence of overweight was increased while the declined level of undernutrition was still high in 2005. The shifts of underweight to overweight were most obvious among population groups with higher food expenditure levels.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is used to measure bone quality and is known to be safe, radiation free and relatively inexpensive compared with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) that is considered the gold standard for bone status assessments. However, there is no consensus regarding the validity of QUS for measuring bone status. The aim of this study was to compare QUS and DXA in assessing bone status in Thai children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 181 Thai children (90 boys and 91 girls) aged 6 to 12 years were recruited. Bone status was measured by two different techniques in terms of the speed of sound (SOS) using QUS and bone mineral density (BMD) using DXA. Calcium intake was assessed by 24 h diet recall. Pearson's correlation, K-statistic and Bland and Altman analysis were used to assess the agreement between the methods. RESULTS: There was no correlation between the two different techniques. Mean difference (s.d.) of the Z-scores of BMD and SOS was -0.61 (1.27) that was different from zero (P < 0.05). Tertiles of Z-scores of BMD and QUS showed low agreement ([kappa] 0.022, P = 0.677) and the limits of agreement in Bland and Altman statistics were wide. CONCLUSIONS: Although QUS is easy and convenient to use, the SOS measurements at the radius seem not appropriate for assessing bone quality status. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2016) 70, 894-897; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2015.180; published online 28 October 2015, INTRODUCTION For the formation of healthy and strong bones, the supply of adequate nutrients (that is, calcium and protein) along with vitamin D is important. (1) In clinical practice bone [...]

This study aims to assess contamination with Legionella spp. in water from dental chair units (DCUs) of a hospital dental ward and to perform its molecular characterization by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). We collect eight water samples (250 mL) from four DCUs (sink and water-syringe). Samples are tested for the presence of Legionella spp. (CFUs/mL) by culturing according to the Nederland Norm (NEN) 6265. Three DCUs are found positive for Legionella anisa, and four isolates are cultured (sink n = 2, water-syringe n = 1; two isolates from the same chair) with 1 × 102 CFU/mL. Whole-genome multi-locus sequence typing (wgMLST) results indicate that all strains belong to the same cluster with two to four allele differences. Classical culture combined with WGS allows the identification of a unique clone of L. anisa in several DCUs in the same hospital dental ward. This may indicate a common contamination source in the dental unit waterlines, which was fixed by replacing the chairs and main pipeline of the unit. Our results reveal tap water contamination in direct contact with patients and the usefulness of WGS to investigate bacterial molecular epidemiology.

We investigated the association of C1431T and Pro12Ala polymorphisms at the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) locus with plasma lipids and insulin resistance-related variables, according to diabetes status, in a large and representative Asian population from Singapore consisting of 2,730 Chinese, 740 Malays, and 568 Indians. Moreover, we estimated the diabetes risk and examined gene-nutrient interactions between these variants and the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acid to saturated fat (SFA) in determining body mass index (BMI) and fasting insulin. We found differential effects of these gene variants. The Pro12Ala polymorphism was more associated with plasma lipids and fasting glucose concentrations, whereas the C1431T polymorphism was related to the risk of diabetes. Carriers of the 12Ala allele had higher HDL-cholesterol than did Pro12Pro homozygotes (P < 0.05), and the effect of the 12Ala allele on fasting glucose was modified by diabetes status (P < 0.001). After controlling for confounders, carriers of the T allele had decreased risk of diabetes compared with CC homozygotes [odds ratio (OR) 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58–0.93; P = 0.011]; this effect was stronger in Indians (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15–0.92; P = 0.032).For both polymorphisms, normal subjects carrying the less prevalent allele had higher BMI (P < 0.05). The PUFA/SFA did not modify the effect of these polymorphisms on BMI or insulin.

The independent effects of weight loss and dietary fat modification on serum lipids were investigated in two groups of healthy moderately obese men and women. In one group (sequential group, n = 19), a weight-stable low-fat, low-saturated-fat diet (Low-Sat) was given for 7 weeks (= dietary modification), followed by a 4.2 MJ/day deficit Low-Sat diet for 13 weeks (i.e., weight loss alone). Another group (simultaneous group, n = 22) received a 4.2 MJ/day deficit Low-Sat diet for 13 weeks (i.e., weight loss+dietary fat modification). Each group was subject to an initial weight-stable high-fat, high-saturated fat diet for 3 weeks and a final weight stable Low-Sat diet for 3 weeks. Both groups lost similar amounts of body weight, about 13 kg, and had similar overall changes in total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the HDL/LDL ratio, and triglycerides. Analysis of the separate effects of the Low-Sat diet without energy restriction and of weight loss in the sequential group showed that weight loss per se was responsible for about 50% of the total reduction in total cholesterol, and for about 60% and 70% of the fall in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, respectively. Fat modification without weight loss reduced HDL cholesterol by 11.1% and the HDL/LDL ratio by 7.7%, while weight loss per se led to increases in HDL cholesterol of 12.5% and in the HDL/LDL ratio of 24.0%. We conclude that the effects of reduction in fat and saturated fat intake and weight loss are additive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Research on the use of multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance for measurement of total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) in old people reveal the usefulness of such a method to evaluate TBW and ECW groups of elderly people. Errors in prediction are due to body water distribution and they are greater when compared to young and middle-aged people. Body weight, and impedance at frequencies 5 and 50 kHz were perfect predictors of ECW and TBW respectively 81 women and 36 men in the age group between 63-87 years served as subjects for the study.

A comparison of two methods of determining human body composition, densitometry and bioelectric impedance, was conducted on two groups of healthy subjects. Results indicate that the variability of underwater weighing was lower than for impedance measurement at the lower frequencies. Variability was observed to decrease as frequencies heightened. Therefore, results of body composition measurement using the impedance method should be interpreted carefully.

Twelve subjects were measured for fat-free mass (FFM), total body water (TBW) and extracellular water with bioelectrical impedance at different frequencies before and three hours after giving a diuretic drug. A comparison of prediction formula developed before the test and the impedance results show an overestimation for losses of FFM and TBW at lower frequencies and near-precise values at higher frequencies. These findings show that a potential for error exists with multi-frequency impedance measurements of body fluid compartments.