Network Health Dietitians July 08 Issue 36

news with Dr Carrie Ruxton
nutrition-communications.com
Low GI diets cut
disease risk
Low omega 3 risk for infant
Over the last few decades there has
eyesight
been a wealth of published informa-
tion about the glycaemic index (GI)
A diet sufﬁ cient in docohexaenoic acid (DHA) during pregnancy is
and glycaemic load (GL) of foods
thought to improve fetal neurodevelopment. Now a new study has set
and their health implications.
out to establish whether women consume enough DHA and how fatty
Australian scientists have now
acids may generate their effects.
recently collated ﬁ ndings from such Expectant mothers living in British Increased levels of omega-6 fatty
published reports (a total of 37 follow- Columbia, Canada, consumed their acids were associated with reduced
through studies). A re-analyses of these usual diet plus a daily supplement visual acuity in both boys and girls.
studies led to the conclusion that both containing 400mg/d of DHA (n=67) Researchers concluded that preg-
low GI and GL diets reduce the risk or a placebo (n=68). The supplement nant women in this study popula-
of chronic diseases (such as diabetes was taken from week 16 of pregnancy tion were deﬁ cient in DHA and that
and heart disease). However, it now until delivery. Blood samples were also a skewed ratio (a higher intake of
appears to be evident that these act taken from the expectant mothers at omega 6, above that of omega-3)
independently. weeks 16 and 36 of pregnancy and may impede infant neurodevelop-
A second study looked into how infant visual acuity was assessed 60 ment.
cereal foods affect the development days after birth. For more information see: Innis
of hyperglycaemia (high blood sug- Data analysis identiﬁ ed that female SM & Friesen RW (2008) American
ars). A small group of 12 participants infants from the placebo group had a Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 87: pages
randomly consumed a test meal at visual acuity below average (P=0.048). 548-557.
breakfast time or during the evening.
Blood glucose levels were measured
while a hydrogen breath test was done
Soy isoﬂ avones improve bone health
to estimate how the body responded
Isoﬂ avones are polyphenols found in soy protein. Experts agree that soy pro-
to the ﬁ bre present in the test meal.
tein confers health beneﬁ ts and, in 2002, the UK Joint Health Claims Initiative
Barley and rye kernel breakfasts were
approved a cholesterol-lowering claim for 25g of soy protein per day.
both found to reduce blood sugar lev-
els throughout the day and overnight.
A new Chinese study set out to did not consume any isoﬂ avones.
Meals containing indigestible ﬁ bre were
evaluate whether soy isoﬂ avone When these subjects were 90mg soy
found to improve glucose tolerance for
intake affected bone turnover isoﬂ avones a day, bone density was
up to 9.5 hours probably because they
(bone formation and breakdown). seen to improve after only 12 weeks.
stimulate fermentation in the colon.
Using data from 423 subjects, it was This suggests that eating soy protein
For more information see: Barclay AW
found that bone breakdown de- on a regular basis may beneﬁ t bone
et al (2008) American Journal of Clinical
creased and formation of new bone health, even in the short-term.
Nutrition. 87: pages 627-637 and Nilsson
increased in people who regularly For more information see: Ma et
AC et al (2008) American Journal of
ate soy isoﬂ avones. Results were al (2008) European Journal of Clini-
Clinical Nutrition. 87: pages 645-654.
compared against individuals that cal Nutrition. 62: pages155-161.
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