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Benefits of dairy
Latest on mood and mental
products
function
Scientists have proposed that eat-
Scientists have often found that diet can affect mood. An Australian
ing low-fat dairy products could
study has investigated whether this may be caused by changes in blood
protect against the development
electrolyte levels.
of hypertension.
A Spanish study tested this theory
These are known to control the to improve mood, possibly by reducing
by observing habitual dairy consump-
release of cortisol, a steroid hormone cortisol production.
tion in 2,290 older participants without
linked to depression. Subjects were Another Australian study set out to
hypertension, and 1,845 individuals
placed on a control diet for two weeks, determine whether saccharides, a
diagnosed with hypertension. It was
followed by: 1) a low-sodium, high- specific group of dietary carbohydrates,
found that systolic and diastolic blood
potassium diet (LNaHK), or 2) a high- could improve memory performance
pressure was lower in adults who ate
calcium diet with moderate sodium in middle-aged adults. Over 1,000 men
the largest amounts of low-fat dairy
and a high-potassium (OD). All subjects and women filled in questionnaires to
products. The researchers concluded
consumed both types of diet in a 4- test their memory function followed by a
that populations of adults at risk from
week crossover design. Depression was food frequency questionnaire to assess
hypertension could benefit from in-
determined using a Profile of Mood habitual saccharide intakes. Saccharide
creasing their consumption of low-fat
States. The results showed that both intake was correlated with better self-
dairy foods.
depression and tension were improved reported memory.
A second study investigated nutri-
when subjects followed the LNAHK diet For more information see: Torres SJ et
ent intakes and body size in 7,557
compared with the OD diet. Diets low al (2008) British Journal of Nutrition. 1-8
children and adolescents drinking fla-
in sodium and rich in potassium appear [Epub ahead
voured or plain milk and made com-
parisons with non-milk drinkers. Data
Latest on omega-3
from the American National Health
and Nutrition Examination Surveys
Very long-chain omega-3 fats (LC-PUFA) are believed to help improve
were used for the analyses. Subjects
cognitive function. A recent blinded study recruited 8-13 year old chil-
who drank flavoured or plain milk daily
dren with poor attention performance.
had higher daily intakes of vitamin A, Half were supplemented with whether the practice is effective.
calcium, phosphorous and saturated 300mg/d of omega-3 fatty acids that Australian scientists carried out a
fat. Average calcium intake amongst were conjugated to either phospho- systemic literature review, collating
girls drinking plain milk was 1038mg/d, lipids or triacylglycerol, while the other information within this field. Analyses
similar to the 992mg/d consumed half received a placebo. Attention of data revealed that the mental
by girls drinking flavoured milk. In tests, plasma and red blood cell development of infants given LC-PUFA
contrast, non-milk drinkers only had fatty acid analyses were conducted was significantly higher – by 3.4 points
calcium intakes of 576mg/d. Body throughout the 3-month study. Results – compared with infants not receiving
mass index (BMI) was similar across showed that conjugation of omega-3 LC-PUFA. The findings were based on
the groups, suggesting no impact of fatty acids seemed to improve their the Bayley Scales of Infant Develop-
milk drinking. The authors concluded incorporation into red blood cells. This ment. However, LC-PUFA supplements
that milk, flavoured or plain, was useful resulted in significant improvements in were not found to lower the risk of
for improving calcium intakes without attention scores. This was not seen in retinopathy, intraventricular haemor-
adversely impacting on BMI. the placebo group. rhage, respiratory problems or sepsis in
For more information see: Toledo E LC-PUFAs have been added to preterm infants.
et al (2008) British Journal of Nutrition. preterm formulas in recent years to For more information see: Vaisman
pages 1-9and Murphy MM et al (2008) improve infant neurodevelopment, N et al (2008) American Journal of
Journal of the American Dietetic As- particularly in those born prematurely. Clinical Nutrition. 87: pages 1170-1180
sociation. 108: pages 631-639. However, there is still no consensus on and Smithers
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6 NHDmag.com Aug/Sep ‘08 - issue 37
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