Advances in nutrition
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Advances in nutrition · Mar 2013
ReviewSucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, and fructose, their metabolism and potential health effects: what do we really know?
Both controversy and confusion exist concerning fructose, sucrose, and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) with respect to their metabolism and health effects. These concerns have often been fueled by speculation based on limited data or animal studies. In retrospect, recent controversies arose when a scientific commentary was published suggesting a possible unique link between HFCS consumption and obesity. ⋯ Whether there is a link between fructose, HFCS, or sucrose and increased risk of heart disease, metabolic syndrome, or fatty infiltration of the liver or muscle remains in dispute with different studies using different methodologies arriving at different conclusions. Further randomized clinical trials are needed to resolve many of these issues. The purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge about the metabolism, endocrine responses, and potential health effects of sucrose, HFCS, and fructose.
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Food insecurity is a leading public health challenge in the United States today. This is primarily due to the magnitude of the problem, ∼50 million persons are food insecure (i.e., they were uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food because they had insufficient money or other resources), and the serious negative health and other outcomes associated with being food insecure. This paper defines the measure used to delineate whether a household is food insecure. ⋯ This makes it the largest food assistance program and the largest near-cash assistance program in the US. After defining the eligibility criteria, I review the literature, which has demonstrated the effectiveness of SNAP in addressing its key goal, namely the alleviation of food insecurity in the US. I conclude with 4 suggestions for how SNAP can maintain and even improve its effectiveness in alleviating food insecurity.
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Advances in nutrition · Jan 2013
Impact of new-generation parenteral lipid emulsions in pediatric nutrition.
Advancements in the care of premature infants and infants with severe bowel disease have occurred in which long-term use of i.v. nutrition is a cornerstone of successful therapy. Concern about the role of i.v. lipid emulsions in causing severe liver damage to high-risk infants receiving long-term i.v. nutrition has led to a variety of intervention strategies. ⋯ This result is supported by animal models of liver disease that demonstrate decreased liver damage when animals are provided omega-3 fatty acid-containing lipid emulsions compared with those primarily omega-6 fatty acid based. However, human trials are limited at this time and further research is needed to establish the best approach to preventing liver damage in infants receiving i.v. nutrition and the optimal dose and timing of intervention with novel lipid emulsions.