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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2009.07.008 Byline: Rachael T. Leon Guerrero, Susan E. Gebhardt, Joanne Holden, Mary J. Kretsch, Karen Todd, Rachel Novotny, Suzanne P. Murphy Abstract: Rice is a commonly consumed food staple for many Asian and Pacific cultures thus, nutrient enrichment of rice has the potential to increase nutrient intakes for these populations. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of enrichment nutrients (ie, thiamin, niacin, iron, and folic acid) in white rice found in Guam, Saipan (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), and Oahu (Hawaii). The proportion of white rice that was labeled "enriched" varied by type, bag size, and location. Most long-grain rice was labeled as enriched and most medium-grain rice was not. Bags of either type weighing >10 lb were seldom labeled as enriched in Hawaii or Saipan. Samples of various types of rice were collected on these three islands (n=19; 12 of which were labeled as enriched) and analyzed for their content of enrichment nutrients. Rice that was labeled as enriched in Hawaii and Guam seldom met the minimum enrichment standards for the United States. For comparison, three samples of enriched rice from California were also analyzed, and all met the enrichment standards. Food and nutrition professionals who are planning or evaluating diets of these Pacific island populations cannot assume that rice is enriched. Article History: Accepted 13 April 2009

Food composition databases and dietary assessment systems are important tools for food and nutrition professionals. The availability and accessibility of data have improved over time along with the technology to convert the information into useful formats for planning diets, writing educational materials, counseling patients, and conducting research. Primary sources of food composition data include government, academic, and other institutional databases; the food industry; and scientific literature. Changes in the marketplace affect food availability and composition and affect the accuracy and adequacy of food composition databases. Improvements in both food composition data and in dietary assessment methods have worked synergistically to improve estimates of dietary intake. The development of databases for food frequency assessment systems requires special considerations for data aggregation for each food or food grouping in the questionnaires. Considerations for selecting a dietary assessment system include appropriateness of the data for the intended audience or purpose, efficiency of the search strategy for retrieving data, content and format of summary information, and cost. Needs for food composition data vary depending on dietetic practice area; however, most food and nutrition professionals will benefit from becoming more informed about food composition data, exploring new ways to educate themselves about databases and database systems, and advocating for what is most needed in dietetic practice.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2006.08.021 Byline: Suzanne P. Murphy, Patricia M. Guenther, Mary J. Kretsch

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2005.12.003 Byline: Suzanne P. Murphy, Janet A. Foote, Lynne R. Wilkens, P. Peter Basiotis, Andrea Carlson, Kami K.L. White, Kim M. Yonemori Abstract: The objective of this study was to identify a measure of dietary variety that was associated with improved dietary quality and easily understood by consumers. Dietary quality was measured by nutrient adequacy and intakes of added sugars, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. We developed four definitions of dietary variety: (a) a count of basic commodities consumed; (b) a count of food codes reported; (c) a count of five Food Guide Pyramid (FGP) food groups consumed; and (d) a count of 22 FGP subgroups consumed. The analysis sample included 4,964 men and 4,797 women aged 19 years and older who participated in the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals 1994-96. For each day of dietary data, we examined associations of each type of dietary variety with several measures of dietary quality using Spearman's correlations and multivariate linear regression models. After adjusting for energy intake and the number of FGP food group servings, all types of dietary variety were positively associated with mean nutrient adequacy across 15 nutrients, but associations were strongest for commodity-based variety and for 22 FGP subgroup consumption variety. Likewise, all variety measures were inversely associated with intakes of added sugars and saturated fat, with commodity-based variety and 22 FGP subgroup variety the strongest. We conclude that variety measured using 22 FGP subgroups is preferable because it is a good predictor of dietary quality, is relatively simple to calculate, and is easy to explain to consumers.

The objective of the study was to determine the degree of adherence to the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations among African Americans, Latinos born in the United States, and Latinos born in Mexico. Subjects were from the Multiethnic Cohort Study in Hawaii and Los Angeles, and completed a self-administered quantitative food frequency questionnaire at baseline in 1993-1996. Dairy recommendations were the least likely of all the food group recommendations to be followed, with 61% to 99% of individuals in the three ethnic groups not consuming the recommended number of servings. African Americans were less likely to adhere to all of the food group recommendations compared to the two Latino groups. A greater percentage of Latinos born in the United States did not adhere to the food group recommendations compared to Latinos born in Mexico. All three groups would benefit from interventions designed to promote healthy food choices. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;104:1873-1877.

The Food Guide Pyramid is designed to help Americans make healthful food choices. Whereas national data have been collected to examine adherence to the pyramid recommendations in whites, African-Americans, and Latinos, there are virtually no data available for Japanese Americans or Native Hawaiians. Here we present data on intakes of the Food Guide Pyramid food groups (as servings per day) as well as of the components of the pyramid tip (discretionary fat, added sugar, and alcohol) in these ethnic groups and examine adherence to each of the food group recommendations. Degree of adherence to the fruit group recommendation was similar among the ethnic groups and energy-intake categories, but adherence to the other recommendations was greatest for those consuming more than 2,800 kilocalories per day. However, subjects in this energy-intake group also consumed more than three times as much discretionary fat, added sugar, and alcohol.

The term Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) refers to a set of 4 nutrient-based reference values intended primarily for use in assessing and planning diets. The DRIs, the outcome of the [...]

To develop national nutrition policies, it is necessary to know what Americans are eating and which segments of the population may be at nutritional risk of underconsumption (eg, of micronutrients) [...]

In the United States, the number of elderly who live alone has increased dramatically since 1960 (1). As of 1986, approximately 30% of persons 65 years and older lived alone; [...]

Alcohol plays a notable role in the dietary intakes of some Americans. One study estimated that consumption of alcohol among the drinking-age population in the United States contributes about 160 [...]

Objectives To evaluate the validity of food behavior items, using a biological measure (serum carotenoids) as the criterion for validity of fruit and vegetable intake, and the results from multiple [...]

Although the title of this book implies that it provides nutritional guidance for sedentary individuals, it addresses a far more interesting topic--the effect of a sedentary life-style on the health [...]

Principles of Nutritional Assessment This comprehensive text is a detailed coverage of the major methods used in nutrition assessment. The book is intended for use by students--both undergraduate and graduate--as [...]

The Dietary Reference Intakes, a set of nutrient reference standards developed for the United States and Canada by the Institute of Medicine, provide tools for dietary assessment and planning for individuals and groups. Because a distribution of requirements is provided for most nutrients, it is possible to estimate a probability of nutrient inadequacy for an individual's usual intake, and the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy among the intakes of a group of people. The availability of a Tolerable Upper Intake Level for many nutrients also allows an evaluation of the risk of excessive intakes. However, some of these new applications are complex, and their implementation would be facilitated by better training aids and improved computer software. These new tools would help registered dietitians become more familiar with the appropriate applications of the Dietary Reference Intakes in the Nutrition Care Process, and better recognize both the benefits and challenges associated with their use. Ultimately, use of more comprehensive methods of assessing and planning nutrient intakes has the potential to further enhance recognition of registered dietitians' essential roles in nutrition care., (Copyright © 2011 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)