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Objective: Scalable methods are required for population dietary monitoring. The Supermarket Transaction Records In Dietary Evaluation (STRIDE) study compares dietary estimates from supermarket transactions with an online FFQ. Design: Participants were recruited in four waves, accounting for seasonal dietary variation. Purchases were collected for 1 year during and 1 year prior to the study. Bland–Altman agreement and limits of agreement (LoA) were calculated for energy, sugar, fat, saturated fat, protein and sodium (absolute and relative). Setting: This study was partnered with a large UK retailer. Participants: Totally, 1788 participants from four UK regions were recruited from the retailer's loyalty card customer database, according to breadth and frequency of purchases. Six hundred and eighty-six participants were included for analysis. Results: The analysis sample were mostly female (72 %), with a mean age of 56 years (sd 13). The ratio of purchases to intakes varied depending on amounts purchased and consumed; purchases under-estimated intakes for smaller amounts on average, but over-estimated for larger amounts. For absolute measures, the LoA across households were wide, for example, for energy intake of 2000 kcal, purchases could under- or over-estimate intake by a factor of 5; values could be between 400 kcal and 10000 kcal. LoA for relative (energy-adjusted) estimates were smaller, for example, for 14 % of total energy from saturated fat, purchase estimates may be between 7 % and 27 %. Conclusions: Agreement between purchases and intake was highly variable, strongest for smaller loyal households and for relative values. For some customers, relative nutrient purchases are a reasonable proxy for dietary composition indicating utility in population-level dietary research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the intake of key indicator foods at age 12 months and 18 months between infants of Pakistani and White British origin.Design: Logistic regression was used to model associations between ethnicity and consumption of key indicator foods defined by high or low energy density using an FFQ at age 12 and 18 months.Setting: Born in Bradford 1000 study, Bradford, UK.Subjects: Infants (n 1259; 38 % White British, 49 % Pakistani), mean age 12·7 (sd 1·0) months and toddlers (n 1257; 37 % White British, 49 % Pakistani), mean age 18·7 (sd1·0) months.Results: At 12 months, Pakistani infants consumed more commercial sweet baby meals than White British infants, with greater odds for being above average consumers (adjusted OR (AOR)=1·90; 95 % CI 1·40, 2·56), more chips/roast potatoes (AOR=2·75; 95 % CI 2·09, 3·62), less processed meat products (AOR=0·11; 95 % CI 0·08, 0·15), more fruit (AOR=2·20; 95 % CI 1·70, 2·85) and more sugar-sweetened drinks (AOR=1·68; 95 % CI 1·29, 2·18). At 18 months these differences persisted, with Pakistani infants consuming more commercial sweet baby meals (AOR=4·57; 95 % CI 2·49, 8·39), more chips/roast potato shapes (AOR=2·26; 95 % CI 1·50, 3·43), more fruit (AOR=1·40; 95 % CI 1·08, 1·81), more sugar-sweetened drinks (AOR=2·03; 95 % CI 1·53, 2·70), more pure fruit juice (AOR=1·82; 95 % CI 1·40, 2·35), more water (AOR=3·24; 95 % CI 2·46, 4·25) and less processed meat (AOR=0·10; 95 % CI 0·06, 0·15) than White British infants.Conclusions: Dietary intake during infancy and the early toddlerhood period is associated with ethnicity, suggesting the importance of early and culturally adapted interventions aimed at establishing healthy eating behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to determine whether a multi-component school-based intervention can maintain children's fruit and vegetable intake post eligibility for free school fruit and vegetables.DesignA random sample of fifty-four English primary schools was randomised to receive the 10-month intervention Project Tomato, a multi-component theory-based intervention, or the control. Each group consisted of twenty-seven schools.SettingChildren's intake of fruit and vegetables is below recommendations. The English School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme has a short-term impact on intake while children are eligible for the scheme.SubjectsDietary measurements were collected from 658 Year 2 pupils aged 7–8 years at baseline and at follow-up 20 months later.ResultsFollowing an intention to treat analysis, the intervention as delivered compared with the control had no impact on the intake of fruit and vegetables (2 g/d, 95 % CI −23, 26 g/d) or on the number of portions of fruit (0·0 portions, 95 % CI −0·3, 0·3) or vegetables (0·0 portions, 95 % CI −0·2, 0·3) consumed daily by children. Intake of fruit and vegetables at school and home dropped by ∼100 g/d and 50 g/d, respectively, between baseline and follow-up in both the intervention and control groups.ConclusionsImplementation of the intervention was low, with associated lack of impact on fruit and vegetable consumption in children. Alternatives to the delivery of an intervention by teachers and parents are needed to improve the dietary intake of primary-school children. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: The present analysis evaluates the overall appreciation and implementation of an intervention, Project Tomato, designed to maintain fruit and vegetable intake in children aged 8-9 years.Design: A random sample of fifty-four English primary schools (658 children) were randomised to either the intervention group or the control. The intervention group received a multi-component programme delivered in school by teachers and items sent home for parents/children. Dietary measurements were collected at baseline and follow-up. The intervention participants completed questionnaires on the intervention materials, to identify implementation and appreciation of the intervention, and other environmental mechanisms.Setting: Fifty-four primary schools were randomly selected, with twenty-seven schools allocated to the intervention group.Subjects: A total of 311 children received the intervention.Results: Implementation of the intervention was low, 21·3 % of school items and 56·0 % of home items were implemented. The intervention materials were well received by teachers, parents and children. Other mechanisms that may affect fruit and vegetable intake were explored. Children who ate their main meal with their parents 3-7 nights/week on average consumed 37·6 (95 % CI 9·8, 65·4) g more fruit and vegetables than children who ate with their parents 0-2 times/week.Conclusions: Implementation of the trial components was poor. However, the results identified the importance of parental environment and mealtime structure on children's fruit and vegetable intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether frequent vitamin C supplement use is associated with healthier behaviours, and a history of cancer and other illnesses in UK women.Design: The present cross-sectional analysis examines the odds of taking supplements containing vitamin C as recorded in 4 d food diaries, based on lifestyle characteristics and morbidity history self-reported by questionnaire.Setting: A large national UK cohort study.Subjects: A total of 12,453 women aged between 37 and 79 years.Results: Women frequently taking supplements containing vitamin C, compared to those who did not, had healthier behaviours, including higher consumption of fruit and vegetables. Frequent high-dose vitamin C users (≥1000 mg) had a higher socio-economic status, visited alternative practitioners more often than family or private doctors, and were more likely to be ex-smokers and to drink little or no alcohol. Women who self-reported having had cancer (OR = 1·33, 95% CI 1·00, 1·76) or specifically breast cancer (OR = 1·70, 95% CI 1·14, 2·55), or reported a family history of cancer (OR = 1·16, 95% CI 0·95, 1·41) or breast cancer (OR = 1·26, 95% CI 1·01, 1·58) had increased odds of being frequent high-dose users after adjusting for sociodemographic and health behaviours. Women with personal or family histories of some cardiovascular or intestinal disorders were more likely to take supplements containing vitamin C, though not necessarily at high doses.Conclusions: High-dose vitamin C intake by UK women was associated with healthier behaviours and a history of breast cancer, total cancer and other illnesses. Consequences of high-dose vitamin C supplement intake are not clear at the population level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Many public health campaigns encourage increased fibre consumption, but short-term studies suggest that various components of dietary fibre inhibit the absorption of certain micronutrients including carotenoids. These do not take into account long-term adaptation to nutrient intake levels. We aimed to investigate the effect of non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) fibre on plasma micronutrient concentrations in a large free-living population consuming their usual diet.Design: Prospective cohort study. Semi-weighed 4-day food diaries were analysed for micronutrient and NSP fibre intakes. Blood samples were taken and analysed for carotenoids, vitamin A, vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin C and trace metals.Setting: Participants in a large national cohort study who lived within 30 miles of Leeds.Subjects: Two hundred and eighty-three middle-aged women.Results: The association between NSP intake and plasma nutrient concentrations was assessed taking into account nutrient intakes and other dietary and lifestyle factors. Higher levels of NSP were not associated with lower plasma concentrations of the micronutrients measured, even allowing for the higher nutrient levels generally found in high-fibre foods.Conclusions: Amongst middle-aged women we have shown that current guidelines for increasing the population's NSP consumption can be safely applied. Such guidelines are unlikely to reduce serum micronutrient concentrations, although other, more vulnerable population groups may benefit from further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]