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Objective:To examine the long-term effects of the ‘Cretan Health and Nutrition Education Program’ on blood pressure.Subjects:A representative population of 176 pupils (85 from the intervention schools and 91 from the control schools).Design:Blood pressure, dietary, anthropometrical and physical activity data were obtained at baseline (academic year 1992–1993) and at follow-up examination (academic year 2001–2002).Results:The findings of the current study revealed that the increase over the 10-year period in systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was higher in the control group (CG) than in the intervention group (IG) (P=0.003 and P<0.001 respectively). Regarding dietary indices, the IG were found to have a significantly higher intake of potassium (P=0.018) and magnesium (P=0.011) compared to the CG. Furthermore, the decrease in body mass index (BMI) z-score observed in the IG was found to differentiate significantly from the increase observed in the CG (P=0.042). On the contrary, the increase in leisure time, moderate to vigorous physical activities (MVPA) observed in the IG, was found to differentiate significantly from the decrease observed in the CG (P=0.032). Intervention's effect on SBP was mediated by changes in MVPA (β=−0.20, P=0.030) and BMI (β=0.19, P=0.048). Similarly, intervention's effect on DBP was mediated by changes in MVPA (β=−0.18, P=0.048), BMI (β=0.26, P=0.007) and magnesium intake (β=−0.20, P=0.048).Conclusion:The findings of the current study are encouraging, indicating favorable changes in blood pressure, micronutrients intake, BMI and physical activity over the 10 years of follow-up and 4 years after program's cessation, thus providing some support for the effectiveness of school-based health education programs in successfully tackling certain chronic disease risk factors early in life.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 837–845; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602584; published online 10 January 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Only one study has investigated the relationship of essential fatty acids in the adipose tissue with depression in adults and suggested an inverse relationship between docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3) (DHA) and depression.Objective:To examine the relation between adipose tissue polyunsaturated fatty acids especially n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, an index of long-term or habitual fatty acid intake, and depression in adults.Design:Cross-sectional study of healthy adults from the island of Crete.Setting:The Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic, University of Crete, Greece.Subjects:A total of 130 healthy adults (59 males, 71 females) aged 22—58 years. The sample was a sub-sample of the Greek ApoEurope study group.Methods:Fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography in adipose tissue. Information about depression was obtained through the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale.Results:Adipose tissue DHA was inversely related with depression. Multiple linear regression analysis taking into account the possible confounding effect of age, gender, body mass index, smoking and educational level confirmed this association.Conclusions:The inverse relationship between adipose DHA and depression in adults, replicates findings of a previous study. This relationship indicates that a low long-term dietary intake of DHA is associated with an increased risk for depression in adults.Funding:The International Olive Oil Council and the DG XII of the European Union.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) 60, 882–888. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602394; published online 8 February 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the intake of trans fatty acids (TFA) and other fatty acids in 14 Western European countries.Design and Subjects: A maximum of 100 foods per country were sampled and centrally analysed. Each country calculated the intake of individual trans and other fatty acids, clusters of fatty acids and total fat in adults and/or the total population using the best available national food consumption data set.Results: A wide variation was observed in the intake of total fat and (clusters) of fatty acids in absolute amounts. The variation in proportion of energy derived from total fat and from clusters of fatty acids was less. Only in Finland, Italy, Norway and Portugal total fat did provide on average less than 35% of energy intake. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) provided on average between 10% and 19% of total energy intake, with the lowest contribution in most Mediterranean countries. TFA intake ranged from 0.5% (Greece, Italy) to 2.1% (Iceland) of energy intake among men and from 0.8% (Greece) to 1.9% among women (Iceland) (1.2-6.7 g/d and 1.7-4.1 g/d, respectively). The TFA intake was lowest in Mediterranean countries (0.5-0.8 en%) but was also below 1% of energy in Finland and Germany. Moderate intakes were seen in Belgium, The Netherlands, Norway and UK and highest intake in Iceland. Trans isomers of C18:1 were the most TFA in the diet. Monounsaturated fatty acids contributed 9-12% of mean daily energy intake (except for Greece, nearly 18%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids 3-7%.Conclusion: The current intake of TFA in most Western European countries does not appear to be a reason for major concern. In several countries a considerable proportion of energy was derived from SFA. It would therefore be prudent to reduce intake of all cholesterol-raising fatty acids, TFA included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examines the long-term effects of a school-based ‘Health and Nutrition Education programme’ on body mass index (BMI) changes and the prevalence of overweight. The intervention group consisted of all pupils registered in the first grade of two counties of the island of Crete in 1992, while all pupils registered in a third county formed the control group. For evaluation purposes, a representative sample was examined at baseline (1992) following the 6-y intervention (1998) and 4 y after the programme's cessation (2002). The data presented here are based on pupils with full anthropometrical data in all three examination periods (284 intervention group pupils and 257 control group pupils). Former intervention group pupils had lower average BMI (by 0.7 kg/m2, s.e. 0.28, P=0.019) at the 10-y follow-up compared to the control group subjects, while no differences were detected in the prevalence of obesity between the two groups. The findings of the current study indicate that the beneficial effects of the programme on pupils’ BMI continue, to an extent, 4 years after its cessation. However, the lack of significant differences in the prevalence of overweight between the two groups indicates that the effects of the intervention may not be equally distributed in the population, with greater effects in certain subgroups and less or none in others.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005) 59, 1090–1092. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602216; published online 6 July 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although early detection and systematic prevention of cancer improves outcomes and reduces mortality, General Practitioners' (GP) effectiveness remains an issue that merits further investigation.Methods: To explore cancer control practices of Greek GPs, a version of the Cancer Control Practices questionnaire, originally developed in Western New York in 2001, was translated and culturally adapted.Results: Its reliability was found satisfactory in most the items.Conclusions: The instrument can be useful in determining Greek GPs' knowledge and application of internationally established cancer-related guidelines, barriers they face in daily practice, and educational or training needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]