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Background: While adherence to cancer prevention recommendations is linked to lower risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), few have studied associations across the entire spectrum of colorectal carcinogenesis. Here, we studied the relationship of the standardized 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) Score for cancer prevention recommendations with detection of colorectal lesions in a screening setting. As a secondary objective, we examined to what extent the recommendations were being followed in an external cohort of CRC patients. Methods: Adherence to the seven‐point 2018 WCRF/AICR Score was measured in screening participants receiving a positive fecal immunochemical test and in CRC patients participating in an intervention study. Dietary intake, body fatness and physical activity were assessed using self‐administered questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for screen‐detected lesions. Results: Of 1486 screening participants, 548 were free from adenomas, 524 had non‐advanced adenomas, 349 had advanced lesions and 65 had CRC. Adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR Score was inversely associated with advanced lesions; OR 0.82 (95% CI 0.71, 0.94) per score point, but not with CRC. Of the seven individual components included in the score, alcohol, and BMI seemed to be the most influential. Of the 430 CRC patients included in the external cohort, the greatest potential for lifestyle improvement was seen for the recommendations concerning alcohol and red and processed meat, where 10% and 2% fully adhered, respectively. Conclusions: Adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR Score was associated with lower probability of screen‐detected advanced precancerous lesions, but not CRC. Although some components of the score seemed to be more influential than others (i.e., alcohol and BMI), taking a holistic approach to cancer prevention is likely the best way to prevent the occurrence of precancerous colorectal lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole‐room indirect calorimeters (WRICs) provide accurate instruments for the measurement of respiratory exchange, energy expenditure, and macronutrient oxidation. Here, we aimed to determine the validity and reproducibility of a 7500 L WRIC for the measurement of ventilation rates and resting metabolic rate (RMR). Technical validation was performed with propane combustion tests (n = 10) whereas biological reproducibility was tested in healthy subjects (13 women, 6 men, mean ± SD age 39.6 ± 15.3) in two 60 min measurements separated by 24 h. Subjects followed a run‐in protocol prior to measurements. The coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated for ventilation rates of O2 (VO2), CO2 (VCO2), the respiratory quotient (RQ; VCO2/VO2), and RMR. Technical validation showed good validity with CVs ranging from 0.67% for VO2 to 1.00% for energy expenditure. For biological reproducibility, CVs were 2.89% for VO2; 2.67% for VCO2; 1.95% for RQ; and 2.68% for RMR. With the exception of RQ (74%), ICCs were excellent for VO2 (94%), VCO2 (96%) and RMR (95%). Excluding participants that deviated from the run‐in protocol did not alter results. In conclusion, the 7500 L WRIC is technically valid and reproducible for ventilation rates and RMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We have developed a digital semi-quantitative food frequency and lifestyle questionnaire, the DIGIKOST-FFQ, based on the validated paper-based NORDIET-FFQ., Objective: The study aims to investigate the reproducibility of the DIGIKOST-FFQ and to compare the DIGIKOST-FFQ against the NORDIET-FFQ for the adjusted questions for intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, meat, and dairy products., Design: Participants were recruited from May to September 2021 through a random sample from the National Population Register and advertisements on Facebook in Norway. In the reproducibility study, the DIGIKOST-FFQ was completed twice by the participants, 1-2 months apart. In the comparison study, the DIGIKOST-FFQ was completed 1-2 months prior to the NORDIET-FFQ., Results: In the reproducibility study, 317 individuals were included. For 12 out of 16 food groups there were no significant differences in intake estimations between the first and second DIGIKOST-FFQ administrations. A small but significant median difference was observed for fruits (6 g/day) and vegetables (24 g/day). Correlations were satisfactory for all items ( r = 0.60-1.00), and in the cross-classification 85% of the participants were classified into the same or adjacent quartile for all items. The comparison study included 81 individuals. Compared to the NORDIET-FFQ a significant median difference was observed for fruits 29 g/day, vegetables 36 g/day, whole grains -10 g/day, and red meat -11 g/day, but not for fish, processed meat, or dairy products., Conclusion: The DIGIKOST-FFQ was able to reproduce diet and lifestyle at the group level. An intended difference for the food groups where questions had been adjusted, was observed between DIGIKOST-FFQ and NORDIET-FFQ in the comparison study., Competing Interests: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest. The Throne Holst Foundation for Nutrition Research and Aktieselskabet Freia Chocolade Fabriks Medisinske Fond funded this study. The funding sources had no role in the study design, data collection, data analyses, interpretation, or writing of the article., (© 2024 Markus Dines Knudsen et al.)

Background: Valid assessment tools are needed when investigating adherence to national dietary and lifestyle guidelines., Objective: The relative validity of the new digital food frequency questionnaire, the DIGIKOST-FFQ, against 7-day weighed food records and activity sensors was investigated., Methods: In total, 77 participants were included in the validation study and completed the DIGIKOST-FFQ and the weighed food record, and of these, 56 (73%) also used the activity sensors. The DIGIKOST-FFQ estimates the intake of foods according to the Norwegian food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) in addition to lifestyle factors., Results: At the group level, the DIGIKOST-FFQ showed good validity in estimating intakes according to the Norwegian FBDG. The median differences were small and well below portion sizes for all foods except "water" (median difference 230 g/day). The DIGIKOST-FFQ was able to rank individual intakes for all foods (r=0.2-0.7). However, ranking estimates of vegetable intakes should be interpreted with caution. Between 69% and 88% of the participants were classified into the same or adjacent quartile for foods and between 71% and 82% for different activity intensities. The Bland-Altman plots showed acceptable agreements between DIGIKOST-FFQ and the reference methods. The absolute amount of time in "moderate to vigorous intensity" was underestimated with the DIGIKOST-FFQ. However, estimated time in "moderate to vigorous intensity," "vigorous intensity," and "sedentary time" showed acceptable correlations and good agreement between the methods. The DIGIKOST-FFQ was able to identify adherence to the Norwegian FBDG and physical activity recommendations., Conclusions: The DIGIKOST-FFQ gave valid estimates of dietary intakes and was able to identify individuals with different degrees of adherence to the Norwegian FBDG and physical activity recommendations. Moderate physical activity was underreported, water was overreported, and vegetables showed poor correlation, which are important to consider when interpreting the data. Good agreement was observed between the methods in estimating dietary intakes and time in "moderate to vigorous physical activity," "sedentary time," and "sleep.", (©Hege Berg Henriksen, Markus Dines Knudsen, Anette Hjartåker, Rune Blomhoff, Monica Hauger Carlsen. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 30.04.2024.)

Background: While adherence to cancer prevention recommendations is linked to lower risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), few have studied associations across the entire spectrum of colorectal carcinogenesis. Here, we studied the relationship of the standardized 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) Score for cancer prevention recommendations with detection of colorectal lesions in a screening setting. As a secondary objective, we examined to what extent the recommendations were being followed in an external cohort of CRC patients., Methods: Adherence to the seven-point 2018 WCRF/AICR Score was measured in screening participants receiving a positive fecal immunochemical test and in CRC patients participating in an intervention study. Dietary intake, body fatness and physical activity were assessed using self-administered questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for screen-detected lesions., Results: Of 1486 screening participants, 548 were free from adenomas, 524 had non-advanced adenomas, 349 had advanced lesions and 65 had CRC. Adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR Score was inversely associated with advanced lesions; OR 0.82 (95% CI 0.71, 0.94) per score point, but not with CRC. Of the seven individual components included in the score, alcohol, and BMI seemed to be the most influential. Of the 430 CRC patients included in the external cohort, the greatest potential for lifestyle improvement was seen for the recommendations concerning alcohol and red and processed meat, where 10% and 2% fully adhered, respectively., Conclusions: Adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR Score was associated with lower probability of screen-detected advanced precancerous lesions, but not CRC. Although some components of the score seemed to be more influential than others (i.e., alcohol and BMI), taking a holistic approach to cancer prevention is likely the best way to prevent the occurrence of precancerous colorectal lesions., (© 2023 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Whole-room indirect calorimeters (WRICs) provide accurate instruments for the measurement of respiratory exchange, energy expenditure, and macronutrient oxidation. Here, we aimed to determine the validity and reproducibility of a 7500 L WRIC for the measurement of ventilation rates and resting metabolic rate (RMR). Technical validation was performed with propane combustion tests (n = 10) whereas biological reproducibility was tested in healthy subjects (13 women, 6 men, mean ± SD age 39.6 ± 15.3) in two 60 min measurements separated by 24 h. Subjects followed a run-in protocol prior to measurements. The coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated for ventilation rates of O2 (VO2), CO2 (VCO2), the respiratory quotient (RQ; VCO2/VO2), and RMR. Technical validation showed good validity with CVs ranging from 0.67% for VO 2 to 1.00% for energy expenditure. For biological reproducibility, CVs were 2.89% for VO 2 ; 2.67% for VCO 2 ; 1.95% for RQ; and 2.68% for RMR. With the exception of RQ (74%), ICCs were excellent for VO 2 (94%), VCO 2 (96%) and RMR (95%). Excluding participants that deviated from the run-in protocol did not alter results. In conclusion, the 7500 L WRIC is technically valid and reproducible for ventilation rates and RMR., (© 2023 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society.)

Background: Dosage of chemotherapy for colon cancer is currently based on the patient's body surface area. Several studies have identified an association between low fat-free mass and chemotherapy toxicity among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. This has been less widely studied for localised disease. This review aims to summarise studies that have investigated the association between clinical signs of disease-related malnutrition (low body mass index, weight loss and low muscle mass) and tolerance of chemotherapy in patients with localised colon cancer., Material and Method: We conducted a systematic search in PubMed with various synonyms of the terms 'colorectal cancer', 'adjuvant chemotherapy', 'nutritional status' and 'toxicity'. The search was concluded in May 2019. Of 553 articles, 39 were considered relevant and read in full text. Ten of these fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this review., Results: Nine of the ten studies indicate an association between clinical signs of disease-related malnutrition and dose-limiting toxicity. The association appears to be especially pronounced in patients with low fat-free mass., Interpretation: The results support the hypothesis that there is an association between disease-related malnutrition and the prevalence of toxicity and modification of the course of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with localised colon cancer. The potential benefits of basing chemotherapy dosage on body composition in addition to body surface area should be investigated in clinical trials.

Background: Sugar is present in simple forms such as sucrose, lactose and fructose, and in the more complex forms starch and fibre. Complex carbohydrates in foods like vegetables and less refined grain products provide energy and important additions of vitamins, minerals and fibre. We have reviewed the effects of sugars on overweight, diabetes Type 2 and caries, and the intake of carbohydrates in simple and complex forms in the Norwegian population., Method: Literature was found in the databases PubMed and Bibsys, and in public statistics., Results and Interpretation: Sugars in beverages and candy only contribute with energy that can lead to an increased amount of fat in the body. High sugar intakes contribute to development of overweight, diabetes type 2 and caries. Glucose from sucrose and starch increase blood glucose levels and stimulate insulin secretion. Lack of insulin response after fructose intake can result in adverse effects on lipid metabolism and satiety regulation. Norway is one of the countries in the world with the highest intake of sweetened beverages. Preventive health measures aimed at decreasing sugar intake in pre-school and school children must include increased availability of fruits and vegetables, water and better canteens. The increased sugar intake among adolescents requires measures from politicians and authorities.

Background: Vitamin K has several biological effects and dietary intake seems to be more important than previously believed because of low bioavailability of the vitamins from the colon., Materials and Methods: Data from the literature were identified on PubMed, and data from NORKOST II (a dietary study from 1997 based on a nation-wide sample of respondents) were used to calculate dietary intake of vitamin K., Results: The dietary intake of vitamin K in Norway seems to be < 50% of what is recommended. The stores of vitamin K are small and T/2 in the body is approximately 1-1.5 day. Vitamin K executes its effects by carboxylation of proteins and as ligand (vitamin K2) for a nuclear transcription factor. Biological effects beyond coagulation include bone formation, neural functioning and blood vessel calcification. Anticoagulation with warfarin inhibits vitamin K-dependent reactions and may have detrimental effects on bone formation., Interpretation: It is possible that the high incidence of osteoporosis in Norway may be due to the low dietary intake of vitamin K, hence it is suggested that the intake of vitamin K should be increased and vitamin K antagonists be replaced with specific thrombin inhibitors. New technology allows measurements of plasma concentration of vitamin K in relation to malabsorption, insufficient diet, and osteoporosis.