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In this study, we examined the impact of long-term (>8 y), low-fat, high-fruit and -vegetable diets on levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in the macula of the retina, as indicated by the OD of macular pigment. Macular pigment OD, measured by heterochromatic flicker photometry, was compared in women aged 60-87 y, who, 7-18 mo earlier (median 12 mo), had been in the dietary modification intervention (n = 158) or comparison (n = 236) groups of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) at the Madison, WI site for a mean of 8.5 y. Women in the intervention group ate more fruits and vegetables (mean [+ or -] SEM) (6.1 [+ or -] 0.2 vs. 4.6 [+ or -] 0.2 servings/d; P < 0.0001) and had higher intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin from foods and supplements (2.7 [+ or -] 0.2 vs. 2.1 [+ or -] 0.1 mg/d; P = 0.0003) than the comparison group. However, macular pigment density did not differ between the intervention (0.36 [+ or -] 0.02 OD units) and comparison (0.35 [+ or -] 0.01 OD units) groups. It tended to be higher (11%; P = 0.11) in women consuming lutein and zeaxanthin in the highest compared with the lowest quintile (median 6.4 vs. 1.1 mg/d). The increase in fruit and vegetable intake among dietary modification participants of this WHI subsample was not of sufficient magnitude to alter the mean density of retinal carotenoids, given other existing dietary conditions in this sample.

Objective To evaluate diet quality and body mass index (BMI) by beverage patterns in children aged 2 to 11 years. Design Beverage patterns were formed using 24-hour dietary recall diet variables from the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Diet quality was assessed using energy, micronutrient intakes, and Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores (a 100-point scale that measures adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans). Subjects/setting Children, aged 2 to 5 years (n=541) and 6 to 11 years (n=793), were selected from 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Statistical analysis Cluster analysis was used to identify beverage patterns in preschool and school-aged children. General linear models were used to compare HEI scores, energy, micronutrient intakes, and BMI across beverage clusters. Results Four and five beverage clusters were identified for preschool and school-aged children, respectively. In preschool children, mean HEI differed between the fruit juice cluster (79.0) vs the high-fat milk cluster (70.9, P<0.01); however, both fruit juice and high-fat milk clusters had the highest micronutrient intakes. Mean HEI differed significantly across beverage patterns for school-aged children (from 63.2 to 69.9, P<0.01), with the high-fat milk cluster having the best diet quality, reflected by HEI and micronutrient intakes. Adjusted mean BMI differed significantly across beverage clusters only in school-aged children (from 17.8 to 19.9, P<0.05). Conclusions Beverage patterns were related to diet quality among preschool and school-aged children, but were only related to BMI in school-aged children. Children from all clusters could benefit by consuming fewer calorically sweetened beverages and increasing micronutrient-dense foods.

The determinants of blood levels of carotenoids were previously investigated in small or select samples. The relations of serum lutein + zeaxanthin to possible diet, lifestyle, and physiological determinants in 7059 participants of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994), [greater than or equal to] 40 y old, were examined. In a fully adjusted, multiple linear regression model, lower serum lutein + zeaxanthin was significantly associated with smoking, heavy drinking, being white, female, or not being physically active, having lower dietary lutein + zeaxanthin, higher fat-free mass, a higher percentage of fat mass, a higher waist-hip ratio, lower serum cholesterol, a higher white blood cell count, and high levels of C-reactive protein (P < 0.05). The model explained 24% of the variation present in serum lutein + zeaxanthin for the current sample. The correlation between dietary and serum lutein + zeaxanthin was 0.17 and increased to 0.18 after adjusting for the effects of given covariates. Each 10% increase in dietary lutein + zeaxanthin was associated with a 1% increase in serum conditional on other terms in the model. Many factors that influence the level of serum lutein + zeaxanthin remain unknown. KEY WORDS: * body mass * carotenoids * diet lutein * smoking * zeaxanthin

Few studies have examined the efficacy of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in the prevention of age-related chronic disease, such as age-related cataract. We examined whether adherence to the Guidelines was associated with a lower prevalence of age-related nuclear lens opacities in women. Eye exams were conducted in 479 Nurses' Health Study participants aged 52 to 73 y without previously diagnosed cataract or diabetes living in the Boston, MA area. Four FFQs, collected during a 9- to 11-y period before evaluation of lens status, were used to define diet quality according to the following: 1) daily number of servings of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; 2) Recommended Foods Score (RFS); and 3) Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Nuclear opacities were defined as scores [greater than or equal to] 2.5 using the Lens Classification System III. After adjusting for age, smoking, and other risk factors, women in the highest quartile category of HEI scores were significantly less likely to have nuclear opacities than those in the lowest category [odds ratio (OR) = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.26-0.84]. This association appeared to be stronger among nonusers of supplemental vitamin C (OR = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.10-0.52). Decreased prevalence odds of nuclear opacities were also observed with high intake of fruit (OR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.32-1.05) and whole grains (OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.36-1.15). These results suggest that overall compliance with the Dietary Guidelines, as measured by the HEI, protects against nuclear opacities. KEY WORDS: * Healthy Eating Index * dietary patterns * fruit * whole grains * cataract * aging

The article presents a study which examined the biological effects of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) consumption. It is believed that obesity and other adverse health outcomes are brought about by the consumption of HFCS. Since the composition of HFCS and sucrose are similar, it is unlikely for it to contribute more to obesity. It is suggested that dietary advice regarding the consumption of HFCS should be given, including the update of nutrient databases about food consumption and the conduct of more strongly designed experimental studies.

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate diet quality and body mass index (BMI) by beverage patterns in children aged 2 to 11 years. Design: Beverage patterns were formed using 24-hour dietary recall diet variables from the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Diet quality was assessed using energy, micronutrient intakes, and Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores (a 100-point scale that measures adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans). Subjects/setting: Children, aged 2 to 5 years (n=541) and 6 to 11 years (n=793), were selected from 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Statistical analysis: Cluster analysis was used to identify beverage patterns in preschool and school-aged children. General linear models were used to compare HEI scores, energy, micronutrient intakes, and BMI across beverage clusters. Results: Four and five beverage clusters were identified for preschool and school-aged children, respectively. In preschool children, mean HEI differed between the fruit juice cluster (79.0) vs the high-fat milk cluster (70.9, P<0.01); however, both fruit juice and high-fat milk clusters had the highest micronutrient intakes. Mean HEI differed significantly across beverage patterns for school-aged children (from 63.2 to 69.9, P<0.01), with the high-fat milk cluster having the best diet quality, reflected by HEI and micronutrient intakes. Adjusted mean BMI differed significantly across beverage clusters only in school-aged children (from 17.8 to 19.9, P<0.05). Conclusions: Beverage patterns were related to diet quality among preschool and school-aged children, but were only related to BMI in school-aged children. Children from all clusters could benefit by consuming fewer calorically sweetened beverages and increasing micronutrient-dense foods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To evaluate associations between nuclear cataract (determined from slitlamp photographs between May 2001 and January 2004) and lutein and zeaxanthin in the diet and serum in patients between 1994 and 1998 and macula between 2001 and 2004., Design: A total of 1802 women aged 50 to 79 years in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Oregon with intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin above the 78th (high) and below the 28th (low) percentiles in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (1994-1998) were recruited 4 to 7 years later (2001-2004) into the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study., Results: Women in the group with high dietary levels of lutein and zeaxanthin had a 23% lower prevalence of nuclear cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-0.96) compared with those with low levels. Multivariable adjustment slightly attenuated the association (odds ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.65-1.01). Women in the highest quintile category of diet or serum levels of lutein and zeaxanthin as compared with those in the lowest quintile category were 32% less likely to have nuclear cataract (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.97; P for trend = .04; and multivariable-adjusted odds ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.98; P for trend = .01, respectively). Cross-sectional associations with macular pigment density were inverse but not statistically significant., Conclusions: Diets rich in lutein and zeaxanthin are moderately associated with decreased prevalence of nuclear cataract in older women. However, other protective aspects of such diets may in part explain these relationships.