Biomedical subjects

Gayle S Savige

Publications and source records attributed to Gayle S Savige.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

E-learning: a nutritionally ripe environment.

Schools provide a social context in which children learn and develop; thus, schools are a desirable environment for nutrition promotion. The kidsfoodclub.org is a web-based technology that has been used in Australian primary schools as a model for nutrition promotion. It provides interactive activities, role models, and opportunities for children to learn from their peers through a bulletin board and story telling. This web-based technology is readily accessible to all schools, thereby overcoming problems associated with geographic location and socioeconomic status. This model can be adapted to meet the needs of different school communities and has the capacity to connect children from different backgrounds and cultures.

Australia↗

PubMed2004

Nutritional indicators, peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and survival in an institutionalised elderly population.

The objectives of this study were to determine the percentage and absolute counts of the peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets, and to examine the relationship between lymphocyte subsets and nutritional status, and total mortality in an institutionalised elderly population. Design The study had a cross-sectional and observational design. The sample of 115 permanent elderly residents was drawn from large geriatric institution in Melbourne, Australia. The main outcome measures were as follows: (i) percentages and absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets, (ii) association between biochemical indices of nutritional status (ferritin, iron and zinc) and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets, (iii) total mortality during a 22-month period in relation to baseline lymphocyte subset counts. Women had higher absolute counts of various lymphocyte subsets than men. Positive correlations of serum ferritin with the number of CD8 (T-suppressor cell) and of serum iron with CD56 (natural killer, NK cells) were observed in men. In women, serum zinc was positively correlated with the absolute counts of CD3 (total T-cells), CD4 (T-helper cell) and CD19 (total B-cell). The analysis of survival data after 22 months showed that the mean number of CD4 cells of non-survivors (524 +/-292 x10(6)cells/L) was significantly lower than that of survivors (759+/-292 x 10(6) cells/L). The biochemical indicators of iron and zinc status partly account for variations in lymphocyte subset counts, consistent with known effects of iron overload and of zinc deficiency on immunocompetence. The number of CD4 T-cells may be useful in the prediction of total mortality in an institutionalised elderly population.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Can food variety add years to your life?

The traditional food habits of Greeks and Japanese differ widely, yet both populations have the longest life expectancies in the world. Food variety is one feature common to both food cultures. By eating a wide variety of foods, numerous chemicals that give rise to the diverse range of colours, tastes, textures and smells of different foods are consumed. Many of these naturally occurring chemicals are likely to play a role in health. Within the broad scope of foods available, foods for thought include fish, legumes and nuts. These foods are also likely to protect older adults against some of the diseases more prevalent with ageing such as coronary heart disease and cancer.

Aging↗

PubMed2002

Characteristics of soy bread users and their beliefs about soy products.

A two-stage random telephone/mail survey was conducted during the last quarter of 1998 among Adelaide residents to determine consumers' use of soy bread and other soy products and their health expectations of soy products. One in five (21%) of 1477 telephone subscribers usually consumed soy bread and related soy products. Comparisons of soy bread consumers and non-consumers, based on the mail survey sample, showed that more soy bread consumers used dietary supplements and ate low fat and vegetarian diets, though their experiences of ill health were similar. Soy bread consumers held stronger universalism (pro-nature) values than non-consumers. They also held more positive expectations about the benefits of soy consumption, including reductions in menstrual and menopausal symptoms, increased bowel regularity and reductions in the risk of heart disease and cancer. The findings are discussed in relation to the psychology of dietary supplementation, values orientations and physiological plausibility. Further investigations are suggested.

Adult↗