M Vitolins | PubMed Health

PubMed2000

Dietary adherence: characteristics and interventions.

This paper reviews issues regarding dietary adherence. Issues and barriers unique to dietary adherence, in contrast to adherence to physical activity or medication regimens, are discussed. These include decision making, social and cultural contexts, perceptions and preferences, and environmental barriers. We review factors known to increase adherence in dietary interventions, including education, motivation, behavioral skills, new and modified foods, and supportive interactions. We conclude with directions for future study, such as improved measurement of diet-related behavior and longitudinal, culturally sensitive interventions. Control Clin Trials 2000;21:206S-211S

Aged↗

PubMed1999

A randomized trial comparing the effect of casein with that of soy protein containing varying amounts of isoflavones on plasma concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins.

CONTEXT: Isolated soy protein reduces plasma concentrations of total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. OBJECTIVE: To identify the agent(s) responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effect of soy in mildly hypercholesterolemic volunteers: isoflavones isolated together with soy protein or soy protein itself. DESIGN: Double-blind randomized parallel trial. SETTING: Single-center study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 156 healthy men and women with LDL cholesterol levels between 3.62 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) and 5.17 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) after instruction in a National Cholesterol Education Program Step I diet and recruited by advertisement from the community. INTERVENTION: One of 5 daily diets (25 g of casein [for isoflavone-free comparison] or 25 g of isolated soy protein containing 3, 27, 37, or 62 mg of isoflavones). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change and percent change from baseline in plasma concentrations of triglycerides and total, LDL, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after 9 weeks. RESULTS: Compared with casein, isolated soy protein with 62 mg of isoflavones lowered total and LDL cholesterol levels by 4% (P = .04) and 6% (P = .01), respectively. In patients with LDL cholesterol levels in the top half of the population studied (>4.24 mmol/L [>164 mg/dL]), comparable reductions were 9% (P<.001) and 10% (P = 001), respectively; in this group, isolated soy protein with 37 mg of isoflavones reduced total (P = .007) and LDL (P = .02) cholesterol levels by 8%, and there was a dose-response effect of increasing amounts of isoflavones on total and LDL cholesterol levels. Plasma concentrations of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were unaffected. Ethanol-extracted isolated soy protein containing 3 mg of isoflavones did not significantly reduce plasma concentrations of total or LDL cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Naturally occurring isoflavones isolated with soy protein reduce the plasma concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol without affecting concentrations of triglycerides or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in mildly hypercholesterolemic volunteers consuming a National Cholesterol Education Program Step I diet. Ethanol-extracted isolated soy protein did not significantly reduce plasma concentrations of total or LDL cholesterol.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Accuracy of a piezoelectric crystal microphone interfaced through an audio amplifier board for use in an automated blood pressure device.

Two certified blood pressure technicians and a computerized blood pressure monitor from Computerized Screening, Inc., model 2000 (CSI 2000) obtained 900 blood pressure (BP) readings from 100 subjects aged 15 to 85 years (mean = 44.1 +/- 1.8 SEM). Measurements were obtained simultaneously on the same limb by the observers and the CSI 2000 three times per subject within a 30-minute period). Pressures obtained from the CSI 2000, which uses a piezoelectric crystal microphone interfaced through a newly designed audio amplifier board, were compared with the results of indirect cuff mercury sphygmomanometry. Correlations between the CSI 2000 readings and simultaneous readings obtained by two certified BP technicians for systolic and diastolic BP were r = 0.96 (p less than 0.001) and r = 0.91 (p less than 0.001), respectively. For systolic BP readings, the estimating equation (least-squares) based on a linear relationship between measurements from the test and reference methods was: CSI 2000 systolic BP = -3.454 + [1.015 x (observers' systolic BP)]. For diastolic BP readings, the estimating equation (least squares) was: CSI 2000 = 5.997 + [0.906 x (observers' diastolic BP)]. Close agreement was found between the readings obtained by the CSI 2000 and the average of those obtained by the two certified BP technicians.

Acoustics↗