.

Reference : Malik V.S., Sun Q. , van Dam R.M., Rimm E.B., Willett W.C., Rosner B., and Hu F.B. “Adolescent dairy product consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged women” Am J Clin Nutr September 2011 94: 854-861

Eight fruits and vegetables a day!

The results of the large European observational study EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition), the intake of 8 fruits and vegetables a day is associated with a reduced risk of mortality from ischemic heart disease.

In this study, more than 300,000 volunteers from eight European countries, without history of myocardial infarction or stroke were followed for an average of 8.4 years. A total of 1,636 deaths from ischemic heart disease have been reported. Volunteers consuming at least 8 servings (80g each) of fruits and vegetables a day had a 22% significant lower risk of fatal ischaemic heart disease compared with those consuming less than 3 servings per day.

Although the cause and effect relationship is not proven, and the mechanisms of action of fruits and vegetables are not clear, these initial observations encouraged seriously to consider these foods.

Reference : Crowe FL, Roddam AW, Key TJ, Appleby PN, Overvad K, Jakobsen MU, Tjønneland A, Hansen L, Boeing H, Weikert C, Linseisen J, Kaaks R, Trichopoulou A, Misirli G, Lagiou P, Sacerdote C, Pala V, Palli D, Tumino R, Panico S, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Boer J, van Gils CH, Beulens JW, Barricarte A, Rodríguez L, Larrañaga N, Sánchez MJ, Tormo MJ, Buckland G, Lund E, Hedblad B, Melander O, Jansson JH, Wennberg P, Wareham NJ, Slimani N, Romieu I, Jenab M, Danesh J, Gallo V, Norat T, Riboli E; European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Heart Study Collaborators, “Fruit and vegetable intake and mortality from ischaemic heart disease: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Heart study”, Eur Heart J. 2011 Jan 18. [Epub ahead of print]

In the “Epic-Panacea” cohort study, conducted on 103,455 men and 270,348 women aged 25 to 70 years who were recruited between 1992 and 2000 in 10 European countries, researchers from the UK just concluded that the total meat consumption (red, white and poultry) is associated with weight gain in men and women, and decrease in this consumption can permit to lose weight. According to the authors, with adjustment for estimated energy intake, an increase in meat intake of 250 g/d (eg, one steak at approximately 450 kcal) would lead to a 2-kg higher weight gain after 5 years.

It should be noted that meat consumption in France has fallen steadily over the last ten years.

Reference : Vergnaud AC, Norat T, Romaguera D, Mouw T, May AM, Travier N, Luan J, Wareham N, Slimani N, Rinaldi S, Couto E, Clavel-Chapelon F, Boutron-Ruault MC, Cottet V, Palli D, Agnoli C, Panico S, Tumino R, Vineis P, Agudo A, Rodriguez L, Sanchez MJ, Amiano P, Barricarte A, Huerta JM, Key TJ, Spencer EA, Bueno-de-Mesquita B, Büchner FL, Orfanos P, Naska A, Trichopoulou A, Rohrmann S, Hermann S, Boeing H, Buijsse B, Johansson I, Hellstrom V, Manjer J, Wirfält E, Jakobsen MU, Overvad K, Tjonneland A, Halkjaer J, Lund E, Braaten T, Engeset D, Odysseos A, Riboli E, Peeters PH, “Meat consumption and prospective weight change in participants of the EPIC-PANACEA study”, Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Aug;92(2):398-407. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Nov;92(5):1274-5; author reply 1275-6.

In this observational study conducted in adults via a dietary survey, the authors have identified a suitable model to promote a healthy diet. Fifteen food categories were identified and subjects were split into four distinct groups based on the quality of the diet of participants (diet quality index). Groups were compared based on differences in the calories consumed from each food category and according to the healthiness of foods consumed in each category.

The results showed that in the group receiving the healthiest diet, subjects ate more fruits and vegetables, fish, breakfast cereals and less meat and meat products than the least healthy diet quality group. These foods consumed by the healthy diet quality groups were healthier versions than those consumed by the unhealthy diet quality groups. The authors concluded that nutrient profile models designed to promote an achievable healthy diet should be category specific but with a limited number of categories. Indeed, it is certain that the models which use a large number of categories are unhelpful for promoting a healthy diet.

References : P Scarborough, C Arambepola, A Kaur, P Bhatnagar and M Rayner, “Should nutrient profile models be ‘category specific’ or ‘across-the-board’? A comparison of the two systems using diets of British adults”, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2010) 64, 553–560.