International Journal of Food, Nutrition & Dietetics

This article is aimed to provide a descriptive overview on nutritional and dietetic evaluation and intervention in palliative cancer patients, for whom appropriate identification, initiation and implementation of nutritional strategies are warranted to prevent complications secondary to anorexia and cachexia. Growing evidence from evaluation studies on diet and nutrition in palliative cancer patients suggested routine use of home parenteral nutrition, a thorough routine measurement of nutritional status was indicated to appropriately identify anorexia and cachexia, usefulness of Mini nutritional assessment score for bedside screening, and an inter-relationship between energy density and energy intake. Evidence from studies on nutritional interventions point out therapeutic benefits of involving family and caregivers into decision-making, better nutritional status resulted in lesser prevalence of complications, and European association for palliative care recommended a three-step approach to providing artificial nutrition and hydration in palliative cancer patients which deserve individualized application along a multidisciplinary biopsychosocial model.

Keywords: Palliative dietetics; Palliative nutrition; Dietetic oncology; Nutritional oncology. 

Breast feeding is the optimum form of infant nutrition. Breast milk fully meets the requirements of the infant in the first few months of life. The objective of the study was to assess the factors that limit the mother to practice exclusive breast feeding. Material and Methods: 200 first time mothers belonging to middle and high income group families were enrolled for the study using purposive sampling method. A pretested semistructured open ended questionnaire was used to collect data. An informal interview method was used to gather information about breast feeding practices. Results: 187 mothers breast fed their babies and 13 mothers never breast fed their babies. Amongst mothers who were breast feeding their babies, 35% mothers were practicing exclusive breast feeding (EBF), 35% mothers practiced Predominant Breast Feeding and 30% mothers practiced Mixed Breast Feeding. Mode of delivery significantly affected the exclusive breast feeding rates and time of initiation of breast feeding (P<0.05). Conclusion: Initiation and continuation of breastfeeding is influenced by a complex interplay of culture, social support, and socioeconomic status. The erosion in the value of breastfeeding, lack of accurate and unbiased information on optimum infant feeding practices, and inadequate support to breastfeeding mothers are some of the factors responsible for poor rates of infant feeding practices.

Keywords: Breast feeding practices; Exclusive breast feeding; Breast milk, Bottle feeding.  

To investigate the beverage intake of adolescent girls and boys food intake was examined using a 7-day food frequency questionnaire of HIG and MIG in Indore city. A total of 500 girls and boys, aged from 18-21 years, residing in Indore city were selected by systematic random sampling method. Nutrient intake was assessed using the 24-h recall method and the usual pattern of food intake was examined using a 7-day food frequency questionnaire. The result reveals that Non-significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed for alcohol intake, Significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed between the two groups (P < 0.05) for fruit juice and nonsignificant difference (P > 0.05) for coffee or tea in the food habits of adolescent girls and boys in MIG and HIG groups. Highly significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed for skimmed milk, butter milk, whole milk, in the food items of adolescent girls and boys in MIG and HIG group.

Keywords: Skimmed milk; Butter milk; Whole milk; Adolescent girls and boys. 

To investigate the dietary pattern and nutritional status of adolescent girls and boys of HIG and MIG in Indore city; A total of 500 girls and boys, aged from 18-21 years, in Indore city were selected by systematic random sampling method. Nutrient intake was assessed using the 24-h recall method and the usual pattern of food intake was examined using a 7-day food frequency questionnaire. The result reveals that 99.2 % and 0.8 % of adolescent girls and boys were vegetarian and non-vegetarian or ova-vegetarian in MIG groups compared to 45.2 % and 54.8 % HIG group respectively. Also, 28.8 %, 46.4 % and 24.8 % of adolescent girls and boys of MIG were taking food in two, three and four times per day as compared to 2.4 %, 44.4 % and 53.2 % adolescent girls and boys in HIG respectively. It was observed that 57.6 %, 29.2 % and 13.2 % of adolescent girls and boys were taking food in 4hrs, 6hrs and 8 hrs intervals in a day in MIG group as compared to 65.2 %, 34.8 % in HIG group respectively. It was also observed that 47.2 % and 52.8 % of adolescent girls and boys were having certain and uncertain time of eating meals in MIG group as compared to 66.8 % and 33.2 % in HIG group. Also, nutrient intake of energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, calcium and phosphorus of adolescent girls and boys was 1907.9 kcal, 234.1 g, 40.3 g, 33.4 g, 996.8 mg and 1110.7 mg in MIG group as compared to 2226.4 kcal, 252.2 g, 47.7 g, 44.9 g, 1061.3 mg and 1128.2 mg in HIG group.

Keywords: Adolescent; Dietary pattern; Socio income group. 

The study entitled Effect of Nutritional Counselling on Risk Level of Dyslipidemia in Type 2 Diabetics was carried out at Sardar Patel Medical College and Hospital, Bikaner city. For the purpose, 180 type II diabetics, belonging to the middle income group were selected. The selection of the subjects was done on the basis of the duration of the disease : diabetics suffering from, last 5 years (stratum I) and last 10 years (stratum II). Further each strata was divided on the basis of BMI into obese, normal weight and underweight group with equal number of males and females in each group. General information like subjects’ age, sex, income, educational status, occupational status, food habits and type of life style were studied. Past history of the subjects in relation to diabetes like age at onset of disease, duration of disease, history of disease in the family, associated diseases and symptoms occurring on hyperglycemia were also studied. The lipid profile of the subjects was assessed in relation to total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol. Data on lipid profile was collected twice, first record was taken at starting of the study (prior to counselling) and the second after 3 months of nutrition counselling. Maximum per cent of subjects (55.55%) were falling in the age group of 45-55 years at the time of study. The mean age at the onset of diabetes was 47 years. Thus, maximum number of subjects

suffered from diabetes above 40 years of age. Data regarding serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides stated that prior to counselling subjects were at ‘high’ and ‘high moderate risk’ of dyslipidemia, respectively. Further, subjects of stratum II were noted for significantly (P<0.01) higher levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides prior to counselling. But impact of counselling was clearly noted by the significant (P<0.005) decrease in the levels, with majority of the subjects noted for ‘low risk’ of hyperlipidemia for both serum cholesterol and triglycerides level. The difference in between the two strata was non significant after the counselling. A non significant difference in HDL-C level of the subjects was noted within and in between the two strata with ‘moderate risk’ of hyperlipidemia noted at both prior and after the counselling.

Keywords: Non insulin independent diabetes mellitus; Dyslipidemia; Total cholesterol; Triglyceride level; High density lipo protein; Nutrition counselling. 

The concept of probiotics , which emerged in ancient times is a rapidly advancing field. Probiotics have impact on human health. Probiotic bacteria are used to treat or prevent a broad range of human diseases , conditions and syndromes. Probiotics are effective in treatment and prevention of acute diarrhea and antibiotic induced diarrhea. Potential applications of probiotics are for treatment and prevention of relapses of crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotics may be useful for prevention of respiratory infections in children, dental caries, allergic diseases. They are valuable in gynaecology in bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis and urogenital infections. Areas of future interest for application of probiotics include colon and bladder cancer, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. 

Keywords: Probiotics; Lactobacillus; Gastrointestinal infectious; Urogenital infections; Health care.