My appreciation is extended to Topics in Clinical Nutrition authors, editors, and reviewers for their conscientiousness, time, and expertise over the past year. This issue includes our Thanks to Reviewers for 2012 along with an array of review articles and clinical projects. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, let us hope 2013 will provide new opportunities for advancing your nutrition practice and forming new collegial endeavors.
Suiter and her colleagues conducted an investigation on the effects of body temperature, saliva, and bolus dwell time of 10 females who ingested water thickened to nectar consistency. They found the boluses were thinner and warmer as intraoral dwell time increased, which has implications both for patients with dysphagia and during rehabilitation.
Benson Davis and her colleagues conducted a cross sectional pilot project with gastric bypass patients, post-surgery six years. Seventy-five percent sustained a weight loss of >50% of excess body weight over the 6 years, showing a continued need for nutrition monitoring. Participants reported a return to former behaviors: high calorie liquids, sweets, convenience food items, and fat food consumption.
Outcome expectations influencing dietary intakes were measured in a sample of 384 adults as part of a larger study on health issues assessment. The project by Nothwehr and Hanson was a cross-sectional design; the self-administered surveys indicated that outcome expectations are associated with strategy use. Diet-related strategies, particularly self-monitoring and social interactions, were the major behaviors.
Continuing a long-standing interest on impacting cooking skills and nutritional health for adolescents, Dixon et al examined 2 years' pre-post surveys of adolescent campers. Their analysis indicated some success on healthy cooking methods and a preference for healthier snacks. Overall, the campers improved cooking confidence, cooking skills, and food and nutrition knowledge. However, more education seems necessary to improve the application on food safety techniques and knowledge of nutrient sources of foods.
Calcium and vitamin D are 2 nutrients that generate great interest among health and nutrition care professionals. Thompson reviewed the research on vitamin D and the prevention of colorectal cancer, focusing on 17 studies. Clinical applications were also explored, with a summative recommendation to follow current evidence-based guidelines since vitamin D nutrition for colorectal cancer prevention remains a controversial topic. Another review was initiated on the basis of changes by the Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board revising vitamin D recommendations for children in 2010. Whittington identified the literature that provided the rationale for these changes and suggested ways for clinicians to put them into practice.
Closely related to vitamin D is calcium from food and supplements and its effect on cardiovascular disease. Lister conducted a review on the effect of calcium supplementation on vascular calcification, a cardiovascular disease risk factor. The 11 studies on this topic did not provide conclusive evidence on the role of calcium supplementation for cardiac disease. All 3 of the reviews revealed a need for more research.
A review of evidence regarding the use of ascorbic acid supplement (500 mg) after coronary artery bypass graft was conducted by Redgate. She examined several studies and found that there was some indication that an ascorbic acid supplement could be effective in decreasing post-coronary artery bypass graft atrial fibrillation. However, further research is needed to determine the appropriate dosage and the impact on high-risk subgroups, smokers, and individuals with a diagnosis of hypertension and diabetes.
Johnson and her colleagues reported a case study, using blenderized formula via a gastrostomy tube for a 5-year-old boy. In reviewing the related literature, little evidence was found to support guidance on the child's continuous feeding intolerance and poor growth. The authors chronicle 4 years of follow-up and care monitoring by the registered dietitian and the health care team, including a strong role by his mother. The child's intake did improve and he achieved 91% of ideal body weight with family commitment despite little research on strong family influences.
Hong reviewed the effect of a gluten-free diet on the growth and body composition of children affected with celiac disease. The importance of early diagnosis and diet therapy was emphasized because children experience high growth velocity in this phase of their life.
Finally, in this issue, Thanks to Reviewers is an acknowledgement of the valuable work and careful scrutiny by our 2012 dedicated volunteers. The editorial board is grateful for another successful year of practice-based manuscripts, case scenarios, and review articles of critical clinical nutrition questions. Best wishes for a healthy and productive 2013.
-Judith A. Gilbride, PhD, RD, FADA
Editor