The last issue of 2014 is a compilation of review articles and a call for future topics from our readers, especially manuscripts on nutrition and health assessment for 2015.
Thomas and her colleagues examined adherence and knowledge of patients to guidelines for disorders of lipid metabolism. Using food frequency and knowledge questionnaires with 50 patients with dyslipidemia, they found moderate knowledge (53%) and low accordance (33%) with the guidelines. The authors recommended more diet education and urged dietitians to emphasize behavior change strategies for patients with disorders of lipid metabolism.
A descriptive project by Wright and Epps evaluated 107 participants for nutritional risk and other complications of HIV/AIDS. Food insecurity was found to be a significant predictor of risk for malnutrition. Their findings support careful attention and monitoring of nutritional screening and intervention for individuals with HIV/AIDS.
Riggs gives a description of the FODMOPs approach for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome. The approach was developed in Australia but has been gaining interest by dietitians and health care professionals in the United States and other countries. Researchers there have led efforts to measure FODMOPs in foods and test this dietary approach with patients.
Ghussen Alraei and Ziegler report a case of a patient with type 2 diabetes and respiratory comorbidities. Reduced pulmonary function has been identified in epidemiological studies as a fairly common observation in patients with type 2 diabetes. The report is accompanied by relevant information on evidence-based nutrition management.
Work with phenylketonuria (PKU) has changed with the advent of new medications and research. Two articles stress these advances. A project by Jurecki et al describes the testing of 15 common low-protein food and beverages used by patients with PKU who follow a phenylalanine-restricted diet. In the powdered form, 93% of the sapropterin dihydrochloride remained active in foods after 1 hour.
Another study by Viau and Ernst tested a new food frequency questionnaire, compared with 3-day food records, for helping adolescents and adults with PKU. They found strong correlations between the 2 approaches. Food records should be the standard for individualized dietary treatment. The food frequency questionnaire can be an alternative to measure average protein consumption among individuals with PKU in certain circumstances.
Next year, 2015, we will focus many of our articles on nutrition and health assessment. After 35 years of using nutrition assessment methods in a variety of settings, there is renewed interest globally by practitioners in finding the most valid and accurate measures for their clients and patients.
-Judith A. Gilbride, PhD, RDN, FAND
Editor