Issue 31.3 brings a variety of topical reviews and approaches to dietetic practice to our readers. The search for new authors and reviewers is ongoing as practitioners and academics find novel opportunities and challenges. Topics in Clinical Nutrition is receiving more international manuscripts-a very positive move for an interconnected science and health community.
The investigation by Weidauer et al compares lifestyle differences in vitamin D concentrations between farming and nonfarming populations living in a northern latitude. Sufficient exposure to vitamin D is measured by examining parathyroid hormone and 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Serum concentrations of vitamin D were found to be lower in winter than summer months and in older versus younger individuals for both populations. They concluded that "to improve or maintain bone health, efforts should be made to achieve adequate levels of vitamin D in farming communities."
Food supplies were compared to determine preparation for emergency disasters in 30 African American and 30 Oaxacan American households. Inventories allowed estimation of the number of days the food supply would last to meet 100% of calories for all household members. Food stores would be depleted quickly compared with the national average of 3 days when accounting for losses of water, fuel, and power in a disaster emergency. Golem et al recommended more education about supplemental food programs, emergency food planning, and preparation and storage information to help low-income households avoid malnutrition in future disasters.
Many studies have launched programs to increase whole-grain intakes. Arts et al targeted 98 college students through campus dining with the goal of increasing whole-grain ingestion and improving coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors. A 6-week intervention included text messaging on a healthy diet and CHD risk factors. The program had a positive impact on whole-grain consumption and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
A systematic review by Zelig et al examined associations between tooth loss, dental prostheses, and malnutrition risk among older adults living in the community. The authors carefully describe their search criteria and findings, using the score from the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool to denote malnutrition risk. Five of the 8 studies found significant associations between tooth loss and MNA scores. They concluded that participants with higher tooth loss, lower occlusion, and lower MNA scores were at risk for malnutrition, but more controlled, well-defined studies are needed.
A review article by Nicolaidou et al focused on perilipins, proteins that coat lipid droplets in the body. Interest in finding the effect on weight gain and fat mass initiated the study. Human studies were inconclusive in their findings, probably due to sex and genetic differences linked to the development of obesity. Perilipins show a strong connection between PLIN1 (the one most frequently studied perilipin). But more research is needed to determine the effect of perilipins on body weight.
The teaching of the nutrition care process can be difficult in undergraduate nutrition courses that use a lecture format. Thus, McKay and her colleagues piloted online Interactive Learning Assessments (ILAs) with a group of 25 students. The students were positive about the interactive learning and also performed well on examinations. The ILA cases seem to be a viable tool that can be incorporated in nutrition and life cycle courses.
Boyd et al conducted a secondary analysis that explored the professional characteristics of 580 registered dietitians/nutritionists (RDNs) and their interest and involvement in research. Using 2 survey tools, the investigators found that clinical RDNs seem to be more interested and involved with "Application of Research to Practice" and "Translating Research to Practice" than "Conducting Research." The greater the interest in research, the more likely the participants were to take part in research activities.
Thank you for your support of the journal. We applaud the national and global interest by practitioners and encourage you to find additional authors and reviewers who are willing to share their innovations and practice-based research.
-Judith A. Gilbride, PhD, RDN, FAND
Editor