March

March 2001: Highlights from the Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Below are summaries of several nutrition research articles published in the March 2001 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. For more information, to receive a copy of a JADA article or this issue’s table of contents, or to interview an article’s author(s), please call Bridget McManamon 800/877-1600, ext. 4769; or e-mail bmcmana@eatright.org.Drink to weight loss

Before completely giving up on ever being the weight you'd like to be, consider drinking your way to your ideal weight - you may just keep the weight off longer. Researchers from Clinical Research Labs in New Jersey followed 64 women for one year and compared the effects on body weight and composition of two diet plans similar in nutrients. One plan incorporated liquid meal replacements while the other plan followed a more traditional diet of low-fat, low-energy foods. Results showed that at three months, both groups had significant reductions from baseline weight and body fat without loss of lean body mass. However, after one year, the meal replacement group maintained their initial weight/fat loss, whereas the traditional food group regained most of the initial weight and fat losses. Researchers say permanently changing eating habits may not be achievable for some, therefore, meal replacements may be a useful tool for women unable to alter their eating habits enough to maintain a lower weight. While meal replacements also require a change in eating, this change is relatively straightforward. This routine provides a constant that reduces daily energy intake, preventing weight regain even if the dieter returns to previous eating habits at other meals.

Fiber and diabetes

Diets rich in fiber have been said to reduce the risk of certain diseases. A new study suggests fiber may also be associated with lower insulin requirements in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. Researchers from the Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati studied more than 140 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes and observed their fiber intakes from three-day food records at each trimester. Outcome measures were insulin dose, pre-meal blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin concentrations. Results showed that higher fiber intake is associated with lower daily insulin requirements among pregnant women. Pre-meal blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin concentrations were not associated with fiber intake.) Researchers suggest that dietary fiber intake should be considered when counseling patients about the management of blood glucose concentrations.