Nutrition & Dietetics: The Journal of the Dieticians Association of Australia articles from December 2006

Nutrition & Dietetics: The Journal of the Dieticians Association of Australia archives from December 2006

From the editor.
December 1, 2006... It is hard to believe that we have reached the end of another year, but for Nutrition & Dietetics, each year has meant giant steps forward. Last year we went online with Blackwell Publishing; this year we welcomed in the journal of the New...

Vitamin D status of Australians.(Editorial)
December 1, 2006... The main source of vitamin D for Australians is derived through the exposure to ultra violet (UV) radiation through the action of sunlight on the skin. The emerging public health issue of an increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in...

Does the vitamin D status of Australians and New Zealanders need improving and how do we do it?(LEADING ARTICLE)
December 1, 2006... Vitamin D insufficiency in Australia and New Zealand was thought to be limited to certain high-risk groups such as institutionalised elderly, veiled women and their breastfed infants. The remainder of the population was assumed to receive...

Dietary supplements: prevalence of use in the New Zealand population.(ORIGINAL RESEARCH)(Consumption of multivitamins)
December 1, 2006... Abstract Objective: To determine prevalence of dietary supplement use in New Zealand and to describe types of supplements used. Design: Secondary data analysis of two cross-sectional national surveys. Subjects: In total, 3275...

Vitamin D deficiency in Australia and New Zealand: what are the dietary options?(VIEWPOINT)(nutritional aspect of fortified food)
December 1, 2006... Abstract Measurement of serum vitamin D levels in population samples has revealed unexpectedly high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children, adults, the elderly and other vulnerable groups in Australia and New Zealand. The new...

Depression: does nutrition have an adjunctive treatment role?(VIEWPOINT)(Abstract Depression is a serious illness, affecting more than one million Australians each year. It causes significant morbidity and is a major risk factor for deliberate self-harm and suicide. Depression was traditionally viewed as a personality weakness, for which few treatment options were available. The simplistic view that depression is a personality weakness has changed in recent times. Depression is now widely recognised as a mood disorder with underlying biological (biochemical and genetic) and psychosocial causes and as such is responsive to a number of different treatments. The aim of the present paper is to review the literature related to dietary manipulation and how manipulation may assist in treating this illness. Evidence reviewed supports a potential therapeutic benefit of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for the alleviation of negative symptoms associated with depression. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, optimal omega balance, folate, tryptophan, vitamin [B.sub.6], [B.sub.12], S-adenosyl-L-methionine and Hypericum perforatum may all serve as adjuncts to psychosocial and pharmacological therapies, with positive implications for long-term prognosis. Key words: clinical nutrition, diet education, diet practice, diet therapy, fatty acid, nutritional research. INTRODUCTION The aim of the present paper is to review the literature related to depression and to elucidate how dietary manipulation might help ameliorate the effects of this illness. Clinical depression is a unipolar mood disorder characterised by a pervasive negative mood (persisting for greater than 14 consecutive days) accompanied by a generalised loss of interests, an inability to experience pleasure and suicidal tendencies. It is costly in terms of human suffering and health service use, and has severe implications on physical health. (1) Until recently, many Australians had limited knowledge and inaccurate beliefs about mental health problems, and people who suffer from depression were all too often stigmatised and ostracised from society. (1) Fortunately, this situation is now gradually changing as government and public health initiatives help to increase community awareness and understanding of depression, with the successful implementation of beyondblue and the Black Dog programme, to name a few. (2,3) The causes of depression can be biological, including genetic and biochemical causes, and psychosocial, which involves upbringing, emotional experiences, cultural and environmental influences as well as interpersonal behaviours and interactions. (4) Depression is a treatable condition, with early intervention and treatment underpinning an optimistic prognosis. Styron observed, in the account of his own depressive episode, that 'acute depression inflicts few permanent wounds'. (5) The overriding concern in very severe cases is to ensure the safety of the depressed person, both from deliberate se
December 1, 2006... Abstract Depression is a serious illness, affecting more than one million Australians each year. It causes significant morbidity and is a major risk factor for deliberate self-harm and suicide. Depression was traditionally viewed as a...

Wellbeing and nutrition-related side effects in children undergoing chemotherapy.(INSIGHT)(side effect of cancer treatment)
December 1, 2006... Abstract Objective: To describe wellbeing and nutrition-related side effects in a group of paediatric oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy, and to examine associations with nutritional status, disease and treatment-related factors....

24th National Dietitians Association of Australia: lecture in honour of Joan Mary Woodhill OBE.(LECTURE IN HONOUR)(Biography)
December 1, 2006... INTRODUCTION Campfire stories, oral histories and cultural narratives are important components of social cohesion and continuity. The lecture in honour serves this purpose by recognising professional leadership, seen through its impact on...

Addressing vitamin D deficiency among veiled pregnant women in Australia.
December 1, 2006... To the Editor: It is noteworthy that Sir Edward Mellamby discovered rickets while working on dogs raised exclusively indoors (without sun exposure), and that he mistakenly attributed the disease to a dietary (vitamin) deficiency rather than to...

Iodine.(CONTINUING EDUCATION)
December 1, 2006... Continuing education and the APD program This quiz is an ideal activity for APD members to include in your CPD log, where it relates to personal learning goals. Record the time taken, to the nearest hour, to complete the quiz and any...

Counselling for eating disorders in men.(Book review)
December 1, 2006... Bryant-Jefferies R. Radcliffe Publishing, Oxford, 2005, 200 pages, 19.95 pounds, ISBN 1-85775-758-0 When approaching this book, it is important to understand what the text is and what it is not. Counselling for Eating Disorders in Men is one of...

Clinical Nutrition.(Book review)
December 1, 2006... Gibney MJ, Elia M, Ljungqvist O, Dowsett J, eds. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 2005, 480 pages, $98.95, ISBN 0-632-05626-6 What is the matter with Mary Jane? She's perfectly healthy and hasn't a pain, and it's lovely rice pudding...

Human Nutrition, 11th ed.(Book review)
December 1, 2006... Geissler C, Powers H, eds. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, London, 2005, 743 pages, $124.30, ISBN 0446073562 Human Nutrition has quite a pedigree--the new title of an old treasure, Human Nutrition and Dietetics. It was first published in...

Transforming Practice through Clinical Education, Professional Supervision and Mentoring.(Book review)
December 1, 2006... Rose M, Best D. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, Oxford, 2005, 369 pages, $75.90, ISBN 0443074542 Transforming Practice through Clinical Education, Professional Supervision and Mentoring intends to provide the reader with a view of the...

Future events.(Calendar)
December 1, 2006... Western Australian All Sports Exhibition 2-4 February 2007, Perth Convention Centre, 103 Scarborough Beach Road, Mt Hawthorn, Australia. Details: Email: allyson@waallsports.com.au; Tel: 08 9443 3400; Fax: 08 9242 1811 9th National...