dense than a vegetarian diet? In this era of obesity and heightened interest in reducing excess calorie intake, the interest in increasing fruits and vegetables and reducing foods with added sugar and solid fats would seem to point to the benefit of more vegetarian meals. This month, Farmer and colleagues (p 819) investigate this question by considering a diet absent of meat, poultry, or fish based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 1999-2004. They reviewed data for adults over age 19 years and compared those whose intake reflected vegetarian vs nonvegetarian patterns. Lacto-ovo vegetarians vs nonvegetarians were considered. While this cross-sectional analysis can only reflect associations, not causality, there are some interesting and useful observations that can apply to diet counseling and intervention efforts that may be focused on enhancing overall nutrient intake within a reduced or calorie controlled environment. Please also be sure to check out the interesting Research Editorial by Thedford and Raj (p 816). Questions of nutrient density and overall nutrition quality arise in the study by Kreider and colleagues (p 828) as they explore whether adherence to a meal replacement based diet program with encouragement to increase physical activity was as effective as a meal plan based diet and supervised exercise program in sedentary obese women. Emphasis on the physical activity aspect of this study illustrates benefits, especially in previously sedentary populations. The usefulness of meal replacement as a potential key to portion control and simplification of diet intervention has been gaining research attention (1-3). The overall nutrient density compared across studies and approaches would be of interest, especially related to sodium, sugar, and other ingredients associated with processed foods.
EATING LESS SALT?
Along with eating fewer calories, there is emphasis on the need to reduce sodium. On average, Americans consume around 3,400 mg sodium per day, well above the US Dietary Guidelines recommendation of 2,300 mg per day; the Japanese are reported to consume even more sodium, around 4,600 mg per day (4). This month, Otsuka and colleagues (p 844) report results from a longitudinal investigation of community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly Japanese people regarding their overall intake of sodium. Data collected as part of the National Institute for Longevity Sciences Longitudinal Study of Aging were compared over the course of 8 years among participants living in Obu-shi and Higashiura-cho, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Three-day dietary records were collected and foods were weighed and measured to help increase the accuracy of these data. Results showed decreases among men but increases among women in certain age groups, regardless of reduced calorie intake. Associated blood pressure changes and the implications for future diet and intervention efforts aimed at improving overall health are discussed. CHANGING OF THE BOARD This month marks the time when changes take place on our Board of Editors. Unlike last year when several changes were made as several members had earned well-deserved time off, this year we have only one retiring member and one new member. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to: Julie Eichenberger Gilmore, PhD, RD Term 2008-2011 University of Iowa Institute for Clinical & Translational Science Iowa City, IA
2011 by the American Dietetic Association
And welcome our newest Editorial
Board member: Frances E. Thompson, PhD, MPH Epidemiologist Risk Factor Monitoring and Methods Branch Applied Research Program Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences National Cancer Institute Bethesda, MD Dr Thompsons research interests focus on dietary assessment methodology, including evaluating existing methods and developing new methods, and research design in epidemiologic studies, particularly related to cancer prevention and obesity. Best regards.
Linda Van Horn, PhD, RD
Editor-in-Chief doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2011.04.002 References 1. Rock CL, Flatt SW, Sherwood NE, Karanja N, Pakiz B, Thomson CA. Effect of a free prepared meal and incentivized weight loss program on weight loss and weight loss maintenance in obese and overweight women: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2010;304: 1803-1810. 2. Lee K, Lee J, Bae WK, Choi JK, Kim HJ, Cho B. Efficacy of low-calorie, partial meal replacement diet plans on weight and abdominal fat in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome: A double blind randomized controlled trial of two diet plansOne high in protein and one nutritionally balanced. Int J Clin Pract. 2009;63:195-201. 3. Mattes RD. Ready-to-eat cereal used as a meal replacement promotes weight loss in human. J Am Coll Nutr. 2002;21:570-577. 4. Anderson CA, Appel LJ, Okuda N, Brown IJ, Chan Q, Zhao L, Ueshima H, Kesteloot H, Miura K, Curb JD, Yoshita K, Elliott P, Yamamoto ME, Stamler J. Dietary sources of sodium in China, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, women and men aged 40-59 years: The INTERMAP study. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110:736-745.