Lesley Clarke, Jenny McQueen, Ann Samild and Anne Swain on behalf of the Dietitians Association of Australia.
Adverse food reactions can be due to several mechanisms, and can be broadly divided into immunological and non-immunological reactions. Food allergy is the most common immunological reaction, producing antibodies to specific food proteins. It occurs mainly in infants and children with an atopic background, involves only a few foods (such as egg, peanut and milk, and, less commonly, soya, fish and wheat) with a reaction occurring within two hours. Reputable tests for detecting food antibodies are available. This contrasts with pharmacological food intolerance, a non-immunological meahanism resulting in a range of symptoms. Food intolerance occurs in children and adults. Many natural and artificial food chemicals can be involved and reaction times are variable, leading to a more difficult diagnosis. Food intolerance is diagnosed using an elimination diet, followed by challenge testing with relevant food chemicals (including salicylates, amines, glutamates, colours and preservatives). Allergy and food intolerance can coexist in the same individual. Approaches to preventing food allergy in infants are referred to and some recommendations made. Adverse reactions to milk are also discussed, as well as various controversial diagnoses such as hypoglycaemia, candidiasis and hyperactivity.
(Aust J Nutr Diet 1996;53:89–98).

Mothers' perspectives on the eating habits of two-year-olds a pilot study

Heather Morton, Barbara Santich and Anthony Worsley
Abstract Based on personal interviews with their mothers, the reported eating habits of 27 South Australian children aged between two and three years were surveyed and evaluated. A range of information is presented on the content of meals and on two-year-olds' reported likes and dislikes among foodstuffs. Parental definitions of 'fussy' and 'good' eaters were examined, together with their strategies for dealing with rejected food items, such as disguising foods or using favoured food and other incentives. The results also reveal mothers' ideas about nutrition and feeding two-year-olds. Most mothers accepted that an important part of their nurturing role was to provide varied, nutritious food in a pleasant eating environment and this sometimes involved the use of creative strategies to manage their child's objections; very few were seriously concerned about the eating behaviour of their children. Mothers generally adopted an 'authoritative' parenting style, but also they actively sought, and were responsive to, advice from peers and health professionals.
(Aust J Nutr Diet 1996;53:100–105).

Are nutrition messages in popular women's magazines consistent with dietary recommendations?

Kathy L. Radimer
Nutrition messages found in the 1992 issues of the three magazines identified most frequently by survey respondents as containing nutrition information were analysed for consistency with dietary recommendations. Many of the nutrition messages were found in articles not labelled as nutrition articles, particularly in health and beauty articles. The most common subjects of the nutrition messages were food and cooking, specific health conditions, and weight control. The magazine messages were most frequently consistent with dietary recommendations about fruit and vegetables, fat, exercise, and dairy foods (12–16% of messages). Some recommendations were rarely addressed, especially those regarding consumption of a variety of foods and breastfeeding. The percentage of messages which were not consistent with recommendations was generally low, but the recommendations about cereals, meat and dairy foods were less consistent than all other messages. Messages that focused on vitamins or minerals (21%) were more frequent than those about any dietary recommendation, and half of these advised supplements. Ten per cent advised herbs or food supplements. Misleading information or misinformation sometimes accompanied messages consistent with recommendations. Overall, while there were few messages that did not agree with dietary recommendations, the actual percentage of all messages that were consistent with any given recommendation was also low. These findings suggest a more active role for nutritionists in encouraging magazines to increase the proportion of messages that promote widely-accepted dietary recommendations and decrease the proportion that focus on more tangential aspects of nutrition.
(Aust J Nutr Diet 1996;53:107–113)

Nutrition messages on Australian television shows

Kathy L. Radimer and Jan M. Hill
A recent survey in Queensland found that television shows were reported as useful sources of nutrition information by 62% of respondents and that the types of shows identified as sources were mainly information-type shows, rather than dramas or commercials. This study describes the nutrition messages presented on Australian information-type television shows. The total sampling time was 482 hours, of which a very small amount (376 minutes or 1.3%) was devoted to nutrition. Two evening health-oriented lifestyle shows devoted far more time to nutrition than other shows (30% and 20% compared to less than 13%). Thus, people who did not view these evening lifestyle shows received minimal nutrition information from information-type shows during their television viewing. In general, the nutrition information presented was not inaccurate nor was it inconsistent with dietary guidelines. The most frequently discussed topics, fat and vegetables, relate to important dietary guidelines. However, the overall picture was one of fragmented messages about particular foods or issues, and there was a virtual absence of a coherent, comprehensive portrayal of a balanced diet. Members of the nutrition community need to work with the media to foster the use of television as a medium for public health nutrition education and to ensure that the messages of variety and balance and a more comprehensive depiction of a healthful diet are given a much higher profile.
(Aust J Nutr Diet 1996;53:115–121).

Dietary intake and chronic energy deficiency amongst low income adult workers in two districts of Rajasthan, India.

Umesh Kapil, Manisha Goel, Nandini Saxena, Geetanjali Goindi, Deepika Nayar, Divya Verma and Nagarathinam Gnanasekaran.
A study was conducted to assess the dietary intake and chronic energy deficiency of a low income adult population engaged in different occupations in Rajasthan state, India. Within the state, two districts, and in each district, three villages were selected using random sampling procedures. All 790 adult subjects engaged in various occupations (487 males and 303 non-pregnant non-lactating females) residing in the selected villages were recruited. The 24-hour dietary recall method was utilised to determine food and nutrient intake. The estimated energy intake for males (7420±1756kJ) and females (6529±1651kJ) was significantly lower than the recommended dietary allowances for Indians. No significant difference was observed in the energy intakes of subjects in different occupational groups. Height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference of the subjects were measured using standard techniques and equipment. Nutritional status was assessed by calculating body mass index and a cut-off of less than 18.5 was used to define chronic energy deficiency. Of the subjects, 61.4% of the females and 49.8% of the males suffered from chronic energy deficiency. Chronic energy deficiency was most prevalent in the male agricultural workers and in a mixed group of female workers that included female vendors, artisans, and housemaids. Thus, low socioeconomic status was associated with low dietary intakes which were further reflected in a high prevalence of undernutrition in the two districts studied.
(Aust J Nutr Diet 1996;53:123–126).

A pilot study to examine the reasons for taking dietary supplements in recreational body builders in the Westlakes area.

Amanda Naylor and Manohar Garg
It is the position of the Dietitians Association of Australia that dietary supplements are of no value to a person who is not deficient in nutrients, and that athletes, including body builders, can achieve their recommended dietary intakes of all nutrients through diet alone. Although a number of studies report on the prevalence of supplement use in body builders, no studies have explored the rationale for their use. The purpose of this study was to examine the reasons for taking dietary supplements in recreational body builders in the Westlakes area of the Hunter Region in New South Wales. The information in the study was collected using a 36-item self-administered questionnaire which examined nutrition knowledge, beliefs and other self-reported reasons, as possible explanations for supplement use. The questionnaire was administered to the clientele of four gymnasiums in the Westlakes area. Nutrition knowledge was measured using 15 multiple-choice questions and a ranking system, adopted from previous studies. Beliefs concerning supplement use were examined using ten belief statements that had previously been validated, and further reasons for supplement use were collected using open-ended questions. Nutrition knowledge in this group was found to be poor, and a large number of the beliefs and reasons offered for supplement use were based on misconceptions. Some of the more common reasons quoted were: advice from friends and family, the belief that they were deficient in some vitamins and minerals, the belief that they required extra vitamins and minerals due to their sport and to increase muscle mass, to improve appearance and sexual drive, and look and feel younger. A significant number of reasons quoted for taking supplements were not expected, providing guidance for future studies in this area. The results of this pilot study illustrate the need for a larger study in recreational body builders to be conducted and indicates a likely need for education on the use of supplements.
(Aust J Nutr Diet 1996;53:127–133).