To estimate the prevalence of frequent milk consumption (≥five times/week), the consumption of low-fat/skimmed milk and associated factors in adults and older people, evaluating adherence to current Brazilian guideline.

Population-based cross-sectional study involving the analysis of data from the 2015 Campinas Food Intake and Nutritional Status and 2015 Campinas Health Survey. The prevalence of milk consumption was analysed according to socio-economic characteristics, morbidities and health-related behaviours.

City of Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil.

A sample of 1710 participants of the 2015 Campinas Nutritional and Health Surveys.

A total of 73·8 % of the population consumed milk, but the prevalence of frequent consumption was only 44·0 %. Frequent milk consumption was higher among women, older people and individuals with better diet quality. A total of 18·4 % of the individuals who consumed milk reported consuming low-fat/skimmed milk; this prevalence was higher among women, individuals with a higher socio-economic status, those with better diet quality and those with chronic diseases.

Despite the high nutritional quality of milk and the different types available on the market, adults and older people do not follow current recommendations regarding its consumption. Information on the nutritional quality of milk and current recommendations should be disseminated more at healthcare services.

Low birth weight is associated with increased lifelong morbidity. Kerala has a renowned, low-cost, maternal–child health system in which is couched universal access to the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), central to which is community-based maternal–infant nutritional supplementation. We assessed whether children in this environment showed enhanced birth weight and postnatal growth and whether the evolution of early markers of CVD was attenuated in comparison to contemporaries from other states.

A part retrospective, part prospective cohort study in which children (n 286) born in 1998–2000 in Calicut were identified from Anganwadi records. They were traced at 6 years and underwent full anthropometry and blood pressure measurements at 6 and 8 years.

Mean birth weight (2·86 (sd 0·40) kg) was greater than in Indian contemporaries but consistently <−1sd below the National Center for Health Statistics reference median throughout childhood. Birth weight significantly predicted body mass (BMI) at 8 years. Lower birth weight was strongly predictive of a higher waist:hip ratio (WHR) indicative of adverse central (coelomic) fat distribution (P < 0·01). Faster weight gain in infancy was weakly predictive of a lower WHR (P = 0·59), but faster late childhood growth at 6–8 years was non-significantly predictive of adverse WHR.

At 8 years of age, children in Calicut participating in the ICDS have greater birth weight and relative attenuation of the evolution of early CVD markers compared with children in apparently comparable states. The relative contributions of the ICDS and other factors inherent to Kerala cannot be inferred from the present study.

To measure vitamin D status and estimate factors associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in Nunavimmiut (Inuit living in Nunavik) adults in 2017.

Data were from Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey, a cross-sectional study conducted in August–October 2017. Participants underwent a questionnaire, including an FFQ, and blood samples were analysed for total serum 25(OH)D.

Nunavik, northern Québec, Canada.

A stratified proportional model was used to select respondents, including 1,155 who identified as Inuit and had complete data.

Geometric mean serum vitamin D levels were 65·2 nmol/l (95 % CI 62·9–67·6 nmol/l) among women and 65·4 nmol/l (95 % CI 62·3–68·7 nmol/l) among men. The weighted prevalence of serum 25(OH)D < 75 nmol/l, <50 nmol/l <30 nmol/l was 61·2 %, 30·3 % and 7·0 %, respectively. Individuals who were older, female, lived in smaller and/or more southerly communities and/or consumed more country (traditional) foods were at a reduced risk of low vitamin D status. Higher consumption of wild fish was specifically associated with increased serum 25(OH)D concentration.

It is important that national, regional and local policies and programs are in place to secure harvest, sharing and consumption of nutritious and culturally important country foods like Arctic char and other wild fish species, particularly considering ongoing climate change in the Arctic which impacts the availability, access and quality of fish as food.

To explore long-term trends in height, weight and BMI across birth cohorts among Indian women aged 15–30 years.

Nationally representative cross-sectional surveys.

Data from three National Family Health Surveys were conducted in 1998–1999, 2005–2006 and 2015–2016. Height and weight were modelled jointly, employing a multivariate regression model with age and birth cohorts as explanatory variables. The largest birth cohort (born 1988–1992) was the reference cohort. Stratified analyses by place of residence and by marital status and dichotomised parity were also performed.

437 753 non-pregnant women aged 15–30 years.

The rate of increase in height, weight and BMI differed across birth cohorts. The rate of increase was much lower for height than weight, which was reflected in an increasing trend in BMI across all birth cohorts. In the stratified analyses, increase in height was found to be similar across urban and rural areas. Rural women born in the latest birth cohort (1998–2001) were lighter, whereas urban women were heavier compared to the reference cohort. A relatively larger increase in regression coefficients was observed among women born between 1978 and 1982 compared to women born between 1973 and 1977 when considering unmarried and nulliparous ever-married women and, one cohort later (1983–1987 v. 1978–1982), among parous ever-married women.

As the rate of increase was much larger for weight than for height, increasing trends in BMI were observed across the birth cohorts. Thus, cohort effects show an important contributory role in explaining increasing trends in BMI among young Indian women.

Dietary salt intake may vary depending on different lifestyles. We aimed to estimate the different salt intakes and evaluate the knowledge and self-awareness about salt among people speaking the Teochew, Teochew–Hakka and Hakka dialects in the Chaoshan region of southern China.

The study followed a cluster sampling of residents in Chaoshan region. General characteristics, lifestyles, health status as well as knowledge and self-awareness related to salt intake were investigated using a questionnaire. Anthropometric variables as well as Na and K excretion in a 24-h urine collection were measured.

Chaoshan region of China.

Four hundred fifteen adults who spoke only one of these three dialects.

The salt intake of adults who spoke the Teochew, Teochew–Hakka and Hakka dialects was 7·19 (interquartile range (IQR) 5·29–10·17), 9·03 (IQR 6·62–11·54) and 10·12 (IQR 7·61–12·82) g/d, respectively, with significant differences between Teochew and Teochew–Hakka speakers and between Teochew and Hakka speakers (both P < 0·05). The Na:K ratio for adults who spoke the three dialects was 3·00 (IQR 2·00–4·11), 3·50 (IQR 2·64–4·82) and 4·52 (IQR 3·35–5·97), respectively, and differed significantly among the groups (all P < 0·05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed increased Na:K ratio associated with hypertension (β = 0·71, P = 0·043) in Hakka speakers. Knowledge and self-awareness about salt intake were poor in this population.

Salt intake was closely related to lifestyles and was higher than the upper limit (5 g/d) recommended by the WHO in adults of Chaoshan, especially those speaking the Hakka dialect.

The purpose of this overview is to synthesise and summarise the findings and recommendations of all 14 projects funded between 1997 and 2002 under Phase 2 of the Department of Health's Policy Research Programme Nutrition Initiative. This is aimed at end users, including policy makers, practitioners, researchers and research funding bodies.

The main findings and recommendations for policy and practice, as well as for future research, contained in the peer-reviewed final report of each project are summarised under headings identified as being useful for policy groups and practitioners: Maintenance of a healthy weight; Functional outcomes related to different markers of iron status; Nutritional aspects of bone health in humans; and Dietary interventions.

The overview draws together the key findings and recommendations for current and future policy and practice from the second phase of the research programme and identifies research gaps.

The findings and recommendations of the Department of Health's Nutrition Research Initiative have contributed to the scientific evidence base for policy development, policy evaluation, and will inform practitioners as well as researchers and research funding bodies.