2005 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Over the next 30 years the number of Americans age 65 years and older and 80 years and over is expected to increase by 36 million and 10 million, respectively. The financial and social costs associated with the increasing number of elderly Americans will present a major challenge for both the government and individual families. The increasing ratio of elderly Americans to the number of working taxpayers will strain the ability of younger Americans to support the health care needs of the growing elderly population. Therefore, it is vital to identify interventions that can decrease the prevalence of age-related disease and accompanying disability. Many age-related conditions that result in disability and premature death, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, osteoporotic fractures and cataract, appear to have strong nutritional components. Improved nutrition through public health interventions could have a tremendous impact on the economic and societal costs associated with management and treatment of these age-related disabilities. However, the development of such interventions requires a greater understanding of the presumptive role that nutrition plays in delaying the development of age-related disease and limiting disability from these diseases. I. The Nutritional Epidemiology Program focuses on two major two overall goals to address these issues:. 1)to identify environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors that influence the nutritional status and requirements of the elderly, and. 2)to determine the role of nutritional status in healthy aging and the development of chronic disease and age-related impairments such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), dementia, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), cataract and maculopathy. These goals will be achieved through the application of epidemiological methods and community-based investigation of aging population samples. Specific objectives to address these goals over the next five years are the following: 1) Determine the influence of carbohydrate quantity, quality, type and source on the prevention of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus; 2) Determine if age-related cataract and maculopathy can be prevented or delayed with higher intake of antioxidant nutrients, healthier dietary patterns, and/or higher intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acids; 3) Determine the effect of homocysteine lowering with B vitamin therapy on change in cognitive function; 4) Identify the causes and consequences of hyperhomocysteinemia focusing on the prevention of vascular disease and age-related cognitive decline; 5) Measure the amount of folic acid in enriched grain products to determine the amount of folic acid provided by fortification and to assess the safety of the added folic acid; 6) Assess the prevalence of high vitamin E levels and Determine if use of vitamin E supplements is associated with risk of CVD; 7) Develop an index to assess adherence to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and test the hypothesis that adherence to the Dietary Guidelines is associated with less age-related chronic disease; and 8) Determine the role of diet, starting with both data-defined and policy-based dietary patterns and working from foods to nutrients, in development of cardiovascular disease using intermediate markers of CVD risk. This project provides information on the role that nutrition plays in preventing a number of age-related disabilities affecting aging Americans, which will assist in the development of recommendations and interventions for disease prevention. II. The Dietary Assessment and Epidemiology Research Program’s main goals are directed to better define the dietary patterns and nutritional status of elderly groups; explain how socio-cultural factors affect the health and nutritional situation of elders; and examine the relation between dietary behavior and health. Recent emphases of this program have been on Hispanic elders, and on the importance of nutrition to bone mineral density and to cognitive function. To achieve the main goals, we are working on 6 objectives: 1) To determine if low micronutrient intakes and poor dietary patterns increase bone loss and fracture risk with aging. 2) To determine if specific vitamin of fatty acid intakes protect against depression and loss of cognitive function. 3) To identify subgroups of older adults in the United States (US) with inadequate dietary intakes, and the extent to which inadequate intakes are associated with poor nutritional status. 4) To determine the relationship between dietary patterns and heart disease risk factors, including obesity, among older adults. 5) To determine how genetic polymorphisms modify dietary effects on risk of heart disease, cognitive function and bone status. 6) To determine whether cumulative environmental stress is modified by nutritional factors to affect risk of obesity, diabetes, depression, cognitive decline and physical disability. Objectives of this project relate to the following program components within the National Program – 107 Human Nutrition Program: 1. Composition of Foods, 4. Nutrient Requirements; and 6. Prevention of Obesity and Disease: Relationship between Diet, Genetics and Lifestyle. 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. I. Nutritional Epidemiology Program 2005 1. Determine the relation between carbohydrate nutrition (whole grain, fiber, glycemic index, etc.) and metabolic syndrome and mortality. Objective 1 2. Acquire the data and create datasets needed to undertake the longitudinal analyses of carbohydrate nutrition and metabolic markers of disease. Objective 1 3. Determine the cross-sectional relation between a healthy dietary pattern as defined by the Healthy Eating Index and prevalence of nuclear cataract. Objective 2 4. Assess the relation between antioxidant intake and development and progression of nuclear cataract. Objective 2 5. Determine the relation between consumption of different fatty acids and fat-containing foods and the development, progression and extraction of cataracts. Objective 2 6. Initiate recruitment, start to administer cognitive function questionnaires, develop data entry programs and initiate data entry in the FAVORIT Cognitive Ancillary Study. Objective 3 7. Determine the relation between chronic methionine intake and circulating homocysteine concentrations. Objective 4 8. Assess the relation between vitamin B12 status and risk of osteoporosis. Objective 3 9. Complete analyses of foods containing enriched cereal grain for folic acid content. Objective 5 10. Initiate development of a folic acid database for fortified food products. Objective 5 11. Develop an index to assess adherence to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Objective 7 2006 1. Determine the relation between magnesium intake and markers of insulin sensitivity. Objective 1 2. Identify dietary patterns associated with low and high glycemic index diets. Objective 1. 3. Assess the cross-sectional relation between dietary sugars, including sweetened beverage and juice consumption and biomarkers of insulin resistance. Objective 1 4. Determine if whole grain intake, dietary fiber and dietary glycemic index predict changes in metabolic markers of disease, such as insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, weight and blood pressure. Objective 1 5. Determine if eating a healthy dietary pattern as defined by the Healthy Eating Index slows the age-related changes in lens nuclear opacification over a period of five years. Objective 2 6. Evaluate the relation between antioxidant intake and age-related maculopathy. Objective 2 7. Continue recruitment and administration of questionnaires in the FAVORIT Cognitive Ancillary Study. Objective 3 8. Assess the relation of homocysteine, B vitamins, and methionine to carotid artery intima-media thickness and cognitive function. Objective 4 9. Determine the relation between plasma homocysteine concentrations and dietary intakes of choline and betaine. Objective 4 10. Complete development of a folic acid database for enriched cereal grain food products. Objective 5 11. Determine the prevalence and identify the important determinants of high alpha-tocopherol levels. Objective 6 12. Determine the relation between circulating alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol levels and assess the impact of vitamin E supplements on gamma-tocopherol levels. Objective 6 13. Determine if consuming a diet consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is associated with better metabolic profiles (including circulating lower insulin, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels; lower blood pressure, and smaller waist circumference), and with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Objective 7 14. Determine if consuming a diet consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is associated with higher bone mineral density and a lower risk of osteoporotic fractures. Objective 7 15. Relate dietary patterns, based on cluster analyses, to brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, and use the resulting observations to identify food or food groups that may be associated with flow mediated dilation. Objective 8 2007 1. Determine the cross-sectional relation between diet and circulating non-esterified fatty acids and adiponectin. Objective 1 2. Determine if fatty acid intake is related to age-related maculopathy. Objective 2 3. Relate dietary patterns, as determined by cluster analysis, to risk of age-related cataract. Objective 2 4. Initiate follow-up cognitive testing in the FAVORIT Cognitive Ancillary Study. Objective 3 5. Evaluate the relation between B vitamin status and heart failure. Objective 4 6. Determine if choline and betaine intakes are related to cognitive function. Objective 4 7. Use the newly completed folic acid database to examine the folic acid intakes in the Framingham Offspring Study. Objective 5 8. Determine the relation between vitamin E supplement use and risk of CVD and CVD death in those free of CVD at baseline and in those with CVD and/or diabetes at baseline. Objective 6 9. Determine if consuming a diet consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is associated with associated with a lower incidence of diabetes. Objective 7 10. Determine if a diet consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is associated with intermediate markers of CVD risk including brachial artery flow mediated dilation and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Objective 7 2008 1. Assess the relationship between carbohydrate nutrition and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Objective 1 2. Determine the relation between dietary patterns, as determined by cluster analysis, and risk of age-related maculopathy. Objective 2 3. Continue follow-up cognitive testing in the FAVORIT Cognitive Ancillary Study. Objective 3 4. Determine the heritability of homocysteine and vitamin B12 levels. Objective 4 5. Assess the impact of folic acid intake and polymorphisms in the dihydrofolate reductase gene on circulating unmetabolized folic acid, and evaluate other possible determinants of circulating folic acid levels. Objective 5 6. Determine if plasma alpha- and gamma-tocopherol levels are differentially related to risk of CVD. Objective 6 7. Determine if consuming a diet consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is associated with associated with a lower incidence of CVD. Objective 7 8. Relate dietary patterns, based on cluster analyses, to biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress and, and use the resulting observations to identify food or food groups that may be associated with these biomarkers of CVD risk. Objective 8 2009 1. Determine the relation between carbohydrate nutrition and incidence of CVD. Objective 1 2. Evaluate the relation between B vitamins status and cognitive function at baseline in the FAVORIT Cognitive Ancillary Study. Objective 3 3. Relate the risk of CVD events in parents to homocysteine concentrations of their offspring. Objective 4 4. Determine the relation between unmetabolized circulating folic acid and cognitive function. Objective 5 5. Determine if consuming a diet consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is associated with associated with a lower incidence of CVD. Objective 7 II. Dietary Assessment and Epidemiology Research Program 2005 1. Determine the effect of vitamin B12 and homocysteine on bone mineral density and fracture risk. Objective 1 2. Determine the predictive effect of B vitamins and homocysteine on longitudinal changes in cognitive function. Objective 2 3. Determine if carotenoid status differs between the mainly Puerto Rican Hispanic population in Massachusetts from non-Hispanic whites. Objective 3 4. Determine if differing dietary patterns affect weight and weight change among older adults. Objective 4 5. Identify the existence of interactions between dietary fat intake and variation in selected lipid regulating genes on lipid parameters in the body. Objective 5 6. Assess the effect of a nutrition education program on Hispanic elders with type 2 diabetes on changes in dietary intake, plasma vitamin concentrations and glucose status. Objective 4 7. Describe the food use and preferences of Boston recipients of home delivered meals. Objective 3 2006 1. Determine the effects of beverage choice on bone mineral density. Objective 1 2. Determine the effect of fatty acid intakes on cognitive decline in older adults. Objective 1 3. Determine the iron status of Hispanic elders relative to non-Hispanic white elders. Objective 3 4. Determine the relative validity of the Southern food frequency questionnaire we developed here against other methods of assessing dietary intake and nutrient biomarkers. Objective 4 5. Determine the ability of the US population to adhere to the dietary guidelines within current food choice parameters. Objective 3 6. Determine the relationship between whole grain consumption and body weight. Objective 4 7. Identify the existence of interactions between dietary fat intake and variation in selected lipid regulating genes on bone mineral density. Objective 5 8. Determine the relationship between perceived stress, accumulated physiologic stress and obesity and diabetes among Puerto Rican older adults. Objective 6 9. Assess the effect of a nutrition education program on Hispanic elders with type 2 diabetes on changes in dietary intake, plasma vitamin concentrations and glucose status. Objective 4 10. Evaluate alternative strategies to improve consumption of home delivered meals. Objective 3 2007 1. Determine the effects of selected vitamin intakes on bone mineral density and fracture risk. Objective 1 2. Determine the association between vitamin and fatty acid intake and status and cognition and brain morphology in home bound elders. Objective 2 3. Determine the relationship between dietary intake patterns and glucose control in an aging population. Objective 4 4. Determine differences in patterns of genetic variation for selected genes related to lipid metabolism in the Puerto Rican population relative to non-Hispanic white populations. Objective 5 5. Determine if interactions between stress and dietary patterns are associated with depression and cognitive function among older Puerto Rican adults. Objective 6 2008 1. Determine the effects of protein intake on fracture risk. Objective 1 2. Determine if genetic variation interacts with dietary pattern to affect risk indicators for cognitive decline among older Puerto Rican adults. Objective 5 3. Determine if interactions between stress and dietary patterns are associated with physical disability among older Puerto Rican adults. Objective 6 2009 1. Determine if genetic variation interacts with dietary pattern to affect risk indicators for physical disability among older Puerto Rican adults. Objective 5 2. Determine the effects of perceived and physiologic stress on 2 year cognitive and physical decline in Puerto Rican elders. Objective 6 4a.What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Dietary Fat is Associated with Cataract Risk Age-related cataract is a major public health problem for Americans. Although cataract can be successfully treated, its treatment represents an enormous economic burden. In the US, more than 1.3 million cataract extractions are performed each year at a cost of approximately $3.5 billion. The most promising new lead in the prevention of cataract is the possible influence of dietary fatty acids on lens structure and function. To address this research question, Nutritional Epidemiology Program researchers prospectively determined the association between dietary fat intake and cataract extraction in adult women from the Nurses' Health Study. A total of 71,083 women were followed prospectively for up to 16 years between 1984 and 2000. Women whose total fat intake was in the top fifth of this sample had a 10% greater risk of developing cataract than women with intakes in the lowest fifth (relative risk (RR) = 1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99, 1.22; p(trend) = 0.01). Women in the highest fifth of long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake had a 12% lower risk of cataract compared with those in the lowest fifth (RR= 0.88; 95% CI: 0.79, 0.98; p(trend) = 0.02). Total fish intake was also inversely associated with cataract risk. Our findings suggest that higher intake total fat may increase cataract risk but higher intakes of long-chain omega-3 fatty acid and greater consumption of fish may reduce the risk. 4b.List other significant accomplishments, if any. I. Nutritional Epidemiology Program Vitamin E Supplements Are Associated with Lower Risk of Nuclear Opacities As described in section 4.a, age-related cataract remains a public health issue in the United States. Diet is linked to cataract risk but the specific nutrients or components of the diet responsible for the relationship have not been established. We Determine d the relation between usual nutrient intake and 5-year change in the amount of lens nuclear opacification assessed by computer-assisted image analysis. In a sample of 408 Boston, Mass-area women from the Nurses' Health Study aged 52 to 74 years at baseline. Usual nutrient intake was calculated as the average intake from 5 food frequency questionnaires that were collected over a 13- to 15-year period before the baseline eye examination. 5-year change in the degree of nuclear opacification was inversely associated with the intake of riboflavin (P trend = .03) and thiamin (P trend = .04) and duration of vitamin E supplement use (P trend = .006). Our results suggest that long-term use of vitamin E supplements and higher riboflavin and/or thiamin intake may reduce the progression of age-related lens nuclear opacification. B Vitamin Status Indicators and Bone Mineral Density in Older Americans: Recent studies have found a connection between hyperhomocysteinemia and hip fracture. If this association is causal, it could be mediated through detrimental effects of low B-vitamin status on bone mineral density (BMD). Studies have linked markers of B vitamin status, including homocysteine (Hcy), folate and vitamin B12, to BMD, but results have been inconsistent. Furthermore, only one study considered the specific marker of tissue vitamin B12 status, methylmalonic acid (MMA), and none have considered red blood cell (RBC) folate. To further explore associations between B-vitamin status indicators and bone health, we used data collected on men and women aged >55 years who underwent DXA scans of the hip as participants in phase 2 of the third U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 1550). BMD decreased and osteoporosis increased significantly with increasing serum MMA (P < 0.01). Serum vitamin B12 was related to BMD in dose-response fashion up to about 200 pmol/L, and subjects with serum Hcy >/= 20 micromol/L had significantly lower BMD than subjects with serum Hcy < 10 mumol/L. Furthermore, those with a serum vitamin B12 concentration below the 25th percentile had a two-fold increased prevalence of osteoporosis. We conclude that indicators of vitamin B12 status, but not folate status, are associated with BMD in older Americans. Whether this association reflects a causal relation remains unclear and merits further study in light of age-related declines in B12 status and BMD, and the need for low-risk, easily implemented strategies for osteoporosis prevention. II. Dietary Assessment and Epidemiology Research Program Vitamin B12 Status and Bone Mineral Density Researchers in the Dietary Assessment and Epidemiology Research Program found that low vitamin B12 concentrations were associated with significantly lower bone mineral density in adult men and women; and that high homocysteine levels were significantly associated with increased fracture risk in older men and women in the Framingham studies. This research has lead to a greater understanding of the role of micronutrients other than calcium and vitamin D to bone health in aging adults. Homocysteine, Folate and Cognitive Function High homocysteine and low folate levels were associated with significant declines in cognitive ability among aging men in the VA Normative Aging Study. Strongest effects were seen for ability to copy figures, suggesting effects on executive functioning. This research contributes to the understanding of B vitamin status and homocysteine levels in maintaining cognitive function with aging. Dietary Carotenoid Intake Among Hispanics A food frequency designed for Caribbean origin Hispanics measured carotenoids well relative to blood measures with the exception of lycopene. Hispanic elders had lower plasma concentrations for most carotenoids, relative to non-Hispanic whites, but tended to have higher lycopene explained in part by their higher lycopene intake obtained from regular use of cooked tomato and tomato sauce in recipes.lycopene in cooked and canned tomato is highly bioavailable. This research leads to a greater understanding of the dietary intake and nutritional status of minorities in the US. Refined Grains and Waist Circumference Dietary patterns high in refined grains are associated with greater increases in waist circumference over time and with lipid biomarkers, using different methodologies for pattern analysis. Self reported vegetarians in Sweden had lower weight gain over time relative to non-vegetarians. Even if vegetarians consume some animal products, these results suggest that self-identified semivegetarian, lactovegetarian, and vegan women have a lower risk of overweight and obesity than do omnivorous women. 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. I. Nutritional Epidemiology Program · We demonstrated that as whole grain intake increased the prevalence of metabolic syndrome decreased and those with the highest whole grain intake had a 74% lower risk of death from CVD than those with lower whole grain intakes, which could lead to a greater understanding of the importance of whole grains to health. Objective 1, Milestone 1. Performance measure 4.1.1: Promote healthier food choices and lifestyles and prevent obesity. · We demonstrated that the 5-year change in the degree of nuclear cataract was inversely associated with the intake of riboflavin and thiamin and with the duration of vitamin E supplement use, which should help provide a better understanding of the role of diet in prevention of cataract. Objective 2, Milestone 4. Performance measure 4.1.1: Promote healthier food choices and lifestyles and prevent obesity. · We observed that women with higher intakes of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids had a 12% lower risk of cataract compared with women with the lowest intakes and that fish intake was inversely associated with cataract risk, which should help provide a better understanding of the role of diet in prevention of cataract. Objective 2, Milestone 5. Performance measure 4.1.1: Promote healthier food choices and lifestyles and prevent obesity. · We demonstrated that higher chronic methionine intake was associated with lower fasting plasma homocysteine concentrations, which should help us to increase our understanding of how diet affects homocysteine metabolism. Objective 4, Milestone 7. Performance measure 4.1.1: Promote healthier food choices and lifestyles and prevent obesity. · We demonstrated that individuals with a serum vitamin B12 concentration below the 25th percentile had a two-fold increased prevalence of osteoporosis, which should help to provide a better understanding of the role that diet plays in development of osteoporosis. Objective 4, Milestone 8. Performance measure 4.1.1: Promote healthier food choices and lifestyles and prevent obesity. · We developed a 20 point index that was designed to measure dietary adherence to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which ill allow us to Determine how adherence to the Dietary Guidelines is related to health and nutritional status. Objective 7, Milestone 11. Performance measure 4.1.1: Promote healthier food choices and lifestyles and prevent obesity. II. Dietary Assessment and Epidemiology Research Program · A greater understanding of the role of nutrients beyond calcium and vitamin D to bone mineral density in aging adults. Objective 1, Milestone 1, Performance measure 4.1.1: Promote healthier food choices and lifestyles and prevent obesity. · Contributions to the understanding of B vitamins and homocysteine to maintenance of cognitive function with aging. Objective 2, Milestone 2, Performance measure 4.1.1: Promote healthier food choices and lifestyles and prevent obesity. · The development and testing of ethnic specific food frequency questionnaires for improved assessment of dietary intake of ethnic and regional subgroups. These questionnaires are being used by several studies to investigate the diet and nutritional status of Caribbean origin Hispanics in the Northeast, and low income southern African Americans and white adults in the South. Objective 3, work conducted in previous CRIS cycle, Performance measure 4.1.1: Promote healthier food choices and lifestyles and prevent obesity. · A demonstration of the utility of dietary patterns in research on obesity, health and aging. Objective 3, work conducted in previous CRIS cycle, Performance measure 4.1.1: Promote healthier food choices and lifestyles and prevent obesity. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? The food frequency questionnaires developed by Dietary Assessment and Epidemiology Research Program researchers are being used by several groups including studies on Puerto Rican women at the University of Massachusetts, Boston; in an application submitted for funding to determine diet and cancer prevention in Puerto Rico and New York City; and in the Jackson Heart Study in Jackson, Mississippi as well as intervention studies in the USDA Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative. Our approach to dietary patterns has been used by others and we continue to get requests for assistance in this area. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Nutritional Epidemiology Program Presentations Focus on Vitamin E and Eye Health. CRN Workshop on Vitamin E Impact on Health and Disease. New York Academy of Sciences, New York, NY; January 27, 2005. Folic Acid Fortification of Enriched Cereal Grain Products – Impact on Folate Status of Americans. HNRCA Seminar Series, Jean Mayer-USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. Boston, MA: March 7, 2005. Popular Press “A Grain of Truth about Fiber Intake.” USDA/ARS Agricultural Research, December 2004. “Good Health Means Going with the Grains.” Boston Globe, January 5, 2005. “Good Bread Starts the Day – and Year – on the Right Note.” Boston Globe, January 5, 2005. “Seeing Clearly: Omega-3 LC-PUFAs Linked to Lower Cataract Risk.” PUFA Newsletter, June 2005. “To Fight Cataracts, It’s Fish Yea, Mayo Nay.” Science News, May 14, 2005; Vol. 167, No. 20. “A Grain of Truth about Fiber Intake.” Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging Crier, May 2005. “Hooked on Whole Grains.” USA Weekend.com, June 19, 2005. “Whole Grains.” Greenwich Time, July 5, 2005. Dietary Assessment and Epidemiology Research Program Presentations KL Tucker, Invited Talks: B vitamins, homocysteine and cognitive function with aging. Texas Beef Council, Amarillo, TX, Mar 2005. Nutrition and bone mineral density, beyond calcium. Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Nutrition Seminar Series, Boston, Feb 2005 Diet and bone mineral density, beyond calcium: The Framingham Osteoporosis Study. Department of Nutrition Seminar series, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PN, Dec 2004. Dietary patterns and bone mineral density. Wageningen University, the Netherlands, Oct 2004. Nutrition and bone mineral density, beyond calcium. Purdue University, Department of Nutrition Seminar Series, Lafayette, IN, Oct 2004. Dietary factors in the prevention of osteoporosis. Congress of Central American Nutritionists and Dietitians, Panama City, Panama, Sept 2004. KL Tucker, Workshops and Conference Participation: Session moderator: Cognitive Decline. Fourth European Congress on Nutrition and Health in the Elderly, Toulouse, France, Nov 2004. Invited participant. National Children's Study Workshop on Dietary Assessment. National Institute of Child Health and Development, NIH, Washington DC, Sept 2004. Chair, workshop: New approaches to dietary assessment. Congress of Central American Nutritionists and Dietitians, Panama City, Panama, Sept.2004. PK Newby, Invited Talks: Research presentation. Massachusetts Dietetic Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA. May 2005. “Eating patterns and anthropometric changes.” Research presentation. Simmons College, Boston, MA. November 2004. “The relation between eating patterns and changes in body mass index and waist circumference.” OI Bermudez, Invited Talks: Obesity among older adults. Congress of Central American Nutritionists and Dietitians. Panama, September 2004. Dietary Patterns of US Hispanic Groups. Congress of Central American Nutritionists and Dietitians. Panama, September 2004. Nutrition and health situation of older Hispanic adults in the United States. School of Nutrition, National University of Panama. June 8, 2004. O Bermudez, Workshops and Conference Participation: Catch the Diversity wave! Opportunities for Food and Nutrition Research with Diverse Populations in Urban and Rural Settings. Workshop at the USDA-MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) 20th Conference. Pittsburgh, PA, April 2005. Culture and Diversity in Community Assessment: Do it Right! Workshop at the Friedman School of Nutrition. February 2005 Applicability of Dietary Assessment Methods. Workshop delivered to Nutritionists of Central America and Mexico. Institute of Nutrition for Central America and Panama. Guatemala, 22-24 November, 2004. Analysis, Interpretation and Uses of Dietary Data. Pre-congress workshop presented at the Congress of Central American Nutritionists and Dietitians. Panama, September 2004. Popular Press KL Tucker was cited frequently in the popular media, including magazines (Newsweek, Cooking Light, Men’s Health, Prevention, Shape, Cosmopolitan, American Baby, Men’s Fitness, Ladies Home Journal, Better Homes and Gardens, Dr. Phil Magazine, Self); newspapers (Washington Post, USA Weekend, Hartford Courant, Chicago Sun Times, Seattle Times); newsletters/websites (Tufts Health and Nutrition Newsletter, WebMD, NIH Science News; Environmental Nutrition and international media (Chatelaine, Canada, the Times UK, the Irish Times, the Toronto Star, and National Radio Network, Colombia). Most of these reports focused on our findings regarding nutrition and bone or dietary patterns and weight. PK Newby’s study on dietary patterns and waist circumference was cited frequently in the media and popular press including magazines (Shape, Men’s Health, More, and Newsweek, among others); a magazine for health professionals in Denmark; radio coverage in South America; and television coverage on CBS weekend evening news. OI Bermudez was cited for her study on sweet drinks and obesity (abstract presented at FASEB last April 05) in the media, including online news such as: Science News, U.S. News & World Report, NutraIngredients-USA.com, FoodNavigator-USA.com, Men's Health. Also, she gave a radio interview for the program Science Update, produced by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) also contacted her before using data related to her study. Review Publications Rumawas, M.E., Mckeown, N.M., Rogers, G., Meigs, J.B., Wilson, P.W., Jacques, P.F. 2005. Magnesium intake is favorably associated with improved insulin sensitivity in the Framingham Offspring Cohort. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 19:A1464. Lu, M., Cho, E., Taylor, A., Hankinson, S.E., Willett, W.C., Jacques, P.F. 2005. Prospective study of dietary fat and risk of cataract extraction among US women. American Journal of Epidemiology. 161(10):948-959. Jacques, P.F., Taylor, A., Moeller, S., Hankinson, S.E., Rogers, G., Tung, W., Ludovico, J., Willett, W., Chylack, L.T. 2005. Long-term nutrient intake and 5-year change in nuclear lens opacities. Archives of Ophthalmology. 123:517-526. Lu, M., Taylor, A., Chylack, L.T., Rogers, G., Hankinson, S., Willett, W., Jacques, P. 2005. Dietary fat intake and early age-related lens opacities. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 81:773-779. Peterson, J., Dwyer, J., Jacques, P., Rand, W., Prior, R., Chiu, K. 2004. Tea variety and brewing techniques influence flavonoid content of black tea. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 17(3-4):397-405. Mckeown, N.M. 2004. Whole grain intake and insulin sensitivity: evidence from observational studies. Nutrition Reviews. 62(7):286-291. Jacques, P.F., Choumenkovitvch, S.F. 2004. Mild methylenetetrahydrofolate deficiency and folate status. In: Ueland P., Rozen R., editors. MTHFR Polymorphisms and Disease. Georgetown, TX: Landes Bioscience. p. 54-71. Gao, X., Wilde, P.E., Maras, J.E., Bermudez, O., Tucker, K. 2004. The maximal amount of alpha-tocopherol intake from foods alone in U.S. adults (1994-1996 CSFIII): An analysis by linear programming. Annals Of The New York Academy Of Sciences. 1031:385-6. Tucker, K.L., Scott, T., Qiao, N., Rosenberg, I., Spiro, A. 2004. B vitamin intake and status protect against cognitive decline in aging men [abstract]. 4th European Congress on Nutrition and Health in the Elderly. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. 8(6):438. Abstract No. S.2.2. Falcon, L.M., Arsenault, L., Scott, T., Tucker, K.L. 2004. Omega 3 fatty acids are associated with less depressive symptomatology and better memory in a group of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white elders in Massachusetts [abstract]. European Congress on Nutrition and Health in the Elderly. Theh Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. 8(6):447. Abstract No. O.2.3. Bermudez, O.I. 2005. Consumption of sweet drinks among American adults from the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) 1999-2000. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 19(5):A1464. Bermudez, O.I., Imamura, F., Bakun, P., Hernandez, L., Mazariegos, M., Solomons, N.W. 2005. Diets of Mayan adults from Guatemala highlands are of high nutrient densities as compared to nutrient recommendations. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 19(4):A969. Imamura, F., Hernandez, L., Mazariegos, M., Solomons,, N.W., Maras, J.E., Bermudez, O.I. 2005. Adequacy of nutrient intakes among Guatemalans according to different nutrient recommendations. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 19(4):A425. Tucker, K.L., Maras, J., Champagne, C., Connell, C., Goolsby, S., Weber, J., Zaghloul, S., Carithers, T., Bogle, M.L. 2005. A regional food-frequency questionnaire for the US Mississippi Delta. Public Health Nutrition. 8(1):87-96. Tucker, K.L., Hallfrisch, J., Qiao, N., Muller, D., Andres, R., Fleg, J.L. 2005. The combination of high fruit and vegetable and low saturated fat intakes is more protective against mortality in aging men, than is either alone: the baltimore longitudinal study of aging. Journal of Nutrition. 135(3):556-561. Kaufer-Horwitz, M., Bermudez, O., Valdes-Ramos, R., Solomons, N.W. 2004. Rigid adherence to the dietary intake recommendations of selected food guideline emblems would not lead to simultaneous compliance with the tenets of the revised 2000 American Heart Association Dietary Guidelines. Nutrition Research. 24:749-759. Forrester, J.E., Tucker, K., Gorbach, S.L. 2004. Dietary intake and body mass index in HIV-positive and HIV-negative drug abusers of Hispanic ethnicity. Public Health Nutrition. 7(7):863-870. Scott, T.M., Tucker, K.L., Bhadelia, A., Benjamin, B., Patz, S., Bhadelia, R., Liebson, E., Price, L., Griffith, J., Rosenberg, I., Folstein, M.F. 2004. Homocysteine and B vitamins relate to brain volume and white-matter changes in geriatric patients with psychiatric disorders. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 12(6):631-638. Forrester, J.E., Tucker, K.L., Gorbach, S.L. 2005. The effect of drug abuse on body mass index in Hispanics with and without HIV infection. Public Health Nutrition. 8(1):61-68. Bermudez, O.I., Ribaya-Mercado, J.D., Talegawkar, S.A., Tucker, K.L. 2005. Hispanic and non-Hispanic white elders from Massachusetts have different patterns of carotenoid intake and plasma concentrations. Journal of Nutrition. 135(6):1496-1502. Newby, P.K., Muller, D., Tucker, K.L. 2004. Associations of empirically derived eating patterns with plasma lipid biomarkers: a comparison of factor and cluster analysis methods. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 80(3):759-767. Newby, P.K., Muller, D., Hallfrisch, J., Andres, R., Tucker, K.L. 2004. Food patterns measured by factor analysis and anthropometric changes in adults. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 80(2):504-513. Bermudez, O.I., Tucker, K.L. 2004. Cultural aspects of food choices in various communities of elders. Generations. 28(3):22-27. Weglicki, W., Quamme, G., Tucker, K.L., Haigney, M., Resnick, L. 2005. Potassium, magnesium, and electrolyte imbalance and complications in disease management. 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