2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) Improve health and enhance quality of life by determining, for healthy and at-risk populations (e.g., school-aged children, rural elderly, Native Americans), mineral intakes that promote optimal physiological and psychological development, function and health; develop new functional bases for establishing mineral element requirements; identify mechanisms of action; and determine the influence of sex, age, genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors on mineral element requirements. Develop and implement health promoting interventions for prevention of obesity and co-morbidities in American Indian population in the upper Midwest. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Dietary intakes and biochemical indices of mineral status will be related to physiologic (e.g., body composition, weight maintenance, physical fitness, energy metabolism, brain and cardiac function) and psychological (e.g., cognition, emotional and social adjustment, school/work performance) measures to determine roles of specific minerals in supporting optimal function and development. A Mobile Nutrition Research Laboratory, Community Studies Unit, and a residential Metabolic Research Unit will be used to conduct epidemiologic, supplementation, fortification, and controlled feeding studies, respectively with healthy and at-risk subjects (e.g., school-aged children, rural elderly, Native Americans). Use qualitative assessment methods (focus groups and in-depth interviews) and surveys to develop and implement social ecological, culturally-sensitive and scientifically sound interventions in American Indian communities. Randomized controlled trials will evaluate the effects of graded intakes of minerals, such as iron, zinc, copper, mangesium and boron, and mediating factors (e.g., genotype, controlled stressors). Animal studies will be used to determine the mechanisms of action of functional outcomes. Studies will involve university, industry and government collaboration. 3.Progress Report None. 4.Accomplishments Health Claims on Labels and Nutrient Composition of Common Foods in Grocery Stores. The labels of food products provide information describing the nutrient contents and health claims in some instances. The public may purchase such a product with the understanding that it is healthful regardless of the composition of the remaining contents. However, the use of such statements may not reflect other contents of these products that may be not health-promoting. In a survey of local grocery stores, more than 57,000 products were examined and half had nutritional marketing information. Almost half of these products had excessive amounts of saturated fat (+/-20% daily value), sodium (+/-20% daily value) and/or added sugar (+/-6 g per serving for non-fruit/milk-based products and +/-21 g per serving for fruit/milk-based products). Thus, nearly one in four products had both marketing and less than healthful contents. Similarly, more than 9000 products were targeted to children (e.g., child-oriented graphics, cartoon or celebrity characters, toys/prizes, etc), and 78% had a nutritional marketing label. More than 60% of the products marketed to children were high in saturated fat, sodium and/or sugar. Nearly half of the products targeted to children had nutritional marketing labels and less than healthful contents. IMPACT: Advertisement of food products can provide misleading information that the public can interpret as health-promoting. Educational programs that instruct children and adults to evaluate all information on labels can be useful in reducing excess consumption of energy and thus promote healthy body weight. NP 107 National Action Plan Component 6: Prevention of Obesity and Disease: Relationships between Diet, Genetics, and Lifestyle. Boron Deprivation Changes in Rat Behavior Attenuated by Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Controversy exists regarding the effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on behavior. Some studies with rats show that, compared to diets high in n-6 PUFA, diets high in long chain n-3 PUFA, improve rat behavior, but other studies do not. The inconsistency in findings may be the result of different intakes of another food component, such as boron, shown to affect similar functions as long chain n-3 PUFA. ARS scientists at Grand Forks, ND, found that boron deprivation of rats fed a diet high in n-6 PUFA changed rat voluntary movement and exploratory behavior such that they were less active. A diet high in n-3 PUFA reduced the effects of boron deprivation. IMPACT: Diets high in both boron and n-3 PUFA, rather than either alone, improve behavior and activity when dietary boron is restricted and n-6 PUFA intake is high. This finding provides evidence of the need to consume fruits and vegetables consistent with national guidelines for health promotion. [NP 107 National Action Plan Component 4: Nutrient Requirements; ARS Strategic Plan Performance Measure 4.1.2: Define functions, bioavailability, interactions and human requirements for known, emerging, and new classes of nutrients in the food supply and provide that information in databases. 5.Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations Scientists in the unit continue to work with American Indians to develop successful partnerships and to promote research on health promotion. Examples include initiation of a Cultural Awareness Workshop at United Tribes Community College, attended by the researchers, technicians and administrators from throughout the Northern Plains Area. These activities directly support Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center programs to improve the nutrition and health of this at-risk and underserved population in our region, and facilitate accomplishment of the milestone related to health promotion and obesity prevention in American Indian communities. In addition, an important Specific Cooperative Agreement was completed to promote collaborative research partnerships with Cankdeska Cikana Community College (Spirit Lake Reservation). This agreement seeks to formalize relationships to initiate discussion geared to develop culturally-appropriate activities and intervention to promote health and prevent obesity and diabetes among American Indians in the Northern Great Plains. One project completed during this past year used qualitative methods to identify and characterize barriers and facilitators associated with potential nutrition and lifestyle changes to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight and reduce risk of chronic diseases and mitigate disease symptoms at Cankdeska Cikana Community College (Spirit Lake Reservation). This work was accomplished in the subordinate project (#5450-51530-009-05S), and is related to NP 107, Nutrient Requirements; Component 7: Health Promoting Intervention Strategies for Targeted Populations. 6.Technology Transfer Number of non-peer reviewed presentations and proceedings 12 Number of newspaper articles and other presentations for non-science audiences 2 Review Publications Colby, S.E. 2007. Peer-led theater as a nutrition education strategy. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 39:48-49. Lukaski, H.C. 2007. Effects of chromium (III) as a nutritional supplement. In: Vincent, J.B., editor. The Nutritional Biochemistry of Chromium (III). Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier. B.V. p. 71-84. Lukaski, H.C. 2007. Recommended proportions of carbohydrates to fats to proteins in diets. In: Driskell, J.A., editor. Sports Nutrition: Fats and Proteins. Florida, Boca Raton: CRC Press. Lord and Francis Group. p. 357-372. Lukaski, H.C., Hall, C.B., Siders, W.A. 2007. Assessment of change in hydration in women during pregnancy and postpartum with bioelectrical impedance vectors. Nutrition. 23:543-550. Lukaski, H.C., Siders, W.A., Penland, J.G. 2007. Chromium picolinate supplementation in women: effects on body weight, composition, and iron status. Nutrition 23:187-195. Nielsen, F.H. 2006. Boron, manganese, molybdenum, and other trace elements. In: Bowman, B.A., Russell, R.M. editors. Present Knowledge and Nutrition, Ninth Edition. Washington, DC: International Life Sciences Institute Press. Vol I, p. 506-526. Nielsen, F.H. 2007. Summary: the clinical and nutritional importance of chromium - still debated after 50 years of research. In: Vincent, J.B., editor. The Nutritional Biochemistry of Chromium (III). Amsterdam, The Netherlands:Elsevier B.V. p. 265-276. Nielsen, F.H., Lukaski, H.C. 2006. Update on the relationship between magnesium and exercise. Magnesium Research. 19(3): 180-189.