Development and Validation of an Australian Database for Estimating the Seafood Content of Canned Products

Canned fish products are of increasing popularity in Australia;however current Australian nutrient databases do not include data on the percentage fish in these products. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a database of the percentage fish and seafood contained in common canned fish and seafood products, for use in clinical trials. Six major supermarkets in the Illawarra region, NSW were audited for canned seafood products, and a database of reported percentage fish and seafood was developed. Mean + SD of each type of product was then determined. To validate the database, a representative sample of canned tuna products were weighed according to Codex Alimentarius methods. The weighed percentage fish was compared to reported percentage via independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney test. Percentage fish data was collected for n = 214 canned fish products. The mean percentage fish in tuna products was 60.4% + 11.3% (n = 144), 72.0% + 14.7% in salmon products (n = 31) and 70.9% + 9.3% in sardine products (n = 23). There was no significant difference between the reported and weighed percentage fish. This database highlighted the substantial proportion of additional ingredients found in canned fish products. Given the popularity of such products, future studies measuring fish consumption should use a similar database to accurately measure fish intake.

Effectiveness of Dietary Advice to Increase Fish Consumption over a 12-Month Period

Habitual fish consumption is associated with numerous health benefits;however, in Australia fish intake remains low. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of specific or general fish consumption recommendations on fish intake behavior over the duration of a 12-month clinical trial. Participants were randomized into a control group (general dietary advice), and two intervention groups (received dietetic advice to consume 180 g fish/wk), with one intervention group receiving LC omega-3 PUFA supplements. Dietary data was available for n = 117 at baseline, n = 85 at 3 months and n = 63 at 12 months. Total, fatty and lean fish intake (g/day) was calculated, and the change in fish intake between and within groups over the duration of the study was measured. Total fish consumption did not differ significantly between groups or within groups, however fatty fish intake was significantly greater in the intervention groups at three months (p = 0.004). The proportion of study participants complying with fish intake recommendations was also highest at the three month time point for both intervention groups. Overall, compliance to fish intake recommendations was highest at the three month time point and appeared to be influenced by dietetic intervention. Provision of fish may increase compliance in future studies, however if research is to be translated to practice, behavioral approaches are required to increase fish intake in the long term.

Conversion of Australian Food Composition Data from AUSNUT1999 to 2007 in the Clinical Trial Context

An Australian food composition database, AUSNUT1999, does not include long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid （LC omega-3 PUFA） data. Measurement of the fatty acid content of diets initially analysed using AUSNUT1999 requires conversion to AUSNUT2007, an updated database inclusive of LC omega-3 PUFA. The aim of this study was to convert clinical trial dietary data from AUSNUT1999 to AUSNUT2007 and measure LC omega-3 PUFA intake. Clinical trial diet history （DH） data was converted from AUSNUTI999 to 2007 using a staged approach. Macronutrient intake from AUSNUTI999 and 2007 were calculated and compared via paired t-tests and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests. Mean dietary LC omega-3 PUFA intake and the percentage contribution of food groups to total LC omega-3 PUFA were then calculated. DHs were collected at baseline （n = 118）, three months （n = 86）, and 12 months （n = 64）. The accuracy of the conversion process improved with time, with no significant difference between most macronutrients at 12 months. Mean LC n-3 PUFA intake was 441.87 mg at baseline, 521.07 mg at 3 months, and 442.40 mg at 12 months, and was predominantly provided by fish and seafood, followed by meat products. This study allowed for the measurement of LC omega-3 intake, which was previously impossible using the AUSNUT 1999 database.

Dietary behaviour changes to improve nutritional quality and health outcomes

This narrative review examines the changes required in dietary behaviours to address the current global burden of disease resulting from diet-associated cardiometabolic dysfunction. Beginning with known relationships between nutritional factors and health outcomes, the review identifies a number of problems with current dietary behaviours, using examples from the Australian context. Implications for practice are then discussed drawing on insights from research in dietary trials. From a concerted research effort across the globe, the effects of foods, food components and dietary patterns on cardiometabolic parameters have been reasonably well exposed. The evidence base for these effects underpins dietary guidelines, which aim to meet nutritional re-quirements and protect against cardiometabolic disease. Thus foods recommended in dietary guidelines tend to be consistent with research that identifies foods that appear protective and those that appear detrimental to health. The need for dietary behaviour change is apparent through analyses that have exposed increasing consumption of detrimental foods, despite the availability of healthy foods. However, behaviour change is a complex area, and where weight loss is also required, there is high level evidence that interdisciplinary efforts combining diet, physical activity and psychological support are warranted. Insights from dietary trials and research indicate that focussing on foods and dietary patterns is integral to the specific dietary change required for health outcomes, but social and behavioural factors will influence the achievement of these changes.