Beer, wine and lifestyle: a cross-sectional study of the Belgian military population

Background: A reduction in mortality associated with wine drinking compared to beer drinking has been suggested in the past. A recent meta-analysis could not confirm the observed differential effect. Other characteristics not related to specific components of beer and wine must play a role in the relationship between wine and mortality, thereby explaining the differential protective results.Methods: A military population was selected to investigate the lifestyle differences between beer and wine drinkers. A food-frequency questionnaire was used to register alcohol and food consumption, together with questionnaires for health-related and lifestyle characteristics. Three dietary patterns were characterized by the Healthy Eating Index 2010, the Mediterranean Diet Score and a pattern obtained by principal component analysis.Results: In the multivariate analysis, beer consumption decreased with increasing age, military rank, physical activity and dietary pattern scores. Beer consumption increased with total energy intake and with smoking.Conclusion: Wine consumption was associated with a healthier lifestyle compared with beer consumption. Those differences must be taken into account when relating types of alcoholic beverage consumption with health-related outcomes.

Nut Consumption Is Associated with a Healthy Dietary Pattern in Military Men

The objective of the research was to determine the relation between nut consumption and dietary patterns described by Healthy Eating Index, Mediterranean Diet Score and principal component analysis. In a cross-sectional study, 1852 military men were contacted by mail. Using food-frequency questionnaires, nut consumption was recorded and stratified in weekly versus less than weekly. Three dietary indices were calculated and stratified in quintiles. For principal component analysis, the healthiest dietary pattern rich in fruits and vegetables was selected as Healthy Dietary Pattern. The highest quintiles of Healthy Eating Index, Mediterranean Diet Score and Healthy Dietary Pattern were systematically associated with the highest weekly consumption of nuts. The highest quintiles were also associated with the lowest intake of saturated fat, i.e. between 10 and 12 energy-percent compared with 17 to 19 energy-percent for the lowest quintiles. The mean daily nut consumption was less than 6 g a day, which is beneath the recommended quantity for cardiovascular protection. Nut consumption was associated with the healthiest dietary pattern, independently of the used method to determine the dietary pattern. Regular nut consumption seems to be a component of a cluster of several healthy behaviors.

Difficulties in post-stroke gait improvement caused by post-stroke depression

Background Depression is a common problem impeding post-stroke rehabilitation.Up to 70% of patients show depression symptoms during the first twelve months after stroke onset.However,the depression and its effect on functional recovery can be difficult to diagnose.The purpose of this study was to use gait analysis as a tool to compare the recovery after stroke in patients with and without depression and to assess the impact of the initiation time of rehabilitation after stroke onset.Methods One hundred and forty five consecutive patients after first ever stroke admitted for designed rehabilitation program within 2 to 31 months after stroke onset participated.All patients received 4 weeks treatment program included comprehensive rehabilitation consisted of multipurpose activities 5 days a week.These included individual and group exercises,physiotherapy,occupational therapy and gait training.Gait analysis with Kistler force plates was employed to assess gait pattern symmetry before and after the treatment.Gait symmetry was evaluated based on seven gait parameters.Regaining of gait pattern symmetry was assumed as a measure of rehabilitation outcome.Results After rehabilitation program gait symmetry w（）ined in patients without depression.Gait asymmetry remained unchanged in patients diagnosed with depression.No major differences in outcome from rehabilitation were noted in regards to the initiation time of rehabilitation after the stroke onset.Conclusions Depression limits gait recovery after stroke.The time of initiation of rehabilitation after stroke onset does not limit the motor recovery after rehabilitation program.