Issue 125 food for thought

NEWS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Dr Emma Derbyshire Independent Consultant Emma heads Nutritional Insight Ltd, an independent consultancy to industry, government and PR agencies. An avid writer for academic journals and media, her specialist areas are maternal nutrition, child nutrition and functional foods. www.nutritionalinsight.co.uk @DrDerbyshire

If you have important news or research updates to share with NHD, or would like to send a letter to the Editor, please email us at info@network healthgroup.co.uk We would love to hear from you.

New sugar tax approved It has now been announced that a new sugar tax on the soft drinks industry will take place. This was announced as part of the Chancellor’s budget and has been the topic of conversation for a long time, but, nevertheless, came as somewhat of a surprise to the soft drinks industry.

Jamie Oliver and his team have played a key role in driving and getting this levy. He was the first to introduce a sugar tax levy in his restaurants and establish an e-petition which was signed by more than 150,000 people backing such a tax.

Putting the new tax into practice, sugary drinks are to be graded into two bands. The highest band will contain more than 8g total sugar per 100ml and be levied at 24p per litre. The second band will have a total sugar content of more than 5g per 100ml and cost an extra 18p per litre. So, will this really make a difference?

That has been much divided opinion about this approach. One of the criticisms is that there is no evidence that taxing a single food or ingredient can help to reduce obesity levels. Also, foods such as chocolate are not to be taxed as these are regarded as a treats rather than everyday foods and drinks - though it is questionable whether this is really the case.

There is potential to extend such a levy to other foods. A simple supermarket online search for ‘children’s/kids cereals’ undertaken by Nutritional Insight, identified more than 100 brands that were chocolate or ‘cookie’ flavoured. For me, starting the day with sugary, chocolate-flavoured breakfasts doesn’t sit well.

Equally, there is scope to look at the ‘treat market’ as a whole and fuel investment and marketing into this.

So, it seems that this is a step in the right direction. That said, it is also important to establish a data collection scheme alongside the new levy, to evaluate whether such a levy leads to measurable effects or not. This can then lead to future modifications - be it levy adjustments or the application to other products. So, perhaps we should stave of judgements until we find out whether this works or not.

For more information, see: www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Ingredients/Sugar-tax-announcement-praised-andcondemned; www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35824071

UNHEALTHY TREAT CULTURES HAVE LASTING EFFECTS Imaging studies reveal that obese individuals show greater reward and reduced inhibitory region responsivity to food, which may predict future weight gain. New research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has examined whether the brainreward response is related to future weight variability.

A total of 127 healthy-weight adolescents, aged 14-18 years, were assessed annually for three years. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, neural responses to cues of impending and actual receipt of high-calorie, palatable foods were measured over the follow-up period.

Findings revealed that cognitive reappraisal strategies - particularly those focusing on the benefits of not eating certain highly palatable, calorific foods, could potentially assist in the design of obesityprevention programs for young people.

For more information, see: Winter S et al (2017). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 105. No 4, pg: 781-789

6

www.NHDmag.com June 2017 - Issue 125

NEWS B6 DEFICIENCY MAY DRIVE UP COLORECTAL CANCER RISK Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women worldwide.

Identifying modifiable dietary factors is essential to developing primary prevention strategies.

Growing evidence indicates that vitamin B-6 may influence colorectal cancer risk in multiple ways, including a reduction of inflammation, cell proliferation and oxidative stress.

New research using data from the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study followed 613 cases from 1985 to 2009, during which time, concentrations of the vitamin B-6 marker, pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP) (the active form of vitamin B-6), were measured along with associated markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Results revealed a clear association between vitamin B-6 deficiency and colorectal cancer risk, with indications of a role in tumour progression rather than initiation. These are significant findings, highlighting that vitamin B-6 shortfalls may be increasing both the risk and proliferation of the disease. Continued research is worthy of further exploration in this important area of work.

For more information, see: Gylling B et al (2017). American Journal

NETWORK HEALTH DIGEST

www.NHDmag.com A wealth of useful dietetic resources for all dietitians and nutritionists

Make the most of your NHD Community!

of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 105. No 4, pg: 897-904

DRINKING SOFT DRINKS IN PREGNANCY LEADS TO BIGGER BABIES The prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults and children has reached alarming proportions over the last few decades. Whilst clear associations have been established between the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and risks for obesity, diabetes and heart disease amongst the adult population, the outcome of intakes during pregnancy and the effect upon body mass index and body composition during early years remains unclear.

Using data from The Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort from foetal life onward examined the data of 3,312 mother-child pairs from pregnancy up to six years of age. Sugar-containing beverage intake was assessed during the first trimester, with a food-frequency questionnaire. Children’s anthropometric data and BMI measurements were collected repeatedly up to six years of age when both fat mass and fat-free mass were measured.

Results revealed the mother’s total sugar-containing beverage intake was associated with children’s higher body mass index and final fat mass measurements. These are important findings and, whilst further studies are needed to reconfirm the results, the evidence suggests that strategies focusing upon childhood obesity can track right back to pregnancy.

For more information, see: Jen V et al (2017). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 105. No 4, pg: 834-841 www.NHDmag.com June 2017 - Issue 125

7