Trending Topics

Trending Topics articles are published in timely response to recent media and journal articles, position statements, clinical guidelines, etc. Since they are based on the most recent evidence/publications, they may not be consistent with PEN evidence in other PEN content areas. As soon as possible, when this occurs, the PEN content will be reviewed and updated as needed.

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  Does a Vegetarian Eating Pattern Affect a Child’s Nutrition Status and Growth?

  A 2022 paper, Vegetarian Diet, Growth, and Nutrition in Early Childhood: a Longitudinal Cohort Study, has gained traction on social media. The PEN Team took a closer look at the study to assess if the current PEN recommendations related to children and vegetarian eating are up to date with this latest evidence.

  

  Posted: 2022-05-20
  

  • Children, 
  • Vegetarian 
• 

  Sweeteners and Cancer Risk – Is There a Strong Association?

  A recent large cohort study examining artificial sweetener intake with cancer risk concluded that artificial sweeteners were associated with increased cancer risk. This has important implications for practice, given the wide range use of sweeteners in foods and beverages and the frequency that these foods and beverages are consumed.

  

  Posted: 2022-04-13
  

  • Cancer, 
  • Artificial Sweetener 
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  Conflict and the Impact on the Global Food Supply

  A key concern for dietitians is the ability of the food system to feed people and then for people to have adequate access to food. This concern is amplified during times of war and conflict, especially for those most directly impacted. There are considerable health and safety implications including access to life-sustaining food and water.

  Posted: 2022-03-22
  

  • Food, 
  • Food Security 
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  Do Veggies Protect Your Heart? Recent Low Quality Evidence Questions Vegetables’ Value

  A recent study observed that vegetable consumption was only minimally protective for incident cardiovascular disease. Media headlines subsequently reported that “eating veggies won't protect your heart”. The PEN Team thought an analysis of the study was needed to determine if any changes to current recommendations to “eat lots of vegetables” are required.

  Posted: 2022-03-10
  

  • Cardiovascular Disease, 
  • Vegetarian 
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  Food, Nutrition and Wellness Trends 2022

  Trends for 2022 show an interest in the consumer, their mental health and wellness, healthy immunity, choices that support a healthy environment, sensible indulgences, reducing alcohol consumption and trying new spices and spicy foods.

  Posted: 2022-01-07
  

  • Food, 
  • Nutrition Supplement, 
  • Nutrition 
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  Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss – Do the Studies Line Up?

  Intermittent fasting (IF) continues to be a hot topic for dietitians and their clients. The PEN Team was pleased to add new content on IF to the PEN System in November 2021.

  Posted: 2021-12-17
  

  • Food, 
  • Weight Management, 
  • Fasting 
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  An Update on Taxation and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

  The PEN Team is currently reviewing the evidence on the health impact of SSB intake on adults and children, anticipating publication in 2022. In the interim, here is a look at the positions of the partnering PEN countries related to SSB taxation.

  Posted: 2021-11-08
  

  • Trending Topics, 
  • Sugar, 
  • Taxation 
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  Diet Quality and COVID-19: Socioeconomics Matter

  Is eating plant-based enough to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection? Not without a closer look at the socioeconomic gradient.

  Posted: 2021-10-01
  

  • COVID-19 
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  Should You Strike "Boosting Your Immune System" from Your Vocabulary? Avoiding "Science-ploitation"

  In a recent podcast, Dr. Jen Gunter describes the problems with the phrase “boosting the immune system” (1). The PEN Team wondered if the podcast concepts might be useful to dietitians when clients ask about “immune-boosting” foods and supplements.

  Posted: 2021-07-29
  

  • Nutrition Science, 
  • Immunity 
• 

  Can Coffee Prevent Chronic Liver Disease?

  Recent headlines (1,2) attest that drinking coffee prevents chronic liver disease, based on a recently published study (3). The PEN Team set out to investigate whether the evidence supports these cause-and-effect statements.

  Posted: 2021-07-09
  

  • Liver 
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  Vitamin B12 in Pregnancy

  A concern about vitamin B12 deficiency causing adverse outcomes in pregnant women, particularly of South Asian descent, prompted us to look more closely at this hot topic. We identified a systematic review (SR) that focused on the vitamin B12 status of women and infants living in India (1).

  Posted: 2021-05-25
  

  • Vitamins & Minerals, 
  • Pregnancy 
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  Consumers’ Feelings About Meat and Meat Alternatives: Can Framing Influence Perception?

  In a recent study, researchers used a mixed-methods approach to examine consumer perceptions of meat and meat alternatives and whether framing products as part of a meal, rather than in isolation, influences consumer perceptions (1).

  Posted: 2021-04-14
  

  • Meat 
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  U.S. Report of Heavy Metals in Manufactured Infant Foods

  A U.S. report finds heavy metals in manufactured infant foods. Should we be concerned? Are heavy metals present in infant foods at unsafe levels? What should dietitians be advising parents to do? The PEN Team went looking for answers.

  Posted: 2021-03-02
  

  • PEN Applied, 
  • Infants 
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  Vitamin D and COVID-19: Do Latest Studies Support Supplementation?

  To date, research on vitamin D supplementation and COVID-19 outcomes has been limited, so the PEN Team reviewed two recent studies on vitamin D and COVID-19 to see what, if anything, has changed.

  Posted: 2021-02-16
  

  • Nutrition Supplement, 
  • Vitamins & Minerals, 
  • COVID-19 
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  USDA Dietary Guidelines

  The 2020-2025 USDA Dietary Guidelines were released on December 29, 2020.

  Posted: 2021-01-12
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  Food Trends in 2021

  During the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the interest in personalized nutrition, a healthy gut and the immune system and related nutrients and supplements increased, as did cooking more.

  Posted: 2021-01-11
  

  • Food, 
  • Diet Trend, 
  • Trends 
• Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods Trending Down But Still High

  Posted: 2020-11-30
  

  • processed foods 
• Could Eating Cabbage and Fermented Vegetables Reduce Severe Outcomes of COVID-19?

  Posted: 2020-11-17
  

  • COVID-19 
• Should I Recommend Vitamin D Supplements to Protect Against COVID-19? Updated November 2020

  Posted: 2020-11-02
  

  • Research, 
  • Vitamins & Minerals, 
  • COVID-19 
• COVID-19 Lockdown Associated with Weight and Dietary Changes Among Adults with Obesity

  Posted: 2020-10-27
  

  • Obesity, 
  • COVID-19 
• Food and Food Packaging and Coronavirus Risk

  Posted: 2020-09-10
  

  • Food 
• Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines on Adult Obesity Released

  Posted: 2020-08-11
  

  • Obesity 
• Taxation of Salt and Foods High in Sodium

  Posted: 2020-07-27
  

  • Sodium, 
  • Taxation 
• COVID-19 Trials and Research We Are Watching

  Posted: 2020-06-10
  

  • COVID-19 
• Immunity, Nutrition and COVID-19

  Posted: 2020-04-01
  

  • Immunity, 
  • COVID-19