PEN eNews 12(2) February 2022
PEN
® eNews is a monthly e-newsletter shared with the global PEN Community and created to help dietitians position themselves as leaders in evidence-based nutrition practice. In addition, users of the PEN System will find articles on the new evidence, resources and features available and how to maximize one's use of PEN.
Calcium/Vitamin D for Children and Young Adults Who Have Long-Term Weight-bearing Limitations: What is the Latest?
The Question
How effective are calcium and vitamin D supplements for children and young adults who have long-term weight-bearing limitations?The Recommendation
Vitamin D supplements may improve bone mineral density (BMD) in some non- or limited weight-bearing populations, such as younger adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) or children with cerebral palsy (CP). Overall, more evidence is necessary to draw clear conclusions about the effect of vitamin D supplementation in individuals who have long-term weight-bearing limitations.
No high quality evidence has examined the effect of calcium supplements alone in non- or limited weight-bearing populations, although children with CP are recommended to consume adequate calcium in order to reduce their risk of osteoporosis. More evidence is necessary to determine the effect of calcium supplements in this population.
To see the full practice question, including the Evidence Summary, Evidence Statements, Remarks and References, click here.
Want to know what else is new and updated? Bookmark these pages:
New Knowledge Pathway Content (Knowledge Pathways, Practice Questions, Summary of Recommendations and Evidence, Practice Guidance Toolkits, Backgrounds)
Tools and Resources.
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The PEN Team
How Up to Date are you on Random Dietitian Questions?
Do you ever find that when you mention to someone that you are a dietitian, that all of sudden they get this intense look in their eye and start asking you food or diet questions? I do, so let’s have some fun. Here are a few questions I have been asked about over the last six months by my friends or people I have recently met. How well would you be able to answer them? Check out the PEN database for more details on the answers following each question.
1. Does chocolate really have health benefits? And is it only dark chocolate?
Yes, dark chocolate does have beneficial effects on blood lipids, inflammation and blood pressure, primarily attributed to the flavonoid content, although studies were of low quality. Per 30 grams, the flavonoid content is highest in cacao beans, then coca, dry powder and then unsweetened baking chocolate.
Chocolate can also have positive impacts on cognitive function and mood.
See Additional Content:
And did you know, white chocolate isn’t really chocolate? It is a mixture of cocoa butter, sugar and sometimes some vanilla. See: What’s the difference between white chocolate and brown chocolate?
2. My doctor just told me that my blood potassium level is low and I need to eat more potassium. I have heard bananas are the best source. Are they?
While bananas are a good source of potassium, they are not the highest. A medium banana provides 422 mg of potassium, but a white potato (941mg), sweet potato (542 mg), 125 mL beet greens (692 mg) and 3 dates (501 mg) provide more. Other good sources of potassium are ½ an avocado (487 mg), a peach (285 mg), 3 figs (279 mg) and 60 mL raisins (275 mg).
See Additional Content:
3. My multiple sclerosis (MS) is progressing and I read on the Internet about a person who was cured after they started following a gluten-free diet when they got MS in their 20s. Should I follow the diet?
When a disease progresses, it is tempting to look for additional ways to stop the progression outside of drug therapy. In individuals who do not show signs of gluten intolerance, the evidence does not demonstrate that a gluten-free diet has any beneficial effect on the progression of MS. Following a diet pattern that is high in fruit and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and healthy fats, and lower in added sugar and saturated fats from red and processed meats and dairy products has been associated with improved outcomes related to disability, relapse rates and quality of life. If, however, symptoms related to gluten sensitivity may be present, testing for celiac disease would be something that the person could discuss with their doctor.
For Additional Content:
4. I seem to have a lot of bloating and gas. Should I try probiotics in it to help alleviate it?
In general, probiotic-containing products, including yogurts, are well tolerated without any significant side-effects. Based on limited evidence with variable results, probiotics have been found to help alleviate some symptoms often associated with constipation, like bloating, cramping and gas, by increasing intestinal motility. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains appear to be the most effective compared to other strains.
See Additional Content:
By Jane Bellman MEd, RD, PEN Resource Manager
PEN® Summary of Recommendations and Evidence: Where Evidence and Practice Guidance Meet
Short on time, but need a quick and comprehensive overview of the evidence on a topic area? The Summary of Recommendations and Evidence (SRE) is your new favourite tool. The SRE organizes all of the questions in a knowledge pathway by topic. It is your one-stop shop to find the key practice points (including recommendations and graded evidence) for the topics covered in the knowledge pathway. The SRE is a stand-alone tool and is mirrored in the Practice Guidance Toolkit.
Here are the latest new or updated Summaries of Recommendations and Evidence:
PEN eNews
February 2022 Volume
12 (2)
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