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Including carbohydrate/fructose-rich foods (predominantly fruit) in the diets of overweight individuals can improve chronic disease risk factors. We hypothesized dried plums (DP) would improve nutrient consumption, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), lipid and adipokine profiles, and would decrease adiposity and inflammation. To test this, we studied the effects of 8-weeks of twice-daily snacking of macronutrient-matched 100 kcal servings of DP or refined carbohydraterich snack (low-fat muffins: LFM) on daily energy and nutrient consumption, and chronic disease risk factors in overweight adults. Body weight/composition, waist circumference, blood pressure, plasma glucose, insulin, c-peptide, lipids, TAC, adipokines and inflammation were measured at baseline and throughout the study. Postprandial glucose and insulin were assessed following assigned test foods at baseline and 8-weeks. Repeated measures ANOVAs were undertaken to examine group and time differences. Post-hoc independent and paired samples t-tests were conducted where necessary. DP increased (P < .05) overall intake of dietary fiber and potassium, and TAC, from baseline to 8-weeks. Baseline postprandial glycemia tended (P = .09) to be lower with DP versus LFM, while both groups had a decreased response after 8-weeks. Postprandial insulinemia was lower (P < .05) for DP at both time-points. No differences in body weight/ composition, blood pressure, or fasting glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, inflammation or adipokines were detected. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) increased (P < .05) throughout the trial following LFM. Overall, DP lessened postprandial insulinemia, improved nutrient consumption and plasma TAC, and maintained plasma LDL-C compared to a macronutrient-matched refined carbohydrate snack, which could decrease chronic disease risk.

Athletes have preferences for the way in which they internalize and process information, whether that is visual, aural, by-doing (kinesthetic), reading or a mixture of preferences. Health professionals that interact with athletes rarely consider the individual learning style prior to any communication or education, despite mounting evidence for the benefits of learning-style tailored education. The aim of this study was to characterize athletes with regards to their preferred learning style. Athletes (n = 93) from 24 sports and various sport achievement levels completed a questionnaire, including the visual (V), auditory (A), reading/writing (R), kinesthetic (K)/(VARK) Questionnaire for Athletes. Questionnaire outcomes were analysed by X 2 analysis on SPSS. The main findings were: (1) very few athletes have a visual learning-style preference; (2) there was a significant relationship between gender and VARK preference (X 2 = 13.84, p = 0.003); (3) and between athletic status and VARK preference (X 2 = 9.2, p = 0.025); (4) there was a trivial association between individual/ team sport athletes and assessed VARK preference (X 2 = 3.95, p = 0.265). Our findings show significant variation in learning-style preference between males and females, and those of different athletic status. Health professionals should be aware of the inadequacy of visual information presentation when working with athletes. Furthermore, health

No abstract

Adipose tissue is a major energy reserve of the human body. It is also a source of the primary adpidocytokines leptin and adiponectin. The expression of adiponectin, specifically high‐molecular weight adiponectin (HMW‐A), and leptin have been demonstrated to decrease and increase, respectively, in relation to an increase in subcutaneous fat. Furthermore, HMW‐A and high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) have been demonstrated to have a reciprocal relationship. Effects of eight weeks of twice daily snacking (100 kcals each) of either a whole food (dried plums) or refined food (low‐fat muffins) on adipokines, body composition and hs‐CRP were assessed. HMW‐A decreased from baseline to eight weeks (p<.05) during the muffin intervention, demonstrating a non‐significant, two‐fold greater decrease than during the dried plum trial. No difference was seen in body weight, body composition, leptin or hs‐CRP. This suggests that the addition of energy through snacking to usual dietary intake, regardless of nutrient composition, may not be advantageous in promoting anthropometric or metabolic alterations in overweight individuals. Grant Funding Source: Supported by the California Dried Plum Board

The effect of different snack foods on fat mass/distribution, glucose and insulin were assessed. Thirty‐five adult men and women (age: 36.5 + 11.4, BMI: 32.8 + 7.1 kg/m2) consumed a whole food (dried plums) or refined (low‐fat muffins) snack twice daily for eight weeks. Test foods provided 100 kcal per feeding and were similar in macronutrients but differed in fiber and other food constituents. Body composition and fat distribution were assessed at zero and eight weeks via bioelectrical impedance analysis, air displacement plethysmography, and dual x‐ray absorptiometry, which were used to estimate total fat mass via a four‐compartment model. Blood was collected at baseline and eight weeks and analyzed for glucose and insulin. Fat mass and android:gynoid fat distribution tended to be lower in the dried plum intervention, (p=.06 and.08, respectively), while no effects on total body weight were detected. Glucose was elevated (p<.05) during the muffin trial with no difference observed for the dried plum trial. No difference was observed for fasting insulin within or between groups. Results demonstrate that dried plums may be advantageous at promoting positive alterations in body composition and glycemia. Grant Funding Source: Supported by the California Dried Plum Board

Dietary intake is an important modifiable risk factor for the metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and overweight. Dried plums are nutrient‐dense and promote modest acute glycemic and insulinemic responses, which are considered favorable for these populations. Twenty‐one adults meeting the criteria for the metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, or clinical overweight consumed a whole food (dried plums;n=11) or refined (low‐fat muffins;n=10) snack, twice daily for eight weeks. Snacks provided 100 kcal/feeding and were similar in macronutrients but differed in fiber and other constituents. Intake was assessed via multiple 24‐hour food recalls obtained prior to and during the test food intervention. Dried plum consumers ingested greater (p<0.05) daily amounts of potassium, copper, and magnesium during the intervention period than pre‐intervention, whereas muffin eaters exhibited no significant differences in those nutrients but increased thiamin, riboflavin and iron intake. The muffin group consumed more energy during the intervention period than pre‐intervention (p<0.05, 95% CI∆ 61 to 762). Results suggest that proper snack selection is a viable avenue for improving dietary intake in the populations studied. Grant Funding Source: Supported by the California Dried Plum Board

The effects of a whole food (dried plums; DP) or refined (low‐fat muffins; LFM) snack on satiety and insulin responses following consumption were assessed before and after a snack intervention trial. Forty overweight men and women (age: 36.5 + 11.4, BMI: 32.8 + 7.1 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to consume isocaloric, macronutrient‐matched 100 kcal snacks twice per day of DP or LFM for 8‐weeks. At baseline and 8 weeks, fasted subjects consumed 238 kcal of their randomly assigned food, and blood samples were collected at baseline, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min following intake. Insulin was lower (p蠄0.05) and an earlier peak was observed in DP versus LFM at baseline and 8 weeks. Both groups exhibited lower plasma glucose during the acute response testing after 8 weeks, but glucose peaked earlier in DP than LFM. There were no significant differences in ghrelin concentration over time in either group. These results support the concept that consuming a whole food snack such as dried plums enhances insulin sensitivity as compared to an isocaloric refined snack food, as evidenced by lower insulin concentrations and an earlier peak in insulin and glucose in DP compared to LFM. Grant Funding Source: Supported by the California Dried Plum Board