In recent years, ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) has become a common breakfast option in Canada and worldwide. This study used the nationally representative cross-sectional data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2015-Nutrition to determine patterns of RTEC consumption in Canada and the contribution to nutrient intake among Canadians who were ≥2 years, of whom 22 ± 0.6% consumed RTEC on any given day. The prevalence of RTEC consumption was highest in children aged two to 12 years (37.6 ± 1.2%), followed by adolescents aged 13 to 18 years (28.8 ± 1.4%), and then by adults ≥19 years (18.9 ± 0.6%). RTEC consumers had higher intakes of “nutrients to encourage” compared to the RTEC non-consumers. More than 15% of the daily intake of some nutrients, such as folic acid, iron, thiamin, and vitamin B6, were contributed by RTEC. It was noted that nearly 66% of milk consumption was co-consumed with RTEC among RTEC consumers. The nutrient density of the diet, as defined by Nutrient-Rich Food Index (NRF 9.3), was significantly higher among RTEC consumers compared to non-consumers. RTEC consumption was not associated with overweight/obesity. RTEC consumption considerably contributed to the intake of some key nutrients among all age groups in Canada.
The current study utilizes a nationally representative nutrition survey data (Canadian Community Health Survey 2015, nutrition component, n = 20,487) in order to evaluate patterns of yogurt consumption among Canadians. Overall, 20% of Canadians have reportedly consumed yogurt on a given day in 2015. Higher prevalence of yogurt consumption was noted among children aged 2–5 years old (47%) when compared to adults aged 19–54 years (18%). When the prevalence of yogurt consumption at the regional level in Canada was assessed, Quebec had the most consumers of yogurt (25%) compared to other regions, namely the Atlantic (19%), Ontario (18%), Prairies (19%) and British Columbia (20%). Yogurt consumers reported consuming higher daily intakes of several key nutrients including carbohydrates, fibre, riboflavin, vitamin C, folate, vitamin D, potassium, iron, magnesium, and calcium when compared to yogurt non-consumers. Additionally, the diet quality, measured using NRF 9.3 scoring method, was higher among yogurt consumers compared to non-consumers. Nearly 36% of Canadians who meet the dietary guidelines for milk and alternative servings from the Food Guide Canada (2007) reported consuming yogurt. Lastly, no significant difference in BMI was noted among yogurt consumers and non-consumers. Overall, yogurt consumers had a higher intake of key nutrients and had a better diet quality.
Vitamin/mineral supplements are used for improving micronutrient intake and preventing deficiencies, particularly for shortfall nutrients. We assessed the prevalence of vitamin/mineral supplement use and associated factors among a representative sample of Canadians aged ≥1 y. We used nationally representative data from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)-Nutrition. The prevalence of vitamin/mineral supplement use containing shortfall nutrients (Vitamins: A, C, D, B6, B12 and folate; Minerals: calcium, magnesium, and zinc) was examined in this study. Logistic regression models were performed to determine factors associated with vitamin/mineral supplement use among Canadian children (1-18 years) and adults (>19 years). The overall prevalence of vitamin/mineral supplement use was 38% among men and 53% among women. Males aged 14-18 years had the lowest prevalence (26.5%; 95% CI = 21.9-31.0) and females aged ≥71 years had the highest prevalence (67.8%; 95% CI = 64.1-71.5) of vitamin/mineral supplement use. Female gender, older age, higher education level, higher income, living in urban areas, having chronic conditions, having a normal body mass index (BMI), and being non-smoker were independent positive predictors of vitamin/mineral supplement use among adults. Independent positive predictors of vitamin/mineral supplement use among Canadian children included younger age, having a normal BMI, and being food secure. Novelty bullets • The overall prevalence of vitamin/mineral supplement use among Canadian men and women was 38% and 53%, respectively. • Sociodemographic and lifestyle variables were associated with vitamin/mineral supplement use, especially among Canadian adults.
Food insecurity is a significant public health problem for Indigenous peoples in Canada. A comprehensive literature review is needed to organize the evidence according to the four pillars of food security (i.e., availability, access, utilization, and stability) and identify gaps in the published literature on this topic. Therefore, this scoping review aims to summarize the published research discussing any of the four pillars of food security among Indigenous peoples in Canada. A literature search of the databases: Ovid Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science (Web of Knowledge), and CINAHL as well as Indigenous Studies Portal (up to June 19, 2021) was conducted. Population-based studies of any design were included, except for review-style articles. Articles published in other languages besides English were also excluded. Of the 4687 studies identified by the database searches, 91 met our inclusion criteria. Evidence indicates that all dimensions of food security among Indigenous peoples in Canada have been impacted. Lack of availability of both traditional and market foods is highlighted among Inuit and First Nations communities. Economic disadvantages, high food prices, and lack of access to transportation are major factors affecting the accessibility pillar of food security. Major factors affecting the utilization pillar of food security are the loss of traditional knowledge and skills, lack of knowledge on market foods, low quality of market foods, and food safety issues. Climate change has affected all four pillars of food security among Indigenous peoples. These findings suggest that resolving food insecurity issues among Indigenous peoples in Canada, especially those living in remote communities, requires a culturally specific integrated approach targeting food availability, food cost, food knowledge, food safety, and food quality.
In Canada, unhealthy diets are associated with several chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity, and thus negatively impact the health and well-being of Canadians. Consequently, unhealthy diets are associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in Canada. Recently, plant-based diets have gained in popularity due to their ability to provide a diet that is nutritionally adequate and health-conscious in addition to supporting environmental sustainability. The adoption of plant-based diets may address the substantial need to improve the health and well-being of Canadians, while also having a positive global environmental impact such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of this scoping review was to identify current knowledge on the nutritional adequacy of plant-based diets and their relation with chronic conditions to support improved health and well-being of Canadians while identifying gaps in knowledge. Canadian peer-reviewed literature on diet, nutritional quality, and chronic conditions published between the years 2010 and 2020 were systematically examined. Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria, with the majority pertaining to the relation between animal- or plant-based nutrition and cancer. Epidemiological studies support the practice of plant-based diets, in comparison to omnivore diets, as a strategy to improve nutritional adequacy and reduce the development of chronic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and select cancers such as endometrial, colorectal, and breast cancers. Overall, plant-based diets offer an opportunity to improve the health and well-being of Canadians while simultaneously working to counteract climate change, which may have a global reach. Gaps in knowledge were identified and mainly pertained to the lack of valid Canadian quantitative assessments of the long-term health impacts of plant-based diets. Further research should be completed to quantify the long-term health effects of the practice of a plant-based diet across all demographics of the Canadian population.
Maternal vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is a widespread public health concern. Race and ethnicity as biological and cultural factors, respectively, can affect vitamin D status through differences in skin color, sunlight exposure, and dietary intake. Low maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy may affect both mother and fetus adversely. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are linked to a wide variety of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery. Furthermore, maternal vitamin D deficiency has been linked to several adverse health outcomes in infants and children. The examples include, but not limited to, impaired growth, skeletal problems, and autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and asthma. This chapter reviews the vitamin D status during pregnancy across different ethnic groups, looking into the adverse pregnancy and child outcomes, followed by a discussion on the association between maternal and child vitamin D status and successful interventions. Strong evidence exists about the association between vitamin D and some health outcomes during pregnancy, while more studies are needed to confirm the other claim. The existing body of evidence justifies the need for well-designed policies and systematic interventions to ensure optimal vitamin D status of pregnant women and their offsprings across different ethnic and racial groups.
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