Menu
Log in


News

<< First  < Prev   1   2   Next >  Last >> 
  • 9 Nov 2022 1:28 PM | Matheus Abrantes (Administrator)


    At the 9th International Summit on Nutrition and Health, we will announce the IANE Awards Scheme awardees, recognising faculty, professional, and student members for their excellence and continued engagement. with the IANE community and member platform in the following categories:


    Outstanding Achievement Award

    Self-nominated or nominated by the IANE faculty and mentors panel

    Eligibility Criteria

    • Impact in and outstanding contribution to nutrition education of health professionals and the community, or to the development of curriculum and/or policy for the nutrition education of health professionals
    • Examples of ongoing initiatives in the nutrition education and public health domain

    Documents needed to apply

    • Application must be accompanied by at least 2 reference letters
    • Cover letter addressing the criteria
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • List of publications and/or  external impacts (e.g. mass media articles and other material showing evidence of reach and impact is desirable)


    IANE Fellowship

    Self-nominated or nominated by the IANE faculty and mentors panel

    Eligibility Criteria (must meet at least one of the following requirements)

    • Seniority and outstanding service to the profession, as a leader, role model or mentor
    • Impact in and outstanding contribution to and promotion of nutrition education
    • Recognised as an expert in field/s of nutrition
    • Attributes of an advanced practitioner
    • Actively participated in the work of NNEdPro/IANE
    • Has been a member of the NNEdPro/IANE for the five years prior to nomination.

    Documents needed to apply

    • Accompanied by 2 reference letters
    • A cover letter addressing the criteria
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • List of publications e.g. articles in peer-reviewed journals, reports, mass media articles and other material showing evidence of reach and impact is desirable.


    Associate Member of the Year

    Nominated by the IANE faculty and mentors panel; awarded to a member of the Academy who has demonstrated commitment to nutrition education and education of health professionals.

    Eligibility Criteria

    • Has been a member of IANE for at least 2 years
    • Demonstrated commitment to nutrition education and education of health professionals AND
    • Active participation in IANE (e.g. attended all journal clubs, contributed to a journal club(s) or newsletter)


    Professional Member of the Year

    Nominated by the IANE faculty and mentors panel; awarded to a member of the Academy who has demonstrated commitment to nutrition education and education of health professionals.

    Eligibility Criteria

    • Has been a member of IANE for at least 3 years
    • Demonstrated commitment and contribution to nutrition education and education of health professionals AND
    • Active participation in IANE (e.g. attended all journal clubs, contributed to a journal club(s) or newsletter)


    Faculty Member of the Year

    Nominated by the IANE faculty and mentors panel; awarded to a member of the Academy who has demonstrated commitment to nutrition education and education of health professionals.

    Eligibility Criteria 

    • Contribution to one or more IANE Webinars and Journal Clubs
    • Have actively participated as a mentor as part of the IANE Faculty Mentors Panel
    • Sustained excellence and impact


    Student Member of the Year 

    Nominated by the IANE faculty and mentors panel; awarded to a member of the Academy who has demonstrated commitment to nutrition education and education of health professionals.

    Eligibility Criteria

    • Has been a member of IANE for at least 1 year
    • Demonstrated commitment to nutrition research and education of health professionals AND
    • Active participation in IANE (e.g. attended all journal clubs, contributed to a journal club(s) or newsletter)


    Paper of the Year

    Nominated by the IANE Faculty with BMJ Nutrition Prevention and Health editors

    Eligibility Criteria 

    • Has been published in the previous 12 months
    • Multiple citations
    • Shows originality and innovation
    • Well-written - Cohesion and overall presentation
    • Of significance to the research/practice/policy community
    • Evidence of impact – i.e. social reach, AND/OR contributes towards policy outcomes (e.g. mass media and social media metrics)


    Applications close on 17th June 2023

    Please note that to apply, all required documents should be sent to info@iane.online with the subject line "IANE Awards 2023 Applicant". 

    For queries, you can send us an email at info@iane.online with the subject line ''IANE Awards 2023”.


  • 31 Aug 2022 11:47 AM | Deleted user


    Acknowledgement

    Special thank you to the Organising Committee of the 8th International Summit on Nutrition and Health. Huge thank you to our Summit Co-Leads Dominic Crocombe and Prof Sumantra Ray, strategic partners and sponsors, distinguished guests, speakers, and attendees. This event would not have been possible without all of you.

    At this year’s International Summit on Nutrition and Health, organised by the NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health (NNEdPro) and the International Academy of Nutrition Educators (IANE) in partnership with BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, selected IANE members were honoured in recognition of their dedication and outstanding contributions to nutrition research, advocacy and education of health professionals, as well as sustained participation in the Academy. Our heartiest congratulations to the 2022 IANE Awards recipients and we look forward to your continued participation as members of the Academy.


    International Academy of Nutrition Educators 2022 Awards


    ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE YEAR

    Tecla Coleman

    “I’m honored to be recognized and equally honored to be part of such an impactful organization!”


    ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE YEAR

    Jaroslav Guzanic

    “I am extremely honored to be receiving such a great 2022 IANE Associate Member of the Year Award and I am earnestly grateful for the recognition I have received for my work…”


    PROFESSIONAL MEMBER OF THE YEAR

    Dr Luciana Diniz Silva

    “My Brazilian mission is to educate health professionals in the field of nutrition based on the public university tripod: teaching - research - extension." 


    FACULTY MEMBER OF THE YEAR

    Shane McAuliffe

    “I am thrilled to accept the IANE Faculty Member of the Year Award for 2022. May this year, which marked the 2 year anniversary of our educational offerings in the webinar and journal club series and we now have a rich portal of high quality content for our members, which we look forward to reflecting on and sharing insights in the remainder of the year.”


    PAPER OF THE YEAR: 1st PLACE

    Sidrah Nausheen et al.

    Impact evaluation of the efficacy of different doses of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on pregnancy and birth outcomes: a randomised, controlled, dose comparison trial in Pakistan

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000304


    PAPER OF THE YEAR: RUNNER-UP

    Anne Katrine Ebitu et al.

    The banana project: a qualitative study of caregivers’ and teachers’ experiences of preschool children participating in a free banana school fruit scheme in rural Tanzania

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000403


    PAPER OF THE YEAR: 2nd RUNNER-UP

    Benjamin Horne et al.

    Association of periodic fasting with lower severity of COVID-19 outcomes in the SARS-CoV-2 prevaccine era: an observational cohort from the INSPIRE registry

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2022-000462


    Thank you to our panellist Martin Kohlmeier, MD, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health

    https://nutrition.bmj.com/


    IANE FELLOWSHIP

    Professor Lauren Ball

    “Thank you very much for the privilege of being recognized for my work through fellowship with IANE, specifically thank you Shumone, Bree, Suzanne, Sucheta, and Pauline. It is really nice timing given that it's been 10 years since I first joined the NNEdPro family. I hope that there's at least another 10 years that lays ahead particularly as I take up the role of the chair of IANE Steering Committee. I'm sure we can all agree that NNEdPro has reached heights beyond what any of us could have imagined and the sky is still the limit as we all work together to improve nutrition and health for the benefit of all. ”


    IANE FELLOWSHIP

    Dr Celia Laur


    “I'm pleased to accept the award for the IANE Fellowship. It's always great to be working with NNEdPro. I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge the full team and everybody that is always involved in the work we do. Looking forward to many opportunities to come.”


    OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

    Andy Burman

    “Dear colleagues, I'm delighted to receive the Outstanding Achievement Award this year. The Academy's work is vital, and beeing involved in nutrition and dietetic education for nearly 20 years, I feel very close to the subject and also passionate that the quality of education and nutrition training available to healthcare professionals and more widely need to be at the highest quality. The work of the Academy is crucial, and I'm overwhelmed by the fact that you have granted this award to me this year. Thank you!”


    Dr Isobel Contento

    “I am extremely honored to be presented with this award. I admire your work and your international reputation for doing great education about nutrition and health. I am so pleased that SNEB is in a partnership with you. I was on the SNEB Board of Directors when the arrangements were made. I accept this award with gratitude. It has been an honor to work in the field of nutrition education and to see it change and grow!”


    Thank you to the IANE Awards Panel

              Sucheta Mitra

              Prof Suzanne Piscopo

              Prof Sumantra Ray

              Prof Lauren Ball

              Pauline Douglas RD

              Breanna Lepre APD

  • 11 Feb 2022 2:09 PM | Deleted user


    1. Make sure you are signed in to your IANE account  



    2. Visit the IANE upcoming events page: https://iane.online/events 



    3. Select the event you would like to register to 

    4. Click on REGISTER 



    5. You are now registered and will shortly receive a confirmation by email  

    That’s it! Enjoy valuable information, ask questions, and connect with like-minded people from around the world. 


  • 23 Dec 2021 7:53 PM | Kai Sento Kargbo

    Written by Sento Kai Kargbo

    Acknowledgements: A sincere thank you to our host, Shane McAuliffe, and presenters for their time and insights and to the NNEdPro ANZ network for their continued efforts in promoting nutrition education among health professionals in line with the NNEdPro mission.

    Webinar Presenters: Dr. Tracy McCaffrey, Breanna Lepre, and Dr Crowley

    For our final workshop of the 2021 webinar series, NNEdPro and IANE members, including members from our regional networks, convened to learn more about health communications in the social media era and the work of the NNEdPro ANZ regional network in medical nutrition education. This blog summarises the proceedings from the webinar session, including current research and key themes. 

    Our first presentation of the evening by Dr. Tracy McCaffrey covered the topic of health communications in the social media/online era. Whilst bringing together people from across the world to share ideas and cultures and improving communication in a number of ways, social media platforms present a host of challenges for nutrition and health professionals in communicating health. This is especially true of the wave of misinformation and disinformation we have witnessed so far during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, person-centred care, a guiding principle in health promotion, is difficult to achieve online mostly due to the competing voices on social media from health professionals and so-called influencers with quick fixes and solutions to the nutrition and health concerns individuals face. For this reason, it is important that health professionals adopt a communications strategy tailored to online/social media platforms in order to ensure reach whilst maintaining clear, consistent, and accurate messaging. As such researchers from Monash University in Australia formulated a health communication toolkit for improved nutrition and health education online via social media platforms.


    Image 1. Health Communication Toolkit sourced from Monash University website. 

    There are six (6) steps involved in planning health communications online;

    • Set goals
    • Assess
    • Understand your audience
    • Refine objectives
    • Strategy
    • Evaluate
    A key aspect of communicating online, like other means of communication, is knowing and understanding your audience. Dr McCaffrey emphasised the need to learn the language of your target audience to better understand what is important to them and find messages that can motivate and inspire. In the end of her presentation, Dr McCaffrey shared key tips in communicating health via social media;
    • Choose social media platform already used by audience.  
    • Quality social media content takes skills and time.
    • Body dissatisfaction in triggered by social media.
    • Strategies promoting successful engagement vary.
    • Understand attitudes and behaviours.
    • Use a positive tone of voice.
    • Show your credentials and be authentic.
    • 8.   Having engaged followers matter more than total numbers.

    Our next presenters, Breanna Lepre and Dr Crowley discussed medical nutrition education, referencing case studies  and lessons learned from ongoing research in Australia and New Zealand. Breanna Lepre presented key findings from ongoing PhD research which is broadly focused on developing a competency framework towards improving nutrition education in medicine. Results from 22 semi-structured interviews conducted online with a cohort of UK and Australian doctors indicate that the frequency of nutrition advice provided by medical professionals vary considerably from one doctor to the other. Although participants recognised the importance of nutrition care, they understand that they are ill-equipped in nutrition-related knowledge and skills but also in relation to the systems that might support integrated care.

    In conclusion, nutrition education remains insufficiently incorporated in medical training globally. A key barrier to nutrition care in medical practice is insufficient nutrition-related knowledge and skills among medical professionals. Insufficient consultation time is also reported to impact the quality of nutrition care provided to patients. As such, concerted efforts are required at the level of the individual and institution in order to address the need for improved nutrition care in medical settings for better health outcomes.


    References

    Lepre B, Crowley J, Mpe D, Bhoopatkar H, Mansfield KJ, Wall C, Beck EJ. Australian and New Zealand Medical Students’ Attitudes and Confidence towards Providing Nutrition Care in Practice. Nutrients. 2020; 12(3):598.

    Lepre B, Mansfield KJ, Ray S, Beck EJ. Nutrition Competencies For Medicine: An integrative Review and Critical Synthesis. BMJ Open. 2021;11:e043066. Doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043066.

    Lepre B, Mansfield KJ, Ray S, Beck EJ. Reference to Nutrition in Medical Accreditation and Curriculum Guidance: A Comparative Analysis. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health. 2021;bmjnph-2021-000234. Doi:10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000234.

    Lepre B, Mansfield KJ, Beck EJ. Stakeholder engagement in competency framework development in health professions: A systematic review. Frontiers in Medicine. 2021;8:759848.



  • 13 Oct 2021 3:11 PM | Kai Sento Kargbo

    • Written By Sento Kai Kargbo

      Edited by Shane McAuliffe

       

      Acknowledgements: A sincere thank you to the panel and presenters for their time and insights, and to the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for their support in the production of this webinar session.  

      Webinar Presenters

      Helena Trigueiro, Dr. Minha Rajput-Ray, Alan Flanagan and Prof Sumantra Ray

      Journal Club Presenters and Panel

      Shane McAuliffe, Alan Flanagan, Prof Sumantra Ray, Helena Trigueiro and Dr. Minha Rajput-Ray

       

      Webinar Summary

      In June of this year, IANE and NNEdPro members gathered yet again for another session of our webinar series, on “Workplace Wellbeing – Diet, Mind, Movement, Sleep”, which, as the name implies, focused on health and wellbeing initiatives at work, especially with regard to dietary patterns of workers, movement and/or physical activity, and sleep. This blog aims to summarise key themes from the session, including main take-home points.

      Recordings of past webinar and journal clubs can be found on the IANE portal.

      As guests in attendance, we were welcomed to yet another webinar session by Shane McAuliffe, Science Communications Lead at NNEdPro, followed by an introduction of the evening’s line-up of presenters.

      We first heard from Prof Sumantra Ray, NNEdPro Executive Director and Founding Chair, on the importance of wellbeing initiatives at work and the role of employers in health promotion. As part of his presentation, Prof Ray discussed the findings from the ‘Wellbeing at Work” survey conducted pre-COVID by Nuffield Health. Researchers found that one-third of workers were more likely to go to work ill, primarily due to job security and the economic downturn. Further, only 18% of the UK population reported experiencing a high level of wellbeing (“flourishing”) – an already dire situation that has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the workplace remains an optimal setting for health promotion, where employers are well placed to make significant differences in health behaviour such as regular health checks, taking breaks, nutritional advice, and increased physical activity.

       

      Image 1. Infographic summarising key findings from the Nuffield Health “Wellbeing at Work” Survey.


    • On Food, Hydration, and Nutritional Supplements

    • Poor diet quality can comprise immune function. A study by Kim H. et al (2021), recently published in BMJ NPH, found that plant-based diets and pescatarian diets are linked with less severe COVID-19 illness. This study included frontline workers from 6 high-income countries (Germany, France, USA, Italy, Spain, and UK). Plant-based diets or pescatarian diets had 73% and 59% lower odds of severe COVID-19 infection.

    • Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are required in small quantities but are critical for metabolism and supporting optimal immune function.

    • Our total body mass is >70% of water, and therefore, proper hydration is essential for improved health and wellbeing. Recommended minimum water intake (2-2.5L).

    • A variety of physical, mental, and social factors overlap and interact to provide an overall effect on health and wellbeing which in turn impacts productivity. A productive society requires healthy workers!

    • In the second presentation of the evening, Helena Trigueiro (Global Lead for Regional Networks at NNEdPro) discussed findings from a web-based survey on global nutrition challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey participants were clinicians and researchers (n=30) across 5 continents – Africa, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Europe.

      Key findings include:

    • Commonly cited government actions were support for hand sanitation (53.3%), assistance to school-aged children (46.7%) and direct food provision (43.3%).

    • 50% of respondents perceived community actions and mutual aid as important aspects in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    • Only 16.7% of respondents mentioned remote delivery of nutrition services in primary care.

    • Diet and physical activity, whilst crucial for improved health, are only a part of the story. Mindfulness and sleep patterns are also important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, especially in the context of COVID-19. Our sleep patterns have been shown to influence our eating patterns as well as mental health. The role of community and social connections in wellbeing was also brought up. Commensality is an important factor in understanding dietary patterns and practice, and therefore, must be taken into consideration when designing interventions that target health behaviour.

      In closing, Dr. Minha Rajput-Ray (Medical Director at NNEdPro and Scientific Chair for OSHA) shared her reflections on occupational health and wellbeing in the context of COVID-19, especially post-pandemic recovery.

       

      Key Take-Home Points

    • We must use the best available evidence to inform diet/’healthy-eating’ practices and advice that is suited to the context (context-specific).

    • Be mindful of your food intake. Abundant consumption of plant foods (fruits, vegetables, unrefined cereals, fresh and dried legumes, nuts and seeds) is essential for health.

    • Consistent sleep routines are also an important aspect of mindfulness, health and wellbeing, especially in the context of COVID-19. Sleep patterns have been shown to interact with dietary patterns.  

    • Physical activity and/or movement should be done in the way that makes you feel better.

    • Community and social connections are also crucial aspects of mindfulness and healthy living.  

    • Workplace is one of the best settings for health promotion, therefore employers are well placed to make significant differences in health behaviour change such as regular health checks, taking breaks, nutritional advice, and increased physical activity.


    • Journal Club Summary

    • Following introductions and brief summary of the circadian (‘sleep/wake’) rhythm by Shane McAuliffe, our presenter for the evening, Alan Flanagan introduced the topic of – “Chrono-nutrition” which is defined as the interaction between biological rhythms and nutrition, along with the relationship between these factors and human health. Mr. Flanagan proceeded to distinguish between intermittent fasting (IF) and time restricted feeding (TRF) and led a critical analysis session on a recently published paper on a human trial of TRF.

       

      Image 2. Difference between intermittent fasting (IF) and time-restricted feeding (TRF), including the types of TRF.


    • The Paper (Lowe et al., 2020): 12-Week free-living intervention comparing conventional eating window or ‘continuous meal timing’ (CMT) and time restricted eating (TRE) among men and women aged 16-84 years. The intervention was delivered through a mobile app and study participants were provided with a scale to weekly weigh-ins. Participants also received daily prompting via SMS messages. The primary outcome measured was weight loss.

    • Summary of findings:

    • Overall, the TRE group experienced a weight loss of 0.94 kg (95%CI: -1.68kg to -0.20kg) higher than CMT group at 0.68kg (95%CI: -1.41kg to -0.05kg).

    • Level of adherence was higher among the CMT group.

    • Strengths and Limitations:

    • This study included a larger sample size than previous TRE studies. Study included metabolic testing in 50% of total sample and robust measures of body composition. However, there was a lack vital data. Dietary intake and actual timing of meals timing was not performed. Differences in daily prompting (“gain-framed” vs “loss-framed” messaging) were not accounted for and compliance data was not presented.

       

      Key take home points

    • Chrono-nutrition focuses on behaviour as opposed to prescriptive dieting with the potential for improved metabolic health outcomes.

    • Earlier research in chrono-nutrition were in animal studies, which tends to be problematic. Human diets and eating patterns are more complex and therefore we should proceed with caution when interpreting findings and/or referring to human populations.

    • It is difficult to draw concrete conclusions from this study given the absence of important data points such as meal timing in the CMT group, the composition of the participants diets and issues with adherence.

    • Further research is needed to account for these factors, as well as considering the effects of health messaging on behaviours and the applicability to specific groups, such as those with diabetes or cardiovascular disease and specific occupational factors (work patterns, break schedules etc.).


    The next IANE Journal Club will be held on October 27th, 2021. For more details or to register, visit our Events page.  


    References

    Fallon, E., McAuliffe, S., and Ray, S. (2020). Combatting COVID-19: A 10-point summary on diet, nutrition and the role of micronutrients. NNEdPro Blog [online]. https://www.nnedpro.org.uk/post/combatting-covid-19

    Kim H., Rebholz C.M., Hegde S., LaFiura, C., Raghavan, M., Lloyd, J.F., Cheng, S., and Seidelmann, S.B. (2021). Plant-based diets, pescatarian diets and COVID-19 severity: a population-based case–control study in six countries. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health; 4. DOI: 10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000272

    Lowe DA, Wu N, Rohdin-Bibby L, et al. Effects of Time-Restricted Eating on Weight Loss and Other Metabolic Parameters in Women and Men With Overweight and Obesity: The TREAT Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180(11):1491–1499. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.4153

  • 11 Aug 2021 11:35 PM | Kai Sento Kargbo


    Acknowledgement

    Special thank you to the Organising Committee of the 7th International Summit on Nutrition and Health. Huge thank you to our Summit Co-Leads Marjorie Lima do Vale and Prof Sumantra Ray, strategic partners and sponsors, distinguished guests, speakers, and attendees. This event would not have been possible without all of you. 

     

    At this year’s International Summit on Nutrition and Health, organised by the NNEdPro Global Centre (NNEdPro) and International Academy of Nutrition Educators (IANE) in partnership with BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, selected IANE members were honoured in recognition of their dedication and outstanding contributions to nutrition research, advocacy and education of health professionals, as well as sustained participation in the Academy. Our heartiest congratulations to the 2021 IANE Awards recipients and we look forward to your continued participation as members of the Academy.

     

    Associate Member of the Year Award

    Pedro Alves de Castro


    Pedro Alves de Castro is a third-year medical student at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) in Brazil and serves as an associate academic member of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology (BSN). At NNEdPro, he co-leads the Brazil Regional Network and is a member of the COVID-19 Taskforce. He is currently part of research team investigating the impact of an interdisciplinary approach (nutrition, physical activity, psychological and psychiatry evaluation) on the quality of life of patients with hepatitis B/C at the Department of Internal Medicine at UFMG.

     

    Professional Member of the Year Award

    Dr Ahlam El Shikieri


    Dr Ahlam El Shikieri is a registered Consultant Nutritionist, certified Public Health Nutritionist (cPHN), and Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Nutrition at Taibah University in Saudi Arabia. Dr El Shikieri is the International Project Chair of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and recipient of the Outstanding Dietitian of the Year Award (2020) by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

     

    Faculty Member of the Year Awards

    Shane McAuliffe, RD


    Shane McAuliffe holds a BSc in Nutritional Sciences and MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics. He is a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) with the Association for Nutrition and Registered Dietitian currently holding a Band 5 position with the National Health Service (NHS). At NNEdPro, Shane McAuliffe is the Science & Digital Communications Lead and hosts our monthly ‘Virtual Journal Club,’ which provides a platform for discussion and critical appraisal of topical research for NNEdPro and IANE members.

    Prof Martin Kohlmeier


    Prof Martin Kohlmeier is a Professor of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill, President of the International Symposium of Neural Networks and Editor in Chief of BMJ Nutrition Prevention and Health (BMJ NPH). This year, Prof Kohlmeier became an Inaugural IANE Fellow as well as an esteemed Fellow of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) in recognition of his distinguished career and contributions to the field of nutrition. His research interests include precision nutrition, nutrient metabolism, and nutrigenomics.


    Outstanding Achievement Awards (w/ Honorary Fellowship)  

    Caroline Bovey, BEM, RD


    Caroline Bovey is Chair of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) and a Public Health Dietitian with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in South Wales. She has over 10 years of experience working as a Dietitian and her team forms part of the All Wales Nutrition Skills for Life programme. Throughout her career, Caroline Bovey has acted as a local Trade Union Representative and more recently, as chair of the Wales Employment Relations Committee and a member of the Trade Union Board.

    Dr Margaret Ashwell, OBE, DSc, FAfN, RNutr (Public Health)


    Dr Margaret Ashwell, OBE is the President of the Association for Nutrition (AfN), Founder and Chair of Self Employed Nutritionist’s Support and Enlightenment (SENSE), and Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow  at City’s Business School, University of London. Dr Ashwell is a key advocate for advancing standards of evidence-based practice across the field of nutrition.


    Paper of the Year


    Unwin D,  Khalid AA,  Unwin J, et al. (2021). Insights from a general practice service evaluation supporting a lower carbohydrate diet in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes: a secondary analysis of routine clinic data including HbA1c, weight and prescribing over 6 years. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention &Health 2020;3:doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000072


    IANE Steering Committee Members on

    The 2021 Roll of Honour




    Melissa AdamskiSteering Committee Chair

    Sento Kai KargboNewsletter Coordinator

    Sucheta MitraMembership Officer

    Breanna LepreMember Engagement Coordinator

    James BradfieldAdvisor (Faculty and Mentors Panel)

    Matheus AbrantesAdvisor (NNEdPro)

    Rachel DaegerAdvisor (Society for Nutrition Education and Behaviour)

     

    Prepared by

    Sento Kai Kargbo

    NNEdPro Research Assistant and Communications Officer

    IANE Steering Committee Member

     

     

     

     

     


  • 29 May 2021 2:57 PM | Kai Sento Kargbo



    By Kai Sento Kargbo

    Acknowledgements: A sincere thank you to the panel and presenters for their time and insights, and to the Cambridge One Health Society for co-facilitating the production of this webinar session.  

    Webinar Presenters

    Professor Sumantra Ray, James Bradfield, Helena Trigueiro and Dr Kathy Martyn

    Journal Club Presenters and Panel

    Shane McAuliffe, Prof Sumantra Ray, Dr Kathy Martyn, James Bradfield and Helena Trigueiro

    In March, our members got together virtually for the second webinar and linked journal club on "Diet and Climate Change" which explored the synergistic relationship between diet sustainability and climate change. The aim of this blog is to summarise the key themes from the sessions, including main take-home points. However, the recordings of both the webinar and journal club sessions can be found on the IANE portal. 

    Webinar Summary

    Following introductions by Shane McAuliffe, Science Communications Lead at NNEdPro, Professor Sumantra Ray, our first speaker of the evening, presented on “Research-Based Perspectives: from policy to practice”, referencing the award-winning Bhavishya Shakti Mobile Teaching Kitchen initiative, in Kolkata, India. In his presentation, Professor Ray recognises the need for multi-sectoral actions by the public sector, private sector, and government in developing context-specific solutions to the issues surrounding food, sustainability, and climate change.    

    Our next presenter, James Bradfield, discussed his editorial on the effectiveness of global dietary change as a strategy to mitigate climate change and its effects (Bradfield et al. 2020), published last year in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health. The main arguments in this article include;

    • Global greenhouse emissions were at an all-time high in 2020, prior to COVID-19 lockdown measures, with food production accounting for 26% of all emissions.
    • According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a third of food produced for human consumption is wasted.
    • A multidisciplinary and multifactorial approach is needed to implement changes and address the issues surrounding climate change and diet sustainability.
    • At the individual level, promoting plant-based diets bearing in mind affordability, nutritional adequacy and cultural preferences.    

    This was followed by Helena Trigueiro’s presentation, “Food, Sustainability and Health: what can we do?” on the role of individuals, industry, and government in addressing the “global syndemic” –  a triangle with obesity, climate change, and undernutrition – all of which have effects on human health and the natural systems they depend upon. Lastly, we heard from Dr. Kathy Martyn who advocated for an assessment of food production and food systems at the local/national level. 

    Journal Club Summary 

    The journal club session was kicked off by Professor Sumantra Ray with a summary of the proceedings from the 24-hour Global Digital Marathon by the FAO and Future Food Institute, in celebration of the 54th Earth Day. The online event comprised of 24 multi-sectoral dialogues from leaders and experts around the world on the issues linking food, sustainability and health. Key arguments from the event include;

    • Healthy (and productive) populations are key to socioeconomic development and prosperity, emphasising the link between food systems, population health and development.
    • High costs associated with the double burden of malnutrition, owing partly to the focus on curative rather than preventive health measures.
    • The need for effective communication and implementation strategies, beyond model building, toward achieving impact at the individual and policy level.  
    Our second speaker, Shane McAuliffe, provided an extensive overview of a modelling study, “The healthiness and sustainability of national and global food based dietary guidelines: modelling study” by Springmann et al. 2020. Key findings from this study include:
    • Dietary changes towards national Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) are associated with improved health outcomes, especially with regards to diet-related non-communicable diseases.
    • Currently, over 50% of countries do not have national FBDGs.
    • Some FBDGs were associated with moderate reductions in environmental impact, whereas most were incompatible with a set of environmental targets.

    Our third and final speaker of the evening, Dr Kathy Martyn, emphasised the importance of the notion of commensality (“coming together for a meal”) in our understanding of sustainable diets and food consumption patterns across cultures and regions of the world. Further, in her reflections on health professionals and the healthcare setting in the UK, Dr Martyn highlights the central role of food in the provision of care, particularly in acute care settings.

    The panel presentations were then followed by a highly engaging open discussion during which three key themes were explored;

    Mediterranean Diet was discussed extensively as a concept that embraces sustainability, biodiversity, cultural values, and quality and palatability of food. Although the Mediterranean diet has shown success in improving overall health outcomes (in particular diet-related non-communicable disease), however issues surrounding its adaptability in different regions (and/or contexts) across the world were brought up. Some of the limitations ­discussed include local availability, affordability of food types, and cultural traditions and acceptability of food types.

    The culture, values and local food and dietary customs as a key component to dietary patterns and food consumption was also discussed. Shane McAuliffe emphasised the need for food-based dietary guidelines to be in line with the local cultures, food environment, and traditions surrounding diet and food consumption. 

    Economics of health and eating was also a recurring theme. Who is going to pay for what? Can the individual afford the ‘healthier’ food types? The panelists reminded us that a key element of diet sustainability and health outcomes is affordability and access, which brings us to another critical aspect discussed, health and food equity. Two billion people worldwide do not have reliable access to safe and nutritious foods. The issue of food desserts were also discussed as barriers to healthy eating behaviour, especially among marginalised and impoverished communities. Therefore, sustainable food systems should ensure equitable access to safe and nutritious food, whilst also promoting the inclusion of vulnerable groups e.g., women and children, migrant workers etc. 

    Key Take-Home Points

    • There is a need to shift to sustainable food consumption patterns which allow for high efficiency and reduced waste.
    • Inequities in access to sustainable healthy diets persist, with nutrient rich foods being generally less available and less affordable than the energy dense but nutrient poor alternatives. 
    • Increasing awareness of the public, industry, and policy makers on the associations between diet sustainability, food insecurity and climate change is important but bringing health into the conversation is key.
    • The science of nutrition is complex and multidisciplinary in nature, considering cultural factors, family dynamics, ethics, climate change and sustainability, all of which are not nutrition but have a huge impact on nutrition and dietary patterns and food consumption across cultures and regions of the world.


    The next IANE webinar will be held in June 2021, focusing on “Workplace Wellbeing – Diet, Mind, Movement, Sleep”. To register, visit https://iane.nnedpro.org.uk/Events 

    BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health Special Collections on diet sustainability and Climate Change is calling for submissions. For more information, visit https://nutrition.bmj.com/pages/bmj-nutrition-prevention-health-collections/


    References

    Bradfield J, Trigueiro H, Ray S. (2020). Is global dietary change an effective strategy to curb climate change? BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000101

    Gomez-Zavaglia, A., Mejuto, J. C., & Simal-Gandara, J. (2020). Mitigation of emerging implications of climate change on food production systems. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)134, 109256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109256

    Medina F. X. (2021). Looking for Commensality: On Culture, Health, Heritage, and the Mediterranean Diet. International journal of environmental research and public health18(5), 2605. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052605

    Springmann, M., Spajic, L., Clark, M. A., Poore, J., Herforth, A., Webb, P., Rayner, M., & Scarborough, P. (2020). The healthiness and sustainability of national and global food based dietary guidelines: modelling study. BMJ (Clinical research ed.)370, m2322. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m2322

    Swinburn, B. A., Kraak, V. I., Allender, S., Atkins, V. J., Baker, P. I., Bogard, J. R., Brinsden, H., Calvillo, A., De Schutter, O., Devarajan, R., Ezzati, M., Friel, S., Goenka, S., Hammond, R. A., Hastings, G., Hawkes, C., Herrero, M., Hovmand, P. S., Howden, M., Jaacks, L. M., … Dietz, W. H. (2019). The Global Syndemic of Obesity, Undernutrition, and Climate Change: The Lancet Commission report. Lancet (London, England)393(10173), 791–846. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32822-8

    SOFI 2020 – Transforming food systems for affordable healthy diets available at https://scalingupnutrition.org/news/transforming-food-systems-for-affordable-healthy-diets/

  • 28 May 2021 7:26 PM | Kai Sento Kargbo

    Author: Kai Sento Kargbo

    Acknowledgements: Prof Sumantra Ray, Sucheta Mitra, Faculty and Mentors Panel and the IANE Steering Committee. A special thank you to Breanna Lepre, Lead Organiser for the Summer School 2021 and the organising team. 

     

    The International Academy of Nutrition Educators (IANE) would like to extend a warm welcome to our incoming members – class of 2021 of the NNEdPro-IANE Summer School in Applied Human Nutrition as well as our new members on the Faculty and Mentors Panel (FMP) – to our global and life-long learning network.

    Member Benefits. IANE offers a range of benefits including bespoke mentoring, training, and career development opportunities for professionals and organisations interested in developing and delivering quality nutrition education and evaluating its impact, particularly on healthcare practices.  

    Summer School in Applied Human Nutrition. The NNEdPro-IANE Summer School is a foundational certificate in applied human nutrition, covering basic nutritional concepts, through current research and methods, to prevention, healthcare and policy applications. At this year's Summer School we had the pleasure of hosting 34 candidates representing 18 nations

    Class of 2021

    Ako Carole-Shennelle Mbeng, Cameroon

    Alan Stewart, United Kingdom

    Ally Jaffee, United Kingdom

    Andreia Matos Ribeiro, Portugal

    Anne-Marie O’Brien, United Kingdom

    Asimkumar Manna, India

    Barbara Santos, Brazil

    Berta Valente, Portugal

    Christine Delon, United Kingdom

    Clare Van Dorssen, Australia

    Edgard Leandro de Oliveira, Brazil

    Eleonara Comini, Italy

    Esther Sulkers, the Netherlands

    Iain Broadley, United Kingdom

    Jaydeep Chakraborty, India

    Jordy Van Buiten, the Netherlands

    Julia Cerqeira Maranhao, Brazil

    Margherita Camodeca, Italy

    Marta Silva, Portugal

    Matheus Duarte Brito, Brazil

    Niky Raja, United Kingdom

    Praosiri Charusalaipong, Thailand

    Rafaela Barros Romano Fontes, Brazil

    Rahila Zakir, United Kingdom

    Ramin Shafii, Thailand

    Roisin McCarron, United Kingdom

    Sally Ayyad, United Kingdom

    Sarah Armes, United Kingdom

    Suzana Mantovani Cerqueira, Switzerland

    Thais de Vries, Brazil

    Vince Kelly, United Kingdom

    Wanja Nyaga, United Kingdom

    Xunhan Li, China

    Zana Shabani, Kosovo


    Faculty and Mentors Panel (FMP). We are delighted to announce our new additions to the IANE faculty and mentors panel, who span the globe and multiple areas of nutrition related expertise. 

    Alan Flanagan 


    Holds an MSc. in Nutritional Sciences and current PhD candidate. Former practising Lawyer (Barrister) from Dublin, Ireland. Founder of "Alinea Nutrition", an online education hub, dedicated to empowering others with clear, impartial evidence-based knowledge and understanding about the science of nutrition. 

    Dr. Beatrice Biasini


    Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Food and Drug of the University of Parma, Italy. Her research interests pertain to both individuals and population approaches, as part of her research aims to assess good practices in improving food quality schemes and public governance and efficiency in school canteens. 

    Dr. Dora Pereira 


    Former Research Group Leader at the University of Cambridge where she led Phase II clinical trials with a novel oral iron supplement ("IHAT") in collaboration with the MRC Unit the Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Now works in Medical Affairs where she maintains a strong focus on providing safe and efficacious treatments for iron deficiency and anaemia across different patient groups.  

    Dr. Francesca Ghelfi


    Completed a PhD in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the  University  of  Parma, focussed on nutrition  science  education and communication in two different settings: catering schools and oncology centres. Also a nutritionist in the "SmartFood Project" which aims to fill the existing knowledge gap between health institutions and general public, in particular students and patients, about health and nutrition.  

    A/Prof Francesca Scazzina 


    Assistant Professor at the Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma. Her research focusses on complex carbohydrate, dietary fibre, prebiotics and antioxidants in foods, and their effects on metabolism and intestinal functions. Since 2009, Francesca has been involved in food educational projects implemented in primary schools of the Parma area, where she acquired extensive experience in educational health learning programs and children population surveys.

    Gabriele Mocciaro 


    Research Assistant in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge. Main research interest lies in the field of nutrition anmetabolism. Specifically, he plans to investigate the role of diet and nutrients on the prevention and treatment of metabolic disease and its complications (coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer).  

    Guiseppe Di Pede


    Holds a BSc in Gastronomic Sciences and completed his studies for an MSc in Food Science and Technology at the University of Parma. His Master’s thesis in human nutrition focussed on the effect of different starch sources and the addition of fat on starch digestion and glycaemic index in rice and pasta. Currently, he is a Ph.D. student in Food Science at the Human Nutrition Unit of the University of Parma.

    Justyna Godos 


    Currently a PhD candidate at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Italy. Her primary research interests focus on how nutritional factors are associated with human health, and her key disciplinary areas are nutritional biochemistry and nutritional epidemiology.

    Dr Letizia Bresciani 


    Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at The Laboratory of Phytochemicals in Physiology, Human Nutrition unit, University of Parma, Italy. She has a Master's degree in Food Science and Technology and a PhD in Food Science at the University of Parma. Her  expertise includes purification and characterisation of phenolic compounds from  vegetables and investigation of pharmacokinetics, absorption, metabolism, bioavailability and bioactivity of human and microbial phenolic metabolites, using principally in vivo models, both animal and human. 

    Dr. Lisa Sharkey 


    Qualified from the University of Cambridge and completed her Gastroenterology training within the East of England. Lisa is involved in undergraduate and postgraduate education in nutrition and is the nutrition representative for the national Gastroenterology Training Committee. Her research interests include Intestinal Failure Associated Liver Disease, nutritional outcomes after intestinal transplant and biomarkers of graft rejection.

    Dr. Simon Poole


    Cambridge based medical doctor, broadcaster and commentator and is an internationally renowned authority on the science and application of the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle. He is author of the award winning Olive Oil Diet and speaks regularly on the subject of communication and change management in population and individual nutritional health. Simon is an international senior collaborator with the NNedPro Global Center for Nutrition and Health, and has previously been involved in teaching at Cambridge University primary care department.


    For more detailed information on IANE, including events, fellowship, and how to become a member, visit our webpage


  • 28 May 2021 1:47 PM | Kai Sento Kargbo


    At the 7th International Summit on Nutrition and Health, we will be launching the IANE Awards Scheme recognising faculty, professional, and student members for their excellence and continued engagement with the IANE community and member platform in the following categories:


    Outstanding Achievement Award

    Self-nominated or nominated by the IANE faculty and mentors panel; awarded for outstanding contribution and impact on nutrition education of health professionals and/or community members.

    Eligibility Criteria

    Does not need to be an existing IANE or NNEdPro member. Contribution can include the development of curricula and/or policy for the nutrition education of health professionals.

    Documents needed to apply

    • Two letters of recommendation (from individuals of significant standing in the discipline or related field)
    • CV or resume
    • Cover letter
    • List of publications and/or portfolio of external impacts; showing evidence of reach and impact is desirable 



    Associate Member of the Year

    Self-nominated or nominated by the IANE faculty and mentors panel; awarded to a member of the Academy who has demonstrated commitment to nutrition education and education of health professionals.

    Eligibility Criteria

    Has been an IANE member for 1 year or more. Maintained active participation in IANE e.g., attended all journal clubs, contributed to a journal club or newsletter. 

    Documents needed to apply

    • Letter of recommendation (from an individual of significant standing in the discipline or related field)
    • CV or resume
    • Cover letter


    Professional Member of the Year 

    Self-nominated or nominated by the IANE faculty and mentors panel; awarded to a member of the Academy  who has demonstrated commitment and contribution to nutrition education and/or education of health professionals. 

    Eligibility Criteria

    Has been a member of IANE for 1 year or more. Has actively participated as a mentor as part of the IANE Faculty and Mentors Panel. Maintained active participation in IANE (e.g., attended all journal clubs, contributed to a journal club or newsletter). Significant involvement in activities helping IANE to achieve its strategic goals. 

    Documents needed to apply 

    • Letter of recommendation (from an individual of significant standing in the discipline or related field)
    • CV or resume
    • Cover letter



    Faculty Member of the Year

    Self-nominated or nominated by the IANE members; awarded to a faculty member of the Academy that has contributed to the NNEdPro-IANE Summer Schools in Applied Human Nutrition and/or IANE webinars, journal clubs, and mentoring. 

    Eligibility Criteria 

    Sustained excellence and impact in duties and deliverables. Has promoted IANE and/or NNEdPro Education, Training and Skills and/or mentoring objectives. 

    Documents needed to apply 

    • Evidence of contributions with evaluation of impact
    • Cover letter



    Student Member of the Year 

    Self-nominated or nominated by the IANE faculty and mentors panel; awarded to a student member of the academy that has demonstrated commitment to nutrition research and/or education of health professionals. 

    Eligibility Criteria

    Has been a member of IANE for 1 year or more. Maintained active participation in IANE e.g., attended all journal clubs, contributed to a journal club or newsletter.

    Documents needed to apply

    • Letter of recommendation (from an individual of significant standing in the discipline or related field)
    • CV or resume
    • Cover letter



    Paper of the Year

    Self-nominated or nominated by the IANE faculty and mentors panel; awarded to a published journal article of significance to the research, practice or policy community. 

    Eligibility Criteria 

    Has been published in the previous 12 months with multiple citations. Shows originality and innovation. Evidence of reach (i.e., social reach e.g. mass media communication and social media metrics) and/or impact (i.e., contributes toward policy e.g., referenced in a public policy or policymaking forum). 

    Documents needed to apply 

    • Submitted paper
    • Cover letter


    Applications close on 6th July 2021

    Please note that to apply, all required documents should be sent to Sucheta Mitra at s.mitra@nnedpro.org.uk  with the subject line "IANE Awards  2021_Applicant". 

    For queries, you can send us an email at info@nnedpro.org.uk with the subject line “IANE Awards Scheme 2021”.


    ---

    Key Contributors

    Kai Sento Kargbo, Prof Sumantra Ray and Melissa Adamski 

    Acknowledgements 

    Matheus Abrantes, Faculty and Mentors Panel (FMP) and IANE Steering Committee

  • 19 Mar 2021 3:28 PM | Matheus Abrantes (Administrator)

    Authors

    Jodie Webber, ANutr, Kai Sento Kargbo, BA, and Shane McAuliffe, RD

    Acknowledgments

    Thank you to the panel and presenters for sharing their time, insights, and experiences.

    Webinar Presenters

    Dr Michele Vacca, Dr David Unwin, Dr Kathy Martyn, and James Bradfield (RD)

    Journal Club Presenters/Panel

    Prof Sumantra Ray, Shane McAuliffe (RD), Dr Rajna Golubic, Elaine Macaninch (RD), and James Bradfield (RD)


    In January 2021, IANE held the first webinar of the year: Macronutrient Modulated Diets - Focus on Carbohydrates, Type-2 Diabetes, and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver. In February, the accompanying Journal Club session was held, where the topic was discussed further, with reference to the recent position statement published by Diabetes Canada (2020). Here, the main ideas from the webinar and the journal club sessions will be summarised, but please remember the full recordings of both sessions can be accessed on the IANE webpage here.


    Webinar Summary

    Our first speaker, Dr. David Unwin discussed a recent audit conducted with colleagues at his GP surgery in the UK on a low carbohydrate diet (LCD) in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes (Unwin et al. 2020). This audit involved 127 patients with T2DM and 71 with prediabetes, which accounted for 27% of the total T2DM population for the practice. Patients were advised on the LCD approach and were informed on how their dietary choices impact their glycaemic control. Further, progress graphs and/or reports were shared with patients throughout. Key findings from this audit include:

    • Reductions in overall weight and HbA1c levels in patients with T2DM, and HbA1c reduction in patients with pre-diabetes.

    • Drug-free remission in 46% of patients with T2DM.

    • 93% of the pre-diabetic group achieved normal HbA1c levels.

    • An overall reduction in total cholesterol, increased HDL cholesterol, reduced triglycerides, reduced weight, improved blood pressure, and improved liver function.

    • The LCD approach was successful with both older patients and young adult patients.

    The practice calculated that they made a saving of £50,885 over the year. Dr. Unwin reiterated the importance of feedback to behaviour change, however, there was a range of possible confounding factors that could not be controlled for and no control group for comparison. It is also important to acknowledge that more than two-thirds of the practice T2DM population did not follow the LCD advice, meaning a large proportion remains to be considered and catered for, requiring a focus on alternative dietary approaches to meet their needs. The need for more robust studies that account for these factors was reiterated, as well as the importance of evidence-based medicine that includes the best scientific evidence, clinical experience, and places patient values at the core.

    Dr. Michele Vacca then joined us to provide a ‘deep dive’ into the science of carbohydrates and metabolic syndrome. Dr. Vacca explored the role of glycaemic index and the timing of eating (chrononutrition) as important factors, alongside carbohydrate quantity. Drawing upon a paper with colleagues (Salvia et al. 2017), his study of a calorically unrestricted but carbohydrate-moderated Mediterranean diet was discussed. Dr. Vacca and colleagues found that reductions in glycaemic index and carbohydrate intake, particularly in the evening, resulted in weight reductions and improved glycaemia and dyslipidemia in patients with metabolic syndrome.

    Our third speaker, James Bradfield (RD), shared his experiences from academic research and his work as an NHS dietitian. He discussed the popularity of LCDs in the context of increasing levels of overweight, obesity, and T2DM, and the overlap between them. In summing up the evidence, many important points were addressed:

    • There is no universally accepted definition of an LCD; the term is relative.

    • LCDs often do not emphasise what a person is eating, only what they are not eating.

    • Healthcare practitioners must consider the cultural appropriateness and affordability of LCDs when making recommendations, whilst also being conscious of the language used to share nutrition information, particularly on social media.

    • Some investigation should be made into the environmental impact of LCDs, and how they can be shaped to be more environmentally friendly.

    • There is no ‘one size fits all' approach with diet; whilst LCDs work for some patients, they won’t work for others, and patients must be involved in the decision-making.

    Lastly, we heard from Dr. Kathy Martyn who spoke on ‘Balancing Science and Practice’ and provided us with a summary of the webinar. Dr. Martyn shared a fascinating history of diabetes and the developments in approaches to treatment, from starvation diets, carbohydrate counting, to medications and LCDs. She concluded by reiterating the importance of a continuous cycle of science and evidence-based practice, and the role of scientists and practitioners in implementing, evaluating, and improving their approaches.

    This webinar session reminded us of the importance of considering all macronutrients, not just one, as well as the central role of science in providing an understanding of the metabolic pathways involved with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Reechoing Dr. Unwin’s mention of ‘hope’; we must focus on patient-centred practice that allows the spread of hope and autonomy.


    Journal Club Presentation

    Professor Sumantra Ray introduced the journal club and reminded us of the key points raised in the webinar. We then heard from Shane McAuliffe (RD) who presented a critical appraisal of the position statement published by Diabetes Canada (2020). The statement makes it clear that an individualised approach is important, and that an LCD approach can be subjective, depending on an individual’s baseline carbohydrate intake, meaning what is defined as ‘low’ for one person may be very different for another. Some of the key research findings in both Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM), and T2DM were discussed, and we learned that there is very limited long-term evidence for both. When considering LCDs and T1DM, the research often lacks depth, whereas in studies of T2DM, there are promising findings regarding reductions of medications, but methodological concerns are present. Our attention was drawn to some of the questions and uncertainties surrounding this research, including the longer-term sustainability of LCDs and many confounding factors, such as caloric intake and weight loss. As a result, whilst LCDs may present a real therapeutic option to healthcare providers and patients, further research is essential, and patients must be at the centre of any decision-making.

    Finally, before the open discussion, we heard from Dr. Rajna Golubic who presented a medical perspective with her presentation ‘Questions in Low Carbohydrate Diet yet to be Answered in Clinical Practice. Dr. Golubic discussed the current evidence around low carbohydrate diets in clinical practice. Some of the main points raised were that the short-term use of LCDs may be considered as a management approach for T2DM, but that ‘active monitoring’ is essential, along with consideration of the necessary adjustments to patients’ diabetes medication. Dr. Golubic also shared thoughts on the many unanswered questions that remain, such as the interactions with physical activity and medications, the effects on disease endpoints, effects on the microbiome and metabolome, and the possibilities of genetic variants which may lead to some individuals having differential responses to such diets. Again, the overarching conclusion was that well-designed trials are the necessary next step in answering these questions.

    The open discussion stimulated a range of questions and comments, and some of the contributions from the panel are noted here.

    Accessibility was a recurring theme. Elaine Macaninch (RD) shared her experiences of working with patients with gestational diabetes and emphasised the importance of rethinking the process to allow consideration of where nutrition can fit in, in order to give patients, the opportunity to try dietary change approaches before medication. Central to this conversation was the importance of being understanding and compassionate towards individuals’ personal circumstances, beliefs, and motivations. This aligns with points raised about affordability and the fact that shifting dietary patterns requires shifts in purchasing patterns. Additionally, healthcare providers must work with their patients in order to ensure that dietary change recommendations are feasible, sustainable, and appropriate. We were left with the important reminder that dietary choice, and in particular, choosing to omit certain foods from our diets, comes from an inherent place of privilege.

    The question of 'Whether a more drastic reduction is better? was raised with regards to the perception of LCDs. The panel discussed whether knowledge that LCDs could offer positive therapeutic effects could lead to the belief that very low carbohydrate diets, or ketogenic diets, are more beneficial. The notion of an individualised approach was revisited, and there was agreement that it is important to focus on what is right for the individual patient, their knowledge, and their motivations. For instance, for those patients where adherence to an LCD is particularly challenging, the ketogenic diet would likely be unsustainable. This linked to discussions on social media platforms and press coverage. Although these platforms offer an environment for sharing tips, meals, and experiences, they can also be used to misrepresent the reality of these diets. Individuals may find a dietary ‘label’ attractive because it provides the opportunity to be a part of something, but it is important that patients make these decisions with a focus on changing habits and understanding the full story.


    Key Take-Home Points

    • LCDs present a valid therapeutic option for some patients, but further research is essential to explore the many unanswered questions that remain.

    • Patients must be supported by their healthcare providers to fully understand their options, and they should be at the centre of decision-making about their own health.

    • Healthcare providers should focus on how to communicate options effectively, including sharing information about the physiology of disease in an understandable and accessible manner. This will equip patients to make the best decisions for their personal circumstances.

    • Accessibility, affordability, and cultural context play central roles in dietary choice and change; the context must be considered.

    • The perception of LCDs amongst patients should be considered, alongside patients’ personal motivations and beliefs around their health, nutrition, and therapeutic options.


    The next IANE webinar will be held on 24th March 2021, focusing on ‘Diet and Climate Change’. See https://iane.nnedpro.org.uk/Events for further information.


    References

    Diabetes Canada (2020). Diabetes Canada Position Statement on Low-Carbohydrate Diets for Adults With Diabetes: A Rapid Review. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 44, 295-299.

    Salvia R, D'Amore S, Graziano G, Capobianco C, Sangineto M, Paparella D, de Bonfils P, Palasciano G, Vacca M. (2017). Short-term benefits of an unrestricted-calorie traditional Mediterranean diet, modified with reduced consumption of carbohydrates at evening, in overweight-obese patients. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 68(2), 234-248.

    Unwin, D., Khalid, A., Unwin, J., Crocombe, D., Delon, C., Martyn, K., Golubic, R., Ray, S. (2020). Insights from a general practice service evaluation supporting a lower carbohydrate diet in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes: a secondary analysis of routine clinic data including HbA1c, weight and prescribing over 6 years. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 3, 285-294.


<< First  < Prev   1   2   Next >  Last >> 
LINKS

CONTACT US

St. John's Innovation Centre

Cowley Road,

Cambridge CB4 0WS, UK

info@iane.online

RECENT NEWS

An initiative of the NNEdPro Global Institute


© 2024 by NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health.