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The role of computed tomography in evaluating body composition and the influence of reduced muscle mass on clinical outcome in abdominal malignancy: a systematic review
Weight loss, sarcopenia and cachexia are frequent sequelae of cancer diseases. Malnutrition adds to poor prognosis of cancer patients, it increases complications (eg. side effect of chemotherapy) and is an independent risk factor of survival. Identifying early stage malnutrition in cancer patients is challenging. The present systematic review shows that CT scans can identify reduced muscle mass and predict negative cancer outcomes in people with abdominal malignancies, where traditional methods of assessment are less effective. Since nearly every cancer patient undergoes a CT-examination it is mandatory to use these data not only for diagnosis and staging of disease but also for identification of nutritional problems.

Prenatal exposure to vitamin-D from fortified margarine and milk and body size at age 7 years  FREE
Vitamin D-deficiency is common in Northern latitudes where mean levels are under the threshold of sufficiency for several months of the year. This study investigates the long-term effects of Vitamin D-fortification and thus high Vitamin D-intake during pregnancy and the potential health effects in children. It has been shown previously that Vitamin D-fortification affected birth weight. By contrast the present data show that the intake of Vitamin D-fortified margarine during pregnancy (and thus avoiding Vitamin D-deficiency) does not have long-lasting effects on weight status in children.

Association between dietary patterns in the remote past and telomere length  FREE
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is considered an indicator of biological aging, i.e. LTL shortens in cellular aging. LTL is associated with oxidative and inflammatory stress and clinical outcomes such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, dementia and mortality. It is influenced by multiple factors including genetics, socioeconomic status, obesity, diet, cigarette smoking, sedentary activity and environmental pollution. The present study addressed the association between diet and LTL, comparing a 'prudent dietary pattern' characterized by high intake of whole grains, seafood, legumes, vegetables and seaweed, and a 'Western dietary pattern' characterized by high intake of refined grain, red meat or processed meat and sweetened carbonated beverages. The data underscore that a prudent diet may add to longevity.

Metabolic and physiologic effects from consuming a hunter-gatherer (Paleolithic)-type diet in type 2 diabetes  FREE
'Diseases of civilisation' (e.g. Diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases) have been aligned to the impact of modern or so-called Western diets. By contrast a diet similar to that consumed by our pre-agricultural hunter-gatherer ancestors (i.e. 'Paleolithic' type- or, Paleo'-diet) has been proposed to have health benefits. A 'Paleo diet' has a high-fiber content, high antioxidants, high mono- and polyunsaturated fats, low sodium and high potassium. This study shows the benefit of a 'Paleo diet' in people with type 2 diabetes with improved glucose control and lipid profiles being seen.

Announcements

Thank you to our reviewers
We would like to thank all those who took the time to review for European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2015. The journal could not exist without the knowledge and critical evaluation that our reviewers provide. Your generosity is much appreciated, and we hope your association with the journal continues in future. Please click here for the full list of reviewers.

Anniversary issue
This year EJCN celebrates 25 years of publishing the latest original research and reviews describing methodologies, mechanisms, associations and benefits of nutritional interventions for clinical disease and health promotion with a special Anniversary issue.
Read here: EJCN Anniversary Issue: 25 years of progress.

Special Issue on Calcium and vitamin D for chronic disease.
Calcium and vitamin D have both been long accepted for their role in human nutrition. The recent publication of a research document by the Institute of Medicine has stimulated the need to confirm their role in the prevention of chronic diseases, other than bone health. The September issue of EJCN includes a special section of review articles which bring together a range of topics that are central to this important area. The reviews offer unbiased views on calcium and vitamin D physiology and their potential involvement in chronic disease, mechanistic pathways for their regulation of human energy balance, an overview of recent randomized controlled trials aimed at determining whether dietary calcium accelerated weight and fat loss, a meta analysis of relevant data on vitamin D in Type 2 Diabetes and a modelling approach based on vitamin D-chronic disease mortality relationships, that postulates the holistic benefits of improving the vitamin D status of many population groups worldwide. In publishing these papers, we hope to stimulate constructive discussion and inspire new research in areas of relevance. Read the issue here.

EJCN article included in latest Nature Outlook on Nutrigenomics.
Read the full collection of papers for free.