Our Children, Our NutritionA publication of Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center

Our Children, Our NutritionOur Children, Our Nutrition is published for the participants, friends and partners of Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, 15 Children’s Way, Little Rock, Arkansas,

72202; (501)364-3309, (866)423-1311 toll-free.www.arkansaschildrensnutritioncenter.com

Editor: Rebecca Carter, M.B.A., Clinical Research PromoterContributors: Thomas M. Badger Ph.D., DirectorAline Andres, Ph.D., Director, Human Studies CoreR.T. Pivik, Ph.D., Director, Brain Function LaboratoryKayla Fuller, M.S., R.D., L.D., Research Assistant

Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center is part of the National Human Nutrition Research Center Program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Ser-vice. It is housed on the campus of one of the ten largest children’s hospitals in the United States . Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center is a partnership between Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Changing Science, Changing LivesFall 2011

BreakfastPowering the Brain for Learning

Breakfast (literally “breaking the overnight fast”) follows what is typically the longest period of daily fasting. In children, because of their greater sleep requirements, this may last 10 or more hours—nearly half a day! Furthermore, high metabolic rates and energy demands make children particularly sensi-tive to nutritional deficiencies—even on a short-term basis. Since 30-45% of energy intake in children is used to fuel brain function, it is not surprising to find that skipping breakfast has negative effects on learning and performance in children, affecting processes involving attention, reasoning, and memory. Since it is clear that morning nutrition is important for proper brain function in children and children who are not hungry are better prepared for learning, the USDA established food assistance pro-grams for children, i.e., the well known school lunch and school breakfast programs. However, the question of what children should eat to best prepare them for learning remains largely unanswered. To address this issue, we have been conduct-ing studies to determine the effects of diet, meal pat-terns and meal frequency on behavioral dynamics and brain processes involved in information processing in healthy school children. Our initial studies have shown that compared with children who skip breakfast, those who eat a standardized breakfast based on USDA School Breakfast Program minimum requirements show improvement in measures of attention, reason-ing, and complex mental functions, such as mental arithmetic. continued on pg 2

Pregnancy is a special time. Not only what a woman eats, but also what she drinks can have an effect on her and her baby’s health. A few beverage choices that need special attention are caffeine, alcohol, herbs, and tea. The Institute of Medicine recommends no more than 300 mg of caffeine per day during pregnancy. Caffeine crosses the placenta and can slow down blood flow to the baby, potentially causing harm, even possible miscarriage. Some examples of caffeinated beverages would be regular coffee (8oz= 137 mg), regular cokes (12 oz=37 mg), regular tea (8oz= 48mg), and energy drinks (varies). Alcohol intake is a great concern during child bearing age. No amount of alcohol has been proven to be safe for consumption during pregnancy. Alcohol crosses the placenta and has been found to cause learning, emotional, and behavioral problems, as well as defects of the face, heart, and other organs. Wine, wine coolers, beer, or any other type of liquor should be avoided. Herbs are found in many energy drinks, and there are several popular herbal teas. Use of herbs, and large intake of beverages that con-tain them, could cause miscarriage or premature delivery, according to The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating During Pregnancy. There is not enough research to show these beverages to be completely safe. Some examples of herbal teas include chamomile, dandelion, ginger root, raspberry leaf, and valerian tea. continued on pg 3

Beverage Precautions during Pregnancy

Our families, Our research, Our vision,Our team,

Our ACNC...

Breakfast cont. from pg 1 Our continuing stud-ies in this area are focused on designing meals that will enable children to optimize learning while in school. We will explore, for example, how the meals rec-ommended by these programs affect brain and behavioral func-tions essential for and predictive of such important skills and per-formance variables as reading, language acquisition, cognitive functions, and attention. As we

begin to define dietary influ-ences on specific neurocognitive processes involved in learn-ing, we will also discover what nutritional factors influence and optimize learning the most.

R.T. Pivik, Ph.DResearch Professor

Director, Brain Function Laboratory

Join us for our annual Halloween Party

Tuesday, October 25th 5pm-7pm

(come and go as you please)

Games,Prizes,

Fun.Treats.

Costumes and Families Welcome!

What is Adiposity Rebound? Aline Andres, Ph.D. Director, Human Studies CoreWhat scientists refer to as “adiposity rebound,” relates to the period in life when the body fat of children begins to increase again. After birth, infants accumulate body fat for about a year. Then, body fat decreases until about age 6 years. At that time, body fat starts to accumulate again. This can be easily spotted on a growth chart, with an increase in body mass index. That period when body fat

starts to accumulate is called adiposity rebound. Research studies have shown that the earlier the adiposity rebound

occurs, the more risks the child has to develop obesity later in life. It is important to make sure children between 3 and 7 years of age have a healthy life style. For children, that means being

physically active every day and eating a balanced diet. Parents are the best role model for their child!

If you eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly, your child is more likely to do the same. Exercise can be activities like playing ball, dancing, and running. Simply playing active games with your child can also be a good way to exercise and be fun too. Try to involve your child in meal preparation, and eat together at a table to help set good habits. Life is busy, and these things can be challenging, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice or seek help from friends and family. You can also contact a dietitian or a counselor to help you set up a routine that will make your life easier in the long run.

It is important to make

sure children between 3 and 7 years of age have a healthy

life style.

As a valued part of our research team, I want to give you an update on the

progress of two of our major studies.

The Beginnings study, our study of early infant diets, has wrapped up

enrollment. We are so thankful to all of the families that have participated throughout the years. We started this project in 2002, and nine years and 600 babies later we are all a part of one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind. It will take six more years to complete all study visits, so stay tuned for our final publications.

With our newest study, GLOWING, our goal is to enroll 300 women

over the next two years. The purpose of the GLOWING study is to help us better

understand how a mother’s health and diet during pregnancy may influence her child’s growth and

development. This study allows us to work together with mothers throughout their pregnancy and until their child’s second birthday.

Throughout pregnancy, participants receive

nutrition education and support. We offer post partum depression screening and work with mothers on how to look for infant feeding cues after the baby is born. Participants also receive monetary compensation and all the diapers they need during their child’s first year of life.

GLOWING is for women who are thinking about becoming

pregnant or are currently less than 10-weeks pregnant with their second child. There are six study visits during pregnancy and eleven study visits from birth to the child’s second birthday. Additional information may be found by visiting our website at www.arkansaschildrensnutritioncenter.com or by calling (501)364-3309, or via e-mail at acncstudies@uams.edu.

We would greatly appreciate your help spreading the word about our

research. Thank you for all you do.

From the Director

Thomas Badger, Ph.D.

Beverage cont. from pg 1 Teas made from tea leaves may not be the best beverage choice. They contain caffeine which, as mentioned above, should be used in moderation. Also, a component of tea, called tannins, interferes with calcium and iron absorption. Calcium and iron are both important minerals during pregnancy for mom and baby. Some examples of teas include English Breakfast, Earl Grey, and Orange Pekoe. It’s important to get plenty of fluids, so don’t forget your water! When pregnant, a woman’s fluid needs increase due to higher blood volume, amniotic fluid, and the need to support the baby’s circulation. 8-10 glass-es of water each day should be adequate to stay well hydrated. When making beverage choices during pregnancy, being observant of ingredients and labels can be very helpful.

Kayla Fuller, M.S., R.D., L.D.Research Assistant

Amanda Garner joined ACNC as Clinical

Research Promoter when she relocated to Little Rock in 2010. Previously with St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville, she

has a BS in Biology from University of Central Arkansas. Amanda’s voice is particularly familiar to most participants because she is usually the first voice they hear when they call the Center. Handling inquiries, screening potential participants, and scheduling requires

many hours on the phone daily for Amanda but she says she loves getting to talk with everyone and helping them with whatever need may arise. “Communication is key for our research here at ACNC. I want participants to know we are here to make their experience the best it can be every step

of the way.”

Rebecca Carter also joined the staff in

2010 as Clinical Research Promoter. She has a

BSBA from the University of Arkansas in Marketing and an MBA from the University of Central Arkansas. Her background ranges in various areas of marketing including banking, real estate, and non-profit organizations. The main focus of Rebecca’s position is public relations and marketing for the Center. “I love that I get to go out and talk to people about the exciting research we do here at the Nutrition Center. I am proud that Arkansas was chosen as a location for this important work and that Arkansans want to be involved.”

The Beginnings study...has wrapped up enrollment.

Take action on the Dietary Guidelines by making changes in these three areas:

Balancing CaloriesEnjoy your food, but eat less √Avoid oversized portions. √

Foods to Increase Make half your plate fruits and veg- √

etables. Make at least half your grains whole √

grains.Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk. √

Foods to ReduceCompare sodium in foods like soup, √

bread, and frozen meals and choose the foods with lower numbers.

Drink water instead of sugary drinks. √ For more tips and information visit :www.ChooseMyPlate.gov

*MyPlate replaces the MyPyramid image as the USDA’s primary food group symbol

Tips from the new USDA’s

ChooseMyPlate.gov

Meet our Staff: Amanda and Rebecca

15 Children’s WayLittle Rock, Arkansas 72202

Changing Science, Changing Lives

Study Participation OpportunitiesfMRI

This is a short-term study designed to look at how the food kids ate as babies affects how they think today. Participants attend up to three study visits on the campus of Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Qualifications Children participating in this study must be healthy, between the ages of 7½ and 8½ and have been fed mostly breast milk, milk-based formula or soy-based formula from birth until their first birthday. Compensation Those completing each visit will receive monetary compensation. A bonus will be givien to families completing all visits. Partially completed visits may be partially compensated.

Interested in learning more about a study being conducted at ACNC?

Think you may qualify to participate?

All research studies require potential participants to be screened. This process is simple and conducted

via telephone in approximately 5-10 minutes. During that time, the study can be explained in more depth and any questions you have may be answered.

Screening is done as a way to learn more about you and your child. Typical questions center around the

child’s diet, your pregnancy and any other pertinent information that relates to the study being conducted.

To be screened or learn more, please contact us at 501-364-3309 or email: acncstudies@uams.edu

Glowing

This is a long-term study for pregnant women. It is designed to look at how the health of women at conception affects the health of their child at birth. Families are followed through pregnancy until the child is 2. Qualifications Women must be less than 8-weeks pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant. Moms must be healthy at conception and meet specific entry criteria.Compensation Nutrition education and monetary compensation are provided through pregnancy. Diapers are provided through the child’s 1st birthday. Additional compensation is provided from 1-2 years of age.