A new study is investigating the causes and effects of COVID-19-related food insecurity

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people at every stage of their lives, from the elderly to newborns. A new study presented at NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE explores the causes and effects of COVID-19-related food anxiety and how pandemics have affected breastfeeding practices.

Internet access and food security for the elderly

In a new study, researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio found that the use and access of technology to food security for risky, independent elderly people during COVID-19. I checked if it was. Researchers analyzed the findings of 557 elderly people who attended a collective dining area in November 2020. Forty-two percent of respondents showed food insecurity during the survey period. Analysis revealed that food insecurity in the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with reduced social and mental well-being and reduced access to the Internet. These findings suggest that access to technology should be considered when developing interventions to address food insecurity in the elderly.

Nathan Chiang will announce this survey on demand during NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE (NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE) from noon on Tuesday, June 14th.Overview; Presentation details). Available images.

Breastfeeding experience during a stay-at-home order

Researchers at St. Louis University investigated how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the role of mothers and breastfeeding practices in the United States. Answer open-ended questions asking how a pandemic modified or affected your baby’s feeding plans without a pandemic. Of the 1,861 mothers who completed the survey in July or August 2020, one-third believed that the pandemic influenced breastfeeding habits. The study found that overtime at home strengthened the bond between mothers and babies and allowed them to breastfeed longer than planned. However, many mothers reported being stressed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and in some cases, mothers reported low milk supply due to stress.

Haley N. Pucel will start NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE from noon on Tuesday, June 14th.Overview; Presentation details). Available images.

Childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers at Louisiana State University conducted a self-assessment of anxiety, confusion, and breastfeeding.Effectiveness -; Mother’s perception of breastfeeding ability-; COVID-19 Among mothers who gave birth during a pandemic. The survey included 180 people from 44 states and four US territories recruited via social media advertising to conduct a 78-item web-based survey from May to December 2020 and six weeks after birth. The mother was included. At 6 weeks postpartum, over 95% were either full breastfeeding or combined breastfeeding. Researchers have found that mothers in this study can maintain planned infant feeding decisions and maintain high breastfeeding self-efficacy despite the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19. did. They say the increased availability of the COVID-19 vaccine may have helped relieve the anxiety of new mothers.

Erin M. McKinley will announce this survey on demand during NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE (NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE) from noon on Tuesday, June 14th.Overview; Presentation details). Available images.

Food anxiety and worries about managing diabetes

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health analyzed the association between COVID-19-related food anxiety and diabetic distress in pre-diabetic or diabetic adults. This survey is based on a national web-based survey of low-income adults conducted in June 2020. Diabetic distress was measured by assessing psychological burden, physician-related distress, self-management-related distress, and interpersonal distress. During the pandemic, about 16% of respondents showed moderate diabetes distress and about 26% experienced high distress. Adults with food anxiety were more likely to report high or moderate diabetic distress than adults with food security. Based on these findings, researchers say that healthcare providers should screen for diabetes pain, connect patients to resources, and help manage their food and mental health needs.

Hannah Posluszny will announce this survey on demand during NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE (NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE) from noon on Tuesday, June 14th.Overview; Presentation details).

Vitamin A levels in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Vitamin A plays an important role in the regulation of the immune system, the development of lung tissue, and the repair of infection-related damage. To better understand its potential role in COVID-19, researchers at University Hospital Muenster compared vitamin A plasma levels in critically ill and recovering COVID-19 patients. This study was one of the first to distinguish between unbound free vitamin A, retinol-binding protein (RBP), and total vitamin A. They found that critically ill patients with COVID-19 in the acute phase showed a significant reduction in total vitamin A and RBP-. Binding level compared to patients who were recovering. These results support previous studies showing vitamin A deficiency in patients with acute infections, but researchers want to understand how this deficiency affects the progression of COVID-19 disease. States that further research is needed.

Richard Volenberg will be on Tuesday, June 14th at noon on NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE (Overview; Presentation details).