Results of studies on fish consumption and CHD mortality are inconsistent. The present updated meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the up-to-date pooling effects.

A random-effects model was used to pool the risk estimates. Generalized least-squares regression and restricted cubic splines were used to assess the possible dose–response relationship. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the sources of heterogeneity.

PubMed and ISI Web of Science databases up to September 2010 were searched and secondary referencing qualified for inclusion in the study.

Seventeen cohorts with 315 812 participants and average follow-up period of 15·9 years were identified.

Compared with the lowest fish intake (<1 serving/month or 1–3 servings/month), the pooled relative risk (RR) of fish intake on CHD mortality was 0·84 (95 % CI 0·75, 0·95) for low fish intake (1 serving/week), 0·79 (95 % CI 0·67, 0·92) for moderate fish intake (2–4 servings/week) and 0·83 (95 % CI 0·68, 1·01) for high fish intake (>5 servings/week). The dose–response analysis indicated that every 15 g/d increment of fish intake decreased the risk of CHD mortality by 6 % (RR = 0·94; 95 % CI 0·90, 0·98). The method of dietary assessment, gender and energy adjustment affected the results remarkably.

Our results indicate that either low (1 serving/week) or moderate fish consumption (2–4 servings/week) has a significantly beneficial effect on the prevention of CHD mortality. High fish consumption (>5 servings/week) possesses only a marginally protective effect on CHD mortality, possibly due to the limited studies included in this group.

While the role of nutrition, physical activity and body size on breast cancer risk has been extensively investigated, most of these studies were conducted in Caucasian populations. However, there are well-known differences in tumour biology and the prevalence of these factors between African-American and Caucasian women. The objective of the present paper was to conduct a review of the role of dietary factors, anthropometry and physical activity on breast cancer risk in African-American women.

Twenty-six research articles that presented risk estimates on these factors in African-American women and five articles involving non-US black women were included in the current review.

Racial disparities in the impact of anthropometric and nutritional factors on breast cancer risk.

African-American and non-US black women.

Based on the few studies that presented findings in African-American women, an inverse association with physical activity was found for pre- and postmenopausal African-American women, while the association for anthropometric and other dietary factors, such as alcohol, was unclear. Studies assessing the effect by molecular subtypes in African-American women were too few and based on sample sizes too small to provide definitive conclusions.

The effect of certain nutrition and lifestyle factors on breast cancer in African-American women is not starkly distinct from those observed in white women. However, there is an enormous need for further research on this minority group to obtain more confirmatory findings.

To establish the operational feasibility and effectiveness of using locally available foods to prevent malnutrition and improve child growth in Kenyan children.

Quasi-experimental design with an intervention group of children in all villages in one region and a non-intervention group of children in all villages in an adjacent region. The intervention was the distribution of a monthly food ration for the index child, a separate family ration, and group education on appropriate complementary feeding and hygiene.

Rural villages in the arid lands of eastern Kenya with a high prevalence of child malnutrition.

All children in the target villages aged 6–20 months with weight-for-length Z-score (WHZ) greater than −2 at baseline.

Children in the intervention and non-intervention groups had similar baseline anthropometric measures. The caregivers in the intervention group confirmed that the intended amounts of food supplements were received and child nutrient intake improved. During the 7-month intervention period there were significant group differences in pre–post Z-score changes between the intervention and non-intervention groups for weight-for-age (0·82, P < 0·001) and weight-for-height (1·19, P < 0·001), but not for height-for-age (−0·20, P = 0·09), after adjusting for multiple covariates. Compared with the non-intervention group, the intervention group had a lower prevalence of wasting (0 % v. 8·9 %, P = 0·0002) and underweight (6·3 % v. 23·0 %, P < 0·0001). Infectious morbidity was similar in both groups.

The findings suggest that the distribution of locally available foods is operationally feasible and improves child weight gain and decreases acute malnutrition in Kenyan children.