This previously unstudied community has an intermediate prevalence on the international scale of Type 2 DM, which is linked to potentially modifiable risk factors.

Objective: To assess the impact of a food-based intervention on blood pressure (BP) in free-living South African men and women aged 50-75 years, with drugtreated mild-to-moderate hypertension. Methods: A double-blind controlled trial was undertaken in eighty drug-treated mild-to-moderate hypertensive subjects randomised to an intervention (n 40) or control (n 40) arm. The intervention was 8-week provision of six food items with a modified cation content (salt replacement (SOLO TM ), bread, margarine, stock cubes, soup mix and a flavour enhancer) and 500 ml of maas (fermented milk)/d. The control diet provided the same quantities of the targeted foods but of standard commercial composition and 500 ml/d of artificially sweetened cooldrink. Findings: The intervention effect estimated as the contrast of the within-diet group changes in BP from baseline to post-intervention was a significant reduction of 6?2 mmHg (95 % CI 0?9, 11?4) for systolic BP. The largest intervention effect in 24 h BP was for wake systolic BP with a reduction of 5?1 mmHg (95 % CI 0?4, 9?9). For wake diastolic BP the reduction was 2?7 mmHg (95 % CI 20?2, 5?6). Conclusions: Modification of the cation content of a limited number of commonly consumed foods lowers BP by a clinically significant magnitude in treated South African hypertensive patients of low socio-economic status. The magnitude of BP reduction provides motivation for a public health strategy that could be adopted through lobbying of the food industry by consumer and health agencies.

Exurban development (e.g., second homes) in woodlands spreads urban land use impacts beyond suburbs, but because exurban developments often retain many components of original ecosystem structure—such as a forest canopy rather than open lawn—their ecological impacts may be underestimated. Changes in seed‐dispersing ant behavior prompted by exurban land use, such as edge avoidance, may pose deleterious impacts on the woodland plants (myrmecochores) they disperse, and hence the floristic diversity of exurban forests. We examined the effects of exurbanization on seed‐dispersing ant nesting and foraging, seed retrieval, dispersal direction and subsequent impact on myrmecochores. We used a matrix of forested and exurbanized habitats to test whether (1) exurban edges decrease ant nest colonization and seed foraging, (2) ants disperse seeds away from exurban edges, and (3) consequently, there is lower ant‐dispersed plant abundance nearer exurban edges. We found that exurban development poses little impact on keystone seed‐dispersing ants because they foraged, colonized and thrived in fragmented woodland habitats as well as they did in intact forests. Exurban edges changed ant behavior, however, so that they generally moved seeds toward forest interiors, and, hence, away from edges. Corresponding to this behavioral change, we found that ant‐dispersed plants declined with proximity to edges, whereas other woodland herbs with dispersal modes other than ants were unaffected. Exurbanization poses little threat to seed‐dispersing ant viability, but, by changing foraging patterns (specifically, limiting the directionality of dispersal), it indirectly threatens the plants they disperse. Edge effects on biota commonly are associated with cascades through abiotic resources, but we show a deleterious biotic cascade between exurban edge, keystone ants and herbaceous plants. Species‐mediated services, such as seed dispersal and pollination, are key resources, and assessing the full consequences of land use change therefore necessitates evaluation of impacts on biotic interactions.

Objective: To investigate the accuracy of self-reported weight of overweight and obese women and characterisation of under-, correct-and over-reporters based on a number of related variables. Design: Weight was self-reported before entering the study. At baseline, actual weight was recorded, and demographic, health, nutritional, psychological and physical activity questionnaires were completed. Setting: A hospital outpatient department. Subjects: Participants were 131 women aged 18±64 years with a body mass index BMI $ 28 attending a Comprehensive Weight Management Programme. Outcome measures: The accuracy of self-reported weight was investigated for the total group, and the subjects were then categorised into three groups according to accuracy of self-reported weight (under-, correct-and over-reporters). The relationship between these accuracy groups and demographic, health, nutritional, and psychological variables and physical activity was examined, to characterise the under-, correct-and over-reporters. Results: Although not statistically significantly different, the total group of women tended to underestimate their weight by 0.8 (^3.6) kg. Categorisation according to the accuracy groups revealed that 29% underestimated their weight by 2 kg or more, 19% overestimated their weight by 2 kg or more, and only 52% correctly estimated their weight within 2 kg. Some trends and statistically significant differences between the accuracy groups concerning certain variables, e.g. height, age, income, education, contraceptive pill usage, smoking and food choices were evident. Conclusions: Self-reported weight of a group of overweight/obese individuals may be a valid and reliable indicator of actual weight, but self-reported weight of an overweight/obese individual can not be interpreted similarly. Further research is necessary to ensure reliable characterisation of under-, over-and correct reporters.

There is a minor error in Table 3 on page 1402.The column 'Mean difference (intervention -control)' should not include the P-value column. The P-value column should be under the preceding 'Difference' column and should follow on from Mean and SD. ReferenceCharlton, Karen E, et al. A food-based dietary strategy lowers blood pressure in a low socio-economic setting: a randomised study in South Africa.