Preventive Nutrition: The Comprehensive Guide for Health Professionals, 3rd Edition

ISBN: 9781588294456
ISBN-10: 1588294455
Copyright: 2005
Edition: 3rd
Editors: Bendich, Adrianne, Deckelbaum, Richard J. ,
Doody's Expert Review    Score: 85
Reviewer: Gail  Underbakke,  MS, RD  (University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School)
Description
This book provides an in-depth look at the topic of preventive nutrition, presenting and integrating the latest research data into the current body of knowledge. This third edition includes contributions from nearly 80 authors, and combines and updates chapters from the previous two editions (2001 and 1997).
Purpose
The editors aim to provide up-to-date, comprehensive reviews of dietary practices and interventions that reduce the risk of disease, and to include the most compelling areas of nutritional research in order to impact the health and education of the reader. These are worthy objectives, especially in light of rapid-accumulating research data in the area of nutrition. Students and practitioners can benefit from a comprehensive compilation of pertinent research results. The book is successful in providing up-to-date, evidence-based, and thorough reviews of the nutrition topics that are covered, although it is debatable whether the most compelling topics in nutritional research have been included.
Audience
The authors, who seem highly qualified to edit a book on this topic, identify practicing health professionals as the primary audience, but also note that previous editions of this book have been used as texts for graduate students and researchers. Due to the depth with which each topic is covered, I believe this book will be more helpful to health professionals in research or education rather than those in clinical practice. The Key Points presented at the beginning of each chapter and the Recommendations at the end of each chapter help to focus the chapter content, but may not be enough to make this a practical tool for busy clinical practitioners.
Features
This book examines nutritional research specific to disease prevention in the areas of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and bone disease. In addition, the role of nutrition in achieving optimal pregnancy and infant outcomes and the impact of various nutrients on a variety of populations is covered. The book also includes a section on global nutrition and a section on issues pertinent to the 21st century. All chapters are extensively referenced and include tables and figures to improve understanding.
Assessment
In the title, this book claims to be a comprehensive guide for health professionals. Although the chapters themselves are very comprehensive, I don't believe that the book provides comprehensive coverage of preventive nutrition. For example, in the area of cardiovascular nutrition, the book provides interesting updates on a limited number of topics (trans fats, n-3 fatty acids, homocysteine, antioxidant vitamins, and iron) but does not address important topics like saturated fats, dietary cholesterol, carbohydrates, and fiber, all of which are also the subject of emerging research. A health professional who is looking for one resource that provides comprehensive coverage of preventive nutrition will likely be disappointed in this book. On the other hand, an educator, researcher, or practitioner who wants a very detailed summary of selected preventive nutrition topics will appreciate the in-depth nature of this book.
Review Questionnaire
Range Question Score
1-10 Are the author's objectives met? 8
1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 8
1-5 Is this written at an appropriate level? 5
1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 4
1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 2
1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 5
1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? 5
1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. 5
1-5 Rate the print quality of the illustrations. 5
1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5
1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 5
1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 5
1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 5
1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book N/A
1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 6
1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? 8