湖州市3 724例0~6岁门诊体检儿童维生素D营养状况

目的 了解0～6岁门诊体检儿童的维生素D营养状况,为科学合理地补充维生素D制剂提供理论依据.方法 选取2013年1月至2014年3月在湖州市妇幼保健院儿童保健门诊进行常规体检的3 724例0～6岁儿童,采用电化学发光法检测血清25-(OH)D的水平,比较不同年龄段儿童及不同季节血清25-(OH)D水平及维生素D不足与缺乏情况.结果 0～6岁门诊体检儿童的血清25-(OH)D平均水平为(37.80±11.67) ng/ml,维生素D不足与缺乏的比例为7.33％,男女童之间差异均无统计学意义(t=-1.57,P=0.117;x2=0.37,P=0.543).＞3且≤6岁儿童血清25-(OH)D水平显著低于≤1岁、＞1且≤2岁和＞2且≤3岁儿童[(27.36±8.90) ng/ml比(38.64±12.10) ng/ml,t=18.60,P=0.000;比(41.63±10.31) ng/ml,t=26.07,P=0.000;比(36.85±10.01) ng/ml,t=16.42,P=0.000],维生素D不足与缺乏比例显著高于其他3个年龄段儿童(104/466比122/1 487,x2=69.06,P=0.000;比18/1 106,x2=196.06,P=0.000;比29/665,x2=85.14,P=0.000).冬季儿童25-(OH)D水平显著低于春、夏、秋季[(35.16±11.30) ng/ml比(40.03±12.57) ng/ml,t=9.15,P=0.000;比(36.86±10.60) ng/ml,t=3.34,P =0.001;比(39.99±11.36) ng/ml,t=9.65,P=0.000],维生素D不足与缺乏的比例显著高于其他3个季节(127/1 189比56/849,x2=10.11,P=0.001;比54/787,x2=8.30,P=0.004;比36/899,x2 =31.71,P=0.000).结论 本院0～6岁门诊体检儿童的总体维生素D营养状况良好,冬季和＞3且≤6岁儿童维生素D水平较低、不足与缺乏的比例较高,因此应重视冬季和3岁以上儿童的维生素D补充,适当增加儿童户外活动,同时加强科学预防维生素D缺乏的宣传教育.     

云南省育龄人群红细胞叶酸水平参考范围的建立

目的:了解云南省育龄人群红细胞叶酸水平,建立云南地区的红细胞叶酸参考范围。方法:对2013年1、4、7、10月在云南省第一人民医院遗传诊断中心门诊进行孕前咨询的普通育龄人群2 639例分别测定男女性不同年龄阶段红细胞叶酸浓度,建立本地区的红细胞叶酸参考范围,并比较不同性别、不同地区、不同民族之间的差异。结果:云南地区普通育龄人群20~29岁女性红细胞叶酸参考水平为11.31~35.73 ng/ml,20~29岁男性为10.85~33.59 ng/ml,女性叶酸测定数值较男性为高;在云南省各个民族之间叶酸水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:建立云南地区红细胞叶酸参考范围为云南地区育龄人群补充叶酸提供了理论依据。     

河南育龄妇女孕前血清叶酸水平及影响因素研究

目的 调查河南省育龄妇女孕前血清叶酸水平并分析其相关影响因素,为开展育龄妇女叶酸服用的保健服务提供依据.方法 采取整群抽样的方法选取河南959名育龄妇女进行问卷调查,采用贝克曼微粒子化学发光法进行血清叶酸值测定,用卡方检验、方差分析比较不同亚组人群的叶酸水平,采用非条件logistic回归方法进行血清叶酸水平影响因素的单因素分析,并对有统计学意义的变量进行多因素分析.结果 受调查育龄妇女血清叶酸平均水平为(10.36±6.14 ng/mL),年龄较大、文化程度较高、职业为教师公务员、怀孕次数较多的育龄妇女叶酸水平较高(χ2=12.51,P<0.05;χ2=14.63,P<0.05;χ2=27.05,P<0.05;χ2=71.96,P<0.05).单因素分析结果显示:年龄、文化程度、职业、BMI、怀孕次数、经济压力和维生素补充时间与育龄妇女叶酸水平有关.多因素分析结果表明:与正常人群相比,肥胖及有中重度经济压力人群叶酸低于正常水平的风险更高(OR=2.51, 95%CI:1.28~4.92;OR=2.30, 95%CI:1.10~4.80);与大专及以上文化程度相比,初中及以下、高中文化程度人群叶酸低于正常水平的风险更高(OR=1.83, 95%CI: 1.14~2.92;OR=1.64, 95%CI: 1.03~2.61);维生素持续补充时间超过1个月能显著降低育龄妇女发生叶酸缺乏的风险(OR=0.18,95%CI: 0.04~0.77).结论 需对年轻女性、农民职业妇女、肥胖人群和经济压力大的人群有针对性的提出叶酸增补方案并开展营养健康教育.     

维生素E对反复呼吸道感染患儿体内炎症水平的影响

目的探讨维生素E对反复呼吸道感染患儿体内炎症水平的影响。方法选取2015年6月-2016年8月邢台医学高等专科学校第二附属医院收治的反复呼吸道感染患儿150例,随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组各75例。两组在抗感染治疗的基础上,治疗组接受维生素E胶囊治疗,对照组给予安慰剂治疗。两组患儿治疗1个疗程后,观察治疗前后两组细胞因子水平、治疗疗效及肺功能变化。结果治疗后,与对照组相比,治疗组IL-2水平明显升高~([(120.13±67.98)pg/ml vs.(70.45±34.69)pg/ml,P=0.000]);IL-12水平明显降低~([(24.30±19.42)pg/ml vs.(51.74±19.36)pg/ml,P=0.000]);Ig A明显升高~([(1.23±0.26)ng/L vs.(0.50±0.17)ng/L,P=0.000]);Ig G水平也有明显升高~([(10.44±1.78)ng/L vs.(8.34±2.56)ng/L,P=0.000]);C-反应蛋白(CRP)水平明显降低~([(8.45±4.01)mg/L vs.(57.43±15.67)mg/L,P=0.000]);TNF-α水平明显降低~([(372.67±196.17)mg/L vs.(685.99±146.35)mg/L,P=0.000])。在肺功能方面,对照组FEV1及PEF均显著性增高~([(2.13±0.18)L vs.(1.47±0.17)L;(4.37±0.31)L/s vs.(2.72±0.33)L/s,均P=0.000])。在治疗效果上,治疗组总有效率明显高于对照组(P0.05)。结论体内维生素E水平的增加能明显调节患儿体内细胞因子水平,改善呼吸功能,降低反复呼吸道感染的次数。     

危重患者抗氧化维生素血浆水平观察

目的了解危重患者体内抗氧化维生素水平。方法2002年5月～2003年2月间新华医院外科ICU收治的112例危重患者,采用高效液相法测定体内抗氧化维生素水平。结果112例危重患者抗氧化维生素水平明显低于正常对照组眼维生素A:(33.8±25.1)μg/dLvs(78.2±31.2)μg/dL,P=0.000;维生素E:穴6.5±4.4雪mg/Lvs(10.1±6.2)mg/L,P=0.000;β-胡萝卜素:(184±185)μg/Lvs(756±794)μg/L,P=0.000;维生素C:(5.0±4.2)mg/Lvs(6.7±3.9)mg/L,P=0.000演。危重患者中各维生素缺乏症发生率高于正常人,分别为维生素A:25.9%vs0%(P=0.000);维生素E:44.6%vs17.0%(P=0.000);β-胡萝卜素:46.4%vs12.8%(P=0.000);维生素C:62.5%vs31.2%(P=0.000)。危重患者中男性维生素A水平明显高于女性眼分别为(38.8±26.2)μg/dLvs(26.2±21.5)μg/dL,P=0.012演,且随年龄增长,维生素A水平显著降低(r=-0.234,P=0.015)。抽血日前禁食天数>7d组患者与≤7d组患者相比,各抗氧化维生素呈下降趋势,但无统计学差异。结论危重患者血浆维生素A、E和β-胡萝卜素水平明显低于正常人,且该人群中抗氧化维生素缺乏非常普遍。     

内肥素与儿童青少年肥胖、非酒精性脂肪肝的关联研究

目的 探讨血清内肥素与儿童青少年肥胖、非酒精性脂肪肝(NAFLD)的关联.方法 采用双抗体夹心ELISA法,测定69名体重正常无NAFLD和106名肥胖儿童青少年(肥胖无NAFLD 49名及合并NAFLD 57名,其中轻度42名、中重度15名)的血清内肥素水平.结果 体重正常组与肥胖组血清内肥素水平分别为( 1.75±0.37)、(1.71±0.37)ng/ml,差异无统计学意义(P=0.455)；肥胖儿童青少年血清内肥素水平随着脂肪肝程度的加重而上升[肥胖无NAFLD组为(1.59±0.36)ng/ml、肥胖合并轻度NAFLD组为(1.74±0.36) ng/ml、肥胖合并中重度NAFLD组为( 1.97±0.36)ng/ml,三者之间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)],与年龄(^β=-0.326,P=0.000)、丙氨酸转氨酶活性(^β=0.286,P=0.004)相关,不同程度NAFLD者内肥素水平差异有统计学意义(^β=0.246,P=0.014).结论 肥胖儿童青少年中血清内肥素水平与NAFLD相关.     

孕妇血清维生素D和维生素E水平与妊娠期高血压疾病发生的相关性

目的检测孕妇血清维生素D、E水平,分析维生素D、E与妊娠期高血压疾病发生之间的关联性。方法选取2019年8月-2020年10月在长春市妇产医院进行产检并分娩,检测孕早期血清维生素D水平低的210例孕妇,随机分成对照组(103例)和观察组(107例)。选取同期分娩的妊娠期高血压疾病孕妇118例和非妊娠期高血压疾病孕妇138例,孕期未给予任何干预。检测血清维生素D、E水平。观察组口服碳酸钙D_3,对照组不予任何药物治疗。比较观察组和对照组血清维生素D水平,补充外源性维生素D后观察组和对照组妊娠分娩结局,妊娠期高血压疾病组和非妊娠期高血压疾病组孕早期血清维生素E水平。结果孕早期,观察组和对照组血清维生素D水平分别为(17.71±5.69)ng/ml和(15.62±4.54)ng/ml,差异无统计学意义(t=0.286,P0.05);孕晚期,观察组和对照组血清维生素D水平分别为(26.17±5.82)ng/ml和(16.27±4.87)ng/ml,差异有统计学意义(t=2.182,P0.05)。观察组子痫前期发生率、剖宫产率、胎儿生长受限发生率、胎儿窘迫发生率及早产发生率分别为11.21%、28.97%、1.87%、4.67%及2.80%,显著低于对照组的30.10%、56.31%、8.74%、15.53%及10.68%,差异均有统计学意义(χ~2=11.491,P=0.001;χ~2=16.063,P=0.000;χ~2=4.988,P=0.026;χ~2=6.879,P=0.009;χ~2=5.232,P=0.022)。妊娠期高血压疾病组和非妊娠期高血压疾病组血清维生素E水平分别为(15.605±3.980)mg/L和(9.229±2.035)mg/L,差异有统计学意义(t=1.210,P0.05)。结论孕妇血清维生素D、E水平与妊娠期高血压疾病的发生明显相关。孕早期维生素D缺乏可以预测妊娠期高血压疾病,及时补充外源性维生素D可以有效降低妊娠期高血压疾病和相关并发症的发生;孕早期血清维生素E水平高的孕妇发生妊娠期高血压疾病的风险高,检测血清维生素E可以预测妊娠期高血压疾病。     

2014年苏州市某社区绝经女性中心型肥胖与血脂异常的关系

目的探讨绝经女性中心型肥胖与血脂异常的关系。方法依据苏州工业园区2014年慢性病社区综合防治项目,随机抽取某社区2 000名居民,选取其中健康自然绝经12个月以上的女性323人,测量身高、体重、腰围、血压,采血测甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDLC)水平。根据卫生行业标准《成人体重判定》,腰围≥85 cm诊断为中心型肥胖,根据《中国成人血脂异常防治指南(2007)》中TG、TC、HDL-C和LDL-C的水平诊断血脂异常。采用多因素Logistic回归分析中心型肥胖与血脂异常发病风险之间的关系。结果该绝经女性人群中心型肥胖占13.6%(44/323),血脂异常检出率为29.7%(96/323),中心型肥胖组血脂异常检出率显著高于正常组(43.2%vs 27.6%,P=0.036)。腰围水平与TG及LDL-C呈正相关(TG:r=0.28,P<0.01;LDL-C:r=0.20,P<0.01),与HDL-C呈负相关(r=-0.26,P<0.01)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示中心型肥胖组患血脂异常的OR值为2.07(95%CI 1.04~4.13,P=0.039),其中中心型肥胖组TG升高和HDL-C降低的OR值分别为3.81(95%CI1.69~8.60,P=0.001)和3.19(95%CI 1.36~7.52,P=0.008)。结论中心型肥胖是绝经女性血脂异常的危险因素。     

内肥素与儿童青少年肥胖、非酒精性脂肪肝的关联研究

目的 探讨血清内肥素与儿童青少年肥胖、非酒精性脂肪肝(NAFLD)的关联.方法 采用双抗体夹心ELISA法,测定69名体重正常无NAFLD和106名肥胖儿童青少年(肥胖无NAFLD 49名及合并NAFLD 57名,其中轻度42名、中重度15名)的血清内肥素水平.结果 体重正常组与肥胖组血清内肥素水平分别为( 1.75±0.37)、(1.71±0.37)ng/ml,差异无统计学意义(P=0.455);肥胖儿童青少年血清内肥素水平随着脂肪肝程度的加重而上升[肥胖无NAFLD组为(1.59±0.36)ng/ml、肥胖合并轻度NAFLD组为(1.74±0.36) ng/ml、肥胖合并中重度NAFLD组为( 1.97±0.36)ng/ml,三者之间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)],与年龄(^β=-0.326,P=0.000)、丙氨酸转氨酶活性(^β=0.286,P=0.004)相关,不同程度NAFLD者内肥素水平差异有统计学意义(^β=0.246,P=0.014).结论 肥胖儿童青少年中血清内肥素水平与NAFLD相关.     

老年2型糖尿病患者维生素D水平状况及意义

目的探讨苏州地区老年2型糖尿病患者体内血清维生素D(vitamin D,VD)水平的分布状况及其与血糖控制效果的关系。方法 2013年7月—2014年6月随机抽取老年2型糖尿病患者152例,采用化学发光法测定所有患者血清25-羟维生素D3[25-hydroxyvitamin D3,25-(OH)-VD3],收集人口统计学、生活方式和实验室检验资料。根据国际通用分类标准将血清VD水平分为4组,分别为0~10、10~20、20~30、≥30 ng/ml,采用方差分析和Spearman秩相关分析比较血清VD水平与血糖控制效果的关系。结果老年2型糖尿病患者体内血清VD水平中位数为15.95(14.10,25.40)ng/ml,缺乏率为65.13%,男性患者的VD缺乏率较女性低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);男性血清VD水平为19.30(14.10,25.40)ng/ml,女性为15.40(12.10,21.40)ng/ml,比较差异有统计学意义(Z=32.076,P0.05)。女性GSP与血清VD水平呈正相关(r=0.215,P0.05)。结论老年2型糖尿病患者存在VD缺乏,且女性较男性缺乏情况更严重;血清VD水平可能与血糖控制效果有关,补充VD可能成为糖尿病治疗手段之一。     

Age-related hearing loss, vitamin B-12, and folate in elderly women

BACKGROUND: Hearing impairment is 1 of the 4 most prevalent chronic conditions in the elderly. However, the biological basis of age-related hearing loss is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to test the hypothesis that age-related hearing loss may be associated with poor vitamin B-12 and folate status. DESIGN: A thorough audiometric assessment was conducted in 55 healthy women aged 60-71 y. Hearing function was determined by the average of pure-tone air conduction thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz and was categorized into 2 groups for logistic regression analyses: normal hearing (<20 dB hearing level; n = 44) and impaired hearing (> or = 20 dB hearing level; n = 11). RESULTS: Mean age was the same (65 y) for the normal hearing and impaired hearing groups. Pure-tone averages were inversely correlated with serum vitamin B-12 (r = -0.58, P = 0.0001) and red cell folate (r = -0.37, P = 0.01). Women with impaired hearing had 38% lower serum vitamin B-12 (236 compared with 380 pmol/L, respectively, P = 0.008) and 31% lower red cell folate (425 compared with 619 nmol/L, respectively, P = 0.02) than women with normal hearing. Among participants who did not take supplements containing vitamin B-12 or folate, women with impaired hearing had 48% lower serum vitamin B-12 (156 compared with 302 pmol/L, respectively, P = 0.0007) and 43% lower red cell folate (288 compared with 502 nmol/L, respectively, P = 0.001) than women with normal hearing. CONCLUSION: Poor vitamin B-12 and folate status may be associated with age-related auditory dysfunction.     

北京社区人群血压与颈动脉内中膜厚度的相关性探讨

目的探讨颈动脉内中膜厚度增厚与否对血压与颈动脉内中膜厚度相关性的影响。方法研究人群来自北京大学第一医院心内科于2011年12月至2012年4月在北京市石景山区横断面调查的动脉粥样硬化研究队列。纳入标准为问卷调查资料完整并完成颈动脉超声图像的采集且未应用过任何降压药物,研究人群(n=2 569)以最大颈动脉内中膜厚度0.9 mm为分界点分为颈动脉内中膜厚度增厚组(n=1 597)及非增厚组(n=972),分析血压与颈动脉内中膜厚度的关系。结果多重线性回归分析显示,在调整了性别、年龄、BMI、目前吸烟饮酒状况、血肌酐、空腹血糖、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、甘油三酯、降糖降脂药物使用、心血管疾病患病情况等因素后,总体人群各项血压指标(收缩压、舒张压、脉压及平均动脉压)均与颈动脉内中膜厚度平均值呈显著正相关(收缩压:β=0.009,P0.000 1;舒张压:β=0.002,P0.000 1;脉压:β=0.007,P0.000 1;平均动脉压:β=0.009,P0.000 1);在颈动脉内中膜厚度≥0.9 mm组各项血压指标依然与颈动脉内中膜厚度平均值呈显著正相关(收缩压:β=0.006,P=0.000 1;舒张压:β=0.001,P=0.000 1;脉压:β=0.005,P0.0001;平均动脉压:β=0.005,P=0.023 8),而非增厚组中各项血压指标与颈动脉内中膜厚度平均值均无明显相关。结论本研究发现在颈动脉内中膜厚度增厚的人群中血压指标与颈动脉内中膜厚度显著相关,非增厚人群中无显著相关。提示血管壁增厚影响血压的作用机制在二者相关性机制方面可能占据更重要的地位。     

幼儿睡眠异常与饮食行为关系研究

探讨幼儿睡眠问题与饮食行为的关系,为改善幼儿睡眠质量和饮食行为提供参考.方法 基于分层整群抽样,采用儿童睡眠习惯问卷(Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire,CSHQ)、儿童饮食行为问题问卷对贵州省761名幼儿进行调查.结果 儿童饮食行为问题受到年龄、母亲学历、整体养育风格、养育观念一致程度的影响(β值分别为-0.210,-0.122,-0.121,-0.201,P值均<0.05),共解释饮食行为问题总分13.6%的变异(△R2 =0.136).在控制以上因素后,CSHQ问卷的日间困倦、睡眠阻抗、异态睡眠、睡眠持续时间、入睡延迟对饮食行为的影响均有统计学意义(β值分别为0.189,0.166,0.106,0.059,0.058,P值均<0.05),共解释饮食行为问题总分11.6%的变异(△R2=0.116).结论 幼儿饮食行为问题与睡眠问题存在密切关系,且受到年龄、母亲学历、家庭养育因素的影响.     

同型半胱氨酸、叶酸和维生素B12水平与不良妊娠结局的相关性分析

目的:探讨同型半胱氨酸、叶酸和维生素B12与不良妊娠结局的相关性。方法:选取2016年10月-2017年3月发生不良妊娠结局的孕妇70例为观察组,未发生不良妊娠事件的孕妇627例为对照组,健康未孕育龄期妇女60例为未孕组。对比3组血清同型半胱氨酸、叶酸和维生素B12血清水平;通过Pearson相关性分析检验同型半胱氨酸和叶酸、维生素B12的相关性;通过非条件logistic多元逐步回归分析统计发生不良妊娠事件的相关危险因素。结果:观察组的同型半胱氨酸水平(11.2±2.8μmol/L)高于另外两组,而叶酸水平(645.9±281.4nmol/L)、维生素B12水平(247.2±102.3pmol/L)均低于另外两组(均P0.05);Pearson相关性分析结果显示,血清同型半胱氨酸水平与叶酸、维生素B12水平呈负相关关系(r=-0.089,-0.108,均P0.05);非条件logistic多元逐步回归分析结果显示,同型半胱氨酸升高、维生素B12降低以及年龄增大是不良妊娠发生的相关危险因素(均P0.05)。结论:同型半胱氨酸升高、维生素B12降低以及年龄增大是不良妊娠发生的相关危险因素,临床应加强孕期保健,对年龄较大的孕妇应加强同型半胱氨酸及维生素B12的监测,预防不良妊娠的发生。     

The association of time in the US and diet during pregnancy in low-income women of Mexican descent

This study compared nutritional intake during pregnancy among women of Mexican descent according to country of birth (US vs. Mexico) and, for Mexico-born women, according to number of years lived in the US (or= 11 years). A 72-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess dietary intake in 474 pregnant Mexico-born immigrants and US-born Mexican-Americans. Mexico-born women had significantly higher intakes of calories (P = 0.02), fibre (P < 0.001), vitamin A (P < 0.001), vitamin C (P = 0.03), vitamin E (P < 0.01), folate (P < 0.01), calcium (P < 0.001) and zinc (P = 0.02) from their diets than US-born women. Intakes of all nutrients except vitamin C and zinc remained significantly higher in Mexico-born women when nutrients from both diet and vitamin supplements were considered. Among Mexico-born women, increasing years of residence in the US was associated with lower intake of calories (P(trend) < 0.01), fibre (P(trend) < 0.01), folate (P(trend) = 0.03), iron (P(trend) = 0.05) and zinc (P(trend) = 0.03), although only the trend for iron remained significant when vitamin supplement sources were included. A large percentage of women had inadequate intake of vitamin E (58%), folate (61%), iron (77%) and zinc (47%) from their diets during pregnancy and these rates were higher in US-born women than Mexico-born women.     

Nutritional status of the elderly in rural North China: A cross-sectional study

Objectives

This study aimed to describe the nutritional status of elderly people living in a rural area of North China.

Design

Community-based, cross-sectional prevalence survey.

Setting

3 rural towns of Lvliang City, Shanxi Province, China.

Participants

A sample of 1845 community residents (29.1% of those eligible) 55 years or older (birth before 1958-01-01).

Measurements

The participants were assessed regarding demographic characteristics, height, weight, as well as having a physical examination and blood sampling for serum cholesterol, total homocysteine (tHcy), folate, and vitamin B12 levels.

Results

991 (53.7%) were female and 139 (7.5%) did not complete the anthropometric measurement. Prevalence of underweight and obesity was 3.5% and 24.9% in men and 6.7% and 31.0% in women (P = 0.003, P = 0.005, respectively). Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and hypocholesterolemia was 13.5% and 52.6% in men and 25.0% and 34.3% in women (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Prevalence of high LDL-c concentrations was 8.8% in men and 16.8% in women (P < 0.001). The mean serum tHcy in men (28.8 ± 20.1 μmmol/l) was significantly higher than in women (21.0 ± 15.1 μmmol/L, P < 0.001). Prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (defined as > 15μmmol/L) was 79.7% in men and 65.5% in women (P < 0.001). Prevalence of low folate (defined as < 11 nmol/L) and vitamin B12 levels (defiend as < 185 pmol/L) was 70.8 % and 76.8% in men and 56.5% and 72.6% in women (P < 0.001, P = 0.036, respectively). Correlation coefficients between tHcy, folate, and vitamin B12 indicated an inverse linear correlation (r = ?0.21, P < 0.001, r = ?0.35, P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

As China’s economic climate has developed, the nutritional status of elderly people in the rural parts of the country has improved in some aspects. However, the trend toward obesity will lead to a shift in the burden of obesity-related chronic diseases. In addition, rurally-located elderly people are at high risk of death that may be associated with abnormal serum cholesterol. The data also suggest that severe deficiencies in folate and vitamin B12 levels exist, as well as there being a high prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia. Folate and vitamin B12 supplementation are necessary to prevent related diseases.     

Folate and vitamin B12 in relation to lactation: a 9-month postpartum follow-up study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between lactation and markers of folate and vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency in women with and without vitamin supplementation. DESIGN: A 9-month follow-up study. Subjects and methods: Blood samples from 91 women, who gave birth to a single healthy child, were collected 3 weeks, 4 and 9 months postpartum and analysed for circulating level of homocysteine (tHcy), methylmalonic acid (MMA), folate and B12. The participants were categorized as exclusively, partly or not breast-feeding dependent on the degree of lactation 4 months postpartum. During follow-up, lifestyle factors were recorded by structured interviews. RESULTS: Among 72 exclusively breast-feeding women, the median (10-90% percentile) tHcy was 5.8 (3.1-8.3) micromol/l 3 weeks postpartum, 6.1 (4.1-10.3) micromol/l 4 months postpartum and 5.3 (3.6-8.7) micromol/I 9 months postpartum. At 9 months postpartum, none of the women breast-fed exclusively. No significant change occurred in the concentration of B12 and folate. Exclusively breast-feeding women without vitamin supplementation had higher median tHcy than supplemented exclusively breast-feeding women 4 and 9 months postpartum (7.0 vs 5.4 micromol/l (P < 0.001) and 5.8 vs 4.5 micromol/l (P = 0.003), respectively). Six women had increased (>15 micromol/l) tHcy; four of these were unsupplemented and exclusively breast-feeding. CONCLUSION: We found no overall indication of depletion of the folate and B12 stores during the lactation period in this population. However, folate-supplemented women had lower tHcy and higher folate levels, suggesting a beneficial effect of supplementation with folate throughout lactation.     

Plasma homocysteine concentrations in Greek children are influenced by an interaction between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T genotype and folate status

Risk factors established at young ages may set the stage for later cardiovascular disease (CVD). Elevated total homocysteine (tHcy) in blood is an emerging risk factor for CVD, yet few studies have been conducted in children, especially in the Mediterranean. We described plasma tHcy concentrations in a group of healthy Greek children and examined its relation with physiologic, metabolic, and genetic variables. Fasting blood samples were collected from 186 students, 11.6 +/- 0.4 years old, and tHcy, folate, vitamin B-12, and routine biochemistry variables in plasma were measured. The methylenetetrahydrolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T genotype was determined and anthropometric and dietary data were obtained. The distribution of tHcy was positively skewed with a median of 7.9 micromol/L (mean: 8.2 +/- 2.3 micromol/L; range: 4.4-22.2 micromol/L). tHcy was inversely related to plasma folate (r = -0.34, P < 0.0001), vitamin B-12 (r = -0.20, P = 0.008), and glucose (r = -0.15, P = 0.045). An interaction between the MTHFR genotype and plasma folate on tHcy was detected (P = 0.047). Specifically, the homozygous mutant TT genotype was associated with higher tHcy only in children with lower plasma folate (< 19.9 nmol/L), (P = 0.012). In our sample of healthy Greek children, plasma tHcy concentrations were higher than values reported in children of Northern European descent and were associated with folate, vitamin B-12, and glucose in plasma. The results also show that, similar to adults, plasma folate concentration is important in determining the contribution of the MTHFR C677T mutation to tHcy concentrations in children.     

Homocysteine,cardiovascular disease risk factors,and habitual diet in the French Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals Study

BACKGROUND: An elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration seems to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the determinants of tHcy in healthy French adults. DESIGN: tHcy was measured by HPLC and fluorometric detection in 1139 women and 931 men aged 35-60 y. Subjects were participants of the Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals Study, which investigates the effects of antioxidant supplementation on chronic diseases. Red blood cell folate (RBCF), plasma vitamins B-6 and B-12, and cardiovascular disease risk factors were also measured. The habitual diet was assessed in 616 subjects. Cross-sectional analyses were adjusted for age, smoking, energy intake, and concentration or intake of folate and vitamin B-6, where appropriate. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) tHcy concentration was 8.74 +/- 2.71 micro mol/L in women and 10.82 +/- 3.49 micro mol/L in men. In women, tHcy was positively related to age (P = 0.001), apolipoprotein B (P < 0.01), serum triacylglycerol (P < 0.01), fasting glucose (P = 0.02), and coffee and alcohol consumption (both P < 0.01) and inversely related to RBCF (P = 0.11) and plasma vitamin B-12 (P = 0.08) and vitamin B-6 (P = 0.01) intakes. In men, tHcy was positively associated with body mass index (P = 0.03), blood pressure (P < 0.02), serum triacylglycerol (P < 0.01), fasting glucose (P = 0.01), and energy intake (P < 0.01) and inversely associated with physical activity (P = 0.04), RCBF (P = 0.02), plasma vitamin B-12 (P = 0.09), and dietary fiber (P < 0.01), folate (P = 0.03), and vitamin B-6 (P = 0.09) intakes. CONCLUSION: To control tHcy, decreasing coffee and alcohol consumption may be important in women, whereas increasing physical activity, dietary fiber, and folate intake may be important in men.     

Intake of Vitamin B12 and Folate and Biomarkers of Nutrient Status of Women within Two Years Postpartum

Background: Little is known about variation in vitamin B12 and folate status among Chinese women 2 years postpartum. This study assessed intake of vitamin B12 and folate and biomarkers of nutrient status among Chinese women postpartum. Methods: Demographic information, multi-/single-nutrient supplementation, dietary data, serum vitamin B12 and serum folate were assessed in 982 women within 2 years postpartum, using ten investigation sites in Zhejiang Province from the National Nutritional Study 2016–2017, which is a nationally representative cross-sectional study, to form a representative provincial sample of Zhejiang Province. The dietary diversity score (DDS) was used for assessing the dietary pattern. Results: Vitamin B12 increased slightly at the early stage of postpartum and then dropped over time. Serum folate level elevated with postpartum time. The median serum vitamin B12 concentration was 494.59 (373.21–650.20) pg/mL, and folate was 7.58 (5.02–10.34) ng/mL. Correspondingly, vitamin B12 levels suggesting marginal deficiency (200–300 pg/mL) and deficiency (<200 pg/mL) resulted as 9.27% and 3.26%, respectively, and folate level suggesting deficiency (<3 ng/mL) was 9.16%. Multi-/single-nutrient supplementation during pregnancy was associated with log-transformed serum vitamin B12 and folate level after adjusting for potential confounders (vitamin B12: ß (SE) = 0.124 (0.028), p < 0.001; folate: 0.128 (0.035), <0.001). Additionally, postpartum nutrient supplementation was associated with log-transformed serum folate level, especially for lactating women (ß (SE) = 0.204 (0.062), p = 0.001). Increased DDS was significantly associated with elevated serum vitamin B12 and folate levels (vitamin B12: ß (SE) = 0.028 (0.011), p = 0.011; folate: 0.030 (0.014), 0.031). In addition, age and educational level were influencing factors for serum vitamin B12 and folate concentrations among postpartum women. Conclusion: Serum vitamin B12 level decreased and folate level increased with postpartum age among Chinese women. Nutrient supplementation during pregnancy was related to elevated serum vitamin B12 and folate concentrations. Postpartum nutrient supplementation was associated with the increased serum folate level of lactating women. Dietary diversity was related to increased serum vitamin B12 and folate levels, especially among postpartum women with younger age and lower educational level.