南沙守礁官兵身心健康状况及医疗卫生保障研究

目的 探讨南沙守礁官兵健康干预前后身心状态变化.方法 2002年1月～2006年12月对南沙守礁官兵进行综合干预,在干预前后采用症状自评量表(SCL-90)对干预对象进行测评,同时调查2周患病率、膳食营养、体质指数,测定血清总甲状腺素(TT4)、总三碘甲状腺原酸(TT3)、睾酮、皮质醇、维生素A及尿液维生素B1、B2、C含量.结果 2周患病率干预前为32.21%,干预后为23.37%,P＜0.05;体质指数正常率由干预前的51.84% 升至干预后的70.66%,P＜0.05;干预后膳食能量、三大产能营养素及维生素摄入量趋于合理,体内维生素B1、B2低于正常标准的检出率分别由干预前的85.56%和72.78%降至11.11%和9.44%,P<0.01;SCL-90各因子分、总均分和阳性项目数均明显低于干预前(均P<0.001),TT4水平显著高于干预前(P<0.01),睾酮、皮质醇水平显著低于干预前(P<0.001).结论 综合性的干预措施,强有力的医疗卫生保障,能提高守礁官兵身心健康水平.     

南海驻岛守礁官兵慢性病及卫生服务状况调查

目的 探讨驻岛守礁官兵慢性病患病情况和对卫生服务的客观需求,为制定医疗卫生保障方案提供依据。方法 采用自行设计的调查表对南海部分驻岛、守礁、驻船及岸勤官兵进行调查。结果 815名官兵慢性病总患病率为23．07％,其中驻岛官兵患病率为25．21％,守礁官兵为18．98％;慢性胃病是各部队最常见的疾病;驻岛官兵泌尿系结石、守礁官兵慢性关节病的患病率较高;患者总体住院率为11．70％。反映意见最多的是药品供给问题。结论 南海驻岛守礁官兵的慢性病患病率较高,基层卫生单位所提供的医疗卫生服务与需求之间尚有一定的距离。     

守礁人员的心理测评及甲状腺素、睾酮、皮质醇水平

目的　研究守礁人员的心理应激状态及内分泌变化。方法　调查对象为 1 63名驻守在中国南海的守礁人员 ,均为男性 ,年龄在 1 8～ 3 8岁 ,大部分为中等文化水平。将他们分为两组 ,以上岛礁前 1周的人员为对照组 ,上岛守礁 3个月的人员为守礁组。采用症状自评量表对调查对象进行心理测评 ,并进行TT4、TT3、睾酮、皮质醇测定。结果　有 1 4 1 %～ 43 6%的守礁人员有轻度不良反应 ,2 5 %～ 1 1 0 6%的人存在较明显的心理健康问题。守礁组各项因子分、阳性项目数均明显高于军人常模和对照组。 49 1 %的人睡眠质量差。与对照组相比 ,TT4水平明显降低 ,睾酮、皮质醇明显增高 ,TT3无差异。结论　守礁人员的心理问题较明显。加强对守礁人员的心理卫生工作是十分必要的。     

新疆某部边防官兵慢性低血压调查及防治效果观察

目的了解新疆北部某边防部队官兵慢性低血压患病情况及防治效果,为防治部队官兵慢性低血压提供依据。方法采用普查方法于2008年8—9月对新疆北部某边防部队所有在职官兵进行慢性低血压患病情况调查,调查内容包括年龄、身高、体重及血压等。调查后对慢性低血压及有低血压倾向官兵进行为期1年的防治工作,防治措施包括健康教育、改变膳食结构、加强体质锻炼和自拟“升压汤”治疗等。于2009年8-9月再次对该部所有官兵进行同内容调查。结果防治前共调查2330人。查出慢性低血压122例（5．2％）,其中917名边防一线官兵慢性低血压63例（6．9％）,1413名边境城镇官兵慢性低血压59例（4．2％）,边防一线官兵慢性低血压患痛率高于边境城镇官兵（P〈0．01）。防治后共调查2017人,查出慢性低血压26例（1．3％）,其中869名边防一线官兵慢性低血压12例（1．4％）,1148名边境城镇官兵慢性低血压14例（1．2％）,防治后边防一线官兵与边境城镇官兵慢性低血压患病率差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。防治前后边防官兵慢性低血压总患病率差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论边防官兵慢性低血压患病率较高,综合防治对降低边防官兵慢性低血压患病率效果显著。     

四川省中老年居民骨关节炎流行现况调查

目的了解四川省40岁及以上居民骨关节炎（OA）的患病情况,比较不同特征人群OA的患病率,分析OA发病的相关影响因素,为该病的早期预防及干预提供科学依据。方法通过多阶段随机抽样方法,对四川省部分市县848名40岁及以上居民进行问卷调查、骨科体检并拍摄x线片。结果骨关节炎总患病率为42．0％,随着年龄的增加,骨关节炎患病率也随之增高（X2=62．25,P〈0.001）;城市居民颈椎患病率高于农村居民（X2=7．79,P=0．005）,而腰椎患病率低于农村居民（x2=9．05,P=0．003）;女性膝关节和手关节患病率均高于男性（X2=8．30,P=0．004;x2=4．29,P=0．038）;体质指数（BMI）正常、超重、肥胖者的患病率呈递增趋势（X2=10．93,P=0．012）;高血压、动脉粥样硬化、糖尿病、骨质疏松患者,OA的患病率均比非患者的患病率高,差异均有统计学意义（x2=27．04,P〈0．001;X2=21．67,P〈0．001;X2=22．77,P〈0．001;）x2=27．39,P〈0．001）。结论四川省中老年居民OA患病率较高。年龄、性别、地区、BMI、高血压、动脉粥样硬化、糖尿病、骨质疏松等是OA患病的影响因素。     

533名中老年人高同型半胱氨酸血症的危险因素调查

摘要：目的研究中老年人高同型半胱氨酸血症（hyperhomocysteinmia,HHcy）的危险因素,为人群干预提供依据。方法以天津市5个社区及2所老年公寓55岁及以上的中老年志愿者698人为研究对象,进行问卷调查、膳食调查和血清同型半胱氨酸检测;分析HHcy组和非高同型半胱氨酸血症（N—HHcv）组中老年人生活方式、膳食叶酸和VitB。摄入量的差异。结果533人完成了全程研究。总人群HHcy患病率随年龄增长而升高（P〈0．001）,男性（57．0％）高于女性（35．7％）,P〈0．001。与男性不吸烟者比较,男性吸烟者HHcy患病率（x2=0．047,P=0．828）、血清tHcy水平（t=-1．020,P=0．310）的差异无统计学意义。服用叶酸、VitB6、VitB12者的血清tHcy平均浓度（15．2μmol／L）明显低于不服用者（16．9μmol／L）,HHcy患病率（39．7％）低于不服用者（46．2％）,P〈0．05。HHcy组中老年人平均每日膳食叶酸、VitB。摄入量（207．9μg／d,0．37ms／d）均低于N—HHcy组（295．4μg／d,0．53ms／d）,P〈0．05。膳食叶酸、VitB6的摄入量均与血清tHcy水平呈负相关,相关系数分别为-0．439（P=-0．000）和-0．390（P=-0．000）。结论吸烟与HHcy患病率和tHcy水平无关。日常服用叶酸、VitB6和VitB12或富含上述维生素的膳食有助于保持较低的tHcy水平。     

高尿酸血症肾损害社区流行病学调查及其危险因素分析

目的通过社区人群筛查了解国内现阶段城市原住居民中高尿酸血症及其相关肾损害患病现状,并探讨相关危险因素在国内社区人群发生高尿酸血症肾损害中的意义。方法选择桂林市城区原住居民集中的象山社区,对年龄在18～75岁之间居民4075人进行横断面筛查。结果社区人群高尿酸血症总患病率为19．1％,其中男性高尿酸血症患病率（22．9％）显著高于女性（15．9％）,P〈0．001。高尿酸血症人群中慢性肾脏病（CKD）患病率（30．5％）显著高于尿酸正常人群（19．O％）,P〈0．001。男性高尿酸血症人群CKD患病率（34_3％）显著高于同性别正常血尿酸人群（21．2％）,P〈0．001,发病风险为正常尿酸人群的1．516倍;也显著高于女性高尿酸血症人群（25．9％）,P〈0．001,CKD发病风险为女性高尿酸血症人群的1．496倍。高尿酸血症合并CKD人群中38.4％仅为微量白蛋白尿,34．6％为微量白蛋白尿＋GFR下降,27．0％为单纯GFR下降。结论高尿酸血症是CKD重要危险因素,高尿酸血症患病率显著增加是CKD患病率增高的重要原因,且轻度增高的血尿酸即增加CKD患病率。男性比女性更易受尿酸损害而发生CKD。微量白蛋白尿是单纯高尿酸血症发生肾损害的早期诊断标志和干预靶点。     

东南沿海演练官兵的心理状况调查及心理干预

目的探讨东南沿海演练官兵心理应激状态，通过综合性心理干预，促进官兵的心理健康，提高部队战斗力。方法应用SCL-90进行心理健康状况调查，根据结果确定阳性组，采用心理健康教育、心理疏导及心理支持等综合性措施进行心理干预并在干预后再次用SCL-90进行测评。结果心理干预后演练官兵的SCL-90各因子分明显低于干预前（P〈0．05-0．01）。结论心理干预能够适当降低演练时官兵的过度应激水平，对促进演练官兵的心理健康具有积极的作用。     

广西城乡居民膳食营养素摄入与代谢综合征的关系

目的探讨广西城乡居民膳食营养素摄入水平与代谢综合征的关系，为有针对性提出膳食营养防治策略提供科学依据。方法按照多阶段随机抽样法．分别抽取广西4个城市和4个农村县共3026名18岁及以上的城乡居民进行调查：采用24h回顾法进行膳食调查；对调查对象进行体检和血糖、血脂检测。结果被调查居民中代谢综合征（MS）患者107人，患病率为3．54％，其中城市居民MS患病率为5．21％，农村为1．90％，差别有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。城市居民MS患者能量、铁营养素摄入与正常人群相比无明显差异．经多因素Logisic回归分析发现，膳食蛋白质（OR=1．256，95％CI：1．042～1．514）、铁（OR=1．432，95％CI：1．127—1．820）摄入过多是城市居民MS重要的膳食危险因素，而维生素B2是保护因素（OR=0．712．95％CI：0．590～0．860）；而农村居民MS患者能量、蛋白质、钠、钾、硒和烟酸、维生素B1、维生素B2摄入量均显著高于正常人群，蛋白质（OR=1．854，95％CI：1．435—2．396）摄入过多是农村居民MS危险因素，而膳食钙（OR=0．612，95％CI：0．398-0．939）是保护因素。结论膳食营养因素与广西城乡居民发生MS关系密切，膳食蛋白质摄入过多是广西城乡居民MS的危险因素，其他膳食营养因素存在城乡差异；对城乡居民采取针对性膳食营养干预措施将取得更好的防治效果。     

NUTRIOSE1膳食纤维补充剂对男性超重者的体重，体成分，能量摄人量和饥饿感的影响

目的评估NUTRIOSE水溶性膳食纤维对中国成年男性超重者的体重、体成分、能量摄入量和饥饿感的影响。方法在双盲条件下,将受试者随机分成两组,分别摄入含17gNUTRIOSE锄水溶性膳食纤维（实验组,n=60）和含17g麦芽糊精（对照组,n=60）的果汁250ml,每天2次,为期12周。在试验的第0周,第4周,第8周和第12周测量受试者的体重和体成分,每3天评估1次受试者的日均能量摄入量和饥饿感。结果12周后,实验组受试者平均体重较对照组轻1．5kg（P〈0．001）,体质指数平均减少0．5kg／m^2（P〈0．001）,身体脂肪率平均降低了0．3％（P〈0．001）。且在试验开始的第3天,NUTRIOSE水溶性膳食纤维组的日均能量摄入量就低于对照组（12周平均日能量摄入量,实验组较对照组低3079kJ／天,P〈0．001）。试验过程中,实验组受试者的饥饿感比对照组受试者的饥饿感小（P〈0．001）。结论NUTRIOSE膳食纤维补充剂有助于男性超重者改善体成分,降低体重和日均能量摄人量,减少饥饿感。     

南海驻礁人员胃肠道疾病患病率及干预效果分析

目的探讨南海驻礁人员干预前后胃肠道疾病患病率的变化,完善防治方案。方法在干预前后采用统一的现场一对一问卷调查,内容包括胃肠道疾病界定、患病情况及致病危险因素(含6类84项因素)。结果干预前,胃肠道疾病患病率67.4,其中确诊病例6.9,临床病例60.5;干预后,胃肠道疾病患病率25.2,其中确诊病例4.3,临床病例20.9。干预后患病率和临床病例下降显著(P<0.001)。致病危险因素,包括在南海工作时间、进食速度、是否进食规律,是否喜食生冷、刺激性食物,是否饮酒、喝浓茶,精神紧张及服用相关药物史等。结论共同的综合性干预措施和具体的针对性干预措施相结合,能显著降低南海驻礁人员胃肠道疾病患病率。     

某部队官兵嚼食槟榔健康教育干预

目的了解南海某岛礁驻防官兵嚼食槟榔现状,明确其主要原因,验证教育宣讲的干预效果,探索有效控制槟榔嚼食的具体措施。方法采用自行编制的岛礁部队官兵嚼食槟榔调查问卷,对随机抽取的南海某岛礁部队147名经槟榔危害健康教育宣讲官兵进行调查对比。结果受调查官兵槟榔嚼食率为58.5%,其中41.62%为偶尔嚼食,40.14%嚼食时间≥1年。经健康教育后1月,随访发现未嚼食槟榔者有91人(61.9%),嚼食槟榔数量减少者有44人(29.93%)。认为健康教育宣讲对本人和周围人群戒食槟榔有作用占89.11%。结论健康教育是岛礁部队官兵戒食槟榔的强有力手段之一。结合调查问卷,建议采取多样化措施,减少槟榔嚼食对官兵的影响,提高官兵身体素质和战斗力。     

B-group vitamins, MTHFR C677T polymorphism and carotid intima-media thickness in clinically healthy subjects

OBJECTIVE: Plasma B-group vitamins and age may affect the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in subjects with different 677TT genotype of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene. DESIGN: A hospital-based cross-study. SETTING: Genomic and Vascular Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan. SUBJECTS: Five hundred and forty-one clinically healthy subjects. INTERVENTION: Fasting plasma, homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B(6), vitamin B(12), folate and B-mode carotid ultrasound. RESULTS: MTHFR genotype, plasma concentrations of folate, vitamin B(6) and vitamin B(12) and age were significantly correlated to the plasma Hcy concentration. MTHFR 677TT carriers had higher concentrations of Hcy than did subjects with the CC and CT genotypes. Age, sex, body mass index and plasma Hcy were independent contributors to increase carotid IMT. However, with stratification by mean value of age and B-group vitamins concentrations, we found that at advanced age, lower plasma folate and vitamin B(12) were three risk factors involved in the enhancing effect of the MTHFR 677TT genotype on the increase of plasma Hcy and carotid IMT. CONCLUSION: MTHFR 677TT-related carotid atherosclerosis was only identified in healthy elderly subjects with lower level of plasma folate and vitamin B(12). SPONSORSHIP: Changhua Christian Hospital.     

我国部分地区成人血浆维生素B_(12)水平比较研究

目的:描述不同地区、季节、性别成年人血浆维生素B12水平的分布特征。方法:描述性流行病学研究;以来自南北方有代表性的城乡地区2 459份血浆标本(35～64岁)进行维生素B12检测并比较其地区、季节及性别差异。结果:南方人群调整后血浆维生素B12平均水平为260pmol/L,显著高于北方人群(189pmol/L);南北方人群血浆维生素B12水平随季节变化规律不同,南方人群夏秋季节(269pmol/L)血浆维生素B12水平高于冬春季节(252pmol/L),北方人群则夏秋季节(177pmol/L)明显低于冬春季节(200pmol/L);女性调整后血浆维生素B12水平高于男性,差异具有统计学意义。全研究人群中血浆维生素B12低于110pmol/L者占5.5%。结论:我国成年人群血浆维生素B12水平存在明显的地区和性别差异;南北方人群血浆维生素B12水平随季节变化的规律不同。     

Genetic, dietary, and other lifestyle determinants of serum homocysteine levels in young adults in Costa Rica.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated serum total homocysteine (tHcy) is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to develop the first-ever information on the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and its determinants in a population in Costa Rica. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine serum levels of tHcy, vitamin B(12), folate, and creatinine, as well as the presence of the genotype TT for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme. Additionally, dietary vitamin intakes and other lifestyle risk factors were assessed. A total of 399 Costa Rican adults from the central valley of the country (where the capital city, San José, is located), aged 20 to 40 years, participated in this study in the year 2000. Analyses of variance were performed for continuous variables, and the chi-square test was used for categorical data. Spearman correlation tests were calculated to determine associations between variables. Three linear regression analyses and one binary logistic model were developed in order to determine the predictors for homocysteine levels in the population studied. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (>15 micromol/L) in the population was 6%, 31% of the population were in the range of 10 to 15 micromol/L, 29% had the genotype TT for the enzyme MTHFR, 18% presented a vitamin B(12) deficiency (<165 pmol/L), and none of the persons had low serum folate levels (<7.0 nmol/L). No significant associations were found between tHcy and age, smoking, consuming alcohol, or dietary vitamin intake. CONCLUSIONS: Only serum vitamin B(12) levels and the genotype TT of the enzyme MTHFR were considered significant predictors of high serum tHcy levels in the Costa Rica population studied.     

Folic acid and vitamin B12 are more effective than vitamin B6 in lowering fasting plasma homocysteine concentration in patients with coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether vitamin B(6) supplementation had a beneficial effect on lowering fasting plasma homocysteine concentrations in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. DESIGN: A single-blind intervention study. SETTING: The study was performed at the Taichung Veterans General Hospital, the central part of Taiwan. SUBJECTS: A total of 50 subjects were identified by cardiac catheterization to have at least 70% stenosis of one major coronary artery. In all, 42 patients successfully completed this study. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to one of five groups and treated with a daily dose of placebo (n=8), 5 mg vitamin B(6) (n=8), 10 mg vitamin B(6) (n=8), 50 mg vitamin B(6) (n=9), or 5 mg folic acid combined with 0.25 mg vitamin B(12) (n=9) for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nutrient intakes were recorded by using 24-h diet recalls when patients returned to the cardiology clinic before the intervention (week 0) and at week 12. Vitamin B(6) status was assessed by direct measures (plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate) and indirect measures (erythrocyte alanine and aspartate aminotransaminase activity coefficient). Fasting plasma homocysteine, serum folic acid, and vitamin B(12) were measured. RESULTS: Fasting plasma homocysteine concentration did not respond to high or low doses of vitamin B(6) when compared with a placebo treatment after 12 weeks of supplementation. The mean fasting plasma homocysteine concentration, however, decreased significantly after 12 weeks of folic acid combined with vitamin B(12) supplementation (P=0.047). Further, within group, mean fasting plasma homocysteine concentration was nonsignificantly increased by 25.5, 16.2, and 18.3% in placebo, 10 mg/day and 50 mg/day vitamin B(6) supplemented groups, respectively; whereas folic acid combined with vitamin B(12) supplementation significantly reduced fasting plasma homocysteine concentration by 32% (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that vitamin B(6) supplementation alone is less effective than folic acid combined with vitamin B(12) in lowering plasma homocysteine concentrations in CAD patients. SPONSORSHIP: This study was supported by the National Science Council, Taiwan, Republic of China (NSC-91-2320-B-040-023).     

Low Maternal Vitamin B12 Status Is Associated with Lower Cord Blood HDL Cholesterol in White Caucasians Living in the UK

Background and Aims: Studies in South Asian population show that low maternal vitamin B12 associates with insulin resistance and small for gestational age in the offspring. Low vitamin B12 status is attributed to vegetarianism in these populations. It is not known whether low B12 status is associated with metabolic risk of the offspring in whites, where the childhood metabolic disorders are increasing rapidly. Here, we studied whether maternal B12 levels associate with metabolic risk of the offspring at birth. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 91 mother-infant pairs (n = 182), of white Caucasian origin living in the UK. Blood samples were collected from white pregnant women at delivery and their newborns (cord blood). Serum vitamin B12, folate, homocysteine as well as the relevant metabolic risk factors were measured. Results: The prevalence of low serum vitamin B12 (<191 ng/L) and folate (<4.6 μg/L) were 40% and 11%, respectively. Maternal B12 was inversely associated with offspring’s Homeostasis Model Assessment 2-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides, homocysteine and positively with HDL-cholesterol after adjusting for age and BMI. In regression analysis, after adjusting for likely confounders, maternal B12 is independently associated with neonatal HDL-cholesterol and homocysteine but not triglycerides or HOMA-IR. Conclusions: Our study shows that low B12 status is common in white women and is independently associated with adverse cord blood cholesterol.     

Dietary and genetic determinants of homocysteine levels among Mexican women of reproductive age

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the independent and joint effects of dietary folate, vitamin B(12) consumption and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms (677C>T and 1298A>C) on the circulating folate and homocysteine (Hcy) levels among Mexican women of reproductive age. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, population-based study. SUBJECTS: The first 130 healthy non-pregnant women (aged 16-34 years) who agreed to participate in a reproductive cohort in Morelos, Mexico. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Dietary intakes of vitamin B(12) and folate were estimated using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. MTHFR 677C>T and 1298A>C polymorphisms were ascertained using the PCR-based method. Serum levels of Hcy and folate were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: Genotype frequencies for the MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism were 21.5% (CC), 52.3% (CT) and 26.2% (TT) among Mexican women. Of the population, 22% had the MTHFR 1298AC genotype, while no individual carried the 1298CC genotype. We observed an increased level of Hcy among carriers of the 677TT genotype, compared to carriers of the 677CC genotype. The highest level of Hcy was observed among MTHFR 677TT carriers with low B(12) intake (<2.0 microg/day), which resulted with a significant interaction (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Vitamin B(12) is an important determinant of Hcy levels in Mexico. Supplementation of folic acid with vitamin B(12) may be preferable when the MTHFR 677T variant allele is prevalent.     

Interventions with vitamins B6, B12 and C in pregnancy

The water-soluble vitamins B6, B12 and C play important roles in maternal health as well as fetal development and physiology during gestation. This systematic review evaluates the risks and benefits of interventions with vitamins B6, B12 and C during pregnancy on maternal, neonatal and child health and nutrition outcomes. Relevant publications were identified by searching PubMed, Popline and Web of Science databases. Meta-analyses were conducted for outcomes where results from at least three controlled trials were available. Potential benefits of vitamin B6 supplementation were reduction in nausea and vomiting, improvement in dental health, and treatment of some cases of anaemia. In meta-analysis based on three small studies, vitamin B6 supplementation had a significant positive effect on birthweight (d = 217 g [95% confidence interval (CI) 130, 304]). Interventions with vitamin C alone or combined with vitamin E did not systematically reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, or other adverse pregnancy outcomes. In meta-analyses, vitamins C and E increased the risk of pregnancy-related hypertension (relative risk 1.10 [95% CI 1.02, 1.19]). Effects of vitamin B6 or C intervention on other neonatal outcomes, including preterm birth, low birthweight, and perinatal morbidity and mortality, were not significant. Data on child health outcomes were lacking. Despite the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency amongst populations with limited intake of animal source foods, no intervention trials have evaluated vitamin B12 supplementation before or during pregnancy. In conclusion, existing evidence does not justify vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy. Additional studies are needed to confirm positive effects of vitamin B6 supplementation on infant birthweight and other outcomes. While vitamin B12 supplementation may reduce the incidence of neural tube defects in the offspring based on theoretical considerations, research is needed to support this hypothesis.     

Influence of protein-enriched food on tissue vitamin content in pregnant and lactating rats]

Two groups of female rats were fed, during gestation and until weaning of their pups, diets containing respectively 18% (normal protein diet) and 27% (high protein diet) by weight of casein. Two control groups of female rats were fed the same diet. Thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B6 contents were measured in: - liver and carcass of the mothers before and immediately after delivery or at weaning (21st day), - whole body of the new born rats or in liver and carcass of 21 days old pups. - liver and carcass of the control animals. The high protein diet, as compared to the normal diet, gives the following results: 1) There is no variation of the thiamin content in control animals, female rats at delivery, new born rats. However, at weaning, carcasses of mothers and pups (mainly liver) are enriched in thiamin. 2) On the other hand, riboflavin content in tissues increases in control animals (liver and carcass), in mothers before and after delivery (carcass) but particularly in mothers at the end of lactation (liver and carcass) and it is also the case with pups at weaning (carcass). Only in new born rats do both diets have the same effect. 3)The influence of the high protein diet on vitamin B6 content in tissues is complex. The content is not modified in control animals, in mothers at delivery and in new born rats. At the end of lactation (mothers) and at weaning (pups), the vitamin B6 content increases in liver but strongly decreases in carcass.