Dietary Supplement Intake and Factors Associated with Increased Use in Preadolescent Endurance Runners

BackgroundThe prevalence of dietary supplement intake among preadolescent endurance runners is currently unknown.ObjectiveOur aim was to describe use of dietary supplements, higher-risk supplements, and sport foods among preadolescent endurance athletes and identify associated characteristics of dietary supplement users in this population.DesignThis was a retrospective, cross-sectional study.Participants/settingParticipants were 2,113 preadolescent endurance runners (male: n = 1,255, female: n = 858; mean age ± standard deviation = 13.2 ± 0.9 years).Main outcome measuresUse of dietary supplements, higher-risk dietary supplements, and sport foods on 2 or more days per week during the past year.Statistical analyses performedMann-Whitney U tests, χ² tests, univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsTwenty-six percent (n = 551) of preadolescent runners used dietary supplements on 2 or more days per week during the past year; 1.3% (n = 27) reported taking higher-risk supplements. Compared with male runners, female runners reported higher use of 1 or more supplements (32.5% vs 21.7%; P < .001) and 4 or more supplements (4.0% vs 1.9%; P = 0.005), multivitamin/minerals (24.2% vs 14.4%; P < .001), vitamin D (12.4% vs 5.6%; P < .001), calcium (8.9% vs 4.8%; P < .001), iron (3.1 vs 1.1%; P < .001), probiotic supplements (8.2% vs 1.3%; P < .001), and diet pills (0.5% vs 0.0%; P = .02). Male runners reported higher use of creatine (1.3% vs 0.0%; P < .001) and sport foods, including protein bars and drinks (19.5% vs 8.4%; P < .001), energy bars (23.5% vs 9.7%; P < .001), and carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks (27.9% vs 13.3%; P < .001) than female runners. Factors independently associated with a higher likelihood for dietary supplement use included weight loss in the past year, female (vs male) gender, following a vegetarian diet, skipping meals, attempting to gain weight, and history of a running-related bone stress injury.ConclusionsMore than one-quarter of preadolescent runners regularly consumed dietary supplements. Behaviors consistent with dietary restriction and history of bone stress injury were associated with higher likelihood for supplement use. Further work to understand supplement use patterns and potential value for nutrition education is advised to optimize health of preadolescent runners.     

骨矿含量及血清骨钙素测定对性早熟儿童骨骼发育诊治及疗效考核的价值

为探讨骨矿含量（ＢＭＣ）及骨钙素（ＢＧＰ）测定在性早熟儿童骨骼发育状况的诊断、治疗及疗效考核上的价值，对８２例特发性性早熟女孩，采用单光子吸收法测定桡骨的ＢＭＣ，放射免疫分析法测定血清ＢＧＰ含量。于治疗前及治疗３～４个月后分别测定ＢＭＣ和ＢＧＰ，并与正常同龄儿进行对比。结果：性早熟女孩的ＢＭＣ及血清ＢＧＰ浓度大多较同龄儿显著增高。性早熟Ⅱ～Ⅲ期者ＢＭＣ为０４５２±００８０ｇ／ｃｍ，Ⅳ～Ⅴ期者为０５８５±００９８ｇ／ｃｍ（ｔ＝５３６２，Ｐ＜０００１），示病情越重、病程越长，增高也越明显。治疗后Ⅱ～Ⅲ期者ＢＭＣ降为０３９９±００９３ｇ／ｃｍ，Ⅳ～Ⅴ期者降为０５１９±００７０ｇ／ｃｍ，与治疗前相比，ｔ＝４１４１，Ｐ＜００１。血清ＢＧＰ浓度也均明显降低。表明经过治疗，随着病情缓解，这些指标会有明显改善。因此，ＢＭＣ及ＢＧＰ对性早熟患儿诊治及疗效考核有一定的临床价值。     

Mineral content of Pakistani foods: An update of food composition database of Pakistan through indirect method

Analysis of nutrients to develop new or update food composition database is costly and time consuming. An alternate approach is to add the data on nutrients from existing literature using guidelines set by International Network of Food Data Systems (INFOODS). The currently available database for food composition in Pakistan is fairly old (2001) and thus, needs to be updated. In the present study mineral content of various foods from Pakistan was collected from existing literature and scrutinized against a set of criteria for inclusion in updated food composition database of Pakistan. Data for 37 food items with eight minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and copper) fits under the criteria therefore is included in updated database for foods of Pakistan. Additionally, chromium, cobalt, cadmium, lead, nickel and manganese were also updated for 16 food items. Further, selected mineral content (iron, zinc, phosphorus and calcium) was compared with food composition Table of Pakistan (published in 2001). Comparison results showed that mineral content for most of the foods vary among two databases. The present study demonstrates feasibility of updating food composition databases thorough scientific reports on food products of a particular country.     

Mineral and phenolic concentrations of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek var. radiata] grown in semi-arid tropical India

Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek var. radiata] is an important pulse crop grown in south, east and southeast Asia. Mungbean seed samples harvested from field trials conducted in two environments in Hyderabad, India were utilized to determine genetic variation in the concentrations of minerals Fe, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, Na, K and P and to determine the concentrations of phytic acid (PA) and phenolic compounds. Significant variations in Fe (35–87 mg/kg), Ca (1190–1580 mg/kg), Mg (970–1700 mg/kg), Zn (21–62 mg/kg), Cu (7.5–11.9 mg/kg), Mn (9.8–19.6 mg/kg), Se (0.21–0.91 mg/kg), K (8670–14,100 mg/kg) and P (2760–5170 mg/kg) were recorded in mungbean lines commonly grown in South Asia. The effect of the environment on the concentration of minerals in mungbean lines was observed. The Fe concentration of lines CN 9-5 and Harsha doubled when grown in soil with increased availability of Fe. The low PA concentration (2.6–3.8 g/kg) and the presence of phenolic compounds such as ferulic acid (1540–3400 μg/g) in mungbean may lead to increased bioavailability of micronutrients. Nutrient-rich mungbean should be included in diets to combat micronutrient malnutrition.     

Bioactive compound composition of pomegranate fruits removed during thinning

Thinning consists of reducing fruit load at immature stage and thus allowing remaining fruits to develop to their maximum size and quality. The waste material produced during this farming practice was characterised in 9 pomegranate cultivars, by evaluating: weight, size, maturity index, pH, organic acids and sugars profiles, contents of minerals, punicalagin, and ellagic acid, total polyphenols and antioxidant activity. Citric and quinic were the main organic acids. Potassium was the predominant mineral, reaching up to 11 g kg⁻¹ dry weight (dw). Total polyphenol content ranged from 777 to 1660 g GAE kg⁻¹ dw, α-punicalagin from 101 to 195 and β-punicalagin from 80.1 to 111 g kg⁻¹ dw. The antioxidant activity was assessed by three methods and its values varied from 2923 to 4486 for ABTS, from 3153 to 4685 for FRAP, and from 2075 to 2934 mmol Trolox kg⁻¹ dw for DPPH. Pomegranate thinning fruits, especially sour-sweet cultivars, are rich in bioactive compounds, with a potential use in the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.     

Phytate,zinc, iron and calcium content of common Bolivian food,and implications for mineral bioavailability

The content of zinc, iron, calcium and phytate in the 16 most consumed foods from 5 villages in a tropical rural area of Bolivia was analyzed. The food items were selected according to a completed food frequency questionnaire. Minerals were analyzed by atomic absorption and phytates by HPIC chromatography. The molar ratios of phytate:mineral are presented as indication of the mineral bioavailability. Within the analyzed food, quinoa is a potential source of minerals: zinc 3.65, iron 5.40 and calcium 176 mg/100 g; however, it also has the highest content of phytate 2060 mg/100 g. Cereals and legumes showed high concentration of phytates (from 142 to 2070 mg/100 g), roots and tubers have lower concentrations (from 77 to 427 mg/100 g). In general, both phytate contents and molar ratios Phy:Zn (phytate:zinc), Phy:Fe (phytate:iron) and Phy:Ca (phytate:calcium) in most of the analyzed foods were at levels likely to inhibit the absorption of these minerals. Significant positive associations (p < 0.01) were found between the level of phytate and minerals in food, for zinc (r = 0.714), iron (r = 0.650) and calcium (r = 0.415). The results compared to data from USA or from Bolivia showed some discrepancies, confirming the need for more reliable data for dietary evaluations and interventions.     

Nutrient composition of six wild edible Mediterranean Asteraceae plants of dietary interest

Interest in wild leafy vegetables has significantly increased in Europe, and elsewhere, because they provide high nutrient levels and potential health benefits. Some Asteraceae species are widely cultivated, and many non-cultivated species are also traditionally eaten as green vegetables; however, the information on their nutrient composition is scarce. This study presents useful data (proteins, fat, available carbohydrates, soluble/insoluble fibre and mineral content) of interest for furthering the knowledge of the nutritional value of six wild Asteraceae species traditionally consumed in many areas in Mediterranean countries. These rarely studied species are Taraxacum obovatum (Willd.) DC., Chondrilla juncea L., Sonchus oleraceus L., Cichorium intybus L., Scolymus hispanicus L. and Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. From the results obtained, these species are notable for their high fibre content (2.3–13.4 g/100 g), K (375–1772 mg/100 g) and Ca (16–472 mg/100 g), compared to most conventional vegetables. C. juncea can contribute to fibre and micronutrient intakes, particularly Mn (with values of up to 50% of daily Recommended Dietary Allowances for adults). These new findings suggest that these plants can be considered as valuable food resources in the traditional Mediterranean diet, allowing their incorporation into food nutrient databases.     

母体营养状况与唇腭裂发生关系的研究

目的通过检测母体血清,了解其营养状况,分析唇腭裂发生与母体营养状况的关系,为降低唇腭裂的发生开辟新途径。方法收集唇腭裂患者母亲血液（Ⅰ组）和正常婴儿母亲（Ⅱ组）血液样本各78例,采用原子吸收光谱分光光度法测量血清中营养物质（锌、钙、镁、铜、铁、总蛋白、甘油三酯、胆固醇及血糖）的含量,比较分析两组营养物质含量有无差异。结果Ⅰ组血清锌的含量明显低于Ⅱ组,两组间比较P〈0.001,有统计学意义;而Ⅰ组血清铜、铁、镁、钙、总蛋白、胆固醇、血糖及甘油三酯的含量与Ⅱ组比较均见P〉0.05,无统计学意义;在Ⅰ组中,唇裂伴腭裂者与单纯唇裂者母体血清的各种营养物质含量比较均见P〉0.05,无统计学意义。结论唇腭裂的发生与孕期母体的营养状况有一定关系,其中锌含量的高低与后代唇腭裂的发生密切相关。