Nutrition
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The aim of this study was to determine seasonal and agro-ecological variations in nutritional status, anemia, and associated factors among lactating women in rural Ethiopia. ⋯ The magnitude of malnutrition and anemia was significantly influenced by variations in season and agro-ecological zones. Interventions focused on agro-ecology and seasonal variation should be considered in addition to current strategies to alleviate malnutrition in lactating mothers.
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Dietary compounds, including micronutrients such as vitamin A and its metabolite retinoic acid, directly influence the development and function of the immune system. In this study, we show that either dietary deficiency of or supplementation with vitamin A had immunologic effects in mice that were fed these diets during their development (for 8 wk during the postweaning period). ⋯ Serum immunoglobulin G levels also were elevated in these mice. Conversely, supplemented mice showed higher frequencies of CD4+Foxp3+LAP+ regulatory T cells in gut lymphoid tissues and spleen, suggesting that vitamin A supplementation in the diet may be beneficial in pathologic situations such as inflammatory bowel diseases.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the dose-response relationship between ergocalciferol therapy and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in enterally fed, critically ill patients with traumatic injuries. ⋯ Ergocalciferol therapy improved baseline serum 25-OH vitamin D concentrations but was inadequate for consistently achieving normal serum concentrations of 25-OH vitamin D during critical illness. The trend in increasing appearance of mild hypercalcemia for the highest dosage group is concerning.