The British journal of nutrition
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Dietary phytochemicals, of which polyphenols form a considerable part, may affect the risk of obesity-associated chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. This article presents an overview on how phytochemicals, especially polyphenols in fruits, vegetables, berries, beverages and herbal medicines, may modify imbalanced lipid and glucose homeostasis thereby reducing the risk of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes complications.
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Comparative Study
Vitamin D status of apparently healthy schoolgirls from two different socioeconomic strata in Delhi: relation to nutrition and lifestyle.
Forty to fifty per cent of skeletal mass, accumulated during childhood and adolescence, is influenced by sunlight exposure, physical activity, lifestyle, endocrine status, nutrition and gender. In view of scarce data on association of nutrition and lifestyle with hypovitaminosis D in Indian children and adolescents, an in-depth study on 3,127 apparently healthy Delhi schoolgirls (6-18 years) from the lower (LSES, n 1,477) and upper socioeconomic strata (USES, n 1650) was carried out. These girls were subjected to anthropometry and clinical examination for hypovitaminosis D. ⋯ Physical activity and time spent outdoors was significantly higher in LSES girls (92.8 v. 64 %, P = 0.000). Significant correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and estimated sun exposure (r 0.185, P = 0.001) and percentage body surface area exposed (r 0.146, P = 0.004) suggests that these lifestyle-related factors may contribute significantly to the vitamin D status of the apparently healthy schoolgirls. Hence, in the absence of vitamin D fortification of foods, diet alone appears to have an insignificant role.
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Soyabean oil-based emulsions high in linoleic acid used in parenteral nutrition (PN) could interfere with immune function and may increase the risk of septic complications. Olive oil-based emulsions, high in oleic acid, could have fewer immune effects. We compared the effects of a soyabean oil-based emulsion v. an olive oil-based emulsion on infection rate, appearance of new infection episodes, leucocyte count (peak and evolution), acute-phase proteins, and major health outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU) adult patients receiving PN. ⋯ At the end of PN, blood leucocyte count decreased by 3.25 x 109 cells/l in the SOYA cohort and increased by 4.51 x 109 cells/l in the OLIVE cohort from baseline values (P = 0.036). Peak leucocyte count presented a trend for a higher value in the OLIVE cohort v. the SOYA cohort (18.86 v. 15.28 x 109 cells/l; P = 0.078). The use of an olive oil-based emulsion in PN had no effect on infection, acute-phase proteins, major health outcomes, and presented higher leucocyte count at the end of PN and a trend to higher peak leucocyte count when compared with soyabean oil-based emulsion in ICU patients.
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The study examines the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake (g/d) and CVD risk factors in urban south Indians. The study population comprised of 983 individuals aged > or = 20 years selected from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological Study (CURES), a population-based cross-sectional study on a representative population of Chennai in southern India. ⋯ A higher intake of fruit and vegetables explained 48 % of the protective effect against CVD risk factors. Increased intake of fruits and vegetables could play a protective role against CVD in Asian Indians who have high rates of premature coronary artery disease.
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Child malnutrition, including wasting, underweight and stunting, is associated with infections, poor nutrient intake, and environmental and socio-demographic factors. Preschool-age children are especially vulnerable due to their high growth requirements. To target interventions for preschool-age children in a community of extreme poverty in Peru, we conducted a household survey between October 2005 and January 2006 to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and its risk factors. ⋯ Risk factors for stunting were: (1) age (OR6-month 1.14; 95 % CI 1.02, 1.27) and (2) decreasing maternal height (OR1 cm 1.12; 95 % CI 1.06, 1.20). Overall, risk factors for malnutrition included both child and maternal determinants. Based on these data, locally appropriate and cost-effective dietary, de-worming and educational programmes should be targeted to mothers and preschool-age children.