Nutrients
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Adequate nutrition in the first year of life is the key prerequisite for a child's healthy growth and development. The success of complementary feeding is influenced by various factors, including the family's socioeconomic status, maternal age, place of residence and educational level, older children and duration of breastfeeding. Modified infant feeding guidelines were introduced in Poland in 2016. ⋯ Mothers with nutrition knowledge scores in the upper tertile were more likely to adapt food consistency to the skills manifested by the child (88%) (OR = 1.88; Cl: 1.53-2.26, p < 0.05) and were less likely to delay the introduction of new foods that required chewing and biting (84%) (OR = 0.22; Cl: 0.09-0.34, p < 0.05) than mothers with nutrition knowledge scores in the bottom tertile. Maternal age, educational level and nutrition knowledge significantly increased the age at which infants were introduced to solid foods and the correct identification of the signs indicative of the child's readiness to explore new tastes and foods with a new consistency. The above factors contributed to delayed, but not untimely, introduction of complementary foods (6 months of age or later), including gluten.
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Frailty is an expression that reconciles and condenses loss of autonomy, both physical and cognitive decline and a wide spectrum of adverse outcomes due to aging. The decrease in physical and cognitive activity is associated with altered mitochondrial function, and energy loss and consequently morbidity and mortality. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the carnitine levels in frailty status. ⋯ The mean urine concentrations of free carnitine were lower in frail elderly vs. robust subjects (p < 0.05). The mean urine concentrations of acyl carnitines were lower in frail elderly subjects than those in both prefrail (p < 0.0001) and robust subjects (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: high levels of carnitine may have a favorable effect on the functional status and may treat the frailty status in older subjects.
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Rates of food insecurity have increased substantially in the United States (US), and more families are turning to the charitable food system to help meet their needs. Prior studies have examined the nutritional quality of foods offered through food banks, but little is known about what government policies may shape the healthy food donation landscape. The purpose of this study was to review US federal policies that impact food and beverage donations to food banks and assess whether policies encourage healthy food donations. ⋯ The next largest category was "donation via schools," with 12 (29%) policies. However, no policies specifically addressed the nutritional quality of food donations. There is an opportunity for the federal government to strengthen food bank donation policies and improve the nutritional quality of donated foods and beverages.
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The COVID-19 pandemic is having major economic and personal consequences for collegiate and professional sports. Sporting events have been canceled or postponed, and even when baseball and basketball seasons resumed in the United States recently, no fans were in attendance. As play resumed, several players developed COVID-19, disrupting some of the schedules. ⋯ Clinical trials have confirmed that vitamin D supplementation reduces risk of acute respiratory tract infections, and approximately 30 observational studies have shown that incidence, severity, and death from COVID-19 are inversely correlated with serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Vitamin D supplementation is already familiar to many athletes and sports teams because it improves athletic performance and increases playing longevity. Thus, athletes should consider vitamin D supplementation to serve as an additional means by which to reduce risk of COVID-19 and its consequences.
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Evidence from observational studies is accumulating, suggesting that the majority of deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 infections are statistically attributable to vitamin D insufficiency and could potentially be prevented by vitamin D supplementation [...].