Calcium, fiber, iron, and sodium intake in adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and overweight and obesity.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and overweight or obesity (OW/OB) are a nutritionally vulnerable group with increased risk of nutritional deficiencies. However, there are limited data examining micronutrient intake in adolescents with IDD and OW/OB. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the adequacy of calcium, iron, fiber, and sodium intake referenced against the United States Dietary Reference Intakes in adolescents with IDD and OW/OB. METHODS: Three-day image-assisted food records were used to assess dietary intake of 64 adolescents with IDD and OW/OB. A mean ± standard deviation was calculated for mean intake of calcium (mg), fiber (g/1000 kcals energy), iron (mg), and sodium (mg). RESULTS: A total of 157 nutrient intake observations were completed by 64 participants (56% female, 16.3 ± 2.3 years). Calcium intake for participants ages 14-18 years (n = 57) was 1027.4 ± 607.5 mg, which is below the EAR of 1050 mg. Calcium intake for participants ages ≥19 years (n = 7) was 921.1 ± 596.4 mg, which is greater than the EAR of 840 mg. Fiber intake was 8.4 ± 3.6 g/1000 kcals, which is below the AI of 14 g/1000 kcals. Iron intake for all participants exceeded their respective EARs. Sodium intake was 3180.9 ± 975.9 mg, which above the AI of 2300 mg. CONCLUSION: Calcium intake was adequate for participants ≥19 years of age, but inadequate for participants 14-18 years. For all participants, iron and sodium intake exceeded the DRI while fiber intake was below the DRI.

Abdominal visceral adiposity influences CD4+ T cell cytokine production in pregnancy.

Women with pre-gravid obesity are at risk for pregnancy complications. While the macrophage response of obese pregnant women categorized by body mass index (BMI) has been documented, the relationship between the peripheral CD4(+) T cell cytokine profile and body fat compartments during pregnancy is unknown. In this study, third trimester peripheral CD4(+) T cell cytokine profiles were measured in healthy pregnant women [n=35; pre-pregnancy BMI: 18.5-40]. CD4(+) T cells were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and stimulated to examine their capacity to generate cytokines. Between 1 and 3weeks postpartum, total body fat was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat masses were determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Pearson's correlation was performed to assess relationships between cytokines and fat mass. Results showed that greater abdominal visceral fat mass was associated with a decrease in stimulated CD4(+) T cell cytokine expression. IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-12p70, IL-10 and IL-17A were inversely related to visceral fat mass. Chemokines CCL3 and IL-8 and growth factors G-CSF and FLT-3L were also inversely correlated. Additionally, total body fat mass was inversely correlated with FGF-2 while abdominal subcutaneous fat mass and BMI were unrelated to any CD4(+) T cell cytokine. In conclusion, lower responsiveness of CD4(+) T cell cytokines associated with abdominal visceral fat mass is a novel finding late in gestation.

Validity of new child-specific thoracic gas volume prediction equations for air-displacement plethysmography.

BACKGROUND: To determine the validity of the recently developed child-specific thoracic gas volume (TGV) prediction equations for use in air-displacement plethysmography (ADP) in diverse pediatric populations. METHODS: Three distinct populations were studied: European American and African American children living in Birmingham, Alabama and European children living in Lisbon, Portugal. Each child completed a standard ADP testing protocol, including a measured TGV according to the manufactures software criteria. Measured TGV was compared to the predicted TGV from current adult-based ADP proprietary equations and to the recently developed child-specific TGV equations of Fields et al. Similarly, percent body fat, derived using the TGV prediction equations, was compared to percent body fat derived using measured TGV. RESULTS: Predicted TGV from adult-based equations was significantly different from measured TGV in girls from each of the three ethnic groups (P < 0.05), however child-specific TGV estimates did not significantly differ from measured TGV in any of the ethnic or gender groups. Percent body fat estimates using adult-derived and child-specific TGV estimates did not differ significantly from percent body fat measures using measured TGV in any of the groups. CONCLUSION: The child-specific TGV equations developed by Fields et al. provided a modest improvement over the adult-based TGV equations in an ethnically diverse group of children.

Child-specific thoracic gas volume prediction equations for air-displacement plethysmography.

OBJECTIVE: To develop child-specific thoracic gas volume (TGV) prediction equations for use in air-displacement plethysmography in 6- to 17-year-old children. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Study 1 developed TGV prediction equations using anthropometric variables after completing a measured TGV and air-displacement plethysmography test in 224 healthy boys and girls (11.2 +/- 3.2 years, 45.3 +/- 18.7 kg, 149.9 +/- 18.5 cm). Study 2 cross-validated the prediction equations in a separate cohort of 62 healthy boys and girls (11.2 +/- 3.4 years, 44.2 +/- 15.3 kg, 149.4 +/- 19.3 cm). RESULTS: In Study 1 (development of TGV prediction equations), the quadratic relationship using height as the independent variable and the measured TGV as the dependent variable yielded the highest adjusted R(2) and the lowest SE of estimate in both genders, thus producing the following prediction equations: TGV = 0.00056 x H(2) - 0.12422 x H + 8.15194 (boys) and TGV = 0.00044 x H(2) - 0.09220 x H + 6.00305 (girls). In Study 2 (cross-validation), no significant difference between the predicted and measured TGVs (-0.018 +/- 0.377 liters) was observed. The regression between the measured TGV and the predicted TGV yielded a slope and intercept that did not significantly differ from the line of identity. Prediction accuracy was good as indicated by a high R(2) (0.862) and low SE of estimate (0.369 liters). DISCUSSION: The new child-specific TGV prediction equations accurately, precisely, and without bias estimated the actual TGV of 6- to 17-year-old children.