Main sources and predictive factors of folate intake in female university students.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to identify the main folate sources and examine socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants influencing folate intake among 1410 women aged 18 to 39. METHODS: Data were collected using a self-administered health and lifestyle questionnaire and a 5-d dietary record method. To assess folate intake in relation to the dietary reference intakes, the probability approach was used. Folate intake determinants were identified using multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models; odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: The average total folate intake among women was 311 ± 144 µg/day dietary folate equivalents. Vegetables (30.7%) and cereals (22.6%) were the most important folate sources. Foods fortified with folic acid were consumed by 20.6% of women, dietary supplements by 7.2%. More than half of the participants (55%) had a high probability of inadequate folate intake. The predictors of being in the highest tertile of folate intake (>303 versus <225 µg) were: physical activity (high versus low; OR: 2.97, 95% CI: 1.77-4.97), nutritional knowledge (high versus low; OR: 5.32, 95% CI: 2.82-10.1), following a vegetarian diet (yes versus no; OR: 6.13; 95% CI: 2.79-13.5), daily number of meals (≥5 versus ≤3; OR: 4.17, 95% CI: 2.38-7.32), excluding/including some foods (yes versus no; OR: 2.47; 95% CI: 1.41-4.31) and energy intake (3rd versus 1st tertile; OR:17.4, 95% CI: 11.1-27.4). CONCLUSION: Identifying factors associated with a higher intake of folate may be helpful in shaping public health nutrition policy. It allows the design of effective nutrition education programs to promote increased intake of folate in subgroups at risk of deficiency.

Do Dietary Supplements Affect Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidant Status in Adults with Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's Disease?-A Systematic Review of Controlled Trials.

This systematic review aims to summarise the results of controlled trials on dietary supplements (DS) usage and inflammation, oxidative stress, antioxidant status, and thyroid parameter improvement in hypothyroidism (HT)/Hashimoto's thyroiditis (AIT) patients. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (no. CRD42022365149). A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases resulted in the identification of nineteen randomised controlled trials and three non-randomised studies for the review; three studies examined the effect of supplementation with vitamin D, twelve studies-with selenium, and seven studies-with other DS. Based on very limited evidence, the lack of influence of vitamin D supplementation on inflammatory parameters was found, while no studies have examined oxidative stress and antioxidant status parameters, and only one provided results for a single thyroid parameter after an intervention. Some evidence was found proving that selenium supplementation may decrease inflammation and improve thyroid parameters, but reaching a conclusion about its influence on oxidative stress and antioxidant status is not possible because of the insufficient number of studies. Additionally, due to examining other DS (e.g., multicomponent, Nigella sativa, and genistein) only in single studies, conclusions cannot be drawn. Further long-term, high-quality randomised controlled trials are necessary to better understand the influence of DS on inflammation, oxidative stress, and antioxidant status, as well as their potential to improve thyroid gland function in HT/AIT patients.

Dietary Supplement Use in Relation to Socio-Demographic and Lifestyle Factors, including Adherence to Mediterranean-Style Diet in University Students.

The study aimed to examine socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants, including diet quality, of dietary supplement (DS) use among 2545 students who attended public universities in Warsaw. The data was collected using a self-administered health and lifestyle questionnaire and a 5-day dietary record method. Diet quality was assessed using a Mediterranean Diet Score. To determine the covariates of DS use, multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models with an estimation of odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used. The results showed that 41% of participants were DS users. The following predictors of DS use were identified: gender (male vs. female; OR:0.62, 95% CI:0.50-0.79), physical activity (high vs. low; OR:1.79, 95% CI:1.45-2.20), BMI (≥25 vs. 18.5-24.9 kg/m2; OR:0.77, 95% CI:0.61-0.98), cigarette smoking (yes vs. no; OR:0.67, 95% CI:0.52-0.86), and presence of chronic diseases (yes vs. no; OR:2.37, 95% CI:1.89-2.98). Moreover, higher nutritional knowledge, special diet usage, eating more meals/day, and fortified food consumption were determinants of DS use. Adherence to the Mediterranean-style diet was positively associated with DS use, a 1-score increment was associated with a 10% (p-trend = 0.011) higher probability of DS usage. Given that the use of vitamins and/or minerals is common among university students and their users are characterized by eating a higher quality diet, investigating the contribution of DS in overall dietary nutrient intake warrants further study.

Tea consumption and the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: Tea has the potential to lower the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) owing to its high antioxidant capacity. AAA risk factors including smoking, hypertension, and hypercholesterolaemia, may modify this association. METHODS: The study population included 45 047 men in the Cohort of Swedish Men (COSM) and 36 611 women in the Swedish Mammography Cohort (SMC), aged 45-83 years at baseline. The COSM was established in 1997 with all men who lived in two central Swedish counties (Västmanland and Örebro), and the SMC was established in 1987-1990 with women residing in Västmanland county. Tea consumption was assessed by means of food frequency questionnaires in 1997 and 2009. RESULTS: During 17.5 years of follow-up, 1781 AAA cases (1496 men, 285 women; 1497 non-ruptured, 284 ruptured) were ascertained via Swedish registers. Tea consumption was inversely associated with total AAA incidence in men and women. Women had a 23 (95 per cent c.i. 8 to 36) per cent lower risk of AAA per each cup per day increment, whereas men had a 9 (0 to 17) per cent lower risk (Pinteraction = 0.029). Tea consumption was associated with a lower risk of both non-ruptured (hazard ratio (HR) 0.93, 95 per cent c.i. 0.85 to 1.01) and ruptured (HR 0.84, 0.71 to 0.98) AAA. Smoking status modified the association (Pinteraction < 0.001), whereby tea consumption was associated with lower risk of AAA in ex-smokers (per cup per day, HR 0.89, 0.80 to 0.98) and in never smokers (HR 0.88, 0.77 to 1.00), but not in current smokers (HR 0.95, 0.84 to 1.06). Tea consumption was associated with a lower risk in participants with (HR 0.88, 0.80 to 0.98) and without (HR 0.93, 0.88 to 1.00) hypertension, and in those with (HR 0.82, 0.67 to 1.01) and without (HR 0.92, 0.86 to 0.98) hypercholesterolaemia. CONCLUSION: Tea consumption was associated with a reduced risk of AAA. The association was more pronounced for ruptured than non-ruptured AAA, and in patients with hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia than those without. The association was also observed in ex-smokers and never smokers, but not in current smokers.

The effect of iron and/or zinc diet supplementation and termination of this practice on the antioxidant status of the reproductive tissues and sperm viability in rats.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of iron or/and zinc supplementation and termination of this treatment on the antioxidant defence of the male reproductive system and sperm viability in rats. METHODS: The study consisted of 3 stages: I) 4-week adaptation to the diets (C-control or D-iron deficient); II) 4-week iron and/or zinc supplementation (10-times more than in the C diet of iron: CSFe, DSFe; zinc: CSZn, DSZn; or iron and zinc: CSFeZn, DSFeZn; and III) 2-week post-supplementation period (the same diets as during stage I). Parameters of antioxidant status (total antioxidant capacity and SOD, GPx, and CAT activiy), oxidative damage (lipid and protein peroxidation), and sperm viability were measured. RESULTS: Simultaneous iron and zinc supplementation compared to iron supplementation (CSFeZn vs CSFe) increased SOD activity in the testes and decreased the level of malondialdehyde in the epididymis after stage II, and increased the percentage of live sperm after stage III. After discontinuation of the iron and zinc supplementation and a return to the control diet, the following was observed a decrease of SOD activity in the testes and GPx activity in the epididymis, and a increase malondialdehyde concentration in prostates. After stage III, in DSFeZn vs DSFe rats, an increase of SOD and CAT activity in the epididymis was found. CONCLUSION: Zinc supplementation simultaneous with iron may protect the male reproductive system against oxidative damage induced by high doses of iron and may have a beneficial effect on sperm viability. The effect of this supplementation was observed even two weeks after the termination of the intervention.

The Influence of Iron and Zinc Supplementation on Iron Apparent Absorption in Rats Fed Vitamins and Minerals Reduced Diets.

Deficient human diet is usually reduced in many nutrients, but animal studies on iron absorption have been only carried out for rats fed well-balanced (control) and iron-deficient diets. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of iron or iron/zinc supplementation on iron apparent absorption (IAA) in rats fed a diet reduced in all vitamins and minerals (R). The study was conducted on 77, 6-week-old male Wistar rats in 3 stages as follows: stage I, 4-week period of adaptation to R diet (50% less vitamins and minerals compared to AIN-93M recommendations); stage II, 4-week supplementation period with iron (RSFe) or iron/zinc (RSFeZn); stage III, 2-week post-supplementation period (rats fed R diet). Feces samples to IAA determination were collected at the 20-22nd days of stage I and II and the 10-12th days of stage III. To determine the changes in IAA after introducing and discontinuation of supplementation, feces were collected for 3 days after introducing (stage II) and 5 days after the supplementation discontinuation (stage III). At the end of stage II, compared to R rats, the IAA was statistically significantly higher in RSFe and RSFeZn rats (30.3 ± 2.0% vs. 47.4 ± 1.2% and 51.0 ± 1.7%, respectively). After introducing iron or iron/zinc supplementation, the IAA stabilized fast already in the first day, while after discontinuation of the supplementation, at least 4 days was required to the stabilization. At the end of stage III, the IAA was significantly lower in RSFe (15.8 ± 6.6%) than in RSFeZn rats (43.4 ± 5.9%). In conclusion, to confirm that iron and zinc supplementation is more beneficial than iron supplementation only, especially after discontinuation of supplementation, further research among humans is necessary.

Intake of Vitamins and Minerals From Voluntarily Fortified Foods and/or Dietary Supplements in School Adolescents in Central-Eastern Poland.

Background: The key issue is whether voluntarily fortified foods and vitamin/mineral supplements available on the market serve public health needs. The study aim was to estimate nutrient intakes from voluntarily fortified foods and vitamin/mineral supplements in relation to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) in adolescents (n = 759) aged 13-19 who attended public secondary schools in Central-Eastern Poland. Methods: Data on the consumption of voluntarily fortified foods were collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire containing 58 food items. Data on the use of dietary supplements were assessed via an open-ended question. The content of nutrients was estimated using the producer's labeling declaration. The distribution of nutrient intakes according to the percentage of DRI categories (<20%, 20-39.9%, 40-59.9%, 60-79.9%, 80-99.9%, 100-119%, or >120%) was estimated. Results: Consumption of voluntarily fortified foods was a common behavior in adolescents (86.7% of participants), while vitamin/mineral supplements were used by less than one-fifth of them (17.7%). The amounts of nutrient intakes from fortified foods and/or supplements were at different levels: (I) vitamins A, D, calcium, magnesium (>50% of adolescents did not exceed 20% of DRI); (II) vitamins E, B12, iron (>50% of respondents consumed at least 20% of DRI); (III) niacin and pantothenic acid (>50% of respondents consumed at least 40% of DRI); IV) vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, folate, biotin (>50% of participants consumed at least 60% of DRI). In a subgroup of respondents who used fortified foods and supplements simultaneously (n = 126), some nutrients (i.e., vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, niacin, and biotin) were consumed in amounts ≥150% of DRI. Intake above the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels was observed for niacin, vitamin A, B6 and folic acid in individual cases (up to 1.1% of respondents); a higher risk of overconsumption was associated with using vitamin/mineral supplements than voluntarily fortified foods. Conclusion: Adolescents should be educated on how to reasonably use fortified foods and dietary supplements to help to overcome the potential deficiency of nutrients without causing excessive consumption.

Adherence to the WCRF/AICR 2018 recommendations for cancer prevention and risk of cancer: prospective cohort studies of men and women.

BACKGROUND: In 2018, the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) issued revised recommendations for cancer prevention. We examined the relation between adherence to these recommendations and risk of total cancer in two population-based Swedish prospective cohorts (29,451 men and 25,349 women). METHODS: Standardized-WCRF/AICR 2018 and simplified-WCRF/AICR 2018 adherence scores were constructed based on the WCRF/AICR recommendations for body weight, physical activity, diet, alcohol consumption and dietary supplement use. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: During the 15.4 years of follow-up, 12,693 incident cancers were ascertained. The multivariable HR between extreme categories of the Standardized-WCRF/AICR 2018 score (4.1-7 vs. 0-2) was 0.88 (95% CI = 0.82-0.95) and for the Simplified score (5-8 vs. 0-2) was 0.85 (95% CI = 0.80-0.90); each 1-score increment in recommendation adherence was associated with 3% (95% CI = 1-5%) and 4% (95% CI = 2-5%) decreased risk, respectively. Based on the Simplified scoring, most participants (>90%) did not meet WCRF/AICR 2018 recommendations regarding consumption of plant foods, limited consumption of red/processed meat and 'fast food'/processed food, and <50% of participants met the weight and physical activity recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to the 2018WCRF/AICR recommendations substantially reduced the risk of total cancer. Given that many people do not meet the recommendations, there is a great potential for cancer prevention.

Different Socio-Demographic and Lifestyle Factors Can Determine the Dietary Supplement Use in Children and Adolescents in Central-Eastern Poland.

Vitamin/mineral supplement (VMS) use has become increasingly popular in children and adolescents; however, different predictors may be associated with their usage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare determinants of VMS use in 1578 children and adolescents. Data was collected among parents of children (≤12 years old) and among adolescents (>12 years old) who attended public schools by a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for determining the predictors of VMS use. In children, the following determinants of VMS use were indicated: socioeconomic status (average vs. very good/good; OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.16⁻2.48), physical activity (1⁻5 vs. <1 h/week; OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.02⁻2.04), BMI (≥25 vs. 18.5⁻24.9 kg/m²; OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.46⁻0.98), and presence of chronic diseases (yes vs. no; OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.46⁻3.69). In adolescents, gender (male vs. female; OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.37⁻0.87), residential area (rural vs. urban; OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40⁻0.99), BMI (<18.5 vs. 18.5⁻24.9 kg/m²; OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.17⁻0.73), and health status (average/poor vs. at least good; OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.13⁻3.39) were factors of VMS use. In both groups, the mother's higher educational level, fortified food consumption and diet modification towards better food choices were predictors of VMS use. In conclusion, most of the predictors of VMS use were different in children and adolescents.

Iron absorption after introducing and discontinuation of iron and zinc supplementation in rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in iron apparent absorption (IAA%) during and after iron and zinc supplementation in rats. The study was conducted on 6-week old male Wistar rats in 3 stages: 4-week period of adaptation to the control (C) and iron deficient (D) diets (stage I); 4-week period of supplementation with 10-time more iron (CSFe, DSFe), zinc (CSZn, DSZn) or both iron and zinc (CSFeZn, DSFeZn) compared to C diet (stage II); 2-week of post-supplementation period (rats were fed the same diets as in the adaptation period, stage III). IAA% was measured in five consecutive days directly after introducing and discontinuation of iron and zinc supplementation as well as in the end of stage II (days: 22-24th) and stage III (days: 8-10th). Overall in the second day after introducing and in the fifth day after discontinuation of iron or iron and zinc supplementation, the IAA% had undergone to the level compatible with the values in the end of each stage. At the end of stage II, IAA% in CSFeZn (54.1 ± 2.7%) rats was not different from the IAA% in CSFe rats (53.9 ± 1.9%), but in DSFeZn group IAA% (49.4 ± 2.1%) was significantly lower than in DSFe (57.4 ± 2.3%) group. Moreover, IAA% after stage II and stage III in DSZn group was significantly lower (39.2 ± 2.8% and 38.6 ± 2.6%, respectively) than in group D (60.7 ± 1.9% and 54.3 ± 3.0%, respectively). In conclusion, zinc administered simultaneously with iron (Zn:Fe weight ratio=1:1) decreased IAA% in adult rats fed on iron deficient diet, but not in rats fed on control diet. IAA% reduction by zinc supplementation has been extended to 10 days after discontinuation of the treatment. Adaptation of the rats to high doses of iron or iron and zinc and also to the cessation of these treatments was relatively fast. However, IAA% was stabilized faster after introducing the supplementation than it's discontinuation.

Adverse effect after cessation of rats' unjustified iron or iron and zinc supplementation on hematological parameters but not ferritin concentration.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Studies on the impact of supplementation cessation are lacking. We investigated the effect of iron and iron/zinc supplementation and cessation of this intervention on iron status parameters. METHODS: The study was conducted on 6-week male Wistar rats, in 3 stages: 4-week adaptation to the diets: C--control (AIN-93M) and D--iron deficient (mineral mix without iron); 4-week supplementation: 10-times more iron (CSFe, DSFe) or iron/zinc (CSFeZn, DSFeZn) compared to C; 2-week post-supplementation period (the same diets as in the first stage). Red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, transferrin saturation (TSAT) and ferritin concentration were determined. RESULTS: After stage II D rats had statistically significantly (p-value ≤ 0.05) lower hemoglobin and TSAT in comparison to DSFe rats, but not DSFeZn, and significantly lower ferritin concentration in comparison to DSFe and DSFeZn rats. After stage III, CSFe and CSFeZn rats had a significantly lower level of all analyzed hematology parameters compared to C, in contrast rats fed DSFe and DSFeZn diets had higher hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit in comparison to D group. Moreover, in comparison to D rats those fed DSFe diet had higher TSAT and those fed DSFe and DSFeZn diets had significantly higher ferritin concentration. CONCLUSIONS: After cessation of unjustified both iron and iron/zinc supplementation resulted in an adverse effect on hematological but not other iron status parameters. In the situation of iron deficiency in the diet, iron supplementation alone had a prolonged beneficial effect and was more effective than simultaneous iron/zinc supplementation in the improvement of the iron status.

Effect of iron and zinc supplementation and its discontinuation on lipid profile in rats.

The aim of this research was to investigate whether combined iron/zinc supplementation is more beneficial than iron supplementation alone from the perspective of the lipid profile in rats. The study was conducted on 6-week male Wistar rats in 3 stages: (1) 4-week adaptation to the diets: C (AIN-93M) and D (mineral mix without iron); (2) 4-week supplementation: 10-times more iron or iron and zinc compared to C; (3) 2-week post-supplementation period (the same diets as in the first stage). The iron and zinc content in serum was measured using ASA. Total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were determined. After 4-week supplementation (stage II) and post-supplementation (stage III) periods combined iron/zinc supplementation decreased HDL-C and increased non-HDL-C concentrations in control rats, and in contrast to iron supplementation alone TG concentration decreased. After stage II combined iron/zinc supplementation did not result in increased non-HDL-C and TG concentrations in iron deficient rats in contrast to iron supplementation alone. After stage III both iron and simultaneous iron/zinc supplementation were the cause of TC increase which was the result of the increase of non-HDL-C but not HDL-C concentration in iron deficient rats. In conclusion, there were no beneficial effects of simultaneous iron and zinc supplementation on the lipid profile of rats fed control and iron deficient diets. Combined iron and zinc supplementation may contribute to lower HDL-C and higher non-HDL-C concentrations.

The effect of iron and zinc supplementation and its discontinuation on liver antioxidant status in rats fed deficient diets.

PURPOSE: The aim was to investigate the effect of iron or combined iron/zinc supplementation on rat liver antioxidant status. METHODS: The 6-week male Wistar rats were examined in 3 stages: (1) 4-week adaptation to the diets (C-control AIN-93M diet, D-iron deficient and R-with 50% reduction in all vitamin and mineral amounts); (2) 4-week supplementation with the same regimen enriched with tenfold more iron or iron/zinc; (3) 2-week post-supplementation period (the same diets as in the stage I). RESULTS: Combined iron/zinc supplementation similarly to iron supplementation alone significantly (p values ≤ 0.05) increased the iron content in the liver in D and R rats after stages II and III. Moreover, iron/zinc supplementation compared to iron supplementation alone significantly decreased the liver concentration of 8-isoprostane (after stage II in D and after stage III in R rats), protein carbonyl groups (only after stage III in R rats) and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (after stage II in R and after stage III in D and R rats). In rats fed R-type of diets after stage II hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, but not glutathione peroxidation activity and total antioxidant capacity, was lower in iron and iron/zinc supplemented than in non-supplemented rats, whereas after stage III in iron/zinc supplemented SOD was lower and CAT activity was higher in comparison with non-supplemented and iron supplemented rats. CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous iron/zinc supplementation can protect liver against peroxidative damage induced by high doses of iron during and after the intervention in rats fed iron-deficient diet and diet with reduced amounts of vitamins and minerals. The post-intervention observation is relevant because the effect may be delayed and visible only after this period.

The effect of iron and zinc supplementation and discontinuation of this practice on iron and zinc level in tissues in rats fed deficient diets.

The effect of iron and iron/zinc supplementation on their levels in tissues of rats fed initially one of the three following regimen: C - control AIN-93 diet, D - iron deficient diet and R - diet with 50% reduction of all vitamins and minerals was investigated. The study was conducted on 6-week male Wistar rats, in 3 stages: (1) 4-week adaptation to the diets (C, D or R); (2) 4-week supplementation with the same regimen enriched with 10-times more iron (CSFe, DSFe, RSFe) or iron/zinc (CSFeZn, DSFeZn, RSFeZn); (3) 2-week post-supplementation period (the same diets as the stage I). Iron and zinc content in serum, the initial segment of intestine, liver and kidney were measured using FAAS method. After supplementation period (stage II) the content of iron in the intestine, liver and kidney in groups of rats fed DSFe and DSFeZn-diet were significantly higher (all p-values≤0.05) than in rats fed D-diet (intestine: DSFe=50.1±9.0 µg/g wet weight, DSFeZn=43.0±9.9 µg/g vs. D=16.5±2.1 µg/g; liver: DSFe=149±30 µg/g, DSFeZn=152±25 µg/g vs. D=56±13 µg/g; kidney: DSFe=74.0±8.1 µg/g, DSFeZn=72.7±6.6 µg/g vs. D=59.3±9.5 µg/g). The same significant associations (all p-values≤0.05) were observed in R rats in the intestine and liver (intestine: RSFe=60.8±6.6 µg/g, RSFeZn=54.8±6.6 µg/g vs. R=31.5±8.2 µg/g; liver: RSFe=161±10 µg/g, RSFeZn=166±21 µg/g vs. R=136±24µg/g). After post-supplementation period the statistically significant differences between supplemented and non-supplemented rats fed D- and R-diets were still observed. There was not found the effect of applied treatments on zinc status. In conclusion, iron or iron/zinc supplementation increased similarly iron level in tissues of rats fed D-diet or R-diet with prolonged effect after supplementation discontinuation.

[Influence of selected factors on fortified food intake by children]. / Wplyw wybranych czynników na spozycie przez dzieci produktów wzbogacanych.

BACKGROUND: The range of food products fortified with vitamins and minerals in Poland is growing rapidly in the last years. Also the consumption of such food and dietary supplements is increasing. Therefore there is a risk of excessive intake of vitamins and minerals. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze the determinants of intake of food products fortified with vitamins and minerals among children aged 6-12. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data was collected by a questionnaire specially developed and a FFQ method including vitamins and/or minerals in fortified food products. There were collected data from parents of 743 children (374 boys, 369 girls) attending primary schools, placed in four different districts of Poland. RESULTS: More than 70% of children consumed food products fortified with vitamins and/or minerals, among them 76% - every day. As a main reason of intake of fortified food by children, parents mentioned the beneficial effects on health (86.2% parents) and taste preferences (61.2%). However, the main reason of no consuming this kind of products, were proper nutrition of the children (57.4%), no influence on health (30.3%) and prohibitive price (24,1%). There were statistically significant relationships between intake of food fortified with vitamins and/or minerals and children's age (75.8% of age 6-9 years vs. 58.1% of age 10-12 years), health condition (71.6% of children with good and very good health status -assessed by parents - vs. 55.6% with average and poor health status), the number of meals eaten during the day (75.6% eating 4 meals/day vs. 67.8% - 5 and more meals vs. 52.3% - 3 meals), regular breakfast eating (71.8% eating vs. 50.0% non consumption), brunch eating (73.3% vs. 54.0% respectively), afternoon snack eating (75.7% vs. 59.4%) and using of dietary supplements (84.6% among children who use supplements vs. 61.4% among non users). CONCLUSIONS: It was established that about 22% of parents were unaware that their children consumed food fortified with vitamins and/or minerals. Food fortified with vitamins and/or minerals was consumed more frequently among younger children, specially among those who eat more meals per day and with good and very good health status. Due to the fact that many children consumed both fortified foods and dietary supplements, there is a risk of exceeding levels consider as safe (UL) of some vitamins and/or minerals.

[Factors influenced vitamin or mineral supplements use in a chosen group of children aged 6-12]. / Czynniki warunkujace stosowanie suplementów diety zawierajacych witaminy i/lub skladniki mineralne w wybranej grupie dzieci w wieku 6-12 lat.

BACKGROUND: Due to growing popularity of food supplements the producers of such products introduce food supplements developed especially for children. This, as a consequence, may lead to a risk of exceeded intake of some nutrients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify determinants of vitamin/mineral supplements intake in 6-12-year-old children. METHOD: The study was conducted by questionnaire method among parents of 743 children attending primary schools. Dietary supplements during the year preceding the survey received 40% of children, while 16.7% on the tested day. RESULTS: It was found that women with secondary and higher education level more frequently reported use of such preparations by their children (43% and 40% respectively). Supplements received more children with moderate or slight deficient body weight (54.2%) compared to children with severe deficiency (29.7%) or obese (25.8%); children with chronic diseases (56%) compared to healthy (37%), participating in extracurricular sport activities (49%) compared to non-participating (35%) and children with more correct dietary habits. Simultaneously supplements and fortified products were used by 34% of children. CONCLUSIONS: . The decision of supplements use parents often undertook alone (67% of preparation), while only 31% of them after medical consultation. There is a need to educate children and their parents about the use of supplements and the risks associated with it.

Dietary calcium and magnesium intake and mortality: a prospective study of men.

The authors examined the association of dietary calcium and magnesium intake with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality among 23,366 Swedish men, aged 45-79 years, who did not use dietary supplements. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the multivariate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of mortality. From baseline 1998 through December 2007, 2,358 deaths from all causes were recorded in the Swedish population registry; through December 2006, 819 CVD and 738 cancer deaths were recorded in the Swedish cause-of-death registry. Dietary calcium was associated with a statistically significant lower rate of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.63, 0.88; P(trend) < 0.001) and a nonsignificantly lower rate of CVD (HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.58, 1.01; P(trend) = 0.064) but not cancer mortality (HR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.65, 1.17; P(trend) = 0.362) when the highest intake tertile (mean = 1,953 mg/day; standard deviation (SD), 334) was compared with the lowest (990 mg/day; SD, 187). Dietary magnesium intake (means of tertiles ranged from 387 mg/day (SD, 31) to 523 mg/day (SD, 38) was not associated with all-cause, CVD, or cancer mortality. This population-based, prospective study of men with relatively high intakes of dietary calcium and magnesium showed that intake of calcium above that recommended daily may reduce all-cause mortality.

[Vitamin and mineral supplement use and mortality among group of older people]. / Suplementacja diety witaminami i skladnikami mineralnymi a umieralnosc w grupie osób starszych.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of supplements was associated with all-cause mortality among older people. The study included 643 people aged 75-80 (305 men and 338 women) from Warsaw and Olsztyn regions. The basic information about respondents and about vitamin and/or mineral supplement intake were collected in 1999, while data about deaths from all-causes were collected in Warsaw region till the end of December 2003 and in Olsztyn region till to end of August 2004. The Cox Proportional Hazard Regression Models were used to assess the all-cause mortality risk among supplements users and nonusers. The risk of all-cause mortality was 113% (95%CI: 15 - 294%) higher among men who used vitamin A supplements compared to those who not used this nutrient as supplements, for vitamin E the risk was 89% (95%CI: 3 - 248%) higher, for vitamin B1 - 102% (95%CI: 9 - 271%), vitamin B2 - 99% (95%CI: 8 - 268%), vitamin PP - 103% (95%CI: 12 - 268%), vitamin B6 - 103% (95%CI: 10 - 273%), iron - 105% (95%CI: 2 - 308%) and for zinc -160% (95%CI: 30 - 414%) higher. Among smoking men who used vitamin B6, PP, iron and zinc supplements compared to those who were smokers and not used these supplements there were a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality i.e. 118% (95%CI: 7 - 344%) and 106% (95%CI: 2 - 317%), 150% (95%CI: 14 - 448%) and 164% (95%CI: 122 - 472%), respectively. No such relationships were observed in older women. Further investigations are needed to explain the associations between supplement use and smoking in relation to mortality risk.

Supplement use and mortality: the SENECA study.

BACKGROUND: It is hypothesis that in relatively healthy older people supplement usage can be consider as healthy life style habit and as such can positively influence longevity. AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine whether supplement use was associated with all-cause mortality in the participants of the SENECA study. METHODS: Baseline measurements were carried out in 1988/1989 among 75 to 80-year-old people living in 15 European small towns. All-cause mortality was followed up to April 30, 1999. Data from 920 men and 980 women who were ischemic heart diseases-, stroke- and cancer-free at baseline were included. The multivariate adjusted (for sex, age, years of education, physical activity, BMI, chronic diseases, Mediterranean Diet Score, alcohol use and the place of living) hazard ratio (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of mortality by use of any type of nutrient supplement and by particular nutrient supplement use were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: At baseline, 13% of participants used nutritional supplements, 19% of subjects were smokers. During 10 years of follow-up 445 men and 252 women died. Among non-smokers no significant associations between total supplement use and particular nutrient supplement use were observed. Among smokers use of any type of supplements (Multivariate HR: 1.52; 95%CI: 1.02-2.28), use of vitamin B(1) (Multivariate HR: 1.57; 95%CI: 1.00-2.48) and vitamin B(2) supplements (Multivariate HR: 1.60; 95%CI: 1.00-2.56) were associated with a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality. The similar tendencies were observed among vitamin B(6) and vitamin C supplement users who were smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Among smokers, participants of the SENECA study, supplement use increased all-cause mortality risk.

The nutritional habits among centenarians living in Warsaw.

The aim of the study was to determine the preferences and nutritional habits of Warsaw centenarians during their "third period" of life. The study was conducted by a questionnaire method among 29 centenarians. Most of centenarians had general good health condition. Almost 60% of centenarians performed manual labor in the past. Then they drank small amounts of alcohol irregularly. Several percent of centenarians smoked in the past. Before the age of sixty less people then at present snacked between meals. Sweets both now and in the past were preferred products, however, in the past sweets were rarely eaten by centenarians. At the present time centenarians ate more often yogurt, skim curd, fish, lean meat products, plant oils and sweets. The changes in eating habits were probably caused by civilization changes.