[Comparison of the dietary phytosterols intake and serum lipids content in elderly women from three cities of China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dietary phytosterol intake of elderly women in three different cities of China, and to compare the main dietary sources, so that to discuss the relationship of dietary phytosterol intake and serum lipids. METHODS: Based on the dietary pattern, women more than 50 years old from Beijing, Hefei and Urumchi were chosen as testers, 80 - 100 people for each city respectively. The dietary survey was done by continues 24 hours review of two days, the plant food were collected and the phytosterol content (include beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, sitostanol) were analyzed by GC methods, the total phytosterols content were calculated. The dietary phytosterol intake were calculated and serum lipids were also analyzed in all the testers. RESULTS: Testers from Beijing, Hefei and Urumchi were 100, 101 and 84 respectively. The average dietary phytosterol intake of people in Beijing and Hefei were 340.3 mg/d and 313.5 mg/d, the main sources were plant oil and cereals, while the average dietary phytosterol intake of people in Urumchi were 550.4 mg/d, higher than the other two cities (t values were 9.369, 10.420, respectively, both P values < 0.01), the main source in Urumchi was cereal (provide 53.1% of the total phytosterol intake). The laboratory results showed, testers in Urumchi had significantly lower serum TC content ((4.04 +/- 0.78) mmol/L) than that in Beijing ((4.89 +/- 0.91) mmol/L) and Hefei ((4.71 +/- 0.83) mmol/L) (t value were 6.766 and 5.401 respectively, both P values < 0.01); serum TG content in Urumchi((1.01 +/- 0.48) mmol/L) was also lower than that in Beijing ((1.31 +/- 0.53) mmol/L) and Hefei ((1.66 +/- 0.75) mmol/L) (t values were 3.343 and 7.293 respectively, both P values < 0.01); the serum glucose is also lower in testers in Urumchi ((5.02 +/- 2.18) mmol/L) compared with testers in Beijing ((5.69 +/- 1.53) mmol/L, t = 2.561, P < 0.05) and Hefei ((5.78 +/- 1.53) mmol/L, t = 2.934, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Different dietary pattern result in significantly different dietary phytosterol intake in elder women in three cities, higher, phytosterol intake seemed to contribute to lower serum lipids.

Effects of yogurt supplementation on the growth of preschool children in Beijing suburbs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of yogurt supplementation on the growth of preschool children in Beijing suburbs. METHODS: Four hundred and two preschool children (217 males, 185 females), aged 3-5 years, whose height for age and/or weight for age were less than the reference level, were selected as subjects from 7 kindergartens in Beijing Fangshan District. The subjects were divided randomly into control group (CG, 201) and yogurt supplemented group (YG, 201). Each subject in YG was given one serving of yogurt (125 g) for 5 days a week from March to December in 2001, while nothing additional was provided to CG. All subjects kept their usual diet during the study. Anthropometry (body height and weight and upper-arm circumference) and the bone mineral density (BMD) of forearm were measured every 3 months. Disease status and dietary intake were also recorded and assessed. RESULTS: The intake of calcium, zinc, and vitamin B2 in YG was significantly higher than that in CG. The incidence and duration of upper-respiratory infection and diarrhea of children in YG were significantly less than those in CG. The height gain of children in YG was significantly higher than that in CG after yogurt was supplemented for 3, 6, and 9 months (P<0.05) (1.90+/-0.49 cm vs 1.77+/-0.54 cm, 3.83+/-0.57 cm vs 3.64+/-0.66 cm and 5.43+/-0.69 cm vs 5.24+/-0.76 cm, respectively). The weight gain of children in YG was significantly higher than that in CG after yogurt was supplemented for 3, 6, and 9 months (P<0.05) (0.70+/-0.43 kg vs 0.49+/-0.35 kg, 0.98+/-0.62 kg vs 0.80+/-0.60 kg and 1.42+/-0.76 kg vs 1.20+/-0.67 kg, respectively). The BMD of children in YG was significantly higher than that in CG after yogurt was supplemented for 9 months (P<0.05) (0.415+/-0.058 g/cm2 vs 0.400+/-0.065 g/cm2). CONCLUSION: Yogurt is beneficial to the improvement of calcium, zinc, and vitamin B2 intake, the decreasing of the incidence and duration of upper-respiratory infection and diarrhea, and the promotion of the health and the growth and development of preschool children.

Effect of micronutrient supplementation on the growth of preschool children in China.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between micronutrient supplementation and children growth. METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 156 growth retarded preschool children. They were randomly assigned to five groups: supplemental control (S-control, n = 28), zinc supplementation (+Zn, 3.5 mg Zn/day, n = 34), zinc and calcium supplementation (+ZnCa, 3.5 mg Zn + 250 mg Ca/day, n = 37), zinc and calcium and vitamin A supplementation (+ZnCaVA, 3.5 mg Zn + 250 mg Ca + 200 g VA/day, n = 28), Calcium, and vitamin A supplementation (+CaVA, 250 mg Ca + 200 g VA/day, n = 29). Another 34 children with normal height were selected as normal control (N-control). Supplementation continued for twelve months. RESULTS: The height gain in +Zn group (7.84 cm per year) and +ZnCa group (7.70 cm per year) was significantly higher than that in S-control group (6.74 cm per year, P < 0.05); The weight gain in +ZnCaVA group (2.55 kg per year) and +CaVA group (2.57 kg per year) was also significantly higher than that in S-control group (2.19 kg per year, P < 0.05); The average days of illness in each supplementation group were lower than that in S-control (13 days per year compared with 23 days per year). No significant difference was observed on bone age. CONCLUSION: Zinc and Zinc + Calcium supplementation can improve the height gain, and vitamin A can improve weight gain in growth retarded preschool children, but do not affect the maturity of bone. Micronutrient supplementation can lower the morbidity of these children.