The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Observational studies have indicated an inverse association between vitamin D levels and the risk of diabetes, yet evidence from population interventions remains inconsistent. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched up to September 2017. Data from studies regarding serum 25(OH)D, fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were pooled. Twenty studies (n = 2703) were included in the meta-analysis. Vitamin D supplementation resulted in a significant improvement in serum 25(OH)D levels (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 33.98; 95%CI: 24.60-43.37) and HOMA-IR (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.57; 95%CI: -1.09~-0.04), but not in other outcomes. However, preferred changes were observed in subgroups as follows: short-term (WMDFBG = -8.44; 95%CI: -12.72~-4.15), high dose (WMDFBG = -8.70; 95%CI: -12.96~-4.44), non-obese (SMDFasting insulin = -1.80; 95%CI: -2.66~-0.95), Middle Easterners (WMDFBG = -10.43; 95%CI: -14.80~-6.06), baseline vitamin D deficient individuals (WMDFBG = -5.77; 95%CI: -10.48~-1.05) and well-controlled HbA1c individuals (WMDFBG = -4.09; 95%CI: -15.44~7.27). Vitamin D supplementation was shown to increase serum 25(OH)D and reduce insulin resistance effectively. This effect was especially prominent when vitamin D was given in large doses and for a short period of time, and to patients who were non-obese, Middle Eastern, vitamin D deficient, or with optimal glycemic control at baseline.

Regional, socioeconomic, and dietary factors influencing B-vitamins in human milk of urban Chinese lactating women at different lactation stages.

BACKGROUND: Adequate B-vitamins concentrations in human milk are considered to be a prerequisite for healthy development of infants in early life. This study aims to determine the concentrations of B-vitamins in human milk from Chinese women and the relationships between their concentrations and different geographical origin, lactation stages, socioeconomic characteristics, and dietary intake. METHODS: Human milk was obtained from 443 healthy lactating women from Beijing (n = 150), Suzhou (n = 146), and Guangzhou (n = 147) cities. Thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B3 (nicotinamide and nicotinic acid), and vitamin B6 (pyridoxal, pyridoxine, and pyridoxamine) in human milk were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Pantothenic acid, biotin, and folates in human milk were analyzed by microbiological assay. The information from one 24-h dietary recall and socioeconomic characteristics were collected by interview and structured questionnaire, respectively. RESULTS: B-vitamins concentrations in human milk varied greatly among individuals. The median concentrations of B-vitamins of postpartum 5-11 d, 12-30 d, 31-60 d, 61-120 d, and 121-240 d were respectively as follows: thiamine 3.13, 5.07, 4.28, 5.65, 6.28 (µg/100 g); riboflavin 20.8, 20.2, 11.9, 13.6, 15.6 (µg/100 g); vitamin B3 194.0, 300.0, 261.0, 212.5, 218.0 (µg/100 g); pantothenic acid 236.5, 291.0, 254.0, 179.0, 189.0 (µg/100 g); vitamin B6 6.34, 7.58, 8.60, 9.34, 10.20 (µg/100 g); biotin 0.462, 0.834, 0.606, 0.523, 0.464 (µg/100 g); folates 0.730, 2.390, 2.440, 2.420, 2.330 (µg/100 g). The levels of B-vitamins presented regional differences and varied significantly among different lactation stages. The inversely associations of thiamine, vitamin B6, and folates with maternal BMI were found in multivariate analyses (p < 0.05), as well as higher pantothenic acid, folates, and biotin concentrations in lactating women with supplement intake when compared with those without (p < 0.05). Riboflavin concentrations associated with regular exercise was found in multivariate analyses (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated regional and socioeconomic factors, lactation stage, and supplement intake may influence B-vitamins concentrations of human milk in healthy Chinese mothers. Further studies on accurate and complete analysis of all vitamin forms are crucial for giving a more comprehensive understanding of vitamin status in human milk. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01971671. Registered 13 October 2013.

Food groups consumed by infants and toddlers in urban areas of China.

BACKGROUND: Food consumption patterns of young children in China are not well known. OBJECTIVE: Characterised food groups consumed by infants and young children in urban China using data from the Maternal Infant Nutrition Growth (MING) study. DESIGN: One 24-h dietary recall was completed for 1,350 infants and young children (436 infants aged 6-11 months and 914 young children aged 12-35 months), who were recruited from maternal and child care centres in eight cities via face-to-face interviews with the primary caregiver. All foods, beverages and supplements reported were assigned to one of 64 food groups categorised into the following: milk and milk products, grains, vegetables, fruits, protein foods and desserts/sweets. The percentage of infants and young children consuming foods from specific food groups was calculated, regardless of the amount consumed. RESULTS: Less than half of infants consumed breast milk (47%), whereas 59% of infants consumed infant formula and 53-75% of young children consumed growing-up (fortified) milk. Rice was the number one grain food consumed after 6 months (up to 88%) and the consumption of infant cereal was low. About 50% of infants did not consume any fruits or vegetables, and 38% of young children did not consume any fruits on the day of the recall. Only 40% of all children consumed dark green leafy vegetables and even fewer consumed deep yellow vegetables. Eggs and pork were the most commonly consumed protein foods. CONCLUSIONS: The data provide important insight for developing detailed food consumption guidelines for this population group. Mothers of infants should be encouraged to continue breastfeeding after the first 6 months. Parents should be advised to offer a wide variety of vegetables and fruits daily, particularly dark green leafy and deep yellow vegetables and colourful fruits. The consumption of fortified infant cereal should be advocated to improve the iron intake of Chinese infants.

Nutritional status of breast-fed and non-exclusively breast-fed infants from birth to age 5 months in 8 Chinese cities.

This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of infants aged 0 to 5 months by different feeding approaches. A cross-sectional study on infant nutrition was performed in eight cities in China. A total of 622 infants from birth to 2 months of age and 456 infants from 3 months to 5 months of age were included in this study. Mix-fed infants received breast milk and complementary foods from birth to 2 months of age. Approximately 38.2% of mix-fed infants received excessive vitamin A, and 15.6% of infants exceeded the tolerable upper intake levels (ULs) of zinc. For artificially fed infants who received only complementary foods, approximately 20% and 12.5% infants received inadequate dietary vitamin A and zinc intakes, respectively. The vitamin A and zinc intakes of half of the infants exceeded the ULs. Results showed that the usual intake distribution of the infants from 3 months to 5 months of age were similar to that of the infants from birth to 2 months of age. The common vitamin A and zinc intakes were also severely imbalanced. In addition, higher disease prevalence and lower Z scores of length-forage, weight-for-age, and weight-for-length were found in artificially fed infants and mix-fed infants compared with those in breast-fed infants. In conclusion, the usual nutrient intakes were adequate for the majority of Chinese infants, except for an important number of infants at risk for imbalance of vitamin A and zinc intakes.

[Effects of additives on tissue culture and rapid propagation of Dendrobium canducum].

Effects of additives on tissue culture and rapid propagation of Dendrobium canducum Walla. ex Lindal. by 1/2 MS added activated charcoal, plant growth regulators, banana juice, apple juice and potato juice were studied. The result showed that the medium 1/2 MS + 0.1 mg/L NAA + 0.5% activated charcoal was suitable for propagation of protocorm-like body (PLB), the medium 1/2 MS + 0.5 mg/L 6-BA + 0.5% activated charcoal was suitable for differentiation of PLB, and 0.5% activated charcoal, banana juice and apple juice could promote root formation and growth.