Dietary intakes of retinol, beta-carotene, vitamin D and vitamin E in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the intake of the fat-soluble nutrients retinol, beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin D and their food sources among 27 redefined centres in 10 countries participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. METHODS: Between 1995 and 2000, 36,034 subjects (age range: 35-74 years) completed a single standardized 24-h dietary recall using a computerized interview software program (EPIC-SOFT). Intakes of the fat-soluble nutrients were estimated using the standardized EPIC Nutrient Database. RESULTS: For all the nutrients, in most centres, men had a higher level of intake than did women, even after adjustments for total energy intake and anthropometric confounders. Distinct regional gradients from northern to southern European countries were observed for all nutrients. The level intake of beta-carotene and vitamin E also showed some differences by level of education, smoking status and physical activity. No meaningful differences in the nutrient intake were observed by age range. CONCLUSIONS: These results show differences by study centre, gender, age and various lifestyle variables in the intake of retinol, beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin D between 10 European countries.

Use of dietary supplements in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition calibration study.

BACKGROUND: Dietary supplement use is increasing, but there are few comparable data on supplement intakes and how they affect the nutrition and health of European consumers. The aim of this study was to describe the use of dietary supplements in subsamples of the 10 countries participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). METHODS: Specific questions on dietary supplement use were asked as a part of single 24-h recalls performed on 36,034 men and women aged 35-74 years from 1995 to 2000. RESULTS: Between countries, the mean percentage of dietary supplement use varied almost 10-fold among women and even more among men. There was a clear north-south gradient in use, with a higher consumption in northern countries. The lowest crude mean percentage of use was found in Greece (2.0% among men, 6.7% among women), and the highest was in Denmark (51.0% among men, 65.8% among women). Use was higher in women than in men. Vitamins, minerals or combinations of them were the predominant types of supplements reported, but there were striking differences between countries. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that there are wide variations in supplement use in Europe, which may affect individual and population nutrient intakes. The results underline the need to monitor consumption of dietary supplements in Europe, as well as to evaluate the risks and benefits.

Articular cartilage lesions and anterior knee pain.

The present case-control study included as cases 24 athletes with anterior knee pain, and 17 controls, matching the cases according to gender and age. All cases had their most symptomatic knee examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Among controls one knee was chosen for examination at random. The MRI of the patella showed articular cartilage lesions in 17 out of 24 cases, whereas among the controls 4 out of 17 had articular cartilage lesions. (Odds Ratio 7.9 (95% confidence interval 1.9-33)). However, presence of articular cartilage lesions was not associated with duration of symptoms or intensity of the anterior knee pain. The present study showed a significant positive association between presence of articular cartilage lesions in the patella and presence of anterior knee pain, but further studies are needed to examine the relationship in detail.