Calcium intake, food sources and seasonal variations in eastern Croatia.

The objective of this study was to examine the quantity of calcium intake among adults, the sources of calcium, differences among seasons, as well as the differences between sexes, correlation with body mass index (BMI), and age. The study included 161 healthy volunteers from the eastern part of Croatia. Each subject completed three food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) with 150 items, at an interval of 3-4 months. The mean calcium intake for whole population for all three FFQs was 965 mg/day. At the same time, the quantity of calcium for all subjects was 14.2 mg/kg, women 14.5 mg/kg, and men 13.6 mg/kg, respectively. There was an inverse relation between calcium intake and age for men (r = -0.32 p = 0.028), but not for women. Correlation between calcium intake and BMI was negative, but not significantly. Milk and dairy products were the main source of calcium. Marginally low mean calcium intake goes to show the needful to educate the population.

The role of the low energy diet in psoriasis vulgaris treatment.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether and how the low energy diet acts on reduce of plasma lipids and clinical features of moderate non pustular psoriasis vulgaris. The investigation carried out in Clinical hospital Osijek, at Department of Dermatology as well as at Nutrition Department, included 82 in-patients, aged 46 to 65 (mean age 53.7 +/- 7.9), which had at least a 10-year history of the skin disorders. 42 participants (22 men and 20 women) in addition to usual topical therapy (neutral bland ointments twice daily), received a low energy diet during four weeks. Controls (40 participants: 22 men and 18 women) received only topical therapy with regular hospital food. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in blood, body weight and clinical features were measured at the beginning of investigation and after four weeks. After four weeks participants on low energy diet showed statistical significantly decreasing of serum lipids in relation to control group as well as significantly decreasing of clinical skin disorders. On contrary there were no significant changes on body weight between both groups of participants. Results of our study suggest that low energy diet could be important adjuvant factor in the prevention and treatment of moderate non pustular psoriasis.