Less than adequate vitamin E status observed in a group of preschool boys and girls living in the United States.

In that data were not available on the vitamin E status of young children, the aim of the study was to evaluate the vitamin E status of preschool children by three commonly used criteria: vitamin E intakes, plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations and plasma alpha-tocopherol/total lipid ratios. Twenty-two ethnically diverse preschool children (13 males and 9 females), aged 2 to 5 years, living in Lincoln, NE, served as subjects. The subjects were in two groups: 2-3 and 4-5 years old. Energy, fat, and alpha- and gamma-tocopherol intakes of the subjects were estimated utilizing two 24-h food recalls. Plasma alpha- and gamma-tocopherol and total lipid concentrations were ascertained. No significant differences by age grouping or gender were observed for vitamin E intakes, plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations, plasma gamma-tocopherol concentrations and plasma alpha-tocopherol/total lipid ratios of subjects. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations indicative of less than adequate status (<12 micromol/L) were observed in 91% of the children, and values <7 micromol/L (proposed cutoff for pediatric populations) in 68%. Sixty-eight percent of the subjects had plasma alpha-tocopherol/total lipid values <0.8 mg/g. The majority of the 2- to 5-year-old children included in the study had less than adequate vitamin E status.

Sex differences in dieting trends, eating habits, and nutrition beliefs of a group of midwestern college students.

The influence of sex on dietary trends, eating habits, and nutrition self-assessment and beliefs of a group of college students at a large Midwestern university was investigated. A questionnaire was completed by 105 male and 181 female undergraduate students. Men had significantly higher (P<0.0001) height, weight, and body mass index values. Significantly higher percentages of women than men had tried a low-fat diet (P=0.0075) and a low-carbohydrate diet (P=0.0285). Significantly lower percentages of women than men had never tried a diet (P=0.0173). Significantly higher percentages of women than men reported gaining nutrition knowledge from family (P=0.0033) and magazines/newspapers (P=0.0345). Significantly higher percentages of women than men agreed that they had too much sugar in their diets (P=0.0157), that it is important to limit carbohydrate consumption (P=0.0077), that it is important to limit the amount of fat consumed to lose weight (P=0.0194), and that they needed to lose weight (P<0.0001). It is important to eat a variety of foods for good health according to 94.4% of subjects. Sex differences existed in these college students with regard to anthropometric measurements, certain choices of diets, some sources of nutrition knowledge, and some nutrition beliefs.

Children of Latino immigrants, 4-8 years, in rural Nebraska are adequate in vitamin B-6.

Plasma concentrations of B-6 vitamers and homocysteine as well as erythrocyte alanine aminotransferase activity coefficients and vitamin B-6 (dietary + supplement) intakes of apparently healthy young Latino children of immigrant parents living in rural Nebraska were determined and differences determined by gender. Thirty-five Latino children (16 males and 19 females), aged 4-8 years, were included in the study. Nutrient intake information was obtained from the children's parents utilizing two nonconsecutive 24-hour food recalls. No differences were observed by gender with regard to vitamin B-6 intakes, plasma concentrations of B-6 vitamers and homocysteine, and erythrocyte alanine aminotransferase activity coefficients. The intakes of all children met the Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin B-6. Plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate concentrations, plasma homocysteine concentrations, and erythrocyte alanine aminotransferase activity coefficients of the children were (mean +/- SD) 83.71 +/- 37.35 nmol/L, 6.81 +/- 1.63 micromol/L, and 1.08 +/- 0.06, respectively. All the Latino children of immigrant parents in this study had values indicative of adequate vitamin B-6 status.