Higher Intakes Of Vitamin Research Articles

Association between dietary consumption of multiple vitamins and age-related macular degeneration: a cross-sectional observational study in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2008.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the common causes of blindness in the elderly worldwide. Its prevention and monitoring indicators remain a key area of research. This study aims to examine the association between vitamin intake and AMD prevalence. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2008 were used for cross-sectional analysis. Logistic regression models, subgroup analyses and multicollinearity regression were employed to assess the association between vitamin intake and AMD. A total of 1,627 participants were included, with 54.5% (weighted) males and 45.5% (weighted) females. Significant differences were observed in the intake of vitamins B (B1, B2, B6, and B12), E, and folic acid between the AMD and Non-AMD groups. The Non-AMD group had higher average intakes (weighted) of vitamin B1 (1.71 ± 1.10 vs. 1.37 ± 0.64), B2 (2.42 ± 1.22 vs. 1.86 ± 0.70), B6 (2.05 ± 1.25 vs. 1.71 ± 0.85), B12 (5.73 ± 6.18 vs. 4.54 ± 3.27), E (7.93 ± 5.47 vs. 6.39 ± 2.86), and folic acid (181.87 ± 178.04 vs. 140.72 ± 124.60). Logistic regression and subgroup analyses further supported these findings. This study found that higher vitamin intakes B and E were associated with a lower prevalence of AMD in the U.S. population. Eating a healthy diet rich in vitamins B and E, particularly B2 (eggs, green vegetables, meat, mushrooms, and almonds) may help to reduce vision loss due to AMD. However, since this is a cross-sectional study, causal associations between vitamin intake and AMD cannot be established. Further randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Current and potential contributions of large-scale food fortification to meeting micronutrient requirements in Senegal: a modelling study using household food consumption data

IntroductionMicronutrient deficiencies are common among women of reproductive age (WRA) and children in Senegal. Large-scale food fortification (LSFF) can help fill gaps in dietary intake.MethodsWe used household food consumption data...

Association of vitamin intake with health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

It is still uncertain whether vitamin intake is associated with better quality of life in hemodialysis patients. This study aims to assess the association between the quantity of supplemented vitamins and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in this population. This cross-sectional study included all patients on chronic hemodialysis from three units. Vitamins and micronutrients assessed were B1, B6, B12, C, D, folic acid, menaquinone, carnitine, zinc, and coenzyme Q10. Quality of life scores included the 8 domains of SF-36 and the 11 domains of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL). Bivariate analysis compared two groups of patients divided based on the median of vitamin intake. Spearman Rho test assessed the correlation between number of vitamins and different dimensions of HRQoL. A total of 183 patients were included. Median number of vitamins supplemented was 2 (1,3); 112 patients had an intake of ≤ 2 vitamins, and 71 patients were taking > 2 vitamins. There was a significant association between higher vitamin intake and the burden of kidney disease that remained significant in the multivariable analysis (p = 0.03), but no correlation between the number of vitamins (0 - 13) and different HRQoL scores. Sub-analyses of each category of vitamins showed no significant difference in HRQoL scores except for Vitamin B and staff encouragement (p = 0.01) and for multivitamins and quality of social interaction (p = 0.03). A higher number of vitamins in hemodialysis patients is associated with an increased perception of the burden of kidney disease. Interventional studies are needed to assess whether selective vitamin supplementation in case of deficiencies is associated with better quality of life.

Associations between dietary antioxidant vitamins and risk of glioma: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Epidemiological studies investigating the potential associations between antioxidant vitamins intake and risk of glioma have yielded inconsistent results. To address this, we carried out a systematic review and updated meta-analysis to explore the relationship between dietary antioxidant vitamins intake and risk of glioma. We comprehensively searched electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wan fang Data from their inception to March 2024. We employed fixed-effects or random-effects models to estimate the pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between dietary antioxidant vitamins intake and risk of glioma. Publication bias was assessed through the visual inspection of the funnel plots and quantified by the Begg's and Egger's tests. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using the Cochran's Q test and I-square (I2). Additionally, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity and evaluate the robustness of the results. Overall, a total of 15 articles involving 3,608 glioma cases and 771,930 participants were included in the final analysis. The pooled analyses revealed that the highest intake of vitamin C significantly reduced the risk of glioma (RR = 0.78; 95%CI: 0.63-0.96; P = 0.022), compared to the lowest intake. However, no significant associations were observed between vitamin A and vitamin E intake and the risk of glioma (P>0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed the inverse association between vitamin C intake and risk of glioma in the population-based case-control studies (RR = 0.82; 95%CI: 0.68-1.00, P = 0.049) and study quality <7(RR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.29-0.92, P = 0.025). Our findings show that higher intake of vitamin C is strongly associated with a reduced risk of glioma, although a dose-response relationship was not evident. Future large-scale prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

The Combined Effects of the Most Important Dietary Patterns on the Incidence and Prevalence of Chronic Renal Failure: Results from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Mendelian Analyses.

We aimed to comprehensively assess the relationship of specific dietary patterns and various nutrients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its progression. The observational study data were from the NHANES 2005-2020. We calculated four dietary pattern scores (healthy eating index 2020 (HEI-2020), dietary inflammatory index (DII), alternative mediterranean diet (aMed), and dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH)) and the intakes of various nutrients and defined CKD, CKD-very high risk, and kidney dialysis. Associations between dietary patterns and nutrients and disease were assessed by means of two logistic regression models. Two-sample MR was performed with various food and nutrients as the exposure and CKD, kidney dialysis as the outcome. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to verify the reliability of the results. A total of 25,167 participants were included in the analyses, of whom 4161 had CKD. HEI-2020, aMed, and DASH were significantly negatively associated with CKD and CKD-very high risk at higher quartiles, while DII was significantly positively associated. A higher intake of vitamins and minerals may reduce the incidence and progression of CKD to varying degrees. The MR results, corrected for false discovery rates, showed that a higher sodium intake was associated with a higher prevalence of CKD (OR: 3.91, 95%CI: 2.55, 5.99). Adhering to the three dietary patterns of HEI-2020, aMed, and DASH and supplementing with vitamins and minerals benefits kidney health.

Association between Dietary Antioxidant Capacity in Midlife and Depressive Symptoms in Late Life: The Singapore Chinese Health Study.

Preclinical and limited epidemiological studies suggest that oxidative stress may be implicated in geriatric depression. Our study investigated the association between midlife dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and depressive symptoms in late life among 13,712 participants in a population-based cohort of Chinese in Singapore. At baseline (1993-1998), intake of antioxidants from diet and supplements at a mean age of 52.4 years was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire to derive two dietary TAC indices from vitamins C and E, carotenoids and flavonoids: the Comprehensive Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) and Vitamin C Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (VCEAC). At follow-up 3 (2014-2016), when participants were at a mean age of 72.5 years, depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale, and depression, defined as having ≥5 symptoms, was presented in 3173 (23.1%) participants. Both CDAI and VCEAC indices were inversely associated with odds of depressive symptoms in a stepwise manner: the OR (95% CI) comparing the extreme quartiles was 0.73 (0.64-0.83; Ptrend < 0.01) for the CDAI and 0.77 (0.68-0.87; Ptrend < 0.01) for the VCEAC. Specifically, higher intakes of vitamin C, carotenoids, and flavonoids were associated with a lower likelihood of depressive symptoms. Our findings support the recommendation of an antioxidant-rich diet for the prevention of depression.

Vitamins in Gynecologic Malignancies.

The combination of vitamin A and D derivatives with classical chemotherapeutic treatments results in more satisfactory outcomes. The use of drug combinations, such as 9cUAB130 with carboplatin and cisplatin with TAC-101, shows enhanced cytotoxic effects and reductions in ovarian tumor volume compared to single-drug treatments. Combining cisplatin with calcitriol and progesterone increases VDR expression, potentially enhancing the effectiveness of anticancer therapy in ovarian cancer. The effectiveness of vitamin derivatives in anticancer treatment may vary depending on the characteristics of the tumor and the cell line from which it originated. An increase in thiamine intake of one unit is associated with an 18% decrease in HPV infection. Higher intake of vitamin C by 50 mg/day is linked to a lower risk of cervical neoplasia. Beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E are associated with risk reductions of 12%, 15%, and 9% in endometrial cancer, respectively. A balanced daily intake of vitamins is important, as both deficiency and excess can influence cancer development. It has been observed that there is a U-shaped relationship between group B vitamins and metabolic markers and clinical outcomes.

Vitamin E Intake and Prevalence Rates of Thyroid Dysfunction and Autoimmune Thyroiditis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES Data.

Background: Thyroid disorders are associated with various dietary factors and nutritional elements. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between dietary vitamin E intake and the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid antibody positivity using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Methods: Data from the NHANES database collected between 2007 and 2012 were analyzed. A total of 7,773 nonpregnant adults without preexisting thyroid diseases and possessing complete thyroid and vitamin E data were included in the study. The participants were categorized into tertiles based on their dietary vitamin E intake: the lowest group (T1: ≤4.53 mg), the intermediate group (T2: 4.54-8.10 mg), and the highest group (T3: ≥8.11 mg). We used a complex multistage probability sampling design in conjunction with R software. We compared thyroid indices, the prevalence of overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, and the occurrence of thyroid antibody positivity among the three groups based on vitamin E intake. Weighted multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between dietary vitamin E intake and thyroid disorders. Restricted cubic splines (RCSs) were used to explore potential nonlinear associations. Results: The prevalence rates of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) were 3.63%, 3.07%, and 1.85% in T1, T2, and T3, respectively, indicating a decreasing trend (P-trend = 0.013). In the general population, high vitamin E intake (T3) was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of SCH (OR = 0.28, CI = 0.15-0.54, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed a more pronounced protective effect in males, with both moderate (T2, OR = 0.45, CI = 0.23-0.87, p = 0.020) and high (T3, OR = 0.19, CI = 0.09-0.39, p < 0.001) dietary vitamin E intake being associated with a lower prevalence of SCH. In addition, moderate (T2, OR = 0.59, CI = 0.37-0.93, p = 0.024) and high (T3, OR = 0.52, CI = 0.36-0.75, p < 0.001) dietary vitamin E intake was associated with a lower prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) in males. However, no significant association was observed among females. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that a higher intake of vitamin E is associated with lower prevalence rates of SCH and autoimmune thyroiditis among males.

Maternal use of nitrosatable drugs during pregnancy and adult male reproductive health: A population-based cohort study.

Prenatal exposures to xenobiotics during the masculinization programming window are suggested to impact male fecundity later in life. Frequently used nitrosatable drugs, such as penicillins and beta2-agonists, contain amines or amides that may form teratogenic compounds in reaction with nitrite. We explored whether maternal nitrosatable drug use during gestation was associated with biomarkers of male fecundity in adulthood; moreover, the potential modifiable effect of nitrate and vitamin intake was investigated. We performed a cohort study in the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality cohort that includes semen characteristics, reproductive hormone concentrations, and measures of testis size on 1058 young adult sons in the Danish National Birth Cohort. Information on maternal use of nitrosatable drugs was obtained from questionnaires and interviews around gestational weeks 11 and 16. A multivariable negative binomial regression model was used to obtain relative differences in biomarkers of male fecundity for those whose mothers used nitrosatable drugs compared to those without such maternal use. In sub-analyses, the exposure was categorized according to nitrosatable drug type: secondary amine, tertiary amine, or amide. We investigated dose dependency by examining the number of weeks with intake and explored potential effect modification by low versus high maternal nitrate and vitamin intake from diet and nitrate concentration in drinking water. We added selection weights and imputed values of missing covariates to limit the risk of selection bias. In total, 19.6% of the study population were born of mothers with an intake of nitrosatable drugs at least once during early pregnancy. Relative differences in biomarkers related to male fecundity between exposed and unexposed participants were negligible. Imputation of missing covariates did not fundamentally alter the results. Furthermore, no sensitive subpopulations were detected. The results suggest that maternal use of nitrosatable drugs does not have a harmful influence on the male fecundity of the offspring.

Daily Diet and Nutrition Risk Factors for Gastric Cancer Incidence in a Japanese Population.

: Nutritional factors associated with gastric cancer (GC) are not completely understood. We aimed to determine the effect of nutrient intake on the incidence of GC. : This was a post hoc analysis of a prospective trial that evaluated modalities for GC screening in participants aged 30 to 74 years living in high-risk areas for GC in Japan between June 2011 and March 2013. The patients were followed up for GC incidence for 6 years. All participants completed a self-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) upon enrollment before GC screening. Daily nutrient intake was calculated from the FFQ and dichotomized at each cutoff value using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Risk factors associated with GC incidence were investigated in terms of nutrient intake and participant characteristics using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. : Overall, 1,147 participants were included in this analysis. The median age was 62 years, and 50.7% of the participants were men. The median follow-up period was 2,184 days. GC was detected in 25 participants during the follow-up. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that the intake of sodium (adjusted hazards ratio [aHR], 3.905; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.520 to 10.035; p=0.005) and vitamin D (aHR, 2.747; 95% CI, 1.111 to 6.788, p=0.029) were positively associated with GC incidence, whereas the intake of soluble dietary fiber (aHR, 0.104; 95% CI, 0.012 to 0.905; p=0.040) was inversely associated with GC incidence. : Daily high intake of sodium and vitamin D and low soluble dietary fiber intake are associated with GC incidence.

Associations of micronutrient dietary patterns with sarcopenia among US adults: a population-based study.

Current epidemiological evidence points to an association between micronutrient (MN) intake and sarcopenia, but studies have focused on single MN, and no combined effects on MNs have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between different MN intake patterns and sarcopenia and skeletal muscle mass. We performed a population-based cross-sectional study, with a total of 5,256 U.S. adults aged 20-59 years, and we collected total daily MN intake and appendicular skeletal muscle mass measured by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to obtain nutrient patterns and principal component scores based on the intake of 14 MNs, and logistic regression analysis was used to assess the effects of single MN and MN intake patterns on sarcopenia and muscle mass. We defined three MN intake patterns by PCA: (1) adherence to VitB-mineral, high intake of vitamin B and minerals; (2) adherence to VitAD-Ca-VB12, high intake of vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin B12; and (3) adherence to Antioxidant Vit, high intake of antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, and K. These three nutrient patterns explained 73.26% of the variance of the population. A negative association was observed between most single MN intakes and sarcopenia, and after adjusting for confounders, adherence to the highest tertile of the three nutrient patterns was associated with a lower risk of sarcopenia and relatively higher skeletal muscle mass compared to the lowest adherence. In subgroup analysis, MN intake patterns were significantly correlated with sarcopenia in middle-aged females. Nutritional patterns based on MN intake were significantly related to sarcopenia, indicating that MNs interact with each other while exerting their individual functions, and that MN dietary patterns may provide promising strategies for preventing the loss of muscle mass, with further prospective studies warranted in the future.

Vascular and renal calcification as a consequence of high-dose calcium and vitamin D drugs

Calcium-containing drugs occupy an important place in the list of anti-osteoporotic agents. Their consumption, often in combination with high doses of vitamin D, has increased significantly over the last couple of decades. Cases of uncontrolled intake of the macronutrient have become more frequent. Aggressive advertising of high-dose calcium supplements with calciferol of foreign production on television played its role in this. Nowadays doctors of various specialties have to face more and more often the consequences of using such preparations. The article describes the mechanism of calcium deposits formation in vessels and kidneys against the background of calcium supplementation. The results of large-scale studies proving the close relationship between high intake of calcium and vitamin D with calcification of vessels, development of cardiovascular diseases and nephrolithiasis are presented. Doubts are raised about the validity and necessity of high-dose calcium supplements in the treatment of skeletal diseases. The possibilities of successful therapy of postmenopausal osteoporosis without the use of such agents are presented on the example of the preparation Osteo-Vit D3, which does not contain calcium and high doses of calciferol, but increases the mineral density of bone tissue and reduces the volume of calcificates in blood vessels and kidneys.

Association between dietary nutrient intake and prevalence of myopia in Korean adolescents: evidence from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The rise in myopia prevalence, particularly among adolescents in East Asia, is a cause for concern. While a combination of environmental and genetic factors is understood to contribute to this trend, the role of dietary nutrients is not yet fully clarified. To assess the potential association between the intake of specific nutrients and the prevalence of myopia in a large, population-based sample of Korean adolescents. Data from 18,077 adolescents (average age: 15.05 ± 1.67 years; 51.7% male, 48.3% female) who participated in the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII, 2016) were analyzed. Refractive error was measured using an auto-refractor-keratometer (KR-8800) without cycloplegia. Dietary intake of 14 nutrients was assessed through a 24-h personalized dietary recall method. The study revealed a myopia prevalence of 87.6% among the adolescents. Multivariable models adjusted for age, gender, BMI, and other confounding factors indicated that higher intakes of carbohydrates, proteins, cholesterol, sodium, and vitamin B2 were associated with an increased risk of myopia. Conversely, higher intake of vitamin C was found to be associated with a decreased risk. The findings suggested a potential association between dietary nutrient intake and myopia prevalence in Korean adolescents. While the study did not establish a causal link, the differences in nutrient intake between the myopic and non-myopic groups could indicate that diet plays a role in the development or progression of myopia. Further research is warranted to corroborate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Association between dietary intake and risk of Parkinson's disease: cross-sectional analysis of survey data from NHANES 2007-2016.

While dietary factors have shown an association with Parkinson's disease (PD), the available data remains a subject of ongoing debate and controversy. We sought to evaluate potential relationships between dietary consumption of nutrients and micronutrients and risk of PD in a large sample. Cross-sectional data were retrospectively analyzed for 10,651 adults aged 40-80 years that had been collected in the US between 2007 and 2016 as a component of the nationwide National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Aspects of dietary intake were compared between those who reported having specific PD medication regimens or not when they completed the survey, and potential associations between diet and risk of PD were explored using binomial logistic regression. We employed Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to minimize the impact of potential confounding factors, thus enhancing the reliability of the results. Additionally, subgroup analysis based on gender and age was conducted to investigate these relationships. Higher dietary intake of iron was linked to greater PD risk [odds ratio (OR) 1.065, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.019-1.114, p = 0.006], whereas risk decreased with higher intake of vitamin K (OR 0.999, 95% CI 0.998-1.000, p = 0.024) or vitamin C (OR 0.998, 95% CI 0.996-0.999, p = 0.039). Even after applying PSM, the connection between dietary iron intake and dietary vitamin C intake with PD risk remained substantial. Subgroup analysis results revealed a significant positive association between dietary intake of iron from food and the PD risk, which was evident among individuals under 60 years of age and among males. The intake of micronutrients can influence risk of PD, which should be verified and explored further in prospective samples with other dietary habits and ethnic backgrounds.

Intake and biomarkers of folate and folic acid as determinants of chemotherapy-induced toxicities in patients with colorectal cancer: a cohort study

BackgroundCapecitabine is an oral chemotherapeutic drug showing antitumor activity through inhibition of thymidylate synthase, an enzyme involved in folate metabolism. There are concerns about the high intake of certain vitamins, and specifically folate, during chemotherapy with capecitabine. Whether folate or folic acid, the synthetic variant of the vitamin, impact treatment toxicity remains unclear. ObjectiveWe studied associations between intake and biomarkers of folate as well as folic acid and toxicities in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) receiving capecitabine. MethodsWithin the prospective COLON (Colorectal cancer: Longitudinal, Observational study on Nutritional and lifestyle factors that influence recurrence, survival, and quality of life) cohort, 290 patients with stage II to III CRC receiving capecitabine were identified. Dietary and supplemental intake of folate and folic acid were assessed at diagnosis and during chemotherapy using questionnaires (available for 280 patients). Plasma folate and folic acid levels were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and were available for 212 patients. Toxicities were defined as toxicity-related modifications of treatment, including dose reductions, regimen switches, and early discontinuation. Associations of intake and biomarkers of folate and folic acid with toxicities were determined using Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for age and sex. ResultsIn total, 153 (53%) patients experienced toxicities leading to modification of capecitabine treatment. Folate intake and plasma folate levels were not associated with risk of toxicities. However, use of folic acid-containing supplements during treatment (hazard ratio (HR) 1.81 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-2.85) and presence of folic acid in plasma at diagnosis (HR 2.09, 95% CI: 1.24, 3.52) and during treatment (HR 2.31, 95% CI: 1.29, 4.13) were associated with an increased risk of toxicities. ConclusionsThis study suggests a potential association between folic acid and capecitabine-induced toxicities, providing a rationale to study diet-drug interactions and raise further awareness of the use of dietary supplements during oncological treatment. Clinical trial detailsThis trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03191110.

Bone mineral density is associated with composite dietary antioxidant index among US adults: results from NHANES.

While individual dietary antioxidants have shown beneficial effects on bone metabolism, the diverse and potentially interacting nature of dietary components may limit the accuracy of evaluating their impact on bone health. Thus, this study aims to investigate the association between CDAI and BMD. Additionally, we explore the relationship between the intake of individual components of the CDAI and BMD. The CDAI is a novel index evaluating total dietary antioxidant intake, considering vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, selenium, and carotenoids. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from participants aged ≥ 20 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2010, 2013-2014, and 2017-2018). We utilized multivariate linear regression models to examine the relationship between CDAI, individual dietary antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, selenium, carotenoids, and femoral BMD. The final analysis included 10,584 participants with a mean age of 50.73 ± 16.65years. After multivariate adjustment, the second to fourth quartiles of CDAI (- 2.00-0.04, 0.04-2.54, and 2.54-70.78) exhibited higher femoral BMD compared to the first quartile of CADI (- 7.34 to - 2.00). Multiple regression analysis revealed that higher intakes of vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, and carotenoids were associated with higher femoral BMD. CDAI serves as a comprehensive tool for evaluating the overall antioxidant capacity of antioxidants in diets. Additionally, our study shows a positive correlation between CDAI and BMD, which indicates that the combined intake of dietary antioxidants may help reduce the risk of osteoporosis in adults.

What Dietary Vitamins and Minerals Might Be Protective against Parkinson's Disease?

Dietary constituents may affect the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to assess the contribution of dietary intake of vitamins and minerals to the severity, motor and non-motor symptoms, and risk of PD. In this case-control study, 120 patients with PD and 50 healthy participants participated. Dietary intake of vitamins and minerals was determined using a 147-item food frequency questionnaire. The severity of PD was determined by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Patients with PD had lower intake of several vitamins and minerals including lycopene, thiamine, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, magnesium, zinc, manganese, selenium, chromium, and phosphorus, but had higher intake of α-tocopherol. High dietary intake of vitamin A, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, vitamin C, and α-tocopherol were correlated with increased odds of PD. High intake of lycopene, thiamin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, magnesium, zinc, manganese, chromium, and phosphorous correlated with reduced odds of PD. The predictive power of α-tocopherol concerning the risk of PD was stronger relative to other vitamins. Dietary intake of pantothenic acid was negatively correlated with PD severity and symptoms of motor examination and complication. The severity and motor symptoms of PD were also negatively correlated with β-carotene, vitamin C, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and biotin intake. The UPDRS total score and motor symptoms in PD patients were negatively correlated with phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and chromium, and strongly with potassium intake. The findings indicate that adequate dietary intake of vitamins and minerals may have a preventive effect on developing PD and progression of motor decline.

Is the Association Between Fruits and Vegetables and Preeclampsia Due to Higher Dietary Vitamin C and Carotenoid Intakes?

BackgroundDiets dense in fruits and vegetables are associated with a reduced risk of preeclampsia, but pathways underlying this relationship are unclear. Dietary antioxidants may contribute to the protective effect. ObjectiveWe determined the extent to which the effect of dietary fruit and vegetable density on preeclampsia is because of high intakes of dietary vitamin C and carotenoids. Methods: We used data from 7572 participants in the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: monitoring mothers-to-be (8 United States medical centers, 2010‒2013). Usual daily periconceptional intake of total fruits and total vegetables was estimated from a food frequency questionnaire. We estimated the indirect effect of ≥2.5 cups/1000 kcal of fruits and vegetables through vitamin C and carotenoid on the risk of preeclampsia. We estimated these effects using targeted maximum likelihood estimation and an ensemble of machine learning algorithms, adjusting for confounders, including other dietary components, health behaviors, and psychological, neighborhood, and sociodemographic factors. ResultsParticipants who consumed ≥2.5 cups of fruits and vegetables per 1000 kcal were less likely than those who consumed <2.5 cups/1000 kcal to develop preeclampsia (6.4% compared with 8.6%). After confounder adjustment, we observed that higher fruit and vegetable density was associated with 2 fewer cases of preeclampsia (risk difference: –2.0; 95% CI: –3.9, –0.1)/100 pregnancies compared with lower density diets. High dietary vitamin C and carotenoid intake was not associated with preeclampsia. The protective effect of high fruit and vegetable density on the risk of preeclampsia and late-onset preeclampsia was not mediated through dietary vitamin C and carotenoids. ConclusionsEvaluating other nutrients and bioactives in fruits and vegetables and their synergy is worthwhile, along with characterizing the effect of individual fruits or vegetables on preeclampsia risk.

DIET AS A REMEDY FOR PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME

Background: Globalization of universe demands the uniform participation of genders as a workforce to accomplish the need of life and development. Women’s health issues are dragging forces in the race of life. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects the life periodically in reproductive age group. Globally, the prevalence of this problem is 30-40%, and in Pakistan, up to 55% females suffer from this problem. PMS symptoms include physical, mental and behavioral disturbances. Etiology of the disease is still unclear, but the hormonal impact is formulated. Diagnostic criteria and daily symptoms are used to make the diagnosis. Lifestyle modifications, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), medications and dietary role are recommended to alleviate the symptoms.&#x0D; Method: Review of Articles searched from PubMed and google scholar done. Heterogeneity in studies observed due to limited clinical trials on this issue. Studies from 2000 to 2017 published in journals included in it. Findings of the studies gave following conclusive results.&#x0D; Results: An effective quantity of diet is necessary to have exact amount of calcium, pyridoxine (Vit. B6) and chasteberry fruit which influence more efficiently and others. Quantity of each ingredient is identified in article. Saffron, ginger and high intake of Vitamin D show little benefits comparative to aforementioned.&#x0D; Conclusion: Appropriate dose/quantity of specific diet play role to ameliorate symptoms. Clinicians should counsel the patients that they can get relieved by the diet too.&#x0D; Keywords: Premenstrual syndrome, Dietary effect, Women’s health

Long-Term Exposure to Nitrate and Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water and Prostate Cancer: A Multicase-Control Study in Spain (MCC-Spain).

Nitrate and trihalomethanes (THMs) in drinking water are widespread and are potential human carcinogens. We evaluated the association between drinking-water exposure to nitrate and THMs and prostate cancer. During the period 2008-2013, 697 hospital-based incident prostate cancer cases (97 aggressive tumors) and 927 population-based controls were recruited in Spain, providing information on residential histories and type of water consumed. Average nitrate and THMs levels in drinking water were linked with lifetime water consumption to calculate waterborne ingestion. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using mixed models with recruitment area as random effect. Effect modification by tumor grade (Gleason score), age, education, lifestyle, and dietary factors was explored. Mean () adult lifetime waterborne ingested nitrate (milligrams per day), brominated (Br)-THMs (micrograms per day), and chloroform (micrograms per day) were 11.5 (), 20.7 (), and 15.1 () in controls. Waterborne ingested nitrate vs. was associated with an OR of 1.74 (95% CI: 1.19, 2.54) overall, and 2.78 (95% CI: 1.23, 6.27) for tumors with Gleason scores . Associations were higher in the youngest and those with lower intakes of fiber, fruit/vegetables, and vitamin C. Waterborne ingested THMs were not associated with prostate cancer. Residential tap water levels of Br-THMs and chloroform showed, respectively, inverse and positive associations with prostate cancer. Findings suggest long-term waterborne ingested nitrate could be a risk factor of prostate cancer, particularly for aggressive tumors. High intakes of fiber, fruit/vegetables and vitamin C may lower this risk. Association with residential levels but not ingested chloroform/Br-THM may suggest inhalation and dermal routes could be relevant for prostate cancer. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11391.