Does vitamin D affect timing of menarche?
In a recently published prospective study, Villamor et al. found increased risk of early menarche in vitamin D‐deficient girls compared to vitamin D‐sufficient girls in Bogota, Columbia. The association was not fully explained by differences in body mass index‐for‐age z‐scores. The mechanism for the association, if real, has not been elucidated, but could potentially involve vitamin D receptor polymorphisms. Early menarche and vitamin D deficiency are both associated with poor health outcomes, and further exploration of their association is important for women's health. (Source: Nutrition Reviews)
Source: Nutrition Reviews - January 29, 2013 Category: Nutrition Authors: Anna Chew, Susan S Harris Tags: Emerging Science Source Type: research
Corrigendum
(Source: Nutrition Reviews)
Source: Nutrition Reviews - January 28, 2013 Category: Nutrition Tags: Corrigendum Source Type: research
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of micronutrient intakes during pregnancy in developed countries
Micronutrient status during pregnancy influences maternal and fetal health, birth outcomes, and the risk of chronic disease in offspring. Research reporting dietary intake during pregnancy in nationally representative population samples, however, is limited. This review summarizes the micronutrient intakes of pregnant women from developed countries and compares them with relevant national recommendations. A systematic search without date limits was conducted. All studies reporting the micronutrient intakes of pregnant women were considered, irrespective of design. Two authors independently identified studies for inclusion ...
Source: Nutrition Reviews - January 7, 2013 Category: Nutrition Authors: Michelle L Blumfield, Alexis J Hure, Lesley Macdonald‐Wicks, Roger Smith, Clare E Collins Tags: Special Article Source Type: research
Dietary treatments for childhood constipation: efficacy of dietary fiber and whole grains
Constipation in children is defined on the basis of several clusters of symptoms, and these symptoms are likely to persist into adulthood. The aim of this review article is to summarize the current literature on the use of dietary fiber and whole grains as treatments for childhood constipation. Current recommendations for fiber intake in children vary substantially among organizations, suggesting that the function of fiber in children is not fully understood. Additionally, no formal definition of “whole grain” exists, which further complicates the interpretation of the literature. Few randomized controlled trials have ...
Source: Nutrition Reviews - January 7, 2013 Category: Nutrition Authors: Maria L Stewart, Natalia M Schroeder Tags: Special Article Source Type: research
Reviewer Acknowledgment
(Source: Nutrition Reviews)
Source: Nutrition Reviews - January 3, 2013 Category: Nutrition Tags: Reviewer Acknowledgment Source Type: research
Claudins, dietary milk proteins, and intestinal barrier regulation
The family of claudin proteins plays an important role in regulating the intestinal barrier by modulating the permeability of tight junctions. The impact of dietary protein on claudin biology has not been studied extensively. Whey proteins have been reported to improve intestinal barrier function, but their mechanism of action is not clear. Recent studies, however, have demonstrated increased intestinal claudin expression in response to milk protein components. Reviewed here are new findings suggesting that whey‐protein‐derived transforming growth factor β transcriptionally upregulates claudin‐4 expression via a Sma...
Source: Nutrition Reviews - January 3, 2013 Category: Nutrition Authors: Belinda M Kotler, Jane E Kerstetter, Karl L Insogna Tags: Emerging Science Source Type: research
Sodium in the food supply: challenges and opportunities
This article is based on proceedings from the Symposium on Sodium in the Food Supply: Challenges and Opportunities, sponsored by the North American Branch of the International Life Sciences Institute, at Experimental Biology 2010 in Anaheim, California. The symposium aimed to address the issue of dietary sodium and its consequences for public health. Presenters spoke on a variety of key topics, including salt taste reception mechanisms and preferences, methods and measures to assess sodium in the US food supply, and considerations regarding the reduction of sodium in processed foods. Information from these presentations, a...
Source: Nutrition Reviews - January 3, 2013 Category: Nutrition Authors: John A DeSimone, Gary K Beauchamp, Adam Drewnowski, Guy H Johnson Tags: Special Article Source Type: research
Pregnancy and iron homeostasis: an update
It has been nearly 15 years since the first review on pregnancy and iron deficiency was published in Nutrition Reviews. Many unresolved issues raised in that seminal review have been addressed. New proteins involved in nonheme and heme iron transport have been identified in the enterocyte, and information on the roles of these proteins in the placenta is evolving. The systemic iron regulatory hormone, hepcidin, has since been identified as a key regulator of iron homeostasis. Additional data on the efficacy and consequences of prenatal iron supplementation are available. Emerging data on developmental changes in iron absor...
Source: Nutrition Reviews - January 3, 2013 Category: Nutrition Authors: Chang Cao, Kimberly O O'Brien Tags: Special Article Source Type: research
Calcium intake, vascular calcification, and vascular disease
Recent research has reported a possible link between calcium supplementation and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and its endpoints in healthy, older adults. To evaluate the current evidence regarding the impact of calcium supplementation on cardiovascular disease risk and to address research gaps, the present review was conducted. Systematic reviews and meta‐analyses were included, when available, along with original articles. The articles included in the review were obtained from PubMed using the following search terms: calcium intake, calcium supplementation, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, mort...
Source: Nutrition Reviews - January 3, 2013 Category: Nutrition Authors: Lisa A Spence, Connie M Weaver Tags: Special Article Source Type: research
Effects of front‐of‐package and shelf nutrition labeling systems on consumers
As standards are considered for nutrition front‐of‐package (FOP) and shelf‐labeling systems in the United States, it is important to know what types of systems are most effective in conveying scientifically accurate and useful information to consumers. A systematic literature review identified 38 empirical studies on consumer response to FOP nutrition labeling and shelf labeling. Studies indicate that consumers can more easily interpret and select healthier products with nutrient‐specific FOP nutrition labels that incorporate text and symbolic color to indicate nutrient levels rather than nutrient‐specific labels...
Source: Nutrition Reviews - January 3, 2013 Category: Nutrition Authors: James C Hersey, Kelly C Wohlgenant, Joanne E Arsenault, Katherine M Kosa, Mary K Muth Tags: Lead Article Source Type: research
Overweight and obesity: a review of their relationship to metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in South America
Socioeconomic and demographic transformations are occurring very rapidly in some areas of the world, especially in South America, and are accompanied by changes in lifestyle, dietary patterns, and the epidemiological profile of prevalent diseases. This review examines whether obesity and overweight are related to metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in South America. Research carried out in more than 6,000 cases and controls was evaluated, along with most of the available publications related to South America. In South America, obesity and risk factors for cardiovascular disease are related mainly to agin...
Source: Nutrition Reviews - January 1, 2013 Category: Nutrition Authors: Laura R Aballay, Aldo R Eynard, María del Pilar Díaz, Alicia Navarro, Sonia E Muñoz Tags: Special Article Source Type: research
How prevalent is vitamin B12 deficiency among vegetarians?
Vegetarians are at risk for vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency due to suboptimal intake. The goal of the present literature review was to assess the rate of B12 depletion and deficiency among vegetarians and vegans. Using a PubMed search to identify relevant publications, 18 articles were found that reported B12 deficiency rates from studies that identified deficiency by measuring methylmalonic acid, holo‐transcobalamin II, or both. The deficiency rates reported for specific populations were as follows: 62% among pregnant women, between 25% and almost 86% among children, 21–41% among adolescents, and 11–90% among the elder...
Source: Nutrition Reviews - January 1, 2013 Category: Nutrition Authors: Roman Pawlak, Scott James Parrott, Sudha Raj, Diana Cullum‐Dugan, Debbie Lucus Tags: Special Article Source Type: research
