[Dietary intake in people with spinal cord injury based on sex, obesity and injury related variable in brain and spinal injury repair research center]

Despite an increased risk of obesity and CHD in people with spinal cord injury [SCI], there is little known about the dietary intake in this group, therefore the aim of this study was to examine nutrient intake and body mass index [BMI] in the spinal cord injury [SCI] population according to level of injury and related variables. In this cross-sectional study, 162 patients with spinal cord injury participated from Brain and Spinal Injury Repair research Center, Tehran, Iran. Dietary intakes were assessed by means of a semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The mean age of study population was 34.1 +/- 0.6 years. Total energy and carbohydrate intake were higher in men than women [P<0.001]. Incomplete injured consumed more MUFA [P=0.03]. The elderly were consumed less total calorie, saturated fat, MUFA, cholesterol [P<0.01] and PUFA [P<0.05]. Injured patients with longer times had lower total calorie, carbohydrate [P<0.01], total fat and MUFA intake [P<0.05]. Based on new classification 60.5% were at the risk of obesity or obese. Central obesity was seen in 33.1%of man and 48.4% of women. BMI of the paraplegia group was greater than that of the tetraplegia group [P=0.009]. Macronutrients balance is moved towards higher saturated fat intake and less complex carbohydrates and protein intake in SCI patient's. The elderly and patients who had lived with SCI longer time tended to maintain healthier diets

Effect of calcium and vitamin D intake on maternal and neonatal anthropometric parameters

Vitamin D is essential for the health of pregnant women and their newborns. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the outcome of pregnancy and maternal calcium and vitamin D intake. This cross-sectional study included 449 healthy pregnant women at the time of delivery and also their newborns after delivery. Maternal and neonatal anthropometric data were collected and Calcium and Vitamin D intake was determined. The mean values for vitamin D and calcium intake in mothers were 2.26 +/- 1.87 microg/d and 816.284 +/- 370.47 mg/d respectively. Our findings showed that, the mean Apgar score and height of the newborns whose mothers had adequate calcium and vitamin D intake were higher than those of infants of mothers with inadequate intake [p=0.04, p=0.03; respectively]. Our study showed a significant correlation between adequate maternal calcium and vitamin D intake and appropriate neonatal birth weight, height and one-minute Apgar score. We found that mothers with adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D had greater weight gain. Therefore proper nutritional plans for pregnant women are necessary. Consumption of foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, in particular dairy products, fortification of foods and addition of supplements to diet regimen of the population at risk of developing such nutritional deficiencies should be taken into consideration

[Assessment of folic acid and vitamin B[12] status and some of the interactive factors in mentally retarded patients]

Mental retardation is a disorder in people under 18, accompanied with restriction in mental abilities, daily activities, and social skills. These patients are at risk of malnutrition. The objective of this study is assessment of folic acid, vitamin B[12] and some of the interactive factors in mentally retarded patients. This descriptive study was conducted in 40 subjects 7-15 years old, which were divided into two groups: girls [n=20] and boys [n=20]. 24 hours dietary recall for two consecutive days and food frequency questionnaire [ffq] were used to evaluate intake of folate and vitamin B[12]. RIDA method was used for measurement of serum folate and vitamin B[12] with siwul- tral- SNB-Radioassay kit. Chi square and independent T-test and Spearman and Mann- Whitney also were used to compare groups. The results of this study showed that folate and vitamin B[12] intakes, were lower than RDA in all subjects. Meanwhile serum folate, erythrocyte folate and serum vitamin B[12] were low in 65, 62.5 and 35 percent of subjects, respectively. Mean [ +/- SD] of serum folate, vitamin B[12] and erythrocyte folate levels were 2.89 and 3.11 [ng/ml], 274.5 and 327.75 [pg/ml] and finally 98.26 and 103.27 [ng/ml] in girls and boys, respectively. Serum folate level correlated positively with vegetables consumption [p<0.05, r= 0.87]. Erythrocyte folate levels correlated negatively with anticonvulsant drugs consumption [p=0.01, r=-0.66], and parasite evidence [p=0.01, r=-0.82] and correlated positively with vegetables consumption [p<0.05, r=0.22]. Finally, serum vitamin B[12] level correlated negatively with anticonvulsant drugs consumption [p<0.01, r=-0.46] and parasite evidence [p<0.05, r=-0.60] and correlated positively with meat consumption [p=0,01, r=0.42]. The status of folate and vitamin B[12] in these mental retarded patients was not sufficient due to both low intake and parasite evidence and finally anticonvulsant drug consumption