Assessment of Intake of Nutrient and Dietary Fiber among Children at the 6th Grade of Elementary School in Gimhae / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The aim of this study was to assess dietary fiber intake and the relationship between dietary fiber intake and nutrient intakes of elementary school students. Food consumption of 200 elementary school students (100 boys, 100 girls) in the 6th grade in Gimhae was assessed by 2-day estimated food records. Nutrient intakes were calculated using CAN-pro and total dietary fiber (TDF) intake using the TDF tables of the common Korean foods. The mean height and weight of the boys were 147.7 cm and 42.1 kg. The mean height and weight of the girls were 149.1 cm and 41.1 kg. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the boys (19.3 kg/m2) was significantly higher than that of the girls (18.4 kg/m2, p +/- 0.05). Average daily intake of energy of the boys and girls was 1733 and 1778 kcal, respectively. Intakes of protein, P, and niacin of the boys and girls exceeded 110% of current RDA. Intakes of Fe, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2 of the boys were similar to RDA. Intake of vitamin B1 exceeded 110% of current RDA and intakes of Fe and vitamin A were similar to RDA among the girls. Ca intake of the boys and girls was 74.2% and 60.1% of RDA, respectively. Vitamin C intake of the boys and girls were 63.6% and 71.7% of RDA, respectively. Intakes of fat, Ca, P, and vitamin B2 of the boys were significantly higher than the girls. Intakes of Fe and vitamin A of the boys were significantly lower than the girls. Average daily intakes of TDF of the boys and girls were 11.2 g and 11.1 g, respectively. TDF intake of the children at the 6th grade of elementary school was about 70% of "age (yr) + 5 g", a recommended level for American children. Major food groups to supply dietary fiber were vegetables, grains, and seasonings among the boys and girls. Major sources of dietary fiber were Kimchi, rice, and red pepper powder which supplied 17.85%. 15.71%, and 5.18% of TDF among the boys and 18.02%, 16.22%, and 6.58% among the girls. Daily fiber intake showed significant positive correlations with intakes of grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and seasonings among the boys and girls. Daily fiber intake showed significant positive correlations with intakes of energy, carbohydrates, protein, lipids, Ca, P, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, and vitamin C among both the boys and girls. From the results of this study we could conclude that it is recommended to increase dietary fiber intake in elementary school students at upper level.

Circulating immune complexes and cell-mediated immunity in patients with hepatitis B virus associated liver diseases

The prevalence of circulating immune complexes (CIC), their role and their relationship to cell-mediated immunity in patients with hepatitis B virus associated liver disease are still controversial. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of CIC and their relationship to viral markers, to subsets of peripheral blood T lymphocytes and to suppressor cell activity in patients with hepatitis B virus associated liver diseases. CIC were positive in 29.3% of 41 healthy HBsAg carriers, 37.8% of 88 patients with hepatitis B virus associated liver diseases, and 15% of 41 healthy subjects by the platelet aggregation test (PAT). The prevalence of CIC in patients with acute hepatitis (40.0%) and in those with cirrhosis (61.5%) was significantly higher than in normal controls (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.005 respectively). There was no correlation between the titer of CIC and serum HBsAg titer or the status of HBeAg, and no significant decrease in the peripheral blood lymphocyte CD4/CD8 ratio in healthy HBsAg carriers (1.39 +/- 0.31) and in patients with liver diseases (1.40 +/- 0.54) compared to the normal controls (1.48 +/- 0.31). Concanavalin A induced suppressor cell activity on IgG producing cells was impaired in healthy HBsAg carriers (34.9%) (p less than 0.005) and in patients with liver diseases (25.3%) (p less than 0.0001), and this change was prominent in patients with chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis (p less than 0.0001). And there was a significant reverse correlation between concanavalin A induced suppressor cell activity on IgG-producing cells and the titer of CIC in PAT positive patients with hepatitis B virus associated liver diseases. In conclusion, it was suggested that defective suppressor cell function may lead to an increased B cell activation and such activity may account for the presence of CIC.

Circulating Immune Complexes in Diabetics

Circulating immune complexes (ClC) were detected by platelet aggregation test (PAT) in 40.0% of 45 diabetics and by polyethylene glycol precipitation-complement consumption test (PEG-CC test) in 30.6% of 36 diabetics as compared to 5% and 10% of 20 normal control subjects for each test. The prevalence of CIC in diabetics was significantly higher than in the normal controls (P < 0.05%). There were no correlations between the presence of ClC detected by PAT and the duration of the disease, insulin treatment, or diabetic complications. Thus multiple factors must contribute to the increase of ClC in diabetics. The role of these various factors needs to be studied.