La dieta como factor de riesgo de hipovitaminosis D en la población pediátrica española / Diet as a risk factor for hypovitaminosis D in the Spanish pediatric population

Objetivo: El papel de la dieta como determinante relevante de hipovitaminosis D no está claro. El objetivo del estudio fue analizar su impacto en la prevalencia de hipovitaminosis D en población infantil sana española. Métodos: Mediante un diseño observacional se estudiaron en una muestra de población pediátrica, entre 4 y 14 años, datos demográficos, antropométricos, nutricionales, analíticos y el nivel de 25(OH) D mediante enzimo-inmuno-análisis. Se obtuvieron encuestas dietéticas mediante recordatorio de 24 horas evaluadas mediante el programa informático DietSource 3.0. La probabilidad de hipovitaminosis se analizó mediante regresión logística. Resultados: Se reclutaron 281 niños sanos con una edad media 9,0 años. La prevalencia de hipovitaminosis D (<20 ng/ml) fue de un 18,15% y la de déficit grave (<10 ng/ml) del 1,4%. La etnia, la estacionalidad, el fototipo de piel y el tiempo de exposición solar se asociaron significativamente a la presencia de hipovitaminosis D. La distribución de nutrientes no mostró diferencias entre los grupos con y sin hipovitaminosis salvo en la Piridoxina (vitamina B6) y los ácidos grasos saturados. Conclusiones: La dieta juega un papel reducido como factor de riesgo de hipovitaminosis D en población infantil sana y los factores relevantes son los relacionados con la exposición al sol. Un adecuado estilo de vida al aire libre, exposición solar libre de protectores solares y patrones dietéticos que aseguren una ingesta correcta de vitamina D y calcio siguen siendo las recomendaciones idóneas para la población general. La utilización de suplementos se debe limitar a los grupos de riesgo. (AU)

Objetives: It is not clear whether diet in the Spanish general population is also a relevant determinant of hypovitaminosis D. The objective of the study was to analyze the impact of diet on the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in healthy children. Methods: Demographic, anthropometric, nutritional, analytical data and vitamin D (25 (OH) D) level were studied using an enzyme-immuno-analysis using an observational design in a sample of the pediatric population between 4 and 14 years old. The 24-hour reminder diet survey was evaluated with the DietSource 3.0 software. The probability of hypovitaminosis was analyzed using logistic regression. Results: 280 healthy children with a mean age of 9.0 years were recruited. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D (<20 ng/ml) was 18.15% and that of severe deficit (<10 ng/ml) 1.4%. Ethnicity, seasonality, skin phototype, and time of sun exposure were significantly associated with the presence of hypovitaminosis D. The distribution of nutrients did not show differences between the groups with and without hypovitaminosis except for Pyridoxine B6 and saturated fatty acids. Conclusions: Diet plays a reduced role as a risk factor for hypovitaminosis D in healthy children and the relevant factors are those related to sun exposure. An adequate outdoor lifestyle, sun exposure free of sunscreens and dietary patterns that ensure a correct intake of vitamin D and calcium remain the ideal recommendations for the general population. Supplementation should be limited to risk groups. (AU)

Sequential dual-site High-Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) treatment in chronic subjective tinnitus: study protocol of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic tinnitus is a highly prevalent symptom, with many patients reporting considerable effects of tinnitus on quality of life. No clear evidence-based treatment options are currently available. While counseling-based methods are valuable in some cases, they are not sufficiently effective for all tinnitus patients. Neuromodulation techniques such as high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) are proposed to have positive effects on tinnitus severity but, to date, these effects have not been proven conclusively. The proposed trial will investigate the hypothesis that chronic tinnitus patients receiving HD-tDCS will report a positive effect on the impact of tinnitus on daily life, as compared to patients receiving sham stimulation. METHODS: This study proposes a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with parallel group design. A total of 100 chronic tinnitus patients will be randomly allocated to an experimental group or a sham group, with allocation stratified according to gender and tinnitus severity. Patient and researcher will be blinded to the patient's allocation. Patients will undergo six sessions of sequential dual-site HD-tDCS of the left temporal area and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Evaluations will take place at baseline, immediately following treatment, and at three and six months after the start of the therapy. The primary outcome measure is the change in Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) score. Secondary outcome measures include audiological measurements, cortical auditory evoked potentials, the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status adjusted for hearing-impaired individuals (RBANS-H), and supplementary questionnaires probing tinnitus severity and additional symptoms. By use of a linear regression model, the effects of HD-tDCS compared to sham stimulation will be assessed. DISCUSSION: The objective of this study is to evaluate whether HD-tDCS can reduce the impact of tinnitus on daily life in chronic tinnitus patients. To date, published trials on the effects of HD-tDCS on tinnitus suffer from a lack of standardization and few randomized controlled trials exist. The proposed study will be the first adequately powered trial to investigate the effects of sequential dual-site HD-tDCS on tinnitus severity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03754127 . Registered on 22 November 2018.

Functional dyspepsia versus other functional gastrointestinal disorders: a practical approach in Belgian general practices.

This paper identifies the symptom profile associated with the four main diagnoses of functional digestive disorders (dyspepsia, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), gastritis, and constipation) made by general practitioners in Belgium. Results are also presented from a multicentre study in which the effects of cisapride, administered as an oral tablet or suspension, were evaluated in patients with these functional digestive disorders. Analysis of symptom patterns revealed that early satiety and postprandial abdominal bloating were the most prominent symptoms, followed by eructation (belching), heartburn, regurgitation, postprandial epigastric burning or discomfort, and nausea. These symptoms occurred in all diagnostic groups. However, different symptom patterns were associated with each of the disorders; for example, heartburn and regurgitation were the core symptoms in patients diagnosed as having GORD, early satiety and abdominal bloating were characteristic of patients diagnosed with dyspepsia, and fasting or postprandial pain were characteristic of patients given the diagnosis of gastritis. Therefore, it appears that these diagnoses used by general practitioners in Belgium closely correspond to reflux-like, dysmotility-like and ulcer-like dyspepsia, as defined by an international working party. Cisapride improved the core symptoms in about 80% of patients with GORD or dyspepsia, relieved all epigastric symptoms in about 80% of patients with gastritis, and significantly decreased the use of laxatives and increased stool frequency in constipated patients. Cisapride was well tolerated and thus appears to be a useful option in the treatment of functional digestive disorders in a general practice setting.