Frequency of food items consumed by young rural and urban African children--essential knowledge to provide dietary advice in caries prevention.

AIMS: To determine the variety and frequency of consumption of food items, including cariogenic items, among 4-24-month-old black South African children. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A rural area of low socioeconomic status, Ndunakazi, KwaZulu/Natal Province [n=105]; two urban areas in Gauteng Province: Soweto (low to middle socioeconomic status) [n=100], and the northern suburbs of Johannesburg and Sandton (middle to upper socioeconomic status) [n=101]. METHODS: Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and analysed using SAS. OUTCOME MEASURES: Weekly frequencies for: number of times each food item was recorded; total consumption for each food item for the combined group of children and the three individual geographical areas. Food items were ranked in descending order according to the combined group of children within five selected food groups (carbohydrates, sugars, fruit and vegetables, milk and milk products, other foods and snacks). Only individual area results were listed. RESULTS: The preferred foods and frequency of consumption of these foods were identified. Significant differences were found between rural and urban groups for most of the food items, but not between urban groups. Food items were 'flagged' according to their cariogenic potential. CONCLUSION: The study provided valuable new information suitable for adapting and developing dietary advice relevant to caries prevention in African children

Altered Serum Lipoprotein Profiles in Male and Female Power Lifters Ingesting Anabolic Steroids.

In brief: Serum lipoprotein profiles were measured in nine male and three female power lifters who were taking anabolic steroids. Male steroid users had higher total serum cholesterol, lower HDL-C, and lower HDL-apoprotein A-I (apoA-I) levels than a weight-trained reference group that did not use steroids. Female steroid users showed similar trends. Mean serum HDL-C and HDL-C to total cholesterol ratio were lower in male steroid users than in a young male South African population at high risk for atherosclerosis. The ratio of HDL3-C to total HDL-C was higher in steroid users than in the reference group. Ratios of apoA-I to apoA-II were similar in the two groups. These unfavorable lipid profiles suggest that male and female steroid users may face an increased risk of coronary artery disease.