Background: Patients with long-term complications of sulfur mustard (SM) poisoning are often less able to undertake optimum levels of physical activity and adequately control their dietary intake. The aim of present study was to investigate the dietary intake of patients with SM poisoning in comparison to a control group. Methods: The study was undertaken on 55 Iranian male veterans, who had > 25% disabilities due to long-term complications of SM poisoning and 55 men age-matched healthy subjects. A previously validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used for measuring dietary macro/micro nutrient intake for both groups; and the results were analysed using Dietplan6 software. Results: Analysis of macro/micro nutrients in dietary intakes of the patients versus the controls showed a significantly lower intake of several nutrients including selenium and carbohydrate. On the other hand, the dietary intake of trans-fatty acids and iodine were significantly higher in these patients. Conclusion: Long-term complications of SM poisoning in the Iranian veterans induce both chemical and physical disabilities. Macro/micro nutrient intake in these patients was significantly different in comparison with matched, healthy subjects. Dietary advice for these patients should be strongly recommended to these patients in order to prevent other chronic diseases.

OBJECTIVESelenium is an essential trace element and has a main role in cellular antioxidant defense system. In very preterm babies, low selenium is associated with an increased risk of complications such as chronic neonatal lung disease and retinopathy of prematurity. This study was designed to determine and compare maternal and umbilical cord blood selenium levels in term and preterm infants.

METHODSFrom February 2008 to April 2008, 30 term (gestational age>37 weeks) and 30 preterm infants (gestational age<34 weeks) and their mothers were enrolled. Selenium concentrations in umbilical cord and maternal venous blood were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry.

RESULTSThe mean selenium concentration in term infants was higher than in preterm infants (124.80+/-13.72 microg/L vs 100.30+/-11.72 microg/L, P=0.0001). The mean selenium concentration in mothers of term and preterm infants was not significantly different (117.03+/-17.15 microg/L vs 110.56+/-17.49 microg/L, P=0.15). Cord selenium concentrations were strongly correlated with gestational age and birth weight (r=0.66, p<0.0001 and r=0.59, p<0.0001, respectively) when the data of all infants were analyzed together. None of the 60 women had a serum selenium level below the laboratory lower limit of normal (70.0 microg/L). Maternal selenium levels were correlated with cord selenium levels in their infants (r=0.40, p<0.001) when data of all newborn infants and mothers were considered together.

CONCLUSIONSMothers have a relatively good selenium status and serum selenium is not a significant predictor of preterm delivery in Isfahan. The cord selenium concentration in term infants is significantly higher than in preterm infants, but the cord selenium concentrations in both groups are in a suggested normal range.

Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Pregnancy ; blood ; Selenium ; blood