No abstract available.
Micronutrients*

Nutrients are defined as not only having nutritive values of participating in the metabolism and building the structures of cells but also being safe for human body. Nutrients are divided into two types, macronutrient and micronutrient, according to the proportion of the human body. Commonly, micronutrients include trace elements (trace mineral) and vitamins (complex organic molecules). It is difficult to demonstrate micronutrient deficiency because the symptoms are varied and laboratory analyses are limited. Since parenteral nutrition became an established therapy, micronutrient deficiency syndromes are being identified more frequently and emphasize the importance of a complete nutritional support. In this article, we review various specific trace element deficiency states such as zinc, copper, and selenium and briefly discuss the use of dietary supplements.
Child ; Copper ; Dietary Supplements ; Human Body ; Humans ; Micronutrients ; Nutritional Support ; Nutritive Value ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Selenium ; Trace Elements ; Vitamins ; Zinc

PURPOSE: Acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) is a common disease in children. Micronutrient deficiencies may increase the risk of ALRI. The aim of this study is to determine the association of vitamin D status with susceptibility to ALRI by comparing serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels between a group of young children under 5 years of age with ALRI and healthy children. METHODS: Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured in patients under 5 years of age admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of pneumonia (n=40) or bronchiolitis (n=34) from October 2009 to December 2009 as well as in healthy patients of similar age without respiratory symptoms (n=54). Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured by electrochemileuminescence immunoassay. RESULTS: The mean serum 25(OH)D level were similar between the ALRI and control groups (28.4+/-9.0 versus 29.1+/-7.1 ng/mL). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of 25(OH)D insufficiency between the 2 groups at 2 thresholds (for <15 ng/mL, 8.1 vs. 5.6%; P=0.19, and for <30 ng/mL, 59.5 vs. 64.8%; P=0.75). CONCLUSION: In our study, no difference was observed in vitamin D levels between the ALRI and control groups. Therefore, Vitamin D status may not be associated with the risk of hospitalization for ALRI in children.
Bronchiolitis ; Child ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Micronutrients ; Pneumonia ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

Vitamins are micronutrients which are essential for the maintenance of biological responses including immune system. Hence, vitamin deficiency increases a risk of infectious, allergic, and inflammatory diseases. Accumulating evidence has recently revealed the molecular and cellular mechanisms of vitamin-mediated regulation in the active and quiescent immune responses. In this review, we focus on the immunologic roles of vitamins in the regulation of homeostasis and surveillance in the gut.
Avitaminosis ; Energy Metabolism ; Homeostasis* ; Immune System ; Immunoglobulin A ; Inflammation ; Micronutrients ; Monitoring, Immunologic* ; Vitamins*

Skin is the first line of defense for protecting our bodies against external perturbations, including ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, mechanical/chemical stress, and bacterial infection. Nutrition is one of many factors required for the maintenance of overall skin health. An impaired nutritional status alters the structural integrity and biological function of skin, resulting in an abnormal skin barrier. In particular, the importance of micronutrients (such as certain vitamins and minerals) for skin health has been highlighted in cell culture, animal, and clinical studies. These micronutrients are employed not only as active compounds in therapeutic agents for treating certain skin diseases, but also as ingredients in cosmetic products. Here, the author describes the barrier function of the skin and the general nutritional requirements for skin health. The goal of this review is to discuss the potential roles and current knowledge of selected micronutrients in skin health and function.
Animals ; Bacterial Infections ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Micronutrients* ; Nutritional Requirements ; Nutritional Status ; Skin Diseases ; Skin* ; Vitamins

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a dish-based semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire s(FFQ) for Korean adolescents and evaluate its reproducibility and validity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Based on 24-hour dietary recall data from the 4th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), we developed a FFQ with 71 items. From a quota sample of 160 adolescents recruited using gender and age group as stratification variables, 153 participated in the complete data collection process. The FFQ was administered to each subject twice, at an interval of 3-4 weeks, to evaluate the test-retest reliability. The validity of the FFQ was assessed relative to 8-day food record data. RESULTS: The study findings demonstrated the FFQ's satisfactory reproducibility. Spearman correlation coefficients ranged from 0.64(for β-carotene) to 0.81(for protein). From cross-classification analyses, the proportion of subjects in the same intake quartile was highest for protein (65.4%) and lowest for vitamin A(47.1%). With regard to validity analysis, Spearman correlation coefficients ranged from 0.27(for vitamin A and fiber) to 0.90 (for energy). The proportions of subjects in the opposite categories between the first FFQ and the 8-day food record data were generally low within the range from 0.74% (for energy and carbohydrate) to 13.2% (for α-carotene). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the dish-based semiquantitative FFQ developed in this study can be useful for grouping Korean adolescents according to major macro- and micronutrient intakes with reasonable reproducibility and validity.
Adolescent* ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Micronutrients ; Nutrition Surveys ; Reproducibility of Results ; Vitamin A ; Vitamins

No abstract available.
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Micronutrients*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Micronutrients*

Multi-micronutrients were supplemented for 301 children aged 6-12 months in 4 communes in SocSon district, Hanoi city from July to December 2000. In the daily supplementing group, the incidence of anemia reduced drammatically from 93.4% to 23.1% after 6 months in comparing with control group, with the group of multi micronutrient supplementing every week and the group of iron supplementing everyday. Hb content of the group of multi micronutrient supplementing enhanced from 99.6/-1.3g/l to 115.5/-1.5g/l. The daily supplement of multioligonutrients and iron had improved the iron store in the body. The effects of improving nutritional status and the deficiency of other micro-elements such as vitamin A and Zinc was still not expressed. The ratio of retinol level and serum Zinc level was lower in the group of children of supplementing multimicronutrients daily and weekly without statistic signification in comparing with the control group and the group of iron supplement
Micronutrients ; Anemia ; vitamin A

Children aged 6-9 years old in Dong Cuu commune, Gia Binh district, Bac Ninh province were randomly enrolled and divided into 2 groups. Group 1 was given daily fortified multimicronutrient biscuits and group 2 normal biscuits without multimicronutrient. From September 2001 to May 2002 (6 months) subjects received biscuits every 5 days each week. In group 1: anemia incidence was improved by 58%, and in group 2: 47%. Hb mean level in group 1 was 6.8g/l, group 2 was 2.8g/l. Vitamin A deficit was improved by 46% in group 1 and 31% in group 2. Serum level mean gap in vitamin A deficit group was higher than the group without vitamin A deficit in the beginning of study. The improving of physical health in group 1 was not clearly observed in comparing with that of group 2
Micronutrients ; Anemia ; vitamin A