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

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*

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

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.
Child* ; Humans ; Micronutrients*

The aims of this study was to assess nutritional status, situation of intestinal helminthic infection and their relationships. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 827 pupils at Dong My of Thanh Tri district and Thuong Cat primary school of Tu Liem district, Hanoi suburban. Nutritional status was assessed by using anthropometry indicators and classification with NCHS reference population. Worm infection was examined by using Kato-Kart method. 1. The prevalence of malnutrition according to weigh for age, height for age and weight for height indicators were 26.8%; 28.3% and 6% at Dong My and 41.4%, 34% and 14.5% at Thuong Cat primary school, repectively. 2. The positive rates of worm infection were 80.2%, Ascaris 65.8%, Trchuris 63.8%, multi-worm infection 49.0% at Dong My and 88.4%, Ascaris 61.7%. There was a significant relationship between the situation of worm infection and nutritional status of pupils.
Nutrition ; Schools ; Micronutrients

For the past years, the health sector had many efforts to deploy the nutritional program, generally, and the program of micronutrient deficiency prevention and control. Ups to now, the clinical types of eye dry due to the vitamin A deficiency leading to the blind were mainly eliminated. The nutritional anemia in women and pregnant women was also reduced. The knowledge of health staffs and people in the micronutrient deficiency was significantly enhanced.
Malnutrition ; Micronutrients ; prevention & control

Two groups of children aged 5 to 8 months having the same socioeconomic condition, their mothers have been attended in the courses of nutrition communication and education, one group (control group) was fed with home-made powder, the other group (intervention group) was fed with a meal of high micronutrient and energy dense powder per day, for 6 months. The results showed that after intervention, concentration of Hb, ferritin, serum zinc and retinol of intervention children were significantly higher than those of the control group. Prevalence of anemia, exhausted iron storage, zinc and vitamin A deficiencies of intervention group significantly lower those of control group. Body length and height for age z-score (HAZ) of the intervention group were significantly higher than length and HAZ of the control group. 6 months follow-up after intervention cessation revealed that the HAZ and Hb of the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group, respectively. High micronutrient and energy dense powder may improve micronutrient deficiency and nutritional status of intervention children
malnutrition ; child ; Micronutrients ; deficiency