A 14-mo zinc-supplementation trial in apparently healthy chilean preschool children

Apparently healthy preschool children (46 boys, 52 girls) aged 27-50 mo from low socioeconomic conditions who attended daycare centers in Santiago participated in a 14-mo long double-blind zinc supplementation trial. Unlike most previous studies, no additional inclusion criteria such as short stature or slow growth rate were considered. Subjects were pair matched according to sex and age and randomly assigned to two experimental groups: the supplemented group, which received 10 mg Zn/d, and the placebo group. Selected anthropometric, clinical, dietary, biochemical, and functional indexes were determined at the beginning of the study and after 6 and 14 mo of intervention. Actual dietary zinc intake was 66% of the recommended dietary allowance. Height gain after 14 mo was on average 0.5 cm higher in the supplemented group (P = 0.10). The response, however, was different between sexes. Boys from the supplemented group gained 0.9 cm more than those in the placebo group (P = 0.045). No eff

Evolución y calidad de la alimentación de mujeres con obesidad severa y mórbida sometidas a bypass gástrico Evolution and quality of the diet of women with severe and morbid obesity undergoing gastric bypass

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los cambios en la ingesta energía y nutrientes y el grado de suficiencia de la alimentación en pacientes sometidos a bypass gástrico. En 44 mujeres con obesidad severa y mórbida se estudió la alimentación previa y a los 6, 12 y 18 meses después de realizada la intervención quirúrgica mediante encuesta de registro de tres días. El consumo de suplementos de vitaminas y minerales se controló estrictamente mediante el registro individualizado de su consumo. Con la excepción de la ingesta de calcio y vitamina A, el consumo de energía y nutrientes fue significativamente menor a los 6, 12 y 18 meses post cirugía comparado con el período preoperatorio. La ingesta dietética de calcio, hierro, zinc, cobre, ácido fólico, vitamina C y vitamina E estuvo por debajo del 100% de adecuación a partir del 6º mes post operatorio, situación que se revierte al considerar el consumo de estos nutrientes a partir de los suplementos. Aun cuando se observó una tendencia a una curva en “U” en la ingesta de micronutrientes durante el período experimental, en la mayoría de ellos las diferencias entre los valores obtenidos a los meses 12 y 18 no fue significativa. En conclusión, estos pacientes presentan reducciones importantes de la ingesta dietética de energía y micronutrientes. El consumo rutinario de suplementos podría revertir esta situación, sin embargo, las alteraciones anatómicas inherentes a esta intervención podrían producir que cifras de adecuación ligeramente superiores al 100% sean, en la práctica, insuficientes para asegurar que no se desarrollen cuadros de deficiencia.The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes of dietary intake and quality of the diet in patients undergoing gastric bypass. In fortyfour women with severe and morbid obesity it was assessed their nutrient intakes before and 6, 12, and 18 months after gastric bypass by using three-day food records. Vitamin and mineral intakes from supplements were strictly controlled though personalized records. With the exceptions of calcium and vitamin A, energy and nutrient intakes were significantly decreased at 6, 12, and 18 month after bypass compared to the pre-surgery period. Dietary intakes of calcium, iron, zinc, copper, folic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E were below 100% of adequacy from the 6th month after the surgery and thereafter. This situation is reverted when nutrient intakes supplied by supplements are taken into account. Although a “U” shape trend was observed in the nutrient intakes results during the experimental period, in most cases the differences between the observed values at month 12 and 18 were not significant. In conclusion, these patients had important reductions of their energy and nutrient intakes as result of gastric bypass. Routine supplements may correct this situation, nevertheless, the anatomical alterations inherent to this type of surgery may cause that total nutrient intakes reaching adequacy values slightly above 100%, may not necessarily be able to avoid the development of nutritional deficiencies

Evolución y calidad de la alimentación de mujeres con obesidad severa y mórbida sometidas a bypass gástrico

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los cambios en la ingesta energía y nutrientes y el grado de suficiencia de la alimentación en pacientes sometidos a bypass gástrico. En 44 mujeres con obesidad severa y mórbida se estudió la alimentación previa y a los 6, 12 y 18 meses después de realizada la intervención quirúrgica mediante encuesta de registro de tres días. El consumo de suplementos de vitaminas y minerales se controló estrictamente mediante el registro individualizado de su consumo. Con la excepción de la ingesta de calcio y vitamina A, el consumo de energía y nutrientes fue significativamente menor a los 6, 12 y 18 meses post cirugía comparado con el período preoperatorio. La ingesta dietética de calcio, hierro, zinc, cobre, ácido fólico, vitamina C y vitamina E estuvo por debajo del 100% de adecuación a partir del 6º mes post operatorio, situación que se revierte al considerar el consumo de estos nutrientes a partir de los suplementos. Aun cuando se observó una tendencia a una curva en “U” en la ingesta de micronutrientes durante el período experimental, en la mayoría de ellos las diferencias entre los valores obtenidos a los meses 12 y 18 no fue significativa. En conclusión, estos pacientes presentan reducciones importantes de la ingesta dietética de energía y micronutrientes. El consumo rutinario de suplementos podría revertir esta situación, sin embargo, las alteraciones anatómicas inherentes a esta intervención podrían producir que cifras de adecuación ligeramente superiores al 100% sean, en la práctica, insuficientes para asegurar que no se desarrollen cuadros de deficiencia

Zinc absorption from a micronutrient-fortified dried cow's milk used in the Chilean National Complementary Food Program

The objective was to compare the absorption of zinc from a micronutrient-fortified dried cow's milk, which is part of the Chilean National Complementary Food Program, with that from a standard nonfortified milk. Fortification included the addition of iron, zinc, copper, and ascorbic acid to provide total concentrations (in 100 g of powder) of 10, 5, 0.5, and 70 mg, respectively. Seven adults with normal plasma zinc concentrations (16.0 +/- 0.9 mu mol/L) were studied. Fractional absorption of zinc was determined from single test meals using a stable isotope-based methodology. Mean (+/- SD) fractional absorption of zinc of the test meal containing nonfortified milk was 0.29 +/- 0.09 compared with 0.30 +/- 0.09 of the test meal with the fortified milk (P = not significant). Absolute zinc absorptions from the test meals were 0.43 +/- 0.14 vs 0.57 +/- 0.16 mg, respectively (P =.02). Micronutrient fortification of dried cow's milk, including zinc, was associated with increased total zinc absorption

Changes in bone mineral density, body composition and adiponectin levels in morbidly obese patients after bariatric surgery

Background: Gastric bypass surgery (GBP) is increasingly used as a treatment option in morbid obesity. Little is known about the effects of this surgery on bone mineral density (BMD) and the underlying mechanisms. To evaluate changes on BMD after GBP and its relation with changes in body composition and serum adiponectin, a longitudinal study in morbid obese subjects was conducted. Methods: Forty-two women (BMI 45.0±4.3 kg/m2; 37.7±9.6 years) were studied before surgery and 6 and 12 months after GBP. Percentage of body fat (%BF), fat-free mass (FFM), and BMD were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and serum adiponectin levels by RIA. Results: Twelve months after, GBP weight was decreased by 34.4±6.5% and excess weight loss was 68.2±12.8%. Significant reduction (p<0.001) in total BMD (-3.0±2.1%), spine BMD (-7.4±6.8%) and hip BMD (-10.5±5.6%) were observed. Adiponectin concentration increased from 11.4±0.7 mg/L before surgery to 15.7±0.7 and 19.8±1.0 at the sixth and twelfth

Iron absorption and iron status are reduced after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Background: Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are common in patients who undergo gastric bypass. The magnitude of change in iron absorption is not well known. Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) on iron status and iron absorption at different stages after surgery. We hypothesized that iron absorption would be markedly impaired immediately after surgery and would not improve after such a procedure. Design: Anthropometric, body-composition, dietary, hematologic, and iron-absorption measures were determined in 67 severe and morbidly obese women [mean age: 36.9 ± 9.8 y; weight: 115.1 ± 15.6 kg, body mass index (BMI: in kg/m2); 45.2 ± 4.7] who underwent RYGBP. The Roux-en-Y loop length was 125-150 cm. Determinations were carried out before and 6, 12, and 18 mo after surgery. Fifty-one individuals completed all 4 evaluations. Results: The hemoglobin concentration decreased significantly throughout the study (repeated-measures ana