Low Vitamin D Status and Inadequate Nutrient Intakes of Elementary School Children in a Highly Educated Pacific Northwest Community

Are Extension healthy youth programs needed in highly educated U.S. communities? To answer this question, 175 children from four public elementary schools in Corvallis, Oregon, self-reported in a cross-sectional study their dietary intake, and 71 children provided a blood sample for measuring vitamin D concentrations. Most children had insufficient blood vitamin D and reported a diet insufficient in fiber, essential fatty acids, potassium, and vitamin E and excessive in saturated fatty acids and sodium. Our data indicate a need for Extension to provide youth programs in highly educated U.S. communities to improve nutrient intakes and vitamin D status in children

Promoting Physical Activity in Elementary Schools: Needs Assessment and a Pilot Study of Brain Breaks

A sedentary life style contributes to many chronic diseases and poor educational performance. Since elementary school-aged children spend most wakeful hours in school, classroom teachers are essential for providing physical activity (PA) breaks during school. As first objective, we assessed current PA levels for Oregon public elementary schools (379 schools responded) and learned that 92% of schools did not meet the physical education recommendation of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As second objective, we evaluated teacher’s preferences for increasing students’ PA levels with a cross-sectional anonymous mail survey (116 teachers responded) and learned that teachers were concerned about students’ PA levels (84%) and interested in incorporating short PA breaks into their classroom curriculum (88%). As third objective, a follow-up survey was mailed to teachers along with the exercise DVD “Brain Breaks: Classroom Fitness for Children” that provides 5-7 minute PA segments (43 teachers responded). Teachers perceived that Brain Breaks provided students a beneficial amount of PA (86%) and improved their concentration (91%); teachers intended to continue using Brain Breaks (91%). In conclusion, short PA breaks during the school day is a promising method for promoting increased levels of PA in elementary schools. Keywords: Elementary school teachers, Physical activity, Preferences, Current statu

Improving Nutrition Education in U.S. Elementary Schools: Challenges and Opportunities

Poor food choices in childhood are core contributors to obesity and chronic diseases during adolescence and adulthood. Food choices and dietary behaviors develop in childhood and are difficult to change in adulthood. Nutrition education in elementary schools can provide children with the information and skills to develop healthy food choices and dietary behaviors. Current approaches for teaching nutrition and dietary behavior are largely ineffective to change elementary school students’ food choices. Using a cross-sectional, anonymous mail survey, we asked classroom teachers how to improve nutrition education in 17 Oregon elementary schools. Among 106 teachers who responded, most perceived that nutrition education in elementary school is very to somewhat important (97%) and can improve students’ food choices long-term (53%) or at least short-term (16%). Teachers noted multiple barriers for nutrition education, the primary being competing academic expectations (52%), lack of available time (48%), lack of suitable curricula (36%), and a food environment at school and home that does not reinforce what is taught in the classroom. Teachers preferred nutrition education that is integrated into the math, science, and/or English curriculum (54%) and includes a school cafeteria component (70%) and parent participation (53%). In conclusion, there is insufficient time and incentive to teach nutrition education as stand-alone curriculum. Renewed focus should be on developing and implementing nutrition education programs that are integrated in the math, science, and/or English curriculum and that involve and target also the food environment. Unless the food environment at school and home reinforce what is being taught in the classroom, nutrition education will have limited impact on student’s food choices. Keywords: Childhood obesity, Curriculum, Elementary school teachers, Food choices, Food Environment, Nutrition educatio

The Health Benefits of Seafood Consumption: Welcoming Remarks

On behalf of the Linus Pauling Institute, I am pleased to welcome you to this conference and, in particular, to the sessions on the Health Benefits of Seafood Consumption. It is our pleasure to be a co-sponsor of these sessions and I look forward to the presentations by the distinguished scientists who have joined us.Introduction to the special session

407-3 Glutathione Peroxidase Prevents the Inactivation of Nitric Oxide and Restores the Inhibition of Platelet Function by S-Nitrosothiols

The interaction of nitric oxide (NO) with reactive oxygen species in the vasculature can inactivate NO leading to potentially adverse vascular consequences. Glutathione peroxidases (GSH-Px), a family of antioxidant enzymes present at reduced concentrations in plasma and platelets of patients with coronary artery disease, catalyze the reduction of hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) by glutathione. Given the role of LOOH in platelet eicosanoid metabolism and their presence in atherosclerotic plaque, we investigated the effect of GSH-Px on the inhibition of platelet function by the naturally occurring NO donor, S-nitroso-glutathione (SNO-Glu). Subthreshold inhibitory concentrations of SNO-Glu were added to platelet-rich plasma, and aggregation was induced by arachidonate. The addition of GSHPx (0.2–20U/ml) to this system led to a dose-dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation with an IC50= 0.6U/ml GSH-Px (p < 0.05 by ANOVA). Superoxide dismutase (0.1–200U/ml), catalase (0.1–200U/ml), or GSH-Px without SNO-Glu did not alter platelet aggregation responses. The addi ion of GSH-Px to a subthreshold inhibitory concentration of sodium nitroprusside also did not affect platelet aggregation responses. LOOH increased platelet aggregation in the presence of SNO-Glu, an effect reversed by GSH-Px. Levels of cGMP were measured after platelets were incubated with SNO-Glu, exogenous LOOH, and GSH-Px. SNO-Glu alone increased cGMP levels, and this effect was attenuated by LOOH but restored by the addition of GSH-Px. GSH-Px activity was equivalent with either SNO-Glu or glutathione as cosubstrate. Incubation of SNO-Glu with GSH-Px led to a 48.5% decrease in the concentration of SNO-Glu as determined by HPLC-electrochemical detection. Incubation of SNO-Glu with albumin in the presence of GSH-Px led to increased formation of S-nitroso-albumin, a prevalent reservoir of EDRF in plasma. These results show that GSH-Px, at physiologically relevant concentrations, has a potent effect on NO-induced inhibition of platelet aggregation and that this enzyme may have two functions: (i) metabolism of LOOH, thereby preventing its inactivation of NO; and (ii) metabolism of SNO-Glu, thereby liberating NO and/or supporting further transnitrosation reactions These findings suggest that GSH-Px, in addition to its antioxidant functions, regulates the availability of NO in the vasculature and possibly alters plateletdependent thrombotic events

Myths, Artifacts, and Fatal Flaws: Identifying Limitations and Opportunities in Vitamin C Research

Research progress to understand the role of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in human health has been slow in coming. This is predominantly the result of several flawed approaches to study design, often lacking a full appreciation of the redox chemistry and biology of ascorbic acid. In this review, we summarize our knowledge surrounding the limitations of common approaches used in vitamin C research. In human cell culture, the primary issues are the high oxygen environment, presence of redox-active transition metal ions in culture media, and the use of immortalized cell lines grown in the absence of supplemental ascorbic acid. Studies in animal models are also limited due to the presence of endogenous ascorbic acid synthesis. Despite the use of genetically altered rodent strains lacking synthesis capacity, there are additional concerns that these models do not adequately recapitulate the effects of vitamin C deprivation and supplementation observed in humans. Lastly, several flaws in study design endemic to randomized controlled trials and other human studies greatly limit their conclusions and impact. There also is anecdotal evidence of positive and negative health effects of vitamin C that are widely accepted but have not been substantiated. Only with careful attention to study design and experimental detail can we further our understanding of the possible roles of vitamin C in promoting human health and preventing or treating disease.This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by MDPI. The published article can be found at: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients.Keywords: cell culture, animals, human, ascorbic acid, study design, vitamin CKeywords: cell culture, animals, human, ascorbic acid, study design, vitamin

Astragaloside IV Inhibits NF-κB Activation and Inflammatory Gene Expression in LPS-Treated Mice

In this study we investigated the role of astragaloside IV (AS-IV), one of the major active constituents purified from the Chinese medicinal herb Astragalus membranaceus, in LPS-induced acute inflammatory responses in mice in vivo and examined possible underlying mechanisms. Mice were assigned to four groups: vehicle-treated control animals; AS-IV-treated animals (10 mg/kg b.w. AS-IV daily i.p. injection for 6 days); LPS-treated animals; and AS-IV plus LPS-treated animals. We found that AS-IV treatment significantly inhibited LPS-induced increases in serum levels of MCP-1 and TNF by 82% and 49%, respectively. AS-IV also inhibited LPS-induced up regulation of inflammatory gene expression in different organs. Lung mRNA levels of cellular adhesion molecules, MCP-1, TNF, IL-6, and TLR4 were significantly attenuated, and lung neutrophil infiltration and activation were strongly inhibited, as reflected by decreased myeloperoxidase content, when the mice were pretreated with AS-IV. Similar results were observed in heart, aorta, kidney, and liver. Furthermore, AS-IV significantly suppressed LPS-induced NF-B and AP-1DNA-binding activities in lung and heart. In conclusion, our data provide new in vivo evidence that AS-IV effectively inhibits LPS-induced acute inflammatory responses by modulating NF-B and AP-1 signaling pathways. Our results suggest that AS-IV may be useful for the prevention or treatment of inflammatory diseases.This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by the Hindawi Publishing Corporation. The published article can be found at: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mi/

Efficacy of Multivitamin/mineral Supplementation to Reduce Chronic Disease Risk: A Critical Review of the Evidence from Observational Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials

We reviewed recent scientific evidence regarding the effects of MVM [multivitamin/mineral] supplements on risk of chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and age-related eye diseases. Data from both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational, prospective cohort studies were examined. The majority of scientific studies investigating the use of MVM supplements in chronic disease risk reduction reported no significant effect. However, the largest and longest RCT of MVM supplements conducted to date, the Physicians’ Health Study II (PHS II), found a modest and significant reduction in total and epithelial cancer incidence in male physicians, consistent with the Supplémentation en Vitamines et Minéraux Antioxydants (SU.VI.MAX) trial. In addition, PHS II found a modest and significant reduction in the incidence of nuclear cataract, in agreement with several other RCTs and observational, prospective cohort studies. The effects of MVM use on other subtypes of cataract and age-related macular degeneration remain unclear. Neither RCTs nor prospective cohort studies are without their limitations. The placebo-controlled trial design of RCTs may be inadequate for nutrient interventions, and residual confounding, measurement error, and the possibility of reverse causality are inherent to any observational study. National surveys show that micronutrient inadequacies are wide-spread in the U.S. and that dietary supplements, of which MVMs are the most common type, effectively fill most of these micronutrient gaps in both adults and children.Keywords: Prospective cohort studies, Chronic disease risk, Randomized controlled trials, Supplement, Micronutrient inadequacies, Multivitamin/minera

Authors' Perspective: What is the Optimum Intake of Vitamin C in Humans?

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin C has traditionally been based on the prevention of the vitamin C deficiency disease, scurvy. While higher intakes of vitamin C may exert additional health benefits, the limited Phase III randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of vitamin C supplementation have not found consistent benefit with respect to chronic disease prevention. To date, this has precluded upward adjustments of the current RDA. Here we argue that Phase III RCTs—designed principally to test the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical drugs—are ill suited to assess the health benefits of essential nutrients; and the currently available scientific evidence is sufficient to determine the optimum intake of vitamin C in humans. This evidence establishes biological plausibility and mechanisms of action for vitamin C in the primary prevention of coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer; and is buttressed by consistent data from prospective cohort studies based on blood analysis or dietary intake and well-designed Phase II RCTs. These RCTs show that vitamin C supplementation lowers hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and Helicobacter pylori infection, which are independent risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. Furthermore, vitamin C acts as a biological antioxidant that can lower elevated levels of oxidative stress, which also may contribute to chronic disease prevention. Based on the combined evidence from human metabolic, pharmacokinetic, and observational studies and Phase II RCTs, we conclude that 200 mg per day is the optimum dietary intake of vitamin C for the majority of the adult population to maximize the vitamin's potential health benefits with the least risk of inadequacy or adverse health effects.Keywords: cancer, Coronary heart disease, stroke, recommended dietary allowanc

Inhibition of pancreatic lipase by grape seed and tea extracts and their primary catechins in vitro

Inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity is an effective means of reducing fat absorption, which may have a role in combating obesity by limiting energy intake. The use of pharmaceutical lipase inhibitors has been limited due to the prevalence of undesirable side effects. Polyphenols represent an alternative strategy to inhibit digestive enzymes using safe, gentle, and cost-effective extracts derived from plant sources. Thus, this study evaluated alternative options by testing various polyphenol-rich plant extracts (grape seed, green tea, TeaVigo®, and white tea) for their ability to inhibit pancreatic lipase activity. Using an in vitro fluorescence assay, the relative potency of extracts tested was determined in comparison to the pharmaceutical orlistat. In addition, the most abundant catechins found in these extracts, epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), were also tested for the ability to inhibit pancreatic lipase. Results showed the most effective plant-based lipase inhibitors were the concentrated green tea product, TeaVigo® and green tea. Results with the individual catechin trials showed EGCG and EGC were the most potent lipase inhibitors in the plant extracts