Dietary intake and stress fractures among elite male combat recruits

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Appropriate and sufficient dietary intake is one of the main requirements for maintaining fitness and health. Inadequate energy intake may have a negative impact on physical performance which may result in injuries among physically active populations. The purpose of this research was to evaluate a possible relationship between dietary intake and stress fracture occurrence among combat recruits during basic training (BT).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data was collected from 74 combat recruits (18.2 ± 0.6 yrs) in the Israeli Defense Forces. Data analyses included changes in anthropometric measures, dietary intake, blood iron and calcium levels. Measurements were taken on entry to 4-month BT and at the end of BT. The occurrence of stress reaction injury was followed prospectively during the entire 6-month training period.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twelve recruits were diagnosed with stress fracture in the tibia or femur (SF group). Sixty two recruits completed BT without stress fractures (NSF). Calcium and vitamin D intakes reported on induction day were lower in the SF group compared to the NSF group-38.9% for calcium (589 ± 92 and 964 ± 373 mg·d^-1, respectively, <it>p </it>< 0.001), and-25.1% for vitamin D (117.9 ± 34.3 and 157.4 ± 93.3 IU·d^-1, respectively, <it>p </it>< 0.001). During BT calcium and vitamin D intake continued to be at the same low values for the SF group but decreased for the NSF group and no significant differences were found between these two groups.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The development of stress fractures in young recruits during combat BT was associated with dietary deficiency before induction and during BT of mainly vitamin D and calcium. For the purpose of intervention, the fact that the main deficiency is before induction will need special consideration.</p

Obesity and immune function relationships.

The immunological processes involved in the collaborative defence of organisms are affected by nutritional status. Thus, a positive chronic imbalance between energy intake and expenditure leads to situations of obesity, which may influence unspecific and specific immune responses mediated by humoral and cell mediated mechanisms. Furthermore, several lines of evidence have supported a link between adipose tissue and immunocompetent cells. This interaction is illustrated in obesity, where excess adiposity and impaired immune function have been described in both humans and genetically obese rodents. However, limited and often controversial information exist comparing immunity in obese and non-obese subjects as well as about the cellular and molecular mechanisms implicated. In general terms, clinical and epidemiological data support the evidence that the incidence and severity of specific types of infectious illnesses are higher in obese persons as compared to lean individuals together with the occurrence of poor antibody responses to antigens in overweight subjects. Leptin might play a key role in linking nutritional status with T-cell function. The complexities and heterogeneity of the host defences concerning the immune response in different nutritional circumstances affecting the energy balance require an integral study of the immunocompetent cells, their subsets and products as well as specific and unspecific inducer/regulator systems. In this context, more research is needed to clarify the clinical implications of the alterations induced by obesity on the immune function

Dietary And Socio-Economic Correlates Of Nutritional Status In A Rural Adult Kenyan Population

There is a lack of data on trends in body composition among developing countries and the distribution of malnutrition among adults is poorly understood. Thus, the objective was to establish nutritional status, demographic make-up, dietary habits, and to determine if socioeconomic variables or dietary habits are associated with nutritional status in a rural adult Kenyan population. Five hundred Kenyan adults ages 18-55 years were recruited from the Kombewa division, located 40 km west of Kisumu, Kenya. The proportion of underweight and overweight adults is consistent with developing countries in nutrition transition. Using standard body mass index (BMI) classifications, 9.8% of the study population was underweight, 76.0% were normal weight, and 14.2% were overweight or obese. Significantly more females (20.7%) were overweight or obese than males (4.1%) (P=0.001). Iron deficiency was a significant issue, with 21.4% of females classified as anemic (Hb<120g/l). Among overweight females, anemia rates remained high (16.9%) and were greater than in underweight females (10.8%). While 20% of subjects were HIV positive, their status did not affect BMI (P=0.230). The most significant correlation between dietary data and BMI was french fry consumption (r = 0.167, P=0.001). Overweight or obese subjects reported eating french fries more frequently than subjects who had an underweight or normal range BMI (64.8% vs. 43.8%, P=0.002). Several other socioeconomic and dietary variables had weak correlations with BMI. Similar to data from developing countries in nutrition transition, it appears that the nutritional status of this rural Kenyan population has been affected by shifts in dietary patterns. Based on trends in other developing countries, it is likely that the incidence of overweight will increase in Kenya while micronutrient deficiencies and underweight remain concerns. Socioeconomic variables have been correlated with nutritional status in other developing countries and should be examined further in conjunction with food insecurity, so that culturally relevant and feasible interventions can be implemented

Dietary and socio-economic correlates of nutritional status in a rural adult Kenyan population

There is a lack of data on trends in body composition among developing countries and the distribution of malnutrition among adults is poorly understood. Thus, the objective was to establish nutritional status, demographic make-up, dietary habits, and to determine if socioeconomic variables or dietary habits are associated with nutritional status in a rural adult Kenyan population. Five hundred Kenyan adults ages 18-55 years were recruited from the Kombewa division, located 40 km west of Kisumu, Kenya. The proportion of underweight and overweight adults is consistent with developing countries in nutrition transition. Using standard body mass index (BMI) classifications, 9.8% of the study population was underweight, 76.0% were normal weight, and 14.2% were overweight or obese. Significantly more females (20.7%) were overweight or obese than males (4.1%) (P=0.001). Iron deficiency was a significant issue, with 21.4% of females classified as anemic (Hb<120g/l). Among overweight females, anemia rates remained high (16.9%) and were greater than in underweight females (10.8%). While 20% of subjects were HIV positive, their status did not affect BMI (P=0.230). The most significant correlation between dietary data and BMI was french fry consumption (r = 0.167, P=0.001). Overweight or obese subjects reported eating french fries more frequently than subjects who had an underweight or normal range BMI (64.8% vs. 43.8%, P=0.002). Several other socioeconomic and dietary variables had weak correlations with BMI. Similar to data from developing countries in nutrition transition, it appears that the nutritional status of this rural Kenyan population has been affected by shifts in dietary patterns. Based on trends in other developing countries, it is likely that the incidence of overweight will increase in Kenya while micronutrient deficiencies and underweight remain concerns. Socioeconomic variables have been correlated with nutritional status in other developing countries and should be examined further in conjunction with food insecurity, so that culturally relevant and feasible interventions can be implemented