Interleukin-6 and human immunodeficiency virus load, but not plasma leptin concentration, predict anorexia and wasting in adults with pulmonary tuberculosis in Malawi.

Contains fulltext : 47491.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Wasting is a prominent feature of tuberculosis and may be more severe among individuals with HIV coinfection. It is likely that several biological mechanisms, including the anorexia of infection, are contributing to wasting. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether leptin concentrations, in relation to the inflammatory cytokine response and level of HIV infection, are contributing to loss of appetite and wasting in adults with pulmonary tuberculosis and HIV infection. DESIGN: We characterized plasma leptin concentrations in relationship with self-reported loss of appetite, body mass index, fat mass (FM), IL-6, and HIV load in a cross-sectional study of 500 adults who presented with pulmonary tuberculosis in Zomba, Malawi. RESULTS: Plasma leptin concentrations, associated with FM, significantly decreased by increasing tertile of plasma HIV load (P = 0.0001). Leptin concentrations were inversely associated with plasma IL-6 concentrations after adjusting for sex, age, FM, and HIV load. Plasma leptin concentrations were associated with neither loss of appetite nor wasting. Inflammation, reflected by increased IL-6 concentrations, was associated with loss of appetite (odds ratio, 3.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-6.09), when adjusted for sex, age, FM, leptin concentrations, and HIV load. A high plasma HIV load was associated with severe wasting, defined as body mass index less than 16.0 kg/m2 (odds ratio, 2.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-4.19) when adjusted for sex, age, IL-6, FM, and leptin concentrations. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the anorexia and wasting seem primarily determined by the level of inflammation and the level of HIV infection in patients with tuberculosis and HIV coinfection

Coverage of vitamin A capsule programme in Bangladesh and risk factors associated with non-receipt of vitamin A.

Vitamin A supplementation reduces child morbidity, mortality, and blindness. The coverage of the national vitamin A programme and risk factors for not receiving vitamin A were characterized using data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2004. Of 3,745 children aged 18–59 months, 3,237 (86.4%) received a vitamin A capsule each within the last six months. Children who missed vitamin A were more likely to be stunted (prevalence ratio [PR] 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95–1.00) and come from a family with a previous history of mortality of children aged less than five years (PR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91–0.99). Maternal education of ≥10 years (PR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04–1.13), 7–9 years (PR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04–1.12), and 1–6 years (PR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02–1.08) compared to no formal education was associated with the child not receiving vitamin A in a multivariate model, adjusting for potential confounders. Children missed by the vitamin A programme were more likely to come from families with lower maternal education. Special efforts are required to ensure that the coverage of the national vitamin A programme is increased further so that the most vulnerable children are also better protected against morbidity, mortality, and blindness

The relationship between plasma carotenoids and depressive symptoms in older persons

Objective. We examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between plasma carotenoids and depressive symptoms over a 6-year follow-up in older persons. Methods. This research is part of the InCHIANTI Study, a prospective population-based study of older persons in Tuscany, Italy. The sample for this analysis included 958 women and men aged 65 years and older. Plasma total carotenoids were assessed at baseline. Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and at the 3-and 6-year follow-up using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Depressed mood was defined as CES-D ≥ 20. Results. At baseline, higher total carotenoids level were associated with lower probability of depressed mood (OR = 0.82, 95%CI = 0.68-0.99, P = 0.04) after adjustment for sociodemographic, health and inflammation. After the exclusion of participants with baseline depressed mood and use of antidepressants, higher total carotenoids level were associated with lower risk of incident depressed mood (OR = 0.72, 95%CI = 0.52-0.99, P = 0.04) at 6-year follow-up, after adjustment for confounders plus baseline CES-D. Inflammatory marker Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist partially mediated this association. Conclusions. Low plasma concentrations of carotenoids are associated with depressive symptoms and predict the development of new depressive symptoms in older persons. Understanding the mechanism of this association may reveal potential targets for prevention and treatment. © 2012 Informa Healthcare

A higher adherence to a mediterranean-style diet is inversely associated with the development of frailty in community-dwelling elderly men and women

Adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet is associated with a lower risk for mortality, cognitive decline, and dementia. Whether adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet protects against age-related frailty is unclear. Therefore, our objective was to examine the association between a Mediterranean-style diet with the risk of frailty in community-dwelling older persons. We conducted longitudinal analyses using data from 690 community-living persons (≥65 y) who were randomly selected from a population registry in Tuscany, Italy. Participants of the Invecchiare in Chianti study of aging completed the baseline examination in 1998–2000 and were re-examined at least once over 6 y. Adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet (scored 0–9, modeled categorically as ≤3, 4–5, and ≥6) was computed from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition FFQ previously validated in this cohort. Frailty was defined as having at least 2 of the following criteria: poor muscle strength, feeling of exhaustion, low walking speed, and low physical activity. After a 6-y follow-up, higher adherence (score ≥6) to a Mediterranean-style diet was associated with lower odds of developing frailty [OR = 0.30 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.66)] compared with those with lower adherence (score ≤3). A higher adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet at baseline was also associated with a lower risk of low physical activity (OR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.96) and low walking speed [OR = 0.48 (95% CI: 0.27, 0.86)] but not with feelings of exhaustion and poor muscle strength. In community-dwelling older adults, higher adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet was inversely associated with the development of frailty

Relationship of household food insecurity to anaemia in children aged 6-59 months among families in rural Indonesia.

Background: Anaemia is a significant global public health problem in developing countries with adverse health effects on young children. Household food insecurity, which reflects a household’s access, availability and utilisation of food, has not been well characterised in relation to anaemia in children. Objective: To examine the relationship of household food insecurity with anaemia (Hb <11 g/dl) in children. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 4940 rural households participating in the Indonesian Nutrition Surveillance System, household food insecurity was measured using a modified 9-item food security questionnaire and related to anaemia in children aged 6–59 months. Results: The proportion of households with an anaemic child was 56·6%. In households with and without anaemic children, the mean (SD) food insecurity score was 1·82 (1·72) vs 1·55 (1·54) (p<0·0001), respectively. In a multivariate logistic regression model, food insecurity score was related to anaemia in children (odds ratio 0·77, 95% confidence interval 0·63–0·95, p = 0·01) when the highest quintile of food insecurity score was compared with the lowest quintile, adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusion: A higher household food insecurity score is associated with greater prevalence of anaemia in children in rural families in Indonesia

Relationship of homestead food production with night blindness among children below 5 years of age in Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between homestead food production and night blindness among pre-school children in rural Bangladesh in the presence of a national vitamin A supplementation programme. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: A population-based sample of six rural divisions of Bangladesh assessed in the Bangladesh Nutrition Surveillance Project 2001-2005. SUBJECTS: A total of 158 898 children aged 12-59 months. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of night blindness in children among those who did and did not receive vitamin A capsules in the last 6 months were 0·07 % and 0·13 %, respectively. Given the known effect of vitamin A supplementation on night blindness, the analysis was stratified by children's receipt of vitamin A capsules in the last 6 months. Among children who did not receive vitamin A capsules in the last 6 months, the lack of a home garden was associated with increased odds of night blindness (OR = 3·16, 95 % CI 1·76, 5·68; P = 0·0001). Among children who received vitamin A capsules in the last 6 months, the lack of a home garden was not associated with night blindness (OR = 1·28, 95 % CI 0·71, 2·31; P = 0·4). CONCLUSIONS: Homestead food production confers a protective effect against night blindness among pre-school children who missed vitamin A supplementation in rural Bangladesh

Relationship of homestead food production with night blindness among children below 5 years of age in Bangladesh

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between homestead food production and night blindness among pre-school children in rural Bangladesh in the presence of a national vitamin A supplementation programme.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingA population-based sample of six rural divisions of Bangladesh assessed in the Bangladesh Nutrition Surveillance Project 2001–2005.SubjectsA total of 158 898 children aged 12–59 months.ResultsThe prevalence rates of night blindness in children among those who did and did not receive vitamin A capsules in the last 6 months were 0·07 % and 0·13 %, respectively. Given the known effect of vitamin A supplementation on night blindness, the analysis was stratified by children's receipt of vitamin A capsules in the last 6 months. Among children who did not receive vitamin A capsules in the last 6 months, the lack of a home garden was associated with increased odds of night blindness (OR = 3·16, 95 % CI 1·76, 5·68; P = 0·0001). Among children who received vitamin A capsules in the last 6 months, the lack of a home garden was not associated with night blindness (OR = 1·28, 95 % CI 0·71, 2·31; P = 0·4).ConclusionsHomestead food production confers a protective effect against night blindness among pre-school children who missed vitamin A supplementation in rural Bangladesh.<br/

Relationship of homestead food production with night blindness among children below 5 years of age in Bangladesh

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between homestead food production and night blindness among pre-school children in rural Bangladesh in the presence of a national vitamin A supplementation programme.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingA population-based sample of six rural divisions of Bangladesh assessed in the Bangladesh Nutrition Surveillance Project 2001–2005.SubjectsA total of 158 898 children aged 12–59 months.ResultsThe prevalence rates of night blindness in children among those who did and did not receive vitamin A capsules in the last 6 months were 0·07 % and 0·13 %, respectively. Given the known effect of vitamin A supplementation on night blindness, the analysis was stratified by children's receipt of vitamin A capsules in the last 6 months. Among children who did not receive vitamin A capsules in the last 6 months, the lack of a home garden was associated with increased odds of night blindness (OR = 3·16, 95 % CI 1·76, 5·68; P = 0·0001). Among children who received vitamin A capsules in the last 6 months, the lack of a home garden was not associated with night blindness (OR = 1·28, 95 % CI 0·71, 2·31; P = 0·4).ConclusionsHomestead food production confers a protective effect against night blindness among pre-school children who missed vitamin A supplementation in rural Bangladesh.<br/