Scope
Epidemiological studies on the association between pregnancy outcomes and use of periconceptional folic acid are often based on maternal reported intake. Use of folic acid during pregnancy is ...associated with a higher socioeconomic status known to have an impact on diet quality. We have studied plasma B vitamin status according to reported use of folic acid supplements during the periconceptional period in Norwegian women.
Methods and results
Plasma levels of folate, cobalamin, pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate (vitamin B6), riboflavin, and the metabolic markers total homocysteine, methylmalonic acid and 3‐hydro‐xykynurenine were measured in pregnancy week 18 and related to reported intake of folic acid from 4 weeks prior to conception throughout week 18 in 2911 women from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Being a folic acid user during the periconceptional period was associated with a better socioeconomic status, and a higher intake of several micronutrients, including vitamins, trace‐metals, and omega 3 fatty acids. Folic acid users had a significantly better plasma B vitamin status.
Conclusion
Epidemiological data based on maternal reported intake of folic acid supplements during pregnancy, should take into account the numerous nutritional implications, in addition to higher blood folate levels, of being a folic acid user.
Using a panel gravity model of trade for the period 1995-2010, this paper estimates the potential for increased intra-regional trade among 10 countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean ...coast. It examines how closer integration through the EU's revised neighborhood policy can encourage democratisation and conflict resolution. The main results indicate that while the gains realized to date from regional integration have been small, significant potential gains from deep integration exist. The paper proposes that the EU starts by negotiating deep and comprehensive free trade agreements with Egypt, Israel and Jordan provided these countries also negotiate them with each other.
Rapid changes in the prevalence of obesity and known diabetes in an adult Norwegian population. The Nord-Trøndelag Health
Surveys: 1984-1986 and 1995-1997.
K Midthjell ,
O Krüger ,
J Holmen ,
A ...Tverdal ,
T Claudi ,
A Bjørndal and
P Magnus
Community Medicine Research Unit, National Institute of Public Health, Verdal, Norway. verdalfh@online.no
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether changes in mean BMI and the prevalence of obesity in a total adult population during a short
(11-year) period were associated with changes in the prevalence of diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study involved
cross-sectional surveys of all inhabitants aged > or = 20 years of the county of Nord-Trøndelag from 1984 to 1986 (n = 85,100)
and from 1995 to 1997 (n = 92,434). Attendance rates were 88.1 and 71.3%, respectively, and 90.0% in an additional survey
of people aged 13-19 years from 1995 to 1997 (n = 9,593). Main outcome measures were age-specific mean BMI for the diabetic
and nondiabetic subgroups and the prevalence of obesity and diabetes. For comparison, mean BMIs from 18 of 19 Norwegian counties
for the group aged 40-42 years were examined. RESULTS: Mean BMI increased from 27.2 to 29.0 kg/m2 in the diabetic population
and from 25.1 to 26.3 kg/m2 in the nondiabetic population. The BMI distribution curve shifted to the right, but homogeneity
was also reduced. A comparison with other Norwegian counties indicated that this increase occurred during the last 6 years
between the surveys. The prevalence of obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2) increased from 7.5 to 14% in nondiabetic men and from
13 to 18% in nondiabetic women. The increase was particularly great in men aged < 60 years and in women aged < 50 years. The
overall prevalence of known diabetes increased between the two surveys (from 2.9 to 3.2%) but only in men. The largest increase
was observed in the corresponding younger sex and age-groups. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial increase in mean BMI and the prevalence
of obesity occurred in the younger age-groups at the same time as an increase in the prevalence of diabetes. A greater increase
in diabetes prevalence in this ethnically stable Western European population may follow if effective primary preventive strategies
are not undertaken.
Blood lead levels (BLL) in women of child-bearing age have been decreasing in recent decades, but still remains a concern for long-term effects of child psychomotor development. The aim of the study ...was to characterize lead exposure among Polish pregnant women and assess the relationship between BLL and selected socio-demographic, economic and lifestyle factors. The study population consisted of 594 pregnant women who had been the subjects of the prospective Polish Mother and Child Cohort Study (REPRO_PL). The women were interviewed three times during pregnancy (once in each trimester. Lead concentration in the blood collected during the second trimester of pregnancy was analyzed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS), or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Active and passive smoking was analyzed by the cotinine level in saliva using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The lead level in the blood ranged from 0.3 - 5.7 μg/dL, with a geometric mean (GM) of 1.1 μg/dL (GSD ±0.2 μg/dL). Statistically significant associations were found between BLL and factors such as maternal age (β=0.01; p=0.02), education (β=0.08; p=0.04) and prepregnancy BMI (β=0.1; p=0.001). Additionally, BLL increased with increasing cotinine level in saliva (β=0.02; p=0.06) and decreased with the increasing distance from the copper smelter (β=-0.1; p=0.009). Public health interventions, especially in regions with a higher level of exposure to lead, among women with lower SES and among smokers, are still reasonable.
Birth Weight and Childhood Cancer Samuelsen, Sven Ove; Bakketeig, Leiv S; Tretli, Steinar ...
Epidemiology,
2009-July, Letnik:
20, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
BACKGROUND:Leukemia incidence in childhood has been shown to increase with birth weight. The purpose of this paper is to study whether the incidence of other childhood cancers also increases with ...birth weight.
METHODS:The Norwegian Medical Birth Registry was linked to the Norwegian Cancer Registry. The data consisted of 1.65 million children, of whom 3252 had a cancer diagnosis before age 16 years. The diagnoses were divided into 1010 leukemia cases, 870 cancer cases of the central nervous system (CNS), and 1370 remaining cancers.
RESULTS:The increase in hazard rate for all cancers with a 1 kg increase in birth weight was 1.23 (95% confidence interval = 1.14–1.32) after adjustment. For leukemia the increase was 1.29 (1.14–1.47), for CNS cancers 1.07 (0.93–1.23), and for the remaining cancer diagnoses 1.29 (1.16–1.40).
CONCLUSIONS:There seems to be a general relationship between heavier birth weight and cancer incidence in childhood.
Rats selectively bred for low aerobic running capacity exhibit the metabolic syndrome, including hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, visceral obesity, and dyslipidemia. They also exhibit features ...of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, including chicken-wire fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Hyperinsulinemia in these rats is associated with impaired hepatic insulin clearance. The current studies aimed to determine whether these metabolic abnormalities could be reversed by caloric restriction (CR). CR by 30% over a period of 2–3 months improved insulin clearance in parallel to inducing the protein content and activation of the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1, a main player in hepatic insulin extraction. It also reduced glucose and insulin intolerance and serum and tissue (liver and muscle) triglyceride levels. Additionally, CR reversed inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis in liver. The data support a significant role of CR in the normalization of insulin and lipid metabolism in liver.
Caloric restriction exerts its beneficial metabolic effect by promoting insulin extraction and reducing lipogenesis in liver.
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