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Indian Pediatr 2013;50: 1070
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Gaurav Gupta
Email:
[email protected]
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Can a Mediterranean diet help overweight kids? (Nutr Metabol
Cardiovas Dis. Jul 2013)
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A Mediterranean-like dietary pattern has been shown to be inversely
associated with many diseases, but its role in early obesity prevention
is not clear. The study aimed to determine if this pattern is common
among European children and whether it is associated with overweight and
obesity. The study recruited 16,220 children aged 2-9 years from study
centers in eight European countries. Weight, height, waist
circumference, and skinfolds were measured at baseline and in 9114
children of the original cohort after two years. Diet was evaluated by a
parental questionnaire reporting children’s usual consumption of 43 food
items. Adherence to a Mediterranean-like diet was calculated by a food
frequency-based Mediterranean Diet Score (fMDS). The highest fMDS levels
were observed in Sweden, the lowest in Cyprus. High scores were
inversely associated with overweight including obesity and percent fat
mass independently of age, sex, socioeconomic status, study center and
physical activity. High fMDS at baseline protected against increases in
BMI, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio with a similar trend
observed for percent fat mass (P = 0.06). Although a
Mediterranean dietary pattern is inversely associated with childhood
obesity, it is not common in children living in the Mediterranean region
and should therefore be advocated as part of EU obesity prevention
strategies.
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Can prenatal folic acid increase the risk of childhood
asthma?(Am J Clin Nutr. Sep 2013)
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The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the
association of folate and folic acid intake during pregnancy and risk of
asthma and other allergic outcomes in children. The findings do not
support an association between periconceptional folic acid
supplementation and increased risk of asthma in children.
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Sublingual immunotherapy in children with
allergic rhinitis sensitized to house-dust-mites – does it work?
(Resp Med. Jul 2013)
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Although sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has been demonstrated to be a
safe and efficient treatment in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis
(AR), there is little evidence on the efficacy of SLIT with
house-dust-mite (HDM) extract in children with isolated perennial
allergic rhinitis. The authors tried to assess the clinical efficacy and
safety of HDM-SLIT in children with isolated allergic
rhinitis-conjunctivitis mono-sensitized to HDM without asthma symptoms.
Twenty-two children (aged 5-10 years) with perennial AR and
conjunctivitis symptoms mono-sensitized to Dermatophagoides
pter-onyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae were enrolled. A
total of eighteen subjects were randomized to receive either active SLIT
or placebo for 12 months, in a blinded manner. Daily symptom and
medication scores, baseline lung functions, bronchial hyperreactivity,
nasal provocation and skin prick tests were recorded and re-evaluated at
the end of treatment. After one year of treatment, no significant
differences were detected in between groups and within group comparisons
based on total rhinitis symptom/medication scores. Skin reactivity to
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was significantly reduced in HDM-SLIT
compared to placebo group. A significant reduction in nasal sensitivity
was observed in SLIT group after one year treatment when compared to
baseline. Total conjunctivitis symptoms were reduced significantly in
both active and placebo group at the end of treatment compared to
baseline. The proportion of patients with non-specific bronchial
hyperreactivity increased to almost 3-fold in placebo group compared to
baseline. HDM-SLIT was not superior to placebo in reducing isolated
rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms within 12 months of treatment. However,
HDM-SLIT has a modulating effect on allergen-specific nasal and skin
reactivity in isolated perennial AR children.
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Can calcium supplementation in mothers reduce
the risk of complications of pregnancy and infant growth?(Am
J Clin Nutr. Oct 2013)
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Studies have suggested that calcium supplementation of women receiving
low-calcium diets significantly reduces risk of pregnancy induced
hypertension and infant growth parameters. The authors tested the
effects of calcium carbonate supplementation (1500 mg per day) on blood
pressure in pregnant, rural Gambian women. The study was a randomized,
double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled supplementation trial from 20
wk of gestation (P20) until delivery (calcium: n = 330; placebo; n =
332). Mean compliance was 97%, and urinary calcium measures confirmed
the group allocation. The intention-to-treat analysis that was adjusted
for confounders showed no significant effect of calcium supplementation
on the change between 20 and 36 weeks systolic or diastolic blood
pressure. There was no significant effect of supplementation on blood
pressure, pregnancy weight gain, weight postpartum, or infant weight,
length, and other measures of growth. This result may have been because
the Gambian women were adapted to a low dietary calcium intake, and/or
obesity, high gestational weight gain, high underlying BP, tobacco use,
alcohol consumption, and sedentary lifestyles were rare.
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