Calcium intake in an adult Ukrainian population

Ukrainian guideline for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

INTRODUCTION

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is a bone metabolic disorder caused by glucocorticoid (GC) use. It is one of the leading causes of secondary osteoporosis, increasing the risk of low-energy fractures, disability, and mortality. Although limited studies on GIOP epidemiology and treatment have been conducted in Ukraine, there were no national guidelines for its management. The aim was to create national guideline for the GIOP diagnosis, prevention, and treatment based on a comprehensive review of modern literature to enhance awareness within Ukraine's medical community, improve disease management, and reduce its socio-economic impact.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An Expert Group comprising 18 leading Ukrainian scientists from various fields was created for guideline development. A review of modern literature on GIOP epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and monitoring was conducted. Evidence synthesis followed the GRADE methodology, and the quality of recommendations was critically evaluated using the AGREE II tool.

RESULTS

The guideline comprises 12 statements covering GIOP screening, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. We highlight the need to raise awareness among healthcare providers and patients about the potential effects of GC therapy. Also, we outline approaches to clinical assessment of osteoporotic fracture risk in GC users and detail diagnostic and therapeutic methods currently available in Ukraine for managing GIOP.

CONCLUSION

The first Ukrainian national GIOP guideline is critical for healthcare providers across specialities. Endorsed by the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Osteoporosis, it is recommended for use in routine clinical practice to enhance patient outcomes and mitigate the disease's impact.

Association of diet, lifestyle, and chronotype with metabolic health in Ukrainian adults: a cross-sectional study

Morning chronotypes are associated with healthier metabolic profiles and lifestyles compared to evening chronotypes. However, limited research examined the relationship between chronotype, dietary intake, and metabolic health using accurate measures such as food records. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between chronotype, dietary intake, and metabolic health markers in a cohort of Ukrainian individuals. Chronotypes were determined using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) in 110 healthy to obese individuals (30-75 years) without type 2 diabetes. Dietary intake was derived from weighed seven days food diaries, anthropometrics and blood markers of glucose and lipid metabolism were measured. Morning chronotypes were significantly older and exhibited distinct dietary patterns, including lower intake of fat and animal protein and higher intake of carbohydrates when compared to evening chronotypes (p < 0.01). Higher MEQ scores, reflecting a tendency toward a morning chronotype, were associated with lower BMI, waist circumference, fasting triglycerides, and glucose (p < 0.05). Further, being of morning chronotype predicted better overall metabolic health. These associations remained significant after adjusting for confounders. The findings suggest that morning chronotypes have a different dietary pattern characterized by a more balanced diet and favorable metabolic profile. Synchronizing daily routines with morning preferences could positively influence metabolic health.

Calcium and magnesium in China's public drinking water and their daily estimated average requirements

Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in drinking water and the relevant health effects have been ignored for too long. This study aims to reveal the concentrations, spatial distributions, origins and contributions to the daily estimated average requirements of Ca and Mg in public drinking water. Using hydrochemical data of collected samples of public drinking water in 314 cities across China, the contributions of Ca and Mg intakes from public drinking water to their daily estimated average requirements (EARs) were assessed. And the significance of Ca/Mg ratio and total hardness (TH) was evaluated as well. The Ca and Mg concentrations of the samples were in the range of 2.5-155.1 mg/L and 0.2-81.9 mg/L, with an average of 40.4 mg/L and 12.4 mg/L, respectively. There exist obvious differences in Ca and Mg concentrations in different regions, under the impact of climate conditions and water-rock interactions. The intake of Ca via the consumption of public drinking water for adults may be twice as much as that for other age groups. In cities with high Ca levels in public drinking water, the Ca contributions to EAR could reach up to 51.59% for adults. By contrast, Mg in drinking water is an important and even the main pathway to ingest Mg for infants and children. Therefore, public drinking water is critical for Ca and Mg intake among urban residents of China. Besides, attention should be paid to the health effects of high Ca/Mg ratio and low TH in public drinking water, especially in southern China. This research is the first systematic and comprehensive national scale study of Ca and Mg in public drinking water and can provide an important reference to improve healthy public drinking water standards around the world.

Identifying the Food Sources of Selected Minerals for the Adult European Population among Rice and Rice Products

The problem of dietary deficiency of several essential elements among different stages of life is still observed. The consumption of whole grains (among others unprocessed rice) is recommended as a part of a healthy diet. This research aimed to determine the content of selected macro- and microelements in rice and rice products to verify whether the tested products could be regarded as a source of selected minerals in the diet of the adult European population.

METHODS

A total of 99 samples from 12 groups of rice products (basmati, black, brown, parboiled, red, wild, white rice and expanded rice, rice flakes, flour, pasta, and waffles) were obtained. The atomic absorption spectrometry method (AAS) was used to determine the content of Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Se and Zn in the study material.

RESULTS

The average measured contents of Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Se and Zn were as follows: 226.3 ± 160.6 mg/kg, 3.6 ± 2.8 mg/kg, 9.4 ± 7.0 mg/kg, 618.0 ± 498.4 mg/kg, 16.7 ± 10.0 mg/kg, 242.9 ± 140.4 µg/kg and 19.5 ± 15.0 mg/kg, respectively. Statistical analyses confirmed the differences in the levels of the studied elements between the subgroups of processed and unprocessed products. Considering the tolerable upper intake level of studied elements, the tested products could be regarded as safe to consume.

CONCLUSION

All tested products can be recommended as a source of Cu, Mn, and Se, while a majority of studied products can be considered a source of Mg and Zn in the diet of the adult European population.