Tomato intake in relation to mortality and morbidity among Sudanese children

Lycopene: Food Sources, Biological Activities, and Human Health Benefits

As an antioxidant, lycopene has acquired importance as it prevents autoxidation of fats and related products. Tomatoes are an important agricultural product that is a great source of lycopene. It contains many vitamins and minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates and is associated with various positive effects on health. The antioxidant potential of tomatoes is substantially explained with lycopene compounds. Diet is a major risk factor for heart diseases which is shown as the most important cause of death in the world. It has been observed that the lycopene taken in the diet has positive effects in many stages of atherosclerosis. The serum lipid levels, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, blood pressure, and antioxidative potential are mainly affected by lycopene. These natural antioxidants, which can also enhance the nutritional value of foods, may lead to new ways if used in food preservation. In this review study, the antioxidant potential and cardiovascular protection mechanism of lycopene are discussed.

Effects of indoor environment and lifestyle on respiratory health of children in Chongqing, China

Background

The prevalence of certain respiratory diseases of children in China appears to be on the rise in recent decades. This study aims to explore residential environmental factors that may affect respiratory diseases and lung function of children and to assess the effects of lifestyle (diet and exercise) on lung function.

Methods

The study was conducted in Chongqing, southwest of China in June, 2017. Information on respiratory diseases was obtained from 2,126 primary school children through a family questionnaire by purposive sampling. In addition, a random sample of 771 children participating in the family-questionnaire was selected for physical measurements and lung function test as well as lifestyle questionnaire survey. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyze the relationship between indoor environment and children's respiratory diseases. The effects of indoor environment and lifestyle on lung function indices were analyzed by t-test, variance analysis, and univariate and multivariate linear regression methods.

Results

Among residential environmental factors, indoor ventilation and air circulation were significant associated with children's respiratory health outcomes. The use of air conditioning for more than 8 h/day in summer was a risk factor for asthma with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 1.99, bronchitis (AOR =1.62), and allergic rhinitis (AOR =1.51). Ventilation for less than 12 h per day during summer increased the risk for allergic rhinitis (AOR =1.40). Children living in homes with an opened kitchen had the risk of developing allergic rhinitis 1.51 times higher than children living in homes with a closed kitchen. Indoor dampness and mold were significantly associated with increased risks for childhood asthma (AOR =2.16), bronchitis (AOR =1.55) and allergic rhinitis (AOR =1.55). The frequent use of hygienic incense and mosquito coils also increased the risk for asthma (AOR =2.58) and bronchitis (AOR =1.42) in children. The multiple linear regression results showed that frequent use of air fresheners reduced children's peak expiratory flow (PEF) and small airway function (FEF_25-75) after potential influencing factors were adjusted for. Analyses of lifestyle variables showed that increased lung function (FVC, FEV₁, FEV₃) was associated with increasing consumption of vegetable and fruit as well as increasing time of physical exercise.

Conclusions

This study identified the following residential risk factors for children's respiratory diseases in Chongqing: poor indoor ventilation, home dampness and mold presence, and frequent use of hygienic incense and mosquito coils. Frequent use of air fresheners is associated with reduced lung function in children. High frequency consumption of vegetables, fruits and dairy products as well as daily exercise for more than 1 hour have positive effects on children's lung development.

Nutritional and other types of oedema, albumin, complex carbohydrates and the interstitium - a response to Malcolm Coulthard's hypothesis: Oedema in kwashiorkor is caused by hypo-albuminaemia

The various types of oedema in man are considered in relation to Starling's hypothesis of fluid movement from capillaries, with the main emphasis on nutritional oedema and the nephrotic syndrome in children. It is concluded that each condition has sufficient anomalous findings to render Starling's hypothesis untenable. The finding that the endothelial glycocalyx is key to control of fluid movement from and into the capillaries calls for complete revision of our understanding of oedema formation. The factors so far known to affect the function of the glycocalyx are reviewed. As these depend upon sulphated proteoglycans and other glycosaminoglycans, the argument is advanced that the same abnormalities will extend to the interstitial space and that kwashiorkor is fundamentally related to a defect in sulphur metabolism which can explain all the clinical features of the condition, including the formation of oedema.

Constitutively expressed DHAR and MDHAR influence fruit, but not foliar ascorbate levels in tomato

Vitamin C (L-ascorbate, AsA) is an essential nutrient required in key metabolic functions in humans and must be obtained from the diet, mainly from fruits and vegetables. Given its importance in human health and plant physiology we sought to examine the role of the ascorbate recycling enzymes monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), an economically important fruit crop. Cytosolic-targeted tomato genes Mdhar and Dhar were cloned and over-expressed under a constitutive promoter in tomato var. Micro-Tom. Lines with increased protein levels and enzymatic activity were identified and examined. Mature green and red ripe fruit from DHAR over-expressing lines had a 1.6 fold increase in AsA content in plants grown under relatively low light conditions (150 μmol m(-2) s(-1)). Conversely, MDHAR over-expressers had significantly reduced AsA levels in mature green fruits by 0.7 fold. Neither over-expressing line had altered levels of AsA in foliar tissues. These results underscore a complex regulation of the AsA pool size in tomato.

Why are they having infant colic? A nested case-control study

We aimed to analyse infant (birth characteristics, feeding type, faecal enzyme activities) and environmental (maternal smoking, nutrition and psychological status, mother-child bonding, family structure, support for the mother, familial atopy) risk factors for infant colic and to follow infants with respect to physical growth, sleeping status up to 8 months of age in a nested case-control study. 660 mothers who delivered at Dr Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Hospital, were enrolled within 3-72 h post delivery. Each infant with inconsolable persistent crying and four matched infants with no crying episodes were invited by phone to Hacettepe University Ihsan Doğramacı Children's Hospital at 30-45 days post partum. At 40-55 days, we examined the infants and gave mothers a questionnaire, including crying characteristics of the infants; 47 infants were diagnosed with colic and 142 as non-colic. When the infants were 7-8 months old, another interview was done. The colic group had higher proportions of less-educated (≤ 8 years) and smoking mothers, extended family and families with domestic violence than the non-colic group. The colic group of mothers had significantly higher rates of 'impaired bonding' in the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire, higher scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, higher scores for hostility subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory and a more irregular sleep pattern than the non-colic group. No differences were revealed for faecal enzyme activities. At 7-8 months, the colic group was shorter than the non-colic group. Colic was associated with various perinatal factors (maternal education, smoking habits, cheese consumption, hostility scores and domestic violence) and having colic in infancy negatively affected the sleeping pattern and the height of the infant.

The quality of the diet in Malawian children with kwashiorkor and marasmus

Nutritionists have suggested that kwashiorkor is related to low dietary protein and/or antioxidant intake. This study explored the hypothesis that among Malawian children with severe malnutrition, those with kwashiorkor consume a diet with less micronutrient- and antioxidant-rich foods, such as fish, eggs, tomatoes and orange fruits (mango, pumpkin and papaya), than those with marasmus. A case-control method with a food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the habitual diet. Children with severe childhood malnutrition presenting to the central hospital in Blantyre, Malawi during a 3-month period in 2001 were eligible to participate. The food frequency questionnaire collected data about foods consumed by siblings <60 months of age in the home. It was assumed that the habitual diet of all siblings 1-5 years old in the same home was similar. Dietary diversity was assessed using a validated method, with scores that ranged from 0 to 7. Regression modelling was used to control for demographic and disease covariates. A total of 145 children with kwashiorkor and 46 with marasmus were enrolled. Children with kwashiorkor consumed less egg and tomato than those with marasmus: 17 (15) vs. 24 (31) servings per month for egg, mean (SD), P < 0.01 and 27 (17) vs. 32 (19) servings per month for tomato, P < 0.05. Children with kwashiorkor had a similar dietary diversity score as those with marasmus, 5.06 (0.99) vs. 5.02 (1.10), mean (SD). Further research is needed to determine what role consumption of egg and tomato may play in the development of kwashiorkor.

The beneficial effects of tomatoes

Dietary intake of tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene has been shown to be associated with a decreased risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease in several recent studies. Serum and tissue lycopene levels have also been inversely related to the risk of chronic disease. While the antioxidant properties of lycopene are thought to be primarily responsible for its beneficial effects, evidence is accumulating to suggest that other mechanisms, such as modulation of intercellular gap junction communication, hormonal and immune systems, and metabolic pathways, may also be involved. Lycopene inhibited the activity of an essential enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis in an in vitro study and a small clinical study, suggesting a hypocholesterolemic effect.

Low plasma lycopene concentration is associated with increased mortality in a cohort of patients with prior oral, pharynx or larynx cancers

OBJECTIVE

This analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between plasma beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, total carotenoids, retinol, alpha-tocopherol and subsequent mortality.

METHODS

Blood samples collected longitudinally from 259 participants in a chemoprevention trial aimed at the prevention of second cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography for selected micronutrients. All-cause mortality (primary outcome) and cause-specific mortality (secondary outcomes) were evaluated in relation to plasma micronutrient concentrations at baseline and longitudinally.

RESULTS

A total of 61 deaths occurred over a follow-up time of up to 90 months. Cox proportional hazards models with time-dependent covariates were used for data analyses. In models adjusted for age, plasma cholesterol, time-dependent smoking, treatment arm, study site and gender, only plasma lycopene was significantly inversely associated with total mortality [hazard ratio (HR) above versus below median = 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30-0.93]. Plasma alpha-carotene was inversely associated (HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.08-0.75) while plasma retinol was positively associated (HR 5.12, 95% CI 1.54-17.05) with cardiovascular death. Smoking status modified plasma nutrient associations with total mortality. Lycopene (HR 0.08, 95% CI 0.02-0.36), alpha-carotene (HR 0.25, 95% CI 0.09-0.73) and total carotenoids (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.07-0.70) were inversely associated with mortality in non-smokers, while plasma retinol (HR = 3.56, 95% CI 1.40-9.09) and alpha-tocopherol (HR = 2.47, 95% CI 1.02-5.98) were positively associated with mortality in smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

Only plasma lycopene was significantly associated (inversely) with total mortality in the full study population. Smoking modifies associations between nutrients and mortality.

Nutrition and respiratory health in children in six Central and Eastern European countries

BACKGROUND

The results of studies on the effect of nutrition on respiratory diseases are inconsistent. The role of nutrition in children's respiratory health was therefore analysed within the cross sectional Central European Study on Air Pollution and Respiratory Health (CESAR).

METHOD

A total of 20 271 children aged 7-11 were surveyed in six European countries. Respiratory health and food intake were assessed using questionnaires. Associations between four symptoms and nutritional factors were evaluated using logistic regression, controlling for area plus other potential confounders.

RESULTS

All symptoms showed initial associations with nutritional factors. Low consumption of fish and of summer and winter fruit were the most consistent predictors. In a fully adjusted model low fish intake remained a significant independent predictor of persistent cough (OR=1.18; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.34), wheeze ever (OR=1.14; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.25) and current wheeze (OR=1.21; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.39) and a weaker predictor of winter cough (OR=1.10; 95% CI 0.99 to 1.23). Low summer fruit intake was a predictor of winter cough (OR=1.40; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.79) and persistent cough (OR=1.35; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.82). Low winter fruit intake was associated with winter cough (OR=1.28; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.51). Associations between symptoms and vegetable intake were inconsistent. Low summer intake was significantly associated with winter cough (OR=1.23; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.47) but, overall, winter intake had inverse associations with both coughs. Associations between winter vegetable intake and wheeze varied considerably between countries.

CONCLUSION

A number of associations were found between respiratory symptoms and low intake of fish, fruit and vegetables in children. Low fish intake was the most consistent predictor of poor respiratory health. Fruit and vegetable intake showed stronger associations with cough than with wheeze.

Linear and nonlinear programming to optimize the nutrient density of a population's diet: an example based on diets of preschool children in rural Malawi

BACKGROUND

Food consumption surveys are often used to detect inadequate nutrient intakes but not to determine whether inadequate nutrient intakes are due to suboptimal use of locally available foods or to insufficient availability of nutrient-dense foods.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives were to describe the use of linear programming as a method to design nutrient-adequate diets of optimal nutrient density and to identify the most stringent constraints in nutritional recommendations and food consumption patterns in a population's diet.

DESIGN

This analysis was conducted with the use of food consumption data collected during 2 seasons from rural Malawian children aged 3-6 y. Linear programming was used to select diets based on local foods that satisfied a set of nutritional constraints while minimizing the total energy content of the diet. Additional constraints on daily intakes of foods and food groups were also introduced to ensure that the diets were compatible with local food patterns. The strength of the constraints was assessed by analyzing nonlinear programming sensitivity.

RESULTS

In the harvest season, it was possible to satisfy nutritional recommendations with little departure from the local diet. In the nonharvest season, nutritional adequacy was impaired by the low availability of riboflavin- and zinc-rich animal or vegetable foods and by the high phytate content of other foods.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis suggests that nutrition education may help improve the diets of children in the harvest season, whereas changes in the range of available foods might be needed in the nonharvest season. Linear and nonlinear programming can be used to formulate recommendations with the use of data from local food consumption surveys.

Dietary carotenoids and human immune function

The colorful group of compounds known as carotenoids are present in many plants, where they provide photoprotection and act as accessory pigments in photosynthesis. Many epidemiologic studies have shown strong associations between diets rich in carotenoids and a reduced incidence of many forms of cancer, and that finding led to the suggestion that the antioxidant properties of those compounds might help protect immune cells from oxidative damage, thus enhancing their ability to detect and eliminate tumor cells. Since the early 1980s, there have been reports supporting that hypothesis. However, more recently, after large prospective studies did not show protective effects of beta-carotene supplementation, more attention has been given to studies defining optimal levels of intake that can be achieved within a well-balanced diet. The latest intervention studies have suggested that, in well-nourished, healthy individuals, a moderate level of carotenoid supplementation is neither beneficial nor harmful. However, supplementation might be appropriate in undernourished or less healthy individuals, particularly if they are elderly. Future studies comparing supplements with real foodstuffs, combined with postgenomic technologies, will help define optimal intakes for different sectors of the population.

Relation of vitamin A and carotenoid status to growth failure and mortality among Ugandan infants with human immunodeficiency virus

Although growth failure is common during pediatric infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and associated with increased mortality, the relation of specific nutrition factors with growth and mortality has not been well characterized. A longitudinal study was conducted with 194 HIV-infected infants in Kampala, Uganda. Plasma vitamin A, carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein/zeaxanthin), and vitamin E were measured at age 14 wk, and weight and height were followed up to age 12 mo. Vitamin A and low plasma carotenoid concentrations were predictive of decreased weight and height velocity. Between ages 14 wk and 12 mo, 32% of infants died. Underweight, stunting, and low concentrations of plasma carotenoids were associated with increased risk of death in univariate analyses. Plasma vitamin A concentrations were not associated with risk of death. In a final multivariate model adjusting for weight-for-age, plasma beta-carotene was significantly associated with increased mortality (odds ratio: 3.16, 95% confidence interval: 1.38 to 7.21, P < 0.006). These data suggest that low concentrations of plasma carotenoids are associated with increased risk of death during HIV infection among infants in Uganda.