Association of plasma folate, vitamin B12 levels, and arsenic methylation capacity with developmental delay in preschool children in Taiwan

The effect of an aided graphic augmentative communication system on communication and speech in a 4‐year 7‐month‐old child with developmental delay was evaluated in this case study. An alternating treatment design was used across 2 mealtime settings (morning tea and lunch) over a 6‐week period with counterbalancing of aided and unaided conditions. Once graphic symbol use emerged, there were slightly higher levels of unprompted communication and requests in the aided condition and a lower proportion of acts contained nonsymbolic communication. There was also a higher number of different words + symbols used in the aided condition. The introduction of the graphic symbols did not appear to have detrimental effects on speech but there was no evidence of sustained increase in frequency of speech or spoken vocabulary in the aided condition. Substantial increases were noted in the number of unprompted communicative turns and range of total vocabulary over the course of the study in both conditions. The need for further research on the effects of AAC on speech and communication in preschool children is highlighted.

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Urinary total arsenic and arsenic methylation capacity in pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus: A case-control study

Chemosphere ◽

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129828 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 271 ◽

pp. 129828

Author(s):

Wei-Jen Chen ◽

Erin M. Davis ◽

Julie A. Stoner ◽

Candace Robledo ◽

Jean R. Goodman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Gestational Diabetes ◽

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Total Arsenic ◽

Arsenic Methylation ◽

Methylation Capacity ◽

Control Study ◽

In Pregnancy

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Correlations between Coffee Consumption and Metabolic Phenotypes, Plasma Folate, and Vitamin B12: NHANES 2003 to 2006

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13041348 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1348

Author(s):

Pratibha V. Nerurkar ◽

Krupa Gandhi ◽

John J. Chen

Keyword(s):

Vitamin B12 ◽

Dietary Intervention ◽

Low Cost ◽

Coffee Consumption ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Dietary Factors ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Metabolic Phenotypes ◽

Plasma Folate ◽

Prospective Longitudinal

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is prevalent not only among the overweight and obese but also normal weight individuals, and the phenotype is referred to as a metabolically unhealthy phenotype (MUHP). Besides normal weight individuals, overweight/obese individuals are also protected from MetS, and the phenotype is known as a metabolically healthy phenotype (MHP). Epidemiological studies indicate that coffee and micronutrients such as plasma folate or vitamin B12 (vit. B12) are inversely associated with MetS. However, correlations among coffee consumption metabolic phenotypes, plasma folate, and vit. B12 remain unknown. Our objective was to investigate the correlation between coffee consumption, metabolic phenotypes, plasma folate, and vit. B12 as well as to understand associations between plasma folate, vit. B12, and metabolic phenotypes. Associations among coffee consumption metabolic phenotypes, plasma folate, and vit. B12 were assessed in a cross-sectional study of 2201 participants, 18 years or older, from 2003–2004 and 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). MUHP was classified as having > three metabolic abnormalities. Coffee consumption was not associated with metabolic phenotypes, but negatively correlated with several metabolic variables, including BMI (p < 0.001). Plasma folate was positively associated with MUHP (p < 0.004), while vit. B12 was inversely associated with MUHP (p < 0.035). Our results suggest the potential protective impact of coffee on individual components of MetS and indicate a positive correlation between coffee consumption and MUHP among overweight individuals. Identifying possible dietary factors may provide practical and low-cost dietary intervention targets, specifically for early intervention. Larger and randomized intervention studies and prospective longitudinal studies are required to further evaluate these associations.

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A Potential Synergy between Incomplete Arsenic Methylation Capacity and Demographic Characteristics on the Risk of Hypertension: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in an Arsenic-Endemic Area of Inner Mongolia, China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph120403615 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 3615-3632 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Yongfang Li ◽

Da Wang ◽

Xin Li ◽

Quanmei Zheng ◽

Guifan Sun

Keyword(s):

Inner Mongolia ◽

Endemic Area ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Demographic Characteristics ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Arsenic Methylation ◽

Methylation Capacity ◽

Potential Synergy

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Factors Affecting Arsenic Methylation in Contaminated Italian Areas

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17145226 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (14) ◽

pp. 5226

Author(s):

Elisa Bustaffa ◽

Francesca Gorini ◽

Fabrizio Bianchi ◽

Fabrizio Minichilli

Keyword(s):

Dietary Habits ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Contaminated Water ◽

Metabolic Capacity ◽

Genetic Characteristics ◽

Arsenic Metabolism ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Arsenic Methylation ◽

Methylation Capacity ◽

Critical Public Health

Chronic arsenic (As) exposure is a critical public health issue. The As metabolism can be influenced by many factors. The objective of this study is to verify if these factors influence As metabolism in four Italian areas affected by As pollution. Descriptive analyses were conducted on 271 subjects aged 20–49 in order to assess the effect of each factor considered on As methylation. Percentages of metabolites of As in urine, primary and secondary methylation indexes were calculated as indicators for metabolic capacity. The results indicate that women have a better methylation capacity (MC) than men, and drinking As-contaminated water from public aqueducts is associated with poorer MC, especially in areas with natural As pollution. In areas with anthropogenic As pollution occupational exposure is associated with a higher MC while smoking with a poorer MC. Dietary habits and genetic characteristics are probably implicated in As metabolism. BMI, alcohol consumption and polymorphism of the AS3MT gene seem not to influence As MC. Arsenic metabolism may be affected by various factors and in order to achieve a comprehensive risk assessment of As-associated disease, it is crucial to understand how these factors contribute to differences in As metabolism.

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