Temporal Trends of Dietary Risk Factors after a Diagnosis of Kidney Stones

Diet is an important contributor to kidney stone formation, but there are limited data regarding long-term changes in dietary factors after a diagnosis of a kidney stone. We analyzed data from three longitudinal cohorts, the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study and the Nurses' Health Studies I and II, comparing changes in dietary factors in participants with and without a history of kidney stones during follow-up. The total daily intake of dietary calcium, supplemental calcium, animal protein, caffeine, fructose, potassium, sodium, oxalate, phytate, vitamin D, vitamin C, sugar-sweetened beverages, fluids, NEAP and DASH score were assessed by repeat FFQs and computed as absolute differences; a difference-in-differences (DID) approach was used to account for general temporal changes using data from participants without a history of kidney stones from the same calendar period. 184,398 participants with no history of kidney stones were included, 7,095 of whom became confirmed stone formers. Several intakes changed significantly over time in stone formers compared with non-formers, with some showing a relative increase up to 8 years later, including caffeine (DID 8.8 mg/day, 95% CI 3.4, 14.1), potassium (23.4 mg/day, 95% CI 4.6, 42.3), phytate (12.1 mg/day, 95% CI 2.5, 21.7), sodium (43.1 mg/day, 95% CI 19.8, 66.5) and fluid intake (47.1 mL/day, 95% CI 22.7, 71.5). Other dietary factors showed a significant decrease, such as oxalate (−7.3 mg/day, 95% CI −11.4, −3.2), vitamin C (−34.2 mg/day, 95% CI −48.8, −19.6), and vitamin D (−18.0 IU/day, 95% CI −27.9, −8.0). A significant reduction in sugar-sweetened beverages of −0.5 (95% CI −0.8, −0.3) and −1.4 (95% CI −1.8, −1.0) servings/week and supplemental calcium −105.1 (95% CI −135.4, −74.7) and −69.4 (95% CI −95.4, −43.4) mg/day for NHS I and NHS II, respectively intake was observed in women. Animal protein, dietary calcium, fructose intake, DASH score and NEAP did not change significantly over time. After the first episode of a kidney stone, mild and inconsistent changes were observed concerning dietary factors associated with kidney stone formation.

Alleviation of Cadmium Toxicity in Zea Mays L. through Up-Regulation of Antioxidant Defense System and Organic Osmolytes under Supplemental Calcium

Calcium (Ca) is a macronutrient and work as a modulator to mitigate oxidative stress induced by heavy metals. Present work was conducted to elucidate the role of Ca in modulating growth, physio-biochemical traits, and cellular antioxidant defense system in Zea mays L. seedlings under Cd stress. The experiment was designed in a complete randomized design with two levels of Cd (0 and 150 µM) and six levels of Ca (0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 mM). Maize seedlings exposed to Cd at150 µM concentration showed a notable decrease in growth, biomass, anthocyanins, chlorophylls, and antioxidant enzymes activities. Higher level of Cd (150 µm) also caused an upsurge in oxidative damage observed as higher electrolyte leakage (increased membrane permeability), H2O2 production and MDA accumulation. Supplementation of Ca notably improved growth traits, photosynthetic pigments, cellular antioxidants (APX, POD and ascorbic acid), anthocyanins and level of osmolytes. The significant improvement in the osmolytes (proteins and amino acids), and enzymatic antioxidative defense system enhanced the membrane stability and mitigated the damaging effects of Cd. The present results concluded that exogenously applied Ca can potentially improve growth by regulating antioxidants and enable maize plants to withstand the Cd toxicity.

Comparison of 4 Methods to Assess the Prevalence of Use and Estimates of Nutrient Intakes from Dietary Supplements among US Adults

ABSTRACT Background Accurate and reliable methods to assess prevalence of use of and nutrient intakes from dietary supplements (DSs) are critical for research, clinical practice, and public health monitoring. NHANES has been the primary source of DS usage patterns using an in-home inventory with a frequency-based DS and Prescription Medicine Questionnaire (DSMQ), but little is known regarding DS information obtained from 24-h dietary recalls (24HRs). Methods The objectives of this analysis were to compare results from 4 different methods for measuring DS use constructed from two data collection instruments (i.e., DSMQ and 24HR) and to determine the most comprehensive method for measuring the prevalence of use and estimating nutrient intakes from DS for selected nutrients. NHANES 2011–2014 data from US adults (aged ≥19 y; n = 11,451) were used to examine the 4 combinations of methods constructed for measuring the prevalence of use of and amount of selected nutrients from DSs (i.e., riboflavin, vitamin D, folate, magnesium, calcium): 1) DSMQ, 2) 24HR day 1, 3) two 24HRs (i.e., mean), and 4) DSMQ or at least one 24HR. Results Half of US adults reported DS use on the DSMQ (52%) and on two 24HRs (mean of 49%), as compared with a lower prevalence of DS use when using a single 24HR (43%) and a higher (57%) prevalence when combining the DSMQ with at least one 24HR. Mean nutrient intake estimates were highest using 24HR day 1. Mean supplemental calcium from the DSMQ or at least one 24HR was 372 mg/d, but 464 mg/d on the 24HR only. For vitamin D, the estimated intakes per consumption day were higher on the DSMQ (46 μg) and the DSMQ or at least one 24HR (44 μg) than those on the 24HR day 1 (32 μg) or the mean 24HR (31 μg). Fewer products were also classed as a default or reasonable match on the DSMQ than on the 24HR. Conclusions A higher prevalence of use of DSs is obtained using frequency-based methods, whereas higher amounts of nutrients are reported from a 24HR. The home inventory results in greater accuracy for products reported. Collectively, these findings suggest that combining the DSMQ with at least one 24HR (i.e., DSMQ or at least one 24HR) is the most comprehensive method for assessing the prevalence of and estimating usual intake from DSs in US adults. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03400436.