Dietary supplement use in elementary school children: a Japanese web-based survey

Background A variety of dietary supplements are commercially available. However, the efficacy and safety of dietary supplement use in children are not well established. Understanding dietary supplement use is important for developing public health policy regarding dietary supplements. This study aimed to investigate the types of dietary supplements used and characteristics of dietary supplement users among Japanese elementary school children. Method We conducted a cross-sectional web-based questionnaire study. Dietary supplement use, socio-demographics, and health-related behaviors were assessed through mother-reported questionnaire. Types of dietary supplements were identified based on ingredient using product barcodes and brand names. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the socio-demographics and health-related behaviors associated with supplement use. Results Among 4933 children, 333 (6.8%) were identified as dietary supplement users. The most common supplement was amino acids or protein (1.4%), followed by n–3 fatty acids or fish oil (1.0%), probiotics (1.0%), multivitamins (0.9%), multivitamin-minerals (0.8%), and botanicals (0.8%). Overall, any dietary supplement use was significantly associated with the highest frequency of sports participation (odds ratio [OR], 2.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65–4.02), highest household income (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.13–3.10), highest maternal educational level (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.31–2.52), and male sex (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.09–1.75). The highest frequency of sports participation was significantly associated with higher odds of use of amino acids or protein (OR, 6.06; 95% CI, 1.78–20.6) and multivitamins (OR, 3.56; 95% CI, 1.11–11.5), compared to the lowest frequency of sports participation. Conclusion This study showed that Japanese children primarily use non-vitamin, non-mineral supplements. Non-vitamin, non-mineral supplements should thus be included in future studies aimed at monitoring dietary supplement use. We also found that dietary supplement use in children was associated with sports participation. Guidelines for dietary supplement use for children, in particular sport participants, are needed.

Analysis of Sports and Social Skill Relation in a Non-Sportive Group

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between social skills and sports participation of non-athlete participants. The data of this study were collected by using the Convenience Sampling Method from 197 females (59.3%) and 135 males (40.7%), a total of 332 participants, ranging in age from 17 to 67 years (mean=28.72±9.31 years). When asked about the frequency of engaging in sports, while 43 (13.0%) of the respondents reported regular participation and 117 (53.3%) reported occasional participation, and 112 (33.7%) were non-participants. The participants completed the “A Social Skills Scale” for adults consisting of 80 items, and the Socio-demographic Form. The results showed that the Internal Consistency Coefficient for the scale was 0.93. In order to compare the three groups (regular participants, occasional participants, and non-participants) and other variables in terms of the total score of the scale, the two-way ANOVA test was used. There were significant differences in social skill degrees between three groups which were constituted based on frequency of sports participation, between the genders, and between the two groups that were formed considering where participants spent most of their lives (big cities or small towns). On the other hand, no significant difference was observed between participants’ social skills according to age and socioeconomic variables like marital status, education, occupational and financial status. Findings were discussed in the context of the related literature.

Ketersediaan Infrastruktur Olahraga dan Dukungan Pimpinan terhadap Frekuensi Partisipasi Olahraga

The background of this research is based on wanting to know the relationship between leadership support and infrastructure on the frequency of sports participation. It is important to realize that sports infrastructure and also support from leaders in facilitating it are urgently needed to conduct sports activities and are also expected to increase the frequency of sports participation, because without sports facilities and infrastructure it cannot develop. The purpose of this study was to determine how the influence of leadership support for sports infrastructure in increasing the frequency of sports participation. Data collection techniques are done by tests and observations. Data were analyzed descriptively qualitatively. The results of the study showed that not all of the infrastructure in STKIP Pasundan met the standards, but were already worth using. The leadership support has also been there but it is still not firm and makes the existing participants do not maximize the existing infrastructure because of the busy working time of the community.

Sports Participation in Children with ITP: A Case for Liberalization?

Abstract 3339 Background: Children with ITP are at risk for bleeding. ITP is one of many conditions for which the American Academy of Pediatrics advises a pre-sports participation evaluation to assess the risk of injury (Rice 2008). However, restrictions in sports participation might deny the many evidence-based benefits of such physical activity usually accessible for US school-aged youth, thereby presenting significant health and quality of life issues. Aims: To better assess the frequency of sports participation and sports-related injury outcomes relative to contact level by gathering data via questionnaire from a convenience sample of children with persistent and chronic ITP. Methods: Fourteen different types of sports activities were included in this IRB-approved questionnaire and were classified as contact, limited contact, or non-contact as determined by the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness (Rice 2008). Questions were aimed at the frequency of sports participation, types of sports played, sports-related injuries (including bleeding), medical care required for injuries, and comfort regarding continued participation in a sport after sustaining an injury. For each sport not played, questions assessed reasons for the subject's decision to refrain from participation. Patients were categorized according to their platelet levels: counts ≤ 50, 50–150, >150; counts ≤ or >50; counts ≤ or >30 (×109/L). Proportions of data involving 2 groups were compared in a contingency table using Fisher's exact test with trends ≤ 0.01 and significance ≤ 0.025. Results: Twelve subjects (19%) did not participate in any sports. Thirty-six (56%), including patients across all platelet counts, participated in at least one contact sport. There was no statistically significant association (p > 0.1) between the subject's platelet count and the contact level of sport chosen to play. However, a significant association was found between higher frequency of sports participation and higher platelet count (analyzed by groups ≤ or >50 and counts ≤ or >30 (×109/L)) when the highest frequency of participation in any sport (regardless of contact level) was assessed (p < 0.025). When only the sport with the highest contact rating was considered, patients with higher counts played their highest contact sport more frequently than did those patients with lower counts. In particular, subjects with counts ≤ 30 ×109/L played their highest contact sport less frequently, eg more commonly < 1x/month, compared to subjects with platelet counts > 30 ×109/L who played more commonly > 1x/month (p=0.025) [figure]. Twenty injuries were recorded across 10 different sports and 17 patients, but no serious bleeding injuries were reported. There was a statistically significant association (p = 0.002) between higher contact levels and greater incidence of injury. However, there was no statistically significant association (p > 0.1) between estimated platelet count at time of injury and the contact level of sport. As recorded by the patients and/or the patients' parents, 26% of general concerns came from physicians, 53% from parents and 21% from patients themselves. Data collected on the participants' personal concerns showed that higher platelet counts were associated with fewer personal concerns being expressed (p < 0.025). However, when each personal concern was analyzed there were no statistically significant trends or associations (p > 0.1) found between any specific concern and platelet count. Across all contact and limited-contact sports, the most frequently expressed concern was that the sport was too dangerous. The most frequently expressed concern for non-contact sports was that the patient was too tired to play. Conclusions: There was a significant association between higher frequency of sports participation, but not higher contact level, with higher platelet counts. Higher incidences of injury were associated with higher contact levels, but not with lower platelet counts, suggesting that children with ITP can participate in non-contact sports and many contact and limited-contact sports with low risk of injury. Therefore, we believe that sports participation for children with ITP is generally too restricted and greater encouragement for children to be athletic in the sport of their choice is warranted. Disclosures: Bussel: Sysmex: Research Funding; Shionogi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Eisai: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Ligand: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Immunomedics: Research Funding; IgG of America: Research Funding; Genzyme: Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Family owns GSK stock, Family owns GSK stock Other, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Cangene: Research Funding; Amgen: Family owns Amgen stock Other, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Portola: Consultancy.

Relationship of physical activity and dietary habits with body mass index in the transition from childhood to adolescence: a 4-year longitudinal study

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between several physical activity (PA) and dietary behaviours and BMI Z-score and to investigate the relationship between changes in these variables and in the BMI Z-score over a 4-year period from childhood to adolescence.DesignLongitudinal study in which children were included in the fifth grade and measured for four consecutive years. Dietary and PA behaviours as well as height and weight were measured by means of self-reported validated questionnaires.SettingFifty-nine Flemish elementary schools.SubjectsThe baseline sample consisted of 51·9 % boys and the mean age was 10 (sd 0·4) years. During the first measurement year (2002), data on 1670 fifth graders were gathered. These measurements were repeated after 1 (n 1557), 2 (n 1151) and 3 (n 807) years.ResultsSignificant inverse relationships with BMI Z-score were observed for frequency of breakfast consumption (β = −0·033, se = 0·012) and frequency of sports participation (β = −0·011, se = 0·004) across four time points. Significant inverse relationships between changes in BMI Z-score and changes in frequency of sports participation (β = −0·011, se = 0·006) and hours of physical education (PE; β = −0·052, se = 0·023) were observed, meaning that decreases in sports participation and hours spent in PE were associated with increases in BMI Z-score.ConclusionsThe present study provides an important insight into different dietary and PA behaviours related to (changes in) BMI Z-score during the transition from childhood to adolescence.