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Introduction: Energy and nutrients obtained through food play an important role in the development and preservation of the immune system therefore any nutritional imbalance affects its competence and integrity.Objectives: Knowing the nutritional approach on different disorders of the immune system.Methods: A review has been carried out on the most prevalent immunological disorders in developed countries, the nutritional characteristics to which they are associated and their nutritional approach.Results: Nutritional treatment for immune disorders has focused in recent years on the role of PUFA-ω3 and vitamin D. Maintaining body weight, preventing malnutrition and protein catabolism are key strategies for nutritional treatment. This should be adapted to each disease stage because it is a dynamic process.Conclusions: Nutritional treatment for immunological disorders, especially in autoimmune diseases, is not always clear because they present acute and remission states. Anorexia is one of the most characteristic symptoms derived mainly from pharmacological treatment and inflammatory processes. Diet should be dense in nutrients that prevent deterioration.Nutritional treatment of immunological disorders should aim to maintain an optimal state of nutrition during symptomatic periods, prevent their deterioration during acute episodes and improve during stable periods free of symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A PubMed search, a calcium physiology review on Up to Date and a review of the PAHO/WHO maternal health report were performed to review the relationship between calcium and pregnancy, in particular the relationship between calcium and pre-eclampsia. The South American population has a low calcium consumption, about 86% of pregnant women have a low calcium diet; additionally, the region has a high incidence of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia that impacts maternal mortality. pre-eclampsia/eclampsia is the second cause of maternal death in Argentina, Paraguay and Peru. The etiology of pre-eclampsia remains unknown, despite the use of advanced technology. However, calcium supplementation has been used to try to decrease its incidence. Clinical trials, meta-analysis and systematic reviews from the year 2000 to date, that worked with different low calcium consumption definitions and different calcium doses, report controversial results, but it seems that calcium supplementation on high risk pregnancies and population with low calcium intake may prevent pre-eclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Vitamin D is essential for the prevention of several chronic diseases. Although it can be synthesized at skin, this source is not always sufficient to meet their needs and the consumption of foods rich in it, such as egg, could be very beneficial in individuals who are at risk of deficiency. Objective: To study the relationship between vitamin D status and daily consumption of eggs in a group of schoolchildren. Methodology: A total of 564 school children between 9-12 years of the Community of Madrid were included. Food consumption and energy and nutrients intake (including eggs and vitamin D), were determined using a food intake record for 3 days. Body weight and height were measured and body mass index calculated. Total cholesterol, lipoprotein, triglycerides and serum vitamin D were analyzed. Results: The mean consumption of eggs was 32.7 ± 20.9 g/day (less than 0.5 egg/day recommended in the 3,63% of the schoolchildren). Schoolchildren were divided according to their consumption of eggs: ≥ 0.5 egg/day or < 0.5 egg/day (SH and IH groups, respectively). Vitamin D intake and serum levels were significantly higher in the SH group than in the IH. In addition, the former had lower risk of moderate vitamin D deficiency (< 50 nmol/L) (OR = 0.41 (0.19 to 0.88), P = 0.022). No significant differences between groups in relation to total cholesterol and triglycerides were observed. Conclusion: It is necessary to promote the consumption of at least 0.5 egg/day among children because of their high amount of vitamin D, which could prevent health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The accelerated bone demineralization that occurs during the menopause is very conditioned by the intake of calcium and vitamin D, therefore, the aim of the study is examine the adequacy of the diet regarding these nutrients in a menopausal women group. Methods: A representative sample of the Spanish woman population with ages ranging from 17 to 60 years (n = 547), selected from 10 provinces was studied. The group of 108 menopausal women (45-60 years) is given priority attention. The dietary study was performed using a 3-day diet record. Weight and height were measured and then body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Results: Calcium intake (992.1 ± 340.7 rag/day) was lower than the recommended intakes (RI) in 79.6% of the menopausal women (MW) (lower than 67 % of the 173 in the 30.6 %). Vitamin D intake (3.08 ± 3.6 µg/day) was even more unfavorable, since the contribution was 61.1% of the RI in MW, an 85.2% of them do not meet the RI and a 75.9% do not meet the 67% of the RI. A 72.6% of the studied women (68.5% of MW) do not meet the RI for calcium neither for vitamin D, while only the 4.0% of them meet the RI for both nutrients (3.7 of MW). Using a logistic regression analysis to examine the dietary modification that may be favorable to meet the RI for calcium and vitamin D simultaneously, having into account the influence of age and BMI, it is observed that the main factor is the consumption of dairy products [OR = 0.188 (0.108-0.327; p < 0.001)] and the same influence is observed when only menopausal women are analyzed [OR = 0.252 (0.067-0.946; p < 0.05)]. It is observed a decreased of BMI when the density of diet in calcium (r = -0.10) and in the vitamin D (r = -0.099) is increased, which suggested a possible role of these nutrients in weight control. Conclusions: A high proportion of the studied women have intakes of calcium and vitamin D lower than the recommended intakes and given that only a 3.7% of the menopausal women have adequate intakes for both nutrients, it is necessary to adopt urgent measures aimed to protect the bone health of the Spanish female population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To analyse the calcium contribution of one unit of fermented milk enriched with calcium and vitamin D in the daily calcium intake for postmenopausal women. Subjects: 261 postmenopausal women. Methods: 28 day duration of exploratory, nutritional trial. All subjects received dietary advice on how to increase calcium intake in the daily diet and exercise recommendations with a unit of a fermented milk enriched with calcium and vitamin D (Densia®) which was consumed daily for the 28 day duration trial. A dietary assessment was used to evaluate dietary intake of calcium at the beginning and at the end of the trial. Results: The average amount of calcium intake in milligrams was higher at the end of the trial versus the average intake at the beginning of the trial. The number of women who achieved the calcium recommendation intake for their ages increased at the end of the trial. Conclusions: Dietetic methods and the daily consumption of a unit of fermented milk enriched with calcium and vitamin D increases the average daily dietetic contribution of calcium. However, a percentage of the subjects still presented a daily calcium intake below the dietary recommendations, suggesting the need to adopt more intense strategies to help increase daily recommended calcium intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is now generally accepted that the primary goal of osteoporosis management is to prevent fractures, which is accomplished by stopping bone loss and improving bone strength. Elderly postmenopausal women show a high prevalence of osteoporosis which in turn increases the risk of fracture. Men suffer of osteoporosis when either cortisone therapy is used or long periods of immobility. Antiresorptive drugs and bone anabolic are the two types for pharmacologic treatment; calcium and vitamin D should be considered adjuvant therapy for all individuals. Choice of treatment depends of age, the presence of fractures, and the degree of bone mineral density measured at the spine and hip. The main inconvenient for the adherence of treatment is the high cost of the medicaments as well as the poor information given to the patients. Probably one of the single most important factor for administering therapy for a condition that is largely asymptomatic is the patients compliance with the regimen that has been selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]