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Although current evidence confirms the importance of diet for mental health, many psychologists avoid discussing dietary intake with clients, questioning whether this information is within their scope of practice. This article provides psychologists with a review focused on the connection between what we eat and how we feel. Eating a healthy, whole-foods-based diet is an important tool to promote mental health recovery and maintenance. We begin by reviewing several mechanisms by which nutrients maximize brain health, including enabling metabolic reactions to occur, supporting mitochondrial function, reducing inflammation and assisting with detoxification. Understanding the vital role of nutrients for brain health will aid clients in understanding the importance of optimizing their intake of a range of nutrients in order to maximize their mental health: no single nutrient is sufficient. Next, we summarize evidence relating diet to mental health, followed by a consideration of circumstances that may contribute to a client requiring additional nutrients, such as chronic stress, medication use, individual biochemistry, and consuming nutrient-depleted food. The evidence base for treating psychological problems in children with supplementary nutrients is then reviewed, and a case study of a child whose self-regulatory skills improved with broad-spectrum multinutrients is used to illustrate this treatment. The breadth and consistency of the research highlights the importance of children receiving a good foundation of nutrients for optimizing brain health. Finally, we offer practical suggestions for psychologists to incorporate this information into their clinical practice and discuss these suggestions within the context of informed consent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that assessed contributions of micronutrients to intakes derived from multivitamin/mineral (MVMM) supplements and compared those intakes to the dietary reference intakes of U.S. residents according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010. Topics discussed include that total intakes of vitamins A, C, D, and E, as well as calcium, magnesium and potassium. Also mentioned is the finding on micronutrient insufficiency.

The study material consisted of five herbs: chamomile (flowers), mint (leaves), St John's wort (flowers and leaves), sage (leaves) and nettle (leaves), sourced from three producers. The calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper contents were determined for both dried herb samples and prepared infusions, and the extraction rates were calculated. Mineral components were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Analysis showed that the contents of individual elements in herbs and infusions depended on the type of raw material, as well as on its origin. Moreover, it was found that iron penetrated the herbal infusions to the lowest degree (4.4-12.4%), while copper did so to the highest (26.7-50.7%). It is felt that in average consumption the herbal infusions are not important as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper sources in human nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a research study on the contribution of dairy products to micronutrient intakes in France. The study seeks to assess the contribution of milk and dairy products to the intake of vitamins and minerals in the French population based on data from the French Individual National Food Consumption Survey, 2005-2007. Results of the study revealed that dairy products aid strongly to meet the micronutrient recommendations for both children and adult groups in France.

Objective Estrogen is the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms. Given its potential risks, herbal preparations and nutritional supplements have been developed as alternative remedies. The main aim of this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was to assess any impact of a nutritional supplement containing 12 vitamins and nine minerals on the frequency and severity of hot flushes in postmenopausal women over a 3-month period. Subjects and methods Ninety-one postmenopausal women were randomized to either the placebo ( n == 45) or the treatment arm ( n == 46). Seventy out of the 91 women completed the study (36 from the treatment group and 34 from the placebo group). At baseline and the 14-week post-intervention assessments, study participants completed questionnaires on the frequency and severity of hot flushes and night sweats, the Profile of Mood State questionnaire, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, the National Adult Reading Test and the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test. Between assessments, the women also completed hot flush diaries. Results There was a significant decrease ( p < 0.01) in the number (±standard error of the mean) of hot flushes experienced per week for treatment (pre 31.3 ± 4.7; post 23.1 ± 4.8) and placebo groups (pre 28.1 ± 4.7; post 17.3 ± 4.0). A significant decrease ( p < 0.001) in the number of night sweats experienced per week was also observed in the treatment (pre 6.1 ± 1.0; post 4.2 ± 0.7) and placebo groups (pre 5.9 ± 0.7; post 3.7 ± 0.7). Conclusions This study demonstrates a significant placebo effect on hot flushes and night sweats, as consistent with other studies. The micronutrient supplement containing 21 vitamins and minerals was not superior over placebo in effects on hot flushes and night sweat experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the association between dietary intake and chronotype as assessed by both Morningness--Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) score and preferred midpoint of sleep in 112 young Japanese women. Dietary intake was assessed by a brief, self-administered diet history questionnaire. A lower MEQ score (evening-type tendency) showed a significant association with a lower energy-adjusted intake of protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamins (D, riboflavin, and B6), and vegetables, and with a higher intake of noodles. Furthermore, a later midpoint of sleep showed a significant association with a lower energy-adjusted intake of protein, cholesterol, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamins (D, riboflavin, B6, and B12), soy, fish and shellfish, and eggs, and with a higher intake of noodles, bread, and confections. These data suggest that evening chronotype is associated with inadequate dietary habits such as low vitamin and mineral intakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on the contributions of calcium-based antacids and the vitamin/mineral supplements to the calcium intake of mothers during pregnancy. The study was done in a period of 8 months with 724 attendees of prenatal classes at 28 weeks or more of gestation completing a prepared questionnaire while a subset of 264 mothers answered a self-reported questionnaire on calcium-modified food intake. Conclusions indicated that calcium-based antacids and vitamins/mineral supplements help increase calcium intake of pregnant mothers.

The aim of this study was to assess exposure of children to copper (Cu) from household drinking water (DW). DW samples were collected between 1997 and 2004 in ∼650 households and pre-schools using a double-sampling method (morning - W1; evening - W2). The study group comprised ∼300 children (5-7 years old) living in Krakow (urban, peripheral) and rural areas in southern Poland. Cu concentrations were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. There was no significant relationship between the sampling period and Cu concentration, but statistically significant differences were found between urban and non-urban (rural, peripheral) sites and between morning and evening samples. Geometric means of Cu concentration in evening DW (95% confidence interval, in μg L-1) were 8 (1-110), 20 (1-274) and 12 (0-364) in urban, peripheral and rural sites, respectively. DW contamination after overnight standing was comparable in all sites (average increase ∼20 μg Cu L-1). The adopted threshold of 100 μg Cu L-1 was exceeded in evening DW by 3.6 and 15% in urban and non-urban households, respectively. Exceedance of the EC limit (2 mg L-1) was not significant. The mean predicted contribution of evening DW to Cu intake by children were 18-37 μg day-1 or 0.8-1.6 μg kg-1 bw day-1 but were 2-3-fold higher for morning DW. The Polish RDA (1 mg Cu day-1) was exceeded for morning (evening) DW in 3.7 (0.2)% of children, with a mean intake of 159 (118)% of RDA. The observed copper levels and predicted intakes can be considered low and should not raise nutritional or toxicological concerns for the age group studied. Nevertheless, due to overnight contamination, the suggestion that the stagnant portion of drinking water should be discarded remains valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term nutrigenomics refers to the effect of diet on gene expression. The term nutrigenetics refers to the impact of inherited traits on the response to a specific dietary pattern, functional food or supplement on a specific health outcome. The specific fields of genome health nutrigenomics and genome health nutrigenetics are emerging as important new research areas because it is becoming increasingly evident that: (a) damage to genome is the most fundamental disease; (b) risk for developmental and degenerative disease increases with DNA damage which in turn is dependent on nutritional status; and (c) optimal dietary intake and tissue concentration of micronutrients for prevention of genome damage is dependent on genetic polymorphisms that alter the function of genes involved directly or indirectly in uptake and metabolism of micronutrients and those genes required for DNA repair and DNA replication. Development of dietary patterns, functional foods and supplements - that are designed to improve genome health maintenance in humans with specific genetic backgrounds - may provide an important contribution to a new optimum health strategy, based on the diagnosis and individualised nutritional prevention of genome instability - ie Genome Health Clinics. Although it is not yet possible to make distinct dietary recommendations for prevention of DNA damage based solely on an individual's genetic background, it is feasible to use current diagnostics to determine whether dietary pattern or supplement recommendations actually cause benefit or harm to the genome of an individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nursery rhyme "Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet (small stool) eating her curds and whey. ..." is recognition of the fact that over the centuries "curds and whey", the two major components of cow's milk, have been widely accepted as part of a healthy diet. Milk provides complete nourishment for the neonate for six months from birth, containing factors that help develop various organ systems including the brain, immune system, and the intestine. Importantly it provides immune protection at a time when the neonates own immune system, though fully developed, is albeit immature. Many adult consumers include cow's milk as part of a healthy diet as it provides protein and essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, in particular calcium for strong bones. There is a growing appreciation that milk, and in particular whey, contains components that not only provide nutrition, but can also prevent and attenuate disease, or augment conventional therapies, when delivered in amounts that exceed normal dietary intakes. This paper reviews the emerging health properties of whey proteins and their clinical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts of research papers on the topic of nutrition including such subjects as the nutrigenomics of the human dietary requirement for choline, clinical supplementation of chromium, and selenium supplementation and HIV-1 viral load progression.

Objective: We investigated the effect of a moderate mutivitamin and mineral supplementation containing mainly vitamin C (150.0 mg.day(-1)), vitamin E (24.0 mg.day(-1)) and beta-carotene (4.8 mg.day(-1)) prior to and during an extreme running competition -the Marathon des Sables (MDS)- that consisted of six long races in the desert.Methods: Seventeen athletes participated in our double blind, placebo-controlled study. Blood samples were collected prior to the supplementation i.e. three weeks before the competition (D-21), two days prior to the MDS (D-2), after the third race (D3) and at the end of the competition (D7). Erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activity (glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD)), erythrocyte glutathione level (GSH), plasma non-enzymatic antioxidant status (uric acid, vitamin C, alpha-tocopherol, retinol, beta-carotene), markers of plasma lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS)), reactive carbonyl derivatives (RCD) and membrane damage (creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities) were measured.Results: In both groups, GSH levels, uric acid levels and membrane damage significantly increased during the competition while SOD activity significantly decreased. In Supplemented group, plasma alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and retinol levels significantly increased after three weeks of supplementing. In contrast to Placebo group, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C and retinol levels were significantly affected by the competition in Supplemented group. Moreover, no increase in TBARS was observed in Supplemented group during the competition, whereas TBARS significantly increased at D3 in the placebo group.Conclusion: The moderate multivitamin-mineral supplementation prevented the transient increase in TBARS levels during this extreme competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine if supplementation with a liquid multi-vitamin/mineral would improve anaerobic exercise performance. Fourteen resistance-trained men performed a 30-second cycle sprint and one set of squat exercise on 2 separate days before and following 8 weeks of supplementation with either a liquid multi-vitamin/mineral or a placebo. Heart rate, perceived exertion, blood lactate, peak and mean power, and rate of fatigue were determined for all tests. No differences were noted for any variable (P > 0.05). When controlling for presupplementation values, however, a decreased rate of fatigue was noted for both exercise tests following the multi-vitamin/mineral supplementation. These data suggest that in resistance trained men consuming a nutritionally sound diet, supplementation with a liquid multi-vitamin/mineral does not favorably impact most anaerobic exercise performances. Such supplementation, however, may result in a minor decreased rate of fatigue. It appears that, in terms of improved short duration anaerobic exercise performance, supplemental micronutrients may not be efficient ergogenic agents for well-trained individuals consuming an adequate diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of the essential metals Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, and Zn were determined in 126 specimens of molluscs belonging to five different species: Mytilus chilensis , n =47; Nacella deaurata , n =65; Aulacomya ater , n =4; Fissurella picta , n =4; Acanthina monodon , n =6, collected from the coastline of the Magellan Strait. Significant differences were obtained among the mean metal concentrations in the mollusc species considered. The contribution to the dietary daily intake of these metals for the consumption of one serving of these molluscs was high, especially the contribution to the Fe intake for the consumption of N. deaurata . Some significant differences were observed among the mean concentrations for the studied metals according to the zone of sampling. The influence of the zone of sampling on the mean concentration of metals in N. deaurata was higher than in M. chilensis . The application of lineal discriminant analysis (LDA) made it possible to differentiate statistically between specimens according to the mollusc species. Within the each mollusc species, the LDA helped to identify specimens according to the zone of sampling and weight/length ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the dietary exposure of the main minerals and trace elements from retail food typically consumed by the French population, samples were purchased and then prepared and cooked prior to analysis. A total of 1080 individual food composites samples were collected and analysed for 18 elements (arsenic, lead, cadmium, aluminium, mercury, antimony, chrome, calcium, manganese, magnesium, nickel, copper, zinc, lithium, sodium, molybdenum, cobalt and selenium). Intakes were calculated from different food consumption patterns found in France for average and high consumers among adults and children. Dietary exposures of those consumers estimated from the France 2000 Total Diet Study (FTDS) are reported, and compared with existing nutritional reference values (Lowest threshold Intake, LTI) or toxicological reference values (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake, PTWI or Upper Level, UL) of the respective element and from previous French studies. This study confirms for the populations concerned, the low probability of nutritional or health risks due to food consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typical dietary components such as vegetables, wheat flour, milk, chicken and drinking water samples have been analyzed for the quantification of essential trace elements like Zn and Cu and potentially toxic trace elements like Pb and Cd. The sensitivity, selectivity and cost effectiveness of Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetric method at Hanging Mercury Drop Electrode has been evaluated and used for the analysis. A database covering the adequacy and safety of trace elements through common food articles was first contrived for the Islamabad region. This was followed by assessment of the mobility rate of the heavy metals in the soil, plant system for evaluation of the environmental impact. The method used was also validated using appropriate certified reference materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, emission and Fourier transform infrared spectra of the jackfruit seed, in powdered form, are recorded. Analysis of the emission spectrum confirms the presence of two hitherto undetected elements, manganese and magnesium. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum reveals the presence of some specific functional groups, attributed to the different bands present in the spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural Medicines is an online database of practical, clinical, and current evidence-based information about thousands of herbs, vitamins, minerals, and other supplements. The database includes references to the information content provided, along with separate consumer information and education handouts conveniently formatted as PDFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen is a natural product which is extending its marketing day by day, given that it is considered to be a dietetic product and it is consumed everyday by a broad sector of the Spanish population. In its composition it presents valuable nutrients, among which we can find minerals, which is the main object of this study. We have analysed sodium, potassium, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese and zinc in 15 pollen samples which correspond to different brands. The technique we have used is atomic absortion spectroscopy. The results show us the great potassium contribution of this natural product, with values over 400 mg/100 g, and about microelements, mainly iron and zinc, although with different results, depending on the brand which markets it, with average values of 4.01 ± 1.00 and 3.66 ± 1.02, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determines the total plasma iron, copper, zinc and selenium and the dietary intake of these minerals in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women mainly with stage 1 breast cancer and in omnivorous and vegetarian controls. Differences in copper absorption; Trace minerals.

Examines the impact of an intake of vitamin and mineral supplements on an eight-year-old boy's attention and intelligence. Subject; Intelligence tests; Delayed reaction time; Reaction to frustration; Activity sampling; Mood and distractibility questionnaire; Dietary supplements.

Assesses the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) with vitamins and minerals. General health questionnaire and physical questionnaire; Treatment study design; CFS definition; Analysis of variance.

The popularity of noni juice is increasing globally. As such, knowledge of its nutritional properties is needed to make informed decisions regarding its use. This industry-wide mineral profile was determined by analyses of 177 brands of commercial noni juice according to a modified Association of Official Analytical Chemists protocol. A large degree of variability was found in the concentrations of nine minerals. While potassium was found to be the most prominent mineral, its concentration in most commercial brands is of minor nutritional significance. The wide variability among the many brands of commercial noni juice precludes the assumption that all are the same. Many have a different nutrient profile to that published by the European Union for Tahitian Noni® Juice. Such variances may thus require consumers, dieticians, and other healthcare professionals to obtain unlabelled nutrient information from manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]