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BACKGROUND: The capability of benzophenone-3 (BP-3) to absorb and dissipate ultraviolet radiation facilitates its use as a sunscreen agent. BP-3 has other uses in many consumer products (e.g., as fragrance [...]

INTRODUCTION: Cadmium induces hypertension in animal models. Epidemiologic studies of cadmium exposure and hypertension, however, have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the association of blood and urine cadmium [...]

BACKGROUND: Perchlorate is commonly found in the environment and known to inhibit thyroid function at high doses. Assessing the potential effect of low-level exposure to perchlorate on thyroid function is [...]

BACKGROUND: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in much higher concentrations indoors, where people spend most of their time, than outdoors and may have adverse health effects. VOCs have been [...]

The objective of this study was to describe the exposure of nonsmokers in the U.S. population to secondhand smoke (SHS) using serum cotinine concentrations measured over a period of 14 [...]

Objective: This study explored whether the increased extracellular relative to intracellular fluid (ECF/ICF) ratio in obesity might reflect osmotic effects of elevated plasma solute concentrations. Design: Cross-sectional, epidemiological survey. Setting and subjects: The present analysis used nationally representative data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey on community-dwelling adults (aged 40-59 years) in the US without evidence of glucose dysregulation or chronic disease (n=1285). Intervention: Body mass index (BMI) was estimated from measured height and weight. Total body reactance, an index of body fluid distribution, was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Plasma tonicity (the cumulative index of osmotically effective plasma solute) was estimated from plasma glucose, sodium and potassium. Sex-specific relative odds of lower reactance ([les]50 [OMEGA]/m for women, [les]40 [OMEGA]/m for men) and plasma hypertonicity (tonicity [greater than or equal to]295 mmol/l) associated with overweight (25[les]BMI [less than] 30) and obesity (BMI[greater than or equal to]30) were estimated using logistic regression models that controlled for sociodemographic variables, smoking, leisure-time physical activity, total energy intake, serum creatinine, plasma insulin and glucose. Multinomial logistic regression models tested for associations between weight status and specific serum solute. Results: Independent of covariates, in men and women, overweight and obesity were associated with increased odds of lower reactance and hypertonicity. Overweight and obese individuals with lower reactance had significantly higher serum sodium than normal weight individuals. Conclusions: Elevated plasma solute concentrations are associated with obesity in free-living adults. Physicians and researchers should be alert to a possible link between hypertonicity and obesity. Descriptors: Hydration, body water, hypertonicity, obesity, ECF/ICF ratio, sodium. Sponsorship: Grants from the NIH, Nestle Waters. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 190-199. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602521; published online 4 October 2006 Keywords: hypertonicity, obesity, body composition, hydration, sodium, Author(s): J D Stookey [1]; D Barclay [2]; A Arieff [3]; B M Popkin [4] Introduction Obesity is characterized by an altered distribution of body fluid. Overweight and obese individuals [...]

Objective:: To examine the relationships between circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein and concentrations of retinol, retinyl esters, vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, and selenium. Design:: Cross-sectional study using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988-1994) data. Setting:: United States population. Subjects:: Up to 14 519 US noninstitutionalized civilian men and women aged [greater than or equal to]20 y. Results:: C-reactive protein concentration (dichotomized at the sex-specific 85th percentile) was inversely and significantly associated with concentrations of retinol, retinyl esters, vitamin C, [alpha]-carotene, [beta]-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, lycopene, and selenium after adjustment for age, sex, race or ethnicity, education, cotinine concentration, body mass index, leisure-time physical activity, and aspirin use. Conclusions:: These results suggest that the inflammatory process, through the production of reactive oxygen species, may deplete stores of antioxidants. Whether increased consumption of foods rich in antioxidants or supplementation with antioxidants can provide health benefits to people characterized by elevated C-reactive protein concentrations may be worthy of further study. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2003) 57, 1157-1163. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601667 Keywords: carotenoids, C-reactive protein, selenium, retinol, vitamin C, vitamin E, Author(s): E S Ford [1]; S Liu [2]; D M Mannino [1]; W H Giles [3]; S J Smith [4] Introduction Inflammation is now considered to play a prominent role [...]

Objective:: This study examined the interaction between body mass index (BMI) and attempting to lose weight for reporting of: (1) macro- and micronutrient intake; (2) intake of low-nutrient-density foods; and (3) serum biomarkers of dietary exposure and cardiovascular disease risk. Methods:: Dietary, anthropometric and biochemical data were from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994), n=13[??]095. Multiple regression methods were used to examine the independent associations of BMI, trying to lose weight, or the interaction of BMI-trying to lose weight with reported intakes of energy, nutrients, percentage energy from low-nutrient-density foods (sweeteners, baked and dairy desserts, visible fats and salty snacks), and serum concentrations of vitamins, carotenoids and lipids. Results:: BMI was an independent positive predictor (P [less than] 0.05) of percentage of energy from fat, saturated fat, but a negative predictor of the ratio of reported energy intake to estimated expenditure for basal needs (EI/BEE), percentage of energy from carbohydrate and alcohol (men only), and serum concentrations of folate, vitamin C, vitamin E and most carotenoids in both men and women. Trying to lose weight was a negative predictor (P [less than] 0.05) of EI/BEE, intake of energy, and energy density, but not micronutrient intake. Higher mean serum ascorbate, vitamin E, lutein/zeaxanthin, and other carotenoids (men only) concentrations were associated with trying to lose weight (P [less than] 0.05) in both men and women. Few adverse BMI-trying to lose weight interaction effects were noted. Conclusion:: There was little evidence of increased nutritional risk in those reportedly trying to lose weight irrespective of weight status. Sponsorship:: NIH research grant (R03 CA81604) and a USDA NRICGP award (NYR-9700611). European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2003) 57, 249-259. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601549 Keywords: weight loss, dieting, junk food intake, low-nutrient-density foods, dietary patterns, serum vitamins, serum carotenoids, serum lipids, NHANES III, Author(s): A K Kant [1] Introduction Increasing prevalence of obesity is a global public health problem, and weight control is recommended to alleviate the health risks associated with adiposity (WHO, [...]

OBJECTIVE. Our goal was to quantify the magnitude of energy imbalance responsible for the increase in body weight among US children during the periods 1988-1994 and 1999-2002. METHODS. We adopted a counterfactual approach to estimate weight gains in excess of normal growth and the implicit "energy gap"--the daily imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. On the basis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts, we constructed weight, height, and BMI percentile distributions for cohorts 2 to 4 and 5 to 7 years of age in the 1988-1994 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 5000). Under the counterfactual "normal-growth-only" scenario, we assumed that these percentile distributions remained the same as the cohort aged 10 years. Under this assumption, we projected the weight and height distributions for this cohort at 12 to 14 and 15 to 17 years of age on the basis of their baseline weight-for-age and stature-for-age percentiles. We compared these distributions with those for corresponding age groups in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 3091) ~10 years after the 1988-1994 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We calculated differences between the counterfactual and observed weight distributions and translated this difference into the estimated average energy gap, adjusting for increased total energy expenditure attributable to weight gain. In addition, we estimated the average excess weight accumulated among overweight adolescents in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, validating our counterfactual assumptions by analyzing longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and Bogalusa Heart Study. RESULTS. Compared with the counterfactual scenario, boys and girls who were aged 2 to 7 in the 1988-1994 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey gained, on average, an excess of 0.43 kg/year over the 10-year period. Assuming that 3500 kcal leads to an average of 1-lb weight gain as fat, our results suggest that a reduction in the energy gap of 110-165 kcal/day could have prevented this increase. Among overweight adolescents aged 12 to 17 in 1999-2002, results indicate an average energy imbalance ranging from 678 to 1017 kcal/day because of an excess of 26.5 kg accumulated over 10 years. CONCLUSIONS. Quantifying the energy imbalance responsible for recent changes in weight distribution among children can provide salient targets for population intervention. Consistent behavioral changes averaging 110 to 165 kcal/day may be sufficient to counterbalance the energy gap. Changes in excess dietary intake (eg, eliminating one sugar-sweetened beverage at 150 kcal per can) may be easier to attain than increases in physical activity levels (eg, a 30-kg boy replacing sitting for 1.9 hours with 1.9 hours walking for an extra 150 kcal). Youth at higher levels of weight gain will likely need changes in multiple behaviors and environments to close the energy gap. KEY WORDS. childhood obesity, lifestyle factors, prevention, public health, weight gain. PEDIATRICS 2006;118:e1721-e1733. URL: www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2006-0682, Y. Claire Wang, MD, ScD, Steven L. Gortmaker, PhD, Arthur M. Sobol, AM, Karen M. Kuntz, [...]

OBJECTIVE. The obesity epidemic in the United States continues to increase. Because obesity tends to track over time, the increase in overweight among young children is of significant concern. A number of eating patterns have been associated with overweight among preschool-aged children. Recently, 100% fruit juice and sweetened fruit drinks have received considerable attention as potential sources of high-energy beverages that could be related to the prevalence of obesity among young children. Our aim was to evaluate the beverage intake among preschool children who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002 and investigate associations between types and amounts of beverages consumed and weight status in preschool-aged children. METHODS. We performed a secondary analysis of the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002, which is a continuous, cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of the noninstitutionalized population of the United State. It included the collection of parent reported demographic descriptors, a 24-hour dietary recall, a measure of physical activity, and a standardized physical examination. The 24-hour dietary recall was obtained in person by a trained interviewer and reflected the foods and beverages that were consumed by the participant the previous day. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey food groups were classified on the basis of the US Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies. We reviewed the main food descriptors used and classified all beverages listed. One hundred percent fruit juice was classified as only beverages that contained 100% fruit juice, without sweetener. Fruit drinks included any sweetened fruit juice, fruit-flavored drink (natural or artificial), or drink that contained fruit juice in part. Milk included any type of cow milk and then was subcategorized by percentage of milk fat. Any sweetened soft drink, caffeinated or uncaffeinated, was categorized as soda. Diet drinks included any fruit drink, tea, or soda that was sweetened by low-calorie sweetener. Several beverages were removed from the analysis because of low frequency of consumption among the sample. Water was not included in the analysis because it is not part of the US Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrient Database categories. For the purposes of this analysis, the beverages were converted and reported as ounces, rather than grams, as reported by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, to make it more clinically relevant. The child's BMI percentile for age and gender were calculated on the basis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria and used to identify children's weight status as underweight ( RESULTS. All children who were aged 2 to 5 years were identified (N = 1572). Those with missing data were removed from additional analysis, resulting in a final sample of 1160 preschool children. Of the 1160 children analyzed, 579 (49.9%) were male. White children represented 35%, black children represented 28.3%, and Hispanic children represented 36.7% of the sample. Twenty-four percent of the children were overweight or at risk for overweight (BMI [greater than or equal to] 85%), and 10.7% were overweight (BMI [greater than or equal to] 95%). There were no statistically significant differences in BMI between boys and girls or among the ethnicities. Overweight children tended to be older (mean age: 3.83 years) compared with the normal-weight children (mean age: 3.48 years). Eighty-three percent of children drank milk, 48% drank 100% fruit juice, 44% drank fruit drink, and 39% drank soda. Whole milk was consumed by 46.5% of the children, and 3.1% and 5.5% of the children consumed skim milk and 1% milk, respectively. Preschool children consumed a mean total beverage volume of 26.93 oz/day, which included 12.32 oz of milk, 4.70 oz of 100% fruit juice, 4.98 oz of fruit drinks, and 3.25 oz of soda. Weight status of the child had no association with the amount of total beverages, milk, 100% fruit juice, fruit drink, or soda consumed. There was no clinically significant association between the types of milk (percentage of fat) consumed and weight status. In analysis of covariance, daily total energy intake increased with increased consumption of milk, 100% fruit juice, fruit drinks, and soda. However, there was not a statistically significant increase in BMI on the basis of quantity of milk, 100% fruit juice, fruit drink, or soda consumed. CONCLUSIONS. On average, preschool children drank less milk than the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation of 16 oz/day. Only 8.6% drank low-fat or skim milk, as recommended for children who are older than 2 years. On average, preschool children drank KEY WORDS. obesity, overweight, beverages, young children, NHANES. URL: www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2005-2348

OBJECTIVES. Abdominal obesity may be a better predictor than overall obesity for the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Waist circumference and waist-height ratio are 2 simple, yet effective, surrogate measures of abdominal obesity. We sought to examine the recent trends in mean waist circumference and waist-height ratio and prevalence of abdominal obesity among children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years in the United States. METHODS. Representative samples of the civilian, noninstitutionalized US population from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted during 4 time periods, 1988-1994 (ie, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III), 1999-2000, 2001-2002, and 2003-2004, were examined to estimate the mean waist circumference and waist-height ratio of boys and girls in 4 different age groups. Data from the 3 most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were combined to establish a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004 category. RESULTS. Categorized by age group, the unadjusted mean waist circumference for boys increased between National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004 from 50.7 cm (aged 2-5 years), 61.9 cm (aged 6-11 years), 76.8 cm (aged 12-17 years), and 81.3 cm (aged 18-19 years) to 51.9, 64.5, 79.8, and 86.6 cm, respectively. During the same time periods and within the same age groups, the unadjusted mean waist circumference for girls increased from 51.0, 61.7, 75.0, and 77.7 cm to 51.8, 64.7, 78.9, and 83.9 cm, respectively. The relative change in waist-height ratio was similar to waist circumference at each age group for both boys and girls. Using the 90th percentile values of waist circumference for gender and age, the prevalence of abdominal obesity increased by 65.4% (from 10.5% to 17.4%) and 69.4% (from 10.5% to 17.8%) for boys and girls, respectively. CONCLUSIONS. Mean waist circumference and waist-height ratio and the prevalence of abdominal obesity among US children and adolescents greatly increased between 1988-1994 and 1999-2004. KEY WORDS. waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, abdominal obesity, trends., URL: www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2006-1062 Chaoyang Li, MD, PhD, Earl S. Ford, MD, MPH, Ali H. Mokdad, PhD, Stephen Cook, [...]

Researchers who analyze the body measurement data in the National Health and Examination Survey or who want to collect anthropometric data using the standards and methodology developed by the National […]