Dietary Surveys Carried out among Diabetic Patients Hospitalized in the Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases Department of the C.H.U-B

A varied and balanced diet has always been essential in the optimal management of diabetes. The objective of this work was to evaluate dietary surveys among 50 diabetic patients hospitalized in the metabolic and endocrine diseases department of the Brazzaville Hospital and University Center. This survey was carried out using two methods: dietary history and 24-hour recall. The results relating to the dietary history revealed in the patients a dietary imbalance characterized by snacking at meals, non-compliance with a balanced diet and a high frequency of consumption of foods rich in simple sugar. and saturated fats. Regarding the 24-hour recall, the survey showed that the average blood sugar levels of hospitalized patients increased depending on the number of meals. This meant that these hyperglycemias (2 to 5 g/L) observed in these patients exceeded three meals per day and required, among other things, an increase in insulin intake or doses. The age groups of diabetic patients were also divided. These age groups had partly defined the types of diabetes encountered. Regarding body mass index, women had a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2 compared to men. This increase in body mass index was explained by being overweight or even obese due to excess body fat.

Correlation Between Birth Defects and Dietary Nutrition Status in a High Incidence Area of China

Objective To investigate the association between birth defects and dietary nutrient intake in a high risk area of China. Methods A dietary survey was performed and serum folic acid was measured in women whose pregnancy was affected by neural tube defects （NTDs） or unaffected by any birth defects （BDs） in Zhongyang and Jiaokou Counties in Shanxi Province of China. ResuIts The local average consumption of foods including dark green vegetables, fruits, fat and meat, and nutrient intake （e.g. energy, protein, retinol, riboflavin, vitamin E, and selenium） were lower than the national average level. In women of childbearing age, these regions, the intake of nutrients was much lower than the recommended nutrient intake （9%-77%）. The case-control dietary nutrition study of women whose pregnancy was affected by BDs （including NTDs and congenital heart defects） demonstrated that, in early pregnancy, adequate nutrition （i.e. eating meat, fresh vegetables, fruit more than once a week） was a protective factor, while eating germinated potatoes was a risk factor. The geometrical mean （pS- p95） of serum folic acid in women with NTD birth defects was 9.6 nmol/L （3.6, 23.03）, which was significantly lower than that in normal women （14.03 nmol/L）. Conclusion Women of childbearing age in the two counties of Shanxi Province, China, have a marked insufficient intake of some nutrients, especially folic acid, zinc, vitamins A and B12. This nutrient deficiency may be an important risk factor for the high prevalence of birth defects in these regions. Therefore, adequate dietary nutrition in early pregnancy can prevent BDs.

Contamination of Phthalate Esters in Vegetable Agriculture and Human Cumulative Risk Assessment

Phthalate esters （PAEs）, which can disturb human endocrine system, have been widely detected in vegetable greenhouse agriculture in China. To investigate the effects of environmental factors on PAEs in soils, pollution sources were identified, and the cumulative risks of PAEs to humans through vegetables in the diet were evaluated in this study. Ninety-eight vegetable samples were collected from 10 markets along with 128 vegetable and 111 soil samples from agricultural greenhouses and open field. All soil and vegetable samples were contaminated with PAEs, and the total concentrations of the 5 PAEs, including dimethyl phthalate （DMP）, diethyl phthalate （DEP）, di-iso-butyl phthalate （DiBP）, di-n-butyl phthalate （DnBP）, and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate （DEHP）, were in the ranges of 0.26-2.53 mg kg-1 for soils and 0.95-8.09 mg kg-1 for vegetables. Three components extracted from principle component analysis could explain 51.2%, 19.8%, and 15.3% of the total variance of the 5 PAEs in soils, which may represent three major sources of PAEs, i.e., wastewater irrigation, application of fertilizers and pesticides, and plastic film. Long-term greenhouse cultivation could accumulate DEHP in soils, and a higher soil FeOx content reduced the DnBP concentration. Based on a survey of vegetables in the diet, the hazard index of PAEs was 〈 0.15 for individuals in different cities. The exposure of PAEs through vegetable intake was higher than the total exposure from other food stuffS, inhalation, and dermal absorption. More attention should be g!ven to controlling PAEs in greenhouse vegetables.