The Health Concept of Cellular Nutrition / Ray D. Strand, M.D.

As you study the medical literature, you begin to realize that there are several different kinds of free radicals that are found in various parts of the body. When you study vitamin E, which is probably the best antioxidant within the cell wall, you will generally see a definite health benefit from taking this nutrient.

However, when you see a study that combines vitamin C with vitamin E, you will usually discover that the participants receive even a better health benefit. It becomes very obvious that you want to take a variety of antioxidants that will work in various parts of the body and against different free radicals. It also becomes obvious that these antioxidants need the supporting minerals and B cofactors to perform at their optimal level.

When you provide all of these nutrients to the cells at their optimal levels via supplementation, the cell can decide what it needs and does not need. Over time (usually 6 to 12 months), the body is able to totally replace any deficiencies and bring all the other supporting nutrients up to optimal levels. This will not only optimize the body's natural antioxidant defense system, but it will also create the synergy that is so critical in preventing oxidative stress.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

Athlete Sponsorship at USANA

At USANA, we have all been experiencing the health and wellness benefits of USANA’s products. We have also been able to share this, through sponsorship of some of Australia’s Elite Athletes such as Kayaker - Clint Robinson, Pole Vaulter - Steve Hooker, Australian Yngling Team and a number of Australian Swimmers. At USANA, we review our Athlete Sponsorship contracts on an annual basis so we may be looking for new sponsorships! Do you have an Athlete Sponsorship to suggest for our consideration? If you do have an elite Athlete to suggest, then please contact us

Steve Hooker Olympic Pole Vaulter:

Steve Hooker has been taking USANA Nutritionals for over two years. With his elite training he requires endurance and healthy immune system, joints and bones.

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Vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet.

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High GI Diet Associated with Rapid Progression to Type 1 Diabetes in At-Risk Kids

Dietary factors may trigger or exacerbate the autoimmune disease process. A recent observational study found that a high GI diet increased the rate of progression to type 1 diabetes in at-risk children with high levels of islet autoimmunity. Islet autoimmunity is the development of antibodies made by the immune system that attack insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. These antibodies are considered a strong predictor of type 1 diabetes.

The Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY) follows 1,776 children at increased genetic type 1 diabetes risk. Diet is collected prospectively via parent-reported food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). 89 children developed islet autoimmunity and 17 subsequently developed type 1 diabetes during follow-up. The study found that more rapid progression to type 1 diabetes in children with islet autoimmunity was associated with higher dietary glycemic index, and marginally associated with glycemic load.

The authors concluded that higher dietary glycemic index is associated with more rapid progression to type 1 diabetes in children with islet autoimmunity. This is perhaps due to increased demand on the -cell in the pancrease to release insulin. Further study is needed to confirm this finding and identify the underlying biologic mechanism.

Source: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism; 5 August 2008

Free Health Assessment!

The Science is clear. Lifestyle, diet, and exercise habits significantly influence health.By optimizing these factors, you can expect to add years of health to your life.The Usana health assessment is designed to help you:1. Analyze your nutritional needs2. Optimize your diet and supplement regimen3. Realize your full-health potential
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Why do I need Nutritional Supplements?

For over 50 years we've been led to believe that RDI (Recommended Daily Intakes) levels are adequate. But adequate for what?

The RDIs have certainly played an important role in public health. Most assuredly, they provide amounts that will prevent you from getting scurvy, pellagra, rickets or beriberi. However, in the general population, these vitamin-related diseases are of little concern. Products based solely on RDI amounts are fine for their intended purpose (i.e. providing minimal amounts of important vitamins and minerals), but the RDI of vitamins and minerals is not always enough to help prevent certain degenerative disease or to provide protection from oxidative damage. In other words, there is more to the benefits of nutritional supplementation than preventing rare deficiencies. Therefore, the RDI should be considered the "minimum wage" of nutrition.

According to NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council), Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDIs) are the levels of intake of essential nutrients considered, on the basis of available scientific knowledge to be adequate to meet the known nutritional needs of practically all healthy people. The RDIs are derived from estimates of requirements for each age/sex category and incorporate generous factors to accommodate variations in absorption and metabolism. They therefore apply to group needs. It defines "requirement" as "the lowest continuing intake level of a nutrient that, for a specified indicator of adequacy, will maintain a defined level of nutriture in an individual." Basically, the RDI is (by their own definition) the lowest level of nutrient intakes that will prevent deficiencies in apparently healthy individuals. And while RDI levels may have helped us to avoid acute deficiency diseases, they do not address the issues of optimal nutrition.

USANA's products are formulated with more nutritional research in mind, and with little relevance to the RDI's. We are concerned with vast majority of people who are "apparently" healthy. How long is a person "apparently" healthy before they have a heart attack? Or break a hip due to osteoporosis? These health concerns and other degenerative diseases develop over a lifetime, often to unsuspecting individuals. Minimal nutrient intakes and the RDIs are simply not always adequate or even designed to address many of these common health challenges.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) much of the illness, disability, and death associated with chronic disease is avoidable through known prevention measures. Furthermore, a recent study examining the potential economic benefits of vitamin supplementation concluded that there are substantiated cost reductions associated with the use of vitamin supplements, based on preventative nutrition. Bottom line- there can be substantial cost reductions associated with vitamin supplements based on preventative nutrition.

If you are eating healthy, do you still need to take supplements? A healthy diet is a necessary foundation for any program of optimal nutrition, and there is no substitute for eating well. In this context, USANA™s nutritional supplements are designed to compliment a healthy diet not replace it. Our supplements are designed to provide the advanced levels of the essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are difficult to obtain from diet alone; levels that we all need, everyday, to promote good health lifelong.

More importantly, research studies have shown convincing evidence of the health benefits of nutritional supplements. According to studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association by health researchers at Harvard University - Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults, the "suboptimal intake of some vitamins, above levels causing classic vitamin deficiency, is a risk factor for chronic diseases and common in the general population, especially the elderly. Suboptimal folic acid levels, along with suboptimal levels of vitamins B6 and B12, are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and colon and breast cancer; low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures; and low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, E and C) may increase risk for several chronic diseases. The scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of nutritional supplements is solid and growing daily . And more health care professionals than ever before are now siding with the conclusions drawn from these two review articles published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The science of nutrition and nutritional supplementation is advancing at a rapid pace. For over a decade, USANA Health Sciences has been a leader in providing high quality nutritional supplements containing advanced levels of vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients associated with long-term health. There has never been a better time put the science of nutrition to work in promoting your health. And there has never been a better time to be associated with USANA.

Ask The Scientists

REFERENCES OF INTEREST
Bendich A, Mallick R, Leader S. Potential health economic benefits of vitamin supplementation.

West J Med 1997 May; 166(5):306-12. This study used published relative risk estimates for birth defects, premature birth, and coronary heart disease associated with vitamin intake to project potential annual cost reductions in U.S. hospitalization charges. Epidemiological and intervention studies with relative risk estimates were identified via MEDLINE. Preventable fraction estimates were derived from data on the percentage of at-risk Americans with daily vitamin intake levels lower than those associated with disease risk reduction. Hospitalization rates were obtained from the 1992 National Hospital Discharge Survey. Charge data from the 1993 California Hospital Discharge Survey were adjusted to 1995 national charges using the medical component of the Consumer Price Index. Based on published risk reductions, annual hospital charges for birth defects, low-birth-weight premature births, and coronary heart disease could be reduced by about 40, 60, and 38%, respectively. For the conditions studied, nearly $20 billion in hospital charges were potentially avoidable with daily use of folic acid and zinc-containing multivitamins by all women of childbearing age and daily vitamin E supplementation by those over 50.

Fairfield KM, Fletcher RH. Vitamins for chronic disease prevention in adults: scientific review. JAMA 2002; 287:3116-3126. CONTEXT: Although vitamin deficiency is encountered infrequently in developed countries, inadequate intake of several vitamins is associated with chronic disease. OBJECTIVE: To review the clinically important vitamins with regard to their biological effects, food sources, deficiency syndromes, potential for toxicity, and relationship to chronic disease. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: We searched MEDLINE for English-language articles about vitamins in relation to chronic diseases and their references published from 1966 through January 11, 2002. DATA EXTRACTION: We reviewed articles jointly for the most clinically important information, emphasizing randomized trials where available. DATA SYNTHESIS: Our review of 9 vitamins showed that elderly people, vegans, alcohol-dependent individuals, and patients with malabsorption are at higher risk of inadequate intake or absorption of several vitamins. Excessive doses of vitamin A during early pregnancy and fat-soluble vitamins taken anytime may result in adverse outcomes. Inadequate folate status is associated with neural tube defect and some cancers. Folate and vitamins B(6) and B(12) are required for homocysteine metabolism and are associated with coronary heart disease risk. Vitamin E and lycopene may decrease the risk of prostate cancer. Vitamin D is associated with decreased occurrence of fractures when taken with calcium. CONCLUSIONS: Some groups of patients are at higher risk for vitamin deficiency and suboptimal vitamin status. Many physicians may be unaware of common food sources of vitamins or unsure which vitamins they should recommend for their patients. Vitamin excess is possible with supplementation, particularly for fat-soluble vitamins. Inadequate intake of several vitamins has been linked to chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.

Fletcher RH, Fairfield KM. Vitamins for chronic disease prevention in adults: clinical applications. JAMA 2002; 287:3127-3129. Vitamin deficiency syndromes such as scurvy and beriberi are uncommon in Western societies. However, suboptimal intake of some vitamins, above levels causing classic vitamin deficiency, is a risk factor for chronic diseases and common in the general population, especially the elderly. Suboptimal folic acid levels, along with suboptimal levels of vitamins B(6) and B(12), are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and colon and breast cancer; low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures; and low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, E, and C) may increase risk for several chronic diseases. Most people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins by diet alone. Pending strong evidence of effectiveness from randomized trials, it appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements. The evidence base for tailoring the contents of multivitamins to specific characteristics of patients such as age, sex, and physical activity and for testing vitamin levels to guide specific supplementation practices is limited. Physicians should make specific efforts to learn about their patients' use of vitamins to ensure that they are taking vitamins they should, such as folate supplementation for women in the childbearing years, and avoiding dangerous practices such as high doses of vitamin A during pregnancy or massive doses of fat-soluble vitamins at any age.

Kant AK.Consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods by adult Americans: nutritional and health implications. The third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. Am J Clin Nutr 2000 Oct; 72(4):929-36. BACKGROUND: Current dietary guidance recommends limiting the intake of energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods, but little is known about recent consumption patterns of these foods. OBJECTIVE: The contribution of EDNP foods to the American diet and the associated nutritional and health implications were examined. DESIGN: Data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 15611; age >/=20 y) were used. EDNP categories included visible fats, nutritive sweeteners and sweetened beverages, desserts, and snacks. The potential independent associations of EDNP food intake with intakes of energy, macronutrients, micronutrients, and serum vitamin, lipid, and carotenoid profiles were examined with linear and logistic regression procedures. RESULTS: EDNP foods supplied approximately 27% of energy intake; alcohol provided an additional 4%. The relative odds of consuming foods from all 5 food groups and of meeting the recommended dietary allowance or daily reference intake for protein and several micronutrients decreased with increasing EDNP food intake (P: < 0.0001). Energy intake and percentage of energy from fat were positively related to EDNP intake. Serum concentrations of vitamins A, E, C, and B-12; folate; several carotenoids; and HDL cholesterol were inversely related


The contents of the "Ask the Scientists" site are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis.

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Should Energy Drinks Carry a Health Warning?

James LaValle, R.Ph, ND, CCN

The US has become a "caffeine-dependent nation". As if the traditional coffee, tea, and soft drinks were not enough, we have added caffeine to mints, gum, and a variety of "energy drinks." These drinks happen to be enjoying tremendous sales not only in the US, but in other countries as well. So it caught my eye when Australian researchers recently reported that one of the leading energy drinks** in the market [** I won't get into other brand names here. blog author] has the potential to increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.(1)

The study conducted on college age adults found that this energy drink not only increased blood pressure, it increased the stickiness of blood cells -- after consuming only one can of the drink. It is known that increasing the stickiness of blood cells means our blood will be more prone to forming clots, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. The authors of the study concluded that drinking energy drinks could be dangerous, especially for anyone who may already be predisposed to heart disease.

After the study was published, a spokesperson of that energy drink stated that these effects are similar to the changes found with drinking a cup of coffee, and so the long-term risks of energy drinks could not be determined from these results alone.(2)

It's true that each can of an energy drink contains about 80 mg of caffeine, the amount typically found in one cup of brewed coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant, and in moderation it has been shown to have some benefits. For instance, it slightly increases the body's rate of metabolism and enhances mental focus and clarity. However, in comparing coffee to energy drinks, are we really comparing apple to apples?

Both drinks contain caffeine. Stimulants in general increase the production of the stress hormones, adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, and cortisol. (Remember, anything that increases the production of stress hormones in the long run has potential for harm, as they are known to interfere with sleep, increase waist to hip ratio, and increase one's risk of heart disease and stroke.)

Nor-adrenaline causes blood vessels to constrict, and that increases blood pressure. One study found that in rats, caffeine and other stimulants increased the production of renin, a hormone made in the kidneys, which also increases blood pressure.(3) But the difference between coffee and energy drinks is that coffee is coming from a plant and contains other natural substances that may be moderating its effects.

For instance, while some studies have found that coffee increases blood pressure in occasional drinkers, in habitual coffee drinkers, that effect seems to wear off.(4) Longer term studies would need to be conducted on energy drinks to see if this effect would the same. But what about the blood stickiness? So far there are no studies showing that coffee increases blood platelet stickiness. In fact, it has been found to have the opposite effect. Italian researchers have found that coffee makes blood platelets less sticky, and they have narrowed that effect down to the phenolic compounds contained in coffee.(5)

Phenolic compounds are the natural antioxidants found in many plant foods -- and coffee is very high in these antioxidants. So this may be part of the reason coffee is not as harmful. (But that does not mean you should drink more than a moderate amount.)

Obviously, the combination of ingredients in energy drinks are somehow exerting an effect resulting in increased blood stickiness -- and this is enough reason to avoid it, even if the blood pressure raising effects are only temporary. The manufacturers of energy drinks even warn consumers not to drink more than two cans a day. I think we would all do well to heed that advice.

However, I must say the negative results of the energy drinks study surprised me. Energy drinks does not contain excessive caffeine and even contains some B vitamins and taurine, which should help counteract any of the effects of the caffeine. So when asked if these drinks are OK, I have considered them to be like any other stimulant.

Since they promote the increased production of stress hormones, they should be used with moderation and individual tolerance should be assessed and used as a guideline. For instance, some people don't clear the caffeine as well through their liver, and can't sleep at night with any caffeine at all.

In the meantime, I think we all need to consider why these drinks have become so popular in the first place. People are stressed out, burned out, and are not getting enough sleep. The use of these energy drinks will not remedy that. In fact, another study found that in people who were sleep deprived, the energy drinks were not effective in counteracting feelings of sleepiness, and even slowed reaction times compared to a placebo.(6)

This may explain why some people keep trying with more and more of these drinks. I see many people consuming ungodly amounts of caffeinated drinks -- 3 pots of coffee or 20 Mountain Dews daily. Even worse, I have seen patients drinking anywhere from 5 to 15 of energy drinks per day.

Unfortunately, the attempt to get more energy in this way is very short-sighted and it can end up contributing to adrenal fatigue or exhaustion. And I must add that none of this discussion includes consideration of the long term effects of stimulants on our neurotransmitters. In general, we need to remember that too much constant stimulation over time will deplete vitamins and minerals and increase anxiety. It can also contribute to adrenal exhaustion, while increasing other health risks.

So, what should you do if you need more energy?

Consider using the adaptogenic herb, Rhodiola. It has been well-studied and found to increase energy by supporting adrenal function. An added benefit is that at the same time, it reduces the effects of stress on the body. Finally, if you desire a little caffeine, so far the safest and most beneficial way to get it, seems to be with tea. Tea contains caffeine, but is balanced by the naturally occurring and calming substance, theanine. In addition, tea is very high in health-promoting antioxidants.

References
(1) http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/579188?sssdmh=dm1.378116&src=nldne.
(2) http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSSYD584612008081.
(3) Tofovic SP, J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1991 Mar;256(3):850-60.
(4) Science Daily. New Buzz On Coffee: It's Not The Caffeine That Raises Blood Pressure. American Heart Association, 2002, November 19.
(5) Natella, F et al. British Journal of Nutrition. 28 Apr 2008.
(6) Anderson C. and Horne J. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental. July 2006, 21 (5): 299.

Ed. Note: James LaValle, R.Ph, ND, CCN, is the founding Director of the LaValle Metabolic Institute, one of the largest integrative medicine practices in the country. He was named as one of the 50 most influential pharmacists in the US by American Druggist magazine. Dr. LaValle is the Executive Editor of THB's The Healing Prescription and the author of more than a dozen books including the bestseller, Cracking the Metabolic Code: 9 Keys to Optimal Health.

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It is just a Matter of Time / Ray D. Strand, M.D.

There is a major misconception about supplementation. In this era of medication, people believe that they should notice differences within a few days to a week or two.

However, nutritional medicine is totally different from allopathic or traditional Western medicine. Nutritional supplements are simply nutrients the body uses in its normal enzymatic reactions. They are not medicines. They are nutrients from our foods, but supplementation allows us to get them at optimal levels that diet alone cannot provide.

It takes between 6 to 12 months to replenish any nutritional deficiency and optimize the body's natural immune system, antioxidant defense system, and repair system. If you are over 30 years of age or already have a chronic degenerative disease, it may even take longer. This is why I stress over and over that you need to give nutritional supplementation a minimum of 6 months, or even better a year, before you evaluate the benefits.

When my patients tell me that they will try using my recommended supplements for a month, I tell them not to even start. If you are not willing to try my recommendations for at least 6 months, you should not even begin.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

My Personal Clinical Trial / Ray D. Strand, M.D.

After I had seen my wife's miraculous recovery, I contacted my five worst fibromyalgia patients and asked them to take the same supplements my wife took. They all agreed because they were not only miserable, but they also realized that all traditional medicine had to offer was symptomatic medicine and encouragement to find a support group to learn to live with it.

They did not respond as quickly as my wife had. However, within 6 months they all thanked me for allowing them to get their life back. My wife and these patients still have chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia; however, they have regained control of their lives. They all had noted gradual improvement in their fatigue levels, sleep patterns, and pain symptoms. I have now been able to help literally thousands who are suffering from this disease by sharing my specific recommendations through my online medical practice. Contact us for more information regarding Dr Ray Strand's online practice.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.

Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

My Conversion / Ray D. Strand, M.D.

People always ask me why I changed my mind about recommending nutritional supplements. I simply tell them that it was my wife's fault. My wife has suffered from chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia for over 25 years. She thought when she married a physician that her health would improve. She was totally wrong.

No matter what I did or prescribed, her condition became worse year after year. In 1995, she came down with a serious pneumonia. Even though this eventually cleared, she was left with a serious fatigue. She was only able to get out of bed one or two hours a day and this condition lasted several months, in spite of seeing 4 different specialists and taking nine prescription medications.

It was at this time, my wife began taking some nutritional supplements that were given to her. Within days, she felt better and within a couple of months she was off all of her medication. She began doing better than she had done in years.

It was truly amazing to me. There is nothing harder as a physician than to see your wife suffer and not be able to do anything for her. Now this fear was replaced with the fear that she had improved because of some vitamins. This condradicted everything that I had believed and taught my patients for the first 23 years of my practice.

It is also what launched me into this intensive research about the health benefits of nutritional supplements. Ifsomething existed that could help my patients, I certainly wanted to know more about it.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

Physicians are Disease-Oriented / Ray D. Strand, M.D.

Physicians are basically disease-oriented and drug-oriented. After all, this is how we are trained.

In medical school, we spend all of our time learning how to diagnose and treat disease. Even what we call preventive medicine is really just about early detection of disease. When I did a wellness physical on any of my patients, I was really looking for those silent diseases like elevated blood pressure, early diabetes, or elevated cholesterol. Pap smears, mammograms, and PSA's were done to detect early cancer. If I didn't find any disease, I would simply tell my patients that they were fine and that I did not need to see them for a couple of years.

As I began to research the medical literature about nutritional medicine, I realized that I was really doing nothing to actually prevent disease. I was merely just diagnosing and treating disease.

Certainly, I was able to help most of my patients improve the quality of their life; however, with many of the degenerative diseases, I was merely treating symptoms and not changing the course of the disease.

Could there be something that I was not aware of or did not learn in medical school that could be beneficial to my patients?
After seeing some amazing health improvements in my patients who began taking high-quality nutritional supplements, I began to research the medical literature with a newly found zeal.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

True Health Care Provider / Ray D. Strand, M.D.

When I received my M.D. degree from the University of Colorado Medical School, I believed I had become that true health care provider I always dreamed I would be.

This is certainly how my patients viewed me. They would ask me any question about their health and how to protect it, and I would quickly answer them with the authority my M.D. degree gave me. However, if I were honest with myself, I really did not know much about how to protect their health.


However, after researching the medical literature about the health benefits of taking high-quality nutritional supplements during the past 13 years, I realized that I had really just been a "Disease-Care Expert." I understood disease, how to diagnose it, and how to best and most effectively treat it.


When I understood the consequences of oxidative stress and that it was the root cause of over 70 chronic degenerative diseases, I realized that our bodies give us the best chance of avoiding and preventing these diseases instead of the drugs I can prescribe.

When you consume high-quality, complete and balanced nutritional supplements, you build your body's natural immune system, natural antioxidant defense system, and natural repair system. This gives you the best chance to protect or even regain your health.

I am now that "True Health Care Expert" I have always desired to become. These "Health Nuggets" are designed to share the simple, but effective lifestyles that can best protect your health.


RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

Fish Oil Intake During Pregnancy May Be Associated With Lower Asthma Incidence During Childhood

New research has shown a significant correlation between fish oil intake during pregnancy and asthma incidence during childhood.
Children whose mothers supplemented with fish oil during pregnancy were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with childhood asthma than children from non-supplementing mothers.

Current evidence suggests that asthma development may be associated with maternal intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy. A recent study was conducted to examine whether an increase in omega-3 fatty acid intake during pregnancy could affect risk of asthma in their offspring.

A population-based sample of 533 women with normal pregnancies were randomly assigned 2:1:1 to receive either four one-gram fish oil capsules/day providing 2.7 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, four similar looking one-gram capsules/day with just olive oil, or no capsules at all.

During the 16 years that passed since childbirth, the rate of asthma incidence was reduced by 63% and the rate of allergic asthma was reduced by 87% in the fish oil group as compared to the olive oil group. Assuming that the intake of olive oil had no significant influence one way or another, these results support the theory that increased fish oil omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in late pregnancy may provide important preventive potential in relation to childhood asthma development. Additional studies on this subject are currently in progress, which should shed more light on the mechanism behind this promising discovery.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 1, 167-175, July 2008

Prenatal Zinc Supplementation Influences Lean Tissue Growth in Infants

It has been suggested that maternal zinc intake influences growth in utero and in the first stages of growth after birth. In a recent study, researchers assessed the effect of maternal zinc supplementation during pregnancy as well as its effects on infant growth during the first twelve months.

A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of prenatal zinc supplementation was conducted among women in Lima, Peru between 1995 and 1997. Women enrolled during the second trimester and were assigned to receive daily supplements with zinc (15 mg zinc + 60 mg iron + 250 mcg folic acid) or without zinc (just 60 mg iron + 250 mcg folic acid) through pregnancy to one month after delivery. At birth, 546 infants were followed for 12 months to assess growth. Measurements were collected monthly while health status and dietary intake were monitored weekly.

Infants born to mothers supplemented with zinc had significantly larger average growth measures beginning at 4 months and continuing through month 12. Prenatal zinc was associated with greater weight, calf circumference, chest circumference, and calf muscle area.

In this population of women, zinc supplementation during pregnancy resulted in children with better growth measures (which were in turn associated with healthy increases in lean tissue mass).

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 1, 154-160, July 2008