Reports that inadequate dietary calcium intake may contribute to age-related bone loss as well as hypertension have prompted the use of calcium supplements for both prevention and therapeutic purposes. However, the role of calcium in age-related bone loss is controversial. Several studies have shown an antagonistic interaction between calcium and iron in humans and between calcium and both iron and magnesium in animals. / The present double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study examined the effects of calcium supplementation for 12 weeks on iron and magnesium status of a group of adult, premenopausal women. Measures of iron status included hematocrit, hemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin, and total iron binding capacity; serum calcium and serum magnesium were used to determine calcium and magnesium status. / Thirty-five women, average age 30, were randomly assigned to the calcium supplement or placebo group. The calcium group was given 1000 mg of calcium carbonate to be taken with each of two meals (500 mg at each meal); the control group received a placebo also to be taken with each of two meals. Urinary 24-hour calcium was measured as a test of subjects' compliance. / Average intakes of RDA nutrients showed no significant differences between groups except for thiamin and vitamin C; intakes of these nutrients were greater in the calcium group. Only two covariance responses, ferritin and urinary calcium, showed a significant difference between the two groups' laboratory measures after adjustment for pre-values. A significant drop in ferritin occurred after 12 weeks of calcium supplementation in the calcium group compared to the placebo group (29.83 vs 40.53 ng/ml, p $<$ 0.0001). Post 24-hour urinary calcium values were greater in the calcium group (12.63 vs 9.58 mg/dL, p $<$ 0.0001). / These results suggest that regular use of calcium carbonate supplements with meals makes it difficult for women to maintain iron stores. Iron status may need to be monitored closely in people taking calcium supplements. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-03, Section: B, page: 1296. / Major Professor: Nancy Green. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.

The effect of simultaneous ingestion of L-amino acids and whole protein on plasma amino acid concentrations was investigated in 10 males, ages 18.5 to 33.9 years. Subjects ingested in trial one, low fat cottage cheese, in trial two an L-amino acid mixture simulating the composition of cottage cheese and in trial three a combination of cottage cheese and the L-amino acid mixture. Each trial provided one-third of the subjects' daily protein requirement and equivalent amounts of amino acids. Blood samples for plasma amino acid analyses were obtained from subjects before each trial and at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 and 240 minutes postprandially. Mean changes in total plasma amino acid concentrations between trials one and two and trials one and three at 30 minutes (p $\leq$ 0.05) and between trials one and three at 150 minutes (p $\leq$ 0.10) differed significantly. Mean changes in essential plasma amino acid concentrations between trials one and two and trials one and three at 30 minutes (p $\leq$ 0.05) and between trials one and three at 60 and at 150 minutes (p $\leq$ 0.10) differed significantly. The results of this study show that under physiological conditions mean increments in total, essential and individual plasma amino acid concentrations were higher, peaked faster, but decreased more quickly after ingestion of L-amino acids alone or with whole protein than after ingestion of whole protein alone. Ingestion of either L-amino acids, whole protein or the mixture of L-amino acids and whole protein was equally effective in increasing total plasma amino acids concentrations over the four hour time period. Further studies assessing the effects of different sources of nitrogen on nitrogen balance and on protein synthesis are required in individuals with normal gastrointestinal function to establish when L-amino acid mixtures should be administered in relation to whole protein ingestion. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-12, Section: B, page: 3533. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 32-04, Section: B, page: 2256. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1971.

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No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3441. Advisers: Paul S. Cooke; William G. Helferich. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-102) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3441. Advisers: Kelly A. Tappenden; J. Lee Beverly. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

The Wheat Bran Fiber (WBF) trial was a double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention trial in which participants were randomized to receive a cereal fiber supplement of either 2.0 or 13.5 g/day to determine whether the high-fiber supplement could decrease the risk of recurrent colorectal adenomas. No effect of the supplement was observed. However, there are several issues in the WBF trial that remain to be explored, including whether there were non-supplemental dietary changes throughout the course of the study, and whether baseline fiber intake or the amount of fiber consumed by participants during the trial were associated with adenoma recurrence. With regard to changes in nutrient intake, no significant differences were found between the high-fiber and low-fiber groups at any of the three time points. Therefore, data from the two treatment groups were combined to assess longitudinal change during the study. Participants significantly decreased their fat intake during the trial, but the intake of most micronutrients was increased. With regard to food groups, the number of servings of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products did not change appreciably, while servings from the fat and meat groups were significantly decreased. The intake of cereals, breads and crackers increased significantly, possibly due to the addition of the cereal supplement to the diet. Furthermore, it is likely that the increase in micronutrient intake can be attributed to the consumption of the study supplement. The next issue was whether baseline fiber intake was associated with risk of adenoma recurrence. No association was found between the amount of fiber consumed at baseline and adenoma recurrence, nor did baseline fiber intake modify the effect of treatment group. Finally, it was important to determine whether the amount of fiber consumed during the WBF trial, regardless of treatment group, was associated with adenoma recurrence. There were no significant associations between amount of.

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection resulting from the inhalation of spores from the soil-borne organism, Coccidioides immitis . Historical and contemporary literature cite weight loss and fatigue in patients, but these clinical symptoms have not been quantified. The first goal of this study was to describe nutritional changes throughout the infection course utilizing longitudinal data from 117 patients from the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System. Subjects were categorized into groups according to weight and visceral protein status. The level of nutritional deficit was associated with the severity and duration of infection. Although patients varied greatly, as reductions in body mass index (BMI) and percent ideal body weight occurred, infection severity worsened. Serum prealbumin and weight loss were positively correlated with clinical score. The second goal was to quantify coccidioidomycosis-related fatigue to document severity. The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) was utilized to measure the fatigue experienced by 48 coccidioidomycosis patients and 20 healthy controls. A mean FSS score of 4.796 ± 1.91 was found in patients, indicative of severe fatigue. Compared to healthy controls, patients are significantly more fatigued (p < 0.0001). This severe fatigue is not related to infection duration, severity or patient demographics, however as weight declines, fatigue worsens. The third goal was to ascertain potential cytokine-related mechanisms associated with weight loss or fatigue manifested in coccidioidomycosis. Samples of serum, control blood, and blood incubated with coccidioidal antigen were analyzed for levels of TNF-alpha and leptin were via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cytometric bead array via flow cytometry was utilized to measure TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 values in blood incubated with antigen. Results were related to weight status (BMI) and fatigue severity (FSS score). A possible relationship between leptin and fatigue in blood incubated with antigen occurred. Serum leptin and leptin in blood incubated with antigen were positively related to BMI. In blood incubated with antigen, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-2 levels were positively related to BMI.

Recent US statistics indicate continued increased incidence of many chronic diseases. The prevalence of these chronic diseases could be reduced if Americans would modify their eating habits to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) intake to the minimum recommended level of five servings daily. Educational strategies to change eating behavior would benefit from a greater understanding of sociodemographic and psychological factors related to dietary behavior. A secondary analysis of data collected from 361 older uninsured women participating in a controlled trial of diet and physical activity change conducted from 1998 to 2000 was completed to assess differences between Mexican Americans (MA) and non-Hispanic whites (NHW) in overall nutrient intake. Acculturation and the ability to accurately identify Stage of Change were examined and related to FV intake. Significant differences in energy, total fat, total carbohydrate, total protein, alcohol, total monounsaturated fatty acids, total polyunsaturated fatty acids, soluble dietary fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, total vitamin E, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, selenium, and legume servings a day were found between MA and NHW. Low acculturated MA and NHW had a comparable intake of FV. In contrast, more acculturated MA had a significantly lower intake of FV. Acculturation, education, smoking status, and stages of changes were the most significant predictors of baseline FV intake while only acculturation and backward movement through stages of change predicted change in FV consumption over time based on repeated measure analyses. The implications of these research findings are that nutrition interventions to increase FV consumption should be aimed at factors that are predictive of behavior change. In particular the differences by acculturation and stage of change underscore the need for tailoring educational intervention for greater impact. Given the small sample of our study, the findings need to be interpreted with caution. Policy inference can be suggested from this research, but further research is needed before implementation and changes of nutrition policy recommendations.