A systematic analysis of global anemia burden from 1990 to 2010

Coffee is a complex mixture of chemicals that provides significant amounts of chlorogenic acid and caffeine. Unfiltered coffee is a significant source of cafestol and kahweol, which are diterpenes that have been implicated in the cholesterolraising effects of coffee. The results of epidemiological research suggest that coffee consumption may help prevent several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, Parkinson’s disease and liver disease (cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma). Most prospective cohort studies have not found coffee consumption to be associated with significantly increased cardiovascular disease risk. However, coffee consumption is associated with increases in several cardiovascular disease risk factors, including blood pressure and plasma homocysteine. At present, there is little evidence that coffee consumption increases the risk of cancer. For adults consuming moderate amounts of coffee (3‐4 cups/d providing 300‐400 mg/d of caffeine), there is little evidence of health risks and some evidence of health benefits. However, some groups, including people with hypertension, children, adolescents, and the elderly, may be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of caffeine. In addition, currently available evidence suggests that it may be prudent for pregnant women to limit coffee consumption to 3 cups/d providing no more than 300 mg/d of caffeine to exclude any increased probability of spontaneous abortion or impaired fetal growth.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10408390500400009

Coffee and Health: A Review of Recent Human Research

In order to survive in a highly competitive environment, freshwater or marine algae have to develop defense strategies that result in a tremendous diversity of compounds from different metabolic pathways. Recent trends in drug research from natural sources have shown that algae are promising organisms to furnish novel biochemically active compounds. The current review describes the main substances biosynthesized by algae with potential economic impact in food science, pharmaceutical industry and public health. Emphasis is given to fatty acids, steroids, carotenoids, polysaccharides, lectins, mycosporine-like amino acids, halogenated compounds, polyketides and toxins.

Metabolites from algae with economical impact

CRD summary This review evaluated complementary (additional to breast feeding) feeding interventions for children aged 6-24 months. The authors concluded that educational interventions and provision of fortified foods or home fortification products can improve growth and micro-nutrient status. While the review had some methodological limitations, the authors' conclusions appear generally reliable.

/pdf/systematic-review-of-the-efficacy-and-effectiveness-of-4nyq198rij.pdf

Systematic review of the efficacy and effectiveness of complementary feeding interventions in developing countries.

Caffeine is a common substance in the diets of most athletes and it is now appearing in many new products, including energy drinks, sport gels, alcoholic beverages and diet aids. It can be a powerful ergogenic aid at levels that are considerably lower than the acceptable limit of the International Olympic Committee and could be beneficial in training and in competition. Caffeine does not improve maximal oxygen capacity directly, but could permit the athlete to train at a greater power output and/or to train longer. It has also ben shown to increase speed and/or power output in simulated race conditions. These effects have been found in activities that last as little as 60 seconds or as long as 2 hours. There is less information about the effects of caffeine on strength; however, recent work suggests no effect on maximal ability, but enhanced endurance or resistance to fatigue. There is no evidence that caffeine ingestion before exercise leads to dehydration, ion imbalance, or any other adverse effects. The ingestion of caffeine as coffee appears to be ineffective compared to doping with pure caffeine. Related compounds such as theophylline are also potent ergogenic aids. Caffeine may act synergistically with other drugs including ephedrine and anti-inflammatory agents. It appears that male and female athletes have similar caffeine pharmacokinetics, i.e., for a given dose of caffeine, the time course and absolute plasma concentrations of caffeine and its metabolites are the same. In addition, exercise or dehydration does not affect caffeine pharmacokinetics. The limited information available suggests that caffeine non-users and users respond similarly and that withdrawal from caffeine may not be important. The mechanism(s) by which caffeine elicits its ergogenic effects are unknown, but the popular theory that it enhances fat oxidation and spares muscle glycogen has very little support and is an incomplete explanation at best. Caffeine may work, in part, by creating a more favourable intracellular ionic environment in active muscle. This could facilitate force production by each motor unit.

Caffeine and exercise: metabolism, endurance and performance

Retinol concentrations in capillary dried blood spots from healthy volunteers: method validation.

Hypovitaminosis A is a problem in many parts of the developing world. Beyond the stop-gap measures of capsule distribution and food fortification, increased consumption of accessible sources of vitamin A, specifically of the carotenoid provitamin A in yellow, orange, and green plants, has been promoted as the sustainable, long-term solution. However, a search of the available literature reveals few examples of human studies to support the effectiveness of this solution. Evidence from feeding studies shows an almost universally poorer uptake of intact carotenoids from plant sources as opposed to pure, chemical sources. With notable exceptions, the bioconversion of plant carotenoids to preformed vitamin A also seems to be inefficient. Epidemiologic observations in poor Third World populations and in vegetarians in an industrialized nation indicate a relatively greater potency for animal sources of vitamin A. In developing countries, low fat intakes, intestinal roundworms, recurrent diarrhea, and tropical enteropathy all may contribute to reduced utilization of plant provitamin A. The accepted 6:1 equivalency of β-carotene to preformed vitamin A must be challenged and reexamined in the context of dietary plants. The consequences of operating on a miscalculation could be serious indeed for public health programs designed to alleviate and eradicate hypovitaminosis A.

Plant sources of provitamin A and human nutriture.

Use of the deuterated-retinol-dilution technique to monitor the vitamin A status of Nicaraguan schoolchildren 1 y after initiation of the Nicaraguan national program of sugar fortification with vitamin A

J. Bulux

Papers

Retinol concentrations in capillary dried blood spots from healthy volunteers: method validation.

Plant sources of provitamin A and human nutriture.

Use of the deuterated-retinol-dilution technique to monitor the vitamin A status of Nicaraguan schoolchildren 1 y after initiation of the Nicaraguan national program of sugar fortification with vitamin A

Conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) to detect subclinical vitamin A deficiency: comparison of CIC with biochemical assessments

Effects of discontinuing coffee intake on iron status of iron-deficient Guatemalan toddlers: a randomized intervention study