Poor maternal vitamin D status affects fetal and infant skeletal growth. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between newborn outcomes and maternal calcium and vitamin D intakes. Four hundred and forty-nine pregnant women, healthy at the point of delivery, and their newborns were enrolled in the study, which was performed in three university hospitals in Tehran in March 2004. Maternal anthropometric data and energy, protein, calcium and vitamin D intakes were collected, and newborn outcomes (weight, length, head circumference and 1-min Apgar score) were determined. Almost two-thirds of the mothers (64.3%) took no supplements during pregnancy. Only one-third of the mothers (33.8%) had adequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D (from supplements and foods) compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Mean length at birth and 1-min Apgar score were higher in newborns whose mothers had adequate calcium and vitamin D intake than in newborns whose mothers had inadequate intake (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). Significant correlations were found between adequate maternal calcium and vitamin D intake and both appropriate birth weight and 1-min Apgar score of newborns and weight gain of mothers during pregnancy. Informing mothers of the critical importance of consuming adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D seems necessary.

Study design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Objective: To assess the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on IL-6, hs-CRP, FBS, anthropometric indices, food intake and blood pressure in male patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting: Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Methods: Fifty-eight men with chronic SCI participated in the study. Participants were divided in two groups: one group received 600 mg of supplemental ALA (n = 28) and the other group received placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. At the beginning and end of the study, biochemical parameters, anthropometric indices, blood pressure and dietary intakes were measured. Dietary intake was measured using N4 software, and statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS16. Results: No significant reduction was found in IL-6 (P = 0.97) and hs-CRP levels (P = 0.23). There was significant reduction in fasting blood sugar (P = 0.001), body weight (P = 0.001), BMI (P = 0.001), waist circumference (P = 0.001) and blood pressure (P = 0.001). Dietary intake was significantly reduced, including fat (P = 0.001), carbohydrate (P = 0.001), protein (P = 0.002) and energy intakes (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Lipoic acid supplementation had no significant effect on the measured inflammatory markers but it reduces fasting blood sugar, anthropometric parameters, food intake and blood pressure in men with chronic SCI. Spinal Cord (2015) 53, 621-624; doi:10.1038/sc.2015.35; published online 10 March 2015 INTRODUCTION Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) or thiocitic acid is an eight-carbon, sulfurcontaining compound. It functions as a cofactor in the multienzyme complexes that catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of α-keto acids. 1 There is general agreement about the antioxidant properties of ALA, which is thought to work by scavenging free radicals directly, chelating metallic ions, increasing intracellular glutathione and activating endogenous antioxidant systems. 2,3 ALA's antioxidant properties are thought to inhibit the deleterious mechanisms associated with inflammation; however, a number of studies suggest contradictory effects for ALA on inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP). [4][5][6] Apart from the antioxidant properties of ALA, it is found to increase nitric oxide synthesis through which endothelial function is probably improved. 7 In addition, ALA reduces body weight and changes other anthropometric indices by suppressing appetite and increasing metabolism. [8][9][10][11][12] Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition and entails considerable burden on the individual and society. 13,14 Persons with chronic SCI are at increased risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and systemic inflammation [15][16][17][18][19] because of changes in their lifestyle, body composition and fat mass. 20 However, these complications may be preventable and treatable. 21 Studying the effect of ALA on cardiovascular risk factors and ...

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