Influence of artistic gymnastics on iron nutritional status and exercise-induced hemolysis in female athletes.

This study evaluates the relationship between body iron losses and gains in artistic gymnastics female athletes. It shows that despite the low iron intake and exercise-induced hemolysis, iron deficiency or iron-deficiency anemia does not occur, but partial changes in the hematological profile do. The hypothesis that gymnasts' nutritional behavior contributes to anemia, which may be aggravated by exercise-induced hemolysis, led to this cross-sectional study, conducted with 43 female artistic gymnasts 6-16 yr old.

Transepithelial transport of glucose and mRNA of glucose transporters in the small intestine of rats with iron-deficiency anemia.

Objective: To evaluate the transepithelial transport of sodium, glucose, potassium, and water and the mRNA level of the sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) and the facilitated sugar transporter (GLUT2) in the small intestine of iron-deficient rats.

Methods: After 6 wk of receiving diets with low or normal iron content, rats (Wistar-EPM) were subjected to two experiments: 1) evaluation of the transepithelial transport of sodium, glucose, potassium, and water by an "in vivo" experimental model of intestinal perfusion and 2) determination of relative SGLT1 and GLUT2 mRNA levels in the proximal, intermediate, and distal portions of the small intestine by the northern blotting technique.

Results: Hemoglobin and hepatic iron levels were statistically lower in the anemic rats.

Effect of soluble fiber pectin on growth and intestinal iron absorption in rats during recovery from iron deficiency anemia.

The objective of this study was to verify whether soluble fiber pectin interferes in growth and intestinal iron absorption in rats during iron deficiency anemia recovery. Twenty-one-day-old Wistar rats (n = 48) were fed for 2 weeks on a diet without iron in order to induce iron deficiency anemia. The anemic animals (age = 36 days) were divided into two groups: (1) pectin, 50 g of pectin per kilogram of diet, and (2) control, diet without dietary fiber.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in overweight children and its relationship with retinol serum levels.

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the retinol serum levels, lipid profile, and insulin resistance in overweight/obese children. To relate these biochemical variables with the risk of this disease in the population studied.

Methods: The study was cross-sectional and prospective, with 46 overweight/obese school children (28 female, 18 male; mean age 8.