Oxidative stress and micronutrient deficiencies have been related to lower birth weight (BW), small for gestational age (SGA) offspring and preterm delivery. The relation between neonatal outcome (BW, head circumference, SGA, preterm delivery) with markers of oxidative stress and micronutrients in maternal and cord blood was to be examined. Oxidative stress markers (protein carbonyls (PrCarb), 3-nitrotyrosine (3NT), malondialdehyde (MDA)), total protein concentration and lipid-soluble micronutrients (carotenoids, retinol, tocopherols) were measured in 200 newborns (11% preterms, 13% SGA) and 151 mothers. Associations between target parameters in cord plasma and maternal serum with BW, head circumference and risk of being SGA or preterm were explored. Maternal protein concentration, PrCarb, MDA and all lipid-soluble micronutrients were significantly higher compared with newborns, except for 3NT, which was significantly elevated in newborns. Newborn parameters correlated positively with those of mothers. Preterms had lower proteins and retinol but higher PrCarb than terms. Maternal PrCarb and retinol were inversely associated with BW and head circumference. Mothers with PrCarb, MDA and retinol in the highest quintile had a 3.3-fold (0.9; 12.1), 2.1-fold (0.7; 6.4) and 3.3-fold (1.2; 9.4) risk, respectively, for delivering an SGA newborn, whereas the lowest quintile of retinol in cord blood was associated with an increased risk for preterm delivery. Oxidative stress (elevated PrCarb) was associated with lower BW/head circumference and SGA. Inadequate hemodilution may explain the inverse relation of maternal retinol with BW and head circumference, and the association between highest maternal retinol and risk for SGA.

Self-rated health (SRH) is one of the most frequently used indicators in health and social research. Its robust association with mortality in very different populations implies that it is a comprehensive measure of health status and may even reflect the condition of the human organism beyond clinical diagnoses. Yet the biological basis of SRH is poorly understood. We used data from three independent European population samples (N approx. 15,000) to investigate the associations of SRH with 150 biomolecules in blood or urine (biomarkers). Altogether 57 biomarkers representing different organ systems were associated with SRH. In almost half of the cases the association was independent of disease and physical functioning. Biomarkers weakened but did not remove the association between SRH and mortality. We propose three potential pathways through which biomarkers may be incorporated into an individual’s subjective health assessment, including (1) their role in clinical diseases; (2) their association with health-related lifestyles; and (3) their potential to stimulate physical sensations through interoceptive mechanisms. Our findings indicate that SRH has a solid biological basis and it is a valid but non-specific indicator of the biological condition of the human organism.

Background Deficiency of micronutrients is common in refugee populations. Objectives Identify deficiencies and whether provided supplements and wheat flour fortified with 10 micronutrients impacts upon status among breast-feeding women from Maela refugee camp. Methods Two sequential cross-sectional studies were conducted in different groups of lactating mothers at 12 weeks postpartum. The first survey was before and the second 4–5 months after micronutrient fortified flour (MFF) had been provided to the camp (in addition to the regular food basket). Iron status and micronutrients were measured in serum, whole blood, and in breast milk samples. Results Iron and zinc deficiency and anemia were highly prevalent while low serum retinol and thiamine deficiency were rarely detected. Iron and zinc deficiency were associated with anemia, and their proportions were significantly lower after the introduction of MFF (21 vs. 35% with soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) >8.5 mg/L, P = 0.042, and 50 vs. 73% with serum zinc <0.66 mg/L, P = 0.001). Serum sTfR, whole-blood thiamine diphosphate (TDP) and serum β-carotene were significant predictors (P < 0.001) of milk iron, thiamine and β-carotene, respectively. Lower prevalence of iron deficiency in the MFF group was associated with significantly higher iron and thiamine in breast milk. Conclusions High whole-blood TDP and breast milk thiamine reflected good compliance to provided thiamine; high prevalence of iron deficiency suggested insufficient dietary iron and low acceptance to ferrous sulfate supplements. MFF as an additional food ration in Maela refugee camp seemed to have an effect in reducing both iron and zinc deficiency postpartum.