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Biomedical subjects

D Benton

Publications and source records attributed to D Benton.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Thiamine supplementation mood and cognitive functioning.

One hundred and twenty young adult females took either a placebo or 50 mg thiamine, each day for 2 months. Before and after taking the tablets, mood, memory and reaction times were monitored. An improvement in thiamine status was associated with reports of being more clearheaded, composed and energetic. The taking of thiamine had no influence on memory but reaction times were faster following supplementation. These influences took place in subjects whose thiamine status, according to the traditional criterion, was adequate.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Blood glucose and subjective energy following cognitive demand.

Previous studies have found a small association between the level of blood glucose and subjective reports of energy in those sitting quietly. Given reports that both memory and attention are influenced by the level of blood glucose it was hypothesised that under conditions of cognitive demand there would be a stronger association between mood and blood glucose levels. In three studies, with three cognitive tasks, the Stroop Task, Rapid Information Processing Task, and a difficult test of hand-eye coordination, falling blood glucose was associated with feeling less energetic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

A comparative study of army and civilian babies in a UK garrison town.

Army families in the UK have been observed to have a higher infant mortality compared with the civilian population. Little is known about the reasons for the higher mortality. We report a comparative study of the health of army and civilian babies and their families in a UK garrison town, the aim being to investigate any differences in risk factors which may have explained the differences in mortality. A total of 250 first born army and civilian babies fulfilling the selection criteria were recruited to the study. Army babies had a lower birth weight distribution and both maternal and paternal smoking rates were higher in army families. In addition, social support and in particular, contact with close family members appeared to be available to fewer army mothers. The study highlighted the needs of this population and prompted a number of local health services to work together to address the issues it raised.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Chronobiology and meal times: internal and external factors.

Although homeostatic mechanisms remain of utmost importance, rhythmic changes are present also. The main ones have a period of 24 h (circadian) or about 2-3 h (ultradian). Circadian rhythms are derived from a body clock, found in the base of the brain, and from the pattern of our sleep-wake cycle, including activity and meal times. These rhythms promote the regular changes between an active wake period and a recuperative sleep period. Ultradian rhythms are also widespread and reflect external (lifestyle) and internal factors. The internal factors include biochemical need and some sort of oscillator; but details of how many oscillators, and exactly where they are, remain to be established. Food intake, appetite, digestion and metabolism have been shown to illustrate these principles. Moreover, these principles become important when special circumstances exist as far as meal times are concerned; the particular difficulties of night workers is a good example.

Chronobiology Phenomena↗
PubMed1997

The vitamin status of young British adults.

Using biochemical indices thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, ascorbic acid, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, folic acid, cyanocobalanin, carotene and biotin status were assessed in a sample of 243 young British adults. Using conventional definitions the number of individuals whose vitamin status can be described as adequate, marginal or deficient was determined. Vitamin status was related to alcohol intake and smoking. The status of ascorbic acid, cyanocobalamin, alpha-tocopherol, folic acid and in males retinol, was adequate in the majority of cases. In the cases of riboflavin and pyridoxine the status of a substantial minority was either borderline or deficient. The thiamin and biotin status of a minority of both sexes, and retinol in the females, was marginal. In males alcohol was associated with better retinol, ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol and pyridoxine status and lower levels of biotin. Lower carotene values were associated with drinking alcohol. In both sexes those who smoked had lower ascorbic acid, folic acid and carotene values. In males smoking was additionally associated with lower riboflavin and biotin; in females cyanocobalamin and alpha-tocopherol were lower. As all the subjects were students volunteers, care should be taken in generalizing the data to other groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Expanding career options.

The changing nature of today's employment environment means that nurses must be prepared to develop within roles and through lateral career moves. To coincide with the establishment of the Health Care Practice Research Centre at the University of Northumberland, this report describes the innovative approaches to career management being developed there.

Career Mobility↗