bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations between spontaneous meal initiations and blood glucose dynamics in overweight men in negative energy balance
Authors: Kovacs Eva M. R. , Westerterp-Plantenga Margriet S. , Saris Wim H. M. , Melanson Kathleen J. , Goossens Ine , Geurten Peter , Brouns Fred
Published: April 2003

The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between spontaneous meal initiations and blood glucose dynamics in overweight male subjects in negative energy balance. In a randomized crossover design, fifteen overweight male subjects (BMI 28·6 (SD 1·8 kg/m2) participated in three treatments, each of which consisted of 2 weeks consuming a low-energy diet followed by a test of voluntary food ingestion in the absence of time-related cues. The low-energy diet consisted of three daily meals (947 kJ) which were either semi-solid with or without 2·5 g guar gum, or solid, and a dinner of subject's own choice. During the time-blinded test, on the first, second, and third meal initiation subjects ingested a low-energy meal corresponding to that used during the preceding weeks. Changes in blood glucose were monitored on-line. Associations between spontaneous meal initiations and blood glucose dynamics were determined using the χ2test. No difference was found between treatments in the occurrence of postabsorptive and postprandial declines in blood glucose or in associations between meal initiations and blood glucose dynamics. Postprandial dynamic blood glucose declines were associated with meal initiation (χ226·8,P<0·001), but postabsorptive and postprandial transient declines were not. In overweight subjects, the usual association between transient declines and spontaneous meal initiation was completely absent in negative energy balance.
Dietary iodine intake and urinary iodine excretion in a Danish population: effect of geography, supplements and food choice
Authors: Rasmussen Lone B. , Ovesen Lars , Bülow Inge , Jørgensen Torben , Knudsen Nils , Laurberg Peter , Perrild Hans
Published: April 2003

I deficiency diseases remain a health problem even in some developed countries. Therefore, measurement of I intake and knowledge about food choice related to I intake is important. We examined I intake in 4649 randomly selected participants from two cities in Denmark (Copenhagen and Aalborg) with an expected difference in I intake. I intake was assessed both by a food frequency questionnaire and by measuring I in casual urine samples. I excretion was expressed as a concentration and as estimated 24-h I excretion. Further, subgroups with low I intake were recognized. I intake was lower in Aalborg than in Copenhagen for all expressions, and lower than recommended in both cities if I intake from supplements was not included. Milk was the most important I source, accounting for about 44 % of the I intake, and milk (P<0·001) and fish (P=0·009) intake was related to I excretion in a multiple linear regression model. Thus, risk groups for low I intake were individuals with a low milk intake, those with a low intake of fish and milk, those not taking I supplements and those living in Aalborg where the I content in drinking water is lower. Even individuals who followed the advice regarding intake of 200–300 g fish/week and 0·5 litres milk/d had an intake below the recommended level if living in Aalborg.
Chronic oral administration of rhamnogalacturonan-II dimer, a pectic polysaccharide, failed to accelerate body lead detoxification after chronic lead exposure in rats
Authors: Tahiri Maha , Tressol Jean Claude , Doco Thierry , Rayssiguier Yves , Coudray Charles
Published: April 2003

Lead is a ubiquitous heavy metal and its toxicity remains an important public health issue. In previous work, we reported that ingestion of rhamnogalacturonan-II dimer (dRGII), a pectic polysaccharide, may decrease intestinal absorption and status of Pb in rats. Here, we evaluated the potential detoxifying effect of different doses of dRGII after chronic oral Pb exposure in rats. For this purpose, six groups of ten male Wistar rats weighing 150 g were treated as follows: group A received a semi-purified control diet for 6 weeks; groups B, C, D, E and F received the same diet plus 3 mg Pb (as acetate) for 3 weeks. Group B was then killed. Groups C, D, E, and F continued to receive the semi-purified control diet containing 0, 2, 6 or 18 g dRGII/kg diet for 3 additional weeks. During the last 5 d, a Pb conventional balance study was performed. Rats were then anaesthetized and tissues were sampled for Pb and essential minerals assay. The results showed that residual Pb in the added dRGII was not available for absorption. However, the added dRGII failed to induce any significant increase in faecal or urinary Pb excretion. Consequently, at the end of the study the intestinal Pb absorption and balance remained unchanged in the animals receiving the different doses of dRGII. In line with this, we showed that dRGII administration was not effective in decreasing tibia or kidney Pb levels in rats. In conclusion, Pb complexed by dRGII in fruits and vegetables and fruit juice is thus mostly unavailable for intestinal absorption. However, the addition of dRGII after chronic Pb exposure does not help Pb detoxification.
Antioxidant vitamin supplements do not reduce reactive oxygen species activity inHelicobacter pylorigastritis in the short term
Authors: Everett Simon M. , Drake Ian M. , White Kay L. M. , Mapstone Nic P. , Chalmers Douglas M. , Schorah Chris J. , Axon Anthony T. R.
Published: April 2003

Reactive oxygen species have been implicated inHelicobacter pylori-mediated gastric carcinogenesis, whereas diets high in antioxidant vitamins C and E are protective. We have examined the effect of vitamin C and E supplements in combination withH. pylorieradication on reactive oxygen species activity inH. pylorigastritis.H. pylori-positive patients were randomized into four groups: triple therapy alone (Bismuth chelate, tetracycline, and metronidazole for 2 weeks), vitamins alone (200 mg vitamin C and 50 mg vitamin E, both twice per day for 4 weeks), both treatments or neither. Plasma and mucosal ascorbic acid, malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species were determined before and after treatment. Compared with normal controls (n61),H. pylori-positive patients (n117) had higher mucosal reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels and lower plasma ascorbic acid. Plasma ascorbic acid doubled in both groups of patients receiving vitamins and mucosal levels also increased. Malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species fell in patients in whomH. pyloriwas eradicated but vitamin supplements were not effective either alone or in combination withH. pylorieradication. Supplements of vitamins C and E do not significantly reduce mucosal reactive oxygen species damage inH. pylorigastritis.
Correlates of plasma homocysteine, cysteine and cysteinyl-glycine in respondents in the British National Diet and Nutrition Survey of Young People Aged 4–18 Years, and a comparison with the Survey of People Aged 65 Years and Over
Authors: Bates C. J. , Mansoor M. A. , Gregory Jan , Pentieva Kristina , Prentice Ann
Published: April 2003

Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), cysteine and cysteinyl-glycine were measured in a representative sample of 922 young people aged 4–18 years, participating in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey in mainland Britain in 1997. Both tHcy and cysteine increased markedly with age; cysteinyl-glycine less so. Neither tHcy nor cysteine differed between genders; cysteinyl-glycine was higher in males. tHcy concentrations were lowest in the winter; cysteine and cysteinyl-glycine varied only slightly with season. In respondents aged >15 years, tHcy was higher in smokers, but in respondents aged 7–11 years, tHcy was higher in those whose mothers smoked. tHcy was inversely correlated with serum folate, serum vitamin B12and vitamin B6status, but neither cysteine nor cysteinyl-glycine shared these relationships. The relationships between tHcy and B-vitamin status indices ran parallel with those of the 65 years and over survey, but at much lower tHcy concentrations for any given B-vitamin concentration. Age-adjusted tHcy was not correlated with anthropometric indices, blood pressure, haematology, plasma creatinine, urea or cholesterol, but was directly correlated with fasting triacylglycerol. We conclude that disease-risk indices, like tHcy and perhaps cysteine, if established during early life, may be modulated by diet and lifestyle, thereby providing an opportunity for public health intervention.
Bioavailability of selenium from raw or cured selenomethionine-enriched fillets of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) assessed in selenium-deficient rats
Authors: Ørnsrud Robin , Lorentzen Mette
Published: April 2003

The bioavailability of Se from raw and cured selenomethionine-enriched (Se-enriched) salmon fillets was assessed in Se-deficient male albino rats (Mol: Wist). A low-Se Torula yeast feed was supplemented with 0, 50, 100, 150 or 200 μg Se/kg as sodium selenite or as Se from raw or cured Se-enriched salmon. The diets were fed to weanling rats for 10 and 30 d. Bioavailability of Se was assessed by metabolic balance, Se accumulation in femur, muscle, liver and plasma, and induction of Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (EC 1·11·1.9; GSHpx) in plasma as response parameters. Except for the metabolic balance results, the slope-ratio method was used when calculating Se bioavailability from raw or cured Se-enriched fish fillets (test food) relative to sodium selenite (standard). The data for fractional apparent absorption and fractional retention showed differences (P<0·05) among all three Se sources in the order raw salmon > cured salmon > selenite. At 10 d, Se from raw and cured Se-enriched fish fillets tended to be more bioavailable than selenite. This was supported by the observations for Se accumulation in femur and muscle and induction of GSHpx activity. At 30 d, all response parameters showed a higher bioavailability of Se from raw and cured Se-enriched fish fillets compared with selenite. Differences (P<0·05) in Se accumulation in muscle at 10 and 30 d, and differences (P<0·05) in fractional apparent absorption and fractional retention suggested that curing salmon altered the utilisation of Se. The experimental results showed that enrichment of fish fillets with selenomethionine yields fillets with high Se bioavailability.
Urinary excretion of catechin metabolites by human subjects after red wine consumption
Authors: Donovan Jennifer L. , Kasim-Karakas Sidika , German J. Bruce , Waterhouse Andrew L.
Published: April 2003

Little is known about flavonoid metabolism and excretion in man. In the present study, the urinary excretion of a major flavonoid in wine, catechin, and its metabolites, were measured after nine human subjects each consumed 120 ml red wine (RW) on one day and de-alcoholized red wine (DRW) on a separate day. Both the RW and DRW contained 120 (SEM 3) ΜMOL CATECHIN (35 MG). GC–MS ANALYSES OF THE TRIMETHYLSILYLATED DERIVATIVES OF CATECHIN AND 3″ AND 4″ METHYLCATECHIN WERE PERFORMED BEFORE AND AFTER HYDROLYSIS OF CONJUGATES BY Β-GLUCURONIDASE AND SULFATASE. BASELINE URINE SAMPLES COLLECTED PRIOR TO WINE CONSUMPTION CONTAINED 0·013 (sem 0·005) μmol catechin and metabolites. During the 8 h period following consumption of RW and DRW, 6·6 (sem 0·9) and 5·3 (sem 0·6) μmol catechin and metabolites were excreted in 893 (sem 94) and 740 (sem 101) ml urine respectively. This corresponded to 3·0–10·3 % of the dose after RW and 2·1–8·2 % of the dose after DRW. The amount of catechin and metabolites excreted in urine was 20 % higher after RW compared with DRW (P=0·06). Catechin in all urine samples was present as metabolites and there were no differences in the proportions of individual metabolites after RW and DRW. As with other flavonoids, the fate of most ingested catechin is not yet known.
Total antioxidant and ascorbic acid content of fresh fruits and vegetables: implications for dietary planning and food preservation
Authors: Szeto Yim Tong , Tomlinson Brian , Benzie Iris F. F.
Published: April 2003

Epidemiological evidence links high intake of ascorbic acid (AA) and other antioxidant micronutrients to health promotion. It would be useful to know the overall, or ‘total’ antioxidant capacity of foods, to establish the contribution of AA to this, and to assess how this information may translate into dietary intakes to meet the new US daily reference intake for AA. In this study, the total antioxidant capacity, as the ferric reducing–antioxidant power (FRAP) value, and AA content of thirty-four types of fruits and vegetables were measured using a modified version of the FRAP assay, known as FRASC. This measures AA (reduced form only) simultaneously with the FRAP value. Results covered a wide range: 880–15 940 μmol/kg fresh wet weight and <20–540 mg/kg fresh wet weight respectively, for FRAP and AA, which comprised <1–73 % and <1–59 % total antioxidant capacity of fruits and vegetables respectively. We estimate that 100 mg AA is contained in one orange, a few strawberries, one kiwi fruit, 1–2 slices of pineapple, several florets of raw cauliflower or a handful of uncooked spinach leaves. Apples, bananas, pears and plums, the most commonly consumed fruits in the UK, contain very little AA. Results indicate also that the antioxidant capacity of vegetables decreases rapidly and significantly after fragmentation. Results of this, and future studies, using FRASC as a biomonitoring tool will be useful in food production, preparation, preservation, and aid dietary choices to increase antioxidant and AA intake. Furthermore, FRASC will facilitate bioavailability studies of antioxidants from different foods of known antioxidant capacity and AA content.
Comparison of LDL fatty acid and carotenoid concentrations and oxidative resistance of LDL in volunteers from countries with different rates of cardiovascular disease
Authors: Wright Anthony J. A. , Southon Susan , Chopra Mridula , Meyer-Wenger Anita , Moser Ulrich , Granado Fernando , Olmedilla Begoña , Corridan Bernice , Hinninger Isabelle , Roussel Anne-Marie , van den Berg Henk , Thurnham David I.
Published: April 2003

Within Europe there are differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk between countries and this might be related to dietary habits. Oxidative modification of LDL is suggested to increase the risk of CVD and both the fatty acid and antioxidant content of LDL can affect its oxidation. In the present study, concentration of LDL fatty acid and antioxidant micronutrients (tocopherols and carotenoids) andex vivooxidative resistance of LDL (lag phase) was compared in volunteers from five countries with different fruit and vegetable intakes and reported rates of CVD. Eighty volunteers (forty males, forty females per centre), age range 25–45 years, were recruited from France, Northern Ireland, UK, Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, and Spain, and their LDL composition and lag phase were measured. There were some differences in LDL carotenoid and α-tocopherol concentrations between countries. α-Tocopherol was low and β- + γ-tocopherol were high (P<0·001) in the Dutch subjects. β-Carotene concentrations were significantly different between the French and Spanish volunteers, with French showing the highest and Spanish the lowest concentration. LDL lycopene was not different between centres in contrast to lutein, which was highest in French (twofold that in the Dutch and Spanish and threefold that in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland,P<0·001). However absolute LDL saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and total unsaturated fatty acid concentrations were different between countries (P<0·001, total unsaturated highest in Northern Ireland) there was little difference in unsaturated:saturated fatty acid concentration ratios and no difference in polyunsaturated:saturated fatty acid concentration ratios. LDL from the Republic of Ireland (a region with a high rate of CVD) had greater resistance to Cu-stimulated oxidation than samples obtained from volunteers in other countries. In conclusion, LDL composition did not predict resistance to Cu-stimulated oxidation, nor is there evidence that LDL from volunteers in countries with lower rates of CVD have greater resistance to oxidation.
Nutritional status, brain development and scholastic achievement of Chilean high-school graduates from high and low intellectual quotient and socio-economic status
Authors: Ivanovic Daniza M. , Leiva Boris P. , Pérez Hernán T. , Almagià Atilio F. , Toro Triana D. , Urrutia María Soledad C. , Inzunza Nélida B. , Bosch Enrique O.
Published: April 2003

The objective of the present study was to investigate the inter-relationships between nutritional status (past and current nutrition), brain development, and scholastic achievement (SA) of Chilean high-school graduates from high and low intellectual quotient (IQ) and socio-economic status (SES) (mean age 18·0 (SD 0·9) years). Results showed that independently of SES, high-school graduates with similar IQ have similar nutritional, brain development and SA variables. Multiple regression analysis between child IQ (dependent variable) and age, sex, SES, brain volume (BV), undernutrition during the first year of life, paternal and maternal IQ (independent variables) revealed that maternal IQ (P<0·0001), BV (P<0·0387) and severe undernutrition during the first year of life (P<0·0486), were the independent variables with the greatest explanatory power for child IQ variance (r20·707), without interaction with age, sex or SES. Child IQ (P<0·0001) was the only independent variable that explained both SA variance (r20·848) and academic aptitude test variance (r20·876) without interaction with age, sex or SES. These results confirm the hypotheses formulated for this study that: (1) independently of SES, high-school graduates with similar IQ have similar variables of nutritional status, brain development and SA; (2) past nutritional status, brain development, child IQ and SA are strongly and significantly inter-related. These findings are relevant in explaining the complex interactions between variables that affect IQ and SA and can be useful for nutritional and educational planning.
Intestinal absorption of different types of folate in healthy subjects with an ileostomy
Authors: Konings Erik J. M. , Troost Freddy J. , Castenmiller Jacqueline J. M. , Roomans Harry H. S. , van den Brandt Piet A. , Saris Wim H. M.
Published: April 2003

Our knowledge on the absorption of folate is incomplete. The deconjugation process as a possible limiting factor in the absorption of folates was investigated. The study also attempted to validate the use of the area under the serum response curve (AUC) from food compared with folic acid as a proxy variable for food folate bioavailability. Folate absorption was determined in healthy ileostomy volunteers (n11) using a single-dose short-term protocol. In a randomised crossover design, volunteers received spinach meals and a supplement. Based on analysis of test meals and ileostomy effluents, there was no difference in folate absorption between spinach with a mono-:polyglutamate ratio 40:60 and the same spinach with a 100:0 ratio. The absolute absorption of spinach folate (79 %) calculated from the difference between folate intake and folate content of ileostomy effluents was approximately equal to the relative absorption (81 %) calculated from the AUC after consumption of spinach meals in relation to the AUC after consumption of the folic acid supplement. We conclude that the deconjugation process is not a limiting factor in the absorption of spinach folates. Comparison of AUC of food folatev.folic acid in a short-term protocol may be suitable for assessing food folate bioavailability.
Effects of dietary lipids on immune function in a murine sensitisation model
Authors: Albers Ruud , Bol Marianne , Willems Astrid , Blonk Cor , Pieters Raymond
Published: April 2003

We have tested the effect of dietary fatty acids on aspects of innate and specific adaptive T helper (Th) 1- and Th2-driven immune responses in a murine sensitisation model using dinitrochlorobenzene as sensitiser. Six groups of fifteen BALB/c mice were fed diets containing 30 % fat (by energy) for 8 weeks. Diets were rich in saturated fatty acids,n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), orn-3 PUFA, each at a sufficient (11, 35 and 68 mg/kg) and a supplemented vitamin E level (1028, 1031 and 1030 mg/kg respectively). Feedingn-6 PUFA marginally decreased % phagocytosing cells at the low vitamin E level, but had no other effects on immune function. Then-3 PUFA diets decreased production of prostaglandin E2while increasing oxidative burst and tumour necrosis factor α production. In addition adaptive Th1-driven responses (immunoglobulin, Ig)G2a, IgG2b, interferon-γ:interleukin 4) were decreased, whereas Th2-driven and mucosal immune responses were increased (IgE) or unaffected (IgG1, IgA). Combination with high levels of α-tocopherol did not affect the reduced prostaglandin E2production, augmented the increase of tumour necrosis factor α production and tended to ameliorate the selective suppressive effects ofn-3 PUFA on certain Th1-driven effects (interferon-γ:interleukin 4 ratio and IgG2a levels). We conclude that the sensitisation model appears useful for application in nutrition research. It allows a broad assessment of the effects of dietary intervention on various aspects of immune responsiveness, and as such provides a valuable model to assess, characterise and rank effects of foods and/or nutrients on a range of immune functions, including Th1–Th2 polarisation.
The effect of dietary supplementation using isomeric blends of conjugated linoleic acid on lipid metabolism in healthy human subjects
Authors: Noone Enda J. , Roche Helen M. , Nugent Anne P. , Gibney Michael J.
Published: April 2003

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) refers to a group of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid. Studies using animal models have shown that CLA reduces adiposity, improves plasma lipoprotein metabolism and insulin sensitivity and reduces arteriosclerosis. Whilst CLA may have therapeutic potential with regard to coronary artery disease risk factors in human subjects, there has been little investigation into its effects in human subjects. This current study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation using two isomeric blends of CLA on triacylglycerol (TAG)-rich lipoprotein metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport in human subjects and evaluates whether CLA modulated cardiovascular disease risk factors. Fifty-one normolipidaemic subjects participated in this randomised double-blind placebo-controlled intervention trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive 3 gcis-9,trans-11–trans-10,cis-12 isomeric blend (50: 50) or acis-9,trans-11–trans-10,cis-12 isomeric blend (80: 20) CLA or linoleic acid (control)/d for 8 weeks. The 50: 50 CLA isomer blend significantly reduced (P≤0·005) fasting plasma TAG concentrations. The 80: 20 CLA isomer blend significantly reduced (P≤0·05) VLDL-cholesterol concentrations. CLA supplementation had no significant effect on LDL-cholesterol, HDL-lipid-protein composition or reverse cholesterol transport. CLA supplementation had no effect on body weight, plasma glucose and insulin concentrations. Fatty acid analysis revealed that thecis-9,trans-11 CLA isomer was incorporated into total plasma lipids following supplementation with both isomeric blends of CLA. The present study demonstrates that CLA supplementation significantly improves plasma TAG and VLDL metabolism in human subjects. The study confirms that some of the cardio-protective effects of CLA that were shown in animal studies are relevant to man.
Dietary antioxidants and DNA damage in patients on long-term acid-suppression therapy: a randomized controlled study
Authors: White K. L. M. , Chalmers D. M. , Martin I. G. , Everett S. M. , Neville P. M. , Naylor G. , Sutcliffe A. E. , Dixon M. F. , Turner P. C. , Schorah C. J.
Published: April 2003

Free radicals and reactive species producedin vivocan trigger cell damage and DNA modifications resulting in carcinogenesis. Dietary antioxidants trap these species limiting their damage. The present study evaluated the role of vitamins C and E in the prevention of potentially premalignant modifications to DNA in the human stomach by supplementing patients who, because of hypochlorhydria and possible depletion of gastric antioxidants, could be at increased risk of gastric cancer. Patients undergoing surveillance for Barrett's oesophagus (n100), on long-term proton pump inhibitors were randomized into two groups: vitamin C (500 mg twice/d) and vitamin E (100 mg twice/d) for 12 weeks (the supplemented group) or placebo. Those attending for subsequent endoscopy had gastric juice, plasma and mucosal measurements of vitamin levels and markers of DNA damage. Seventy-two patients completed the study. Plasma ascorbic acid, total vitamin C and vitamin E were elevated in the supplemented group consistent with compliance. Gastric juice ascorbic acid and total vitamin C levels were raised significantly in the supplemented group (P=0·01) but supplementation had no effect on the mucosal level of this vitamin. However, gastric juice ascorbic acid and total vitamin C were within normal ranges in the unsupplemented group. Mucosal malondialdehyde, chemiluminescence and DNA damage levels in the comet assay were unaffected by vitamin supplementation. In conclusion, supplementation does not affect DNA damage in this group of patients. This is probably because long-term inhibition of the gastric proton pump alone does not affect gastric juice ascorbate and therefore does not increase the theoretical risk of gastric cancer because of antioxidant depletion.
Olive oil phenolics: effects on DNA oxidation and redox enzyme mRNA in prostate cells
Authors: Quiles José L. , Farquharson Andrew J. , Simpson David K. , Grant Ian , Wahle Klaus W. J.
Published: April 2003

Hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol and caffeic acid effects on hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage, hydroperoxide generation and redox enzyme gene expression were studied in oxidative-stress-sensitive human prostate cells (PC3). Hydroxytyrosol led to lower levels of hydroperoxides, DNA damage, and mRNA levels of classic glutathione peroxidase (GPx) for all the studied concentrations. Only hydroxytyrosol was effective at low concentrations (10 μM). TYROSOL REDUCED DNA OXIDATION ONLY AT HIGH (>50 Μm) concentrations and increased hydroperoxides, GPx and phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx mRNA levels. Caffeic acid elicited effects between those of the other two phenolics. Results indicate that hydroxytyrosol is the only significant antioxidant phenolic in olive oil and may be the major component accounting for its beneficial properties. Tyrosol appeared to exhibit pro-oxidant effects (only at high concentrations) and caffeic acid was neutral. Both number and position of hydroxyl groups appear to play a role in the cellular effects of hydroxytyrosol.
Effects of folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements on folate and homocysteine metabolism in pigs during early pregnancy
Authors: Guay Frédéric , Jacques Matte J. , Girard Christiane L. , Palin Marie-France , Giguère Alain , Laforest Jean-Paul
Published: April 2003

The present experiment aimed to determine the effects of supplements of folic acid (FA) alone or in combination with vitamin B12 on folate and homocysteine metabolism in gestating nulliparous Yorkshire–Landrace (YL) and multiparous Landrace (LD) occidental sows and multiparous Chinese Meishan–Landrace (ML) sows. LD sows were randomly assigned to two treatments: 0 or 15 mg FA/kg diet while YL and ML sows were assigned to three treatments: 0 mg FA/kg diet, 15 mg FA/kg or 15 mg FA+160 μg vitamin B12/kg diet. Supplements were given from the oestrus preceding insemination up to slaughter on day 15 of gestation. At slaughter, a uterine flush was collected to determine uterine contents of homocysteine, methionine, tetrahydrofolate (THF), 5-methyl-THF, pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) and vitamin B12. Blood samples were taken at first oestrus, at insemination and on days 5, 10 and 15 of gestation to determine plasma concentrations of homocysteine, methionine, THF, 5-methyl-THF, P5P, vitamin B12 and relative total folate-binding capacity. In occidental sows (YL and LD), the FA supplement tended to decrease uterine flush content of homocysteine (P=0·06) and concentrations of plasma homocysteine (P=0·09). Nulliparous YL sows had lower concentrations of plasma homocysteine, methionine, THF and 5-methyl-THF (P<0·05) than multiparous LD sows. Multiparous ML and LD sows had similar concentrations of plasma THF, 5-methyl-THF, methionine and vitamin B12, but ML sows had lower concentrations of plasma homocysteine (P<0·05). The vitamin B12 supplement increased concentrations of plasma vitamin B12 (P<0·05) both in multiparous ML and nulliparous YL sows, but had no effect on the composition of either uterine flush or plasma. The present results showed also that sows had a low vitamin B12 status (<200 pg/ml) and high circulating homocysteine levels (>15 μM) during the first 15 d of gestation. Furthermore, the vitamin B12 content in uterine secretions represented between 180 and 300 % of the total content in plasma. The low plasma concentrations of homocysteine in multiparous ML sows suggest a more efficient remethylation pathway which may not be dependent upon dietary supply of FA or vitamin B12. In nulliparous YL sows, low concentrations of both homocysteine and methionine suggest that the methionine requirement for protein deposition might have reduced the amount of methionine available for the methylation pathway. The results of the present experiment suggest that the reduction of uterine homocysteine may be an important aspect of the role of FA supplement on the uterine environment in occidental sows. The presence of high levels of vitamin B12 in uterine secretions merits further investigation in relation to embryonic development.
Measurement of total body water using 2H dilution: impact of different calculations for determining body fat
Authors: LaForgia J. , Withers R. T.
Published: April 2003

This study estimated total body water (TBW) in four groups (twelve per group; sedentary and highly trained men and women) at the time of 2H dosing (T0) and after a 3·5 h equilibration period (Teq). Standard TBW calculations were employed at T0 (no correction for disproportionate urinary tracer loss) and Teq (correction for urinary tracer loss only), plus those calculations that corrected for a disproportionate urinary tracer loss and insensible tracer loss respectively. The measurement of body density enabled the four TBW estimates to be compared for the determination of three-compartment % body fat (BF). The very small difference between the standard and corrected T0 TBW data was not significant (P=0·914) and no Group×TBW interaction was identified (P=0·125). These results reflect the closeness of the 2H concentration in the urine produced during the equilibration period and the Teq saliva samples. The associated mean % BF values were essentially identical. Although correcting for insensible 2H losses in addition to urinary losses at Teq produced a statistically significant (P<0·001) lower mean TBW (about 200 g) than the standard calculation, this translated to a small difference in % BF (0·3). The larger difference (about 500 g, P<0·001) between the two (T0, Teq) corrected TBW calculations was also associated with a small body composition difference (0·1 % BF), which was less than the propagated error (0·3 % BF) for the three-compartment body composition model. Corrections to the standard calculations of TBW at T0 and Teq for a protocol employing a brief equilibration period (3·5 h) were therefore of marginal use for improving the accuracy of % BF estimates. The TBW difference over time (T0v. Teq) also had little impact on % BF values.
Tobacco and alcohol consumption: impact on other cardiovascular and cancer risk factors in a southern European Mediterranean population
Authors: Schröder Helmut , Marrugat Jaume , Elosua Roberto , Covas Maribel I.
Published: April 2003

Tobacco and alcohol consumption are strongly related to other cardiovascular and cancer risk factors. The aim of the present study was to analyse the association of nutrient intake, blood lipid variables and leisure-time physical activity with tobacco and alcohol consumption status. Participants were recruited in a cross-sectional population-based survey, including cardiovascular risk factor measurements and evaluation of physical activity and diet intake in a Mediterranean population (n 1748). Multiple linear regression analysis, adjusted for several confounders, showed a direct association of saturated fatty acids (g and % total energy intake), dietary cholesterol intakes and serum triacylglycerol with smoking. An inverse association was observed for smoking and unsaturated fatty acids (% energy intake), vitamin C, α-tocopherol and β-carotene intakes, leisure-time physical activity and HDL-cholesterol. These associations were not observed for alcohol drinking. After adjusting for the confounders earlier mentioned, low dietary intakes of vitamin C and dietary fibre were more likely in heavy-smokers as compared with non-smokers (odds ratio 1·74 (95 % CI 1·07, 2·73) and 1·94 (95 % CI 1·29, 2·92) of low vitamin C (<60 mg/d) and dietary fibre intakes (<10 g/d) respectively). Alcohol consumption was directly associated with HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol, and attenuated the effects of smoking on HDL-cholesterol. These results suggest that the dietary intake of fibre and several antioxidant components of the Mediterranean diet is reduced in smokers, who also show an adverse lipid profile. However, the worst triacylglycerol levels are associated with the combination of heavy smoking and heavy alcohol drinking. Moderate alcohol consumption was not associated with an unhealthy diet pattern or adverse lipid profile. The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet appear to be strongly counteracted by smoking.
Long-term programming of blood pressure by maternal dietary iron restriction in the rat
Authors: Lewis Rohan M. , Forhead Alison J. , Petry Clive J. , Ozanne Susan E. , Nicolas Hales C.
Published: April 2003

We have reported that blood pressure was elevated in 3-month-old rats whose mothers were Fe-restricted during pregnancy. These animals also had improved glucose tolerance and decreased serum triacylglycerol. The aim of the present study was to determine whether these effects of maternal nutritional restriction, present in these animals at 3 months of age, can be observed in the same animals in later life. Pulmonary and serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) concentrations were also measured to investigate whether the renin–angiotensin system was involved in the elevation of blood pressure observed in the offspring of Fe-restricted dams. Systolic blood pressure was higher in the offspring of Fe-restricted dams at 16 months of age. Heart and kidney weight were increased as a proportion of body weight in the offspring of Fe-restricted dams. The pulmonary ACE concentration was not significantly different between the groups. The serum ACE concentration was significantly elevated in the offspring of Fe-restricted dams at 3 but not 14 months of age. There was a strong correlation between serum ACE levels at 3 and 14 months of age. Glucose tolerance and serum insulin were not different between the maternal diet groups. Serum triacylglycerol tended to be lower in the offspring of Fe-restricted dams. There were no differences in serum non-esterified fatty acids or serum cholesterol between the maternal diet groups. This study provides further evidence that maternal nutrition has effects on the offspring that persist throughout life. At 16 months of age, the elevation of blood pressure in Fe-restricted offspring does not appear to be mediated via changes in ACE levels. Both cardiac hypertrophy and decreased serum triacylglycerol have also been observed in Fe-restricted fetuses, suggesting that these changes may be initiatedin utero.
Energy metabolism of young rats after early postnatal overnutrition
Authors: Wiedmer Petra , Ortmann Sylvia , Klaus Susanne
Published: April 2003

Early postnatal overnutrition (PNO) induced by restricting litter size in rats leads to increased body-weight (BW) and body-fat gain in later life. PNO rats are used as an animal model of moderate obesity and early hyperinsulinism. We investigated whether the increased adiposity could be due to a decreased energy expenditure. Male newborn Wistar rats were raised in litters of either two (SL) or twelve pups (NL), weaned at 4 weeks of age and subsequently fed ad libitum. BW was recorded continuously until 12 weeks of age. Daily energy intake, total daily energy expenditure (EE, measured by indirect calorimetry) and body composition were measured in weaned pups at 5, 8 and 12 weeks of age. SL rats displayed increased BW compared with NL rats from week 2 to 5 and again from week 10 to 12. Lean body mass, body fat and protein content and total EE were increased in SL rats at week 5. The same linear correlation described the relationship between BW and total EE in NL and SL rats. At week 8 to 12 no differences in energy metabolism could be found, but the total fat content was increased in SL rats at week 12. Energy balance, i.e. assimilated energy minus EE, was no different between SL and NL at any time that it was measured. We conclude that although PNO rats display increased adiposity in early life, there seem to be no long-lasting effects on energy metabolism in later life, even if a tendency to increased adiposity can still be detected.
Non-esterified fatty acid levels and physical inactivity: the relative importance of low habitual energy expenditure and cardio-respiratory fitness
Authors: Franks Paul W. , Wong Man-Yu , Luan Jian'an , Mitchell Jo , Hennings Susie , Wareham Nicholas J.
Published: April 2003

The fasting concentration of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and the degree to which it declines during an oral glucose tolerance test are closely associated with insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. However, relatively few studies have described possible environmental determinants of NEFA concentrations. Physical activity is likely to be related to NEFA levels, but habitual activity level is difficult to quantify in epidemiological studies. In particular, it is unclear whether NEFA is more closely related to cardio-respiratory fitness or to habitual energy expenditure. In order to quantify these relationships, we analysed data from the Ely prospective population-based study in which 931 subjects underwent a glucose tolerance test with measurements of cardio-respiratory fitness and 4 d energy expenditure by heart-rate monitoring, a technique previously validated against whole-body calorimetry and doubly-labelled water. In order to estimate the latent variables of usual fitness and energy expenditure, a subset of 190 subjects underwent repeat testing on three further occasions over 1 year. In analyses adjusting only for age and sex, energy expenditure and cardio-respiratory fitness were both negatively correlated with the total area under the NEFA curve following the oral glucose load (standardised β coefficients -0·030 and -0·039 respectively; both P<0·001) However, further adjustment for degree of obesity and bivariate measurement error suggested that the effect of energy expenditure was significantly greater than that for fitness (-0·047 and -0·005 respectively). These results suggest that the area under the NEFA curve in the oral glucose tolerance test, a measure of insulin sensitivity, is strongly associated with the habitual level of physical activity.
Health and nutrition education in primary schools of Crete: changes in chronic disease risk factors following a 6-year intervention programme
Authors: Manios Yannis , Moschandreas Joanna , Hatzis Christos , Kafatos Anthony
Published: April 2003

The effectiveness of a health and nutrition education programme, in changing certain chronic disease risk factors, was assessed after the 6 years intervention period was completed. The school-based intervention programme was applied to all children registered in the first grade (age 5·5–6·5 years) in 1992 in two counties of Crete, while the children from a third county served as a control group. In order to assess the effectiveness of the intervention, a variety of biological and behavioural parameters were measured before and following completion of the intervention in a randomly selected school-based sample of 602 intervention group (IG) and 444 control group (CG) pupils. At the end of the 6-year period, it was found that biochemical indices generally improved significantly more in the IG compared with the CG (mean change for IGv.CG was -0·27v.-0·12 mmol/l for total cholesterol (TC); -0·07v.+0·24 for TC:HDL and -0·13v.+0·14 for LDL:HDL). Similarly, the changes observed in the anthropometric variables in the two groups were in favour of the IG (+3·68v.+4·28 kg/m2for BMI; +2·97v.+4·47 mm for biceps skinfold). Total energy intake and consumption of total fat and saturated fat increased significantly less in the IG compared with the CG (+747·7v.1534·7 kJ (+178·7v.+366·8 kcal); +5·9v.+18·8 g and +0·8v.+5·1 g respectively), while time devoted to leisure time physical activity and cardiovascular run test performance increased significantly more in the IG (+281v.+174 min/week and +2·5v.+1·2 stages respectively). The findings of the present study underline the importance of such programmes in health promotion and disease prevention. Although the long-term effects of these programmes can only be assessed by tracking this population through to adolescence and adulthood, these programmes seem to have the potential to lead to a healthier lifestyle and thus a reduction in risk factor levels.
Consumption of tall oil-derived phytosterols in a chocolate matrix significantly decreases plasma total and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels
Authors: de Graaf Jacqueline , de Sauvage Nolting Pernette R. W. , van Dam Marjel , Belsey Elizabeth M. , Kastelein John J. P. , Haydn Pritchard P. , Stalenhoef Anton F. H.
Published: April 2003

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial we evaluated the effect of dietary chocolates enriched with a wood-based phytosterol–phytostanol mixture, containing 18% (w/w) sitostanol, compared with placebo dietary chocolates in seventy subjects with primary hypercholesterolaemia (total cholesterol levels below 8 mmol/l). For 4 weeks, participants consumed three servings of the phytosterol-enriched chocolate/d that provided 1·8 g unesterified phytosterols/d or a placebo chocolate in conjunction with a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Plasma total and LDL-cholesterol levels were statistically significantly reduced by 6·4% (−0·44 mmol/l) and 10·3% (−0·49 mmol/l), respectively, after 4 weeks of phytosterol-enriched-chocolate treatment. Plasma HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels were not affected. Consumption of phytosterol-enriched chocolates significantly increased plasma lathosterol concentration (+20·7%), reflecting an increased endogenous cholesterol synthesis in response to phytosterol-induced decreased intestinal cholesterol absorption. Furthermore, the chocolates enriched with phytosterols significantly increased both plasma sitosterol (+95·8%) and campesterol (+64·1%) levels, compared with the placebo chocolate group. However, the absolute values of plasma sitosterol and campesterol remained within the normal range, that is, below 10 mg/l. The chocolates with phytosterols were palatable and induced no clinical or biochemical side effects. These findings indicate that dietary chocolate enriched with tall oil-derived phytosterols (1·8 g/d) is effective in lowering blood total and LDL-cholesterol levels in subjects with mild hypercholesterolaemia and thus may be helpful in reducing the risk of CHD in these individuals.
UK Food Standards Agency α-linolenic acid workshop report
Authors: Sanderson Peter , Finnegan Yvonne E. , Williams Christine M. , Calder Philip C. , Burdge Graham C. , Wootton Stephen A. , Griffin Bruce A. , Joe Millward D. , Pegge Nicholas C. , Bemelmans Wanda J. E.
Published: April 2003

The UK Food Standards Agency convened a group of expert scientists to review current research investigating whethern-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from plant oils (α-linolenic acid; ALA) were as beneficial to cardiovascular health as then-3 PUFA from the marine oils, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The workshop also aimed to establish priorities for future research. Dietary intake of ALA has been associated with a beneficial effect on CHD; however, the results from studies investigating the effects of ALA supplementation on CHD risk factors have proved equivocal. The studies presented as part of the present workshop suggested little, if any, benefit of ALA, relative to linoleic acid, on risk factors for cardiovascular disease; the effects observed with fish-oil supplementation were not replicated by ALA supplementation. There is a need, therefore, to first prove the efficacy of ALA supplementation on cardiovascular disease, before further investigating effects on cardiovascular risk factors. The workshop considered that a beneficial effect of ALA on the secondary prevention of CHD still needed to be established, and there was no reason to look further at existing CHD risk factors in relation to ALA supplementation. The workshop also highlighted the possibility of feeding livestock ALA-rich oils to provide a means of increasing the dietary intake in human consumers of EPA and DHA.
Selenium and breast-feeding
Authors: Dorea Jose G.
Published: April 2003

The objective of the present review is to discuss Se nutrition during breast-feeding, encompassing environmental and maternal constitutional factors affecting breast-milk-Se metabolism and secretion. A literature search of Medline and Webofscience was used to retrieve and select papers dealing with Se and breast milk. Although Se in natural foods occurs only in organic form, breast milk responds to organic and inorganic Se in supplements. Inorganic Se (selenite, selenate), which is largely used in maternal supplements, is not detectable in breast milk. The mammary-gland regulating mechanism controls the synthesis and secretion of seleno-compounds throughout lactation, with a high total Se level in colostrum that decreases as lactation progresses. Se appears in breast milk as a component of specific seleno-proteins and seleno-amino-acids in milk proteins that are well tolerated by breast-fed infants even in high amounts. Se in breast milk occurs as glutathione peroxidase (4–32% total Se) > selenocystamine > selenocystine > selenomethionine. The wide range of breast-milk Se concentrations depends on Se consumed in natural foods, which reflects the Se content of the soils where they are grown. Se prophylaxis, either through soil Se fertilization or maternal supplements, is effective in raising breast-milk Se concentration. In spite of wide variation, the median Se concentration from studies worldwide are 26, 18, 15, and 17 μg/l in colostrum (0–5 d), transitional milk (6–21 d), mature milk (1–3 months) and late lactation (>5 months) respectively. Se recommendations for infants are presently not achieved in 30% of the reported breast-milk Se concentrations; nevertheless Se status is greater in breast-fed than in formula-fed infants.