An experiment was conducted to determine: (1) the effect of excess maternal I supplementation on the thyroid hormone status of the ewe and her progeny; (2) potential mechanisms underpinning the failure of passive transfer associated with excess I and (3) the growing lambs’ response to natural gastrointestinal infection. Twin-bearing ewes received one of two treatments (n 32/treatment group): basal diet (C) or C plus 26·6 mg of iodine/ewe per d (I), supplied as calcium iodate. Ewes were individually fed from day 119 of gestation to parturition. Progeny of I ewes had lower (P<0·01) serum IgG concentrations from 24 h to 28 d postpartum but higher serum IgG concentrations at day 70 postpartum (P<0·05). I supplementation increased the relative expression of Fc receptor, IgA, IgM high affinity and polymeric Ig receptor in the ileum of the lamb at 24 h postpartum; however, thyroid hormone receptor-β (THRB) and β-2-microglobulin (B2M) expression declined (P<0·05). Progeny of I ewes had higher growth rates to weaning (P<0·05) and lower faecal egg count (FEC) for Nematodirus battus (P<0·05) between weeks 6 and 10 postpartum. In conclusion, excess maternal I supplementation negatively affected the thyroid hormone status, serum IgG concentration, ileal morphology and the gene expression of THRB and B2M in the ileum and ras-related protein (RAB) RAB25 and the mucin gene (MUC) MUC1 in the duodenum of the lamb postpartum. These effects were followed by an enhancement of average daily gain and lower N. battus FEC in the pre-weaning period of I-supplemented lambs.

Studies have shown that soya consumption has been associated with low incidence of CVD. Because the chemical structures of soya isoflavones are similar to oestrogen, the beneficial outcome may be attributed to the oestrogenicity of these compounds. In this study, effect of the soya isoflavone genistein on the mRNA expression of apoA-1 in the human hepatoma HepG2 cell was investigated. Without oestrogen receptor (ER) α transfection, soya isoflavones in the physiological range had no effect on the apoA-1 transcription. Once ERα was ectopically expressed in these cells, soya isoflavone dramatically increased the apoA-1 mRNA abundance quantified by real-time PCR. ApoA-1-reporter assays with plasmid constructed from the 5′-flanking segment upstream to the coding region revealed that the transactivation of the apoA-1 promoter was induced by the soya isoflavone in HepG2 cells expressing ERα. This induction was reduced by the anti-oestrogen ICI 182780, but not the inhibitors of protein kinase (PK) C, PKA, or mitogen-activated PK. Based on the previously identified response elements on the promoter, a series of truncated promoter reporter plasmids were then constructed. An induction profile of genistein was built and insulin response core element at − 411 to − 404 appeared to be a potential site of interaction. This study illustrated that soya isoflavones at physiological concentrations could up regulate apoA-1 mRNA expression in ERα-transfected HepG2 cells.

In growing pigs, reduced growth during heat stress (HS) is mainly related to decreased feed intake. The study aimed to determine whether the reported positive effects of live yeast (LY) supplementation in HS pigs were due to a modified feeding behaviour or energy metabolism, and if these can be replicated by imposing an increased meal frequency. The effect of LY supplementation (0 (NS) v. 100 (LY) g/ton of feed), and of feeding window (FW) (unlimited or Unli, 2FW of 1 h each and 8FW of 15 min each) were measured in entire male finishing pigs (n 36). Ambient temperature was at 22°C during the thermoneutral (TN) period (5 d) and at 28°C during the HS period (5 d). Heat exposure decreased DM intake (DMI) and retained energy (RE) (–627 and −460 kJ·kg BW–0·60 · d–1, respectively; P < 0·01). During HS, LY supplementation in Unli pigs decreased inter-meal intervals (P = 0·02) attenuating HS effect on DMI which tended to improve RE (P = 0·09). NS – 8FW had higher DMI and RE than NS – 2FW (P < 0·05) but protein deposition (PD) were similar. Supplemented pigs had higher PD during HS regardless of FW (+18 g · d–1; P = 0·03). Comparing the 2FW groups, improved heat tolerance of LY-supplemented pigs were due to improved insulin sensitivity (P < 0·05) and latent heat loss capacity after a meal (P < 0·05) allowing them to increase their DMI (via an increased number of meals) and thus their energy efficiency. Imposing an increased meal frequency improved DMI in HS pigs but did not replicate positive effects of LY on PD.

Evidence suggests that differences in meal timing between weekends and weekdays can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, leading to a higher BMI. We aimed to investigate the associations between mealtime variation from weekdays to weekends (eating midpoint jetlag), dietary intake and anthropometric parameters, based on individuals’ chronotype. The study utilised data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–2018. Food consumption was estimated by weighted average of participants’ food intake on weekdays and weekends. Eating midpoint jetlag, defined as the difference between the midpoint of the first and last mealtimes on weekends and weekdays, was calculated. Chronotype was assessed by participants’ mid-sleep time on weekends, adjusted for sleep debt. Linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the associations between variables. The sample was categorised into chronotype tertiles. Among individuals in the third chronotype tertile, there was a positive association between eating midpoint jetlag and BMI (β = 1·2; 95 % CI (1·13, 1·27)). Individuals in the first tertile showed a positive association between eating midpoint jetlag and energy (β = 96·9; 95 % CI (92·9, 101·7)), carbohydrate (β = 11·96; 95 % CI (11·2, 12·6)), fat (β = 3·69; 95 % CI (3·4, 3·8)), cholesterol (β = 32·75; 95 % CI (30·9, 34·6)) and sugar (β = 8·84; 95 % CI (8·3, 9·3)) intake on weekends. Among individuals with an evening tendency, delaying meals on weekends appears to be linked to a higher BMI. Conversely, among individuals with a morning tendency, eating meals later on weekends is associated with higher energetic intake on weekends.

This study evaluated the importance of a correction for amino acids (AA) released into the hindgut on a measure of AA absorption kinetics and tested whether AA absorption kinetics are related to the extent of AA absorption using the growing pig as a model for humans. Thirty-six nine-week-old pigs (22·3 kg) received a diet containing whey protein as the sole protein source for 8 d. Pigs received their last meal containing the indigestible marker titanium dioxide before being euthanised at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 h post-feeding. The entire content of each gastrointestinal tract (GIT) region was collected to determine AA released into the hindgut, and the kinetics and extent of AA absorption (uncorrected and corrected for AA entering the hindgut). Amounts of AA released into the hindgut increased over time (e.g. 33 and 180 mg of Glu for 4 and 6 h post-feeding). The corrected apparent amount of each AA absorbed from the GIT lumen after 4 h post-feeding was generally lower (P ≤ 0·05) than the uncorrected counterpart. Differences in both the kinetics and extent of AA absorption were observed across AA. For example, the time to reach half of the apparent AA absorption (T50) was 1·5 and 3·4 h for Met and Arg, respectively, whereas their extent of apparent absorption was 93 and 73 %. Negative correlations between parameters related to kinetics and the extent of apparent absorption were observed (e.g. for T50 r = −0·81; P < 0·001). The kinetics of AA absorption is related to the extent of AA absorption.

N-3 long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) and probiotics are generally considered to induce health benefits. The objective was to investigate (1) the impact of fish oil and/or probiotics on serum fatty acids (sFA), (2) the interaction of sFA with low-grade inflammation and (3) the relation of sFA to the onset of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Pregnant women with overweight/obesity were allocated into intervention groups with fish oil + placebo, probiotics + placebo, fish oil + probiotics or placebo + placebo in early pregnancy (fish oil: 1·9 g DHA and 0·22 g EPA, probiotics: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420, 1010 CFU, each daily). Blood samples were collected in early (n 431) and late pregnancy (n 361) for analysis of fatty acids in serum phosphatidylcholine (PC), cholesteryl esters (CE), TAG and NEFA with GC and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and GlycA by immunoassay and NMR spectroscopy, respectively. GDM was diagnosed according to 2 h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. EPA in PC, CE and TAG and DHA in PC, CE, TAG and NEFA were higher in fish oil and fish oil + probiotics groups compared with placebo. EPA in serum NEFA was lower in women receiving probiotics compared with women not receiving. Low-grade inflammation was inversely associated with n-3 LC-PUFA, which were related to an increased risk of GDM. Fish oil and fish oil + probiotics consumption increase serum n-3 LC-PUFA in pregnant women with overweight/obesity. Although these fatty acids were inversely related to inflammatory markers, n-3 LC-PUFA were linked with an increased risk for GDM.

We aimed to identify the association of hydration status with insulin resistance (IR) and body fat distribution. A total of 14 344 adults participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2010. We used urine specific gravity (USG) to indicate hydration status, and HOMA-IR (homoeostasis model assessment of IR) and trunk:leg fat ratio (TLR) as primary outcomes. In multivariate logistic regression, the OR per 0·01 increase in USG for high IR was 1·303 (95 % CI 1·185, 1·433; P < 0·001). In multivariate generalised additive model plots, increased USG showed a J-shaped association with logarithmic HOMA-IR, with the lowest Akaike’s information criterion score of USG 1·030. Moreover, increased USG was independently associated with increased trunk fat, decreased leg fat and increased TLR. In mediation analysis, the proportion of mediation effects of USG on TLR via IR was 0·193 (95 % CI 0·132, 0·285; P < 0·001), while the proportion of mediation effects of USG on IR via TLR was 0·130 (95 % CI 0·086, 0·188; P < 0·001). Increased USG, a sign of low hydration status and presumably high vasopressin, was associated with IR and poor fat distribution. Direct effect of low hydration status may be more dominant than indirect effect via IR or fat distribution. Further studies are necessary to confirm our findings.

Large variations in seasonal body-weight fluctuations have been described for individuals from different households living and working under comparable circumstances. In the present study the relationship between socio-economic household characteristics and seasonal body-weight fluctuations of individual members of rural Beninese households were studied. No significant correlation was found for body-weight fluctuation between the two study years, nor for body-weight fluctuation of men and women belonging to the same household. When comparing dichotomized socio-economic classes for relative body-weight fluctuation of men and women in both study years, no consistent trends were observed for both years nor for both sexes. The distribution of subjects with a consistent high weight fluctuation over the two study years did not differ between socio-economic groups. In conclusion it may be stated that there were no indications that socio-economic characteristics play a determining role in the magnitude of body-weight fluctuation of this study population, despite the large variations observed in the latter. Therefore it is most likely that other factors decide the weight fluctuations of individuals, health and sanitation being the most likely candidates.

1. Pigs were fed on semi-purified food. The magnesium content of the experimental diet was 1·0 and that of the control diet 1·9 g/kg.

2. In the low-Mg group serum triglycerides and blood lactate values were increased and base excess and standard bicarbonate values were decreased, indicating metabolic acidosis.

3. A significant positive dependence was found between blood pH and serum Mg:Ca value as well as between blood pH and serum Mg, and also between body temperature and blood lactate values in the low-Mg group. None of these dependences was significant in the control group with magnesium acetate supplementation in the food.

4. No specific histopathological changes were found in heart, liver or kidney of the experimental animals.

5. The results indicate that an increase in serum triglycerides does not need to depend on the amount or quality of food fat.

6. The present study shows that, in pigs, a low-Mg diet may cause metabolic disturbances in instances when the food Mg content is distinctly higher than the normal values recommended by the (UK) Agricultural Research Council (1966) and (US) National Research Council (1968).

1. The effect of cholesterol feeding during and after a period of protein malnutrition lasting 4 weeks was examined in the rat. Indices measured were plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and protein levels, and aorta total cholesterol, triglycerides, hexosamine and hydroxyproline concentrations.

2. In both plasma and aorta, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels were higher in the low-protein diet group than in the standard-protein diet group, when cholesterol was supplied in both diets.

3. During the malnutrition period, cholesterol feeding led to a greater decrease in plasma protein than that promoted by the low-protein diet without cholesterol, while aorta hexosamine levels decreased to a lesser extent.

4. Cholesterol feeding with a standard-protein diet promoted a slight and temporary increase in aorta hydroxyproline levels, while a decrease in aorta hexosamine concentration was observed. Cholesterol feeding with the low-protein diet, on the other hand, also promoted a decrease in aorta hexosamine levels but to a lesser extent.

5. During the recovery period, cholesterol feeding impaired the return of plasma protein, aorta hexosamine and lipid levels to that of the control values.

6. These findings demonstrate that cholesterol feeding promotes different changes in aorta and plasma, depending on whether or not protein is supplied by the diet in adequate amounts. This point could be important in relation to the development of atherosclerosis during recovery from a period of malnutrition.

1. The effects of level of feeding and level of protein in the early postnatal period on the cellularity of subcutaneous adipose tissue and body fat content of pigs were investigated in two experiments.

2. In Expt 1, piglets were given a common liquid diet at energy intakes equivalent to 2·8 or 5·2 times energy for maintenance (M) between 1·8 and 6·5 kg live weight (LW), and a common dry diet at 2·8 or 4·5 M between 6·5 and 20 kg LW. Between 20 and 75 kg LW all pigs were given a second dry diet at 4·0 M.

3. In both experiments the effects of nutritional treatments on fat cell number at 20 and 75 kg LW (Expt 1) and at 45 kg LW (Expt 2) were assessed by measuring the DNA content of the subcutaneous adipose tissue contained in the left shoulder joint. Fat cell size was assessed in the same tissue by measuring the diameter of collagenase-released adipocytes.

4. In Expt 1, raising the level of feeding between 1·8 and 6·5 kg LW increased body fat content and average fat cell diameter at both 6·5 (P < 0·01) and 20 kg LW (P < 0·05) but had no effect on either measurement at 75 kg LW. Similarly, raising the level of feeding between 6·5 and 20 kg LW increased body fat content and fat cell size at both 20 (P < 0·01) and 75 kg LW (P < 0·05). There was an almost twofold increase in the DNA content of subcutaneous adipose tisuue between 20 and 75 kg LW. However, it was not significantly affected at either weight by level of feeding before or subsequent to 6·5 kg LW.

5. In Expt 2, reducing the level of dietary protein between 1·8 and 6·5 kg LW increased body fat content (P < 0·01) and fat cell size (P < 0·01) at the latter weight. Although level of dietary protein to 6·5 kg LW had no effect on body fat content or the weight of subcutaneous adipose tissue in the shoulder joint at 45 kg LW, pigs given the lowest-protein diet contained less DNA (P < 0·05) in the subcutaneous adipose tissue and had larger (P < 0·05) fat cells than those given the highest-protein diet to 6·5 kg LW. Reducing the protein content of the diet fed subsequent to 6·5 kg LW increased the body fat content (P < 0·01) and fat cell size (P < 0·01) at 45 kg LW.

1. Net amino acid uptake, and incorporation into protein have been measured in vitro in the presence and absence of porcine growth hormone (GH) in muscle from intact rabbits fed for 5 d on low-protein (LP), protein-free (PF) or control diets.

2. In muscle from control and LP animals GH had no effect on the net amino acid uptake but stimulated amino acid incorporation into protein, although this response was less in LP animals than in control animals.

3. In muscle from PF animals, GH stimulated both amino acid incorporation into protein and the net amino acid uptake, a type of response which also occurs in hypophysectomized animals. The magnitude of the effect of GH on the incorporation of amino acids into protein was reduced in muscle from PF animals.

4. The effect of GH on the net amino acid uptake in PF animals was completely blocked by cycloheximide; the uptake effect of GH in these animals was dependent therefore on de novo protein synthesis.

5. It is proposed that in the adult the role of growth hormone in protein metabolism is to sustain cellular protein synthesis when there is a decrease in the level of substrate amino acids, similar to that which occurs during a short-term fast or when the dietary protein intake is inadequate.

In paediatric practice, mean reference energy requirements for groups are often used to predict individual infant energy requirements. References from the FAO/WHO/United Nations University are based on infants not fed according to the current infant feeding recommendations. The objective of the present study was to measure total energy expenditure (TEE) and determine energy requirements using criterion methods, and validate the use of TEE prediction equation and mean energy requirement references for predicting individual TEE and energy requirements, respectively, in infants who were exclusively breast-fed (EBF) to 6 months of age. EBF infants were included from Greater Glasgow for measurements at 3·5 (n 36) and 6 (n 33) months of age. TEE was measured using doubly labelled water and energy requirements were determined using the factorial approach. TEE and energy requirements were also predicted using equations based on body weight. Relationships between criterion methods and predictions were assessed using correlations. Paired t tests and Bland–Altman plots were used to assess agreement. At the population level, predicted and measured TEE were similar. The energy requirement reference significantly underestimated energy requirements by 7·2 % at 3·5 months at the population level, but there was no bias at 6 months. Errors at individual levels were large and energy requirements were underestimated to a larger extent for infants with higher energy requirements. This indicates that references presently used in clinical practice to estimate energy requirements may not fully account for the different growth pattern of EBF infants. More studies in infants EBF to 6 months of age are needed to understand how growth of EBF infants influences energy requirements.

1. For a period of 32 d young rats were given a diet containing (g/kg) 220 casein, 120 casein +1.93 L-cysteine (Cys), or 120 casein.

2. The formation of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3)-nuclear protein complexes was reduced in rats fed on the Cys-deficient diet.

3. Scatchard analysis showed that decreased formation of T3 -nuclear protein complexes was due to a decreased affinity of T3 receptors; this decrease was induced, at least in part, by a reduced glutathione content.

4. In rats fed on the Cys-deficient diet there was an expected decrease in growth but an unexpected increase in the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) and malate dehydrogenase (oxaloacetate-decarboxylating) (NADP+) (EC 1.1.1.40). It is suggested that this increase is related to an increased oxidized glutathione: reduced glutathione ratio.

On an international scale, the last seventy-five years have been a period of deep social, economic and political transformation for the developing countries. They have been especially influenced by the international phenomenon of globalization, the benefits of which have been unequally distributed among countries. In this context, the strategies used to improve the general nutritional health of the population of developing countries include broad approaches integrating nutritional interventions in a context of sustainable community development, while valuing the existing relations between fields as diverse as agriculture, education, sociology, economy, health, environment, hygiene and nutrition. The community nutrition programmes are emblematic of these initiatives. Nevertheless, in spite of the increasing evidence of the potential possibilities offered by these programmes to improve the nutritional status and contribute to the development and the self-sufficiency of the community, their success is relatively limited, due to the inappropriate planning, implementation and evaluation of the programmes. In the present article, I attempt to emphasie the importance of community participation of the population of developing countries in the community nutrition programmes within the context of globalization. This process is not only an ethical imperative, but a pragmatic one. It is a crucial step in the process of liberation, democratization and equality that will lead to true sustainable development.

Previous studies have described high plasma triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations and sympathetic activity in rats fed on low-protein diets. The present investigation examined how the nutritional status of rats fed on a low-protein diet was affected when these hormonal changes were reduced by drug administration. The low-protein diet (LP group) prevented growth, reduced plasma albumin levels, elevated plasma T3 concentration, and increased both the weight of the interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the activity of BAT cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1). Lowering the plasma T3 concentration (with carbimazole; CA group) elevated the plasma insulin concentration, promoted a small increase in the plasma albumin concentration and caused weight gain in comparison with the LP group. Reduction of sympathetic activity (with α-methyl-p-tyrosine; MT group) promoted a small elevation in plasma albumin concentration accompanied by a diminished T3 concentration, BAT weight, and an increase in fat deposition in relation to LP rats. In a second experiment, simultaneous lowering of the plasma T3 concentration and sympathetic activity (CA/MT group) resulted in weight gain associated with elevated plasma insulin concentration and fat deposition and a marked reduction in BAT cytochrome c oxidase activity. However no change in the hypoalbuminaemia was observed. The results of the present study suggest that in spite of the previously described increase in metabolic rate in rats fed on a diet with low-protein concentration when compared with controls, the mechanisms involved in the control of BAT activity and fat deposition seem to be independent of those which cause liver protein depletion and hypoalbuminaemia.