The effects of acarbose on cataract development, lens aldose reductase (EC 1·1·1·21) activity and lenticular reduced-glutathione content in diabetic sand rats (Psammomys obesus) were determined. Diabetic sand rats (diet-induced) were fed on diets with or without acarbose(0.4 g/kg) for 39 d. Daily plasma glucose, cataract incidence, aldose reductase and glutathione content were evaluated. After 19 d on acarbose, daily plasma glucose profile was significantly reduced compared with that of sand rats not receiving acarbose. Cataract incidence was markedly lower in sand rats treated with acarbose. After 20 d, cataracts had developed in 90% of the animals fed without acarbose, whereas none was observed in sand rats fed with acarbose. After 37 d acarbose treatment the incidence of cataracts reached only 30%. Compared with untreated animals, lens aldose reductase activity was significantly lower in sand rats fed with acarbose for 39 d (7 6 (SE 0·78) v. 3·5 (SE 0·55) μmol NADPH/mg protein per min respectively, P < 0·001). Concomitantly, significantly higher lenticular protein and reduced-glutathione contents (90 (SE 23) v. 240 (SE 23.5) μg/mg tissue respectively, P < 0·001 and 369 (SE 48·6) v. 645 (SE 71·1)μg/mg tissue respectively, P < 0·001) were found. These results suggest that decreasing hyperglycaemia, accompanied by lower aldose reductase activity obtained by acarbose, led to a significant preventive effect on cataract development in sand rats.

The main purpose of the present study was to examine factors that affect bone mineral density (BMD) in female ballet dancers. Training history, Ca intake, body composition, total body BMD (TBMD) and site-specific BMD, and bone mineral content were described in twenty-four female ballet dancers (mean age 22·6 (SD 4·5) years). Training history was determined by questionnaires, Ca intake by 7 d dietary record, BMD and bone mineral content by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), total body water by 2H dilution, extracellular water by bromide dilution, body fat by underwater weighing (UWW; two-component model), DXA, and the four-component (4C) model. Dancers had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI 18·9 (SD 1·0) kg/m2) than controls (21·3 (SD 19) kg/m2), with significantly lower percentage body fat (17·4 (SD 3·9) v. 24·4 (SD 5·1)) but comparable fat-free mass. Mean TBMD (1·147 (SD 0 ·069) g/cm2) was significantly higher (6 %) compared with that of a reference population. These high values could be attributed to the high BMD of legs and pelvis, the weight-bearing sites of the dancer's body. No relationship was found between age, start of ballet classes, period (years) of dancing, Ca intake, and BMD (total and site-specific). However, TBMD was positively related to BMI, and negatively related to the age of menarche. BMD of the legs was significantly related to daily period (h) of training. Depending on the method used the percentage body fat ranged from 16·4 (by DXA) to 18·3 by the 4C model. These differences were significantly related to the TBMD. Percentage body fat by the different methods was not significantly different, except for DXA and 4C model. The present study showed that, despite the factors that have a negative effect on BMD, such as low body mass and late menarche, BMD in female ballet dancers was relatively high. These high values were probably caused by high levels of weight-bearing physical activity.

The performance of methods to determine energy conversion factors for dietary fibre (DF) supplements and fermentability (D) values of their non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) was investigated. Heats of combustion, digestible energy (DE) and D values were determined on five DF supplements in five European laboratories on five separate occasions. In each instance the DF supplements were fed to juvenile male VVistar rats at two doses, 50 and 100 g/kg basal diet, for 3 weeks with food and faeces collected in the 3rd week. Among-laboratory variations in heats of combustion (DHC<) were <2%. DE values (kJ/g dry weight) at the upper and lower doses respectively were: 10·4 and 9·9 for a high-methoxyl apple pectin, 9·5 and 9·4 for a sugar-beet DF supplement, 12·2 and 12·7 for soyabean DF supplement, 38 and 4·0 for maize bran, and 0·3 and 0·3 for Solka-floc cellulose. Variations among laboratories, among occasions and among animals were <1, <2 and <2·5 kJ/g respectively. The among-occasion: among-laboratory variance ratio for DE was 0·5, suggesting the method performed equally well in all laboratories. There was no evidence of learning or fatigue in the performance of the method. D values were also independent of dose and at the high and lower doses were: pectin 0·92 and 0·95, sugar-beet NSP 0·68 and 0·68, soyabean NSP 0·86 and 0·88, maize bran 0·17 and 0·18, cellulose 0·07 and 0·06. Among-laboratory variance tended to increase with decreasing fermentability and ranged from 0·03 to 0·18. The DE and D data were not significantly different from a previously proposed relationship DE = 0·7 × DHc × D, where DHc is the heat of combustion of the supplement. We conclude that while the among-laboratory variation in the D of difficult-to-ferment NSP is too large for the reliable prediction of energy value the method for the direct determination of DE is both reproducible and repeatable, that DE is independent of dosage of DF supplement up to 100 g/kg diet, and that it is safe to discriminate between energy values with a precision of 3 kJ/g. The conversion of both DE and D to net metabolizable energy for the purpose of food labelling, tables and databases is described.

Using equations obtained in a previous analysis, results are computed numerically which illustrate the effects of diffusion and viscosity on faecal excretion patterns of markers in ruminants. Results are first given for plug flow, a velocity gradient produced by viscosity, and diffusion, each mechanism operating alone. Plug flow gives a period during which no marker appears in the faeces, then a sharp increase in faeces marker concentration, followed by rapid washout. A velocity gradient gives a more gradual appearance of marker in the faeces followed by a slower washout. DMusiou alone (although not realistic for ruminant marker kinetics) can give early appearance of marker followed by slow washout. Combining diffusion with a velocity gradient produced by viscosity can give a range of behaviour, depending on the effective diffusion coefficient, D'; an approximate method is used to compute these solutions. Because plug flow with no velocity gradient plus diffusion gives results similar to convective flow with a velocity gradient plus diffusion, we believe it will not be possible to determine the main mechanisms defining marker outtiow patterns from observations of marker kinetics alone, and more detailed investigations will be needed. Although estimates of quantities such as mean transit time are unaffected by detailed mechanism, the interpretations of measures such as sigmoidicity, sharpness of the faecal marker concentration v. time curve, and length and nature of the washout tail are highly dependent on mechanism.

In a recent article in the British Journal of Nutrition, Sklan & Dariel (1993) presented a method for diet planning employing a mixed-integer programming algorithm for meeting nutritional requirements at minimum costs for institutions or individuals. They recognized that most food items are generally consumed in whole units and as such they are represented as integer variables. However, as in most previous studies, they derived the minimum cost diets by optimizing over purchased food items. The present paper presents a computer-assisted, diet-planning modelling system for individuals by optimizing over recipes instead of food items. This is accomplished by restricting the integer programming solutions to those bundles of food that represent reasonably popular meal recipes. The modelling system is composed of three main components: recipe data entry, database management, and the model. The recipe data entry component creates and stores recipes. It aiso provides nutritional analysis of the recipes. The database management component creates and maintains several databases necessary to build the modelling data file. The modelling component solves the user-specified model. Currently, the model component can solve for the optimal diet by minimizing cost or minimizing cooking and preparation time. The optimal diet is prepared to satisfy the recommended nutritional guidelines for a predefined group of individuals for 1 week. The system currently has 895 popular recipes found in Hawaii. Diet plans generated using this modelling system with differing objectives are discussed and compared.

Five European laboratories tested a simple in vitro batch system for dietary fibre fermentation studies. The inoculum was composed of fresh human faeces mixed with a carbonate-phosphate buffer complex supplemented with trace elements and urea. Five dietary fibre sources (cellulose, sugarbeet fibre, soyabean fibre, maize bran and pectin) were used by each laboratory on three occasions to determine pH, residual non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and short-chain fatty acid production during fermentation. Cellulose and maize bran degradabilities were very low (7·2 (SE 10·8) and 6·2 (SE 9·1) % respectively after 24 h), whereas pectin and soyabean fibre were highly degraded (97·4 (SE 4) and 91·1 (SE 3·4)% respectively after 24 h). Sugarbeet fibre exhibited an intermediate level of degradability (59·5 (SE 14·9)%). Short-chain fatty acid production was closely related to NSP degradation (r 0·99). Although each variable was ranked similarly by all laboratories, some differences occurred with respect to absolute values. However, the adaptation of donors to the experimental substrates was not an influential factor. Interlaboratory differences could be reduced either by adding less substrate during incubations or using less-diluted inocula. In vitro fermentations with inocula made from human faeces and from rat caecal contents gave similar results. There was a close correspondence between the data obtained in the present experiment and those previously published in in vivo studies in the rat using the same fibres. The in vitro batch system tested during the present study provides a rapid means of obtaining quantitative estimates of the fermentation and the estimation of the energy content of new sources of dietary fibre.

A previously described mathematical model, that simulates the metabolic activities of rumen bacteria and protozoa, was used to examine the contribution of protozoa to neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) degradation in the rumen of cattle. Comparisons between predicted and experimentally observed NDF degradation showed general agreement. Further simulations were performed with diets containing variable proportions of concentrate (between 0 and 1 kg/kg diet DM) and at intake levels ranging between 5·3 and 21·0 kg DM/d. The simulated protozoal contribution to NDF degradation was 17–21% at the lowest intake level. Except for the all-concentrate diets, raising the feed intake level reduced this contribution to 5–3% at the highest intake level. The changes in contribution of protozoa to NDF degradation were related to variations in the fibrolytic bacteria: protozoa value and the NDF-degrading activities of protozoa predicted by the model. In simulations where dietary NDF levels were reduced and starch and sugar levels were increased independently, protozoal contribution to NDF degradation generally increased. These differences were reflected also in the generally increased protozoal contribution to NDF degradation predicted in response to a decreased roughage:concentrate value. The contribution of protozoa also generally declined in response to added N. These changes in predicted protozoal contribution to NDF degradation resulting from dietary variations provided possible explanations for the differences in rumen NDF degradation observed when animals are defaunated.

The dietary patterns of sixty-four adolescents (thirty-seven young men and twenty-seven young women) between 15 and 17 years of age were examined by analysis of food, energy and nutrient ntakes, over a period of 5 d, including a Sunday. Adolescents were dentified for inclusion in two study groups: (1) overweight and obese subjects (O) with a BMI (kg/m2) ≥ 75th percentile, and (2) subjects of normal weight (NW) with BMI < 75th percentile. The study was designed to investigate the differences between the energy and nutrient intakes of NW and O adolescents. No differences were found in energy intake between NW and O adolescents. However, O subjects derived a greater proportion of their energy from proteins (19.8% v 16.4% for NW subjects) and fats (45.4% v. 38.7% for NW subjects), and less from carbohydrates (34.6% v. 44.6% for NW subjects). Also, O subjects consumed significantly larger amounts of cholesterol. In order to prevent obesity and avoid the disorders associated with this condition, it appears necessary not only to regulate energy intake, but also to control the composition of the diet. Given that it is during infancy that feeding habits are developed, it is important to ensure that correct habits are acquired. Special attention should be given to improving the dietary habits of overweight and obese children and adolescents.

A slaughter experiment was carried out to study the effect of dietary protein quality on maintenance energy requirements and energy costs for protein accretion and fat deposition in fast-growing broiler-type male chickens. Three isonitrogenous (200 g crude protein/kg DM) and isoenergetic (14 kJ metabolizable energy (ME)/g DM) semipurified diets based on soyabean meal unsupplemented (diet S) or supplemented with 20 g L-lysine/kg (diet SL) or 2 g DL-methionine/kg (diet SM), in order to promote a decrease or an increase in growth rate respectively, were selected and given at four feeding levels (ad lib. or restricted to 40, 28 and 18 g DM/d, on average) to 10-d-old fast-growing male broiler-type chicks for 2 weeks. Both the efficiency with which ME was used to support growth (kg) and the maintenance requirements (MEm) significantly decreased inversely to the biological value of the dietary protein (kg = 0·660, 0·600 and 0·572; MEm = 597, 522 and 464 k.J/kg W0·75 per d, for diets SI, S and SM respectively). The partial efficiencies of use of ME for protein accretion (kp) or fat deposition (kf) were also inversely related, the former increasing with the quality of the protein offered. An alternative procedure was used to try to overcome the statistical problems inherent in the partition of ME between fat and protein.

An in vitro method was developed to predict inorganic P release from maize-soyabean poultry feeds containing supplemental phytase (EC31·3·8), and to quantify the effect of acid phosphatase (EC 3·1·3·2), fungal protease (EC 3·4·23·6) and Aspergillus niger cellulase (EC 3·2·1·4) on phytate dephosphorylation. Pepsin (EC3·4·23·1) and pancreatin digestion periods were preceded by a 30 min pre-incubation at pH 5·25 to simulate digestion in the crop of poultry. Pancreatin digestion was carried out in dialysis tubing, with a ratio of about 1:25 (v/v) between the digesta and dialysing medium, to simulate gradient absorption from the duodenum. The feed:water ratio was kept within physiological limits and a constant proportion of feed weight to digestive enzymes was maintained. There was a linear response to increasing dosages of phytase up to 1000 phytase units (FTU)/kg feed, and to increasing phosphate concentration in feeds. In vivo validation was performed with growing turkeys (1–3 weeks) fed on diets containing 12 g Ca/kg and 0, 500 or 1000 FTU phytase/kg in a factorial arrangement with 0, 1, 2 or 3 g supplemental phosphate/kg (from KH2PO4). After a simple transformation (variable/in vitro P = f (in vitro P)), amounts of P hydrolysed from feed samples by in vitro digestions correlated with 3-week body-weight gain (R 0·986, P < 0·0001), toe ash (R 0·952, P < 0·0001), feed intake (R 0·994, P < 0·0001) and feed efficiency (R 0·992, P < 0·0001). The dephosphorylating ability of phytase in vitro was significantly enhanced (P < 0·05) by the addition of acid phosphatase. Fungal acid protease and Aspergillus niger cellulase also enhanced the dephosphorylation process in vitro.

The Department of Health (1992) has recently stated that ‘Nutritional reviews concerning elderly people are especially constrained by lack of data’, and that much of the emphasis in the nutritional literature has been placed on the study of institutionalized, and often chronically ill, elderly subjects rather than the non-institutionalized elderly who form the majority of this population. The present study presents information on the dietary intake and biochemical status of non-institutionalized elderly subjects (68–73 and 74–90 years) and compares such data with those obtained for adult (20–64 years) and adolescent (13–14 years) populations living within the same community. Nutrient intakes and appropriate biochemical measurements of nutrient status, performed on fasting blood samples, were statistically examined and have been discussed in relation to potential age-related influences. The nutrient intake of elderly subjects was on a par with adolescents of corresponding sex but generally lower than that of adult counterparts. There were several significant differences in biochemical measurements of nutrient status between age groups. In general these did not suggest progressive age-related trends. However, there were significant suggestions of age-related increases in whole-blood glutathione peroxidase (EC 1·11·1·9) activity, serum ferritin, plasma cholesterol, LDL and triacylglycerol concentrations and decreases in plasma HDL and ascorbic acid concentrations. The significance of these differences is discussed. An age-related difference (suggestive of a decline) in vitamin C status together with a difference (suggestive of an increase) in glutathione peroxidase activity may indicate an imbalance in the regulation of O2-derived free-radicals with ageing. These observations are worthy of a further study in the light of current thinking which relates the induction of a number of diseases to oxidative damage.

The effect of dietary protein concentration on stress responses against injection of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was studied in male broiler chickens. Chickens (7 d of age) were fed on a 100 (low-protein; LP) or 300 g protein/kg (high-protein; HP) diet for 2 weeks. LPS was injected intraperitoneally every 2 d during the final 6 d, or once 16 h before the end of the experiment, at a concentration of 900 μg/chick. The LPS injection did not affect body-weight gain, feed intake, gain:intake ratio, or plasma Fe concentration. The single injection of LPS reduced plasma Zn concentration, but the repeated injections did not. Feeding the HP diet increased the response of plasma Zn concentration to the single injection of LPS. Plasma albumin concentration was reduced by LPS injection. Feeding the HP diet resulted in a higher plasma α 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) concentration than feeding the LP diet, in chicks untreated with LPS. An increase in plasma AGP concentration observed after LPS injection in chicks fed on the LP diet was greater than that seen in chicks fed on the HP diet. No significant changes in plasma AGP concentration in response to repeated injections of LPS were observed in chicks fed on the HP diet. Plasma interleukin-1 (IL-l)-like activity was greater in chicks fed on the LP diet than in those fed on the HP diet, when LPS was injected. The response of plasma IL-1-like activity to the single injection of LPS in chicks fed on the LP diet was the greatest among the treatment groups. These results suggest that acute-phase responses to LPS injection are much greater in chicks fed on a LP diet than in those fed on a HP diet, and multiple injection of LPS weakens the responses.

The present study is a biochemical validation of a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with optical reading, i.e. containing food portion photographs to help to assess quantities. Forty-four healthy subjects, non-smokers and not taking vitamin supplements, were recruited for the study. After completion of the questionnaire, subjects were asked to keep a 7 d weighed dietary record (7DR). Three 24 h urine samples were collected on 3 different days over the week of food recording for the analysis of urea-N, P and K. On the 4th day of food recording, blood was collected for determination of α-tocopherol, β-carotene and ascorbic acid. N, P and K determined in urines and from 7DR were significantly correlated (Spearman rank correlation test), r values being 0·77, 0·57 and 0·42 respectively. The correlations with the FFQ were significant only for N (r 0·45) and P (r 0·39). Blood ascorbic acid and β-carotene concentrations correlated with dietary intake when determined from 7DR (both r 0·44), but not when determined from FFQ. No correlation was found for α-tocopherol. The data obtained seem to prove the validity of the FFQ in defining eating patterns in terms of some nutrients, but not vitamins, at least as far asaq non-supplemented subjects are concerned. The way in which foods were grouped in the questionnaire could account for these results.