The aim of the present study was to examine whether the composition of the diet among patients with psoriasis differed from a regular Norwegian diet and to relate nutrient intake to the clinical status of the patients' disease. Patients were recruited from all five university Departments of Dermatology in Norway. The participants filled in a quantitative food-frequency questionnaire before attending a clinical trial. Dietary data were available from ninety-three men and forty-three women, aged 17-73 years, witb stable plaque psoriasis involving more than 8% of the body surface. The dietary intake of the patients was compared with the diet of a reference group randomly selected from the Norwegian population, and related to a dermatological score of the psoriatics. The patients' intakes of energy and nutrients were fairly similar to those found in the reference group, except for a lower content of carbohydrates and sugar in the diet of female patients. None of the nutrients gave statistically significant contributions to explain the clinical score values when analysed by correlations.

A study was performed in a rural Mexican community and in Mexico City to investigate possible differences in non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) intakes. One hundred and fourteen women (fifty-five rural and fitty-nine urban) and forty-three men (twenty-four rural and nineteen urban) completed 24 h recall questionnaires for three consecutive days with NSP intakes being estimated from a specially prepared set of new food composition tables. Potential underestimation of intakes was assessed by estimating individual BMR and dividing the estimated energy intakes by BMR to give a ratio. Excluding severe underrecording (ratio < 1·01) suggested NSP intakes of 21·8 and 17·3 g/d in rural men and women and 17·7 and 15·6 g/d in urban men and women respectively. NSP sources differed, with a marked fall in intake from pulses in the urban areas but a compensatory increase of tortilla intakes and a rise in NSP-rich fruit consumption. Both soluble- and insoluble-NSP intakes were higher in rural areas. NSP intakes scaled by probable energy intakes of moderately active adults in developing countries suggest that NSP intakes in Mexico are similar to adjusted values in Africa, i.e. 26·9 g/d in Mexico v. 28·5 g/d in Africa in rural men and 22·9 v. 21·0 g/d respectively in rural women. The NSP: energy density ratio (g/MJ) of the rural diet conformed with the World Health Organization (1990) goal. Data available on urban and rural communities for three countries showed that in each case the intake of NSP was lowest in the urban community.

The present study was designed to investigate the interaction between body weight and energy expenditure in well-nourished individuals. Energy expenditure was determined during a 10 d highly controlled work programme in apparently well-nourished adult male construction workers with a wide range of body weights (mean weight: 63·9 (SD 11·0, range 46·7-80·1) kg, mean BMI: 22·5 (SD 3·8, range 16·7-28·9) kg/m2). Total energy expenditure (mean: 12·68 (SE 0·73) MJ/d or 1·78 (SE 0·07) x BMR) was determined using doubly-labelled water and the energy costs of work activities by Oxylog. The energy expenditure during work (mean: 5·75 (SE 0·29) MJ/day or 3·48 (SE 0·09) x BMR) was estimated from the energy costs of individual tasks and the time spent in those tasks. The energy expenditure during discretionary time (mean: 4·37 (SE 0·58) MJ/d or 1·49 (SE 0·17) x BMR) was calculated by subtracting occupation and sleep expenditure (taken as1 x BMR) from total expenditure. Food intake and discretionary time allocation were recorded by the subjects. The energy expenditure in the programmed work activities (expressed as a multiple of BMR) showed a significant increase (P=0·035) with increasing body weight, suggesting that the assumed constancy of BMR multiples across a wide range of body weights may not be valid. This assertion was supported by theoretical calculations based on empirically derived equations. In order to avoid errors which could be interpreted as metabolic ‘adaptation’ it may be necessary to take account of body weight when using the BMR-multiple approach to estimate energy requirements at low body weights.

Three experiments were conducted in healthy middle-aged volunteers (six males and six females in Expt 1, six males and two females in Expt 2 and twelve males in Expt 3) with a mean BMI of 27 kg/m2 to determine whether there is a difference between morning and afternoon dietary fat clearance and utilization, and to determine in what way the fat and starch contents of the meal influence postprandial blood lipid metabolites over 4·5 h. Over 4 days in Expt 1 each subject received isoenergetic, high-carbohydrate (L, 5·5 g mixed fat/meal) and moderately high-fat (M, 33 g mixed fat/meal) breakfasts and lunches, in three combinations (LL, MM, LM), or they fasted at breakfast time and received a high fat lunch (NM) in a randomized and balanced arrangement. Each evening a standard meal was given. The following effects were significant (P<0·05): plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) responses were greater following M meals; plasma TAG concentrations were greater in the afternoon than in the morning, following two meals of the same composition, although the postprandial incremental response was less following lunch than following breakfast and peak responses were reached much earlier than after breakfast; a low-fat breakfast, or fasting at breakfast time, delayed the peak TAG response to a M lunch. The plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and of free glycerol were higher in the afternoon following M meals at breakfast and lunch, especially in males. This response was reduced, by the L breakfast preceding the M lunch. Two M meals in succession lowered plasma HDL-cholesterol concentration. In Expt 2 each subject received a very low-fat (VL) breakfast, followed by a lunch of the same composition. Each of these meals was followed, 110 min from the start of eating, by an infusion of Intralipid 10% emulsion at the rate of 1 ml/kg body weight over 60 s. Clearance rates of Intralipid were faster in the afternoon than in the morning (P= 0·024). In Expt 3 twelve subjects were randomly allocated to either treatment MM or LM meal patterns, as given in Expt 1. These were given daily for a period of 17 d, during which the change in fasting plasma TAG concentration was similar in both treatments. On days 1, 16 and 17 responses were measured to the M lunch and to a glucose tolerance test (GTT), conducted 2 h 17 min after lunch. The post-lunch responses confirmed those found in Expt 1; but immediately following the glucose dose there was an abrupt increase in plasma TAG that was greater in treatment LM than in treatment MM (P= 0·025), whereas plasma NEFA concentration decreased rapidly in both treatments at that time (P = 0·00066)

Sixty children aged 1-3 years with protein malnutrition were involved in the present study. Measurements were made of plasma transferrin receptor (TfR), haemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, transferrin and Fe in comparison with twenty apparently healthy age- and sex-matched reference children in Nigeria. Plasma TfR was measured by an immunofluorometric assay. The mean plasma concentrations of both albumin (37 g/l) and transferrin (1·88 g/l) were within reference ranges in the ‘healthy’ children. The malnourished children had severe protein deficiency as indicated by their significantly lower mean plasma albumin (24·4-28·2 g/l; P < 0·0001) and transferrin (1·24-1·53 g/l; P < 0·0001) concentrations in comparison with the reference children. In the reference children, the traditional indicators of Fe nutrition (plasma Fe, transferrin Fe saturation and Hb) were within the reference ranges, but ferritin values were raised, indicating acute or chronic infection and/or inflammation. The mean concentrations of plasma TW (4·2-5-2 mg/l) in the malnourished group were significantly lower than the mean (6·1 mgn) of the reference children (P=0·0009). In the children with severe malnutrition, none of the indicators of Fe status except Hb (81·5-86·7 g/l; P<0·0001) showed Fe deficiency, including the serum concentration of TfR and the TfR : ferritin ratio, although the Fe status was lower than in the reference children (for Fe P = 0·009; and ferritin P=0·0004). In the absence of haemodilution, the low Hb values are a clear indication that the malnourished children were Fe deficient; none of the other indices was indicative of Fe deficiency. This is the first report of TfR levels in malnourished and healthy African children.

Effects of biogenic amines on silage intake and rumen fermentation during dietary changes were studied in sheep. Two direct-cut grass silages were prepared from a single grass sward, one untreated (WAS) and one treated with 4·0 litres formic acid (850 ml/1) per tonne (FAS). Diets of FAS, and FAS supplemented with 7·2 g biogenic amined/kg DM (FAS +A), were offered ad libitum, once daily to four rumen-cannulated, and four intact wethers in a repeated crossover design experiment. During a pre-period before each crossover, the animals were offered either the silage low in biogenic amines (FAS), or that containing moderate concentrations (WAS). During the first 4 d of the FAS+A treatment, the added biogenic amins tended to lower daily DM intake (DMI) and lowered significantly the DMI during the principal meal after feeding. This acute effect on DMI tended to be reduced when the sheep were previously preconditioned to amines by feeding WAS, and the acute DMI depression during the principal meal was significantly reduced. At the end of the 14 d FAS+A feeding period daily DMI was similar to that of the FAS treatment, but the daily pattern of intake remained different, with lower intake of FAS+A during the first 5 h after feeding, this being compensated for by the end of the day. Rumen fermentation tended to be less during the first 4 d that FAS+A was offered, due to the lower DMI and not due to the acute effect of amines. However, in the sheep unadapted to FAS+A, amine content in the rumen was higher than when the sheep were adapted for 14 d to FAS+A or WAS. Adaptation to FAS+A and feeding WAS during the pre-periods, increased the amine-degrading capacity of rumen fluid. In conclusion, in sheep unadapted to dietary amines, feeding amines will acutely lower DMI through reduced palatibility and most probably by stressing intermediary metabolism. Being preconditioned to amines slightly reduces the acute effect on daily DMI. Although the sheep adapted within 14 d to biogenic amines in the diet and increased daily DMI, there was clear evidence that amines have a negative effect on palatability.

The energy cost of eating was measured in four goats averaging 38 kg and fitted with rumen cannulas. Heat production (HP) was estimated in each goat over restricted periods of approximately 15 min while standing and eating continuously in a confinement respiration chamber. The animals were given feeds of different nature and physical form ranging from shrubs to concentrates. The energy cost of eating was calculated from the increment in HP above the average HP during the prefeeding period. The energy cost was related to the type and amount of feed consumed and also to the time spent eating. In a parallel experiment, similar amounts of the feeds eaten normally (oral feeding) were introduced into the rumen through a fistula. The increases in HP during and after fistula-feeding were negligible, which indicates that all of the increase in HP during eating is to be attributed to the energy cost of eating per se, mainly to theact of food prehension, mastication and propulsion in the alimentary tract. The rate of ingestion (g DM/min) ranged from 6·3 for fresh cut lucerne (Medicago sativa) to 46-99 for concentrates. The energy cost of eating (J/kg body weight (BW) per g DM) averaged 7·08 for fresh cut lucerne, 9·02 for roughages and 1·55 for concentrates and was 2·24 and 4·75 for pelleted and chopped lucerne hay respectively. When theenergy cost was expressed as a function of time spent eating, it ranged from 45 to 144 J/kg BW per min, depending on the physical form of the feed.

The effect of growth retardation, resulting from feed restriction for a prolonged period, on the course of infection with Trypanosoma vivax was studied. Twelve male castrated West Africa Dwarf goats were subjected to a restricted feeding reghen of 55 g pelleted lucerne (Medicago safiva)/kg body weight0·75 per d for on average 17 weeks. Twelve other animals were fed on pelleted lucerne ad libitum, resulting in a normal growth pattern. After this period, all animals were fed on pelleted lucerne ad libitum, and six animatn of each previous feeding regimen treatment were infected with Trypanosoma viva. The other animals served as controls. In week 2 and 4 post infection (pi) energy and N balaoces were measured. In the week before infection and daring infection blood biochemical and clinlcal variables were measured. At 2 weeks before, and 4 weeks after infection, a liver biopsy was taken for measurement of triacylglycerol. Iofection caused intermittent fever and anaemia. The first peak of fever persisted longer in iofected anlmaln with normal growth than in infected animals with retarded growth. Gross energy and metabolizable energy intake, and energy retention were reduced ininfected animals. Metabolizable energy requirements for mainteoaoce were increased by infection. Plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glucose concentratioos were increased in infected animals, whereas serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine coocentratioos were decreased.Plasma urea concentration and liver triacylglycerol were uoaffected. No interaction of growth retardation with infection with respect to blood biochemical variables was found, apart from plasma NEFA in week 2 pi. N retention was not significantly affected by treatments. In conclusion, minor indications were found for an interaction between growth retardation, as applied in the present study, and trypaommiasis infection in West Africao Dwarf goats with respect to energy and N metabolism.

The effects of raw sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) meal and its fractions on the growth and N utilization of rats were determined in two NPU and five N balance experiments. Sweet lupinseed grown in Western Australia, obtained as meal, unsupplemented (LMU), or fully supplemented with required amino acids (360 g/kg diet) (LMFS) was tested. In addition, six fractions were tested: aqueous non-dialysed extract at pH 7·0 (LPAND), dialysed extracts soluble (LPAD) and insoluble at pH 7·0 (LPADI), buffer-soluble extract at pH 7·0 (BUSOL), buffer-insoluble extract after dialysis at pH 7·0 (BUDI) and the residue (LMR) containing most of the material from meal insoluble in water and phosphate-citrate buffer. All diets based on fractions contained the same amounts of energy and protein and were supplemented with amino acids, vitamins and minerals to target requirements. Body N and lipid contents of rats fed on LMU and LMFS were reduced significantly in comparison with rats fed on positive lactalbumin (LACT) and non-protein diets (NPC) as negative controls. This wasdue in part to the lower retention of the absorbed N. As a result, the NPU and the biological value (BV) of sweet lupinseed proteins were less than expected. Urea-N outputs of the LMU- and LMFS-fed rats were also elevated. In contrast, true N and DM digestibilities of rats fed on LMU and LMFS were not significantly affected by the difference in the energy content of the diet. The replacement of lactalbumin in thediet with LPAND (196 g/kg), LPAD (148 g/kg), LPADI (124 g/kg), BUSOL (136 g/kg) or BUDI (119 g/kg) reduced dry body weight, N and lipid contents, NPU and BV compared with those obtained from the LACT control, even though the N and DM digestibilitieswere not significantly different. Inclusion of the residue fraction (170 g LMR/kg) had no apparent effect on any of the variables studied. Since sweet lupinseed had asmall amount of non-reactive lectin and LMR had some undesirable side-effects in these rats, it appears that the low nutritional value of LMFS for rats (NPU 0·62) despite the very high level of digestibility of its N, results from disturbances in N metabolism, and particularly from the low retention value of the absorbed N

The effect of hypoxic exposure on in vitro duodenal Fe uptake kinetics was studied in tissue fragments from rats that were fed or fasted overnight before study. Hypoxic exposure was for 3 d at 0·5 atm and fasting was for the last 18-24 h before Fe uptake determinations. The non-permeable Fe2+ chelator 3-(2-pyridyl)-5,6-bis-(4-phenyl-sulphonic acid)-l,2,4-triazine (ferrozine), and medium deoxygenation inhibited uptake in all experimental groups. Ferrozine sensitivity and mucosal Fe3+ reductase activity were greatest in hypoxic animals. Fe uptake was inhibited by membrane depolarization only after fasting or hypoxic exposure of the rats. The data demonstrated that Fe uptake by rat duodenal fragments involves at least two mechanisms: a membrane-potentialindependent mechanism which is not responsive to hypoxia and a second mechanism, induced by fasting or hypoxia, which is inhibited by membrane depolarization. Uptake is partially dependent on reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ and this is primarily associated with the second mechanism for uptake. These properties have been reported also in mouse and human Fe uptake, suggesting that the rat is a useful model for the study of basic mechanisms of Fe absorption

To investigate the mechanism of tissue Fe accumulation in graded Mg deficiency rats were fed on diets of different Mg contents (70, 110, 208, 330, and 850 mg Mg/kg) for 10, 20, and 30 d during rapid growth. There was no significant impact of Mg deficiency or high luminal Mg concentrations on intestinal 59Fe transfer in vitro or in vivo. Plasma Mg concentrations and body weight started to decrease after 10 d. Significant haemolytic anaemia was observed after 20 d with siderosis in liver and spleen developing in parallel. Anaemia showed no features of Fe deficiency or infiammation. Comparison between the 70 mg Mg/kg group and animals that received the same quantity of a Mg-adequate diet (850 mg Mg/kg) permitted estimation of quantities of Fe liberated by haemolysis and the increased Fe content in liver and spleen. Both variables showed a high degree of correlation, indicating that the excess of liberated haemoglobin Fe was stored in the tissue. The erythropoietic activity was high during rapid growth, i.e. at days 10 and 20 and decreased significantly after 30 d in all except the most Mg-deficient groups. However, haemolytic anaemia developed because even the high erythropoietic activity in the 70 and 110 mg Mg/kg groups was not sutlicient to recycle all haemoglobin Fe liberated by haemolysis. After 30 d of Mg-deficient feeding the erythrocyte Mg content had decreased to 40% of control values. According to the literature Mg-deficient erythrocytes have a decreased survival time which is likely to be the cause of the observed haemolysis.