Consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) enriched in saturated fat induces excessive weight gain due to adiposity, which can lead to metabolic complications, as well as increased risk of fatty liver disease and CVD. The present study investigated the underlying mechanism and dose–response effects of resveratrol (RV) on obesity, hepatic steatosis and dyslipidaemia in mice fed a HFD. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet or a HFD (20 % fat, w/w) combined with 0·005 or 0·02 % (w/w) RV for 10 weeks. As expected, mice fed a HFD developed obesity, as shown by increased body weight gain, visceral fat, hepatic fat and plasma cholesterol. RV significantly reduced visceral fat and plasma NEFA. In the liver of HFD-fed mice, RV significantly reduced TAG and cholesterol, as well as lipid droplet number and size. A low dose of RV (0·005 %) appeared to be more effective than a higher dose of RV (0·02 %) for suppressing adiposity and hepatic steatosis development with a significant decrease in body weight gain, plasma TAG and total cholesterol levels. These changes were seemingly attributable to a suppression of the fatty acid (FA) synthase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and/or an activation of FA oxidation in the liver and epididymal adipose tissue. In conclusion, daily consumption of a low dose of RV is effective for protecting against diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis and dyslipidaemia in HFD-fed mice.

A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the interactions between laminarin (LAM; 0 and 300 parts per million (ppm)) and fucoidan (FUC; 0 and 240 ppm) levels on intestinal morphology, selected microbiota and inflammatory cytokine gene expression in the weaned pig. There was an interaction between LAM and FUC supplementation on the Enterobacteriaceae population (P< 0·05) and the abundance of attaching and effacing Escherichia coli (AEEC) strains (P< 0·05) in the colon. Pigs offered the FUC diet had a reduced Enterobacteriaceae population compared with pigs offered the basal diet. However, the effect of FUC on the Enterobacteriaceae population was not observed when combined with LAM. Pigs offered the LAM diet had reduced abundance of AEEC strains compared with pigs offered the basal diet. However, there was no effect of LAM on the abundance of AEEC strains when combined with FUC. There was an interaction between LAM and FUC supplementation on villous height (P< 0·01) and the villous height:crypt depth ratio (P< 0·01) in the duodenum. Pigs offered the LAM or FUC diet had an increased villous height and villous height:crypt depth ratio compared with pigs offered the basal diet. However, there was no effect of the LAM and FUC combination diet on intestinal morphology. Pigs offered the LAM-supplemented diets had a lower IL-6 (P< 0·05), IL-17A (P< 0·01) and IL-1β (P< 0·01) mRNA expression in the colon compared with pigs offered the diets without LAM. In conclusion, supplementation with either LAM or FUC alone modified intestinal morphology and selected intestinal microbiota, but these effects were lost when offered in combination.

It has been suggested that the current dietary recommendations (low-fat–high-carbohydrate diet) may promote the intake of sugar and highly refined starches which could have adverse effects on the metabolic risk profile. We have investigated the short-term (6-d) nutritional and metabolic effects of an ad libitum low-glycaemic index–low-fat–high-protein diet (prepared according to the Montignac method) compared with the American Heart Association (AHA) phase I diet consumed ad libitum as well as with a pair-fed session consisting of the same daily energy intake as the former but with the same macronutrient composition as the AHA phase I diet. Twelve overweight men (BMI 33·0 (SD 3·5) KG/M2) WITHOUT OTHER DISEASES WERE INVOLVED IN THREE EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS WITH A MINIMAL WASHOUT PERIOD OF 2 WEEKS SEPARATING EACH INTERVENTION. BY PROTOCOL DESIGN, THE FIRST TWO CONDITIONS WERE ADMINISTERED RANDOMLY WHEREAS THE PAIR-FED SESSION HAD TO BE ADMINISTERED LAST. DURING THE AD LIBITUM VERSION OF THE AHA DIET, SUBJECTS CONSUMED 11695·0 (sd 1163·0) kJ/d and this diet induced a 28 % increase in plasma triacylglycerol levels (1·77 (sd 0·79) v. 2·27 (sd 0·92) mmol/l, P<0·05) and a 10 % reduction in plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations (0·92 (sd 0·16) v. 0·83 (sd 0·09) mmol/l, P<0·01) which contributed to a significant increase in cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio (P<0·05), this lipid index being commonly used to assess the risk of coronary heart disease. In contrast, the low-glycaemic index–low-fat–high-protein diet consumed ad libitum resulted in a spontaneous 25 % decrease (P<0·001) in total energy intake which averaged 8815·0 (sd 738·0) kJ/d. As opposed to the AHA diet, the low-glycaemic index–low-fat–high-protein diet produced a substantial decrease (-35 %) in plasma triacylglycerol levels (2·00 (sd 0·83) v. 1·31 (sd 0·38) mmol/l, P<0·0005), a significant increase (+1·6 %) in LDL peak particle diameter (251 (sd 5) v. 255 (sd 5) Å, P<0·02) and marked decreases in plasma insulin levels measured either in the fasting state, over daytime and following a 75 g oral glucose load. During the pair-fed session, in which subjects were exposed to a diet with the same macronutrient composition as the AHA diet but restricted to the same energy intake as during the low-glycaemic index–low-fat–high-protein diet, there was a trend for a decrease in plasma HDL-cholesterol levels which contributed to the significant increase in cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio noted with this condition. Furthermore, a marked increase in hunger (P<0·0002) and a significant decrease in satiety (P<0·007) were also noted with this energy-restricted diet. Finally, favourable changes in the metabolic risk profile noted with the ad libitum consumption of the low-glycaemic index–low-fat–high-protein diet (decreases in triacyglycerols, lack of increase in cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio, increase in LDL particle size) were significantly different from the response of these variables to the AHA phase I diet. Thus, a low-glycaemic index–low-fat–high-protein content diet may have unique beneficial effects compared with the conventional AHA diet for the treatment of the atherogenic metabolic risk profile of abdominally obese patients. However, the present study was a short-term intervention and additional trials are clearly needed to document the long-term efficacy of this dietary approach with regard to compliance and effects on the metabolic risk profile.

‘The Stockholm Pregnancy and Weight Development Study’ was conducted to identify risk factors for postpartum weight retention, such as dietary habits, physical activity and socio-demographic factors. The body weight development of 1423 pregnant women was studied prospectively from the beginning of the pregnancy until 1 year postpartum. Data were collected from routine pregnancy records and from questionnaires 6 and 12 months postpartum. Mean weight retention 1 year postpartum was 0.5 kg compared with the prepregnancy body weight. A ‘trend method’ was constructed to identify a number of pre-defined major patterns of behaviour. The weight retention 1 year postpartum was greater in women who (a) increased their energy intake during and after pregnancy, (b) increased their snack eating after pregnancy tc three or more snacks/d, and (c) decreased their lunch frequency starring during or after the pregnancy. Women who had retained > 5 kg 1 year postpartum were more seldom physically active in their leisure time throughout the study period compared with women with a smaller weight gain. Postpartum weight retention correlated negatively with the degree of physical activity in the second half year postpartum. These results indicate that postpartum weight retention is more affected by a change in lifestyle during, and above all after, pregnancy than by factors before pregnancy.

1. The daily intake of selenium by three subjects was supplemented with 100 μg Se as selenomethionine (Semet-Se) or sodium selenite (selenite-Se)/d for 10–11 weeks, or with 65 μg Se as in mackerel (Scomber japonicus) (fish-Se)/d for 4 weeks.

2. Urinary and faecal excretion of Se was measured and also Se concentration in whole blood, plasma and erythrocytes. Measurements on blood were made at intervals after supplementation had ceased.

3. Selenite-Se was not as well absorbed (0.46 of the intake) during the first 4 weeks as Semet-Se (0.75 of the intake) and fish Se (0.66 of the intake).

4. Blood Se increased steadily with Semet-Se, from 0.08 to 0.18 μg Se/ml, but more slowly with selenite-Se, reaching a plateau in 7–8 weeks at 0.11 μg Se/ml. Plasma Se increased more rapidly with Semet-Se than with selenite-Se, so that initially with Semet-Se plasma Se was greater than erythrocyte Se.

5. Daily urinary excretion increased with all forms of supplement, with initially a greater proportion of absorbed selenite-Se being excreted than Semet-Se or fish-Se. A close relationship was found between plasma Se and 24 h urinary excretion. The findings suggested that there was a rapid initial excretion of presumably unbound Se then a slower excretion of residual unbound, loosely bound or bound Se.

6. Total retentions of 3.5 mg selenite-Se and 4.5 mg Semet-Se were large when compared with an estimate of body content of 6 mg Se, derived in another paper (Stewart, Griffiths, Thomson & Robinson, 1978). Retentions of Semet-Se and fish-Se appeared to be reflected in blood Se, whereas for selenite-Se, blood Se reflected retention for only a short period after which Se appeared to be retained without altering the blood Se. This suggested that Semet-Se and selenite-Se were metabolized differently.

7. A double blind-dosing trial with 100 μg Semet-Se was carried out for 12 weeks on twenty-four patients with muscular complaints in Tapanui, a low-Se-soil area. Blood Se increased in the experimental group (from 0.067 to 0.143 μg Se/ml); clinical findings were not conclusive and will be presented elsewhere.

8. Blood Se was measured in New Zealand residents before travelling to Europe or to North America. On return their blood Se was increased, and depending upon the period of time spent outside New Zealand some values reached concentrations found in visitors and new settlers to New Zealand.

9. The results from these studies and the earlier studies of single and multiple dosing have been used to look at the various criteria in use for assessing Se status of subjects. It is suggested that plasma Se be used in preference to 24 h urinary excretion, and in addition to whole blood Se and glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) activity.

Flaxseed lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) has been reported to prevent and alleviate lifestyle-related diseases including diabetes and hypercholesterolaemic atherosclerosis. This study assesses the effect of SDG on the development of diet-induced obesity in mice and the effect of the SDG metabolite enterodiol (END) on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We compared body weight, visceral fat weight, liver fat content, serum parameters, mRNA levels of lipid metabolism-related enzymes and adiponectin in mice fed either a low-fat diet (5 % TAG), high-fat diet (30 % TAG) or high-fat diet containing 0·5 and 1·0 % (w/w) SDG for 4 weeks. Administration of SDG to mice significantly reduced high-fat diet-induced visceral and liver fat accumulation, hyperlipaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, hyperinsulinaemia and hyperleptinaemia. SDG also suppressed sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c mRNA level in the liver and induced increases in the adiponectin mRNA level in the white adipose tissue and carnitine palmitoyltransferase I mRNA level in the skeletal muscle. Differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with 0, 5, 10 and 20 μmol/l END and then assayed for mRNA expression of adipogenesis-related genes and DNA binding activity of PPARγ to the PPAR response element consensus sequence. END induced adipogenesis-related gene mRNA expression including adiponectin, leptin, glucose transporter 4 and PPARγ, and induced PPARγ DNA binding activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In conclusion, SDG induced adiponectin mRNA expression and showed beneficial effects on lipid metabolism in diet-induced obesity in mice. Flaxseed lignans are suggested to regulate adipogenesis-related gene expressions through an increase in PPARγ DNA binding activity.

Exposure to the sight and smell of food influences our momentary desire to consume it. This study explored the process by which cue exposure promotes greater consumption of food. Three hypotheses were explored, cue exposure: (i) increases the planned consumption of food; (ii) increases tolerance of larger portion sizes; (iii) arrests the development of satiety. Female participants (n 50) were each tested in two conditions. In a ‘cue condition’ they were exposed to the sight and smell of pizza for 60 s. Before and after this period they provided information about prospective and maximum tolerated portion sizes and their desire to eat pizza and other non-cued foods. Participants then consumed a fixed portion of pizza, rated their hunger and were finally offered ad libitum access to pizza. In the ‘no-cue condition’, cue exposure was replaced with a cognitive task. Cueing had little effect on tolerance of larger portion sizes or on hunger after consuming the fixed portion. Instead, it increased prospective pizza portion size and subsequent intake of pizza. Together, these results suggest that cueing increases the amount of food that people actively plan to eat. This plan is then executed, leading to greater intake. Pizza cueing also increased prospective portion size of other foods. Thus, contrary to previous reports, effects of exposure may generalise to other foods. Finally, we found evidence that restrained eaters are less ‘cue reactive’ than unrestrained eaters. In future, our approach might be adapted to consider whether heightened ‘cue reactivity’ represents a risk factor for obesity.

Epidemiological and other evidence suggests that vitamin D may be protective against several chronic diseases. Assessing vitamin D status in epidemiological studies, however, is challenging given finite resources and limitations of commonly used approaches. Using multivariable linear regression, we derived predicted 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) scores based on known determinants of circulating 25(OH)D, including age, race, UV-B radiation flux at residence, dietary and supplementary vitamin D intakes, BMI, physical activity, alcohol intake, post-menopausal hormone use (women only) and season of blood draw, in three nationwide cohorts: the Nurses' Health Study, Nurses' Health Study II and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. The model r2 for each cohort ranged from 0·25 to 0·33. We validated the prediction models in independent samples of participants from these studies. Mean measured 25(OH)D levels rose with increasing decile of predicted 25(OH)D score, such that the differences in mean measured 25(OH)D between the extreme deciles of predicted 25(OH)D were in the range 8·7–12·3 ng/ml. Substituting predicted 25(OH)D scores for measured 25(OH)D in a previously published case–control analysis of colorectal cancer yielded similar effect estimates with OR of approximately 0·8 for a 10 ng/ml difference in either plasma or predicted 25(OH)D. We conclude that these data provide reasonable evidence that a predicted 25(OH)D score is an acceptable marker for ranking individuals by long-term vitamin D status and may be particularly useful in research settings where biomarkers are not available for the majority of a study population.

1. Six closely shorn sheep were given brome grass (Bromus inermis) pellets at the rate of 59 or 98 g dry matter (dm)/h and maintained at ambient temperatures of 2–5° and 22–25° for 35 d. Measurements of digestion, rate of passage of digesta, and nitrogen transformations were made during the last 13 d of temperature exposure.

2. Cold exposure at the lower level of intake reduced the apparent digestibility of dm and organic matter (om) approximately 0.055 units. Apparent digestibility of dm and om was further decreased approximately 0.03 units with the higher level of food intake in the cold. Apparent N digestibility was significantly depressed from 0.62 to 0.59–0.60 for sheep exposed to cold at both levels of intake.

3. Exposure of sheep to cold resulted in a decrease in the turnover time of the particulate marker, 103Ru, from 19 h to 10.12 h in the rumen, a decrease in rumen volume, and a significant increase in dm and om which escaped digestion in the stomach. Volatile fatty acid and methane production in the rumen were highly correlated with the amount of om digested in the stomach. Methane production in the rumen comprised 0.81 of total production in warm sheep, and 0.68–0.74 of total production in cold-exposed sheep.

4. More om and non-ammonia-N were apparently digested in the intestines of sheep exposed to cold than in warm sheep at the same food intake, but the apparent digestibilities in the intestines of dm, om and non-ammonia-N leaving the abomasum did not change significantly between treatments. The retention time of 103Ru in the intestines was 17.18 h in sheep given 59 g dm food/h at both exposure temperatures, but was reduced to 12 h for cold-exposed sheep given 98 g dm/h. Methane production in the postruminal tract was increased at the higher food intake, but there was no difference between warm and cold-exposed sheep at the same food intake.

5. The rate of irreversible loss of plasma urea and rumen ammonia was measured by infusion of [15N]urea and [15N]ammonium chloride. Exposure to cold reduced the irreversible loss of plasma urea from 0.85 to 0.75–0.77 g N/g N intake, and the irreversible loss of rumen ammonia from 0.66 to 0.57–0.61 g N/g N intake. The transfer of plasma urea-N to the rumen ammonia pool was significantly greater (9.5 g N/d) in the cold-exposed sheep than the value (7.3 g N/d) in warm sheep.

6. The efficiency of microbial synthesis in the rumen was increased in cold-exposed sheep, and was related to the amount of N recycled through the rumen ammonia pool from intraruminal sources. The effect of dilution rate and fermentation patterns on efficiency of microbial synthesis is discussed.

The present experiments4 were undertaken to investigate the effects of environmental temperatures on growth, abdominal fat content, rate of muscle protein turnover, and heat production in tube-fed intact male broiler chickens. Plasma concentrations of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and corticosterone (CTC) were also examined. Chicks (15d old) were kept at different environmental temperatures (16,19,22,25,28,31, and 34°) and given the experimental diet (200g crude protein/kg, 13·;57M/kg metabolizable energy) by tube three times daily throughout the 12d experimental period. In the hot conditions, except for 34°, body-weight gain was significantly higher than in the cold conditions. Thus, food conversion ratios (food: gain ratios) were lower when the birds were exposed to the hot conditions other than 34°. Likewise, abdominal fat content was significantly increased, and heat production was lower in the groups kept under the hot conditions other than 34°. The rate of skeletal muscle protein turnover and plasma concentration of CTC were decreased when the birds were exposed to hot conditions other than 34°. suggesting a role of CTC in the regulation of muscle protein turnover. Plasma concentrations of T4 and T3 were significantly decreased as environmental temperature increased. These results clearly show that plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones and CTC are associated with accelerated muscle protein turnover and heat production.

The health benefits of pomegranate consumption have recently received considerable scientific focus, with most studies examining fruit and/or juice consumption. Pomegranate seed oil (POMo) is a rich source of 9-cis, 11-trans conjugate linolenic acid (CLA), which may offset the side-effects associated with weight gain. Male, wild-type CD-1 mice were divided into one of three groups (twenty per group): high-fat (HF), HF+seed oil (HF+POMo) or lean control (LN). In HF and HF+POMo, mice were provided access ad libitum to a high-fat chow (60 % of energy from fat). HF+POMo was supplemented with 61·79 mg POMo/d. LN consumed a restricted low-fat (10 % of energy from fat) chow to maintain body weight within 5 % of initial weight. Plasma was analysed for biomarkers associated with cholesterol profile (total cholesterol, HDL and TAG), glucose sensitivity (glucose and insulin), adipose tissue accumulation (leptin and adiponectin) and systemic low-grade inflammation (C-reactive protein and haptoglobin). The key findings of this study were that weight gain was associated with an increase in biomarkers of cholesterol profile, glucose sensitivity, adipose tissue accumulation and systemic low-grade inflammation (P < 0·05). POMo only altered body weight accumulation, final body weight, leptin, adiponectin and insulin (P < 0·05). We found that despite a similar level of energy intake, HF mice had a greater concentration of leptin and a lower concentration of adiponectin compared to HF+POMo mice. POMo intake was associated with an improvement in insulin sensitivity, suggesting that risk of developing type 2 diabetes may have been reduced; however, CVD risk did not change.

Surgery, trauma, burns and injury induce an inflammatory response that can become excessive and damaging in some patients. This hyperinflammation can be followed by an immunosuppressed state which increases susceptibility to infection. The resulting septic syndromes are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A range of nutrients are able to modulate inflammation (and the associated oxidative stress) and to maintain or improve immune function. These include several amino acids, antioxidant vitamins and minerals, long-chain n-3 fatty acids and nucleotides. Experimental studies support a role for each of these nutrients in surgical, injured or critically ill patients. There is good evidence that glutamine influences immune function in such patients and that this is associated with clinical improvement. Evidence is also mounting for the use of long-chain n-3 fatty acids in surgical and septic patients, but more evidence of clinical efficacy is required. Mixtures of antioxidant vitamins and minerals are also clinically effective, especially if they include selenium. Their action appears not to involve improved immune function, although an anti-inflammatory mode of action has not been ruled out. Enteral immunonutrient mixtures, usually including arginine, nucleotides and long-chain n-3 fatty acids, have been used widely in surgical and critically ill patients. Evidence of efficacy is good in surgical patients. However whether these same mixtures are beneficial, or should even be used, in critically ill patients remains controversial, since some studies show increased mortality with such mixtures. There is a view that this is due to a high arginine content driving nitric oxide production.

1. Variation in endogenous nitrogen metabolism was determined by giving eleven healthy men, aged 17–22, a diet supplying daily only 6 mg N/kg body-weight. Eight subjects were given the diet for 7–10 days and three other subjects were given it for 16 days.

2. Body cell mass (BCM) was calculated from whole-body 40K in ten subjects and basal metabolism was determined in seven subjects during the ‘protein-free’ period. Urine was analysed daily for N and creatinine, and faecal N was measured in pooled samples. Plasma free amino acids, serum albumin and protein were measured in preprandial morning blood samples at the beginning and end of the study.

3. BCM did not change during the ‘protein-free’ period and accounted for 48% of the total body-weight. Basal calorie expenditure amounted to 48 ± 5 kcal/kg BCM per day.

4. Mean daily endogenous urinary N excretion in the eight subjects given the ‘protein-free’ diet for 7–10 days was 36·6 ± 3·0 mg N/kg body-weight, 79·4 ± 4·4 mg N/kg BCM and 1·6 ± 0·2 mg N/basal kcal. Endogenous faecal N excretion was 9·9 ± 1·1 mg N/kg body-weight and accounted for 20% of the total endogenous loss. Results obtained with three other subjects given the diet for 16 days were similar.

5. Plasma essential amino acids were reduced, glutamic acid, alanine and glycine increased, and the ratio of essential to non-essential amino acids decreased after 7 or 10 days of ‘protein-free’ diet.

6. The loss of endogenous N per basal kcal and of faecal N per kg body-weight was lower than the values assumed in the factorial approach to protein requirements by the FAO/WHO (1965) Expert Group on Protein Requirements.

1. Six groups of four litter-mate female Large White pigs of about 17 kg live weight were allocated according to a 2×2 factorial design in each of two experiments in which rations containing 0 or 750 ppm copper were offered with either 0 and 500 ppm zinc, or 0 and 750 ppm iron. 2. Severity of toxicosis was assessed by determining aspartate transaminase activity in serum, observing the incidence of jaundice and determining the hemoglobin concentration in whole blood and Cu concentration in serum and liver. 3. Addition of 750 ppm Cu to the diet caused toxicity in nine out of twelve animals; it was most severe after about 4 weeks when two-to five-fold increases in serum Cu and aspartate transaminase levels were found and seven pigs were jaundiced. Serum Cu and aspartate transaminase concentrations and degrees of jaundice were apparently interrelated and returned to normal levels after 6 weeks, suggesting adaptation to the high Cu intake. Growth depression and a microcytic hypochromic anaemia persisted. 4. Addition of 500 ppm Zn or 750 ppm Fe in the presence of 750 ppm Cu eliminated jaundice and produced serum Cu and aspartate transaminase concentrations similar to control values after 4 weeks. Only supplementary Fe afforded protection against anaemia. 5. Variability in the response of the pig to Cu supplements could be partly due to variations in the intake of Fe and Zn. The addition of Fe and Zn supplements to pig diets supplemented with Cu would probably reduce the small risk of causing Cu poisoning.

Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a woody mushroom highly regarded in traditional medicine and is widely consumed in the belief that it promotes health and longevity, lowers the risk of cancer and heart disease and boosts the immune system. However, objective scientific validation of the putative health benefits of Lingzhi in human subjects is lacking, and issues of possible toxicity must be addressed. The present double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over intervention study investigated the effects of 4 weeks Lingzhi supplementation on a range of biomarkers for antioxidant status, CHD risk, DNA damage, immune status, and inflammation, as well as markers of liver and renal toxicity. It was performed as a follow-up to a study that showed that antioxidant power in plasma increased after Lingzhi ingestion, and that 10 d supplementation was associated with a trend towards an improved CHD biomarker profile. In the present study, fasting blood and urine from healthy, consenting adults (n 18; aged 22–52 years) was collected before and after 4 weeks supplementation with a commercially available encapsulated Lingzhi preparation (1·44 g Lingzhi/d; equivalent to 13·2 g fresh mushroom/d) or placebo. No significant change in any of the variables was found, although a slight trend toward lower lipids was again seen, and antioxidant capacity in urine increased. The results showed no evidence of liver, renal or DNA toxicity with Lingzhi intake, and this is reassuring. The present study of the effects in healthy, well-nourished subjects provides useful, new scientific data that will support controlled intervention trials using at-risk subjects in order to assess the therapeutic effect of Lingzhi in the promotion of healthy ageing.

Oligofructose and inulin, selective fermentable chicory fructans, have been shown to stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria which are regarded as beneficial strains in the colon. Studies were designed to evaluate inulin (Raftiline) and oligofructose (Raftilose), for their potential inhibitory properties against aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation in the colon of rats. ACF are putative preneoplastic lesions from which adenomas and carcinomas may develop. The results of this study demonstrate that dietary administration of oligofructose and inulin inhibits the formation of preneoplastic lesions in the colon suggesting the potential colon tumour inhibitory properties of chicory fructans. Since these prebiotics selectively stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria, tumour inhibitory activity of lyophilized cultures of Bifidobacterium longum (BL) against azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats and modulating effect of these cultures on colonic tumour cell proliferation, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, and ras-p21 oncoprotein expression were investigated. Dietary administration of lyophilized cultures of BL strongly suppressed AOM-induced colon tumour development. Inhibition of colon carcinogenesis was associated with a decrease in colonic mucosal cell proliferation and colonic mucosal and tumour ODC and ras-p21 activities.

Recent observations indicate that human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) are involved in a variety of physiological processes in infants. Their metabolic fate, however, is virtually unknown. We investigated metabolic aspects in infants after endogenous 13C-labelling of HMO. An oral bolus of natural and 13C-labelled galactose (Gal; 23 g Gal+4 g 13C-Gal) was given to ten lactating women. Aliquots of milk at each nursing as well as breath samples from the mothers and urine from their infants were collected over 36 h. The 13C-enrichment of HMO and their renal excretion was determined by isotope ratio-MS; characterisation was achieved by fast atom bombardment-MS. After the Gal bolus was given, an immediate 13C-enrichment in milk and in infants' urine was observed which lasted 36 h. Mass spectrometric analysis of 13C-enriched urinary fractions confirmed the excretion of a variety of neutral and acidic HMO without metabolic modification of their structures. Components with glucose split off at the reducing end were also detectable. Quantitative data regarding the infants' intake of lacto-N-tetraose and its monofucosylated derivative lacto-N-fucopentaose II ranged from 50 to 160 mg with each suckling, respectively; renal excretion of both components varied between 1 and 3 mg/d. Since the intake of individual HMO by the infants was in the range of several hundred mg per suckling, i.e. several g/d, and some of these components were excreted in mg amounts as intact HMO with the infants' urine, not only local but also systemic effects might be expected.

A dietary interview performed by expert personnel is the best method to check whether patients with coeliac disease follow a strict gluten-free diet (GFD). We previously developed a score based on four fast and simple questions that can be administered even by non-expert personnel. The aim of the present study is to verify the reliability of our questionnaire in a new cohort of patients. The questionnaire has a five-level score. From March 2008 to January 2011, the questionnaire was administered to 141 coeliac patients on a GFD, who were undergoing re-evaluation. The score obtained was compared with persistence of both villous atrophy and endomysial antibodies (EMA). The rate of lower scores was higher among the patients with persistence of either villous atrophy (Fisher's exact, P < 0·001; test for trend, P < 0·001) or positive EMA (Fisher's exact, P = 0·001; test for trend, P = 0·018). Given that the coeliac patients have been well instructed on what a GFD means and on how to follow it, our questionnaire is a reliable and simple method to verify compliance to a GFD.

The hypothesis that the energy cost of human pregnancy can be minimized by energy-sparing metabolic adaptations was tested using serial 24 h whole-body calorimetry. Eight healthy, well-nourished women were studied prepregnant and at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 weeks gestation. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) showed highly characteristic changes within each subject and large inter-individual differences (F 3.5, P < 0.01). Some subjects showed a highly significant depression of metabolism up to 24 weeks gestation in support of the initial hypothesis. At 36 weeks BMR ranged from +8.6 to +35.4% relative to the prepregnant baseline. This wide variability was not explained by differences in the amount of lean tissue gained. Women displaying the energy-sparing suppression of BMR tended to be thin, suggesting that changes in metabolism may be responsive to initial energy status (ΔBMR ν. prepregnant body fat: r 0.84, P < 0.005). Changes in 24 h energy expenditure closely paralleled changes in BMR (r 0.98, P < 0.001), since the energy cost of minor voluntary activity and thermogenesis remained very constant within each individual. Pregnancy decreased the net cost of weight-dependent and weight-independent standard exercises when expressed per kg body-weight: stepping – 10 (sd 2)%, P < 0.001 at 18–36 weeks, cycling - 26 (sd 7)%, P < 0.01 at 12–36 weeks. The average integrated maintenance costs of pregnancy matched previous group estimates from well-nourished women, but individual estimates ranged from - 16 to + 276 MJ (coefficient of variation 93%). This high level of variability has important implications for the prescription of incremental energy intakes during pregnancy. It may also have had evolutionary significance.