1. The folate and vitamin B12 in milk are strongly bound to minor whey proteins. These binder proteins are present in excess, and so milk has capacity – which varies between milks of different mammalian species – to sequester added cyanocobalamin and folic acid.

2. A study was made of the influence of different milks on uptake of [3H]cyanocobalamin and [3H]folic acid in selected bacteria, mostly of types that are commonly found in the intestine.

3. None of the test cultures required exogenous vitamin B12. Nevertheless, when free cyanocobalamin was added, in seven of nine cultures it was rapidly taken up into the cells, though there were large differences between the different bacterial species in their absorptive capacity. In presence of sow's milk, little or none of the added cyanocobalamin was taken up, even after incubation of the test mixture for 1 h at 37°. The avidity of sow's milk for cyanocobalamin, as judged from its retention of the vitamin against competition by bacterial cells, was greater than that of a preparation of porcine Intrinsic Factor of similar binding capacity.

4. Of ten cultures of bacteria representing seven species, only the five cultures that required exogenous folate took up added folic acid into the cells. Uptake was severely depressed by the simultaneous addition of goat's colostrum, even after incubation of the test mixture for 1 h at 37°.

5. The physiological role of the binders is discussed. It is postulated that they may act in the mammary gland as trapping mechanisms to accumulate the vitamins from blood plasma into milk and in the gut to facilitate their absorption, both directly, and indirectly by preventing their uptake by intestinal micro-organisms. It is concluded that the binders might well influence the vitamin economy in the neonatal period, and the ecology of the gut microflora.

As the number of older people is growing rapidly worldwide and the fact that elderly people are also apparently living longer, dementia, the most common cause of cognitive impairment is getting to be a greater public health problem. Nutrition plays a role in the ageing process, but there is still a lack of knowledge about nutrition-related risk factors in cognitive impairment. Research in this area has been intensive during the last decade, and results indicate that subclinical deficiency in essential nutrients (antioxidants such as vitamins C, E and β-carotene, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, folate) and nutrition-related disorders, as hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriacylglycerolaemia, hypertension, and diabetes could be some of the nutrition-related risk factors, which can be present for a long time before cognitive impairment becomes evident. Large-scale clinical trials in high-risk populations are needed to determine whether lowering blood homocysteine levels reduces the risk of cognitive impairment and may delay the clinical onset of dementia and perhaps of Alzheimer's disease. A curative treatment of cognitive impairment, especially Alzheimer's disease, is currently impossible. Actual drug therapy, if started early enough, may slow down the progression of the disease. Longitudinal studies are required in order to establish the possible link of nutrient intake – nutritional status with cognitive impairment, and if it is possible, in fact, to inhibit or delay the onset of dementia.

Studies consistently show the beneficial effects of eating nuts, but as high-energy foods, their regular consumption may lead to weight gain. We tested if daily consumption of walnuts (approximately 12% energy intake) for 6 months would modify body weight and body composition in free-living subjects. Ninety participants in a 12-month randomized cross-over trial were instructed to eat an allotted amount of walnuts (28–56g) during the walnut-supplemented diet and not to eat them during the control diet, with no further instruction. Subjects were unaware that body weight was the main outcome. Dietary compliance was about 95% and mean daily walnut consumption was 35g during the walnut-supplemented diet. The walnut-supplemented diet resulted in greater daily energy intake (557kJ (133kcal)), which should theoretically have led to a weight gain of 3·1kg over the 6-month period. For all participants, walnut supplementation increased weight (0·4 (se 0·1) kg), BMI (0·2 (se 0·1) kg/m2), fat mass (0·2 (se 0·1) kg) and lean mass (0·2 (se 0·1) kg). But, after adjusting for energy differences between the control and walnut-supplemented diets, no significant differences were observed in body weight or body composition parameters, except for BMI (0·1 (se 0·1) kg/m2). The weight gain from incorporating walnuts into the diet (control→walnut sequence) was less than the weight loss from withdrawing walnuts from the diet (walnut→control sequence). Our findings show that regular walnut intake resulted in weight gain much lower than expected and which became non-significant after controlling for differences in energy intake.

A diet rich in fibre seems to protect against the metabolic syndrome (MetS), but there is scarce information about the role of fibre intake in patients with the MetS and diabetes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of soluble fibre from partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG) on the MetS and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes. In the present randomised controlled clinical trial, forty-four patients with type 2 diabetes (males 38·6 %, age 62 (sd 9) years, diabetes duration 14·2 (sd 9·6) years) and the MetS underwent clinical, laboratory and dietary evaluations at baseline, 4 and 6 weeks. All patients followed their usual diet and the intervention group (n 23) received an additional 10 g/d of PHGG. In the intervention group, waist circumference (WC), glycated Hb (HbA1c), 24 h urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and serum trans-fatty acids (FA) were reduced in comparison with baseline after 4 and 6 weeks: WC 103·5 (sd 9·5) to 102·1 (sd 10) to 102·3 (sd 9·7) cm; HbA1c 6·88 (sd 0·99) to 6·64 (sd 0·94) to 6·57 (sd 0·84) %; 24 h UAE 6·8 (interquartile range 3·0–17·5) to 4·5 (interquartile range 3·0–10·5) to 6·2 (interquartile range 3·0–9·5) mg; trans-FA 71 (interquartile range 46–137) to 67 (interquartile range 48–98) to 57 (interquartile range 30–110) mg/l (P< 0·05 for all). The only change in the control group was weight reduction: 77·0 (sd 13·5) to 76·2 (sd 13·3) to 76·1 (sd 13·4) kg (P= 0·005). Other MetS components (blood pressure, TAG, HDL-cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose), total and LDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein and endothelin-1 did not change in either group. In patients with type 2 diabetes and the MetS, the addition of PHGG to the usual diet improved cardiovascular and metabolic profiles by reducing WC, HbA1c, UAE and trans-FA.

1. Heat losses associated with the utilization of metabolizable energy for synthesis of protein and of fat during growth were studied in Zucker rats selected for normal leanness or congenital obesity.

2. Measurements of energy and nitrogen balance were made on groups of four lean and four fat rats offered food ad lib. and kept at 22°. Balance trials were also conducted on groups of fat or lean rats offered restricted amounts of food at two levels and kept at 22° or 28°. The medium rations offered to fat and lean rats were the same. The energy and N contents of fat and lean rats were determined by carcass analysis at 35 d and at about 90 d of age.

3. At ad lib. intake, fat rats ate 38% more than lean rats. Heat losses and N balance were similar. When fat and lean rats were pair-fed, heat loss and N retention were lower in fat rats. Absolute values and changes during growth of heat loss (kJ/rat per 24 h) were closely correlated with values obtained for N balance.

4. Carcass analysis showed that energy retention in protein was, on average, 75% in lean rats but only 14% in fat rats. Estimates of energy retention from slaughter experiments and balance trials agreed well, but marked discrepancies existed between the different estimates of N retention.

5. The net efficiencies of utilization of metabolizable energy for growth in lean and fat rats were 0.485 and 0.614 respectively. The energetic efficiencies of net protein synthesis and net fat synthesis were estimated to be 43 and 65% respectively.

6. The interactions between appetite, growth and activity in the development of obesity in the Zucker rat are discussed.

The efficiency of myristic acid (14:0) as a feed additive to suppress CH4 emissions of ruminants was evaluated under different dietary conditions. Six sheep were subjected to a 6 × 6 Latin square arrangement. A supplement of non-esterified 14: 0 (50 g/kg DM) was added to two basal diets differing in their forage:concentrate values (1:1/5 and 1: 0/5), which were adjusted to dietary Ca contents of 4/2 and 9/0 g/ kg DM, respectively. Comparisons were made with the unsupplemented basal diets (4/2 g Ca/kg DM). The 14:0 supplementation decreased (P < 0/001) total tract CH4 release depending on basal diet type (interaction, P < 0/001) and dietary Ca level (P < 0/05, post hoc test). In the concentrate-based diet, 14:0 suppressed CH4 emission by 58 and 47% with 4/2 and 9/0 g Ca/kg DM, respectively. The 14:0 effect was lower (22%) in the forage-based diet and became insignificant with additional Ca. Myristic acid inhibited (P < 0/05) rumen archaea without significantly altering proportions of individual methanogen orders. Ciliate protozoa concentration was decreased (P < 0/05, post hoc test) by 14:0 only in combination with 9/0 g Ca/kg DM. Rumen fluid NH3 concentration and acetate:pro-pionate were decreased (P < 0/05) and water consumption was lower (P < 0/01) with 14:0. The use of 14:0 had no clear effects on total tract organic matter and fibre digestion; this further illustrates that the suppressed methanogenesis resulted from direct effects against methanogens. The present study demonstrated that 14:0 is a potent CH4 inhibitor but, to be effective in CH4 mitigation feeding strategies, interactions with other diet ingredients have to be considered.

Dietary interventions with flavan-3-ols have shown beneficial effects on vascular function. The translation of these findings into the context of the health of the general public requires detailed information on habitual dietary intake. However, only limited data are currently available for European populations. Therefore, in the present study, we assessed the habitual intake of flavan-3-ol monomers, proanthocyanidins (PA) and theaflavins in the European Union (EU) and determined their main food sources using the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database. Data for adults aged 18–64 years were available from fourteen European countries, and intake was determined using the FLAVIOLA Flavanol Food Composition Database, developed for the present study and based on the latest US Department of Agriculture and Phenol-Explorer databases. The mean habitual intake of flavan-3-ol monomers, theaflavins and PA ranged from 181 mg/d (Czech Republic) to 793 mg/d (Ireland). The highest intakes of flavan-3-ol monomers and theaflavins were observed in Ireland (191/505 mg/d) and the lowest intakes in Spain (24/9 mg/d). In contrast, the daily intake of PA was highest in Spain (175 mg/d) and lowest in The Netherlands (96 mg/d). Main sources were tea (62 %), pome fruits (11 %), berries (3 %) and cocoa products (3 %). Tea was the major single contributor to monomer intake (75 %), followed by pome fruits (6 %). Pome fruits were also the main source of PA (28 %). The present study provides important data on the population-based intake of flavanols in the EU and demonstrates that dietary intake amounts for flavan-3-ol monomers, PA and theaflavins vary significantly across European countries. The average habitual intake of flavan-3-ols is considerably below the amounts used in most dietary intervention studies.

1. The effects of changes in zinc intake on weight gain, plasma Zn concentration and the development of clinical lesions of Zn deficiency have been studies in Zn depletion and repletion studies with calves and lambs.

2. A basal diet, the principal components of which are urea, dried egg white, starch, glucose, cellulose and arachis oil has been developed for trace element deficiency studies with ruminants.

3. Weight gain ceased abruptly in both calves and lambs when either the unsupplemented basal diet was given or when Zn supplements provided only 0.05 mg Zn/kg live weight per day. Mean plasma Zn concentrations in these animals fell from pre-experiment values of between 0.8 and 1.2 μg Zn/ml to below 0.4 μg Zn/ml after 1 week on these treatments.

4. Supplements providing 0.2 mg Zn/kg live weight per day were sufficient to maintain a good rate of growth but insufficient to prevent a fall in plasma Zn.

5. Growth arrest occurring within 2 weeks and a rapid fall in plasma Zn occurring within 1 week after Zn supplements were withheld from calves and lambs that had previously received 0.7 mg Zn/kg live weight per day for 6 and 14 weeks respectively indicated that these species have only a limited capacity to store Zn in a form that can be utilized during periods of inadequate Zn intake.

6. Tentative estimates are presented of the Zn requirements of calves maintained on this type of basal diet and the influence of ration composition of Zn availability is discussed.

7. The possible value and the limitations of plasma Zn determination as an aid to the field diagnosis of Zn deficiency are considered.

Fructose consumption in the USA has increased over the past three decades. During this time, obesity, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome have also increased in prevalence. While diets high in fructose have been shown to promote insulin resistance and increase TAG concentrations in animals, there are insufficient data available regarding the long-term metabolic effects of fructose consumption in humans. The objective of the present study was to investigate the metabolic effects of 10-week consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages in human subjects under energy-balanced conditions in a controlled research setting. Following a 4-week weight-maintaining complex carbohydrate diet, seven overweight or obese (BMI 26·8–33·3 kg/m2) postmenopausal women were fed an isoenergetic intervention diet, which included a fructose-sweetened beverage with each meal, for 10 weeks. The intervention diet provided 15 % of energy from protein, 30 % from fat and 55 % from carbohydrate (30 % complex carbohydrate, 25 % fructose). Fasting and postprandial glucose, insulin, TAG and apoB concentrations were measured. Fructose consumption increased fasting glucose concentrations and decreased meal-associated glucose and insulin responses (P = 0·0002, P = 0·007 and P = 0·013, respectively). Moreover, after 10 weeks of fructose consumption, 14 h postprandial TAG profiles were significantly increased, with the area under the curve at 10 weeks being 141 % higher than at baseline (P = 0·04). Fructose also increased fasting apoB concentrations by 19 % (P = 0·043 v. baseline). In summary, consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages increased postprandial TAG and fasting apoB concentrations, and the present results suggest that long-term consumption of diets high in fructose could lead to an increased risk of CVD.

Cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) is one of the major dietary anthocyanins implicated in the prevention of chronic diseases. To evaluate the impact of human intestinal bacteria on the fate of C3G in the host, we studied the metabolism of C3G in human microbiota-associated (HMA) rats in comparison with germ-free (GF) rats. Urine and faeces of the rats were analysed for C3G and its metabolites within 48 h after the application of 92 μmol C3G/kg body weight. In addition, we tested the microbial C3G conversion in vitro by incubating C3G with human faecal slurries and selected human gut bacteria. The HMA rats excreted with faeces a three times higher percentage of unconjugated C3G products and a two times higher percentage of conjugated C3G products than the GF rats. These differences were mainly due to the increased excretion of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde and 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid. Only the urine of HMA rats contained peonidin and 3-hydroxycinnamic acid and the percentage of conjugated C3G products in the urine was decreased compared with the GF rats. Overall, the presence of intestinal microbiota resulted in a 3·7 % recovery of the C3G dose in HMA rats compared with 1·7 % in GF rats. Human intestinal bacteria rapidly degraded C3G in vitro. Most of the C3G products were also found in the absence of bacteria, but at considerably lower levels. The higher concentrations of phenolic acids observed in the presence of intestinal bacteria may contribute to the proposed beneficial health effects of C3G.

In this placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover human feeding study, the effects of polydextrose (PDX; 8 g/d) on the colonic microbial composition, immune parameters, bowel habits and quality of life were investigated. PDX is a complex glucose oligomer used as a sugar replacer. The main goal of the present study was to identify the microbial groups affected by PDX fermentation in the colon. PDX was shown to significantly increase the known butyrate producer Ruminococcus intestinalis and bacteria of the Clostridium clusters I, II and IV. Of the other microbial groups investigated, decreases in the faecal Lactobacillus–Enterococcus group were demonstrated. Denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis analysis showed that bacterial profiles between PDX and placebo treatments were significantly different. PDX was shown to be slowly degraded in the colon, and the fermentation significantly reduced the genotoxicity of the faecal water. PDX also affected bowel habits of the subjects, as less abdominal discomfort was recorded and there was a trend for less hard and more formed stools during PDX consumption. Furthermore, reduced snacking was observed upon PDX consumption. This study demonstrated the impact of PDX on the colonic microbiota and showed some potential for reducing the risk factors that may be associated with colon cancer initiation.

The present study was conducted to assess whether glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) release and appetite after a breakfast with or without an additional galactose/guar gum stimulation is different in normal-weight compared with overweight/obese subjects. Twenty-eight overweight/obese (BMI 30·3 (sd 2·7) kg/m2; age 44·3 (sd 9·7) years) and thirty normal-weight subjects (BMI 22·8 (sd 1·4), age 31·5 (sd12·8) years) participated in a crossover study. Fasting and postprandial plasma GLP-1, insulin, glucose and free fatty acid concentrations were measured in response to either a galactose (50 g)/guar gum (2·5 g) load (836 kJ) and a standard breakfast (1·9 MJ; GG), or water (250 ml) and the standard breakfast (W) every 30 min relative to the ingestion for 120 min. Appetite was assessed using 100 mm visual analogue scales. GLP-1 concentrations were significantly increased after GG at 30 and 60 min compared with W in both groups. Plasma GLP-1 concentrations in the W condition were higher in normal-weight than overweight/obese subjects (P=0·03). No difference was observed in the GG condition between groups. Satiety was increased in normal-weight compared with overweight/obese subjects in the GG condition at 30 (P=0·02) and 60 (P=0·04) min. We conclude that after a standard breakfast with water, GLP-1 release was lower in the overweight/obese than the normal-weight subjects. However, postprandial GLP-1 release in overweight/obese subjects was no different from that of normal-weight subjects when galactose/guar gum was added to the breakfast. The latter was not mirrored by subjective feelings of satiety. Disturbed perception of the physiological feedback of a satiety hormone rather than disturbed feedback itself might contribute to obesity.

Vitamin E absorption requires the presence of fat; however, limited information exists on the influence of fat quantity on optimal absorption. In the present study we compared the absorption of stable-isotope-labelled vitamin E following meals of varying fat content and source. In a randomised four-way cross-over study, eight healthy individuals consumed a capsule containing 150 mg 2H-labelled RRR-α-tocopheryl acetate with a test meal of toast with butter (17·5 g fat), cereal with full-fat milk (17·5 g fat), cereal with semi-skimmed milk (2·7 g fat) and water (0 g fat). Blood was taken at 0, 0·5, 1, 1·5, 2, 3, 6 and 9 h following ingestion, chylomicrons were isolated, and 2H-labelled α-tocopherol was analysed in the chylomicron and plasma samples. There was a significant time (P<0·001) and treatment effect (P<0·001) in 2H-labelled α-tocopherol concentration in both chylomicrons and plasma between the test meals. 2H-labelled α-tocopherol concentration was significantly greater with the higher-fat toast and butter meal compared with the low-fat cereal meal or water (P<0·001), and a trend towards greater concentration compared with the high-fat cereal meal (P=0·065). There was significantly greater 2H-labelled α-tocopherol concentration with the high-fat cereal meal compared with the low-fat cereal meal (P<0·05). The 2H-labelled α-tocopherol concentration following either the low-fat cereal meal or water was low. These results demonstrate that both the amount of fat and the food matrix influence vitamin E absorption. These factors should be considered by consumers and for future vitamin E intervention studies.

Two experiments were conducted on broiler chickens to compare the effect of a new organic Se source, 2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid (HMSeBA; SO), with two practical Se additives, sodium selenite (SS) and Se yeast (SY). The relative bioavailability of the different Se sources was compared on muscle (pectoralis major) total Se, selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenocysteine (SeCys) concentrations and apparent digestibility of total Se (ADSe). In the first experiment, from day (d) 0 to d21, Se sources were tested at different supplied levels and compared with an unsupplemented diet (NC). No significant effects were observed on growth performance during the experimental period. However, the different Se sources and levels improved muscle Se concentration compared with the NC, with a significant source effect in the following order: SS < SY < SO (P< 0·05). Seleno-amino acids speciation results for NC, SY and SO at 0·3 mg Se/kg feed indicated that muscle Se was only present as SeMet or SeCys, showing a full conversion of Se by the bird. The second experiment (d0–d24) compared SS, SY or SO at 0·3 mg Se/kg feed. The ADSe measurements carried out between d20 and d23 were 24, 46 and 49 % for SS, SY and SO, respectively, with significant differences between the organic and mineral Se sources (P< 0·05). These results confirmed the higher bioavailability of organic Se sources compared with the mineral source and demonstrated a significantly better efficiency of HMSeBA compared with SY for muscle Se enrichment.

The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that low concentrations of coated ZnO, as a substitute for a high concentration of ZnO (2250 mg Zn/kg), could improve intestinal immunity function and regulate microbiota composition, thus alleviating the incidence of diarrhoea in weaned piglets. A total of eighty-four cross-bred piglets, weaned at an age of 28 (sem 1) d, were allocated randomly, on the basis of average initial body weight (7·72 (sem 0·65) kg), to seven treatment groups as follows: a 250 mg Zn (ZnO)/kg group (low Zn; LZ) and a 2250 mg Zn (ZnO)/kg group (high Zn; HZ) that were offered diets containing ZnO at 250 and 2250 mg Zn/kg, respectively; and five experimental groups in which coated ZnO was added at 250, 380, 570, 760 and 1140 mg Zn/kg basal diet, respectively. The trial lasted 2 weeks. The results indicated that, compared with LZ treatment, supplementation with coated ZnO at 380 or 570 mg Zn/kg reduced (P< 0·05) diarrhoea index, increased (P< 0·05) duodenal villus height and the ratio of villus height:crypt depth, up-regulated (P< 0·05) the gene expression of insulin-like growth factor 1, zonula occludens protein-1, occludin, IL-10 and transforming growth factor β1, and elevated (P< 0·05) secretory IgA concentration in the jejunal mucosa. Microbiota richness and the Shannon diversity index were also decreased (P< 0·05). Furthermore, piglets in the group fed coated ZnO at 380 or 570 mg Zn/kg did not differ from those in the HZ-fed group in relation to the aforementioned parameters. Collectively, a low concentration of coated ZnO (380 or 570 mg Zn/kg) can alleviate the incidence of diarrhoea by promoting intestinal development, protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier from damage, stimulating the mucosal immune system and regulating the microbiota composition.

Although there is evidence that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in depression, studies done on the associations have yielded mixed results. The present study aimed to examine the associations between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) and the presence of depression among US adults. A cross-sectional, population-based sample (including 3916 participants aged ≥ 20 years) from the 2005–6 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used. Participants' depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 diagnostic algorithm. The associations of 25(OH)D and PTH with depression were explored using multivariate logistic regression models. For all the participants, the age-adjusted prevalence was 5·3  (95 % CI 4·3, 6·5) % for having moderate-to-severe depression, 2·3  (95 % CI 1·7, 3·1) % for having major depression and 3·8  (95 % CI 3·0, 4·6) % for having minor depression. Although the age-adjusted prevalence and the unadjusted OR of having moderate-to-severe depression or major depression decreased linearly with increasing quartiles of 25(OH)D (P < 0·05 for trends), no significant associations remained after adjusting for multiple potential confounders such as demographic variables, lifestyle factors and coexistence of a number of chronic conditions. Neither the age-adjusted prevalence nor the OR (unadjusted or adjusted) of having depression differed significantly by the quartiles of PTH. Thus, in contrast to some of the previous findings, the present results did not show significant associations between serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and PTH and the presence of moderate-to-severe depression, major depression or minor depression among US adults. However, these findings need to be further confirmed in future studies.

Various foods are associated with effects against metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes; however, their mechanisms of action are mostly unclear. Fatty acids may contribute by acting as precursors of signalling molecules or by direct activity on receptors. The medium- and long-chain NEFA receptor FFA1 (free fatty acid receptor 1, previously known as GPR40) has been linked to enhancement of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, whereas FFA4 (free fatty acid receptor 4, previously known as GPR120) has been associated with insulin-sensitising and anti-inflammatory effects, and both receptors are reported to protect pancreatic islets and promote secretion of appetite and glucose-regulating hormones. Hypothesising that FFA1 and FFA4 mediate therapeutic effects of dietary components, we screened a broad selection of NEFA on FFA1 and FFA4 and characterised active compounds in concentration–response curves. Of the screened compounds, pinolenic acid, a constituent of pine nut oil, was identified as a relatively potent and efficacious dual FFA1/FFA4 agonist, and its suitability for further studies was confirmed by additional in vitro characterisation. Pine nut oil and free and esterified pure pinolenic acid were tested in an acute glucose tolerance test in mice. Pine nut oil showed a moderately but significantly improved glucose tolerance compared with maize oil. Pure pinolenic acid or ethyl ester gave robust and highly significant improvements of glucose tolerance. In conclusion, the present results indicate that pinolenic acid is a comparatively potent and efficacious dual FFA1/FFA4 agonist that exerts antidiabetic effects in an acute mouse model. The compound thus deserves attention as a potential active dietary ingredient to prevent or counteract metabolic diseases.

1. Male Wistar rats were meal-fed for at least 10d a control semi-synthetic diet containing no guar gum, or one of three similar test diets containing 3, 10 or 20 g dry guar gum/kg.

2. Rats were killed 6 h after feeding, and contents of stomach, small and large intestine were collected separately. The apparent viscosities of stomach and smalt intestine contents from animals fed on diets containing 10 and 20 g guar gum/kg were increased relative to control animals, but large intestine contents were unchanged

3. In the second part of this study, male Wistar rats were anaesthetized and two consecutive lengths of jejunum were perfused, initially with Ringer only (control) or Ringer plus 5 or 6g guar gum/1 (test). Following this pre-perfusion, both segments were perfused with Ringer containing glucose (10 mM), [3H]glucose and [14C]inulin, and the rate of glucose absorption was determined

4. The rate of glucose absorption was decreased relative to control values in segments pre-perfused with both 5 and 6g guar gum/I solution, but this reduction was significant only in the instance of the 6g/l solution (P< 0.001)

5. These results provide evidence to support previous assumptions that ingestion of guar gum will increase the apparent viscosity of the contents of the stomach and small intestine. We propose that a possible mechanism by which guar reduces post-prandial glycaemia is a reduction of glucose absorption from the smali intestine, resulting from an increase in viscosity of the contents

Dietary patterns, which reflect the complexity of food preference, lifestyle and socio-economic status, may play a major role in health and longevity. Understanding dietary patterns and their correlates is important to the research of diet and health relationships. In the Shanghai Men's Health Study (SMHS) a total of 61 582 men aged 40–74 were recruited between 2002 and 2006. Their food intake over the previous year was collected using a validated FFQ. Study participants (75·6 %) reported little or no change in meat and vegetable intake in the 5 years prior to recruitment. Using the baseline data of the SMHS, we assessed dietary patterns, as well as their relationship with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors and with prevalence of some chronic diseases. Three major dietary patterns, fruit-, vegetable- and meat-based diets, were identified in our population. Consumption of the fruit diet appeared to be more common among men who were older and more physically active, had higher income, and lower waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), while this diet was less common among manual labourers. The meat- or vegetable-based diets were less common among elderly men and more common among men with higher WHR. Dietary patterns appeared to be associated with the presence of health conditions. In general, subjects with a chronic disease were more likely to have the vegetable-based diet and less likely to have the fruit- or meat-based diets. Future studies of diet and health in this population will need to carefully take into account these potential confounders.

Consumption of fish or fish oils rich in the n-3 long chain PUFA EPA and DHA may improve multiple risk factors for CVD. The objective of this study was to determine whether regular consumption of foods enriched with n-3 long-chain PUFA can improve n-3 long-chain PUFA status (erythrocytes) and cardiovascular health. Overweight volunteers with high levels of triacylglycerols (TG; >1·6 mmol/l) were enrolled in a 6-month dietary intervention trial conducted in Adelaide (n 47) and Perth (n 39), and randomised to consume control foods or n-3-enriched foods to achieve an EPA + DHA intake of 1 g/d. Test foods were substituted for equivalent foods in their regular diet. Erythrocyte fatty acids, plasma TG and other CVD risk factors were monitored at 0, 3 and 6 months. There were no significant differences between groups for blood pressure, arterial compliance, glucose, insulin, lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP) or urinary 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 (TXB2) over 6 months, even though regular consumption of n-3-enriched foods increased EPA + DHA intake from 0·2 to 1·0 g/d. However, the n-3 long-chain PUFA content of erythrocytes increased by 35 and 53 % at 3 and 6 months, respectively, in subjects consuming the n-3-enriched foods. These increases were positively associated with measures of arterial compliance and negatively associated with serum CRP and urinary 11-dehydro-TXB2 excretion. Sustainable increases in dietary intakes and erythrocyte levels of n-3 long-chain PUFA can be achieved through regular consumption of suitably enriched processed foods. Such increases may be associated with reduced CV risk.