Growth patterns are known to differ between breastfed and formula-fed infants, but little is known about the relative impact of maternal smoking in pregnancy v. feeding mode on growth trajectory in infancy. We conducted a secondary analysis of a trial, the Tolerance of Infant Goat Milk Formula and Growth Assessment trial involving 290 healthy infants, to examine whether smoking in pregnancy modified the association between feeding mode and body composition of infants. Fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) were estimated at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 months of age using bioimpedance spectroscopy. Formula-fed infants (n 190) had a higher mean FFM at 4 months (mean difference (MD) 160 g, 95 % CI 50·4, 269·5 g, P < 0·05)) and 6 months (MD 179 g, 95 % CI 41·5, 316·9 g, P < 0·05) compared with the breastfed infants (n 100). Sub-group analysis of breastfed v. formula-fed infants by maternal smoking status in pregnancy showed that there were no differences in the FM and FFM between the breastfed and formula-fed infants whose mothers did not smoke in pregnancy. Formula-fed infants whose mothers smoked in pregnancy were smaller at birth and had a lower FM% and higher FFM% at 1 month compared with infants of non-smoking mothers regardless of feeding mode, but the differences were not significant at other time points. Adequately powered prospective studies with an appropriate design are warranted to better understand the relative impact of maternal smoking, feeding practice and the growth trajectory of infants.

Whole-grain foods have been reported to affect body weight and satiety. However, we are aware of no study in this regard among children. The present study aimed to determine the effects of whole grain consumption on anthropometric measures in overweight or obese children. In this randomised crossover clinical trial, forty-four overweight or obese girls participated. After a 2-week run-in period, subjects were randomly assigned to either intervention (n 44) or non-intervention (n 44) groups. Subjects in the intervention group were given a list of whole-grain foods and were asked to obtain half of their grain servings from these foods each day for 6 weeks. Individuals in the non-intervention group were asked not to consume any of these foods. A 4-week washout period was applied. Then, participants were crossed over to the alternate arm. The measurements were done before and after each phase. Mean age, weight and BMI of participants were 11·2 (sd 1·49) years, 51·2 (sd 10·2) kg and 23·5 (sd 2·5) kg/m2, respectively. Despite the slight reduction in weight and BMI, there were no significant differences in changes in these anthropometric measures. We found a significant effect of whole grain intake on waist circumference (−2·7 v. 0·3 cm, P = 0·04). No significant changes in hip circumference were observed. Changes in the prevalence of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity were not significantly different. This study indicated a beneficial effect of whole-grain foods on waist circumference in overweight children; however, these foods did not influence weight and BMI.

The Grocery Purchase Quality Index (GPQI) reflects concordance between household grocery purchases and US dietary recommendations. However, it is unclear whether GPQI scores calculated from partial purchasing records reflect individual-level diet quality. This secondary analysis of a 9-month randomised controlled trial examined concordance between the GPQI (range 0–75, scaled to 100) calculated from 3 months of loyalty-card linked partial (≥50 %) household grocery purchasing data and individual-level Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores at baseline and 3 months calculated from FFQ (n 209). Concordance was assessed with overall and demographic-stratified partially adjusted correlations; covariate-adjusted percentage score differences, cross-classification and weighted κ coefficients assessed concordance across GPQI tertiles (T). Participants were middle aged (55·4 (13·9) years), female (90·3 %), from non-smoking households (96·4 %) and without children (70·7 %). Mean GPQI (54·8 (9·1) %) scores were lower than HEI scores (baseline: 73·2 (9·1) %, 3 months: 72·4 (9·4) %) and moderately correlated (baseline r 0·41 v. 3 months r 0·31, P < 0·001). Correlations were stronger among participants with ≤ bachelor’s degree, obesity and children. Scores showed moderate agreement (κ = 0·25); concordance was highest in T3. Participants with high (T3) v. low (T1) GPQI scores had 7·3–10·6 higher odds of having HEI scores >80 % at both time points. Household-level GPQI was moderately correlated with self-reported intake, indicating their promise for evaluating diet quality. Partial purchasing data appear to moderately reflect individual diet quality and may be useful in interventions monitoring changes in diet quality.

1. The live-weight gain, carcass weight, edible carcass composition, efficiency of food conversion, and roughage intake were measured in three groups of calves fed for 87 d. After a 3-week feeding period on a common regimen, one group of calves was weaned on to a diet of dry whole-milk powder and chopped lucerne, the second group received a similar diet except that the whole-milk powder was reconstituted to a liquid milk, containing 12–15% dry matter. The third group was given the diet in the same manner as the second group except that the chopped lucerne was available ad lib.

2. The mean live-weight gains for the three groups were 37.7, 47.6 and 52.7 kg respectively, the differences between the dry-fed and the liquid-fed groups being highly significant.

3. Energy and nitrogen accretion in the edible carcass and efficiency of food conversion were superior in the second and third groups.

4. The third group ate larger quantities of roughage, though the difference did not reach significance.

5. The reasons for the superiority of the liquid milk diet are discussed in relation to the avoidance of ruminal fermentation of the milk.

We examined the alterations in vitamin A metabolism as a result of flupenthixol or cefotiam administration. The impact of these drugs on indices of vitamin A status was evaluated in Brown Norway and Long–Evans rats. Intramuscular drug administration for 28 d resulted in a decline in systemic retinol. Changes in circulating retinol with time for chronic dosing showed drug treatment (P<0·001) and time (P<0·03) to be significant factors, but rat strain (P=0·33) was not a significant factor. Flupenthixol was the most active retinol-lowering compound (P<0·005). At the end of the 28 d period, hepatic retinyl ester hydrolase activity was greater in drug-treated rats than in controls (P<0·05). With regard to effects on liver reserves: (1) flupenthixol treatment resulted in vitamin A depletion (P<0·05); (2) cefotiam treatment stimulated vitamin A accumulation; (3) distinctive patterns of retinol and its esters were seen in response to treatment. It is reasonable to assume that the drugs interfere with vitamin A in at least two ways: (1) lowering of plasma retinol, an early event in the interaction, may be caused by inhibition of hepatic holo-retinol-binding protein secretion or stimulation of clearance, or both; (2) when plasma retinol levels are persistently low, and as the hepatic deposits of the xenobiotics build up, there are changes in the vitamin A pool size and composition of the liver. Candidate enzymes are retinyl ester hydrolase and cytochrome P450. The relationship between these two events will be studied in further detail.

Mineral consumption has been suggested to have an impact on gastric cancer (GC) prevention. However, the protective effect of potassium against gastric carcinogenesis remains inconclusive. The causal link between inflammation and cancer is well established. Notably, potassium intake and potassium channels may play certain roles in regulating the production of TNF-α (TNF-α). We aimed to determine whether dietary potassium intake is related to the risk of GC. We further observed whether this association was modified by TNF-α rs1800629. We designed a case–control study comprising 377 GC cases and 756 controls. Information on dietary potassium intake was collected using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Genotyping was performed by the Affymetrix Axiom Exom 319 Array platform. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to assess associations. A significantly reduced GC risk was found for those who consumed higher dietary potassium levels (OR = 0·63, 95 % CI = 0·45, 0·89, P for trend = 0·009). In the dominant model, we observed a non-significant association between TNF-α rs1800629 and GC risk (OR = 1·01, 95 % CI = 0·68, 1·49). In females, those who were homozygous for the major allele (G) of rs1800629 with a higher intake of dietary potassium exhibited a decreased risk of GC (OR = 0·40, 95 % CI = 0·20, 0·78, P interaction = 0·041). This finding emphasises the beneficial effect of potassium intake on GC prevention. However, this association could be modified by TNF-α rs1800629 genotypes. A greater protective effect was exhibited for females with GG homozygotes and high potassium intake.

Blood examination was conducted for the four Gidra-speaking village groups in Papua New Guinea, who were characterized by high Fe intake and high malaria prevalence with marked inter-village differences. The northern riverine villagers, whose Fe intake was higher than the other three village groups, did not suffer from Fe-deficiency anaemia in their malaria-endemic environment; nor did the inland villagers, with their second highest Fe intake and their malaria-free environment, suffer from Fe-deficiency anaemia. However, several individuals of the southern riverine village suffered from anaemia in a malaria-endemic environment, although their Fe intake was almost the same as the inland villagers’. A considerable proportion of the coastal villagers were anaemic, reflecting the lowest Fe intake and the highest malaria prevalence. An inter-village comparison of the relationships between haemoglobiin levels and transferrin saturation revealed that the southern riverine villagers needed smaller amounts of circulating Fe for erythropoiesis than the northern riverine and inland villagers, reflecting the long-term human-environment conditions such as the density of malaria vectors and the people’s dietary habits. Fe supplementation was not judged effective against hypoferraemia and/or anaemia in such a population. As the incidence of malaria had no significant long-lasting effect on Fe stores or circulating Fe concentration, but did have an effect on anaemia, the hypothesis that malaria causes a transfer of Fe from the blood to parenchymal tissues as a defence against infectious diseases was not supported.

Bipiperidyl mustard produced increased adiposity in the rat without excessive weight gain or hyperphagia.

The results suggest a metabolic aetiology for the obesity as opposed to a disorder of food intake regulation.

Metabolic diseases in China have been on the rise during recent decades. To investigate dietary glycaemic load (GL) and its correlation with the prevalence of metabolic diseases in hospitalised Chinese adults, we analysed the total energy and macronutrient intakes in 1040 patients. Dietary GL was calculated based upon glycaemic index (GI), carbohydrate content and daily intake of individual foods. Dietary patterns at different dietary GL levels and the distribution of dietary GL were analysed in patients from the internal medical departments v. those from surgical departments. Height and weight were measured using a standardised protocol. The present study results demonstrated that in hospitalised adults, 95·5 % of dietary GL came from cereals. Average GL was higher in male patients than in female patients, and was higher in patients from surgical departments than in patients from medical departments. Patients with lower dietary GL consumed inadequate carbohydrates and excessive fats, and therefore had a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity. Dietary GL analysis may be helpful to nutrition assessment and rational diet intervention in hospitalised Chinese patients.

Although legumes are rich in protein and fibre, and low in saturated fat and Na, traditional legume-based recipes include substantial amounts of processed meat, salt and potatoes, which could counteract the potential benefits of legumes. This prospective study aimed to assess the longitudinal association of consumption of different types of legumes, and traditional legume-based recipes, with unhealthy ageing in older adults. Data were taken from 2505 individuals aged ≥60 years from the Seniors-ENRICA cohort. Habitual legume consumption was assessed in 2008–2010 with a validated diet history. Unhealthy ageing was measured in the 2013, 2015 and 2017 follow-up waves, with a fifty-two-item multidimensional health deficit accumulation index (DAI) which ranges from 0 (best) to 100 (worst health). The mean age was 68·7 years, with 53·1 % of women. Among study participants, 78·4 % reported consumption of legumes, with a mean intake of 57·9 g/d. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models did not show an association between total legume consumption and the DAI over a 7-year follow-up (non-standardised coefficient for the second and highest v. the lowest tertile of consumption: 0·94 (95 % CI −0·30, 2·17) and 0·18 (95 % CI −1·07, 1·43), respectively; Ptrend = 0·35). Similar results were observed for the 3-year and 5-year follow-ups and, separately, for lentils, beans, chickpeas and traditional legume-based recipes. According to the results obtained, consumption of legumes and traditional legume-based recipes is not associated with unhealthy ageing and can be part of a healthy diet in old age.

1. The mean retention time of stained food residues was longer in sheep maintained on a chopped straw ration than in sheep maintained on a chopped lucerne ration.

2. Infection of sheep with 1500 infective Oesophagostomum columbianum juveniles was associated with increased mean retention times.

3. The extent to which the mean retention times were increased was associated with the diet and mode of infection of the sheep.

4. It was noted that an increase in mean retention time following infection was associated with a general decrease in food intake per kg live eight0.75.

5. The results are discussed in relation to the pathogenesis and survival of O.columbianum infections in sheep.

The aim of the present study was to compare body fat percent (BF %) using single-site near-IR reactance (NIR) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in a cohort of normal-weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2) black (n 102) and white (n 71); and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) black (n 117) and white (n 41) South African women (18–45 years). NIR-derived BF % was significantly correlated with DXA-derived BF % in all groups: normal-weight black (r 0·55, 95 % CI: 0·40, 0·67, P < 0·001) and white (r 0·69, 95 % CI: 0·53, 0·79, P < 0·001) women; obese black (r 0·59, 95 % CI: 0·46, 0·70, P < 0·001) and white (r 0·56, 95 % CI: 0·30, 0·74, P < 0·001) women. NIR under-predicted BF% compared to DXA in black women (normal-weight, − 4·36 (sd 4·13) % and obese, − 3·41 (sd 3·72) %), while smaller mean differences were observed in white women (normal-weight, − 0·29 (sd 4·19) % and obese, − 0·81 (sd 3·09) %), irrespective of normal-weight or obese status (P < 0·001). In obese subjects, NIR-derived BF % did not measure values greater than approximately 45 %, while the maximum DXA-derived measure was 58 %. In conclusion, although there was a significant relationship between NIR- and DXA-derived BF %, NIR under-predicted BF % in normal-weight and obese black South African women compared to DXA, but to a greater extent in subjects with very high levels of adiposity (>45 %). The results of single-site NIR as a measure of BF % should therefore be interpreted with caution, particularly in women of African descent and in those with very high levels of adiposity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between daily Se intake and postpartum weight retention (PPWR) among Chinese lactating women, and the impact of their Se nutritional status on infants’ physical development. Se contents in breast milk and plasma collected from 264 lactating Chinese women at the 42nd day postpartum were analysed with inductively coupled plasma MS. Daily Se intake was calculated based on plasma Se concentration. The dietary data of 24-h records on three consecutive days were collected. Infant growth status was evaluated with WHO standards by Z-scores. Linear regression analyses and multinomial logistic regression were conducted to examine the impact of Se disequilibrium (including other factors) on PPWR and growth of infants, respectively. The results indicated that: (1) the daily Se intake of the subjects was negatively associated with their PPWR (B = −0·002, 95 % CI − 0·003, 0·000, P = 0·039); (2) both insufficient Se daily intake (B = −0·001, OR 0·999, 95 % CI 0·998, 1·000, P = 0·014) and low level of Se in milk (B = −0·025, OR 0·975, 95 % CI 0·951, 0·999, P = 0·021) had potential associations with their infants’ wasting, and low level of Se in milk (B = −0·159, OR 0·853, 95 % CI 0·743, 0·980, P = 0·024) had a significant association with their infants’ overweight. In conclusion, the insufficient Se nutritional status of lactating Chinese women was first found as one possible influencing factor of their PPWR as well as low physical development of their offspring.

Sixty piglets selected after weaning at 4 weeks of age were assigned to five replicates of twelve animals each. In each of these replicates the postprandial variations in serum pteroylglutamate after the ingestion of twelve sources of dietary pteroylglutamic acid were recorded twice weekly at 10 and 16 weeks of age. In six of these sources of pteroylglutamic acid the chemically pure form of the vitamin was incorporated into a semi-purified diet at concentrations varying between 0 and 1·0 mg/kg. The six other sources were provided by a soya-bean meal, rapeseed meal, maize, barley, wheat, and a commercial vitamin premix. The concentrations of pteroylglutamates measured by radioimmunoassay in the different feedstuffs were, in most cases, far from the values reported in the literature, except for maize. Indeed, while total pteroylglutamates in barley, wheat and rapeseed meal were lower by 35–56%. 17–50% and 60% respectively compared with references values, the corresponding values for soya-bean meal ranged from one third to twice as much. The area under the curve (AUC) of the pre- and postprandial (1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 h) serum pteroylglutamate following ingestion of increasing levels of chemically pure pteroylmono- glutamic acid was used to derive a regression for the 100% bioavailability of dietary pteroylglutamic acid. The corresponding AUC for the feedstuff sources of pteroylglutamates were used in the regression to determine the proportion of bioavailable pteroylglutamates out of total pteroylglutamates measured in these ingredients. No relationship (P 0·66) was found between the level of chemically pure dietary pteroylmonoglutamic acid and the postprandial AUC. In fact, there was no significant (P 0·11) increase in the postprandial concentration of serum pteroylglutamate for any of the pteroylglutamate sources used except for wheat. Moreover, values tended (P 0·08) to be lower at 5 and 7 h postfeeding except for wheat and barley. It was hypothesized that this decrease is probably linked to the postfeeding variation in bile secretion which drains considerable amounts of circulatory pteroylglutamates. The results of the present experiment indicate that further research on analytical procedure is needed in order to provide a reliable method for measuring concentrations of pteroylglutamic acid in different sources of a given feedstuff used in pig feeding. In addition to this analytical concern, the measurement of the proportion of bioavailable pteroylglutamic acid in feedstuffs for pigs using postprandial variations of serum pteroylglutamates appears to be technically hazardous.