1. The dietary requirements for protein and amino acids of the growing gosling (0–7 weeks) were calculated according to body composition, maintenance needs and the absorption rate of amino acids from feeds.

2. The diets were formulated by least-cost linear programming, using the calculated requirements for amino acids, with or without minimal glycine + serine requirements. The diets formulated without minimal requirements of glycine + serine were supplemented with various amounts of glycine, and fed to growing goslings.

3. The calculated requirements for protein and essential amino acids were lower than those suggested for growing broilers and turkeys. The requirements (g/MJ metabolizable energy) at 0–2, 2–4 and 4–7 weeks of age respectively, were: lysine 0·88, 0·48, 0·43; methionine + cystine 0·48, 0·38, 0·29; protein 14·5, 9·3, 7·6.

4. The goslings did not respond to glycine supplementation of the diet.

Circulating branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), a subgroup of the nine essential amino acids, has been associated with pancreatic cancer risk. The aim of this study is to estimate the relation between BCAA intake from diet and pancreatic cancer risk. We analysed data from a multicentric Italian case–control study, including 326 pancreatic cancer cases and 652 controls, matched to cases by study centre, sex and age. A validated FFQ was used to collect the participants’ usual diet before cancer diagnosis (or hospital admission for controls) and to compute dietary intakes of various nutrients, including BCAA. OR and the corresponding CI were computed through logistic regression models conditioned on the matching variables and adjusted for major confounding factors, including total energy intake. We found a positive association between BCAA intake and pancreatic cancer risk (OR for the third quartile = 1·88, 95 % CI = 1·08, 3·26; OR for the fourth quartile = 2·17, 95 % CI = 1·17, 4·06), with a significant trend in risk. The association persisted after excluding subjects with diabetes and family history of pancreatic cancer and across strata of selected covariates. These data support and quantify the association between dietary BCAA and pancreatic cancer, previously suggested by studies on circulating BCAA.

1. The nutritional status of children showing no clinical signs of malnutrition, from the University School of Khon Kaen, Khon Kaen province, north-east Thailand and from two villages nearby, was tested. The children were grouped according to their body-weight expressed as a percentage of expected weight-for-height (Harvard standards (Stuart & Stevenson, 1959), as given by Jelliffe (1966))..

2. The differing prealbumin concentrations indicated that nutritional status differed between the groups..

3. The urinary urea: creatinine ratio was significantly lower in the village children compared with the children from Khon Kaen, indicative of the higher dietary protein intake of the latter..

4. α1-Acid glycoprotein and the first ‘post-albumin peak’ (obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of serum and containing mainly Gc-globulin, α1-antichymotrypsin and α1-B-glycoprotein) were found to be significantly higher in the village children compared with children from Khon Kaen..

5. The three main proteins of the first ‘post-albumin peak’ from polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of serum were tested separately using the electroimmunoassay method. There was no significant difference in Gc-globulin between the children from Khon Kaen and the village children. The concentration of α1-B-glycoprotein from those Khon Kaen children whose body-weight was more than 95% expected weight-for-height was significantly lower compared with that of village children. α1-Antichymotrypsin concentration was significantly higher in serum from Khon Kaen children than in serum from village children.

This study investigates the mechanism by which maternal protein restriction induces hepatic autophagy-related gene expression in the offspring of rats. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a control diet (C, 18 % energy from protein) or a low-protein diet (LP, 8·5 % energy from protein) during gestation, followed by the control diet during lactation and post-weaning. Liver tissue was collected from the offspring at postnatal day 38 and divided into four groups according to sex and maternal diet (F-C, F-LP, M-C and M-LP) for further analysis. Autophagy-related mRNA and protein levels were determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was performed to investigate the interactions between transcription factors and autophagy-related genes. Protein levels of p- eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2a and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) were increased only in the female offspring born to dams fed the LP diet. Correlatively, the mRNA expression of hepatic autophagy-related genes including Map1lc3b, P62/Sqstm1, Becn1, Atg3, Atg7 and Atg10 was significantly greater in the F-LP group than in the F-C group. Furthermore, ChIP results showed greater ATF4 and C/EBP homology protein (CHOP) binding at the regions of a set of autophagy-related genes in the F-LP group than in the F-C group. Our data demonstrated that a maternal LP diet transcriptionally programmed hepatic autophagy-related gene expression only in female rat offspring. This transcriptional programme involved the activation of the eIF2α/ATF4 pathway and intricate regulation by transcription factors ATF4 and CHOP.

Nutritional therapy is a cornerstone of burns management. The optimal macronutrient intake for wound healing after burn injury has not been identified, although high-energy, high-protein diets are favoured. The present study aimed to identify the optimal macronutrient intake for burn wound healing. The geometric framework (GF) was used to analyse wound healing after a 10 % total body surface area contact burn in mice ad libitum fed one of the eleven high-energy diets, varying in macronutrient composition with protein (P5−60 %), carbohydrate (C20−75 %) and fat (F20−75 %). In the GF study, the optimal ratio for wound healing was identified as a moderate-protein, high-carbohydrate diet with a protein:carbohydrate:fat (P:C:F) ratio of 1:4:2. High carbohydrate intake was associated with lower mortality, improved body weight and a beneficial pattern of body fat reserves. Protein intake was essential to prevent weight loss and mortality, but a protein intake target of about 7 kJ/d (about 15 % of energy intake) was identified, above which no further benefit was gained. High protein intake was associated with delayed wound healing and increased liver and spleen weight. As the GF study demonstrated that an initial very high protein intake prevented mortality, a very high-protein, moderate-carbohydrate diet (P40:C42:F18) was specifically designed. The dynamic diet study was also designed to combine and validate the benefits of an initial very high protein intake for mortality, and subsequent moderate protein, high carbohydrate intake for optimal wound healing. The dynamic feeding experiment showed switching from an initial very high-protein diet to the optimal moderate-protein, high-carbohydrate diet accelerated wound healing whilst preventing mortality and liver enlargement.

The progression of cardiometabolic diseases is determined by both genetic and environmental factors. Gene–diet interactions may therefore be important in modulating the risks of developing metabolic diseases. The objectives were to investigate the effect of the interaction between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphisms and dietary insulin index (DII) and dietary insulin load (DIL) on cardiometabolic markers among diabetic patients. In this cross-sectional study, blood samples were collected from 667 patients. DIL and DII were defined using a validated FFQ. Genotyping the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was conducted by the PCR-Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Interactions between dietary indices and gene variants were evaluated using a generalised linear model. PGF2a concentrations were significantly higher among Val homozygotes than Met-allele carrier. This study revealed that, compared with individuals with the Val/Val genotype, those with the Met/Val or Met/Met genotype had lower BMI (Pinteraction = 0·04), TAG (Pinteraction = 0·04), leptin (Pinteraction = 0·01), LDL (Pinteraction = 0·04) and total cholesterol (Pinteraction = 0·01) when they consumed diets higher on the DIL index. Moreover, the highest quartile of the DIL, compared with the lowest, showed increase in waist circumference (Pinteraction = 0·02) and LDL/HDL (Pinteraction = 0·04) for Val/Val homozygotes compared with Met-allele carriers. BDNF Val66Met variants may interact with DIL and DII, thus be involved in the development of cardiometabolic risk factors. If diabetic patients with Met alleles regulate dietary intakes, they have a protective opportunity to regulate their cardiometabolic markers.

The present prospective cohort study aimed to determine whether dietary antioxidants were associated with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Another objective was to find out whether such associations could be modified by the BMI status. A total of 2188 Tehranian adults aged 21–84 years, free of T2DM with the validated FFQ, was entered in the study. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for confounders were used to assess the association between dietary antioxidants and incident T2DM in total population, as well as in subjects with various BMI statuses. During 8·9 (8·1–9·6) years of follow-up, dietary vitamin E significantly decreased the incident T2DM, after adjustment for confounders. However, other dietary antioxidants were not shown to be significantly associated with incident T2DM. The interaction between dietary vitamin E, Mg and BMI status was found to influence the risk of T2DM (Pfor interaction < 0·05). After stratification of subjects based on BMI status, it was found that vitamin E and Mg decreased the risk of T2DM only among normal-weight individual. Also, an inverse association was found among dietary vitamin C, dietary Zn and the risk of T2DM in individuals with normal weight but not in overweight and obese individuals; however, the interaction test tended to be significant for these dietary variables. Dietary antioxidants including vitamin E, vitamin C, Zn and Mg when accompanied by healthy weight, may bring benefits to the prevention of T2DM.

n-6 Fatty acids have been shown to exert pro-adipogenic effects, whereas n-3 fatty acids work in opposition. Increasing intakes of linoleic acid (LA; n-6) v. α-linolenic acid (ALA; n-3) in Western diets has led to the hypothesis that consumption of this diet during pregnancy may be contributing to adverse offspring health. This study investigated the effects of feeding a maternal dietary LA:ALA ratio similar to that of the Western diet (9:1) compared with a proposed ‘ideal’ ratio (about 1:1·5), at two total fat levels (18 v. 36 % fat, w/w), on growth and lipogenic gene expression in the offspring. Female Wistar rats were assigned to one of the four experimental groups throughout gestation and lactation. Offspring were culled at 1 and 2 weeks of age for sample collection. Offspring of dams consuming a 36 % fat diet were approximately 20 % lighter than those exposed to an 18 % fat diet (P < 0·001). Male, but not female, liver weight at 1 week was approximately 13 % heavier and had increased glycogen (P < 0·05), in offspring exposed to high LA (P < 0·01). Hepatic expression of lipogenic genes suggested an increase in lipogenesis in male offspring exposed to a 36 % fat maternal diet and in female offspring exposed to a low-LA diet, via increases in the expression of fatty acid synthase and sterol regulatory element-binding protein. Sexually dimorphic responses to altered maternal diet appeared to persist until 2 weeks of age. In conclusion, whilst maternal total fat content predominantly affected offspring growth, fatty acid ratio and total fat content had sexually dimorphic effects on offspring liver weight and composition.

Although the impact of diet on physical health is an important public health issue, less attention has been devoted to the relationship between nutrition and children’s mental development. The views of parents and teachers about the extent to which diet affects physical and mental development of children were compared in four European countries. An online questionnaire (developed in English and translated) was circulated through a market research agency. Participants were parents or teachers of children aged 4–10 years without learning or behavioural issues. Questionnaires were returned by 1606 parents (401 in England, Germany and Hungary; 403 in Spain) and 403 teachers (100 in each country, except for 103 in Hungary). Teachers were older than parents (35·3 % v. 18·3 % over 45 years; P<0·001) and less likely to smoke (15·9 % v. 26·3 %, P<0·001). There was no difference between the proportions of parents and teachers who felt that a child’s physical development depended very much/extremely (v. moderately/slightly/not at all) on diet (overall 79·8 %). Lower proportions of both groups thought that mental development was very much/extremely influenced by diet (67·4 %). In the regression modelling, believing that physical and mental performance was greatly influenced by diet was significantly and positively associated with living in Hungary, scoring higher on a measure of General Health Interest and (parents only) level of education attained. Differences existed among countries in most views. Lower levels of awareness of the importance of diet for brain development and cognition (compared with physical health outcomes) indicate the potential for educating consumers, especially parents with lower educational attainment.

Over the last several decades, there has been an increase in chronic diseases such as neurodegenerative, inflammatory, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. Two eating patterns, a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) and fasting, have been researched independently over this period and found to be beneficial in reducing many of these chronic diseases’ detrimental effects. However, there have been limited studies about the synergy of these eating patterns. This current scoping review aims to explore the evidence of the health outcomes of using a LCD in conjunction with fasting. Four databases were searched, and fifteen articles were found that fit the inclusion criteria. The articles reported positive effects of combining the two eating patterns for type 2 diabetes, CVD, inflammatory conditions and weight reduction and maintenance. LCD and fasting together provide synergy in decreasing metabolic syndrome (as the key causes of chronic illnesses), such as insulin levels, fasting glucose, blood pressure, TAG and regulating lipid profile. Due to the paucity of research, further high-quality studies are needed to substantiate this evidence.

Adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has been associated with sleep quality. However, its relationship with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the association between the DASH diet and SDB using data from a community-based survey among adults in Suzhou, Eastern China. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the Suzhou Food Consumption and Health Survey in 2018–2020. Dietary intake was measured by a validated FFQ. The association between the DASH diet and SDB was estimated by multivariable logistic regression analysis. In addition, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed to reinforce our findings. A total of 3939 participants were included in the final analysis. Participants in the upper quintile of the DASH score consumed more fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, whole grains, and dairy products, and less Na, red/processed meats, and sweetened beverages. The OR for the highest compared with the lowest quintile of the DASH score was 0·68 (95 % CI 0·52, 0·88; Pfor trend = 0·004) for SDB after multivariable adjustment. Of the eight DASH components, vegetables, nuts and legumes, and dairy products were inversely associated with SDB. The associations were similar in subgroups by age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol drinking, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidaemia. Adherence to the DASH diet was independently associated with decreased odds of self-reported SDB. Our novel results expand previous findings on diet and sleep and suggest the possibility of improving SDB by enhancing diet quality.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of guarana supplementation on cognitive performance before and after a bout of maximal intensity cycling and to compare this to an equivalent caffeine dose. Twenty-five participants completed the randomised double-blind crossover trial by performing cognitive tests with one of three supplements, on three different days: guarana (125 mg/kg), caffeine (5 mg/kg) or placebo (65 mg/kg protein powder). After 30 min of rest, participants performed simple (SRT) and choice reaction time (CRT) tests, an immediate word recall test and Bond–Lader mood scale. This was followed by a cycling V̇O2max test, and cognitive tests were then immediately repeated. Guarana supplementation decreased CRT before exercise (407 (sd 45) ms) in comparison with placebo (421 (sd 46) ms, P = 0·030) but not caffeine (417 (sd 42) ms). SRT after exercise decreased following guarana supplementation (306 (sd 28) ms) in comparison with placebo (323 (sd 32) ms, P = 0·003) but not caffeine (315 (sd 32) ms). Intra-individual variability on CRT significantly improved from before (111·4 (sd 60·5) ms) to after exercise (81·85 (sd 43·1) ms) following guarana supplementation, and no differences were observed for caffeine and placebo (P > 0·05). Alertness scores significantly improved following guarana supplementation (63·3 (sd 13·8)) in comparison with placebo (57·4 (sd 13·4), P = 0·014) but not caffeine (61·2 (sd 12·8)). There were no changes to V̇O2max, immediate word recall or any other Bond–Lader mood scales. Guarana supplementation appears to impact several parameters of cognition. These results support the use of guarana supplementation to possibly maintain speed of attention immediately following a maximal intensity exercise test (V̇O2max).

Eight Friesian calves were reared from birth to the start of the experiment at a predetermined growth rate of 1.0 kg/d. Four calves (group 1) commenced the experiment at 22 weeks of age and the remainder (group 2) at 34 weeks, and feed intake was calculated to provide sufficient metabolizable energy to sustain zero energy balance (Em). Between experimental days 30 and 56 at maintenance levels of feeding, respiratory exchange measurements were made using open-circuit calorimetry to provide indirect estimates of heat production (H) simultaneous with measurements of faecal and urinary excretion of energy and N. A datum point for Em and H was established for each animal giving mean values for Em of 491 and 537 and for H of 476 and 511 kJ/kg live weight (LW)0.75 per d for groups 1 and 2 respectively. Treatment levels calculated as 0·25, 0·5, 0·75 and 1·25 of dry matter intake required to sustain the measured Em, were imposed on individual animals after day 56 and further measurements of H and faecal/ urinary balance were made between days 72 and 84 followed by measurements of fasting heat production (FHP) during days 86–90 from the two animals in each group which had received the 0.75 and 1.25 levels of intake. Regression analysis of the treatment levels indicated separate linear models which predicted Em at 419 and 473 kJ/kg LW0·75 per d for groups 1 and 2 respectively. The incorporation of FHP with partitioning of faecal and urinary energy losses measured during fasting altered the relationship but not the predicted Em. Overall predicted Em (days 72–84) from all models were 406 and 478 kJ/kg LW0.75 per d for groups 1 and 2 respectively which were significantly lower (P < 0·05) than Em measured during days 30–56.

A growing number of studies have explored overall health during ageing in a holistic manner by investigating multidimensional models of healthy ageing (HA). However, little attention has been given to the role of adherence to national nutrition guidelines in that context. This study aimed to investigate the prospective association between adherence to the French nutrition guidelines and HA. The authors analysed data from 21 407 participants of the NutriNet-Santé study with a median baseline age of 55·6 years (2009–2014) and initially free of major chronic diseases. HA was defined as not developing major chronic disease, no depressive symptoms, no function-limiting pain, independence in instrumental activities of daily living, good physical, cognitive and social functioning, as well as good self-perceived health. Adherence to guidelines of the French Nutrition and Health Programme (Programme National Nutrition Santé or PNNS) was measured via the PNNS Guideline Score (PNNS-GS), using baseline data from repeated 24-h dietary records and physical activity questionnaires. After a median follow-up of 5·7 years, 46·3 % of participants met our HA criteria. Robust-error-variance Poisson regression revealed that higher PNNS-GS scores, reflecting higher adherence to nutrition recommendations (including both diet and physical activity guidelines), were associated with a higher probability to age healthily (relative riskquartile 4 v. quartile 1 = 1·17 (95 % CI 1·12, 1·22)). Supplementary analyses revealed that this association may, to a small part, be mediated by weight status. The results suggest that high adherence to the French national nutrition recommendations may be linked to better overall health throughout ageing.

1. In a double reversal experiment, diets containing either a normal or a large amount of lignin fibre were given to four patients with pruritus due to a liver disease.

2. Neither an improvement in symptoms nor a decrease in serum bile acid levels was found. The dose of fibre may have been insufficient, changes in intraluminal pH may have impaired adsorption of bile acids, or, less likely, the concentration of bile acids in the intestine may have been too low.