We investigated the effects of dietary oligofructose and Ca on bone structure in ovariectomized rats, using microradiography and histomorphometry. Ninety-six animals were allocated to seven experimental groups: G1, sham-operated; G2–G7, ovariectomized. Semi-purified diets containing 5 g Ca/kg (recommended content) without oligofructose (G1, G2) or with 25, 50 or 100 g oligofructose/kg (G3, G4, G5) or 10 g Ca/kg (high content) without oligofructose (G6) or with 50 g oligofructose/kg (G7) were fed for 16 weeks. At the recommended level of Ca, high oligofructose (G5) increased femur mineral levels in ovariectomized rats, while medium oligofructose did so at high Ca. Increasing Ca in the absence of oligofructose did not increase femur mineral content. Trabecular bone area (%) analysed in the tibia was 10·3 (SEM 1·2) (G1), 7·7 (SEM 0·6) (G2), 9·3 (SEM 0·7) (G3), 9·4 (SEM 1·0) (G4), 9·5 (SEM 0·7) (G5), 10·2 (SEM 0·8) (G6), and 12·6 (SEM 0·8) (G7). At the recommended level of Ca, 25 g oligofructose/kg prevented loss of trabecular area due to increased trabecular thickness, while 50 or 100 g oligofructose/kg increased trabecular perimeter. At high Ca, oligofructose prevented loss of bone area due to increased trabecular number but similar thickness (G7 v. G6). When Ca was raised in the presence of oligofructose (G7), trabecular area and cortical thickness were highest, while loss of trabecular connectivity was lowest of all groups. At the same time, lumbar vertebra Ca was higher; 44·0 (SEM 0·8) (G7) compared with 41·6 (SEM 0·8) (G2), 41·4 (SEM 0·7) (G4), and 40·5 (SEM 1·0) mg (G6). We conclude that ovariectomy-induced loss of bone structure in the tibia was prevented but with different trabecular architecture, depending on whether dietary Ca was increased, oligofructose was incorporated, or both. Oligofructose was most effective when dietary Ca was high.

Intestinal bacterial colonisation in pre-term infants is delayed compared with full-term infants, leading to an increased risk of gastrointestinal disease. Modulation of colonisation through dietary supplementation with probiotics or prebiotics could decrease such a risk. The present study evaluated clinical tolerance, the effects on gut microbiota, and inflammatory and immunological mucosal responses to an infant formula adapted for pre-term infants that included in its manufacturing process a fermentation step with two probiotic strains, Bifidobacterium breve C50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065, inactivated by heat at the end of the process. A total of fifty-eight infants (gestational age: 30–35 weeks), fed either the fermented pre-term formula or a standard pre-term formula, were followed up during their hospital stay. Clinical tolerance, faecal microbiota using a culture and a culture-independent method (temporal temperature gel electrophoresis), faecal calprotectin and secretory IgA were analysed weekly. No difference was observed regarding anthropometric data and digestive tolerance, except for abdominal distension, the incidence of which was lower in infants fed the fermented formula for 2 weeks. Bacterial colonisation was not modified by the type of feeding, particularly for bifidobacteria. Faecal calprotectin was significantly lower in infants fed the fermented formula for 2 weeks, and secretory IgA increased with both mother's milk and the fermented formula. The fermented formula was well tolerated and did not significantly modulate the bacterial colonisation but had benefits on inflammatory and immune markers, which might be related to some features of gastrointestinal tolerance.

Caseinophosphopeptides (CPP) were detected for the first time in ileostomy fluid, collected at 2 h intervals for 10 h post milk and CPP ingestion, from human volunteers with an ileostomy. The level of CPP present in ileostomy fluid obtained from milk-fed volunteers was markedly higher than that from volunteers fed with selected CPP preparations. The findings are based on HPLC analysis in combination with peptide-bound P determination, thin-layer electrophoresis and amino acid analysis, together with ELISA studies using polyclonal antibodies raised against a set of CPP to detect immunoreactive CPP in ileostomy fluid. These procedures allowed the detection of nm concentrations of CPP. CPP, which can be released during intestinal digestion, may function as bioactive constituents and carriers for different minerals, especially Ca, and may be used as ingredients in functional foods or pharmaceutical preparations.

There are wide variations in the macronutrient values adopted by neonatal intensive care units and industry to fortify milk in efforts to achieve recommended intakes for preterm infants. Contributing to this is the variation in macronutrient composition of preterm milk between and within mothers and the variable quality of milk analyses used to determine the macronutrient content of milk. We conducted a systematic review of the literature using articles published in English between 1959 and 2013 that reported the concentrations of one or more macronutrients or energy content in human preterm milk, sampled over a representative 24-h period. Searched medical databases included Ovid Medline, Scopus, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library. Results are presented as mean values and ranges for each macronutrient during weeks 1–8 of lactation, and preferred mean values (g/100 ml) for colostrum (week 1) and mature milk (weeks 2–8; protein: 1·27, fat: 3·46, lactose: 6·15 and carbohydrate: 7·34), using data from studies employing the highest-quality analyses. Industry-directed fortification practices using these mean values fail to meet protein targets for infants weighing <1000 g when the fortified milk is fed <170–190 ml/kg per d, and the protein:energy ratio of the fortified milk is inadequate. This study aimed to provide additional information to industry in order to guide their future formulation of breast milk fortifiers. Quality macronutrient analyses of adequately sampled preterm breast milk would improve our understanding of the level of fortification needed to meet recommended protein and energy intakes and growth targets, as well as support standardised reporting of nutritional outcomes.

The aim of this present study was to determine the reliability of a buffet-type meal as a measure of spontaneous energy and macronutrient intake. In addition, we evaluated the short-term effects of diet on the composition of the substrate mix oxidized postprandially. Fourteen male subjects had ad libitum access to a variety of foods from a buffet-type meal offered in the laboratory during two identical sessions. The foods comprising the test meal had varying amounts of protein, lipid and carbohydrate. The results showed that there were significant intraclass correlations (ri) for energy (ri 0·97, P = 0·0001), lipid (ri 0·97, P = 0·0001), carbohydrate (ri 0·92, P = 0·0003) and protein (ri 0·82, P = 0·0072) intake between the two meal sessions. Hunger and fullness levels measured immediately before and during 4 h after the meal were identical under the two conditions. In addition, there was no significant difference between the two sessions for RQ and resting energy expenditure, which showed significant reproducibility for measurements obtained immediately before, immediately after, as well as 30 min after, the buffet. This present study demonstrates the high reproducibility of energy and macronutrient intake and oxidation rate values obtained with a buffet-type meal in healthy male subjects and suggests that the use of this test is a reliable method for assessment of macronutrient preferences in the laboratory.

The intake of a carotenoid-rich diet is epidemiologically related to a lower risk for different chronic disorders like cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer or age-related macular degeneration. Red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and its dietary products contain a variety of carotenoids, which may contribute to the carotenoid pattern of human blood and tissues. The objective of the present study was to assess the availability of carotenoids from paprika oleoresin, including zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, β-carotene and the paprika-specific oxocarotenoids capsanthin and capsorubin. After overnight fasting, the volunteers (n 9) ingested a single dose of the paprika oleoresin containing 6·4 mg zeaxanthin, 4·2 mg β-cryptoxanthin, 6·2 mg β-carotene, 35·0 mg capsanthin and 2·0 mg capsorubin. At different time points the carotenoid pattern in the chylomicron fraction was analysed to evaluate carotenoid absorption. From the major carotenoids present in the paprika oleoresin only zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene were detectable in considerable amounts. Although the xanthophylls in paprika oleoresin were mainly present as mono- or di-esters, only free zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin were found in human samples. The bioavailability of the pepper-specific carotenoids capsanthin and capsorubin from paprika oleoresin is very low. However, oleoresin is a suitable source for the provitamin A carotenoids β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin and the macular pigment zeaxanthin.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (22:6n−3) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is an essential constituent of membranes, particularly of the nervous system. Infants acquire DHA from their mothers, either prenatally via the placenta or postnatally in milk. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that maternal supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy enriches maternal and/or fetal DHA status. In a randomised, prospective, double-blind study 100 mothers received either fish-oil capsules containing 400mg DHA/g (200mg/d) (n 50), or placebo containing 810mg oleic acid/g (400mg/d) (n 50) from 15 weeks gestation until term. Venous blood samples were obtained from mothers at 15, 28 and 40 weeks, and from the umbilical cord at birth. Total fatty acids in plasma and erythrocytes were analysed by GC–MS. There were no significant differences between maternal groups in baseline DHA, as a proportion of total fatty acids (g/100g total fatty acids) or concentration (nmol/ml), in plasma and erythrocytes. DHA concentrations in plasma at 28 weeks (P=0·02) and erythrocytes at both 28 weeks (P=0·03) and term (P=0·02) were 20% higher in supplemented mothers than the placebo group. DHA accounted for a higher proportion of total fatty acids in erythrocytes of supplemented mothers at 28 weeks (P=0·003) and term (P=0·01). There were no significant differences between groups in DHA (g/100g total fatty acids or nmol/l) in cord blood. Maternal DHA status was maximal in mid-trimester and declined to term, at a lower rate in supplemented compared with unsupplemented mothers. Maternal DHA supplementation significantly increases maternal DHA status and limits the last trimester decline in maternal status, aiding preferential transfer of DHA from mother to fetus.

This study aimed to verify the effect of aerobic exercise performed in the fasted v. fed states on fat and carbohydrate metabolism in adults. Searches were conducted in March 2015, and updated in July 2016, using PubMed®, Scopus and Cochrane databases (terms: ‘fasting’, ‘exercise’, ‘aerobic exercise’, ‘substrate’, ‘energy metabolism’, ‘fat’, ‘glucose’, ‘insulin’ and ‘adult’) and references from selected studies. Trials that compared the metabolic effects of aerobic exercise (duration ≤120 min) performed in the fasted v. fed states in adults were accepted. The outcomes evaluated were fat oxidation during exercise and the plasma concentrations of insulin, glucose and NEFA before and immediately after exercise; two independent reviewers extracted the data (A. F. V. and L. C.). The results were presented as weighted mean differences between treatments, with 95 % CI. Of 10 405 articles identified, twenty-seven studies – with a total of 273 participants – were included. There was a significant increase in fat oxidation during exercise performed in the fasted, compared with fed, state (−3·08 g; 95 % CI −5·38, −0·79; I2 39·1 %). The weighted mean difference of NEFA concentrations was not significantly different between states (0·00 mmol/l; 95 % CI −0·07, 0·08; I2 72·7 %). However, the weighted mean differences of glucose (0·78 mmol/l; 95 % CI 0·43, 1·14; I2 90·8 %) and insulin concentrations (104·5 pmol/l; 95 % CI 70·8, 138·2; I2 94·5 %) were significantly higher for exercise performed in the fed state. We conclude that aerobic exercise performed in the fasted state induces higher fat oxidation than exercise performed in the fed state.

PDCAAS is a widely used assay for evaluating protein quality. It is a chemical score, which is derived from the ratio between the first limiting amino acid in a test protein and the corresponding amino acid in a reference amino acid pattern and corrected for true faecal N digestibility. Chemical scores exceeding 100 % are truncated to 100 %. The advantages of the PDCAAS are its simplicity and direct relationship to human protein requirements. The limitations are as follows: the reference pattern is based on the minimum amino acid requirements for tissue growth and maintenance and does not necessarily reflect the optimum intake. Truncated PDCAAS of high-quality proteins do not give any information about the power of these proteins to compensate, as a supplement, for low levels of dietary essential amino acids in low-quality proteins. It is likely that faecal N digestibility does not take into account the loss from the colon of indispensable amino acids that were not absorbed in the ileum. Anti-nutritional factors, such as lectins and trypsin inhibitors, in several plant protein sources can cause heightened endogenous losses of amino acids, an issue which is particularly relevant in animal feedstuffs. The assumption that amino acid supplementation can completely restore biological efficiency of the protein source is incorrect since the kinetics of digestion and absorption between supplemented free amino acids and amino acids present in dietary proteins, are different.

High blood pressure (BP) has been ranked as the most important risk factor worldwide regarding attributable deaths. Dietary habits are major determinants of BP. Among them, frequent intake of low-fat dairy products may protect against hypertension. Our aim was to assess the relationship between low-fat dairy product intake and BP levels and their changes after 12-month follow-up in a cohort of asymptomatic older persons at high cardiovascular risk recruited into a large-scale trial assessing the effects of Mediterranean diets on cardiovascular outcomes. Data from 2290 participants, including 1845 with hypertension, were available for analyses. Dairy products were not a specific part of the intervention; thus, data were analysed as an observational cohort. Dietary information was collected with validated semi-quantitative FFQ and trained personnel measured BP. To assess BP changes, we undertook cross-sectional analyses at baseline and at the end of follow-up and longitudinal analyses. A statistically significant inverse association between low-fat dairy product intake and systolic BP was observed for the 12-month longitudinal analysis. In the longitudinal analysis, the adjusted systolic and diastolic BP were significantly lower in the highest quintile of low-fat dairy product intake ( − 4·2 (95% CI − 6·9, − 1·4) and − 1·8 (95% CI − 3·2, − 0·4) mmHg respectively), whereas the point estimates for the difference in diastolic BP indicated a modest non-significant inverse association. Intake of low-fat dairy products was inversely associated with BP in an older population at high cardiovascular risk, suggesting a possible protective effect against hypertension.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is often associated with malnutrition. The aim of this study was to compare the body composition of outpatients with IBD during remission and active phase. In order to evaluate disease activity we used Crohn's Disease Activity Index for Crohn's disease (CD) patients and Lichtiger's Index for ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. All patients underwent the analysis of BMI, arm muscle area (AMA) and triceps plus subscapula skinfold thickness (TST+SST) to identify total, muscle and fat mass, respectively. In total 102 patients were evaluated (CD, n 50; UC, n 52) and the majority was young women. Malnutrition according to BMI was found in 14·0 % of patients with CD and 5·7 % of UC patients. Muscle mass depletion was detected in more than half of the CD and UC patients. The BMI, TST+SST and AMA values were lower in the active phase only in CD patients (P < 0·05). Fat mass depletion was associated with active phase in both CD and UC patients. Body composition parameters obtained using BMI, TST+SST and AMA were not correlated with the presence of fistula in CD patients (P>0·05). In conclusion, patients without signs of malnutrition had fat mass depletion especially in the active phase and muscle mass depletion occurred both in CD and UC patients.

Elevated circulating concentrations of oxidized LDL (OxLDL) and cell adhesion molecules are considered to be relevant markers of oxidative stress and endothelial activation which are implicated in the development of CVD. On the other hand, it has been suggested that dietary flavonoid consumption may be cardioprotective through possible favourable impacts on LDL particle oxidation and endothelial activation. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of the daily consumption of low-calorie cranberry juice cocktail on plasma OxLDL, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin concentrations in men. Thirty men (mean age 51 (sd 10) years) were recruited and asked to consume increasing daily doses of cranberry juice cocktail (125, 250 and 500 ml/d) over three successive periods of 4 weeks. Plasma OxLDL and adhesion molecule concentrations were measured by ELISA before and after each phase. We noted a significant decrease in plasma OxLDL concentrations following the intervention (P < 0·0001). We also found that plasma ICAM-1 (P < 0·0001) and VCAM-1 (P < 0·05) concentrations decreased significantly during the course of the study. In summary, the present results show that daily cranberry juice cocktail consumption is associated with decreases in plasma OxLDL, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 concentrations in men.

The effects of disodium fumarate on microbial growth, CH4 production and fermentation of three diets differing in their forage content (800, 500 and 200 g/kg DM) by rumen micro-organisms in vitro were studied using batch cultures. Rumen contents were collected from four Merino sheep. Disodium fumarate was added to the incubation bottles to achieve final concentrations of 0, 4 and 8 mm-fumarate, and 15N was used as a microbial marker. Gas production was measured at regular intervals from 0 to 120 h of incubation. Fumarate did not affect (P>0·05) any of the measured gas production parameters. In 17 h incubations, the final pH and the production of acetate and propionate were increased linearly (P<0·001) by the addition of fumarate. Fumarate tended to increase (P=0·076) the organic matter disappearance of the diets and to decrease (P=0·079) the amount of NH3-N in the cultures. Adding fumarate to batch cultures tended (P=0·099) to decrease CH4 production, the mean values of the decrease being 5·4 %, 2·9 % and 3·8 % for the high-, medium- and low-forage diet, respectively. Fumarate tended to increase (P=0·082) rumen microbial growth for the high-forage diet, but no differences (P>0·05) were observed for the other two diets. These results indicate that the effects of fumarate on rumen fermentation depend on the nature of the incubated substrate, the high-forage diet showing the greatest response.

1. Water-holding capacity (WHC) of dietary fibre is usually considered as the amount of water held but the manner in which water is held by the fibre matrix may be more relevant in understanding the role of fibre in nutrition.

2. A method used to determine WHC under physiological conditions has been adapted to determine how strongly water is held by fibre. Solutions of compounds, such as polyethylene glycol, of known osmotic potential are used to generate a suction pressure across a dialysis membrane containing a fibre sample. The WHC at each suction pressure can then be determined.

3. The method can be applied to water-soluble and water-insoluble sources of fibre. Fibre sources studied included potato fibre concentrate, bran and gum arabic.

4. Results are comparable to other similar systems of WHC measurement for gels and suggest that vegetable fibre has water-holding properties more akin to a true gel than bran. Bran has very poor water-holding properties.

5. Differences in WHC between fibre sources are more apparent if WHC is considered as fibre concentration (g fibre/g water).

6. Differences in the water-holding properties could be important in determining fibre activity in the gut.

The metabolic fate of dietary n-3 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) in mammals is currently unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the extent of conversion of dietary DPA to DHA and EPA in rats. Four groups of male weanling Sprague–Dawley rats (aged 5 weeks) were given 50 mg of DPA, EPA, DHA or oleic acid, daily for 7 d by gavage. At the end of the treatment period, the tissues were analysed for concentrations of long-chain PUFA. DPA supplementation led to significant increases in DPA concentration in all tissues, with largest increase being in adipose (5-fold) and smallest increase being in brain (1·1-fold). DPA supplementation significantly increased the concentration of DHA in liver and the concentration of EPA in liver, heart and skeletal muscle, presumably by the process of retroconversion. EPA supplementation significantly increased the concentration of EPA and DPA in liver, heart and skeletal muscle and the DHA concentration in liver. DHA supplementation elevated the DHA levels in all tissues and EPA levels in the liver. Adipose was the main tissue site for accumulation of DPA, EPA and DHA. These data suggest that dietary DPA can be converted to DHA in the liver, in a short-term study, and that in addition it is partly retroconverted to EPA in liver, adipose, heart and skeletal muscle. Future studies should examine the physiological effect of DPA in tissues such as liver and heart.

Previously, it has been shown that strawberry (SB) or blueberry (BB) supplementations, when fed to rats from 19 to 21 months of age, reverse age-related decrements in motor and cognitive performance. We have postulated that these effects may be the result of a number of positive benefits of the berry polyphenols, including decreased stress signalling, increased neurogenesis, and increased signals involved in learning and memory. Thus, the present study was carried out to examine these mechanisms in aged animals by administering a control, 2 % SB- or 2 % BB-supplemented diet to aged Fischer 344 rats for 8 weeks to ascertain their effectiveness in reversing age-related deficits in behavioural and neuronal function. The results showed that rats consuming the berry diets exhibited enhanced motor performance and improved cognition, specifically working memory. In addition, the rats supplemented with BB and SB diets showed increased hippocampal neurogenesis and expression of insulin-like growth factor 1, although the improvements in working memory performance could not solely be explained by these increases. The diverse polyphenolics in these berry fruits may have additional mechanisms of action that could account for their relative differences in efficacy.

Diabetic retinopathy increases with duration of diabetes and may be associated with carotenoid status. Carotenoids alter the pro-oxidation/antioxidation balance, and circulating levels depend largely on dietary intake. Lower levels have been reported in diabetes and age-related macular degeneration; however, little is known of the relationship between carotenoids and diabetic complications. Consequently, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma carotenoids and diabetic retinopathy. We assessed the carotenoid–retinopathy relationship in 111 individuals with type 2 diabetes in a community-based, cross-sectional study. We photodocumented retinal status and used HPLC to measure plasma carotenoid concentrations. Data for clinical and demographic variables and risk factors for diabetic retinopathy were obtained from 24 h urine and fasting blood samples, and an interviewer-assisted lifestyle questionnaire. We found that the combined lycopene and lutein/zeaxanthin (non-pro-vitamin A (non-PVA) carotenoid) concentration when compared with the pro-vitamin A (PVA) carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin) was significantly lower in the retinopathy than non-retinopathy group (OR 1·2 (95 % CI 1·0, 1·4) v. 1·6 (95 % CI 1·4, 1·7), respectively; P = 0·009). A higher non-PVA:PVA ratio also predicted a lower risk of diabetic retinopathy, after adjustment for potential confounders (OR 0·33 (95 % CI 0·12, 0·95); P = 0·039). Finally, a higher concentration of PVA carotenoids was associated with greater odds of diabetic retinopathy, after adjustment for risk factors (P = 0·049). We suggest synergies between carotenoids are implicated in diabetic retinopathy, independent of established risk factors. Importantly, our observations indicate dietary modulation of retinopathy risk may be possible by increasing intakes of lutein- and lycopene-rich foods.

Diets were formulated using sugar, soya-bean meal and free amino acids to contain 0.1–0.8 lysine/MJ digestible energy (DE) and offered at three times maintenance to male and female pigs from 20 to 45 kg live weight. Growth responses and retentions of protein, fat, energy and lysine were assessed. Increasing the dietary lysine concentration resulted in significant (P < 0.001) linear and curvilinear increases in growth rates and decreases in food conversion ratios. There was only a small effect of lysine concentration on total energy retention, but a substantial effect on the partitioning of energy deposition, with increases in the rate of protein deposition and decreases in fat retention. There was no difference in the efficiency of protein deposition between male and female pigs but males responded more to higher lysine concentrations than females (estimated 0.93 and 0.74 g lysine/MJ DE for males and females respectively). Lysine concentration in the protein deposited by the pigs increased linearly and curvilinearly (P < 0.01) from 5.8 to 6.6 g lysine/16 g N with increasing dietary lysine concentration. There was a linear and quadratic response (P < 0.001) in retention of ileal digestible lysine, with the minimum retention of 0.16 occurring at 0.1 g lysine/MJ DE and increasing to a maximum retention of 0.73 at a dietary concentration of 0.47 g lysine/MJ DE. The efficiency of lysine retained/ileal digestible lysine intake was 0.86 and the endogenous lysine loss was estimated at 0.94 g/d.