Ca homoeostasis is important to human health and tightly controlled by powerful hormonal mechanisms that display ethnic variation. Ethnic variations could occur also in Arctic populations where the traditional Inuit diet is low in Ca and sun exposure is limited. We aimed to assess factors important to parathyroid hormone (PTH) and Ca in serum in Arctic populations. We included Inuit and Caucasians aged 50–69 years living in the capital city in West or in rural East Greenland. Lifestyle factors were assessed by questionnaires. The intake of Inuit diet was assessed from a FFQ. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD2 and 25OHD3) levels were measured in serum as was albumin, Ca and PTH. The participation rate was 95 %, with 101 Caucasians and 434 Inuit. Median serum 25OHD (99·7 % was 25OHD3) in Caucasians/Inuit was 42/64 nmol/l (25, 75 percentiles 25, 54/51, 81) (P<0·001). Total Ca in serum was 2·33/2·29 mmol/l (25, 75 percentiles 2·26, 2·38/2·21, 2·36) (P=0·01) and PTH was 2·7/2·2 pmol/l (25, 75 percentiles 2·2, 4·1/1·7, 2·7) (P<0·001). The 69/97 Caucasians/Inuit with serum 25OHD <50 nmol/l differed in PTH (P=0·001) that rose with lower 25OHD levels in Caucasians, whereas this was not the case in Inuit. Ethnic origin influenced PTH (β=0·27, P<0·001) and Ca (β=0·22, P<0·001) in multivariate linear regression models after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol and diet. In conclusion, ethnic origin influenced PTH, PTH response to low vitamin D levels and Ca levels in populations in Greenland. Recommendations are to evaluate mechanisms underlying the ethnic influence on Ca homoeostasis and to assess the impact of transition in dietary habits on Ca homoeostasis and skeletal health in Arctic populations.

Senescence-accelerated mouse prone/8 (SAMP8), a murine model of accelerated senescence, shows age-related deficits in learning and memory. We investigated the effect of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (oligomers) on memory impairment using the SAMP8 model involving the oral administration of oligomers for 5 weeks. To analyse memory improvement in SAMP8, we performed Morris water maze, object location and object recognition tests. The oral administration of oligomers improved spatial and object recognition impairment in SAMP8. Expressions of phosphorylated neurofilament-H (P-NF-H, axon marker), microtubule-associated proteins (MAP) 2a and 2b (MAP2; dendrite marker) and synaptophysin were increased in the brains of SAMP8-administered oligomers. In particular, the expression of P-NF-H was significantly elevated in the hippocampal CA1. This indicates that oligomers result in an increase in the densities of axons, dendrites and synapses. To investigate the protective mechanisms of oligomers against brain dysfunction with ageing, we carried out a receptor tyrosine kinase phosphorylation antibody array, and clarified that the administration of oligomers led to an increase in the phosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2, suggesting the neuroprotective role of oligomers. The phosphorylation of VEGFR-2 was more greatly increased in the hypothalamus and choroid plexus than in other brain regions of SAMP8. Memory in oligomer-treated mice was impaired by SU1498, a VEGFR-2-specific antagonist. Elucidating the relationship between memory impairment with ageing and VEGFR-2 signalling may provide new suggestions for protection against memory deficit in the ageing brain.

1. The objective of the present study was to evaluate effects of in vitro rumen solubility or degradability of dietary protein on net absorption of nitrogenous compounds from portal-drained viscera of beef heifers.

2. Four protein sources, casein, soya-bean meal, maize-gluten meal and blood meal provided about two-thirds of total dietary nitrogen in semi-purified diets given to four beef heifers in a 4 x 4 Latin square design.

3. Although in vitro degradability of dietary N ranged from 842 (casein) to 310 (blood meal) g/kg total dietary N, net absorption of ammonia-N or α-amino-N was not significantly different (P > 0.10) among diets. However, net absorption of NH3-N tended to decrease and net absorption of α-amino-N tended to increase as intake of in vitro undegradable N increased. Net transfer of urea-N from plasma to portal-drained viscera was greater (P < 0.10) when heifers were fed on soya-bean meal than when fed on maize-gluten meal or blood meal.

4. The findings show with all diets that the non-protein-nitrogenous compounds, NH3 and urea, played a substantial role in absorption and transfer of N. Overall, net absorption of NH3-N was 61% of net absorption of α-amino-N, and transfer of urea-N from plasma to portal-drained viscera was 80% ofnet absorption of α-amino-N.

Phase II metabolising enzymes enable the metabolism and excretion of potentially harmful substances in adults, but to date it is unclear whether dietary phytochemicals can induce phase II enzymes differently between adults and infants. We investigated the expression of phase II enzymes in an in vitro model of primary skin fibroblasts at three different developmental stages, 1 month, 2 years and adult, to examine potential differences in age-related phase II enzymes in response to different phytochemicals (5–20 μm) including sulphoraphane, quercetin and catechin. Following phytochemical treatment, a significant increase in mRNA of glutathione S-transferase A1 (GSTA1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) was observed, with the most marked increases seen in response to sulphoraphane (3–10-fold for GSTA1, P = 0·001, and 6–35-fold for NQO1, P = 0·001–0·017). Catechin also induced 3–5-fold changes in NQO1 transcription, whereas quercetin had less effect on NQO1 mRNA induction in infant cells. Moreover, NQO1 protein levels were significantly increased in 2-year-old and adult cell models in response to sulphoraphane treatment. These results suggest that metabolic plasticity and response to xenobiotics may be different in infants and adults; and therefore the inclusion of phytochemicals in the infant diet may modulate their induction of phase II metabolism, thereby providing increased protection from potentially harmful xenobiotics in later life.

The addition of carbohydrate to drinks designed to have a role in rehydrating the body is commonplace. The gastric emptying and fluid uptake characteristics following repeated ingestion of drinks with high and low glucose concentrations were examined in eight subjects (three male and five female). Following a 13 h fluid restriction period, the subjects ingested a volume of test solution amounting to 3 % of the initial body mass over a period of 60 min. Test drinks were 2 and 10 % glucose–electrolyte solutions with osmolalities of 189 (sd 3) and 654 (sd 3) mOsm/kg, respectively. The initial bolus of each test solution contained 10 g of 2H2O. Blood samples were collected throughout drinking and for 60 min afterwards. Gastric volumes were determined via gastric aspiration at 15 min intervals for 120 min. No difference between trials in total stomach volume was observed until 30 min after the ingestion of the first bolus of test drink, but blood 2H concentration was increased during both trials 10 min after ingestion of the first bolus. Blood 2H concentration was greater at this time point during the 2 % glucose trial than during the 10 % glucose trial and remained higher for the duration of the trial with the exception of one time point. Urine volume at the end of the trial was greater in the 2 % glucose trial than in the 10 % glucose trial. It is concluded that the reduced overall rate of fluid uptake following ingestion of the 10 % glucose solution was due largely to a relatively slow rate of gastric emptying.

Despite the apparent beneficial effects of probiotics/synbiotics on glucose haemostasis, lipid profile and inflammatory responses, it is not clear whether these beneficial effects also impact renal and hepatic function in diabetes. Therefore, we sought to assess the effect of probiotics/synbiotics supplementation on renal and liver biomarkers in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT). PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were systematically searched, up to February 2021. The pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) was estimated using a random-effects model. The methodological quality of studies, as well as certainty of evidence, was assessed using standard scales. Fifteen related trials were identified. Meta-analysis of six trials, involving 426 participants, indicated that probiotics/synbiotics supplementation reduced serum levels of creatinine (WMD = −0·10 mg/dl, 95 % CI −0·20, −0·00; P = 0·01; I 2 = 87·7 %; P-heterogeneity < 0·001), without any significant effect on blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glomerular filtration rate or microalbuminuria. No significant improvement was found on liver biomarkers following probiotics/synbiotics supplementation. The subgroup analysis showed a significant improvement in BUN when follow-up duration lasted for 12 weeks or more (WMD = −1·215 mg/dl, 95 % CI −1·933, −0·496; P = 0·001) and in creatinine levels in patients with renal dysfunction (WMD = −0·209 mg/dl, 95 % CI −0·322, −0·096; P < 0·001). Our results are insufficient to advocate the use of probiotics/synbiotics for improving renal or liver function in patients with T2DM. Indeed, due to the low certainty of evidence, these findings need to be affirmed in further high-quality RCT.

Intakes of excess Na and insufficient K are two major contributors of heart diseases and stroke development. However, no precise study has previously been carried out on Na and K intakes among Indonesian adults. The present study aimed to estimate the Na and K intakes using two consecutive 24-h urine collections. Participants were community-dwelling adults aged between 20 and 96 years, randomly selected from a pool of resident registration numbers. Of the 506 participants, 479 (240 men and 239 women) completed urine collections. The mean Na excretion was 102·8 and 100·6 mmol/d, while the mean K excretion was 25·0 and 23·4 mmol/d for men and women, respectively. Na and K excretions were higher in participants with a higher BMI. A higher K excretion was associated only with younger age. More than 80 % of the participants consumed more than 5 g/d of salt (the upper limit recommended by the Indonesian government), whereas none of them consumed more than 3510 mg/d of K (the lower limit). The high Na and low K intakes, especially high Na among participants with high BMI, should be considered when future intervention programmes are planned in this country.

1. A comparison of human tissue organo-bromine residues has been made from specimens obtained in the UK, West Germany and Holland.

2. These findings, in conjunction with previous animal studies and with the geographical differences in the use of brominated vegetable oils as food additives, suggest that the high bromine levels found in the fat of tissues from UK children are due to the use of these compounds.

Hepatocytes were isolated from sixteen fasting neonatal pigs and used in two experiments: (1) to determine the effect of various factors on the ability for hepatic oxidation of fatty acids and (2) to clarify the relationship between fatty acid oxidation and glucose synthesis. In Expt 1, newborn pigs were either fasted from birth for 24 h or allowed to suck ad lib. for 3 d followed by a 24 h fast. In the presence of pyruvate, oxidation of octanoate (2 mM) was about 30-fold greater than oleate (1 mM) regardless of age, but glucose synthesis was not enhanced beyond that observed for pyruvate alone. Inclusion of carnitine (1 mM), glucagon (100 nM) or dibutryl cAMP (50 μM) in the incubation media did not stimulate either fatty acid oxidation (octanoate or oleate) or glucose synthesis. Extending the period of fasting to 48 h (Expt 2) failed to enhance the fatty acid oxidative capacity or glucose synthesis rate. Likewise, the redox potential of the giuconeogenic substrate (lactate v. pyruvate) did not influence glucose synthesis regardless of the oxidative capacity exhibited for fatty acids. These data indicate that fatty acid oxidative capacity is not the first limiting factor to full expression of gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes isolated from fasted newborn pigs.

Ageing is associated with weight loss and subsequently poor health outcomes. The present study assessed agreement between two field methods, bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) and corrected arm muscle area (CAMA) for assessment of body composition against dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the reference technique. Agreement between two predictive equations estimating skeletal muscle mass (SMM) from BIS against SMM from DXA was also determined. Assessments occurred at baseline < 14 d post-surgery (n 79), and at 6 months (6M; n 75) and 12 months (12M; n 63) in community-living older adults after surgical treatment for hip fracture. The 95 % limits of agreement (LOA) between BIS and DXA, CAMA and DXA and the equations and DXA were assessed using Bland–Altman analyses. Mean bias and LOA for fat-free mass (FFM) between BIS and DXA were: baseline, 0·7 ( − 10·9, 12·4) kg; 6M, − 0·5 ( − 20·7, 19·8) kg; 12M, 0·1 ( − 8·7, 8·9) kg and for SMM between CAMA and DXA were: baseline, 0·3 ( − 11·7, 12·3) kg; 6M, 1·3 ( − 4·5, 7·1) kg; 12M, 0·9 ( − 5·4, 7·2) kg. Equivalent data for predictive equations against DXA were: equation 1: baseline, 15·1 ( − 9·5, 20·6) kg; 6M, 17·1 ( − 12·0, 22·2) kg; 12M, 17·5 ( − 13·0, 22·0) kg; equation 2: baseline, 12·6 ( − 7·3, 19·9) kg; 6M, 14·4 ( − 9·7, 19·1) kg; 12M, 14·8 ( − 10·7, 18·9) kg. Proportional bias (BIS: β = − 0·337, P< 0·001; CAMA: β = − 0·294, P< 0·001) was present at baseline but not at 6M or 12M. Clinicians should be cautious in using these field methods to predict FFM and SMM, particularly in the acute care setting. New predictive equations would be beneficial.

A higher fat content in the diet could be an advantage for preventing malnutrition among older adults. However, there is sparse scientific evidence to determine the optimal fat intake among older adults. This prospective cohort study examined whether a high energy intake of dietary fat among middle-aged and older adults is associated with the risk of malnutrition 10 years later. The study population comprised 725 Swedish men and women aged 53–80 years who had completed a questionnaire about dietary intake and lifestyle factors in 1997 (baseline) and whose nutritional status was assessed when admitted to the hospital in 2008–2009 (follow-up). At the follow-up, 383 (52·8 %) participants were identified as being at risk of malnutrition and fifty-two (7·2 %) were identified as malnourished. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to analyse the association between previous dietary fat intake and nutritional status later in life. Contrary to what was expected, a high energy intake from total fat, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat among middle-aged and older adults increased the risk of exhibiting malnutrition 10 years later. However, this applied only to individuals with a BMI<25 kg/m2 at the baseline. In conclusion, these findings suggest that preventive actions to counteract malnutrition in older adults should focus on limiting the intake of total fat in the diet by reducing consumption of food with a high content of saturated and monounsaturated fat.

1. A new method has been devised for the nutritional evaluation of food protein quality. The method is analogous to the classical determination of net protein utilization (NPU). The suggested new criterion, the protein utilization by the liver (LPU), expresses the amount of food nitrogen ‘retained’ in the liver as a percentage of the food nitrogen intake.

2. Five different foods, casein, soya-bean protein isolate, maize gluten, wheat gluten, cottonseed meal alone or with supplements of amino acids, a total of thirteen samples, were tested for LPU and NPU in groups of six rats. The correlation coefficient between values for LPU and NPU for all seventy-eight rats was +0.85 and was highly significant.

The effect of adding cottonseed hulls to casein- and cottonseed-kernel-based diets on the apparent and true ileal digestibility of N and amino acids, and the proportion of this effect accounted for by condensed tannin (CT), were determined using the growing rat. Sixtyrats were allocated randomly to ten semi- purified diets, containing either casein (four diets) or purified unheated solvent-extracted cottonseed kernel (six diets) as the sole protein source, with Cr2O3 added as an indigestible marker. Two of the casein diets contained no hulls whilst the remaining two diets contained 70 g cottonseed hulls/kg. Two of the cottonseed-kernel-based diets contained no hulls, with two containing 23 g hulls/kg and the remaining two containing 46 g hulls/kg. For each pair of diets, PEG was either included or excluded. The effect of CT was quantified by comparing control rats (-PEG; CTacting) with PEG-supplemented rats (+PEG; CT inactivated) at each level of dietary hulls. The rats were given their respective experimental diets for 14 d. Each rat was given the food ad libitumfor 10 min hourly from 08·00 to 18·00 hours. On day 14, samples of digesta were collected at death from the terminal 150 mm of ileum at 7 h from the first meal. Apparent and true ileal digestibilities were calculated for DM, N and the individual amino acids. The principal finding was that the inclusion of hulls depressed the apparent and true ileal digestibilities of N and amino acids, but with the response differing between diets. With the casein-based diet the mean apparent and true ileal amino acid digestibilities were significantly depressed from 0·89 and 0·96 to 0·85 and 0·92 respectively, by the inclusion of 70 g hulls/kg in the diet, and addition of PEG then restored these to 0·89 and 0·95. All of the depression could be explained by the CT content of the hulls. However, with the cottonseed-kernel-based diet the responses fell into three categories. The apparent and true ileal digestibilities of the essential amino acids cystine and methionine were not affected by hull addition, ileal digestibilities of leucine, isoleucine, lysine, threonine and valine were markedly depressed by hull addition with approximately 50% of the depression being explained by CT, whilst the ileal digestibilities of histidine, arginine and phenylalanine were depressed by hull addition but little or none of this effect could be explained by CT. Thus the effect of hulls on protein digestion clearly differed with source of protein. With the cottonseed-kernel-based diet it seems that components of the hulls other than CT also depressed the apparent and true ileal digestibilities of N and amino acids. The identity of these components is unknown.

It has been shown previously that malnourished rats are resistant to acute gastric lesions but not to subchronic gastric ulceration. It also has been demonstrated that the essential oil obtained from the bark of Croton cajucara (Sacaca) has antiulcer properties. In the present study, the ability of this essential oil to prevent the formation of gastric ulcers in rats fed a diet with 17% protein (normoproteic rats) or 6% protein (malnourished rats) was investigated. At a dose of 100mg/kg body weight, orally, the essential oil significantly reduced the gastric injury caused by indomethacin (25% after 2h and 70% after 4h) only in normoproteic rats. In the pylorus ligature model, the essential oil increased the pH and gastric volume, but decreased the total acid concentration in both groups when compared to the respective control group. The essential oil significantly increased prostaglandin E2 production in glandular cells by 50% compared to the controls in both groups of rats. In addition, the amount of gastric mucus was two-fold higher in malnourished rats than in normoproteic rats. The present results show that the enhanced protective effect of essential oil in malnourished rats involved an increase in prostaglandin E2 production and mucus secretion, which are both factors that protect the gastric mucosa against damage. In agreement with this, malnourished rats always had a lower number of acute gastric ulcers.