Lutein, a fat-soluble carotenoid with antioxidant properties, may have an effect on respiratory health. However, the evidence is inconsistent. We aimed to cross-sectionally investigate the association between lutein intake and lung function by measuring forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC% in adults (aged 45–79 years). We included 4402 participants from the Rotterdam Study, a prospective cohort study in The Netherlands. Lutein intake was assessed using a validated FFQ. Lung function was assessed using spirometry around the same time point as the dietary assessment. No independent association was found between lutein intake and FEV1 (−12·17 (95 % CI −34·21, 9·87) ml per sd increase in lutein) after adjustment for age, sex, height, cohort effect, ethnicity, education, weight, total daily energy intake, smoking status, physical activity, and intakes of fatty acids, dietary fibre, alcohol, β-carotene, β-crypotoxanthin, lycopene and zeaxanthin. There was also no association between lutein and FVC or FEV1/FVC%. However, after stratification by smoking status, lutein intake was significantly associated with lower FEV1/FVC% in current smokers (−1·69 (95 % CI −2·93, −0·45) % per sd increase of lutein) independent of other carotenoids. The present study does not support an independent association between lutein intake and lung function in adults. However, future studies should focus on the potential inverse association between high lutein intake and lung function in specific risk groups such as smokers.

Approximately 50 % of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suffer from anaemia, with Fe deficiency being the most common cause. CD52 monoclonal antibody (mAb) targets the cell surface CD52 and is effective in depleting lymphocytes through cytolytic effects in vivo. The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of anti-mouse CD52 mAb on Fe-deficient anaemia in IBD. IL-10 knockout mice (IL-10− / −) of 12 weeks with established colitis were treated with anti-mouse CD52 mAb once per week for 2 weeks. Severity of colitis, blood T lymphocytes, blood Hb, haematocrit, plasma erythropoietin (EPO), serum Fe concentration, transferrin saturation, splenic Fe stores, expression of liver hepcidin mRNA, Western blotting of the phosphorylated form of Smad1/5/8 and total Smad1 were measured at the end of the experiment. IL-10− / − mice treated with CD52 mAb showed a reduction in the percentage of CD4+ and CD4+CD45+ T cells in blood and weight loss typically associated with colonic inflammation, serum levels of EPO, the expression of liver hepcidin mRNA and total Smad1 protein, while they showed an increase in Hb concentrations, haematocrit, levels of serum Fe, transferrin saturation and splenic Fe stores. The present results indicated that anti-CD52 therapy may ameliorate Fe-deficient anaemia by reducing colonic inflammation. These findings may open novel horizons in the treatment of patients with IBD by resetting of immunological homeostasis in the gut by depleting the activated T cells in the gut mucosa.

Little information is known about the influence of altitude on child growth in Ethiopia, where most people live in highlands. We investigated the relation of residential altitude with growth faltering (stunting) of infants and young children in Ethiopia. We also examined whether the altitude–growth relationship was independent of the influence of the dietary and non-dietary determinants of growth. We used the data of 26 976 under-5-year-old children included in the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys, conducted from 2005 to 2016. The samples were recruited following a two-stage cluster sampling strategy. Stunting was defined by height-for-age <−2 z-scores. The relationship between residential altitude and stunting was examined by running multiple logistic regression analysis, controlling the effect of covariate dietary and non-dietary variables. The residential altitude of the study participants ranged from −116 to 4500 m above sea level (masl). There was a significant and progressive increase in the prevalence and odds of stunting with increasing altitude (P < 0·001), irrespective of the dietary and non-dietary predictors of stunting. The prevalence of stunting was lowest in lowlands (39 %) and highest in highlands (47 %). Compared with altitude <1000 masl, the odds of stunting was 1·41 times higher at altitude ≥2500 masl (OR 1·41, 95 % CI 1·16, 1·71) and 1·29 times higher at altitude 2000–2499 masl (OR 1·29, 95 % CI 1·11, 1·49). Children living in highlands might be at a higher risk of poor growth. Further studies are warranted to understand the mechanism behind the observed altitude–stunting link and identify strategies to compensate for the growth-faltering effect of living in highlands.

Studies on the associations of dietary Ca and vitamin D intakes with arterial stiffness are scarce. In the present study, these associations were evaluated in Japanese men. Data from a total of 535 eligible men, aged 35–69 years, who participated in the baseline survey of a cohort study in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, and underwent brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) measurements were analysed. ba-PWV is a measure of arterial stiffness and is recognised as a marker of atherosclerotic vascular damage. Information regarding the cohort's lifestyle characteristics including dietary behaviour over the past year was obtained from a structured self-administered questionnaire. Dietary Ca and vitamin D intakes were adjusted for total energy intake using the residual method and divided into quartiles; the highest quartile was used as the reference. General linear models were used to evaluate the associations between dietary Ca and vitamin D intakes and ba-PWV values adjusted for probable covariates. The association between dietary Ca intake and ba-PWV was further evaluated using similar general linear models stratified by dietary vitamin D intake (median or below/above median). Dietary Ca intake was found to be significantly inversely associated with ba-PWV after adjusting for probable covariates (P for trend = 0·020). However, no such association was observed between dietary vitamin D intake and ba-PWV. The inverse association between dietary Ca intake and ba-PWV was striking in subjects with higher dietary vitamin D intake. However, no association was found in subjects with lower dietary vitamin D intake. These results indicate that adequate dietary Ca and vitamin D intakes may be protective against the development of arterial stiffness in Japanese men.

Eleven 14–15-year-old schoolgirls were investigated four times within 1 year to determine variations in energy expenditure between individuals (inter-individual variability) and within subjects (intra-individual variability). Indirect calorimetry was used to determine metabolic rates in the fasting and resting state (RMR), and during physical activities which were grouped into standardized and non-standardized activities. Analyses of variance supplied information about intra- and inter-individual variabilities of rates of energy expenditure. The mean resting metabolic rate in adolescent girls was 4.41 (SD 0.40) kJ/min. The overall coefficient of variation (9.1 %) was approximately twice as high as the mean coefficient within subjects (4.3%). The reproducibility of the RMR of the girls was high (significant F value of variance analysis), even over a prolonged investigation of 1 year. This seemed to depend primarily on the constant body weight during the period of investigation. A workload of 30 W on a bicycle ergometer and walking at an individually chosen speed did not reveal significant differences between inter- and intra-individual variabilities of energy metabolic rates. However, in most non- standardized activities, e.g. relaxation at home, washing dishes and vacuum cleaning, inter-individual variability was significantly higher than intra-individual variability. There are true differences in energy expenditure rates between subjects which may be demonstrated by duplicated measurements. Conclusions on future experimental design were drawn, where differences between groups rather than between individuals are to be studied.

1. The absorption of an oral dose of paracetamol was measured in rats given either a basal fibre-free diet, or the basal diet with either pectin or bran added.

2. Urinary excretion of the oral dose was significantly greater during the first 8 h in the pectin-fed rats compared with those on basal diet, though cumulative excretion after 72 h was the same.

3. Free paracetamol levels in the plasma were significantly higher in the pectin-fed rats compared with those on basal diet at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after the oral dose.

4. The plasma half-life of intravenously-injected paracetamol was shorter in the pectin-fed rats than in those on basal diet alone, but the antipyrine half-lives were not significantly different.

5. Pectin feeding had no effect on either the apparent volume of distribution of paracetamol and antipyrine, or on the rate of gastric emptying.

6. Perfusion of the whole length of the small bowel showed a significantly greater capacity for paracetamol absorption in the pectin-fed rats.

7. Bran had no effect on paracetamol absorption.

8. It was concluded that dietary fibre intake affects drug absorption and that the effect varies with the type of fibre. Unexpectedly pectin accelerates rather than retards absorption of paracetamol, though the mechanism of this effect is unknown.

1. Reduced intake of energy or protein per se decreased riboflavin requirement of the chicks under restricted feeding regimens.

2. In severe riboflavin deficiency (2·26 mg/kg diet), efficiency of utilization of both energy and protein was decreased significantly under ad lib. conditions of feeding.

3. Efficiency of utilization of energy (but not protein) was decreased significantly in border-line riboflavin deficiency (3·02 mg/kg diet), when chicks were fed ad lib.

4. Efficiency of protein utilization was decreased significantly in severe riboflavin deficiency when chicks received an energy-restricted diet supplying 80, 70 or 60 yo of the energy intake of the controls.

5. Neither energy nor protein utilization was affected by riboflavin deficiency when both energy and protein were restricted to 70 yo of that consumed by chicks fed ad lib. However, the riboflavin deficiency produced characteristic deficiency symptoms, namely heterophilia, curled-toe paralysis, and reduction in concentration of liver riboflavin.

1. A comparative study has been made of five methods of saponifying normal and vitamin E-deficient rat liver and subsequently measuring ubiquinone and α-tocopherol. 2. Losses of ubiquinone and α-tocopherol occur under certain conditions, and three of the methods were judged to be unsatisfactory. Recoveries of α-tocopherol are nearly quantitative under the conditions of ToŠić & Moore (1945), but methods that use large reaction times or weaker alkali destroy tocopherol, and over 50 % loss can be encountered. Ubiquinone does not seem as sensitive to the time of reaction, but is sensitive to the concentration of alkali and amount of water present during saponification.

Inadequate sleep and poor eating behaviours are associated with higher risk of childhood overweight and obesity. Less is known about the influence sleep has on eating behaviours and consequently body composition. Furthermore, whether associations differ in boys and girls has not been investigated extensively. We investigate associations between sleep, eating behaviours and body composition in cross-sectional analysis of 5-year-old children. Weight, height, BMI, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), abdominal circumference (AC) and skinfold measurements were obtained. Maternal reported information on child’s eating behaviour and sleep habits were collected using validated questionnaires. Multiple linear regression examined associations between sleep, eating behaviours and body composition. Sleep duration was negatively associated with BMI, with 1-h greater sleep duration associated with 0·24 kg/m2 (B = 0·24, CI −0·42, −0·03, P = 0·026) lower BMI and 0·21 cm lower (B = –0·21, CI −0·41, −0·02, P = 0·035) MUAC. When stratified by sex, girls showed stronger inverse associations between sleep duration (h) and BMI (kg/m2) (B = –0·32; CI −0·60, −0·04, P = 0·024), MUAC (cm) (B = –0·29; CI −0·58, 0·000, P = 0·05) and AC (cm) (B = –1·10; CI −1·85, −0·21, P = 0·014) than boys. Positive associations for ‘Enjoys Food’ and ‘Food Responsiveness’ with BMI, MUAC and AC were observed in girls only. Inverse associations between sleep duration and ‘Emotional Undereating’ and ‘Food Fussiness’ were observed in both sexes, although stronger in boys. Sleep duration did not mediate the relationship between eating behaviours and BMI. Further exploration is required to understand how sleep impacts eating behaviours and consequently body composition and how sex influences this relationship.

Using cytofluorimetric and biochemical methods, the content of glycogen and its labile and stable fractions, as well as activities of glucose-6-phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.9), glycogen phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) and glycogen synthase (EC 2.4.1.11) were determined in the rat liver for 6 months after chronic poisoning of the animals with CCl4 and then at 1, 3, and 6 months after the end of the poisoning. One group of rats was given a standard diet, the other, a high-carbohydrate diet. The 6-month long chronic intoxication with CCl4 was shown to produce development of typical liver cirrhosis characterized by a 2·8-fold increase in the total glycogen content in hepatocytes as compared with normal cells, by a fall in the glycogen labile fraction (from 85 to 53 % of the total glycogen) as well as by decreases in the activities of glycogen phosphorylase and glucose-6-phosphatase by 25 and 82% respectively. The structural rehabilitation occurred faster and more completely at the cellular level than at the tissue level. Functional variables of the cirrhotic liver tissue also recovered, after cessation of poisoning, faster and more completely than the liver structure at the tissue level: glycogen levels in hepatocytes fell dramatically, the labile: stable glycogen fraction ratio recovered completely, and the activity of glycogen phosphorylase rose to the level characteristic of the normal liver. Use of the high-carbohydrate diet promoted a somewhat faster and more complete recovery of hepatic structure and function.

Five experiments were carried out to extend knowledge of purine metabolism in the camel (Camelus dromedarius) and to establish a model to enable microbial protein outflow from the forestomachs to be estimated from the urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD; i.e. xanthine, hypoxanthine, uric acid, allantoin). In experiment 1, four camels were fasted for five consecutive days to enable endogenous PD excretion in urine to be determined. Total PD excretion decreased during the fasting period to 267 (se 41·5)?μmol/kg body weight (W)0·75 per d. Allantoin and xanthine+hypoxanthine were consistently 86 and 6·1?% of total urinary PD during this period but uric acid increased from 3·6?% to 7·4?%. Xanthine oxidase activity in tissues (experiment 2) was (μmol/min per g fresh tissue) 0·038 in liver and 0·005 in gut mucosa but was not detected in plasma. In experiment 3, the duodenal supply of yeast containing exogenous purines produced a linear increase in urinary PD excretion rate with the slope indicating that 0·63 was excreted in urine. After taking account of endogenous PD excretion, the relationship can be used to predict purine outflow from the rumen. From the latter prediction, and also the purine:protein ratio in bacteria determined in experiment 5, we predicted the net microbial outflow from the rumen. In experiment 4, with increasing food intake, the rate of PD excretion in the urine increased linearly by about 11·1?mmol PD/kg digestible organic matter intake (DOMI), equivalent to 95?g microbial protein/kg DOMI.

1. Groups of rats were given a fibre-free diet containing none or one of the three fibre components: pectin, cellulose or galactomannan.

2. After feeding for 16 weeks, total protein level and β-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31) activity in the contents and mucosa of jejunum and ileum, and in the contents only of the caecum, were determined.

3. The pectin supplement reduced protein concentration in jejunal contents while cellulose reduced protein concentration in the ileal and caecal contents.

4. β-Glucuronidase activity of caecal contents was significantly reduced in both the pectin- and cellulose-fed groups.

5. Cellulose affected the β-glucuronidase activity of both the ileal contents while pectin reduced the β-glucuronidase of the ileal but not the jejunal contents.

6. Dietary fibre components did not significantly affect jejunal or ileal mucosal β-glucuronidase activity.

1. The hydrolysis of glycyl-L-leucine, glycyl-L-tyrosine, tributyrin, sucrose, maltose, soluble starch and α- and β-glycerophosphates by everted segments of rat intestine was estimated separately or in combination.

2. A comparative study showed significant interaction between different substrates which affected their digestion.

3. Two types of interaction were identified: products of hydrolysis (1) affected the hydrolysis of homologous substances, e.g. methionine and alanine inhibited glycyl-L-leucine hydrolysis, maltose reduced glucoamylase (α-1, 4-glucan glucohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.3) activity (intracatenary interactions); (2) interfered with the hydrolysis of a different group of substances, e.g. tributyrin inhibited dipeptidase (glycyl-L-leucine hydrolase; EC 3.4.3.2) and alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), glycyl-L-leucine interfered with the activity of the latter enzyme (intercatenary interactions).

4. Mechanisms of interactions were suggested by the results of a comparison of the extent of inhibition or activation of two enzymes (glycyl-L-leucine hydrolase and alkaline phosphatase) in situ in everted intestinal segments or after solubilization with papain or Triton X-100, and different treatments known to affect allosteric sites of these enzymes.

5. Tributyrin and dipeptides were found to act on alkaline phosphatase as allosteric regulators. A discontinuity of the Arrhenius plot suggested the existence of different enzyme conformations which were re-arranged by tributyrin.

6. Substrate interactions in digestion were found in adult rat, cat, rabbit and hen. Substantial differences were found between classes (Aves and Mammalia), orders (rodents, lagomorphs and carnivores) and between age-groups within an animal strain (in this instance, for the rat).

7. These interactions are thought to be involved in the co-ordination of digestion with intestinal absorption and to regulate the time and site of subsequent hydrolysis.

DHA from diet or endogenous synthesis has been proposed to affect infant development, however, results are inconclusive. In this study, we aim to verify previously observed fatty acid desaturase gene cluster (FADS) SNP-specific associations with erythrocyte DHA status in 9-month-old children and sex-specific association with developmental outcomes. The study was performed in 166 children (55 % boys) of obese mothers. Erythrocyte fatty acid composition was analysed in blood-samples obtained at 9 months of age, and developmental outcomes assessed by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire at 3 years. Erythrocyte DHA level ranged from 4·4 to 9·9 % of fatty acids, but did not show any association with FADS SNP or other potential determinants. Regression analysis showed associations between erythrocyte DHA and scores for personal–social skills (β 1·8 (95 % CI 0·3, 3·3), P=0·019) and problem solving (β 3·4 (95 % CI 1·2, 5·6), P=0·003). A tendency was observed for an association in opposite direction between minor alleles (G-variant) of rs1535 and rs174575 and personal–social skills (P=0·062 and 0·068, respectively), which became significant when the SNP were combined based on their previously observed effect on erythrocyte DHA at 9 months of age (β 2·6 (95 % CI 0·01, 5·1), P=0·011). Sex–SNP interaction was indicated for rs174575 genotype on fine motor scores (P=0·016), due to higher scores among minor allele carrying girls (P=0·043), whereas no effect was seen among boys. In conclusion, DHA-increasing FADS SNP and erythrocyte DHA status were consistently associated with improved personal–social skills in this small cohort of children of obese mothers irrespective of sex, but the sample was too small to verify potential sex-specific effects.

This trial was designed to assess the effect of live probiotic consumption on leucine assimilation from fresh and pasteurised yoghurt in volunteers with different lactose digestibility. Thirty-three volunteers (mean age 32, s.d. 7 years) participated in this parallel single-blind study (16 of them with moderate lactose intolerance). Breath samples were taken before and at 15 min intervals over 3-h after the ingestion of fresh and pasteurised yoghurt extrinsically labelled with (1-13C)leucine. The 13C enrichment in breath was measured by isotopic rate mass spectrometry and mathematically converted to a percentage of assimilated leucine (100-%13C-dose in breath) and the assimilation kinetic constant (min− 1). The 13C-leucine assimilation was statistically higher after the fresh yoghurt intake than after the pasteurised product intake (P = 0·032) while the kinetic constant of assimilation was slower in intolerance status (P = 0·014) although a product-related effect (P = 0·445) was not found. In conclusion, fresh yoghurt intake resulted in higher short-term leucine assimilation, while lactose intolerance appears to negatively affect the assimilation rate of leucine from dairy products. These findings offer new insight on acute in vivo amino acid assimilation in the presence of probiotics and moderate lactose intolerance.

Dietary studies are often conducted as longitudinal intervention or crossover trials using multiple days of measurement on each subject during each of several measurement periods, and determining the required numbers of days and subjects is important in designing these studies. Linear mixed statistical models were used to derive equations for precision, statistical power and sample size (number of days and number of subjects) and to obtain estimates of between-subject, period-to-period, and day-to-day variation needed to apply the equations. Two cohorts of an on-going exercise intervention study, and a crossover study of Olestra, each with 14 d of measurement/subject per period, were used to obtain estimates of variability for energy and macronutrient intake. Numerical examples illustrate how the equations for calculating the number of days or number of subjects are applied in typical situations, and sample SAS code is given. It was found that between-subject, period-to-period, and day-to-day variation all contributed significantly to the variation in energy and macronutrient intake. The ratio of period-to-period and day-to-day standard deviations controls the trade-off between the number of days and the number of subjects, and this remained relatively stable across studies and energy and macronutrient intake variables. The greatest gains in precision were seen over the first few measurement days. Greater precision and fewer required days were noted in the study (Olestra) that exerted greater control over the subjects and diets during the feeding protocol.

Steatosis can sensitise the liver to various challenges and favour the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this context, fructose feeding promotes endotoxin translocation from the gut, contributing to disease progression via an inflammatory process. Citrulline is protective against fructose-induced NAFLD; we hypothesised that this property might be related to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative action against endotoxin-induced hepatic injuries. This hypothesis was evaluated in a model of perfused liver isolated from NAFLD rats. Male Sprague–Dawley rats (n 30) were fed either a standard rodent chow or a 60 % fructose diet alone, or supplemented with citrulline (1 g/kg per d) for 4 weeks. After an evaluation of their metabolic status, fasted rats received an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (2·5 mg/kg). After 1 h, the livers were isolated and perfused for 1 h to study liver function and metabolism, inflammation and oxidative status. In vivo, citrulline significantly decreased dyslipidaemia induced by a high-fructose diet and insulin resistance. In the isolated perfused rat livers, endotoxaemia resulted in higher cytolysis (alanine aminotransferase release) and higher inflammation (Toll-like receptor 4) in livers of fructose-fed rats, and it was prevented by citrulline supplementation. Oxidative stress and antioxidative defences were similar in all three groups. Amino acid exchanges and metabolism (ammonia and urea release) were only slightly different between the three groups. In this context of mild steatosis, our results suggest that fructose-induced NAFLD leads to an increased hepatic sensitivity to LPS-induced inflammation. Citrulline-induced restriction of the inflammatory process may thus contribute to the prevention of NAFLD.