Lactation is known to be associated with a transient loss of bone mineral density (BMD) during 3–6 months post-partum. Bone changes during lactation in women consuming low dietary calcium are not sufficiently studied. The present longitudinal study examined the BMD changes during lactation in undernourished women and the relationship of bone changes to the nutritional status. Whole-body bone mineral content and BMD at hip, lumbar spine and forearm were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in thirty-six lactating women from the low socio-economic group at four time points – within 1 month after delivery (baseline), and at 6, 12 and 18 months after delivery. Maternal body composition and biochemical parameters of bone metabolism were estimated at the same time. It was observed that femoral neck BMD reduced by 4·6 % at 6 months, but recovery to the baseline was incomplete at 18 months with a deficit of 2 %. Hip BMD reduction at 6 months was transient. Lumbar spine BMD did not show significant loss at 6 months and BMD increased by 3·6 and 6·3 % at 12 and 18 months, respectively. Regression analyses indicated that baseline lean mass was the most important determinant of bone preservation at femoral neck, hip as well as whole body, whereas baseline body weight was the most important determinant of per cent gain in lumbar spine. Maternal nutritional status as indicated by body weight and lean mass appears to influence the lactation-related BMD changes in undernourished women from the low socio-economic group in India.

Vitamin A treatment reduces mortality during acute measles infection, and vitamin A supplementation (VAS) to children above 6 months of age may reduce the incidence of measles infection. The effect of VAS at birth on measles incidence is unknown. In a randomised placebo-controlled trial in Guinea-Bissau, normal-birth-weight newborns were randomised to 50 000 IU (15 mg) VAS or placebo. During the trial, a measles epidemic occurred. We linked data from the trial with data from the measles infection surveillance and studied the effect of VAS on the measles incidence before 12 months of age in both sexes. A total of 165 measles cases were identified among the 4183 children followed from 28 d of age. Up to 6 months of age, the incidence rate ratio of measles for VAS compared with placebo was 0·54 (95 % CI 0·25, 1·15) among boys and 1·57 (95 % CI 0·80, 3·08) among girls (test of interaction, P = 0·04). The corresponding figures at 12 months were 0·67 (95 % CI 0·43, 1·05) and 1·17 (95 % CI 0·76, 1·79) (test of interaction, P = 0·08). VAS compared with placebo tended to be associated with less measles hospitalisation or death during the first 6 months of life in boys (P = 0·06), but not in girls. VAS at birth may affect the susceptibility to measles infection during the first 6 months of life in a sex-differential manner.

The concentrations of holotrichs, reducing sugars and fermentation end-products, and the fluid dilution rates, in the cranial (CR), ventral (V) and caudal (CA) regions of the reticulo-rumen of cows were compared. Additionally, holotrich numbers in fluid and solid digesta samples taken from the dorsal (D) region were determined at different time-intervals. Holotrich numbers expressed per ml fluid at site D were almost twofold those expressed per g solid digesta, and the fluctuation of their numbers in fluid preceded that in solid digesta. Holotrich concentrations at site CR were higher before feeding than after feeding, while those at sites V and CA were lower before feeding than for a few hours after feeding. At sites V and CA, holotrich concentrations fluctuated in good agreement with reducing sugar concentrations, but the increase in the former always preceded that in the latter. The concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) tended to decrease from site CA to site CR, while the dilution rate was highest in site CR. The results suggest that migration of holotrichs from the reticulum to the rumen and vice versa are the cause of fluctuation in their numbers, and also the mechanism by which they are retained in the rumen of cattle.

Hmong are one of the immigrant Asian subgroups with increasing rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes and CVD. Despite their population growth in the USA and declining health status, no research has investigated the appropriateness of dietary assessment measures, including FFQ and 24 h dietary recalls among Hmong. The present study compared the nutrient information obtained through a 24 h dietary recall method with that collected using the Block Kid's Food Frequency Questionnaire (Block FFQ) among Hmong-American children (n 335) of 9–18 years of age. For this purpose, two 24 h dietary recalls were collected during non-consecutive days and averaged for comparison. The Block FFQ was administered on the day of the second 24 h recall and the two methodologies were also compared using t tests. Among all children, Block FFQ nutrient estimates for vitamin A, vitamin C and food group servings for vegetables and fruits were significantly higher than those assessed through the 24 h dietary recalls (P< 0·001). Nutrient estimates for protein and food group servings for grains and meat and beans were significantly higher among all participants when assessed through the 24 h dietary recalls than through the Block FFQ (P< 0·05). The results suggest that the Block FFQ does not appear to be a good measure of protein, grain, and meat and bean intake among Hmong children of 9–18 years of age, and the 24 h dietary recall offers a better account of the Hmong diet and is inclusive of ethnic food options otherwise missed in the Block FFQ. We recommend the modification of the current Block FFQ to appropriately reflect cultural food/beverage items of the population in interest.

The effectiveness of salt iodisation in improving the mental development of young children has not been assessed. We implemented a community-based cluster-randomised effectiveness trial in sixty randomly selected districts in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. We randomly allocated each district to treatment and randomly selected one of its villages. In parallel to national salt iodisation efforts, iodised salt was brought early into the markets of the thirty intervention villages before it became widely available in the thirty control villages 4–6 months later. The primary outcome was children’s mental development scores on the Bayley Scales. This was an intention-to-treat analysis using mixed linear models adjusted for covariates and clusters. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT013496. We assessed 1835 infants aged 5–11 months at baseline. The same children (85 % of the sample) were re-assessed at 20–29 months when all villages had iodised salt. At endline, urinary iodine concentration was higher in children in the intervention group compared with those in the control group (median 228·0 v. 155·1 µg/l, P=0·001). The intervention group had higher scores compared with the control group on the Bayley composite score (raw scores:130·60 v. 128·51; standardised scores: 27·8 v. 26·9; d=0·13; 95 % CI 0·02, 0·23) and three of the four subscales: cognitive (53·27 v. 52·54, d=0·13; 95 % CI 0·03, 0·23), receptive language (20·71 v. 20·18, d=0·13; 95 % CI 0·03, 0·24) and fine motor (35·45 v. 34·94, d=0·15; 95 % CI 0·04, 0·25). The introduction of iodised salt contributes to children’s higher urinary iodine concentration and mental development.

This study examines the associations between maternal Traditional dietary pattern adherence and HIV/treatment with neonatal size and adiposity in urban, black South Africans, as well as how specific maternal factors – that is BMI and gestational weight gain (GWG) – may influence these associations. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine associations among maternal Traditional diet pattern adherence (pattern score), HIV/treatment status (three groups: HIV negative, HIV positive (antenatal antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation), HIV positive (pre-pregnancy ART initiation)), BMI and GWG (kg/week), and newborn (1) weight:length ratio (WLR, kg/m) in 393 mother–neonate pairs, and (2) Peapod estimated fat mass index (FMI, kg/m3) in a 171-pair subsample. In fully adjusted models, maternal obesity and GWG were associated with 0·25 kg/m (P=0·008) and 0·48 kg/m (P=0·002) higher newborn WLR, whereas Traditional diet pattern score was associated with lower newborn WLR (−0·04 kg/m per +1 sd; P=0·033). In addition, Traditional diet pattern score was associated with 0·13 kg/m3 (P=0·027) and 0·32 kg/m3 (P=0·005) lower FMI in the total sample and in newborns of normal-weight women, respectively. HIV-positive (pre-pregnancy ART) v. HIV-negative (ref) status was associated with 1·11 kg/m3 (P=0·002) higher newborn FMI. Promotion of a Traditional dietary pattern, alongside a healthy maternal pre-conception weight, in South African women may reduce newborn adiposity and metabolic risk profiles. In HIV-positive women, targeted monitoring and management strategies are necessary to limit treatment-associated effects on in utero fat deposition.

Frequent consumption of energy-dense foods has been strongly implicated in the global increase of obesity. The World Cancer Research Fund suggests a population-level energy density (ED) goal for diets of 523 kJ/100 g (125 kcal/100 g) as desirable for reducing weight gain and related co-morbidities. However, there is limited information about the ED of diets of contemporary populations. The aims of the present study were to (1) estimate the mean ED of the Scottish diet, (2) assess differences in ED over time by socio-economic position, by household (HH) composition and for HH meeting dietary targets for fat and fruit and vegetables, and (3) assess the relationship between ED and the consumption of foods and nutrients, which are indicative of diet quality. ED of the diet was estimated from food (including milk) from UK food purchase survey data. The average ED of the Scottish diet was estimated as 718 kJ/100 g with no change between the survey periods 2001 and 2009. Individuals living in the most deprived areas had a higher mean ED than those living in the least deprived areas (737 v. 696 kJ/100 g). Single-parent HH had the highest mean ED (765 kJ/100 g) of all the HH surveyed. The mean ED of HH achieving dietary targets for fat and fruit and vegetables was 576 kJ/100 g compared with 731 kJ/100 g for non-achievers. HH within the lowest quintile of ED were, on average, closest to meeting most dietary guidelines. Food purchase data can be used to monitor the quality of the diet in terms of dietary ED of the population and subgroups defined by an area-based measure of socio-economic status.

It has been shown that each individual has a considerable day-to-day variation (intra-individual variation) in his or her level of food consumption. A large intra-individual variation has adverse effects on the reliability of research studies. The effect of the intra-individual variation can be minimized by taking food intake records over several days. An increase in the number of days entails higher costs, and this could limit the practicability of the study. In the recent literature on the methodology of dietary surveys, there is a growing interest in the estimation of the number of days required to conduct a reliable dietary survey. Recent developments in statistical theory allow the problem of large intra-individual variability to be overcome. These new statistical techniques require knowledge of the intra- and inter-individual variability and the appropriate adjustment of the statistical results. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the number of days of recorded intake required to obtain an estimate of the components of variance (the inter-individual and the intra-individual variability) focusing on foods rather than nutrients.

1. The effect of short-term and long-term feeding (0–80 d) with a liquid diet containing ethanol on the activity of rat hepatic enzymes related to lipogenesis has been evaluated. Carbohydrates were isoenergetically substituted for ethanol in the control animals.

2. The maximum concentration of triglycerides in the livers was reached after about 30 d, when it was almost three times as high as in the control animals. The activity of malic enzyme (EC 1·1·1·40) and ATP citrate lyase (EC 4·1·3·8) decreased significantly in the ethanol group, compared with the control rats, within 10 d and remained low during the rest of the experiment (80 d). After 20 d, the acetyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6·2·1·1) activity increased significantly in the livers of the ethanol-fed rats but fell subsequently to values similar to those in the livers of the control rats. Thus, despite a pronounced increase in the amount of triglyceride in the livers of rats on a liquid diet containing ethanol, there was a dramatic decrease in the activity of the enzymes (malic enzyme and citrate lyase) involved in lipogenesis.

3. The almost unchanged activity of acetyl-CoA synthetase shows that the utilization of acetate, produced when ethanol is oxidized, is not stimulated by long-term feeding with ethanol. The involvement of citrate lyase in various postulated shuttles for the transport of reducing equivalents across the mitochondrial membrane and the role of malic enzyme in the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system are discussed.

Lower CVD incidence is reported in Asian populations consuming soya-containing food. As polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are involved in the risk of CVD, we investigated the modulatory effect of soya isoflavones on several PMN functions and their molecular mechanisms in vitro. PMN, isolated from blood from healthy subjects, were tested upon activation with 1 μm- n-formyl-methyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) for superoxide anion production (ferric cytochrome c reduction) and released elastase (chromogenic test). PMN homotypic aggregates stimulated by fMLP or P-selectin in dynamic conditions were detected by optical microscopy. PMN, mixed with thrombin-activated, washed platelets, formed cell aggregates, measured by flow cytometry. Phosphorylation of Pyk2, a focal adhesion kinase, was studied by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting with specific antibodies. Genistein, daidzein and equol inhibited superoxide anion production (IC50 0·25 (sem 0·1), 21·0 (sem 4·2) and 13·0 (sem 2·8) μm, respectively); the release of elastase was prevented by genistein (IC50 63 (sem 17) μm). PMN homotypic aggregates, stimulated by fMLP, were significantly reduced (24 (sem 12) and 51 (sem 14) % of control) by 100 μm genistein and equol. P-selectin-induced aggregates were reduced to 19 (sem 6), 44 (sem 10) and 28 (sem 9) % of control by 100 μm genistein, daidzein and equol, respectively. Genistein, daidzein and equol also significantly reduced mixed platelet-PMN aggregates (IC50 4·0 (sem 0·9), 57 (sem 6) and 66 (sem 23) μm, respectively). In PMN challenged by fMLP or P-selectin, activation of Pyk2 was prevented by isoflavones. The cardioprotective effect of soya-containing food might be linked to reduction of PMN activation and PMN-platelet interaction, novel targets for the biological effects of soya isoflavones.

1. Intestinal absorption of sorbitol was studied in a duodeno-jejunal loop of anaesthetized rats. The acute effects of exogenous sorbitol on glucose homeostasis were also evaluated in male and female rats.

2. In the presence of lumen concentrations of sorbitol ranging from l μM to 200mM, a fairly constant low percentage (about 12%) of the loop's contents was absorbed after 30 min. This amount increased only slightly with time, but this was not due to sorbitol accumulation in the mucosal layer of the loop.

3. 3-O-methylglucose was absorbed much more quickly than sorbitol, but did not interfere with sorbitol absorption. The latter was not impaired by omission of lumen sodium ions nor by phloridzin, both of which inhibited 3-O-methylglucose absorption.

4. Gastric administration of sorbitol did not affect plasma glucose or insulin levels. Glucose or sucrose administration caused a similar rise in plasma glucose, but the increase in plasma insulin levels was larger after glucose than after sucrose administration.

5. Intravenous administration of sorbitol slightly increased plasma glucose and insulin levels. These changes were, however, considerably smaller than those occurring after glucose administration.

6. In the normal rat, intestinal absorption of sorbitol is passive and proceeds at a low rate. Acute oral administration of sorbitol does not affect glucose homeostasis, which is only slightly disturbed by a large intravenous load of sorbitol.

The association between lifestyle and survival after colorectal cancer has received limited attention. The female sex hormone, oestrogen, has been associated with lower colorectal cancer risk and mortality after colorectal cancer. Phyto-oestrogens are plant compounds with structure similar to oestrogen, and the main sources in Western populations are plant lignans. We investigated the association between the main lignan metabolite, enterolactone and survival after colorectal cancer among participants in the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort. Prediagnosis plasma samples and lifestyle data, and clinical data from time of diagnosis from 416 women and 537 men diagnosed with colorectal cancer were used. Enterolactone was measured in plasma using a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method. Participants were followed from date of diagnosis until death or end of follow-up. During this time, 210 women and 325 men died (170 women and 215 men died due to colorectal cancer). The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % CI. Enterolactone concentrations were associated with lower colorectal cancer-specific mortality among women (HRper doubling: 0·88, 95 % CI 0·80, 0·97, P=0·0123). For men, on the contrary, enterolactone concentrations were associated with higher colorectal cancer-specific mortality (HRper doubling: 1·10, 95 % CI 1·01, 1·21, P=0·0379). The use of antibiotics affects enterolactone production, and the associations between higher enterolactone and lower colorectal cancer-specific mortality were more pronounced among women who did not use antibiotics (analysis on a subset). Our results suggest that enterolactone is associated with lower risk of mortality among women, but the opposite association was found among men.

Exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) for 6 months supports optimal infant growth, health and development. This paper examined whether maternal HIV status was associated with EBF and other infant feeding practices. Pregnant women were enrolled after HIV counselling, and their babies were followed up for up to 1 year. Data on household socio-economics and demographics, maternal characteristics and infants’ daily diet were available for 482 infants and their mothers (150 HIV-positive (HIV-P), 170 HIV-negative (HIV-N) and 162 HIV-unknown (HIV-U)). Survival analyses estimated median EBF duration and time to introduction of liquids and foods; hazards ratios (HR) used data from 1–365 and 1–183 d, adjusting for covariates. Logistic regression estimated the probability of EBF for 6 months. Being HIV-P was associated with a shorter EBF duration (139 d) compared with HIV-N (163 d) and HIV-U (165 d) (P=0·004). Compared with HIV-N, being HIV-P was associated with about a 40 % higher risk of stopping EBF at any time point (HR 1·39; 95 % CI 1·06, 1·84; P=0·018) and less than half as likely to complete 6 months of EBF (adjusted OR 0·42; 95 % CI 0·22, 0·81; P=0·01). Being HIV-P tended to be or was associated with a higher risk of introducing non-milk liquids (HR 1·34; 95 % CI 0·98, 1·83; P=0·068), animal milks (HR 2·37; 95 % CI 1·32, 4·24; P=0·004) and solids (HR 1·56; 95 % CI 1·10, 2·22; P=0·011) during the first 6 months. Weight-for-age Z-score was associated with EBF and introducing formula. Different factors (ethnicity, food insecurity, HIV testing strategy) were associated with the various feeding behaviours, suggesting that diverse interventions are needed to promote optimal infant feeding.

FFQ, the primary method of dietary assessment in large-scale nutritional epidemiological studies, preclude an informed evaluation of the timing of dietary intake and meal-specific dietary intake. In this study, we developed the Meal-based Diet History Questionnaire (MDHQ), a self-administered questionnaire designed for estimating food and nutrient intakes for each meal type separately. The development was done based on a 16-d dietary record obtained from 242 Japanese adults. The MDHQ consisted of the three different parts, with a total of 196 items. Part 1 of the MDHQ asks about consumption frequency of generic food groups (n 24) for each meal type: breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and night snack. Part 2 of the MDHQ asks about relative consumption frequency of sub-food groups within one of the generic food groups which are asked in Part 1. Combining information derived from Parts 1 and 2 enables us to increase the number of foods we can estimate efficiently but within a limited number of questions. Part 3 of the MDHQ asks about general eating behaviours, which are intended to use in a variety of ways during dietary intake calculation. A series of calculation algorithms for food groups, energy and nutrients was also prepared. Given that the MDHQ was empirically developed based on comprehensive information on actual food consumption, this innovative tool may be promising for future epidemiological research on meal patterns and time of day of dietary intake, or chrono-nutrition research. A rigorous evaluation of validity of the MDHQ is warranted.

EPA (20 : 5n-3) and DHA (22 : 6n-3) fatty acids have weight-reducing properties with physiological activity depending on their molecular structure – that is, as TAG or ethyl esters (EE). Aquaporins (AQP) are membrane protein channels recognised as important players in fat metabolism, but their differential expression in white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT), as well as their modulation by dietary n-3 long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) such as EPA and DHA, has never been investigated. In this study, the transcriptional profiles of AQP3, AQP5, AQP7 and selected lipid markers of WAT (subcutaneous and visceral) and BAT (interscapular) from hamsters fed diets containing n-3 LCPUFA in different lipid structures such as fish oil (FO, rich in EPA and DHA in the TAG form) and FO-EE (rich in EPA and DHA in the EE form) were used and compared with linseed oil (LSO) as the reference group. A clear effect of fat depot was observed for AQP3 and leptin (LEP), with the lowest values of mRNA found in BAT relative to WAT. The opposite occurred for PPARα. AQP7 was affected by diet, with FO-fed hamsters having higher mRNA levels compared with LSO-fed hamsters. The relative gene expression of AQP5, adiponectin (ADIPO), GLUT4 and PPARγ was influenced by both fat tissue and diet. Taken together, our results revealed a differential expression profile of AQP and some markers of lipid metabolism in both WAT and BAT in response to feeding n-3 LCPUFA in two different structural formats: TAG v. EE.

An increasing number of studies have evaluated the association between ultra-processed foods (UPF) consumption and metabolic disorders. However, the association between UPF intake and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclear. In this study, we analysed data from 6545 participants who were recruited in National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2011–2018. UPF were defined in light of the NOVA food classification system and divided into quartiles based on its proportion of total weight intake. Complex logistic regression models were used to assess the association between UPF and NAFLD. Mediation analyses were conducted to reveal underlying mediators. We found that NAFLD patients consumed more UPF than controls (925·92 ± 18·08 v. 812·70 ± 14·32 g/d, P < 0·001). Dietary intake of UPF (% weight) was negatively related to the Healthy Eating Index-2015 score (Spearman r = −0·32, P < 0·001). In the multivariable model, the highest quartile compared with the lowest, the OR (95 % CI) were 1·83 (1·33, 2·53) for NAFLD (OR per 10 % increment: 1·15; 95 % CI: 1·09, 1·22; P for trend < 0·001) and 1·52 (1·12, 2·07) for insulin resistance (OR per 10 % increment: 1·11; 95 % CI: 1·05, 1·18; P for trend = 0·002). Mediation analyses revealed that poor diet quality, high saturated fat and refined grain intake partly mediated the association between UPF and NAFLD. In conclusion, high UPF intake was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD in US adults. Further prospective studies are needed to verify these findings.

1. A 21 d slaughter trial was done using weanling male rats offered sodium chloride added at 10, 20 and 30 g/kg to a nutritionally adequate, control diet containing 13 g NaCl/kg, or added to the drinking-water at 5, 10, or 15 g NaCl/l. Food and drinking-water with or without NaCl were offered ad lib. and their intakes were measured..

2. NaCl in the food reduced food intake by 10–15%; NaCl in solution reduced food intake only when added at the 15 g/l level; the reduction was 25%..

3. NaCl increased the fluid intake of the rats; for NaCl in the food the increments ranged from 23 to 44%; for NaCl in the drinking-water they ranged from 44 to 229%..

4. Body fat was significantly reduced by 20 and 30 g NaCl/kg added to the control diet, indicating a reduction in the efficiency of fat synthesis. Comparable amounts of NaCl taken in the drinking-water had a negligible effect on fat deposition..

5. It is suggested that NaCl in the food produces hypodipsia, i.e. a failure to drink an optimal amount of water, causing changes in the electrolyte balance which reduce food intake and progressively reduce the efficiency of fat synthesis.

Changes in tissue protein synthesis and an associated membrane transport system in rats were investigated during lactation and under conditions of dietary protein restriction. Following mating, female Sprague-Dawley rats (second parity) were caged individually and offered a high-protein diet (H; 215 g crude protein (N × 6.25; CP)/kg dry matter (DM)) ad lib. until day 12 of gestation. Subsequently half continued to receive diet H, whilst the remainder were offered a low-protein diet (L; 65 g CP/kg DM) until parturition. On day 1 of lactation females were then allocated to either diet H or another low-protein diet (L2; 90 g CP/kg DM) which were offered ad lib. until day 13 of lactation, giving four lactation groups HH, LH, HL2 and LL2. On days 1 and 13 of lactation groups of females were used in the estimation of tissue protein synthesis (flooding dose of [3H] phenylalanine) and Na+, K+-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) activity (polarographically) in skeletal muscle, mammary gland, liver and duodenal mucosa. By day 1 of lactation diet L had reduced fractional and absolute synthesis rates (FSR and ASR) of muscle protein (P < 0.05) and the O2 consumption associated with Na+,K+-ATPase, although not significantly (P < 0.10). Rates of protein synthesis in the other tissues studied were not affected on day 1 of lactation by the gestation dietary treatment. By day 13 of lactation the feeding of diet L2 had reduced muscle FSR and ASR of group HL2 to rates that were lower than those on day 1 (P < 0.05), comparable to those of group LL2 and lower than those of groups HH and LH (P < 0.05). Diet H had allowed group LH to increase their muscle protein synthesis compared with that on day 1 (P < 0.05). Muscle Na+,K+-ATPase activity on day 13 of lactation was also lower in groups offered diet L2 (P < 0.05). Mammary protein synthesis was increased during lactation with the feeding of diet H (P < 0.05), which was prevented by diet L2 such that rates of groups HL2 and LL2 were lower than those of the two high-protein groups on day 13 (P < 0.01). Mammary respiration and in particular Na+,K+-ATPase activity was increased during lactation by the feeding of diet H (P < 0.05). Rates of protein synthesis and respiration in liver and duodenal mucosa were not significantly affected by the gestational or lactational dietary treatments. Calculated rates of muscle protein degradation suggest that whilst the loss of muscle protein in group HL2 during lactation might have been promoted by the decline in synthesis, the increase in degradation may have been quantitatively more important.

We have recently reported that intake of soya protein isolate (SPI) inhibited the DNA-binding activities of hepatic thyroid hormone receptor (TR). The genes for acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), a rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid synthesis, contain the thyroid hormone response element in their promoters and are regulated by TR. The present study has examined the effect oflong-term feeding of SPI and soya isoflavones (ISF) on the gene expression and protein phosphorylation of different ACC isoforms in different tissues and plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) levels in rats. Sprague-Dawley female rats were fed diets containing 20% casein or alcohol-washed SPI with or without supplemental ISF for 70, 190 and 310d. SPI intake significantly reduced plasma TAG concentrations compared with casein, whereas supplemental ISF had no effect. Hepatic ACCα and ACCβ mRNA abundance and protein content were markedly lowerin the rats fed SPI than in those fed casein. The protein contents of ACCα in the kidneyand ACCβ, the predominant isoform in the heart and kidney, were unchanged by dietary SPI.The ratios of phospho-ACCα/ACCα and phospho-ACCβ/ACCβ were not differentamong dietary groups in all tissues measured. The present study demonstrates that ingestion ofSPI decreases plasma TAG level and down-regulates ACCα and ACCβ gene expression in the liver but not in the heart and kidney. The results indicate that the effect of SPI is tissue-specific and that alteration of ACC gene expression rather than phosphorylation status may play a major role in the regulation of ACC activities by soya proteins.