A 2-month follow-up of nutritional status was performed in forty elderly patients with recent hip fracture. Patients were nutritionally assessed on admission to our rehabilitation unit (day 0), then monthly (day 30, day 60) by measurement of resting energy expenditure (REE), anthropometric, impedance and biological variables. Patients were defined as undernourished (n 13) or normally nourished (n 27) on the basis of mid-arm circumference (MAC) and triceps skinfold thickness (TST) measurements. Seven patients recovered a walking autonomy and were discharged from the hospital before day 30 (group I) whereas thirteen patients were discharged after day 30 (group II); twenty patients remained in the study at day 60 (group III). MAC and TST decreased in normally nourished patients from group III throughout the study whereas they did not change in group II or in undernourished patients from group III. REE values in relation to fat-free mass were increased compared with normal values and were similar in the three groups on day 0; they did not change during the study. Daily energy intake in relation to body weight was higher in group I and increased in group II and in undernourished patients from group III throughout the study. In contrast, it was below the recommended value at day 0 and it did not significantly improve in normally nourished patients from group III. Serum albumin, transthyretin and transferrin levels on day 0 were below reference intervals in the three groups. Albumin levels increased in group III throughout the study. Inflammatory proteins decreased in groups II and III, with C-reactive protein levels returning to normal values in group II by day 30 and in group III at day 60, while orosomucoid levels did not become completely normal over this period. Our findings indicate no improvement in nutritional status in undernourished patients after surgery for recent hip fracture, despite an adequate energy intake. An insufficient spontaneous energy intake for normally nourished patients was associated with a delayed favourable outcome resulting in a prolonged duration of hospitalization. A hypermetabolic state persisted during the 3 months after surgery.

Since the food habits of many elderly people are inadequate, the first experiment of the present study tested whether flavour amplification induces changes in preferences for and consumption of food and thus might result in a nutritional benefit. Two panels, one of 260 and one of 120 subjects, aged 19–98 years, took part in the study in which preferences for flavour-amplified yoghurt and Quorn® were measured. For both products, only a few of the young subjects (20 %) preferred the high flavour level; the percentage of subjects preferring the high flavour levels increased with age. These changes were highly significant. In a second experiment, participants received, under ad libitum conditions over 2 d in random order, a dish of yoghurt with either a high or a low flavour level. When adjusted for total consumption quantity, consumption of the highly flavoured yoghurt was not significantly correlated with age (r -0·03, P = 0·35). In a third experiment, odour perception was measured by determining the detection threshold for isoamylacetate. BMI values were obtained and the relationships between BMI and odour perception, age, preference and consumption were assessed in the age group 40–65 years. A significant correlation was observed between age and BMI (r 0·51, P < 0·0005). No significant correlation was observed between BMI and relative consumption of highly flavoured yoghurt (r -0·14, P = 0·14). A significant correlation was observed between BMI and preference for flavour-amplified yoghurt (r 0·35, P < 0·001). However, no significant correlation was observed between BMI and odour perception (r 0·07, P = 0·32). With increasing age, a combined influence of age, sex, BMI and odour perception on food preference is to be expected. According to our multiple regression analysis, BMI showed a significant partial regression coefficient (standardized β 0·36, P = 0·03). In conclusion, flavour amplification of food for older adults deserves attention, but specific approaches, which are tailored to the candidate food systems and older adult target groups, are needed.

The Tanita body-fat analyser is a novel device to estimate body fat, based on the principles of bioelectrical impedance. It differs from other impedance systems which use surface electrodes in that the subjects stand bare-footed on a metal sole-plate which incorporates the electrodes, hence impedance is measured through the legs and lower trunk. In 104 men and 101 women (16–78 years and BMI 16–41 kg/m2) the mean bias in body-fat mass measured using the Tanita body-fat analyser was 0·8 (2SD 7·9) KG RELATIVE TO A FOUR-COMPARTMENT MODEL. THIS IS COMPARABLE TO THE OTHER PREDICTION TECHNIQUES TESTED (CONVENTIONAL TETRAPOLAR IMPEDANCE -1·3 (2sd 6·9) kg, skinfold thicknesses 0·3 (2sd 7·4) kg, and BMI-based formulas -0·2 (2sd 9·0) kg and -0·6 (2sd 8·5) kg), but the agreement was poorer than for ‘reference’ methods to measure body fat (density 0·2 (2sd 3·7) kg, total body water -0·9 (2sd 3·4) kg and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry 0·1 (2sd 5·0) kg). The present paper also describes the derivation of a new prediction equation for the calculation of body composition from the Tanita body-fat analyser. The equation incorporates sex, age, and a log-transformation of height, weight and the measured impedance to predict body fat measured by a four-compartment model. This approach is recommended in the derivation of other prediction equations in body composition analysis. Using this novel prediction equation the residual standard deviations were 4·8 % for men and 3·3 % for women. A similar analysis using data collected with a conventional tetrapolar system yielded residual standard deviations of 4·3 % for men and 3·1 % for women. This demonstrates that the practical simplicity of the novel Tanita method is not associated with a clinically significant decrement in performance relative to a traditional impedance device.

The aims of the present study were first to compare the amino acid dilution method performed using labelled animals with that using labelled diets, and second to determine real digestibilities and total ileal endogenous losses of N and amino acids. Two diets containing pea cultivars (Solara and Amino) and a protein-free diet were compared in a 3 × 3 Latin-square experiment. The three pigs were each prepared with an ileo-rectal anastomosis and were continuously infused with [1-13C]leucine. For each cultivar, 15N-labelled and unlabelled diets were formulated. The real digestibility and endogenous losses of leucine were higher when obtained by labelling the pig than by labelling the foodstuff. This was due either to the inadequate estimation of the endogenous protein enrichment in the first case or to the importance of dietary N recycling in the second case. However, in both cases the ileal endogenous losses of N and amino acids were higher than the basal losses determined with the protein-free diet. There were significant differences between the two pea cultivars in terms of phenylalanine and leucine when measured with labelled diets. It is suggested that, although ileal endogenous losses may be underestimated, using labelled feedstuffs is of great interest due to the direct estimation of the individual amounts of amino acids.

An evaluation of general models that describe gas production profiles is presented. The models are derived from first principles by considering a simple three-pool scheme and permit the extent of ruminal degradation to be calculated, as described in the companion paper. The models evaluated were the generalized Mitscherlich, simple Mitscherlich, generalized Michaelis–Menten, simple Michaelis–Menten, Gompertz, and logistic. Five sets of gas production data consisting of 216 curves, obtained using a wide range of feeds (including straw, hay, silage, grain and various byproducts), were analysed to study the performance of these gas production models. Application of the non-sigmoidal models (simple Mitscherlich and Michaelis–Menten) to the data resulted in convergence problems and these models were found to be inadequate in many cases. Based on results of a pairwise comparison between models (variance ratio test), ranking of residual mean squares, lack-of-fit test, and of analyses of residuals, the generalized Mitscherlich and the generalized Michaelis–Menten models seemed particularly suited because of their flexibility to encompass sigmoidal and non-sigmoidal shapes of gas production profiles, whether symmetrical or not.

Equations to describe gas production profiles, obtained using manual or automated systems for in vitro fermentation of ruminant feeds, were derived from first principles by considering a simple three-pool scheme. The pools represented were the potentially degradable and undegradable feed fractions, and accumulated gases. The equations derived and investigated mathematically were the generalized Mitscherlich, generalized Michaelis–Menten, Gompertz, and logistic. They were obtained by allowing the fractional rate of degradation to vary with time. The equations permit the extent of ruminal degradation (hence the supply of microbial protein to the duodenum) to be evaluated, thus linking the gas production technique to animal production.

In order to study the mechanism by which increasing unsaturation of dietary fat lowers HDL-cholesterol levels, we studied various measures of HDL metabolism in hamsters fed with fats with different degrees of saturation. Hamsters were fed on a cholesterol-enriched (1 g/kg) semipurified diet containing 200 g/kg of maize oil, olive oil, or palm oil for 9 weeks. Increasing saturation of dietary fat resulted in increasing concentrations of total plasma cholesterol (4·29 (SD 0·51), 5·30 (sd 0·67) and 5·58 (sd 0·76) mmol/l respectively, n 12) and HDL-cholesterol (3·31 (sd 0·50), 3·91 (sd 0·12) and 3·97 (sd 0·43) mmol/l) and these concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0·05) in the palm-oil and olive-oil-fed hamsters compared with the maize-oil group. Total plasma triacylglycerol levels also increased with increasing fat saturation (1·01 (sd 0·59), 1·56 (sd 0·65) and 2·75 (sd 1·03) mmol/l) and were significantly higher (P < 0·05) in the palm-oil group compared with the olive-oil and maize-oil-fed hamsters. The three diets did not have differential effects on plasma activity levels of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). Levels of phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) tended to be higher with increasing fat saturation but this effect was not significant. The capacity of liver membranes to bind human HDL3 was significantly higher (P < 0·05) in the hamsters fed with maize oil (810 (sd 100) ng HDL3 protein/mg membrane protein, n 4) compared with those fed on palm oil (655 (sd 56) ng/mg), whereas the olive-oil group had intermediate values (674 (sd 26) ng/mg). The affinity of HDL3 for the binding sites was not affected by the type of dietary fat. Hepatic lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) activity, measured in liver homogenates, increased with increasing fat saturation. We conclude that dietary maize oil, when compared with either olive oil or palm oil, may lower HDL-cholesterol concentrations by enhancing HDL binding to liver membranes.

The usefulness of supplementary dietary L-CARNITINE AS AN IMMUNOMODULATOR TO INCREASE ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC ANTIBODY LEVELS WAS ANALYSED IN 2–6-WEEK-OLD BROILERS. THE CHICKENS RECEIVED COMMERCIAL FEEDS EITHER UNSUPPLEMENTED (STARTER FEED 17·8 MG CARNITINE/KG, FINISHER DIET 22·9 MG CARNITINE/KG) OR SUPPLEMENTED WITH l-carnitine (100 mg carnitine/kg added to feed). At 14 d of age, both groups were distributed in equal numbers and sex ratios over two environmentally controlled chambers where temperature (28°) was either reduced immediately to 20°, or gradually to 22° at 36 d of age. Antigen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)M, IgG, IgA and total Ig responses were measured following two immunizations with bovine serum albumin (BSA). The typical BSA-specific IgM responses followed by IgG responses to the primary immunization were boosted by the secondary immunization. The kinetics of these responses were not altered by l-carnitine treatment. However, BSA-specific total Ig and IgG, but not IgM, responses were significantly increased by dietary l-carnitine supplementation, after both the primary and the secondary immunization. No significant influence of the sex of the chicks or the imposed environmental temperature on Ig responses was found. Temperature treatment and sex, but not l-carnitine supplementation, did significantly influence body-weight gain: cockerels were heavier than females and this became most evident in the second half of the rearing period. Further, lowering the temperature increased body weight. In conclusion, dietary l-carnitine supplementation appeared to be beneficial in enhancing specific humoral responses on vaccination.

In order to study the mechanism by which increasing unsaturation of dietary fat lowers HDL-cholesterol levels, we studied various measures of HDL metabolism in hamsters fed with fats with different degrees of saturation. Hamsters were fed on a cholesterol-enriched (1 g/kg) semipurified diet containing 200 g/kg of maize oil, olive oil, or palm oil for 9 weeks. Increasing saturation of dietary fat resulted in increasing concentrations of total plasma cholesterol (4·29 (SD 0·51), 5·30 (sd 0·67) and 5·58 (sd 0·76) mmol/l respectively, n 12) and HDL-cholesterol (3·31 (sd 0·50), 3·91 (sd 0·12) and 3·97 (sd 0·43) mmol/l) and these concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0·05) in the palm-oil and olive-oil-fed hamsters compared with the maize-oil group. Total plasma triacylglycerol levels also increased with increasing fat saturation (1·01 (sd 0·59), 1·56 (sd 0·65) and 2·75 (sd 1·03) mmol/l) and were significantly higher (P < 0·05) in the palm-oil group compared with the olive-oil and maize-oil-fed hamsters. The three diets did not have differential effects on plasma activity levels of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). Levels of phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) tended to be higher with increasing fat saturation but this effect was not significant. The capacity of liver membranes to bind human HDL3 was significantly higher (P < 0·05) in the hamsters fed with maize oil (810 (sd 100) ng HDL3 protein/mg membrane protein, n 4) compared with those fed on palm oil (655 (sd 56) ng/mg), whereas the olive-oil group had intermediate values (674 (sd 26) ng/mg). The affinity of HDL3 for the binding sites was not affected by the type of dietary fat. Hepatic lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) activity, measured in liver homogenates, increased with increasing fat saturation. We conclude that dietary maize oil, when compared with either olive oil or palm oil, may lower HDL-cholesterol concentrations by enhancing HDL binding to liver membranes.

There is new evidence that a good folate status may play a critical role in the prevention of neural-tube defects and in lowering elevated homocysteine concentrations. This adequate folate status may be achieved through folic acid dietary supplementation. Folate is a water-soluble vitamin with a low potential toxicity. However, the possible consequences of long-term high-dose folic acid supplementation are unknown, especially those related to the methionine cycle, where folate participates as a substrate. With the aim of evaluating such possible effects, four groups of Wistar rats were classified on the basis of physiological status (virgin v. pregnant) and the experimental diet administered (folic-acid-supplemented, 40 mg/kg diet v. control, 2 mg folic acid/kg diet). Animals were fed on the diets for 3 weeks. Results showed that gestation outcome was adequate in both groups regardless of the dietary supplementation. However, there were reductions (P < 0·001) in body weight and vertex-coccyx length in fetuses from supplemented dams v. control animals. Folic acid administration also induced a higher (P < 0·01) S-adenosylmethionine : S-adenosylhomocysteine value due to increased S-adenosylmethionine synthesis (P < 0·01). However, hepatic DNA methylation and serum methionine concentrations remained unchanged. Serum homocysteine levels were reduced in supplemented dams (P < 0·05). Finally, pregnancy caused lower serum folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 levels (P < 0·05). Folic acid administration prevented the effect of pregnancy and raised folate levels in dams, but did not change levels of vitamins B12 and B6. These new findings are discussed on the basis of potential benefits and risks of dietary folic acid supplementation.

The aim of the present study was to assess how high doses of dietary vitamin K influence the intestinal profile of K-vitamins in vitamin K-deficient rats, and whether the induced changes are reflected in the hepatic vitamin K store. Vitamin K-deficient rats were fed for 10 d on diets containing different forms of vitamin K, and it was determined how these diets affected the vitamin K concentration at various sites of the instestine, serum, and the liver. It was found that the absorption of phylloquinone from standard food is not more than 10 %, while the absorption of pharmacological doses of oil-solubilized phylloquinone and menaquinone-4 was also far from complete (18 and 55 % respectively). High intakes of phylloquinone suppress the colonic production of all higher menaquinones. High menaquinone-4 intake induces very high menaquinone-8 concentrations, both in the colonic contents as well as in the liver. These data suggest that menaquinone-4 may be converted into menaquinone-8 (but not into other menaquinones) via a metabolic pathway which has not been reported previously.

The present rat balance study investigated Ca availability from the whole indigenous small fish species, mola (Amblypharyngodon mola) from Bangladesh and from skimmed milk. Four groups of six young male rats each were fed ad libitum with diets containing either small fish or milk, at 100 or 160 g crude protein/kg diet dry matter. The study was conducted for 28 d and faeces and urine samples were collected in two balance periods: days 8–14 and 22–28. The Ca and N contents of the diets, faeces and urine were analysed. Ca intake, fractional Ca absorption and Ca retention in relation to N retention were measured. Digestibility and protein utilization of the experimental diets, weight gain of the rats, femur bone weight and mineral composition as well as bone alkaline phosphatase activity were also determined. It was concluded from the values of these variables that Ca from small fish with bones was available and appeared to be a useful Ca source in rats, though perhaps not as available as Ca from milk. This study suggests that small fish with bones may be an important source of Ca in human diets. Promotion of the production and consumption of small fish in population groups with low intakes of milk and milk products should therefore be encouraged.

The beneficial effects of a traditional Chinese medicine, Cordyceps sinensis (Cs), on mice with hypoferric anaemia were evaluated by NMR spectroscopy. Experimental hypoferric anaemia was induced in mice by feeding with an Fe-free diet for 6 weeks. They were then given extract from cultured Cs (200 mg/kg body weight daily, orally) and were placed on an Fe-containing recovery diet (35 mg Fe/kg diet) for 4 weeks. In vivo31P and 2H NMR spectra acquired noninvasively and quantitatively at weekly intervals were used to evaluate hepatic energy metabolism and blood flow in the mice. During the 4-week Cs-extract treatment, consistent increases were observed in liver β-ATP: inorganic phosphate value by liver 31P NMR spectroscopy, representing the high energy state, and in blood-flow rate as determined by 2H NMR spectroscopy of deuterated water (D2O) uptake after intravenous injection of D2O. The haematological variables (the packed cell volume and the haemoglobin level) and the hepatic intracellular pH, which was determined from the NMR chemical shift difference between the inorganic phosphate peak and the α-phosphate peak of ATP, were not significantly different between Cs-extract-treated and control mice. As blood flow and energy metabolism are thought to be linked, the Cs-extract-increased hepatic energy metabolism in the dietary hypoferric anaemic mice was concluded to be due to increased hepatic blood flow.