Substituting whole grains for refined grains in a 6-wk randomized trial has a modest effect on gut microbiota and immune and inflammatory markers of healthy adults.

Observational studies suggest an inverse association between whole-grain (WG) consumption and inflammation. However, evidence from interventional studies is limited, and few studies have included measurements of cell-mediated immunity. We assessed the effects of diets rich in WGs compared with refined grains (RGs) on immune and inflammatory responses, gut microbiota, and microbial products in healthy adults while maintaining subject body weights.

Substituting whole grains for refined grains in a 6-wk randomized trial favorably affects energy-balance metrics in healthy men and postmenopausal women.

The effect of whole grains on the regulation of energy balance remains controversial. We aimed to determine the effects of substituting whole grains for refined grains, independent of body weight changes, on energy-metabolism metrics and glycemic control. The study was a randomized, controlled, parallel-arm controlled-feeding trial that was conducted in 81 men and postmenopausal women [49 men and 32 women; age range: 40-65 y; body mass index (in kg/m): <35.

Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Administration on Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Colonization in Adults with Comorbidities.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are endemic in health care settings. These organisms colonize the gastrointestinal tract and can lead to infection which is associated with increased mortality. There is no treatment for VRE colonization.

Relationship between essential amino acids and muscle mass, independent of habitual diets, in pre- and post-menopausal US women.

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to examine the relationship between protein and essential amino acids (EAAs) intake with the level of muscle mass (MM) independent of the diet. Twenty-one omnivores, 22 ovo-lacto-vegetarians and 20 vegans were recruited. MM (urinary creatinine), dietary intake (5-day dietary records) and biochemical analyses (urinary and plasma sex hormones) were obtained.

Fat/fiber intakes and sex hormones in healthy premenopausal women in USA.

The mechanisms by which diet affects breast cancer (BC) risk are poorly understood but a positive relationship between fat and a negative association with fiber intake and BC risk have been demonstrated. Here we study the association between dietary fat/fiber ratio and estrogen metabolism. Fifty women were recruited, 22 were included in the low fat/high fiber and 22 were in the high fat/low fiber group and 6 did not meet our criteria.

Estimated net acid excretion inversely correlates with urine pH in vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians, and omnivores.

Objective: Diet affects urine pH and acid-base balance. Both excess acid/alkaline ash (EAA) and estimated net acid excretion (NAE) calculations have been used to estimate the effects of diet on urine pH. This study's goal was to determine if free-living vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians, and omnivores have increasingly acidic urine, and to assess the ability of EAA and estimated NAE calculations to predict urine pH.

A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol accelerates simian immunodeficiency virus disease progression.

Several lines of evidence suggest that dietary fat and cholesterol may play a role in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and disease progression. We examined the effect that an atherogenic diet (AD) high in saturated fatty acids and cholesterol has on disease progression and systemic inflammation in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected macaque model of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Macaques fed an AD had significantly more rapid disease progression, resulting in an increased risk of SIV-related death compared with that in control macaques (hazard ratio, 5.

Effects of feeding an infant formula containing Lactobacillus GG on the colonization of the intestine: a dose-response study in healthy infants.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether feeding Lactobacillus GG (LGG) at varying levels (10 to 10 cfu/day) would result in colonization, defined as > or =1,000 cfu of LGG per gram of stool in 3 of 5 samples collected during the feeding period.

Methods: Infants received unsupplemented formula during a 7-day baseline, 1 of 4 formulas containing 0 (control), 10 (low), 10 (medium), or 10 (high) cfu of LGG per day during a 2-week test, and unsupplemented formula during a 2-week follow-up. Baseline, test, and follow-up stool samples were evaluated for levels of viable LGG.

A randomized, double-blind trial of Lactobacillus GG versus placebo in addition to standard maintenance therapy for children with Crohn's disease.

Probiotics are widely used by patients with Crohn's disease (CD) in an attempt to improve their health, but few controlled studies have been done to evaluate the efficacy of these therapies. We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) to see if the addition of LGG to standard therapy prolonged remission in children with CD. Concomitant medications allowed in the study included aminosalicylates, 6-mercaptopurine, azathioprine, and low-dose alternate day corticosteroids.

The effect of micronutrient supplementation on disease progression and death in simian immunodeficiency virus-infected juvenile male rhesus macaques.

Background: We investigated the impact that micronutrient supplementation has on the progression of simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (SAIDS).

Methods: Twenty-four simian immunodeficiency virus-infected juvenile male rhesus macaques were randomized into 2 groups. One group was given certified chow, and the other group was given chow and a supplement that contained 2-3 times the estimated nutritional requirement of micronutrients.

Hormonal response to diets high in soy or animal protein without and with isoflavones in moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Consumption of soy protein has been associated with altered risk of developing endocrine-regulated cancers. This study was designed to assess the independent effect of soy relative to animal protein and soy-derived isoflavones on circulating estrogen and androgen concentrations in postmenopausal women and older men. Forty-two subjects (> 50 yr) with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of > or = 3.

Body-composition changes in the simian immunodeficiency virus-infected juvenile rhesus macaque.

Background: Body-composition changes are common in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus. The purpose of the present study was to measure, as a model of wasting in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), longitudinal body-composition changes in macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV).

Methods: Twelve juvenile macaques were inoculated with SIVmac239.

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.

Estrogen levels are higher during the luteal compared with the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. It was hypothesized that the luteal compared with the follicular phase has a lipid and lipoprotein profile associated with decreased coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. This was tested using well-defined data from healthy, well-characterized premenopausal Caucasian women under very controlled metabolic conditions.

Copper modulates activities of genistein, nitric oxide, and curcumin in breast tumor cells.

Several papers have reported that low level of genistein (<8 microM), the major bioactive component of isoflavones, stimulates the growth of MCF-7 cells. In the present study, we found that genistein-induced growth stimulation of MCF-7 cells is inhibited in the presence of Cu(2+) (5 microM). Genistein induces the release of nitric oxide in MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner.

Effect of age on susceptibility to azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci formation in C57BL/6JNIA mice.

To determine the effect of age on susceptibility to azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation and its underlying mechanism, young and old mice were injected with AOM weekly for 4 or 5 weeks and euthanized 5 or 6 weeks later. Given the same (12 or 15) mg/kg body weight dose of AOM, old mice had significantly more ACF than young mice. However, given the same total dose of AOM (to avoid confounding effect of higher dose to heavier old mice), at a low total dose (1.

Immunological effects of low-fat diets with and without weight loss.

Objective: The immunologic effects of isocaloric reduced- and low-fat diets and a voluntary calorie-restricted low-fat diet resulting in weight loss were compared to the immunologic effects of an average American diet in hyperlipidemic individuals.

Methods: Ten hyperlipidemic subjects were studied during three six-week weight maintenance phases: baseline (BL) [35% fat [14% saturated fat (SFA), 13% monounsaturated fat (MUFA), 8% polyunsaturated fat (PUFA)] and 147 mg cholesterol (C)/1000 kcal], reduced-fat (RF) [26% fat (4% SFA, 11% MUFA, 11% PUFA) and 45 mg C/1000 kcal], and low-fat (LF) [15% fat (5% SFA, 5% MUFA, 3% PUFA) and 35 mg C/1000 kcal] diets followed by 12-week, low-fat calorie reduced phase (LFCR).

Results: During the last phase, the subjects' weight significantly decreased (p = 0.

Vitamin E supplementation does not alter azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci formation in young or old mice.

Vitamin E, part of the body's primary lipid-soluble defense against free radicals and reactive oxygen molecules, has been suggested to reduce the risk for some cancers. However, the role of vitamin E in the etiology and prevention of colon cancer, especially in the highest risk group, the aged, is not clear. Thus, this study was conducted to elucidate the effect of vitamin E supplementation on susceptibility to colon cancer by examining azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation, a surrogate biomarker of colon cancer.

Lipoprotein response to diets high in soy or animal protein with and without isoflavones in moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the independent effect of soy relative to common sources of animal protein and soy-derived isoflavones on blood lipids.

Methods And Results: Forty-two subjects with LDL cholesterol levels > or =3.36 mmol/L were fed each of four diets in randomized order for 6 weeks per phase.