The Nutrient Balance Concept: A New Quality Metric for Composite Meals and Diets.

Background: Combinations of foods that provide suitable levels of nutrients and energy are required for optimum health. Currently, however, it is difficult to define numerically what are 'suitable levels'.

Objective: To develop new metrics based on energy considerations-the Nutrient Balance Concept (NBC)-for assessing overall nutrition quality when combining foods and meals.

Safety of supplementing infant formula with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and Bifidobacterium lactis in term infants: a randomised controlled trial.

Probiotics and long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) may be beneficial supplements for infants who are not breast-fed. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the safety of an infant formula containing the LC-PUFA DHA and arachidonic acid (AA) and the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis by comparing the growth rate of infants fed the supplemented and unsupplemented formulas. One hundred and forty-two healthy, term infants were enrolled in a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, controlled, parallel-group trial, and allocated to receive either standard or probiotic and LC-PUFA-containing experimental formulas.

Gastric emptying in healthy newborns fed an intact protein formula, a partially and an extensively hydrolysed formula.

Background & Aims: Gastric emptying (GE) is influenced by the type of nutrition. The objective of this study was to compare GE in infants fed an intact protein formula (IPF), a partially hydrolysed formula (PHF), and an extensively hydrolysed formula (EHF).

Methods: This was a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study.

Does maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy and lactation lower BMI in late infancy?

We compared growth of infants whose mothers either did or did not receive docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplements during pregnancy and lactation. At 21 weeks' gestation, 144 women were enrolled into a randomized, double-blind clinical trial receiving: (1) a basic supplement consisting of vitamins and minerals (BS), or (2) BS plus 4.5 g fructooligosaccharide (BSF), or (3) BSF plus fish oil DHA (200 mg) until the end of the third month of lactation.

Comparison of the effects of zinc alone and zinc associated with selenium and vitamin E on insulin sensitivity and oxidative stress in high-fructose-fed rats.

Purpose: In the present study, we investigated the effect of an association of micronutrients (zinc (Zn), selenium (Se) and vitamin E (vit E)) on insulin activity and antioxidant status in an animal model of insulin resistance, the high-fructose-fed rat.

Procedures: Five experimental groups were compared: a control group (C) receiving a standard diet, a high-fructose-fed group (F) where 58% of the diet carbohydrate was fructose, a high-fructose-fed group supplemented with Zn alone (FZn group), a high-fructose-fed group supplemented micronutrients (Zn, Se and vit E) (FMicro group). A fifth group consumed a high-fructose diet and received metformin in the drinking water (200mg/day/rat) (FMet group).

Water and food consumption patterns of U.S. adults from 1999 to 2001.

Objective: High water consumption has been proposed as an aid to weight control and as a means of reducing the energy density of the diet. This study examines the relationship between water consumption and other drinking and eating patterns.

Research Methods And Procedures: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2001, with responses from 4755 individuals > or =18 years of age, provides the data for this cross-sectional analysis.

Substitution of casein by beta-casein or of whey protein isolate by alpha-lactalbumin does not affect mineral balance in growing rats.

Bovine milk protein fractions that enable modification of the protein composition and amino acid profile of infant formulas to mimic those of human milk have recently become available. To determine the effects on protein quality and mineral bioavailability of replacing casein by beta-casein and of whey protein isolate by alpha-lactalbumin, 4 groups of growing rats were fed for 3 wk diets containing 10% protein as 1) casein (control); 2) beta-casein; 3) casein:whey (40:60); or 4) beta-casein:alpha-lactalbumin (40:60). Protein quality, determined as protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein utilization (NPU), biological value (BV) and protein digestibility (PD), as well as body weight gain, were higher (P < 0.

Stable isotope-enriched selenite and selenate tracers for human metabolic studies: a fast and accurate method for their preparation from elemental selenium and their identification and quantification using hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry.

Stable isotope tracers are safe and nutritionally relevant tools for the investigation of mineral metabolism in man. Increased research into the functional role of selenium has resulted in a need for well-characterised, isotopically enriched solutions of the element in order to determine the nutritional relevance of selenium fortification of foods. A simple method for the conversion of isotopically enriched elemental selenium (2.

Dephytinisation of soyabean protein isolate with low native phytic acid content has limited impact on mineral and trace element absorption in healthy infants.

Infant formulas based on soyabean protein isolate are often used as an alternative to cows'-based formulas. However, the presence of phytic acid in soya formulas has raised concern about the absorption of trace elements and minerals from these products. The aim of the present study was to evaluate mineral and trace element absorption from regular and dephytinised soya formula in healthy infants.

The DASH diet and sodium reduction improve markers of bone turnover and calcium metabolism in adults.

Dietary strategies to prevent and treat osteoporosis focus on increased intake of calcium and vitamin D. Modification of whole dietary patterns and sodium reduction may also be effective. We examined the effects of two dietary patterns and three sodium levels on bone and calcium metabolism in a randomized feeding study.

[Effect of long term supplementation of mineral-fortified dephytinized soy milk powder on biomarkers of bone turnover in boys aged 12 to 14 years].

Objectives: In order to understand the effect of long term consumption of mineral-fortified dephytinized soy milk powder on skeletal health in children, biological effects of mineral-fortified dephytinized soy milk powder, dephytinized mineral-unfortified soy milk powder and fresh mineral-fortified cow milk were compared.

Methods: Totally, 90 boys aged 12 to 14 years were involved in the study and were given daily with mineral-fortified dephytinized soy milk powder, dephytinized soy milk powder and fresh fortified cow milk, respectively, for two months. The blood samples were collected from all the subjects for measuring activity of serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase and serum level of oesteocalcin, and the urine samples were collected for determining urine C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTx).

[A study on absorption and utilization of calcium, iron and zinc in mineral-fortified and dephytinized soy milk powder consumed by boys aged 12 to 14 years].

Objectives: In order to understand the absorption and utilization of calcium, iron and zinc in cow milk, soy milk powder and dephytinized soy milk powder in the children and adolescents, and to lay a foundation for the improvement of protein and mineral nutrition in Chinese residents with popularizing consumption of soy milk powder.

Methods: Totally, 57 boys aged 12 to 14 years were selected and divided into three groups, matched by age, hemoglobin concentration, height and weight. The boys were given 220 ml of fortified and dephytinized soy milk, soy milk or cow milk, respectively, containing calcium 270 mg, iron 4 mg and zinc 4 mg, which were labeled with stable isotopes (44)Ca, (58)Fe and (70)Zn in a single serving size, and their feces were labeled with brilliant blue and dysprosium.

Comparison of selenite and selenate apparent absorption and retention in infants using stable isotope methodology.

The inorganic selenium compounds selenite and selenate are used for selenium fortification of infant formulas. However, information on absorption and retention of selenium from these compounds is lacking. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine apparent absorption and retention of selenium from selenate and selenite added to a milk-based infant formula in healthy infants.

Meal effect on magnesium bioavailability from mineral water in healthy women.

Background: Magnesium intakes in many industrialized countries are below recommended daily allowances. Magnesium-rich mineral water may contribute to coverage of magnesium requirements by providing significant amounts of natural, energy-free, bioavailable magnesium.

Objective: The objectives were to determine magnesium bioavailability from magnesium-rich (110 mg/L) mineral water in healthy subjects when consumed alone and to evaluate the effect of simultaneous meal consumption.