Nutritional implications of the interactions between minerals.

It is well recognized that the absorption, retention and metabolism of most essential minerals can be markedly influenced by the presence of antinutrient factors in the diet (i.e. fiber and phytate).

Estimation of sulphite in food in France.

Estimates have been made of the consumption levels of sulphites in foods in France using two methods, a global and a segmented protocol. The global method gave an estimated average intake of 20 mg SO2/day/capita; the segmented method gave estimates of 1.96 mg/day/capita for non-consumers of alcoholic beverages and 31.

Nutritional modulation of murine models of autoimmunity.

For experimental animals, calorie restriction, as well as deficits of specific nutrients, can retard the establishment and progression of autoimmune disease. The clinical value of imposed nutritional deficiencies in the treatment of autoimmune disease, however, is suspect. In contrast, diet supplementation of specific fatty acids may prove to be of value in the management of some autoimmune disorders.

Influence of vitamin A status and DDT on vitamin A-dependent protein mannosylation in rat liver.

Male Wistar rats of different vitamin A status (total depletion to moderate deficiency) were administered DDT (5 mg/kg/day) or vehicule (corn oil) i.p. daily for 14 days.

Average mineral and trace element content in daily adjusted menus (DAM) of French adults.

This article is based on data on food consumption gathered from 10,000 households. The daily energetic intake of 2,000 to 2,500 kcal (8,360 to 10,450 kJ) (beverages excluded) provides adults with less than 80% of the recommended amount of several essential minerals and trace elements. For women, beverages contribute only slightly to the total amount of mineral and trace element intake, because the major beverage sources of minerals and trace elements are alcoholic drinks (wine, beer).

Can the mineral elements intakes recommended for the French population be provided by a balanced diet?

The minerals intakes provided by a diet with a balanced amount of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates are slightly superior to those supplied by the usual diet. However, the micronutrients whose intakes provided by the usual diet are insufficient for some population groups (women for instance) remain "at risk" even with a balanced diet (fluorine, zinc, iron and copper). This conclusion is not altered when taking account of drinks.

The well-balanced diet and the "at risk" micronutriments: a forecasting nutritional index.

The forecasting nutritional index is the list of micronutrients whose intakes do not amount to 80% of the recommended allowances, this list being determined on the basis of a balanced diet. This kind of diet allows to bring out the micronutriments which are the least likely to be found in the diet. The food and epidemiological studies results allow to confirm the forecasting nature of this index.

Reference intervals for vitamins B1, B2, E, D, retinol, beta-carotene, and folate in blood: usefulness of dietary selection criteria.

Reference intervals for normal concentrations in blood of vitamins B1, B2, E, D, retinol, beta-carotene, and folic acid were determined from a selected sample of people attending a Health Examination Center or being examined in occupational health services in France. This reference sample consisted of 362 men and women, ages 18 to 44 years, selected according to the main variation factors known for the vitamins studied: consumption of tobacco and alcohol, ponderal index (relating height and weight), use of drugs and oral contraceptives, and past history of surgical or medical treatment. Reference intervals were determined for each sex.

Estimation of the share of each water source for adults in France. Water intake provided to the French adults.

We have calculated that the approximate amount of the different water intakes for an average adult population consuming 11.8 MJ/day (2,837 kcal/day), where 1.4 MJ (337 kcal) are provided by beverages, is 2.

Estimation of minerals and trace elements provided by beverages for the adult in France.

The total average amount of beverages absorbed daily (1,378 ml) is split up as follows: tap water (650 ml where from 170 ml are used for the preparation of coffee and tea); bottled water (190 ml); alcoholic drinks (481 ml) and soft drinks (57 ml). Under these conditions, the intake is estimated at (mg/day): Na: 50, K: 450, P: 83, Ca: 141, Mg: 54, Fe: 2.9, Zn: 0.

"ESVITAF". Survey on the vitamin status of the French: relationships between nutrient intake and biochemical indicators.

The relationships between dietary data and biochemical nutritional status for vitamins B1, B2, A, E, beta-carotene, folic acid and iron have been studied using data from a survey conducted on 710 adults. Significant correlations were found between riboflavin intake and biochemical values for males only (r = -0.105, p less than or equal to 0.

[Caloric value of food and coverage of the recommended nutritional intake of vitamins in the adult human. Principle foods containing vitamins].

Two daily food consumption models were defined. One of them (I) is representative of the French eating habits, the other (E) of a diet with a theoretically balanced content of macronutrients for a caloric intake of 2,500 kcal. For each of these two models, four menus were calculated to obtain four caloric levels (1,500, 2,000, 2,500 and 3,000 kcal).

[Changes in vitamin C content of Bintje potatoes during storage and usual culinary preparations].

In various regions of France (particularly in the North-East) potatoes have remained an important source of vitamin C. We measured by a specific method [7], the loss of ascorbic acid in the Bintje species of potatoes (grown in Pas-de-Calais) due to storage and different cooking procedures. Storage for 3 months in the dark at +12 degrees C decreases the ascorbic acid level by about 50%, storage for 6-8 months by about 66%.

Evaluation of the daily amount of ascorbic acid supplied by food in France.

The food consumption of a sample of 10,000 French households has been under constant study by the Institut National des Statistiques et Etudes Economiques. Based on the data obtained, a representative model of the daily food consumption has been established with the help of the Nutrition Section of the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale. A composition table was used to define the theoretical amount of natural ascorbic acid contained in these foodstuffs, to this quantity was added the amounts of ascorbic acid incorporated as an additive in these foodstuffs.