Polysymptomatic syndromes and autonomic reactivity to nonfood stressors in individuals with self-reported adverse food reactions.

This study compared symptom reports and cardiovascular reactivity of a group of 24 individuals recruited from the community who reported a cognitive or emotional symptom caused by at least one food (food-sensitivity reporters, FSR) vs those of 15 controls (C) without a history of food, chemical, drug, or inhalant sensitivities. The main findings were: 1) FSR indicated sensitivities not only to foods, but also to environmental chemicals, drugs, and natural inhalants, as well as significantly more symptoms than C in multiple systems; 2) more FSR than C noted recent state depression and anxiety, as well as higher trait anxiety on the Bendig form of the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale; 3) however, on multiple regression analysis, not only depression, but also the number of sensitivities (foods, chemicals, drugs, inhalants), accounted for part of the variance in total number of symptoms (38 and 17%, respectively), whereas none of the affective measures accounted for any of the variance in total number of sensitivities over all subjects; 4) after controlling for depression and anxiety, FSR still showed a trend toward poorer performance on a timed mental arithmetic task (p = 0.16); and 5) FSR and C showed opposite patterns of heart rate change to two different stressful tasks (mental arithmetic and isometric exercise) (group by task interaction, p < 0.

Iron nutrition does not account for the hemoglobin differences between blacks and whites.

Many researchers have reported lower hemoglobin concentrations in blacks than in whites, but the reason for this difference is unknown. Data for 2515 persons (in 3-12 y and 18-45 y age groups) from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II) were evaluated to investigate the roles of iron intake and biochemical iron status indicators in explaining black and white differences in hemoglobin concentration. Dietary iron intake was estimated from one 24-h food recall, and hemoglobin, serum ferritin, transferrin saturation and erythrocyte protoporphyrin were measured by standard laboratory methods.

Postprandial thermogenesis at rest and during exercise in elderly men ingesting two levels of protein.

Seven elderly male subjects (69 +/- 3 yr, 67.8 +/- 9.2 kg, 24.

Benefits associated with WIC supplemental feeding during the interpregnancy interval.

Interpregnancy WIC supplementation was evaluated by comparing maternal nutritional status indicators and subsequent birth outcomes of 703 WIC participants divided into two groups. Study group women received postpartum benefits for 5-7 mo while control group women received postpartum benefits for only 0-2 mo. Both groups received prenatal benefits during each of two study pregnancies.

Stable isotope studies of zinc absorption and retention in young and elderly men.

Zinc absorption was determined with 67Zn and 70Zn, stable isotopes of zinc, in six young men and six elderly men who were confined to a metabolic unit for 12 wk. Their purified formula diets, supplemented with select food items, contained 15 mg of zinc per day. Zinc absorption was determined twice for each subject by combining zinc enriched with either 70Zn or 67Zn with the formula diet.

Incidence and duration of breast-feeding in a health maintenance organization population.

A breast-feeding incidence and duration study in a heterogeneous population confirmed the increased incidence of breast-feeding reported among American women. Of 632 women delivering between May and August of 1980, 66% chose to breast-feed, a decision determined to be significantly related to race, age, marital status, and parity. Cesarean deliveries discouraged breast-feeding, whereas nursing immediately after delivery and keeping the infant in the room during the hospital stay encouraged breast-feeding.

Living arrangements and dietary patterns of older adults in the United States.

Living arrangements and dietary patterns were examined for 3,477 adults aged 65 to 74 from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1971 to 1974 (NHANES I). Several indicators of dietary variety, diet composition, and energy and nutrient intake from both the 24-hour recall, and the dietary frequency questionnaires were analyzed. Dietary patterns of older men were associated more strongly with type of living arrangement and income compared with older women.

Nitrogen utilization, enzyme activity, glucose intolerance and leukocyte chemotaxis in human experimental zinc depletion.

We previously reported significant decreases in plasma, whole blood, urinary, seminal and fecal zinc in six young men consuming a semipurified formula diet providing 0.28 mg zinc and 0.8/kg protein per day for 4-9 weeks.

Iron stores in users of oral contraceptive agents.

A comparison of serum ferritin and other parameters of iron status was made between 46 women taking oral contraceptive agents (OCAs) for two or more years continuously and 71 women who never took OCAs. The mean serum ferritin level for the OCA users was 39.5 +/- 21.

Copper absorption in elderly men determined by using stable 65Cu.

The apparent absorption of copper was determined in seven elderly men using the stable isotope 65Cu. Analysis of isotopic ratios of copper was done using thermal ionization, magnetic sector mass spectrometry after separation of copper from fecal samples by ion exchange chromatography. Mean apparent copper absorption during the first metabolic period in five men was 23.

Use of enriched stable isotopes to determine zinc and iron absorption in elderly men.

The absorption of zinc and iron was determined in seven elderly men using the enriched stable isotopes 70Zn and 58Fe. Analyses of isotopic ratios were done using thermal ionization magnetic sector mass spectrometry on chloride solutions of zinc and of iron after separation of zinc from fecal samples by ion exchange and of iron by solvent extraction. Mean apparent zinc absorption in the seven subjects was 17.

Autoregulatory homestatic nature of energy balance.

This paper proposes a new theory regarding energy regulation in man. Current theory states that similar adults have similar energy requirements when engaged in similar activities. As a corollary, if activities remain constant and energy intake is altered, weight will change.

Zinc, copper, and iron balance in elderly men.

Two-3-wk balance studies for zinc, copper, and iron were carried out in six elderly male subjects who were confined to a metabolic unit for a long-term study (12 wk) with constant dietary mineral intake. Average zinc balance was 0.1 +/- 0.

Fluoride balances in pregnant and nonpregnant women.

In planning health protection for pregnant as well as nonpregnant women exposed to fluorides, information about their fluoride metabolism is essential. The authors determined fluoride balances in small groups of young women maintained on two different low-fluoride diets for one or two 21-day periods in a metabolic unit. One diet contained an average of 0.

Wine versus ethanol in human nutrition. IV. Zinc balance.

Six healthy young men participated in a metabolic balance study to assess the effects of wine versus ethanol on absorption of various elements. Zinc data are reported here. During each of four 18-day experimental periods, the subjects were fed a controlled diet plus 1 liter/day of one of the following test beverages, administered in random order: Zinfandel wine, dealcoholized Zinfandel wine, an aqueous ethanol solution, or deionized water.

Behavioral responses to artificial food colors.

Twenty-two young children, maintained on a diet that excluded certain foods, were challenged intermittently with a blend of seven artificial colors in a double-blind trial. Parents' observations provided the criteria of response. One child that responded mildly to the challenge and one that responded dramatically were detected.

Sulphate, acid-base, and mineral balances of obese women during weight loss.

Four obese women, each at least 50% above their expected weight for height were maintained in the metabolic unit for 63 days on liquid formula diets of differing protein and calorie content. We made the following findings: 1) When 12 g protein nitrogen was consumed, 1 mEq of acid was excreted in the urine for every 2 mEq of urinary sulphate. 2) On a protein-free diet more acid was excreted in the urine than could be accounted for by oxidation of sulphur to the sulphate which was excreted in the urine.

Use of a spectrophotometer for radiographic photodensitometry of bone.

A conventional spectrophotometer was used to do radiographic photodensitometry of bone mass. An experiment to produce osteoporosis in guinea pigs required quantification of changes in bone mass. Lack of a densitometer necessitated finding another method for quantification.

Integumentary loss of calcium.

Integumentary calcium loss was studied in 16 healthy young men. The daily loss by the 16 ambulatory but relatively sedentary young men in 52 determinations of 6-day periods each was 8.7 +/- 1.