Oxidized low-density lipoprotein, iron stores, and haptoglobin polymorphism.

Background: In vitro experimental studies demonstrated that iron promotes free radical-induced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that circulating oxidized LDL (oxLDL) levels might be associated with body iron stores (serum ferritin) and iron-related genetic markers (hemochromatosis gene C282Y mutation, haptoglobin polymorphism).

Methods: We investigated 381 (176 males, 205 females, age 45 +/- 6 years) healthy Caucasians.

Serum zinc in healthy Belgian children.

Many reports mention marginal zinc status in childhood. Information on serum zinc (Zn) in Belgian children since the last reports are old and feeding habits are changing. Four hundred fifty-seven healthy children (0-14 yr, 262 boys) had a venipuncture after an overnight fast during a vaccination campaign.

Serum alpha-tocopherol and selenium in Belgian infants and children.

Previous studies showed low selenium (Se) concentrations in Belgian children. Serum alpha-tocopherol, retinol, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, selenium (Se), and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were examined. In order to obtain further information on the Se status in Belgian children, Se, alpha-tocopherol, retinol, and lipid concentrations were examined and signs of peroxidative lipid damage were evaluated in a subgroup.

Serum cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, and high-density lipoprotein development in newborn infants: response to formulas supplemented with cholesterol and gamma-linolenic acid.

Healthy newborn infants were either breast-fed or randomly designated to receive a standard formula, formula plus cholesterol, or formula plus gamma-linolenic acid at birth. At 0, 7, and 30 days of life, the following variables were measured: cholesteryl esters (cholesteryl arachidonate, cholesteryl oleate, cholesteryl palmitate, and cholesteryl linoleate), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, apoproteins (A-I, A-II, B, C-II, C-III, and E), and the cholesterol and apoprotein A-I content of the HDL subfractions HDL-2b, HDL-(2a + 3a), and HDL-(3b + 3c). Breast-fed infants had higher serum levels of cholesterol, cholesteryl oleate, cholesteryl palmitate, cholesteryl arachidonate, and HDL-2b than had formula-fed infants.

Determinants of fat consumption in a general population.

In a random sample of the adult population (aged 25-64 years) from Ghent and Charleroi in Belgium, dietary fat consumption was estimated using both qualitative and quantitative dietary methods. A fat consumption score (FCS) was constructed from the qualitative method, and it correlated significantly with the dietary polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids (P/S) ratio calculated from the quantitative method (r = -0.48; p less than 0.