The American journal of clinical nutrition
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Method of administration influences the serum cholesterol-lowering effect of psyllium.
To determine whether psyllium must be mixed with food to lower serum cholesterol, 18 modestly hypercholesterolemic subjects were studied for three 2-wk periods, in random order, separated by a 2-wk return to a National Cholesterol Education Program Step 2 diet. Compared with values for subjects consuming control wheat-bran cereal (63 g/d), after 2 wk of 54 g psyllium-enriched cereal/d containing 7.3 g psyllium, serum total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol, respectively, were reduced by 8% (6.15 +/- 0.15 vs 6.71 +/- 0.19 mmol/L, P < 0.01), 11% (4.24 +/- 0.15 vs 4.78 +/- 0.19 mmol/L, P < 0.02), and 7% (0.99 +/- 0.05 vs 1.07 +/- 0.05 mmol/L, P < 0.01). When 7.6 g of the same type of psyllium as in the test cereal was taken between meals, serum total (6.50 +/- 0.19 mmol/L), LDL (4.50 +/- 0.21 mmol/L), and HDL (1.06 +/- 0.06 mmol/L) cholesterol were no different from control values, and total cholesterol was greater than after psyllium cereal (P < 0.05). We conclude that psyllium must be mixed with foods to have the maximum effect on serum cholesterol.
-
A population-based study on the nutritional status of children consuming macrobiotic diets was carried out in The Netherlands. Participants followed a macrobiotic diet based mainly on whole-grain cereals, pulses, and vegetables. Studies in children aged 0-10 y suggested that growth was retarded mainly between 6 and 18 mo. ⋯ Ubiquitous deficiencies of energy, protein, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, calcium, and riboflavin were detected in macrobiotic infants, leading to retarded growth, fat and muscle wasting, and slower psychomotor development. Breast milk from macrobiotic mothers contained less vitamin B-12, calcium, and magnesium. Supplementation of the macrobiotic diet with fat (minimum 20-25 g/d), fatty fish (minimum 100-150 g/wk), and dairy products (minimum 150-250 g/d) is recommended.
-
Comparative Study
Calcium kinetics in lactating women with low and high calcium intakes.
Absorption of calcium and its mobilization from bone during lactation are important for delivery of calcium to breast-feeding infants; whether calcium intake offsets bone resorption is not known. We hypothesized that calcium absorption is increased in lactation and greater in women on low calcium diets, resulting in similar rates of bone resorption and accretion. Calcium absorption and kinetic indexes were calculated by using two stable isotopic tracers in 8 women; 6 were studied both during lactation and nonlactation. ⋯ Despite decreased urinary calcium excretion during lactation, especially in women with low calcium intake, net balance tended to be lower during lactation. Mean residence time decreased and bone resorption exceeded accretion in almost all lactating women. Calcium need for milk production appears to be met by decreased urinary excretion and increased bone resorption, and not by increased intestinal absorption.
-
The National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Program includes conducting national surveys to estimate the dietary intake and nutritional status of the US population. As part of this program, a 10-y comprehensive plan has been developed to strengthen nutrition-monitoring efforts in the United States. Emphasis is placed on improving coordination and comparability among data collection methods across federal agencies and on conducting relevant research. ⋯ The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) contributes population data on diet, nutritional status, and health outcomes to the Nutrition Monitoring Program. The third NHANES (1988-1994) includes 40,000 noninstitutionalized people aged > or = 2 mo and oversamples blacks, Mexican Americans, children, and elderly people and uses an automated 24-h recall as the primary dietary instrument. Assessing dietary intake in heterogeneous populations in national surveys poses many methodologic, statistical, and interpretive issues and highlights the need for specific research to improve dietary assessment methods.
-
A method for estimating total body fat (TBF) and the amount and distribution of adipose tissue in humans by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is described. Thirty transaxial images of subjects were taken by a nuclear magnetic imager (0.02 T). Adipose tissue volume was calculated from adipose tissue area in each image and from the distances between images. ⋯ When assessed by MRI and BWD, women contained 1.4 +/- 2.9% less and 4.7 +/- 4.0% more TBF, respectively, than when assessed by UWW. On average, 74.2% of total adipose tissue volume was situated subcutaneously. Subcutaneous fat:fat-free body weight and nonsubcutaneous fat:fat-free body weight were both significantly correlated with percent TBF but the women stored excess fat subcutaneously rather than nonsubcutaneously.