Single Intake Research Articles

Lysine Bioavailability in School-Age Children Consuming Rice Is Reduced by Starch Retrogradation

Rice is one of the most commonly consumed cereal grains and is part of staple diets in the majority of the world. However, it is regarded as an incomplete protein, with lysine being a limiting amino acid. Our objectives were to determine the bioavailability of lysine in school-age children consuming cooked white rice and to assess the effect of rice starch retrogradation. Bioavailability or metabolic availability (MA) of lysine was determined using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method in a repeated-measures design. Six healthy school-age children (3 boys, 3 girls) with a mean±SD age of 6.8±0.98y randomly received 4 crystalline l-lysine intakes (2, 6, 10, 14 mg · kg-1 · d-1), and 5 rice intakes to provide lysine at 8, 11, or 14 mg · kg-1 · d-1. The 14 mg · kg-1 · d-1 intakes were measured twice as warm rice and once as cold rice (to assess the impact of starch retrogradation on MA). Diets provided protein at 1.5 g · kg-1 · d-1 and calories at 1.7 times the participant's measured resting energy requirement, and were isonitrogenous. Breath samples were collected at baseline and during an isotopic steady state for 13C enrichment measurement. The MA of lysine from rice was determined by comparing the IAAO response of rice with l-lysine using the slope-ratio and single intake methods. Starch retrogradation was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry. MA of lysine in warm rice measured in school-age children was 97.5% and was similar to a repeated rice study (97.1%) within the same study population. MA of lysine was reduced significantly (P<0.05) to 86.1% when the cooked rice was consumed cold, which corresponded to detectable starch retrogradation. To our knowledge, this is the first study to measure the MA of lysine from rice in school-age children. Although the bioavailability of lysine from rice is high, it can be reduced by retrogradation of its starch component.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04135040.

High lifetime, but low current, prevalence of new psychotropic substances (NPS) use in German drug detoxification treatment young inpatients

BackgroundOver the last 15 years, a large number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has been identified, with their use being associated with a range of acute medical and psychopathological complications. Conversely, NPS addictive liability levels have not been systematically assessed in clinical populations. Aims of the studyInvestigating the lifetime and current prevalence of NPS use in a sample of substance use disorder (SUD) patients admitted to an inpatient detoxification treatment centre. MethodsAssessment of previous/current NPS intake carried out with the means of standardised questionnaire based on the European version of Addiction Severity Index. ResultsSome 206 patients (males 77.1%; average age: 30.7 years-old; most typical diagnosis: opioid/polydrug dependence) participated to the survey. Roughly half (e.g. 111/206; 53.9%) of them reported a lifetime use of NPS, most typically synthetic cannabinoids. Conversely, the current prevalence of NPS use was 2.9%; no NPS dependence condition was diagnosed. Among NPS users, 56.3% reported severe side-effects such as heavy anxiety or psychotic experience, and 64% reported an aversion of ever using the respective NPS again, whilst 84.3% of those reporting a single NPS intake reported an aversion. DiscussionThe sharp contrast between lifetime prevalence of NPS use and prevalence of current use might be explained by the high frequency of severe side effects reported by NPS users.

The influence of sleep health on dietary intake: a systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies.

Poor dietary intake increases disease risk, and poor sleep influences diet. This systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies aimed to evaluate the effect of sleep health on dietary intake in adults. Five online databases were used to identify studies published between 1970 and 2019. Included studies were interventions that modified sleep and reported dietary outcomes. Fifty four full texts were assessed and 24 publications were included. Following risk of bias appraisal, data were narratively summarised and a sub-group of studies (n=15) was meta-analysed to determine the effect of sleep on dietary intake. One intervention modified sleep timing and 23 modified duration. Sleep duration was partially restricted (≤5.5hnight-1 ) (n=16), totally restricted (n=4), partially and totally restricted (n=1), and extended (n=2). Dietary outcomes were energy intake (n=24), carbohydrate, fat, protein intake (n=20), single nutrient intake (n=5), diet quality (n=1) and food types (n=1). Meta-analysis indicated partial sleep restriction results in higher energy intake in intervention compared with control [standardised mean difference (SMD)=0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.21-0.52; P<0.001], with a mean difference of 204kcal (95% CI=112-295; P<0.001) in daily energy intake, and a higher percentage of energy from fat, protein, carbohydrate (fat: SMD=0.33; 95% CI=0.16-0.51; P<0.001; protein: SMD=0.30, 95% CI=0.12-0.47, P=0.001; carbohydrate: SMD=0.22, 95% CI=0.04-0.39, P=0.014). Partial sleep restriction with duration of ≤5.5hday-1 increases daily energy intake, as well as fat, protein and carbohydrate intake. Further research is needed to determine the relationship between other dimensions of sleep health and dietary intake.

Metabolic Changes in Newborns and Women Who Consumed Small Doses of Alcohol in the Prenatal Period

Introduction: Ethyl alcohol and its metabolites even in low concentrations negatively affectsan embryo and a fetus.Interest to the role of the lipid peroxidation-antioxidant defense (LPO-AOD) system has significantly increased in recent years, because this system imbalanceleads to the development of oxidative stress (OS), which is accompanied by body's resistance decreaseto the adverse environmental and internal factors negative influence, which is one of the most important triggers of so-called free radical pathology.&#x0D; Aim: The aim of research was to determine the concentration and activity of the metabolic system components “lipid peroxidation-antioxidant defense” (LPO-AOD) and the glutathione system components in pregnant women who consumed no more than 2 doses of low-strength alcoholic beverages (beer, champagne, wine) during the first half of pregnancy and their newborns.&#x0D; Methods: The design of the study was prospective and controlled randomized. The study involved 170 pregnant women who were observed in the regional perinatal center of Irkutsk. Two women refused to participate in the study. The main group consisted of 93 women who drank low alcohol beverages (beer, champagne and wine) in the first half of pregnancy (for a period of 7-20 weeks of pregnancy). The control group composed of 75 women who did not drink alcohol throughout their pregnancy. In both groups of women for a period of 30-32 weeks of pregnancy, the parameters of the LPO-AOD and glutathione systems had been determined. Similarly, cord blood had been sampled in 66 control group newborns and 53 newborns whose mothers drank alcohol in the first half of pregnancy (main group). Statistical processing of the research results was performed. Statistical processing of the results obtained had been carried out using the software package STATICTICA 10 Stat Soft Inc, USA (license holder - Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems) using the T - student and Mann-Whitney test methods.&#x0D; Results: The study revealed the influence of the use of low alcohol beverages (beer, champagne and wine) in an amount of no more than 2 doses on the state of the LPO-AOD and glutathione systems in the blood serum and red blood cells of pregnant women and their newborns. It was found that even a single intake of low alcohol beverages is accompanied byoxidative stress development in women and their newborns. The state of the glutathione system in pregnant women is characterized by a decrease in the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity with an increase in the oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) levels. In newborns, a decrease in GSH is associated with a decrease in the of GR, GST, and glutathione peroxidase (GPO) activity.&#x0D; Conclusion: Analyzing the data, in distant perspective the negative role of even small doses of low alcohol (beer, champagne and wine) on pregnant women and their newborns metabolism was established.

The Relationship between Dietary Sodium-to-Potassium Ratio and Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults: Using Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015

Background: The dietary sodium-to-potassium ratio (Na:K) is known to have a stronger association with cardiovascular disease compared with a single intake of sodium or potassium. Accordingly, this study sought to examine the relationship between sodium-potassium intake balance and metabolic syndrome, which increases the occurrence of cardiovascular disease.Methods: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015 were used, and the subjects were 13,164 adults aged 19 years and over. This study examined sodium and potassium intake and Na:K based on Korean adults' age and sex, and analyzed food groups that contribute to adequate sodium and potassium intake based on an Na:K of 1. Correlations between Na:K, metabolic syndrome, and risk factors were examined through a multiple logistic regression analysis.Results: Korean adults' average daily intake of sodium was 3,976 mg, while that of potassium was 3,076 mg.Meanwhile, the Na:K was identified to be 2.33. The food group that contributed the most to potassium intake was fruits in subjects whose Na:K was below 1, and vegetables in those whose Na:K was over 1. Compared with the lowest quartile, the highest quartile in Na:K was up 19% in the probability that one would suffer from metabolic syndrome (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt; for trend=0.001). Also, more Na:K led to a significant increase in the risk of elevated blood pressure and elevated blood sugar (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt; for trend=0.015 and 0.012).Conclusions: A rise in Na:K is related to a risk of hypertension and high blood sugar, and such a rise raises the prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome.

تأثير انتقائية الغذاء على كفاية التغذية على أطفال التوحد في المنطقة الغربية بالمملكة العربية السعودية

الأهداف: فحص ارتباط جوانب انتقائية الغذاء: رفض الطعام (FR)، زيادة تكرار تناول غذاء واحد (HFSFI)، مجموعة الغذاء المحدودة (LFR)، الحميات الغذائية المقيدة، والأدوية التي تؤثر على الشهية على كفاية التغذية عند أطفال التوحد الذين تتراوح أعمارهم بين 6 إلى 12 سنة في المنطقة الغربية من المملكة العربية السعودية (SA). الطرق: شارك في الدراسة 32 طفلاً مصاباً بالتوحد من ستة مراكز توحد. تم قياس الطول والوزن وتم حساب مؤشر كتلة الجسم لكل طفل. سجل الأمهات المعلومات الغذائية لأطفالهم من خلال تعبئة استبيان تكرار الطعام وسجلات الطعام لمدة 3 أيام. النتائج: ثلاثة من الأطفال فقط كانوا يتناولون الأدوية التي تؤثر على الشهية، وطفلان كانوا يتبعون حمية مقيدة. معظم أطفال التوحد كان لديهم كفاية في متناول الكربوهيدرات (87.5%)، والبروتين (93.8%)، والدهون (93.8%). وكانت كفاية المتناول من الألياف، الحديد، الفولات، الكالسيوم، الزنك، فيتامين أ، فيتامين د، وفيتامين هـ ظاهرة في أقل من 50% من أطفال التوحد، أما كفاية المتناول من فيتامين ج وفيتامين ب12 ظهرت في ≤50% من أطفال التوحد. FR و LFR كانا غير مرتبطين (P= 0.091 و P= 0.706 على التوالي) مع كفاية التغذية, بينما HFSFI كان مرتبط بشكل معنوي (P=0.021) مع كفاية التغذية. التوصيات: انتقائية الغذاء هي مشكلة متكررة تؤثر على كفاية التغذية في أطفال التوحد في المنطقة الغربية في SA. لذلك نحتاج لدراسات مستقبلية حول ارتباط التغذية بالتوحد، لتحسين الحالة الغذائية لأطفال التوحد.

Subsurface Vortex Control Parametric Study at Submersible Pump Intake Using Plate-Type Floor Splitters

Vortex formation near the pump inlet in the sump during intake is a phenomenon that needs to be controlled to maximize the pump efficiency. In this study, five variants of an AVD type called the plate type floor splitter are installed in a single intake pump sump model to evaluate the effect of geometry of the floor splitter on the effectiveness of vortex control in the intake flow. The acceptance criteria according to ANSI HI 9.8 2012 standard are that the vortex formed in the sump must be eliminated and the swirl angle in the flow must not exceed 5°. The submergence of the inlet was varied to observe the swirl reduction effect at different water levels. All floor splitter variants employed in this study have successfully eliminated the vortex but most of them did not manage to reduce the swirl angle below 5° as required. The variants with different heights displayed significant differences in swirl angle values with higher variants produce greater swirl angle reduction. The highest floor splitter variant managed to produce a swirl angle reduction below 5°. With varying lengths, however, the swirl angle values did not differ much in each case with the installation of the floor splitter variants. The advantage of the long floor splitter is that the fluctuation of swirl angle values is minimum for all submergence depths greater than 0.9 times the minimum inlet submergence which implies that the swirl reduction effect is less affected by the change in water level. By combining the advantages of both floor splitter design variation, the optimal design of plate type floor splitter can be achieved.

Feedback provided by clinical teachers during undergraduate medical training: A Sri Lankan experience

Introduction: Feedback reinforces good practice, identifies deficiencies and directs the learner to narrow the gap between actual and desired performance thus, playing a crucial role in the development of competence in medical training. However, feedback if not carefully handled can result in de-motivation and deterioration in performance. It is believed that culture plays an important role in the way behaviours are valued and tolerated in educational settings. Aim: To explore perceptions of Sri Lankan medical graduands on feedback received from teachers during clinical training. Method: The study was conducted on a single intake of medical graduates after release of final MBBS results, ensured maximum variation sampling by including students from high, average and low performance categories. Participation was voluntary. Interviews were conducted using a short interview guide, transcribed and themes identified. Results: 21 interviews were conducted. There were eight, six and seven volunteers from the high performing, average and poorly performing groups respectively. 63% were male. Positive experiences encompassed; trainer taking a balanced approach to feedback by acknowledging good practices while indicating negative aspects, providing an emotionally supportive environment, clear articulation, offering focused learner support and motivating the learners through encouraging words and support to realize their potential. Negative experiences encompassed fault finding, biased nature and indiscreet behaviour of the trainers. Conclusion: Sri Lankan medical graduands have experienced desirable and undesirable teacher behaviours during feedback episodes. Accurate conceptualization of ‘feedback process’ among clinical teachers and proactive measures to enhance the skills of teachers on giving feedback is needed.

Exploring Eating and Nutritional Challenges for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Parents' and Special Educators' Perceptions.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disability that is frequently associated with food refusal, limited food repertoire and high-frequency single food intake mainly among children with ASD. Provision of nutrition can be very challenging due to the fact of these behavioural problems, either for the parents or special educators. Healthy nutrition is associated with providing and consuming nutritious food with results being in a good state of health. Semi-structured focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among 20 participants at a National Autism Centre to explore their understanding towards healthy nutrition. They were parents and special educators who were actively involved with children with ASD. A series of discussions were transcribed verbatim, and four researchers examined each transcript. Inductive analysis linking codes into main thematic categories was conducted using the constant comparison approach across the full data set. The outcome suggested that participants had limited knowledge relating to the proper dietary and nutritional needs of the children. The key messages from the discussion provide a foundation on the development of a nutrition education module which involves primary caretakers of children with ASD.

Computational analysis of turbulence enhancement in a compression ignition engine with modified inlet design.

This study aims to enhance the turbulence of direct injection (DI) diesel engine by modifying the inlet manifold design with an inclined nozzle-like provision angles of 30°, 60°, and 90° along with its regular intake system. Numerical analysis was carried out using the computational fluid dynamics package (STAR-CD libraries of es-ice) to study the flow field and combustion characteristic with the modified intake manifold geometries. The computational investigation was carried out for both single and double pass conditions at 1500 rpm under high-load operating condition (5.2 kW). The computational results showed that the velocity magnitude of modified single pass intake manifold increases by about 10% that results in higher turbulence even near the point of fuel injection. Through the modification in the inlet manifold, the combustion parameters such as in-cylinder pressure and in-cylinder temperature are increased ascompared to the standard manifold for the same quantity of fuel injected per cycle. In summary, the 60° modified manifold with a single pass shows better combustion and emission characteristics compared to that of regular inflow manifolds due to the improvement in turbulence levels.

Effects of beta-conglycinin intake on circulating FGF21 levels and brown adipose tissue activity in Japanese young men: a single intake study and a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundHuman brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity has beneficial effects on body composition and glucose metabolism. A previous study reported that beta-conglycinin intake induced postprandial fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) secretion, thereby promoting adipose tissue thermogenesis in mice. Since it has not been evaluated whether beta-conglycinin intake is associated with induced FGF21 secretion and BAT thermogenesis in humans, the current study examined the effects of beta-conglycinin intake on circulating FGF21 level and BAT activity.MethodsTwenty-two healthy young male subjects participated. This study consisted of 2 interventional studies. In one of them, the effects of single beta-conglycinin intake at thermoneutral temperature on circulating FGF21 levels were examined (n = 7). The other study was a single-blinded randomized crossover trial of 2 weeks (n = 14). The subjects were exposed to mild cold conditions using a climatic chamber, and BAT activity was analyzed using thermography. Serum FGF21 level was determined by ELISA in these studies.ResultsIn the single intake study, serum FGF21 level was the highest before beta-conglycinin intake and gradually and significantly decreased throughout the 2-h experimental period (P < 0.05). The randomized crossover trial showed that 2-week beta-conglycinin intake did not affect serum FGF21 level and BAT activity, whereas changes (Δ) in baseline levels of serum FGF21 were positively correlated with Δ BAT activity (P < 0.05). In addition, analysis of each group revealed that there was significant correlation between the Δ serum FGF21 level and Δ BAT activity in the beta-conglycinin group (P < 0.05), but not in the placebo group.ConclusionsThis study reveals that although serum FGF21 levels are not increased by a single or short-term intake of beta-conglycinin, the Δ basal FGF21 level is associated with Δ BAT activity. These results suggest that human FGF21 responsiveness is different from that of rodents and support the importance of FGF21 in human BAT thermogenesis.Trial registrationThis study is registered with University Hospital Medical Information Network in Japan (number 000038723, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000043942).

Dynamic analysis of human small intestinal microbiota after an ingestion of fermented milk by small-intestinal fluid perfusion using an endoscopic retrograde bowel insertion technique

ABSTRACT Probiotic products have been shown to have beneficial effects on human hosts, but what happens in the gastrointestinal tract after its ingestion remains unclear. Our aim was to investigate the changes within the small intestines after a single intake of a fermented milk product containing a probiotic. We have periodically collected the small-intestinal fluids from the terminal ileum of seven healthy subjects for up to 7 h after ingestion by small-intestinal fluid perfusion using an endoscopic retrograde bowel insertion technique. The bacterial composition of the terminal ileum clearly revealed that the ingested probiotics (Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota: LcS and Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult: BbrY) occupied the ileal microbiota for several hours, temporarily representing over 90% of the ileal microbiota in several subjects. Cultivation of ileal fluids showed that under a dramatic pH changes before reaching the terminal ileum, a certain number of the ingested bacteria survived (8.2 ± 6.4% of LcS, 7.8 ± 11.0% of BbrY). This means that more than 1 billion LcS and BbrY cells reached the terminal ileum with their colony-forming ability intact. These results indicate that there is adequate opportunity for the ingested probiotics to continuously stimulate the host cells in the small intestines. Our data suggest that probiotic fermented milk intake affects intestinal microbes and the host, explaining part of the process from the intake of probiotics to the exertion of their beneficial effects on the host.

Effects of high potassium iodate intake on iodine metabolism and antioxidant capacity in rats

BackgroundKIO3 and KI are the most common salt iodization agents. Coincidentally, iodine exists naturally in high-iodine drinking water in the form of iodide (I−) or iodate (IO3−). As an oxidizing substance, IO3− should be reduced to I− before it can be effectively used by the thyroid. However, there is a lack of systematic studies on the metabolic process of high dose KIO3in vivo. MethodsThe iodine metabolism processes in the thyroid and serum of rats after high KIO3 intake were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC/ICP–MS) and arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry. The changes of redox activity in the serum, thyroid, liver, and kidneys were observed by detecting total antioxidative activity (TAA). ResultsHigh doses of IO3− were completely reduced to I−in vivo within 0.5 h. The level of organic bound iodine in the serum was stable, while the organic bound iodine in the thyroid increased to a plateau after intake of high-dose KIO3. The levels of total iodine and I− in serum and thyroid increased quickly, then all decreased after reaching the maximum absorption peak, and I− had two absorption peaks in serum. The thyroid blocking dose of I− was 0.5 mg/kg in rat. Additionally, high KIO3 intake did not influence the TAA in serum and other tissues. ConclusionThe body is able to reduce and utilize high doses of KIO3 ingested through the digestive tract. The metabolism of high KIO3in vivo is characterized by two absorption process of I− in serum and the thyroid blocking effect. Moreover, a single intake of high-dose KIO3 does not affect TAA in vivo. The results suggest that such excess IO3− may have be reduced in the digestive tract before I− enters the blood.

The Performance of Single and Double Intake Designs of Propeller Flow Cooling System (PFCS)

In order to save spaces inside a small-sized fishing boat, the high-pressure flow behind propeller is utilized instead of a special cooling pump to cool the main engine. From the previous study, the system is referred to as the Propeller Flow Cooling System (PFCS). As a continuation of the previous study, the present study conducted more experiments in order to compare the performance of a single and a double intake designs of the PVCS with the same cross-sectional area. The designs with circular and elliptical intakes shapes were measured. The experiments were also conducted at the Circulating Water Channel (CWC) facility. The main parameter which was compared in the experiment and analysis was the flow capacity produced by both designs for various propeller revolution (RPM). The experimental results showed that single intake design has a higher flow capacity than the double intake one which was caused by higher flow losses inside the pipe of single intake design mainly due to higher surface friction as well as an additional elbow joint needed in double intake design. This tendency occurred for both circular and elliptical shapes cases.

Expectation-induced placebo effect on acute sadness in women with major depression: An experimental investigation

BackgroundMeta-analyses demonstrate that placebo effects play an important role in antidepressant treatment. Expectations seem to constitute a highly relevant placebo mechanism in this context. This study investigated whether an expectation manipulation combined with the intake of an active placebo could reduce acute sadness in depressed participants following a sadness-inducing mood manipulation. MethodsWomen who suffered from a major depressive episode (N = 94) were randomly allocated to the drug expectation group (expectation to receive a fast-operating antidepressant), the placebo expectation group (expectation to receive a placebo) or the no treatment group (no expectation, no placebo). The drug expectation and the placebo expectation group received a placebo. All participants watched a sadness-inducing film. Sadness was assessed at baseline, after randomization and after placebo intake and mood induction. Data were analyzed by a 3 × 3 analysis of variance. ResultsThere were significant between-group differences in sadness change from the baseline after mood induction. While sadness increased in the no treatment group, it did not change in the placebo expectation group. In the drug expectation group, sadness even decreased. LimitationsOnly a single medication intake was simulated. Effects on acute sadness do not allow inferences about depression symptoms. ConclusionThis experimental study found a placebo effect on sadness in clinically depressed participants. The effects were even larger than expected. Future research must investigate placebo effects on depression symptoms as well as long-term placebo intake.

On the regulate tropane alkaloids in grain products

Tropane alkaloids (TA) are metabolites of various plant species in the families Brassicaceae, Solanaceae and Erythroxylaceae. Seeds of these weeds are found in flax, soy, sorghum, millet, sunflower, buckwheat and food products obtained from them, in herbals used as a part of food supplements and herbal teas. Despite the fact that the contamination of grain seeds by various parts of weeds reduces by sorting and clean up, a certain amount of TA gets into processed foods. An analysis of the consumption of TA with all types of foods, conducted by the European food safety Agency (EFSA), showed that TA intake with ration of various population groups can exceed the established level of single safe intake (ARfD) - 0.016 μg/kg of body weight (by 11-18% for adults, and by 5-25% for children depending on the age). The aim of the research was to justify the need to introduce regulations for the safe content of TA in grain products. Material and methods. The study process used hygiene, analytical methods, expert assessments on the basis of generalization and analysis of contemporary scientific researches published in databases Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, RISC, Russian and international regulatory and legislative documents. Results. The established risks associated with TA contamination of grain and grain-based foods, as well as food supplements based on herbs and herbal teas, make it necessary to monitor food products for it's presence. Conclusion. Due to the greater study of the risks associated with the presence of atropine and scopolamine in foods, scientific justification of safe levels of these TA in foods based on cereals, including baby foods for children under 3 years old containi ng millet, sorghum, buckwheat or products based on these cereals is required.

Biokinetic Method on Simultaneous Intake of Radionuclides from Multiple Intake Scenarios for Application in Internal Exposures.

Biokinetics underlies the basis for assessment of internal exposures. This paper develops a biokinetic method on simultaneous intake of radionuclides from multiple intake scenarios in internal exposures. With numerical techniques that transform the whole biokinetics between the coupled and decoupled representations of the same problem, this method applies to coupled biokinetics with complex structures and has no restrictions of practical importance on the number of intake scenarios, the number of intake parent radionuclides and decay products, and the complexity of decay relationships between parent and progeny nuclides. For illustration, this method is applied to an assumed case of mixed inhalation and ingestion of weapon-grade plutonium material for reference workers that is focused on Pu and Am. Due to coupled biokinetics between the direct intake and ingrowth parts in different intake pathways, the multiple intake results (the contents of lungs, daily excretions, and cumulative contents) display richer behaviors as compared to single intake cases. This method benefits both the prospective and retrospective assessment of internal exposures for complex intake cases in actual applications.

Identification of Milk and Cheese Intake Biomarkers in Healthy Adults Reveals High Interindividual Variability of Lewis System–Related Oligosaccharides

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe use of biomarkers of food intake (BFIs) in blood and urine has shown great promise for assessing dietary intake and complementing traditional dietary assessment tools whose use is prone to misreporting.ObjectiveUntargeted LC-MS metabolomics was applied to identify candidate BFIs for assessing the intake of milk and cheese and to explore the metabolic response to the ingestion of these foods.MethodsA randomized controlled crossover study was conducted in healthy adults [5 women, 6 men; age: 23.6 ± 5.0 y; BMI (kg/m2): 22.1 ± 1.7]. After a single isocaloric intake of milk (600 mL), cheese (100 g), or soy-based drink (600 mL), serum and urine samples were collected postprandially up to 6 h and after fasting after 24 h. Untargeted metabolomics was conducted using LC-MS. Discriminant metabolites were selected in serum by multivariate statistical analysis, and their mass distribution and postprandial kinetics were compared.ResultsSerum metabolites discriminant for cheese intake had a significantly lower mass distribution than metabolites characterizing milk intake (P = 4.1 × 10−4). Candidate BFIs for milk or cheese included saccharides, a hydroxy acid, amino acids, amino acid derivatives, and dipeptides. Two serum oligosaccharides, blood group H disaccharide (BGH) and Lewis A trisaccharide (LeA), specifically reflected milk intake but with high interindividual variability. The 2 oligosaccharides showed related but opposing trends: subjects showing an increase in either oligosaccharide did not show any increase in the other oligosaccharide. This result was confirmed in urine.ConclusionsNew candidate BFIs for milk or cheese could be identified in healthy adults, most of which were related to protein metabolism. The increase in serum of LeA and BGH after cow-milk intake in adults calls for further investigations considering the beneficial health effects on newborns of such oligosaccharides in maternal milk. The trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02705560.

The Effect of L-Theanine Incorporated in a Functional Food Product (Mango Sorbet) on Physiological Responses in Healthy Males: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.

Consumption of L-Theanine (L-THE) has been associated with a sensation of relaxation, as well as a reduction of stress. However, these physiological responses have yet to be elucidated in humans where L-THE is compared alongside food or as a functional ingredient within the food matrix. The aim of this study was to determine the physiological responses of a single intake of a potential functional food product (mango sorbet) containing L-THE (ms-L-THE; 200 mgw/w) in comparison to a flavour and colour-matched placebo (ms). Eighteen healthy male participants were recruited in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The participants were required to consume ms-L-THE or placebo and their blood pressure (BP) (systolic and diastolic), heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV) were monitored continuously over 90 minutes. Eleven males (age 27.7 ± 10.8 years) completed the study. Changes in area under the curve for systolic and diastolic blood pressure and HRV over the 90 minute observation period indicated no differences between the three conditions (all p > 0.05) or within individual groups (all p > 0.05). The values for heart rate were also not different in the placebo group (p = 0.996) and treatment group (p = 0.066), while there was a difference seen at the baseline (p = 0.003). Based on the findings of this study, L-THE incorporated in a food matrix (mango sorbet) demonstrated no reduction in BP or HR and showed no significant parasympathetic interaction as determined by HRV high-frequency band and low-frequency/high-frequency ratio. Further studies should be focussed towards the comparison of pure L-THE and incorporation within the food matrix to warrant recommendations of L-THE alongside food consumption.

Comprehensive genomic analysis of dietary habits in UK Biobank identifies hundreds of genetic associations

Unhealthful dietary habits are leading risk factors for life-altering diseases and mortality. Large-scale biobanks now enable genetic analysis of traits with modest heritability, such as diet. We perform a genomewide association on 85 single food intake and 85 principal component-derived dietary patterns from food frequency questionnaires in UK Biobank. We identify 814 associated loci, including olfactory receptor associations with fruit and tea intake; 136 associations are only identified using dietary patterns. Mendelian randomization suggests our top healthful dietary pattern driven by wholemeal vs. white bread consumption is causally influenced by factors correlated with education but is not strongly causal for coronary artery disease or type 2 diabetes. Overall, we demonstrate the value in complementary phenotyping approaches to complex dietary datasets, and the utility of genomic analysis to understand the relationships between diet and human health.