Editorial announcement. ASIA
PACIFIC CLINICAL NUTRITION AWARDS. 1993
Award.
Letter
to the editors
Book review. Introduction
to nutrition and metabolism. David A. Bender
Abstracts:
The existence of 'intestinal failure' was proposed. This pathologic condition may occur in two distinct forms, ie short bowel syndrome marked by a gross reducti 1000 on in functioning gut mass and impaired intestinal function (impairment of motility and extensive parenchymatous disorders). This has been newly recognised as a complex independent entity on account of an increasing number of patients that now survive thanks to the recent progress in nutritional management, especially total parenteral nutrition (TPN). In view of many unresolved clinical questions regarding long-term TPN and loss of gut mass, it is hoped that future research efforts will be directed towards settlement of these issues and how to surmount difficulties in bowel transplantation.
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Microcytic, hypochromic anaemia in dialysis patients has been associated with aluminium toxicity. Since pregnant women and infants are high-risk groups for iron-deficiency anaemia, the purpose of this study was to investigate if high maternal aluminium intake could cause anaemia in dams and pups of rats. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley (SD) female weanling rats were arranged in three groups under randomised completely block design (RCBD) experiment design. Control, Low-AI and High-AI groups had (), 5(X), 2(X)0 mg Al/kg diet added in the basal diet, respectively, through growing, pregnancy and lactation. Rats were sacrificed after weanling. Results indicated that either body weight gain or feed efficiency was the lowest in High-AI groups dams (P<0.05). The body weights were the same in neonates from mothers with various aluminium intakes. However, the higher the maternal aluminium intakes, the lower the average body weight of weanling pups (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between Al intake and serum Al concentration, Al intake and milk Al content of dams (r = 0.93 and r = 0.89, respectively; P<0.05). Average milk and serum aluminium concentrations of dams with high aluminium intake were higher than those in the Control and Low-Al groups. Nevertheless, serum aluminium concentration in pups was not different among the three groups. There was no difference in haematocrit (Hct), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total iron binding capacity, or transferrin saturation among dams. On the other hand, the pups in the High-AI group had the highest Hct and Hb per unit body weight compared with the other groups, probably due to smaller litter size.
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A prospective study of seasonal variability of lipids in 36 healt 1000 hy men, aged 40-45 years, over 14 months in Melbourne showed significant monthly and seasonal variation by paired t-test. Measurement of cholesterol and triglycerides was carried out by standard, automated enzymic assays calibrated with CDC certified materials. High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDLC) was measured after Polyethylene Glycol 6000 precipitation of Apo B containing lipoproteins. Intra-individual variation ranged widely; Cholesterol: mean Coefficient of Variation (CV) 6.9%, range 4.1 to 14.0, HDLC: mean CV 9.1%, range 5.3 to 15.6 Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDLC): mean CV 10.2%, range 5.2 to 18.4. The seasonal effect showed the most favourable lipid/ lipoprotein profile, ie lowest total and LDLC, highest HDLC to occur in the antipodean summer (Nov/Dec) and the least favourable profile in winter (Jul/Aug), with highest (total) Cholesterol and lowest HDLC. This is best observed as the LDLC/HDLC ratio which peaks in July (3.6), with the trough in December (2.7). This pattern is consistent with seasonal effects described previously in the northern hemisphere, except that the months are reversed. Weight did not alter significantly during the period of the study. Seasonal and individual variation in lipids and lipoproteins should be taken into account in the clinical management of lipid disorders.
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Objective. To develop an optically scannable food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), 'The Melbourne FFQ', suitable for classifying Australian-, Greek- and Italian-born individuals into quantiles of intake for a range of foods and nutrients. The FFQ would provide the primary measure of dietary exposure in a prospective cohort study.
Design. The FFQ was modelled on that used for the (US) Nurses' Health Study. Food items were chosen on the basis of their relative contribution to the intake of a range of nutrients computed from weighed food records.
Setting. Metropolitan Melbourne, Australia; a city of 3 million people, of whom 75.5% were born in Australia, 2.7% were born in Italy and 1.7% were born in Greece.
Participants. Weighed Food Survey (1987-1989): A volunteer sample of 810 healthy middle-aged (40-69 years) men and women of whom 35% were born in Greece, 33% were born in Italy, and 32% were born in Australia. Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (1990-1993): A volunteer sample of 17 949 healthy men and women aged between 40 and 69 years of whom 61% were born in Australia, 21% were born in Italy and 17% were born in Greece.
Results. A 121 item FFQ was developed, together with a customised nutrient database. The optical scanning format was generally well received with the majority of subjects requiring no assistance. The FFQ appeared to overestimate the consumption of fruit and vegetables.
Conclusions. The Melbourne FFQ provides a convenient method of measuring habitual dietary in 1000 take in a large population setting. A separate study is required to assess how well the instrument characterises diet at the level of the individual.
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There is an increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus around the world associated with rapid sociocultural development and changing lifestyles. Increased prevalence of obesity, with a higher consumption of animal products and lower consumption of fruits and vegetables, increases the risk of diabetes mellitus and other chronic degenerative diseases. Insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD) is caused by insulin deficiency, whereas the main feature of non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDD) which accounts for more than 90% of diabetics, is hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance, which may eventually lead to actual insulin deficiency. Hyperinsulinaemia is undesirable because it increases the risk of developing vascular disease. In Malaysia, the prevalence of NIDD in some communities now exceeds 5%, and of impaired glucose tolerance 10% . Along with these increases in prevalence of hyperglycaemia are increases in prevalence of overweight (BMI>25) and almost certainly abdominal fatness. In terms of management, nutrition is given priority. Insulin and hypoglycaemic drugs (sulphonylureas or biguanides), where required, may adversely affect body composition if overused. Newer therapeutic strategies require greater attention to the underlying problem in NIDD of abdominal fatness by attention to the relevant nutritional factors, physical activity and other lifestyle factors like cigarette smoking and alcohol. The greater impact of obesity and diabetes on Malaysian women as opposed to men also needs to be addressed.
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Investigating differences in the intake of nutrients is of potential importance in characterising diet-disease relationships and determining the level of intake necessary for optimal health. The intake and food sources of ascorbic acids were examined in an ecologic study of 64 rural counties in the People's Republic of China and compared with data reported for the United States. The mean (±SEM) and median individual intakes of ascorbic acid for all counties combined were 140 (± 88) and 128 mg/day, respectively (range 6-429 mg/day). This compares to a mean intake of 99 mg/day for adult men and 84 mg/day for adult women in t 74f he United States. The foods that contributed the most to ascorbic acid intake were sweet potatoes (37.2%), cabbages (23.9%), leafy green vegetables (10.6%), radishes (8.8%), and hot peppers (6.5%). In contrast to the US, where fruits supply 43% of ascorbic acid to the diet, fruits contributed a relatively small amount to overall ascorbic acid intake in rural China (1%). The wide range of ascorbic acid intake among counties resulted, in part, from differences in the availability of fresh produce which is grown and consumed locally. Despite this, the mean intake was still greater than the US because of the large contribution of plant products (approximately 90%), especially tubers and other vegetables, to the diet.
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Copyright © 1994 [Asia Pacific Journal of
Clinical Nutrition]. All rights reserved.
Please note: this article has been scanned and reformatted.
Please contact lshirven@ozemail.com.au if any
errors are suspected.
Revised: September 12, 1999.