Journal of human nutrition最新文献

Protein and zinc status were assessed in 24 community based and 66 institutionalised elderly Australians, aged 60 to 99 years. Serum albumin concentrations were significantly related to both protein intake (r = 0.36, P less than 0.001) and zinc intake (r = 0.33, P less than 0.001). Plasma zinc concentrations were not related to zinc intake (r = 0.12, P greater than 0.05) or to protein intake (r = 0.007, P greater than 0.05). Thus in aged persons with low serum albumin, it would appear useful to consider both protein and zinc intake.

A retrospective study of typical 24-h food intake was undertaken of the diets of 17 anorexia nervosa patients during the initial and the most severe phases of their illness. Patients completed a nutritional knowledge questionnaire. Patients' diets were significantly lower in energy and in all major nutrients than those of control subjects. The proportion of energy derived from protein was significantly higher, from fats significantly lower and from carbohydrates not significantly different from that of controls. The mean intake of all nutrients in the more severe phase of illness was lower in the initial phase. Intakes of calcium, retinol activity and ascorbic acid were below RDA levels in the majority of patients, but only a few reported intakes of thiamin, riboflavin and niacin equivalent below RDA values. Most patients scored higher on the nutritional knowledge questionnaire than matched controls, particularly in respect to questions concerning caloric content of food, dieting and roughage. Not all patients obtained high nutritional knowledge scores however, and 25 per cent performed less well than selected controls.

In a controlled trial of a double-blind cross-over design, it has been shown that "Marvie', a non-calorigenic sweetener containing 58 per cent maltitol by weight, is an effective sweetener which has no influence on routine haematological and biochemical parameters. The dose that could be tolerated without undesirable symptoms was between 20 and 30 g per day. Above this dose, flatus production with abdominal discomfort could limit tolerance to this sweetening agent.

Examples are given of how appearance of foods and their packaging influence nutrient intakes. It is shown that individuals are capable of making both nutritionally "right' and "wrong' choices on the basis of appearance and that, consequently, the consumer may be misled.

The condition of carotenaemia is harmless but can lead to the mistaken diagnosis of jaundice; it may also be a feature in hypothyroidism. A case of carotenaemia in a baby is reported, caused by an excess of carrots in his mixed feeds, and the diagnostic features are emphasised.

A further education scheme French dietitians began in 1975 at the request of the Association of French Dietitians. Because the dietitians were widely scattered, a correspondence course was chosen. The three-year course comprises 18 booklets including pathology, physiology, organisation and administration, community law and hygiene, and pedagogy. At the end of each booklet the candidates write a paper, on a given aspect of the subject concerned, which is returned to the training centre for correction by the writer of the booklet. Each year the dietitians and teaching staff assemble for a five-day seminar at which the subjects are further elaborated. Candidates completing 12 written papers and attending all three seminars are eligible to sit the examination. Over the past five years, 679 dietitians have taken part in this course and 126 candidates have passed Nancy University's advanced dietetics examination. The original feature of this scheme is that dietitians are able to study for higher qualifications whilst continuing their regular professional duties.