Sex, BMI and age in addition to dietary intakes influence blood concentrations and congener profiles of dioxins and PCBs

Scope: The aim of this study was to i) characterize dietary polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin exposure in consumers of fish from the PCB contaminated Lake Mjøsa in Norway ii) examine the influence of demographic factors on blood concentrations and congener composition of dioxins and PCBs, iii) characterize dietary sources and possible exposures above tolerable intake. Methods and results: Blood samples were analysed for dioxin‐like (dl) compounds (PCDD/Fs and dl‐PCBs) and non‐dl‐PCBs (ndl‐PCBs). Dietary exposures were calculated using food frequency questionnaires (n=64). Men had higher median intake of dl‐compounds than women (1.2 and 0.85 pg TEQ/kg bw/day), but similar blood concentrations (23.3 and 25.8, pg TEQ/g lipid weight (lw)). For non‐dl‐PCBs, intakes (6.5 and 4.5 ng/kg bw/day) and blood concentrations (381 and 224 ng/g lw) were higher in men than in women. Blood concentrations correlated with dietary intakes in men only. Increasing BMI and age elevated blood concentrations mainly in women. Men and women had different blood congener profiles, with a higher share of PCB‐126 in women, despite similar dietary congener profiles. Eleven participants exceeded the tolerable intake for dl‐compounds. Fish from Lake Mjøsa was the main dietary source. Conclusion: The higher influence of BMI and age for women than for men may have implications for risk assessment.     

湖北省人群膳食铬营养水平评价

目的利用全国居民营养调查数据,了解湖北省城乡居民铬营养摄入的现状。根据各类食物的摄入量和各类食物铬含量数据,评价人群膳食铬的营养水平。方法按中国居民营养与健康状况调查的方案调查取样,并按营养调查中各类食物的摄入量与实测食物中的铬含量相乘得到食物中铬营养的实际摄入量。并按城市和农村、不同性别、不同经济收入、不同文化程度、不同地区、不同年龄、以及糖耐量指标分级,分别评价不同人群的铬营养状况。结果湖北省城乡居民的每日人均铬摄入量为53.17μg,城市为48.70μg,农村为55.47μg。结论湖北省居民可能存在铬摄入偏低或不足。     

Significance of fat supplemented diets on pork quality - Connections between specific fatty acids and sensory attributes of pork

The influence of two diets with different fatty acid compositions has been studied with regard to overall pork quality and significance of specific fatty acids on sensory attributes in fried chops and oven roasts. Twenty castrates and 20 females were in a balanced experimental set-up fed with a standard diet supplemented with α-tocopherol (200mg/kg feed) where the fat source was either 3% of palm oil or 3% rapeseed oil. After slaughter, despite differences in lipid composition and sensory attributes, no significant difference in overall meat quality parameters and flavour precursors was found. Comparison of the two diets showed that supplementation with rapeseed oil resulted in a significantly higher content of C18:3n-3 (polar lipid (PL), neutral lipid (NL)), C18:2n-6c (NL) and C20:2 (NL) in LD and C18:1n-9c, C18:2n-6c, C18:3n-3, C20:3n-3, C22:5n-3 in backfat, while supplementation with palm oil resulted in a higher content of C16:0 (NL), C16:1 (PL), C18:1n-9t (NL) in LD and C16:0, C17:0, C18:0, C16:1, C20:4n-6 in backfat. A positive and significant correlation between the contents of C18:2n-6c, C20:3n-6 in the PL fraction and the sensory attributes fried meat odour and sweet odour were found in fried pork chops from female pigs. Likewise, positive correlations were seen between the content of C18:1n-9c in the PL fraction and sensory attributes such as sourish odour, piggy odour and piggy flavour in whole oven roasts. These data substantiate the view that specific fatty acids in the PL fraction influences flavour attributes in pork.     

由分餐到合餐——中国古代就餐方式演变源流及其原因探析

分餐同我们现在所熟悉的合餐一样，在我国有着悠久的历史。自商周以来，中国人一直习惯于分餐的就餐方式，这是与当时森严的等级制度密不可分的，也是与当时人们的生活习惯相适应的。而到了隋唐时期，分餐方式开始向合餐逐渐演变，在宋代这一习惯得到巩固。由于它适应了中国人的饮食心理需求，因而在明清时期进一步得到加强，并成为相沿至今的生活习惯。就餐方式的演变不单单是人们生活习惯的简单移易，而是与社会发展、民族融合、价值观念的变化有着密切关系。     

Dietary exposure to metals and other elements in the 2006 UK Total Diet Study and some trends over the last 30 years

Concentrations of 24 elements including metals in the 2006 UK Total Diet Study (TDS) were measured and dietary exposures estimated. Composite samples for the 20 TDS food groups (bread, fish, fruit, etc.) were collected from 24 UK towns and analysed for their levels of aluminium, antimony, arsenic, barium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, copper, germanium, indium, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, selenium, strontium, thallium, tin, and zinc. Concentrations of each of the elements in the food groups were lower than or similar to those reported in the previous TDS survey, conducted in 2000, with the exception of aluminium, barium, and manganese. Dietary exposures to the 24 elements were estimated for UK consumers and compared with previous estimates made over the last 30 years in order to examine any trends in exposure to these elements in the typical UK diet. Population exposures to the elements have generally declined over time, and exposures to most of these elements remain at low levels. The independent UK Government scientific Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) commented on the estimated dietary exposures, taking into account their previous evaluations (in 2003 and 2008), and identified no major concerns for the health of consumers, but did advise that there was a need for more information on aluminium and barium, and also commented that dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic and to lead should continue to be reduced.     

中国人群黄曲霉毒素膳食暴露量评估

目的评估中国人群黄曲霉毒素的膳食暴露量，分析主要贡献食品及患肝癌的危险。方法通过食品中黄曲霉毒素的污染水平和人群食物摄入量计算人群黄曲霉毒素的膳食暴露量。结果我国成人、2～6岁儿童、城市人群、农村人群的平均黄曲霉毒素膳食暴露量分别为665．43、415．39、487，64、749．14ng／（人·d），这些人群高消费者（97．5百分位）的黄曲霉毒素膳食暴露量分别为24787．20、16544．40、17358，59、29370．42ng／（人·d）。玉米和大米是我国人群黄曲霉毒素膳食暴露的主要贡献食品。农村人群由于黄曲霉毒素膳食暴露患肝癌的危险高于城市人群。结论农村人群和2～6岁儿童、玉米和大米在控制我国人群黄曲霉毒素膳食暴露量、降低肝癌患病率中是不可忽视的重点人群和重点食品。     

The Impact of Conventional Dietary Intake Data Coding Methods on Snacks Typically Consumed by Socioeconomically Diverse African American and White Urban Population: A Comparison of Coding Methods

This study assessed the significance of implementing combination codes generated by USDA's Automated Multiple Pass Method and the impact on the assessment of snacking using the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study. African American and White participants (n=2177) completed two 24-hour dietary recalls. All self-reported snacks were assigned a food group code, while snacks eaten in combination (e.g. cereal with milk) were additionally assigned a combination code and associated with a food group based on primary component (e.g. cereal). Combination codes produced significant variation in snack lists by race, providing a better depiction of snacking patterns.     

Role of nutrition and microbiota in susceptibility to inflammatory bowel diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), Crohn's disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic inflammatory conditions, which are increasing in incidence, prevalence, and severity, in many countries. While there is genetic susceptibility to IBD, the probability of disease development is modified by diet, lifestyle, and endogenous factors, including the gut microbiota. For example, high intakes of mono‐ and disaccharides, and total fats consistently increases the risk developing both forms of IBD. High vegetable intake reduces the risk of UC, whereas increased fruit and/or dietary fiber intake appears protective against CD. Low levels of certain micronutrients, especially vitamin D, may increase the risk of both diseases. Dietary patterns may be even more important to disease susceptibility than the levels of individual foods or nutrients. Various dietary regimes may modify disease symptoms, in part through their actions on the host microbiota. Both probiotics and prebiotics may modulate the microflora, and reduce the likelihood of IBD regression. However, other dietary factors affect the microbiota in different ways. Distinguishing cause from effect, and characterizing the relative roles of human and microbial genes, diet, age of onset, gender, life style, smoking history, ethnic background, environmental exposures, and medications, will require innovative and internationally integrated approaches.     

The restriction of grazing duration does not compromise lamb meat colour and oxidative stability

Over 72 days, 33 lambs were fed: concentrates in stall (S), grass at pasture for 8 hours (8 h), or grass at pasture for 4 hours in the afternoon (4h-PM). The 4h-PM treatment did not affect the carcass yield compared to the 8h treatment. Meat colour development after blooming was unaffected by the treatments. The 4 h-PM treatment increased the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; P<0.0005) and of the highly peroxidizable fatty acids (HP-PUFA; P<0.001) in meat compared to the 8h treatment. The S treatment increased lipid oxidation (higher TBARS values) and impaired colour stability (higher H* values) of meat over storage compared to the 8h and 4 h-PM treatments (P<0.0005 and P=0.003, respectively). No difference in meat oxidative stability was found between the 8h and the 4h-PM treatments. In conclusion, growing lambs can tolerate a restriction of grazing duration without detrimental effects on performances and meat oxidative stability.     

Sodium nitrite: the "cure" for nitric oxide insufficiency

This process of "curing" food is a long practice that dates back thousands of years long before refrigeration or food safety regulations. Today food safety and mass manufacturing are dependent upon safe and effective means to cure and preserve foods including meats. Nitrite remains the most effective curing agent to prevent food spoilage and bacterial contamination. Despite decades of rigorous research on its safety and efficacy as a curing agent, it is still regarded by many as a toxic undesirable food additive. However, research within the biomedical science community has revealed enormous therapeutic benefits of nitrite that is currently being developed as novel therapies for conditions associated with nitric oxide (NO) insufficiency. Much of the same biochemistry that has been understood for decades in the meat industry has been rediscovered in human physiology. This review will highlight the fundamental biochemistry of nitrite in human physiology and highlight the risk benefit evaluation surrounding nitrite in food and meat products. Foods or diets enriched with nitrite can have profound positive health benefits.