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The mechanism by which high fat-diet induced obesity affects cardiac protein expression is unclear, and the extent to which this is modulated by prebiotic treatment is not known. These outcomes were assessed in rats initially fed a high-fat diet, then the top 40% weight gain group were randomly allocated to control (CON), high-fat (HF) and HF supplemented with fructooligosaccharide (32 g, HF-FOS) treatments for 12 weeks (n = 10/group). At sacrifice, left ventricles were either frozen or preserved in formalin. Serum was stored for glucose and insulin measurements. Protein spectra was obtained using an Orbitrap analyzer, processed with Sequest and fold changes assessed with Scaffold Q +. Treatment effects for body weights, glucose and insulin were assessed using one-way ANOVA, and the differential protein expression was assessed by a Mann&ndash, Whitney U test. The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes identified pathways containing overrepresented proteins. Hematoxylin and eosin sections were graded for hypertrophy and also quantified, differences were identified using Chi-square analyses and Mann-Whitney U tests. HF diet fed rats were significantly (p &lt, 0.05) heavier than CON, and 23 proteins involved in mitochondrial function and lipid metabolism were differentially expressed between HF and CON. Between HF-FOS and HF, 117 proteins involved in contractility, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism were differentially expressed. HF cardiomyocytes were significantly (p &lt, 0.05) more hypertrophic than CON. We conclude that high-fat feeding and FOS are associated with subcellular deviations in cardiac metabolism and contractility, which may influence myocardial function and alter the risk of cardiovascular disease.

This study adapted the established glycemic index (GI) methodology used in human research to perform two studies in sled dogs in order to assess the blood glucose-raising potential of pulse-based dog foods. The first was a pilot study (n = 6 dogs) to determine the GI of single starch sources (white bread, cooked white rice, and cooked green lentils) using a glucose solution as control. Next, the effect on glycemic and insulinemic meal responses and GI of commercial extruded dog foods containing different categories of starch sources (traditional grain, whole grain, grain-free, and vegan) were investigated on 11 dogs using a glucose control. Results were compared using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Consumption of 10 g of available carbohydrate (Av CHO) was insufficient to elicit a measurable response in blood glucose for GI determination, and as such, the amount was increased to 25 g for the second study. The GI (±SE) of the single starch sources and dog foods was: white bread: 47 ± 11, cooked white rice: 71 ± 14, cooked green lentils: 60 ± 20 (P = 0.569), traditional grain: 83 ± 17, whole grain: 56 ± 8, grain-free: 41 ± 6, and vegan: 65 ± 15 (P = 0.154). No statistical differences in glycemic response over time were observed between the single starch sources or the extruded diets tested (P = 0.1412; P = 0.2651). The insulinemic response elicited by the extruded diets was also not different (P = 0.079); however, the traditional grain diet did have the slowest time to peak for insulin (P = 0.0078). Among single starch sources and extruded dog foods, there were no differences in the glycemic indices measured in this study. The GI methodology has not been validated for use in canine species, and it is likely that our results were due to higher interindividual variation or inadequate study power. Regardless, this study will serve to better define future studies to investigate the potential physiological benefits of low GI foods for dogs.

Background The postprandial blood glucose response (PBGR) following carbohydrate replacement of high-glycemic index (GI) foods with pulses, in a mixed meal, has not been accurately defined. Objective We aimed to determine the extent to which PBGR and relative glycemic response (RGR) are lowered when half of the available carbohydrate (AC) from rice or potato is replaced with cooked lentils. Methods Using a crossover design, 2 groups of 24 healthy adults randomly consumed 50 g AC from control white rice alone [mean ± SD body mass index (BMI, in kg/m2): 24.3 ± 0.5; mean ± SD age: 27.7 ± 1.2 y], instant potato alone (BMI: 24.0 ± 0.5; age: 27.4 ± 1.2 y), or the same starch source in a 50:50 AC combination with each of 3 types of commercially available lentils (large green, small green, split red). Fasting and postprandial blood samples were analyzed for glucose and insulin, and used to derive incremental area under the curve (iAUC), RGR, and maximum concentration (Cmax). Treatment effects were assessed with the use of repeated-measures ANOVA within the rice and potato treatments. Results In comparison to rice alone, blood glucose iAUC and Cmax (P

A maternal high-fat, high-sucrose (HFS) diet alters offspring glucose and lipid homoeostasis through unknown mechanisms and may be modulated by folic acid. We investigated the effect of a maternal HFS diet on glucose homoeostasis, expression of genes and proteins associated with insulin signalling and lipid metabolism and the effect of prenatal folic acid supplementation (HFS/F) in male rat offspring. Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly fed control (CON), HFS or HFS/F diets. Offspring were weaned on CON; at postnatal day 70, fasting plasma insulin and glucose and liver and skeletal muscle gene and protein expression were measured. Treatment effects were assessed by one-way ANOVA. Maternal HFS diet induced higher fasting glucose in offspringv. HFS/F (P=0·027) and down-regulation (PRaf1) in offspring skeletal muscle and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acaca), fatty acid synthase and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunitβin offspring liver. Skeletal muscle neuropeptide Y and hepatic Kruppel-like factor 10 were up-regulated in HFSv. CON offspring (PAcacaandRaf1protein expression levels were significantly lower in HFS offspring. Maternal HFS induced higher homoeostasis model of assessment index of insulin resistancev. CON (P=0·030) and HFS/F was associated with higher insulin (P=0·016) and lower glucose (P=0·025). Maternal HFS diet alters offspring insulin sensitivity andde novohepatic lipogenesis via altered gene and protein expression, which appears to be potentiated by folate supplementation.

Consumption of pulses is associated with many health benefits by mechanisms that are not fully understood. This study sought to identify the starch component(s) in cooked lentils responsible for lowering postprandial glycemic response (PPGR). Rapidly digestible (RDS), slowly digestible (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) content of 20 varieties of cooked lentil were determined by in vitro methods and 8 varieties, representing a linear range of SDS, were chosen for a human trial with 10 participants to determine PPGR and glycemic index (GI). Among the 20 lentil varieties, RS accounted for 35% of the variation of in vitro area under the starch hydrolysis curve (SHAUC) (r = −0.587; p < 0.01), but RDS (r = 0.401; p = 0.080) and SDS (r = −0.022; p = 0.927) were not significantly related to SHAUC. Multiple linear regression of in vitro data resulted in an equation [SHAUCest = 30.9RDS − 63.6RS + 9680] that accounted for 70% of the variance in SHAUC, with SDS excluded due to collinearity. In the human trial all 8 lentils had low GI values (10 to 23). Neither GI nor area under the glucose response curve (AUC) was significantly related to RDS, SDS or RS (minimum p = 0.24). However, SHAUC and SHAUCest, respectively, were related to both GI (r = 0.704, p = 0.051; r = 0.773, p = 0.024) and AUC (r = 0.765, p = 0.027; r = 0.822, p = 0.012). These results confirm that lentils have low GI values, which is not reliably predicted by their RDS, SDS and RS contents when considered individually. However, in vitro SHAUC and a combination of RDS and RS may be predictive of the PPGR of lentils.

Background: Soy protein may reduce coronary heart disease (CHD) risk by lowering LDL cholesterol, but few studies have assessed whether whole soy flour displays a similar effect. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the dose effect of whole soy flour incorporated into muffins on plasma LDL cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic adults. Methods: Adults aged 30–70 y (n = 243) with elevated LDL cholesterol (≥3.0 and ≤5.0 mmol/L) were stratified by LDL cholesterol and randomly assigned to consume 2 soy muffins containing 25 g soy protein [high-dose soy (HDS)], 1 soy and 1 wheat muffin containing 12.5 g soy protein and 12.5 g whey protein [low-dose soy (LDS)], or 2 wheat muffins containing 25 g whey protein (control) daily for 6 wk while consuming a self-selected diet. Fasting blood samples were collected at weeks 0, 3, and 6 for analysis of plasma lipids [total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides (TGs)], glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and isoflavones. Blood pressures also were measured. Dietary intake was assessed at weeks 0 and 4 with the use of 3 d food records. Treatment effects were assessed with the use of intention-to-treat analysis with multiple imputation and LDL cholesterol as the primary outcome. Results: In total, 213 (87.6%) participants completed the trial. Participants were primarily Caucasian (83%) and mostly female (63%), with a mean ± SD body mass index (in kg/m2) of 28.0 ± 4.6 and systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 122 ± 16 and 77 ± 11 mm Hg, respectively. Despite a dose-dependent increase in plasma isoflavones (P < 0.001), neither HDS nor LDS had a significant effect on LDL cholesterol compared with control (mean ± SEM changes: control, −0.04 ± 0.05 mmol/L; HDS, 0.01 ± 0.05 mmol/L; and LDS, −0.04 ± 0.06 mmol/L). There were no significant treatment effects on total or HDL cholesterol, TGs, CRP, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, blood pressure, or the Framingham 10-y CHD risk score. Conclusion: Consuming 12.5 or 25 g protein from defatted soy flour incorporated into muffins does not reduce LDL cholesterol or other CHD risk factors in hypercholesterolemic adults. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01547585","term_id":"NCT01547585"}}NCT01547585.

Current evidence suggests a link between red and processed meat consumption and the risk of various cancers and other health outcomes. Using national survey data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)-Nutrition 2015, we aimed to model a dietary scenario to assess the potential effects of increasing the intake of currently consumed plant-based meat alternatives by 100% and decreasing the consumption of red and processed meat by 50% on the diet quality and nutrient intakes of Canadians (&ge, 1 year). This dietary scenario had no significant impact on dietary energy intake (p &gt, 0.05), but resulted in a significant increase in the dietary intakes of fibre, polyunsaturated fatty acids, magnesium, and dietary folate equivalents (p &lt, 0.05). On the other hand, this dietary scenario was accompanied by a significant decrease in protein (from 77.8 &plusmn, 0.6 g to 73.4 &plusmn, 0.6 g), cholesterol, zinc, and vitamin B12 intake (p &lt, 0.05). Further, based on Nutrient Rich Food (NRF) scores, the overall nutritional value of the simulated diet was higher than the baseline diet. Our modeling showed that the partial replacement of red and processed meat with plant-based alternatives improves overall diet quality but may adversely affect the intake of some micronutrients, especially zinc and vitamin B12.

Healthy adults (n30) participated in a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blinded, cross-over study consisting of two 28 d treatments (β2-1 fructan or maltodextrin; 3×5 g/d) separated by a 14-d washout. Subjects provided 1 d faecal collections at days 0 and 28 of each treatment. The ability of faecal bacteria to metaboliseβ2-1 fructan was common; eighty-seven species (thirty genera, and four phyla) were isolated using anaerobic medium containingβ2-1 fructan as the sole carbohydrate source.β2-1 fructan altered the faecal community as determined through analysis of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms and 16S rRNA genes. Supplementation withβ2-1 fructan reduced faecal community richness, and two patterns of community change were observed. In most subjects,β2-1 fructan reduced the content of phylotypes aligning within theBacteroides, whereas increasing those aligning within bifidobacteria,Faecalibacteriumand the family Lachnospiraceae. In the remaining subjects, supplementation increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and to a lesser extent bifidobacteria, accompanied by decreases within theFaecalibacteriumand family Lachnospiraceae.β2-1 Fructan had no impact on the metagenome or glycoside hydrolase profiles in faeces from four subjects. Few relationships were found between the faecal bacterial community and various host parameters; Bacteroidetes content correlated with faecal propionate, subjects whose faecal community contained higher Bacteroidetes produced more caproic acid independent of treatment, and subjects having lower faecal Bacteroidetes exhibited increased concentrations of serum lipopolysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide binding protein independent of treatment. We found no evidence to support a defined health benefit for the use ofβ2-1 fructans in healthy subjects.

The glycaemic response of millet foods and the effect of processing are not known. Therefore, decorticated proso millet was used to produce four types of common food products (biscuits, couscous, porridge and an extruded snack). Postprandial blood glucose response of these products (all containing 50 g of total starch) was compared to the same foods produced with refined corn, in a crossover human study with 12 healthy male participants (age 26.3 ± 3.8 yr; BMI 23.3 ± 2.8 kg/m2). Capillary blood samples were collected and glycaemic response was determined; differences were assessed using repeat measures ANOVA. Overall, the mean (±SEM) incremental area under the blood glucose response curve (mmol min/l) of the proso millet products was different from the corn products, but individual products (couscous = 66.7 ± 11.6, biscuit = 82.6 ± 13.7, extrudate = 198.7 ± 20.9, porridge = 40.1 ± 5.8) were not significantly lower (couscous = 43.5 ± 5.8, biscuit = 102.0 ± 10.3, extrudate = 198.7 ± 20.9, porridge = 52.2 ± 8.1) (p > .05). Glycaemic response of the products was not dependent on the grain type, but rather product matrix.

The CD45 antigen is essential for normal antigen receptor-mediated signalling in lymphocytes, and different patterns of splicing of CD45 are associated with distinct functions in lymphocytes. Abnormal CD45 splicing has been recognized in humans, caused by a C77G transversion in the gene encoding CD45 (PTPRC). Recently the C77G polymorphism has been associated with multiple sclerosis and increased susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. These studies suggest that the regulation of CD45 splicing may be critical for the proper function of the immune system. Because of these data we examined the frequency of the C77G allele in African and Asian populations from countries with high or low prevalence of HIV infection. Here we report that the variant CD45 C77G allele is absent in African populations. We further show that populations living in the Pamir mountains of Central Asia have a very high prevalence of the C77G variant.

β2-1 Fructans are purported to improve health by stimulating growth of colonic bifidobacteria, increasing host resistance to pathogens and stimulating the immune system. However, in healthy adults, the benefits of supplementation remain undefined. Adults (thirteen men, seventeen women) participated in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised, cross-over study consisting of two 28-d treatments separated by a 14-d washout period. Subjects’ regular diets were supplemented withβ2-1 fructan or placebo (maltodextrin) at 3×5 g/d. Fasting blood and 1-d faecal collections were obtained at the beginning and at the end of each phase. Blood was analysed for clinical, biochemical and immunological variables. Determinations of well-being and general health, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, regularity, faecal SCFA content, residual faecalβ2-1 fructans and faecal bifidobacteria content were undertaken.β2-1 Fructan supplementation had no effect on blood lipid or cholesterol concentrations or on circulating lymphocyte and macrophage numbers, but significantly increased serum lipopolysaccharide, faecal SCFA, faecal bifidobacteria and indigestion. With respect to immune function,β2-1 fructan supplementation increased serum IL-4, circulating percentages of CD282+/TLR2+myeloid dendritic cells andex vivoresponsiveness to a toll-like receptor 2 agonist.β2-1 Fructans also decreased serum IL-10, but did not affect C-reactive protein or serum/faecal Ig concentrations. No differences in host well-being were associated with either treatment, although the self-reported incidence of GI symptoms and headaches increased during theβ2-1 fructan phase. Althoughβ2-1 fructan supplementation increased faecal bifidobacteria, this change was not directly related to any of the determined host parameters.

Integrating information about the glycaemic index (GI) of foods into the Caribbean diet is limited by the lack of data. Therefore, we determined the GI of eight staple foods eaten in the Caribbean and the effect on GI of crushing selected tubers. Groups of eight to ten healthy volunteers participated in three studies at two sites. GI was determined using a standard method with white bread and adjusted relative to glucose. The mean area under the glucose response curve elicited by white bread was similar for the different groups of subjects. In study 1, the GI of cassava (Manihot esculenta; 94 (SEM 11)) was significantly higher than those of breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis; 60 (SEM 9)), cooking ‘green’ banana (Musa spp.; 65 (SEM 11)) and sadha roti (65 (SEM 9)) (P=0·018). There was no significant difference in the GI of the foods in study 2: dasheen (Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta; 77 (SEM 10)), eddoes (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum; 61 (SEM 10)), Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum; 71 (SEM 8)), tannia (Xanthosoma sagittifolium; 60 (SEM 5)) and white yam (Dioscorea alata; 62 (SEM 6)), and, in study 3, crushing did not significantly affect the GI of dasheen, tannia or Irish potato. However, when the results from studies 2 and 3 were pooled, the GI of dasheen (76 (SEM 7)) was significantly greater than that of tannia (55 (SEM 5); P=0·015) with potato being intermediate (69 (SEM 6)). We conclude that dasheen and cassava are high-GI foods, whereas the other tubers studied and sadha roti are intermediate-GI foods. Given the regular usage of cassava and dasheen in Caribbean diets we speculate that these diets would tend to be high GI, although this could be reduced by foods such as sadha roti and white yam. The range of GI between the staples is sufficiently large that health benefits may be accrued by replacing high-GI staples with intermediate-GI staples in the Caribbean diet.

Objective: Practical use of the glycaemic index (GI), as recommended by the FAO/WHO, requires an evaluation of the recommended method. Our purpose was to determine the magnitude and sources of variation of the GI values obtained by experienced investigators in different international centres. Design: GI values of four centrally provided foods (instant potato, rice, spaghetti and barley) and locally obtained white bread were determined in 8-12 subjects in each of seven centres using the method recommended by FAO/WHO. Data analysis was performed centrally. Setting: University departments of nutrition. Healthy subjects (28 male, 40 female) were studied. Results: The GI values of the five foods did not vary significantly in different centres nor was there a significant centre´food interaction. Within-subject variation from two centres using venous blood was twice that from five centres using capillary blood. The s.d. of centre mean GI values was reduced from 10.6 (range 6.8-12.8) to 9.0 (range 4.8-12.6) by excluding venous blood data. GI values were not significantly related to differences in method of glucose measurement or subject characteristics (age, sex, BMI, ethnicity or absolute glycaemic response). GI values for locally obtained bread were no more variable than those for centrally provided foods. Conclusions: The GI values of foods are more precisely determined using capillary than venous blood sampling, with mean between-laboratory s.d. of approximately 9.0. Finding ways to reduce within-subject variation of glycaemic responses may be the most effective strategy to improve the precision of measurement of GI values. (Less)

In Trinidad and Tobago (TT), diabetes is over two times more common in South Asian (SA) than African (AF) men, with a smaller difference in women. In the USA, high diet glycaemic index (GI) was associated with increased risk of developing diabetes. In TT, dietary intake data are unavailable. The objective of this study was to conduct a pilot survey of the dietary habits of 50 AF and 50 SA subjects in order to develop a valid nutrition survey instrument for use in TT. We hypothesized that diet GI would be lower in AF than SA subjects. We collected 24 h dietary recalls from a sample of adults from TT (26 AF and 33 SA women, and 17 AF and 25 SA men), excluding subjects of mixed or other ethnic backgrounds and those with diabetes or other chronic disorders. AF women were of similar age, but taller and heavier than SA women. There was no significant difference in diet between AF and SA women. AF men were taller than SA men, but of similar age (34 +/- 2 years versus 33 +/- 2 years) and body mass index (24.1 +/- 0.8 kg/m2 versus 23.3 +/- 0.9 kg/m2, respectively). Intakes of energy, fat, protein, carbohydrate and fibre, and diet glycaemic load did not differ significantly, but AF men had a lower diet GI than SA men (56 +/- 1 versus 59 +/- 1, P0.05). Although not conclusive, these results are consistent with previous data suggesting that diet GI may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. The data collected during this survey will be useful in developing a food frequency questionnaire for use in TT to allow this hypothesis to be tested more rigorously in this population.

Objectives: We hypothesized that common variation in the angiotensinogen (AGT), beta-3-adrenergic receptor, intestinal fatty acid‐ binding protein, serum paraoxonase, paraoxonase-2, hepatic lipase, apolipoprotein E (APOE), and Werner helicase (WRN) genes would be associated with variation in biochemical phenotypes in a previously unstudied neonatal sample. Design and methods: We examined associations of both nongenetic and genetic variables with plasma lipoprotein traits in neonates from Trinidad. Results: Among nongenetic variables, we found significant associations between plasma concentrations of: 1) lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and both ethnicity (p 5 0.037) and birth weight (p 5 0.001); 2) total cholesterol and gender (p 5 0.010); 3) triglyceride and birth weight (p 5 0.035); and 4) apolipoprotein AI and gender (p 5 0.016). Among genetic variables, we found that: 1) common variation on chromosome 1q in AGT codon 235 was significantly associated with variation in plasma apolipoproteins AI (p , 0.0001) and B (p 5 0.013); 2) common variation in WRN at codon 1367 was significantly associated with variation in plasma Lp(a) (p , 0.0001); and 3) common variation in APOE at codons 112 and 158 was significantly associated with variation in plasma triglycerides (p 5 0.013). Conclusions: The associations with AGT and WRN are novel and may have resulted either from a direct influence of the genetic variants or through linkage disequilibrium with other functional loci, such as the familial combined hyperlipidemia locus on chromosome 1q in the case of AGT. Despite the fact that there are some limitations in making determinations from cord blood, the results suggest that there may be genetic determinants of plasma lipoproteins in neonates. Copyright © 1999 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists

In Canada, school meals are regarded as important for social, educational, and nutritional reasons and have been provided for several years because of concerns about the health and welfare of children, especially those from low-income households. They are generally offered as local community organization and individual schools, are not regulated by law, and have no set national nutrition standards. The Canadian scientific literature lacks quantitative information on the nutritional adequacy of school meals. Better and more evaluation of such programs would encourage and guide administrators to assess other local programs in a similar fashion. Here, we describe the dietary assessment process of 1 school meal program in Canada and the nutritional adequacy of the meals. Throughout 10 years (1997-2007), the contents of 159 lunches and 90 breakfasts were collected mainly from elementary schools participating in the Child Hunger and Education Program Good Food, Inc's school nutrition program initiative in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. We collected, weighed, and analyzed food samples from meals served to children at participating schools. We then compared their nutrient content against standards based on the Dietary Recommended Intakes for children aged 4 to 8 and 9 to 13 years using one third of the recommendations as the standard for lunches and one fourth for breakfasts. Overall, both meals had a good nutrient profile and met the standards for most analyzed macronutrients and micronutrients throughout the years. Although energy was persistently low, vitamin and mineral contents were often above the standards, reflecting a tendency to offer nutrient-dense foods in lieu of energy-dense foods. The rigorous methodology described in this manuscript can be followed to assess other small local programs. Furthermore, the dietary assessment presented can encourage not only the implementation of school meal programs in other locations but also the assessment of already existing programs-a clear need in the scientific literature.

Primary objective: To calculate the nutritional composition of commonly consumed composite dishes in Trinidad in order to analyze dietary intakes obtained using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire developed specifically for the Trinidadian population. Methods and procedures: Multiple weighed versions of each dish were collected from 53 participants throughout Trinidad. Nutritional composition was calculated using NutriBase Clinical Nutrition Manager. Main outcomes and results: A total of 359 recipes were collected for 89 composite dishes: 19 vegetable, 15 starches, 21 meat/meat alternatives, eight seafood, 10 sweets, five beverages, 11 snacks/miscellaneous items. For each dish, the average nutritional composition (energy and 32 macronutrients/micronutrients) was calculated per 100 g. Conclusions: The calculated nutritional composition data of 89 commonly consumed dishes in Trinidad can now be used to assess dietary intakes and determine dietary risk factors for chronic disease.

The common Grape L. (Vitaceae) is regarded as an important medicinal plant. European healers have suggested the use of grapevine sap, juice, and whole grape in the treatment of pain, allergic reactions, inflammation, and to promote wound healing. We evaluated grape-skin powder for its wound-healing activity using an excision wound model in rats. Animals were randomly divided into three groups of six (n = 6) each. The test group animals were treated topically with the grape-skin powder (100 mg/kg/day). The controls and standard group animals were treated with petroleum jelly and mupirocin ointment respectively. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, and hydroxyproline content. On day 13, treatment of the wounds with grape-skin powder enhanced significantly the rate of wound contraction (100 %). Treated animals showed significant decrease in the epithelialization period (p0.000) and increase in the hydroxyproline content (p0.05) when compared to control and the standard. Histological analysis was also consistent with the proposal that grape-skin powder exhibits significant wound-healing potential. Increased rate of wound contraction, hydroxyproline content, and decrease in epithelialization time in the treated animals support the use of grape-skin powder in the management of wound healing.

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and its complications such as cardiomyopathy, contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Increased adoption of westernized diets and decreased physical activity are contributing to the obesity epidemic which, in turn, increases the risk for T2DM. Other risk factors for T2DM include insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and a genetic predisposition. Risk measures for assessing these factors include family history, blood pressure, body weight, waist circumference, fasting glucose, insulin, and lipid levels, and calculated indices such as BMI, HOMA, and QUIKI. Most of these risk measures routinely done in annual check-ups, should help a primary care physician in making an early diagnosis of impending diabetic condition. The underlying mechanisms of these clinical, anthropometric and biochemical risk measures may also be involved in the etiology of diabetes and its complications. Their levels and changes over time therefore, may indeed reflect the disease process. Early and continued assessment of diabetes risk, as part of patient care, will help identify individuals most likely to develop diabetes and allow for early interventions to reduce risk factors as well as delay or may even prevent disease onset. In T2DM patients, ongoing measurement of risk markers and implementation of intervention where appropriate will improve the diabetic condition, decrease risk of cardiovascular and other complications, and decrease morbidity.

Polyphenol extracts from coloured fruits and vegetables inhibit α-glucosidase in vitro, however it is not known whether this translates into an attenuation of blood glucose response in vivo. We examined this relationship in a GI study by feeding coloured potatoes to 9 healthy volunteers. We also examined the in vitro inhibitory activity of potato anthocyanin extracts on rat intestinal α-glucosidase. Potatoes (Purple Majesty; Red-Y38; Yukon Gold and Snowden) were fed with skin after cooking in a convection oven, using a random block design and 50 g available carbohydrate. Glucose was used as the standard and venous blood collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 min. Areas under the curve (AUC) for glucose and insulin were calculated, and GI and Insulin Index derived. Neither AUC for blood glucose response nor insulin was significantly different among the various potatoes studied. Although the mean GI (±SE) values for the potato types varied (purple = 77.0 ± 9.0; red = 78.0 ± 14.0; yellow = 81.0 ± 16.0; and white = 93.0 ± 17.0), these differences were not significantly different. The mean (±SE) polyphenol content (mg GAE/100 g DW) was 234 ± 28; 190 ± 15; 108 ± 39; 82 ± 1 for purple, red, yellow and white potatoes, respectively. There was a significant inverse correlation between polyphenol content and GI of the potatoes (r = −0.825; p < 0.05; n = 4). In vitro, polyphenol extracts of red and purple potatoes inhibited α-glucosidase by 37.4 ± 2.2% and 28.7 ± 3.2%, respectively. The GI of coloured potatoes is significantly related to their polyphenol content, possibly mediated through an inhibitory effect of anthocyanins on intestinal α-glucosidase.

Objective: We investigated whether there was a growth or morbidity response to zinc supplementation. Design: The study was randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind. Setting: Children were recruited at clinics in Kingston, Jamaica, and supplemented at home. Subjects: Children selected were singletons aged 6–24 months, and stunted (

Background: Many laboratories offer glycemic index (GI) services. Objective: We assessed the performance of the method used to measure GI. Design: The GI of cheese-puffs and fruit-leather (centrally provided) was measured in 28 laboratories (n = 311 subjects) by using the FAO/WHO method. The laboratories reported the results of their calculations and sent the raw data for recalculation centrally. Results: Values for the incremental area under the curve (AUC) reported by 54% of the laboratories differed from central calculations. Because of this and other differences in data analysis, 19% of reported food GI values differed by > 5 units from those calculated centrally. GI values in individual subjects were unrelated to age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, or AUC but were negatively related to within-individual variation (P = 0.033) expressed as the CV of the AUC for repeated reference food tests (refCV). The between-laboratory GI values (mean +/- SD) for cheese-puffs and fruit-leather were 74.3 +/- 10.5 and 33.2 +/- 7.2, respectively. The mean laboratory GI was related to refCV (P = 0.003) and the type of restrictions on alcohol consumption before the test (P = 0.006, r(2) = 0.509 for model). The within-laboratory SD of GI was related to refCV (P < 0.001), the glucose analysis method (P = 0.010), whether glucose measures were duplicated (P = 0.008), and restrictions on dinner the night before (P = 0.013, r(2) = 0.810 for model). Conclusions: The between-laboratory SD of the GI values is approximate to 9. Standardized data analysis and low within-subject variation (refCV < 30%) are required for accuracy. The results suggest that common misconceptions exist about which factors do and do not need to be controlled to improve precision. Controlled studies and cost-benefit analyses are needed to optimize GI methodology. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00260858.